Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

Sindarin Translations:

Gwador-nin : My sworn brother

The Shadow

Several days passed as the captives were taken further and further south. The men had removed the ropes from their hands seeing that there was no place for them to escape to out in the open nothingness they traveled through, while so closely guarded. The plains of Gondor stretched out before them, and the twins hoped against all hope that they would run into Gondorian soldiers.

Atavus continued on, one foot in front of the other. She neither knew nor cared where they were or where they were traveling. She knew deep in her soul that she must attempt to care what was occurring around her, but her mind did not seem to be heeding the advice of her soul. Where the sun was bright above her she saw only shadow. Where the grass was green below her feet she saw only dry brown blades. On the branches of the few trees she passed she saw leaves of brown that curled in upon themselves instead of the full green foliage that was actually present. As they stopped at a stream to fill their water-skins, the water looked dark and brackish to her eyes. She knew her perception was altered by the evil that possessed her soul, but it brought her no comfort to know what the landscape around her should look like.

"We are being followed." Elladan whispered just loud enough for his companions to hear.

This news did intrude on Atavus' dark thoughts though. "Man or beast?" She asked staring off into the distance wishing she could trust her own vision to be true.

"I'm not sure. I hear something, but cannot see anything. I think we are being stalked by something." Elladan answered taking a drink from the clear stream they rested at. "You need to drink, Atavus. You have had nothing since yesterday."

She stared down at the water and grimaced at what she saw. How could she explain to them what she was seeing? Instead of the clear water that was actually coursing through the stream she saw a putrid, slime infested, black sludge meandering between the creek beds. "I can't." She whispered closing her eyes.

Both twins looked at her not understanding her reaction to the water. "Why not?" Elrohir asked.

"What you see, and what I see, are two very different things, Gwador-nin." She said turning away from the stream.

"I am not sure what you see, but you still must drink. You can not live without water, Atavus." Elrohir said placing a hand on her shoulder and turning her to face him.

He was shocked to see her pull her shoulder from his grasp and back away from him. She had been attempting at all costs to keep from looking directly at the twins. She knew her perception of them would be altered also. But when confronted with the sight before her eyes, she could not help but reacting in pure shock and horror. Instead of the loving brothers she had once known, she saw before her two rotting corpses. They were walking, talking corpses. Their skin looked like rotting leather, and she could see bone protruding from different parts of their bodies, through tattered clothing that also was rotting.

Her head began to shake back and forth as she watched the perplexed looks upon their faces. "Please don't touch me, Elrohir." She turned from them and for the first time took a good look at the men surrounding her. They all looked like rotting corpses. She wanted to scream at the nightmare she was finding herself in. But she knew it was no nightmare, even if it was a trick of her own corrupted mind.

She began to put her hands up to cover her eyes, but stared in horror at her own hands before her. She could see the leathery rotting skin, with white bone showing through at different places. She dropped to her knees wrapping her arms around her stomach instead, staring down to the bare earth before her rocking back and forth whispering to herself. "It's not real. It's not real." She repeated over and over again.

"Atavus. What is it?" Elladan asked kneeling behind her, and wrapping two strong arms around her stopping her rocking motion.

She had closed her eyes tight not wanting to see anymore. "You can't understand Elladan." She whispered her whole body becoming tense.

"I will try. Tell me." He said into her ear, pulling her closer.

She gave in letting her body relax as she started to speak. "Every thing I see is dead or dying El. The grass, the leaves, even you and Ro. You look like walking skeletons to me. My own hands are bone and rotting skin."

"It is just a trick of your eyes Atavus." He said placing one of his hands in her own. "Keep your eyes closed. Don't trust them, they deceive you. Feel my hand in yours."

She did as he said keeping her eyes pressed tightly shut as she ran her fingers over his. His hands were warm, and she could feel the smooth unblemished skin. She turned in his arms, facing him with her eyes still closed and reached up to touch his face. It too felt smooth to her touch.

"You see. We are still the same." He took her hand in his own, and placed it on her own cheek letting her feel the smooth skin there also. "And you are too."

She still refused to open her eyes, but she did lean into him placing her head on his shoulder, just accepting the comfort he offered her. She normally hated feeling as if she had to rely on others, but at that moment she would take any comfort offered to her. She knew she would soon no longer be able to distinguish between reality and the nightmare world her mind was seeing. Her mind itself was becoming sluggish, and it was difficult to form coherent thoughts. She also knew she would soon no longer be able to feel the comfort her family offered. The evil that was stealing rational thought from her would eventually take her sanity.

It was dark and the men and their captives had found a small outcropping of rocks to camp beside. They had tied the captives again, not wanting to risk escape while they slept. The elves had taken up positions lying on each side of Atavus making sure she could feel them touching her. She often reached out feeling a hand or an arm wanting to reassure her that they were flesh and blood and not rotting corpses. A few hours before sunrise the guard the men had posted had fell to sleep in the quiet darkness.

Elladan sat up silently looking around. "Someone is coming." He whispered.

The other two captives sat up looking around also. They saw a small shadow moving just beyond the reach of the dying firelight. Atavus closed her eyes knowing whatever they would show her would not be the figures true form. She could hear quiet breathing and the almost silent tread of small feet. When something small and light landed in her lap she had to suppress the urge to scream.

"Ata. I knew I could find you." A small voice whispered into her ear as he wrapped his arms around her neck.

"Van." She said wrapping her own arms around his small body as the tears began to flow down her cheeks. But then the fear struck her. "Where's Veri? What are you doing here? You were supposed to go to Lorien."

"We did. They were going to leave me behind, Ata. So I came by myself. And I found you first, too." He said proudly, pulling back to see the reaction on her face. "Why don't you open your eyes, Ata?" He asked frowning.

How could she tell him that she couldn't bear to look at him? She knew if she saw him as a corpse she would lose all reason she had left. "I can't. Please, Van. Don't ask me why." She said pulling him into another tight hug. "But you can't stay her, Van. When these men wake up they'll capture you too."

"I won't leave you, Ata." The boy said pulling away stubbornly.

"Where are the elves, Van?" Elladan asked forming a plan.

"I'm not sure. They were going to a cave. But I knew that wasn't where Ata would be. So I found my own way." Van answered. The twins both looked at the small boy not understanding how he would have been able to find them without going to the cave first.

"I'm not sure how you found us, Van. But now we need you to find the others for us." Elladan began to explain his idea.

"You want me to bring them here." Van suggested.

"No." Elladan answered.

"What?" Atavus asked thinking she wasn't the only one losing it.

"Don't worry. I have a better idea." Elladan said running the plan through his mind before explaining it to them.

After he explained Atavus sat shaking her head. "Elladan, are you sure? Don't you think we should have them free us first?"

"No, right now this is more important." He answered. "Now, Van. You are such a brave young one. Do you think you can convince them of what they need to do?"

"Yes. Veri will believe me." He answered. Without a word he kissed Atavus on the cheek and then stood making his way out of the camp silently.

"That boy is braver than most full grown elves I know." Elrohir said in amazement.

"Yes, he is." Atavus whispered sending a prayer to Ilúvatar that Van would remain safe.

Author's Note: Okay the whole altered vision thing just sort of hit me, but I think it works with the story line. What do you think?