Here´s the next chapter! I hope you´ll enjoy it )
Thanks for reading reviewing ((hugs!)), responses below.
Another thanks, as always, goes to San.
Now on into the snow and towards another meeting between human and elf.
Feel free to review!
Alina
Rating: PG 13
Disclaimer: Not mine
Snow and Steel
Morning dawned over Imladris, bathing roofs and walls in gentle light. Even so, not every trace of the night´s tragedy could be erased. The first tentative rays of red that caressed the elegantly curved windows of the Houses of Healing seemed to shrink from the touch. Thus, a shadow clung to the building, a remainder of night that was reluctant to leave.
An unnatural stillness lingered even within the yard until a lithe figure swiftly strode from the house's doorway. The dark-haired elf hurried across the snow that was in disarray from the horses that had disturbed it time and again throughout the night. The patches of blood that showed starkly against the white attested to the pain that had been brought into this enclave of peace.
"Dartho, ino-nin." Wait, my son.
Elladan paused at the concern in his father's voice and halted, albeit reluctantly. He had hoped to escape without the discussion that was sure to follow, yet he could not turn his back on Elrond´s worries.
With a sigh, the young elf glanced up to the balcony his father had stepped onto. The elven lord leaned against the railing, his posture one of sheer exhaustion, but his grey eyes carried just as much authority as they always did. Much to Elladan´s despair another figure appeared behind his father, stretching his arms with a pained groan. He had hoped not to disturb his younger brother's slumber as he left, but obviously he had not been cautious enough.
Elrohir looked down at the older twin with a frown, and when he spoke he was not able to keep the anger from his voice. "What are you doing, Elladan? I cannot believe that you were planning to leave without me!"
"And I can hardly fathom that you were planning to leave at all." Lord Elrond´s tone was stern, but Elladan could sense an understanding behind it that belied the words he had spoken.
"You are hurt yourself, brother, and there is no use in you succumbing to your injuries out in the wild", the older twin said curtly with a gaze at the bloodied bandage that showed beneath Elrohir´s shirt, "but I must leave. I cannot do any more for the wounded, for now their fate lies within the hands of the Valar and their own strength. I can no longer aid them."
"I did not imply you could", Elrond replied, "but that does not explain the rashness of your actions. I know your intentions well, ion-nin, and I will not keep you from them, but let us plan the search together. Success will surely be more likely if we do not follow the path of blind concern."
"Which path do you favour, then?" the younger elf returned hotly. "The path of councils? It will end in death, for Legolas was not well when I last saw him, and his state will hardly have improved over the past hours. The warrior he was trying to aid as the raiders took off with him looked dead already to me. Not that Legolas would listen to reason!"
"As you do now?" Elrond´s quiet question was followed by silence.
The elven lord gazed down at his son, and despite their dispute his heart filled with pride. The blood of the wounded still stained the older twin's clothes, for he had brought back one of the Mirkwood elves on his own horse and then spent the rest of the night assisting his father. Never once had he questioned that those hurt had priority, not once had he asked to leave as long as lives were being fought for, but now his patience had run out.
"We will find him, do not worry." Elrohir´s gentle words made Elrond turn.
He had been blessed with his sons. They had fought bravely yet without giving in to the cold rage that had blinded them after their mother's departure. There was no dull need to kill in their eyes, just concern for one they had long ago sworn to keep save.
"Aye, we will find him", the lord agreed, "and I am sure that Legolas will not give in easily to whatever hurt he has taken. We must plan, albeit briefly, before we set out to retrieve him, and a few more hours in the cold will hardly do him too much harm."
His words were cut short by the doors of the main house flying upon, admitting another elf into the yard. He had a coat flung across his shoulders and a sword strapped to his belt. His hair was flying as he went for the stables, and he did not seem to notice the others at all before he very nearly collided with Elladan, coming to an abrupt stop. Even though Elrond could well remember Erestor´s wilder days, they had been long ago, and the twins had hardly ever seen the dignified advisor in such an uproar.
"It is Estel!" Erestor looked up at Elrond in a mixture of regret and determination. "I fear the tale I told him to calm him last night has guided him to leave the grounds. I will go out right away in search for him!"
The three other elves stared at the advisor in shocked silence. It was Elladan who found his voice again first. "Legolas might not suffer much from the cold", he said grimly, "but Estel surely will."
None disagreed, and as Elrond looked up to the skies, he saw new clouds massing in the east. Fate was not smiling on them this day.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Quiet!" The harsh voice that barked into Estel´s ears only heightened the boy's fear, and when the arms tightened around his throat, choking him mercilessly, his mind seemed to go blank and he kicked out blindly, never once stopping his screams even though they became more painful.
His vision blurred as his air grew thin, and the shape of Tinw who still reared in frustration a few paces away seemed to fade.
Until there was silence.
Estel was surprised at the sudden peace that enveloped him. He could still feel the arm that choked him, could even smell the stench of blood that surrounded the man like a filthy cloud of flies, but his mind was free from the evil grasp. And then, as clearly as if he was standing right by his side, the small human heard Elrohir´s voice, even saw his fair face.
"Never hesitate to defend yourself with this." The dark-haired elf placed the dagger into the child's hands. Despite his obvious joy at Estel´s excitement about the gift, the younger twin´s eyes were serious. "Never draw this unless in real peril", he said quietly, "but if you draw, do not show mercy, for none might be shown to you."
"What is Real Peril?" Estel asked, unsure what the word meant yet unwilling to listen to a lengthy explanation when he would much rather run his hands over the elegantly carved handle of the weapon.
"Peril is nothing that you will find within these grounds", the voice of Elrond floated through the air, but it was Elrohir´s answer that shone brightly within the boy's heart.
"You will know, Estel", the younger elf said with conviction, "you will know."
And Estel knew.
His hands found the dagger's hilt blindly, and all of a sudden it did not seem bulky any more but rather melted into his small hand, as if begging to be drawn. He freed it in one resolute tug and then brought it up against the arm that held him captive.
The blade met with some resistance, but then it bit, sinking in deeply, and Estel felt himself flung forward. The snowy ground rushed up at him, and when he felt its wetness soak his clothing the protective shield that had surrounded him burst. Cold assaulted him, and pain gripped his throat as he fought to draw air into his burning lungs.
The boy heard the man yell behind him and struggled to his knees in pure fright. All he wanted to do was run, but his legs did not obey him, refusing to carry his weight. He turned around in despair and saw that Tinw had managed to force the man to retreat a few steps. It was a huge warrior with a wild beard. Blood dripped from his left arm and he curled his lips and bared his teeth at Estel in anger. His clothes and hair were covered in frost and blood and his eyes burned when he drew his sword, clumsily swinging it at the stallion.
The horse evaded the blow easily, but instead of advancing again it suddenly froze, ears pricked up.
Estel tried to call out, but when he finally managed to squeeze out the words they were a frantic whisper: "Telo, Tinw, telo." Come, Tinw, come. The horse looked at him but remained standing still.
The warrior grinned, blood showing even on his teeth, and he gripped his sword more tightly as he stalked closer. Unable to watch anymore, Estel curled in on himself and drew his hands above his head, suddenly wanting nothing more but his soft bedcovers surrounding him and the scent of breakfast waving past his nose. Yet no matter how hard he wished, the harsh snow and steely smell of blood remained.
Heavy boots crunched as they invaded the snow and Estel could hear Tinw snort, as if requesting him to act. One hand went down to grip his dagger tightly once more - yet before he could use it, the air suddenly sang above him as if it was sliced with speed. The sound was quieter than the arrows the boy liked to listen to on the training field, but he could make out a dull thud almost beside him.
There was a grunt, and another thud as something hit the ground close to him.
Estel sensed his chance to run, but he seemed frozen in his position, curled into a tight ball with his hand still clutching his dagger. Unable to move, Estel stayed lying in the snow, the cold seeping into his bones. From somewhere, he heard deep breaths that sounded laboured, but the feeling of danger slowly melted away, leaving nothing but fear in its wake.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Legolas blinked and took in deep gulps of air in an attempt to steady his breathing. The short run across the snow left him feeling nauseated and shaky. The snowy landscape seemed to shiver around him, unable to decide whether it was real or a memory produced by the troubled sleep he had been ripped from. Finally his mind caught up with his body, however, and the world rightened itself around him.
Not far off, his horse stood in the morning light and gazed at him in what seemed a mixture of relief and accusation. He dimly remembered that its angry neighs had cut into his slumber, sending him running before he could even fathom what was going on.
In front of the stallion, a raider lay dead, one of Legolas´ daggers embedded in his throat. The elf stared at the empty eyes that still seemed filled with hatred, vaguely remembering the face they once burned in. The memory was elusive, though, and Legolas did not try to hold on to it as it slipped away.
A small sob drew his gaze to the boy he had seen in the raider's grasp. He had been too far away to help the child and had fully expected it to be slain, for raiders never showed mercy. Their sole reason to restrain from killing was possible profit, and there had been none in sight. The child had shown surprising resilience, though, wounding the man with a small knife. It had been this deed that had allowed Legolas to draw close enough for the kill.
The elf threw one more glance at the raider, ensuring he was dead, before kneeling down next to the boy. The child seemed to sense his presence for it lifted a tear-strained face to look at him. Legolas frowned at the sight of the clear grey eyes that seemed to lose their fright the longer they were hooked to his.
"You are an elf." The boy's statement caught Legolas by surprise and he stiffly nodded. "So it seems, human, but do not fear. I will not hurt you." He was dimly aware that something else but the contents of their exchange was not as it should be, but he had little time to ponder this when the boy suddenly sat up. "Of course not", he said matter-of-factly, "for why should I dream of an elf harming me?"
As much as this statement puzzled the elf, it seemed to further reassure the boy. Even though he still looked shaken, a certain relief settled onto the round features and fresh assurance began to gleam in his clear eyes. He looked down and slowly lifted the small dagger that he held in one hand.
"That was a brave stroke", Legolas commented, "especially for one so small."
"I was in Real Peril", the boy answered, and for him, this seemed to close the subject. He pushed the blade back into the small scabbard he wore at his belt. He then made to turn, but Legolas swiftly halted the movement, catching the child's head in his hands.
"You should not look at this, little one", he advised, "for your memories might be hunted by it if you do." Seeing that his comment sparked fresh fear in the grey eyes, he searched for a question to distract the boy, casting a quick glance at his horse to guide it to his side. The stallion trotted over without hesitation, and he lowered his head to the boy, nosing him gently.
"What is your name, child?" Legolas enquired when he lifted the boy onto his stallion's back, careful to keep him from the sight of the dead raiders.
"I am Estel", came the reply, almost absent-mindedly as the child stroked the horse's neck, "and you are Legolas who can shoot strawberries off my head, only ada will not let me try"
A smile spread across the small face that suddenly turned to him in excitement. "But you could try anyhow, for Lord Erestor says that there are no rules in dreams."
Legolas could not help but gasp in astonishment, both at what the child said and at his late realization that it was speaking to him in fluent Elvish.
"You could also shoot the strawberry off my hand", Estel offered with hope in his voice, "or maybe off my shoulder?"
Legolas just stared, at a loss of what to say.
TBC
Review responses:
Dark Elf: Hehe, yes, well, sorry for the cliffie ;-) And I would never ever forget about the elf, I like him far too much! I´m really glad that you enjoy the story so much and that you always say so clearly what comes to your mind about the chapter.
Elvíngirl3737: Thanks! Little Estel is really growing on me, even though I´m not used to writing him, lol. And - erm, was that a threat? Hehe, I hope my post comes soon enough to keep me from any "bad things". :)
NightShadow131: Hehe, yes, Legolas is a bit out of control, as I believe that shock can do strange things, even to elves. Maybe Estel´s company can clear his mind...
Victorious Light: Hey, that´s fine, I know how real life can get into the way for reviewing (and posting, for that matter). Lol, I´m happy you like Estel so much - go and smooch him, he´ll need some comfort. And yes - finally they met, and Legolas did not rip him apart, did he? ;-)
Harry Estel: Yes, you are not the only one experiencing trouble with posting - but well, we need to be thankful to have this site at all, right? ;-) Anyways, yes, Estel is having some doubts, but not enough just yet..
Aranna Undomiel: I completely agree, poor Estel! Good for him that he considers everything a dream, else he might not have calmed down so easily... Hehe, if Legolas took drugs he did so behind my back, but he sure is shocked and hurt and exhausted, and that shows. OK, so this is more than stressed, lol. And just to explain: It was Estel who called out "Daro!" He´s only a small child, but he has a future kind inside him, as well as a powerful healer. I wanted this to show, if only briefly :)
Soul of the Evenstar: Thank you :) I´m happy you enjoy the story! Yes, the question of how long Estel will cling to his concept of the dream is quite interesting for me, too, because it offers a different perspective on his possible behaviour.
THANK YOU!!! I appreciate you taking your time to review ((hugs)).