Yes, Legolas has befuddled my future attempts once again, but he will come back to us if I have to write myself in the story and drag him back with my own two hands (don't worry, it won't come to that. I WILL find a way.
So, enjoy chapter eleven! As always, look for the responses at the end of the page.
-Romen
11. Death and Birth
Legolas sat in shock as he watched the arrow go straight into Elladan's right arm. The elf tumbled backwards, crying out in pain. He fell onto his back, grabbing the arrow but not pulling it out.
Legolas leapt nimbly from the tree, feeling numb. He looked down at Elladan, for a moment, longing to bend down and help him. No. He had to go on.
"I told you that I would do it," Legolas heard a cold voice say. "You should have listened." Oh, he was speaking.
The elf turned around and ran off into the forest.
Elladan had watched in horror as Legolas had drawn back the string. He knew that the elf had been aiming at his heart, but he had seen him divert his bow at the last minute, just before he had let go. Legolas, in his own twisted way, had been trying to save him.
Then there was hope for Legolas, Elladan realized. He shut his eyes against the pain running through him. He prayed that there was hope for himself.
"Elladan?"
The oldest twin looked up. He could see Glorfindel slip off of his horse and run towards the oldest twin.
"Oh Valar," he breathed, grabbing the twin by the shoulders and looking down at the wound. "Did Legolas do this?" He didn't wait for the answer. He picked Elladan up and helped him onto his horse. Glorfindel climbed up behind him, glancing around before they shot off for the caves.
Klia looked over at Estel. "What did you two talk about?" she asked.
Estel shrugged. "Nothing much," he lied, still wondering what Fila had meant. He felt at a loss for words. "Klia, why am I here?"
Klia paused, staring deep into his eyes. Their dark depths pierced him, and he felt like she was trying to read his mind. He swallowed.
"Estel...Why do you ask so many questions?" She smiled bemusedly. "Truly, I have never met a being that had so many unanswered thoughts in his mind."
"Klia, I need to know why you are keeping me here," he repeated, not looking away from her. "I want to go home."
Sighing, Klia pulled two strands of loose hair behind her ear. "Estel, you don't need to know this."
"Yes, Klia, I do. I want to go home."
Klia shivered. "Please, Estel, stop it."
"No, I won't." Estel could hear his voice rising. "Why am I being kept here? Why haven't I been killed, tortured, interrogated? What's going on?"
"No, Estel, stop..."
"Klia." His voice cut through the air like a knife. "If I am of no more use to you than entertainment, I beg you, I plead, please; let me go to my home. My family...They probably think that I am dead."
"Estel, no!" Klia's voice was rigid. "You can't leave. I...We won't let you."
"Why!" Estel cried. "Why are you keeping me here?"
"Have you not noticed anything...familiar while you have been here?" Klia knelt down next to him, so that her face was only a few inches away from his. He could see tears springing into her eyes. "Have you not recognized anything or...or anyone? Anything at all?"
Estel let out a deep breath and glared at her. "What are you talking about?"
"Is there anything that you have noticed here that you swear that you have known before you came into these lands?"
'No,' Estel thought, 'nothing but annoyingly vague people.' "Klia, I don't understand you."
"Estel, do you ever think that you have been here before?" Klia looked around her. "This place, these people, this...this home." She looked back at him, her eyes flaming with intensity. "Has it ever dawned on you that you have been here before? You can't think of when, or...or how you were here, but you know that you have been. Has it ever seemed that way?"
Estel wondered what she was getting at. "No, it hasn't. What does that have to do...?"
Klia sighed. "Estel, I cannot let you go. You belong here."
"No, I don't belong here!" Estel shouted, not caring that she was three inches from his face. "I belong in Rivendell with the only family that I have!"
"Estel, we're you're family; Berve, Prea, Fila, and I. We are your family." Her face twitched as she attempted a smile. "Haven't you noticed that?"
The room was spinning. "Klia, what do you mean?"
"You...you died, twenty-eight years ago." She shook her head, shutting her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Twenty-eight years ago," she repeated, more to herself than to him. "Just think of that number, Estel; is that not your age?"
Estel felt his mouth go dry. "Yes, but..."
Klia put her hand on his. "Twenty-eight years ago, your soul was not in this body. It was in the body of my oldest brother. My brother who was slain by an Elf."
Estel could see where she was going. "You're saying that I was reincarnated," he said for her, clenching his teeth.
Klia nodded happily. "Yes. You have finally returned to us."
For a moment, Estel wondered if he was in some kind of nightmare. "Klia, I am not your brother," he said softly, watching her face fall. "And I cannot stay here."
"Estel, how many times do I have to tell you that we're your family now..."
Estel shook his head slowly. "It is not just that."
Klia paused. "Then what do you mean?"
"I have a destiny, one that I used to be reluctant to fill," he replied slowly. "However, I know that it cannot be avoided. If I stay here, I will never be able to fulfill my duty."
"I see." Klia's voice was stiff. She stood, turning her back on Estel. "You are not to leave. I shall take my exit, but you should know that there are guards posted at the door, and in your wounded condition, you would be no match for them what-so-ever." She turned around to look at him. "Good-bye."
Estel could feel his eyes grow wide in horror as she left. She was not going to let him go. He glanced at the hole in the roof.
He had to escape, and he had to do it now.
TBC...
Ooh, they're nuts! Anyway, here are your responses:
Deana: Elladan didn't jump, but Glorfindel's there, and, as everyone knows, he can do almost everything. So have no fear! Just fear for poor ole Leggy...Oh yeah, fear for Estel too. Those people are cRaZy.
viggomaniac: Are you here yet? Heh Anyway, I'm glad that you're enjoying it. )
CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: Elladan still lives, but you're right.
Legolas will eventually have to face the consequences of his actions and that chapter will not be very pretty. Right now he's becoming a bit of a sociopath, I have to admit.
IwishChan: You're right! Legolas does need help. Estel needs to get out of there!
Freak Goddess of the Crypt: Hey, hey, calm down; I didn't kill Elladan off, see?