Title: The End Has Come.

Author: B-witched83uk )

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Gondor's royal family have their final adventure together.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. The whole of Middle-earth belongs to Tolkien.

Dedication: The other half of my soul.

Beta: The Last Evenstar. A great friend and a great editor.

Archive: , Any others please ask.

Feedback: I would absolutely love some because yes I am a praise junky.

A/N: My first slash fic should be up soon, it involves Rumil and Melpomaen (Figwit) also I have written the first two chapters of my RealPersonSlash fic, both should be up soon.

Chapter seven

The show down

Elladan and Elrohir had spent the better part of their lives hunting and killing Orcs, the vile beasts that had tormented their mother. It was always Elladan who was the more enthusiastic of the two, it was always him that seemed to delight more in the killing of an Orc. To Elladan, it felt as though he was redeeming himself in his brother's eyes. The more Orcs he slew, the more he believed himself to be winning back Elrohir's love.

It wasn't until the recent years that it dawned on Elladan. He wasn't really trying to win back Elrohir's love, he was trying to win back something inside himself, something that had left when his mother did. His own guilt had festered and become septic, tormenting him day and night.

Over the years, he had tried to replace those feelings, chasing after young maidens, drinking wine and generally having a good time. To all who knew him, Elladan seemed to be the life and soul of any party. He was always jesting and telling stories.

At night he would stand outside his brother's study, listening to Elrohir's breathing and constant muttering to himself. He would stand there, trying to steel himself to go in, to breach the subject of their mother, to ask Elrohir why he blamed him for her passing. He never did, he just let it pass and walked away.

Over the years, he became a haunted Elf.

However good they were at pretending there was nothing wrong, their pain was never buried deeper then skin, always ready to jump to the surface.

It was at one of Elrond's winter ball that Elladan had met her. Wendele was her name, and she was beautiful. He had felt something for her that perhaps he had not felt for another before, yet Elladan, being Elladan, played it down. He was never one to show his true emotions. As fate would have it, Elrohir had fallen for the same maiden. Elladan loved his brother dearer then any other. He would give him his last breath if needed, he would give him anything.

"Wendele leaves today." Instantly Elladan noted how wide Elrohir's eyes got upon hearing her name. "But I am sure you already knew that."

Elrohir nodded slowly, trying to look anywhere but at Elladan. "She is a charming young lady. I'm sure you will see her again." He clenched his hand and unclenched it, without even realising he was doing so.

"No, I do not think I shall see her again." He paused and smiled sadly at his twin. "But you could, if you wanted to."

Elrohir stood up, picking up his book, and moved to the window. "Perhaps our paths will cross again. Who knows?" He gazed out at the tumbling waterfalls that surrounded the Last Homely House.

Elladan came to stand beside him. He gently placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Brother, this is my way of giving you permission to pursue Wendele. Not that you need it, but I know your loyalty runs deep, and that you would not follow your heart without my blessing."

Elrohir looked at him, shocked. His eyes went sad and he looked down at the floor. "She wants you." Their eyes met again, and both felt an uneasy wave flood them. "No, brother, I thank you for your blessing, but it is in vain. It was not meant to be."

Elladan had decided then and there that nothing would ever come between he and his brother. No force in all of Middle-earth would ever separate them. He knew that they were each strong, but they were stronger together, unstoppable. Together they could fight anything and anyone who tried to come between them.

Elladan was not prepared for that someone to be his own brother, the other half of his soul.

Elladan's eyes flew to the bed. A large bag filled with clothes and food was sitting upon it, various items scattered about, waiting to be packed away.

"Where are you going?" He frowned. His brother had never gone anywhere without him. "Elrohir, where are you going?"

Elrohir placed the final items in to his bag and pulled the ties shut. "I am going to Lothlórien. I will be there a while."

Elladan shook his head in disbelief. "Well, thank you very much for the notice. I have a lot to do before we can go. I haven't packed. I will need to get some food, unless you have packed enough for the both of us." He walked towards the door, about to go in search of his belongings when Elrohir placed his hand upon his shoulder.

"Not this time, Elladan. This time I must go alone." He saw the confusion and hurt on his brother's face.

"But you never go anywhere without me. We do everything together." His face broke in to a frown.

Elrohir took his brother in a strong hold and kissed the top of his head roughly. "And we will again. I just need some time alone, time to think. I will be back before you know it, and we can go back to the way things were, you tricking me into one of your scams."

Elladan laughed, but it was weak, like pain was drowning it.

They shared a look, an understanding. Elladan nodded and wished his brother a safe journey. For hours after Elrohir had left, Elladan simply sat on his bed, refusing to let the hurt manifest into tears. He knew the real reason why Elrohir had gone. Wendele was just the façade he was using to distance himself from Elladan. Elladan knew the truth. Elrohir simply could not bear to look at him any longer. Every time he did, he heard his mother's parting words.

A week confined to bed, to Estelai, was at the best of times like hell on earth. But lying awake night after night, nothing on her mind but the world-shattering declaration Gwydion had made, was even worse.

Her thoughts had even plagued her dreams, never leaving her with a moment's peace. If he had ever shown her even the slightest hint that he felt this way, then perhaps she could deal with it. But this was Gwydion, her cousin and dearest friend. He had never really shown much interest in the women that constantly hung on his every word. Estelai had just assumed he was waiting for the right woman. She had no idea he thought of her as the right woman.

What was she going to do? All she knew was the tight ache that had invaded her chest, and showed no sign of leaving any time soon. She hadn't eaten a thing. It was remarkable she had made a full recovery from her cold. She wondered if she could ever really think of Gwydion in that way. She thought about it until it made her shudder…or was it tremble?

A week without a moment's peace had left her knowing one thing: she simply had to have this out with Gwydion. She couldn't possibly spend another night of hazy dreams. And so it was that she found herself standing in the courtyard, simply staring at the back of her cousin's form. She had been standing there a good few minutes, waiting for courage to rear its head.

She swallowed hard, realising that courage wasn't coming anytime soon, and walked slowly towards him. "Gwydion?"

Gwydion turned with a start. He hadn't been told his cousin was already out of bed. He had thought he had more time before he was forced to face her. He looked at her flushed cheeks, her tousled golden hair, and wondered if she hadn't come here straight from being told she could leave her sick bed. But Valar, did she look beautiful.

He felt an instant rush of desire, which was closely followed by a rush of pure shame. He couldn't handle this, not now, not yet. He gently shook his head and turned from her, starting off at an alarming speed. He ran out of the courtyard and deeper into the gardens.

Estelai watched him for a moment, utter helplessness etched on her youthful face. Finally, she grit her teeth, hitched up her skirt, and started to run after him. She would be damned if she would let him get away, she would be damned if she were forced to spend another night worrying on something beyond her control.

Gwydion couldn't believe how well Estelai was keeping up with him. If it weren't for the current situation they found themselves in, he would have been proud and impressed at how strong she was. When he heard her voice, breathless behind him, he slowed slightly to hear what she was saying.

"Gwydion, don't you dare run from me." She panted, but refused to slow down. "I shall keep running after you; I shall run until I make myself ill again."

Gwydion winced and stopped to a halt. He did not wish to see her right now, but he would rather die then hurt her.

He didn't turn round to face her, he simply stood there waiting for her to tell him how disgusted she was by him.

"Gwydion." She too stopped, just behind him. When she realised he wasn't in any hurry to face her, she took a few steps forward. "If what you said to me in my rooms was a joke, then it was the cruellest one you could have played."

He could hear the hurt and strain in her voice. It made his heart throb with an undying pain. He slowly turned to look at her. He would rather her hate him for loving her then hate him for being cruel.

His eyes locked with hers and he gently shock his head. "I jest you not, cugu tithin."

She instantly saw the mixture of both fear, self hatred, and love in his blue eyes. Her breath hitched at the intensity in them. His next words made her stop breathing all together.

"I love you, Estelai." His voice was on the verge of braking.

She had never been told that before, not in the way that he meant it. Her body was rushed with a hundred different sensations. Her mind rushed with a hundred different thoughts, and her heart rushed with a hundred different emotions.

They simply stood looking at each other for what seemed like an eternity, both too afraid to speak. "How long?" was all she managed to finally say.

"I cannot remember a time when I did not love you. I have lived with the pain of loving you since before…Estelai there was no before. I wasn't alive until I loved you. The shame and the desire I have lived with all these years, the secret I have kept so well hidden until now, it has broken me, it has ruined me for any other. I know that I will never find happiness nor love, and I have accepted my fate. For my heart shall be eternally broken, yet it tortures me by continuing to beat."

Estelai looked at him in amazement. For someone who found it hard to speak before, he wasn't doing too bad now. He loved her, he truly loved her. Her heart ached for her cousin, she couldn't bare to see him in such pain. She stepped closer to him, cupping his face in her hand. "You are my dearest friend, and I hate myself for being the cause of your misery." A solitary tear fell from her eye, which was locked with his the whole time. "I cannot ease your pain, I feel so utterly helpless, for I know not what to do. I wish that…wishes are for children at play, as we once were. I cannot wish this away, can I?"

He simply shook his head softly, his own tear falling now.

"Please leave me alone for a day or so, I need to think or…I do not know what I need. I cannot lose you, you are my dearest friend, the only one who has never let me down. I do not wish to let you down by handling this badly, so you must leave me alone while I think on what to do. Please, Gwydion, I cannot…" Her voice broke as she let out a loud sob, followed by free falling tears. "…I cannot be near you, it feels too much." She placed a hand over her heart, which was aching from pity, fear and love for her cousin.

"It hurts to know that no matter what, we will never be the same. My life will never be the same. I feel as though my heart is braking. I wish you had never told me, I wish you had of kept your shame to yourself." She all but tore her hand away from his face, and took several steps back, as though he had burned her. "Please leave me alone." She set off at a run back to the castle, to the solitude of her room, where the tears could flow unashamedly.

Gwydion brought his hand up to his cheek, still warm from her touch. He closed his eyes tightly, as the last droplets of tears stung their way past his lashes.

TBC

Lariren-Shadow: I'm glad you liked it. It was kind of hard to portray all of those separate emotions at the same time for all the different characters.

Starlight63: Cos cliff-hangers make you want to read the next chapter. I didn't make you wait too long did I?

Viviana : Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hope you liked this chapter too.

Thank you ThePrincess04, Cerridwen-Evereven, DreamingofLorien and DesolateAznVamp for your reviews, they make my day.