Summary: Legolas was the pride and joy of his father's heart until a tragic experience maims his soul and mind, forcing him to leave everything he has ever known. Aragorn was running away from a world where he felt that he would never fit in. And when their paths cross, nothing will ever be the same.
Disclaimer: I'm not Tolkien, but I do own a 6" Legolas standee.
Warnings: Elf torture, angst, violence, harassment, fever, blood, etc. I go along the idea that Arathorn and his wife were both killed, so Aragorn's only family is Elrond, Elladan, and Elrohir. Aragorn is about twenty and has only recently been told of his heritage. Legolas, for his part, is younger than Elrond, and has only his father for family. Elvish= ~Elvish words~. Flashbacks will be written in //these things//This is my first fic, a.k.a; pardon my mistakes.
Also, plant/animal voices and contacts with plants/animals are portrayed in ~this~ as well. I like to think that animals speak Elvish…
Chapter Seven: Broken Oath
"Elladan? Elrohir?"
Elrohir looked up at the sound of his father's surprised voice. Elrond looked tired. Dark circles shadowed his grey eyes, and he looked…old. The Elf shivered. The thought made him uncomfortable. Elves grew more beautiful with age, unlike the ways of mortals. Only grief or pain tended to age them. Elrond had never seemed so mortal.
Elladan whimpered in his arms.
"It's alright, brother," he assured him, rubbing his back. "It's Ada."
Their father gracefully knelt beside them. He smiled at Elladan, a weary gesture that seemed almost empty. They each were scared when they saw so little of what the other used to be, though Elrond masked it with his cheerful manner.
"Are you feeling better, Elladan?" he asked his son gently. He had hoped that the Elf had recovered from the loss, though he did not blame him for his sorrow.
"Is this how you feel when we travel with the Dùnedan?" Elladan whispered weakly. "Is this how you feel while we stray from home, avenging mother? Do you feel the grief that I hold in my heart, this consuming pain?"
"No," his father answered immediately. "Not that kind of grief. I know that you both are handling Celebrian's absence by battling Orcs and other fiends of Morgorth. I know that you are strong, proud warriors now. I can believe in your skills, and remember that you are safe. What you feel is different, Elladan. When the two of you leave, I can look for you on a map and know the risks. We do not know where Aragorn has gone. We do not know his dangers."
His dangers… Aragorn could join the enemy, forsaking Middle-Earth to eternal darkness. There was no other that the people of Gondor would follow. No one else had such a sure claim to the White City's throne. If Aragorn had truly united with evil, then there was no greater doom.
Elladan spoke then for them both.
"I can't imagine him leaving, Father. I still think of Estel as the little child that ran to me when he had scratches or a bad bruise. The child that I used to play with. Even as he grew, Elrohir and I bonded even deeper then ever before. How could he hurt me like this, Ada? How could he torment me so?"
Elrond leaned forward and held both of his sons in a loving embrace.
"We shall find him," he murmured, with more assurance than he felt in his heart. "We shall find him."
Elrohir said nothing, but his eyes burned with angry fires as watched tears trickle down his brother's thin face.
'Oh, we will find him,' he thought to himself. 'Then he will know of Elladan's pain.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thoron rubbed his eyes in the fresh stream of morning light. He groaned softly as his aching body was forced into motion, but managed to rise and pull a pair of simple, brown breeches and a light, white cotton shirt onto his thin frame. He began packing their supplies, neatly folding the blankets and organizing the healer's kit.
Estel, it appeared, had fallen asleep on his watch. The Elf said naught, still silently fearing the feel of a whip on his sore, scarred back. Instead, he gently woke Thalion, stroking the stallion's side with gentle fingers. The steed snorted at him, and Thoron smiled.
"Come now, Master Horse," he croaked, his sore throat stinging in protest. "It is time to rise!"
Thalion nuzzled his cheek lovingly and struggled to his feet.
~Are you feeling better, Elf child?~
Thoron whirled his head around, looking for the source of the noise. A soft laugh sounded in his head.
~It is I, little one,~ Thalion told him. ~Did you not realize your own abilities? All Elves have some of nature's love in them. You seem to have the strongest that I have ever seen!~
He closed his eyes and thought hard, trying to reply.
~No, no. Try to imagine the world through my eyes. That works best.~
Thoron imagined the freedom of a horse. He imagined galloping through green plains, eating sweet grasses, and drinking from clean, cool streams. He sighed as he settled into the other's skin.
~Like this?~ he asked him, giddy with pleasure.
~That's wonderful,~ Thalion assured him. ~You seem to enjoy my world. I only wish that I could say the same for your own troubles. Your life is troublesome, Elfling!~
Thoron nodded slowly, and tears trickled down his ivory cheeks as he bent his head in shame. His chest was weighted with grief. He gasped as he tried to lighten his burden. He knew this feeling…
It was the awful sense that he had when his master tried to contact him, as if he was being torn open and all of his thoughts and emotions were revealed to the world to see. It was like he would never have anything for himself ever again, and his very soul was being probed and plundered.
Thoron bent over in pain, clutching his chest and wailing with sorrow. Any moment now, he would hear that loathsome voice calling to him, ready to demand horrible things from him…
Suddenly, white light flooded his eyes, and he could breathe again. When the brilliance cleared, he could see Thalion's strong head pressed against his chest. The horse was protecting him from the blow.
"Thank you!" he cried, hugging the horse's neck. "Oh, Valar, thank you!"
Wearily, the stallion raised his head and allowed him to kiss the bridge of his nose. The Elf could feel him give the equivalent of a smile in his mind and knew that he appreciated the thanks.
~It is fine, now, little one. He shall not try that for a while. Who was he?~
"Thoron?"
He whipped his head up, heart drumming in fright…
It was the Man.
Estel was ready to continue traveling.
He tightened Thalion's saddle, an action which made Thoron nervous. Would the horse let anyone fall? He relayed the question nervously to the mighty steed.
~No, child. I would never attempt such an action, no matter how silly the Man gets. I guard him, and take care of him, but his balance is poorer than yours. He needs the saddle.~
Estel climbed atop his back and looked down at his companion's frightened face.
"Come, Master Elf," he said gently. "Where do you wish to sit?"
He gulped and carefully sat behind him, gingerly placing his arms around his waist.
"Gallop forwards," Estel commanded, and they were off.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was a few hours into the journey when Thoron asked softly: "Where are we headed?"
Aragorn stiffened for a moment, as he had almost forgotten his new, silent friend.
"Away," he answered vaguely. "Far from Rivendell, from civilization, from home… We go where no one will harm us."
"Where is that?" Thoron requested.
There was no answer.
~You both match, I suppose you could say,~ Thalion told him.
~What do you mean?~ The Elf asked.
~My master was going insane when you found him and saved his life,~ he explained. ~Then he saved yours. He refuses to believe that he has a family, and you don't know your own. You are the Dark, and he is the Light. Or perhaps the other way around… You are both lost, and now you are lost together. It is only a while until one of you is found.~
And that made perfect sense to the horse.
Thoron peered into the distance with his farsighted eyes. They glistened like deep blue water under the noon sun as he spied a thick forest ahead. He called a soft warning to the Man.
Estel merely nodded absently. He was not truly listening. Instead, he was deep in battle with a lost memory.
//The wind played with his hair, making him laugh with joy. He stumbled on his clumsy child's legs through the tall grasses that wound about him like a wild jungle.
"El-ro-hir?" he sang under the warm sunlight. "El-la-dan?"
The brothers had said that they would meet him here, but he could not find them. Yet Estel was a happy little boy, and he ran through the tangled field with glee, chasing butterflies and watching birds.
Then night came.
Every strand of grass loomed over him like a haunted tree; every sound was a rabid wolf or a bloodthirsty Orc. The wind that had made him giggle was now fierce and cold. He started to sob in fear, tripping as he tried to escape the labyrinth of death.
Soon he found a dark wood, filled with more terrible noises. Suddenly, he heard horse's hooves and the clash of swords. A piercing, high-pitched scream ripped through the air.
Estel hid under a bush as the clamor passed. The thorns scratched his skin and drew blood, but he knew that he needed to be quiet.
Hideous voices hurt his sensitive ears as they whispered cruel things to one another.
"What should we do with her?" one cruel voice rasped.
"Leave her," croaked another. "We have no further use for her."
After what felt like an eternity, the black hooves of many horses passed, and then all was silent.
When he left his hideout, there was the most gorgeous Elf he had ever seen lying there upon the earth, dripping red blood all over. She opened her dying eyes and called to him in a melodic voice.
"Ion nin?" she whispered. "Come to me, my precious one."
Estel obeyed, shaking all over with sadness and fear. She held him in her bloody arms, stroking his hair.
"Hannon le, my sunshine, for returning to me. Ada will return for you, my baby, and you must take care of your sister for me. Do you understand?"
He hesitated. Clearly, she mistook him for her baby boy! Then he answered.
"Yes, Mommy," he replied, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I understand."
She smiled, like sunlight through the darkness, and kissed his head. And then the light faded from her beautiful blue eyes and she passed away.//
Aragorn would never forget the day when his innocence was lost. That horrible day when he realized how bad the world was and how his family could not save him from it. A week later, he had begun to train in secret with a sword.
He never discovered where his so-called brothers had been that day.
"Estel!" Thoron cried. "There are deer ahead!"
Aragorn's eyes focused and he drew his bow, sending an arrow with black speckled fletching into the heart of the herd. The cry of a wounded beast sounded, and the deer started to flee, kicking up a trail of dust. Through all of the chaos, Thoron could make out Estel's voice.
"Shoot one, Master Elf! We may not see such food for a while!"
Hands trembling, he strung his own bow and leapt off the horse. Thalion galloped away, chasing his prey.
~I shall return, young master. Do not fear.~
The Elf peered into the fray as he ran, finding a white deer. It was as pure as snowfall, and made his heart faint with joy. But his friend wanted the creature, and he would not be a weakling.
He chased it, making his way through the confusion of leaping animals. The white deer was the fastest of them all, but he was even faster. His bowstring sang and a fine arrow pierced its side. It fell with a cry and stumbled to its knees.
Eagerly, he ran to the felled creature and found it still living. The white fur was stained with red blood. He faltered and knelt beside it, burying his fingers in the coat and retrieving his arrow. Blood streamed from the wound in warm streams that stained his thin hands.
It turned to face him, its huge brown eyes filled with pain and loss. He knew, then, that he had wounded a female with young.
Horrified, he tore a strip from his tunic to staunch the blood, tears trailing down his pale cheeks.
"I'm so sorry…" he whispered. "I'm so sorry, so sorry, so very sorry…"
~Why, my prince? Why have you done this? You promised me that you would always protect me and my people. Why did you lie?~
"I didn't mean to," he sobbed. "I never meant to hurt you…oh, I deserve to die."
~How could you do this, my lord?~
The blood slowed and Thoron watched her eyes glaze and grow dull. He gathered her into his arms, caressing the snowy fur and crying.
~How…could…you?~
The golden light of life forsook her entirely, and he carried her to Estel. The Man held two deer by their ankles. His smile vanished when he saw his comrade.
"Thoron?"
The Elf was a sight, his blond hair tangled and his arms stained with fresh blood. His horrified eyes were red-rimmed and crystal tears trickled down his face as he cradled the dead mother like a lost love, whimpering with sorrow and grief.
He did not speak, and perhaps he could not speak, but Aragorn knew what had occurred. He did not know what to do, though. The poor thing looked so utterly forsaken.
Estel placed his hand on Thoron's thin back. He moaned softly and fell to his knees.
"I broke an oath," he murmured. "I killed her and I broke my oath. I gave her solemn word that I would protect both she and her herds, and I did…this."
Estel was reminded of that horrible day in the forest as he knelt beside him. He was torn. Part of him wanted to let the Elf cry out his pain, but the other was wiser.
"It will be alright," he soothed. "She will forgive you, Thoron. You broke her oath, and now you must redeem yourself."
"How?" Thoron asked.
"By remembering her, and renewing your vow. You can keep protecting them, Master Elf. You won't forget again."
"But we're eating them, Estel!" he sobbed.
"No," Estel reminded him. "I am eating them. You don't need to. I have dried meats and fruits in my pouch."
The Elf looked down and kept stroking the cold body. Estel took her gently away. Thoron screamed and reached for it, but he held him away.
"You're dishonoring her body," he said simply.
The poor thing kept crying, though, as Aragorn dug a grave for her. Out of the corner of his eye, the Man saw Thalion rub his head against the Elf's.
~Why do you weep, my little Elfling?~
~I knew her,~ he said simply. ~I helped her great-grandmother give birth to her grandmother, her grandmother to her mother, and her mother give birth to her. I named her Nimloth, and I promised to always protect her… that is all that I recall. She knew who I was, but I didn't ask for my name. I'll never know, now.~
He gasped as he tried to even his breath, choking on the air. Thalion nuzzled his back comfortingly.
~Shh…~the horse soothed. ~I'm here, child. I shall protect you.~
~Can you protect me from myself?~
The horse had no answer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yeah, kind of short, I know…
I saw ROTK on Wednesday. Someone next to me wouldn't shut up, and some jerk screamed, "Haleluya!" when it ended, but it was THE BEST MOVIE IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry…. Legolas was SO HOT! You can totally tell that Peter Jackson wanted it to sound like they had known each other, because he didn't thank Gimli. It was like he was saying. "Thanks for all of our adventures over the years. Here's a new one. Let's make it last."
And the Oliphant vs. Legolas thing…
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I have some time before my B-day party, so here's what you've all been waiting for…the reviews! (I fixed it. Now people without official names can review too! Thanks for letting me know!"
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Deana: Yeah, you have to love him when he's like that…Makes you want to hold him really tight…I wish… Sorry for the delay!
Elenillor: Thanks! I never left! (See bio) I was studying for midterms that took 5 minutes in actuality…sigh…teachers never tell you that while you're studying, woe is me.
Astievia: Ew! I find that really gross when authors do that! They're BROTHERS, for the Valars' sake! No, just a whole lot of brother stuff…I usually left Elladan and Elrohir to their own business while I was writing fanfiction in my spare time, so now I'm testing them out. Plus, I think that there's MORE then enough Elladan torture to go around! Here's your Elf angst, hot off the oven! Please come again soon!
Shanna1826: ¡Gracias! Intenté ser exacto. Temo que no pueda decirle que qué le sucederá ambos, solamente prometo que Aragorn encontrará Rivendell otra vez. ¡Estoy apesadumbrado que era atrasado!
Gywn: I DO have a real updating problem, don't I? Sorry… You'll have to keep guessing, though, because that's only a bit of it! I have a hyper-active imagination, and a VERY special muse! Thanks for reviewing!
leggylover03: Sorry I was late! I swear that I tried!
Das Blume: I'll make a little Elvish-English glossary at the bottom next time! Thanks for reviewing!
Tis a Pirates Life for I: WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERYONE should eat as much sugar as you, if that's the result! Thanks a TON! Sorry for my lateness!
Snuffles2: Whew! It was your bravery that saved me from the wolves today! I salute you! (and swear that some of those people had fangs…shudder) Thanks!
marbienl: Interesting name, and a LONG review…cool! But, dude, I never said it was Saruman. I haven't even MENTIONED Saruman. And, just so you know, it ISN'T SARUMAN! Sorry…I got carried away. But my point is, I'm an original writer, and I'm doing stuff that hasn't been done before. So many people have used Saruman that it isn't original any longer. Plus, if Gandalf didn't have suspicion until he was actually captured, then none of the others will. Thoron is really weak, too, so I don't think that the voice lost and let him have his words back…I think there could be a reason (hint, hint) Thanks for the compliments! I try to make it really angsty! I love stories where you get to cry… This was an enjoyable review, and I loved reading it! It made me feel all warm and fuzzy…
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THANKS AN OCTILLION, GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ANYWAY…my muse is busy in my sister's room, ripping up her Chanukah present and using the batteries to power her Doomsday Device…don't look at me. SHE'S the evil genius…
(An explosion fills the air and dead bodies litter the earth)
Of course, I'm worried about being sued. I'm worried that she'll be torn limb from limb when my sister finds out….
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
(Snort, snort)
"YE SHALT PERISH!"
(Kung-fu time)
Yeah, a bit of over-exaggerating…My sis never says "ye"…
Disclaimer: I'm not Tolkien, but I do own a 6" Legolas standee.
Warnings: Elf torture, angst, violence, harassment, fever, blood, etc. I go along the idea that Arathorn and his wife were both killed, so Aragorn's only family is Elrond, Elladan, and Elrohir. Aragorn is about twenty and has only recently been told of his heritage. Legolas, for his part, is younger than Elrond, and has only his father for family. Elvish= ~Elvish words~. Flashbacks will be written in //these things//This is my first fic, a.k.a; pardon my mistakes.
Also, plant/animal voices and contacts with plants/animals are portrayed in ~this~ as well. I like to think that animals speak Elvish…
Chapter Seven: Broken Oath
"Elladan? Elrohir?"
Elrohir looked up at the sound of his father's surprised voice. Elrond looked tired. Dark circles shadowed his grey eyes, and he looked…old. The Elf shivered. The thought made him uncomfortable. Elves grew more beautiful with age, unlike the ways of mortals. Only grief or pain tended to age them. Elrond had never seemed so mortal.
Elladan whimpered in his arms.
"It's alright, brother," he assured him, rubbing his back. "It's Ada."
Their father gracefully knelt beside them. He smiled at Elladan, a weary gesture that seemed almost empty. They each were scared when they saw so little of what the other used to be, though Elrond masked it with his cheerful manner.
"Are you feeling better, Elladan?" he asked his son gently. He had hoped that the Elf had recovered from the loss, though he did not blame him for his sorrow.
"Is this how you feel when we travel with the Dùnedan?" Elladan whispered weakly. "Is this how you feel while we stray from home, avenging mother? Do you feel the grief that I hold in my heart, this consuming pain?"
"No," his father answered immediately. "Not that kind of grief. I know that you both are handling Celebrian's absence by battling Orcs and other fiends of Morgorth. I know that you are strong, proud warriors now. I can believe in your skills, and remember that you are safe. What you feel is different, Elladan. When the two of you leave, I can look for you on a map and know the risks. We do not know where Aragorn has gone. We do not know his dangers."
His dangers… Aragorn could join the enemy, forsaking Middle-Earth to eternal darkness. There was no other that the people of Gondor would follow. No one else had such a sure claim to the White City's throne. If Aragorn had truly united with evil, then there was no greater doom.
Elladan spoke then for them both.
"I can't imagine him leaving, Father. I still think of Estel as the little child that ran to me when he had scratches or a bad bruise. The child that I used to play with. Even as he grew, Elrohir and I bonded even deeper then ever before. How could he hurt me like this, Ada? How could he torment me so?"
Elrond leaned forward and held both of his sons in a loving embrace.
"We shall find him," he murmured, with more assurance than he felt in his heart. "We shall find him."
Elrohir said nothing, but his eyes burned with angry fires as watched tears trickle down his brother's thin face.
'Oh, we will find him,' he thought to himself. 'Then he will know of Elladan's pain.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thoron rubbed his eyes in the fresh stream of morning light. He groaned softly as his aching body was forced into motion, but managed to rise and pull a pair of simple, brown breeches and a light, white cotton shirt onto his thin frame. He began packing their supplies, neatly folding the blankets and organizing the healer's kit.
Estel, it appeared, had fallen asleep on his watch. The Elf said naught, still silently fearing the feel of a whip on his sore, scarred back. Instead, he gently woke Thalion, stroking the stallion's side with gentle fingers. The steed snorted at him, and Thoron smiled.
"Come now, Master Horse," he croaked, his sore throat stinging in protest. "It is time to rise!"
Thalion nuzzled his cheek lovingly and struggled to his feet.
~Are you feeling better, Elf child?~
Thoron whirled his head around, looking for the source of the noise. A soft laugh sounded in his head.
~It is I, little one,~ Thalion told him. ~Did you not realize your own abilities? All Elves have some of nature's love in them. You seem to have the strongest that I have ever seen!~
He closed his eyes and thought hard, trying to reply.
~No, no. Try to imagine the world through my eyes. That works best.~
Thoron imagined the freedom of a horse. He imagined galloping through green plains, eating sweet grasses, and drinking from clean, cool streams. He sighed as he settled into the other's skin.
~Like this?~ he asked him, giddy with pleasure.
~That's wonderful,~ Thalion assured him. ~You seem to enjoy my world. I only wish that I could say the same for your own troubles. Your life is troublesome, Elfling!~
Thoron nodded slowly, and tears trickled down his ivory cheeks as he bent his head in shame. His chest was weighted with grief. He gasped as he tried to lighten his burden. He knew this feeling…
It was the awful sense that he had when his master tried to contact him, as if he was being torn open and all of his thoughts and emotions were revealed to the world to see. It was like he would never have anything for himself ever again, and his very soul was being probed and plundered.
Thoron bent over in pain, clutching his chest and wailing with sorrow. Any moment now, he would hear that loathsome voice calling to him, ready to demand horrible things from him…
Suddenly, white light flooded his eyes, and he could breathe again. When the brilliance cleared, he could see Thalion's strong head pressed against his chest. The horse was protecting him from the blow.
"Thank you!" he cried, hugging the horse's neck. "Oh, Valar, thank you!"
Wearily, the stallion raised his head and allowed him to kiss the bridge of his nose. The Elf could feel him give the equivalent of a smile in his mind and knew that he appreciated the thanks.
~It is fine, now, little one. He shall not try that for a while. Who was he?~
"Thoron?"
He whipped his head up, heart drumming in fright…
It was the Man.
Estel was ready to continue traveling.
He tightened Thalion's saddle, an action which made Thoron nervous. Would the horse let anyone fall? He relayed the question nervously to the mighty steed.
~No, child. I would never attempt such an action, no matter how silly the Man gets. I guard him, and take care of him, but his balance is poorer than yours. He needs the saddle.~
Estel climbed atop his back and looked down at his companion's frightened face.
"Come, Master Elf," he said gently. "Where do you wish to sit?"
He gulped and carefully sat behind him, gingerly placing his arms around his waist.
"Gallop forwards," Estel commanded, and they were off.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was a few hours into the journey when Thoron asked softly: "Where are we headed?"
Aragorn stiffened for a moment, as he had almost forgotten his new, silent friend.
"Away," he answered vaguely. "Far from Rivendell, from civilization, from home… We go where no one will harm us."
"Where is that?" Thoron requested.
There was no answer.
~You both match, I suppose you could say,~ Thalion told him.
~What do you mean?~ The Elf asked.
~My master was going insane when you found him and saved his life,~ he explained. ~Then he saved yours. He refuses to believe that he has a family, and you don't know your own. You are the Dark, and he is the Light. Or perhaps the other way around… You are both lost, and now you are lost together. It is only a while until one of you is found.~
And that made perfect sense to the horse.
Thoron peered into the distance with his farsighted eyes. They glistened like deep blue water under the noon sun as he spied a thick forest ahead. He called a soft warning to the Man.
Estel merely nodded absently. He was not truly listening. Instead, he was deep in battle with a lost memory.
//The wind played with his hair, making him laugh with joy. He stumbled on his clumsy child's legs through the tall grasses that wound about him like a wild jungle.
"El-ro-hir?" he sang under the warm sunlight. "El-la-dan?"
The brothers had said that they would meet him here, but he could not find them. Yet Estel was a happy little boy, and he ran through the tangled field with glee, chasing butterflies and watching birds.
Then night came.
Every strand of grass loomed over him like a haunted tree; every sound was a rabid wolf or a bloodthirsty Orc. The wind that had made him giggle was now fierce and cold. He started to sob in fear, tripping as he tried to escape the labyrinth of death.
Soon he found a dark wood, filled with more terrible noises. Suddenly, he heard horse's hooves and the clash of swords. A piercing, high-pitched scream ripped through the air.
Estel hid under a bush as the clamor passed. The thorns scratched his skin and drew blood, but he knew that he needed to be quiet.
Hideous voices hurt his sensitive ears as they whispered cruel things to one another.
"What should we do with her?" one cruel voice rasped.
"Leave her," croaked another. "We have no further use for her."
After what felt like an eternity, the black hooves of many horses passed, and then all was silent.
When he left his hideout, there was the most gorgeous Elf he had ever seen lying there upon the earth, dripping red blood all over. She opened her dying eyes and called to him in a melodic voice.
"Ion nin?" she whispered. "Come to me, my precious one."
Estel obeyed, shaking all over with sadness and fear. She held him in her bloody arms, stroking his hair.
"Hannon le, my sunshine, for returning to me. Ada will return for you, my baby, and you must take care of your sister for me. Do you understand?"
He hesitated. Clearly, she mistook him for her baby boy! Then he answered.
"Yes, Mommy," he replied, tears rolling down his cheeks. "I understand."
She smiled, like sunlight through the darkness, and kissed his head. And then the light faded from her beautiful blue eyes and she passed away.//
Aragorn would never forget the day when his innocence was lost. That horrible day when he realized how bad the world was and how his family could not save him from it. A week later, he had begun to train in secret with a sword.
He never discovered where his so-called brothers had been that day.
"Estel!" Thoron cried. "There are deer ahead!"
Aragorn's eyes focused and he drew his bow, sending an arrow with black speckled fletching into the heart of the herd. The cry of a wounded beast sounded, and the deer started to flee, kicking up a trail of dust. Through all of the chaos, Thoron could make out Estel's voice.
"Shoot one, Master Elf! We may not see such food for a while!"
Hands trembling, he strung his own bow and leapt off the horse. Thalion galloped away, chasing his prey.
~I shall return, young master. Do not fear.~
The Elf peered into the fray as he ran, finding a white deer. It was as pure as snowfall, and made his heart faint with joy. But his friend wanted the creature, and he would not be a weakling.
He chased it, making his way through the confusion of leaping animals. The white deer was the fastest of them all, but he was even faster. His bowstring sang and a fine arrow pierced its side. It fell with a cry and stumbled to its knees.
Eagerly, he ran to the felled creature and found it still living. The white fur was stained with red blood. He faltered and knelt beside it, burying his fingers in the coat and retrieving his arrow. Blood streamed from the wound in warm streams that stained his thin hands.
It turned to face him, its huge brown eyes filled with pain and loss. He knew, then, that he had wounded a female with young.
Horrified, he tore a strip from his tunic to staunch the blood, tears trailing down his pale cheeks.
"I'm so sorry…" he whispered. "I'm so sorry, so sorry, so very sorry…"
~Why, my prince? Why have you done this? You promised me that you would always protect me and my people. Why did you lie?~
"I didn't mean to," he sobbed. "I never meant to hurt you…oh, I deserve to die."
~How could you do this, my lord?~
The blood slowed and Thoron watched her eyes glaze and grow dull. He gathered her into his arms, caressing the snowy fur and crying.
~How…could…you?~
The golden light of life forsook her entirely, and he carried her to Estel. The Man held two deer by their ankles. His smile vanished when he saw his comrade.
"Thoron?"
The Elf was a sight, his blond hair tangled and his arms stained with fresh blood. His horrified eyes were red-rimmed and crystal tears trickled down his face as he cradled the dead mother like a lost love, whimpering with sorrow and grief.
He did not speak, and perhaps he could not speak, but Aragorn knew what had occurred. He did not know what to do, though. The poor thing looked so utterly forsaken.
Estel placed his hand on Thoron's thin back. He moaned softly and fell to his knees.
"I broke an oath," he murmured. "I killed her and I broke my oath. I gave her solemn word that I would protect both she and her herds, and I did…this."
Estel was reminded of that horrible day in the forest as he knelt beside him. He was torn. Part of him wanted to let the Elf cry out his pain, but the other was wiser.
"It will be alright," he soothed. "She will forgive you, Thoron. You broke her oath, and now you must redeem yourself."
"How?" Thoron asked.
"By remembering her, and renewing your vow. You can keep protecting them, Master Elf. You won't forget again."
"But we're eating them, Estel!" he sobbed.
"No," Estel reminded him. "I am eating them. You don't need to. I have dried meats and fruits in my pouch."
The Elf looked down and kept stroking the cold body. Estel took her gently away. Thoron screamed and reached for it, but he held him away.
"You're dishonoring her body," he said simply.
The poor thing kept crying, though, as Aragorn dug a grave for her. Out of the corner of his eye, the Man saw Thalion rub his head against the Elf's.
~Why do you weep, my little Elfling?~
~I knew her,~ he said simply. ~I helped her great-grandmother give birth to her grandmother, her grandmother to her mother, and her mother give birth to her. I named her Nimloth, and I promised to always protect her… that is all that I recall. She knew who I was, but I didn't ask for my name. I'll never know, now.~
He gasped as he tried to even his breath, choking on the air. Thalion nuzzled his back comfortingly.
~Shh…~the horse soothed. ~I'm here, child. I shall protect you.~
~Can you protect me from myself?~
The horse had no answer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yeah, kind of short, I know…
I saw ROTK on Wednesday. Someone next to me wouldn't shut up, and some jerk screamed, "Haleluya!" when it ended, but it was THE BEST MOVIE IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry…. Legolas was SO HOT! You can totally tell that Peter Jackson wanted it to sound like they had known each other, because he didn't thank Gimli. It was like he was saying. "Thanks for all of our adventures over the years. Here's a new one. Let's make it last."
And the Oliphant vs. Legolas thing…
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I have some time before my B-day party, so here's what you've all been waiting for…the reviews! (I fixed it. Now people without official names can review too! Thanks for letting me know!"
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Deana: Yeah, you have to love him when he's like that…Makes you want to hold him really tight…I wish… Sorry for the delay!
Elenillor: Thanks! I never left! (See bio) I was studying for midterms that took 5 minutes in actuality…sigh…teachers never tell you that while you're studying, woe is me.
Astievia: Ew! I find that really gross when authors do that! They're BROTHERS, for the Valars' sake! No, just a whole lot of brother stuff…I usually left Elladan and Elrohir to their own business while I was writing fanfiction in my spare time, so now I'm testing them out. Plus, I think that there's MORE then enough Elladan torture to go around! Here's your Elf angst, hot off the oven! Please come again soon!
Shanna1826: ¡Gracias! Intenté ser exacto. Temo que no pueda decirle que qué le sucederá ambos, solamente prometo que Aragorn encontrará Rivendell otra vez. ¡Estoy apesadumbrado que era atrasado!
Gywn: I DO have a real updating problem, don't I? Sorry… You'll have to keep guessing, though, because that's only a bit of it! I have a hyper-active imagination, and a VERY special muse! Thanks for reviewing!
leggylover03: Sorry I was late! I swear that I tried!
Das Blume: I'll make a little Elvish-English glossary at the bottom next time! Thanks for reviewing!
Tis a Pirates Life for I: WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERYONE should eat as much sugar as you, if that's the result! Thanks a TON! Sorry for my lateness!
Snuffles2: Whew! It was your bravery that saved me from the wolves today! I salute you! (and swear that some of those people had fangs…shudder) Thanks!
marbienl: Interesting name, and a LONG review…cool! But, dude, I never said it was Saruman. I haven't even MENTIONED Saruman. And, just so you know, it ISN'T SARUMAN! Sorry…I got carried away. But my point is, I'm an original writer, and I'm doing stuff that hasn't been done before. So many people have used Saruman that it isn't original any longer. Plus, if Gandalf didn't have suspicion until he was actually captured, then none of the others will. Thoron is really weak, too, so I don't think that the voice lost and let him have his words back…I think there could be a reason (hint, hint) Thanks for the compliments! I try to make it really angsty! I love stories where you get to cry… This was an enjoyable review, and I loved reading it! It made me feel all warm and fuzzy…
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THANKS AN OCTILLION, GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ANYWAY…my muse is busy in my sister's room, ripping up her Chanukah present and using the batteries to power her Doomsday Device…don't look at me. SHE'S the evil genius…
(An explosion fills the air and dead bodies litter the earth)
Of course, I'm worried about being sued. I'm worried that she'll be torn limb from limb when my sister finds out….
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
(Snort, snort)
"YE SHALT PERISH!"
(Kung-fu time)
Yeah, a bit of over-exaggerating…My sis never says "ye"…