Title: Inseparable
Author: Legolas-gurl88
Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything. I REALLY wish I did. Oh well… sobs
Author Note: Okay, for those who read the earlier version of the last chapter, I am really sorry for all the confusion! The thing that I usually do didn't work and so the story seemed all smeared together! I must have posted it five times with different combinations of things to be the separator when finally, this worked ! So, from now on, this will be the separators. If you want the story to make sense (those who read the confusing version) you can go back and read it! Sorry for all the mix-ups!
2nd Author Note: Okay, this chapter will be chock full of flashbacks, so beware! Bwa ha, ha, ha, haaaaa!
3rd Author Note: PLEASE, everyone, at the bottom of the page, read the note with the by it. It is a VERY important message! Thanks!
Story time!
23. Or we would never survive…
About a week had passed until Estel was feeling better. On the second day of being back at Minas Tirith, he was brought back to conciousness, meeting the face of Elrond.
Flashback
"Ada?" Estel croaked, trying to sit up, but falling back into his pillow as the pain from the whipping had flared.
"Hush, Estel, lie back down." Elrond said, gently pushing his human son back down. Then, he reached over and grabbed a water jug and cup, filled the cup to the brim and pushed it into his son's hand. "Here, drink this."
Estel attempted to drink while lying down, but failed greatly as water spilled all over his face. Elrond laughed slightly as he watched Estel's dilemma, finally submitting to the fact that Estel did indeed need to sit up. He gently put his hand under Estel's neck and pulled Estel up. The boy hissed in pain, but was soon over it as water filled his mouth, wetting his dry throat.
After the cup was empty, Estel was propped up on the wall with pillows surrounding him. The boy looked around the room and his eyes greeted two familiar faces.
"King Thranduil," Estel said to Legolas's father, "Barlay!" The Elf and man both smiled and nodded at Estel, who looked around the room. When he had last been fully conscious, he had been in a prison cell in Mirkwood, being beaten by Celor. But now, his eyes rested on tapestries and paintings and marble walls. The tapestry above the door was that of a great white tree with seven stars surrounding it. Minas Tirith. But, what was he doing back here?
"Ada," Estel asked Elrond, "Where is Legolas?"
End Flashback
Where is Legolas?
Estel remembered asking the Eldar, but what he heard, he didn't like.
Estel, we need to talk…
Estel's eyes filled with tears as he remembered Barlay explaining that Legolas had given himself up for the boy. It pained him to know that Legolas knew what he would be getting himself into-- that he would have to endure so much pain to keep Estel safe. It was all Estel's fault.
It's all my fault, Estel thought. Without thinking, he reached up to his face where there was a small cut that had nothing to do with his visit to Mirkwood, but with Ecthelion, who had come to visit, unfortunately, after Estel had been awake for about an hour.
Flashback
The door bashed open and ricocheted off of the wall. Estel jumped, spilling soup all over his lap, that he had been quietly sipping, while Elrond re-bandaged his legs. Elrond jumped too. They both stared at the door to see a fuming Ecthelion step inside.
"How dare you return?!" Ecthelion shouted. "How dare you!"
"Ecthelion, be reasonable. He is only a child!" Elrond said, jumping up and shielding Estel from Ecthelion.
"I've had enough from you!" Ecthelion yelled, advancing on Elrond and pushing him aside to get to Estel. Once Elrond crashed into a chair and fell to the ground, Ecthelion raised a hand and slapped Estel hard. It was not the slap that pained Estel the most, it was the ring on Ecthelion's finger that hurt. It had torn into his skin and made him bleed.
"Ecthelion! I am warning you!" Elrond jumped up, but he didn't have time to avoid Ecthelion as the Steward jumped on him, sending them both crashing to the ground. Ecthelion punched Elrond harshly in the stomach, and with his knees, pinned the Elf lord to the ground as he continuously punched Elrond, who struggled, but was so weak from working and healing Estel, that he could not summon strength to fight back. Estel looked around frantically for something to help his father with. His eyes found his crown lying on the dresser. Silently, Estel pushed the bed covers off of himself and stood.
Pain immediately burst through his whole body, but he remained standing and, slowly, but surely, walked to his dresser. Once he pulled his crown off, he mustered up his strength and threw it at Ecthelion. Despite the boys' weakness, the crown hit Ecthelion directly on the neck. There was a deafening crack and Ecthelion fell dead, his neck and head at an odd angle.
End Flashback
Ecthelion's death had come quickly, something Estel regretted. Not that one of his own men had died at his hand, but the fact that it had not been the pain-riddled death he had deserved for hurting his family, himself… and Legolas. Surprisingly, Estel did not feel remorse as he knew he should have, but it had been as easy as killing an orc, which scared the boy. Was he so terrible that he could kill men-- his own men-- and not feel sad? What would this bring on him?
He was hurting Ada. Estel would say to himself. He deserved it.
Elrond had come to Estel's room about a day ago, telling him that it was his time to take the throne.
Flashback
"I'm not ready to be king, Ada." Estel said.
"But you must, or Denethor becomes ruler."
"Then let him. I am not ready. Besides, it would be an apology for killing his father." Estel said.
End Flashback
Why he wanted to apologize for killing Denethor's father after all Denethor had done to Legolas, he didn't know.
You're a noble man, Estel, Elrond had told him when the boy spoke to the Elf Lord of his thoughts.
But, I feel ashamed that I am not sorry for killing Ecthelion, Ada. Estel responded
Ashamed? Do not be so quick as to blame yourself, ion nin. Ecthelion was not a very good person. Perhaps it was best this way.
Best? And I am too afraid to take the throne, so I give it to Denethor, the one who hurt Legolas purposefully!
We all do things purposefully, ion nin, but all actions must be forgiven at one time or another, or we would never survive…
Or we would never survive…
Or we would never survive…
Or we would never survive…
"Never survive…" Estel whispered, suddenly remembering, "Legolas!"
Barlay sat at his cot, swinging backward and forward gently, thinking, while fingering a drawing that Morier had done so long ago… when she had been innocent.
"You saw it coming, didn't you, Melamin?" Barlay whispered, silently talking to his wife. "That is why you named our daughter 'Dark one.' You saw it coming."
The servant was in total shock. In his heart, he rejoiced that his daughter was alive after all these years, but he knew she was not the same young child he had loved, but a terror among the Elves.
Elladan, Elrohir, Galadriel, Celeborn and Arwen had all been freed from their rooms and Arwen had healed perfectly. There was no sign on her delicate skin to suggest that she had even been bitten by a bug, let alone been sliced with Legolas's sharp knife, and every partook in the healing of Estel.
Upon recognizing each other, Thranduil and Barlay had sat down and discussed the matters that had been behind them. Barlay had apologized over and over for killing one of Thranduil's men while Thranduil apologized for punishing him for an accident. They had made amends and now were worried for their children.
Estel mustered all his strength (which was still not much, but more than it had been seven days ago) and stood out of bed again. Dressing himself in a traveling tunic, leggings, a cloak and boots (with a dagger in one), he then walked out into the deserted hallway. Estel pulled up the hood of his cloak and walked swiftly to the armory. Once the torches were lit, Estel searched around for the proper weapons. He found a long sword that stopped about three inches from the floor, due to his short legs, a pack of knives and a bow and quiver full of arrows. Estel pulled the quiver on, ignoring the chafing of everything on his back wounds, thinking about how, even if he couldn't use them, the bow and arrows might somehow prove helpful, or at least threatening to those who were his enemies.
Once he was geared up, Estel turned on his heel and walked out of the weaponry room, not even bothering to snuff the torch. Estel ran to the stable and walked in the aisle, occasionally peering into the stalls, searching for a horse that could carry him to Mirkwood. He stopped at a stable after peering in and finding a dapple grey horse staring back.
"Märon!" Estel yelled, "Barlay said they shot you!"
Märon whinnied, dignified. Estel laughed as she trotted over to him and allowed the boy to comb her mane with his small fingers.
"You must have escaped the shooting, didn't you? You're a smart one, you are!" Estel said and Märon closed her eyes lazily as he stroked her neck. Then, he unlocked her stable and she came out. Estel fitted a saddle and reins on her and climbed up.
"Are you ready, Märon?" Estel asked into her ear. Whinny. "Then let's go… for Legolas!"
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
I was determined to write more for this chappie, but this seemed the perfect place to stop, wouldn't you say? But I got a lot done in this chapter. Sorry for all you Legolas fans out there! Legolas wasn't in this chapter, but I swear, he will be in the next one!
You know what I realized…? This story is coming to an end! I'm about ready to put in the old stopping point! There is just one more chapter! But there WILL be a sequel… look at the bottom of my bio page for info on the next part of this story. It will be called 'Ventriloquist,' but more on that later! For now, just enjoy this story!
I'm so excited! Troy comes out in 3 days! Eek! squeals like obsessed fan girl… wait… already is… Review time!
Mistopurr- I hope my mom doesn't cut back on my fanfiction time either! I really hope she doesn't! I'm kinda scared to tell her anything about my grades now, even if I did really well! Oh well… I'll be thanking her in the end when I actually get into a college. But I have to really work for it!
The evil witch queen- I can't wait for Troy to come out! It's gonna be sad, though. Did you know that Paris dies? I'm so sad about that, but I want to see how well Orlando can do a death scene. Really? You did the same thing? That's what I'm always afraid about, because everyone's angst is so similar and I swear I'm not trying to copy anyone, but people might see it like I am! That's why I try to make mine a little different… give them a twist that no one expects. That's what I'm gonna do for 'The Old, the New and the Unexpected.' You know, I was positive that I would post the sequel for it, 'A Mermaid's Song,' in two months, but now, I'm not sure. I've only got one chapter written. I know what's gonna happen, but I don't know how to get the characters in the positions I want them in. CONFUSING!
Gilraen Felagund- Yeah. I had absolutely NO control whatsoever on Morier. She basically wrote herself! When she offered to be Legolas's wife, I paused and said, 'Where did that come from?' but thought it was a nice plot and had to find a way to end the story from there. Morier really switched my plans around, so it's her fault if the ending is crappy! NOT MINE! AHHHH! I have no idea where that all came from. But I feel like my job is to create the characters ('cause I write my own books too), the plot and the setting and let the characters take over. I guess I put a little of myself into each character 'cause then they're really easy to write. Okay, getting all author-like! AHHH!
Leggylover03- EVIL HUMANS (except Estel) I HATE ALL OF YOOOOU! Lol, I'm glad you like evilness, 'cause the next chapter is pure evil. Bye, now!
Trinityelf- Ha, ha! I didn't even get a review from you and I'm still writing this! Ha, ha! TROY! ORLANDO BLOOM! TROY! ORLANDO BLOOM! TROY! ORLANDO BLOOM! TROY! ORLANDO BLOOM! TROY! ORLANDO BLOOM! Heh, heh… Odnalro Moolb!
Okay, one last little note; PLEASE, next chapter, let me know what you thought of the ending! I want to know if it was a tear-jerker or not, so I can tune it for the sequel. I'm hoping for it to be a tear-jerker (sorry!) so that way, it becomes a little more involving.
WOW! Thanks for the 140 reviews! I wonder how many I'm going to total up to in the end! Sure, 140 isn't as much as other stories, but it's pretty good for my first ever LOTR fic! Thank you guys! I'll post the LAST CHAPTER soon! Bye!
DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!
Luv,
Legolas-gurl88