Missing
Chapter four: For a brother
By: SageWriting
Disclaimer: see chapter one
Email: Set in the time after the War of the ring. King Aragorn has traveled to Mirkwood to surprise his old friend. It's not until after he gets there does he learn something is terribly, terribly wrong. Legolas is gone, and with the Mouth of Sauron trying desperately to break the prince, Aragorn may have less time than he realizes to save him.
Rating: PG-13, for angst and torture in later scenes. Maybe pushing at R, though.
Foreword: Hello! Sorry for the wait but I had the FCAT to worry about and all. I realized the main reason for my late updates are review responses. I will only review those with questions, but rest assured I read them all and deeply appreciate them. Thanx! A line or two in Chapter Two has been revised! It reinforces now what happened to the twins! Also, there is a suicide attempt in here. Or mention of one. GUYS I MESSED UP! SOME OF THE THINGS I PROMISED WITH BE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! I'M BEHIND A CHAPTER! SORRY!
It was at least an hour before dawn, but Imladris already had an awake occupant. Elladan, the eldest of the twin sons of Elrond, was seemingly lost in a daze, his thoughts far away and his spirit heavy. A cloak dangled from his shoulders, an unusual weight for the elf. How long had it been? A week? A month? A year? Had it really been that long?
The time seemed to mesh together into a jumbled pile. Elladan couldn't help but feel interested. So this is mortality? Strange that such a word would dare be spoken in lieu with an elf, an immortal. He chuckled, a thought entering his head, I guess that would mean I no longer am an elf? Funny, I still look like one but then again, so does Arwen.
After traveling the length of the garden and grounds at least twice, the self dubbed ex-elf checked in on his twin. Elrohir slept soundly, much to Elladan's relief. The memories of that night were still as fresh in the younger as they were in the older. It would always be with them, never leaving, never being forgotten. Leaning against the doorframe, the older twin just watched his brother, almost fearful of leaving him alone. Almost every night since that dreadful choice, he had woken up plagued with shame and guilt. Once it had gotten so bad its essence haunted Elladan at night as well.
0-0-0
"ELROHIR!" The door banged against the wall with so much force it almost bounced back and close on its own. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"
Elrohir turned startled tear-filled eyes to his twin, the knife in his hand shaking visibly as it hung that fateful millimeter away from the youth's exposed neck. "E-El...I..." His voice was hollow, ringing with guilt. It took all of Elladan's strength not to howl in agony. His brother was dead. All it took was that knife...for it to sing across that pale neck...
The gleaming blade wavered and a thin line of red appeared. A second later Elladan was grappling with his twin, trying to desperately save a loved one who just wanted to leave. A red haze overtook Elrohir and he deftly twisted, knife moving in a blur.
Blood splattered the floor and Elladan stumbled backwards, holding his arm to his chest as the red liquid began staining his tunic. The knife clattered to the ground, blade stained crimson and Elrohir slid against the wall just as his legs collapsed. He huddled on the floor, silently crying.
Tears dripped down Elladan's face as he walked over and gently picked up the dagger, clenching it in his fist so hard that blood began to drizzle down to join the rest on the floor and all over his tunic. "Was this how you wanted it to end, Ro?" He whispered, voice cracking, "To end it all? To leave me?"
Elrohir's twin shot up, his eyes locked onto his twin's, "I-I...I only wanted to...wanted to..."
"Save me?" Elladan crouched down, his arm cradled delicately against his stomach. "Come off it, Elrohir! What good would it do for me if you died? Don't you understand yet, Ro!" He yelled, head bowed. "That day, that day I did what I did because-" His head shot up, his eyes a well of emotion, "I ALMOST LOST MY LITTLE BROTHER!"
0-0-0
Elladan slid to the floor with something akin to a choking sob. That 'incident' had taken place less than a month ago, and still he bore the scars both on his heart and person. The knife wound was still there, bandaged up tightly. His hand was nearly healed, a faint scar the only mark crisscrossing his palm.
"El?"
The elf's head shot up, "R-Ro...I didn't hear you get up." He wiped a hand across his eyes quickly. "Wh-what's wrong?"
Elrohir wrapped an arm around his twin's shoulders, "Peace, muindor, I have always trusted in your judgment before, why would I stop now? You said it would be fine, and I, El, believed you. If we leave now we can reach Eryn Lasgalen tonight."
Elladan snorted, "Trusting my judgment I can see, but following your directions? That is a different matter, muindor. We would first get lost in the dingiest forest complete with revenge seeking orcs bent on destroying us then chance across some humans who wish the same. I, for one, value my life. In any event, who taught you the concept of time anyway? We will reach Lasgalen just before dark."
"Well then, in the words of our good friend Gimli; What are we waiting for?"
Sam opened his eyes to find he had fallen asleep during his watch. Ashamed, he sat up and cast a leisurely glance at his daughter, still peacefully oblivious to everything as she drifted away on her dreams. Ah, to be young again.
Stretching his aching back as he stood, the elder hobbit quickly made his way around their little campsite. He reached down to remove some food from his pack, only to discover his pack wasn't where he had left it. Frowning, he realized it was sitting up against a tree directly to his left.
"Stupid animals." He muttered, striding forward to see if anything had been eaten. However, things didn't happen quite like he had expected.
Never seeing the fine, thin, cord placed along the forest floor, Sam promptly tripped over it, and as if that weren't enough, something cold and wet slid down his back and shoulders. "Ahh!" He yelped, trying to wipe the blue sludge off only to get it someplace else.
"Father, what?" Elanor whispered, rubbing her eyes. Laughter was heard and they both looked up to see two little hobbits sitting in a tree. (Oh God, why did I just write that?) Pippin smiled, "Animals now, are we, Sam?"
"Oh no," The now blue one muttered, "It's you two."
"Uncle Pippin! Uncle Merry!" Elanor laughed, quickly untangling herself from her blankets. "What are you doing here?"
Pippin chuckled as he dropped to the ground, Merry a mere step behind. The latter gestured grandly at Sam, who was sending them a death glare that would do the late Sauron proud. "What does it look like, Elly? We were saying hello."
The younger hobbit smiled at her mischievous uncles, but cast a sympathetic glance at her seething father. "I'm sorry, Uncle, but was that really the way to say hello?"
"Of course it was." Pippin answered, leaning against a tree, arms crossed. "Anything less wouldn't be up to our standard."
"You lie." Sam muttered, trying to furiously wash the sludge away with some water. "I've fallen to this trick before. Its not yours, this is Lords Elladan and Elrohir's prank."
"Of course. Who else do you think gave us the recipe?" Merry smirked, and it almost looked out of place, unless you knew him well. "By the way, since you know the twins gave it to us, you also know that it won't come out for a week or two."
Elanor's mouth fell open and she couldn't hold back the giggles this time. Her father was going to be blue for two weeks? It just couldn't get any better.
"Oh," Pippin made a small sound, as if he had forgotten something, "By the way, Sam, Merry and I have decided you would get into too much trouble if we left you alone, so, we're coming with you."
Maybe it could get better. The golden girl's eyes sparkled happily, "Oh, will you? That's wonderful, isn't it, father?"
Sam groaned and covered his eyes with his blue hands. Obviously he disagreed. "Oh just kill me now." Merry laid a hand softly on his shoulder, "Sorry, can't do that. I'd rather not be the one to tell your wife."
"Ha! Me either. She's scary." Pippin piped up.
Elanor smiled, "Don't mind father, I'd be glad if you came with us."
Samwise sighed. What was he going to do now? He couldn't say no to his daughter, and, it would be nice to travel together again, as much as he hated to admit it. "Alright."
He sighted in on Elros, and let the arrow go. The arrow flew true, the gold and green feathers righting the projectile so that it flew as swift as its master's anger. Elros turned at the sharp twang and his eyes widened in something akin to fear and...sorrow?
Legolas was only momentarily taken back. Elros was a traitor, no matter how close to brothers they had once been, he was a traitor and he had to be dealt with. The tall elf jerked back, his hand snaking out to take a grab at the arrow heading straight for his chest.
Whipping forth two more, paying no attention to the oncoming orcs, Legolas Thranduillion shot them in quick succession. His greatest warrior, Elros may be, but to catch three arrows shot from the bow of Galadriel topped with the greatest archer's skill? It was folly, and the other knew it.
Bright green eyes widened and Elros made a small sound of distress. All he had done, accomplished, and he was going to die here? A hand snaked out and the arrows were snapped in half by a deformed, mud-caked, hand.
The king stared at the tall orc, disbelief written on his face. Eyes identical to Elros' stared back at him with murder in their depths, and Legolas gasped when he realized who it was he was seeing. It just couldn't be...but it was. "CELEN-" He shouted, only to stumble backwards, a hand raising dumbly to touch his chest, where an arrow protruded.
Elros lowered his bow. Turning to the orc he said slowly, and calmly, "Bring him." The orc smirked happily and Legolas fell to his knees, dimly aware of his once trusted warrior burning the city around them. A sharp kick connected with his rips and the elf coughed blood-
A sharp-toed boot connected with Legolas's chest and the proud king came out of his dream with a loud gasp. "Shut up." Grishna ordered with a snarl, returning to his seat at the mouth of the cave. "I may have been told to keep you alive and unmolested, but if you try to run, I will forget that."
Legolas finally had to turn away from those emerald eyes. He hated showing weakness above all else, but...those eyes...they were... "Having fun here, brother?" A new voice made itself known and the king could only close his eyes in weariness. No. He couldn't take this.
Elros came into the room, stopping beside his brother. "Grishna, our Lord would like to see you." The orc nodded and stood. "Be careful, brother, he tries to escape."
"He'll be fine." Elros assured him, kneeling by the bound and gagged elf. "Wont you, my king?"
I think that's the longest chapter so far, isn't it? sigh you know the drill. Go and review! please, i was SOOO worried about this chapter! Thanx!
Next time: ok, Aragorn will make it Lasgalen, El and Ro will be right behind them and they'll run into trouble, where both you and the king will figure out what is wrong with the twins. Legolas meets with the mouth of Sauron and does something he shouldn't have and an innocent pays for it. Also, Sam, Elanor, Merry and Pippin run into trouble and one member is lost while another is gained. One is left while the others continue. (See if you can decipher THAT one)