Chapter 11

Agony… terrible pain… it was unbearable! Ron was completely aware of it as he watched a load of flashes unfold in front of him.

Flash!

A street.

Flash!

A car parking in a drive.

Flash!

A family getting out laughing and chatting. Mum, Dad and Daughter.

Flash!

Another image of them laughing as they approached the front door of their house.

A Flash of green!

Screams! All around him were screams.

"Mum!"

"John!"

"Hermione!"

"Aveda Kedavera!"

Nothing. All was silent and black.

"Erestor I highly doubt-"

"How can you not believe it, I mean if it wasn't true, the boy would have had the back of his head blown out!"

"Calm down, I'm only saying, that lets not jump to any hasty conclusions."

"You sound like an Ent, Elrond!"

Elrond?

"Well I'll take that as a compliment."

"It wasn't one." Someone growled in exasperation.

"Ow!" groaned Ron as he brought a hand to his head which was telling him quite clearly that it was not happy. Someone took his hand and called his name.

"Ron?" Cilath, Cilath was calling him, softly, her voice full of worry. Ron finally managed to open his eyes and instantly regretted it.

"Ngh, too bright!" he moaned covering his eyes. Several voices whispered softly and there was a sound of wood moving across metal and the soft swish of material.

"Is that better Ron?" Ron opened his eyes again and to his relief it was now comfortably dark. Cilath was on his right and Elrond was on his left and Erestor, Legolas and Earithramir were at the foot of his bed.

"Man mathach?" (How do you feel?) asked Elrond, placing his hand on Ron's forehead. The hand was soothingly cool.

"Like crap." answered Ron truthfully. His foggy brain suddenly got a kick start and he remembered what he'd seen in that weird… dream? No it was more then a dream. He sat up straight in utter horror. "Hermione!" he cried. The elves on either side of him gently pulled at him to make him lie back down. Ron struggled, "No you don't understand, Hermione's been attacked! Death Eaters attacked her home!"

"Ron, Ron relax, we know." soothed Cilath, "You were muttering in your sleep and we were able to figure out what you were saying and alert Dumbledore, Hermione is fine as are her parents, thanks to you."

"Oh! That's- wait! How did I know? I mean, how come it was true, it was just a dream?"

"No it wasn't!" exclaimed Erestor who looked ecstatic, "It was a vision!"

"Erestor!" reprimanded Elrond. Ron frowned,

"A vision? But that's not possible, Cilath and Kinthia told me that if a human has a vision, it kills them. They said it blows out the back of their head." As foolish as it was Ron's hand flew to the back of his own head to make sure it was all still there. Cilath smiled slightly at him. Elrond spoke up,

"We are not sure yet if it was, however," he continued as Erestor opened his mouth to speak, "It is highly likely, but I don't know how you have them, we've been expecting it from Maedd, since the visions are passed on commonly by a kiss." Ron looked down rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. Cilath pulled her hand away looking hurt. Earithramir's jaw dropped,

"Oh sweet Valar." he muttered. Ron just blushed uncomfortably. Cilath sat back, crossing her arms defensively,

"When did you kiss Kinthia?"

"The day she died after you and Maedd ran off to sound the alarm. I wasn't expecting it, she just kissed me." Ron explained defensively. It wasn't his fault, it was all way too quick for him to really grasp.

"Well, generally the visions show the bearer that they must pass on the vision and to whom they must give it, but we assumed that the visions had simply been passed on to Maedd because Kinthia never told us."

"She didn't have time." Ron rasped his mouth suddenly very dry. It hurt badly to talk about Kinthia and Cer and Ron doubted it would ever really go away. It was the same with Sirius after he'd died. Cilath stood and walked over to the window her arms wrapped around her lithe body. Ron sighed, he knew she was very upset by this confession. Elrond put a hand on his forehead, to check his temperature.

"Well your fever is gone." Ron looked at him in question, "When someone starts having visions, if that is what they are, then the body takes a while to build up a resistance to their effects, so for a while you may get quite ill when you receive one."

"But I can't keep getting sick, I have to take care of the warriors, plan strategies, and defences, on top of which I have to learn how to become an animagus and learn a load of Mythology." Ron exclaimed angrily.

"Easy Ron, I'm afraid that you don't honestly have a choice."

"This isn't happening." he muttered dropping his face into his hands. This was too much for him, his brain was simply fried, he couldn't take any more.

"Look Ron I want you to take two days off to simply relax, no stress at all, understood?" Ron looked up, intending to protest but Elrond silenced him with a raised eyebrow. Damn those things were intimidating.

"Fine." he muttered irritably.

"Good, now I see no reason why you can't leave, so go and have some fun, take the horses out, have a picnic or something." Elrond smiled encouragingly at him and then he walked out of the healing wing, after grabbing Erestor by the arm and dragging him out. Legolas winked at Ron, smiling and followed them. Earithramir looked at Cilath then at Ron and the crowed

"Come now, we've just been told to have fun, so let's go! We have a whole day to ourselves, let's not waste it."

"Yeah, c'mon, I need to walk in the gardens for a while." Ron got out of bed, a little unsteady on his feet. Cilath looked at him and he looked at her hopefully. She rolled her eyes fondly and smiled at him.

"I will join you shortly. Go on ahead." The two boys nodded and left. Ron groaned softly and leaned his head back, covering his face with his hands as they walked.

"I'm telling you Earithramir, if anything more happens like this I'm gonna lose it." Earithramir cocked an eyebrow at him in confusion, so Ron explained, his voice getting progressively louder and faster as he spoke, "Lose it? It means to go crazy… nuts…insane… bonzo. No longer in possession of ones faculties… three fries short of a Happy Meal… WACKO!" He finished at a shout that got many wandering elves attention. Earithramir smiled amusedly,

"Thank you Ron, I believe I now understand the meaning of 'lose it'. However, what on earth is a Happy Meal?"

"I have absolutely no clue, I just remember someone at school saying it to another person and it was pretty obvious he was questioning the others sanity. Seems to work though, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes I believe it does." They walked out into the glorious gardens and strolled under the trees until they came to the swimming pool. Ron bit back a groan, this was where he'd seen Kinthia having her first vision. Earithramir could tell what he was thinking.

"If you want we can go somewhere else."

"No, no, I'm fine." Ron gave him a smile and sat on the ground. He hugged his legs to his chest and rested his chin on his knees. "Earithramir, do you remember the day we were here and Kinthia had that vision?"

"Yes, why?"

"Just, were all her visions like that?"

"Not always, generally the bad ones about attacks and such were painful, probably to get her attention, but some were not. They just happened, unfolding before her eyes."

"What were they about?"

"Well… At the same time lord Elrond had his premonition of you, Kinthia had one of you too, that is how we knew what to expect of your appearance, and of your skill, Kinthia saw it too." This blew Ron away and he showed it by falling back onto the grass. As he stared at the sky, Dubhaltach soared silently overhead. Ron stared at the clouds and began to guess what they formed.

"I see an apple over there." he said softly, pointing.

"Oh? Where?"

"There." Ron pointed again.

"Oh I see it. Hey look over there, I see a dragon!"

"Hey yeah, cool that looks like the one Harry took on in fourth year, I think it was called a Hungarian Horntail."

"Your friend has taken on a dragon!"

"Hey Harry's duelled with Voldemort himself and come out alive." Earithramir stared at him in shock.

"Really?"

"Really."

"How in the world did he do that?"

"Harry's the Boy Who Lived, he was practically born to out live Voldemort."

"Is that how he sees it?"

"Hell no, Harry hates being famous, everyone staring at his forehead because of his scar, he's famous for something he doesn't even remember. Although… he does have a bit of a bad habit of playing the hero."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, its like if something's up then forget the teachers who know more, it's up to Harry to figure it out and stop it. I mean he's my best mate, and he's one of the greatest wizards who ever lived, but he keeps on getting into trouble because he just can't let himself take a back seat because he's so damn courageous and good hearted."

"Courageous? Some might call putting yourself in danger every chance you get and taking friends with you fool hardiness, and recklessness."

"Hey Harry's very brave! He saved my sisters life once!" Earithramir quickly backed up a bit.

"What I mean Ron is that, it sounds like Harry puts himself in danger because he doesn't have anyone to worry about back home. You go with him and he forgets how your families would react if you got killed, he never had to worry about that, you do."

"What's that got to do with it?" asked Ron sourly

"Harry is reckless because he doesn't have to worry about his parents or any siblings being distraught over his death and he forgets that you do have that, he may be a good person, but he sounds a bit self absorbed."

"How dare you!" shouted Ron furiously standing up. "You have no idea what he's been through! He's got a right to be a bit selfish, the muggles he grew up with stuffed him in a cupboard to live in, he never got anything of his own, it was all hand-me-downs, he was treated as if he didn't exist and he never had any friends till he came to Hogwarts. To top all that off he's got a nutcase after him all the time!"

"Ron I get it, but that doesn't mean he can just disregard your feelings, your opinions." Ron glared at him and stormed off fuming.

'How dare he!' he thought to himself furiously 'He hasn't a clue about Harry!' Ron walked off into the forest his fist balled and his ears flaming. He stormed through the trees then for no reason he climbed one at random and sat down in the branches, curling up and burying his face in his knees, hugging his legs to him. His breathing was heavy like he'd just run a marathon and there were tears of anger, frustration and sadness in his eyes. He let them roll down his cheeks unheeded, unashamed since there was no one to see him. He couldn't believe Earithramir, not just about what he said, but because he'd said it now, when Ron just wanted some peace in his life. He was so tired, he just wanted to sleep and never wake up. The pain of slaughter was fresh in his soul, along with the pain of the loss of Kinthia, Cer and Sirius. Valar, he missed Sirius, he knew that if the man was alive he would have come to see him and spend time with him, not just to teach him this or update Elrond on Voldemort or the Goa'uld, but to just have some fun. He missed his mother's cooking, his dad's comments about how fascinating muggles were, his brothers teasing and Ginny's pestering. He missed Harry and his complaints of Snape, and he missed Hermione and her know-it-allism. He missed the wizarding world. Hell at this point he would have given anything to have a fight with Malfoy, that was how low he felt. He sniffed loudly, then began to sing softly, it was a song his dad used to sing to him when he'd had a nightmare.

Sleep, baby, sleep
Your father tends the sheep
Your mother shakes the dreamland tree
And from it fall sweet dreams for thee
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep

Sleep, baby, sleep
Our cottage vale is deep
The little lamb is on the green
With snowy fleece so soft and clean
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep

His father would never win a prize for the best singer but he'd been a wonderful comfort, more for his presence, for when you're a little child your parents are the most magical and powerful people that exist and they can defeat even the most evil of foes for you, the little scared child. Ron sighed softly, he really missed them.

'There, there young edan.' Ron nearly had a heart attack. He looked all around for the source of the voice but he saw no one. The voice had been deeper then any elf's, almost akin to Gandalf's.

"Hello?" called Ron, "Anyone there?"

'We are always here young one, since the time of the Ents.'

"Who are you?" called Ron, a little frightened. The leaves swished softly, sounding almost like chuckling, but there was no breeze.

'Why my young one, I am the tree upon which you sit.' Ron nearly fell out of the tree in shock. Once again the leaves chuckled.

"How can I hear you?"

'Oh I'm afraid I don't know young one, all I know is that you can, it is a fresh experience, I must say, speaking to an edan. I've never been able to, but I suppose you are quite different to any other human I have met.' The voice was slow and creaky, as if it was tired. Ron wasn't quite sure what to make of its comment about him being different.

"Well I am a wizard, and I do have a gift to learn any language, and apparently I can receive visions, so maybe that has something to do with it."

'Hm, perhaps, what is your name edan?"

"Ron Weasley. Call me Ron."

"Hm very well Ron, I am called Lithônion, and I would love to hear of your world, I'm afraid that very few elves have the time to talk to us now, except Legolas and his young niece, Cilath, delightful elves the two of them and such open minds."

"Cilath's my meleth!" exclaimed Ron happily, glad that they had something in common; the tree was clearly fond of Cilath.

'Well, well, then you are the young boy she has been talking about to me.' Lithônion chuckled as Ron blushed, Cilath had been talking about him? 'Come now, tell me of the wizards of the new age.' Ron did so happy to tell a fresh ear absolutely everything he could think of from the world wide wizards, to his own problems in the end. Lithônion was a very good ear.

"YOU ARE SO STUPID!" shouted Cilath furiously, straining against Lomli's grip as he held her back from attacking Earithramir who looked more then a little shocked at her fury. "HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT TO HIM ABOUT HIS FRIEND?"

"I was only telling him what I thought!" Earithramir exclaimed defensively. Lomli shook his head as he tightened his grip on Cilath's waist and arm both of which he had to have a vice like grip on or else she'd beat the stuffing out of Earithramir. He hadn't seen her this angry in years. Not since her father had died. It was a good thing he'd gone with Cilath to find Ron and Earithramir or else his ownlover would be dead by now. It had been a bit tactless of Earithramir to say such things but he wasn't always the most tactful elf.

"He has enough on his mind without you insulting his friends. Nai Valaraukar tye-mátar for your words!" (May Balrogs eat you) she shouted furiously. Lomli's eyes widened in shock as tears of hurt formed in Earithramir's eyes. Having had enough he picked Cilath up by the waist and half carried, half dragged her away. She struggled with him furiously, shouting curses at him that, if King Thranduil heard them, would make him have a kitten. He hauled her into lord Elrond's study, the closest and only place he could think of to bring the raving elleth. He pushed the door open and pulled her in. Elrond, Glorfindel, Legolas, Erestor and Gandalf, of all people, were sitting around the desk. As he shut the door he shouted angrily

"Dina Cilath this instant!" Amazingly she did, probably because Lomli rarely ever raised his voice to her. "I cannot believe you said that to Earithramir!"

"He deserved it after what he said to Ron!"

"What he said, while stupid, did not merit you wishing that the Balrogs would eat him!"

"He was so cold hearted to him Lomli!"

"Maybe, but wishing death upon anyone is no less cold Cilath!"

"Excuse me."

"Ron has been through too much in one month, he doesn't need his 'friends' turning against him!"

"Excuse me!"

"Oh for the love of Elbereth, he was not turning against him Cilath!"

"EXCUSE ME!" The two jumped as they looked at the others who were staring at them looking thoroughly confused. "What is going on here?" asked Legolas his eyebrows raised. The two glared at each other before both began to tell their version of the story.

"Earithramir said to Ron-"

"Cilath said to Earithramir-"

"-and then he said that Harry was-"

"-he made a mistake but there was no need-"

"Hold it!" shouted Erestor interrupting both of them, "Now Cilath, tell us what you have to say, and then Lomli you can tell us." Cilath immediately burst out with her version,

"Well no sooner is Ron out of the hospital wing when Earithramir, the idiot, tells him his friend is a reckless, self centred brat, something he did not need to hear after what happened only three days ago!"

"Oh yes well after she found out about that then Cilath says to Earithramir that she hopes that Balrogs would eat him!" spat Lomli furiously

"He deserved it!" she shot back.

"Time out!" shouted Legolas jumping up and standing between them putting a hand on each of their shoulders. "Both of you calm down, NOW!" he pushed them into seats and stood over them sternly. "Now," he began calmly, "it seems like your both involved in a fight that neither should be in if it's between Ron and Earithramir." The two began to speak but Legolas held up a hand indicating he wasn't done. "Now Cilath do you really wish death upon Earithramir?" Cilath went pale at his words and looked horrified,

"Of course not, never!"

"Then why did you say so?" Cilath opened and closed her mouth several times, before a tear made it's way down her cheek. The six edhel watched her as she bowed her head and more tears fell. She was still and silent save for the tears. Legolas frowned slightly, but then his face cleared, as he understood. He shared a look with Gandalf and the old wizard cleared his throat softly and got the others attention. He motioned for them to leave and they did, including Lomli, who went in search of Earithramir. Legolas and Gandalf remained. Legolas crouched down in front of his niece and gently took her chin in his hands raising it to look her in the eyes.

"This didn't really have anything to do with Earithramir and Ron did it?" she shook her head slowly, her eyes sliding away from him. "It was to do with what has happened, wasn't it?" She nodded, a soft sob escaping her lips.

"It's just I, I keep thinking about Cer, I can't help but wonder what it's like for him. Is he conscious, is that thing already claiming its first innocent life, how much pain is he in? Is it like what my Adar went through?" She covered her mouth in horror, she hadn't really spoken of her father and what happened between them when he'd been taken over. Legolas moved so he sat down beside her and put his arm around her and let her lean against him curled up like a child. Gandalf seeing he wasn't needed at all decided to leave, with the notion of finding Ron and chatting with him. Cilath buried her face in her uncle's chest crying silently. Legolas rubbed her back and whispered soothing words to her. Cilath continued to cry for a long time but soon her breathing evened out and she fell asleep. Legolas sighed, being in the process of going from child to adult was very hard on anyone, emotions were all over the place. Their judgement was affected; adolescents often, during their mental development, were unable to think of the consequences of actions, prone to acting on impulse, often resulting in severe consequences. He sighed into her hair again, thinking back. He remembered his brother Melicndómien, he was as tall as his father who would tower over all others, his hair was dark like his mother's, Bellethiel had had hair as dark as ebony. He had shared the same blue eyes as the rest of his siblings. He'd had a proud, yet kind face and strong arms, within which many elflings had hidden during a storm. He remembered how Melicndómien had hugged him as a healer had tended to his injuries and tell him he was brave for not crying. He slowly and gently pulled away, laying Cilath down on the couch and covering the young elleth with a blanket for comfort. He looked outside, it was now about noon, Ron had passed out yesterday and had been out all night. The garden was peaceful as he gazed at it from the window, but then that scene disappeared and his mind took him to another scene entirely.

(Flashback)

Legolas stood outside a room, with the rest of his family save one, who was inside the room with his wife. They could hear Falathiel groaning in pain of the childbirth, and Melicndómien crying encouragement. Legolas shifted slightly from where he stood, leaning against the wall. This was the first child born to the royal children of Mirkwood, so everyone was nervous of the roles they would assume, father, mother, aunt, uncle or grandfather. Thranduil sighed impatiently and rested his elbows on his thighs hanging his head tiredly. The others were all spaced out around the corridor, Elarinya sat on the ground beside Legolas resting against his leg. They all jumped as a particularly loud scream filled the corridor, then silence. After a few moments the soft cries of a newborn could be heard. They all relaxed and beamed at each other, there was a new member in their family. After a few more moments the door opened and Melicndómien came out, a tiny bundle in his arms. Legolas' heart jumped into his throat as the others rushed over to see the child. Legolas however, felt frozen, as if he was detached from the goings on in front of him. He saw Suiauthon come up behind Melicndómien and look over his shoulder, his eyes huge as he gazed at the babe. Elarinya gently reached out and pushed the blanket away to get a better view of the tiny face, her smile widening in pure delight at the sight of it. The others cooed and exclaimed,

"Look at those eyes!"

"Oh she's so perfect!"

"A credit to our family." Legolas waited till the others were done, he was very nervous, in a way he would be passing down the honour of being the youngest on to this child. It was quiet strange for him as he'd always been the youngest, always. Melicndómien looked up at him and grinned knowingly. He pushed past the others and headed straight for his youngest brother.

"Are you too scared to see her?" he asked teasingly. Legolas blushed then came closer and looked at the bundle properly. Among the blankets was a tiny baby. She had the biggest blue eyes he'd ever seen, and her tiny paper-thin ears were delicately tipped. She looked up at him curiously and a tiny hand suddenly flew out of the blankets towards him.

"Well look at that, she likes you Legolas!" Melicndómien laughed. Legolas didn't answer, he was captivated by this child. He slipped a finger, coarse from using the bow, into the hand she held out for him, and she squeezed it with tremendous strength. He smiled down at her mesmerized by such a tiny perfect thing. He'd seen newborns before but not an elf; human, a dwarf, even tiny hairy-footed hobbits but he'd never seen a newborn elf, so she was very special. Melicndómien passed her to him, nestled in his arms she gave a slight smile before her eyes closed in sleep. Legolas was alarmed for a moment, but then remembered how young elflings were supposed to sleep with their eyes closed because they were so worn out in their first years from growing so much. He breathed deeply, taking the beautiful scent of baby.

"You look like you want to eat her little one!" smirked Elarinya. Legolas rolled his eyes at her, "Hey Rilien's words not mine!" Rilien made a teasing sign, then laughed silently. Legolas sighed, looking back down at the child, then reluctantly passed her back to her father.

"What's her name?" asked Alassiel

"Cilath, her name is Cilath." Legolas smiled down at his new niece, Cilath, seeing now that she was special, if only because she was his first niece.

(End Flashback)

Legolas looked back into the room, where Cilath lay asleep, looking as innocent as that wondrous day she was born. He smiled down on her again, she was so strong, so cheerful, so fair, so, according to others, like him. He walked over to her and pushed some hair away and kissed her brow. She shifted slightly, a whisper escaping her lips,

"Ada…" whether in question or call, Legolas knew not. He sighed softly sitting in another chair and continued to watch over her.