Disclaimer: We all know how these things work. See previous chapters

AN: I know that I should have updated sooner, but I had a softball game today, and also lots of homework. Here is my next chapter, and I am sorry to say: Character Death! (for now)…

Aragorn stood stone still as he watched the knife make its way toward him. His only thoughts were 'goodbye, my dear family' and 'I am sorry for bringing this grief upon you.' He accepted the fact that this was going to be his death. But he did not realize how wrong he was.

As if in slow-motion, he felt himself be pushed out of the way by some unknown person. He hit the ground hard on his injured shoulder, causing him to grunt in renewed pain. With blurry eyes he looked up and was grief-stricken and shocked by what he had seen. His father seemed to fall in graceful, yet slow movements to the hard, cold floor, with a knife imbedded in his chest….the knife meant for Aragorn. He crawled over to his father with new vigor and cradled his father's head in his arms.

Elrond was still conscious but he could feel himself fading. His mind began to understand Mistad's message. The only way for Sarkáhn to die was through 'sacrificial love'. Elrond made that sacrifice by giving up the greatest gift of all beings out of love for his son….his life. His mind reeled and he remembered the riddle told to him just before he came to the room. He focused his eyes onto his son and with a weak and strained voice he told his son what he had learned.

"Estel…please…I must…tell you this. Mistad…told me another riddle. 'The blood of one…who gives his…life, will put an end…to pain and strife'. I have given my…life for yours. Please…use the dagger of….Mistad. Kill Sarkáhn. This…is my last…gift to you. A gift of…'sacrificial love'." Elrond was trying to stay focused as he talked through gasps of breath. He knew that he was going to die and he felt an overwhelming sadness at leaving his family, especially Estel, behind.

"No, Ada," Estel said pleadingly, like a young child, "Do not say goodbye. You are going to get better. I will take you to your room and gather a few herbs. Glorfindel can help me. You will see. You shall be fine in no time." Estel's eyes filled with tears. He could not let his father go. He could not allow his father, an immortal, to die before him. Aragorn wanted him to live, to see his wife again. With desperation he tried to staunch the flow of blood around the blade.

"Estel…stop. You have to…let me go now. I have given…my life…to save yours. Do not…believe that you are not…worth it, because…I know that…you are worth more than…anything else…in the world. I will…always be with you…as long as you remember me. And I will not say…goodbye…rather, until we meet again. I love you…my Estel. Tell my sons…that…" Elrond began to trail off as his voice came as a whisper. "Tell them…that I hope…they see their mother…again for I cannot…and that I love them very much."

Estel's eyes that were so full of hope and joy seemed to die right there. They were dull and unemotional. One silent, gentle tear made its way down his face.

"Ada…I love you. Please, do not go. Who is going to patchLegolas and meup after one of our disastrous field trips? Who is going to take care of Rivendell? I know Glorfindel is quite capable but who is going to make sure that he is doing a good job and tease him when he does something foolish? You see…you can't go. Rivendell still needs you. Elladan and Elrohir need you. I…still need you." Aragorn could say no more as his voice cracked. His heart seemed to stop beating as it felt as if it had broken in two. He did not realize that he could feel so much pain in his life, yet his face never betrayed one emotion. Only his eyes were the window to his turmoil and grief.

"Estel…kill Sarkáhn…for me and tell…Sarniâ that I am sorry. I must go now…for all things must come to an…end. And who knows…maybe I will still see my wife. Never…Estel, lose your hope. For you have given…me mine." With that said Elrond's eyes glazed over as he stilled with the finality of death. Aragorn hugged his father against his chest and then kissed him on the forehead.

"Poor elf. To die for someone as worthless as you. You killed him and you know it. Well, that is one less elf for me to kill, although I was so looking forward to a long, torturous death. But I kind of like this better. To see the grief, the sadness, the fury in your eyes. Could not have done it better myself." Sarkahn laughed with cruelty and coldness in his voice, enjoying the moment. Aragorn was enraged.

He stood up, with the dagger that was in his father's chest, covered in Elrond's blood, held high in his hand. With great speed, he took the knife and stabbed Sarkáhn in the chest. Sarkáhn screamed with a deafening sound that reverberated throughout Rivendell's valley. All occupants in the room had to cover their ears at the sound. Sarkáhn's formed began to slowly dissipate away as a bright light seemed to shine through his form. In a flash of light, Sarkáhn seemed to break apart and then disappeared. Sarkáhn was finally dead.

Aragorn, Legolas, Elladan, and Elrohir stared afterwards for a few moments, looking at the spot where Sarkáhn had once been. They realized that finally…Sarkáhn was dead…but at what cost?

Elladan and Elrohir, who were now released from their invisible and evident bonds, made their way over to their father's body. Though elves are not known for expressing their emotions, both of them began to break down and cry. Legolas walked solemnly over to Aragorn, as silent tears streamed down his cheeks.

Aragorn was emotionless. His face was void of pain and sorrow. Even his eyes seemed to lack a spark. He just stood there and stared blankly ahead of him as if trying to come to terms with what happened. Legolas placed a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder, trying to pull him out of his trance. Legolas' eyes seemed to look Aragorn over trying to decide not only how much he had been injured further, but also how Aragorn was feeling inside.

"Estel…" Legolas was at a loss for words. He could not seem to create a sentence that would make anything that had happened better.

Aragorn made no sign of acknowledgment that he had heard his friend. He just walked over to his father's body and wailing brothers without a sound. He placed his hand to his heart and then placed his hand to Elrond's heart. He took his father's body into his arms, despite his brothers' tears and questions, and carried him out of the room, followed by three worried and shocked elves. Aragorn took his father into Elrond's own bedroom. He placed him on top of the bed, mumbled something about it being more comfortable there. Then he turned and walked toward the doorway, followed by a worried Legolas. He leaned his back against the outside wall, and slid to the floor. Legolas crouched down in front of his friend trying to help him. Whether because of his loss of blood, his injuries, his grief, or all of them combined, Aragorn lost consciousness his head falling against his best friend's shoulder with asilent tears running down his face.

AN: Wow! Sad wasn't it? I didn't think it was too sad, but then again I am my own worse critic. I am so sorry, but Elrond had to go to make the story make sense. There may very well be a way though to bring him back so don't worry. (winks) LOL Well, I hope you all enjoyed this part, and I hope it wasn't too sad.Thank you to all of my reviewers!