CHAPTER THREE
The Essence of Men
It was a cold morning that dawned on the sleeping Elves and men. The crisp and snowy air was filled with the snorting of horses.
Calmir was already awake along with his men. He had his naked sword in his hand, watching his father sleeping in the wrapping of his bedroll. It was this man who stood between him and glory, between him and his victory, he could not allow that. Anger, bitterness, hatred, envy, greed, welled up inside the younger human, molding onto a single mass of madness. Raising the sword, he held it above his father and he whispered, "see you in Hell!" With that he plunged the blade downward and the man who had raised him was dead without a sound.
He looked at his men and snarled, "get them Elves!" If the fair beings had heard the command they might have feared for their lives more.
Legolas, who had finally opened his eyes as he slept found that men were preparing to hurt him in his dream jolted awake to find reality not far from the mental images. He saw one of the humans over him with a club in his hand and a naked sword in the other. He saw another one nearby with rope and chain. The one with the sword and club he immediately recognized as Calmir.
He knew that the elderly man that they had been with would not have allowed this. His eyes went to where the man had choose to sleep and he saw red blood covering the mortal who had tasted his fate. Legolas's anger reared up towards the younger man who had killed his own father and Legolas and Roth's defender who was kind to them. "You snake!" he hissed the man pressed closer. The Elf vaulted up and stood in a wide stance, ready to sell his life dearly. However, he mentally groaned when he saw he was weaponless.
Calmir spoke thickly, "I very strongly advise you to give up." He gave a sneer. Legolas paid him no mind and instead looked at Roth. Legolas saw that Rothinzil was up and cornered in the tent, but the raven-haired immortal had his sword drawn. He was watching the men with fierce and yet bewildered eyes still a bit bleary from sleep.
Legolas turned back towards the human that had hemmed him in to the corner opposite of Roth. He was just in time to move away from the blade that was ready to rest on his throat. He raised a fair brow and asked with a frown and shrug, "why? I see no reason human!"
Legolas ducked another blow that had to be meant to knock him out, before he did a combat style roll past the man and leaped back to his feet by his bow and quiver. He certainly could not use his bow at this distance. He looked at it and noticed that the men had taken the time to cut the string and make it so it was impossible to use. They had planned this.
Regardless, they had forgotten to take his twin knives, or perhaps they had not expected that large of a conflict out of him or Roth, he smiled as he thought of how wrong they had been. He kept his front to the humans and grabbed his identical knives with a quickness and accuracy that was hardly matched to any in Middle Earth.
Kushor looked at Calmir and said, "damn he's fast!" Kushor readjusted the chains and ropes that he held uneasily. He noticed that his palms were slick with sweat. This Elf was a fighter and a quick one, able to deal out death fast and now they had him cornered. When animals are cornered they fight their hardest, because it means life or death. Elves were no different than animals, were they? He didn't think so; they had pointy ears like some odd creature, like an orc or something.
The humans all thought this, not even taking the time to consider the past and why there were some vague and twisted similarities between Elves and orcs.
Calmir snapped back at his comrade, "he's an Elf you fool! What do you expect?" He aimed the flat of his sword for Legolas' wrist, trying to cause enough pain to make the Elf release on of his knives. Legolas jerked his arm clear and struck at the men, cutting a large tear with his knife from his right hand into Calmir's tunic arm.
The dark-haired man looked at the tear and at the Elf with shock. But Legolas had leaped over to be beside Rothinzil, who looked relieved to have his prince fighting at his side. It felt good to know that his friend would support him now. Legolas and Roth stood back to back. They would rather go down in flames than give in.
The men all crowded around with their clubs and chains as though they were after mad beasts. Legolas looked sidelong at his friend and said quickly in the Gray Tongue, "I am sorry to have gotten you into this. I will distract them, you get away." He knew Roth's past and how he feared this more than anything. Legolas swung his knives as one quickly, in a dance like flow, driving the men back. The blonde Elf then yelled to his companion in the Elf-tongue, "go!"
Roth looked at his prince for a moment before putting his eyes back onto the mortals trying to seize him and said in Elvish, "and leave you with this dismal assemblage? Anyway, it is I who made you come here and so I should be the one who is sorry."
Legolas gave a snort and continued in the Elven Tongue of his homeland, "no! If it weren't for my wound we wouldn't be here! Tear through the cloth of the tent and I will keep them off of you as long as I can." He did not want to see Rothinzil relive his past. It would be like Elrond reliving all of his past, but worse. The prince's eyes shone hot with his resolve not to abandon his companion, not unless his body went cold and his heart failed to beat one more time.
Rothinzil growled back, "no! You can just try and make me. If we are caught we are caught together!" His hazel eyes flashed with some heat of his own towards his stubborn friend who had a chance to flee and was staying back because of him.
Legolas placed one of his knives against the back of the tent, pressing it gently against the cloth so it would not rip before they were ready. He looked at Roth and then locked eyes with his friend, "alright then, together." Roth gave a smile as he followed the other's eyes to the blade that was ready to rip through the material. Rothinzil placed his blade by the prince's, so the weapons were nearly touching and Legolas yelled, "now!" in Elven. The reaction was very much desired and very much expected.
This only served to make the men jump back in surprise, wondering what to expect, which is just what the pair of Elves had counted on as they leaped back through the tear they had created and out into the deep snow. It was as though an explosion had wracked the small tent of white weather-stained leather and wooden rods so great was the shock and fright of the fool hardy men that tried to lay their cruel and harsh hands on the pair of Elves.
Calmir, taken off guard by the immortal's sudden action yelled at his men, "get them you fools!" He was not going to allow them to get away. They had challenged him by being defiant and now only one would win, even if he did not capture them, he would slay them. He would be the one to stand; they had garnered his ire. They had to fall now. He arched his brow quizzically and stared at his men, "what are you bloody waiting for? Spring? Get them you oafs!"
Legolas and Roth stood on top of the snow as Elves do. Legolas was scanning the trees with alert and wide eyes as Rothinzil watched the men come floundering out into the world of white crystal. He suppressed genuine laughter as he watched the mortals fall down and fumble through the drifts that were all about them. He looked at Legolas and said, "it will be long before they reach us." But he also knew the hot and sinister determination in the men's hearts would drive them faster and that perhaps his statement had been vain.
Legolas' gaze went from the treetops that he longed to be in and back to his friend, "you would think." He looked at a large tree nearly covered by an enormous and glittering snowdrift, where each flake glowed as the early morning light fell upon its laced facet. Even if it was long before the men would catch up, he was taking no chances. With the swiftness of a young deer he bounded over the congealed white frozen drops of rain, leaving little or no impression on the soft shining dust. He ran up the side of the huge drift that nearly covered the tree and using it like a ramp, he leaped to the fourth branch up.
Rothinzil watched and his gaze was cautious and unsure. He was part human and for reasons that only he knew, he was not sure if he could make it. He bounded across the snow as Legolas had done with certainly no less skill showing in his movement and light steps and then ran up the drift but only made it to the second branch. He looked up at Legolas as the men struggled awkwardly closer. "Give me your hand," Legolas called to his friend that he had known since the raven-haired Elf was young.
Roth looked back at the men and then he took the hand that the blonde Elf had offered down. Legolas pulled with the desperation that came from near panic and Roth was soon up with him, braced against his friend and rescuer's chest. The branches had ice on them and the Elves had not counted on having that. Roth was a klutz anyway and now he was in dire danger. If he fell he would be captured or break something if he landed wrong. Legolas wrapped his arm around Roth's narrow middle, trying to hold his friend on the branch. Anyway, if his friend fell, this insured he would go with him. Roth knew what Legolas was doing, after all, he was no fool though he acted like one at times and said; "if I fall and you go with me that would be a cataclysmic mess Legolas, and you know something? We are extremely close to that ' cataclysmic mess '!" Here he sighed, "I can't allow you to fall with me. I am a guard and that would be a terrible failure on my part."
Legolas just snapped from fear and anger at defeat, "just stop squirming and don't argue! That is why I am holding you! I don't want you to fall, but if you do I won't let you go alone." He felt the ice beneath his feet becoming slippery as it melted and he heard icicles hitting the ground with soft and nearly imperceptible sounds that only sharp Elven ears could pick up. Glaring at the younger Elf he growled, "I command you to stop this nonsense and regain your senses!"
Calmir and his men were close. They were cursing the whole way. Legolas looked to see if any other high branches were accessable but he might as well have looked for a Balrog up in the tree perched like a bird. Sighing, their only options was to wait it out or fight free. He could feel Roth's heart beating fast as fear set in. The younger Elf had been through this before long ago.
Legolas just pulled his friend closer and sighed heavily.
He looked at his friend strangely as Roth went dead silent and said nothing at all. He could feel his friend going tense and alert. Rothinzil was strange in the sense that when something truly unnerved him, he would fall so silent and grow so stone like, that Legolas wondered at times if the other actually collected dust. The thought was laughable and Legolas would have gladly let out a snicker if they had not been ready to be captured by insane men with their utter agony in mind.
Legolas inquired carefully, "Roth? Are you alright?" There was no answer and Legolas could not afford Roth's silence. If they were going to escape, they needed to talk. He pulled Rothinzil closer still and gave him a gentle shake. "ROTH!"
The younger Elf glanced up languidly with a pale face of a chalky color, like one that has seen death on the horizon not more than a day ahead. His eyes spoke everything Legolas needed to know at the moment. Rothinzil was afraid, he felt weak, he felt ashamed and he obviously was being very negative thinking that they were not going to make it out of here alive. Legolas was somewhat negative, but he was a little more realistic than he was negative. There was a small chance of escape.
The men were drawing closer and Calmir panted in a scream of suppressed and utterly malicious rage, "when I catch you Elves, you are going to wish you were dead before I am finished with you!"
Roth sighed and said, "I am sorry Legolas. I didn't mean to, I just remembered some things..." He shivered and Legolas held him tight, knowing that it would not be long before Roth would fall from the tree if he did not. The prince wished that he could steal Roth's fear and pain, but for now all he could do was hold him close and try to calm the violent shivers racing up his friend's spine. However, from the sick feeling he felt, he also knew that they might not avoid capture unless help came. Legolas now thought that optimism was a very underrated quality that he would have to remember to never make light of again. He gazed out at the men and saw that more than one had bows.
"I know Roth," said Legolas bitterly. He now had to put forth all his will and thought in getting them out alive and in one piece. It was not going to be an easy task and he certainly did not expect to be victorious, but that did not mean that he had given up either.
Rothinzil sighed and said, "I know I am holding you back Legolas, just let me go."
Legolas snorted, "folly! You are my friend."
Roth wriggled and said, "I am getting down and am going to lead them away so you can get free!" He struggled against Legolas who held on tighter. Roth was mad! His fear had turned to stupidity. "Let me free, let me divert their attention. Please Legolas, it is our only chance!"
Legolas held onto his crazed friend and said, "Roth you are mad! You are staying right here! I don't want you dead with a bolt in you! They would most likely kill you or capture you and then come for me and then who will have my back?" He felt Roth's elbow hit his stomach and he grunted but held on tighter and Roth struggled harder. He was not going to agree with Legolas on this and he would rather have himself captured than his prince whom he had sworn to protect and who was his friend regardless.
Calmir saw the struggle between the two Elves and notched his bow. For a moment he watched, rather intrigued by the whole incident and amusement shown on his wind blown features. Foolish Elves! Oh well, it was their loss and his gain. He was going to force them to fall out. Aiming the bow for the tree trunk, particularly at a spot directly by Rothinzil's nose, he drew the feathers back alongside his cheek and matched up the sightings closely. Then he let the projectile fly.
Roth gave a yelp of surprise as the shaft struck by his face and he jerked backwards. Legolas felt his feet slide from the sudden movement on the ice that lined the branch and he felt them slide out from under him. He gave a shriek of his own when he realized they were falling down.
He watched as the ice and snow covered branches that waved above became farther away and then he winced as he felt them strike the snowy ground with Roth landing on top of him. In the fall one of his knives had twisted beneath Roth and then jabbed into Legolas' arm with a sting. The wound smarted with a vengeance and he grimaced. He made a grim mental note to choke Roth if they survived.
The younger Elf rolled clear of his prince and then saw the scarlet snow that was being stained by the small wound in the blonde Elf's arm. "Legolas! I didn't mean to!" he cried.
Legolas rolled his eyes, "I know! I am not angry with you, really. Get your sword raised and lets try to get out alive." Getting out in one piece was no longer a goal, it was already failed. But he still hoped to get out alive and with no more than the scratch that he had received.
Legolas didn't have to tell Rothinzil what he had. The ebony-haired Elf already was on his feet with his sword out and prepared for use. His gray eyes flashed as he pushed his past aside, concentrating on the present. His stance and sharp gaze dared them to try and touch Legolas or himself. He may go down but he would go down in flames and fighting.
Legolas leaped up and got his twin knives ready, but he heard another noise that seemed to be drawing closer, hounds baying and shouts. Then he recalled the horses. He could hear their hooves pounding in the snow and kicking up ice and frozen chunks of snow mixed with rock as they searched for food and played dance like games with each other.
The men closed in tighter in a ring bout the Elves. Roth and Legolas went back to back again and primed themselves to die fighting than be taken alive. Then men seemed reluctant to close in on the Elves that they had meshed in so there was no escape. The anger in the flashing immortal's eyes kept them back.
Legolas watched them with intense blue eyes and he felt his arm throbbing with a great pain now that the shock of the wound was gone. He had his weapons in both of his hands and his expression was set to a grim and stony look as he faced off his opponents.
All the while he could hear the voices growing nearer and the dogs breath seemed so close that he could feel it but they were not there. The Elf hoped they were lawmen that could spare them the bitter fight that neither of them were bound to come out of.
Rothinzil looked back at his prince and then said, "we will take a few of them with us before it is finished." Legolas did not even nod, but Rothinzil knew that the blonde Elf was listening. Legolas did not like to kill and neither did Roth, but Legolas was more loathe to do it. He knew that once someone was dead, unless the Valar had mercy on them they were gone forever and nothing could change it.
Legolas looked at the tree ahead and one of the men, Kushor, saw him and said, "you are not that fast Elf, though you be quick enough to strike like a viper." Legolas shot the man a cold and yet slightly fearful look. Then his look changed to that of annoyance. The man just cackled coldly and said, "you would be dead before you got midway up." Calmir watched the Elves for a moment and then he heard the noises Legolas had picked up first.
"Damn it, the constabulary is coming!" he snapped in a growl. Legolas looked at him and in the direction of the noise that was steadily growing closer. Calmir lamented, "we are found! I knew this would happen." He fixed Legolas and Rothinzil with a glare that was so cold it made the hair stand on the backs of their necks. "But you aren't going to get off so easy when they get here. You will see, the town of Farlost hates your kind." He spat at the immortals, which did not even wince at the repulsive behavior.
Legolas said steadily, "we will see, for they are coming. And what is it you plan to do to us if we are taken? we will be out of your hands and will be set free."
Calmir laughed and spat a streak of saliva at the Elves' feet. "No, you misunderstand me Elf, they hate Elves and would like nothing less than seeing you two dangling at the end of a rope." He sneered and said, "poor little Elves, not used to feeling helpless and lower than the dirt? Hope you like it!" he barked at the two who were watching silently now, pondering the best possible escape route. He actually felt smarter and higher than he had in a long time as he listened to these fools talk.
Then they heard the baying getting closer and the Elves heard the horses snorting and kicking, running and rearing, at the sight of what both of the immortals knew had to be the hounds. The law force was coming and they hated the Elves.
Roth looked at his prince and said, "they are making it up in a last ditch effort to scare us Legolas, we will be saved," he reassured over his shoulder. Legolas said nothing and just shifted his weight. He was not sure that the men were lying. They had no reason to lie and he was also sure that Roth was bluffing.
Calmir cackled along with his men as Roth said this and said, "I wish we could tell you we honestly are. But you will see soon enough I suppose." He shrugged and said, "no skin off my nose if you don't believe me."
Legolas wasn't paying a bit of attention. He was waiting, for the baying of the hounds had ceased and all was curiously quiet and tense. The trees seemed to quiver with it and the air seemed thick and yet chill. His breath came out in a slow puff of white steamy fog as he looked around.
He suddenly saw a huge wolf hound come over the crest of a drift, balancing out its weight like a cat on large furry paws to keep from sinking. He let out a loud bellowing bark and his speed picked up to an intense gallop as he saw the Elves. Elves were not men, they were not live stock; they were not classified in his small mind and therefore were deadly, dangerous foes that he must eliminate. They were the enemy he had been sent to find.
Legolas saw another come over behind that one and it pulled back its lips in a snarl as its yes fell over the blonde prince. Legolas braced himself for the attack and Roth spun around to face the new danger. "Legolas!" he screamed as one of the huge beasts slammed all its weight into the older Elf, nearly making the prince lose his balance.
It had a mouthful of cloak and began to try and pull Legolas down. He used his knife and cut a gash across ones face. He did not wish to kill them, but they were attacking him and his friend. The dog was nearly stronger than the Elf and Legolas was forced to slice a section of his cloak free to even maneuver away from the snapping and ripping jowls.
One of the hounds went for Roth and managed to bowl the Elf over. Before Roth could regain his feet both of the hounds were on him. He curled up into a ball as he felt the fangs rip into his cloak and tear his tunic. Soon he knew they would sink into his flesh and taste blood then it would be all over.
Legolas ran over and grabbing a hound by its ear, jerked it, yelping, back and then hit it unconscious with the hilt of his knife. The other was about to get its crushing jaws around Roth's midsection and bite down. Legolas hit swiftly and that dog was out cold.
Roth got up and stumbled slightly as he did. He brushed the cold snow from his clothes and looked at the dogs and the smug men that watched the shocked look of the Elves. The men had not been lying.
Legolas went swiftly over to his friend and asked quickly and in a scared voice, "are you hurt? Did they bite you?" Dog bites were nearly as bad as warg bites if they went unattended to for long enough.
Roth shook his head and was about to say no, he was fine, when a thick voice that was filled with wrath that sent shivers in both of the immortals said, "drop your knives and swords Elves and put your hands up now or we will shoot you where you stand."
Legolas looked at Roth and Roth looked at the prince as they transposed glances. Legolas began to step towards the soldiers that held bows with their aim locked on the blonde Elf's heart. "Oh please! You can't think we did anything wrong-" he began but his comment was cut off by a vicious threat that he had nearly expected.
"I said drop your weapons, or do you want to be stuck like a pincushion?" snapped the head marshal with a snarl. He watched as Legolas looked at Roth and reluctantly began to lower his knives. The man snapped, "now Elf!" Legolas dropped them in the snow and they sunk in about a foot before hitting a layer of ice. Legolas figured that was why the men were not sinking as much and the horses were able to run. The men looked at Roth and said, "you too!" Roth dropped his knife and both of the Elves stuck their hands up.
Legolas frowned and said, " you really can't believe we did-"
"Save it Elf whelp! You stole these horses and don't you dare deny it!" stated the constable as he began to take handcuffs off his belt and walk over.
Calmir chimed in. "Not only that, we, me and my friends, were traveling back to town and these two showed up and demand quarter. We didn't like the looks of them and refused to give it and they murdered my old man!" He looked teary eyed, but Legolas knew better and watched with anger as the constabulary all nodded.
"That is a lie!" snapped Prince Legolas with much heat. "He killed his own father and we had no idea about the horses!" Calmir and Kushor sneered behind the marshal's back at the captive Elves. He mocked them and silently said with his lips, 'poor Elf whelps!'
Legolas grimaced as one of the marshals twisted his injured arm painfully when they set the iron cuffs about his wrists. Legolas felt the cold metal lock about his wrists and frowned. "I do not understand. What is going on? What are you doing to me?" His eyes looked around in a panic as he began to feel cold fear gripping his stomach and a sickly sweet feeling began to rise in the back of his throat.
The marshal securing his cuffs yanked them painfully and then grasped the prince's tunic, shaking him violently and then slapping him across the face with his hand. "Don't play cute Elf! Then we won't have an excuse to give you the beating you deserve!" he snarled.
Legolas looked at the man resolutely and said with a bitter hardness in his voice, "you will regret this morning when Strider finds this out! He is man just like you and he will set everything right!" snapped the Elf at his prejudice captures. Then he sneered and said scoffingly, "no, not just like you...he is fair and trustworthy!"
The man just stared at the Elf with a burning hatred and spat into Legolas' face, "What human would honestly waste his time helping the likes of you scum! Did you not care about the men that were left to die in the valley without the horses and at the hands of merciless orcs?" he snarled at the fair-haired being who took a slender hand and wiped the spittle away from his eyes with the back of his hand in disgust.
Legolas just asked, "what?" He was bewildered exclusively. Orcs? Was that why they had seen their tracks and not been attacked? It must have...but maybe not.
The man sneered and said, "as if you don't know Elf. I wager you thought it was fun to think of them being mutilated and screaming as they were taken apart by the scimitars of orcs with no horses to ride away on to their escape!" he accused angrily. "They were all loving fathers with families and now their wives are widows and their children fatherless, but you love it, don't you?" He gripped the chain attached to the prince's cuffs and began to lead him away. "Master Elf you are under arrest for the murder of Calstor and the theft of horses leading up to the slaughter of many innocent men."
Legolas shook his head. This was all going so fast and he did not get it all at all. All he knew as he was accused of crimes that these other men (that had first tried to capture him for a reason he did not know of) who were leaning on the trees and helping to round up the horses for the marshals to take back had committed and now he and his dear friend were to pay the price probably by death. "No. We didn't do it. We were on our way home. You must listen."
Roth nodded urgently as he was brought up alongside Legolas in bonds of iron cuffs that were much too tight. It was as though the men feared the Elves escape greatly and thought them capable of much that they weren't. "And anyway," asked Rothinzil, "who ever heard of two stealing nigh on a hundred or so horses?" He gave a snort to state his doubt it had and could ever be done.
The man thought a moment and then said, "no...but you Elves are witches and are capable of casting spells to put things under your will," he answered sourly as he silently conceded the point in his head.
Legolas stiffened at the slur to his race that he all too often heard and Roth scowled. But the more they argued the more trouble they seemed to get into so they decided that it might be best to say little and send word to Estel to get their names cleared. But then Legolas had a sudden thought sparked by his over protectiveness of his mortal friend, what if they took the ranger for a traitor to the world of men because he chose to side with a bunch of Elves?
Legolas made up his mind right then; he would not allow that. He would rather die than see his friend come into the trap of trying to save him and thus becoming an outcast of his own race.
Aragorn stroked his horse's velvety nose gently as he stood by Glorfindel and his brothers, surveying the now blocked pass. The snow had come hard, but the majority of it had fallen around Mirkwood's borders and he hoped Legolas was well. However, he had the distinct feeling that the Elf was not as well as could be hoped.
He knew that Elrohir was not doing all hat great either. The younger twin desperately needed rest and warmth not the bitter cold that threatened to freeze them all. Elladan had managed to hollow out a spot in the snow and he had given his cloak to Elrohir, in hopes the younger twin was not going to catch a chill.
The only bad thing was, they had no way to light a fire. They could not burn the snow and trees were buried. It looked as though they were going to freeze to death. For the Elves it would be a bit slower, but they would freeze just as well in time. They also knew that they would be lucky if the orcs did not find them half-alive and decide to finish the job.
Aragorn sighed. He missed Legolas and with this harsh whether his friends were safe or whether they were freezing or even worse...already dead. Buried in a world of white.
As he watched his brothers he saw the worry lining Elladan's face as he watched Elrohir suffer from the wound that was chilled now. Elrohir tried not to show it, but it was painfully obvious by the way he walked and the way he was so quiet. And every now and then, he shivered slightly. The younger of the twin brother's lips were turning a disturbing, indeed, very alarming, shade of blue-ish gray.
Glorfindel pulled Aragorn aside. "More snow is coming, you feel it as do I. We cannot linger, it will be Elrohir's death," said the Gondolin Elf with a moan.
Aragorn sighed with exasperation and said, "I can't very easily do anything about it, but I fear for Legolas and Roth. You know as well as I do that they couldn't have made it home yet." He shifted his gaze out beyond the mountains. "Legolas' wound wasn't healed enough yet Glorfindel, he needs help." Glorfindel followed the young ranger's gaze and the human whispered, "he can't be any better than Elrohir is...he could die." The Aragorn said even lower, "or is already dead."
Glorfindel sighed inwardly and said, "you want to go and find him, don't you?" The Elf of Gondolin was having an inward struggle. He was supposed to bring them back and yet he knew Legolas needed help. But if he went with the human, Elladan and Elrohir might not make it back. He doubted very much Aragorn would make it and even if he did Lord Elrond would never let him here the end of it.
Aragorn smiled and said softly, "Of course I do! He is my friend after all and I know he would do it for me." The man then pulled his cloak around himself tighter and shivered slightly. He tried to hide it but he could not, the cold was wearing on his young body and he was feeling weary. Aragorn put the horse between himself and the wind, but it helped little and the beast moved.
Glorfindel brushed some golden hair from his eyes that the wind had plastered against his fair face and then said, "you would freeze to death before you found him and what would Lord Elrond say to me?" Glorfindel was responsible for getting them back safely, or relatively so anyway. All that matters is that I try! All that matters is that I try. All that matters is-
His inward consultation and monologue was suddenly broken and he nearly flinched. He silently thanked the Valar for the sake of his pride and honor that he did not actually do so.
The young man said, "I would find him and all will be well. He can't have gotten far past the village of Farlost." How could Aragorn make his brothers or Glorfindel understand? Legolas needed him; he could feel it like he could feel an illness before it came. Fear for his friend made his stomach ill and he pushed it back, but that was not an easy task.
Glorfindel frowned and said, "then chances are if he knew the storm was coming and he and Rothinzil got help there." Glorfindel could draw no other conclusions and it did make him feel rather stupid. But he was grateful for one tiny thing that would hardly seem significant to anyone else save he: Erestor was nowhere to be seen. Of course he did not doubt that once Aragorn got back and had to give a half-way decent explanation it would all be poor Glorfindel's fault.
Aragorn could.
"No! The village hates Elves, if they have him or Roth they have them in prison and I doubt that it is very warm there," argued the ranger adamantly. "They both could die and the men of that town could care less." Aragorn knew that men often hated what they could not understand or what scared them and Elves were hard to understand indeed, for if you did not know them and they not you they spoke in riddles, though they did not mean to. "Farlost would be worse than being out in the wilderness and cold."
Glorfindel looked into the eyes of the ranger and saw the fear in them. He knew how Elves were hated all over, but in Farlost? He had never known that. "Are you sure?" he asked the man. "I had never heard of this."
Aragorn grabbed Glorfindel's shoulder and squeezed, "because Elves that go in there don't come back." He sighed, "most are shot before they come near the village by hunters and such." Aragorn had to admit this was one of those times he loathed his race and what they stood for. He had been raised around Elves and loved them for what they were, free and comical, yet serious and wise beings that were kind by nature and lived forever, watching ages pass them by and never feeling them. To most it would be a torment, but that is what the Elves endured and yet hated men not, save for a sparse few Elves that avoided men completely.
He saw Glorfindel give a shudder, of slight cold or disgust, he did not know. "And you think you could find him?" asked the golden-haired Elf skeptically with a raised brow.
"I know I can and bring him home, but I can't let any of you come with me. Elrohir wouldn't make it and he needs you to be with him," said Aragorn in a low tone. His facial expression became anxious and his eyes darted back to his brothers and to the land he had just come from only hours ago.
Glorfindel took his cloak off and draped it across the human's shoulders. "I hope this will help some. "He pulled the human closer and whispered, "I know that Legolas needs you, and I will give you as much aid as I may." He sighed and said reluctantly, as though the right words just wouldn't come, "be careful and come back in one piece, please. I would hate to have the twins after me, they can be quite mean."
Aragorn gave a wry chuckle and said, "yes, very. I will be careful, as always." He watched as the Gondolin Elf-lord sported a façade that clearly stated he had his doubts.
Glorfindel sighed and said, "I thought you would say that." He snorted, "If you don't come back in one piece I'm killing what is left."
Aragorn said, "and if I don't save Legolas or Roth I will readily let you!" He looked at his brothers. Elladan was trying to get Elrohir to lay down and relax and Elrohir was having none of it. He was insisting he was well and Elladan was insisting he be not. Aragorn was going to miss them, but he could take care of himself, couldn't he? Of course he could! Now was his chance to prove it. He said in a murmur, "look after them, will you? Particularly Elladan, he won't understand. He always was the mother hen."
Glorfindel smiled warmly, "I will do my best, but I can make no promises with those two." The Gondolin Elf shifted uneasily and said, "I might as well write out my will because once I get back I am sure I will be slowly killed!"
Aragorn laughed and said, "I understand that. But Ada will not kill you! You exaggerate. He will be grumpy, yes...stiff, yes...but murderous? Not father." He knew that by the look on the Gondolin Elf's face that Glorfindel was having other thoughts.
Aragorn just smiled and Glorfindel snorted, "well you had best begin your venture lest they should notice you are departing. I think they would quite willingly lynch me for an accomplice." He chuckled at his own humor and Aragorn just shook his head gingerly.
TBC...
Review please? Thank you so much for every last one of them. They are very much cherished and we read them over and over. LOL
NEXT POST: Monday
-Review responses- :)
Deana: Kill Rothinzil?Us? Well...we can't tell you whether we are or not, but think of it this way, would you kill off someone you really cared about and have put three stories into creating? Good to see you begging for his life...-Elf nods earnestly- We think you made a new best friend. LOL Glad you like the long chapters and thanks for the encouraging review.
elitenschweinNothing much is wrong beyond the wound besides stress andit is Elrohir we are talking about! Come on! Yes, Glorfindel won't be out of danger for long while. –giggles at scowling blonde Elf- You think Legolas is bad off now, just wait.
prince's color drains in terror- authoresses hug Elf- Thanks for the encouraging review.
Snow Glory: It's fine you didn't review the first chapter. We all get busy. Now about the question you asked...nice try! We can't tell you! Sorry! Muahahahaha! Thanks for the wonderful review.
Astievia: Hehehehe. We actually post every other day. Unless your time zone is different or something. –shrugs- Yes, we got to see her. Hope you get the chance too as well. Yay! An English fan! LOL But Western is fun when it comes to barrel racing and such. I used to hit my stomach on the horn too. Just try to lean back more in the saddle. Anyway, Engilsh actually is better when it comes to learning to ride as far as balance goes. –shrugs- Are you joking around that you don't know what snow is or are you serious? We can't tell as we can't see your face (so please do not get offended at our response). But if you are serious, it is frozen water that falls as powdery white crystals and can deeply cover the ground but is light. It is like shredding ice into a fine powder. About the girl...no hints. Thanks for the interesting and encouraging review.
Beling: Of course we are going to be nervous! Why would we not? It is a new story after all and we have performed many re-writes on it. :( But thanks for the encouragement. Glad you like our OC's. It is hard to make them seem real and nearly tangible at times. Awwwwwwwww...that was so sweet you felt our little Rivendell Elf's nervousness. –sigh- Awwwwwwwwww... Tanks for the nice review.
Shadowfaxgal: Thanks for reviewing despite your homework. Glad to know that you like it and we post every other day except on weekends. Thanks for the review again.