A/N: Finally, the next chappie! Another cliffhanger. . . .
Hee hee. . . . And on another note, for all those who had a concern over
whether or not there would be slash in this:
There is no slash in this story in any way,shape, or form. I don't write slash - and even I did, I wouldn't post it. I much prefer intimate friendship and brotherhood. So no, no A/L slash ( -_- ), no twincest ( what kind of pervert do you think I am? ), and there will be no Elrond/Glorfindel slash in later chapter either. So there.
Thank you oodles to all my reviewers! ^_^ I love you all! Please read and review! Thank you!
( Oh, and check out my other two WIPS today, because they'll be updated: *Brothers in Heart* and *Captive* )
Chapter 5
Their snarls were sharp to his ears. He steadied his horse as the rumbling of the earth began to startle it. His eyes were wide and unwavering, never leaving his approaching enemy. He estimated there were about 50 of them at most. And only one of himself. He had two options - he could flee as fast as his faithful steed would go, or he could remain and fight a losing battle. Pride chose the latter.
Elladan felt his heart quicken and something rise in his chest. It was not fear. Nay, it would never be that. Anticipation. Yes, that's what it was. He hungered to fight the beasts, and his thirst for their blood was never fully quenched. His blade glimmered in the gray light that now fell over day, curving up into the sky above him. It was one of his most cherished possessions. Pity to have to stain it with black Orc blood.
The wind had picked up again. Elladan felt it pick up his hair and play in the hems of his robes. He wished he could speak with Elrohir now, tell how much he loved him. Elrohir knew this, and Elladan knew that his twin knew. Yet Elladan always needed to tell him again, and Elrohir always needed to hear it. Yet Elrohir must be too far away for them to commune. Elladan let his gray eyes slipped closed, a flash of the Orcs coming and going. Elrohir appeared to him in memory, fair and quiet. His twin's boundless gray eyes filled him. //Follow my heart.// Elladan let go of Elrohir and returned to the Orcs, now ever closer. His gloved hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. Without a second thought, he nudged his horse to trot forward, carrying Elrohir's heart in his chest.
Elrohir shivered as the wind swept down through his tree. He had ceased to weep, yet a few stray tears were left clinging to his face. His knees were pulled up to his chest, with his arms wrapped tightly around them. His horse still grazed quietly nearby, looking ever so often to make sure his master was still there. Elrohir shifted, knowing he could not linger here anymore. He must get home to help his father with Legolas.
He leaped out of the tree gracefully, still holding to a branch with one hand. His head suddenly snapped up, his eyes wide and breath leaving him. Elladan. Something was wrong with his brother. He knew it with a paralyzing fear. Without warning, a sharp pain burst through his chest. He cried out and clutched his right breast, gasping brokenly. Simultaneously, a vision of Elladan arching back when an Orc plunged a dagger into his chest flashed through his mind. His eyes widened further. Elladan. Orcs. Wounded.
Elrohir straightened and bound toward his horse, ignoring the ache in his chest that had come because of his twin's real wound. He must go back. He must save Elladan. His leg swung up and over his horse's back, and he was mounted. Elrohir turned back to where he had come from and set off at a gallop, urging his horse on with terror in his own core. Again, his raven tresses whipped up behind him in the wind, like a great standard. His chest throbbed, and his heart went out to Elladan. //Oh, Eru, please spare him.//
Aragorn shifted carefully beside Legolas, sitting up a bit to look down upon his beloved Greenleaf. The Elf had fallen into a fevered sleep, his breathing still labored with pain. Unconsciously, he clutched Estel's arm, not wanting the ranger to let go of him. The man's arms were cradling the blonde close to his body, with Aragorn hoping his body warmth would be shared with the Elf. They couldn't stay here any longer. They must get to Imladris. Lest he lose his best friend.
Tears sprang up in Estel's eyes, his face contorting with despair in a mere moment. What was he hoping? Legolas was dying. He knew it as any healer would when he looked at the sheet white face of Mirkwood's prince. And as Legolas' soul brother, he knew it in his heart. The mortal bit his lip to keep from letting the tears fall and buried his face in Legolas' chest, inhaling sharply when his eyes pressed shut to coincide with his tightening hold in the Elf. Yet the archer did not hug back, nor comfort him with lambent eyes and tender strokes. It was as if Estel were already holding onto a dead body.
Yet the Human refused to think on that a second longer. He could not despair now. He had to be strong and hope - for himself and for Legolas. He stood with the Elf in his arms in on quick motion and turned back to his horse. He lifted the Elf onto its back, before taking his place behind. //" Noro lim, mellonin, "// he murmured to the horse. // Ride fast, my friend.// " For Legolas." He clutched the Elf to him as the horse sped off, unaware of what circumstances the twins were in. They would reach Imladris by nightfall. He wouldn't lose Legolas. //He couldn't.//
After a good while of urging his horse as fast it could possibly go, it slowed to a good trot. It had already darkened, though the sun had been hidden for hours behind the clouds. The sky was now a very dark gray, with the wind steady in the trees. Legolas had been quiet all along, and Aragorn figured he was still quite asleep.
" Estel." The voice startled him. He looked down to his best friend, whose head was lolled on the man's chest. Legolas had awoken.
" Yes, mellonin, " Aragorn replied. " What is it?"
" Estel," Legolas said again, his weak voice almost lost in the wind. " I love you." It was a faint whisper, like a farewell. Estel felt the sting in his eyes again.
" Don't say that. You're going to live, you hear me." He couldn't say any longer, for the tears were pooled in his gray eyes like blurred clouds.
" I love you, brother," Legolas said pleasantly. " With all of my heart."
Estel bit his lip again, trying so hard not to cry. " You're not going to die, " he almost snapped. " We're going to make it to Imladris."
" Estel," the archer began in a breath. " Please." The ranger waited to hear the Elf's plea. Legolas turned his face up to stare into his beloved brother's eyes, the light in his own nearly gone. " Just tell me you love me and don't let go."
Estel's eyes glimmered dangerously, pain wrought on his face so great, it wounded Legolas. " I love you," Estel admitted. A tear escaped him. " I love you more than anything, Greenleaf. And I'll never let you go."
Legolas let his eye slip closed as one of Estel's tears fell upon his own cheek. The ranger gasped and stifled a sob as he felt the Elf turn almost on his belly to wrap his arms around Estel's torso. He did not say anything more, only wept silently as he listened to Estel's sobs.
Elrohir rode without slowing into the fray of Orcs. Many lay dead, littering the ground. His twin had done well on his own. He scanned the premises frantically for his brother, pleading with Eru in his mind to not find Elladan dead somewhere amongst the bodies. The beasts smelled the presence of a new Elf and turned on him menacingly. Only Elrohir heard the soft sound of his sword being pulled from its sheath, before he drew it out in full with haste. They closed in on him as the predators they were, and the fight began when three advanced, getting themselves killed in a moment by Elrohir. Some of them were confused, not understanding why this new Elf looked like the one they had been hunting for the past hour.
Elrohir worked his way through, taking out many in clean sweeps of his blade. He tried strenuously to protect his horse from harm, all the while searching for Elladan. It seemed as if he had gone from one side of the clearing to the other, when he finally caught site of his brother, leaning against a tree and panting. Elladan smiled wearily at his twin, his garments soaked with blood. Elrohir did not return the smile, yet his eyes grew big once more. Valar, his brother was going to die.
He urged his horse on frantically, cutting away all the Orcs who threatened to get in his way. There weren't many now, yet the ones who remained pursued him relentlessly. When he was near Elladan, he leapt from his horse and bound toward him. The elder twin let go of the tree branch above to meet Elrohir, collapsing just as his twin caught him. Elrohir lowered the both of them to their knees. Elladan's head lolled back on Elrohir's arm as he looked up into the eyes of his beloved twin and grinned through his panting.
" I knew you'd come for me," he said.
" I would never leave you to death alone," Elrohir replied. He suddenly arched back with a cry of true pain, as a scimitar struck his back, in between his shoulder blades. Elladan's smile disappeared for a moment, as Elrohir straightened again and turned around to slay the Orc who had struck him.
" Are you all right? " Elladan questioned, with solemn concern in his face. Elrohir winced, masking his pain as he felt warm blood seep through his clothes and run down his back. He nodded.
" We must get you home," he said to Elladan firmly. //O, Eru, what damnation had befallen all of them?//
Elrohir staggered to his feet with Elladan still in his hold, using the tree for support. He whistled for his horse, which reappeared promptly. The younger twin peered back at the Orcs grimly, who were somewhat confused as to what was going on and riled up. His horse brought his attention back to itself when it nuzzled Elrohir's face with its velvety nose. Elrohir smiled at it faintly. He quickly, yet carefully helped Elladan onto its back, before painfully pulling himself on behind his twin. Wherever Elladan's horse was, it would follow them home.
Aragorn's horse came to an audible stop as its hooves scraped against the ground. They had finally made it, to the doorstep of the Last Homely House. The leaves rustled away on the stone steps. The wind remained with the dark clouds that loomed above. Legolas was slumped over with his hood hiding his face, Aragorn making sure he didn't fall off the horse completely.
" Ada," he cried out. " Ada." He was screaming for Elrond now. Elrond appeared the next moment with a questioning look as to what was going on, and why he was being called in such panic.
" Estel? " he said in disbelief, when he finally saw it was his son.
" Ada, please, help," the man begged.
" What is it? What's wrong? " Elrond persisted, stepping closer.
" We were ambushed by Orcs 3 days ago. Legolas was wounded, Ada. He's dying," Estel exclaimed. Elrond's gaze fell to the slumped, hooded figure that his son held. He had barely noticed it before. It must be Legolas, he realized with a sinking feeling. And this could not be good.
Elrond outstretched his arms, an indication to Estel that he wanted Legolas. The ranger hesitantly, carefully lowered his best friend into his father's waiting arms. Elrond took the bundle and turned to hurry up the steps and back into his house, while Estel dismounted his horse and leapt after his father.
" Are you hurt? " Elrond questioned.
" No," Estel answered, much to Elrond's relief.
" Where is he wounded? " the Elf lord continued.
" An arrow pierced his right side, and it was toxic."
Elrond sighed in distress at the words. If this had happened 3 days ago, then Legolas' whole body was intoxicated. And he had lost an enormous amount of blood without stitches for his wound. Elrond knew Estel had had no time to stitch up the wound, and perhaps not the proper tools. Damnation, this was not good.
Elrond turned and slipped into the healing ward, Estel following. The vast chamber was empty, save for Glorfindel, who was Elrond's best friend and healing assistant. The handsome, golden-haired Elf looked up at the noise. He gave Elrond a questioning look.
" Hurry, Glorfindel," Elrond beckoned. " Legolas fades."
Glorfindel's eyes widened and he swept off to fetch a hoard of healing properties. Elrond lay the prince on one of the beds, Legolas remaining still and unconscious. He was as pale as death. Estel hovered over Elrond's shoulder, with panic and worry in his young face.
" Estel, you must go," Elrond murmured.
" But, Ada, I cannot leave him," the ranger protested aghast.
" You must," Elrond insisted, turning to look at his son. Aragorn hesitated for a moment, looking from his father to Legolas.
" Save him," he said, before fleeing the healing ward to wait restlessly outside the door.
Elrond looked back to Legolas with a grim, despaired expression upon his ageless face. He couldn't let his son know that Legolas was already dead.
" Glorfindel, haste," he called out. And then a new thought entered his mind. Where were his twins?
There is no slash in this story in any way,shape, or form. I don't write slash - and even I did, I wouldn't post it. I much prefer intimate friendship and brotherhood. So no, no A/L slash ( -_- ), no twincest ( what kind of pervert do you think I am? ), and there will be no Elrond/Glorfindel slash in later chapter either. So there.
Thank you oodles to all my reviewers! ^_^ I love you all! Please read and review! Thank you!
( Oh, and check out my other two WIPS today, because they'll be updated: *Brothers in Heart* and *Captive* )
Chapter 5
Their snarls were sharp to his ears. He steadied his horse as the rumbling of the earth began to startle it. His eyes were wide and unwavering, never leaving his approaching enemy. He estimated there were about 50 of them at most. And only one of himself. He had two options - he could flee as fast as his faithful steed would go, or he could remain and fight a losing battle. Pride chose the latter.
Elladan felt his heart quicken and something rise in his chest. It was not fear. Nay, it would never be that. Anticipation. Yes, that's what it was. He hungered to fight the beasts, and his thirst for their blood was never fully quenched. His blade glimmered in the gray light that now fell over day, curving up into the sky above him. It was one of his most cherished possessions. Pity to have to stain it with black Orc blood.
The wind had picked up again. Elladan felt it pick up his hair and play in the hems of his robes. He wished he could speak with Elrohir now, tell how much he loved him. Elrohir knew this, and Elladan knew that his twin knew. Yet Elladan always needed to tell him again, and Elrohir always needed to hear it. Yet Elrohir must be too far away for them to commune. Elladan let his gray eyes slipped closed, a flash of the Orcs coming and going. Elrohir appeared to him in memory, fair and quiet. His twin's boundless gray eyes filled him. //Follow my heart.// Elladan let go of Elrohir and returned to the Orcs, now ever closer. His gloved hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. Without a second thought, he nudged his horse to trot forward, carrying Elrohir's heart in his chest.
Elrohir shivered as the wind swept down through his tree. He had ceased to weep, yet a few stray tears were left clinging to his face. His knees were pulled up to his chest, with his arms wrapped tightly around them. His horse still grazed quietly nearby, looking ever so often to make sure his master was still there. Elrohir shifted, knowing he could not linger here anymore. He must get home to help his father with Legolas.
He leaped out of the tree gracefully, still holding to a branch with one hand. His head suddenly snapped up, his eyes wide and breath leaving him. Elladan. Something was wrong with his brother. He knew it with a paralyzing fear. Without warning, a sharp pain burst through his chest. He cried out and clutched his right breast, gasping brokenly. Simultaneously, a vision of Elladan arching back when an Orc plunged a dagger into his chest flashed through his mind. His eyes widened further. Elladan. Orcs. Wounded.
Elrohir straightened and bound toward his horse, ignoring the ache in his chest that had come because of his twin's real wound. He must go back. He must save Elladan. His leg swung up and over his horse's back, and he was mounted. Elrohir turned back to where he had come from and set off at a gallop, urging his horse on with terror in his own core. Again, his raven tresses whipped up behind him in the wind, like a great standard. His chest throbbed, and his heart went out to Elladan. //Oh, Eru, please spare him.//
Aragorn shifted carefully beside Legolas, sitting up a bit to look down upon his beloved Greenleaf. The Elf had fallen into a fevered sleep, his breathing still labored with pain. Unconsciously, he clutched Estel's arm, not wanting the ranger to let go of him. The man's arms were cradling the blonde close to his body, with Aragorn hoping his body warmth would be shared with the Elf. They couldn't stay here any longer. They must get to Imladris. Lest he lose his best friend.
Tears sprang up in Estel's eyes, his face contorting with despair in a mere moment. What was he hoping? Legolas was dying. He knew it as any healer would when he looked at the sheet white face of Mirkwood's prince. And as Legolas' soul brother, he knew it in his heart. The mortal bit his lip to keep from letting the tears fall and buried his face in Legolas' chest, inhaling sharply when his eyes pressed shut to coincide with his tightening hold in the Elf. Yet the archer did not hug back, nor comfort him with lambent eyes and tender strokes. It was as if Estel were already holding onto a dead body.
Yet the Human refused to think on that a second longer. He could not despair now. He had to be strong and hope - for himself and for Legolas. He stood with the Elf in his arms in on quick motion and turned back to his horse. He lifted the Elf onto its back, before taking his place behind. //" Noro lim, mellonin, "// he murmured to the horse. // Ride fast, my friend.// " For Legolas." He clutched the Elf to him as the horse sped off, unaware of what circumstances the twins were in. They would reach Imladris by nightfall. He wouldn't lose Legolas. //He couldn't.//
After a good while of urging his horse as fast it could possibly go, it slowed to a good trot. It had already darkened, though the sun had been hidden for hours behind the clouds. The sky was now a very dark gray, with the wind steady in the trees. Legolas had been quiet all along, and Aragorn figured he was still quite asleep.
" Estel." The voice startled him. He looked down to his best friend, whose head was lolled on the man's chest. Legolas had awoken.
" Yes, mellonin, " Aragorn replied. " What is it?"
" Estel," Legolas said again, his weak voice almost lost in the wind. " I love you." It was a faint whisper, like a farewell. Estel felt the sting in his eyes again.
" Don't say that. You're going to live, you hear me." He couldn't say any longer, for the tears were pooled in his gray eyes like blurred clouds.
" I love you, brother," Legolas said pleasantly. " With all of my heart."
Estel bit his lip again, trying so hard not to cry. " You're not going to die, " he almost snapped. " We're going to make it to Imladris."
" Estel," the archer began in a breath. " Please." The ranger waited to hear the Elf's plea. Legolas turned his face up to stare into his beloved brother's eyes, the light in his own nearly gone. " Just tell me you love me and don't let go."
Estel's eyes glimmered dangerously, pain wrought on his face so great, it wounded Legolas. " I love you," Estel admitted. A tear escaped him. " I love you more than anything, Greenleaf. And I'll never let you go."
Legolas let his eye slip closed as one of Estel's tears fell upon his own cheek. The ranger gasped and stifled a sob as he felt the Elf turn almost on his belly to wrap his arms around Estel's torso. He did not say anything more, only wept silently as he listened to Estel's sobs.
Elrohir rode without slowing into the fray of Orcs. Many lay dead, littering the ground. His twin had done well on his own. He scanned the premises frantically for his brother, pleading with Eru in his mind to not find Elladan dead somewhere amongst the bodies. The beasts smelled the presence of a new Elf and turned on him menacingly. Only Elrohir heard the soft sound of his sword being pulled from its sheath, before he drew it out in full with haste. They closed in on him as the predators they were, and the fight began when three advanced, getting themselves killed in a moment by Elrohir. Some of them were confused, not understanding why this new Elf looked like the one they had been hunting for the past hour.
Elrohir worked his way through, taking out many in clean sweeps of his blade. He tried strenuously to protect his horse from harm, all the while searching for Elladan. It seemed as if he had gone from one side of the clearing to the other, when he finally caught site of his brother, leaning against a tree and panting. Elladan smiled wearily at his twin, his garments soaked with blood. Elrohir did not return the smile, yet his eyes grew big once more. Valar, his brother was going to die.
He urged his horse on frantically, cutting away all the Orcs who threatened to get in his way. There weren't many now, yet the ones who remained pursued him relentlessly. When he was near Elladan, he leapt from his horse and bound toward him. The elder twin let go of the tree branch above to meet Elrohir, collapsing just as his twin caught him. Elrohir lowered the both of them to their knees. Elladan's head lolled back on Elrohir's arm as he looked up into the eyes of his beloved twin and grinned through his panting.
" I knew you'd come for me," he said.
" I would never leave you to death alone," Elrohir replied. He suddenly arched back with a cry of true pain, as a scimitar struck his back, in between his shoulder blades. Elladan's smile disappeared for a moment, as Elrohir straightened again and turned around to slay the Orc who had struck him.
" Are you all right? " Elladan questioned, with solemn concern in his face. Elrohir winced, masking his pain as he felt warm blood seep through his clothes and run down his back. He nodded.
" We must get you home," he said to Elladan firmly. //O, Eru, what damnation had befallen all of them?//
Elrohir staggered to his feet with Elladan still in his hold, using the tree for support. He whistled for his horse, which reappeared promptly. The younger twin peered back at the Orcs grimly, who were somewhat confused as to what was going on and riled up. His horse brought his attention back to itself when it nuzzled Elrohir's face with its velvety nose. Elrohir smiled at it faintly. He quickly, yet carefully helped Elladan onto its back, before painfully pulling himself on behind his twin. Wherever Elladan's horse was, it would follow them home.
Aragorn's horse came to an audible stop as its hooves scraped against the ground. They had finally made it, to the doorstep of the Last Homely House. The leaves rustled away on the stone steps. The wind remained with the dark clouds that loomed above. Legolas was slumped over with his hood hiding his face, Aragorn making sure he didn't fall off the horse completely.
" Ada," he cried out. " Ada." He was screaming for Elrond now. Elrond appeared the next moment with a questioning look as to what was going on, and why he was being called in such panic.
" Estel? " he said in disbelief, when he finally saw it was his son.
" Ada, please, help," the man begged.
" What is it? What's wrong? " Elrond persisted, stepping closer.
" We were ambushed by Orcs 3 days ago. Legolas was wounded, Ada. He's dying," Estel exclaimed. Elrond's gaze fell to the slumped, hooded figure that his son held. He had barely noticed it before. It must be Legolas, he realized with a sinking feeling. And this could not be good.
Elrond outstretched his arms, an indication to Estel that he wanted Legolas. The ranger hesitantly, carefully lowered his best friend into his father's waiting arms. Elrond took the bundle and turned to hurry up the steps and back into his house, while Estel dismounted his horse and leapt after his father.
" Are you hurt? " Elrond questioned.
" No," Estel answered, much to Elrond's relief.
" Where is he wounded? " the Elf lord continued.
" An arrow pierced his right side, and it was toxic."
Elrond sighed in distress at the words. If this had happened 3 days ago, then Legolas' whole body was intoxicated. And he had lost an enormous amount of blood without stitches for his wound. Elrond knew Estel had had no time to stitch up the wound, and perhaps not the proper tools. Damnation, this was not good.
Elrond turned and slipped into the healing ward, Estel following. The vast chamber was empty, save for Glorfindel, who was Elrond's best friend and healing assistant. The handsome, golden-haired Elf looked up at the noise. He gave Elrond a questioning look.
" Hurry, Glorfindel," Elrond beckoned. " Legolas fades."
Glorfindel's eyes widened and he swept off to fetch a hoard of healing properties. Elrond lay the prince on one of the beds, Legolas remaining still and unconscious. He was as pale as death. Estel hovered over Elrond's shoulder, with panic and worry in his young face.
" Estel, you must go," Elrond murmured.
" But, Ada, I cannot leave him," the ranger protested aghast.
" You must," Elrond insisted, turning to look at his son. Aragorn hesitated for a moment, looking from his father to Legolas.
" Save him," he said, before fleeing the healing ward to wait restlessly outside the door.
Elrond looked back to Legolas with a grim, despaired expression upon his ageless face. He couldn't let his son know that Legolas was already dead.
" Glorfindel, haste," he called out. And then a new thought entered his mind. Where were his twins?