Hi!
Here´s the last chapter!! I hope you´ll enjoy it.
Mor and especially San - thanks for your help )
To all my reviewers - you truly are the best! Responses below.
Enjoy and feel free to leave a comment.
Alinah
Rating: PG 13 Disclaimer: Not mine
Brothers
Ignoring his pain, Aragorn tried to straighten and willed his gaze to clear. The river mumbled soothingly into his ears, and he felt a slight tug as if the current was trying to guide him towards the centre of the stream. Holding on to his hope, he turned his eyes to the livid waters that roamed there, fearing to find nothing.
To his amazement, two blue eyes watched him. Legolas seemed to have awakened and now held on to a rock in the stream, looking dazed. The ranger made sure Elladan´s head was above water before making his way to his friend. The cold of the water clung to his legs and crept up his thighs, but the feeling was one of reassurance rather than threat, encouraging Aragorn to move on. He never even looked back at the trees, knowing that there was very little that he could do now to protect himself and the elves. He fully expected the crushing pain of a fresh blow - but it never came.
The water remained shallow and to the human's surprise, the current was less powerful than he had feared. Even though his chest still hurt and the arm holding his brother grew tired, he made it to the rock Legolas leaned against. The wood elf watched him with glazed eyes that constantly struggled against closing, but he seemed well able to hold himself steady. It almost seemed as if the water that swirled around him held him in place. Gently placing Elladan against the cool support of the stone, Aragorn allowed himself a moment's respite.
Now that he looked back to the shore only a few paces off, he saw the trees stay still and upright again, as if mocking him with their seemingly peaceful stance. Their branches, however, still rubbed together in a rhythm that was not directed by the storm, and the tall trunks stood out darkly against the rapidly greying skies. Like sentinels they watched him, eager to hurt yet somehow unable to do so. However, the protection that the river presented would fail in the face of the Lady's power. Soon, he knew, the trees´ branches would fill with hundreds of feathery bodies, and an army of black eyes would stare at them in hunger. They had to move on.
A low groan by his side made the ranger´s heart lift. Eagerly, he leaned closer to watch his brother's eyes open in the gloom. Scooping up a handful of water, Aragorn gently washed away the blood that had run from Elladan´s temple. He felt a large lump forming beneath the broken skin, and it did not surprise him when the elf squinted at him despite the almost total lack of light.
"Man im mesg?" (Why am I wet?)
The slurred question brought a tense smile to the human's lips. "Because you chose to let a branch hit you", he answered lightly, slowly moving his hand in front of his elven brother´s face as he did. To his relief, the green eyes instinctively followed the movement. Elladan groaned again and his eyelids fluttered.
"Ai, Valar", he grunted, "stop waving, Estel. I feel like one of Mithrandir's fireworks has gone off inside of my head. I can barely see around the flickering."
Aragorn winced in sympathy. He loathed allowing his brother to move, but he did not fail to notice that the yelps and screeches of the battle between air and earth had moved closer. Already his fears played tricks on him, turning a tumbling leaf in the dark into the vanguard of a swarm that would descend upon them like a deadly wall of fog.
"It seems that your vision turned out to be truthful, then", he encouraged the elf, "and I shall try to live up to the role I have been given. But you need to get up first. Can you stand?"
The glare he received in response would have made Elrond proud. With a grunt, Elladan rose, ignoring the hand Estel held out to him. After swaying for several seconds, he gained his balance. Turning his head with great care, thus betraying his pain, he gazed at his human brother. "Hand me the prince", he growled, "and then move on. We shall follow."
Soon they were indeed moving. Aragorn well remembered that the wolf tracks had led downstream. Even though he had not yet discovered the rock he had used as a landmark to guide him to the tracks, he simply followed the water's flow. Above them, the sky had now turned completely black and the rain kept pouring down, soaking them thoroughly. All that Aragorn could still discern were the looming shadows of the trees to each side of the stream and the tiny spots of white where the water rushed over stones wildly enough to turn to foam.
His wounded side pained him, and at first he feared to lose his footing and slip on the wet stones beneath his feet, but the ground carried him steadily like a faithful steed. The water around his legs was constant support as well as gurgling reminder of their hurry.
Behind him, the two elves somehow managed to keep his pace, leaning onto each other for support. Aragorn could sense that they were hardly able to concentrate upon anything but moving. Their faith lay in his guidance. The weight of his responsibility made a lump form in his throat. Doubts began to rise within him. Who was he to lead the way? His senses were inferior, his strength of little use against the threat they faced. What if he led them astray?
He slowed without realizing, and his assumptions about the elves´ state of health were proven correct when they failed to notice the change and rather ungracefully walked into him. What the watery ground had not achieved was almost brought upon by the ranger's faltering spirits, because neither Elladan nor Legolas was prepared to deal with the sudden impact nor they swayed.
Aragorn reached out and tried to steady them, but the quick movement sent a blinding pain through his side, taking his breath away. He never remembered falling, yet all of a sudden the three of them kneeled, panting. The ranger's hand found a rock nearby that helped to steady him. The cold water was at their shoulders now, urging them on, yet none moved. Howls pierced the air. The sound made Elladan raise his head groggily. The ranger noticed that his brother had closed his eyes, no doubt in pain, yet his ears seemed to serve him well.
"Droeg anglennor" (The wolves approach), the dark elf stated calmly, "a faun delw ahada sain." (And a deadly cloud follows them.) He turned to face the human without opening his eyes. "Tego anpalan, Estel." (Lead on, Estel.)
The human swallowed. He was no longer sure whether he was doing the right thing. Maybe all he had achieved was to bring the wrath of the Lady upon them, dooming them all. The sounds seemed to grow around him, drowning all focused thought. The rain splattered down on him, the water scolded him, the trees laughed at him.
He sighed and glanced down, unsure how to proceed. When he did, he thought that he could make out a faint reddish glow in the stone his hand rested upon. His mind screamed that this was impossible, that he could not see any colors in the gloom. And yet, his heart chose to ignore the warning and greedily drank up the hope it was being offered.
Aragorn rose, helping the elves to follow with his good arm. "We are in the same place that we visited before", he informed Elladan, and speaking aloud what he wished for seemed to make his hope real, "the bend in the river cannot be far. We both sensed our salvation there, so let us not lose any more time!"
Elladan only nodded, and holding on to the dazed wood elf with one arm, he placed his other hand on his brother's shoulder. Together, they moved on.
As they rounded the bend, Aragorn squinted in surprise. Only a few paces beyond there was a darkness that easily outshone the stormy night. It was as if all color that remained in black had been drawn away to leave behind the true centre of night. Even so, the sight was not frightening. It called out to him, promising shelter, and the ranger chose to believe.
When he placed his next step, however, a piercing yelp from above made him jump. He looked up just in time to see a white body being hurled at him from above. He called out in alarm, and sensing the danger Elladan tightened his grip on his brother's shoulder, pulling him out of harm's way just as the crumbled body of a white wolf was flung into the water, tingeing it dark with its blood.
Above them, the nightly sky came to life. Where raindrops had fallen side by side only seconds ago, their number suddenly thinned. Instead, feathers now mingled with the water and graced their faces in mocking caress as the sailed down. A hum of beating wings engulfed them softly. Unseen in the darkness, countless eyes pierced them with unmoving glares, and the water beneath them slowed and sighed as if sensing defeat.
Aragorn turned, his movements slowed as if time herself had lost her bearings under the roof of flying bodies, and he gasped when he saw the trees bent and join their crowns above the river, forming a bridge.
There was no doubt in his heart who would cross it, and when the white shape emerged high above, an angry hiss travelled before it like a groan on the storm. Lómelinde walked with all the grace of an elf, her bare feet finding branches to step upon with blind aim. Yet the light that she shed was sickly, and it did not travel far beyond her body, as if it was too weak to survive when it had left her. Her white dress flowed around despite of the continuing rain, giving it the appearance of a living creature that was wrapped around her body, writhing in pain.
"How dare you, human!" All music had left her voice, leaving behind pure ice.
The trees bowed beneath her rage, lowering her almost to the water's surface. The river rose and hissed angrily at her, but she paid it no heed, as much as she ignored the elves who seemed to have frozen in her presence. Her fury was Aragorn's alone, and he felt it engulf him. The flock of bird and butterfly moved to encircle her. Some settled upon her, others fluttered around her body.
Before the ranger's eyes, the white dress flickered and dimmed, merging with the humming cloud that drew ever closer. He blond curls began to move as birds wiggled beneath, and before Aragorn's wide eyes Lómelinde rose from the branches, finally showing herself as she what she truly was - a creature beyond nature, a demon beyond mercy. The ranger knew that none of them would make it into the black safety that beckoned behind their backs.
Not unless there was a diversion to keep her occupied.
Never averting his eyes, the human moved in front of the elves. His heart beat into his throat, drowning the thunder that still rumbled above his head. His guidance had not been a failure thus far, and he did not intend to let it go amiss now. If need be, one mortal life would buy two immortal ones. His fears eased slightly, for he considered the trade to be just.
Lómelinde looked down upon him with something akin to amusement on her features. "What a brave boy you are", she taunted, "yet there is no need for such protectiveness. Why should I hurt those who give me what I need? Nay, little one, your friends shall stay and sleep and make my garden bloom. Two of them, and of royal blood at that! They might even give me strength enough to shatter the filthy pack of guards the Valar have encaged me with." She laughed, throwing back her head as she did, and the sound mingled with a nightingale's twisted song.
Aragorn barely registered her words. His mind was already wrapping itself around his plan, seeking a way to keep the Lady occupied long enough to allow the elves to escape, when suddenly Legolas spoke behind him, his voice filled with sleepy wonder. "Galadh um negro. Sain telar." (The evil trees are in pain. They are coming.)
Careful not to openly move his head, Aragorn shifted his attention to the trees that were still bent over beneath the Lómelinde´s now floating form. It seemed like their Mistress´ power kept them in their submissive stance, uncaring for the sounds they made. They still groaned, and the ranger had attributed the sound to the wind, but Legolas had correctly heard the difference.
Creeping up the bent branches, their claws digging into the bark, was a pack of wolves. They were coming from both sides, crouching low, fangs bared. Their slick fur clung to their well-muscled bodies, and the air of energy that surrounded them made the ranger's skin tingle. One of the beasts turned slightly, and Aragorn nodded in acknowledgement and gratitude. It seemed like somebody else would make his sacrifice tonight.
The Lady´s laughter finally faded when a look of suspicion crept over her fair face, but it was too late. Before she could react, several white wolves flung themselves at her, disturbing the swarm that she was and spreading it like a cloud of dust. The beasts were swallowed within seconds, their bones clattering to the river below. Yet another group of wolves had waited with their attack, and just when the birds drew together again, they jumped.
Aragorn watched no longer. It was clear that the odds were even, and he could not take any further risks. Grabbing one elf with each arm, he rushed for the warm darkness that spread its arms and welcomed them into its embrace.
The rain stopped. The growls died. The feathers floated no longer. Even as blackness took him, Aragorn thought he could see trees crumble to dust, grass turn brown and flowers shed their blossoms. Then it was raining again, only this time it was raining birds and butterflies that soon covered the ground in a blanket of color.
........................................................................
He felt cold when he awoke, and his side ached him. Aragorn groaned. He had awakened in this shape far too often, but then again, he had awakened, never giving in to darkness. He opened his eyes and looked in wonder at the scene that presented itself to him.
Mirkwood was around them again, trees that for all the gloom they could bring were alive and peaceful, drawing their strength from the earth they had spread from and would one day return to. At the moment, the majestic trunks were wrapped in the gentle folds of early morning fog. It was colored a soft shade of red as the sun rose in the east. Soon, the warm rays would chase away the chill that still clung to the ground.
Within the wavering masses, something moved. Aragorn had to squint, for it seemed that the shapes were as elusive as the fog that engulfed them. Dark eyes met his, and only a heartbeat later, powerful white bodies turned and noiselessly disappeared. The grey veils closed behind them. Soon they were no more real than the ghosts of dreams that one might encounter upon awakening, yet lose all too quickly with the arrival of conscious thought.
For a heartbeat, the ranger remained motionless, but then a soft voice rose. It gently wove through the still air, and Aragorn smiled as he listened to Legolas welcome the newborn day. He had heard this tune many a morning, but it had rarely sounded this good, even though the voice that sung it sounded much more tired than it usually did.
Pushing himself onto his elbow with a wince, the human gazed upon the two elves that lay sleeping by his side. He had known them to be there, had felt their presence even in his sleep, and his soul was at peace when he looked upon his brothers. They lay side by side, Elladan's arm loosely curled around his twin´s waist.
Aragorn did not know how they had been reunited, did not recall meeting Elrohir in the dark cave they had fled to - and yet, he hardly cared. All that mattered now was that they had survived and were together again.
The ranger could see the purple bruise that still graced his older brother's temple, and there was dried blood upon Elrohir´s leg, but the human knew in his heart that no danger was near. They would heal now that fate had granted them to meet again, and life would move on for them as it was meant to be - one at the other's side.
Realizing that the song had ended, the ranger rose with some difficulty and scanned the nearby trees for his elven friend. It did not take him long to locate the prince, for he had not climbed high but merely rested upon a sturdy branch about ten feet off the ground. His back was against the broad trunk, his legs stretched out. His hands gently stroked the rough bark and a smile rested upon his pale face.
"It gives, you know", Legolas remarked without looking at his friend, "and it does so gladly, because it is given, too."
Aargorn nodded. Nature as it should be was restored, and he could only imagine what this meant to his friend. Grabbing lower branches, the ranger rather awkwardly struggled upwards until he had reached a comfortable forked branch at Legolas´ side. When he had settled down, he noticed a mischievous grin on the prince's face.
"Estel, you scrambled up there like a hungry bear cub going after some honey."
The human made it a point to pout, secretly enjoying how this amused the elf. Then he replied: "Well, I am merely a human and a wounded one at that."
Legolas chuckled. "In that case, you are like a lame chicken attempting to fly like an eagle", he pointed out, "and besides, your father will not approve."
"Only if you tell him", Aragorn shot back, "and I know you will not do that, for I have my own tales to tell about you, mellon-nin."
Both smiled at the comfort of the old jest and then watched in silence as the sun rose. When the rays shone through the rich leaves, painting the air, Aragorn was reminded of the forest's original name. Greenwood it was, indeed.
After a while he broke the silence, thoughtfully glancing at the ground that was slowly revealed when the fog melted away. "I wonder whether I could find their tracks", he mused; sure that Legolas knew whom he was speaking of.
Indeed, the elf did, and a look of concern graces his tired features. "Nay, Estel, "he finally replied, "do not attempt to follow those who delivered us from a danger that we should have never subjected ourselves to. We should remind ourselves that the trees´ wisdom is not to be disregarded. There are things that are hidden for a reason. We should leave them to their rest."
The ranger nodded even though his curiosity still plagued him. "Who was she?" he wondered aloud, "and where is she now?"
Legolas smiled as he leaned his head back against the tree, closing his eyes as he savoured the sun. "You are full of questions, Estel, but I fear you are asking the wrong ones. We should rather ask ourselves, What is she?" He remained quite for a moment before resuming: "She is old, Estel, she is evil and greedy. But she is also far away now, and she is under a guard we should place our trust in. For us, she is no more."
Aragorn nodded, closing his eyes as he joined his friend in his relaxed reverie, whilst below them, a single butterfly floated past, unseen and undisturbed.
The End
Review responses:
Barbara Kennedy: Hehe, strange is my middle name - I hope you enjoyed the rest of the story, too. Thanks for your comment :)
Mornflower: Hehe, see? I did not drown him. He´s happily sitting in a tree, enjoying the sun.... ;-)
NightShadow131: Lol, the water did wake him up (sort of), so good guessing! And Elrohir spent his time with the wolves, sleeping off his injury - I´m glad you were entertained ;-)))
Red Tigress: LOL, yes - or no; he kept sleeping and sleeping and sleeping... ;-) Actually, I like plants, but I have no talent in keeping them alive. Maybe this was my nightmare of them taking revenge, hehe
Alexa: The drowning duracell - ROTFL!! Lol, would that not mean that Legolas would be short-circuited ?? Erm, better not go on thinking in that direction. Anyways, I´m happy you liked it, and I hope that test went well
Beling: Wow, thank you for reviewing every chapter!! I finally managed to write a whole story before even posting the first chapter, so I´m a bit faster with the updates ;-) I´m really happy that you liked the mysteries in this stories!!!!
Ertia: Hehe, you are so right, I just cannot leave that poor elf alone! And I´d wake up, too, if an angry Elrond was headed my way (I´d probably hide under the bed for good measure).
Deana: Hehe, I never said he was swept down river, that was just was Aragorn feared (I know, bad me!)
Sielge: Luckily, the river was with them, yes. Otherwise they would have never gotten out ;-)
Lisha: I would like to thank you again for your long review. I appreciate it that you speak your mind. I do know that descriptiveness is a two-edged affair. On the one hand, it gives depths. On the other hand, it may weight a story down. This is just the way the stories come to me, and I´m happy they do, because I gives me as a writer the possibility to take a look around within a story and enjoy the view :) I do agree, too, that San and I have very different styles. Maybe that is one reason why we enjoy to edit one another ;-)
Harry Estel: Hehe, I´m sort of fond of cliffhangers. But at least I tend to post relatively fast ;-)
Thank you all again!!! You are great.
