Linuvial Greenleaf- Hehehe, thanks for the review mellon nin. I guess you'll just have to wait and see if he was mortally wounded…The Valar can't protect him, it's all up to me (maniacal laughter)! But I do feel so guilty… You should feel privileged, though, you know what happens in the sequel! Though you don't like it…Thanks for recommending this story! And once again, please have a happy ending at the end of Fading Flame.
Someone Reading-I am so deeply sorry for making such a great reviewer like you wait so long! Please forgive me? And sorry about Legolas almost getting hit, but hey, it's not as bad as what happened to Elladan! Or what happens in this chapter… I'm glad you feel Lerienion's feelings and problems, though. There's not so much of that in this chapter but there will be later. I always love hearing from you, thank you so much!
Galadriel Evenstar- Yes, you have total right to be upset. You have even more right to be upset after this chapter, though. I'm really sorry, please don't kill me! Thanks for the review!
Mystery Reviewer- Thank you so much! I love hearing from new people! (blush) I'm glad you think my story's good, and I'm sorry that it's so sad. I'm really not even a depressed person or anything, I don't know why I write like this. And no matter how long I make you wait, I will never abandon a story or post more than three weeks apart. But I try to update often, I really do. Thanks a lot for the encouragement and I hope to hear from you again!
Hp-Azn- Somehow I have a feeling that I will be getting even more threats from you after this chapter. But thanks again for the review and I'm sorry for hurting Elladan. And sorry in advance for this cliffhanger!
Butterfly-elf- Thanks so much for the kind reviews! I love to hear that people enjoy my story, Sorry that I love cliffhangers so much! I really hope you like this chapter and that I will hear from you again!
Beling- Thanks for the brilliant review! I'm glad you liked Lerienion's self-debate, I'm trying to give him feelings and not portray him as a heartless killer. And I'm glad you liked Estel's memory, I enjoyed writing it. I love the brothers. And you are the only one who appreciates Sila, LOL! I hope you like this chapter, too, and thanks again!
Zammy- Yes, again, I am addicted to cruel cliffhangers. I am so very sorry, especially for what will happen at the end of this chapter. But thanks for the recurring reviews! And I am also really sorry that this chapter is so late, I have been so busy and had so much writer's block. I hope you still stay with the story even after this wait, I love all your reviews!
Freddy'sGirl01- (hands you a tissue) Sorry mellon nin, I didn't mean to make you so sad. (wicked grin) Just wait till the end of this chapter! (cue evil laughter) Hehehehe. But you are jumping to conclusions a bit, saying that I already killed him, aren't you? There is still this chapter and the next three left to kill people in! And I don't know about the Fred and George fic…badly hurting any twins is so very tempting to me…But thanks for the review! BTW, I am still trying for that concert, but things aren't looking good…
Riva van Dyk- Yes, very bad Lerienion. Blame it all on him, I didn't do any of it! (innocent smile) Just keep reading to see what happens to the twins and thanks a lot for the wonderful review!
Warrior Elf- Yay, twins do rule! And I love your story too and the way you portray Elladan and Elrohir, I'm glad you like mine! And you can always depend on this author to have cliffhangers, sorry! It's just so much fun. Will I kill Elladan? Just keep reading. If I do, I'm going to feel so guilty. I already do, shooting him in the back and all. Oh yeah, the insurance. Darn it. Well maybe I'll just have to be sued then, I know a lawyer! You are such an awesome person, thank you so much for all the flattering reviews!
Arienis- Maybe he's dead, maybe he's not. You will just have to keep reading. I hope to hear your response on this chapter, is has quite a cliffhanger too. Sorry that I have so many cliffhangers, though, I can't help it. But thanks for the wonderful review!
Karushna5- I'm so happy to hear that you like my story, thank you so much! And sorry about Elladan, the Peredhils do have horrible luck. I hope you like this chapter and I'm sorry for the delay! Thanks again!
Arayelle Lynn- LOL! Lerienion is hiding in a tree…in Mirkwood…in Middle Earth. Good luck on finding him! But you can't kill him yet, he still needs to do something very cruel in this chapter. I'm so glad you liked the last chapter, reviewer's opinion means a lot to me! I hope you like this one too! And BTW, your first name is like mine, but spelled differently. Mine's Ariel. LOL, just wanted to point that out! Thanks so much for the review!
Wicked-Fire-Archer- Awesome name! I will always keep writing, even if I take I while. I am so sorry for the wait, but I am just extremely busy. And I'm sorry that I couldn't tell you what happened next before everyone else, I hope that didn't make you sad. Thanks for the great review!
Elven-Star-of-Gold- (cowers) I'm so sorry! Twin angst is so fun to write, though. They are my favorite characters and I can't help it. You probably won't like this chapter either if you don't like twin pain. But thanks so much for the review and sorry that you're grounded!
Jessica- I'm happy that you like this story and I'm so sorry I've taken so long to post. I am trying though, and the other chapters should be up much sooner. I hope you also enjoy them. Thank you so much!
Joslin- Thank you so much! I'm so glad you like my story! I'll try not to kill anyone, but something might go wrong, sorry! I hope to hear more from you, thanks for reading!
Kelly Kragen- Wow! (blushblush) I'm flattered that you read my story in one sitting! Thank you so much! Oh yes, it is definitely AU, me and my imagination. I'm glad you like the way I portray the twins, they're my favorite characters and I love the brotherly bond they share. It's so mean, but I like writing when one gets hurt because then the other is so worried. And the familiar guard was Lerienion. The two brothers had menial jobs, his being to guard different rooms. Legolas found him familiar because of the physical similarity between the siblings. At that time, however, Lerienion didn't know that Roneinen was dead so had no wish to harm the prince other than for being royalty who had a better life than him. Hope that makes any sense, LOL. Thanks again for such a great review!
Chapter 22: Only One Shot
"Elladan!" Elrohir cried.
Frantically, feeling an icy chill run through his body, he grabbed for the horse's mane. Gasping at the fiery pain that ran through his hands, he immediately found that the mare was not going to obey his feeble commands. Adrenaline and horrid fear for his brother running through his body, the younger twin slid off the horse while it ran. His knees scraped roughly against the hard ground and he fell on his chest into the dirt, unable to stabilize himself with his hands. Then he scrambled to his feet and raced to his twin's side.
"'Dan?" he whimpered, trembling as he looked at his unmoving brother. Elladan lay motionlessly on his side, one arm sprawled underneath him, his clothes torn and bloody from hitting the ground with such force. His eyes were tightly closed and his lips parted slightly, panting for air. Blood was seeping through swiftly from the arrow's position in the young elf's upper back and underneath his head.
Elrohir moved to the side fearfully as an arrow flew at his head, taking a few dark strands of hair with it as it hit the ground. He then bent over his brother to protect him from further attacks.
"Help!" he shouted.
The group had turned their horses instantly when Elladan fell. Glorfindel was the first to draw his bow, expertly firing an arrow into the trees. A quiet exclamation could be heard and the hidden archer's attacks ceased.
Elrond leapt off his horse and shoved Estel into Legolas' arms as he ran to his son's aid.
"'DAN!" Estel wailed. His heart pounding in panic and tears falling uncontrollably, he fought desperately against the prince's strong arms. Legolas just stood paralyzed with shock.
Elrond knelt next to his oldest son and grimaced, silently taking his pack from Glorfindel who had immediately gotten it for him.
"Glorfindel, please hold him for me," he said softly.
The blonde elf lord nodded and gently slid the older twin into his lap so that his back could be tended to.
Dabbing some dark salve around the wound, Elrond whispered something softly in his son's ear before pulling the arrow out.
Elladan only shivered slightly, but Elrohir cried out as his eyes rolled back and he collapsed limply to the ground.
Lerienion gasped sharply as the arrow hit his right arm. Cursing under his breath, he removed it with a sickening crunch. It had hit the bone.
Swearing further, he slipped the arrow into his quiver with his good arm and held the other to his chest painfully. Now how was he supposed to hit Estel and Legolas?
Perhaps this was a sign? A sign that he shouldn't be doing this?
'Of course I shouldn't be doing this. But I have to, I have to do it for my little brother.'
He awkwardly began to wrap the arm to stop the blood, still trying to keep as silent as possible, keeping his eyes locked on the group just within his eyesight. He would have to follow them as they left before he could attack again.
Elrond saw Elrohir crumple to the ground and anxiously motioned to Thranduil as he wrapped the older twin's back. "Lay him down and keep him warm, but don't take him far from Elladan." He ordered. This was the worst time for something to happen to his firstborn. Elrohir couldn't handle the pain passing through their bond. If one twin slipped too far out of reach, it would be impossible to heal either of them.
Thranduil nodded and unrolled a blanket from his sleeping roll, kneeling beside Elrohir and wrapping the limp young elf tightly in it. He held him close and looked down sadly at the pained fair face as the younger twin whimpered pitifully.
"'Dan," Elrohir whispered, his tone heartbreaking.
The Mirkwood king sighed sadly. It was always so horrible when Legolas was hurt, but he couldn't imagine how Elrond must be feeling to have both his sons so injured.
Elrohir shifted weakly, slowly freeing one arm from the cloth. Blindly, his eyes still shut, he reached for Elladan.
Thranduil watched in wonder as, still unconscious, the older twin also reached out and gently grabbed Elrohir's heavily bandaged hand.
The younger twin sighed softly and ceased whimpering, quieting completely.
"Anarle," Elrond called to attention the remaining soldier as he worked on Elladan. The elf looked forlorn at the fact that his comrades were dead and even a bit angry that the group hadn't stopped for them but would for one of the Peredhil sons. "Go into the trees and find the archer."
He nodded curtly and left.
"Is he alright?" A soft voice asked.
Elrond turned his gaze to Legolas. The blonde elf, his bright blue eyes wide with concern, was standing with Estel in his arms, who had curled up and was crying softly.
"The arrow wound is fairly deep," the elven lord responded. "But it didn't hit anything vital and he hasn't lost too much blood. But I worry about his head wound, it's been reopened. He should recover…"
"Should?" The prince asked anxiously.
Elrond sighed. "If we don't find the antidote for the poison soon, Elrohir won't be able to survive with his brother so weak. One of the things that keeps the twins alive when they're very hurt is their bond with each other. When they're both hurt, however, it greatly increases the chance that they'll pass.
"But…" Legolas whispered, looking around. "Only four of us can fight, we can't attack orcs!"
"I know that," Elrond replied, his tone strained. "We either need to go turn back or find another scouting party. For my sons' sake, the latter."
"Alright." The prince finished quietly, glancing momentarily down at Estel who had collapsed in his arms, having exhausted himself with such worry.
'Oh Valar, don't let him lose his brothers.'
Later that day, the sun almost directly overhead, Elladan shifted slightly on his bedroll. Laying on his chest to keep pressure off his wounded back, he moaned and opened his eyes slightly. The side of his head pounded terribly.
"'Ro?" he whispered feebly, looking around. He sighed softly in relief at seeing his twin lying next to him. But he shuddered slightly, feeling chilled, knowing something was wrong.
"'Ro…" he repeated, lightly touching the side of his brother's face. The skin was cold.
He sat upright instantly in horror, sending waves of pain through his body. He frantically shook his twin's shoulders, to which Elrohir only moaned quietly.
Elladan looked around nervously, seeing his father quickly reaching him.
"What's wrong, Ada?" he asked worriedly. "What happened? I tried to protect him, I-"
"Hush," Elrond said softly, easing his oldest son back to laying down. "Rest, you were hit."
"But 'Ro," Elladan whimpered.
"You just stay with him, and I promise everything will be alright,"
The older twin nodded weakly and grimaced at the horrible headache. He could tell by the tingling feelings and the aftertaste in his mouth that he'd been given a pain reliever, but it didn't seem to have helped much. With a depressed sigh, he inched closed to his brother and wrapped his arms protectively around him.
As far away as he could get, the Mirkwood prince sat in the lower branches of a tree, his head bowed in helpless misery. His back stung due to the poison and he felt ill and tired, but said nothing.
Unbeknownst to him, a small human child was staring sadly up at him, tears burning in his eyes.
"My lord?" he whispered softly when Thranduil walked by. "Why won't Legolas come down?"
The king smiled gently and led Estel out of hearing range.
"He just needs to be left alone right now, little one. But he'll come down when we are ready to leave."
"Can't you make him come down?" the boy whimpered.
The king shook his head in slight amusement. "I could, but I won't, at least not until we have to leave. You probably haven't known Legolas long enough to truly know him. He can be a happy, trouble-making menace, but he can also be very solitary. He blames himself for many things, always beyond his control. He blames himself for the twins' condition and for the deaths of the three elves in our party. But as soon as your brothers are healed, he should be fine again."
"Why does he always blame himself?" Estel asked.
Thranduil paused, his eyes filled with a saddened, far-away look. "Something happened not too long ago…well, to you it would seem long, but not for an elf. When Legolas was a small elfling, something happened…" he broke off momentarily. "Something very bad, something that he'd never forget. Valar, I didn't think he'd ever smile again after it."
Estel began to ask what had happened, but thought better of it. "What made him better?"
The blonde elf laughed softly, and silently pointed to two forms on a blanket in the distance. "A pair of elflings from Imladris visited one summer. Many woodelves at first despised the 'uncontrollable pests', but at the same time, couldn't help but love them. A pair of elflings that would befriend Legolas and give him hope and joy in his life again. It was remarkable, but after that, they were inseparable. You don't know what it would do to him if he lost them now."
Estel pondered that for a moment and nodded, staring back to the tree where the prince sat. He wondered if he'd ever be so close to someone.
"We should leave now," Elrond announced as he walked up to the two. "Thranduil, please retrieve Legolas."
The king nodded and walked away as Elrond lifted Estel onto his horse, which was standing next to Glorfindel's. Then the Imladris lord led the remaining mount next to the twins. He gently lifted them onto their horse, Elladan barely conscious but able to hold on.
"Anarle hasn't returned yet," Glorfindel pointed out. "We should look for him."
Elrond nodded and glanced at the king and Legolas, who were both on their horses, the prince looking weak and miserable.
"Yes." He agreed, softly kicking his mare's sides.
The five horses set off, looking back sadly, wondering where their three companions were. The animals had bolted after their owners had fallen.
After only about ten minutes, the group saw a form on the ground.
A body.
They knew what had happened.
The light-haired Mirkwood soldier lay limply sprawled on the forest ground. There was an arrow through his heart. He had died immediately.
After a short search for the killer, the elves could tell that whoever it was had left. It was obviously an elf, too, as there were no tracks.
Roneinen.
They said a quiet elvish prayer with their heads bowed while Estel stared fearfully at the body, an involuntary tremble running through his body.
"We must leave immediately," Glorfindel announced. "We will have to come back for the body later."
Elrond nodded and motioned for everyone to keep going.
"Ada?" Estel whispered softly. "What if…I mean, do you think that he will…?"
His father shook his head in reassurance, holding the child close as he urged the horse to continue. "You are safe, ion nin, I promise. No harm will come to you."
"Thank you, Ada,"
As the group set off yet again, Legolas looked back, tears in his eyes.
This was all his fault.
After about an hour, Elrond was wonderfully relieved to see a large group of elves heading towards them from the east, led by Erestor.
"What happened?" The dark-haired elf asked his friend worriedly when he reached them, looking at the twins.
Elrond sighed sadly. "Elladan was badly hurt and now I do not know how much longer Elrohir will be able to last. We need to find the poison sample immediately."
"We are trying, mellon nin," Erestor explained. "We've been looking throughout the whole forest and found nothing. If Prince Legolas received the poison near Imladris, then that is probably the only place where we will find it again. Search parties have already headed there but I doubt they will return in under a month."
The Rivendell lord nodded silently. "We still must try. How many able soldiers do you have?"
"About two dozen."
"That should be enough. Wasn't there a group of orcs seen entering Mirkwood from the northern borders?"
"Aye, they have not been seen since."
"I believe we should be looking for them, they may well be from over the Misty Mountains."
"Alright. I will tell the rest."
"Thank you."
Erestor left to his group while Elrond turned to his sons.
"How do you feel?" he asked. "In all honesty?"
Elrohir, eyes closed tightly, shook his head with a small whimper.
Elladan weakly wrapped his arms around his twin. "Not well, Ada. 'Ro is in great pain, and I feel…" he paused uncertainly. "Cold."
Elrond felt his heart drop. The twins were slipping away, soon it would be too late.
"And you, Legolas?"
The prince looked up from his horse with a start. "What?" he questioned tiredly.
Elrond frowned. "I asked how you felt. Worse, am I correct?"
Legolas nodded reluctantly. He knew that he wasn't a bad as Elladan and Elrohir, which made him feel horribly guilty, but he did feel ill. "I feel weak and it hurts to move much, like when I first had it."
Estel glanced anxiously at the three and pulled on the edges of his father's tunic. "They're going to be alright, aren't they?" he asked pitifully.
Elrond sighed and gently rubbed his youngest son's shoulder. "Just have hope, little one," he whispered.
An ear-splitting cry was suddenly heard in the near distance and all the elves froze.
"Elrond!" Erestor called from where he had assembled the soldiers. They had all drawn their weapons already. "I do not believe we will have to look for the orcs anymore," he frowned grimly. "They will be here in mere minutes."
Elrond did not hesitate before dismounting and lifting Estel off the horse again, setting the boy in front of Legolas. "All four of you, leave now. Head for Mirkwood and do not turn back."
"But what about the antidote?" Elladan asked fearfully. "What about 'Ro?"
"I cannot risk any of you being hurt further. If these orcs have the same kind of poison, someone will be sent to find you. Just go!"
The elves and boy nodded unwillingly before their horses took off.
They ran as fast as they could, hearing the terrifying noises of battle behind them.
But before they were even ten miles away, another group of about twenty beasts raced out from the trees in front of them.
"More orcs!" Legolas shouted, kicking his steed's sides and steering it to the right. The beasts had come directly in between the two horses, and the twins were forced to head to the left.
Soon the prince could no longer see his best friends, but he had to force away his concern. He had to keep Estel safe, he couldn't let him be hurt again.
The creatures were getting too close, they had to be fought.
"Stay with the horse!" the prince cried, leaping off and slapping his mount's flank. Estel cried out in disagreement but it was too late and he had no choice but to hold on.
Legolas watched as the mare ran to safety and then clutched the short sword in his hand. His adrenaline and heart pumping, he began to feel the poison's affects on him. He felt dizzy and weak, the blade seeming much heavier than he knew it actually was.
"Not now…" he growled under his breath. He just had to hold it off for a little while longer. He had to.
The orcs charged and he slashed forward, decapitating a beast within seconds. Blocking an orc's scimitar with his own blade, Legolas dropped involuntarily to one knee. The brute fell forward, smiling greedily, only to have the prince's sword imbedded in its neck. It dropped to the ground and the elf stood again, smoothly beheading another two at virtually the same time.
There appeared to be only one orc left, in front of him, and he easily stabbed its chest. He watched with a tired sigh as it fell…and then felt a jolt of fear enter his mind.
But by the time he turned to face the last orc, it was too late. The beast was thrusting its thick, crude blade towards the Firstborn, and Legolas had no time to defend himself.
A 'twang' noise abruptly rang in the air, a familiar sound to the prince, the sound of an arrow being fired. Its sword mere inches from Legolas' chest, the beast cried out and crumpled to the ground.
Legolas bent down, sheathing his own blade, anxiously pulling out the arrow.
It was the same kind that had killed three elves and badly wounded Elladan.
"This can't be…" he whispered to himself. For one, Roneinen should have been dead, he had been stabbed in the chest deeply. The chances were slim that the dagger had managed to miss an artery. And even if, by some rare occurrence, he was alive…why would he have just killed Legolas' attacker?
Frowning, he dropped the arrow and stood quickly. Wherever Roneinen was, if it was truly him who had fired, he would be after Estel.
Breaking into a quick run, the prince quickly followed the horse's path.
Lerienion smiled wryly as his arrow hit the orc. His arm throbbed fiercely, but he tried to ignore it. He couldn't have let the beast kill Legolas, that job was only his. He was the one who would do it.
He knew that he could have easily shot Legolas immediately after finishing off the orc, but he decided against it. He wanted to make the king's son pay for killing Roneinen, and his thirst for revenge would not be quenched by simply shooting him from a tree as he had the soldiers.
He needed to face him. Both on the ground, both with swords in hand. Lerienion would beat him fairly, like a noble elf would.
'A noble elf would have not killed three innocent others', he thought miserably to himself.
Suddenly, the tracks broke apart. The horse's hooves left marks towards his home, as it'd been told. But a pair of small human footprints had appeared, heading for the far border of Mirkwood.
"Estel!" Legolas exclaimed. "What have you done?"
'Why, why would he have done this? What was he thinking?'
Worry swallowing him, Legolas ran faster, following the tracks frantically.
'Oh, Estel, please! Please, please, for once, do not be hurt…'
His body went numb when he saw a pair of orc tracks come from the trees and intertwine with the human's. Crimson covered the ground…
And a form lay in the distance.
The prince ran faster, praying…and letting out a long sigh of relief when he realized that it was just an orc that lay there dead.
But he didn't stay to see how it was killed. The human tracks continued, and from the red stains on the underbrush and indication of stumbling, Legolas could tell that Estel was hurt.
Then he saw it. Curled against the base of a tree was a lifeless human body, covered in blood.
"No…" The prince whispered. "No!"
He stood paralyzed to the spot, he couldn't move.
He had failed his friend.
He had lost him.
He had lost Estel.
"Oh, Prince Legolas…" a bitter voice beckoned from behind him.
Legolas whirled around, drawing his sword. But he was too unprepared and his attacker too fast, the blade was knocked out of his hands.
He stared for a brief moment, studying the face that was so much like Roneinen's, yet older seeming…
"This is for my brother," the elf snapped, though his light blue eyes betrayed deep self-conflict and pain.
Then he stabbed the blade as hard as he could into Legolas.
The sound of hooves swiftly hitting the hard dirt resounded through the woods as a tall brown mare raced as fast as it could away from a group of orcs.
Elladan hoarsely shouted for the horse to go faster, but to no avail. It had bore the two elves for hours with barely any rest, and was now slowing.
The steed shrieked and stumbled as an arrow hit her back leg. She bucked and thrashed, tossing the twins roughly into the dirt before quickly staggering off.
Elrohir moaned loudly as he tried to sit up, horrified at the sight of a small group of orcs running towards them.
"'Ro, run!" Elladan told his brother, helping him painfully to his feet.
"No!" The younger twin protested weakly.
"Yes!" his brother yelled. "Please, go now! Go!"
"I'm not leaving you to fight them alone!" Elrohir shouted.
The orcs were getting closer, their bows drawn and arrows notched.
"Elrohir, I'm begging you! You need to do this! GO!"
Tearfully, the younger twin turned and forced himself to run. His vision blurred and he couldn't tell where he was going, a sick feeling creeping into his stomach. His hands began to shake and soon his teeth were chattering as his body shivered. The poison was taking its final toll. After a few minutes, enveloped in weakness, he fell to the ground.
Groaning, he rolled over and looked feebly through the trees for his brother.
But before he could spot him, he saw an orc charging through the trees. Panicking at the fact that it had gotten past Elladan, he stumbled backwards.
He couldn't defend himself, his body burned. He curled in around himself uselessly.
Then he heard the thud of a body falling.
Looking up, he saw the orc lying on the ground, a short elven dagger imbedded in his back. He had obviously been stabbed by Elladan, but gotten away when the older twin thought it injured enough to no longer be a threat. It had tried to get the other brother, but died before he could reach him.
He then heard a cry in the distance and a sharp fire shot though his back.
Elladan was hurt.
Fumbling over the dead body, he took its bow and an arrow, wincing at the pain it caused his hands.
Stumbling forward, he finally saw his brother in the distance, frantically fighting off one remaining orc. There was a deep slash across the arrow wound, bleeding profusely.
Elrohir gasped in fear and notched the arrow, causing further pain to race up his arms. He shivered and fell to his knees.
He was running out of time. He couldn't fight the poison any longer.
The remaining beast stabbed forward and the older twin fell lifelessly to the ground.
"Elladan!" the younger brother whimpered, trying to sit up. He couldn't, he could only lie on the ground with his head barely raised.
The orc began to plunge its sword down for the final blow.
Hissing sharply as blood began to stain the bandages around his hands, Elrohir pulled back and sat up a little, releasing the arrow just as the orc thrust its sword down hard. Then his sight swiftly dimmed and he let out a shuddering breath, crumpling to the ground…
The arrow missed.
T. B. C.