Disclaimer: Not mine as much as I would love them to be. I am borrowing them just for a short while and I will give them back as good as new.
Than you, once more to my friend and Beta, Katy.
Chapter Fourteen
Glorfindel could not stop coughing. The smoke was becoming denser by the minute. As much as he hated to admit it the fire was becoming more than they could handle. He had already sent Elves to makes sure that the nearby flet's had no occupants. It meant that the fire could only cause material damage and not bodily.
Blinking heavily to try and see through the smoke he noticed Elrohir just ahead of him, he hurried to join him. Shouting to be heard above the noise, he called to Elrohir. "We need to get back, the fire is too strong. I want no more casualties."
Elrohir could only nod, he was too busy trying to breath to answer, but he moved forwards to carry out the order.
Glorfindel accepted the next bucket of water, knowing it was too pitiful to really help, but they had to try he emptied it on another spark that had landed in front of him.
The situation was hopeless; if Elrond was here he could have used Vilya and stopped the flames. But Elrond was Injured and unable to help. For the first time in a long while, Glorfindel had to admit he was at a loss as to what to do.
He was just about to order a general retreat and begin to work on building earth banks to try and stop the spread when he heard a large crack. Looking up he could see nothing. Then, as he was standing there face to the sky rain began to fall, slowly at first just a drop at a time. Soon it became a torrent and Glorfindel found himself laughing, relief clear for all to see.
A hand on his arm stopped him and he turned to see Elrohir face covered in soot, grinning madly white teeth gleaming against the dark. "Look!" He pointed behind them and Glorfindel stood stock still as he saw who was before them. The he was running…
"Mithrandir, thank Eru! You were just in time, how can we thank you?"
"There is no need for thanks, Glorfindel, you needed help, and I gave it. What has been happening here?"
Elves were running around now as if invigorated by Mithrandir's arrival. Some were making sure the fire was really dieing, others were seeing to those injured carrying them away from the scene.
"I do not really know how it started; we seem to have been fighting it for days."
"Where is Elrond?" Mithrandir was looking around him trying to find the Lord in question.
"He was injured; he is in the Halls of Healing. How did you know to come?" He was watching the process of the fire as it was slowly brought under control by the rain.
"I did not. I came with Thranduil." He gestured behind him and for the first time Glorfindel noticed the number of guards all in the colour of Mirkwood. As he watched some left their horses to help where they might be needed.
Glorfindel walked to Thranduil and bowed, giving the formal greeting. "Mae Govannen, you Majesty."
"Mae Govannen, Glorfindel. We came as soon as we received your message. How is my son?"
"Come, I will take you to him…" He was cut off by another shout from just under the balcony of the Halls of Healing. They all turned in time to see two of Thranduil's guards dragging a struggling Elf towards them. Just as they reached the group the door to the House of Healing flew open and four guards ran out, stopping as they saw the Elf held tightly in the Mirkwood Elves clutches.
One hurried towards Glorfindel's side, bowing he greeted the Lords before telling them. "My Lord's this Elf, Faren, has just attempted to assault the Prince. If Estel had not been there he may well have succeeded. They fought and he jumped from the window. It is a great relief to see he has been caught. I thank you and your Guards my Lord." He bowed once more to Thranduil.
"An attempt on Legolas' life?" Thranduil's voice throbbed with worry.
"It would appear so, and how convenient it just happened to be when the fire was started. Take him away; I want him guarded well with no visitor's. No doubt Lord Elrond will wish to speak to him when he recovers." Glorfindel watched as they dragged the still fighting Elf away.
"Come, my Lord. First we need to see Elrond and then I will take you to see Legolas." He could see that Thranduil was unhappy with this, but he followed all the same.
Estel could finally stand; the kick to his groin had been powerful. He slowly made his way back to the bed, aware that the guards had given chase. He lowered himself painfully on the pallet beside Legolas.
"A… alright? N… no p…p…pain?" Legolas' eyes were wide with worry.
"Just bruising, Legolas, thanks to you. It will heal. Thank you for the warning though." He smiled to reassure his confused friend.
"W… who?"
"He is one of our guards, why he should turn like that I do not know."
"W… where?"
"I am sorry, Legolas, where what?" It was Estel's turn to be confused.
"O… others."
"Oh, they just had to leave for a while, they will be back, and soon, you will see, my friend."
"F… friend?"
"Yes, my friend. My best friend. One who loves you?"
"F…friend." Legolas' smile was weak and shaky at best but to Estel it was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. And he gently took his friend into his arms, mindful of the still healing injuries and hugged him gently, tears filling his eyes so that he had to blink to stop them falling.
Glorfindel led the way into the Halls of Healing, having left Elrohir in charge of what was now effectively a clean up job. If Mithrandir had not arrived when he had. It did not bear contemplating. He led the way to the alcove he had left Elrond and Elladan in.
As they reached the covered door way, Elladan looked up; he looked pleased to see the Balrog Slayer. "Ada is going to be well, Glorfindel, see he is awake."
And so he was, a little groggy yes, but Elrond was awake. Glorfindel's smile widened at the sight, relief flooding through him.
"It is good to see you so well, Mellon-nin. We had some help in putting the fire out." He stepped aside to let them see who he had with him.
Sometime later Thranduil sat on the pallet beside Elrond trying to make sense of what he had been told. His some had brain damage and no memory? He had to see him. Mithrandir's hand on his shoulder stopped him from rising and held him place with a strength belying his age.
Elrond's tired voice sounded. "You say you have the assailant?""Yes, he is under guard."
"Good, keep him that way we will need to speak to him. How many injured due to the fire?"
"The last count was three dead and twenty tow injured, including you. Most are from the smoke and burns from flying spark." Glorfindel watched as Elrond closed his eyes as he tried to take in the news.
"Move me to Legolas' room." It was not a question.
"I beg your pardon?" Glorfindel was sure he had not heard right, by the looks on the other's face, they obviously thought the same.
"Move me to Legolas' room; I can keep an eye on him from there."
"Ada, it is no longer needed we have the Elf responsible for…." Elladan was cut off by his father.
"Do we? Are you sure of that? Deep in your heart? I am not, we are still missing something, something both simple and yet very important. I need to be near to Legolas. That poison is not something Faren could come up with." Elrond was rubbing his head, cursing the headache that made it so difficult to think.
"You think that these are valid worries?" Mithrandir was leaning thoughtfully on his staff.
"Yes, I do. Faren is not the catalyst, oh, he may have played a small part but I do not think we are even scratching the surface."
"Then we will move you. I think we should all be with Legolas, maybe seeing us may prompt him to begin to remember."
Twenty minutes later they had Elrond settled in the pallet next to the sleeping Legolas his father beside him, holding one limp hand, Estel the other. Glorfindel and Elladan had left once more to help in clearing up and also to question Faren.
Once happy that Elrohir had everything under control they moved towards the secured flet that held Faren. Two guards stood at the only door, to be secure there was no other way out.
"Any problems?" Glorfindel asked as they drew near.
"No, my Lord, he asked for parchment and quill, but nothing more." The guards were at attention.
Glorfindel frowned, why parchment? He indicated for the guard to open the door and he stepped in. What he found was not what he had expected and his shout brought both Elladan and the guards….
To be continued.
Thank you once more to my reviewers, they mean so much to me.
Replies to reviews:
Shadow Fox777: Here you are Mellon-nin, your update…
Jopru: You liked the addition. You may well like tomorrows little one as well. As you say he is one sneaky Elf and about to become sneakier!
Deana: Here is your update along with a box of Kleenex. I'm sorry if I made you cry…
Oracle10: Here you go just as you asked… more to come too!
Kaye Thorn: Blushes, thank you. You like horses too?
Gemini969: Thank you and here you go.
Azla: I am very, very glad you like it.
Iccle fairy: Oops. You may not be so happy next chapter then…. Do you really do that? WOW. I'm impressed.
Coolio02: Um…. Well… um… how do you know it is all down to Faren? Shell, ducks and runs for the door to flee the projectiles she is sure are flying her way.
Wadeva: Thank you. Gulps and runs as her reviewers begin to see all is not as it seems.
Mogcat24: Thank you, but isn't that rather painful?
Once again, thank you and I hope to see you tomorrow… Please head across and take a look at Once upon a time by Meisalliam and myself it is under the pen name Meisalliam & MCross. Please continue to let me know how I am doing?
Love,
Shell
xx