Reviewer responses for Chapter 15:
Deana: Posting as quick as I can! And I hope I resolved everyones conditions for you!
SivanShemesh: Thanks for reviewing...I think that Legolas will survive, but read to find out!
Sielge: Yep...Estel ALMOST didn't make it there!
Marbienl: Glad you liked the bit with El missing and Elrond not noticing! It seems that people liked the Vilya part...I'm glad that no one seems to think it was unlikely Elrond would use it. I wasn't sure.
Beling: You liked using Vilya too...glad of it. Yep...Elrohir got his moment...I think he is underrated a lot of the times, maybe because he is the younger twin. Who knows but he's cool!
Kelsey: Hehe...glad you liked. I love to add complications and what not. UNFORTUNATELY, I am going to have to wind this story down. I could go on forever with this if I REALLY wanted to...but I'd rather wind it down and think of another! And yes, it is effecting Legolas differently then Estel. And...uhm...I forgot what the cookies were for..but I GUESS two would do it! LOL
InsanePirate624: Glad to make your Monday a good one. The next part is a bit longer actually...longer then I thought it would be. I did read your chappie and I liked it...but I BELIEVE we were going back and forth on emails about it...so enough here!
Star Wars Forever: HEHE...I like Elves in trouble and I like making them not-so-perfect...because they are often portrayed as...well...perfect! Perhaps I'll go so far as to make Legolas actually MISS a shot now and again!
Shadowfax2931: the spiders aren't bigger then shelob. I would say they are small spiders...but they are a bit different then your usual spider. Glad you liked the Vilya part...hope you enjoy this too.
Aranna Undomiel: Hehe..nope that last chappie wasn't good for Legolas and Estel. HOpefully this one is.
Mornflower: Again, glad you liked the Vilya part..it was popular. Glad you liked the chappie, hope this one suits your fancy as well.
SirNotAppearingInThisFilm: Nah...I wouldn't kill him...never. Can't do it...not possible...And...GLAD you liked the VIlya part! Wow...people really liked that part and I am so glad I put it in! And I will NOT kill your..uh..lovie-poo...LOL.
Chapter Sixteen: Exits
Celronen eyed Legolas from his perch at the cavern entrance, his eyes shining with intense worry and fatigue. Since the coughing episode, Legolas had not stirred and even Elrohir appeared to be getting worried.
At first, the young twin had felt like he had the situation in control. Now, he felt like the situation was running away from him and taking his good friend with it. He had to find that venom and he had to find it fast. But where could it be?
Standing from his position near Legolas, Elrohir racked his brain for anything that might help them in this situation. If the venom is not where the Orc slept and presumably not on the Orc when he died, where else would it be? Could there have been a second in command?
He quickly scratched that thought. Orcs weren't the type to share power. No, there had to be another explanation. He began to systematically search the cavern again, not leaving a stone or piece of Orc armor unturned. Soon, he felt a presence join him in the search.
"Cel? You look beat, you really can rest you know," the Elf said with a wane smile, knowing full well the warrior would do no such thing.
Smiling in return, Cel proved him right. "I can not rest while Legolas dies, mellon nin. You need not have wasted your breath."
"Iston," Elrohir said with a sigh as he flipped back a bit of metal armor left behind in the haste of the chase. "I find, however, that speech helps break the melancholy atmosphere in this cave."
"I agree."
Both Elves spun around with wide eyes.
"Legolas! How long have you been awake? Are you all right, does anything hurt?"
Elrohir hurried back across the cavern toward his friend. Falling to the ground beside the Prince, Elrohir felt his forehead and frowned. "Still a fever then."
Legolas nodded. "Yes, and if I were to answer your last question I'd have to say everything hurts." His eyes clouded. "'Ro? Is it bad that I can not see well, nor can I hear well? I almost feel as though my senses are like that of a human right now."
The dark-haired Elf didn't answer right away. "It must be a result of the poison, mellon nin. I wouldn't worry about it. Ada would tell you that you will not know until the anti-venom has been administered and you are on the mend, so there is no use worrying about it."
Legolas sighed and nodded again. "You are right, Elrohir. I must not worry. Have you found anything?"
Shaking their heads, neither El nor Cel spoke. Sighing in frustration Legolas moved to stand. But a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Celronen asked incredulously.
"Helping you look for the anti venom?" Legolas said with a scowl. "I am of no use sitting here."
"Nor are you of use looking, Legolas. The last thing we need is you collapsing on us," Cel countered. He groaned when Legolas went to argue again. The groan was enough to quiet the Prince. That in itself was odd and a sign of his weakness.
"Cel is right, you must rest."
Legolas nodded a third time and sat back down. He was rather weary. What harm could more rest do? It wasn't like they were going anywhere. "Have you checked around the spider?" The Elf said quietly, not really thinking they hadn't.
"No, why?"
Legolas' head snapped up. "Surely you know?"
"Know what?" Celronen said quickly.
"About the spiders?"
"What about them?" Asked Elrohir, exasperated at the circle their words were going in.
"They are attracted to smells. The smell of urine, blood, perspiration..."
"And venom!" Elrohir shouted in excitement. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
Legolas shrugged. "I thought you knew!"
Celronen smacked him lightly. "Don't assume we know anything, Legolas! You happen to be very well-versed in the creatures of these forests. As much as I hate to admit it, you know even more then I do. Which is why I didn't know that these particular Mirkwood spiders were attracted to this sort of thing. I thought spiders only pounced on movement?"
Legolas shook his head. "Normally yes. But this breed has a strong sense of smell. Few creatures venture into its underground webs, therefore it must be able to find creatures lest it starve."
Elrohir wasted no time, hurrying first toward the area the dead spider had been found in. Crinkling his nose in disgust, he quickly kicked aside the corpse and gasped. "Look at that!"
Cel joined him as the Elf stooped down and reached toward the underbelly of the spider. The elf beside him gasped in surprise as well. "Well look at that! The wretched beast was holding the vial the whole time!"
Elrohir soon stood, holding a small but full vial of clear liquid in his hands. "Now to create the anti-venom!" he said, quickly pulling items from his pack and laying them out on the ground near the fire.
"Anything I can do?" Cel asked from his right side.
"Yes...just do as I say and we'll have this ready in no time."
Legolas relaxed at those words and lay back to wait for the anti-venom. Finally, something is going right for me, he thought. I only hope Estel is good as well.
"But Ada!?"
"No, buts about it, Estel, you are not going out there?"
Estel groaned and flopped back onto the pillows behind him. His face was pale, even more then the naturally pale Elves around him, yet he was fully awake and raring to go. As soon as his father had administered the anti-venom, Estel's condition had begun to improve.
Now, he felt no worse for the wear. At least, until he stood up and unceremoniously fell back down with an "umph".
"See," Elrond had said. "You are not ready to go out yet."
But Estel could not get his mind off Legolas. He was immensely worried for the safety of his best friend and nothing could take his mind from the thoughts. All he could imagine was the Elf's eyes, glazed in death, while his brother and Celronen looked on helplessly.
Estel was determined to avoid that fate.
"Ada? What if there is no venom to be found in that cave? I was nearly dead when you administered it to me, surely Legolas would not have been far behind."
"That, young Human, is why I have this vial and am about to ask your brother to accompany me once more to the cave."
Thranduil suddenly emerged from the shadows of the hallway outside the chamber, clutching a glass vial like it held his life's essence...which it did in a way. If there was no venom in the cave, this is all that would save Legolas' life.
"Oh," was all that Estel could say. I had forgotten about him. Surely he worries as much, if not more, for his son. He hasn't seen much of him since he ran off when we arrived. And I know Legolas and his father have no fully reconciled.
Elrond nodded and Elladan stepped forward. "I will go. I must see my brother safely from that cavern as well."
"As much as I hate letting you go, you must. Thranduil, take care of my son please?"
The king bowed his head in acknowledgment. "That I will, Elrond. We will return with all three of them safe and sound." That said, he gestured for Elladan and the two were quickly gone.
Bardon, taking his leave as well, hurried off in search of a comfortable bed after the hard night of preparing the anti-venom and resuscitating Estel time and again. Elrond, just as tired, sat in a chair beside his son's bed.
"Ada, why don't you get some rest? You look exhausted. I'm certain me continually trying to die didn't allow you any sleep."
The Elf Lord chuckled. "You are very right there, Estel. You did not afford me one minute of sound sleep. But I do not fault you for it. I am very glad you are still with us. I know you are meant to die before me, as all mortals are meant to do since we are immortal, but I am no where near ready to lose you, ion nin."
Estel sobered. "I am not going anywhere. You won't be rid of me that easily, Adar!" that said, he gestured toward Legolas' bed. "Go, before I have to get out of this bed and make you!"
Elrond held up his hands in mock defeat. "All right, all right. You win. I will take some rest. But you mustn't hesitate to wake me if anything changes. If you feel ill or if word is received."
"I promise I will."
Elrond was asleep almost as he hit the pillow, leaving a smiling Estel all alone in the waning sunlight. It was just about sundown and not a good time to leave the safety of Mirkwood palace.
For a moment, he actually considered listening to his father. Part of him knew that the Elf Lord was undoubtedly right. But the part of him that won out was the part that cared nothing for himself and everything for Legolas.
So he dragged himself to his feet, wavered for a few minutes, snatched up some weapons and headed out the door, however unsteadily, but full of resolve.
"How are you feeling, Legolas?"
The Elf in question growled at Celronen. "By the Valar, stop asking me that!" He was seated next to the fire, still a little shaky, but feeling almost up to par. He was slowly beginning to regain his full senses and it was a big relief to the Prince.
Elrohir chuckled. "All right, so you feel better then? The anti-venom appears to be working quickly and effectively. We should be able to tackle those spiders in the exit soon."
Legolas nodded happily. He, for one, couldn't wait to leave this cave. It reminded him too much of his and Estel's torment here. The shadows the fire cast on the cavern walls made his skin crawl as his mind played tricks on his eyes. He knew they weren't Orcs, but it still bothered him.
Looking around, he spied his bow and quiver, along with his knives. Standing, still a little shakily, he moved to where they were laying and sat beside them. Taking the bow into his hands, he began to gently feel along its length, assuring himself that the precious weapon was indeed all right.
"Do you have the strength to draw it, Legolas?"
Celronen had snuck up behind his liege and that annoyed the Prince to no end. "Yes, I think I can, Cel. I just want to get out of this cave."
His words were spoken as nonchalantly as possible, but the tone didn't fool Celronen. He had known Legolas too long and he read through the tone. Legolas was not just anxious to leave, he feared this cavern still. It was a wonder he had lasted so long in here without going stark raving mad.
Elrohir came over now, holding his sword firmly in one hand. "As much as I would like you to rest longer, I think we should go as soon as possible. You will heal much better at the palace and I'm sure everyone is anxious to see us. I, for one, wish to see how Estel is doing."
Legolas was silent. Estel. I too hope he is all right. If he dies I shall never forgive myself. He wouldn't be here in Mirkwood, or in this condition, if I hadn't brought him here. This is still my fault. No matter how much anyone tells me it isn't.
Sighing again, he stood and drew his bow string back, grimacing as his muscles began to shake slightly with the strain. The bow wavered, but his aim would still be good enough to kill spiders. Or so he hoped.
Elrohir and Celronen came up beside him now. "Ready to go?" Elrohir asked, putting a hand on Legolas' shoulder.
"Quite ready, mellon nin. Let us leave this cavern behind for good."
Taking point, Celronen tried hard not to look back on his liege, knowing that Legolas would resent the treatment. He was worried about the young Elf, worried that the Prince thought himself fully recovered.
Elrohir, meantime, had taken up a position behind Legolas, thus sandwiching the blonde Prince between the two healthy warriors. He too feared overconfidence on Legolas' part and knew this was the safest way to keep him from harm.
Of course, Legolas was no oblivious to these conditions. He knew full well what his friends were doing and it made him smile lightly. I couldn't ask for better friends, the Prince thought with a small grin. Though at times I wish they would have more faith in me.
Celronen slowed now. "We are close," he whispered, just loud enough for the other two Elves to hear him. "Around the next bend we shall begin to see the webbing and probably a wayward spider or two."
Nodding in understanding, Legolas and Elrohir drew arrows and notched them, preparing to fire at a seconds notice. Then, they moved on, rounding the bend.
Stretched across the tunnel like netting was a lightly glimmering spider web. The sticky strands caught at the Elves' clothing as they moved through the tunnel, Celronen slashing the web with a long knife as he went.
Legolas swatted at a particularly sticky strand of web and in doing so, turned just in time to see a large, brown spider vaulting at the group from above. Swinging his bow up without hesitation, he drew and released his arrow, sending the spider careening to the ground with a thud.
Elrohir and Celronen turned quickly, looking at the scene in front of them. Legolas winced slightly; the action had strained muscles he hadn't been able to use in a few days. But the spider lay dead on the ground with a yellow and green fletched arrow in its head.
"I see you have not lost any prowess with a bow," Celronen teased lightly, pulling a bit on Legolas' sleeve to get the Elf moving again. "Come, we are nearly at the center of the nest. From there, it is only a short distance to the exit and freedom."
Nodding, Legolas smiled. "I'm glad you see I can still shoot. Perhaps you will not feel the need to constantly watch me?"
"Ah...but you forget, my liege, I have always felt that need, whether you are injured or not."
Legolas laughed lightly and swatted Celronen. "And I am glad to have those extra eyes and skills, Cel. Your efforts are appreciated, whether I tell you or not."
They quieted as the sounds of spiders skittering across webs hit their ears. "Seems they are aware of your archery prowess, Legolas," Elrohir said with a small smile.
"Yes..." the Prince muttered fingering another arrow he had notched on his bowstring. "So it would seem."
Inching forward now, in hopes of catching the remaining spiders by surprise, the three Elves soon entered the center of the nest. Their hopes of surprise, however, were lost when Legolas stumbled on a half-eaten carcass.
Frowning, he looked up with a sheepish grimace as if to say, 'sorry'. Then, the spiders were upon them. It was difficult work using bows in the confines of the tunnel and the heavy webbing did not help the matter any.
Legolas quickly found his returned strength beginning to wane. I guess they were right, I am not back to normal as much as I feel I am. Boy do I wish we had more Elves here.
He stopped thinking to himself and spun when a spider threw itself towards him, fangs bared and ready to sink into the vulnerable flesh of his neck. Moving just in time, he stumbled again and nearly lost grip of his knife.
Waiting for the sharp prick of the fangs, he was almost certain he was about to be beaten. But the fangs never came. Turning quickly he saw the spider skewered on Celronen's long knife and blood trickling down the warriors arm.
"Cel?" Legolas asked, slashing with his own twin knives at the nearest spider.
The warrior didn't answer right away. He shook his head violently, trying to shake off the effects of the spider venom. It was no use really. He looked up at Legolas and whispered, "I'm sorry, hir nin."
Then he toppled over, the dead spider landing atop him.
Legolas cursed in every language he knew. Elrohir, fighting not far away, had seen the Elf fall and began to hack furiously at the spiders around him. Their numbers were waning, but not quickly enough.
They really could not afford losing Celronen as they had.
Estel realized as he tramped through the woods that he probably should have taken some time to "borrow" a horse before he began on this foolhardy rescue mission of his. Whatever it was that had prompted him to come out here and search for his brother and Legolas had not been enough to keep his body going so soon after his near-death experience.
Me and my brilliant ideas and hard headedness. For once I should have listened to my Adar. Then again, I should usually listen to him...Estel shook his head lightly. It was true; Elrond was almost always right about everything. Yet Estel had a habit of ignoring his foster father's good advice.
He knew he must be nearing the cave. Though he had been unconscious on the way back from it, he remembering discovering it the first time and knew he was nearly there. He wondered what he would find when he arrived.
He had left before Elladan and Thranduil, so he would not meet them there. Would the others still be trapped behind a wall of boulders? Or was there another way out of that cave? He couldn't help but wonder why even Orcs would be so stupid as to have only one way in and out of a cave.
Then again, Orcs were rather stupid.
Finally, he saw the cavern wall and sighed with relief. He was almost there. Now, to find that second exit...if there was one. He could tell he wasn't going to be any match for the stones in front of the main entrance. From a distance, it was obvious he'd never get through.
So he turned to the left and began to walk around the exterior. Scanning the wall, he didn't see a single nook or cranny that could be hiding an exit. There were parts of the wall covered in ivy and he moved it aside when he came to it, but so far he was having no luck and his strength was draining fast.
He was so intent on searching the cave wall that he didn't hear the leaves rattle in the nearby tree. Nor did he notice the shadow cast over him when the midday sun was blocked by a slowly lowering body.
There must be an exit in this dratted cave. There just has to be. The air wasn't stifling in there when we were being held captive and we weren't near the entrance...there had to be another air source.
He was about to fling something at the cavern wall in frustration when he heard the shouts of battle not too far away. They were disembodied, but he would recognize those voices anywhere.
Legolas! Elrohir!
He moved to run, but was suddenly flung to the ground when an immense weight landed painfully on his back. The breath momentarily knocked out of him, Estel saw spots for a second.
But he knew what had hit him.
And he knew he needed to act fast.
Flinging himself to the side underneath the struggling spider, Estel was able to turn over just in time. Throwing his arms up, he intercepted the spider's fangs, the sharp tips of which tore into his arm guards, but not his skin.
As he struggled to fend off the fangs, he could hear Legolas and Elrohir fighting for their lives somewhere near. They must have found the exit tunnel because there was no other way he would be able to hear them. He didn't have Elf ears and even if he did have them, even Elves couldn't hear through solid rock as thick as this cavern.
Finally, he managed to get the upper hand on the spider, flinging it to the side. As it regrouped itself, he slipped a dagger from his belt and plunged it into the hapless creature. The spider screeched loudly and drew in on itself, stumbling back on its eight legs until he fell to the ground and remained still.
Taking no time to gather his strength, Estel surged to his feet and took off at a run toward the sounds of shrieking spiders and metal clanging on rock.
"I'm going to kill him when he gets back...I told him to stay in bed!"
Elrond was positively fuming at the ears. Thranduil, usually a formidable Elf when he was angry, shrank back from the seriously irked Elf Lord as he vented his frustration, flinging medical supplies into a haversack.
Elladan stood by quietly, knowing that this was a mood his father was not to be reckoned with when he was in it. He was very glad he wasn't the one causing the mood and wouldn't be at the receiving end of the Elf's ire when they caught up with Estel.
"I swear, he is barely healed and he sneaks off into the woods for no good reason at all after I told him he was not well enough. Will that boy ever learn?"
The Elf continued muttering to himself as he made sure he had what he needed. Elrond hadn't planned on accompanying Elladan and the king but since Estel was no longer around to care for he had decided to go with them.
Besides, Estel was likely to get himself hurt or worse in his current condition and Elrond knew his skills would be needed.
"He is in a world of trouble, just wait until I get my hands on that young hooligan."
"Uhm, Ada? Are you quite finished yet? We need to get out there in case there was no venom in that cave..." Elladan hated to interrupt his father, but one look at Thranduil told the young Elf that the king was speechless.
Elrond rounded on Elladan, but stopped suddenly. What in the world am I doing? Wasting time muttering to myself? I need to be sure to get plenty of sleep after this ordeal; my fatigue is affecting my judgment.
Instead of berating Elladan, as the twin had been expected, Elrond placed a hand on his son's shoulder and smiled lightly. "You are right, ion nin. I am sorry. My mind is elsewhere."
Turning to Thranduil, who shook his head in disbelief, the Elf Lord quirked another grin. "Forgive me, mellon. I have been preoccupied with anger at Estel's stupid actions, selfless, but stupid nonetheless."
"I understand. But I must admit I had not figured you for one to speak to himself when there were others in the room. You seemed...oblivious...to our presence."
Sighing, Elrond moved to stand beside the king. "Yes. I do have a tendency to do that when I am angry. I am certain Elladan could tell you how I am when I'm mad...he and those brothers of his have been at the receiving end of my anger many a time."
Thranduil laughed. "I'll bet they have! And likely my son as well when he is in Imladris."
"Ah yes. Our dear prince. He too partakes in the pranks that constantly plague poor Glorfindel and Erestor. The young ones have a habit of picking on them both and have many times seen my ire."
Elladan laughed. "Yes, Ada. You would think we would learn after the first hundred times..." he cut himself off when his father turned wide eyes on him. "Sorry..."
"Come now, we really should hurry. Who knows what worlds of trouble Estel and Legolas have managed to get themselves into this time," Elrond said with a frown, but a tone that suggested he was joking.
Little did they know the two really had gotten themselves into a world of trouble.
A/N: Hehe...another cliffhanger if I am reading this right! Sorry...well...no...not really sorry. I like cliffhangers because they keep the readers engaged and wondering. Hopefully you all agree. It wasn't TOO evil...was it? Anyway, as usual I love to hear what you have to say. This story is winding down so I am open to ideas for another one...
-Gwenneth
