Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. I own Mistad and Sarkáhn and the poem that will come later.
Thanks for all of your wonderful reviews and here is the next chapter in my story and I hope you like it!
The night was like any other, crickets chirping in the background, elves silently walking about on watch. It ended more peaceful than it had started.
Dawn was approaching. The sun was slightly peaking over the mountains, illuminating the sky with flashes of light. A tiny crack of light entered through the small opening in the tent's entrance, outlining the face of a sleeping Lord Elrond. He had fallen asleep some time during the night, finally giving into the gentle pull of peaceful slumber.
Elladan and Elrohir had awoken earlier for their shift as watch. When they had finished they decided to see how their father, brother, and friend were doing. They entered the tent to find everyone resting comfortably. They smiled at the picturesque sight before them. Aragorn was the first to awaken.
"Good morning, gwador nins. I trust you slept well."
"Estel! How are you feeling this morning, and do not say 'fine'."
"If you must know, I am only somewhat sore." When Elladan and Elrohir gave him an 'I-do-not-believe-you-tell-us-the-truth' look, he reassessed his answer.
"Alright, alright. My shoulder causes me discomfort and pain but it is nothing that I have not handled before and it is much better than yesterday."
"And…your ribs?"
"My ribs are the most painful. They are causing my breathing to be difficult and labored. Every time I take in a deep breath, I almost lose my restraint on the pain. Are you happy now?" Aragorn asked tiredly. Elladan and Elrohir were shocked that their brother had actually answer them. This proved just how poorly Aragorn truly felt.
"Well…yes, but we did not expect you to actually tell us. You never have before. You must be feeling really bad."
"So it would seem," a voice said from next to the bed. Elrond had awoken a few moments before, but decided not to make his presence known until he gave the brothers a chance to talk.
"How long have you been awake?" Aragorn asked.
"Long enough to know that you are far from well and need to rest more."
"I do not need rest. I am fine. I am in a small amount of pain, but I can deal with it. I should be able to get up without any trouble."
"And who, my human friend, would allow you to be out of bed at this time?" asked Legolas who had just woken up from his sleep and joined the others.
"Well, who said you could be out of bed so soon?"
"I am injured far less than you. In addition, my healing abilities compensate."
Before Aragorn could respond back, Elrond interrupted them.
"Legolas, I will check that leg before you walk anymore on it, so go sit down. Estel, you will not be getting out of that bed for awhile until I give you my permission. Is that understood?"
"Yes, ada, whatever you say…When will we finish the tale and clear up this matter about Sarkáhn?"
"Tonight, my son, after you have rested more, we will talk."
Elrond looked over Legolas as he said he would do, and gave him a clean bill of health, with explicit orders to not strain the leg. Then he checked over Aragorn and gave him something more for the pain. After speaking with his brothers for a while longer, Estel went back to sleep, hoping that when he awoke, he could hear the rest of his father's tale. But he did not know his next waking moments would be under different circumstances.
"I will strike soon. My plan is continuing aptly. He will never figure out Mistad's riddle before time runs out. I will be victorious."
He knew all that had occurred that night in the tent. He heard Elrond's entire account of what happened and was satisfied that he had not altered anything so far. Although he was almost positive that Estel would not solve the mystery, he was filled with slight doubt. So, he decided to pay him a little visit.
Aragorn had finally slept peacefully for the first night in two days. He did not have one nightmare nor was he restless. Although he still did not feel completely recovered, he did feel a lot better for the rest had done him some good. When he awoke, it felt almost like everything that happened was just a dream, a temporary lapse in time that would soon be forgotten by all and everyone would continue their lives again. But his thoughts were interrupted and his feelings shattered when he heard the commotion outside.
The whole camp was in pandemonium. Sarkáhn had come! They were all in battle mode trying to prevent whatever attack he had come to accomplish. He was an array of bright lights and darkened shadows which surround his every move and concealed his face. He stood in the middle of the camp, patiently waiting for the one he had come for.
Aragorn had to know what was happening so he painfully sat up in his bed. He had not been up in two days and was not even sure that he was up to the challenge. When he was finally in a sitting position, he paused while a wave of dizziness hit him like a tidal wave. The whole room spun and his body threatened to collapse. Finally, the attack abated and he was able to gradually stand. He held firmly to the chair that was occupied by Elrond earlier. His ribs were restricting his much needed breaths, but he managed to slowly get his wind back.
He made his way outside to find everyone surrounding an incandescent but ominous figure. He knew instantly who it was by the way the elves reacted to him: Sarkáhn. He leaned heavily on the tent pole trying to keep his balance because his legs would not carry him any further. Legolas spotted his friend from the place he was situated and immediately went over to help his friend. He took Aragorn's arm and put it over his own shoulder in order to help balance him. This put strain on his wounded leg, but he ignored the discomfort.
Sarkáhn spotted the man he had come to see out of the corner of his eye. As he turned to see his target, every elf moved simultaneously. Elrond caught his line of vision that was locked on his son. He forced his way into Sarkáhn's direct line of eyesight in order to take his gaze off of Aragorn.
"You will leave my son out of this, Sarniâ. He is not what you are after and you know it," Elrond said defensively.
"Oh, my gracious Lord Elrond, I am surprised you actually used my real name. I am quite flattered," He said with an edge of disdain. "But you are wrong. I am solely here for him. I know he has been told something by Mistad and I will tell you this now. Here is a little warning of my own. Ignore that awful creature for it will only lead to your destruction. That is, my destruction of you. I tell you this now, Estel son of Elrond, if you so much as dare to impede my revenge, I will destroy everything you ever loved and I will leave you on the forsaken land alone until the end of your days. Do I make myself clear?" without waiting for a response from the shocked Aragorn, he continued, "Good, now I will take my leave for now, but trust me Lord Elrond, we will meet again and I assure you it will be our last encounter."
With that said, Sarkáhn disappeared into thin air leaving every elf in confusion and uneasiness. Elrond was at a loss as to what he was going to do. There was more at work here than Sarkáhn; he knew that. What he did not know was who or what Mistad, the Sindarian word for "error", was, but he was going to find out. He also knew that there was absolutely no way he was going to allow Sarkáhn to harm Estel in any way. Finally, he put aside his rampant thoughts and went over to his shaken son.
Aragorn was pale and unsteady. Legolas was the only thing keeping him from falling down where he was standing. His lungs burned now more than ever because of the fear that was welling up inside of him. He did not want his dream to come true and he knew that the nightmare was a forewarning of what would happen if he did exactly as Sarkáhn had warned against. This was too much for his wounded body to handle. His breathing became more accelerated and labored as he thought about sitting alone in his room holding that cryptic message. He was torn between figuring out Mistad's riddle to prevent the inevitable, or he could just wait for the inevitable to happen. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he did not hear his best friend talking to him.
"Estel, are you alright? Can you hear me, mellon nin?"
"Estel, ion nin? I think it is time to allow rest to overcome your troubled mind. Would you not agree?" Elrond stated. He knew better than to ask Aragorn how he was feeling at the moment because all one had to do was look at the pale complexion and pain-filled eyes to know instantly that he did not feel well.
"Come, Legolas, let us take him to his bed for some much needed rest. We will be leaving in the morning for Rivendell."
Elrond and Legolas made their way into the tent slowly. Elrond was worried because Aragorn's breathing had not ceased its rapid pace which was causing Aragorn pain. He told Legolas to stay with him and that he would be back in a moment so that he could fix him some special herbs to ease his breathing. Legolas sat down on the bed with Estel leaning against his chest.
"Mellon nin, you must try to calm yourself. This is not good for you. Try to breathe with me."
"I know…I will…mellon…nin. Help me…Sing to…me?"
"Anything for you I will do in heartbeat."
Legolas began to sing in the most melodious and gentle voice:
Together you and I are true, forever we are one.
Together under silken moon and radiating sun.
No pain or death can break apart the bond that we now hold,
No sorrow, woe, or tragedy, or bitterness from cold.
Unspoken words that linger here but always understood
Sacrificing for your friend with everything you could.
Actions always speak louder than words and in our case, that's right.
We fight together through the day and offer guard at night.
Unbreakable bonds of friendship deep nothing can stand in the way.
Always right there to bring joy and hope to a new and mysterious day.
Always, eternally destined to stay but never be torn apart,
Together as long as memory abides you'll forever be here in my heart.
No words are needed for me to express my thanks for your help on the way.
For you are my friend, companion, and truth, guiding me all of my days.
Legolas had finished his song, only to find that Aragorn had finally fallen asleep. His breathing was much more at ease than it was before, the fear seemed to have subsided, and the pain seemed to be less bothersome. Smiling with knowledge that his friend was on the mend, he fell asleep.
Elrond, who had come back been mixing the soothing herbs together, stood in the entranceway looking in awe at the sight before him. Aragorn was sleeping peacefully in his best friend's arms, while Legolas, who had sung the most beautiful song he had ever heard, slept tranquilly as well. "What greater moments are there in life, than to see two best friends lift the weight of a thousand troubles off their shoulders, by just being in each other's company?" Elrond thought to himself. He placed the herbs on the chair next to the bed, and covered the two friends with a blanket. He silently left the tent leaving the two companions to sleep in peace, for it would probably be the last good rest they would get for a while. As soon as they awakened, the rest of the tale needed to be told.
Later that day, Aragorn and Legolas finally awoke from their slumber well rested and ready for the rest of Elrond's story about Sarkáhn's past. Before the tale started, Elrond made sure that his two patients were mending as they should be. Aragorn was doing as well as the circumstances had allowed, and although Legolas put a great deal of strain on his leg, he was not in any serious trouble. Elladan and Elrohir arrived in moments and all were ready to finish the tale. Without further upheaval, Elrond continued where he left off.
"Where was I? Oh, yes, I carried him in my arms. After the most excruciatingly silent and slow hours, I finally arrived back in Rivendell to face the commotion of a hundred alarmed elves. What a sight I must have been, carrying an elf in my arms and an unconscious elf on my horse! I summoned the guards and had Sarniâ taken to the dungeons while I had the lamentable and heart wrenching task of taking the lifeless elfling's body to his parents and explaining to them what happened. I faced the most overwhelming anguish I had ever witnessed when I brought that innocent elf to them. His mother…demanded who did it and blamed me for not preventing it."
"But, ada, it was not your fault!" Elrohir protested.
"I know, my son, I know. But at the time it seemed that my negligence caused his untimely demise. I needed time to think of what I was going to do with Sarniâ, so I went to my study to be alone. I was torn between serving justice and protecting one of my closest friends. I had weighed each consequence out and finally came up with a conclusion. I knew he needed to be punished because of the despair of his parents outweighed any excuse. But I could not bring myself to destroy my own best friend.
"So, I did the only thing I could think of at the time. I banished him from every elven realm on pain of death. It broke my heart, but it had to be done. Sarniâ begged me to reconsider and believe his story, but I could not, for the sake of his parents. All evidence pointed to him and there was nothing I could do to alter the situation. He left the next morning without ever being noticed and I never saw him again after that. But what happened afterward was the most dreadful. A small group of elves, who were displeased with my punishment, decided to take justice into their own hands and play judge, jury, and executioner. They hunted him down and killed him. Glorfindel came across his body in the woods one day when he was out hunting, and brought him back to me. The arrows imbedded in his body were of Rivendell, and I put the pieces together and discovered who did it, and I had them confess. Eventually, life moved on as it once was, and most elves forgot about the rumor…and Sarniâ, except me. To this day I have never been able to forgive myself."
Silence followed the ending of Elrond's tale for no one knew how to respond. The words reverberated inside their heads, every moment and every breath. A little boy, innocent and sweet, was killed? Sarniâ was to blame? How could this person do such an atrocious thing? Questions continually resonated in their minds.
Aragorn did not know how to react. This elf betrayed his father's trust was the only thing he could think of. He knew now that he needed to stop this creature from harming his family and the life he knew, but how? He sat deep in thought while Elrohir broke the silence first.
"Ada, you do know that this is not your fault. You only did what you thought was right and that is all any of us can do. Had I been in your place I would have done the same thing. No one is perfect. You gave punishment based on your judgment. You kept Rivendell safe."
"Ada, he is right," Elladan continued. "Had you not been there at that time you would have never caught Sarkáhn. You prevented a lot of misery and heartache."
"But he is back, is he not?" Their father stated grimly.
"Lord Elrond, if I may," Legolas asked, broken from his silent thinking, "What excuse did Sarniâ give you to justify his actions? What was his story in his defense?"
Elrond paused for a moment as if to think about his answer.
"Strangely enough, he confessed right away. He said it was his fault. There was no fear in his eyes of what I would do to him, just a sense of accomplishment. He had no story to tell only that he had done what he needed to do, and then he said nothing else. I asked him numerous times to defend himself, but he would not. He just kept saying it was over." Elrond stopped there and landed deep in thought.
"Well, now we know what is happening. He is here to kill us all. He took pride in the death of another elf that had done nothing to anyone. That creature is cruel. Now he has come back to finish where he left off," Elladan stated in trepidation.
Aragorn still had not said anything. Something just did not feel quite right about the whole situation. He needed more time to think things through, but he knew that now was not the time. Gradually he felt the pull of sleep on his wearied body. His eyes began to feel like they were weighed down with lead. Aragorn knew that rest was what he needed especially since they were departing for Rivendell tomorrow morning. In addition, his injuries were far from healed, and rest was the best medicine.
"Estel? No, do not sleep just yet; I will bring you some more tea, and Elrohir and Elladan need to check your injuries," Elrond warned Estel. He was so tired and all he wanted to do was rest his weary eyes for a moment.
"Come now, you stubborn human, can you not stay up a little bit longer? Do not force me to change tactics. They can become quite…noisy and embarrassing," Legolas playfully threatened.
"I would like to see you try," Aragorn challenged.
Elladan and Elrohir eventually finished their inspection of his wounds and re-bandaged them as well. Elrond returned moments later with Estel's medicine. He swallowed the draught quickly so as not to taste the mixture's flavor for too long inside his mouth. Almost instantly, after finally being left alone, he fell asleep. Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas were forced to leave their watchful duties of him by Lord Elrond, who insisted that they needed a good night's rest as much as Aragorn did. With a quick argument and one look from Elrond, they left for their own sleeping quarters. Elrond sat down in his chair next to the bed, preparing himself for the journey back to Rivendell.
"Soon, my dear Elrond, very soon I will return and you will wish you never met me. Vengeance will be served, and I will be victorious over all." He silently watched all that had unfolded. He listened intently to the rest of the tale and the elves' reactions to the story. He heard everyone question its content…everyone except Estel. He knew that he was formulating a plan in his head and would look for a way to stop him despite his formidable warnings. "That just will not do. I guess I will have to take matters into my own hands. Estel, son of Elrond, will soon rest in peace."
AN: The poem that was used as a song belongs to me, so, please, do not copy it without my permission. I am hoping to get my millions of poems published one day;)! Well I hope you enjoyed this update, it has been my longest one yet. Please review and tell me what you think.