Hey again everyone! I just thought I'd let you know that there are just a couple more chapters to this and then this particular story is over! Don't worry though; as always, there's another fic waiting in the queue! =)
othrilis; Oh no indeed! =)
Deana; Lol! I thought that would get to you! =) Really? I'd like to see what comes of that!
LEGOLAS: WHAT is this fascination with throwing me down a CLIFF?!?!
STAR: Nothing personal Leggy; it's just fun...
Terreis; Wrong? No! Twisted, yes, evil, yes, but in a Drama fic, you can never go wrong!!! =) Lol, joke! I know; the twins... goes weak at the knees VERY good book characters... =) You ARE a good writer! I don't know why it seems to be my talent; it just is... good news for me and my readers, bad news for the characters...
ARAGORN: You can say THAT again! =(
Lynx Yamato; Lol; I think I did! =) Ok, ok, I accept it; I'm evil... here's an update for you!
kurafoxgirl; LOL! Sorry! =) Oh, I'm not worried; people who have read lots of my stories have threatened to kill me loads of times! Hmmm, maybe I should take note of that...
LEGOLAS: I can think of a few more people who'd like to kill you Star... glares at star along with Aragorn and the Twins
STAR: Oh c'mon guys; it's just a bit of fun! =( Men...
Crinkle; Lol! Oh I'm blushing! You've got me all embarrassed now! =S Thanks; I try to make my writing as visual as possible and then leave the reader to come up with the rest. I'm actually quite happy that you said it's like a movie; I try to imagine everything like their surroundings and then try to put it into words. Basically, I have it as a 'movie' in my head which I'm writing out. Thanks for the review!!! Ah yes; the twisted joke... I have a lot of those... =)
lindahoyland; How indeed?1 You'll have to read and find out...
Stoneage Woman; Hmmm, strange that. I don't know! EEEEEW!!! Looks like Aragorn's gonna need more a bath than usual; HE HUGGED GARVORG!!! EEEEEEEEEW!!! Oh, and Ro?
ELROHIR: What?
STAR: Get a backbone lad...
ELROHIR: I do have a backbone... I just don't want it broken!
STAR: -' Not funny Ro...
tonianne; Lol! Personally I love cliffies; well, writing them anyway. I HATE reading them!!! =) I love that film! =) Well, thanks very much! I hope you enjoy the rest of the 30 or so stories in the series too!
shadowfaxgal7; No actually! I was in a SUPERB MOOD when I wrote that as I've just began my SUMMER HOLIDAYS!!! =D I think sadism is a natural thing which people just have to get out by writing! Lol! OUCH! I can't wait to see that! Can you tell me who it is? Lol! =)
Estel; ='( Why Estel! I'm hurt!!! sniffle
ARAGORN: You talking to me?
STAR: No you idiot; the OTHER Estel!
ARAGORN: Oh, right... I'm the original though!
STAR: rolls eyes Here we go again... -' Ah yeah; losing his focus... I just thought he'd be a bit shocked at thinking his sons were off on a nice normal hunting trip (yeah right! When is one of THEIR hunting trips ever NORMAL?!) and then having one of them come back practically dead and the other two and their friend missing without a trace... just my thoughts though! ;-)
eruve tinwen; LOL! Well it was certainly a "cliffie", eh?! =) Oh I'm cruel... I take it then that if Leggypops dies you won't be very happy? Hmmm, Leggypops... sounds like some sadistic frozen treat...
LEGOLAS: 8-. HELP!
Celebrean; Are you trying to TELL me something Elrohir?!
ELROHIR: No! =S
STAR: Good... Anyway! Oh c'mon; a review can never be too long!!! =) I love them! ;-)
fire fearie; Thanks for reviewing! LOL! Yeah, I guess that's a consolation! I can imagine it...
ELROND: So is ANYONE left ok?!?!
ARAGORN: Well, I am!
ELROND: Ah good! 10 tonne anvil drops on Aragorn, squashing him Oh... bugger...
Lainfaer; Yup; I CHUCKED LEGGY OFF A CLIFF! =) He he he... Lol! Ok, ok, I'll update...
leggylover03; OK!!! ;-)
shadowfox8; I'm quite proud of my sense of humour! Lol, it's a weird one! =) Thanks for the review!
WOAH! That's a LONG review reply section!!!
ELLADAN: Hmmm, I wonder why?!
STAR: Well if you and your cronies would STOP interrupting, we'd get somewhere...
.: Chapter Seven :.
"LEGOLAS!!!"
There was no answer.
Garvorg cackled cruelly. "Shame really," he rasped. "'E was a pretty one..."
The young human's vision turned red and his whole body shook with anger. With a furious roar, Estel suddenly lunged at Garvorg, fists flying. A lucky punch caught the captain in the face. The Orc, not expecting such an attack, overbalanced and staggered backwards towards the edge...
As if his sudden burst of strength had been sucked out of him again, Estel dropped to his knees as Garvorg sailed over the cliff. His grieving mind was too full of turmoil to listen to the foul being's cries as he plunged down; following the path the young prince had taken moments before to the pool at the base of the waterfall. There was nothing now but a confused and empty numbness. His best friend was dead...
A lonely tear slid down his cheek. Legolas was dead because of him, because of his stubbornness and refusal to talk...
"Help!"
Estel's head shot up as he heard the faint voice. Was that- did he just hear-?
No. It couldn't be...
-=-=-=-
The hooves of Hallataul's horse pounded rhythmically on the soil as he sped up towards Rivendell, Elrohir placed in front of him. He could feel his friend's heart hammering wildly in his chest and it frightened him.
The lights of the healing rooms shone like beacons in a storm in front of him. Hallataulë breathed a sigh of relief, but it was still too early to be completely comforted yet.
Some of the healers and their apprentices were already outside waiting for him by the time he'd galloped through the gates. Everything seemed to meld together in a jumbled mix of confusion as they took the limp Elf from him, and stable-hands relieved him of his horse, before he managed to stumble through to the hallways.
Finding the room in which Elrohir was in, Hallataulë realised that he would just be in the way f he ventured inside. Instead, he opted for waiting for news of his friend and leaned heavily against the grey stone wall, sliding down it slowly and sitting, exhausted, on the marble floor...
-=-=-=-
As his eyes opened, he frowned slightly when all he saw was the fire crackling merrily away to itself in the corner. Usually when he woke up in a healer's room there were at least three people hovering nervously over him; his Ada, Elrohir, and more recently, Estel. If they were there though, the Noldo Elf would sometimes have a certain pair of Mirkwood princes at his side as well.
Blinking groggily, Elladan noted with no small amount of concern that his eyes wouldn't function properly. Everything around him blurred and swayed. He could hear a relentless pounding in his ears and a throbbing headache in his temples.
The bed sheets stuck to him uncomfortably, but when he tried to move he felt so weak and sluggish that he gave up and put up with their clinginess. He was just wondering what had happened to him when light streamed in through the doorway.
On seeing Elladan awake, Elrond almost ran to his side. Knowing that his son could still be very confused though, he decided against it and instead knelt down beside him.
"Elladan!" he whispered, smiling in a fatherly way. He brushed back a piece of raven black hair which fell over Elladan's forehead with gentle fingers. "How are you feeling ion nin?" [my son]
Elladan swallowed thickly. "Been... better..." he croaked, his throat still red raw. Elrond laughed quietly.
"Of course."
Elladan looked around slowly, a look of uncertainty on his face. "Ada... where are Elrohir... and Estel and... Legolas?"
Elrond fell silent for a moment before replying. "Estel and Legolas are still out there. Elrohir... he is in the healing ward." He then became quite distant, not telling anything more on the subject.
Elladan's eyes widened slightly. "What happened?" he pried. He needed to know if his brother was alright.
Elrond paused, wondering how to put the matter to Elladan. If the news proved too much to bear, the Elf could well trigger a relapse within himself. However, as Elrohir's brother, he had more than a right to know.
"Elladan... your brother is very ill. The healers are working now to help him..."
Elladan stared at him, mouth opened slightly. He could not believe it. "No... I have to see him, Ada, I have to!"
Elrond placed his hand on Elladan's should, trying to calm him down. This was not good. "Elladan, calm yourself-"
Elladan shook his head. "NO! Ada, you don't understand, I was supposed to look after them!!! This is MY fault!" A flare of pain streaked through him and he doubled up in the bed, shaking slightly.
"Sssh, you'll hurt yourself!" soothed Elrond desperately. He couldn't afford Elladan to be ill again.
Elladan hissed in a breath through gritted teeth. "But Ada! Ada, I... I..."
The younger Elf trailed away as unconsciousness crept up on him again...
-=-=-=-
The sharp rock cut and bit sharply into his hands, but Legolas was willing to go through that if it meant not falling down the huge distance. Being two hundred feet in the air was a terrifying thought.
The knot on the gag had loosened, and now the dirty cloth slipped from around his mouth and fluttered down, disappearing down before meeting the churning water below. Legolas made the grave mistake of looking down.
Suddenly everything swam around him as the extreme height made him dizzy. His weight, light as he was, was dragging him down, pulling at the gash across his stomach and pulling at it even more than Garvorg had when dragging him through the undergrowth. The roar of the waterfall was deafening.
All of a sudden, something dark and bulky flew over the edge above him and began to fall straight towards him.
The young Elf pressed close into the wall as the blur sailed past him. A great roar-like scream echoed throughout the valley, before silence descended after a huge splash filled the ears of all who listened.
He could feel himself beginning to slip. He could only pray that Estel was alright.
"Help!" shouted the Elf, hoping beyond all hope that somebody would hear him...
Estel's eyes widened and he crawled towards the edge, peering over.
"Legolas!" exclaimed the boy. He was alive!!!
The height suddenly made Estel nauseous. Everyone who knew him at all knew that the human absolutely hated heights. However, this was about Legolas' life. He would do this for him. Estel stretched down as far as he could. Legolas' fingers brushed against his friend's; so near, yet so far. Their eyes met, the Elf's wide with terror.
"Estel!!!"
And suddenly, the rock beneath Legolas' white-knuckled fingers crumbled away...
-=-=-=-
He felt the water lapping up his side. With a dry throated growl, Garvorg opened his eyes to see the houses of the Elves above him. Checking himself over, he was delighted to note no serious injuries. It seemed that this Orc captain was hardier than even he knew.
Stumbling out of the riverbed, Garvorg laughed to himself. He had found it! He, Garvorg, had found the living place of the Elves. And he would be back, one day; he would return with an army, and he would fulfil his plans once and for all.
He stalked away into the darkness of the forest, limping and dripping water as he left. The trees shuddered when he grew close, and they knew in their hearts that many years after this day, he would keep his word. He would come back...
-=-=-=-
Glorfindel wandered down the corridor, reflecting silently on everything that had happened, when he noticed a sleeping shape lying slumped in the hallway. He went over and knelt beside it.
Hallataulë had drifted off to sleep where he had sat; his exhaustion of the ride from Mirkwood coupled with his fight with Shardûg and then the anxiety over Elrohir had completely worn him out - so much so that he now slumbered with his bright blue eyes shut.
Glorfindel shook his shoulder gently. "Hal? Come on now, wake up..."
He had been asked once why, as a respected Elven Lord, did he shorten Hallataul's name as the prince's friends did. It was purely because Hallataulë hated the formality of his name and preferred it to be shortened. The prince was even called such by his parents and his full name was only ever used on special occasions, such as when he was getting into trouble as a young Elfling.
The prince groaned slightly before opening his eyes. Glorfindel arched an eyebrow.
"Well, welcome back to the Land of the Awake, young prince," he chuckled. His expression softened. "How about if we find you a nice comfortable room to stay in, eh?"
Hallataulë merely blinked sleepily and nodded slowly. Glorfindel helped him up and they headed for the spare guest room that he used whenever he visited.
Rubbing his eyes, Hallataulë yawned. "Is Ro alright?"
Glorfindel was silent and simply opened the wooden door. The prince woke up slightly, noting the uncomfortable still silence.
"Glorfindel, please," pleaded the prince. He just wanted to know how his friend was. "Tell me."
The Gondolin Elf sighed and turned to face him. His eyes were full of grief. "It was too late Hal," whispered Glorfindel. "There's nothing anyone can do... he'll be dead by morning."
So, there you go! Please R&R!!! Oh yeah, I hate to break this to you lot at this particular moment in the story, but I'm heading off on holiday for 2 weeks tomorrow... =S So I guess you'll have to be left hanging until I get back! SORRY!!! C'mon, you lot can wait just 2 weeks...
Can't you?! gulp