A Long Time Ago
By Meisalliam andf MCross
Disclaimer: We do not own these characters and are making no profit from this story
Chapter Thirteen
Elrond took a deep breath. He had seen these symptoms before, if they could be called symptoms. Galadriel would get the same far-away look when she had a vision. Could it be? Could Legolas surprise them all once again? And if so why now and why had he shown no signs previously?
"Legolas? Penneth?" He kept his voice low, if this was a vision it would not do well to wake him prematurely, as he knew all too well.
It brought no response. He sat back, mind whirling.
The sound of panicked feet racing up the hallway brought him up to look towards the door. It opened and what he saw made his mouth dry and his heart begin to pound. For in the guards' arms as they entered were Nolvo and Elrohir. Both were unconscious and covered in blood.
Elardion took charge and showed them over to the pallets not currently in use. He turned to Elrond.
"Stay with Legolas while I examine them. As soon as I know anything, I will call for you. Let me return your previous favour." Elrond could only nod but before he could return to Legolas a quiet voice made him jump.
"She wants me." The blue eyes were clear and aware once more. "Sslina wants me and says that, until she has me, she will keep them. Estel is screaming. I can hear him. I have to help them." Legolas struggled to get out of bed.
"No, Legolas. Not now, let me call for your Ada." He did not leave the small Prince, but he did look towards the Maia still helping out with the spider victims.
This was one of the advantages of holding a Ring of Power that their wearers could communicate with one another. It came in handy at the oddest of times… or the most fortunate, whichever way you cared to think of it.
/Mithrandir, I need to speak with Thranduil. Can you have Galion fetch him? A situation has arisen..."
The chamber door swept open at that moment and the King strode into the chamber. King Thranduil was most certainly in charge of this sudden situation. The stubborn set to his jaw told its own tale, as did the sword that rested on his hip. Behind him was a group of guards, all in riding gear and armed to the teeth.
"Thranduil, I need to speak with you." Elrond kept his voice calm, even though he really did not feel calm, not in the slightest. Where were the others? Could Legolas be right once more? That caused a wry smile. Of course the Elfling was right. Lately he always seemed to be right.
"Later, Elrond, I do not have time. I must lead a troop to collect our sons. If the spiders have returned once more, they are not safe. I will bring them back."
"It is too late, Thranduil. Nolvo and Elrohir are here. Legolas says that Sslina has captured the others." Elrond had risen and crossed the chamber so that Legolas would not be able to overhear what they were discussing. Luckily Lomion had awoken, distracting his younger brother.
"Sslina?" Thranduil's face was pale. "Nolvo and Elrohir?"
"They are here and Elardion is caring for them. Come, let us see how they are. Legolas was communing with Sslina. I saw it. Has Legolas ever shown any other signs of having visions?" Elrond asked as they made their way to the pallets where their sons were being treated.
At least, he thought with a sigh of relief, there was no sign of the frantic, yet calm panic that went hand-in-hand with serious injuries. Mayhap they were not that badly hurt.
"No, never, but Legolas does like to surprise us with these little gems. What did he say?" Thranduil felt worry thrum through him once more. He needed to speak with Jalenta. He wanted guards present in this chamber at all times, as many as possible, and also everywhere Legolas went. He would do all in his power to keep the promise that he had made to his youngest. She would not get him in her grasp ever again.
"She wants him and will keep the others until she has Legolas. Legolas said that he could hear Estel screaming." Elrond closed his eyes as he recounted that. The thought of his foster son in such pain distressed him greatly. At least he had the vision of his son's future to come so he at least had some hope to hold onto. Hope. Estel. How ironic.
"She will not have him. Elardion? How are they?" His voice held that familiar timbre of determination.
"They will be fine, Ada. They have already had the antidote for their spider bites. They will recover. Nolvo has opened up his shoulder once more, but I will not be shouting at him this time." Elardion's voice was also grim.
"H…He saved my life."
"Elrohir?" Elrond was by his son's side in a flash.
"Ada. They came from nowhere. I have never seen so many spiders in all my life and large. They took the others. Nolvo killed several, including the one that was trying to wrap me in its silk. He did not hesitate. How is he?" Elrohir tried to sit up.
"Rest, Nolvo will recover, although his arm will wish that he had not. He will need to have exercises to recover the mobility he will lose, but he will get it back."
"Good, I am very glad. He was magnificent, he really was, Ada. I am sorry I could not have been of greater help with the others. There were just too many." Elrohir could not look at his father.
"It is not your fault, Ion-nin. There are times when the odds are too great. We will rescue them. I promise that." Elrond gently smoothed the mop of dark hair that was no longer hanging neatly in its braids.
"As do I. I think it is time that we fight back against this Sslina and I think I may have a plan." Mithrandir sounded as mysterious as Galadriel could be.
Thranduil was about to ask what he meant when the chamber door opened and Jalenta entered. With him were five other armed elves, they bowed to the two Lords and one Maia before them.
"We have their trail, Aran-nin." Jalenta spoke urgently.
"Good, have three patrols armed and ready to go." Thranduil was more than ready to see to this despised monster, once and for all.
"No." The voice was small and pained and not what any of them expected.
They turned to see a very pale elfling somehow standing before them. Elrond could see that it was pure determination that had him on his feet and not flat on his back.
"Legolas? You need to be in bed." Thranduil hurried to his side.
"She wants me, Ada. She will hurt them if she does not get me. I should go." The voice wavered momentarily and Legolas blinked away the fuzziness that tried to overtake his sight.
"No! No, Legolas I will not let you go to her!" There was panic in Thranduil's voice.
"I have to, Ada. I need my bow." The absurdity of that statement was not lost on any of them. There was no way this side of Valinor that Legolas could shoot a bow, not with his broken arm and ribs. He would be in far too much pain and the potential damage that the actions would do was terrifying.
"No. I will not allow this." Thranduil was adamant.
"I have to agree with you, mellon-nin." Elrond spoke up from where he stood beside Mithrandir. Legolas turned slowly towards him.
In doing so he missed the fact that someone was moving in behind him, a wad of material ready in his hand. Elrond had seen, though, and approved. He would normally not have agreed to this action, but if Legolas was going to be stubborn about this, it was probably for the best.
"I have to go…!" Legolas broke of with a small shriek of fear as he was caught from behind.
"Easy, Dian Las, It is only me, tithen muindor." Elardion spoke quickly as he pulled Legolas into a gentle hug and brought the material and its pungent contents up to the small Prince's face.
His voice was muffled by the cloth, but they could clearly make out what he said. "No! 'Ardion! Let me go!" Legolas tried to fight, tried to get away, but could not. He was hurt too badly.
"I am sorry, Penneth. I am so sorry. Sleep well." He held the cloth in place until Legolas was no longer moving.
"You did what you had to, Elardion. Hennad." Thranduil comforted his son.
"I did not enjoy that, but if Legolas had continued like that he would have only hurt himself more." Elardion sounded so disgusted with himself. "Legolas will hate me."
"No, he will be angry, but eventually he will understand. Let us get him back to his bed. How is Nolvo?" Elrond had no doubt that Legolas would forgive his elder brother. That was the tiny Prince's nature. Now, though, they had to get Estel and the others back safely without Legolas being hurt further and preferably without injuries to anyone else.
"You said you had a plan, Mithrandir." Thranduil helped get Legolas settled and looked up at the wizard.
"Yes, we need to make Sslina think that Legolas is with us, being brought to her... I can help there. Elardion, will you stay with Legolas?" Mithrandir looked at the Mirkwood healer.
"Of course, I will not leave his side. I will make certain that the others are safe as well." He would let no further harm come to any of them.
"Good. Jalenta, I want you to stay with a guard to make certain that no one comes into this chamber. You are assigned to Legolas and Legolas alone. Do you understand?" Thranduil turned bright eyes towards the other Elf.
"I do, Hir-nin. We will not leave this chamber unguarded."
"Hannon le, I do not doubt it." Thranduil gently reassured the warrior before him. "I need to get Legolas' bow, I take it?" He turned curious eyes to Mithrandir.
"Indeed and some clothes, a used cloak, anything that will give the idea that Legolas is with him. They will smell him. It will fool them into thinking that he is there."
The wide smile of understanding that crossed Thranduil's face was a welcome sight. "Leave that with me."
Before they could say another word, he left the chamber, hurrying to Legolas' suite of chambers.
"Ada? What is happening?" Lomion sounded worried as he blinked his eyes clear. He knew he had been sleeping. He needed to speak with Elardion about the use of the sleeping herbs shortly.
Thranduil had just returned with the requested articles to find that his eldest son was just waking up.
"We are going to be setting a trap for some fell beasts, Ion-nin." The grin of anticipation on Thranduil's face was enough to make Lomion shiver. It was not a look they normally saw on their father. It spelt death to his enemies.
"Who?" There was hesitation in Lomion's voice. Did he really want to ask?
"Sslina. She wants Legolas and has taken Estel, Alcarnor and Elladan. She told Legolas that she wants him. If she wants my youngest and threatens another of my sons and their friends, she will find she has chosen the wrong family to threaten. If she wants Legolas, then she will have to deal with me first!" Thranduil's eyes blazed and he fairly crackled with power as he stood there. Even Elrond and Mithrandir were amazed at the transformation.
"Ada, you must be careful. If anything were to happen to you..." Lomion pushed himself up, making certain that he put no weight upon his injured arm. His leg, though, protested the movement vehemently.
"Worry not for me, Lomion. I am protected." Thranduil arched an eyebrow at him.
"How is Legolas? Is Nolvo hurt?" Lomion looked over at his brothers.
"Legolas was helped to sleep. He intended to tackle Sslina on his own. My Dian Las could barely stand and yet he was willing to go and confront her." There was pride now in the King's voice.
"He was? What did he expect to be able to do?" Lomion was stunned.
"Rescue his brother and friends, probably." Elrond told the Crown Prince.
A grim smile crossed Lomion's face. "Probably, knowing Legolas. Nolvo?" He could see the fresh bandages around his brother's shoulder.
"Nolvo has damaged his shoulder further. We had to resuture it, yet again, This is going to take a long time to heal and will need to be held completely immobile. He will eventually be able to go back to using his bow, but it will take a long time." Elrond added.
Timethlon had re-entered the chamber while they were speaking. "Thranduil, the troops are ready for you."
"Good, we will be back as soon as we can." Thranduil ruffled Lomion's hair and bent to kiss his son's slightly fevered forehead.
"I am coming with you!" Elrond unexpectedly stepped forward.
"Elrond, you are needed here." Thranduil could have sighed.
"No, I am not. Elardion is handling everything admirably. They are my sons as well, Thranduil. Glorfindel and I will be coming with you." Elrond was already loosening Hadafhang in its scabbard at his side.
"Very well. The more the merrier. Are we ready to go and hunt spiders?" The deadly grin was back.
"Yes we are. And if we meet Sslina..." Mithrandir showed that he was ready too.
"She is mine!" Thranduil's voice was deadly serious.
"Ours, my friend, ours. I have a score to settle with her as well, as I promised her." There was nothing of the kindly wizard about him now. There was the air of the deadly warrior, one who knew exactly what he was doing.
"Look after Legolas and Nolvo for me? We will be back." With that, the three of them swept from the chamber.
Thranduil was not surprised that Glorfindel was already mounted and waiting for them with the horses when they got outside.
As they rode away from the Palace, Thranduil could feel and hear the anger that the trees around them felt at the attack on the Royal Family. He also knew deep down that they would aid him in all ways to stop this menace against Legolas.
Estel sighed, he was cold and he was hungry. The web that held him in place did not help his discomfort.
"Elladan?" His elven brother was apparently still unconscious. He had not woken since they had been brought here. Nothing. "Elladan? Gwador? Please wake."
Alcarnor was watching this with concern. In this dim light, Elladan looked pale, far too pale.
A groan from him gave them both hope. It was followed closely by another.
"Dan?" The relief in Estel's voice was clear.
"Ro?" The voice was faint.
"No, Estel. How do you feel?" He wished he could help his brother sit upright.
"Headache."
"I am not surprised. Our hosts were not exactly gentle with you." That was the understatement of the century.
"Where is Ro?" Elladan looked around, blinking in confusion.
"They got away. Nolvo fought and they escaped. I am sure that rescue parties are on their way." Alcarnor had no doubt of that.
"Are either of you hurt?" Elladan was relieved that his brother had escaped.
"No. Can you move at all, Dan?" Estel watched as Elladan tested his bonds.
"Yes, my hands are not tied too tightly. Why?" Elladan could not believe his luck.
"I have a knife in my boot. I cannot reach it. If we work together to loosen your hands even more..."
"We could get out of this forsaken place." Elladan finished with a flourish.
"Indeed." Estel smiled at his brother's enthusiasm.
It took what seemed like an age to loosen the webbing that was such an effective binding. As they worked, it became obvious to Estel that the webbing was not as strong as it normally was. This seemed more friable, not as robust. What could cause this?
"That should be enough. I can move my hands easily now." Elladan stated even as he shivered at the chittering he could hear from the spiders outside the cave.
Working together once more, they managed to work the blade away from Estel's boot. With Alcarnor holding the blade, Elladan was able to take the hilt firmly in his hands.
Soon the webbing fell away from Estel and he rubbed life back into his hands before he took the blade from Elladan and freed them all.
"We need some weapons." Elladan stated, looking around him. He shivered even more when he realised just where they were.
The cave was deep, with such an oppressive atmosphere that it took his breath away. He could see articles of clothing that were either torn to bits or disintegrating before them. Around the cloth were white sticks. Sticks that Elladan firmly believed were the bones of previous victims.
"Where are we?"
"In the woods. There may be weapons back there..." Alcarnor swallowed, he has seen the gleaming skulls as they had been brought in. He just hoped that none of them were his kin...
"Good, you can cope?" Elladan knew what Alcarnor must be thinking. He knew how he would feel in his position.
"Yes, I need to get home and see how Nolvo is. He damaged his shoulder once more, Elardion is not going to be at all happy with him."
"No, but because he was willing to do that, he and Elrohir got away. I am sure Ada will thank him." Estel had little doubt of that.
As they had been talking, Alcarnor had searched through the bones on the ground. So far the only clothes he had found appeared to be those of humans and not in the designs favoured by the Wood Elves themselves.
"That may help him. There are some swords here!" He hated the necessity of fishing among the bones, but if they wished to get out of here, they must have some weapons.
"Good, are they sharp?" Elladan had eased himself to the cave entrance and was looking out. He winced. There were a lot of spiders out there.
"Good enough for us. Yes." Alcarnor's voice was grim.
"Good. When is the best time to attack them?" Elladan knew little about the Mirkwood arachnids.
"Dusk. They cannot see as well in the dim light. It will also give the others time to get here. I left a trail. Not much of one admittedly, but they should be able to follow it easily." Alcarnor took vicious delight in the knowledge that the spiders would soon be meeting their doom. He hoped to be able to send some of them on their way himself. How dare they threaten his brothers!
"It will also give us a chance rest and gather our strength until then." Estel offered.
"Yes, we could all do with some rest. Sleep Estel, we will wake you soon." Elladan could see how tired his brother appeared.
"You promise?" Estel could feel the weariness overtaking him.
"Of course I promise. You do not think we would leave you?" Elladan gave him a smirk for his worry.
All three of them settled. Estel was soon asleep. As they dug around looking for more weapons, Alcarnor found a whetstone that was still useable. As they waited, he sharpened the blades they had found. It gave him something to think about to stop the worry over his brothers. How was Legolas? Was he still alright? And Lomion?
A light drizzle had started to fall as the large party made its way through the forest. So far there had not been any sighting of any fell creatures of any kind.
At the head of the group were two elves, one with bright blonde hair and the other with deep midnight black. They were well-armed and seemed to radiate an aura of danger.
"We should reach the area of attack about dusk." Thranduil told the other elf.
"Good, the spiders will still attack at that time?" Elrond asked.
"They do not like the dusk. We will have the advantage over them at that time." Thranduil sounded smug.
"Good, I am ready for the battle." The voice from beside them was grim and left the other two in no doubt as to the speaker's feelings.
"Are there any problems up ahead, Glorfindel?" Elrond turned to his old friend.
"Nay, but Mithrandir is looking further ahead. He said that he would find us. We were to carry on." Glorfindel passed on his message.
"Good." They continued to ride on in silence.
Soon they began to become aware of the changing nature of Mirkwood. Vibrant greens began to give way to dark, twisted skeletal trunks, the once-vivid browns and greens making way for blacks and greys, green supple leaves changing to black brittle husks.
They could hear the angry chitter of animals, animals that should rightly be hibernating or close to it, at this time of the season.
A dark head popped up to look at them and they all clearly saw the head of a black squirrel. It raised its small fist at them before disappearing once more. Thranduil sighed. With each passing day his forest and home was falling to the Necromancer's influence. He hated it, hated it with a vengeance.
Thranduil could recall when he had first arrived in Greenwood the Great, as it was known then, all those centuries ago. The forest had been lush and welcoming. There had been great joy as they set up their new home. Oropher had been a goodly and just ruler. His people had prospered and grown, as had the forest itself under the sublime influence of the gentle and loving Wood Elves.
And then it had all changed, with a suddenness that still robbed him of his breath to think of it.
Sauron had forged the Rings of Power and given them to those he felt were most worthy. His three friends, Gil-Galad Ereinion, Galadriel and Cirdan of Mithlond had been chosen out of the elves to receive Rings. At first, and he would only admit this to himself, and not even Laurelin had known this, he had been jealous. Yes, jealous that his own fair kingdom had not been included amongst the three. Jealous that his people would have to struggle and fight for their peace and prosperity.
That feeling had lingered for years until it became evident that all was not as it should have been. Then they had learnt of the Master Ring, the One Ring. The Edain Ring Bearers had swiftly fallen and become the dreaded Ring Wraiths, the Úlairë. They had soon become the legend from nightmares, unstoppable, existing only to follow their Master's bidding.
Dol Guldur had come into being in those dark times and so darkness had spread in Greenwood. The trees and land about began to change and so did his people. Great spiders and orcs began to invade the forest and his people began the long battle against the Evil, they were still fighting.
Then the Last Great Alliance was formed and then came the battle that should have ended it all, the battle that should have left all Arnor free and existing in peace. If only Isildur had not fallen to the temptation, if only Elrond had been able to persuade him to throw the One Ring into the fires where it had been forge.
So many 'if onlys', if only his adar had not been killed in the battle, if only his naneth had not faded from grief.
'If onlys' changed nothing.
As it was, he had returned from the Last Great Alliance with a disconsolate group. He had lost over half of his people in this fight. They had no time to even bury their dead. That had hurt more than anything, the knowledge that their friends and family rested eternally in a strange cold land still tainted with darkness.
A grim smile broke over his visage. His people, and they were that now, had insisted on bearing their King, Oropher, home to Greenwood so that he could be buried in the family grave.
And so the dark years had begun and the threat was still growing. Oh how proud of his people he was! They are such mighty warriors, so willing to fight for their home. He would never see his kingdom fall. That was the vow he had given on the day he had become Aran Thranduil, that if he had to give his life to protect his land and people then he would do so, without hesitation. He would also make sure they had the chance for relaxation and fun.
They needed it after fighting the darkness. He knew that the other Elven Realms felt that he and his people were odd, that they loved to party and sing songs at the most inappropriate of times, but they had not been dealing with the Evil as Mirkwood had. Oh how he hated that name that his once beautiful land was called now!
The other elves had the power of the Rings to hide their protected Realms. They would and could, never understand the situation.
He looked around him. Webs, tattered and torn, were beginning to come to into view. "We are almost there." Thranduil already had his faithful sword in his hand.
They followed the webs almost silently until they began to see more signs of the fell creatures, new webs that shone and glistened in the meagre sunlight that reached these areas of darkened forest. Those webs would not be needed by the end of this day, that he did promise.
"We must get further in, nearer to their base. If I recall from my youth, there is a large cave around here, it would make a perfect campsite. I am sure that Sslina will have been using that. There is water nearby and plenty of food." Thranduil had known this forest for so long, he knew every inch of it.
"How long before we reach it?" Glorfindel looked at the webs with distaste.
"About ten minutes ride. We need to be as silent as possible." The warning was not really needed. None of the party wanted to end up wrapped in silk and sucked dry of their fluids.
They could all sense the presence of spiders around them. They knew they were being watched. They also knew that there was no way out, but they had to do this. They needed to end this threat to Legolas' life once and for all.
"Ssssssso you have brought him." The voice made Thranduil shudder. This really was the stuff of nightmares.
"Yes, we have brought him. You cannot have him." Thranduil pulled the bundle of clothing to him, almost protectively.
"Yessssssssssss. I will have him. You will not esssssssscape!" Sslina clicked her hard mandibles together and the next thing the elves knew they were surrounded by spiders of all sizes.
"You think we came unprepared?" Glorfindel chortled at this.
"You are sssssssstupid elvessssssssss and do not underssssssssssstand what isssssss happening around you." Was that a hint of anger in the arachnid's voice?
"No, Sslina you do not understand and that is the problem." Thranduil looked around and realised that, apart from a few large adult spiders, the group was mostly made up of juveniles. "Especially now that Mithrandir had reduced your numbers so badly."
"He will get what isssss coming to him. No one will get away, esssspecially him!" Oh yes, she was angry all right.
"Oh really? What gives you that idea?" The voice came from behind Sslina and the spider actually jumped before turning.
"You!"
"Yes, me." There stood Mithrandir, smiling and as calm as if he had walked into a tea party. His sword was already in hand, ready for the fight to come.
"How dare you return! I will make you regret thisssssssssssssssss. Give me the elf and there issssssssss no need for us to fight like thissssssssss. Give him to me and you can all go."
"What part of 'no' do you not understand? You will never get my son." Thranduil was now more than ready for this.
"Attack!" The order was hissed and mayhem ensued.
Estel had been awake little more than thirty minutes before realising that he could not hear the chitter of the spiders.
"This is for you, Estel." Alcarnor had handed him the old sword. It was dull in the dark light, but when he ran a finger lightly over the edge of the blade it was keen enough to draw blood.
"Hennad, this will do quite nicely." Estel gave an evil grin. "Shall we go and hunt Spiders?" They could all feel night descending over the forest.
The answering grins were more than enough of an answer.
They expected to be caught just getting out of the cave, but nothing stopped them. Puzzled, they looked at each other. Estel shrugged as they cautiously proceeded on their way. There was no sign of life at all, so when they heard the loud hiss of "Attack!" even Elladan jumped.
They glanced at each other once more as the sounds of battle came to them, and then rushed to join the melee.
Thranduil made his way slowly towards the leader of the spiders. The juveniles were too young to put up much of a fight, once the adults were dispatched, they seemed to panic even more.
Sslina screamed with pain each time one of her children was killed and it helped the king to home in on the fell creature. As expected, he could see Mithrandir fighting off to one side. He was doing magnificently, his sword and staff whirling as if they had a life of their own. No spiders near him were spared.
Then he was right beside the Maia, facing the fell spider.
"There is nowhere for you to go now, Sslina. Your children have been slaughtered and so will you be. My son is safe at home. Give up the fight!" Thranduil had not even rested his sword but kept it ready.
"My Master wishes to have the Brat and I will give it to him!" As she spoke, she pounced straight at the King.
"Ada!" The cry came from somewhere behind them and Thranduil realised with deep relief that it was Estel. That could mean only one thing. His son and their friends were safe.
"No!" The arachnid was stunned to hear the human's voice. How could they have escaped? She had made certain they were unconscious. They had not been gentle when they had brought their captives here. They should not have woken yet!
"It seems the situation is beyond your control, Sslina. Accept defeat or die." Mithrandir told her.
"I will take you with me!" She aimed her stinger at the ancient Maia. He rather nimbly jumped aside and the stinger came nowhere near to him.
It was Thranduil who drew the first blood from her. He was in just the right position and he did not hesitate to take off one of her back legs. Her cry of pain was high-pitched and caused the elves to wince.
She tried to retort and snapped at him with her pincers, but again they missed. The King was more than used to fighting the arachnids, had done so many times. He had anticipated her move.
Whirling gracefully, he took off another leg. The cry was even shriller this time and she ignored Mithrandir. She now concentrated on the annoying elf causing her the most pain.
Thranduil felt the adrenaline rush of battle thumping in his veins. He would make sure that Legolas would have nothing to fear from these monsters ever again.
Mithrandir meanwhile concentrated on her eyes and belly, the two most vulnerable parts of the arachnid's body.
Her screech when his blade hit one of her eyes caused Thranduil to falter slightly. That had hurt his ears! Sslina took advantage of his inattention. She knew she was dying. She could feel the life source leaving her rapidly with the blood that spurted from the stumps, but she would take this one along with her!
She stabbed her stinger and caught Thranduil high in the left chest. She made certain that she kept it there and pumped as much poison into him as she was able. A pain from her belly suddenly filled her, building to a crescendo and, with one last screech, she slumped to one side, dead.
Thranduil fell limply prone at the same time, unable to stand on his own, could not even sit. Grey and black blurred his vision as the pain within him grew.
The last thing he saw as the darkness descended was Mithrandir's worried, white face. The wizard's mouth was moving. He tried to make sense of the words, but nothing was clear as he fell away into the overwhelming darkness that took him.
To be continued.
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