When the Red Snow Falls

Chapter 15: The Cave

Don't own.

Náessë looked around her, her heart thumping against her chest. Her breath quickened, but with every breath, she took in black smoke. She looked down at the elf she held in her arms. Blood was spilling from the wound on his chest, and his face was paling. She tore at her dress until she got a large piece ripped off, and pressed it against his wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Although, there wasn't much she could do, as they were surrounded by leaping flames.

It wasn't long before Náessë was ready to give up. The flames were moving closer, and there was no way she could save both herself and Haldir. So she sat, huddled against Haldir, waiting for the inevitable.

Aranel strolled through the palace doors and went up to the Hall of Healing. Inside, he found a very subdued group. Celeborn, Galadriel, and Thranduil were sitting beside Legolas, watching him, while Órelindë was standing at a table, doing something that he could not see.

When he entered, Thranduil looked up.

"Aranel! You have returned!" He said, Aranel nodded.

"I am sorry that I was not able to find Legolas before the wolves got him, and when I went out today, I just could not find him. I guess I went in the wrong direction." Aranel said, gesturing to Legolas's body.

Celeborn glanced at his wife, who was eyeing the elf suspiciously. I do not think I entirely trust this elf. She said to him in his mind. Celeborn nodded to agree.

As silence fell upon the room again, Legolas suddenly opened his eyes, beads of sweat pouring down his face. He was panting. He then cried out, for the pain in his arms and shoulder came rushing back to him. He closed his eyes tight to try to fight back the pain.

"Legolas." Thranduil said, moving closer. Legolas opened his eyes a little.

"A-Ada. Something's.... wrong!" He cried... but the medicine and the loss of blood were too much, and he couldn't finish what he was saying. His eyes slid closed and he was asleep again. Thranduil looked to his friends.

A guard rushed into the room. "Your Highness! There is a forest fire!" The guard cried. Thranduil's eyes went wide and he leaped up and ran from the room, followed by Celeborn, Galadriel, and Aranel. Órelindë turned from what she was doing. A forest fire? In the winter? How? Something occurred to her. Náessë was out there! As was Haldir.

"Uruviel!" She called out. The apprentice appeared at her side. "Watch over Legolas. I must go." Órelindë said. Uruviel nodded and moved to sit down beside the sleeping prince. Órelindë hurried after Thranduil.

Lólindir was sitting beside Valandil, watching him, hoping to the Valar that he would live to get to Rivendell, and that Elrond would be able to save him.

"Look!" Someone shouted from outside the carriage. It stopped, and Lólindir climbed out. There was black smoke rising from the forest. They had left the forest hours ago, but there was so much smoke that it was as plain as day.

"A forest fire? In the winter?" On of the guards asked. Lólindir knew that this was no accident. Unless there was orcs or men in the woods, no elf would ever set the woods on fire.

As Lólindir moved back to the carriage, one of the guards spoke. "Come. We should try to get as far as we can today. I don't know how long Valandil will last."

In a few moments, their journey was underway once more, all with heavy hearts over the trees that would be lost in the fire.

A thin elf, lying on the ground, opened his eyes. His dark hair was falling over his shoulders. All he was wearing was his leggings. As his vision cleared, he looked around the best he could. His arms and legs her bound behind him. There was not much he could see. It was dark. He heard the faint sound of dripping water. It was cold, and damp in... wherever he was. He tried to roll over, but his whole body ached. He lifted his eyes, and saw that he was in a cave, for across from him there was a rocky wall. But this just wasn't any cave.

A small smile spread over his face as he looked at the paintings on the wall. And the words that had been painted. This was the cave that he, Náessë, and Legolas would play in during the summer when they were younger. They had even stayed the night in the cave a few times, either when it was raining to hard to get home, or if they had planned the stay in advance.

Soon, he heard voices. He closed his eyes to fake being unconscious, but he kept his ears open. "I don't agree with what Eärendir wanted us to do. Sure we were angry, but setting the forest on fire isn't really a way to get back at Thranduil." One voice said. Eärendir? Who was that?

"I agree. Did you see who he elves were that were walking in the forest?" A second asked.

"Yes. It was Princess Náessë, and one of the elves in the service of Lady Galadriel." A third replied.

"How did you know that?" A fourth asked.

"Because of his attire." The third explained.

"Wait a second. We just set fire to the forest, while Princess Náessë was out here?" The first cried in surprise. The four voices were silent. Elven curses arose in the cave and bounced off the walls. The four elves ran from the cave, their feet making a soft patting noise against the damp stone.

Thranduil and the others reached the stables, and he was about to go inside when he heard Órelindë's voice.

"Thranduil! Náessë is out there! So it Haldir!" She cried, running across the grass. Thranduil stopped and turned, staring at his friend. He said nothing, but turned back to the stable doors and threw them open. Galadriel saw the tears forming in his eyes. The poor elf. First one of his best friends, then his youngest son, and now his only daughter.

"We must go find them." Celeborn said suddenly. Galadriel looked to him.

"It is too rash! You cannot just go out into a fire." Galadriel argued. Thranduil turned to her, tears already falling down his cheeks.

"My daughter is out there somewhere and she could be hurt, or worse!" He cried out. "You can't tell me what to do!" He stomped into the stable. Galadriel shook her head. Celeborn rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Haldir is out there as well." He said softly. Haldir had been with them for many, many years, and Celeborn loved him like a son. He knew Galadriel did as well.

Galadriel looked into the eyes of her husband, and she sighed. Celeborn reached out and pulled his wife into his arms. It was one of the few times that she needed comforting.

"You are all fools." All turned to stare at Aranel.

"What are you talking about?" Thranduil asked, anger overcoming his sadness.

"You won't be able to save Náessë or Haldir. They will be dead soon, for the fire will consume their very flesh." He said, a dark smirk forming on his lips. Thranduil moved forward and put his hands on his son's shoulders.

"What has gotten into you Aranel?" he asked, angry. Aranel grabbed his hands and pushed them away.

"I am not Aranel! I am his twin, Eärendir!"

Hahaha. Cliff hanger. -snicker- Are things kinda sorta coming together yet?

Later-

Blue September Rain