I'm a happy person in real life, I promise. The continuation of my strange epic, remember it's quite AU in many ways, so um. anything goes. As always this entire fic is lovingly dedicated to my very own gwanuig and though it may seem mean to devote an angst fest such as this to her, believe me, it's what she wants. Cowgoddes. chapter 3 is right around the corner. For now, onward.

Peaceful Ruin

Chapter 2 - Forced to Face Another Day

Everywhere I turn, I hurt someone

But there's nothing I can say

to change the things I've done

I'd do anything within my power

I'd give everything I've got

But the path I seek is hidden

from me now

Brother Bear, I let you down

You trusted me, believed in me

and I let you down

Of all the things I hid from you

I cannot hide the shame

And I pray someone, something will

come, to take away the pain

There's no way out of this dark place

No hope, no future

I know I can't be free

But I can't see another way

I can't face another day

No Way Out (ala Brother Bear)

- Phil Collins

Elladan grabbed the human's shirt and hauled him into the air. The orc screamed, his need for violence raging in him but when he took a deep inhale his whole body froze in place. The young human hung suspended in the air, completely at the mercy of the twisted being who held him yet he felt very little fear. There was something in the way that this orc moved, something familiar. The creature pulled him close and took in his scent. Elladan's eyes cleared for a moment, they transformed into a shimmering grey and sharp recognition flew over the young human. Barely even able to breath, shock and horror setting in, he whispered, "No."

The orc abruptly dropped him and turned away. Brushing against a surprised Elrohir, he stumbled back to his shredded books. Both elf and human were frozen in place by the act they had collectively witnessed. Elrohir broke his posture and turned his shocked expression upon the young human. "Who are you?" His question wasn't much more than a whisper, a prayer.

The young human shook his head as the tears began to run down his face. "You really don't know me do you?" He then began to cry. The pain and loneliness sinking in, the reality of it all was too much.

Elrohir crouched beside him on the floor of the once great library. "You're crying." It was a statement, an observation, nothing more. It was amazing to the elf that this entirely random human being was sobbing at the site of his brother. To the boy, it was much worse.

"My name is Estel." He looked up and met Elrohir's cold eyes and saw no emotion in their blue depths. He saw a distant interest in him. There was no pity, no compassion. This elf didn't know who he was, and what was worse, he didn't care. "Estel. You don't know that name?" Estel was trying to control his sobbing but the horror of his situation was starting to hit him hard. His brothers were gone and in their place, monsters.

Estel stood slowing trying to figure this out. Elladan raged below and Elrohir stared at him as if he was a creature never before seen. The paintings were in tatters, the ceiling was half caved in and the clouds obscured the sky. He turned to where he'd awoken, to where the shards of Narsil once lay. The beautiful sculpture glowed white even in the shadows but the sword was gone.

Elrohir suddenly grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. The elf's eyes flashed with a deep anger mixed with a hopeless despair. It was the single most terrifying expression Estel had even seen. Elrohir's words were charged with unchecked pain. "How did you get here? What did you do to my brother that prevented him from killing you?"

He shook Estel hard and swiftly. "You will answer! How do you know his name?"

Estel sobbed openly completely done. "You both are my brothers. I would know you anywhere." Elrohir's expression changed to one that was unreadable. He dropped Estel to the ground.

"That doesn't answer any of my questions human." The fire in his voice was gone, replaced by the resigned despair that even Estel had never seen in his brothers either.

"Estel. My name is Estel." He ran his hands over the statue. The stone radiated heat, pure white heat.

Elrohir snarled. "I will call you whatever I choose." He turned his back on the boy. "Besides what kind of being names a child Hope?"

Estel's words were soft but filled with emotion. "Our father, Lord Elrond" He had barely finished the name when Elrohir moved. He spun around, twisted on his axis and backhanded Estel straight off his feet. Estel hit the ground with such force that it knocked books off shelves down below causing an excited yowl from Elladan. Red spots played in Estel's vision and through the haze he saw Elrohir approach him. He hauled Estel to his feet, his grip upon his arms like a vise. "Never say that name again." His voice was cold as steel and his eyes frosted over like a lake deep in winter. A winter without summer in sight.

Estel nodded rapidly and once again Elrohir shoved him to the ground. The elf then turned his back on his human brother who's jaw he'd just bruised and gathering up Elladan left Imladris. Elrohir trudged through the gardens, his twin just ahead of him, completely overtaken by feelings he hadn't felt in years. The mention of Elrond had reopened the old festering wounds but that wasn't even as painful as the guilt he felt for hitting the boy called Estel. It made no sense, he hadn't cared about anyone besides Elladan since his father's betrayal but he did. He cared and he had no idea why. He had never heard of this human before. Certainly he wasn't his brother, he couldn't be. He wasn't elven, he wasn't even an adult. It just plain didn't make sense but here he was and he knew that to see the blood on Estel's face would hurt him more than anything he had done in these dark years. So he walked on, vaguely aware the human was following him.

Estel's head pounded from the blow he'd received from the same being that had sworn to protect him with his life. The twins, these were the twins. It didn't seem possible. Where was he? His mind swirled, confusion and horrible fear fought for dominance.

The weather was changing. The sun now peaked through the clouds and the air blew a sweet breeze through his hair. The forest was dead and shadowed but the sun still shimmered. Glorious light illuminated the back of his brother as the elf trudged through the trees. Estel increased his pace trying to keep up when Elrohir stopped suddenly. Estel was behind him in an instant. Startled Elrohir spun around.

He pulled out his hunting knife, its blade didn't gleam in the beautiful light. Estel could see the layers of caked blood upon it's metal. Elrohir hadn't cleaned it. He waved the knife at Estel but the human was much more distracted with the reason Elrohir had stopped in the first place. Elrohir noticed Estel looking over his shoulder and with one hand on the human's shirt he brandished his knife at the elf that now stood before them.

This elf was blond and handsome. His eyes were haunted and although he carried a bow he had no arrows. His skin was immaculate and glowed in the sunlight. He stood slumped over, oblivious to his glory, to the scents in the air, to even the orc hiding from him in the background. He shifted his bleak gaze from Estel and then looked directly at Elrohir and in clear Sindarian said only. "If you intend to kill me I will offer you no resistance."

Estel gapped at the complete desolation in his face and his words. He stood unarmed, his palms upward entreating Elrohir to murder him there and then. When Elrohir re-sheathed his knife, disappointment marred his features and he slowly fell to his knees in the dirt. His shoulders shook slightly in defeat. He didn't cry, he couldn't, he was so beyond all reason and hope that just to look at his still form brought Estel physical pain.

It was Legolas, son of Thranduil and heir to the throne of Mirkwood.