Hello, everyone! :D Well, one more post, and this one's over. "siigh" Ah well. Enjoy while it lasts, I guess! ;)
Firn: "hands over the ADDA IS GONE award" :P LOL! Yes, Aragorn angst WILL be coming, but not for a little bit I'm afraid. Mostly Legolas angst at the end of this one. "patpat" I know, I start to miss it too… ;)
Sielge: LOL! Don't worry, there is another fic after this one. But just one. "sniffle" ;)
Deana: LOL! Thanks, I'm glad you're- shocked. :P
Dark Borg Drone: Hannon le, Borg! :D Glad to know my story has so many good parts! "nod nod"
Cassia: UGH! I know, I'd like to know when that "no slash-marks no asterisks put your OWN centering back in" thing started. ::siiigh:: oh well. At least the Italic and Bold still work! ;) And "blush" hannon le about my Sindarin. :D I'm REALLY glad it works for you; yours and Sio's always sounds so seamless, so coming from you, that's a HUGE compliment! :D
Helluin: LOL! Thanks, as ALWAYS for reviewing, Helluin! "blush"
Beragond: LOL! Thanks for the feedback! :) And I hope I didn't make you feel bad about the Elvish. Actually, it's really great to get opinions on it, I'd love for it to be as accurate as I can make it. :D And I'm REALLY glad you've been enjoying the fic. "nod nod" And- "gasp" You caught on to the Bengwiil-all-ready-in-the-hunters thing! "grin" ooh I'm so glad it didn't slip past everyone. ;) LOL! Hannon le!
Vicki Turner: Yeah, we've gone and lost Dr. Elrond MD. "sigh" ;) LOL! Thanks for reading!
Leralonde: WOW! Glad it was so real! "grin" Yeah. "happy sigh" I like Aragorn and Legolas' friendship. It's really- really rather cool. ;) LOL!
Elvin Girl: LOL! Ten points? Aw man… :P Thanks for reading, I'm really so glad you're liking it, Elvin. :)
LegolasLover: Heh- sorry if I'm confusing you at all, LL. :D Legolas was basically just trying to lay everything out for Thranduil, so he was up-to-date with what was going on, that's all. LOL! Wow, you are getting good at guessing! Kudos to ya! ;)
Okay, everyone! Here we go again. :D Thanks once again for all your reviews- they're very helpful, VERY encouraging, and make me want to write the next fic quicker. :P LOL!
"Mellons in Peril", Act 4, Scene 13 ;)
Chapter 13
"so very tired"
Legolas and Aragorn ran non-stop down the stone corridor leading to Daurr's room. Tiriniel had returned to the Healer's to speak with Nyarin, and Elladan agreed with a surprising amount of grace, to stay with Thranduil. Elrohir hadn't been nearly as eager, but had finally consented to stay with his brother, on the understanding that Aragorn and Legolas would notify him if they learned anything about Elrond's whereabouts.
Legolas had immediately decided to go to Daurrè first. He knew that Aragorn had all ready spoken with him, but he also knew Daurrè hadn't exactly been himself lately…and something in him told him it was the only place to start.
When they got to Daurr's room, however, Daurrè was not the one waiting there. "Átniir, what's wrong?" Legolas asked kindly, kneeling beside her. She was sitting on the edge of Daurr's bed, rocking back and forth, and moaning into her slender hands.
She jerked upright when she heard him speak, and Aragorn realized that she must be upset indeed if she hadn't even heard them come in. "Your H-highness, I only- I was…Daurr's no' here," Átniir stammered, rising quickly to her feet.
"It's all right, Átniir, what's wrong?"
Átniir's eyes were wide, like an animal caught in the firelight, and it was all ready clear she was too frightened to say whatever it was that was really wrong. In other words, neither Aragorn nor Legolas were surprised when she shook her head firmly, and whispered what was furthest from the truth: "Nothing."
"Nothing," Legolas repeated slowly, as though he found that highly unlikely, though next, he sighed quietly, and nodded. "All right then, Átniir. But let us know if we can help?"
Átniir nodded dully, and Legolas and Aragorn turned to go, confused. The both turned around quickly at the sound of her footsteps chasing after theirs. "Tell him- Daurrè, that is -tell him…that his questions were grounded, and- and he's in the forest." She was pale, and her fingers twitched at the ends of trembling arms, but her eyes looked desperate as well.
"Who is in the forest?"
"Tell him, please!"
Legolas nodded, "I will…where is Daurrè?"
"H-healers," Átniir whispered back. "I h-have…t-…to go now, though, so I- yes, I must go…"
"All right, Átniir," Legolas answered encouragingly, "Hannon le."
"Ea le govonnen," Átniir muttered curtly, and rushed away into the door at the end of Daurr's bedroom.
"You know, I don't even know her well, and I get the impression she is not herself," Aragorn mused as the two made their way to the Healers.
"You would be correct too," Legolas nodded. "That door she went through when we left?"
"Yes?"
"It was Daurr's closet."
Aragorn turned a puzzled look on his friend, and Legolas merely shook his head in response. "I have no idea what is wrong with her…"
"Is she always- always…" Aragorn hesitated.
"Crying?" Legolas put in dully.
"Yes," Aragorn replied quietly.
"No," Legolas sighed, as the two leapt down a stone staircase in unison. "Though I myself don't know her very well. In fact, I only know her at all because the day she came here, she became instant friends with Thernäd, you know, Edren's wife."
Aragorn nodded, and then paused. "What do you mean 'came here'?"
"She is of Rivendell. She came to Mirkwood with her brother, Haithen, when she was a girl. Their parents had hopes of them reaching beyond themselves and of being stronger and better. So, when their mother and father left to the Grey Havens, Haithen and Átniir decided that they would 'challenge themselves' and left the protective bliss of Rivendell for the shadow of Mirkwood." Legolas shook his head and smiled slightly. "I've always thought the both of them quite brave for living in Mirkwood on purpose."
Aragorn couldn't help laughing a little at that, but their conversation was cut short upon approaching the Healer's door.
- - - - -
Please, please forgive me
But I won't be home again
Maybe, one day, you'll look up
And barely conscious, you'll say to no one:
"isn't something missing?"
"Missing" , Evanescence
- - - - -
"Daurr" Legolas murmured quietly as he approached the younger elf, who was sitting beside the still form of his still-sick friend, Fenan. "Daurrè- we were…wondering if you…" nothing for it. "Where is Elrond?"
"I don't know," Daurrè said dully. "Why?"
"He's missing, my friend."
"Well I- I haven't spoken with him," Daurrè answered flatly. "I don't know where-"
"Daurrè what is it?"
"What?" the other insisted in the same tone.
"You aren't telling me something." Legolas told him, trying to keep the impatience out of his voice. He didn't know why, maybe he was tired or worried for Elrond, but it was starting to feel like Daurrè too was hiding something from him. It seemed to have become a trend in these halls…
"I don't know what you mean," the other's tone was blank.
"Did you ever find Edren?"
"Edren?"
"You were looking for him."
Daurrè just shook his head. "No, I never found him."
"Well, he was in his room," Legolas challenged quietly.
"I see." Still the young elf's tone lacked any sort of emotion. It was infuriating!
Legolas bit his lip, putting the anger away, and sat down beside his friend instead. "He said he was going to speak with you. Did he never do this?"
"Who?"
"Lord Elrond."
"No-" Daurrè began to answer automatically.
"Tell me honestly, my friend. If ever you had reason to keep something from me, dispel in now, in the name of our friendship. I need you to tell me all you know."
To Legolas' relief, the statement appeared to have shaken Daurrè somewhere deep, and yet the younger elf stubbornly controlled his face in a concentrated effort of indifference. "Legolas, I don't know where Elrond is. Ple- please leave me alone, mellon-nin." And he turned back to the still form of Fenan.
"Daurrè, listen, Átniir said-"
"Legolas!" Legolas, Aragorn and Daurrè all looked up quickly as the door of the Healers banged back on its hinges, and Thernäd came running in, still catching her breath. Her cheeks were flushed, and judging by her bloodshot eyes, it was from crying rather than running.
"Thernäd, what's wrong?" Legolas asked gently, moving swiftly forward to help Aragorn sit the elf maiden on one of the empty beds.
"Edren- a- and Lord Elrond, in the- they're both-" She was gasping, and trying to get Aragorn to stop assisting her, as though it would impair her capability to speak clearly to them.
"Ea na gwiil," Aragorn murmured almost inaudibly to her, and she closed her eyes a moment, breathing deeply and nodding.
"What is it, Thernäd?" Legolas repeated, kneeling in front of her, and grabbing a small, trembling hand in his own. "What about Edren and Elrond?"
"In the forest. They've both- well, Elrond…" She paused a second time, breathing again. Finally, she opened her eyes, her voice just a bit calmer, yet still shaking with recent tears. "The Lord Elrond came and spoke to me about- well, that doesn't matter. But he went into the forest-"
"Why did he go into the forest, Thernäd?" Aragorn asked quickly, cutting Legolas off from asking the same thing.
"I can't- I can't say…but he was going to help me look for someone, and I had seen that someone running into the forest. He agreed to find- find that person, and said I should go to our room and speak with Edren, because he looked to be very upset."
"Upset?" Legolas repeated quietly.
"Yes."
"Do- do you know why he was upset?"
"…yes." Thernäd's voice was quiet, and she fixed Legolas with her soft eyes for the briefest moment.
In that moment, it seemed all of Legolas' last words with Edren came flooding back in painful vividness…
"Edren! Don't- ask me for my forgiveness. Please don't- I don't…I cannot forgive you."
How could he have said that? What was he thinking?! To him, those few words carried so much confusion, and such a crushing debt that he couldn't see straight. To Edren? It was selfish blame.
A dagger of guilt seemed to be attacking Legolas' heart as Thernäd continued.
"I went to Edren, we- we spoke awhile…and then, I told him about Lord Elrond…and how he had not been back in awhile, and h-he-" Her breath caught in her throat, and she covered her face in her free hand suddenly. "I cannot tell you with such little detail, Legolas."
"What, Thernäd?" Legolas pleaded, squeezing her hand.
"He went for you!" she cried, dropping her hand into her lap again, and revealing pain-filled eyes. "He went for you, Leoglas! He said he had to go and he had to find Lord Elrond. He said he had to do it for you."
"Do it for me?" Legolas asked numbly. "Thernäd, what-"
"He said, 'I have destroyed the bond I fought to keep between Legolas and I. I have lied to a friend. Perhaps I can redeem myself. I have to try, meleth-nin. I have to say I've tried as I could'. I tried- I tried to tell him not to, Legolas, but he said he had to, he kept saying he had to try. 'Legolas loves Lord Elrond almost as a father' he said, and he left. He- he left, Legolas, please-"
She sucked in her breath quickly, and put a small hand on Legolas' shoulder, her voice dropping to a precise whisper. "Something, Legolas, there is something in those woods right now…an evil is growing there. Please…Edren is out there…and-"
Legolas' head was shaking without his bidding. "No," he whispered. "I will not let him risk anything more on my account." He paused only a moment, and then squeezing Thernäd's hand a last time, he stood up quickly. "Aragorn, the stables!"
- - - - - - - - - -
The pounding of Lint's hooves seemed to be the only sound in the world, save the sound of Legolas' own breathing. Every once and awhile, Aragorn, who appeared to be thinking a little clearer, would cry "To the right, Legolas!" or "Past that thicket!" but other than that, there was nothing but pounding, and blank, worried thoughts.
It was all dark. All mist and damp trees and muddy ground.
Edren, be all right…please be all right…you have to. Legolas was desperate, and his mind full of horrible visions. Thernäd was right- there was something evil in these woods, and it was becoming stronger and stronger. And somewhere in its midst, Lord Elrond and Edren were lost.
Be all right…you have to.
At last, at long last, they both heard a new sound up ahead. "Al-anon, dismount!" Legolas cried, and both jumped off their horses, and charged towards the clearing, as the sound of battle echoed through the woods.
Legolas and Aragorn tip-toed to the edge of the clearing, and peered through the foliage. Beyond the scrubby trees and bushes, just outside the shadows, was roughly a dozen orcs, who appeared to be fighting over what looked like a torn piece of balled-up cloth.
They both sighed in half-relief, half-frustration at seeing no sign of Elrond or Edren.
"Not our fight," Aragorn whispered into Legolas' sensitive ear, so quietly that he could barely hear it himself. "Let's go."
Leoglas nodded, and made to turn around, when the cold tip of an arrow pressed against the back of his neck. "Turn slowly," a voice behind him whispered, and the arrow jerked slightly in emphasis. "And no sound," he added.
Legolas complied, turning slowly around on his knees, and then the breath went out of his lungs at what he saw. "Edren! What were you-"
"Sh!" the other insisted, though he was clearly grinning slightly. "A little distracted, Legolas? After all- I've never been able to sneak up on you before."
Legolas rolled his eyes, though he couldn't seem to hide his relief at seeing his friend alive, and smiling even. "What was that for?" he demanded, standing up, and brushing himself off.
"I didn't want you to startle and attract the orcs," Edren replied simply, and then smiled again. "Besides, I rarely get to play a trick on you, Legolas, though you have often on me."
Legolas wasn't going to argue the point, but merely grinned. Edren grinned back, but his was directed just over Legolas' shoulder. Legolas turned to find a third grin facing Edren's. "And just what is so amusing, Strider?"
Aragorn shrugged, and now looked as though he was trying not to laugh. Legolas just shook his head in a good-natured 'oh, never mind' sort of gesture, and faced Edren again.
Without Legolas' bidding, his expression became serious, as his last encounter with Edren rushed back to mind. "Edren, I-"
Edren held up a hand. "There is no time for talk right now, Legolas, Lord Elrond was captured."
All trace of mirth disappeared like a leaf downstream on Aragorn's face. "Adda has- how do you know?"
"I saw them dragging off with him."
"Them?"
"The orcs. I made to fight, but he shook his head at me, and tore a corner of his robes off, wrapped something up in it, and threw it." Edren cocked his head at the clearing. "The orcs saw him throw it, and several stayed behind to fight over it. I don't know what is in it, but we really ought to get it back."
Aragorn's mind swept his good sense for something Elrond would want to give them. A note? Not likely, he wouldn't have been able to write one, and had now way of knowing his capture. It took only a moment for him to think of something. Vilya. "Legolas, we have got to get that item back from the orcs," he said quickly, his eyes flicking to Edren as well.
"Why, what-" Edren began.
"No time. We'll come at them from three sides, all right?"
Legolas and Edren nodded, drawing weapons. "You stay here," Legolas instructed, "Edren, to the left, I'll off to the right."
"At our pause, count three, and you charge first," Edren told the human.
They nodded, and parted ways. Aragorn sat alone in the shadows for a long moment, the sound of elven footsteps echoing off in two different directions echoing ghostly in his ears. Finally, they stopped, somewhere far away, the moment they did, Aragorn began to whisper to three. "Er," Adda, please be all right. "atta…" Valar keep Legolas and Edren safe… "NELDE!" he cried, and leapt through the clearing.
Distracted by the human rushing at them from the back, all twelve orcs looked up, and were bombarded from the left and right by elven arrows.
It was a slaughter. It took perhaps three minutes to kill the orcs. They were greedy for the scrap of cloth still, and half-blinded by surprise and some sort of drink, that they seemed to crumble under the weapons that attacked them.
Legolas was surprised to stand up after down-thrusting a particularly scrawny orc, and find no more to fight.
By then, Aragorn was all ready on his hands and knees, unfolding the scrap of cloak. Edren and Legolas reached his side swiftly, but he had all ready folded the crimson cloth over the blue-studded ring. "Yes," he said quietly. "It's safe."
Edren never questioned what it was, knowing that the Lord of Rivendell surely had a great many secrets, and he needn't know any of them.
The three stood silent in the clearing, feeling for the first time, just how eerie the woods were, and how dangerous their situation. "How does a group of Mordor slaves go about capturing the Lord of Rivendell?" Aragorn asked numbly of the silence.
Legolas' eyes flitted to Edren, who sighed, and shook his head. "I do not know what weapon they used against him, Estel, but- it must have been powerful indeed."
Aragorn turned questioning eyes on the other elf, forcing Edren to elaborate. "He- he did not look well when they were taking him away, Estel…he was very pale, and looked weak. Very weak."
Aragorn blinked rapidly, and looked to the forest floor, as though struggling with the mental picture of his adoptive father being 'weak'. "But how-" he began hoarsely. "How did they manage to…in such little time?"
"I know not, Estel." Edren shook his head, and the three were plunged into painful silence once more.
A look of resolution came across Legolas' face, and he strode silently to Aragorn's side, wrapping an arm around the human's shoulders. "We will find him, Aragorn. Someone must go back, tell your brothers, and return with help, but we will find him. I promise I won't rest till we do. All right, mellon-nin?"
The human nodded quickly, (I knew you would Legolas…) and grabbed the prince's hand, which still rested on his shoulder. "We should set out immediately, before the trail is cold."
Legolas nodded, giving Aragorn's hand a squeeze, and then turned to Edren. "Might I ask-"
"I will ride back and inform the sons of Elrond," Edren was all ready saying. "Who should I ask to accompany me back?"
"Anyone who will come," Legolas answered darkly. "Thernäd was right when she spoke to us, Edren. She said there is a darkness growing in these woods, and there is. I can feel it even now…a hungry evil, and an angered vengeance."
Edren nodded. "I sense it, Legolas, and I wonder that it has taken this long. Such evil is ever in Mirkwood but-" he shook his head, his keen eyes darting around the dark forest. "Surely we should have noticed it before now."
Legolas sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "It snuck in upon us, my friend. Such pain and so many emotions have been left unbridled in the halls of late. I think every one of the elves of Mirkwood are emotionally spent, and have no mind for outside those walls anymore."
Legolas' voice turned from reflection to disgust, as he muttered his next words. " We have not sensed this evil growing, for we were preoccupied with our own evils."
A thousand memories flashed through his head, as all thought turned away from Edren (who was watching him closely, as though guessing his thoughts) as well as Aragorn, who stood tensely still, wishing that words didn't take so long, and that he could run away into the dark and find his father, rather than stand hear and wait.
Legolas' mind seemed to be numb to both his friends, and rather churn uncomfortably through thought after painful thought.
Aragorn was shouting…
"I can't talk to you, Legolas. Don't you think that hurts me?! Goodnight." He finished flatly, and turned from the room, closing the door loudly.
Legolas didn't move for awhile. Aragorn was going to die, and the human didn't even know it. And now, all Legolas could do was watch and wait for his friend to leave him.
A salty tear rolled down his cheek, sliding smoothly into the crease of his lips.
Thranduil was whispering…
"I am sorry, my son."
Legolas' heart fell. Everything around him went blank. All he could see, think or feel was Aragorn. Aragorn. "Aragorn." He whispered, and climbed up onto the bed beside his friend. He wrapped his arms around the human's shoulders, and cried softly. The most bitter tears he had ever cried.
Edren was trying to comfort him…
"Legolas, please. I don't think-"
"Edren, no. Not now. I wish not to speak of it now."
Edren slowly nodded, and pulled his friend closer to him.
"Lir anem?" Legolas asked weakly, as though he were a child, begging to be asleep after a nightmare.
sing for me?
Aragorn was going to die…
A great cry of pain, a shout of agony came screaming from the dark of the forest around them. It wasn't a bodiless cry, there was a single word put in the midst of the smoky pain. "Hauta!" it screamed, crying out for someone to not only hear but heed.
"Aragorn!" Legolas' heart fell like it was going to burst. But there was no one to hear his own cry. The night was suddenly still and stable as a crack in glass. Unchangeable, and needing something claimed of it. Cold. Dark. Unfair.
Thranduil was dying…
"I love you…all right?"
Legolas opened his mouth to speak, and then clenched it shut to cry. He shook his head over, trying to grip himself. "I love you too, Father." It was a whisper. "I…I always really…"
Thranduil was alive…Aragorn was dying…dying with green blood…Aragorn was back, alive for awhile…but now, he was riding away, far away.
"I won't stop you if you want to ride away…but I- I'll miss you a great deal."
It didn't matter, though. Aragorn wasn't going to leave. Maybe he never would have. More emotions wasted.
"I have cried more tears than ever before, just over these last days and nights." Legolas' words cut into his own thoughts, and his eyes opened to face Edren and Aragorn. "I have lost Estel more times than I care to recall, I've lost my father nearly, I've seen more elves die than ever before in these halls. I-"
Legolas shook his head slowly, and then continued in a purposeful tone, "I am tired of crying, I am tired of losing my emotions, my heart and the ones I love, just to gain them all back at once, I am tired of giving up, and I am so very tired of Bengwiil!"
He whistled shrilly, causing Edren to flinch. Aragorn did not move, however, but kept his eyes fixed on his elven friend. Lint came running to his master's side, at the sound of his whistle, as did Horthor, who stopped short in front of Aragorn.
Legolas grabbed his horse's reins, and mounted him quickly. "Estel? Edren? My friends…" The prince's eyes seemed to have a fire in them, and his air was more determined than Aragorn had seen him in a long time. "We will find a cure for Bengwiil, and we will defeat it once and forever. But first," he added, and nodded at Aragorn as the human mounted his own horse, "we will find the Lord Elrond."
Aragorn nodded, and reined his horse into a full circle, facing Lint. "Which way did they go, Edren?"
Edren pointed towards the woods just over the two companion's shoulders. "There, and I think straight back. They should not be hard to track."
"No," Aragorn agreed, "thank goodness for that at least. Did you come on foot, Edren?"
"Valar, no," Edren smiled, nodding towards the woods behind him. "Ilera waits for me just back there, and I shall not have her waiting long. Just tell me, Estel, what you would have me tell the sons of Elrond. Should they stay with the king?"
Aragorn almost laughed. "Aye, have them stay with the king, and I shall reward you, Edren, if you can do it."
Edren returned with a smile, and then his eyes shifted bravely to Leoglas's face. "Ride safely, my friend."
Legolas' mouth opened to say something. Wait Edren. Don't go. Forgive me. Edren, forgive me…Edren, where are the words I need? All this and many more things he wanted to say, and yet, all that came out of his mouth was: "Edren?"
There was a pause. "Edren, I-" He couldn't do it. Why couldn't he speak? Why wouldn't the words come out? Something was holding the words inside his throat. Something had caught his mind's attention, and refused to let go.
To both Edren and Aragorn's bewilderment, Legolas' eyes started to dance wildly over the dark forest around them. "Something is there…" Legolas wasn't exactly sure if he'd said it or merely thought it, but the feeling was growing.
Edren and Leoglas both drew their bows, and Araogrn his sword. The clearing was silent.
"What is it?" Aragorn's voice was barley a whisper.
"Something- familiar. I've felt it before…I know…do- do you feel it, Edren?"
Edren's eyes flashed from the woods to Legolas, and then back again. "No," he whispered. "Why?"
"I- I just thought you…nothing."
Aragorn chanced a curious look at Legolas, and then switched to the woods again. "The horse's sense nothing," he noted quietly. "It isn't orcs."
"No," Legolas agreed. "No, not orcs…"
Silence. Deadly, eerie, silence.
Legolas' eyes shut, and his mind fought to center on the alien source of familiarity and danger. What are you? What do you want? His mind swirled. It stretched out imaginary fingers, into the forest, and sought out another probing thought. One that was not his own, but someone else's.
…a straight shot…one arrow…the end of all his trouble, and his noble intentions…now, he can serve my purposes. A friend. Such friendship sickens me…just one shot.
"Edren…" Legolas breathed, his eyes snapping open. "Edren! He's going to kill you!"