I was bored, so decided to update today. I'm sure no one will complain, right? Good…
Who's gone back to school yet? I haven't! Woo hoo! Go back on 6th September. Can't wait…
Ok, here's chapter 10 of Demons of the Heart, Tears. Enjoy.
Faerlain
Elerrina – How on Middle-Earth did you manage to review twice? The same review each time? Clever!
Yeah, you were right. Lol. Why don't you feel sorry for Thrálindë? Is it cos she's being mean and nasty to everyone else?
Thanks for reviewing.
Rayame325 – I like suspense! Writing it that is. Yup, poor Elrond. He doesn't have a lot of luck in this world really, does he? Thanks for reviewing.
Deana – Glad you liked it, and thanks for reviewing.
Chapter 10: Tears.
"We must return to Rivendell."
"But what about the twins?"
"They'll be ok." Arwen wiped her sleeve across her face. The rain had eased off, but they were now all so soaked, it didn't matter anymore.
"You've got mud all across your cheeks now," Legolas told her, grinning.
"Do I look like I care?"
"War paints," Celeblaith said.
The three laughed, though their spirits were as low as the ground.
"I just can't believe they went off like that without telling us," Arwen sighed, looking down to the Eastern end of the Pass. Her brothers had gone off in search of the Orcs that had carried their mother away, taking a few volunteer Elves with them.
"They're trained warriors, they'll be fine," she reassured herself, pulling her sleeves up to her elbows again. "Come on, these people are injured."
"We need to get a message to your father."
"You sort it. I'm needed here." She turned when her name was called. "See what I mean. Send a fast rider."
"I'm on the case. Cel, you go and help Arwen."
The young Princess nodded, rolled up her sleeves, and followed the dark-haired Elf through the crowds of wounded spread over the ground.
Legolas mounted Galu, and peered around. Who could he send that was willing, a fast rider, and a good fighter…?
"Rédethuil!"
"Yes my Lord?" The young warrior trotted up on his stallion.
"I need you to do me a huge favour."
"Whatever you ask my Lord."
"I need you to ride on to Rivendell, as fast as you can possibly go, and tell Lord Elrond everything that has happened. Well, be a bit discrete on the fact that Lady Celebrían has been kidnapped…but you know what to say. I'm trusting you on this."
"I will not fail you my Lord. I'll be there by tomorrow morning."
"Alright, don't run your horse to death!"
"I mean it my Lord. Polodren here could go for hours."
"As long as you're sure. And be careful. I don't want you getting hurt. You're literally invaluable to Mirkwood these days." He smiled as Rédethuil blushed and squirmed slightly on his saddle. "I mean it. Be very careful. The Orcs are still around. And if you get hurt, the message will never reach Rivendell. Do you want someone to accompany you?"
"No, I'll be faster by myself. No distractions. I'll be as quick as I can. Do you want me to return?"
"You might as well stay in Imladris. But if Elrond sends scouts out, you may come back if you so wish."
"Yes my Lord." He bowed his head, turned, and galloped off into the distance.
Legolas watched him leave with a knot of fear twisting about in his stomach. Rédethuil had done so well since the War with the Dagnir-o Lóre. He had grown a lot during that time. He had become more disciplined, a better warrior, grown-up. He was no longer a small fighter, a member of Thranduil's' Army trying desperately to be noticed. He was a full-on warrior, admired, and respected by many.
As the rider disappeared into the distance, Legolas turned and went in search of Dolenmíl. He had not seen her since she had brought Celeblaith back to him, and he had noticed she was injured. He hoped she had got herself sorted out.
He wandered round for a while, leaving Galu to graze freely. He helped with the wounded, calmed the agitated, and assured the worried. Everyone was feeling different emotions due to different things, and Legolas had to stay on top of it all. Trust something like this to happen to him.
The Pass had always been a dangerous place, but there had been so many Orcs…it was confusing. There was never that many in one group, surely?
Eventually, he saw Dolenmíl tending to an Elf with a gash in his right leg. She was smiling and laughing with him whilst tending the wound, keeping him calm and reassured. Legolas smiled to himself as he watched. Memories came back to him of when they had been caught in the fire in the Pass. She had tended his burns, and was completely calm the whole time. She was an expert healer, and Legolas understood why she had stayed in Rivendell. Not only out of her love for Elrohir, but her love for healing people. Lord Elrond was the Master of Healing. Rivendell was definitely the place for her.
He walked over to her, waited until she had finished, then took her aside. She gave him a puzzled look, but he just told her to be quiet. She raised an eyebrow, but remained silent.
He found a soft spot of grass that wasn't too wet, and sat her down. Taking her right arm, he carefully peeled back the material. Sighing, he looked at her.
She grinned sheepishly. "I've been too busy."
"Dolenmíl, this wound is big. It could get infected. In fact, it could already be infected."
"It's only a small shoulder wound, nothing severe."
"Mellon, if you hadn't noticed, your entire sleeve is red."
"And…?"
"Your travelling dress was blue if I remember correctly. It's all covered with mud now, but it was definitely blue. This sleeve is not meant to be red, is it?"
"Well…"
"No, it isn't. It's soaked in blood, and its probably not all your own. You're hopeless at looking after yourself. Brilliant at caring for others, but hopeless when it comes down to yourself."
She scowled at him. "Well you sort it out then."
"I was just going to." He fetched a flask of water, and splashed it over the cut. She hissed as it stung a little, but he ignored her. Ripping off his own sleeve, which was luckily still clean, ("by some miracle," he thought), and tied it tightly round the cut. "It'll do," he said, tying the knot firmly. "For now anyway. Until we get to Rivendell."She smiled at him as he stood, helping her to her feet. "Thank you Legolas. I was so busy checking everyone else was alright, I totally forgot about that cut."
"Lucky I noticed it earlier then, isn't it?"
"Yes. Now, I must see to the others who are hurt. Please excuse me." She smiled, and walked over to the nearest person lying down, his abdomen soaked in blood.
Legolas smiled back then turned to see what else he could do. All around him were his own kin, lying seriously wounded on the ground, some already dead from their wounds, some dying, and some so close to death, they were refusing any medical help. It struck a chord deep inside him, seeing his friends like this. He himself was uninjured. Heledir had a small cut on his left forearm, and Thilio had a bandage round his leg where an Orc had sliced it open. And Dinnu…
In fact, where was he? Legolas had not seen his friend since the fighting began. He felt a feeling of dread creep into the pit of his stomach. He couldn't have fallen…
He ran across the ground, searching every face for any signs of one of his oldest friends. He asked every Mirkwood Elf he met if they had seen him, but they all shook their heads.
He ran on, looking desperately all around him. Every blonde-haired Elf he checked meticulously, praying that Dinnu was safe and well, alive in some other part of this crowd…
He cried out when he saw him, lying on the floor, eyes shut. He was in among a group of several Mirkwood Elves that had obviously fought together.
Legolas ran over, collapsing to his knees beside him. He saw blood leaking through his tunic, and the material was torn. He took his hand, which was ice cold.
"Dinnu," he whispered, tears choking his voice. "Dinnu, wake up."
There was no response. Legolas stifled back his sob as he reached out a shaky hand to feel for a pulse at the neck.
There was nothing.
Legolas felt nothing. Just tears steaming silently down his cheeks. His best friend couldn't be dead, he couldn't be! Elves were immortal; they didn't just die! Dinnu was a trained warrior, expert in fighting and combat skills.
"Dinnu…" he whispered, feeling anywhere for s pulse. His own heart beat frantically within his chest, the sickness and fear of death creeping upon him like a prowling enemy…
"I'm sorry Dinnu," he whispered, brushing away a wet strand of hair from his white face. "I should've stayed with you. I'm sorry." He kissed the hand, and then laid it back down. There was nothing else he could do, but leave. He had to find Thilio and Heledir.
He stood; the tears still rapidly falling. He turned and walked away, stumbling every now and then, trying to forget his friends' pale face, the blonde hair fanned out beneath him in straggly clumps, soaking wet, the blood…
He tripped over people lying on the ground, and looked no one in the eye as he walked and walked. Looking briefly around every now and then, he kept his eyes sharp for either Heledir's silver hair, or Thilio's dark. They had to be around here somewhere.
"Legolas."
He jumped, and turned to come face to face with Heledir. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh Heledir, thank God."
"Legolas, what on Earth's the matter. You're as white as a sheet. And your hands…they're covered in blood! You're not injured, are you?"
"He's dead."
"Who's dead? Legolas!" He placed his hands on the Princes' shoulders and forced him to look at him. "Who is dead? What are you talking about? Tell me!"
"Dinnu."
"What? Don't be silly, of course he isn't…" his voice trailed off as he saw the look of grief upon his friends' face. "Oh no, please no. He can't be…Legolas, not Dinnu…"
"He is. Over there." He pointed in the direction he had come from. "I found him. Stabbed in the abdomen. Blood, everywhere. He's dead, there's no pulse…nothing…gone…faded…"
"Alright, alright, calm down. Show me."
"I don't want to go back. Please Heledir."
"You don't have to see him. Just show me where he is."
Legolas nodded and led Heledir over to where Dinnu's body lay. He tried not to look, but found he had to see his friend one last time. He heard Heledir's' sobs beside him, but couldn't take his eyes off the white skin of the body. The deep red of the blood, a dark contrast against the white of his skin and hair.
He finally turned to Heledir, who was shaking, tears running down his cheeks. He placed a hand on his arm. Heledir looked at him, then they embraced, crying silent tears onto each other's shoulder.
They stood there for a long while, not believing, or not wishing to believe, what had happened. Both had known Dinnu since childhood, and could not believe he had died so easily, so pointlessly. Many had died of course, some slowly and painfully, but with Dinnu…it brought everything so much closer to home.
"We can't just leave him here," Heledir whispered.
"But where can we take him? We cannot get back to Mirkwood now. We have to go to Rivendell."
"But he has to be buried at home! Not left here to rot, amongst the Orcs and other fallen Elves. He's our friend Legolas, our best friend."
"I know." He cast his mind back to when he and Elladan had left the Pass, and Heledir and Dinnu had galloped up to him, worried sick about what had taken them so long.
So many memories. Good and bad, joyful, and sorrowful. Now that was all he had left of his friend – memories. Never again would he hear his warm voice, teasing when he spoke to his horse, never again hear his laugh that set everyone's mind at rest, even in the worst of times, his caring advice, his kind smile, his friendship. There would never be another like Dinnu. Never. Not in Legolas life at any rate. No one could even come close.
"I mustn't let Cel see me like this," Legolas murmured, pulling away from Heledir and wiping his eyes on his sleeve.
"Don't be afraid to show your emotions Legs," Heledir told him. "She'll understand. She loved Dinnu, we all did. You're going to have one very upset little sister on your hands."
"I know. And if she cries about it, I'll end up crying too. Again."
"Don't worry about it. We have to find Thilio, he deserves to know."
"You're right. But if we go, we might never find Dinnu again amongst this lot." He gestured to all the carnage around them.
"We will. Come on, let's find Thilio." He took Legolas' hand, and the Prince was once again, reminded of days gone by, when he and Heledir had first become friends, wandering through the woods together, holding hands so that if they got lost, they would get lost together. Heledir had always been the sensible one. He had always known what to do, and when to do it. He was one of Legolas' dearest friends.
To say Thilio was shaken was an understatement. He stood there in silence, whilst his friends told them of Dinnu's' fate. They finished, and waited for his reaction.
It took a few seconds to sink in. Then he fainted.
Legolas and Heledir caught him easily and laid him down. "Raise his feet," Heledir said. "The blood needs to return to his brain."
"How do you know all this?" Legolas asked, kneeling on the ground and resting Thilio's' feet on his knees.
He shrugged. "I did a bit of training in the Healing Block. For a few years, I helped out there. I learnt just the basics really, but it was enough."
"You've done everything. Warrior training, healing, riding...is there anything you don't know how to do?"
"Cook. I nearly blew mother's kitchen up. She went mad at me, so my sister and I had to make a run for it, and stay away for a while until she had cooled off."
"Oh, I remember that! You took shelter in my room."
"And you and Flugo wouldn't stop teasing me about it for weeks afterwards."
Thilio groaned just then, and they looked at him. "Please tell me it was a dream, a nightmare," he murmured.
"Sorry melonin, it's true," Heledir replied, brushing a stray hair out of his ashen face.
"But how…when…where…"
"Calm down," Legolas told him. "Please. You're in no state to see him, not like this. He's over there." He pointed back down the Pass. "An Orc must have got him in the chest when he wasn't looking. It would've been a quick death." He glanced up at Heledir, who caught his gaze. If Dinnu had been lucky, it would have been a quick death…
"How are you feeling?" Heledir asked, breaking off the subject.
"Dizzy. And sick."
"Just lie still. And relax. You're all tensed up."
"How do you expect me to relax when my best friend has just been killed?"
The other two glanced at one another. Neither knew how they were going to tell the others back in Mirkwood yet. Flugo and Asar still had to be told.
"What are we going to do with him?" Thilio asked.
"We're not sure. We can't take him back to Mirkwood; the danger risk is still far too high. Yet we can't take him to Rivendell, as everyone else will wish to take his or her loved ones. We're a bit stuck on that," Legolas answered.
"But we can't just leave him here!"
"We know that," Heledir calmed him. "We just don't know what we can do."
"I've sent Rédethuil on to Rivendell as a messenger to Lord Elrond. Scouts should then be sent up to us. We'll see what they say about it."
"Any news on the twins?" Heledir asked.
"No. They haven't been seen as yet. They would have probably caught up with the Orcs by now, and are engaged in a full-on fight to win their mother back."
"Probably, knowing them. But what puzzles me, is why they took her. Why didn't they just kill her when they had the chance?"
"She's a Queen Heledir," Thilio told him, propping himself up a bit against his friends' torso. "If anything, they'll hold her to ransom, or…or torture her."
"They wouldn't?"
"He's right Hel," Legolas answered grimly. "They're Orcs. They'll do anything. To them, it'll just be sport, a 'fun' activity."
"What a load of bast…"
"Language Heledir," Legolas told him sharply, but he was grinning.
"Well they are. What pleasure can they seriously get out of torturing another being? I'll never understand them."
"No one ever will. They're the enemy. We're not supposed to understand them."
"Please Legolas, stop being so clever," Thilio complained, pulling a face. "Hurts my head."
"No, your head is hurting because you just blacked out."
"I said stop it!"
Legolas and Heledir just laughed.
Aww, lots of tears. Can you blame them for crying? Their best friend just died! I guess I'm being kinda evil. You ain't seen nothing yet…
New story just popped into my head. Pure tragedy. Will be up on VERY soon. Can't wait to see all your reactions. Teehee…
Until next week guys.
Faerlain