Chapter Title: Chapter Fourteen - The Healing Begins 14/15
For disclaimer, summary, etc: please refer to chapter one.
A/N:
It is rather annoying when a friend falls asleep on you. I mean ... it's only almost 5 AM! ::Sighs:: Rhonda, remind me to bash you later, hmm? ;) ::As she does not answer any of my messages:: Wench, do not drool on the keyboard. :P Hehehehehe.
So ... second to last chapter! Woo! One more to go. More tears in this one, not as much pain. The next one is short and sweet, so depending on how many reviews I get tonight/today, I may post it tomorrow night ... or well, technically it's tonight but I haven't gone to sleep yet, so therefore I am calling it tomorrow night. Properly confused? Good. ;) Enjoy the chapter!
::Backwards in time just a bit::
Legolas ran as fast as he could, finally skidding to a halt in front of Glorfindel. A very unusually angry Glorfindel, who was constantly shooting glares at Erestor.
"Erestor will not let us pass." Elladan explained, seeing Legolas' expression. "Ada gave specific orders to not allow us into the room."
Glorfindel snorted at that. "You three, I can understand! But I am-"
"-an extremely stubborn being who worries over Lord Elrond far too much?" Erestor supplied. He winced. Maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to say to an elf who had fought a balrog before. (And although Glorfindel had perished, that's beside the point. It took an elf with incredible b- ... bravery to even attempt that!) He gulped.
"Ah." Legolas said, still not having regained his full speaking ability. "Mhashter Lindhen-"
"You missed him by a few seconds. Erestor sent him away also." Elladan laughed a bit. "And I see he gave you some of his infamous tongue-numbing tea."
Legolas merely nodded.
Silence reigned for a few moments, before,
"NO!" Elrond's cry could be heard very clearly.
Glorfindel surged forward, intent on breaking down the door. The twins and Legolas did the same, following closely behind him.
"They need us!" Glorfindel hissed. "Will you just sit by while one, or both of them, perish?!"
"If Elrond needed us," Erestor groaned in his attempt to push four elves back, "I'm sure he would call us!"
"Argh!" Elrohir growled.
Legolas agreed.
Finally, when no more sounds registered from the room beyond, they began pacing. Or, Legolas leaned against the wall with Elladan, their injuries not allowing any major activity for the moment, while Glorfindel and Elrohir proceeded to wear a path into the floor by pacing up and down the hall.
Three quarters of an hour passed, maybe more. Only the sounds of shuffling robes could be heard. Legolas felt like screaming. Like stomping his feet, throwing a tantrum. He should be in there with Estel! They were best friends! He sighed, and shook his head, causing Elladan to look at him with a puzzled expression. He shrugged, not wanting to voice his opinion. After all, the twins were Estel's brothers ... they knew exactly how he felt.
"I wonder how it is going ..." Elrohir stopped pacing and stood next to his twin.
"Hopefully good." Glorfindel said quietly.
"Ada! F-father, please! P-p-please help me! Ada, I b-beg of you!" Estel's pain-filled cries echoed into the hall.
The four elves looked at each other for a split second before diving at the door. Erestor tried with all his might to hold them back, but he was only one elf. Against four elves. Injured, yes ... but one Prince of Mirkwood, two twin sons of Elrond, and one balrog slayer is a force to be reckoned with.
"Erestor, for the sake of your health, move!" Glorfindel shouted.
Erestor said nothing - he couldn't speak anyway, struggling to hold the elves back - and continued blocking the doorway.
Glorfindel, however, let out a snarl. With lightning quick reflexes, he balled up his fist and sent it flying into Erestor's eye, much to the shock of the receiver. Erestor then lost his grip on the door frame and was pushed to the floor by the small mob.
Elladan and Elrohir shared a moment's look of disbelief, not exactly sure if what they saw was real.
"Wow." Legolas just about summed it up for them.
"I'm sorry, Lord Elrond! I tried to stop them but they were very ... forceful."
At Elrond's raised eyebrow, Glorfindel felt his ears burning. Ai, Valar ... he would never live it down now ...
Glorfindel jumped back to the present as Elrond said he was going to bandage Estel's legs. Estel ...
The boy looked horrible. He was covered in bandages, all except for his legs. Blood seeped through some of them and the strong scent of healing herbs filled the air.
"We can do that, ada. You look tired."
Elrohir, Glorfindel thought, spoke truthfully. Elrond looked as if a raging mumakil stomped on him several times. His wounds, although having stopped bleeding, still hadn't been tended to. Dried blood, dirt, and bits of things picked up over the last few hours, stuck to Elrond's front. The wounds, which could be seen through the torn clothing, were bright red and angry looking. They were most likely very painful, and had a high chance of being infected. Glorfindel sighed.
The blond elf moved towards Elrond, intent on admonishing him and asking how Estel was doing. Elrond, however, had other plans. His face turned an alarming shade of white and he pitched forward. Glorfindel's arms caught him before he could hit the floor.
"Ada!" One of the twins cried, but Glorfindel waved him away.
"Tend to Estel! I will take care of Elrond." The blond elf gently cradled his friend in his arms. "Elrond, mellon nin!"
The Lord of Rivendell came back to himself, sucking in a great breath of air. He blinked, wondering how he had ended up on the floor. It took half a second for what happened to sink in completely.
"Ai! I'm sorry." Elrond attempted to sit up. "A fleeting moment of weakness, I am fine!"
Something in Elrond's voice told Glorfindel that he was definitely not fine. Glorfindel resolved to find out just what it was.
"No, you're not. What is wrong?" He asked quietly.
"I ... it is just ..." Elrond shook his head, as if holding something in. Glorfindel looked at him, gently placing his hand on Elrond's face. Elrond broke. "I almost killed him! I almost killed him, my own child!" Tears spilt over and onto Glorfindel's leg.
"No!" Glorfindel cried vehemently. "It was not your fault! He is fine, he is alive!" Soothingly, Glorfindel wrapped his arms around Elrond, holding the strong elf. The twins, in a dilemma, were saved when Legolas took over the bandaging of Estel. They too went over and wrapped their arms around their father.
"He is not fine!" Elrond sobbed. "It was I who caused him, my youngest, to run from Rivendell! From me! It was I who did not arrive in time! And it was I who was just in here, causing him even more pain! Pain that he should never have had to endure!" Tears wet Glorfindel's shoulder, but he didn't care.
Now the twins knew why they were all kept from the room. Elrond did not want them to see their brother in so much pain ... their father had instead chosen to inflict that upon himself. As well as the guilt of causing it.
"No, you are wrong, ada! It was for his protection that you kept him so close to home. You did not cause that fire! You saved him!" Elladan, also crying now, said.
Legolas, who had finished with the bandages, stood by the bed. Tears rolled down his fair cheeks. "It was I, Lord Elrond, who left him when I knew he was in grave danger. I'm sorry."
Everyone, but none more so than Legolas, jumped with a voice came from the bed. Weak though it was, and filled with pain, it could still be heard clearly.
"Idiots." Estel coughed. He blinked, opening his tear filled eyes. "It was my fault and none other."
"Estel!" Elrond crawled to the bed, weakly pushing himself up. "Estel, ion nin! How do you feel?"
"Terrible." The boy groaned. "Father, I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to leave like that. I am nothing but a spoiled brat, one who has caused you much trouble. I know this now."
"No! You were right! It was wrong of me to keep you caged like an animal." Elrond sniffed, smiling down at Estel.
Their tears mingled as the watery drops both pooled on Estel's pillow.
"Ada. You are crying." Estel frowned, wondering why his strong father cried. He had never seen the elf cry.
"I cry because I love you. I'm sorry." Leaning forward, father placed a kiss on son's forehead. Estel smiled.
"I love you, ada."
"I am glad to see we are loved also." Elrohir laughed, kissing his brother's head also.
"And you, 'Dan, 'Ro, Legolas," Estel looked around. "Glorfindel, and Erestor." His eyes widened at the sight of the bandages, and his father's wounds. "You all rescued me?!"
"Yes, Estel. Because we care for you." Legolas said.
"Wo- ... wow ..." Estel's eyes drooped close, even though he fought it. The sleeping drugs were finally kicking in.
"Rest, Estel. We shall be here when you awaken." Elrond smoothed back the boy's hair.
Estel said nothing though. He had already fallen asleep, a small smile on his face.
Reviews -
sielge - Thank you so much! :)
Erindi - LOL! Sorry, perhaps I should have put a warning on it??? Haha. I am glad you read it anyway though. And, I'm not quite sure. I suppose he is one of the most torture-able (is that a word? Probably not, I hereby declare 'torture-able' a word though!) men around. Haha! You're in Florida?? Ack! Please stay safe! I know there are parts of Florida being evacuated. Hoping you and yours make it through this fine! ::Sends elf army to protect you all::
Night-Owl123 - Thanks, glad you like it! :)
Catmint - Powerful and well-written? ... Wow, thanks! :) I rather like them being in pain ... perhaps that is why I focus more on that than other stuff. Hahahaha! And yes, Haldir could be said to be prettier. (My mom swears up and down that Haldir is "the most GORGEOUS elf in the whole trilogy!" [She was very mad to find out Craig Parker was going to be at DragonCon and we can't go this year!]) Then again, one could argue that Elrond (::Cough::Rhonda::Cough::) is by far prettier, or Celeborn, Rumil, Orophin, Glorfindel, Figwit, etc etc. The list goes on and on. We'll just say that all elves seem to be prettier than men (though I don't really go for "pretty" ones, haha!) and that they can be counted equal. LOL.
Elwen the Insane Elf - LMAO. Yeah, poor Erestor. And me?? A b!tch? ... Yeah, I suppose so. ;) But no, I didn't know. Now I do. And I shall be stalking your DevArt page constantly! :) Duct Tape?? ... Any hair that he might have had will be gone afterwards ... poor him! ::Knows from experience just HOW painful duct tape can be:: Don't ask. ;) And LOL. Sacrifice Born From Love ... I killed off ... well one of the main characters. ;-) ::evil grin::
elvingirl3737 - Yeah, I kind of knew how Elrond felt in that chapter. My best hunting dog, years ago, had been hit by a car once. It broke his leg in 2 places. At the time my dad and I were 3 hours from home in a private hunting club, so we had no place to take him! We had to set/splint his leg ourselves. It healed right up though and the next hunting season he was right back in the pack - albet a little slower - chasing deer! LOL. Thanks and glad to see you like it! :)
Mornflower - ::raises eyebrow at the thunder and lightning:: Woah, how'd you do that?? Haha. And yeah ... the floor can be rather cold and unforgiving. LOL. An experience best lived without ...
Zammy - Okay, you got it! :)
leggylover03 - WENCH! I am surprised your review was not more ... uhm ... shall we say, evil, than that. LOL. Stroke his what??? I would rather this stay at least PG 13. LMAO. And LOL! Yes, wrong yet funny. Which is almost how the whole fic of my next posting will be. (That made no sense whatsoever, man I need sleep!) And I do not think Elrond needs faggers slob- healing from you, he would probably rather face a whole herd of Orcs while naked and armed only with a cuetip. LMAO. You have already smited me many times but I shall update anyway! :P LMAO!
Sangfroid - Ack! I would have just glared at the coach, put the sweatsuit on HIM, and made HIM swim in the pool. LOL. I love swimming but not that much. (My poor arms would be so dead by then!) But I will send over some random characters to assist you in the burning of clothes. I mean, the drag suit. Yeah. ;) And I am glad you have decided not to. We went over to Wal Mart today - all the Hartz products were taken down. Thank God. I really, really don't understand WHY that company is still allowed to sell that stuff! Argh. But anyway. I think you reviewed certain paragraphs, but I only got the quotes from the fic and blank spaces. LOL. Darn fanfic and it editing reviews! I am sure it was a good review though and I thank you very much for it! :) ME Water Polo? That's an interesting idea. Would Aragorn be wearing speedos by any chance?? ::Hopeful expression:: ::ahem:: LOL. Yes and I think it is time for me to get in bed also. My mother wakes up for work in 19 minutes. Ack. LOL.
TBC ... one chapter to go ...
Reviews = welcome. :)
For disclaimer, summary, etc: please refer to chapter one.
A/N:
It is rather annoying when a friend falls asleep on you. I mean ... it's only almost 5 AM! ::Sighs:: Rhonda, remind me to bash you later, hmm? ;) ::As she does not answer any of my messages:: Wench, do not drool on the keyboard. :P Hehehehehe.
So ... second to last chapter! Woo! One more to go. More tears in this one, not as much pain. The next one is short and sweet, so depending on how many reviews I get tonight/today, I may post it tomorrow night ... or well, technically it's tonight but I haven't gone to sleep yet, so therefore I am calling it tomorrow night. Properly confused? Good. ;) Enjoy the chapter!
::Backwards in time just a bit::
Legolas ran as fast as he could, finally skidding to a halt in front of Glorfindel. A very unusually angry Glorfindel, who was constantly shooting glares at Erestor.
"Erestor will not let us pass." Elladan explained, seeing Legolas' expression. "Ada gave specific orders to not allow us into the room."
Glorfindel snorted at that. "You three, I can understand! But I am-"
"-an extremely stubborn being who worries over Lord Elrond far too much?" Erestor supplied. He winced. Maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to say to an elf who had fought a balrog before. (And although Glorfindel had perished, that's beside the point. It took an elf with incredible b- ... bravery to even attempt that!) He gulped.
"Ah." Legolas said, still not having regained his full speaking ability. "Mhashter Lindhen-"
"You missed him by a few seconds. Erestor sent him away also." Elladan laughed a bit. "And I see he gave you some of his infamous tongue-numbing tea."
Legolas merely nodded.
Silence reigned for a few moments, before,
"NO!" Elrond's cry could be heard very clearly.
Glorfindel surged forward, intent on breaking down the door. The twins and Legolas did the same, following closely behind him.
"They need us!" Glorfindel hissed. "Will you just sit by while one, or both of them, perish?!"
"If Elrond needed us," Erestor groaned in his attempt to push four elves back, "I'm sure he would call us!"
"Argh!" Elrohir growled.
Legolas agreed.
Finally, when no more sounds registered from the room beyond, they began pacing. Or, Legolas leaned against the wall with Elladan, their injuries not allowing any major activity for the moment, while Glorfindel and Elrohir proceeded to wear a path into the floor by pacing up and down the hall.
Three quarters of an hour passed, maybe more. Only the sounds of shuffling robes could be heard. Legolas felt like screaming. Like stomping his feet, throwing a tantrum. He should be in there with Estel! They were best friends! He sighed, and shook his head, causing Elladan to look at him with a puzzled expression. He shrugged, not wanting to voice his opinion. After all, the twins were Estel's brothers ... they knew exactly how he felt.
"I wonder how it is going ..." Elrohir stopped pacing and stood next to his twin.
"Hopefully good." Glorfindel said quietly.
"Ada! F-father, please! P-p-please help me! Ada, I b-beg of you!" Estel's pain-filled cries echoed into the hall.
The four elves looked at each other for a split second before diving at the door. Erestor tried with all his might to hold them back, but he was only one elf. Against four elves. Injured, yes ... but one Prince of Mirkwood, two twin sons of Elrond, and one balrog slayer is a force to be reckoned with.
"Erestor, for the sake of your health, move!" Glorfindel shouted.
Erestor said nothing - he couldn't speak anyway, struggling to hold the elves back - and continued blocking the doorway.
Glorfindel, however, let out a snarl. With lightning quick reflexes, he balled up his fist and sent it flying into Erestor's eye, much to the shock of the receiver. Erestor then lost his grip on the door frame and was pushed to the floor by the small mob.
Elladan and Elrohir shared a moment's look of disbelief, not exactly sure if what they saw was real.
"Wow." Legolas just about summed it up for them.
"I'm sorry, Lord Elrond! I tried to stop them but they were very ... forceful."
At Elrond's raised eyebrow, Glorfindel felt his ears burning. Ai, Valar ... he would never live it down now ...
Glorfindel jumped back to the present as Elrond said he was going to bandage Estel's legs. Estel ...
The boy looked horrible. He was covered in bandages, all except for his legs. Blood seeped through some of them and the strong scent of healing herbs filled the air.
"We can do that, ada. You look tired."
Elrohir, Glorfindel thought, spoke truthfully. Elrond looked as if a raging mumakil stomped on him several times. His wounds, although having stopped bleeding, still hadn't been tended to. Dried blood, dirt, and bits of things picked up over the last few hours, stuck to Elrond's front. The wounds, which could be seen through the torn clothing, were bright red and angry looking. They were most likely very painful, and had a high chance of being infected. Glorfindel sighed.
The blond elf moved towards Elrond, intent on admonishing him and asking how Estel was doing. Elrond, however, had other plans. His face turned an alarming shade of white and he pitched forward. Glorfindel's arms caught him before he could hit the floor.
"Ada!" One of the twins cried, but Glorfindel waved him away.
"Tend to Estel! I will take care of Elrond." The blond elf gently cradled his friend in his arms. "Elrond, mellon nin!"
The Lord of Rivendell came back to himself, sucking in a great breath of air. He blinked, wondering how he had ended up on the floor. It took half a second for what happened to sink in completely.
"Ai! I'm sorry." Elrond attempted to sit up. "A fleeting moment of weakness, I am fine!"
Something in Elrond's voice told Glorfindel that he was definitely not fine. Glorfindel resolved to find out just what it was.
"No, you're not. What is wrong?" He asked quietly.
"I ... it is just ..." Elrond shook his head, as if holding something in. Glorfindel looked at him, gently placing his hand on Elrond's face. Elrond broke. "I almost killed him! I almost killed him, my own child!" Tears spilt over and onto Glorfindel's leg.
"No!" Glorfindel cried vehemently. "It was not your fault! He is fine, he is alive!" Soothingly, Glorfindel wrapped his arms around Elrond, holding the strong elf. The twins, in a dilemma, were saved when Legolas took over the bandaging of Estel. They too went over and wrapped their arms around their father.
"He is not fine!" Elrond sobbed. "It was I who caused him, my youngest, to run from Rivendell! From me! It was I who did not arrive in time! And it was I who was just in here, causing him even more pain! Pain that he should never have had to endure!" Tears wet Glorfindel's shoulder, but he didn't care.
Now the twins knew why they were all kept from the room. Elrond did not want them to see their brother in so much pain ... their father had instead chosen to inflict that upon himself. As well as the guilt of causing it.
"No, you are wrong, ada! It was for his protection that you kept him so close to home. You did not cause that fire! You saved him!" Elladan, also crying now, said.
Legolas, who had finished with the bandages, stood by the bed. Tears rolled down his fair cheeks. "It was I, Lord Elrond, who left him when I knew he was in grave danger. I'm sorry."
Everyone, but none more so than Legolas, jumped with a voice came from the bed. Weak though it was, and filled with pain, it could still be heard clearly.
"Idiots." Estel coughed. He blinked, opening his tear filled eyes. "It was my fault and none other."
"Estel!" Elrond crawled to the bed, weakly pushing himself up. "Estel, ion nin! How do you feel?"
"Terrible." The boy groaned. "Father, I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to leave like that. I am nothing but a spoiled brat, one who has caused you much trouble. I know this now."
"No! You were right! It was wrong of me to keep you caged like an animal." Elrond sniffed, smiling down at Estel.
Their tears mingled as the watery drops both pooled on Estel's pillow.
"Ada. You are crying." Estel frowned, wondering why his strong father cried. He had never seen the elf cry.
"I cry because I love you. I'm sorry." Leaning forward, father placed a kiss on son's forehead. Estel smiled.
"I love you, ada."
"I am glad to see we are loved also." Elrohir laughed, kissing his brother's head also.
"And you, 'Dan, 'Ro, Legolas," Estel looked around. "Glorfindel, and Erestor." His eyes widened at the sight of the bandages, and his father's wounds. "You all rescued me?!"
"Yes, Estel. Because we care for you." Legolas said.
"Wo- ... wow ..." Estel's eyes drooped close, even though he fought it. The sleeping drugs were finally kicking in.
"Rest, Estel. We shall be here when you awaken." Elrond smoothed back the boy's hair.
Estel said nothing though. He had already fallen asleep, a small smile on his face.
Reviews -
sielge - Thank you so much! :)
Erindi - LOL! Sorry, perhaps I should have put a warning on it??? Haha. I am glad you read it anyway though. And, I'm not quite sure. I suppose he is one of the most torture-able (is that a word? Probably not, I hereby declare 'torture-able' a word though!) men around. Haha! You're in Florida?? Ack! Please stay safe! I know there are parts of Florida being evacuated. Hoping you and yours make it through this fine! ::Sends elf army to protect you all::
Night-Owl123 - Thanks, glad you like it! :)
Catmint - Powerful and well-written? ... Wow, thanks! :) I rather like them being in pain ... perhaps that is why I focus more on that than other stuff. Hahahaha! And yes, Haldir could be said to be prettier. (My mom swears up and down that Haldir is "the most GORGEOUS elf in the whole trilogy!" [She was very mad to find out Craig Parker was going to be at DragonCon and we can't go this year!]) Then again, one could argue that Elrond (::Cough::Rhonda::Cough::) is by far prettier, or Celeborn, Rumil, Orophin, Glorfindel, Figwit, etc etc. The list goes on and on. We'll just say that all elves seem to be prettier than men (though I don't really go for "pretty" ones, haha!) and that they can be counted equal. LOL.
Elwen the Insane Elf - LMAO. Yeah, poor Erestor. And me?? A b!tch? ... Yeah, I suppose so. ;) But no, I didn't know. Now I do. And I shall be stalking your DevArt page constantly! :) Duct Tape?? ... Any hair that he might have had will be gone afterwards ... poor him! ::Knows from experience just HOW painful duct tape can be:: Don't ask. ;) And LOL. Sacrifice Born From Love ... I killed off ... well one of the main characters. ;-) ::evil grin::
elvingirl3737 - Yeah, I kind of knew how Elrond felt in that chapter. My best hunting dog, years ago, had been hit by a car once. It broke his leg in 2 places. At the time my dad and I were 3 hours from home in a private hunting club, so we had no place to take him! We had to set/splint his leg ourselves. It healed right up though and the next hunting season he was right back in the pack - albet a little slower - chasing deer! LOL. Thanks and glad to see you like it! :)
Mornflower - ::raises eyebrow at the thunder and lightning:: Woah, how'd you do that?? Haha. And yeah ... the floor can be rather cold and unforgiving. LOL. An experience best lived without ...
Zammy - Okay, you got it! :)
leggylover03 - WENCH! I am surprised your review was not more ... uhm ... shall we say, evil, than that. LOL. Stroke his what??? I would rather this stay at least PG 13. LMAO. And LOL! Yes, wrong yet funny. Which is almost how the whole fic of my next posting will be. (That made no sense whatsoever, man I need sleep!) And I do not think Elrond needs faggers slob- healing from you, he would probably rather face a whole herd of Orcs while naked and armed only with a cuetip. LMAO. You have already smited me many times but I shall update anyway! :P LMAO!
Sangfroid - Ack! I would have just glared at the coach, put the sweatsuit on HIM, and made HIM swim in the pool. LOL. I love swimming but not that much. (My poor arms would be so dead by then!) But I will send over some random characters to assist you in the burning of clothes. I mean, the drag suit. Yeah. ;) And I am glad you have decided not to. We went over to Wal Mart today - all the Hartz products were taken down. Thank God. I really, really don't understand WHY that company is still allowed to sell that stuff! Argh. But anyway. I think you reviewed certain paragraphs, but I only got the quotes from the fic and blank spaces. LOL. Darn fanfic and it editing reviews! I am sure it was a good review though and I thank you very much for it! :) ME Water Polo? That's an interesting idea. Would Aragorn be wearing speedos by any chance?? ::Hopeful expression:: ::ahem:: LOL. Yes and I think it is time for me to get in bed also. My mother wakes up for work in 19 minutes. Ack. LOL.
TBC ... one chapter to go ...
Reviews = welcome. :)