emandm; ;-) I'm glad that bit made you giggle; that's what I was hoping for! Thanks for reviewing!
Deana; Yup! Ok, here's the next chapter for you! One thing I've noticed; you're always one of the first people to review this! Even if I put a chapter up at some ungodly hour (I'm typing this at 11:30 at night btw, probably the time I'm finished it'll be about 00:30...) your review always pops up before I go to bed... :-D And it's very nice too!
Mellaithwen; LOOK, if your stomach was growling and you happened to look at the Indian menu that was resting for some unknown on the computer desk, WHAT would you do?! –punches air- YES!!! –does the patented Mistresses of Evil Victory Dance- Longer than the last! WOOT! Ouch! Your poor ankle... -snort- Sorry, but I had visions of a certain Welsh female falling through an unseen hole in the floor... and now you've hurt your hand too! –huggles Welshie- Poor you! How old was Hal? Probably about 8 in human years, not too decided on that yet... he was young anyway. Yeah, I LOVE ANIME! It's just a pity that they don't do much of it over here; it's a dream of mine to go to Japan one day and bulk buy all of their English dubbed DVDs... –evil grin-
Terreis; You're DETERMINED for that pair to get together, aren't you?! LOL! :-) Ok, ok!!! I give in!!! I'll see what I can do for them... well, that is assuming I'm going to let Hal survive of course. I can never make any guarantees over O/Cs you know... LOL! You're right! Did you know Orlando has 2 self-confessed fears; one of fangirls and the other of technology; he's a complete technophobe!!! I read it in a magazine... Oh well, at least that guarantees he won't be reading these stories; he can sleep easy at night!!! –evil laugh- He he he...
Rae132; YES, THEY'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!!!!!! No, I'm just messing with you! ;-) No! Hal is quite bright (LOL! Puke coloured crayon!), he just isn't very good at showing it... Lol! Yes, I agree; those things DO always happen to them in my stories... except the Warg bit, that hasn't been done by me yet... –lightbulb turns on- Ooh! PLOT BUNNY ALERT!!! -evil grin-...
Mornflower; Lol! No, you didn't sound pushy; I've had worse!!! –remembers death threats and riots over 'Orcs!'...- :-S Yeah... lol! ;-)
Stoneage Woman; Same here! Chicken is one of my favourite things to eat... -sigh- I could never be a vegetarian... Woah! I'm not surprised you're confused... ;-)
leggylover03; LOL! That deserves the prize for the Most Subtle Hint of the Century... ;-)
Lexial147; Thanks dude! ;-)
kel; Aaaw; Dan wasn't being mean, he was just grumpy! ;-) Lol! Thanks for reviewing!
Celebdil-Galad and Tinlaure; Thanks! :-D I take it you like Hal then, yeah? ;-) Ooh, that sounds like a case to keep Hal alive if I've ever heard one! 8-. Ok then, I'll see what I can do about keeping him alive and kicking then! ;-)
shadowfox8; I hope you enjoyed what you read! :-D Oh, of course you can borrow Hal! -blushes- That's very flattering of you to ask! I'm quite happy for anyone to borrow him just as long as they give credit for him to me. Your summary sounds really interesting; GO FOR IT!!! :-D I can't wait to read it! Post soon!!!
varda101; LOL, yeah; it's cruel of me but I get more fun that way!!! –evil grin- Ah well, you know what Shakespeare said; "The course of true love never did run smooth." Hal and Tebridë may yet get together! :-) That is assuming he survives this story though...
Fox-Demon-Girl; -blushes- Thank you!
Dha-Gal; Don't throw ducks at them!!! I LOVE ducks!!! –huggles a random duck- Ducks and sheep; I'm going to buy loads of them when I grow up, I LOVE THEM!!! :-D LOL, killing the villain would be so much easier if we just threw them at Ro; his hard head would do the trick...
ELROHIR: Hey!
... is for horses Ro, that's right! :-) Lol!!! You'd BETTER drop the eyebrow thing!!! LOL!
Astievia; I know what you mean. One time, my mum took me to the library round the corner (Thanks God for handy near-to-house-book-ieness!), parked the car, walked up the big ramp, and took me inside. We were in there all of 15 minutes. We walked out and were greeted by a totally flooded car park. It was up to my thighs!!! Let's just say, I had very soggy trainers that day... ;-) Cool! I haven't heard of that band, but I'll try and check them out if they ever come over here... Oh, thank you! -blushes- I've just decided to delve into the world of song writing; it's hard, but sometimes you can really hit the nail on the head with the right lyrics and music. LOL, that's a bit hopeful, eh?! ME, rich and famous?! –shakes head- I can't see it happening... even though I'd like it. Thanks for the review though!
Celebrean; -ducks numerous acorns- You gonna watch where you throw them?! –mountain of acorns falls on Star-
LEGOLAS: Ooh! -winces- That one hurt her...
Aya-Shoru; Thanks! :-D
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Oh; I don't know how many of you know this, or if I'm just REALLY behind it all (lol! Probably...) but I've just found out what Gimli says in the FOTR EE to Haldir when they're standing on the flet for which after Aragorn hits him... "Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul..." which means (ready?); "I spit on your grave..."!!! scowls Naughty Dwarf... lol!
Sorry for the long wait for this chapter; I'd been writing it and then didn't like the way it was going, so I changed it. I'm sorry that this chapter isn't too long, but I'm sure you'll like it anyway. I'll make it up to you next chapter, I promise. It was just that this one was so difficult!
Oh, and also, in order to combat the Evil FF.N Robber's fondness for stealing poor Hal's ë when it's followed by a 's, I'm just going to leave a space between those letters. So please don't point it out to me. I already know. I did it on purpose!!!
And so after one of LOTR's many mysteries is solved, I give you...
.: Chapter Four :.
His world was a blur of dark blue and pale bubbles that flew around him. Estel would occasionally catch a glimpse of something only just recognisable; a leaf caught up in the thundering water, the ground, or was it the dark sky, in fleeting moments as he was spun in circles by the strong current, or sometimes his own two feet.
His lungs, starved of air, burned like a red hot fire; the complete opposite of his suddenly frozen body. Estel floundered wildly, hoping beyond hope to reach the surface and have some respite from his watery nightmare, however fleeting it may be.
His prayer was answered, and Estel gasped in a quick breath of air before he was dragged under once more. Just as the terrified beating of his heart felt as though it was about to burst, an agonizing pain tore into his left shoulder and he struck his head hard. The last thing that he noticed before he lost his feeble grip on consciousness was that he had stopped moving...
----
His arms were flailing, his body naturally trying to keep his head above the water. Legolas was lucky that it was though, for his mind was too numb to grasp what to do by itself. He had no idea what to do to save himself.
How had he gotten here? One moment he'd been laying on the branch, trying to help his friend, the next he was drowning...
He was drowning! As he was pulled under yet again, his eyes widened as he realised what was to come.
"I'm going to die!"
----
Oh, he had had some stupid ideas in his time, but this really had to have been the worst. Hallataulë struggled hard, but through some measure of luck managed to keep his head above the water.
He had been blinded by guilt and the unconditional need to protect his brother and their friend. Now though, he wasn't so sure this course of action had been the best. But there was no time to dwell on that now.
In the midst of a giddy mix of confusion, adrenaline, and sheer determination to survive he saw something that made his heart skip a beat. Legolas was not too far from him, being pushed down by a wave of water that washed over his head.
The older Elf grabbed him quickly and pulled him tightly into his arms. Legolas clenched his fingers into his brother's shirt sleeve, gripping it firmly and not letting go. Hallataulë kept his arms wrapped around Legolas, hugging him close. What mattered most was staying together and surviving.
A dark shape looming up out of the gloom in front of them caught Hallataulë's attention. The blur quickly began to take form, and to his and Legolas' horror, they saw that it was a very large rock.
The older Elf twisted, forcing them both to go backwards. Now he was protecting Legolas, but at a cost to himself. Hallataulë shut his eyes as he bore the full blow as they hit the rock with no small amount of force. He cried out in pain as a flame of pain flared over the entire right side of his chest, but all it emerged as was a large bubble, the water masking the sound.
And then the current pulled them under yet again, never relinquishing its icy grip...
----
He blinked awake to find himself sitting in sloppy mud up to his chest. Legolas shook his head, clearing away the thick fog that clouded it. The rain still pelted down on them relentlessly; a fork of lightning split the sky, screaming with thunder, in half. A faint pain-filled sound caught Legolas' attention.
Estel was lying against a tree, clearly unconscious. However, it was realised suddenly, heralded by another moan, that Legolas had heard the sound from him. All the Elf had to do was get to him.
Squirming in the mud, Legolas realised with a jolt of shock that he was actually sitting in someone's lap. Turning, he realised Hallataulë was blissfully unaware of their situation, having also been knocked out. The elder Prince seemed in a lot better shape than Estel, and so it was Legolas decided his main priority was their friend.
"Estel, are you alright?!" he called. The teenager made no reply, still slumped against the tree.
Legolas, wondering why his friend did not move, waded slowly through the muck that, when standing, reached up to his thighs. As he neared Estel, he was finally able to see his friend's other shoulder.
What he saw made Legolas gasp aloud. A sharp branch, the splintered end broken and sharp, was stuck through Estel's shoulder, which bled heavily. Legolas scrabbled his way closer to Estel, and finally reaching him, wiped his muddy hands on his tunic and checked the back of the unconscious boy's head. There was large knot at the back where Estel had hit it hard. The unconscious human groaned again.
Legolas gently shook the uninjured shoulder. He had to try and wake his friend.
"Estel? Can you hear me?"
The teen frowned slightly and turned his head towards the sound. Estel opened his eyes just a crack, blinking rapidly as he did. There was a look of confusion on his face; a bewilderment that made Legolas uncomfortable.
"Legolas?" croaked Estel quietly. As his body gradually caught up with his mind, a flare of pain ripped through his shoulder.
"Legolas," he said through gritted teeth. "Help..."
Legolas bit his bottom lip as he tried to figure out a way to get the branch out of Estel's shoulder. He couldn't pull the boy off of the branch; firstly the mud was too far up, constricting movement, and secondly it would probably make the wound worse.
He started slightly as a hand rested heavily on his own shoulder. Legolas looked up to see his brother.
Hallataulë drew a short knife, which had somehow managed to survive the flood without being lost, from a scabbard. "Legolas, hold him still. Estel; I'm going to cut the branch away from the tree and then we'll try and remove it completely, alright?" Estel nodded, breathing quickly.
Legolas couldn't help but notice that Hallataulë 's short laboured breaths and concern washed through him.
"Hal, are you alright?" he asked. Hallataulë schooled his breathing more.
"I'm fine Legolas. Just a bit tired after that... now, as I said, hold Estel still..." replied the other Elf. Gripping the branch tightly with one hand, he began to cut through the branch steadily.
Legolas winced and suppressed a hiss as Estel gripped his hand tightly.
"You're alright Estel, you're alright."
Estel simply squeezed his eyes shut even more tightly. Meanwhile, Hallataulë was just sawing through the last bit of the wood.
The knife cut through the last layer of bark and came away from the tree. Hallataulë and Legolas tried their best to shut out the cries of the poor tree as it screamed. "Amin hiraetha mellon nin," thought Legolas sadly, wishing he could end the tree's suffering. --I'm sorry my friend--
Hallataulë gently pulled the branch out of Estel's shoulder, trying to cause the boy as little pain as was possible. In reality, Estel was biting his lip so hard it drew blood. A look of disgust on his face, the elder Prince threw the bloody branch to one side as it came out with a sickening squelching sound. He then ripped some of the cleanest material he could find on his torn and tattered cloak and pressed it to the wound whilst Estel leant heavily against Legolas.
"We need to have this checked," said Hallataulë. "I suggest finding Elladan and Elrohir and getting back to Lord Elrond."
"Injured... again..." whispered Estel, forcing a smile.
"Only you mellon nin, and it's not as bad as last time," said Legolas, trying to keep Estel's spirits high. Last time they had encountered Orcs. He'd rather face a thousand sudden floods then be captured by Garvorg and Shardûg again.
Estel shook his head. "Not just... me..."
Legolas frowned. "What do you mean?"
Estel's eyes drifted up towards Hallataulë. "I'm not... stupid Hal. I can... see it... in your eyes..."
Hallataulë fell silent, not answering the unasked question that hung in the air. He was perfectly fine; a little winded, yes, and probably some bruised ribs; that was probably all.
Well. Probably...
----
Elladan clambered down the branches less than carefully. At various points, Elrohir's heart leapt into his mouth as he thought his brother would fall from a slippery branch, but the fear was groundless.
They were both still in a state of shock though; three of their number had just simply disappeared in a matter of seconds. The water began to calm just as suddenly as it had sprung upon them, decreasing in level quite quickly, despite the driving rain. Lightning slashed over the darkened sky yet again.
Elladan jumped from a low branch and landed up to his knees in mud. "ESTEL?! LEGOLAS?! HAL?!" he shouted to the wind, desperate for a reply. Where were they?
Elrohir was still clambering down the branches trying to catch up with his brother when it happened. Another bolt of lightning struck, this time hitting the very tree the Elf was in. Afterwards, he could not recall the exact events too well, but Elrohir did remember that he'd been thrown backwards away from the tree, falling down into the mud below, as small fires broke out on some of the branches, and losing his feeble grip on reality as another dark shape suddenly appeared over him and called his name...
Oh yeah; I saw Finding Neverland the other day! :-) It was WONDERFUL... an absolute tear-jerker though; if you do go and see it, I recommend vast amounts of Kleenex. I unfortunately did not heed my own advice and had to sit through the screening floating in a dinghy...