When the Snow Falls Red

Chapter 20: Returning to the Palace

Don't own.

I'm really sorry for the hugely long gap between the last time I updated, but you know how it is. Anyway, mid terms are winding down, so I'll have a little bit less of a stressful life. Just a little. Anyway, continue reading, now that I caught myself up to what has happened so far. Hehe.

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Aranel looked at his baby sister clutching an enemy to her chest, tears spilling over her cheeks. Náessë was such a pure soul. She couldn't hate anyone. She loves everyone, and everything. He smiled a little, but then saw the body of his twin lying on the ground. His blood was spilling over the cold stone floor of the cave. Elerossë, Daeron and Fëanor were standing there, dumbstruck. Haldir was sitting against the wall, trying to figure out what was going on.

Aranel looked to the three former guards. "Pick him up! We have to get him back to the palace. Órelindë will be able to help him, but we have to get him back before he looses too much blood." Aranel said, assuming his role as Prince. Náessë looked to her brother with a look on her face that showed pure gratitude. She released Saeros to Daeron and Fëanor, then went to Haldir and helped him up. The unusual group of elves left the cave and forged into the snow, and the smoke from the fire.

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About two hours later…

They finally reached the edge of the forest and were in sight of the palace. Guards and soldiers were running helplessly around, talking, preparing horses, and gathering weapons. It only took a few minutes for a soldier to spot them trudging through the snow.

"There! Look!" he called out. Others turned and look, and they too saw the Prince, Princess, Haldir of Loríen, and four others. A few ran to help them. One helped Haldir along while another took Náessë in his arms, who collapsed as soon as they reached them. A third took Saeros and helped to carry him to the palace.

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Finwë was walking through the throne room when the doors opened and a large group of elves came inside. His jaw nearly dropped to the floor when he saw Aranel, Náessë, Haldir, and the elves he had demoted and who had caused all this trouble.

"Finwë!" Aranel called. He shook himself and jogged to the prince.

"Is that really you Aranel?" He asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

"Yes. My twin is dead. Náessë killed him." Aranel told him. Finwë looked to the princess who was in the arms of one of the soldiers.

"She did?" He asked. Aranel nodded.

"Please, we have to get to the Hall of Healing. Saeros is hurt, and so is Haldir, and Náessë might be. I don't know." Finwë raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you concerned with those four? They caused this trouble." He said.

"And saved Haldir and my sister's lives. And the freed me. They are not bad. They were angry." Aranel said. Finwë looked at the prince, and saw the wisdom, even of his "young" age, in his eyes, and knew that Aranel knew what he was talking about. He nodded.

"Right. Come along then." He said, and led the group to the Hall of Healing.

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Órelindë had dispersed everyone from the Hall of Healing save for those who were bed ridden and Uruviel. Legolas and Thranduil were lying in beds beside each other. Uruviel was redressing Legolas's wounds, and Órelindë was sitting in a chair, rubbing a spot at her temples.

The opened, and a group fell into the room with Finwë in the lead. "Órelindë! Look!" He cried. Órelindë look up, and saw some of the Mirkwood soldiers bringing in Haldir, Náessë, Aranel, and four others who were dressed in common clothes.

"Put the injured ones on the beds!" She cried out. Uruviel looked up from Legolas's shoulder, and a look of despair passed over her face. There was no way the two of them could care for all of these elves by themselves.

She watched as Náessë, Haldir and one of the common elves were placed on beds. Aranel collapsed onto a bed from exhaustion and it wasn't long before his eyes were glazed in a deep elven sleep.

Órelindë, who was watching from near by, looked to Uruviel. She smiled a little.

"This, my girl, is when we truly learn." She grinned. Uruviel smiled at the elf who had been like a mother to her.

"I'm ready." She said with renewed confidence.

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Finwë took Elerossë, Daeron and Fëanor to the kitchens. They needed to be fed, and Finwë needed to have along talk with the three of them. Once he had them settled down with food and wine, he sat across from them at the large table in the dining hall.

"Now tell me, what exactly is going on here?"

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Galadriel and Celeborn were informed of Aranel, Náessë and Haldir's return. They left their rooms and went to the Hall of Healing. As they moved into the room, they found Órelindë bandaging Haldir's wounds, and Uruviel bandaging the wounds of an elf they had never seen before. Galadriel moved to Aranel's side and placed a hand on his forehead. He was simply tired. He would be all right. She turned and looked to Thranduil and Legolas. Both were asleep. She smiled at Legolas's closed eyes. It was always a strange thing when elves slept with closed eyes. However, she remembered when he was an elfling, falling asleep by the fire on cold winter nights, his eyes closed, his small hands clutching his favorite blanket.

Galadriel moved across the room and stood beside Órelindë. "Tell me what you need help with, Órelindë. I'm here to help." She said. Órelindë looked at her gratefully.

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Another short chapter, but it's not because I'm lost… it's because I needed this one to end to write what happens next.

Later all-

Blue September Rain