A/N: If you didn't get a chance to read Chapter 16, Little Girl Lost, you might want to read it because it gives the Legend of the Little Girl.
A/N2: This chapter will be dedicated to the Grandfather of Soccer-Bitch who recently went to be with his ancestors. Namarië Grandfather.
Chapter 19
Little Girl Found
Even though Elladan very much wanted to ignore his friend, Legolas refused to leave him alone, and after the third time the blonde elf shook his shoulder, he finally decided to answer him for there was just no ignoring the Mirkwood Prince, especially when he was this excited.
"What - do - you - want - Legolas!"
Legolas ignored his friend's tone of voice completely and continued to pull at his arm in an attempt to get him to rise. The blonde elf's enthusiasm was just too much for him to try to ignore so Elladan sat up on his bedroll, yawned and rubbed his eyes. He looked up into the sparkling blue eyes of the prince and for a moment was irrationally angry, wondering how the Mirkwood elf could be so excited when Elrohir had died, just the night before. He pushed his emotions aside for the moment, knowing that there would be time for them later.
He turned his head toward his little brother's bedroll only to find it empty, then, jumping hurriedly to his feet, his eyes frantically scanned the surrounding area, desperately looking for the young human, hoping against hope that nothing had happened to the man during the night. There was no way that he could even start to think about losing both his brothers.
Seeing the distraught look come back to his eyes after he saw Aragorn's empty bedroll, Legolas did his best to calm Elladan's fears.
"Peace Elladan, Estel is feeling much improved this morning. His fever broke during the night, the swelling has gone down in his eyes so that they are open and he can now see and other than being stiff and sore and pretty much ugly looking, he is well on his way to being himself again. Now quit stalling and come with me!"
Without even putting on his boots, which he could not remember taking off in the first place, Elladan finally rose and followed his friend. When Legolas finally stopped, and even before he began to look around, the elder twin saw Aragorn standing, looking out towards Naur. When he put his hand on the young man's forehead he noticed it was indeed much cooler although the horrible bruising that covered much of the man's face still remained.
"Estel, how is your breathing?"
"My breathing is fine. Brother look at this."
Ignoring both his little brother and the Prince, Elladan continued to examine Aragorn's many bruises and cuts. Finely, in exasperation, Aragorn placed a hand on the twin's chin and gently turned his head toward what he and Legolas had been watching since the sun had first shown itself over the top of the Misty Mountains.
Both elf and little brother smiled at the elder twin's reaction to the sight before him, for it was a mirror of what theirs had been some time before.
Elladan stood, spellbound and speechless at the sight before him, and when he tried to speak he could not find adequate words to express himself and what the sight before his eyes was making him feel. First he looked at Legolas who just shook his head then at Aragorn who just shrugged his shoulders.
Naur was gone. They could still smell the smoke of the previous night's fire as it lingered in the air but though their noses told them there had been a fire, their eyes told them a different story. There were no burnt out hulks of houses or any of the town's businesses; there was no scorched earth, no bodies, and no ashes - nothing. The grass, where the town had once stood was lush and green and tall with no evidence of having seen or felt the presence of man, or elf, in a very long time.
The three just stood in stunned silence, staring out at a sight that should not have been, desperately trying to make sense of the mystery behind it all. It was at this moment that Aragorn and Elladan each felt a hand being placed on their shoulders as a voice spoke close to their ears, startling the two of them.
"And what, exactly, are we supposed to be looking at?"
Elladan looked at the speaker and took a few steps backwards, in shock, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly. Aragorn would have fallen if Legolas had not caught him and helped him remain upright and even Legolas found himself momentarily speechless.
Seeing the looks on the faces of the three in front of him, Elrohir could not help playing it for as long as he could.
"What?" He asked innocently.
Elladan took this moment to begin sobbing, falling to his knees as he did so and Elrohir, who immediately regretted his teasing, went to his sobbing twin's side and gathered him into his arms.
Legolas pulled Aragorn away so the twins could have some time together to come to terms with what had happened the evening before.
8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
"Brother, how can this be? I saw you, in that house. I saw the room you were in begin to burn. What devilry has brought you back to me?"
Elladan held the younger twin's face securely between both his hands, almost fearing that if he let go that his brother might again disappear.
"Well, if you would rather I go." Elrohir jokingly made as if to leave but instantly relented when he saw the stricken look on the elder twin's face.
"Brother, I only jest. I am here and I do not intend on leaving your side again."
"How is it that you have come back? Did the Valar intercede on my behalf?" He began to sob again and it took Elrohir some time before he could settle his brother enough to tell him what had happened.
"I do not remember much after I threw Estel out the window for the smoke from the fire had filled my lungs and I fell to the floor, no longer able to move, trying desperately to draw breath. Then, just before I lost consciousness, I felt someone pick me up off the floor though I saw not who it was. That is all I remember until I woke up this morning, not far from this place, wrapped in someone's cloak."
Elladan grabbed his brother and wrapped his arms around him again, almost desperately.
"Don't you ever do that to me again - do you understand me, little brother? When it comes time for us to make our final journey, whether it be in battle or by ship, we go together!"
As Elrohir returned his brother's almost desperate grasp, he whispered in his ear. "Aye, brother, when that time comes, we will go together."
8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
Back in the camp, Legolas had been busy telling Aragorn all about the little girl and how she brought the leaves they needed to help him breathe better. Then he told him how later, the same little girl had saved his life by leading them to the house where he was being held captive before he could be burned alive in the fire that destroyed the house he was in not too long after.
Aragorn sat with his chin on his knees beside the fire, drawing in the dirt with a stick as he listened to the sad story of a father's love for his child and of a child, innocent and selfless, only wanting to help others, even in death. He sighed, for surely the child held a special place in Ilúvatar's heart just as she would always hold a special place in his though they had never had the chance to meet. His only regret was that he had never been given the opportunity to thank her.
8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
"Wait till Ada hears about this. He is going to strangle you Elrohir!"
"He will not if he does not hear about it. You are not going to tell him, are you?"
"I'm not going to tell him, you are."
"Me? Why me?"
The playful banter of the twins had been sorely missed and although what they had experienced the night before would never leave their memories, it would indeed also serve to make them stronger in their actions towards others as well as each other. They would never forget what had almost been taken from them forever.
As their youngest brother served the twins tea, Legolas smiled. Though he was an only child, these three members of his 'extended' family filled a part of his own heart that had needed filling, especially after the death of his mother and the estrangement between he and his father that had followed after her death. Though he and his father had rediscovered each other as both father and friend, the Prince's relationship with the twins and later Aragorn, had remained, deep and enduring.
His musings were interrupted as he thought he heard his name called. He looked around but found no one who would have called his name.
"Legolas." The voice whispered ever so gently. "I have something to show you."
It was the tree nearest to where he sat that had called to him. Being a wood elf, Legolas had a special affinity for trees and often talked to them as they did to him. Rising from his seat by the fire, he went to the tree and gently leaned his forehead against its smooth trunk.
"Look behind me Mirkwood Prince." The whispered voice told him.
He walked around the backside of the tree. It took a few moments to realize what he was looking at. He sat on his heels and carefully moved the long grasses away from what they had kept carefully hidden for so long.
"Aragorn. Hey you three!"
The twins and Aragorn had not noticed the Legolas was missing from his spot beside the fire. He had to call them a second time before their gazes finally met his.
"Hey! The three of you! Come over here and see what I found." He reached up a hand and lovingly patted the trunk of the tree in thanks and could almost sense the sigh it gave in return.
"Again, what are we looking at?" Elrohir watched as his youngest brother knelt before the tuft of grass at the feet of his friend.
Carefully, and gently, he moved the grass to the side. His eyes misted as he saw the small, carefully chiseled piece of stone that stood there, as it would continue to stand for many more years. The twins both moved to where they could get a better look at the writing on the stone. As Aragorn lovingly ran his hands over each letter, Elladan read them aloud and when he finished, he had to turn away lest the others see that he too, was about to cry.
The stone read: Jhana. Beloved daughter and healer of hearts.
Aragorn kissed his fingertips then placed them over the name of the little girl who even in death still served others.
With his hand over his heart, Legolas spoke what was in all of their hearts.
"May Ilúvatar watch over this precious child."
The others were somewhat surprised when Aragorn suddenly rose to his feet and walked off into the trees. Elladan started to go after him but was stopped when Legolas placed a hand on his arm.
"Wait."
It was no more than a couple of minutes later when Aragorn returned. He had found a bunch of yellow flowers and had carefully uprooted the entire plant, which he then replanted on the girl's grave. The four friends then tended the grave, removing all dead debris and lining the small area with carefully selected stones.
In would become Aragorn's habit, even after he became King, the last time shortly before his death, that he would come back to this site to tend the grave. Sometimes he would just sit, quietly thinking of the young one who had come back from the place where she had rested to give selfless service to a sick ranger. He never forgot her.
8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
The four young ones had broken camp and were getting ready to leave and return home. They still could not understand why they had been sent on this errand, but since Ilúvatar never did anything without a reason they were all confident that things would be revealed to them in due course.
Aragorn was just about to mount his horse when he felt Elladan place a hand on his shoulder. When he looked at the elder twin, he saw him nod to a spot behind where he stood. He turned, and when he did so, saw the little girl standing there. He walked the few steps to where she stood and knelt in front of her so he could look into her big brown eyes.
"Thank you - for everything."
The little girl smiled at him, then with a slight frown, touched one of the many dark purple bruises on his face. Aragorn noted that her touch was warm and for a moment he closed his eyes and leaned his face into it. After a moment, the girl removed her hand. Noticing his ring, she picked up his hand and looked closely at Barahir, gently and respectfully touching it as if she truly understood the ring's grace, beauty and history.
Then brown eyes met silver and, backing away a few steps, the little girl bowed, almost as gracefully as any adult could have. Movement on his right caused Aragorn to rise to his feet and look. A man was standing there, smiling at the group, a forgotten cloak once more folded and hanging over his arm. Holding out a hand to the child, she ran to him and took the offered hand. Aragorn touched his forehead with respect for the two. The man first smiled, then nodded, and afterwards both father and child turned and walked away, fading into nothingness as they went.
Aragorn turned back to where the others waited but froze when he saw the expressions on their faces. They walked towards him slowly and silently. Involuntarily, he took a step backwards until the gentle hands of Legolas stopped him. The twins stopped in front of him and Elladan reached out and gently touched his cheek, his forehead and his brow.
Finally Aragorn could stand it no longer. He had to know why his brothers had all of a sudden become so interested in his face.
"What has gotten into the two of you?"
"Your face." was Elladan's soft reply.
"What about my face?"
Elrohir swallowed and tried twice before he could get his voice to work properly.
"It's your face, Aragorn. The bruises are gone."
TBC
COMING NEXT TIME:Wargs In Nen: "No, no, no." He kept saying the words over and over again as if saying them would make what he was seeing into something that was not happening. Then he reacted and began to run at the warg in a path that would intercept it as it attempted to drag the she-elf away.
Soccer-Bitch: On a more personal note - I am sorry to hear of your Grandfather's passing and your Grandmother's illness - I hope she recovers quickly. Your Grandfather is in a better place, now, a place of peace. My heart is with you. Thank you for taking the time to review.
THECheeseTurkey: It makes me very happy to know that you are enjoying this story and I hope you like this chapter as well.
grumpy(): Thanks for the review. It made me chuckle to see how you picked up that little bit about Elrohir. Nice detective work! Yes, Elladan was quite upset about "losing" his twin for they have always been extremely close to each others' hearts. Hope you like this chapter.
A/N2: This chapter will be dedicated to the Grandfather of Soccer-Bitch who recently went to be with his ancestors. Namarië Grandfather.
Chapter 19
Little Girl Found
Even though Elladan very much wanted to ignore his friend, Legolas refused to leave him alone, and after the third time the blonde elf shook his shoulder, he finally decided to answer him for there was just no ignoring the Mirkwood Prince, especially when he was this excited.
"What - do - you - want - Legolas!"
Legolas ignored his friend's tone of voice completely and continued to pull at his arm in an attempt to get him to rise. The blonde elf's enthusiasm was just too much for him to try to ignore so Elladan sat up on his bedroll, yawned and rubbed his eyes. He looked up into the sparkling blue eyes of the prince and for a moment was irrationally angry, wondering how the Mirkwood elf could be so excited when Elrohir had died, just the night before. He pushed his emotions aside for the moment, knowing that there would be time for them later.
He turned his head toward his little brother's bedroll only to find it empty, then, jumping hurriedly to his feet, his eyes frantically scanned the surrounding area, desperately looking for the young human, hoping against hope that nothing had happened to the man during the night. There was no way that he could even start to think about losing both his brothers.
Seeing the distraught look come back to his eyes after he saw Aragorn's empty bedroll, Legolas did his best to calm Elladan's fears.
"Peace Elladan, Estel is feeling much improved this morning. His fever broke during the night, the swelling has gone down in his eyes so that they are open and he can now see and other than being stiff and sore and pretty much ugly looking, he is well on his way to being himself again. Now quit stalling and come with me!"
Without even putting on his boots, which he could not remember taking off in the first place, Elladan finally rose and followed his friend. When Legolas finally stopped, and even before he began to look around, the elder twin saw Aragorn standing, looking out towards Naur. When he put his hand on the young man's forehead he noticed it was indeed much cooler although the horrible bruising that covered much of the man's face still remained.
"Estel, how is your breathing?"
"My breathing is fine. Brother look at this."
Ignoring both his little brother and the Prince, Elladan continued to examine Aragorn's many bruises and cuts. Finely, in exasperation, Aragorn placed a hand on the twin's chin and gently turned his head toward what he and Legolas had been watching since the sun had first shown itself over the top of the Misty Mountains.
Both elf and little brother smiled at the elder twin's reaction to the sight before him, for it was a mirror of what theirs had been some time before.
Elladan stood, spellbound and speechless at the sight before him, and when he tried to speak he could not find adequate words to express himself and what the sight before his eyes was making him feel. First he looked at Legolas who just shook his head then at Aragorn who just shrugged his shoulders.
Naur was gone. They could still smell the smoke of the previous night's fire as it lingered in the air but though their noses told them there had been a fire, their eyes told them a different story. There were no burnt out hulks of houses or any of the town's businesses; there was no scorched earth, no bodies, and no ashes - nothing. The grass, where the town had once stood was lush and green and tall with no evidence of having seen or felt the presence of man, or elf, in a very long time.
The three just stood in stunned silence, staring out at a sight that should not have been, desperately trying to make sense of the mystery behind it all. It was at this moment that Aragorn and Elladan each felt a hand being placed on their shoulders as a voice spoke close to their ears, startling the two of them.
"And what, exactly, are we supposed to be looking at?"
Elladan looked at the speaker and took a few steps backwards, in shock, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly. Aragorn would have fallen if Legolas had not caught him and helped him remain upright and even Legolas found himself momentarily speechless.
Seeing the looks on the faces of the three in front of him, Elrohir could not help playing it for as long as he could.
"What?" He asked innocently.
Elladan took this moment to begin sobbing, falling to his knees as he did so and Elrohir, who immediately regretted his teasing, went to his sobbing twin's side and gathered him into his arms.
Legolas pulled Aragorn away so the twins could have some time together to come to terms with what had happened the evening before.
8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
"Brother, how can this be? I saw you, in that house. I saw the room you were in begin to burn. What devilry has brought you back to me?"
Elladan held the younger twin's face securely between both his hands, almost fearing that if he let go that his brother might again disappear.
"Well, if you would rather I go." Elrohir jokingly made as if to leave but instantly relented when he saw the stricken look on the elder twin's face.
"Brother, I only jest. I am here and I do not intend on leaving your side again."
"How is it that you have come back? Did the Valar intercede on my behalf?" He began to sob again and it took Elrohir some time before he could settle his brother enough to tell him what had happened.
"I do not remember much after I threw Estel out the window for the smoke from the fire had filled my lungs and I fell to the floor, no longer able to move, trying desperately to draw breath. Then, just before I lost consciousness, I felt someone pick me up off the floor though I saw not who it was. That is all I remember until I woke up this morning, not far from this place, wrapped in someone's cloak."
Elladan grabbed his brother and wrapped his arms around him again, almost desperately.
"Don't you ever do that to me again - do you understand me, little brother? When it comes time for us to make our final journey, whether it be in battle or by ship, we go together!"
As Elrohir returned his brother's almost desperate grasp, he whispered in his ear. "Aye, brother, when that time comes, we will go together."
8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
Back in the camp, Legolas had been busy telling Aragorn all about the little girl and how she brought the leaves they needed to help him breathe better. Then he told him how later, the same little girl had saved his life by leading them to the house where he was being held captive before he could be burned alive in the fire that destroyed the house he was in not too long after.
Aragorn sat with his chin on his knees beside the fire, drawing in the dirt with a stick as he listened to the sad story of a father's love for his child and of a child, innocent and selfless, only wanting to help others, even in death. He sighed, for surely the child held a special place in Ilúvatar's heart just as she would always hold a special place in his though they had never had the chance to meet. His only regret was that he had never been given the opportunity to thank her.
8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
"Wait till Ada hears about this. He is going to strangle you Elrohir!"
"He will not if he does not hear about it. You are not going to tell him, are you?"
"I'm not going to tell him, you are."
"Me? Why me?"
The playful banter of the twins had been sorely missed and although what they had experienced the night before would never leave their memories, it would indeed also serve to make them stronger in their actions towards others as well as each other. They would never forget what had almost been taken from them forever.
As their youngest brother served the twins tea, Legolas smiled. Though he was an only child, these three members of his 'extended' family filled a part of his own heart that had needed filling, especially after the death of his mother and the estrangement between he and his father that had followed after her death. Though he and his father had rediscovered each other as both father and friend, the Prince's relationship with the twins and later Aragorn, had remained, deep and enduring.
His musings were interrupted as he thought he heard his name called. He looked around but found no one who would have called his name.
"Legolas." The voice whispered ever so gently. "I have something to show you."
It was the tree nearest to where he sat that had called to him. Being a wood elf, Legolas had a special affinity for trees and often talked to them as they did to him. Rising from his seat by the fire, he went to the tree and gently leaned his forehead against its smooth trunk.
"Look behind me Mirkwood Prince." The whispered voice told him.
He walked around the backside of the tree. It took a few moments to realize what he was looking at. He sat on his heels and carefully moved the long grasses away from what they had kept carefully hidden for so long.
"Aragorn. Hey you three!"
The twins and Aragorn had not noticed the Legolas was missing from his spot beside the fire. He had to call them a second time before their gazes finally met his.
"Hey! The three of you! Come over here and see what I found." He reached up a hand and lovingly patted the trunk of the tree in thanks and could almost sense the sigh it gave in return.
"Again, what are we looking at?" Elrohir watched as his youngest brother knelt before the tuft of grass at the feet of his friend.
Carefully, and gently, he moved the grass to the side. His eyes misted as he saw the small, carefully chiseled piece of stone that stood there, as it would continue to stand for many more years. The twins both moved to where they could get a better look at the writing on the stone. As Aragorn lovingly ran his hands over each letter, Elladan read them aloud and when he finished, he had to turn away lest the others see that he too, was about to cry.
The stone read: Jhana. Beloved daughter and healer of hearts.
Aragorn kissed his fingertips then placed them over the name of the little girl who even in death still served others.
With his hand over his heart, Legolas spoke what was in all of their hearts.
"May Ilúvatar watch over this precious child."
The others were somewhat surprised when Aragorn suddenly rose to his feet and walked off into the trees. Elladan started to go after him but was stopped when Legolas placed a hand on his arm.
"Wait."
It was no more than a couple of minutes later when Aragorn returned. He had found a bunch of yellow flowers and had carefully uprooted the entire plant, which he then replanted on the girl's grave. The four friends then tended the grave, removing all dead debris and lining the small area with carefully selected stones.
In would become Aragorn's habit, even after he became King, the last time shortly before his death, that he would come back to this site to tend the grave. Sometimes he would just sit, quietly thinking of the young one who had come back from the place where she had rested to give selfless service to a sick ranger. He never forgot her.
8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)
The four young ones had broken camp and were getting ready to leave and return home. They still could not understand why they had been sent on this errand, but since Ilúvatar never did anything without a reason they were all confident that things would be revealed to them in due course.
Aragorn was just about to mount his horse when he felt Elladan place a hand on his shoulder. When he looked at the elder twin, he saw him nod to a spot behind where he stood. He turned, and when he did so, saw the little girl standing there. He walked the few steps to where she stood and knelt in front of her so he could look into her big brown eyes.
"Thank you - for everything."
The little girl smiled at him, then with a slight frown, touched one of the many dark purple bruises on his face. Aragorn noted that her touch was warm and for a moment he closed his eyes and leaned his face into it. After a moment, the girl removed her hand. Noticing his ring, she picked up his hand and looked closely at Barahir, gently and respectfully touching it as if she truly understood the ring's grace, beauty and history.
Then brown eyes met silver and, backing away a few steps, the little girl bowed, almost as gracefully as any adult could have. Movement on his right caused Aragorn to rise to his feet and look. A man was standing there, smiling at the group, a forgotten cloak once more folded and hanging over his arm. Holding out a hand to the child, she ran to him and took the offered hand. Aragorn touched his forehead with respect for the two. The man first smiled, then nodded, and afterwards both father and child turned and walked away, fading into nothingness as they went.
Aragorn turned back to where the others waited but froze when he saw the expressions on their faces. They walked towards him slowly and silently. Involuntarily, he took a step backwards until the gentle hands of Legolas stopped him. The twins stopped in front of him and Elladan reached out and gently touched his cheek, his forehead and his brow.
Finally Aragorn could stand it no longer. He had to know why his brothers had all of a sudden become so interested in his face.
"What has gotten into the two of you?"
"Your face." was Elladan's soft reply.
"What about my face?"
Elrohir swallowed and tried twice before he could get his voice to work properly.
"It's your face, Aragorn. The bruises are gone."
TBC
COMING NEXT TIME:Wargs In Nen: "No, no, no." He kept saying the words over and over again as if saying them would make what he was seeing into something that was not happening. Then he reacted and began to run at the warg in a path that would intercept it as it attempted to drag the she-elf away.
Soccer-Bitch: On a more personal note - I am sorry to hear of your Grandfather's passing and your Grandmother's illness - I hope she recovers quickly. Your Grandfather is in a better place, now, a place of peace. My heart is with you. Thank you for taking the time to review.
THECheeseTurkey: It makes me very happy to know that you are enjoying this story and I hope you like this chapter as well.
grumpy(): Thanks for the review. It made me chuckle to see how you picked up that little bit about Elrohir. Nice detective work! Yes, Elladan was quite upset about "losing" his twin for they have always been extremely close to each others' hearts. Hope you like this chapter.