Reviewer responses:
Deana: Thank you as usual! I'm so glad you have stuck with ALL my stories and I love to read your reviews. Yes, I did get the x-ray back...no fracture! Yippee! BUT it still hurts and therefore I probably have a bad sprain or something wrong with a tendon. But I can write.
MidKnightDragonz: Hello! Glad you like this! And Glad you reviewed!! I like Marken too, I don't know if I could kill him! I don't know how long this will be, but I hurt Legolas in pretty much all my non-humor fics.
Morn: I love this skit in particular. Aw darn...and it looks like Louisa and Legolas know something about you that I do the world huh? Just kidding! Thanks for reviewing...hope you like this one.
Sielge: Yup, first stitch job. And wait til you see the end of this chapter...hehe.
Marbienl: HEY I missed you...just kidding. I love to hear from you! The lesson on communicating with trees is an interesting one...but I don't know if I will go there. I mean, I kind of keep that ability within the wood-Elf royal family, leastways in my stories. But it'd be a fun scene if they were to TRY it!
SNAITF: Sorry...I tried to end this on a not-so-bad cliffie. Was I successful?
Aranna Undomiel: Thanks for reviewing. I tried to get this chapter out pretty quickly. Course, I have to find the time to write them first! Thanks for sticking with me!
LegolasLover2003: Hey yeh...I never got stitches before. I've cut myself numerous times, but never badly enough for stitches. So I was shooting from the hip there, not sure if I captured it correctly.
Spiritstllionofthecimarro: Whoa...hope I got your penname spelled right there! Thanks for reviewing, I'm always thrilled to have new revieweres pop out of the woodwork. The more the merrier and the more constructive ideas and things I get for the stories. Thanks a bunch!
Chapter Seven: To Rivendell with Haste
Legolas grunted in pain as consciousness returned to him. Estel was crying, that was the first thing he was aware of, and Legolas was desperate to stop whatever was hurting the child.
"Estel..." he whispered, drawing the boy's attention. "Please, do not cry. You will be all right." He looked down at his bandaged torso. "You have done a good job."
Sniffling, Estel wiped his nose lightly and rubbed his eyes to clear away the tears. "You think so? Does it hurt a lot?" he said, his voice quivering lightly.
Forcing himself to smile, Legolas shook his head. "Not too much. All will be well."
"Excuse me," a voice said, filtering up from the ground. "When you are quite finished, it would be advisable to ask the tree to open up a bit so we can get you three down."
"Elladan..." Legolas breathed. That was a relief in itself. Not that he wasn't thankful for the healing ability of Estel, but the Prince knew this was still a serious wound and that the sons of Elrond would be plenty capable of caring for him. "Mellon nin!" he called out. "I will do so immediately."
Laying his hand, palm down, on the tree, Legolas conversed in rapid-fire Quenya.
From their position on the ground, Elladan and Elrohir exchanged glances. "I didn't know he knew Quenya," Elrohir muttered under his breath.
"Nor did I," his brother answered.
They watched in tense silence as the branches of the maple tree began to shake and part, revealing two dark-haired figures and one blonde.
Elladan moved to climb up the tree, but quickly realized it would be of no use. Legolas was already slowly lowering himself downward, quietly speaking to Estel and guiding him to the safest perches.
A man was following them, eying the new Elves with no short amount of trepidation. Marken didn't know how these two would react to his presence. After all, he had been party to Legolas and Estel's kidnapping.
As soon as the three were out of the tree, Legolas smiled and thanked the maple for its aide. Turning back to the twins, he reached out and Elrohir immediately steadied him.
"Legolas? Are you all right? What's wrong?" Estel asked, seeing this.
Legolas breathed lightly. "I just need a bit of help, Estel. Do not worry. Your brothers are fine healers, just as you are, and I do not worry for my health."
Elladan knelt down beside Estel. "Gwador nin, we were so worried about you. I don't know if we tell you enough, Estel, but we dearly love you and I am so sorry that we did not watch you more carefully. This is all our fault and somehow we will make it up to you."
But Estel was quickly shaking his head no. For a moment, Elladan thought for sure that the boy was refusing to forgive them, to accept the apology. But his worries were quickly dispelled.
"I do not blame you, 'Dan. It was an accident. You didn't mean to leave me, you didn't hear me fall. Can we just go home now?"
Rising, lifting Estel in his arms, Elladan smiled. "Yes, we will go home immediately." He now turned to Marken. "I do not know who you are, Sir, but if you aided our brother and friend you will be most welcome in the home of Elrond."
"Home of Elrond? Imladris? Is that where you are from?" Marken said with a start.
Elrohir's eyes narrowed. "Yes, do you know it?"
Marken nodded again. "I have had cause to travel there, long ago, when I was but a child. But I did not remain for long, my parents were not friendly with the Elves, I do not know the reasons why."
Elladan studied the man closely. He looked vaguely familiar. Like someone of long ago that Elladan couldn't quite place. Perhaps his father would remember the visitors and their identity.
"Well, either way, come with us. We owe you a great debt of gratitude for your role in Legolas and Estel's rescue." Elrohir smiled at the prince in his grasp. "Just wait until your father sees you, Legolas. For a Prince, you sure get into a lot of harrowing situations. Your father is liable to lock you up and throw away the key one of these days."
Marken's jaw dropped. "Prince? You are a Prince?"
Legolas nodded lightly. "Yes." He didn't venture anything else.
Estel took up the story. "Yes, he is the Prince of Mirkwood, Marken. His father is King Thranduil and he's kind of scary sometimes, he is so serious. Mirkwood is a scary place too, my brothers tell me so, there are spiders and Wargs and Orcs and everything in the woods. But the place where the Elves live is all cheery and nice, but they live in caves sort of, well underground anyway, cuse Elves don't like caves..."
And on and on Estel went.
The twins let him talk Marken's ear off. It kept his attention from the steadily declining health of Legolas as they hurried toward their campsite, hoping the horses would still be there somewhere.
"Elrond, you don't suppose those wayward sons of ours have gotten into too much trouble, now do you?"
Thranduil was seated on the balcony overlooking a fertile garden in Imladris. He and Elrond had taken lunch out under the bright sun, exchanging news of their realms, each bringing the other up to date on hundreds of years of happenings.
Elrond sighed heavily. "I must say, Thranduil, those three are notorious for getting into trouble. This is the first time I have allowed them to take Estel. I do hope they are being more careful than usual. He is only a child."
Both lords returned their gaze to the lush scenery that was Imladris, each locked in their own thoughts, each worrying about the well-being of Estel, Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir.
And their worries, to their unawares, were founded.
"Great, just great."
Elladan threw his hands up in denial.
Their campsite, though only abandoned for a few days, had been totally destroyed. The horses were no where in sight; the healing packs were strewn around the ground. Elrohir, who had been helping Legolas travel, gently lowered him to the ground near the old campfire ring.
Estel immediately settled himself beside the Elf, only now ending his lecture on Mirkwood. Marken had long since tuned him out, but nodded and smiled, gasped and 'oh'd' at the right places.
Legolas wavered, even sitting, and looked down at the bandages. Thankfully, they were not bloody, meaning that Estel's stitches had held during their walk. He smiled wearily. "Look Estel, no blood, you did a good job!"
The boy smiled now and snuggled closer to Legolas, sticking his head under the Elf's arm on his good side. His breathing quickly slowed and evened out and Legolas looked up at Marken with a confused expression.
"He's asleep," the man laughed, now standing to see if he could aide Elladan and Elrohir. The twins were combing the surrounding wood, looking for healing packs and food, though the latter they fully expected they would not find.
"Look's like the work of Wargs," Elladan breathed irritably. "But how can they be even this close to Imladris? A lot of odd goings on have been happening lately. First the slavers and Orcs, now Wargs? We really must have a discussion with Adar when we get home."
His brother nodded in understanding, then turned to Marken. "So, how did you meet up with Estel and Legolas?"
The man's smile faded. He looked down a little and wrung his hands. "Marken?" Elrohir said. "Did I say something wrong? You helped them escape, you are a friend for that."
Marken looked up. "A friend you say now, but if you knew that I had originally been one of the slavers, then would you still call me friend?"
Elladan's eyes narrowed. But he held his tongue, letting his brother speak. "Yes," the younger twin said emphatically, casting a glance at his brother. "We would. You saved them. No matter what your part before, Legolas and Estel are grateful to you and therefore we are too."
His brother sighed and nodded. "Yes, 'Ro is right. I too am thankful to you, Marken. I have difficulty reining in my anger sometimes, after our mother was badly tortured and beaten by Orcs. But I am working on it. After all these hundreds of years, you would think I would have it under control. But an Elf's memory is long, as are our lives."
Marken nodded, smiling. "Well, I am glad to hear it. I did not want to be on the pointed end of your swords. I dare say, if you are the sons of Elrond, your names precede you."
"How so?" Elladan asked.
"The Orcs that traveled with the slavers. They feared the sons of Elrond, you are known as the Orc Slayers to them, for they know of your exploits in killing their kind."
Elrohir sighed. "Yes, we did hunt their kind for many years after our mother's imprisonment and sailing to the West. But we have been trying for years now to overcome our anger and hatred, as they are unbecoming of Elves."
Marken nodded. "You had due reason to hate them, you know. And I do not think it horrible that you wanted revenge. But enough is enough, and you cannot think you can succeed in wiping them all from Middle-Earth. I am glad that you are putting it behind you."
Elladan nodded along with his brother, but did not answer. Why did I do it? He thought to himself, reflecting on Ciydan and the men. I killed some of those men in cold blood. They were no Orcs, I did not have to kill them. They should have been brought to Imladris for a trial, or to Bree for the same reason. When did I acquire the right to act a judge and executioner as 'Ro said?
And he was ashamed now. Elrohir could see a change in his brother's eyes, but didn't catch on to what it meant. He made a mental note to discuss it with Elladan later, but right now, they had an injured Prince to take care of.
"There!"
Marken pointed to the ground beside Elrohir's feet. The latter let out a small cry of elation. "My healing pack! Perfect!" He bent down and picked it up, quickly sorting through its contents as he walked back toward camp, leaving Marken and Elladan to find anything else.
Marken warily watched Elladan, hoping he really had gotten past his blind rage.
"Legolas? Are you all right?"
Elrohir saw Legolas wince as he returned to camp. The Prince looked rather uncomfortable. "I do not wish to dislodge Estel, but I really cannot stay in this position any longer for it pains me."
The dark-haired Elf nodded. "All right." He then stooped down and gently extricated Estel from where he had wedged himself up against Legolas. The boy stirred in his sleep and murmured something unintelligible, but did not wake.
Legolas sighed in relief as he was finally able to move into a more comfortable position. But his relief was short-lived. Pain ripped through his side and he screeched lightly, drawing Elrohir's attention.
"Sorry, I wasn't expecting that," he said sheepishly.
Elrohir laughed. "Oh, Legolas, only you would apologize for reacting to pain. It's not like you have to hide it from me, I already know it is there and likely paining you greatly. Now, sit still, I wish to see the work of our newfound friend."
Legolas frowned. It seemed that the twins still didn't realize it was Estel who had done the work on his wound. He would wait and see what Elrohir thought before breaking it to them.
The twin gently removed the bandage from his friend's torso and stooped closer to the wound, gazing at the neat, tight stitches.
"Well..." he said quietly. "I see real talent here. Perhaps a little hand wavering, a widely spaced stitches, but for the most part the work of a healer."
Legolas was about to respond when a small voice piped up. "You really think so, 'Ro?"
Elrohir nodded. "Yes Estel, I do."
Legolas looked at Estel and grinned a little. "Do you wish to venture a guess as to whose work this is, Elrohir?"
The twin looked up and frowned. "Why, Marken's, I would assume."
"No..." Legolas said, his eyes snapping to something over Elrohir's shoulder.
The twin followed the gaze, twisting so that he was looking over his right shoulder. Estel filled his vision. The boy was now standing behind his older brother. "I did it, 'Ro."
Elrohir's jaw hit the ground.
A/N: Well, how was the attempt at a not-so-bad cliffie? Was it successful? Cast your votes via review please, I really did attempt a non-cliffie ending. But since I am not so good at them, I would like feedback! (OR that could be a sly way to try to get reviews...either way...PRETTY please review!!) :-)
-Gwenneth