A/N: Wheee!!! Well would u look @ that, it's Chapter 2! And I thought it
would never come around! But here it is.sorry, not as action packed as
chapter 1 but hopefully it's still all right..Please review people! And
thank u to all my previous reviewers! ^_^
~*~
Chapter 2
Aragorn hurried over to the horses along with the twins, Legolas shivering in his arms. They all mounted hastily, trusting Legolas' mare to follow them. Aragorn would carry the Elf with him. He clicked at his stallion and set it off, flanked by his brothers. His left hand clutched to the reins as his mount galloped through the wood toward Imladris, and he cradled Legolas in his right arm. It would be at least three days before they reached the House of Elrond if they did not stop and rode hard. But the ranger must do so. He could not lose Legolas.
Aragorn could hear Legolas' labored breathing and feel the warm blood seeping through the cloth he had wrapped around the Elf's wound as makeshift bandages. The blonde clung to the ranger's chest as they rode swiftly onward. He felt the poison taking him over and did not want to slip into darkness.
" Estel, this poison is treacherous. I cannot hold on for three days, " he murmured.
The young man looked down at his best friend with stubborn determination in his young eyes.
" Legolas, I know this is hard, and I know you're sacred, mellonin. But you must hang on. You must make it to Imladris, " he murmured firmly.
" I shall try, " the Elf replied. " For you, Estel."
The young ranger offered a small, reassuring smile and nodded. He looked ahead of him once more, the wind tousling his untamed, raven hair as he rode with all speed. The twins flanked him, their own silky locks whipping up behind them. Fair indeed were the sons of Elrond. Yet that is no surprise, considering they were the brothers of Undomiel, Arwen the Evenstar who still resided in Lothlorien, the homeland of their mother, Celebrian, daughter of the Galadriel the Lady of Light. In fact, the twins were considered two of the most beautiful beings that walked Middle-Earth, as well as Legolas. But of course, the Peredhel twins were of a dark beauty, and the Prince of Mirkwood of a light beauty. Glorfindel was in likeness to Legolas, and also considered one of the most fair, with his golden hair a shade or two darker than Legolas' platinum blonde. It would indeed be hard to say who was fairest among Elrond's blood children, Elladan, Elrohir, or Arwen. Undomiel had yet to bind herself to Estel, the handsome mortal who she had yet to meet, but the Twins would never really take on lovers for themselves. They were too preoccupied with their Orc-hunting and later they would take part in the great War. Besides, their bond was so incredibly deep, they preferred to stay true to each other than part for another love.
// " Nin tithen meltha min,"// came Elladan's tender voice in Elrohir's head, swirls of warm love. //My little, beloved one.//
Elrohir smiled to himself as he kept his gaze fixed ahead of him.
" You should know better than to call me little, ", he answered his brother, earning a grin from Elladan.
" So I should only call thee Nin Meltha Min, Mell Gwador," the elder twin suggested smartly. //My Beloved One, Dear Brother.//
Elrohir's smile deepened and his eyes softened with a sparkle. " Maen rhaug," he said in turn. //Clever demon.//
" Am I to be called a demon for loving my brother? " Elladan queried.
" Nay, you are called a demon for being annoyingly clever ", Elrohir corrected.
Elladan turned his head to gaze across at his twin with a bemused smirk and a quirked eyebrow. Elrohir met his brother's gray eyes with his own, only for his smile to vanish into a pained frown. Elladan mimicked him.
" What is it, Elrohir? " he asked in his twin's head.
" You looked so much like Legolas when you did that ", Elrohir told him with a mournful voice. His chest was aching. He loved Legolas almost as much as Estel and an Elf-hair more than Elladan. He would be taken by grief if they were to lose the prince of Mirkwood.
At that moment, Elrohir felt as if Elladan had come up behind him and enfolded him in a comforting embrace. The twins could do that as well, beside mentally commune, have their spirits go unto each other in time of need.
" Do not despair, ", the elder twin murmured. " Legolas will not fall to Shadow."
" For Estel's sake, I pray he does not ", Elrohir said darkly. Only the Valar knew what would become of the ranger if Legolas were to perish.
" It seems as if it has been an age since I last held you," Elladan went on to say wistfully in his twin's mind. Elrohir felt his brother's spirit snuggle closer to him, laying his head upon the younger twin's.
Elrohir stifled a laugh. " Only last night as we drifted to sleep, dear brother."
Estel was in a zone. All else in the world was blocked from his mind, except the distance ahead and the precious Elf in his arms. He urged his horse on, subconsciously making sure that Legolas was kept comfortable in his hold. His senses were suddenly sharpened to be highly sensitive to the archer, making him aware of each labored breath that the blonde emitted, each individual, strained heartbeat. Legolas struggled to breathe steadily, intensely distressed by the poison coursing through his veins.
" Estel, " he breathed. " It's taking hold."
" No, Legolas ", Aragorn replied in denial. " You cannot allow that. Listen to me, Legolas. Tell me something."
" What shall I tell you, mellonin? " Legolas inquired, trying to do what Aragorn wanted and distract himself from his condition in order to stay awake.
" Anything ", Aragorn said abruptly, but then thought about it further. " Tell me again how you managed to save Elrohir all those ages ago before even Arathorn, who bore me, had come into the world."
Legolas smirked wearily to himself. " Well, " he began, " It was in June and the sons of Elrond had come to Mirkwood for a time to pay me a visit. There was an afternoon where we decided to take a swim, which is something we did allot together, actually. We were in one of the pools - " Legolas paused, feeling the exhaustion creep over him.
" And then? " Estel persisted, trying his best not to panic and keep Legolas talking.
" We were in one of the pools, only the three of us on this golden, summer afternoon ", the prince finally continued. " We had simply taken a very tranquil stroll through the wood until coming to the right one, and we rid ourselves of everything but our leggings. Things went quite smoothly for a long while, until we started really fooling around. Elladan dunked Elrohir and vanished himself beneath the surface. I had been perched in the low branch of one of my favorite trees that hung over the pool. It was rather amusing to watch them ", Legolas laughed lightly.
" They did not reappear for quite some time, but, of course, we Elves have greater ability to resist breath than you Humans." Legolas smirked slyly, earning one of those familiar looks from Estel that often arose whenever they were in one of their Elves-are-better-than-Humans banters.
" Elladan came up first with a loud gasp and a grin. Yet Elrohir did not return even after a moment. The eldest of your brothers immediately became distressed and uneasy. He plunged back into the depths of the pond and did not resurface for yet another long while. I watched worried, but waited. Finally, Elladan broke through the surface with Elrohir's limp body slung over one shoulder. He dragged his twin out of the water and back onto land as I hurried over. He lay out his brother carefully, panting as he sat back on his heels. Elrohir wasn't breathing and we feared the worst." Legolas was now deep in memory, going through the whole ordeal over again in his head, as vivid as reality. The footfalls of Aragorn's horse sounded throughout the wood.
" Elrohir did not answer to Elladan's shaking, so I sat on the other side of Elrohir, across from Elladan, and we worked to revive him. Elladan would dip down and lay his lips to Elrohir's' breathing into his twin until he had no breath left to be spent. Then he would rise, breathe, and I would push down on Elrohir's bare stomach, trying to rid him of the water and get his heart started again. We did this over and over, and it seemed futile,until Elladan leaned over and whispered to his beloved twin to hear his voice and return to the light before he breathed into him once more. That brought Elrohir back, thank the Valar. Yet somehow, even after that, they still do not resist fooling around ", Legolas chuckled. " Although they are a bit more careful."
" Elladan must have felt so guilty ", Estel commented, keeping his best friend occupied as he rode on.
" Indeed. But Elrohir insisted to his twin that he not be anything of the sort. He only sat up and let Elladan embrace him for a long while, before we decided to return to the palace. Elrohir has no conditions when it comes to forgiveness ", Legolas smiled warmly. " And Elladan hardly ever gets angry with him in the first place, never mind forgiving him. "
Legolas fell silent then, snuggling into Aragorn's chest whilst laying his slender hand upon the ranger's breast, over his heart. Aragorn tightened his hold on the Elf. In that moment, it truly did seem as if the blonde was a small child that the man cradled. //" Dartha go nin,"// he murmured. //Stay with me.// Legolas clutched at his tunic in reply. Aragorn lifted his head slowly, looking ahead again. The sun would sink away from the sky in a few hours time, and he wondered how long into the night he could urge his horse on.
//" Noro lim, "// Elrohir uttered as he leaned over to his stallion's ear. //Ride fast.//
//" Na Anor, mellonin! "// Elladan cried to his mount. //" Or na Imladris! "// // To the Sun, my friend! On to Imladris! //
The manes and tails of the horses, the smoothly flowing raven tresses of the Peredhel twins, the tousled hair of the ranger, and the garments that clothed each rider wavered and rippled behind them all as fluttering banners.
Into the late hours of night they rode, until their mounts could go no further. Elladan slowed, followed by Elrohir, and beckoned Aragorn to stop for a while. Their faithful horses had not complained or slackened, but had kept up the pace their masters set, even after hours of galloping. When they were finally allowed rest, they panted and trembled whilst the twins gave them water. Meanwhile, the ranger dismounted and took Legolas into his arms. He found a quiet place beneath one of the surrounding trees and lay the Elf carefully on the ground, tucking his own bundled cloak beneath the archer's head. Aragorn knelt beside Legolas and quickly unhooked the Elf's jerkin and tunic to expose his milky white torso. The scarlet wound was clearly visible in his side as the prince's chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, gleaming with sweat alike his face. Aragorn uncorked his waterskin and poured a mouthful over the Elf's wound. Legolas shuddered but did not fret. Some of the blood was washed away, but it still bled freely nonetheless. Elladan then joined his younger brother and sat on the other side of the injured blonde. He had brought Legolas' pack along, from which he drew out a flask and tossed to Aragorn. The ranger easily recognized the scent of Mirkwood wine when he opened it. Upon a cloth he poured but a little, before pressing it to Legolas' wound. The Elf hissed as it stung him, but further infection had to be prevented. Elrohir lowered himself down at Legolas' head, settling next to his twin. He looked upon his close friend tentatively, almost with fear. He watched as Elladan unwrapped some of the bandage from Aragorn's roll and his little brother gathered some athelas from his pack, crushing it and wetting it slightly with his tongue. Almost involuntarily, Elrohir took Legolas' head tenderly in his hands, stroking the Elf's brow with soothing hushes. Legolas whimpered when Aragorn applied the herb to his wound, his eyes fluttering closed for a while as he arched back just barely. The bandage Elladan had wrapped around his own hand snapped away from the roll and the elder twin unraveled it. Aragorn and Elrohir aided Legolas in sitting up, enabling Elladan to wrap the blonde's abdomen tightly. Once the bandages were pinned in place, Aragorn eased Legolas back down.
" There we are, " he murmured quietly with a small grin. " That wasn't so hard, now was it? That should slow the poison for now. Rest, mellonin."
" Estel," the archer breathed shakily, as if on the verge of tears. The ranger leaned over his best friend, running his hand gently down the side of the Elf's face. " Sleep," Aragorn cooed softly.
The prince's blue eyes closed as the ranger stroked back over his platinum hair. Elladan subconsciously reached out to his twin and pulled him to his chest, Elrohir falling against Elladan with ease. Two identical pairs of silver-gray eyes gazed down upon the prince of Mirkwood with glimmers of concern.
//" Elbereth beria le, meltha Legolas,"// Aragorn whispered, clasping his hand in the pale, slender one of his Elf brother. //Elbereth protect thee, beloved Greenleaf.//
As Aragorn lay beside Legolas' still, slumbering form, his eyes never leaving his best friend, he hoped with all his heart that Elbereth had heard his prayer. The twins sunk to the ground on the other side of the blonde archer, Elrohir still in Elladan's embrace. Hopefully, they would have no other band of unwanted visitors during the night.
~*~
Chapter 2
Aragorn hurried over to the horses along with the twins, Legolas shivering in his arms. They all mounted hastily, trusting Legolas' mare to follow them. Aragorn would carry the Elf with him. He clicked at his stallion and set it off, flanked by his brothers. His left hand clutched to the reins as his mount galloped through the wood toward Imladris, and he cradled Legolas in his right arm. It would be at least three days before they reached the House of Elrond if they did not stop and rode hard. But the ranger must do so. He could not lose Legolas.
Aragorn could hear Legolas' labored breathing and feel the warm blood seeping through the cloth he had wrapped around the Elf's wound as makeshift bandages. The blonde clung to the ranger's chest as they rode swiftly onward. He felt the poison taking him over and did not want to slip into darkness.
" Estel, this poison is treacherous. I cannot hold on for three days, " he murmured.
The young man looked down at his best friend with stubborn determination in his young eyes.
" Legolas, I know this is hard, and I know you're sacred, mellonin. But you must hang on. You must make it to Imladris, " he murmured firmly.
" I shall try, " the Elf replied. " For you, Estel."
The young ranger offered a small, reassuring smile and nodded. He looked ahead of him once more, the wind tousling his untamed, raven hair as he rode with all speed. The twins flanked him, their own silky locks whipping up behind them. Fair indeed were the sons of Elrond. Yet that is no surprise, considering they were the brothers of Undomiel, Arwen the Evenstar who still resided in Lothlorien, the homeland of their mother, Celebrian, daughter of the Galadriel the Lady of Light. In fact, the twins were considered two of the most beautiful beings that walked Middle-Earth, as well as Legolas. But of course, the Peredhel twins were of a dark beauty, and the Prince of Mirkwood of a light beauty. Glorfindel was in likeness to Legolas, and also considered one of the most fair, with his golden hair a shade or two darker than Legolas' platinum blonde. It would indeed be hard to say who was fairest among Elrond's blood children, Elladan, Elrohir, or Arwen. Undomiel had yet to bind herself to Estel, the handsome mortal who she had yet to meet, but the Twins would never really take on lovers for themselves. They were too preoccupied with their Orc-hunting and later they would take part in the great War. Besides, their bond was so incredibly deep, they preferred to stay true to each other than part for another love.
// " Nin tithen meltha min,"// came Elladan's tender voice in Elrohir's head, swirls of warm love. //My little, beloved one.//
Elrohir smiled to himself as he kept his gaze fixed ahead of him.
" You should know better than to call me little, ", he answered his brother, earning a grin from Elladan.
" So I should only call thee Nin Meltha Min, Mell Gwador," the elder twin suggested smartly. //My Beloved One, Dear Brother.//
Elrohir's smile deepened and his eyes softened with a sparkle. " Maen rhaug," he said in turn. //Clever demon.//
" Am I to be called a demon for loving my brother? " Elladan queried.
" Nay, you are called a demon for being annoyingly clever ", Elrohir corrected.
Elladan turned his head to gaze across at his twin with a bemused smirk and a quirked eyebrow. Elrohir met his brother's gray eyes with his own, only for his smile to vanish into a pained frown. Elladan mimicked him.
" What is it, Elrohir? " he asked in his twin's head.
" You looked so much like Legolas when you did that ", Elrohir told him with a mournful voice. His chest was aching. He loved Legolas almost as much as Estel and an Elf-hair more than Elladan. He would be taken by grief if they were to lose the prince of Mirkwood.
At that moment, Elrohir felt as if Elladan had come up behind him and enfolded him in a comforting embrace. The twins could do that as well, beside mentally commune, have their spirits go unto each other in time of need.
" Do not despair, ", the elder twin murmured. " Legolas will not fall to Shadow."
" For Estel's sake, I pray he does not ", Elrohir said darkly. Only the Valar knew what would become of the ranger if Legolas were to perish.
" It seems as if it has been an age since I last held you," Elladan went on to say wistfully in his twin's mind. Elrohir felt his brother's spirit snuggle closer to him, laying his head upon the younger twin's.
Elrohir stifled a laugh. " Only last night as we drifted to sleep, dear brother."
Estel was in a zone. All else in the world was blocked from his mind, except the distance ahead and the precious Elf in his arms. He urged his horse on, subconsciously making sure that Legolas was kept comfortable in his hold. His senses were suddenly sharpened to be highly sensitive to the archer, making him aware of each labored breath that the blonde emitted, each individual, strained heartbeat. Legolas struggled to breathe steadily, intensely distressed by the poison coursing through his veins.
" Estel, " he breathed. " It's taking hold."
" No, Legolas ", Aragorn replied in denial. " You cannot allow that. Listen to me, Legolas. Tell me something."
" What shall I tell you, mellonin? " Legolas inquired, trying to do what Aragorn wanted and distract himself from his condition in order to stay awake.
" Anything ", Aragorn said abruptly, but then thought about it further. " Tell me again how you managed to save Elrohir all those ages ago before even Arathorn, who bore me, had come into the world."
Legolas smirked wearily to himself. " Well, " he began, " It was in June and the sons of Elrond had come to Mirkwood for a time to pay me a visit. There was an afternoon where we decided to take a swim, which is something we did allot together, actually. We were in one of the pools - " Legolas paused, feeling the exhaustion creep over him.
" And then? " Estel persisted, trying his best not to panic and keep Legolas talking.
" We were in one of the pools, only the three of us on this golden, summer afternoon ", the prince finally continued. " We had simply taken a very tranquil stroll through the wood until coming to the right one, and we rid ourselves of everything but our leggings. Things went quite smoothly for a long while, until we started really fooling around. Elladan dunked Elrohir and vanished himself beneath the surface. I had been perched in the low branch of one of my favorite trees that hung over the pool. It was rather amusing to watch them ", Legolas laughed lightly.
" They did not reappear for quite some time, but, of course, we Elves have greater ability to resist breath than you Humans." Legolas smirked slyly, earning one of those familiar looks from Estel that often arose whenever they were in one of their Elves-are-better-than-Humans banters.
" Elladan came up first with a loud gasp and a grin. Yet Elrohir did not return even after a moment. The eldest of your brothers immediately became distressed and uneasy. He plunged back into the depths of the pond and did not resurface for yet another long while. I watched worried, but waited. Finally, Elladan broke through the surface with Elrohir's limp body slung over one shoulder. He dragged his twin out of the water and back onto land as I hurried over. He lay out his brother carefully, panting as he sat back on his heels. Elrohir wasn't breathing and we feared the worst." Legolas was now deep in memory, going through the whole ordeal over again in his head, as vivid as reality. The footfalls of Aragorn's horse sounded throughout the wood.
" Elrohir did not answer to Elladan's shaking, so I sat on the other side of Elrohir, across from Elladan, and we worked to revive him. Elladan would dip down and lay his lips to Elrohir's' breathing into his twin until he had no breath left to be spent. Then he would rise, breathe, and I would push down on Elrohir's bare stomach, trying to rid him of the water and get his heart started again. We did this over and over, and it seemed futile,until Elladan leaned over and whispered to his beloved twin to hear his voice and return to the light before he breathed into him once more. That brought Elrohir back, thank the Valar. Yet somehow, even after that, they still do not resist fooling around ", Legolas chuckled. " Although they are a bit more careful."
" Elladan must have felt so guilty ", Estel commented, keeping his best friend occupied as he rode on.
" Indeed. But Elrohir insisted to his twin that he not be anything of the sort. He only sat up and let Elladan embrace him for a long while, before we decided to return to the palace. Elrohir has no conditions when it comes to forgiveness ", Legolas smiled warmly. " And Elladan hardly ever gets angry with him in the first place, never mind forgiving him. "
Legolas fell silent then, snuggling into Aragorn's chest whilst laying his slender hand upon the ranger's breast, over his heart. Aragorn tightened his hold on the Elf. In that moment, it truly did seem as if the blonde was a small child that the man cradled. //" Dartha go nin,"// he murmured. //Stay with me.// Legolas clutched at his tunic in reply. Aragorn lifted his head slowly, looking ahead again. The sun would sink away from the sky in a few hours time, and he wondered how long into the night he could urge his horse on.
//" Noro lim, "// Elrohir uttered as he leaned over to his stallion's ear. //Ride fast.//
//" Na Anor, mellonin! "// Elladan cried to his mount. //" Or na Imladris! "// // To the Sun, my friend! On to Imladris! //
The manes and tails of the horses, the smoothly flowing raven tresses of the Peredhel twins, the tousled hair of the ranger, and the garments that clothed each rider wavered and rippled behind them all as fluttering banners.
Into the late hours of night they rode, until their mounts could go no further. Elladan slowed, followed by Elrohir, and beckoned Aragorn to stop for a while. Their faithful horses had not complained or slackened, but had kept up the pace their masters set, even after hours of galloping. When they were finally allowed rest, they panted and trembled whilst the twins gave them water. Meanwhile, the ranger dismounted and took Legolas into his arms. He found a quiet place beneath one of the surrounding trees and lay the Elf carefully on the ground, tucking his own bundled cloak beneath the archer's head. Aragorn knelt beside Legolas and quickly unhooked the Elf's jerkin and tunic to expose his milky white torso. The scarlet wound was clearly visible in his side as the prince's chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, gleaming with sweat alike his face. Aragorn uncorked his waterskin and poured a mouthful over the Elf's wound. Legolas shuddered but did not fret. Some of the blood was washed away, but it still bled freely nonetheless. Elladan then joined his younger brother and sat on the other side of the injured blonde. He had brought Legolas' pack along, from which he drew out a flask and tossed to Aragorn. The ranger easily recognized the scent of Mirkwood wine when he opened it. Upon a cloth he poured but a little, before pressing it to Legolas' wound. The Elf hissed as it stung him, but further infection had to be prevented. Elrohir lowered himself down at Legolas' head, settling next to his twin. He looked upon his close friend tentatively, almost with fear. He watched as Elladan unwrapped some of the bandage from Aragorn's roll and his little brother gathered some athelas from his pack, crushing it and wetting it slightly with his tongue. Almost involuntarily, Elrohir took Legolas' head tenderly in his hands, stroking the Elf's brow with soothing hushes. Legolas whimpered when Aragorn applied the herb to his wound, his eyes fluttering closed for a while as he arched back just barely. The bandage Elladan had wrapped around his own hand snapped away from the roll and the elder twin unraveled it. Aragorn and Elrohir aided Legolas in sitting up, enabling Elladan to wrap the blonde's abdomen tightly. Once the bandages were pinned in place, Aragorn eased Legolas back down.
" There we are, " he murmured quietly with a small grin. " That wasn't so hard, now was it? That should slow the poison for now. Rest, mellonin."
" Estel," the archer breathed shakily, as if on the verge of tears. The ranger leaned over his best friend, running his hand gently down the side of the Elf's face. " Sleep," Aragorn cooed softly.
The prince's blue eyes closed as the ranger stroked back over his platinum hair. Elladan subconsciously reached out to his twin and pulled him to his chest, Elrohir falling against Elladan with ease. Two identical pairs of silver-gray eyes gazed down upon the prince of Mirkwood with glimmers of concern.
//" Elbereth beria le, meltha Legolas,"// Aragorn whispered, clasping his hand in the pale, slender one of his Elf brother. //Elbereth protect thee, beloved Greenleaf.//
As Aragorn lay beside Legolas' still, slumbering form, his eyes never leaving his best friend, he hoped with all his heart that Elbereth had heard his prayer. The twins sunk to the ground on the other side of the blonde archer, Elrohir still in Elladan's embrace. Hopefully, they would have no other band of unwanted visitors during the night.