Sickness in the Wilderness

Chapter two
A sign of hope

"Elrohir, come here. Feel Estel, he burns with a fever," Elladan said.

The twins bent over the young man, Elrohir's face was grave as he examined Estel. "It is almost as if he was inflicted with orc- poison, of the kind as they dip their filthy arrows in. I see all the symptoms, but there is no wound."

"My...arms and legs... they grow cold," Estel shivered in sweat, despite lying close to the fire. Elrohir looked at Elladan. Although the twins were said to be identical, there were many differences between the two. Elladan always had been the leader and true warrior. His ice blue eyes showed no trace of weakness. The elf's hair was a shade lighter than his brother's. Elrohir was the dreamer, the thinker, the gentle healer; however, the deep gray eyes that revealed inner peace and beauty of the soul could also burn with battle-light. He kept parchment and pen as close to his side as the bow on his shoulder. Now, though, it was Elladan who looked to Elrohir for guidance.

"What shall we do? Can he be moved?" "No." Elrohir was firm. "If he rode now the pain would increase. I will go out and search for several herbs that may ease his discomfort, but I know of no remedy for the sickness that ails him. It is...unlike any that I have ever seen," he stood and slipped into the forest

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Elladan kept a close watch on Estel. The boy's breathing was raspy, and he slept in a kind of deathlike stupor.

But Elrohir did not return.

Elladan waited until the morning stars were low to the pale blue horizon, then he bent over Estel.

"My brother, I must go find Elrohir, He is not back yet." Estel only mumbled something indistinctly and tossed under his blanket.

After pulling Estel to a concealing thicket, Elladan began to trace Elrohir's footsteps away for the camp.

For over five miles the trail was normal, and he could see patches of matted grass that indicated where Elrhir had knelt to cut herbs and plants. The trail seemed to be going in a circle to eventually lead back to camp. Then, his path turned. Measuring his twin's footsteps, Elladan saw that Elrohir was running full out, fast as he possibly could. His tracks led to a river, crossed it, and made their way up the side of a steep mountain into a canyon.

Elladan stopped short. A battle had been fought here! Orc blood covered the rocks. Marks of many feet had scuffled the ground. The elf guessed that there had been at least two dozen goblins. In a relatively untouched patch of heather, Elladan could plainly see Elrohir's boot prints. A wisp of light green feather dropped beside a stone proved to be from one of Elrohir's arrows. He ran along the canyon cautiously, peering around every bend. This mountain was pierced with many ravines, rambling as a maze.

Suddenly a faint rumble reached his alert ears. Pausing, he listened closely. If he was not mistaken, there were many goblins howling not a great distance away, to the west. But turning sharply around a corner, Elladan found that the canyon ended in an impassable wall of rock. He glanced to the walls. They were steep, but not impossible to climb. He began to scale the stony cliff.

At the top, he pulled himself over the edge. Now he sprinted along the narrow ledges, making his way towards the shrieks and clash of swords.

The sight that met his eyes when he peered down into a narrow valley was astonishing. Barely a dozen elves stood in the protection of a small crevice in the rocks, shooting down any goblins that dared show it's face in their way. Almost two score goblins roared their anger, but were unable to attack. But as Elladan watched, a goblin archer clambered onto an outcropping wall of rock and shot an arrow into the elves' enclosure. An elf wailed and fell, the arrow piercing his chest.

Elladan waited on longer. Carefully staying out of sight, he shot a quick volley of arrows into the goblin ranks. Dashing around to another side, he shot again. The goblins were frightened by the surprise attack, and screeched their confusion. But, with no visible enemy, they were forced to flee, skittering down the canyon and into a small cavern.

Before their noise had died away, Elladan was down the wall and beside the elves' hide-away. He called softly, and several came out.

"My brother, is my brother here?" he asked hurriedly. In answer to his question, Elrohir walked out of the enclosure.

"Elladan! I thought those looked like you arrows. That you, my brother, we were far out-numbered!" The twins clasped each other firmly on the shoulder.

"Who are these elves?" Elladan asked in a low voice. The strange elves wore light colored garments that blended into the stone, as compared to the deep forest brown and greens the twins used.

"They are part of a wandering group of Silvan elves. The rest of their band is by the river several leagues away. They desired a secure place to take clover in when the snow comes, so these were sent to this mountain to see of a fortress could be made safely in the rocks. However, several of them were killed in the battle. There are only eight of them left. They desire only to return to their people, now. I was near the river when I heard the sounds of the battle, and rushed to their aid. But the goblins were too many and we were driven into the rocks.

One of the Silvan elves came over to the twins. "We thank you for your courage, my friend" he said to Elrohir. "And for you driving the goblins away," to Elladan. "Without your intervention, we could not have survived. Our people are at your service."

"You are always welcome at Imladris, if the need for shelter becomes dire," Elladan replied courteously. "But now I need to return swiftly to my brother in the forest. I left him just before sunrise to seek after Elrohir. The boy, Estel, is gravely ill."

"I do not know what possesses him," said Elrohir, speaking of Estel. "I...I am afraid...that he may not live.

"If I may help, might I come and examine him? I am a healer of my people, and may be able to bring different counsel to your diagnosis," the Silvan elf offered.

The twins brightened. "Yes, please come at once!"

The elf, by the name of Tailuren, called his people. It was decided that they would all follow Elladan and Elrohir back to their camp, and then make their way back to the main group of elves after Tailuren had seen Estel.

When they reached camp, Elladan pulled Estel onto a cloak and anxiously looked at him. The boy seemed no better, but at least no worse. Tailuren smothered his exclamation of surprise, seeing that Estel was a human, then knelt down and examined him. He and Elrohir worked for a long while with the herbs Elrohir had gathered, and made Estel drink a pungent brew.

Meanwhile, Elladan distributed food and drink to the other elves, quietly conferring with them on the state of the country. When Elrohir beckoned, he rushed over to Estel's side.

"Due to Tailuren's skill, we were able to somewhat abate Estel's fever and discomfort. However, neither of us knows what sickness he has. It...may be his death."

"No!"Elladan pounded his fist into the ground. "I won't let him die!"

Elrohir hung his head. "I've done all I can. It is too dangerous to move him now."

"I won't stand by and do nothing while my brother wastes away," Elladan growled. "Are there no other healers nearby?"

Tailuren touched his shoulder. "There is one other elf more wise in the way of healing than I," he and hesitantly. "Who? Were is he?" Elladan and Elrohir turned eagerly to the elf.

"It is not a he; it is a she," Tailuren told them. "Her name is Ryalthiar, She is very young, but has wisdom beyond her years. My grandfather taught both of us the lore of plant life, but it was Ryalthiar who continued to learn form him long after I had left his counsel and taken to the roving ways of my people. She joined us for a time to further her experience of herbs in this area. She may know of something to help your brother. My camp is just over the far side of the ridge, once you cross the stream and the meadow."

"I will go at once to find and bring her back here as quickly as possible," Elladan decided. He took off his cloak so he could run faster.

"Stop"

Elladan looked at his brother. "Did you tell me to stop?"

"Yes," Elrohir stepped over to his twin. "It is I who must go," he said. "If the goblins attack again, it would be better for you to be here to fight than if I were here. You are the better archer, you cannot deny that. And I always run faster than you."

Elladan sighed. "Very well, then. Go with all haste. I will stay."

Elrohir clasped his brother on the shoulder, took one last worried look at Estel, and dashed into the forest.

I hope the spacing is better this time, a big thank you to my friend Jess for helping me write this chapter, couldn't have done it without you.

I hope you all in joy the story and please review!