Rae132; Y'know, hate is such a strong word! gulps =S Jee, some of you reviewers are scary...
kurafoxgirl; I insist because that's what I do; write ANGST!!! cackles evilly =) Lol, thanks for reviewing though!
Terreis; blushes I know I'm cruel! =) Oh... that wasn't a compliment? =. It's very odd, yes... Hal has GOT to be my favourite original character I've made so far! (Apart from Cayred, but he was a bad guy so he doesn't count!) Lol!!! Ah well; I live to make people laugh! Or cry as the case may be... =)
fire faerie; Yes; I'm being quite nice to Aragorn/Estel in this story because I have a story lined up for him WHICH IS WORSE THAN EVERYTHING ALL THE OTHERS HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN THIS STORY PUT TOGETHER!!! =D
ARAGORN: WHAT?!?! YOU NEVER TOLD ME THAT!!!
STAR: Didn't I? Oh, sorry... =)
othrilis; Hal's name? Well... when I was writing A.I.D I mentioned that Legolas had a brother and I thought 'Well he needs a name' so I actually just typed a few letters which I thought sounded good together! LOL! Then when I was writing F.Y.F I remembered I'd actually written that he had a brother... Hal was never MEANT to be a big character, LOL! But I've grown to love him! Strange, huh?
Lynx Yamato; They may die, they may not. I'm not saying! =) Read to find out...
Faerlain; Lol! =) He might have... why don't you scroll down a little and read on to see? ;-)
ESTEL!; hides --- That's all you're getting for a review reply!!! pokes head out Look, I know you're married to Ro! And I KNOW you haven't had any kiddies yet... look Jo; if you and him want kids you'll have to work at it, eh? =)
ELROHIR: You CHEEKY little bugger!!!
STAR: Yeah, I KNOW!!! (BTW, that was a JOKE Jo!!! A JOKE!!!)
Crinkle; Apparently I can be extremely cruel, so don't put it past me!!! =) Ah, I explain something about Garvorg in the A/N at the end of this chapter... and yes, you're right! I do explain THAT in this chapter! ;-) Are we on the same wavelength or something? Lol!
Astievia; Hey, you can't hog the I'm-gonna-kill-Elrohir-in-this-story idea!!!
ELROHIR: WILL PEOPLE PLEASE STOP FIGHTING OVER WHO IS GOING TO KILL ME?!?!
STAR: Eh... no. =) Lol, I'm kidding! ;-) He may go blind! Of course he may be fine, but... well, I'm not making any promises. LOL! I wonder what "Sic 'em boy!" is in Elvish?
Shadowfaxgal7; YES!!! =) MWUHAHAHAHA!!! clears throat 'Scuse me... it's strange, isn't it? I guess angst makes you love the characters more... I'm not saying if I'm going to kill him or not, but I'll just say this... even if I am going to write sequels... doesn't mean I want Elrohir to be in them... =)
Gozilla; Thanks! =)
shadowfox8; LOL! I hope you didn't drive yourself too crazy waiting for this!
lindahoyland; Thanks! I pride myself on twists and turns; makes it more exciting for the reader!
Celebrean; Now now Elrohir... don't be so sure... I could kill every one of you if I wanted to...
A&L&D&R: gulp!
STAR: Hee hee hee...
Mornflower; Wow, thank you!!! =D I'm sorry for the amount of cliffies; I just think they're good places to stop! taps self on wrist Naughty. Oh yeah; I talk to them all too! Except for me, they're only 4 inches high...
LEGOLAS: You DO realise that arrows the size of toothpicks aren't up to much, don't you?
STAR: Yes Legolas, I do... =) What's driving Garvorg is... oops! =S Nearly gave a future plot away there... you'll have to wait I'm afraid... ;-)
Stoneage Woman; Y'know, you just reminded me of a musical called Blood Brothers when you said that... I'm listening to the soundtrack at the moment! Lol, that's scary!!! Do you know what? That lot talk WAY too much...
eruve tinwen; Yup, everyone's dying!!! =) Let's throw a Deathday Party!!! Striptease Leggypops?! computers frazzles as drool drips on keyboard
ARAGORN: STAR! slaps Star Snap out of it!
STAR: Eh?! blushes Sorry... sometimes I just can't control the fan-girl in me... breaks down in shame
leggylover03; Wait and see... =)
Dha-Gal; Sirius is quite an oddball but that's why I love him!!!
ARAGORN: What's a bathroom?
STAR: It has a bath in it... no wonder you don't know what it is... =) LOL!!! I want to watch Excel Saga!!! I have the theme tune (in Japanese!) in my music player... how many times does she DIE though?!?! LOL!!! She's like a rabid boomerang; she ALWAYS comes back... ;-)
butterfly-elf; Well, I'm a super evil meanie!!! ;-)
galadriel evenstar; Sorry!
Joslin
He he he... I guess by now you've realised that I'm back? Well, I had a... pretty boring holiday really, and I'm partially lame... well, limping because my little brother whacked a turnstile into my leg at the local theme park... rubs tender swollen bruise Ouch! YES, I know this is about 3 weeks now, but my parents whisked me off to Scotland as soon as we got back... =(
LEGOLAS: Well, now you know how we feel, eh?! =(
.: Chapter Eight :.
Hallataulë stared at Glorfindel, eyes widened in a mix of shock and disbelief. His mind spun sickeningly, his body doing things by itself as he tried to comprehend what had just been said. He didn't even notice his own two feet carrying him towards the healing room which Elrohir lay in, or the gentle yet sorrowful calls from Glorfindel as he tried to stop him.
To be honest, he didn't really care. He needed to see his friend. He had known Elrohir since... well, even he didn't recall, but he knew that they were always friends. For some reason he found himself a lot closer to the younger twin than Elladan (even though he cared about them both). He couldn't explain why; perhaps it was because he and Elrohir were so alike. Whatever the reason, Elrohir was still his best friend.
Elrohir had tried so hard. And now it was all going to add up to nothing. He would die, and most likely Elladan wouldn't last long without him.
And suddenly, the door was there. His hand hovered over the knob, the warmth of his palm contrasting strikingly to the coldness of the metal. Slowly he turned it, and pushing it open, walked in.
The room was empty of healers now; the only other aside from himself was Elrohir, who lay in silence on the bed. Now that the dirt and sweat and grime had been cleaned off of him, Hallataulë could see that Elrohir's skin was a near white colour, but not quite there. It made him look unnatural and already far away from the cares of Middle-Earth. The shoulder wound was now wrapped and bound tightly with bandages.
There was a pleasing scent wafting through the air. Years of being in and out of the healer's rooms, both in Imladris and in Mirkwood, had taught the Mirkwood heir that it was only used to hide the smell of blood.
He hung his head, feeling ashamed. If he'd only been a bit quicker... if he hadn't taken so long to ride back, perhaps his lifelong friend wouldn't be dying right now.
This was all his fault...
-=-=-=-
Estel lurched forward and made a wild grab at Legolas' outstretched arm. Looking back later, he reckoned that the Valar had to have been looking over him in that split second as his fingers wrapped around his friend's thin wrist.
Legolas jerked to a stop and Estel felt a sharp and agonising pain shooting through his shoulder. The young human tried his hardest to overlook it though, and pulled as hard as he could, ignoring the little trickles of sweat beginning to form on his forehead.
As he was pulled up, Legolas pushed up with his feet and spare hand as best he could. Suddenly, his feet found the ground again, the relief of which made his knees give out. Estel, so busy pulling he did not realise he'd now saved his friend, yanked one last time, causing them both to loose their footing.
They landed flat on their backs in the long grass. The two friends lay side by side, staring at the star studded sky, trying to regain their breath. Estel looked sideways at Legolas, and Legolas looked sideways at Estel.
"Are... you... alright?" panted the human. Legolas nodded, swallowing thickly.
"Are... you... alright?" returned the Elf. Estel also nodded, breathing out slowly and shutting his eyes.
Looking away from each other, they both looked at the stars for a few seconds longer. It was strange how, in that brief moment in time, the world suddenly seemed at peace, the tiny gems overhead twinkling and gazing down on the earth below... but then, as all things do, it came to an end, and finally staggering to their feet and leaning on each other, Legolas and Estel walked unsteadily back to Rivendell...
-=-=-=-
Tebridë gathered the unused blankets together and folded them neatly, piling them each on top of each other. Her hands did the work without thought, so used she was to doing the job, which was a good thing as her mind was somewhere else.
She had looked after the Peredhil twins when they were babies if their parents were busy, just as she had cared for their sister Arwen in the years that came after. They had confided secrets in her. They had trusted her.
She was a part of their lives.
Now to see one on the very brink of life itself... it tore at her heart terribly. And what was more, Fate, having been cruel to the twins already in life, would ensure that if one died, the other would surely follow not too long after.
She opened the door of the supplies room. Here was where Lord Elrond kept most of his healing herbs and medicines, as well as large lengthy books on the subject (as to keep them in the library, situated at the other side of Imladris, would be silly). It was quite a spacious room, but it was cluttered with all of the provisions.
Therefore, Tebridë was more than surprised when, upon opening the door, she found Hallataulë sitting silently, staring out of the window.
"Hal?" she said, placing the blankets on an empty side table. "What are you doing in here dear?"
He turned, and the look on his face shocked her. It was wracked with guilt and despair.
"This is the only quiet room here," he explained calmly, his gaze returning to the view outside. The fact that his voice was so calm was the very thing that concerned the She-Elf. He continued in the same flat voice. "I just needed to think."
She walked towards him slowly, sitting down next to him. He didn't look at her. "Think about what?"
He shrugged his shoulders, still looking out of the window. "Things."
She placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're worried about Elrohir, aren't you? You're worried about what Elladan will say..."
Hallataulë did not reply. Tebridë knew that this was what was hurting the younger Elf so.
"What about Legolas and Estel? Are you worried about them?" she asked. The two were still missing.
"No."
Tebridë frowned. She hadn't expected that for an answer. "Why not?"
"Because I know Estel wouldn't let Legolas die," replied Hallataulë simply. "I trust him."
A slightly sorrowful look came to Tebrid's eyes. "Be careful Prince, that you don't place all your hopes on one person. Mistakes happen."
Silently she rose from her seat, pausing only to look at him again sadly, before leaving the room and Hallataulë, who was now having second thoughts.
It was true; all of it. He felt the guilt of not getting Elrohir back in time to save him. He knew that his friend's death would hurt Elladan the most and that the elder Elf would despair.
And he knew that Estel and Legolas were fine. They were too stubborn to give up; too much like each other.
Hallataulë almost laughed. He had hated Estel when he had first met him. His one experience with humans before that time had cemented a hatred for humankind into his heart... or so he thought.
The moment Estel had selflessly saved his life had opened his eyes. That had been four years ago.
Now he knew that not all Men were the same. Not all Elves were the same either. No matter how many times he had tried to tell Legolas never to trust humans, his younger brother had gone and became best friends with one. And for that he was grateful, for now he saw exactly what Legolas saw in the now sixteen year old.
Yes; he trusted Estel. Even with his life.
All of a sudden, something in him warned him to turn around. He glanced over his shoulder.
Two figures had appeared in the doorway. Estel gripped his right shoulder tightly with his other hand and Legolas had his arm wrapped around his middle, but apart from those wounds and many cuts and bruises, they both seemed quite well.
"Hal!" cried Legolas, his eyes lighting up as he saw his brother. It had been so long. Hallataulë grinned broadly and he approached him, wrapping his arms around the smaller Elf and hugging him tight. Legolas didn't even notice the sharp pain that jolted through the gash on his abdomen, so happy he was at seeing his older brother again after so long.
"Are you both alright?" he asked finally, drawing back from Legolas.
Estel nodded. "We're fine." His fingers rubbed his shoulder in a small circle.
"What have you done?" asked Hallataulë, taking his young friend's arm gently. Estel hissed.
"I think it's dislocated," he explained. Hallataulë nodded in agreement; pulling down the top of the teenager's shirt revealed the swollen joint and it was plain to see.
"Estel, I'm going to pop it back in, alright? Now this is going to hurt quite badly," explained the older Prince. Estel nodded, understanding. He squeezed his eyes shut as Hallataulë grasped his arm and shoulder tightly.
There was a soft popping sound as his shoulder clicked back into place. Estel's eyes flew open and his bit down on his lip hard. He ignored the slight metallic taste in his mouth as his teeth cut his lip. A gentle hand on his shoulder coaxed him into opening his eyes.
"I knew when I asked that I could count on you," whispered Hallataulë, smiling. Estel knew what the Prince meant. Now there was a mutual bond between them; one that would come to play a major part in both their lives later on... but that is a different story.
Meanwhile however, Legolas was feeling rather giddy. He shook his head to shake the dizzy feeling, but somehow it didn't quite work. The gash across his stomach was still hurting, but surely it wasn't that bad...
Was it?
"Hal, did you get hurt?" asked Estel, looking the Elf up and down. Hallataulë looked down, puzzled. Blood stained the front of his tunic... blood that wasn't his.
Moving his hand away from the wound, Legolas stared at his hand. Warm sticky blood covered his fingers.
Estel stared in alarm at the growing red stain over the front of his friend's tunic. Hallataulë was horrified. The blood obviously got onto his clothes when he had hugged Legolas. If it was bleeding that substantially...
"Legolas! You should have told me!"
"Sorry..." mumbled the Elf quietly. It felt as though he was in another world, his head was so light. Suddenly his eyes rolled back and he collapsed...
-=-=-=-
Elladan awoke alone for the second time that day. Although his ankle was still burning with a fiery pain, he was glad to note that his vision had improved somewhat.
However, that small ray of sunshine was quickly shadowed by the thought of Elrohir. He had no idea what was wrong with his younger brother. He still felt ill, and to be quite frank, Elladan was sick of it. He was sick of being stuck in bed. He was sick of feeling so weak and helpless that it disgusted him. He was sick of not knowing.
He needed to prove that he was well enough now, if not to his Ada and the others, then to himself.
Pushing himself upright, Elladan shut his eyes as he waited for the world to stop spinning around him. He grabbed the rail of the bed with his hand and stood on wobbly legs, putting no weight on his right leg. His body protested loudly and he groaned.
'No,' he thought, gritting his teeth in determination. 'I've got to see Ro...'
Keeping his hand against the wall so that he could walk a little without hurting his ankle too much, Elladan limped toward the door...
-=-=-=-
There was far too much going on for Glorfindel to truly understand why it was he went down the corridor which Elrohir's room was situated on. For some reason, it just felt like the logical thing to do.
Suddenly he noticed that Elrohir's door was ajar. This made him wonder as he had shut it himself after Hallataulë had left.
He crept silently to the door and peered inside. He gasped when he saw Elladan kneeling on the floor beside his brother's side; it looked as though he'd half-dragged himself to the spot. A vase had been turned over; bright blue shards scattered across the floor and one corner of the table cloth it had rested on lay in Elladan's clenched fist.
"Please Ro..." whispered the dark haired Elf, his voice cracking. "Come on..." He reached out a hand and brushed his brother's cheek. With horror, he found it freezing cold.
Glorfindel navigated the broken glass carefully. It was strange really, how one minor mishap could some up all of their feelings. The glass was shattered. Their hopes and dreams were too. "Elladan, what-?"
The Elf ignored him and shook his brother hard. "Ro?! RO?!"
His hand, resting on his brother's chest above his heart, suddenly felt something very wrong. There appeared to be no pulse; not a flutter of a heartbeat at all!
The true horror of the situation dawned upon him. Elrohir was almost dead. Elladan turned quickly to the Elf Lord behind him. "Quick, get Ada!" he shouted desperately. Glorfindel ran from the room to fetch Elrond.
Hearing the other Elf's footsteps dying away down the corridor, Elladan put his hands on his younger brother's chest and shut his eyes. There would have been no chance of doing this with Glorfindel in the room; he wouldn't of allowed it. But the elder twin had to try... even if it meant possibly risking death. He would fade anyway if Elrohir died.
"Hold on Ro," he thought. "I'm coming..."
-=-=-=-
Elrohir stared at the blackness ahead of him. It was so different from the blinding white behind him. He was walking a fine line and he knew it.
"Don't!" called a voice. He couldn't quite recognise it. The sound seemed to echo away from him, then strangely turn and become louder again. Nothing seemed to make sense here; was he still alive or was he dead.
"Ro!" cried the voice again. Wait a moment...
"Dan?" he whispered, wondering aloud. He turned slowly.
A shadowy silhouette formed behind him, slowly becoming clearer and clearer until it became someone he knew.
"Don't you dare!" warned Elladan sharply. For a brief moment the twins looked at each other.
"Don't," said the eldest again, this time softer and more pleading. "Because if you do, then I'm coming too."
Elrohir shook his head. "No! Dan, you can't do that! Please-"
Elladan however didn't let him finish. "Ro, I can't stay and let you leave. Do not try to tell me otherwise, because I know my own heart and it just wouldn't be possible."
Guilt rose up inside Elrohir. The choice was there before him; either to die and wait in the Halls of Mandos until the end, or to take his brother's hand and go back to where he came from.
Elladan sensed that Elrohir was torn. "Ro... whatever you choose, I'll be there." He reached out his hand.
Elrohir looked at his brother's palm, then back towards the darkness that stretched out ahead of him. In there was a mysterious unknown; a strange future from which he could never return.
The choice was made...
pulls Grim Reaper hood up and starts grinding scythe
I didn't just do that, ok?! So don't come at me with knives and stuff like you did last time... =S gulps
I HAVE FIXED THE MISTAKE IN THE LAST CHAPTER!!! So now the word is COULDN'T instead of COULD!!! ;-) Thanks for telling me everyone!
Oh, just so you know dear readers... Garvorg isn't going to be in any later chapters of this story... remember what I said about this series having at LEAST 30 stories in it? winks knowingly Keep your eyes open kiddies...