A/N: At the end of the last chapter, I wrote that Legolas saw a knife
flying through the air. I think there may have been a slight
misunderstanding about what happened. There was someone in the tree, and
Calaen was the one who threw the knife, not the person who was hiding in
the tree. So, the knife hit the person who was in the tree, not Calaen.
Cool? Right, on with the story! Oh wait, Calaen may be a little different
in this chapter, but there is a reason for it, which will come up later.
Right, now on with the chapter!
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Elladan's eyes snapped into focus again, and without thinking about what he was doing, he leaped out of bed and made for the door. He paused however, when he heard his brother's sleepy voice from the other side of the room.
"Where are you going, 'Dan?" asked Elrohir, raising his head from the pillows, and rubbing his eyes.
"If you come with me, then maybe you will find out," replied the other twin.
Elrohir jumped out of bed and grabbed two identical dressing gowns from the floor. "Here, take one of these. There is a chill in the air, and already I am shivering. That is strange, is it not?"
"Yes, it definitely is. Keep quiet whilst we walk through the corridors, else everyone will awaken" said Elladan, pulling the dressing gown over his night-tunic.
With that, he opened the door, and walked down to the left, Elrohir following curiously. Dim lamps were lit at intervals on the walls, and they cast ghost-like shadows on both twins' faces.
"In here," Elladan whispered, coming to a halt and pointing to a door.
"This is Legolas' room," Elrohir said in a hushed tone. "Why are we...? Ai Elbereth, what did you see this time?"
"Nothing, that is the thing. I just woke up, and felt as though something was not right. I came here instinctively," said Elladan, gently pushing open the door, just in case his friend was actually in there. However, as he had imagined and dreaded, the room was empty. He sighed, and stepped back into the corridor.
"Not there?" asked Elrohir.
"No, it is as I feared. He has gone. Come, I must look elsewhere," replied Elladan.
Elrohir followed once more, and he grimaced as he noted the worry flitting through his twin's eyes. "'Dan, it could be nothing. Maybe he has gone for...a midnight stroll, or something. Maybe he has gone to the kitchens to get food. There are a number of reasons why he is not in his room."
"Yes, and one of those reasons is the thing we all dread," said Elladan. "Calaen."
"Legolas is not fool enough to go outside. His brother may be cunning enough to lure him out into the grounds, but..." Elrohir trailed off as they stopped outside another room. "Valar, you think Tain has something to do with it?"
Elladan pushed open the door, and cursed violently as he saw that the child was also absent from his bed. "Alright, this is not good. We must go and wake Ada, for Legolas could be in grave danger."
Just as the twins were about to turn and go to their father's room, they heard footsteps coming down the corridor. It was a guard. In fact, it was no other than Iaurath, the guard who had allowed Legolas, 'Airëlus' and Tain to pass through the gates. He had an expression of worry on his face, and he was looking uncomfortable.
"Ah, I see that you two are also having trouble sleeping," he said, stopping in front of the twins.
"Yes, we are. Are you not supposed to be working though?" asked Elrohir.
Iaurath nodded, and bit down on his lip. "Yes, that is true. However, I have left my post for a few minutes, so that I may go and see King Thranduil. If not him, Lord Elrond or Mithrandir."
"Why, has something happened?" demanded Elladan. "Have you caught sight of Calaen?"
"No, though I would be comforted if that was the case. Not that long ago, Prince Legolas rode to the gates, and with him was Prince Airëlus," Iaurath. "Or rather, they said it was Prince Airëlus. He had his hood drawn up, so I could not see his face, but he sounded very much like him."
"Ai..." Elladan trailed off and slammed a fist against the wall. "Damn it, I should have known."
"We must get to Ada right now," said Elrohir, swiftly taking control of the situation as he saw that his brother was far from calm. "Iaurath, go back down to the courtyard without delay, and rally together patrols to leave within five minutes. All you need to know is that Calaen is not in Rivendell, and Legolas is with him. Go."
Iaurath looked stunned at the revelation, though he bowed his head briefly before turning and running back the way he had come. Elrohir cursed and swept a hand worriedly through his raven hair.
"Elladan, you go and get Ada. I will tell Airëlus and Thranduil," he instructed.
"I will meet you in the courtyard," the other twin replied.
Each Elf shot off in opposite directions, though both of their hearts were pounding with worry. They had no idea how far away Calaen and Legolas would be, and they were unaware as to where the brothers were. Not only that, but they did not know if they would be too late. They hoped and prayed not.
............................................................................................................
"What do you mean he has gone?" demanded King Thranduil.
Elrohir nodded swiftly. "Yes, Your Highness. Legolas was somehow lured out into the grounds, and the rest must be left to our imagination. Though, I think that Tain had something to do with it."
"Tain? But he is only a-
"A child, I know," Elrohir cut in. "He has been working for Calaen all along, though he kept it well hidden. Airëlus, Calaen posed as you at the gates, and that is why the guards let them out."
Thranduil cursed, and glanced out of the window, down into the courtyard. Soldiers were already riding out of Rivendell, and others were setting off on foot, weapons in hands. The King turned around then, as the door swung open. Aragorn ran in, a look of worry on his face.
"I was woken by the noise, and met Elladan in the corridor," the Ranger explained. "He told me what happened, so I went to rouse Aradan. He is not in his room..."
.............................................................................................................
Legolas looked at the fallen one for a brief moment, before raising shocked eyes to his brother. Calaen was also staring down at the ground, stunned at what he had just done. He shook his head slightly, before turning to look at the other Elf.
"I...I did not mean to, I..." Calaen blinked, and lowered his eyes.
"How can you say you did not mean to do it?" demanded Legolas. "You must have known who it was up in the tree. Damn it, why else would you have thrown the knife?"
"No, I thought it was maybe a guard from Rivendell," Calaen said helplessly. "I did not mean to kill him."
"He is not dead," Legolas sighed, going forwards to kneel beside the fallen Elf: Aradan.
He was shaking, blood pouring from a stab wound in his chest. His face was pale, and his dark hair was sticking to his clammy forehead. Legolas winced, and put a hand on the younger Elf's cheek, eyes full of worry.
"Aradan, can you hear me? Try not to move, just say yes or no," the Prince instructed gently.
"Who are you?" whispered Aradan, his eyes screwed tightly shut.
"It is I, Legolas. Do not fear, for you are safe now. I am no healer, yet I will do what I can to make you feel comfortable. I will then take you back to Rivendell so that my brother and Lord Elrond can help you," Legolas replied.
"What do you mean you will do what you can for him?" demanded Calaen. "Damn it, that shot was a fatal one. Do you really think he can be helped?"
Aradan turned his head to the side, and slowly opened his eyes. "Ada? You have finally got what you wanted. You swore you would get revenge on me, and now you have. Congratulations."
"No, they were just words," breathed Calaen, dropping to the ground beside his brother. "Aradan, I did not mean for this to happen. Valar...I did not know it was you up in the tree."
Legolas looked into his brother's face, and blinked in surprise. Calaen's eyes had lost the usual glint they held, and instead, they were full of sadness. His expression was one of deep regret, and he was worriedly biting down on his lip.
"Aradan, this is a very serious injury," Legolas said quietly. "There are only two who can save you, and they are Lord Elrond and Airëlus, as I told you already. It is vital that I get you back to Rivendell."
"Will he die?" asked Calaen, dreading the answer.
Legolas looked down at Aradan and sighed, before glancing across at his brother. "Like I said, he must get to Rivendell."
"I do not want to die," Aradan breathed, and his voice choked a little.
"Who mentioned anything about you dying?" asked Legolas, forcing a smile.
Calaen shook his head in frustration. "Are you giving him false hope? If the outlook is not good, you should tell him. It is for the best."
"You're worried about what is best for him?" said Legolas scornfully.
"Maybe that is hard for you to believe, but yes, I am worried for him now," hissed Calaen. "When I swore to get revenge on him, I was only making an idle threat. I will admit that."
"I thought you did not make idle threats," said Legolas, as he pushed some hair from Aradan's eyes.
"Will you just help him?" Calaen exploded.
"He is losing enough blood as it is, but if I pull the knife out, it will leave a gap for even more blood to flow, and he will lose too much," hissed Legolas. "What we must do now, is get him to Rivendell."
"I knew it was too good to last," whispered Aradan. "I knew it would all end soon enough. Your father said...he said I could go to Mirkwood, and..."
"Nothing is going to change," said Legolas gently. "Yes, you are in danger. There is no point my denying that, for you must know. But you must also fight until we get to Rivendell. Do you know why?"
Aradan shook his head briefly. He knew that Legolas wanted to keep him focused on what was happening, and wanted to keep him talking, but the pain prohibited it. The pain was excruciating, and got worse as each second passed.
"My father and brother have accepted you as part of our family," Legolas continued. "I did not at first, but that was stupidity on my part. I want you to come back to Mirkwood, but how can you if you do not fight?"
"I...I will fight," muttered Aradan, feeling a little hope as he realised that Legolas had in fact accepted him for who he was.
Calaen watched as Legolas gently lifted the younger Elf into his arms. He wanted to do it himself, as he felt responsible, but part of him knew that Aradan would feel uncomfortable, and would only try and resist.
"Are you coming or not?" asked Legolas, getting to his feet. "If you are, then take the child. He is still unconscious."
"If I go back to Rivendell, there is no chance of me getting free again. I would be subjecting myself to the wrath of Thranduil and everyone else, but....yes, I will come," said Calaen slowly. "I owe him that much."
"You are very nice when you're not being your usual self," said Legolas.
Calaen narrowed his eyes slightly, though they widened in shock when he heard something moving towards them. "Legolas, listen to that! Unless I am mistaken, they are the footsteps of humans."
"You are not mistaken, but why should that worry you? Unless..." Legolas trailed off and made a noise of frustration. "But I thought you had them locked up."
"I did," hissed Calaen. He shook his head slightly as he realised that he and his brother would have to work together to protect themselves. "Come, we must take to the trees."
"Not so fast, squirrels," commanded a sudden voice from behind them.
Calaen closed his eyes briefly, before turning around. "Farath, I did not expect to see you again. How is it that you are free?"
"Well, the raid of your caves brought those Elves down to the dungeons," replied Farath, his eyes glittering in the moonlight. "It was not hard to act as though we were a bunch of innocent travellers who had been caught unfairly and locked up by you. Of course, they believed us and set us free."
"But Gandalf knew what you did to my brother," said Calaen. "He would not allow them to set you free."
"Gandalf? Ah, he is an old fool," laughed Farath. "You see, he neglected to tell all of the soldiers exactly what we did."
Legolas glanced down at the Elf in his arms, and grimaced. Aradan's eyes were closed, and the rise and fall of his chest could only just be seen. Clearly he was unconscious. Cursing silently, Legolas gently lay him down on the ground against a tree.
"Ah, it is nice to see you again, fair Prince," said Farath appreciatively.
"Maybe tonight we can finish what we started," said another man. It was Pharunaic.
"What are you doing here?" snapped Calaen.
Farath grinned as his men surrounded the clearing, trapping the Elves within. "Did you honestly think we would just walk away after being locked up by one of our so called friends and allies? No, we have come to seek revenge."
"I see your brat is here also," commented Pharunaic, jerking his head towards the unconscious Aradan.
"He has done nothing to you," Calaen said quietly.
Farath shrugged carelessly, and pulled a throwing knife from his belt. "Aye, maybe you speak truly. But he is still your offspring, and it is our intention to rid Middle Earth of you and your family. We could be content with just getting rid of you, but it would be much more satisfactory to rid the world of anything connected to you."
Faster than lightning, Farath flicked his wrist, and the knife flew from his hand and towards Aradan. Calaen swore violently and could do nothing but watch in horror, for shock had rooted him to the spot. Legolas was quicker though, and he threw himself down to the ground, shielding Aradan's body with his own.
"Ai Elbereth," breathed Calaen.
Legolas made a noise of discomfort as he felt a warm liquid streaming down his right arm. The knife had embedded itself deep in his shoulder, for he had put his life in jeopardy to save Aradan's. Over at the edge of the clearing, the men made noises of anger, and began advancing.
"Wait!" said Calaen suddenly. He glanced over at his unconscious son and injured brother, and he bowed his head. "No, there is only one who you have come for, and that is me. Do not take three lives, if you only need to take one."
"Since when have you cared for anyone's safety but your own?" asked Farath incredulously.
"Valar knows, but even if you had not turned up, I would have died anyway, for I was going to return to Rivendell," Calaen said quietly. "If you have to kill me, do it now. Spare my brother and son."
"What happened to the Calaen I know and dislike?" asked Legolas, trying to block out the pain washing over his body. "This is not you speaking, for you would never accept death without a fight, especially from a human."
Calaen looked down at the younger Elf, and smiled vaguely. "Yes, but see how many they are. Every one of them has weapons, and I have one blade. What use is that?"
Legolas closed his eyes as Calaen dropped the single knife to the ground. As he heard heavy footsteps moving towards his elder brother, the Prince gritted his teeth and screwed up his eyes, bracing himself. He grabbed the hilt of the knife still embedded in his shoulder, and pulled it out. More blood spurted from the wound, though it went un-noticed by the Elf as he threw the blade at random. A strangled cry proved that it had met its mark.
"There, only nineteen left for you, Cal," said Legolas, smiling weakly.
The dark haired Elf laughed quietly, though he fell silent as Farath stepped forwards, his face darkened in anger. The man raised his sword, and brought it down, the blade whistling through the air.
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Aranel of Mirkwood: Yeah, you were right!
mellaithwen: Don't worry, he's not dead!
Halimanya: You wanna know what I regret? Well, I kind of accidentally kissed someone who I shouldn't have done. In my defence, I was far from sober, and he was the one who made the first move!
kathysidle: Cool you're hyper! I love getting hyper, though I tend to make a fool out of myself when that happens.
Kelsey: I'm glad you liked Legolas!
Legolas-gurl88: Yeah, Tain is very evil, and I think he would be really creepy if he actually existed. Hey, maybe he does! How do we know he doesn't? Ah, now there's a stupid idea!
Rachel13: Oh, you're braver than me! I wouldn't be able to ride that long on a bike! But I guess that may have something to do with the fact that I'm incredibly lazy!
Elven Kitten: Congratulations, you were right!
Yes, Calaen was very different, but we'll talk about that not next chapter, but maybe the next. He also seemed to give in to all the men, but there was also another reason for that, which we'll see soon. So, do you all understand that Calaen was the one who threw the knife, and not the person in the tree? If you think I should re-write the ending to the last chapter to make it more understandable, just tell me. Misto
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Elladan's eyes snapped into focus again, and without thinking about what he was doing, he leaped out of bed and made for the door. He paused however, when he heard his brother's sleepy voice from the other side of the room.
"Where are you going, 'Dan?" asked Elrohir, raising his head from the pillows, and rubbing his eyes.
"If you come with me, then maybe you will find out," replied the other twin.
Elrohir jumped out of bed and grabbed two identical dressing gowns from the floor. "Here, take one of these. There is a chill in the air, and already I am shivering. That is strange, is it not?"
"Yes, it definitely is. Keep quiet whilst we walk through the corridors, else everyone will awaken" said Elladan, pulling the dressing gown over his night-tunic.
With that, he opened the door, and walked down to the left, Elrohir following curiously. Dim lamps were lit at intervals on the walls, and they cast ghost-like shadows on both twins' faces.
"In here," Elladan whispered, coming to a halt and pointing to a door.
"This is Legolas' room," Elrohir said in a hushed tone. "Why are we...? Ai Elbereth, what did you see this time?"
"Nothing, that is the thing. I just woke up, and felt as though something was not right. I came here instinctively," said Elladan, gently pushing open the door, just in case his friend was actually in there. However, as he had imagined and dreaded, the room was empty. He sighed, and stepped back into the corridor.
"Not there?" asked Elrohir.
"No, it is as I feared. He has gone. Come, I must look elsewhere," replied Elladan.
Elrohir followed once more, and he grimaced as he noted the worry flitting through his twin's eyes. "'Dan, it could be nothing. Maybe he has gone for...a midnight stroll, or something. Maybe he has gone to the kitchens to get food. There are a number of reasons why he is not in his room."
"Yes, and one of those reasons is the thing we all dread," said Elladan. "Calaen."
"Legolas is not fool enough to go outside. His brother may be cunning enough to lure him out into the grounds, but..." Elrohir trailed off as they stopped outside another room. "Valar, you think Tain has something to do with it?"
Elladan pushed open the door, and cursed violently as he saw that the child was also absent from his bed. "Alright, this is not good. We must go and wake Ada, for Legolas could be in grave danger."
Just as the twins were about to turn and go to their father's room, they heard footsteps coming down the corridor. It was a guard. In fact, it was no other than Iaurath, the guard who had allowed Legolas, 'Airëlus' and Tain to pass through the gates. He had an expression of worry on his face, and he was looking uncomfortable.
"Ah, I see that you two are also having trouble sleeping," he said, stopping in front of the twins.
"Yes, we are. Are you not supposed to be working though?" asked Elrohir.
Iaurath nodded, and bit down on his lip. "Yes, that is true. However, I have left my post for a few minutes, so that I may go and see King Thranduil. If not him, Lord Elrond or Mithrandir."
"Why, has something happened?" demanded Elladan. "Have you caught sight of Calaen?"
"No, though I would be comforted if that was the case. Not that long ago, Prince Legolas rode to the gates, and with him was Prince Airëlus," Iaurath. "Or rather, they said it was Prince Airëlus. He had his hood drawn up, so I could not see his face, but he sounded very much like him."
"Ai..." Elladan trailed off and slammed a fist against the wall. "Damn it, I should have known."
"We must get to Ada right now," said Elrohir, swiftly taking control of the situation as he saw that his brother was far from calm. "Iaurath, go back down to the courtyard without delay, and rally together patrols to leave within five minutes. All you need to know is that Calaen is not in Rivendell, and Legolas is with him. Go."
Iaurath looked stunned at the revelation, though he bowed his head briefly before turning and running back the way he had come. Elrohir cursed and swept a hand worriedly through his raven hair.
"Elladan, you go and get Ada. I will tell Airëlus and Thranduil," he instructed.
"I will meet you in the courtyard," the other twin replied.
Each Elf shot off in opposite directions, though both of their hearts were pounding with worry. They had no idea how far away Calaen and Legolas would be, and they were unaware as to where the brothers were. Not only that, but they did not know if they would be too late. They hoped and prayed not.
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"What do you mean he has gone?" demanded King Thranduil.
Elrohir nodded swiftly. "Yes, Your Highness. Legolas was somehow lured out into the grounds, and the rest must be left to our imagination. Though, I think that Tain had something to do with it."
"Tain? But he is only a-
"A child, I know," Elrohir cut in. "He has been working for Calaen all along, though he kept it well hidden. Airëlus, Calaen posed as you at the gates, and that is why the guards let them out."
Thranduil cursed, and glanced out of the window, down into the courtyard. Soldiers were already riding out of Rivendell, and others were setting off on foot, weapons in hands. The King turned around then, as the door swung open. Aragorn ran in, a look of worry on his face.
"I was woken by the noise, and met Elladan in the corridor," the Ranger explained. "He told me what happened, so I went to rouse Aradan. He is not in his room..."
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Legolas looked at the fallen one for a brief moment, before raising shocked eyes to his brother. Calaen was also staring down at the ground, stunned at what he had just done. He shook his head slightly, before turning to look at the other Elf.
"I...I did not mean to, I..." Calaen blinked, and lowered his eyes.
"How can you say you did not mean to do it?" demanded Legolas. "You must have known who it was up in the tree. Damn it, why else would you have thrown the knife?"
"No, I thought it was maybe a guard from Rivendell," Calaen said helplessly. "I did not mean to kill him."
"He is not dead," Legolas sighed, going forwards to kneel beside the fallen Elf: Aradan.
He was shaking, blood pouring from a stab wound in his chest. His face was pale, and his dark hair was sticking to his clammy forehead. Legolas winced, and put a hand on the younger Elf's cheek, eyes full of worry.
"Aradan, can you hear me? Try not to move, just say yes or no," the Prince instructed gently.
"Who are you?" whispered Aradan, his eyes screwed tightly shut.
"It is I, Legolas. Do not fear, for you are safe now. I am no healer, yet I will do what I can to make you feel comfortable. I will then take you back to Rivendell so that my brother and Lord Elrond can help you," Legolas replied.
"What do you mean you will do what you can for him?" demanded Calaen. "Damn it, that shot was a fatal one. Do you really think he can be helped?"
Aradan turned his head to the side, and slowly opened his eyes. "Ada? You have finally got what you wanted. You swore you would get revenge on me, and now you have. Congratulations."
"No, they were just words," breathed Calaen, dropping to the ground beside his brother. "Aradan, I did not mean for this to happen. Valar...I did not know it was you up in the tree."
Legolas looked into his brother's face, and blinked in surprise. Calaen's eyes had lost the usual glint they held, and instead, they were full of sadness. His expression was one of deep regret, and he was worriedly biting down on his lip.
"Aradan, this is a very serious injury," Legolas said quietly. "There are only two who can save you, and they are Lord Elrond and Airëlus, as I told you already. It is vital that I get you back to Rivendell."
"Will he die?" asked Calaen, dreading the answer.
Legolas looked down at Aradan and sighed, before glancing across at his brother. "Like I said, he must get to Rivendell."
"I do not want to die," Aradan breathed, and his voice choked a little.
"Who mentioned anything about you dying?" asked Legolas, forcing a smile.
Calaen shook his head in frustration. "Are you giving him false hope? If the outlook is not good, you should tell him. It is for the best."
"You're worried about what is best for him?" said Legolas scornfully.
"Maybe that is hard for you to believe, but yes, I am worried for him now," hissed Calaen. "When I swore to get revenge on him, I was only making an idle threat. I will admit that."
"I thought you did not make idle threats," said Legolas, as he pushed some hair from Aradan's eyes.
"Will you just help him?" Calaen exploded.
"He is losing enough blood as it is, but if I pull the knife out, it will leave a gap for even more blood to flow, and he will lose too much," hissed Legolas. "What we must do now, is get him to Rivendell."
"I knew it was too good to last," whispered Aradan. "I knew it would all end soon enough. Your father said...he said I could go to Mirkwood, and..."
"Nothing is going to change," said Legolas gently. "Yes, you are in danger. There is no point my denying that, for you must know. But you must also fight until we get to Rivendell. Do you know why?"
Aradan shook his head briefly. He knew that Legolas wanted to keep him focused on what was happening, and wanted to keep him talking, but the pain prohibited it. The pain was excruciating, and got worse as each second passed.
"My father and brother have accepted you as part of our family," Legolas continued. "I did not at first, but that was stupidity on my part. I want you to come back to Mirkwood, but how can you if you do not fight?"
"I...I will fight," muttered Aradan, feeling a little hope as he realised that Legolas had in fact accepted him for who he was.
Calaen watched as Legolas gently lifted the younger Elf into his arms. He wanted to do it himself, as he felt responsible, but part of him knew that Aradan would feel uncomfortable, and would only try and resist.
"Are you coming or not?" asked Legolas, getting to his feet. "If you are, then take the child. He is still unconscious."
"If I go back to Rivendell, there is no chance of me getting free again. I would be subjecting myself to the wrath of Thranduil and everyone else, but....yes, I will come," said Calaen slowly. "I owe him that much."
"You are very nice when you're not being your usual self," said Legolas.
Calaen narrowed his eyes slightly, though they widened in shock when he heard something moving towards them. "Legolas, listen to that! Unless I am mistaken, they are the footsteps of humans."
"You are not mistaken, but why should that worry you? Unless..." Legolas trailed off and made a noise of frustration. "But I thought you had them locked up."
"I did," hissed Calaen. He shook his head slightly as he realised that he and his brother would have to work together to protect themselves. "Come, we must take to the trees."
"Not so fast, squirrels," commanded a sudden voice from behind them.
Calaen closed his eyes briefly, before turning around. "Farath, I did not expect to see you again. How is it that you are free?"
"Well, the raid of your caves brought those Elves down to the dungeons," replied Farath, his eyes glittering in the moonlight. "It was not hard to act as though we were a bunch of innocent travellers who had been caught unfairly and locked up by you. Of course, they believed us and set us free."
"But Gandalf knew what you did to my brother," said Calaen. "He would not allow them to set you free."
"Gandalf? Ah, he is an old fool," laughed Farath. "You see, he neglected to tell all of the soldiers exactly what we did."
Legolas glanced down at the Elf in his arms, and grimaced. Aradan's eyes were closed, and the rise and fall of his chest could only just be seen. Clearly he was unconscious. Cursing silently, Legolas gently lay him down on the ground against a tree.
"Ah, it is nice to see you again, fair Prince," said Farath appreciatively.
"Maybe tonight we can finish what we started," said another man. It was Pharunaic.
"What are you doing here?" snapped Calaen.
Farath grinned as his men surrounded the clearing, trapping the Elves within. "Did you honestly think we would just walk away after being locked up by one of our so called friends and allies? No, we have come to seek revenge."
"I see your brat is here also," commented Pharunaic, jerking his head towards the unconscious Aradan.
"He has done nothing to you," Calaen said quietly.
Farath shrugged carelessly, and pulled a throwing knife from his belt. "Aye, maybe you speak truly. But he is still your offspring, and it is our intention to rid Middle Earth of you and your family. We could be content with just getting rid of you, but it would be much more satisfactory to rid the world of anything connected to you."
Faster than lightning, Farath flicked his wrist, and the knife flew from his hand and towards Aradan. Calaen swore violently and could do nothing but watch in horror, for shock had rooted him to the spot. Legolas was quicker though, and he threw himself down to the ground, shielding Aradan's body with his own.
"Ai Elbereth," breathed Calaen.
Legolas made a noise of discomfort as he felt a warm liquid streaming down his right arm. The knife had embedded itself deep in his shoulder, for he had put his life in jeopardy to save Aradan's. Over at the edge of the clearing, the men made noises of anger, and began advancing.
"Wait!" said Calaen suddenly. He glanced over at his unconscious son and injured brother, and he bowed his head. "No, there is only one who you have come for, and that is me. Do not take three lives, if you only need to take one."
"Since when have you cared for anyone's safety but your own?" asked Farath incredulously.
"Valar knows, but even if you had not turned up, I would have died anyway, for I was going to return to Rivendell," Calaen said quietly. "If you have to kill me, do it now. Spare my brother and son."
"What happened to the Calaen I know and dislike?" asked Legolas, trying to block out the pain washing over his body. "This is not you speaking, for you would never accept death without a fight, especially from a human."
Calaen looked down at the younger Elf, and smiled vaguely. "Yes, but see how many they are. Every one of them has weapons, and I have one blade. What use is that?"
Legolas closed his eyes as Calaen dropped the single knife to the ground. As he heard heavy footsteps moving towards his elder brother, the Prince gritted his teeth and screwed up his eyes, bracing himself. He grabbed the hilt of the knife still embedded in his shoulder, and pulled it out. More blood spurted from the wound, though it went un-noticed by the Elf as he threw the blade at random. A strangled cry proved that it had met its mark.
"There, only nineteen left for you, Cal," said Legolas, smiling weakly.
The dark haired Elf laughed quietly, though he fell silent as Farath stepped forwards, his face darkened in anger. The man raised his sword, and brought it down, the blade whistling through the air.
............................................................................................................
Aranel of Mirkwood: Yeah, you were right!
mellaithwen: Don't worry, he's not dead!
Halimanya: You wanna know what I regret? Well, I kind of accidentally kissed someone who I shouldn't have done. In my defence, I was far from sober, and he was the one who made the first move!
kathysidle: Cool you're hyper! I love getting hyper, though I tend to make a fool out of myself when that happens.
Kelsey: I'm glad you liked Legolas!
Legolas-gurl88: Yeah, Tain is very evil, and I think he would be really creepy if he actually existed. Hey, maybe he does! How do we know he doesn't? Ah, now there's a stupid idea!
Rachel13: Oh, you're braver than me! I wouldn't be able to ride that long on a bike! But I guess that may have something to do with the fact that I'm incredibly lazy!
Elven Kitten: Congratulations, you were right!
Yes, Calaen was very different, but we'll talk about that not next chapter, but maybe the next. He also seemed to give in to all the men, but there was also another reason for that, which we'll see soon. So, do you all understand that Calaen was the one who threw the knife, and not the person in the tree? If you think I should re-write the ending to the last chapter to make it more understandable, just tell me. Misto