The Wrong One
By Nefhiriel
A/N: I didn't mean to leave you an extra day with that evil cliffie, really! I had this chapter all edited, all the review responses written, and I was all ready to post yesterday... and then document manager was down for the day : P Hey, at least I DID say it would be up Tuesday OR Wednesday, so I'm not really late, am I?
Anyways, you are going to hear the cry: "Elladan!" quite a few times in this chapter. That's simply because I wanted to show each person's reaction to what happens. I hope it's not too boring or annoying.
I suppose I can ramble on all I want in this author's note. No one is reading this anyways, not after that last cliffy; you're all heading straight for the story, right? : ) Well, for those of you who ARE reading this...Thanks for listening—I'll be quiet now so all you faithful "author's notes readers" can actually read the chapter. LOL. Enjoy!
See first chapter for disclaimers. Responses to reviewers at the end.
Chapter 17: A Brother's Love
Timing his movements perfectly, Legolas avoided Dagron's lunge and brought his sword down. He didn't have time to hesitate. Suddenly Dagron was gasping in surprised pain as Legolas' sword cleanly sliced through his wrist. His sword clattered to the ground and he clutched the bleeding stump where his hand had been.
Even this victory didn't appease Legolas's rage. The face of his friend as he was beaten senseless at the hands of this man still made his heart clench and his hatred for the man flare. He'd promised to kill Dagron. Mercilessly, Legolas pressed his sword to the throat of his defeated foe. After all those hours of torture, finally he would get his revenge... He prepared to cut Dagron's throat.
"Elladan!"
He was ripped out of his dark thoughts by the desperate sound of his friend's voice. Estel needed him. He looked back at Dagron and, with sudden alarming clarity, realized what he'd come close to doing.
Revenge...
Legolas cursed himself for his weakness. For awhile there he'd sounded exactly like Acharndil. He'd come so close to letting his emotions cloud his reason. Dagron deserved death, he was sure of it. But not by his hands, not while he was in such a state of reckless, blind anger. Dagron would die someday and when he reached the Halls of Mandos he would get what he deserved, but Legolas would not be the instrument of judgment. Not today, at any rate.
Dagron's defiant glare was traded for a look of almost dismayed confusion as Legolas lowered his blade.
"I leave you to Eru's ultimate judgment, Dagron." He lifted his sword and added with a menacing smile, "Or maybe I'll just leave you to Elladan and Elrohir."
With that, he brought the pummel crashing into the man's skull and Dagron slid to the ground, unconscious. Now feeling free and unburdened, Legolas turned to find his three friends. What he saw quickly cut short all feelings of relief or joy.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Elladan rolled his eyes. This human simply refused to loose with grace, or fight with grace, for that matter. There was simply nothing graceful about him. Hardly needing to take note of the other man's location, he stood in place, blocking inattentively as the man led charge after charge.
He has to get tired of this sometime...
The man was so used to the elf blocking his blows that when Elladan didn't extend his sword, but instead stepped to the side, he charged past him—right into a tree. Elladan chuckled as went over to make sure the man was unconscious.
If only Orcs were this easy...
"Elladan!"
He spun around.
Estel! If someone was hurting him again...Elladan spotted his brother and then heard the twang of a bow.
"Elladan, move!"
Just as Elladan saw the arrow coming towards him, Estel jumped.
"No, Estel!"
Even if Aragorn would have listened, the call came to late. All Elladan could do was watch in horror as the arrow slammed into his brother's chest. Elladan couldn't move. He didn't register the other elves shooting back, charging into the woods after Acharndil and the archer.
Aragorn stumbled. The sight put Elladan back into action. He ran to his brother, catching him as he fell to his knees.
"Ell-adan?"
"Yes Estel, it's me."
"Sor-ry, I... almost s-stayed... in one... place."
"Shh, save your strength Estel. Ada will be here soon."
Aragorn felt another elf, supporting him on the other side.
"Estel! Stay with me, mellon-nin."
It was a familiar voice, tainted with unfamiliar panic.
"N-not going... anywhere. Can't get... rid of me t-that... easily."
Despite the comforting words, Elladan and Legolas were both having difficulty masking their growing panic as they watched Aragorn struggle with each breath.
"Of course not. I don't expect to lose you easily, stubborn human. I'm not going to lose you at all." Legolas tried to remain self-possessed. "Lean back, Elladan and I will hold you up."
They eased Aragorn back, holding him as far back as the arrow that had pierced him would allow.
"Ada!" Elladan called as saw Elrond and Elrohir coming in their direction, "Come quickly!"
"Eru have mercy, no...Not after we've come so close." Elrond knelt beside his youngest son and quickly assessed his injuries.
He closed his eyes when he saw the arrow fletching sticking out a few inches below his heart. Reopening his eyes, his healer's mind took over. He pushed aside paternal worry and set to work.
"Elrohir, go get my pack."
Elrohir hardly needed to be told. He was off, running for Elrond's horse. Elladan had already removed his cloak and had been trying to staunch the blood-flow.
"We must remove the arrow." Elrond put his hand over Elladan's and looked warily at the steadily spreading crimson stain. "Have the bandages ready."
Opportunely, Elrohir arrived with Elrond's healing supplies.
"Estel." Legolas leaned closer, and with concern, saw that his eyelids were almost closed. "Estel, stay with us."
"Sorry, just... so tired..."
"I know, mellon-nín, and with reason." Legolas watched as Aragorn's pain glazed silver eyes fluttered open. "But you must stay awake, just a little longer."
Elrond frowned when he tore open Aragorn's shirt and found bruises that promised more than one broken rib.
Elbereth, what have you gotten yourself into this time, Estel?
"Elladan, break off the tip of the arrow." Elrond directed.
Sweat beaded on Aragorn's brow. He groaned as the wooden shaft was snapped. Elladan looked like he was in as much pain as Aragorn. As soon as the head was broken off Elrond was pulling the rest of the arrow out, trying not to listen the gasps of pain coming from Aragorn. Legolas winced in sympathy as the shaft was pulled out. He watched in helpless commiseration as the human's back arched in pain and then went limp. Aragorn's eyes, tightly closed during the whole procedure, didn't reopen.
"Estel!"
Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas cried out almost in one voice. Not thinking to check for the steady rise and fall of his chest, they assumed the worst. None of them, no matter how long they were acquainted with humans, would ever completely get used to the way humans' eyes were always closing. Normally, veteran warriors that they were, they wouldn't have jumped to the erroneous assumption. Right now, though, all of them were in state of tentatively balanced calm—it didn't take much to send them into a frenzy of terror.
Elrond, realistic as ever, immediately checked his vitals.
"Stop, all three of you." Elrond commanded firmly, his own emotions made his voice sharper than he meant it to be. "You can't all panic on me at once. We haven't lost him yet, he's only unconscious. Now help me get the bleeding under control, or he will be dead."
Feeling embarrassingly naïve, they returned to the problem at hand and began applying pressure to the wound. It took a good twenty minutes, but finally the bleeding stopped and the four elves breathed a sigh of relief. Shakily, Elrond disinfected the wound and wrapped it loosely in bandages.
Now that the crisis was coming to an end, Legolas' arms suddenly became weak. He was having difficulty supporting Aragorn's dead weight. Elrohir saw the Sindarin elf's arms begin to shake and spread out his cape. Legolas tenderly laid Aragorn on it. He slumped down next to Aragorn as the adrenalin wore off and he started to feel the events of the last hours. So much had happened in so little time! He took a long breath to steady himself.
"Legolas—you're bleeding!" Elrohir began to rip open the sleeve of the unresisting elf.
Legolas started and then looked at his arm. So he was. He'd forgotten all about the fight with Dagron and his shoulder wound. All that seemed so long ago...Yet, in reality, it had been no more than a half-hour ago. He still had a hard time comprehending how he'd let Dagron go.
Estel is more important than that brute. Even though I didn't kill him, Dagron will get what he deserves none-the-less.
What he deserved was too horrible to imagine. Well, he'd just let the twins come up with that later.
"My Lord," Glamdil came up beside Elrond and quietly asked, "how is your son?"
"He is well, for the moment at any rate. He is not out of danger, but I am hopeful."
"I am glad to hear that." Glamdil said with genuine relief.
Elrond continued to take stock of his herbs. "Are any of the prisoners giving you trouble?"
"Only one, my Lord. He seems to have gotten his hand severed and is putting up quite the resistance." he added with a smile, "The man has vocabulary."
"Well feel free to gag that one." Elrond smiled, "We wouldn't want any of the younger elves picking up on vocabulary."
"Certainly not, my Lord." Glamdil chuckled and turned to go.
"Be sure to stop his arm from bleeding and bandage it well." Elrond called after him.
"Right after the gag is firmly in place, my Lord!"
Elrond smiled. Glamdil was certainly a wonderfully capable lieutenant to have along. When in Rivendell he tended to be quiet and reserved. Sometimes he was all but forgotten. He had a quiet manner that hardly suggested leadership qualities. Be that as it may, as a second-in-command he was priceless. When they were out in the field he knew how to take over and make himself useful, if not invaluable. He always knew when to take command, leaving Elrond free to attend to personal matters—as he had just moments ago. Elrond could stop and care for Estel without worry about who would organize the warriors and take charge of the prisoners. He never regretted taking Glamdil along on his journeys out of Rivendell. Never.
With these reassuring thoughts, Elrond prepared the herbs and moved over to Aragorn's side. Elladan and Legolas remained glued next to Aragorn, watching his pale face. Elrohir, on the other hand, was clearly trying to take his mind off of his younger brother by tending to his friend. With an inward chuckle, Elrond noticed that the bandage had already been wound around Legolas's arm a couple dozen times. Apparently the distraction wasn't working so well.
"Elrohir," Elrond gently caught his distraught son's attention. "you can quit cutting of the poor Prince's circulation and help me with your brother."
Blushing bright red, Elrohir tied off Legolas's bandage and picked up another bandage to hold for Elrond.
"Sorry Ada."
"I think the Prince is the one you should be asking forgiveness of, ion-nín," Elrond smiled, "he'll be lucky if his arm survives your treatment."
Legolas didn't appear to have heard any of the conversation concerning him.
"Legolas, mellon-nín, you might want to loosen that bandage if you wish to keep the use of your arm."
Elladan smiled as he said this, for the first time since Aragorn had gotten shot. It was a pathetically weak smile, but a smile nevertheless. When Legolas's only answer was a mumbled: "Hmm?" he couldn't contain a snort of amusement. Legolas looked up sharply.
"And just what are you finding to be so funny?" Legolas asked, looking with puzzlement from one smiling elf to the next.
"You haven't been listening to a word any of us are saying, have you Legolas?" Elladan smirked with a touch of his usual self.
"I have been listening!" Legolas said indignantly.
"Oh?" Elladan challenged.
"Elrohir just saw that I was wounded, and then Elrond...he said...no you said—"
"So you haven't been listening!" Elladan said triumphantly.
Elrond shook his head as he worked over the still form of his son. Aragorn gave a small whimper, but stayed unconscious, as Elrond set one of his broken ribs. The joking ceased as quickly as it had sprung up. Legolas returned to his incessant watch and the twins resumed their hovering.
After a wearying half hour, Elrond tied off the last bandage and sat back.
"Ada?" Elladan put his hand on his father's shoulder.
"Yes, Elladan?"
"Glamdil and the other elves are preparing to stay here for the night. You should get some rest."
"No, ion-nín, Estel needs me and..."
"And you need some rest." Elladan finished for him. "Legolas, Elrohir, and I can watch Estel and call you if there's any change."
"You need rest as well—all three of you do."
"Yes, Ada," Elrohir allied himself with Elladan, "but as the healer you should be rested and ready to take over should Estel's condition worsen. Doubtless, you have been riding all day and are far more tired than any of us."
"And," Elladan pointed out, "the three of us can take turns watching Estel."
Elrond sighed. How did his sons learn to argue like this?
"So you see, we'll get our sleep as well." Legolas spoke cheerfully, "You can go off and get all the rest you need, and Estel will be carefully looked after."
Eru! The Prince too...
"I surrender." Elrond smiled as Elrohir helped him to his feet. "I will leave you to guard Estel..." he looked at the three grinning faces before him. "On one condition: you wake me in five hours."
"Ada!"
"But..."
"Lord Elrond—"
The three of them immediately protested.
"Daro!" he held up his hand, "You will promise this or I won't go at all."
"Yes Ada..."
"I promise..."
"Of course, my Lord..."
Satisfied, Elrond left them. The sun had already fallen below the trees leaving only the faintest of glows to light the clearing. All around him elves and humans were quietly slipping off to sleep. A few elves slipped into the upper branches of trees while others still remained awake, gazing up at the inky blackness of the evening sky, waiting for the first stars to appear. Upon their hard bed on the ground, men tossed fitfully as they tried to find a comfortable position with their arms bound. Everything was relatively peaceful and silent...Almost. He was going to have a talk with Glamdil and then follow his sons' advice, but as he walked across the camp something else caught his attention.
"Be quiet, human!"
There was a muffled response to the fierce whisper, followed by a string of profanities that made Elrond flinch. He hadn't heard any of his warriors swear like that for a long time.
"Adan (human), just go to sleep!"
Elrond followed the voices to where a young elf sat next to one of the captives. The human was tied to a tree in a sitting position with a cloth wrapped tightly around his mouth. Even with the gag the man could still be heard mumbling curses as loudly as he could. Although the gag rendered the complaining of the man inaudible to most of the camp, the poor elf who'd been assigned to guard him was still subjected to it because of his necessarily close proximity. Elrond noticed, without surprise, that the man's right hand was missing.
With a sympathetic smile for the guard, he walked past, but made a note to have a talk with their prisoner in the morning.
To be Continued...
Reviewer responses:
elitenschwein: I'm glad you liked the chapter title, it can be so challenging to avoid lame titles : b Ah yes, my evil mind... (looks nervous) You say you might send your little Nazgûl horse after me? (shudders) It can travel via e-mail? (shudders again) I definitely DON'T want to get one your bad side... LOL. Why on earth wouldn't I be nice to Elladan, Elrohir and Estel? Oh, but you give me your permission to injure them...even badly... Well, if you insist...(eg) Thank you so much for reviewing, mellon-nín!
Star-Stallion: LOL, yes, I think it's futile to try understanding ANYONE'S brain on here, we're all just a tad weird... But hey, I rather enjoy being strange, don't you? Anyways...Thank very much for the review!
HarryEstel: A death threat! I REAL sure enough DEATH THREAT! (dances) Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes – I've succeed in getting a death threat!!! (grins sheepishly as she realizes that everyone is staring) Hehehe... Yes, I really did enjoy the death threat (not that you'd have noticed...). Oh, but it doesn't sound as if you'd kill me quickly, it actually sounds more like you're threatening to TORTURE me! (looks nervous) I must warn you, I have a very low threshold for pain - even a small toothache can easily effect my brain : ) LOL, thank you for the lovely death threat – twisted as it may sound, it really made my day ; )
jacquelinestel: You found them! (huggles squirming elf and ranger) And on the chandelier of all places... Hmm, you must have pretty strong ceilings. I mean, I know elves are light and all, but Estel too ?! LOL, they're lucky it didn't come down on them : ) Oh, yes, none of US are saying you two are "fictional"! There are HORDS of people on here who KNOW you two really exist! (shakes head) I know it's absolutely pitiful how some people just continue refusing acknowledge reality – unlike US! LOL. Hannon le, mellon-nín!
Mornflower: Wahoo – death threats from Mornflower! I absolutely ADORE death threats : ) A RUBBER DUCKY?! ROTFL!!! (stops laughing and pretends to be terrified) AH! The Rubber Ducky of Doom! I'll never withstand it!!! (continues in horror) OK, I'll do whatever you want! Update? You want an update? Well... (Morn raises THE ducky) OK, OK, I'll do it – just don't use the ducky! LOL. Thank you so much for the lovely death threat, it is greatly appreciated : )
Tinorial Peredhil: Aww, why on earth wouldn't you like an evil cliffy? (eg) Is that an APPOLGY I see for writing a LONG review?! (grins) Surely as a member of Reviewers Anonymous you would know that that is NOT at all necessary! I was absolutely THRILLED to get a three-page review!!! And even your "shorter" reviews are about three times longer than my "long" reviews... (bangs head) I'm the one who should be apologizing! (snickers) Oh, yeah, watching any one of the furious elves (or reviewers : ) kill Dagron would certainly provide excellent dinner entertainment, LOL. "Come watch the stupid annoying villain that has been hurting poor Estel be killed by a mob of furious reviewers – ticket includes a free dinner of pizza and a soda!" Yup, that would certainly draw in the crowds : ) OK, well, have fun with your superfluous guard ; ) Hannon le, mellon-nín!
Naesse: Well, it's up for you to decide: is Estel OK? But really, me, kill him? Do you REALLY think I'm THAT evil? LOL, that's not a dumb question at all, at times I really wonder – would I kill a character? Hmm...(eg) You never know... ; ) Thank you very much for the review!
zeetus: Oh, I know what you mean, it's so wonderful when you come back from a trip and find that a story you've been reading has been updated three times! Well, it would seem our minds were working along the same lines (great minds think alike, eh?), I just couldn't resist letting Aragorn take the brunt of the angst, and Elladan take the brunt of the guilt. (eg) Oh, I am so glad that you're that close with your siblings! My brother and I occasionally rub the wrong way...but in the end I really do love him a LOT. And my sister and I can truly say that we are BEST friends, and every inch as close as El and El : ) I just love "Warrior Elrond", LOL. Thank you so much for the review!
pollingly: I completely understand, RL is crazy for my right now too : b (laughs evilly) And the cliffy... LOL, I thought that might elicit a few reactions from people. Of COURSE I'm evil, mellon-nin! Really, I'd have thought you knew me better than that by now : ) Out of curiosity: do you prefer Aragorn-angst or Legolas-angst? Just a thoroughly random question ; ) Hannon le, gwathel-nín esse Ilúlvatar!
Nietta: Hi! (blushes) Wow, such compliments! I'm so glad that you like my writing style, the plot, and the way my characters interact. And I'm SO glad you're enjoying me story! Oh yes, I just LOVE writing a protective Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas : ) Hehe, you're absolutely right, it was a perfect opportunity to send Elladan on a guilt trip – one that I just couldn't resist (obviously ; ). Anyways... Thank you very, very much for the review!
Hyperactive Forever: Oh, do I know what you mean about having "this thing" for usually ignored elves! There's poor (or is it lucky...?) Gildor, for instance – he never gets any fanfiction written about him. And there are several other elves that I like that are typically ignored. Anyways, enough rambling... You LIKE the cliffy? Hmm, so far all I've gotten are death threats concerning the way I ended the chapter... Well, I'm glad that you liked it : ) Hehehe, yeah, sane personalities rarely make it to the surface, do they? That would take all the fun out of being crazy! I heard I quote that I bet you'll like: "Nine out of ten of the voices in my head agree that I am sane. - Anonymous" Yup, that's me alright : ) Ack! Look at me jabber on! Forgive the rambling author ; ) Thank you so much for the review – I appreciate it a LOT!
Lizzie Blakeney: Thank you SO much! I'm glad you thought it was a good cliffy : )
Troubles8806: Elrond does tend to have that effect: "Oh goody, Elrond's here, now everything will be alright" - that's at least what I always tend to think. But I suppose he can give you a false sense of security. (gulp) Hehehe, I hope you like the new twist in the plot, from what you said in your review, I assume I surprised you : ) Thank you SO much for reviewing!
viggomaniac: RL – it happens to us all... I know how it is, and I've been extremely preoccupied with general craziness in my life as well : b But thank you for taking the time from what I'm sure is a very hectic schedule, to drop me a few lines : ) I certainly hope that your life settles down soon! And thanks again for the review!
A special thanks to zeetus for adding me to your author alerts!
A NON-cliffy!!! Aren't you all proud of me? LOL. Next chappy will be up Fri. or Sat. and will be called: "Easing the Pain" (for lack of a better title : b Hey, at least I didn't leave it nameless this time!).
THANK YOU so much, everyone, for reviewing!
- Nefhiriel
Vice President and Co-author of the SNWCG & member of the F.F.F.F.F