No need to wait any longer,

here is Chapter 7

Moonlight and Shadow

Disc: see chapter one

summary: see chapter one

Thanx: Ashley your the best. ((hugs))

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Review responces are at the end of the chapter

Have fun!

Chapter 7

Shocked from what he just had witnessed and with a cry of despair on his lips Aragorn jumped out of the cover of the trees, shortly followed by the twins, and ran as fast as he could over the clearing to meet up with the two elves in the centre.

But they arrived too late.

It happened all too fast and they had been too far away to intervene. The lord sank on his knees and blood from a deep wound in his chest and a cut around his neck ran soaked through his robes and dripped onto the forest floor.

The murderer made no move; he only watched his victim sinking down on the knees and then slowly crumpling down until it lay motionless on the ground. Blood dripped down the still raised blade and formed a little puddle at his feet. He made no move even when the brothers came closer. He only watched his victim, slowly bleeding to death.

He only took notice of the brothers when Aragorn came into his line of view and dropped down on his knees beside the fallen elf, turning him around on his back to reach the wounds.

Only then did he come to life again.

He lifted his gaze from the fallen elf and the human and raised the blade again, pointing it at the twins.

'Stay where you are! I do not have business with you!' He stated and added after a moment of thought with a smirk. 'Not now, but maybe later.'

The twins stood frozen in their place. They could not believe what they had seen only seconds before.

'What have you done?' It was Elladan, who first broke their silence.

'Ada, please tell me, what has happened here?'

'Ada?' Elrond moved one of his eyebrows in a mocking gesture. 'Oh ... you mean that elf, whose body is now mine?' The creature's eyes became a distant look. 'He is still here, hiding somewhere in this mind, but he will not last very much longer. His body will remain here until I have fulfilled my wrath. Then, when I will not need him any more, this body will follow the soul of his former owner.' The creature lifted his right hand and examined it closely.

'It is good to have a body again, and such a powerful one at least.' With a sigh the creature turned his attention back to the brothers. 'It had been a long time, but now I'm free and I will finally have my revenge.'

'Who are you?' Elrohir shouted out. Fear for his father clearly evident in his eyes.

'Who am I?' The creature retorted. 'Did your father not tell you what happened short before the last alliance or further back in the days of old, when the Noldorim killed their own kin?

'No? Maybe he thought you are not worth to know it. But it would be more likely that nobody knows. You so called firstborns are always so protective of your past, especially when it comes to your weak points.' The creature declared, a smile still playing around his lips, but it was no smile of joy but one of pure malice. 'So let me lighten up your knowledge a little bit.' With a slight bow the creature continued his speech. 'Your ancestors named me Morchaintdur, for some reason I might add. They feared me ... no ... let's say they were scared.

'No one was able to defeat me, and no one will ever defeat me now that I'm back. I could tell you what happened but I think it will be more fun to let you find out on your own.'

Morchaintdur turned his gaze back to the fallen elf lord and the human who tried to stench the blood flow from the wounds with his hands.

'Maybe this one lasts so long that he can tell you what he knows. He knows me, from his time in Gondolin and from the last time we met in the last age. But I doubt that he will be able to talk to you before he leaves for the Halls of Mandos again. I seriously don't think that he will be sent back a second time.

'You!' He pointed the sword towards Aragorn. 'You received my message, but this one was not meant for you. You humans are not my first goal. One day it is your turn to die, maybe even from my hand but not now. Maybe I do not need to erase you from the face of Arda, which is a task you will accomplish on your own. I'm only here for the Firstborns, but should you cross my path with the intention to interfere, I will kill you as well.'

The twins made a move towards the creature, but stopped when the sword was again pointed at them.

'I will leave you now; I have a task at hand. But we will meet again, that is for sure.' Again Morchaintdur bowed in a mocking gesture to them, let the sword fall down to the ground and turned on his heels to leave them for the horses.

In unison the twins draw their bows and simultaneously brought an arrow up on the bowstring. Both aimed for the back of their father.

But none of them was able to shoot at him. Their bows trembled in their hands, while tears run freely down their faces. They were not able to shoot at their father, even if it was no more than a shell who now hosted an ancient evil being.

They had lost their mother and the last thing they wanted was to lose their father too. As long as the spirit of Elrond still lingered in his body, trapped inside but still there, there was hope.

Both knew that it was not their father anymore. They had watched him just mere minutes before, throwing a hidden dagger into Glorfindel's chest, taking the warrior's weapon from the limp hands and cutting the elf's throat. This was nothing that their father would do, but he had done it.

Their fears were confirmed when they had cast a look into his eyes, the former warm brown eyes, that showed only pride and warmth for his sons, were now lifeless black orbs filled with hate and malice. For the moment they did not care about the well being of their old friend, the only thing that counted for them was their father, or better, what has become of him.

They would do all that was in their power to protect their family, but killing the body of their father, when there could be still a chance to bring him back, was no option for them. Not now.

They would find a way to bring him back and get rid of this evil.

Lowering their bows they watched as Morchaintdur mounted one of the reluctant horses and left them alone. They could still hear him laugh when he was out of sight.

Meanwhile Aragorn had tried to examine the wounds Glorfindel had received. The dagger protruding from the chest was the first thing he noticed, but looking up the body he saw the wound at the neck. Blood pulsated out of it with the rhythm of a faint heartbeat.

Without thinking he shoved a finger into the wound to feel for the artery and found just a little scratch in it. He carefully pressed on it to close the wound so that Glorfindel would not bleed to death in a short time.

When the bleeding stopped he noticed for the first time that the blade had opened a gash in the windpipe as well. From the look of it, it had been the windpipe that had taken the major force of the blow, so that the artery had only received a scratch. Now the old warrior was still breathing but his breath entered and left the body through the gaping hole in his neck. Aragorn did not know what to do. He had never witnessed such an injury to be survived, but this elf still lived.

He paid no attention to what was happening around him, his focus was only at the elf lying in front of him. He tried to hold the windpipe free of blood, so that Glorfindel would not choke on his own blood.

He had heard the voice of his father, and when he noticed the different sound to it, he looked up only to be greeted with the sight of the tip of a sword pointed in his direction.

Aragorn heard the statement that was given to him by the being. It made no sense to him, until he remembered his own behaviour a few days in the past, when he had drawn the pictures of the red moon with his own blood.

That had been a message? He could only remember the pictures of the moon, but he did not know that there had been a message behind them, nor did he know what the message was.

He watched the scene unfolding in front of his eyes, not knowing what he should say or do, he only sat there in silence and tried to hold the life in the elf lying beside him on the forest ground, looking up to his father. When Aragorn saw that Elrond, or better, Morchaintdur, prepared to leave, the only thing he could do was watch, as his brothers raised their bows to end the life of their father.

He could not let go of his hold on the artery. He needed to hold the pressure.

So he sat and watched, not able to move or utter a single word, while the form of his father left the clearing and the twins dropped their bows.

When Aragorn felt movement under his fingers he turned his attention back to his patient. Glorfindel's eyelids fluttered and his mouth opened but no sound could be heard. Then the elf opened his eyes.

The eyes were dark with pain and searched around until the gaze fixed on Aragorn.

'Hush, don't move and do not try to speak!' Aragorn commanded. 'You are very seriously injured and I want to keep you alive. If you understand me, blink one time.'

Glorfindel closed his eyes and opened them again.

'Good, we will bandage your wounds and bring you back to Rivendell. You will see, in a few days all will be well again.' Aragorn tried to express confidence in his little speech.

If you will survive at last but that, he only added in his thoughts.

Turning on his heels Aragorn tried to find out what his brothers were doing. He found them still frozen at the same place where they had been when Morchaintdur had left. Both looked into the direction where their father had disappeared.

One look at them confirmed Aragorn's worst fears.

They were broken, both of them. Their faces frozen in shock, pain and despair; their eyes, even though they were filled with tears, were dull and lifeless. It took Aragorn only one blink of an eye to realize that they would not be able to help him in their current state of mind.

But he needed their help, for he could not tend to Glorfindel without them. He would need both of his hands to bandage the chest wound, and by now one of his hand was occupied with the task to hold the artery closed.

Aragorn felt the body under his hands relax and looked down.Glorfindel had fallen back into the dark confines of unconsciousness.

'Elladan, Elrohir, please help me!' He shouted out.

No reaction.

He tried again.

'You must help me. If we want to know what had happened here and when we want to find out how to help father, we first have to help Glorfindel!'

This time he broke through the wall of despair. Two heads turned simultaneously into his direction. Lifeless eyes once again found a focus in the ranger's eyes.

'Please, don't let him die here. I need both of you here. I cannot handle this alone, please.' Aragorn begged his brothers.

Aragorn did not know whether it was his plea for help or the sight of the elf lord who was slowly bleeding to death, but his brothers came to life again.

Elladan fell on his knees beside the fallen warrior, whom he had known since the day of his birth. He had been their teacher, their accomplice in many pranks, but the most important of all, he was their friend. He reached out with a trembling hand and brushed away a wayward strand of hair from the other's pale face, before he turned his attention to the wound in the others chest, where the dagger still was imbedded in the flesh.

Elrohir had returned to their horses, and led them now over to their little group. Kneeling down beside his twin he stared down at his father's old friend and advisor. None of them spoke but it was not necessary. Their healer's instincts took over, when their minds could not work properly.

Their hands knew what had to be done and they mechanically started to work on their friend. Aragorn was not able to move, his hands occupied in the task to hold the pressure on the wound and to hold the cut in the windpipe free of the running blood.

The twins worked around him, and for some minutes nothing could be heard besides the ragged breath of the wounded elf, the tearing of clothes which were needed as bandages and the slowly returning sounds of the night forest. Aragorn could feel the air pass his fingers every time Glorfindel took a shivering breath.

He knew that time was running out for the ancient warrior, they had to bring him back to Imladris as soon as possible, where the healers could take care of him and tend his wounds properly.

Lost in his thoughts it took some time before he realized that the twins had stopped to bandage Glorfindel's chest. Turning his attention back to his brothers, Aragorn noticed that they were looking down on the fallen elf, both with an unreadable expression on their faces.

Elladan opened his mouth, but shut it again without saying a word. He coughed and tried again.

'Can someone tell me what we have just witnessed? What had happened here?'

'I do not know.' Aragorn answered. 'The only one who knows lies here and is not able to speak.'

'First of all we have to bring him back home so that Ada.....' Aragorn stopped mid sentence, when the realization hit him that their father would not be there to tend to Glorfindel.

That was something he had never ever thought of. Elrond had always been there, caring for them, teaching them, scolding them when they deserved it, and patching them up, countless times, when they would return home after one of their adventures.

He had lost one family and that had hurt so much, even when he had not spent much time with his blood father. Aragorn tried to remember the face of his real father, but the only face he saw in his mind was that of Elrond. He knew not if he could handle the loss of his second and only father he had ever known.

He took a deep breath to calm down and tried to concentrate on what they had to do next.

Aragorn turned his head to the twins. 'Could you help me to get him on the horse? I will take Glorfindel with me. I cannot release my hold on the artery.'

The twins nodded and Elladan got up to his feet and whistled to their horses. The horses walked over to him and he urged Aragorn's horse to kneel down so that it would be easier to mount.

Elladan came back to them and together they lifted the unconscious body of Glorfindel up from the ground, carefully, not to aggravate the wounds more than necessary.

When the wounded was seated securely in front of Aragorn, the twins mounted also and shortly after they were on their way home.

It would take them close to two hours at that speed and Aragorn hoped that it would be fast enough. He could still feel the trickling of blood under his pressing fingers, but at one time of their journey he had the feeling that it had slowed a little.

He wished that he had his pack with him, so that he could stitch the wound, but his pack with all the healing supplies was lying in his room, together with all his other things he usually took with him on his journeys. So the only thing he could do right then was to hold the pressure and hope that it would be enough.

As long as he could feel the elf's heartbeat under his fingers all would be well.

When they arrived at the Last Homely House, Aragorn was exhausted, both mentally and physically, from the task to keep Glorfindel alive. He had not spoken to his brothers the whole time; he had only watched their tense backs and he had not to be a wizard to know that they were brooding about the night's events. He could not remember when he last felt so relieved to see the gates of his home, than this night.

The guards had seen their approach and by noticing the horse without rider, they had alarmed the healers.

So they were awaited by two of the healers in the courtyard at the bottom of the stairs. Tharlith and Ladaurë walked up to them and held out their hands to take over the still unconscious Glorfindel. When they had him in a secure grip they requested Aragorn to release his hold on the artery. Tharlith assured him that they would take care of the elf and that all would be well as long as he releases his grip.

It took some time until the words reached his sluggish mind, but at last he released his hold on Glorfindel. He wanted to shout at them that nothing would be well, as long as their father was not here with them, but no words left his mouth.

Exhaustion took over when the tension left his body and he slumped over the back of his horse. He had no energy left to hold him upright. He was tired beyond believe; every muscle in his body ached and he could swear that even his bones were screaming of fatigue.

He toppled off his horse but strong arms prevented him from kissing the ground. Dimly he was aware that he was carried through the house and soon he felt the familiar touch of his bed. Forcing his eyes into focus, /'When did I have them closed?/ he wondered, watching Elladan pulling the boots off his feet and covering him with the soft comforter.

'Sleep little brother! We will talk when you wake up.' He heard a soft whisper. Elladan sounded so much like their father that Aragorn thought for a moment that it was indeed Elrond who had tugged him into his bed.

His eyes refused to stay open any longer and so he relaxed and let the sleep he needed take over.

When Aragorn woke up, he first could not recall where he was and what had happened, but shortly after, the events of last night came crushing back into his memory. He jumped off the bed, put his boots on and stormed out of his room.

His first way led him to the healing chambers. He had to know how Glorfindel fared. When he turned the last corner he saw one of the healers leaving one room. That must be the one Glorfindel was in.

'How is he? He is still alive, is he?' He shouted out. Tharlith turned to face the ranger, a night full of work and the vigil laid behind him and the elf's features showed clearly the fatigue he felt.

'Yes, young one, he is alive... for now....' Tharlith told the ranger. 'He is still unconscious and he shows no signs of awakening.'

Tharlith eyed the ranger curiously. 'Could you tell me what had happened? The cut he suffers from was not from an orc weapon or another foul creature. These wounds were caused by an elvish blade. The twins refused to answer my questions and Lord Elrond is nowhere to be found.'

Aragorn watched the healer carefully, wondering if he should tell him the truth. He decided that he could not tell the healer what had happened. He would talk with his brothers and they would decide together what they would tell the others.

So, by now he would not lie to Tharlith but he would also not tell him the entire truth.

'Lord Elrond had to leave Imladris last night for a very important task. I do not know when he will return. I'm sorry, that is all I know.' Aragorn averted his eyes, finding the tips of his boots very interesting at the moment.

The healer sensed that there was more behind the words, but he did not probe. He had a patient to care for, and he was sure that soon all would be revealed.

Aragorn lifted his eyes from the floor and asked with a little smile in his lips. 'Would you allow me to visit Glorfindel? Just for a second, please. I promise I will not disturb him. I only have to see if he is fine.'

'You can visit him for a short time, and I think you cannot disturb him. He refuses to wake up; we have tried many things to awake him but nothing worked. For me it looks like he is fading due to grief, but he is the victim, so why should he die of grief?' Tharlith was curious. He could see that the human was hiding something, but he would not ask more. In time he would come to know what had happened to Glorfindel. 'Talk to him, He can hear you, that is for sure, maybe it helps to get him out of his pain. Should something happen, call, I'm just in the next room.'

With these last words Tharlith turned and left the ranger alone with his thoughts.

'Wait, just one question, can you tell me where my brothers are?'

Tharlith inclined his head and frowned. 'The last time I saw them was hours ago, when they left us to our treatment of Glorfindel. I think it was Elladan who said that they want to go to Lord Elrond's study. Maybe they are still there.'

Aragorn thanked the healer with a slight nod of his head and turned around to open the door. He could not see the bed from his place, but he heard the raspy, ragged breaths clearly.

Approaching the bed silently, he looked down on Glorfindel, who lay there, his face as pale as fresh fallen snow, with white bandages tightly wrapped around his chest and his neck.

Aragorn bent down and brushed lightly over the other's forehead.

'I do not know if you can hear me, but I think you can. I only want to let you know that it was not your fault. Nobody knows what happened to father, except you, and we need you here to tell us what you know. Don't you dare to leave us alone here, my brothers need your advice while Father is gone and for me I have to say that I would miss your pranks, you still have to teach me a lot of them. Who else should drive Erestor to insanity if not you? So don't you dare to sneak away like a coward. You are none, so please stay with us.

'And see, the last time you died Mandos sent you back, I think he does not want you in his halls. Maybe he has watched you too long and wants to make sure that his halls are safe from your mischief. So spare him the work to send you back again.'

Not expecting an answer, he squeezed the elf's hand reassuringly and left the room in search for his brothers. He made his way up to the study where Tharlith had guessed that he would find the twins. He knocked at the door, but no response came, so he pushed open the door.

Both of his brothers were there. Each of them occupied his usual seat in front of Elrond's desk and both held a piece of parchment in their hands.

Closing the door Aragorn walked up to them. Elrohir was the first who took notice of the ranger and lifted his tearstained face up to him. He rose to his feet and grabbed a letter which laid on the desk. Aragorn noticed two more letters there, but from where he was, he could not read to whom they were addressed and he did not ask.

Elrohir handed the letter over to Aragorn. 'This one's for you. Father had left letters for each one of us.' Gesturing to the two remaining letters he added. 'One is for Arwen, and the last is addressed to Glorfindel.'

Aragorn grabbed the letter and sat down on the couch. He turned the letter over and over in his hands not daring to open it, afraid of what he would read in there. He heard Elrohir taking his seat again and looked up to meet his brother's eyes.

'Just read it, if you like we can leave you alone and meet you later. We will have to discuss a lot.'

'WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS?'

Elladan's sudden outburst startled both, elf and human.

With an enraged cry Elladan jumped on his feet, his letter crumpled in his fist, whirled around and whipped away everything from their father's desk.

The piles of reports and the books all landed on the floor. The inkbottles shattered in thousand pieces and the ink sprawled over the carpet and the papers.

For seconds no one moved, Elladan stood motionless in front of the now empty desk, breathing heavily. Then he broke down on his knees crying like none of them had ever witnessed before. Aragorn and Elrohir rushed over to their brother and took him into a tight embrace, not only for his sake but also for their own as well.

They needed no words, for their tears spoke more than words could express. They clung to each other as if the others were a lifeline, which was the only thing that would keep them from drowning. No other sound than the cries of Elladan and the sobs of his brothers could be heard for a time.

They did not know how long they sat there but finally the cries eased down until all of them sobbed quietly. Elrohir was the first who broke the embrace. He sat back on his heels and whipped away the tears on his face.

Elrohir rubbed soothing circles over his twin's trembling back and looked over to the ranger. 'Aragorn why don't you read father's letter now? Later we will talk about everything and what we should do now.'

The ranger looked up with red-rimmed eyes and nodded. He broke the seal, took a deep breath and started to read.

TBC

To my reviewers:

That Undomiel Chick: glares at the sword. Hey I'm writing as fast as I can. :o)

But thanx for the cookies, they saved my days. And see no cliffie at the end! LOL

grumpy: thanx for coming back again

Deanna: ((waves fresh air to Deanna)) wake up here is the next one. ;o) Welcome to my little insanity.I feel flattered that you took notice of me. Thank you

Beling: you can come up from the floor, I think it is not very comfortable to read from there. LOL

bill the pony 2: thank you for coming back, I'm glad you liked it.

Thank you all for reading and reviewing

Thanx to all who have me on their favourite or Authors alert list. I feel very honoured

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