The Wrong One
By Nefhiriel
A/N: This may be a little confusing at first—stay with me!—it's not as weird as it seems : )
Oh, just one request for all of you: PLEASE no spoilers for Between Darkness and Dawn! I'm exercising my immense self-control, and not reading it until Cassia is finished posting it (Yeah, we'll see how long this lasts...).
See first chapter for disclaimers. Reviewer responses at end of chapter.
Chapter 10: Memory of Brothers
"You know that place between asleep and awake? Where you still remember dreaming? That's where I will always think of you."
-Tinkerbell
"At times when I feel all alone I think of you, and my heart heads home. Memories path will have no end, when shared with you, my wonderful friend."
-Unknown
A soft breeze gently lifted the light curtains and wafted through the room, bringing with it scents from the garden below. It had been a perfect day in Rivendell, warm, but not too warm, with just the right amount of wind and sun.
Aragorn, Legolas, and the twins had been hunting and swimming most of the day. Elrond had been relieved to see them come home again—under their own power. There wasn't so much as a broken limb among them. The perfect day had turned into the perfect evening, and now the four of them sat together, content just to be in each others' company.
Legolas was working on few arrows and Aragorn sat close by with a book in his hands. Elladan was draped over another chair with Elrohir reclining beside him. The older twin watched Legolas through half-closed eyes as he began to fit the fletching into the end of an arrow. Slowly, a grin spread over Elladan's face.
"What El?" Elrohir sat up.
The grin widened.
"Come on! What's so funny?"
Legolas paused and Aragorn looked up from his book as Elladan started to chuckle.
"Do you find something amusing about my arrows?" Legolas's voice dared him to say yes.
"Oh no, there's nothing wrong with your arrows, they look very nice."
They all shot him quizzical looks but he just laughed all the harder.
"I do believe he's finally lost it." Aragorn shook his head. "Spit it out El, what's so funny?"
"I was just remembering a certain time when Elrohir tried his hand at arrows." he tried to stop his laugher. "The shaft was crooked, he cut himself with the tip, and when he got to the fletching the binding mixture he was using to stick them on got-"
"Elladan! That was a long time ago!" Elrohir fairly yelled. "I thought you promised that you weren't going to tell them about that!"
"I never said anything of the kind."
Elrohir sulked as everyone's amused eyes turned on him.
Still laughing, Elladan settled back into his chair. It had been a long day and, without anything to do, he fell asleep. Elrohir's lips twitched into a smile as he watched the sleeping form of his brother. Deftly, he stood and reached for a small jar of binding mixture that Legolas had on the table next to him.
"Elrohir what—"
"Shh." Elrohir interrupted the prince, putting a finger to his own lips and motioning towards Elladan.
Elrohir tiptoed over to his sleeping brother and picked up a pillow. It was all Aragorn and Legolas could do to smother their laughter as the twin poured half the bottle out onto the pillow. Gently, he lifted Elladan's head and placed the pillow under his head. Elladan stirred and for a moment they thought he would wake up, but he merely turned over - placing the side of his head directly on the pillow. Minutes ticked by. Legolas whispered to his friend:
"You really should wake him up soon, that glue it very permanent. It's already going to be extremely painful..."
Elrohir smiled and roused his brother who woke groggily and sat up, the pillow coming up with his head.
"What the—" he lifted his hand to the side up his head, opening his eyes wide when all he felt was pillow. He pulled at it and felt the suction the glue had already created, then he turned his full gaze on his brother; the innocent smile didn't fool him.
"Elrohir!" he grabbed another pillow.
Elrohir tried to avoid his aim, calling out declarations of innocence all the while.
"Come on El, you really should get that off, it's almost dry and I've heard that it's extremely painful..."
"Oh, you're going to pay for this, muindor!"
Despite his words, Elladan knew he needed to get the glue off before the pillow became a permanent appendage of his face. He tugged at it, denying all Elrohir's offers of assistance, and finally succeeded in getting it of. He gasped and put his hand to the side of his face as the glue came off. The pain subsided and he removed his hand, revealing an entirely bright red cheek. Elrohir backed up nervously as Elladan refocused all his ire on him.
"Now we're even," Elrohir smiled ingratiatingly. "right?
Deciding that he would rather not see this perfect day end in a pillow fight, Aragorn rose from his seat and placed himself between them.
"Okay, enough." Aragorn raised his hand against a pillow Elladan was preparing to hurl. "I've had enough for one day."
Elladan rubbed his sore cheek.
"You two are quite a handful, I've had my share of babysitting for one day." Aragorn continued with a yawn. "I'm ready to go to bed."
"Babysitting?!" they called after his retreating form. Legolas smirked at their mortification.
In his room, Aragorn smiled as he tried to imagine what his brothers would come up with in revenge. Whatever it was it could wait until morning... He yawned again as he changed clothes and slipped into his bed. It had been a long day. The soft covers enveloped him, he turned off the light and basked in the pale moonlight that was coming through his window.
Suddenly someone was shaking him. He yawned and turned over.
"Ada, it's not morning yet is it?"
The shaking grew rougher.
"Muindor, just a few more minutes...Seas (please)?"
An even rougher kick to the ribs and he jerked his eyes open—open to a nightmare. He was still blind. He was still in a cave full of men who's greatest pleasure was causing pain. And, worst of all, there was still a pitiless man seeking revenge on his brothers. He closed his eyes again wearily, keeping his head turned toward the wall.
"The chief wants a word with you."
He was too exhausted to even care who the voices belonged to anymore.
"Come on pick 'im up."
"You don't suppose we went too far Dagron? I mean what if the chief notices he's worse off 'an usual?"
"Oh quit your worrying, you blubbering idiot! I've told you before and I'll tell you again: thinking was never your strong point—and it isn't now! So you just leave that to me. Now, come on. We'll be in plenty of trouble if we don't get 'im out there soon."
Aragorn felt a small twinge of pleasure at hearing the amount of worry in Dagron's voice. Apparently he did look pretty badly off, lying here on the ground. Well he wasn't about to get up and give them the pleasure of seeing just how much spirit he still had left. Let them worry and think him half dead for awhile.
At first he didn't so much as show any signs of consciousness. Then a rough, and unfortunately quick, pull brought him to his feet and sent his head spinning. His eyes shot open before he had a chance to think.
Valar, that little charade was over quickly...
"Ah, so 'e does move!" Dagron remark sarcastically. "You 'ad me worryin' for a minute there, elf lover."
Why does he insist on calling me that every time? He could get a little more creative. Strange how he says it like it's the worst kind of insult he can think of... I could think of a few more derisive names to call him. But then, that doesn't take much, does it?
He could very well be being led to his death, or more likely torture. But his stupid, stupid sense of humor continued to ramble on in it's own little commentary.
Split personalities is always a possibility...
Why couldn't the cruel little voice in his head just be quite and give a doomed man a little time to think?
Alright, don't start screaming at yourself, Aragorn. Control, control, think control...
The hot touch of sun brought him out of his schizophrenic reverie. Once more Aragorn found himself between two of the men, this time roughly being dragged from the cave. He shivered in pleasure as he traded the cold dankness of the cave for the sunlight; however, he didn't have much time to bask in the welcome change of temperature. It was a short trip and from the onset he knew his destination wouldn't be pleasant. Forced into kneeling position, he listened as Acharndil addressed him in his smooth voice.
"Well ranger, by now your 'family' is sure to have gotten my message."
Aragorn refused to even lift his head.
"Yes, it should arrived at Rivendell by now."
He still refused acknowledge him.
"How does it feel to know that you are causing them so much pain?"
Dagron forced his head up.
"Come on, answer 'im!"
Aragorn wouldn't answer—why would he? It was so futile!
"Tell me, how does it feel to be the bait we're using to catch these murdering, shameless elves?" Acharndil continued to goad, curious to see if there was still a spark left in this "elf lover". He got more than he bargained on.
The same fire Dagron had noted earlier in Aragorn's eyes sprang back to life and he spoke with an equally calm but commanding voice.
"Murdering? Shameless? I thought you'd spent time among the elves, time enough to know them better than that. Elves are called to be warriors at times, are called to battle to defend their homes—that is something every race does. Besides, you of all people have no right to be speaking of murderers."
"You are wrong there. It was not murder, it was revenge."
"Revenge? Revenge for what! What harm has my family ever done to you?"
"Oh, none to me."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"Let me ask you something. Let's say I had your brothers right here next to me bound and completely subdued—completely under my power."
"You don't, you couldn't—"
"Not so fast, not so fast." Acharndil cut him off. How he relished the panic he'd heard rise in that impenetrable mantle of calm. "I didn't say I had them. I merely said, let's say I had them."
"Enough playing around! What is it that you want? Why do you hate my brothers?"
"All in good time, my impetuous ranger. Now were was I... Ah, yes. Let's say I had your two brothers here, and let's say that wood-elf, too, for good measure. What if I were to order my men to plunge their daggers into their hearts. Or better yet, allow Dagron here the opportunity of a little 'fun'? What would you say to that?"
"I would say that you're the basest coward, the most black-hearted snake I've had the pleasure of meeting—and I'd kill you! I swear you would die a slow and agonizing death within the hour you'd ordered such a deed!"
"I see." Acharndil said detachedly with maddening unconcern. "Then you and I have more in common than you know."
"We have nothing in common!"
"Ah, but we do. You see, those are the same thoughts that have been driving me for over thirty years. I haven't been able to exact my revenge as soon as I'd hoped. But as long as it's done in the end..."
"My brothers couldn't have ever done anything evil enough for this kind of hatred. They don't have it in them! I know them."
Acharndil watched him, mesmerized. His voice sounded so earnest. His eyes blazed with such implicit trust and certainty.
Those eyes, they reminded me so much of... No, I won't think about that, I won't think about Hadron now. This man is a tool; a tool I will use to reap my harvest of vengeance.
He forced himself to focus on what was being said.
"Are you so sure?"
"Completely."
"Well, then it may interest you to know that your brothers are responsible for the deaths of three innocent humans: a woman, a child, and a man. Now what do you think of your brothers? Can they still do no wrong? Maybe you don't consider these deaths a wrong?"
Acharndil's voice had lost all of it's control in the heat of his anger. Aragorn was taken aback. He knew his brothers would never have intentionally killed innocent people.
"No matter what you say, I know they would never deliberately kill a child, a woman, or an innocent man on purpose. You must be mistaken. Please believe me, they couldn't have done it."
Acharndil looked into the sightless but pleading silver eyes. The same uncomfortable images of another person resurfaced.
Always so determined, so hopeful...
For a minute, staring in the silver eyes he could almost imagine that his younger brother was in front of him.
Yes, the same persuading look, the same innocence. No stop, before it's too late. This man is not Hadron, he is nothing like my brother. He even calls Hadron's murderers "brothers". He is nothing more to me than a way to get at my enemies. Nothing more. Nothing more, nothing more...
Repeating the words wasn't enough. He had to forcibly rip his gaze away from the rangers. If he didn't, he was reasonably sure he would go crazy from their intense similarity to those of his brother's.
You're getting soft Acharndil.
No! He wouldn't be soft. He was determined not to let these feelings of pity get in the way.
Then prove it.
He would prove it. Never would he let this soulful-eyed boy get in his way. How old was he? Twenty? Twenty-two?
Hadron would have been about that old... If he had survived! If they hadn't killed him!
He had waited thirty years for vengeance.
He would wait no longer.
Aragorn tensed when he caught the faint sound of a whispered conversation going on between Acharndil and... Who else? Oh, that was Dagron. He would recognize that chuckle anywhere. Chuckle? What would cause Dagron to chuckle... Elbereth Gilthoniel, this didn't look good. At least not for him. As Dagron approached he could almost feel the pleasure radiating from him.
He couldn't be sure, but he thought that three or four men joined in the 'fun'. The blows came fast and furious and his depleted state consciousness was quickly loosing it's hold on him. Somewhere behind him he heard Acharndil order the men to stop. He didn't know what happened next, for he quickly fled to a realm of blissful, carefree oblivion.
To Be Continued...
If some of my responses seem kind of weird, just chalk it all up to a very late night... (note to self: for future reference, watching Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds with your pet parakeet in the middle of the night is not generally considered a brilliant idea ; )
Reviewer responses:
Star-Stallion: Yeah, I know there are a lot Legolas-angst fans out there (poor guy : ). Unfortunately for you, Legolas isn't going to get a huge part of the physical pain in this story, but I can assure you that he'll be going through a TON of mental agony (that's the second best to elf-torture, right?). Legolas just gets beat up so often in Cassia and Sio's stories that I decided he needed a vacation – your turn Aragorn! (Aragorn glares and Nefhiriel glares back) I've said it before, and I'll say it again: you just don't appreciate us authors – either of you! (Aragorn mumbles something about "having a perfectly good life before we started messing with it") But anyways, I don't plan on letting Legolas be pain-free for too long, all good things must come to an end... Yep, I have plans for him, too, in upcoming stories (if poor Legolas were ever to stumble upon the notes for my upcoming stories he'd probably die of fright!). (grins evilly) Thank you for all the compliments, and thank you for reviewing!
viggomaniac: I'm afraid that I won't be using the title "Angst That A Shame", but not because it's lame – it just doesn't meet my obsessive quota of three words : ) Will Aragorn be alone in his misery much longer? Now you know perfectly well that that is something I can't divulge : ) But what I will say, is that I tried to drag out his captivity for as long as possible (I couldn't go ruining a perfect opportunity for prolonged angst!). And can't say enough how happy I am to hear that you find Dolenil interesting! (jumps up and down) When I first started writing this story, he was just "suspect #2". His description was "grouchy Mirkwood elf", but then I gave him a name (fatal mistake, but he had to have one) and suddenly BAM – he wasn't a faceless nobody anymore. That's pretty much how I come up with OCs...By accident. I'm really glad he's not boring or annoying. I've been really nervous about trying to use OCs. Hmm...(pauses to consider) Those are some very important questions, requiring a good answer. Which I don't have. Sorry : ) Don't worry though, real help isn't on the way for a quite a bit (look at me, giving spoilers away : b ). Learning the difference between words like "loose" and "lose" is something that Imbecamiel has really driven me to do, since it drives her insane when I'm continually making those kind of mistakes. It annoys me, but doesn't surprise me, that I got "their" and "there" mixed up...I just like to blame it on the fact that I've got ADD and dyslexia (as if that's not enough, I've got a brother with ADHD bouncing around behind me and watching golf as I try to write : ) But no, I really don't mind in the least having my mistakes pointed out, and then, if I ever post this somewhere else, I'll be able to do a "viggomaniac edit" with the help of your reviews : ) You balance your criticisms so considerately with praise and humor, that I don't think I could be offended if I tried : ) "Poor Aragorn" does roll nicely off the tongue. (grins) I already did check out your C2 community, but the problem is, our tastes in stories are so similar, that I've already read ninety percent of the stories you've archived! But I still subscribed, in hopes that you'll let me know about any good stories I might miss : ) Well, thank you for your encouragement! Oh, and don't worry about making mistakes in reviews...I probably won't notice : ) In fact, I was so busy laughing at your other comments, that I didn't notice the mistake : ) But hey, your error got me another review – I'm not complaining, LOL.
jacquelinestel: Every time I read your reviews I come away with the most hilarious pictures - Aragorn is being a snot, and Legolas is laughing hysterically...LOL. To look at your review, you'd get the idea that out of the three of you, you're the only sane person : ) Just how exactly did they end up sleeping in your washer and dryer of all places?! Well, I hope you recover from the Heimlich – and let me know how you solve the problem of a hysterical Legolas, LOL. The chinchilla might get him? Interesting. Very interesting. Might I ask how those two got on the wrong side of a chinchilla? And here I thought elves were supposed to be good with animals... Thank you, it's so exciting to have finally reached the triple digits! Thanks for reviewing, too! (huggles)
sielge: Glad you're liking it more and more! Thanks!
Naesse: Glad you like it, and glad you like it LONG! I'll do my best to "keep it coming" on time : ) Thank you!
Lord Elrond of Hogwarts: (hurls herself at LEoH in an attempt to huggle her, but only succeeds in knocking her over) Oh, sorry! (helps LEoH up before recommencing to squeeze the breath out of her) THANK YOU! (finally lets go) That was SO nice of you to go back and review ALL the previous chapters! And you said so very many flattering things too...In the league with CASSIA AND SIO?! Now that has got to be one of the biggest compliments about my writings that I could ever hope to get! I'm thrilled to have the "official stamp of approval" from a devoted MC fan : ) Being the MC addict that I am, you can imagine my amazement and delight upon getting two (I got an e-mail from her because her computer wouldn't let her post a review) reviews from Cassia, whom I consider (along with Sio, of course) to be one of the very best fan fiction writers ever. LOL, yes, it might be a good idea to refrain from morbid saying till everyone's safely home : ) (smiles innocently) Don't worry, I have NO intention of harming any of the good guys... (smile falters)... beyond repair... (smile turns positively evil) ...Yet. You liked The Secret Window, then? I confess, it scared me half to death (I'm easily frightened by movies : b ) – I really wasn't expecting Johnny Depp to end up being the murderer! Anyways... I really appreciated the detailed review on chapter 8: it was very helpful to know exactly what you liked about it. I love writing (or trying to write!) Elladan's mind. Elladan, being the protective older brother that he is, is of course torn in two trying to save both of his brothers. Oh, and I'm happy to hear that you like my strange sense of humor : ) Well, I'm so glad you liked my story! Thank you SO much for all the encouragement! WOW – 9 reviews from one person in one chapter! You have no idea how much I appreciate that! (runs off to hyperventilate)
elvingirl3737: BAD ELVES! That's exactly what I've been telling them! (alternately slaps Elladan, Elrohir and Legolas' wrists) VERY, VERY naughty! (grins) Nope, not good at all, LOL. You think "whomping" would really make Estel feel better? Well, if it at least makes you feel better, then I'll be only too happy to oblige : ) Thanks!
Mornflower: That's right, Legolas, you don't have to be a hotdog ...Everybody already IS in love with you : ) Poor, Estel...We all love you too! (huggles wriggling ranger) As for you Legolas – have you been spying on the poor, lonely ranger while he's talking to his rubber chicken? You really shouldn't. What goes on between Estel and his chicken is their own business, and it's rude to eavesdrop. LOL. Anyways...Hope this was soon enough for you! Thanks! (huggles Morn)
HarryEstel: Doomed, doomed, doomed... Yep, that's them alright! Despite the fact of their ability to get into trouble (or rather their inability to stay out of it!), and the impending angst, I hope I'll still be able to slip in a few surprises : ) Thanks!
Anorwen06: Hi! How's your wrist? I hope it's feeling better. I had a lot of fun writing both Legolas' and the twins' reactions to Estel's captivity...and the way Dagron is treating him... In order for the results to be more dramatic, you really have to pack the angst in - which results in a lot of "poor Estel". I'm glad you think that Acharndil is a great villain (don't worry, I know what you mean ; ), I worked extremely hard on him. As for whether or not he'll be knocked off that lofty perch of his...well, that would be giving away the story, now wouldn't it : ) Hmmm, as for why you end up reading my story when you should be doing school... maybe for the same reason I'm always responding to, or reading your reviews when I should be folding laundry? LOL. Thanks for the ramble! (huggles)
polingly: Thank you SO much for the complements on the way I'm doing Aragorn! It's do good to know that I'm able to be consistent. Poor POLLY! It sound like you've had just about every painful medical problem known to man : ( At least you can really sympathize with Aragorn : ) Hmm, you might want to be careful with those nails. This story won't be finished till about Christmas time, and by that time they could be pretty dangerous. You wouldn't want to hurt someone... (aside from that superfluous guard, of course : ) I'm so glad you thought the part with Legolas finding the tracks was good! Nope, those bad guys never do take everything into account, do they (grins) Of course, even if they did, they'd still have to deal with all the furious fans once they'd succeeded – definitely not a pleasant thought LOL! You like Dolenil? YAY!! I wasn't very confident about introducing OCs, and I was SO nervous that people might just find him annoying or boring : P Thanks so much for the review, gwathel-nín!
A special thanks to jacquelinestel for adding me to your favorite authors!
There you have it – my pitiful attempt to explain Acharndil's twisted mind... (apparently it's so twisted even the author can't figure it out!) At least partly. There will be a more complete explanation of his motives later. Frankly, I didn't want the typical "bad guy spilling his life's history out in one long rant for no apparent reason" : ) The next chapter will be called... (triumphantly produces title) "Above All Shadows". As usual, I hope to have it out Wednesday or Thursday.
Thank you all SO much for the lovely reviews!
- Nefhiriel
Vice President and Co-founder of the SNWCG and the F.F.F.F.F