CHAPTER SIX
A false Trust
Elrohir swiftly crossed the large corridor before he came to the healing quarters. He felt the sudden urge to check on their guest and wounded in the Healing Ward. Perhaps this Elf would know something of the Dark Elves whereabouts. Having left Elladan sitting in the Hall of Fire so as to keep him out of trouble, Elrohir felt a little treacherous. However, now was not the time to let that deter him from his mission. Elladan was fine and more than understood his younger twin's anxiety.
Once he arrived in the Healing Ward, the Son of Elrond scanned the beds for a wounded Elf that was dark of hair. Since they were empty save for this injured being it was not a hard task. The Elf was lying on his back, Elrohir found it odd though, that his breathing was well and near perfect. As a matter of fact, Elrohir found it quite troublesome to his mind. But, then again, he had never seen the wound so perhaps he was wrong about the severity.
The younger twin could see that the other Elf was awake, for his eyes were opened and focused. "You," called out Elrohir to him. "How are you patching up?" he asked in a soft and caring tone, for it honestly disheartened him to see this Elf thus.
The wounded Elf turned his head and gazed at the twin that was striding towards him. His head hurt, but other than that he was fine. He was doing better than most Elves after such a wound. Softly he murmured, "I am healing well, thank you, Lord Elrohir, or is it Elladan?" he questioned with a half smile.
Elrohir smiled, showing two dimples; one on each cheek. "I am the Lord Elrohir, Son of the Lord Elrond." He gave a polite bow and the Elf on the bed gave a terse smile that faded into nothingness very quickly. Elrohir quickly asked, "and who am I having the honor of holding this conversation with?"
"I am Morcuivië, Elrohir," answered the other simply. His gray eyes closed and he shifted further up onto the pillows to ease his breathing. Elrohir went and helped to comfort the injured Elf as he knew that the other was hurting. Morcuivië opened his eyes to reveal deep, gray orbs that were filled with many a memory, fair and unfair. As Elrohir looked at them for a brief second, he thought he saw a faint flicker of some smoldering flame that was growing or being withheld.
Elrohir decided to make a joke and see if he could not make this Elf smile. "Hey, your last name is the same as my first," he said with a chuckle that he could not withhold. His own face flashed into a grin that was like a burst of sunshine.
The other Elf smiled and said, "charming," He wriggled and managed to sit all the way up by himself without more than one try and no help. Elrohir looked at him oddly, for it was not often that an Elf, or anybody for that matter, got up a day or so after a wound.
Elrohir wrinkled his brow and spoke haltingly, as though he was not sure of how to say what he wished, " Morcuivië, would you know anything about these Elves that shot you?" Morcuivië gave the Son of Elrond a strange look. Elrohir sighed and pleaded, "I need to know, for my family, for my younger brother."
"I know where their lair is. But it is hard to find, even for those accustomed to such tracking," answered the hurt Elf somewhat concisely. These questions were beginning to grate on his nerves. Of course he might have expected them.
Elrohir sighed again, even heavier, and rubbed a temple absentmindedly. He just had to find out more about it. He had to find these Dark Elves. If he didn't, or if they got away and killed Estel, he would never forgive himself. Despite his brother's harsh words, he knew that his younger sibling needed him and he knew he would be there for him. He also knew that Elladan was the better tracker and that with him being blind it was going to be extremely hard to track alone. He had always taken cues from his elder twin and now who was he to get cues from? He needed aid, for even Ancú was missing. He made a mental note to strangle and beat that stupid excuse for an Elf within an inch of his life when and if he got back. "Morcuivië, " asked Elrohir carefully, "do you think you feel well enough to guide my brother and I to them. Perhaps there is a way we can negotiate with them. They can't be all evil. As a mater of fact, I am not sure they are entirely all evil, though their purpose is."
Morcuivië smiled thinly and said, "I may. But, you will have to be willing to endure hardships that are more than physical. You will have to be strong of heart, mind and soul. The road you will tread is dark; however, I have no doubt in the Sons of Elrond. " He wrinkled his brow, "where is Elladan?"
Elrohir said nothing at first and then he murmured, as though he was far away, "he is fading for he cannot see. But, no, he lives and he has sight deeper and greater than all of ours." He looked at Morcuivië and said, "he lost his sight trying to save my brother Estel, Prince Legolas and myself." Elrohir felt tears and held them back. He knew it was all right to cry, but he did not want to readily show his weakness and he had a lot more pride than he was willing to admit to anyone.
Morcuivië said nothing for a moment and then he frowned and sighed, "we had better get moving, for I fear time is running out." He looked at Elrohir and said, "you get ready. I can move. The arrow was hardly pulled back enough to cause severe damage and I can hardly ignore the need of your aid."
Elrohir smiled warmly and said, "a thousand thank you's, Morcuivië and the best wishes to you." He then went and walked swiftly out of the ward. As he watched, Morcuivi's eyes narrowed into silver slits of ice unbroken and yet not unbreakable.
"My pleasure, Elrond's Son, and thank you for your well wishes." Elrohir never heard Morcuivië whisper those words and was out and racing through the corridor before the other Elf had a chance to change his mind.
Elrohir tore in to the Hall of Fire and strode swiftly to the spot where Elladan was sitting quietly, with his chin cupped in his hands and his elbows on his knees as he sat by a great hearth. He was near slumber when his enhanced ears picked up the soft sound of his brother's feet on the marble floor.
He shifted and muttered, "hey Ro." Elrohir cocked his head and smiled broadly.
"Ready to go? Which will it be? Breakfast on the road or here?" asked Elrohir with a flash of his straight white teeth as a grin pulled his lips back. He felt more giddy than he had in a long time.
Elladan heard the change of tone in his younger brother's voice and said with an edge of curiosity, "what has put you in such a joyous mood?" He was certainly not in any such mood himself. If he could have seen his brother he might have slapped him to see if he could rattle any sense into him.
Elrohir said, "I know how we can get Estel back and Legolas and Ancú." His tone was filled with excitement and Elladan frowned.
"How?" asked the eldest of Elrond's children, raising a brow. None of this was making any sense to him and he was not entirely sure that it was meant to. He was almost certain that Elrohir was utterly insane and he was not overly joyful about that. It was bad enough that he was insane.
Elrohir answered him quickly, " Morcuivië has agreed to aid us in the tracking. He seems to know where they dwell for now." Elrohir grabbed his pack that he had misplaced by the hearth some time ago. He began to go through the contents and he was hardly listening to his elder twin seething off his worries to him.
"You are mad Elrohir. I want to go after him too, and am more than willing but putting our trust in an Elf we only have recently met is suicide and you know it! Why don't you think? You always were the impulsive one! Remember the vase and the bow you just had to have even before you tested it?" growled Elladan.
"Thanks for the support Elladan," said Elrohir quickly as he stuffed the contents that he had just removed from the pack back in. Bandages, arrowheads, knives, herbs, socks, small blanket, spare cloaks...everything was there.
Elladan muttered something under his breath about the madness of his family and then fell silent. Elrohir said briskly, "do you want breakfast in or out?"
"Considering you can't cook," he sighed and finished, "most definitely in."
"Fine," said Elrohir, biting back an insult of his own. He tossed his pack over his shoulder and then grabbed his brother's arm, "come on!" Elladan strode behind his brother, hardly able to keep up with the pace at a walk, so he shifted to a near jog.
"Any chance you could slow it down? What did you eat for breakfast?" he snarled at his twin.
Elrohir smirked and said, "I haven't eaten anything as of late, that's where we are heading!" He picked up his pace and Elladan sighed. This was a fast morning.
()()()()()()
Within minutes the pair was in the kitchens. One of the Elf maidens smiled when she saw them come rushing in. Looking at them with bright green eyes she said, "leaving yet again my Lords?"
Elrohir grinned like a fool and said, "you know it Wilwarin." She smiled even more and Elrohir gasped, "got something that will sustain three on the road?" He suddenly added, "and ANYTHING but Lembas bread!" He wrinkled his nose and muttered, "I have had enough of that to last a lifetime."
Wilwarin grinned and said, "forever is a long time Lord Elrohir."
Elrohir felt his cheeks turn red. "You know what I meant!" he said in a breath.
She laughed and Elrohir flushed scarlet. Elladan smirked; he could just see the scenario that must be unfolding. Wilwarin handed the red faced Elf-lord a bag of scones and some cordial to sustain them for days. "The best wishes on your journey my lords." Her smile seemed to brighten the room in Elrohir's mind. He noticed that when her gaze fell on Elladan her eyes clouded and she looked away.
He was hurt. She had loved him once, but she could not now. She was afraid of him and for him. Elrohir knew it and gave her a look of anger and slight sadness. She closed her eyes and said, "farewell my Lords." A tear slid down her cheek in a molten silver drop to drip like rain.
Elrohir said politely, "farewell my Lady." He placed a slender finger beneath her fair chin and looked at her face. She opened her eyes and he saw the unspilled tears and they seemed to burn him.
He removed his hand and turned to leave. Elladan trailed behind him.
It was not long before they were in the Hall of Fire again and sitting in large chairs, both near asleep, Elrohir's enthusiasm stolen through sadness. He was confused and his heart ached. Just then he heard foot steps and swirled his steel gray eyes upwards from their focus on the floor to see Morcuivië clothed solely in gray sued with lavender embroidery that resembled trees, flowers and birds. His hair was pulled back and his longer fingers were still fiddling with one of the smaller braids.
Elrohir smiled weakly and said, "up and about are we?" Delving into his pack, he pulled out a scone from the bag Wilwarin had given him and held it out in his hand for the healing Elf to eat. "Breakfast," he said simply and tossed it to the other immortal.
Morcuivië caught it nimbly and stared at it only a moment before taking a bite. Elladan sighed, "I thought we were going to eat here?" he questioned and snorted. "You planned this."
Elrohir smirked and said, "of course I did! I don't cook and we don't waste time. It's a truce Elladan, a truce." He grinned and pulled out a scone for his brother and handed it to him then stood up and said, "we had better get moving or else it won't matter whether we ate in or out!" Elladan nodded as he took a nibble from the bottom of his scone. Elrohir rolled his eyes. Elladan had eaten scones in that terribly odd fashion for nigh since he was born and Elrohir found it annoying but he said naught.
Before long the trio of Elves had entered the barn. Light filtered through cracks in the wall. Asfaloth nickered and Elrohir smiled. The miserable creature was better already. He could only imagine Anc's response. Going to the farthest back stall, he said to Morcuivië, "this is an extremely gentle mare. She will be hard as steel in danger, gentle on her feet as a kitten and as sweet as sugar. Our sister normally chooses her but she had a bad hoof the day Arwen departed," explained Elrohir quickly.
Morcuivië came and placed a hand on the mare's forelock. She nickered and snorted. Suddenly she whipped her head back and snorted like a mad beast. Elrohir furrowed his brow and looked at her like she had sprouted three heads and spoken in Elvish. Something was wrong. Perhaps it was the new Elf being a stranger. He was not sure, but it disturbed him and he said, "I don't know what is wrong with her."
Elladan had heard the creature's snorts and it may have been that since he lost his sight he was given a special gift to see into her heart. It was hard to be sure and nobody really would ever know. "She senses danger and it frightens her. It is not immediate, but smoldering like a fire ready to belch flame. We must be careful."
Morcuivië glared and then he said softly, "what is her name?"
Elrohir smiled faintly and said, "long ago when we were Elflings..." Elladan elbowed his twin, whom he knew was standing to his right.
"Oh just tell him the name and spare the story!" growled the elder brother fiercely. The story was far too humiliating.
Elrohir grunted, then snorted out a chuckle as he spoke, "her name is Wilwarin." Then he gave a devilish grin and said as fast as he could so his twin could not interfere, "Elladan named him after a maiden he likes!" Elrohir earned himself a sharp cuff on the back of the head and he laughed harder. Morcuivië looked amused and confused.
Elrohir then went to the stall next to that one and lead out Elladan's stallion. It was a rather large horse, with a chestnut body and flax mane. The animal was calm for a stallion and he allowed himself to be led out with no incident. Elrohir quickly took and laid the saddle blanket on the animal's back and smoothed it with his hands gently. Then he carefully placed on the saddle, drawing the cinch tight across the beast's midsection. The horse snorted loudly in protest and then complied. The younger twin then went and choose a snaffle bit bridle off the wall and adorned the animal with it. "He's harnessed Dan," he said.
Elladan smiled and said softly, "thanks Ro." He seemed almost embarrassed to have to have his brother saddle and groom his horse, but his brother seemed to think naught of it. Elladan heard the horse snorting and could map out in his mind the rough position of the animal. Going over, he grasped the saddle horn and the pummel. Placing his left foot in the stirrup, he leaped expertly and swiftly up onto the horse's back.
Elrohir went and saddled as well as mounted his own black and white stallion. He looked over and saw that Morcuivië had saddled and mounted the mare. But he also noticed that she was unstable in her nerves. She shifted uneasily and nickered soft and low. Elrohir did not care for this at all. Something was wrong. She was so calm under normal conditions and now her nerves were a jumble.
Together all three of them departed from the stables.
Legolas and Rothinzil had been traveling for near half an hour. The day was not hot, but it was not all that cool either. Legolas could sit up now on his own, and he could very nearly keep his own balance. Roth was off the horse now and walking on the ground, looking for signs. It was a hard task, for Elves left no tracks and were careful not to leave a trail of any kind. But Legolas knew the direction they should be going and he said, "I believe that if we keep going this way we will find them or their lair. "He looked at Roth concernedly and said, "I want you to be careful Rothinzil. They are likely to be very dangerous when we confront them."
Roth smiled and said, "don't worry over me Legolas. I will be alright. When have I ever gotten seriously hurt?"
Legolas had to admit that it was not often the klutz of an Elf got seriously injured. As a matter of fact, for all his stubborn and silly habits Roth was rarely scathed at all. Legolas smiled inwardly. The clumsy Elf definitely had someone looking out for him. Perhaps he was meant to go on to better things. Legolas could not be sure. He honestly could not see Roth doing much of anything. "You never do really get hurt Roth. Odd, don't you think?"
Roth snorted and said, "Legolas, you injure me." Legolas gave a wry laugh and Roth rolled his eyes. Suddenly he stopped and picked up a piece of cloak. It was Elven and yet not so. It was the kind of cloak Aragorn had worn. Perhaps it had snagged on a bush and torn free. Who could say? But it was a sign. Roth murmured quietly, "Legolas we are drawing near." Legolas felt his heart beat a little faster and he put a hand on it to steady it. Why was he so apprehensive? They were not out to kill him, so why did he dread the confrontation? He knew in his heart why. He feared what he would find and what he would have to do.
"What did you find Roth?" he asked softly, through dry lips. His blue eyes looked clouded with worry. Roth held up the bit of cloth and Legolas gave a cry, "Aye! That is a piece of Estel's cloak!" He felt a lump growing in his throat and he swallowed it down along with a cold and prickling fear.
Roth said, "Aye, it is." Roth's quick eyes scanned their surroundings. Off in the distance he knew there was a series of dark caves though they could not be seen yet. Deep and well delved. They were like a maze and easy for one to get lost in unless you knew them. He also knew they would make a perfect hideout and that it had a supply of fresh water. But Elves hated the dark. "Legolas, I would stake my life they are in the caves."
Legolas let his breath go; hardly noticing it had been withheld. "Roth, are you sure? Elves hate the-" began the prince.
"Legolas I know they do! It is a place that no one would look, for did not orcs live there once upon a time?" argued Roth doggedly. His face plead understanding. The other Elf brushed a piece of dark hair back.
Legolas said with frustration, "yes, but why in the name of Arda would they want to go there? It is dangerous. You know as well as I do those caves are horrible places and are filled with dangers. Old traps and pitfalls. It would be so easy to find death in there. The orcs died and only they know the dark secrets of those caves." Legolas felt a fear, like an ice icicle, piercing his weary heart. He did not wish to go there and yet he knew he must. Aragorn was in there and if he didn't go, who would? It was far too dangerous for the Elves of Rivendell. It was their feud and more would die. It was wood-Elves that were able to, for the bad blood was not awoken towards them.
"Legolas, they know no one will go there," said Roth softly. "You know this, as do I."
Legolas gave a snort. "So you are up to this adventure after all?"
Rothinzil glared and said, "well someone has to look after you!"
Legolas laughed quietly and said, "it is going to be dangerous, I mean more than usual." He wanted to make light of the situation, for it would ease his heart. Yet it was his heavy heart that was holding him to the task through fear.
Rothinzil chuckled coldly. "I laugh in the face of danger!"
Legolas said, "well don't laugh yet! We have yet to see how heavy the darkness is and how much it grows!"
Rothinzil gripped Naneth's leather reins and began to pull her after him, Legolas sat up from where he had been leaning on her neck and his eyes looked ahead to the caves. He seemed fascinated by the tunnels that they were heading to.
His friend was in there. Aragorn was in the dark and for all he knew the human could be dead. It was his fault. If only he had not hesitated in the fight, he might have managed to keep the ranger free. But he had been disinclined to strike hard and swift against another Elf and it became his and the ranger's undoing. Now it was he who must go and try to free the man, or die in the process.
()()()()()()
Ancú looked hard at Aragorn as he slowly came back to the light. The human saw the young Noldo leaning over him with a strange look on his face. For a second he thought that Ancú might have been crying. His eyes were large and looked watery. He also noticed with relief that the immortal's face was no longer ashen and its normal pallid color had returned to it. "Ed' i'ear ar' elenea! At last!" exclaimed the Elf as he saw the human stir.
Aragorn smiled thinly and said, "Ancú guard your tongue."
Ancú scowled and gingerly touched the man's elbow and said weakly, "it is set. I think it will heal." He saw Aragorn winced and withdrew his hand quickly. He gave the human a pitying look and said softly, "Aldalossë gave us food and drink. However he suggested that you drink first and eat after or you may not be able to keep anything down after the potion you were given."
Aragorn smiled back, though it was weak and shaky. "And what of yourself?" The Elf gently helped the human to sit up against the rock wall behind them.
"I will be well. I do not feel ill," reasoned the Elf to the man. Ancú picked up a flask of water and held it out to Aragorn. The man tried weakly to refuse, but he had not the strength to go against the Elf and Ancú smiled grimly. "And if this settles I may permit you to eat."
Aragorn scowled and said, "since when do you care so much?" It was not like this Elf to care about him this much and as a matter of fact, Ancú was acting like Legolas. The thought unsettled the man and he sighed.
Ancú answered curtly; "since I became a prisoner along side you! You are hurt! Is it not my duty to aid my lord's son?" he finished with a snap. Then he turned away and shuffled over to the wall, putting his back to it. Then, drawing his knees up to his chin, he rested his head on them. A heavy sigh escaped him and he said, "I promised."
Aragorn stopped drinking and lowered the flask. "Promised what?" He looked at Ancú and saw the immortal's hands were unbound. Something was wrong.
The Elf frowned, "I promised not to escape if only they would let me heal you. It was impossible with bound hands." He raised his head and looked at his hand, moving his finger's slowly as he stared at them. "Aldalossë is siting in the rocks above and near us though you may not see him. His cloak hides him and so escape for you is impossible."
Aragorn sighed, "but you could have?" Ancú shut his eyes and said nothing. He gave a small shiver and Aragorn frowned tiredly. "Ancú you didn't have to. Damn it! Why did you do that?" He was now fully angry. That stupid, maddening, miserable whelp of an Elf! He could strangle him. If Ancú died, he would never forgive himself for it.
Ancú smiled and said coldly, "your brothers are my closest friends, Estel, if I let you die, how could I go back to them? If I tried not to heal you, how could I go back to them?" He shook his head sadly; "this is my choice."
Aragorn scowled and said, " Ancú..." The human stopped. It was Anc's choice. Every time some one did something for him he was so ungrateful. He would stay angry over it and make the person who cares enough for him feel miserable. He was not going to do that now. He had done it with his brothers and now it was doubtful he would ever see them again. He had done it with Legolas numerous times. He was not going to do it this time. "Ancú, hannon le, mellon nin."
Ancú looked at the human and said, "Lle creoso."
Suddenly there was a shuffling in the rocks above and Aldalossë leaped nimbly down. He looked at the pair that were sitting on the ground. "How are you doing?" he asked in the common tongue. His silver eyes that flashed with a bit of dark brown to them. "You know, I did not wish to bring you here."
Ancú snarled, "you sure were eager enough to bind me and drug and treat me like a criminal!" He fairly spat this at the Elf that stood before him.
Aldalossë frowned, "I had to. I was not sure where your loyalties lied. However, I have only recently just come to the decision that I am not certain where my loyalties lie." The Elf's fair face was distorted in emotional pain. "Gilloth is my elder brother by one hundred years and I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that his allegiance is to Morceleb and no other. Yet, I do not agree with this."
Aragorn frowned, "well then fight for us. Free us and stop this madness before more die or are hurt." If they could get this Elf to fight for them perhaps he could save his brother.
Aldalossë scowled and said with a tone of one in deep heartache. "If I do that, I betray my brother. If I don't, I betray my heart." Taking the jewel that he had used to torment Ancú only a little while ago he looked at it. "I wanted none of this." He closed his hand on the gem and squeezed it tightly so that Aragorn wondered if it would break. Taking it, he cast it upon the floor angrily. "I shall not hurt another that has done no evil."
Ancú smiled and said, "so we are getting out of here?" Aragorn smiled hopefully up at the Elf that stood above both and he and his brother's friend.
"I do not know," answered Aldalossë with a scowl. They could not leave from the front of the cave, for they would be seen. He knew as well as anyone that Morceleb had posted warriors in the trees incase his vigilance should fail. He knew also that they would be lucky if these warriors could not hear them and their plans. "We will have to travel through the caves. There has to be another way out, orcs dwelled here once and they would have more than one entrance," he reasoned quietly.
Aragorn dropped his gaze an then looked at Ancú whose face had returned to a paler shade. "Orcs?" he hissed at the other Elf venomously. "Lle lakwenien!" he asked with a frown. "Are you joking!" He breathed heavily and said, "there will be traps inconceivable in there! We will meet our deaths for certain!"
Aragorn put a hand on Anc's shoulder and said, "peace Ancú. Let us listen." The Elf shrugged off the hand and glared at the human. Suddenly a jolt of pain shot through the ranger's arm and he hissed. It was like a shot of liquid fire being pulsed up and down his broken arm. He leaned heavily on the younger Elf and his breathing became deep and erratic.
Ancú looked alarmed and said, "Estel can't travel like this! He needs rest!" Apparently the sling was not working properly. Ancú, frowned. Probably put it on wrong, he thought darkly. He was no healer after all.
Aldalossë looked at the pair and said, "but he must. Unless he wishes death to find him when my brother and Morceleb return. Morceleb will lead your brothers far and then ditch them. They will follow a trail set by your blood," he said as he looked at the man. "You must leave, both of you!"
Going over to the corner he picked up his quiver and bow. He also took and tossed Aragorn's sword back to the man. It clattered on the stone floor. He then recalled how Anc's weapon had dropped into the river. Going over from the corner he found a spare bow and quiver of arrows. He tossed this to the younger Elf, who caught it quickly. "May these serve you well."
Ancú nodded, "hannon le." He stood up and then held his hand out for the human. Aragorn took it and allowed himself to be pulled up. Ancú then reached down and picked up the ranger's sword and held it out for the man. Aragorn took it in his good hand, thinking about how lucky he was that his injured arm was not his sword arm.
Aragorn looked at Ancú and smiled, "thank you my friend."
The Elf smiled back and then said, "what are we waiting for? We cannot let Dan and Ro die!"
()()()()()()()()()
They had been traveling through the caves for about an hour and it was black as pitch. It also had the chill of death all about it and was still reek with orc. For once the Elves were even shuffling their feet, so as not to fall into a pitfall. But that in itself was dangerous, for who knew what other trap they would set off in doing that?
Aragorn could hear Anc's quick intake on breath. The Elf was not scared of the darkness, but he did not trust it either. Aragorn had to admit that he himself was frightened. He wished that Legolas or his brothers were there. For all of them knew the darkness and no longer feared it as much as others. He shivered against the chill that swept through his blood. He stumbled and landed against Ancú, whom he felt jump. The Elf caught the human and whispered through the dark, "are you alright?" He knew that the arm had to be horrible to deal with.
"I am...fine," breathed the man through clenched teeth. His arm had taken the brunt of his trip and had been crushed against Ancú when he landed against the startled immortal.
Ancú sighed, "no you aren't!" In the dark he could not see how pale the man's face had become. All he knew was that the ranger was in pain. Aldalossë stopped and waited for the two to catch up. A cold breeze brushed against their faces and rustled their hair.
Aldalossë said almost to himself, "there is a deeper darkness there and an evil. I perceive that we will not escape unscathed, for none ever do. If only we could call upon the Valar for light, but we cannot here. For there are no stars or trees." He shivered and perceived more than what he told. He knew chances were one would not come out alive. It was a real hard thing to show his weakness.
They had traveled a little further, when Aragorn stopped. He felt a shiver run up and down his spine. It raised the hair at the base of his neck and made a pit form in his stomach. He felt a malice that was hidden in the night of the cavern. It was dead and yet not so. Suddenly he took a step forward and felt noting beneath his feet. He felt like he was falling. With a cry he realized he must have stumbled into a chasm that opened in the floor of the mines that once were. As he fell he reached his hands upward and managed to get a grip with his fingers on the lip of the gap.
He felt a wave of nausea hit his gut like an iron punch of an orc's fist. A fiery heat blazed up his arm and turned into a sharp pain that sent thrills of agony down his side and up his neck as his newly placed elbow joint was stretched. With a strangled cry he was forced to release his grip with that arm.
Ancú heard it and he looked frantically around. He had heard the cry and he knew that his best friends' brother was in danger. He suddenly heard Aragorn cry excitedly, " Ancú! Ancú! Help me!"
"Estel? Estel!" screamed Ancú back. He had heard the voice from down below and in the darkness.
Aragorn called back up, "I am below you. I am falling! Please help me!" He could hear his voice echoing down below and he cold air of the deep pitfall drifting up to call him below. At that moment Aragorn thought about his brothers and his father. He thought about Legolas. As far as he knew Legolas was looking for him, but his brothers were crushed because of him. He thought maybe it would be better if he let himself fall. But he heard Ancú stepping write above him and he cried, "I am slipping!"
Anc's sharp Elven hearing caught the plea for help and he stooped down. "Estel. I am here. Hold on." Ancú quickly began to move his hand around along the edge, trying to find and grasp the human's. Aldalossë was instantly by the younger Elf's side and he was scrambling to find Aragorn's hand as well.
Ancú suddenly felt the human's soft hand beneath him and grasped it tightly. Just then he felt his own foot hit something. With a sinking feeling of dread, he felt something snake about his ankle and twist his foot upwards. He kicked and suddenly found that he was being yanked up by his ankle. In shear panic he kicked harder to try and free himself.
His rip on Aragorn's hand tightened and as the young Elf was yanked up, he pulled the ranger up and out of the whole. However, Ancú kept going up and he felt terror. He began to spin around rapidly by his ankle, and he flipped his body up at it in an arch; trying to cut the rope or whatever it was that had grasped his ankle.
As Aragorn lay on the ground, he could hear his friend spinning above him and his frantic breathing. " Ancú, I am going to help you! Aldalossë help!" he cried to the elder Elf, who was looking about in the darkness for his companion.
Suddenly all in the cave heard the sickening sound of arrows being released and sailing through the air. Aragorn grimly guessed their target. He heard a thud and he also heard Anc's struggling cease. He felt sick and called up, " Ancú!"
He heard a cough and then a raspy voice say around what had to be a mouthful of blood, "Estel. I am hit...I c-c-can't...b-b-breath...no...a-air- r-r."
Aragorn got up, ignoring the brutal pain splitting his arm. He cried angrily and bitterly at his friend's suffering, "we should have never come here!" He stamped his foot angrily and looked up into the blackness. "How far up are you?" he called up, hoping the other could answer.
Ancú frowned and said, "I ...c-c-can't...t-t-tell...you...fool!" he hissed between grit teeth. His extreme pain was overly obvious.
Aldalossë whispered, "if we can shoot the clasp that holds the rope up to the rock we may be able to free him."
"Or break his neck!" retorted Aragorn. He sighed, "we need to find a way to lower him down." He knew Ancú had to be scared and already in horrible pain.
Aldalossë suddenly snapped, "well if you have any better ideas be sure to tell me, human!" He was getting angry. He didn't have to be helping them escape.
Aragorn thought for a moment, angry he could think of nothing else. "I can't think of anything else! Damn it, Ancú! Why does this always have to happen to you?"
He heard a pained snort and the younger Elf said, "always? What...about...you...and Legolas?"
Aragorn sighed and said with a growl, "we'll talk later." Aragorn was angry at everything. His friend was dying, his brothers were leaving to the West or as good as dead if they came after him. And it was all his fault.
Suddenly a rumbling alerted them to a new danger. Aragorn looked around and then said, "Oh, Valar! The cave is coming down!" He looked up towards where Ancú was spinning by his ankle. Suddenly he heard the Elf give a cry as stone began to fall around him. It was a twisted cry of dismay and fear. Elves did not fear much, but getting ground by rocks into dust was on their list of, "things worth screaming about".
The rumbling became louder and a ray of light shone through as the top caved in and Aragorn saw Anc's huge eyes and pale face. He saw blood coming from around the Elf's mouth and his heart went out to the immortal. It would have been laughable to see the Elf strung up by his ankle, if it were not for the horrible pain he had to be feeling. Suddenly the rock piece that the rope holding Ancú up in the air was attached to began to crumble. The young immortal looked up at it and his breath hitched. He was going to fall to his death. Aldalossë ran forward in the dim light to try and catch Ancú as the Elf fell, but a great boulder crashed before him and he could not get around it before more stone crashed about it and completely sealed him off.
Aragorn watched as Ancú fell from the ceiling of the cavern and the Elf managed to twist, nearly cat like, and land on his feet, bending his knees so they nearly touched the ground to absorb the impact. He gasped as the arrow that had embedded itself in his chest and into one of his ribs gave a sharp pain and snapped off. His hand went unconsciously to his throbbing wound and he collapsed onto the ground in agony. "Run, Estel..." He whispered.
Aragorn looked at the Elf and could not abandon him. He could not drag him out, for it would worsen the wound and he did not have the strength because of his own injury. The cave was ready to utterly come down and he could see the Elf crawling into a ball, trying to avoid being crushed by the rubble and debris.
Doing the only thing he knew how to do at the moment, the ranger went and gently placed his body over that of his friend's and he pulled back the Elf's hair from his slender and pointed ear. Softly he whispered, "mellon en mellonamin, Ancú, amin hiraetha. Uuma dela, I'narr en gothrim glinuva nuin I'anor."
Ancú shifted and said back in Quenya, "Diola lle Estel, Astalder." He trembled slightly against fear and pain. He could hear the stones crashing and yet he felt none of it hit him. He knew with a pang it was falling on Aragorn and he tried to get out from under the man, but he could not. The human gripped his wrists and held him in place firmly, but gently. He could only imagine how Aragorn's elbow must be feeling. Elladan and Elrohir are going to kill me for sure, he thought drowsily as he began to shift in and out of consciousness.
Aragorn felt a series of dull and sharp pains hit him as stones hit his back and shoulders, leaving deep purple bruises to mar his flesh. Suddenly there was a huge boom and a loud grinding noise that made the ranger's heart nearly stop. And he felt the whole rest of the cavern tremble.
()()()()()()()()
Legolas was just outside the cavern when he heard a loud rumble. It sounded for all the world like a Balrog was awakening and had he not been the age he was, he would have never known better so convincing was it.
He looked at Roth and the younger Elf asked, "what evil has awoken here?"
Legolas felt the color drain from his face as reality hit him. "The cave has caved in Roth and they are all inside!"
Legolas heeled the horse and Rothinzil ran along on foot. But when another boom sounded and shook the air Naneth could not take it and she threw the prince from his seat. He hit the ground hard. Legolas felt his head reeling and his sight was momentarily blurred.
Suddenly his sharp Elven hearing heard a cry, "Estel! Estel!" and then more crashing and booms shivered the serenity of the late evening air and as Legolas looked up, he saw the stars. He thought it odd that he should see their beauty in such a time as this, but even their light did not aid his fearful heart.
"Noooooooooo!" cried the Elf-prince in dismay and fear for his dearest friend. "Strider!" The blonde Elf staggered up and fumbled his way towards the dust fuming from the mouth of the cave. That stupid human! What had he done? Was he dead or dying? Rothinzil ran to Legolas' side and gripped the immortal prince's arm to support him. Legolas stopped short of the cave and collapsed on the ground in despair.
TBC...HEHEHEHEHE! And so the angst begins! Muahahahahahaha! Please review! Thanks! We are very sorry their are no review responses. We have no time, but we can assure you that each one was read over with much care and thought. We will respond to questions in those reviews at some point. But since some were so persistant, yes, more will die than orcs and stuff.
Lle lakwenien are you joking?mellon en mellonamin, Ancú, amin hiraetha. Uuma dela, I'narr en gothrim glinuva nuin I'anor Friend of my friend, Ancú, I am sorry. Don't worry, the bones of our foes will gleam under the sun
Diola lle Estel, Astalder Thank you, Valiant one
Ed' i'ear ar' elenea! by the sea and stars!
Lle creoso thank you
Please review. We would love to hear from you and thanks to all those who did for chapter five that we could not respond to.