Hi!

Here´s chapter 4 for you.

Thanks again to Mor and San for their great help.

And of course, thanks for your wonderful reviews!! Responses below.

Now enjoy :-)))

Alinah

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: Not mine

Water and Tree

As Aragorn walked, he felt the birds circle above their heads. He made a point of stopping at a patch of vegetables, bending down to admire the cabbages that grew there. They would have made any hobbit farmer proud.

Elladan crouched down beside him, his sharp eyes travelling across their surroundings. "Look," he said low under his breath, "there are rabbits again, feeding only a few paces off. Yet they never go for the vegetables." Turning a bit, he slightly inclined his head to indicate a group of fruit trees nearby. "And look at them. They are laden with fruits. The trees we hid beneath were not. And there were patches of strawberries close to the river. None of this makes sense. None of this is natural."

The ranger nodded. The picture they were presented here was one of splendour, but the longer one looked, the more flaws one detected. A strange fear began to grip hold of him that soon he, too, would be twisted beyond his nature to suit this place. Thinking back to Legolas he shivered. If there was one thing unnatural for elves, it was prolonged sleep. It was almost as if his friend had become a prize to be regarded, robbed of his usual vividness to keep him from leaving.

Standing again, Aragorn walked on. Even though they were moving in a half-circle, he was determined to lead them back to Legolas as quickly as he thought wise. Speaking quietly, he asked, "But how to do this? How do we take Legolas and bring him to the river without upsetting the lady?"

Elladan´s answer surprised him. "We cannot." The elf's voice was calm, and sensing his human brother's anger he grabbed his arm, squeezing it in a reassuring gesture. "We cannot", the older twin repeated, "for we are being watched and the Lady is powerful. She will be able to stop us, of that there is no doubt in my heart. We need more patience, more time to play her game. Let us return to Legolas, but we will not attempt to rouse him. We shall stay at his side and wait. Now that we know where to turn, let us await the sign when to make our escape."

Aragorn growled, frustrated with the reply. But he sensed that it was true. They had done what they could, scouted their route; and now they would have to trust in the wolves to return to them and help them.

True to their intentions, they found their way back to the Mirkwood elf at a leisurely pace that was anything but befitting their mood. As they approached the small grove, even Aragorn could notice how much the fruit had grown. There were plenty now, so many that they weighted down the branches with their sweet load. Only the fact that the trees' stems, too, seemed to have grown, prevented them from toppling over.

More flowers had broken from the hidden ground, showering the grass with a wild display of color. Walking past, the ranger noted the way fragile spring flowers leaned into their brighter summer siblings. The sight sickened him, for this was not what should be. He felt as if his very instincts were being insulted and there was nothing he could to about it.

The sea of grass had by now completely swallowed Legolas and had they not known where they had left him, Aragorn would have been hard pressed to find him again. When they bent back the strong leaves that had begun to form a roof above him, they saw that some stems of flowers had begun to curl around his wrists and ankles. Looking more closely, Elladan even spied a darker, bigger root that had crawled halfway across the blond elf's waist.

With a flash of anger that he was not able to suppress, the older twin grabbed the root and wrestled it away with some difficulty. "A tree's root", he grunted, "it must belong to one of the apples trees, even though it seems far too strong. What a world in which the plants seem ready to swallow an elf, and a wood elf at that!"

Aragorn could feel his own blood boil, but he managed to restrain himself by letting the healer inside him take over. Like so many times before, turning to his strong talent to preserve life focused him, allowed him to disregard what he could not change and instead wrap his mind around a problem that it might be able to solve.

Even though in this case, he was not so sure. "His eyes are closed", the ranger observed nervously, "and his breathing is much shallower than it was." He did not add that his friend's skin looked almost transparent and felt cold to the touch. He could feel his mind drawing its conclusions, heedless of the fear this caused him, and when Elladan spoke again, he voiced what his human brother thought.

"Every garden needs to draw strength to grow", the elf said slowly, "and this one draws it from Legolas."

They were quiet for a moment, their thoughts turning to Elrohir. Aragorn looked into his brother's eyes and found grim determination. "No, Estel." The older twin had clearly seen his brother's fear. "The wolves took him away from here to a dark place that keeps him safe." He sighed before adding in what was barely above a whisper: "I pray that they will come in time again."

They sat and waited. The sun crossed above them in a pace that seemed far too slow, drawing the day to an impossible length. More plants grew as they watched, fresh bushes emerging from the ever-swaying grass, quickly developing berries that were then picked off by the nightingales that continued to shadow them. When the afternoon finally turned the sun rays a darker shade of gold, a ripple seemed to pass through the air.

Elladan looked up, startled out of the calm reverie he had forced himself into. He tensed and looked around. Aragorn followed his gaze, hopeful to find fresh clouds darkening the skies. Yet there was nothing. Nothing but a sudden stillness in the air; the lack of a sound whose presence they had not even contemplated before.

"It has stopped", Elladan whispered, looking down on Legolas in concern, "the growth has stilled. All that was born remains, yet nothing new emerges. His strength seems to be fading." Noticing Aragorn's alarm the older twin held up his hand. "Forgive me, Estel. I did not mean to say he is dying. But what can be drawn from him seems to be used now to keep what is already here. His sleep deepens; I can feel him slipping. Even though death is still far, eternity in the shadows might not be."

A sudden look of determination crossed the elf's features. "I will help him", he stated simply, "for I am sure my added strength will relieve some of the pressure."

The ranger shook his head. "But how do you know that you will not both be drained beyond return?" The human felt helplessness well up in him, but he angrily fought it back. "What if the wolves come and I cannot waken you, either? I will not be able to carry you both."

To his surprise, Elladan smiled. "I trust in your abilities, brother, and I know that if you had to, you would be able to carry a bear. But it will be your tracking skills that are needed. Do not forget our visions. They were strong. And you have years of practice waking me when I long for more rest. Even as a small child you were quite capable of this feat." His smile widened at the fond memories.

Aragorn was not soothed, even though he felt honored by his elven brother's trust in him. He regarded Elladan closely; saw the stern look in his eyes, the determination that showed in his posture. There was no further need for discussions, because the choice was made. The ranger gave a short nod, indicating that he was ready to play his part.

The elf settled down in the grass and opened his mind to the world around him. He had expected the darkness to collect around him slowly, a dusk that befell his mind with gentle caresses before it claimed him, but he was wrong. Like a beast that had only waited for him to drop his defences, the hungry void jumped at him and ripped him from the waking world with a jolt that wrecked his body before he lost any contact with it.

Aragorn saw his brother flinch as if hurt and then close his eyes and it took all of the human's considerable self control not to shake the elf back to life instantly. He had a promise to keep. Even when he saw the plants turn on the motionless figure, flowers swaying their heads like beasts scenting an easy kill, the ranger forced himself to stay calm. He stood guard over the sleeping elves, loosening any roots that became too possessive, and waited for the storm to break.

.....................................................................

When it did, it took Aragorn by surprise. This was no easy feat, for the man had spent many a stormy day and night in the wild and knew how to read the signs. And he had experienced one wolf attack already. Still, he had been so intend on the two elves that the gentle brush of butterfly wings that rose behind him did not catch his attention. Neither did he notice the dense flock of nightingales that came together almost silently, merging from many beings into one.

It was the darkness that roused him.

Whipping around in sudden dread, Aragorn saw once again a great wall of clouds collecting at the now much clearer horizon, and he realized with a start that the fight was already set to begin. He had wasted precious moments by ignoring the signs, and the trees seemed to laugh at him when they began to sway and groan in the growing breeze.

Ignoring them, Aragorn pulled Elladan up against his shoulder and shook him none too gently. As he had feared, there was no response. The eyes stayed close, and the breathing did not even quicken. "Tond, gwador!" (Up, brother!) the man urged and shook the elf again, but to no avail. Frantically, his mind raced back to his childhood and the games he had played on the twins then.

How he had loved the days when the twins had returned from their hunting trips. He had enjoyed seeing them dirty and tired for a change, a role that was usually reserved for him. He had been blissfully unaware of the fact that more often than not, Lord Elrond's sons had not been after deer but instead hunting their own painful past. They had chased bands of orcs before them, turning the predators into prey that fled from the most ruthless opponents they would ever be pitted against. Even the humans of the nearby villages would shun them when they went hunting, fearing the glow in their eyes.

When all the blood and grime had been washed away, the obligatory minor injuries treated and the soiled clothes burned, both Elladan and Elrohir would retreat to their rooms to sleep. Aragorn had often sneaked in with them, simply to enjoy their company. Not a patient child, he had been eager for them to rise and play with him. Much later, the twins had confined in him and explained that for years, the young human tugging at them and demanding their attention had been an anchor to the world of sanity and inner peace.

But how? How had he managed to rouse Elladan then? As the heavy raindrops began to fall and wolves howled in the distance, begging for the human to live up to his promises, he remembered. He remembered splashing Elrohir with water, sending the younger twin out of his bed with deft curses and loud laughter. Yet Elladan would sleep through a flood. Noise had not worked on him, either.

Suddenly, unbidden, Lord Elrond's face appeared in front of Aragorn's inner eye. At first he thought that his mind was playing tricks on him, reminding him that had his foster father been in his stead now, he might have freed them already. But then, the image raised an eyebrow in a manner that he would call inquisitive when most others interpreted it as threatening. And finally, the young ranger remembered.

Trying to block out the miserable yelps that were drowned by a rush of beating wings in the distance, Aragorn focused on his brother's face again and called out to him once more: "Gwador, lhagr, ada anglenno!" (Brother, quick, father is coming!) He tried to put in all the urgency that his younger self would have used and added for good measure: "Elrohir aníro chen!" (Elrohir needs you!)

A frown appeared on the fair elven face as the rain beat down on it in earnest, and Aragorn saw him struggle. Finally, the eyes opened and Elladan blinked up at him, confusion showing in his expression. The ranger breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the elf up, glad when he managed to stand on his own account. There was a bustle in the air, but for now the swarm still concentrated on the wolves. White bodies littered the floor far off, framed by feathery dots, yet there was no time for pity or sorrow.

Quickly, Aragorn picked up Legolas and handed him to Elladan, who took his friend silently but with growing awareness in his eyes. Not wasting a word, Aragorn rushed towards the river, only now and then glancing over his shoulder to ensure that the elves were following. It worried him that Elladan seemed to struggle with his task, tripping several times but always catching himself.

It was only when a root wrapped itself around his own ankle, unbalancing him, that the ranger noticed the danger. Cursing under his breath, he began to avoid the small groves of trees, preferring a longer route to the hatred that they encountered there. Even the grass itself seemed to waken and lash at him, causing painful cuts that began to splatter his blood onto the leaves where it mingled with the rain to seep into the greedy ground.

"This is the last meal you will get out of us!" Aragorn vowed darkly as he ran, praying for the wolves to keep up the diversion and for Elladan to keep his strength. When the small river came in sight, dusk had begun to settle and fear gnawed at his that he would not find the tracks again. He almost blindly ran for the water, forgetting about the trees that flanked the water.

Obviously, Elladan had not paid heed to this danger, either, for they were almost side by side, only paces from the water, when the branches crashed down upon them.

Aragorn saw the wood coming for him from the corner of his eye and he tried to duck and pull Elladan down at the same time, yet he failed in both.

The branch found his ribcage and struck without mercy, knocking him to the ground in a gasping, groaning heap. Next to him, Elladan was even less fortunate. Even though he, too, tried to duck, the branch caught him across the temple. He fell limply, Legolas slipping out of his grip and rolling into the shallow water.

The ranger felt like he would never breathe again. An invisible fist closed around his chest. Even though he desperately urged his lungs to cooperate, they refused to accept the air he so greedily sucked in. In a dull haze, he saw a branch rising and then aiming for Elladan unmoving body. For some reason, the rest of his body had not joined the lungs´ mutiny, and he acted before he had even decided to do so.

Ignoring the pain, Aragorn launched forwards and grabbed his brother around the waist, pulling him to the side just in time for the blow to miss. An angry clattering of wood on wood was his answer, and even without looking up he knew that the next attack would be aimed at him again.

Acting on nothing but instinct, Aragorn stumbled for the water. As soon as its cool caress touched him, his lungs opened up again, freeing his chest of the crushing pain that had gripped it. Greedily sucking air into his lungs, Aragorn staggered for the middle of the river. Now that his mind had room for thought again, it screamed in warning.

For a moment he was too dazed to realize what was amiss, but then his heart sped up in fear.

Legolas had not been at the shoreline, and that left only one possibility. The current must have taken hold of the unconscious elf, sweeping him away. Beyond his friends´ reach.

TBC

Review responses:

NightShadow131: Wow, you seem to really be into sports ;-) I´m gald you caught up!! Nope, that lady sure is not as nice as she wants to seem. Thank you!

tychen: LOL, no need to be sorry, you are such a faithful reviewer, I really appreciate that. Hehe, I bet Legolas would love to borrow a nice teddy from you ;-)

Red Tigress: Thank you! And yes, poor Legolas, being used as a"battery", lol

Mornflower: LOLOLOL!!!! I guess you are still playing dead, being cared for?? Hehe, nice trick.

Ertia: No, nothing is as it seems - and Elladan is safe for now, as long as I have might eyes set on Legolas, hehe...

Deana: Hehe, good guess, but he was not missing - not at that point, that is, he is now - well, you´ll see ;-)

astalder27: Thank you!! I´m happy you like it - a bit of the mystery was revealed now, but there is more, of course ;-)

Harry Estel: I hope the update was quick enough for you ;-) Thank you!

sielge: Thanks! And here´s your update :-)

Victorious Light: Wow, thank you so much. I´m so happy you are enjoying yourself. And as for Elrohir - you might be right ;-)

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!