Hamsterjuice- Thanks, and trust me, I won't stop there. Awesome penname!
tmelange Here you go, thanks for saying 'please'. Hehehe, sorry I like cliffies so much.
Nefhiriel-Thank you so much! Yep, I try to make my cliffies as big as possible to torture my reviewers!
melcrazybabe Thank you very much for reviewing. I totally understand, I am a constant reader of so many stories but I never have time to review them all. I'm just glad you enjoy it. Are they dead? Keep reading…
Someone Reading- Well, just read this chapter to find out…Hehehe, actually you won't because there's another cliffhanger! Sorry!
Lady Jaina- Yes, angst truly is delicious. And thanks for reminding me about Estel, I almost forgot to even include the poor kid in this chapter, just like the last! I just get so caught up in torturing the twins…
Wolf Maid- Thanks! I don't care if you've said it before, it makes me blush just to have a great author like you even review for me!
Freddy'sGirl01- Alrightie. I reviewed yours. And I don't really know about the word bloody, I just assumed it was sorta like the D word or something. CARL! (inside joke)
Riva van Dyk- Now you made me feel guilty. Oh, there will most definitely be a happy ending, I just can't tell you for what character…
Kathleen LaCorneille- Thank you so much! I doubt there will be a thousand happy chapters, though, maybe one or two…I'm glad you like the story!
Musicstarlover- Yes, I confess, it was very mean. And things are only getting worse for them…But thanks for reviewing!
Zammy- I don't think this is exactly 'soon', but I hope you'll like it anyway.
Arayelle Lynn- Wait, he might not be dead yet…Just keep reading! Oh, and you'll also find out part of what's happening to Legolas!
Elven-Star-of-Gold- Oh, yes, all us angst writers feel guilty about what we do….But it's still fun! Wow, my cliffie is that evil? Thanks
Hp-Azn- Eeek, a threat! Don't kill me yet, don't you want to know what happens next?
Celebrean- Is he dead? Yep. I mean no. I mean, he might be. I mean, he is. Or he sorta is. Or just not yet…I guess you'll just have to read and find out!
jacquelinestel Thanks! I totally agree with you, I hate my first chapters. The ideas basically come out of nowhere, usually when I'm bored to death at school and daydreaming. If you really want some ideas, I have tons and would love to share. E-mail me if you want. And I'm glad you enjoyed Legolas' conversation with himself. Have you seen Secret Window? I kinda got it from that…
Cat15- I'm sorry to cause you so much anxiety…but there's another extremely evil cliffie, sorry!
TeacherTam- (giant hug) Thank you so much for all the reviews! Yes, it is definitely fun to find a story with lotsa chapters and spend the day reading them. Sorry about your arachnophobia, I personally like spiders. I would probably horrify you to tell you I thought Shelob was cute, huh? But what I'd really like to thank you for is your sympathy. It means so much that other people care. Your review made me cry just thinking about him again. I am sure that Quali and Strider are great friends, he always loved everyone. Thank you so much.
Ymmas Sirron- Wow, you love it to bits and pieces? Thanks! But, erm, please don't kill me, especially after the next cliffhanger.
Teha- Yeah, the people in my story sure take a beating. I hope the suspense and my next cliffie won't kill you.
Chapter 18: Please Hold On
This couldn't be happening…He had known the twins for almost his whole life.
As Legolas looked out at all the bodies covering the ground, he realized how outnumbered they'd been, how horrible it must have been to fight with those odds, in the middle of the night to make it worse.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered brokenly, softly brushing the hair out of his friend's face.
It was tight with pain, covered in dirt and blood, but Legolas still recognized the older twin.
"'Dan," he breathed.
Tenderly, he swept his fingers over the crack to see how bad it was.
Elladan flinched with a soft moan.
Legolas silently apologized for the pain he was inflicting as he gently parted the dark hair, sticky and matted with blood, to look at the injury. It was badly cracked, but not bad enough for it to be open to the inside of the skull.
Picking up a nearby dagger, Legolas hurriedly cut a strip off of the bottom of his cloak, carefully wrapping it around the wound.
Elladan whimpered quietly as the prince tied the cloth on.
Over the throbbing pain, he felt someone touch him and then his head's pain heightening as pressure was applied to the wound. He wanted to tell whoever it was to stop, it hurt so badly. But something seemed more important. Something was wrong…
'Ro!
He had a fleeting, disturbing image of his brother being shot in the shoulder, then the chest. His twin's agonized scream echoed in his head as he watched Elrohir fall to the ground lifelessly.
No!
'I have to wake up! I have to find him!'
Legolas had just finished his makeshift bandage when Elladan's eyes opened slowly, usually bright grey orbs clouded with pain. He squinted up at the familiar form above him.
"Legolas?" he rasped in confusion. Then he sat up quickly. "Elrohir!" he exclaimed. Upon the swift movement, his head pounded worse and he fell back down with a groan.
Legolas gently caught him from hitting the ground hard. "Don't move too fast, mellon nin," he warned gently, a smile touching his lips in relief that his friend was alright, obviously not having any memory loss.
Elladan looked up at him with a bewildered expression. "What are you doing here?" he asked weakly. "Where's 'Ro?"
"I came looking for you," Legolas told the older twin. "But I haven't found 'Ro yet," he paused nervously. "Can…Can you feel him?"
Elladan brought his hands up to his head and shut his eyes tightly, slowly trying to sit up again. Legolas helped his friend, watching anxiously as the older twin struggled.
"I…I don't know," Elladan whispered shakily, unnerved and scared that he couldn't feel his brother's link properly. His head hurt so much, he couldn't focus on anything. "My head…I can't think…I," he hissed sharply as he touched the crack, sending flashes of color in front of his eyes even with them closed.
He finally opened his eyes, staring up at Legolas fearfully. "I don't know, Legolas. I don't feel cold or empty like when we've come close to losing each other before, but I can't feel his thoughts or feelings either."
Legolas sighed shakily.
Elladan weakly tried to stand. "I have to find him." He whispered painfully, looking around at the field of bodies and gasping in panic.
'Where are you, 'Ro?' He thought fearfully.
"Steady, mellon nin," Legolas urged, wrapping his arm under Elladan's.
"Let go and help me look!" Elladan snapped. "I can walk just fine!"
Legolas hesitated but saw the concern in the twin's eyes for Elrohir and reluctantly let go, watching sadly as Elladan stumbled about the field. Wherever Elrohir was, he had fallen, and Legolas dearly hoped he hadn't been mortally wounded….or worse.
The pair slowly continued around the battlefield, Legolas turning over corpses quickly as Elladan simply staggered about, staring intently at the ground.
After a while, Legolas noticed Elladan had stopped walking near the edge of the body-filled field.
"'Dan?" The prince called. "Are you alright?"
Elladan had frozen where the dead bodies stopped. Just a few yards from him, a small crumpled form lay motionless on its side, imbedded with two arrows, one is his left shoulder and one in his lower chest. Upon falling face forward, they had been pushed even further into his body and blood now covered his torso and the ground underneath him. His skin was pale and his eyes were tightly closed.
"'Ro!" Elladan cried, dropping beside his brother, choking back tears. Ever so softly, he laid his hands on his twin, lovingly sliding the still form into his arms, careful of the arrows, holding him close. "No…Elrohir," he whispered tearfully.
Legolas had raced up to Elladan, filled with unimaginable grief when he saw his friend holding a bloody identical form.
"Is he…?" The prince asked softly.
The older twin shook his head slowly. He could see his brother's chest slightly rising and falling shakily.
"I need to get these out," he told Legolas. "I think they're poisoned…"
Legolas knelt beside the twins, gently resting his palm on the younger twin's forehead.
"You're right," he answered sadly, "He's burning up,"
The elder twin nodded slightly, gently inspecting the wounds. The arrow in the shoulder wasn't that deep, but the one in the chest had been shoved at least half-way through Elrohir's body and was lodged between two ribs. He sighed miserably. From their father, he knew medical knowledge, but hated having to use it on his brother, for he knew it would hurt horribly.
Carefully, Elladan gripped the arrow with both hands right above where it was protruding from the chest and snapped it quickly so just the shaft remained. He repeated it with the one in the shoulder, increasingly more concerned when Elrohir did not even flinch.
Meanwhile, Legolas took off his cloak and cut it into strips, plenty long as the elf who'd lent it to him was much taller than him. He wished he had Athelas, or at least some water, but neither he nor the twins had a pack.
Slowly, Elladan took off Elrohir's tunic, throwing the bloody and ripped cloth carelessly to the side. He grimaced at further sight of the lower arrow. When the younger twin had fallen, the arrow had also torn his flesh upward, leaving a nasty gash. Elladan heard the prince gasp behind him.
The older twin closed his eyes for a moment. His brother didn't deserve this. It wasn't fair. Why did these kinds of things always happen to them?
"Are you ready?" Legolas asked, knowing that time was short.
Elladan nodded softly, gently gripping the shaft in his twin's shoulder and pulling swiftly.
Elrohir whimpered softly but otherwise did not respond as his brother and friend quickly wrapped the wound.
Legolas looked at the thin wood the older twin had handed him, frowning at the dark sticky substance covering the point. Typical orc poison.
"This is going to hurt him a lot more," Elladan murmured sadly as he gripped the second shaft.
"It has to be done," Legolas assured.
Elladan nodded.
'I'm sorry, 'Ro,' He thought before twisting the arrow out of its position between the ribs and pulling hard.
Elrohir's eyes flew open and he screamed heart-wrenchingly as the weapon was tore from his body. His bloody, damaged hands flew to his brother's arm, gripping tightly. It only caused him more pain, though, and he cried out again, burying his face in Elladan's chest and sobbing brokenly.
Elladan cringed and felt pain surge through his own body as he quickly staunched the bleeding and wrapped strips of cloth around his brother's torso. Then he hugged his brother tightly, apologizing softly, gently trying to soothe his trembling twin.
Elrohir took shaky breaths as he tried to slow his tears, slowly calming as he felt his brother's arms wrap protectively around him. Then the pain faded into blackness.
Elladan felt his twin go limp, his breaths unsteady and weak.
"We have to go," he told Legolas. His brother was already shivering from the poison and he knew they had to get to a healer. Elladan's cloak was dirty and torn from the battle, but would still be thick and warm. Softly, he wrapped it tightly around his brother's shivering from, holding him close as he stood. "Oh, Elrohir," Elladan whispered, gently brushing the dark strands of hair out of his twin's face.
Legolas nodded as he stood, then remembered why they were there in the first place.
"Did you find Roneinen?" he asked hopefully.
Elladan paused, realizing that the elf that had hurt his little brother was still out there. "No, the orcs attacked before we could find him," he sighed regretfully. "How is Estel?" he added nervously.
Legolas hesitated, remembering the boy's poor condition. "When I left, your father was caring for him. He hadn't been fed well so was very hungry and also sick." He told his friend vaguely.
"Sick?" Elladan gasped. "Why?"
Legolas absently looked at the ground, unwilling to tell the older twin the truth. "Well, Roneinen had lit a poisonous herb in the cellar and contaminated the air. Estel was coughing rather badly, but he should recover."
Elladan looked both relieved and angry at the same time. Estel wasn't going to leave them like his mother had so many years ago, but he had still been treated horribly. And the elf that had done it was still free.
"Why did you leave?" the elder twin questioned curiously.
Legolas looked away and began to walk towards Mirkwood. "We should go immediately," he told his friend, changing the subject.
Elladan noticed the reluctance in the prince but didn't press the matter, following Legolas, staggering somewhat in dizziness but keeping his protective hold on his twin.
Legolas turned around. "Let me carry him," he offered.
"No!" Elladan snapped, tightening his grip.
Legolas hesitated at the tone. "You're injured, 'Dan, you have a bad concussion and shouldn't even be walking, let alone carrying someone."
"I'm fine!" Elladan said coldly. "I can carry my own brother!"
"Your skull is cracked, Elladan!" The prince exclaimed. "Valar, being hit like that could have killed you! What if you collapse while you're walking? Do you want to risk falling on Elrohir and worsening his condition?"
Elladan took a shaky breath before shaking his head sadly.
"Then, please, mellon nin, for both of your sakes, let me carry him." Legolas pleaded.
Reluctantly, Elladan passed his unconscious twin to the prince.
Legolas smiled half-heartedly. "It'll be alright," he told his friend, seeing how sad and lost Elladan looked.
Elladan sighed. "You don't understand, Legolas," he told him. "It's just that…"
"What?" Legolas pressed.
Elladan bowed his head. "Before we knew there were orcs nearby, I was really upset about what happened to Estel. Elrohir was complaining about how we hadn't found anything yet and I yelled at him. I shouldn't have, and I know it hurt him. It wasn't his fault at all." He raised his head and stared longingly at his brother's pale face and closed eyes. He wished so much that he could take his words back.
"You get in arguments occasionally, mellon nin," Legolas comforted. "Don't blame yourself. There was no way of knowing what would happen after this one."
'Just like there was no way of knowing what Roneinen would do,' the poison voice reminded, but Legolas ignored it as he continued walking again. He knew that there was no time to go back and get the horses, although they'd be able to travel a lot faster on mounts.
They walked eastward for over an hour. Legolas felt guilt gnaw at his heart as he looked down at the lifeless form of his friend in his arms and as he glanced at Elladan who when wasn't looking at his twin worriedly, had his eyes closed against the sunlight, his hands gently touching the sides of his head.
Suddenly, Legolas stopped in midstep. Elladan turned immediately.
"Legolas, is something wrong?" he asked, concerned.
The prince had been walking, lost in thoughts, when his back suddenly exploded with pain. He thought for sure that he would cry out, but didn't. He then realized that he had no control over his body whatsoever. He couldn't hear or talk or even move. The colors of his surroundings swirled and spun into a blur.
This was all too familiar. It had happened before. The poison was taking control of his body.
'No!' He screamed inwardly. He couldn't lose control now, not with everything at stake.
But wait, what was at stake? What was he even there for? Where was he, even?
In panic he realized he was quickly losing all thoughts and consciousness.
'I'm so sorry', he thought desperately as his vision dimmed to grey. Though he wasn't sure what, he was sure that what was happening to him would horribly affect someone. Someone needed him at the moment, but he couldn't think of it.
'You should have told Lord Elrond about the poison', the voice whispered in his ear, sounding almost amused.
He felt himself falling and heard a frantic familiar voice call from far away. Then he lost all awareness.
"Legolas!" Elladan exclaimed in shock as his friend fell limply to the ground, also falling onto Elrohir.
He raced forward, dropping to his knees and rolling the prince over, his mind spinning in confusion at what had just happened.
Elrohir was whimpering softly, hugging his arms tightly around his chest wound.
"'Ro?" Elladan asked nervously, "'Ro, are you awake?" But he could soon tell that his brother was still unconscious. The older twin gently unwrapped the cloak from around his twin, relieved to find that the wounds had not begun to bleed again. Once he was sure that Elrohir was alright, he swiftly turned to Legolas.
The prince was simply lying unmoving as if asleep, but his eyes were closed. His breaths seemed strained and weak. Carefully, Elladan rolled him over…and gasped.
Legolas' back was covered in blood.
"Oh, Valar," Elladan whispered. "This can't be…It can't…" Quickly, with shaking fingers, he took off his friend's shirt and his worst fears were confirmed in a horribly familiar way. Just as it had happened months ago, on their way home to Rivendell…
The poison was still there. The poison he knew had been treated and rid of Legolas' body. His father had made an antidote, he knew, and the fever had broken and Legolas had returned to normal. So how could this be?
He didn't understand and his already pounding head throbbed worse in confusion. It had to be the same poison, for the marks were in the same place. But he didn't understand how it was possible. Also, why was it bleeding?
The elder twin remembered lessons he'd been taught about healing…
"Sometimes, if a toxin is not treated with an antidote specifically designed for it, it will simply be masked and remain dormant. Some victims are virtually unharmed until the poison begins to show symptoms again, and then it is easily treated. Others, however, are less fortunate, and for many months will be dying inwardly. If it is not recognized, no one will be able to tell until the toxin's final stage, in which the being will begin to suffer a horribly gruesome demise."
Elladan shuddered, hoping that perhaps he was recalling something incorrectly. He knew, however, that he wasn't. This sort of thing had happened twice to him. On two different occasions, an elf had been brought to his home that had previously suffered poisoning and had self-treated themselves. By the time they got to Elrond, however, it had been too late, and both times the unfortunate elf had died overnight.
"Legolas," he whispered brokenly. "Why didn't you tell us?"
Then he heard a soft moan from behind him and turned around to see Elrohir's eyes open slightly, squinting up blearily at his brother.
"'Dan?" he whispered hoarsely, his voice pained. "''Dan, what's going on? Where are we?"
Elladan was immediately at his twin's side, helping him into a sitting position. "Steady, 'Ro." He couldn't help but smile slightly to see his brother awake. "We're on our way to Mirkwood,"
Elrohir's brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't understand…" he murmured. "The battle…orcs…."
Elladan gently wrapped his arm around his brother's shoulder. "We were both wounded, 'Ro, but Legolas found us and we're going to his home for a healer." His words did not have the calming reaction he'd hoped.
"You're hurt?" Elrohir exclaimed, his eyes flying open as he suddenly regained total awareness and his attention was immediately drawn to the blood-stained cloth around his brother's head. He gasped sharply.
Elladan smiled broadened at his twin's concern. "It's alright, I'm fine. You had me worried, though, 'Ro,"
Elrohir cocked his head. "What exactly happened?" he questioned, his hands drifting to his chest as he remembered the arrow. Then he hissed as he also recalled the puncture wounds.
"You…" Elladan trailed off softly. "You were shot twice. Poisoned arrows. We really need to get home."
"Oh," Elrohir whispered, realizing the fatigue and pain that weighed on him. Then his eyes drifted to the familiar form sprawled nearby. "Legolas?" he gasped incredulously.
Elladan sighed sadly. "You remember how Legolas was poisoned last autumn, with the orcs?"
Elrohir nodded.
"It seems that it's still there, somehow. I don't know how bad he is but it doesn't look good."
Elrohir looked in horror at the blood covering his friend's back. Gently, though it pained his wounded hands, he ran his fingers down through the blood, looking at the holes.
"I think the poison must have still been in the skin, so it wasn't treated totally by the liquid antidote he drank. It's…" his face tightened with disgust. "Literally eating away at his flesh." He rested the palms of his hands against the skin, feeling the heat radiating from it. "It should be treated before it gets back into the bloodstream, but it appears as though it already has."
Elladan nodded in agreement. "We can't get our horses so it could be a while before we reach Mirkwood. Hopefully we can meet a rider on the way…"
Elrohir nodded and shifted, wincing at the pain that shot through his wounds.
"Are you alright?" Elladan asked nervously.
The younger twin nodded weakly. Together, the two tightly wrapped Legolas' shirt around his torso to staunch the bleeding somewhat, and soon both of their hands were covered in blood. When they were done, Elladan gently took the prince in his arms. Then he looked over at his twin, feeling torn.
"I'm fine," the younger twin assured. "I can walk." Shakily, he pushed himself to his legs, stumbling somewhat to regain balance. His shoulder and chest burned but he ignored it.
Elladan felt his own chest tingling and knew his twin was lying, but decided that I wouldn't do any good to argue about it.
They set off slowly, both hurting but telling neither about it.
They were almost to the border of the forest when Elladan stopped. "Do you hear that, 'Ro?" he whispered, squinting into the horizon.
"Hoofbeats?" Elrohir asked and his twin nodded in confirmation.
Within minutes, a tall tan horse bearing a green-clad elf rode up to them, confusion clearly written all over his face at unexpectedly meeting the three.
"You are a messenger from Mirkwood?" Elladan assumed hopefully.
"Aye," the elf answered. "I search for the fugitive elf, Roneinen, by the orders of Prince Legolas." Though they were both wounded, he could tell that the two dark haired elves were identical, and the only twin elves he knew of were the Peredhil sons. The limp figure being carried, however, he could not identify. The 'bandage' around its midsection dripped with wet blood and its long golden hair covered its bowed face.
Elladan stepped forward, handing his lifeless friend to the messenger. "This is the prince," he informed the surprised young elf. "You must bring him to your home immediately and see to it that Lord Elrond cares for him. Tell him that the poison he had many months ago is still there. And please send for more riders, my brother and I cannot walk all the way there."
"You are wounded," the elf stated after overcoming the shock that he now bore on his horse the wounded prince of Mirkwood. "Do you think it better if perhaps one of you rode him? My mount can carry two or three."
Elrohir shook his head. "Three passengers would make it take far too long,"
"And neither of us are riding without the other," Elladan finished.
The elf nodded reluctantly, eyeing their injuries with worry.
"Go now," Elladan instructed. "And ride hard."
The messenger kicked the sides of their steed hard, wrapping one arm protectively around Legolas as the horse sped off at full speed.
Estel whimpered softly, turning in his sleep. He began to cry out and flail, screaming inaudibly.
"Please stop," he whimpered. "Please…please…"
Roneinen laughed. "Is the weak little edain already broken?" he laughed. "I thought you would last at least a little longer."
Estel choked back the threatening tears. He remembered the taunts elflings occasionally whispered behind his back when they knew Lord Elrond wasn't looking. He remembered the horrible ache their words left in his heart.
"No one's coming for you," Roneinen sneered. "No one cares what's happening to you…"
Estel bit back a sob, thinking that maybe his family truly didn't care about him. But then he remembered…
Elladan grabbed the collar of the elf's tunic, pulling up until the adolescent's feet dangled above the ground.
"What did you just say to my little brother?" he growled threateningly.
"N-nothing," the elf stammered, frightened by the twin's anger.
Elladan's eyes flashed with rage. "For some reason, I believe you are lying. I swear, if you ever speak words like that to my little brother ever again, I will see to it that you will no longer be capable of talking at all. Do you understand?"
The youth nodded shakily.
Elladan let go of the elf's shirt and shoved him backwards roughly. "My father will hear about this," he promised. "And you will not go unpunished. You'll find out what happens when you treat a Son of Elrond poorly."
The elf muttered 'Yes' fearfully before scrambling away. Never had he thought something like that would come from calling an edain a few names.
Elladan bent down and gently picked up the small boy who was clinging to his leg, lifting him up onto his shoulders.
"Are you alright, tithin min?" he asked, concerned.
"Uh-huh, 'Dan, 'm fine," Estel whispered, wrapping his arms lightly around his brother's neck and resting his chin on Elladan's head with a sigh. "Thanks,"
Elladan smiled, reaching up and ruffling the boy's dark hair. "No problem, little brother. If anyone ever bothers you again, tell me. I won't let anyone hurt you."
'But I did get hurt, many times…' Estel thought, staring up fearfully at Roneinen, who was fingering a dagger in the far corner of the cellar. His throat burned as he took in air. 'They didn't protect me…'
'But they will come.' He told himself. 'Eventually…'
But then Roneinen turned around, grinning madly and holding the dagger towards the boy. All optimistic thoughts left Estel as the blade was plunged towards him and he screamed desperately.
"HELP!" he cried.
"Estel, Estel, ion nin, awake, little one, it's just a dream…"
Estel's eyes flew open and he clamped his mouth shut, realizing he'd been screaming. He looked up through tear filled eyes at his father and took a shaky breath, realizing that he was safe.
Elrond gently held the boy closer, cradling the small form back and forth. "It's alright, Estel," he whispered.
Estel choked back a sob and realized he was trembling. It hadn't been a dream, it had been a memory.
"Hiraetha," He cried softly, shutting his eyes. He felt so cold, so scared and alone. His father's arms were around him, yet he still felt afraid. Sorry
Elrond sighed sadly, gazing at the child. His body was still weak and he coughed frequently, but it was the personality change in his son that worried him the most. It was evening again, making it only one full day that he'd had his precious youngest son back, but the human spoke little, only soft broken elvish.
"Oh, Estel," he whispered, hugging the boy closer and gently stroking the dark hair, now freshly cleaned. The child shuddered as he tried to hold back tears, but a single drop still rolled down his cheek.
Elrond gently wiped the tear away, kissing Estel's forehead. "There's nothing to forgive, little one," he assured.
Estel felt so lost and confused. He knew he was free now, but everything seemed different. Everything he felt in the cellar stayed with him, along with all the thoughts and emotions he'd tried to mask with after the orc attack. His family never knew the nights he buried his head in his pillow and cried himself to sleep in fear after the incident. He knew he'd never be the same again.
"Ada?" he murmured.
"Ays, Estel, im si," Elrond replied, switching into elvish as it seemed his son was more comfortable with it. He was sure of the reason, too. Roneinen had said horrible things to Estel about his race, and now the poor child was trying to be as little of a human as he possibly could. Yes, Estel, I'm here
"Legolas?" Estel questioned nervously. He knew his friend was somehow safe after being stabbed a month ago, but he had yet to see him.
Elrond sighed sadly. The prince didn't want to see Estel again, but he had not the heart to tell the child that.
"He's away," Elrond said simply. "With your brothers,"
"Manke?" Estel asked, wondering why Elladan and Elrohir wouldn't want to be with him as they had every other time he was hurt. Where
Elrond paused again. Honestly, he did not know, and had a horrible feeling that his sons had somehow gotten into danger and trouble again. They weren't dead, he knew that much, but something hinted that they were definitely not well either.
Estel looked up nervously at his father when he did not get a response. But then, once again, he felt nausea overtake his body and his eyes fluttered shut, drifting again into what he hoped would be a dreamless rest.
Elrond felt the child go limp and gently set him back on the bed, covering him with a warm blanket. He brushed the brown strands out of Estel's face, tucking them behind his ear. He gently traced the curve of the ear with his finger, sighing sadly. There truly was nothing wrong with being human, he knew, but doubted if he'd be able to convince Estel as such.
He settled back in the chair, stifling a yawn. He wouldn't leave his son, but had also not slept since two nights ago. It was near midnight when the door opened and he sat up, instantly awake.
A Mirkwood elf stepped in, bowing slightly. "My Lord Elrond," he announced curtly. "There is an elf riding in, he bears an injured passenger."
Elrond stood up quickly. "Make sure the healers are ready," he told the young elf as he walked towards the doors to the outside. He knew that it was certainly one of three specific elves.
Just as he stepped outside the door, Thranduil not far behind him, a brown horse and two riders raced into view, the exhausted stallion's sides heaving and mouth frothing. No elf would push their horse so unless it was a desperate situation.
The elf leapt gracefully off and carefully scooped the limp body into his arms. He had wrapped his cloak around the stricken being to protect it from the bitter wind, leaving the hood to cover its face.
"My Lords," he panted, sprinting forward. "'Tis the prince. I met with the Sons of Elrond just outside the borders and they insisted I take him, though they are wounded and request aid to be sent immediately. They said for me to tell you, Lord Elrond, that the poison Legolas was previously inflicted with is still there." He finished with a tired gasp as he handed the listless elf to Thranduil.
Elrond stared in disbelief. How could that be possible? It had been the normal kind of poison, the type used on arrows, and he easily treated it with the usual antidote. True, Legolas had had it for over a week so had become very ill, but if the toxin wasn't gone then the fever wouldn't have broken. Only complex poisons, usually man-made, had the ability to remain dormant for months.
Thranduil gently took back the hood and Legolas moaned softly. The King felt regret burn in his heart for ever letting his son leave after so recently being injured. Valar, sometimes he wished he'd never allowed Legolas to start riding without escorts when he'd came of age. How could one elf possibly get hurt so often?
"Have riders leave immediately," Elrond ordered, wondering anxiously how wounded the twins were. "And then get some rest," he added, noting that the elf was breathing harshly, his hair wind-tossed and clothes covered in dirt. "You did well."
The elf smiled weakly before dashing off for riders.
Elrond and Thranduil quickly made their way to the healing rooms. The king raced in first, but Elrond abruptly turned when he heard a pitiful voice behind him.
"Ada?" Estel whispered. He was shaking and his face was tear streaked.
"Estel!" Elrond exclaimed, racing forward and picking up his son, cursing himself for forgetting about the poor child.
"What happened and why did you leave, Ada?" Estel cried, speaking so fast and tearfully he accidentally switched back into Weston. "What is wrong? Who was that?"
"Shh, calm," Elrond whispered as he carried the boy back to his room, signaling for Lindir to follow him and stay near the child, as so he'd at least be with someone he knew. He gently set Estel down on the bed.
"I'm very sorry I left, tithin min, but right now there is an injured elf that needs me. Please just stay here. Lindir will stay with you, alright?"
Estel nodded sadly, sniffling back tears,
"I'll be back soon, little one," Elrond promised, giving the boy a brief hug before returning to the healing room. He was just passing through the doorway when he froze, suddenly enveloped with a horrible vision.
"Elrohir…" he whispered in horror.
Elladan set his hand on his brother's shoulder as Elrohir stumbled.
"Are you sure you're alright, 'Ro?" he asked again. "I can carry you, really. You shouldn't be walking with such an injury,"
"I'm…fine…" Elrohir panted, "I didn't hurt…my legs…'Dan,"
Elladan wasn't convinced. His brother was even paler now, and he could feel the fever rising just by touching his shoulder. He knew that the arrow injuries were getting worse.
"I'm fine, really," the younger twin managed, smiling half-heartedly. "Really."
Elladan sighed and nodded reluctantly, trying to hide the pain of his own wound. His head pounded so badly he was growing worried that he'd pass out from it.
A few more minutes passed as they walked, and Elladan felt something gnawing at the back of his mind. It felt like something was wrong with his twin other than the arrow wounds, but he couldn't place it.
A sharp gasp from Elrohir made him turn around quickly.
"'Ro," he questioned nervously. "'Ro, are you okay?"
To his surprise and terror, Elrohir closed his eyes tightly and shook his head. Elladan raced forward, catching the younger twin seconds before he hit the ground.
Elrohir bit back a cry of pain, whimpering and moaning, hugging his hands tight to his chest.
"'Ro, what's wrong?" Elladan exclaimed, sliding to the ground and holding his brother close. "Elrohir!"
"My hands!" Elrohir hissed, burying his face in his brother's chest. "Valar…they burn…"
Frantically, Elladan took his brother's trembling hands in his, looking nervously at the wounds he hadn't paid much attention to, as they seemed like only small punctures, of little importance compared to the arrows.
The skin around the injury was pure black and dark purplish blood spilled freely.
"Oh, no," the older twin whispered, quickly pulling the spare strips of Legolas' cloak from his pocket and wrapping them around the wound. As he was doing so, Elrohir went limp in his arms.
"'Ro?" he asked nervously, but received no response other than a feeble whimper and a shiver that racked his brother's form. Swiftly, he stood up and ran, holding his twin close. He knew that they were nowhere near Mirkwood and needed help immediately.
For what seemed like eternity he ran, during which Elrohir barely stirred. His head pounded worse and worse, the pain threatening to overtake his mind and cut what little thread of consciousness he still held on to. He forced himself to keep going only by his fear for his brother's life.
Finally, Elladan fell to his knees, gasping for breath. It had only been four or five hours, but he knew it was too much for his body. His lungs strained for air while his head felt like it was being crushed, his vision blurring.
'I have to get up! Come on!' He urged himself, clutching Elrohir's lifeless form, but he couldn't move.
Abruptly, Elrohir began to tremble violently. Elladan felt panic take him. They were miles from Mirkwood and he knew he couldn't run any further. Feeling utterly helpless, he held his twin in his arms and whispered softly to him.
But the younger twin could not be comforted, and his shivers soon turned into a fit of convulsions.
"'Ro!" Elladan shouted desperately, wrapping his arms tightly around his brother and pulling him close with all his strength.
The younger twin was crying audibly as his seizure continued, gasping for breath. "'Dan!" he managed to shout. He weakly clutched his brother's arms despite the pain the shot through his wounds. "Help…" he gasped.
Elladan's mind spun as he felt his twin's pain in his own body, combined with his head wound almost dragging him into unconsciousness. He could feel his brother's heartbeat and it was horribly fast, if he didn't calm it could strain too far and stop entirely. The older twin tightened his clutch on his twin and focused intently, tears of his own streaming down his face. 'Please hold on', he prayed. 'You can do this!'
After at least five long, agonizing minutes, Elrohir's shaking slowed to a tremble and his eyes fluttered shut. Though he could still feel his twin's link, Elladan frantically felt for a pulse, finding it weak and fading.
"'Ro…" he choked through freely falling tears. "'Ro, don't do this to me…"
Once again, he tried to stand, only to falter in mid-step and fall back down hard.
'I need to help Elrohir!' He told himself, forcing himself with all his will to his feet. With his remaining strength he took a few unsteady steps, but then collapsed again to his knees uselessly.
Weakly, Elladan hugged Elrohir close, sobs shaking his body. He couldn't do anything to save his brother. He couldn't do anything but sit and wait.
"Please hold on, 'Ro," he whispered, gently stroking his brother's damp sweaty hair. The fever was growing stronger by the minute.
"Please hold on…"
Elladan could cling to awareness no longer, and his eyes involuntarily fluttered shut as he slumped over and fell to his side, still protectively holding his brother.
T…B…C!!