Chapter 2:
Aragorn steered his horse closer to Legolas'. "I do not like this. The trees whisper of an evil that has arrived in Rivendell." Said Legolas cautiously. "We should be careful."
"Look at this. Now, even our own home isn't safe from people trying to kill us." Mumbled Aragorn.
The group walked into Rivendell's gates and Elrond greeted them. "My sons. How was your trip? I greatly wish to hear about it after you've rested." He gestured after hugging them all.
Elrohir put his hand on his father's back. "Our trip was fine Ada. And how are you? Have you had any visitors since we left for Fangorn?
"I've been fine and no, I haven't had any visitors with the acception of two coons that came up last night." He snickered at the thought of this, for Anduril and Indareun were the coons he had talked about.
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By this time Indareun and Anduril had become weary of hiding in the small spaces under the beds. They came out and thought up a new plan.
"This is going to get them good." Giggled Indareun as he put the finishing touches on his brother's costume. "Yeah." Agreed Anduril. "Real good." He added with a smirk.
When Anduril's costume was all finished, Indareun stepped back to admire his work. Anduril looked so much like an orc, Indareun jumped two feet from where he had been standing. "Excellent!" He said evilly.
The two walked out of the room and Indareun saw that the new comers were still standing just inside the gate talking to Elrond. "You keep walking till you get about 10 feet away from them and you know what to do when you get there."
Anduril walked closer while Indareun hid a little ways off. When he got close to Aragorn, he started acting and talking like an orc.
"What! How did that get here!" Aragorn screamed. Elladan ran up to the so-called orc and hit it with his sword. (Luckily the blade was dulled) "Oooww!" Gasped Anduril. He hit Elladan back and knocked him down so Elrohir got his bow out and shot Anduril in the arm with one of the yellow-tipped arrows. Anduril fell to the ground with a sharp cry of pain.
"Wait. That's not an orc!" Warned Aragorn. At that exact moment, Indareun ran out for his brother. "Indareun!" Yelled Elrohir. "Then that means this is…Anduril?"
Indareun took the costume off of Anduril. "Geez! When we meant to do a prank we didn't want anybody getting hurt. Especially not an arrow through their arm." Argued Indareun.
Elrond bent down over Anduril and looked at his arm. "The wound is bad. It is very deep because it was shot from so close. Luckily it was in the arm." He picked Anduril up by his other arm and took him to the healing hall.
When Elrond got Anduril to the healing hall and in a bed, Anduril lost consciousness from the pain. The experienced healer began his work.
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Meanwhile in the parlor sat Indareun, Elrohir, Aragorn, Elladan, and Legolas. "When did you arrive?" Asked Aragorn in a curious voice. "Just last evening." Replied Indareun sorrowfully.
Elrohir sat in a corner and thought about how sorry he was. He was so ashamed of himself for firing an arrow at one of his best friends. He couldn't help but feel like he had been crushed by a giant stone that had been tossed off a cliff onto his heart.
Legolas got up slowly and silently walked over to Elrohir. When he reached his friend he noticed something awful. Elrohir's face was deathly pale and he was shaking immensely. Legolas became very worried about his companion.
"Take him to Elrond!" Legolas demanded to Elladan and Aragorn. "Take him now!" He screamed in a trembling voice.
Aragorn and Elladan took their brother to Elrond in the healing hall. "Ada, there is something really wrong with Elrohir." Elladan whispered in his father's ear. Elrond rapidly turned around to see his sons white face. "Quickly, get him into that bed!" He pointed to a white cotton covered bed next to a window, which showed the beautiful cherry tree right underneath it.
Aragorn took his beloved brother to the bed and placed the blankets tightly over him. "Ada, he is so cold." He pleaded. "Make him better. Please Ada!"
"I think it's best you two go back down to the parlor." Suggested Elrond. He swiftly shooed the brothers out of the room and continued his work.
Elladan walked over to the garden, which was right next to the healing hall, and sat on a carved stone bench. "Why did all of this have to happen? I mean…friends come that we have not seen in over five years and one of them gets shot in the arm with an arrow. Oh! And to top that off, Elrohir gets sick! How could anything get worse?" He cried.
"This could be much worse brother. Trust in Ada to take care of Elrohir and Anduril. He is the best healer in all the land. Believe in hope brother. Estel." Aragorn crouched down beside Elladan and saw a tear flow like a river down his cheek. "It will be alright." He whispered as he kissed his brother on the forehead.
Elladan lifted his head up slightly. "We'd better get back down to the parlor. Legolas and Indareun will be worried."
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The room was silent except for the slight noise Legolas' chair made when he moved.
"I'm afraid we haven't been introduced." Offered Indareun. It was a sorry attempt to try and get his mind off things. "My name is Indareun. I come from Rivendell originally but I haven't been here in more than five years. I travel around but I've mostly stayed in Gondor. My brother is Anduril. We pretty much don't go anywhere without one another. Kind of like you and Aragorn I guess." This last sentence could scarcely be heard.
"I am pleased to meet you Indareun. I have looked forward to it for a very long time. Your friends talk about you a lot. I am Legolas prince of the Mirkwood Realm and son of Thranduil. You are correct. Aragorn and I don't go anywhere out of Rivendell without the other coming." He snickered as he recalled one time when he had tried to leave without Aragorn.
Legolas was soon snapped out of his memory as Aragorn and Elladan came into the room. "How are they doing?" whispered Indareun. "Ada would not allow us to stay and check but I'm afraid for Elrohir. His face was deathlike and he was so cold to the touch." Answered Aragorn.
"I think we'll have to pray to the Valar about this one." Elladan mumbled dryly. His voice was shallow and sorrowful as he looked toward to the floor and thought.