(You may notice that 'I' reviewed this chapter, but I did not, it was my friend Legolas-Aragorn-r-hot under my name, sorry)

Warrior Elf- I am so glad you're enjoying the story, I love when new people find it! And thanks so much for pointing that out in chapter 6, I had written what I thought it sounded like and planned on looking for the right way later but I totally forgot. Thanks again and also thanks for all the kind reviews!

Musicstarlover- Oops, I can totally see how that's confusing and I'm so sorry that I didn't make it clearer. A cure can be made if a fresh sample is found and Legolas just is telling himself that he'll do absolutely anything it takes to prevent what he feels responsible for causing. He figures that there must be some way to stop the poison and that he'll find it. Hope I cleared that up. Thanks for the review!

Shauna- Hehehe, sorry mellon nin, but main characters can die in fanfictions. Whether any will or not, I can't tell you. Do you really want me to spoil the whole story? But there will definitely be more twin angst. Not in this chapter, unfortunately, but the upcoming ones will be very angsty. Wow, but thanks for such compliments, I'm blushing over here. And you're assumption wasn't exactly right but you are very close, the only one of all the reviewers to be suspicious of that elf. You always guess what's happening! Thanks for the review and I hope you like this chapter!

Arayelle Lynn- I'm glad you love it, thanks so much! But um, if 'everyone' includes Legolas, the twins, and Estel…then I'm sorry, but yes, everyone will be tortured badly. Sorry, just wait to see what happens next!

Elven-Star-of-Gold- Wow, hehehe, you sure know a lot about LotR. But none of that other heritage really matters right now, just the mortal blood that is slowly killing him…Make him better now? I don't think I can do that. Maybe later, though, you'll just have to wait and see. Thanks for reviewing!

Teha- I have a feeling that you'll have another bad reaction to the suspense at the end of this chapter, too. Hmm, it would be fun to own a movie theater…free screenings of LotR! Nope, Elrohir's not dead yet, but there's plenty more angst to come! Thanks for your funny and encouraging reviews!

Hp-Azn- Thanks! You are always so inspiring with your threats! This wasn't a very quick update, but I hope you still like it…

Riva van Dyk- Hehehe, don't swallow any bugs with your mouth open! Thanks for the review, even though it didn't really say anything other than that you were shocked. Let's see if you're also shocked with this cliffhanger ending!

Celebrean- Um, yes, technically he can die, but you'll just have to keep reading to see if he actually does. I'm sorry I'm depressing you and I'm so sorry that your friend is moving. And I'm sorry that this next chapter isn't too cheerful, either. But have fun at camp! I barely ever go to camp…Archery, how fun! Thanks for reviewing!

Beling- I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope you continue to, even if you don't read this reply for a while. Thanks for reviewing!

Someone Reading- Wow, I'm sorry, I didn't even realize that it was that much of a cliffie. I am getting more evil, aren't I? I just can't stop! I'm glad you liked the scene with the twins, I really did too. I love their brotherly relationship. And yes, poor Elladan is very stressed out! And it's great that you think the situation with Legolas and Estel was believable, I didn't know if it would be or not but they needed to secretly find out about the poison. Thank you so much for the wonderful review. Um…I didn't really make any effort to avoid a cliffie. In fact, I actually tried to make a bad cliffhanger. I'm really sorry, but it's just so fun! I'm an evil spawn of Mordor? Cool, that's the best compliment ever!

Freddy'sGirl01- Oh wow, mellon nin, I thought our school taught spelling better than that. J/K, our school can't teach anything! LOL, but you did have eighteen out of thirty words misspelled. Hehehe, sorry, it's fun to pick on you. I don't think I'll change the rating just because then I think fewer people would read it, sorry. But I'm glad that you love this story, I love yours too! We have to get together this summer to play the guitar!

Legolas-Aragorn-r-hot- You are sick, mellon nin. How could you possibly enjoy reading that Elrohir is dying? But wait, I am the one writing it…Hehehe, I am so sadistic! You need to come over and see the amazing accomplishment I made…(drum-roll) I cleaned my room! (gasp)

Kathleen LaCorneille- Yes, TBC can truly be both a good and bad thing…I'm sorry that it seemed short, and this one might too, but it will get better in the next chapter! More angst, too! And the twins are suffering so much and Legolas feels extremely guilty, I torture the characters a lot, don't I? And I'm also sorry that there won't be that much Estel in this chapter. Once again, you'll probably like the next one more. And you do make me blush, your compliments are so nice! Thanks so much! And yes, school is horrible. I so wanted to show my teachers your review and say that a person from another country curses them! Hehehe, but I didn't. School would be so much better if there were LotR or fanfiction classes…

Artemisa- Thanks, I'm so glad you like it! Thanks for the short and sweet review, I hope that you also will like this chapter!

Deana- Thanks again, you are such a great author! Yes, Legolas feels horrible. Poor prince. And sorry that this isn't really 'soon', but I try my best. I hope you like this chapter, the next should come sooner, like perhaps a week or so.

jacquelinestelYes, writing angst is incredibly fun! And there always needs to be a touch of Legolas pain on this side! But I like twin angst the best…Thanks for the sweet review!

And an especially big thank you to Linuvial Greenleaf for being such a great friend. You are so much like me, mellon nin, more than anyone else I've met, I love talking to you. I forgot to mention before that she was my 300th reviewer and also comforting in my time of loss. This chapter is for Misty, who I know Strider is having a great time with. Thank you.

Chapter 20: Revenge

Elladan involuntarily clutched his sleeping brother closer, his throat suddenly tight and his stomach feeling sick.

"No…" he whispered hoarsely, shaking his head in denial. "No, that can't happen. It won't."

Elrond sighed sadly and gently gripped his oldest son's shoulder. "You need to know the odds, ion nin, and I do not want to give you false hope. I am not, however, telling you to give up. You two have been through a lot and defied what almost every healer has said would happen."

Elladan forced a smile, but his eyes were still pained and scared. Yes, this sort of thing had happened before, but it was always extremely frightening. He sighed shakily, hoping that it would be the same this time, that everything would be alright.

"Oh, no…" Legolas uttered in horror, stepping backwards. "No!"

'Oh, Valar, he got the poison from me He's going to die because of me! What have I done?'

He felt tears prick his eyes and choked back a sob of guilt.

"Why didn't I tell Lord Elrond?" he whispered brokenly as he blindly stepped back from the door and headed for his room. "Why?"

He stopped at the end of the hallway and leaned against a wall, ignoring the pain that shot through his back at the pressure. He had never felt so guilty.

'What is going on? Why are so many horrible things happening lately? Why is everything my fault?'

He stared regretfully at the hard cast on his wrist. It didn't seem fair that he had gotten out of all this with not but a few injuries and poison that wasn't even that strong yet. He almost wished that he was in more pain. Why should Elrohir suffer more than him?

'I've ruined everything. I've ruined their whole family. Valar, Estel probably didn't even get to see his brothers yet. What if he never gets to?'

Estel. He had caused so much pain for the child.

All his fault.

Legolas slid to the ground, closing his eyes. He had never felt like this before. He felt so horrible, so guilty. Everything was his fault.

Estel fell to his knees on the floor, dazed.

His mind spun in confusion and disbelief. What did his father mean by saying that Elrohir wouldn't last to the end of the week? Elrohir wouldn't…couldn't…die. Could he? Estel had always thought of his brothers as somewhat invincible. He knew that they often got hurt, but they had never left him.

But what if they did? He began to cry softly, more scared now for his brother than he ever was for himself. His brothers were his protectors, his mentors, his best friends. If one passed, the other would surely follow, and Estel would be left alone.

Standing up swiftly, shaky on his legs, he stifled a cough. He was supposed to be staying in his room and remaining calm, but he knew he'd never be calm now, knowing that Elrohir was dying.

He raced out of the room and down the hall, unsure of where he was even going. Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure near the end of the corridor, its head bowed and torso wrapped only in a white bandage.

"Legolas?" he gasped.

Legolas looked up instinctively at his name and stumbled to his feet, unprepared to see the small boy not ten yards in front of him.

"Elrohir was poisoned by you?" Estel accused, immediately burning with regret. He had really not meant to say it, but it was what he'd been thinking and it just came out.

The words cut Legolas like a knife, leaving him hurt and speechless. He didn't know how the boy knew, but…it was true, he knew that it was his fault, but to be told…to actually be blamed for it by someone else…

"I-I'm so sorry," Estel stammered. "That's not what I meant, I mean-"

"Save your breath, Estel." Legolas snapped abruptly. "Whether you meant to say it or not, it's still true. Even if I didn't mean for it to happen, even if I had no control over it, it still occurred and is my fault. I am sorry. I am sorry for everything I have caused." He turned to leave.

"Legolas, no! It's not your fault, please don't go!" Estel exclaimed tearfully. He began to feel sick again and wanted the comfort of the prince, his soft words and kind touch. He wanted his friend in this hard time, but Legolas was different than he'd been before. He did not act the same. He had not even come to see Estel and had left after finding the cellar. Did Legolas truly not want to be near him anymore?

Legolas whirled around. "What do you know? You're just a child, you have no idea what's it's like to be responsible for something like this! It is my fault! When it was snowing, and I collapsed, it wasn't from my injuries, it was from the poison I knew I still had. But I didn't tell anyone! I thought I was doing my friends a favor but now I'll probably have killed them! You do not want to be near me, Estel!"

"It's not your fault," Estel repeated quietly, shocked at the prince's outburst. "I'm the one who was taken, so wouldn't it be my-"

"But if I hadn't brought you to Mirkwood in the first place, you never would have met that elf and gotten hurt again! Now leave me alone!"

Estel stepped back, almost in fear. "Why don't you want to be near me, mellon nin?" he whimpered.

"So you don't bloody die!" Legolas shouted, not caring who in the household heard him. It didn't matter now, nothing did. "For centuries, Elladan and Elrohir and I have almost gotten killed an uncountable amount of times, and now look how it's going to end! You're becoming like them, hurt so much in just less than a year! You're not even yet eight years old, Estel! Because of me you have encountered orcs, spiders, almost freezing to death, and imprisonment, something no one should experience, especially a-"

"Human?" Estel finished bitterly. "An edain, unworthy of your friendship?"

"That's not what I said!"

"But it's what you mean! I can't be your friend and go places with you because I'm a weak mortal and you are frightened for me! Well, you can't protect me forever, Legolas, and even if you leave me I will still get into trouble. I am not scared of getting hurt. Valar knows I've experienced a lot of pain already, what's a little more?"

"You don't understand, do you, Estel? You just don't understand! This is all my fault and I'm not dragging you further into it. Go find other friends, Estel. Leave!"

Estel stared in shock, tears rolling down his face. "Please don't, Legolas," he pleaded. "Even if it's your fault, what's the point? No matter who caused it, it's happened and you can't change that. Please don't go." His legs felt weak and he fell to his knees, beginning to cry. "Please."

Legolas stood, unsure, for a moment. If Elladan and Elrohir truly did leave, Estel would be heartbroken. The poor boy at least needed some comfort. "Estel, please don't cry," he whispered, kneeling and gently wrapping his arms around the child, pulling him close. "Shh, calm down,"

"Don't leave me," Estel sobbed. "Please don't go."

Legolas sighed and gently rubbed the child's back. "I won't Estel, I won't go." It was a lie, but the boy wouldn't know.

"You promised to be my best friend." Estel cried. "You promised."

Elladan lay on the bed, supporting his back on the headboard as he whispered softly to his brother and gently stroked the bandaged hands.

"How long do you think it will take for the scouts to find a sample?" he asked his father, finally mustering the courage to ask what might crush his hopes.

"It's impossible to really tell, ion nin," Elrond told him. "It shouldn't take long to find some kind of orcs. In fact, the scouts probably have already. But they have to find the exact same kind of poison, and since it's a new type, it will be quite difficult."

"But they have to find it soon!" Elladan exclaimed, though trying to keep his voice down as to not wake his sleeping brother. He felt helpless just sitting there, not out looking for the orcs, but knew he couldn't leave his brother.

"Elladan, they are trying their hardest."

"But it's not enough, Ada. They have to find it within the next few days!" he lowered his voice and stared down desolately. "I want to look for it also, but I can't leave 'Ro."

At that time, Elrohir opened his eyes weakly, awoken by the voices.

"'Dan?" he asked softly. His throat still burned from coughing and he felt nauseous. "What's going on? What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, 'Ro," Elladan assured. "Don't worry."

The younger twin nodded reluctantly, closing his eyes and wincing. He shivered involuntarily and painfully grabbed his brother's arm. Elladan held him close and looked up nervously at his father, seeing and feeling his brother's pain.

"What is wrong?" Elrohir repeated quietly. "I know something's wrong, what is it?"

"It's nothing, really," the older twin told him. "I was just saying that I won't leave to look for the orcs. I won't leave you."

Elrohir was silent for a moment. Finally, he sat up and weakly opened his clouded yet determined grey eyes. "You can go, 'Dan."

"What?" Elladan gasped. "No! I'm not leaving you."

"You won't have to," Elrohir replied calmly. "I'll come too."

Elrond was instantly at his son's side. "Absolutely not," he said sternly. "You are staying in bed."

"Yes, 'Ro, what are you thinking? Don't be foolish." Elladan added.

"Wait, just listen to me," Elrohir protested feebly. "Say that it takes one week to find the poison, and I last that long. It will take you another week to get back here, and I might be gone by then. But if I come with you, we cut the time I will have to wait in half."

Elladan stared at him in disbelief. It made sense, but… "It'll hurt you!" he argued. "You can't ride a horse!"

"I can try," Elrohir reasoned. "Please, I really think it'll work. Half the time, just think about it."

Elladan glanced up at his father who was obviously contemplating the idea. It did seem like it could work, but he was worried about what bringing him outside for a long span of time would do to Elrohir's health.

"How do you feel now?" Elrond asked finally.

Elrohir managed a slight shrug. "Weak, and my throat is sore," he admitted, knowing that he'd better tell the truth. "My hands sting and so do the arrow wounds and I feel a little sick...but other than that, I am well."

Elladan stared at him challengingly. "You call that well?" He looked at his father in disapproval. "I think it's a bad idea, I don't want him to get hurt even worse."

"Ada, please?" Elrohir begged.

"You could become worse from riding, but if we were to reach the orcs within a few days it would make it worth it. I will be able to quickly make an antidote and you would probably fully recover." Elrond admitted.

"See, 'Dan?" Elrohir whispered softly, "Please? Everything will be fine."

Elladan sighed sadly, knowing he'd regret it later. "Alright."

"Thank you," the younger twin whispered softly, closing his eyes once again and curling close to his brother.

Legolas sat in the hallway, soothing the crying boy in his arms, when Elrond walked up to him. Surprised and embarrassed at not hearing him come, the prince stood up, still hugging Estel.

"Lord Elrond," he greeted softly.

Elrond eyed the small form in his arms. "What happened?" he asked in concern.

Legolas stared at the ground. "We…had an argument. It's alright now, I think…"

The Imladris lord gently took the child who made did not speak or protest, simply cuddling into his father's arms.

"How is Elrohir?" Legolas asked unsteadily.

Elrond looked at him skeptically, for he knew that no one other than Elladan had been told the younger twin's condition. "He is doing fairly well. And you?"

"I am fine," the prince answered. "I can barely tell that the poison is there." He paused for a moment, swallowed up again by regret. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

Elrond did not even have to ask what he was apologizing for. "No one could have known." He told the young elf. "I would tell you not to blame yourself, but, as always, I do not think you'd listen."

Legolas nodded sadly.

The elf lord looked down at the boy in his arms who was now asleep, totally exhausted. "I am leaving this afternoon," he told Legolas. "Would you mind looking after Estel?"

"Leaving?" Legolas asked in surprise. "Where? Why?"

"To assist the scouts searching for the orc poison."

"But I thought that everyone who was going to look had already left. Why are you going now?"

Elrond paused for a moment, wondering what the prince's reaction would be to his answer. "I am leaving with Elladan and Elrohir, and a few others of course. If we find the sample soon and Elrohir is with us, he should live."

"I am coming, too." Legolas replied instantly, his tone leaving no room for argument. He had sworn to himself that he wouldn't let Elrohir die, and this was exactly the way he'd do that. He'd help them find the poison sample, he knew he would. He'd fix all his wrongs.

"If you wish." Elrond answered, knowing that once the prince had set his mind on something, there was no deterring him. "But you need to rest, you and I both know that." He sighed and turned to leave. "Pack lightly and take some of the medicine I gave you earlier. We will leave at sunset."

"Thank you, Lord Elrond," Legolas replied with a slight bow, relief flowing through him. A faint smile touched his lips. Everything would be alright, he knew it would.

Estel awoke with a small yawn and sat up weakly. His head pounded and his limbs felt shaky from the energy he had spent in the argument. He could tell that he was back in his temporary Mirkwood room and that Lindir was once again in the corner, looking somewhat bored and irritated.

"Where's Ada?" Estel asked, climbing out of the bed.

Calmly, without thinking how his response would affect the boy, Lindir replied, "He is leaving."

"Leaving?" the child gasped and started to run out of the room.

"Estel!" Lindir shouted, but it was too late. He swore loudly and stormed after the difficult mortal.

Legolas looked tiredly at the band of elves he was to ride with. He stifled a yawn, feeling extremely drained. He glanced at every elf in the group as he strained to stay awake. Elrond, of course, led them, and at his side were Glorfindel and Thranduil, who had been most against allowing his son to come. There were three Mirkwood soldiers that Legolas barely recognized and also his good friend Sila. Lastly were the ones he was trying to avoid. The twins. His best friends.

He stared intently at his horse's white mane and absently fingered the soft pale strands of hair as he waited for the group to leave. Faint rays of pink and orange danced around the sun's form on the horizon but they were not to leave for another few minutes. The prince feared talking to Elladan and Elrohir, he feared facing whom he had caused so much pain.

"Legolas?" he heard a soft voice beckon behind him and turned around in shock, realizing that he was terrible at hiding as he stared into the deep grey eyes of the elder twin.

"E-Elladan." He stammered, not knowing what to say. He stared worriedly at his friend sitting tall on an auburn coated mare, his arms wrapped tightly around a slumped figure, its head covered with cloak hood. "I'm sorry," was what he wanted to say, but it wouldn't come out.

"Sorry won't heal my brother," He heard the older twin's voice whisper bitterly in his head, but Elladan hadn't said anything.

The older twin's face was not bitter or angry, but soft and concerned. "Are you well, mellon nin?" he asked. "You look pale. Are you sure you want to be coming with? You really shouldn't be, with the poison in you."

Legolas was surprised at the comment. "Are you not angry with me?" he wondered aloud.

"Of course not!" Elladan exclaimed. He surveyed his friend's face and realized how guilty the prince was. "Legolas," he assured. "All will be well, you do not need to feel regret. Just wait, we'll find the orcs within a few days and you and 'Ro will be back to normal in a week." His voice was slightly uncertain, however.

"You really think that?" Legolas pressed, seeing his friend's uneasiness.

"Yes! Valar, Legolas, do not be sorry for something you didn't cause."

"But I did cause it!"

Elladan shook his head. "You did not, mellon nin. It happened purely by Fate, and perhaps Luck. Trust me, a few weeks from now as we have the Mirkwood feast of Tuilë, you'll be wondering why you were ever so foolishly worried."

Legolas smiled weakly when he suddenly buckled over, gasping as his back felt hot and it seemed like his stomach was going to empty. He heard Elladan move his horse parallel to his and the elder twin's gently hand touch his side.

"Legolas?" Elladan asked nervously. "Oh, Legolas, you really shouldn't be here, I'm getting my father."

"No," the prince protested weakly, steadying himself and sitting up. "Please, I want to come. I am alright."

Elladan did not look convinced, glancing briefly at the form in front of him. He feared that Legolas would soon grow as bad as Elrohir. "Are you sure?" he asked softly, sounding not at all as confident as he'd been just moments ago.

Legolas nodded feebly. "Really, I am…" he was interrupted when he noticed that at the front of the group, Lord Elrond sat on his horse with…Estel?

As Elrond gently trotted his horse to the edge of the group to check that all were there, his mind anxious with worry for his twin sons and the fact that Legolas was also riding injured with them, he heard a familiar shout.

"Ada!" Estel cried as he raced to his father's horse. "Ada, where are you going? Don't leave!"

The elf lord instantly dismounted and kneeled before his son. "Estel, shh." He gently set his arms on the child's shoulders. "I must go, but I will be back soon. Please go back inside."

"I don't want you to go!" Estel sobbed, flinging himself into his father's chest and holding tight, refusing to let go.

"Estel," Elrond sighed sadly. "I need to go. You know my job as a healer. I must do this, little one."

Estel sniffled and looked up tearfully. "You are going to help 'Ro?" he whimpered.

Elrond stared at him incredulously. How did everyone know about Elrohir's condition? "Yes, ion nin, I am."

"And he'll be fine?" Estel assumed happily, wiping the tears from his eyes with his sleeve.

"He should, yes."

"And I can come, too?"

Elrond frowned. "No, Estel, you cannot come. We will be purposely finding orcs to fight so we can get a poison sample-"

"I can fight!" Estel exclaimed. "'Dan and 'Ro taught me really well and I killed orcs before!" he looked up at the others in the group. "And Legolas and 'Ro are going and they're hurt! Why can't I?"

"You are hurt, also," Elrond contradicted. "And still healing. You shouldn't fight unless you have to, no one should. You were lucky your first time. From what I've heard there were only about two dozen small orcs. We are expecting a number far greater than that and probably much larger."

"But I wanna go with you!" Estel wailed. He wanted to be with his father and he wanted to help. He wanted to do something.

"Estel, please ion nin. You may not come."

Knowing that he was fighting a losing argument, Estel switched tactics. "But I'm scared here, Ada. I'm scared that someone will take me again!" He didn't truly feel that way, his father had spent hours telling him that he was no longer in danger and he believed it, but his brothers had taught him all possible ways of convincing someone.

The Imladris lord was not that gullible. "I know you are bluffing, ion nin, I know you better than that."

"Am not! What if Roneinen comes to get me?" Estel whimpered, pressing on with his childish method. "He's gonna hurt me!"

"The scouts looking for him are also keeping watch for him. Besides, Legolas gravely injured him so he is most likely already dead." Elrond reasoned. "Now, please, ion nin, go back inside. This is not something you should want to come on."

He looked up to see Lindir running towards them. "I am sorry, my Lord, he ran off. I will take him back to his room now," the elf apologized.

Elrond gently picked up his son in his arm, regarding the tear-streaked face sadly.

"Please, no," Estel cried, grabbing his father's arm as he was handed to Lindir. "Please!"

Elrond sighed sadly and finally pulled the child back. "You may go back in, Lindir," he told the now very relieved elf. "Estel will be coming with us."

"Thank you!" Estel shouted, hugging his father tightly as Elrond mounted again and the lord's cloak was wrapped tightly around him.

"You are just riding, Estel. When we battle, you will stay with Elrohir and Legolas far out of the way, is that clear? Do not make me regret my choice to bring you, ion nin."'

"Yes Ada, you won't regret it! Thank you so much!" Estel told him. "I promise."

Elrond saw Legolas and Elladan watching him and nodded curtly as he announced to the group that they were now leaving. He glanced mournfully at the unmoving Elrohir before setting off, hoping that they would soon have more luck than the rest of the scouts. He hoped that a month from now, everyone would be safe at home, not at a burial for a loved one…

A lone figure, secluded in the trees on his horse, rode quietly after the band of elves. He had slipped away unnoticed as soon as his charge, Prince Legolas, left the room. Now he would follow the prince in hopes of finding his dear brother, Roneinen.

"What have you gotten yourself into this time, brother?" he sighed sadly.

Lerienion hadn't heard from his little brother for over a month. First, soon after the mortal, Estel, came to Mirkwood, Roneinen had begun avoiding him. Then, a few weeks later, both of them disappeared. Lerienion knew what must have happened.

The brothers' mother had died giving birth to Roneinen, so the two and their father were very close. Lerienion was the older one, the one who knew about other races and had actually met humans before. Roneinen, however, knew nothing but the stories of dirty, cruel mortals. When their father was violently murdered by humans, he instantly vowed to get revenge.

Lerienion tried to convince Roneinen that not all humans were bad and it was foolish to hate the entire race, but it did not help. Roneinen constantly spoke of destroying the entire edain populations, paying no heed to his older brother's warning.

Lerienion knew that he had kidnapped Estel.

"Why have you done this?" he whispered softly. Roneinen had caused so much strife and damage. Lerienion had only just managed to avoid being jailed, insisting that he did not know where his younger brother was and was not involved with his plans, neither of which were lies.

A few hours later, while Lerienion was just a half mile behind the group of elves, he heard a familiar, soft voice. Leaping nimbly off his horse, he told it to remain where it was as he walked off the path.

He recognized the voice and fear took him as he realized how pained it was. He raced forward through the dark night…and froze.

"Roneinen," he whispered before racing forward.

His brother was sprawled against a thick tree, blood everywhere. Lerienion barely recognized his sibling as he knelt before him.

"Oh, no…" the older brother whispered miserably. There was a deep wound in Roneinen's chest and it looked like it had been bleeding for a long time. His skin was deathly pale, and he was covered in dirt and bruises, giving him a practically dead appearance.

"Le-ler," Roneinen whimpered, opening his blue eyes slowly.

"Shh, little brother, don't move." He gently stroked the blonde hair away from his sibling's face. "You're going to be alright."

"No…" Roneinen choked. "I'm dying, muindor, it's too late. No one will heal me, I'm a wanted fugitive," He coughed weakly and blood trickled out of his blue lips.

Lerienion blinked back tears as he gently dabbed the crimson liquid away with his sleeve. "What happened?" he asked sadly.

"I tried…I was so close. I had Estel. I had him trapped, but I waited so I could have fun. I should have done away with him right away, but I was foolish. Legolas….the prince found me. He stabbed me, and took the boy. I came here so I could see you again, Leri." His breath began to race. "Oh Valar, I'm going to die."

"Shh," Lerienion scolded. "No you're not, just calm down, I'll help you. It's going to be fine."

"No…You can't save me, brother. Please, just…please,"

"Please what?" Lerienion protectively took his brother into his arms and rested his head in the crook of his arm, making him comfortable.

"I was wrong, Leri, I couldn't rid our world of edain. And, and I killed an elf. I shouldn't have, I feel so horrible. But please, just make it worth it. Make all my trouble worth it."

"How?" Roneinen's breaths were raspy and his eyes glazed with death. Please don't leave me now, he prayed.

"K-kill Estel."

Lerienion froze. No, he didn't want to kill. He didn't want to end a life!

"No, no I can't," he insisted.

"Please, brother, please do it. Make my pain worth it. Do it for Ada. Those men killed him-"

"But Estel was not one of them, why punish him?"

"Please do it, brother. Please." Roneinen's eyes rolled back and his head lolled to the side, exhaling once more and then no longer moving.

Lerienion choked back a sob and gently shut his brother's eyes, hugging him close. He sobbed uncontrollably for many minutes, feeling so lost. There was nothing for him now, nothing to live for. The only person left he cared about was dead.

"Why?" he cried. "Why did you have to do that?"

He had to do what Roneinen said, he had to. It was his brother's last wish. And as he sat there, thinking, he realized that it was Legolas who had taken his little brother from him. This was all Legolas' fault.

He would kill the prince, too.

He knew he'd be executed for it, but was almost eager for death. Eager to be with Roneinen again.

He knew that others would try to stop him, but it would still be easy since there was only a small group. He knew that the Peredhil sons would try to stop him the most, and that they were particularly close to Estel. They would have to die, too. One was already near death, it wouldn't be hard to end his life completely.

Lerienion gently laid his brother on the ground, saddened knowing that neither of them would get a proper funeral.

"I will do it, little brother," he whispered and suddenly felt anger rise in him. "You will all pay!" he cried to the sky. "I will make you beg for death!"

He would take at least four lives that night.

Estel, Legolas, Elladan, and Elrohir.

He knew that they would not live to see another sunset.

To Be Continued!