"… and it seemed to him that Iluvatar took no thought for the Void, and he was impatient of its emptiness. Yet he found not the Fire, for it is with Iluvatar. But being alone he had begun to conceive thoughts of his own unlike those of his brethren."
- Ainulindalë
… and break asunder
An unearthly scream shattered the air.
Arwen jolted upright, barely having rested. Her heart froze, recognising the voice. Pulling on a robe, she quickly slipped out of the royal apartments; the stone floor was cold beneath her bare feet as she headed down the corridors, past surprised Guards and startled servants. She counted the doors.
Not that she needed to; the screaming had changed into a sort of ghastly wailing, and the agony in it tore at her terrified heart. When she finally got to his bedchamber, she saw that the door was already open.
Inside she found a pale-faced and trembling Derinsul holding down Elladan. Her brother's body arched and struggled beneath the Heir's strong grip, flailing limbs occasionally striking the Sindar prince, but Derinsul's hold did not lessen.
Sending a grateful look to the prince, Arwen stepped forwards and seized Elladan's body into a fierce embrace. The Lord of Imladris calmed slightly at her touch, though his wailing continued, doubling in intensity. Sweat drenched his bedclothes, his skin was clammy and as pale as his bedsheets.
"Hush, hush, muindor-nin," she whispered into his ear, tightening her embrace and rocking him slightly as she cradled him like a child. His hands reached up and gripped her arms, like he never wanted to be parted from her. Deep in her heart a growing dread whispered suggestions on what could have put him in such a state. "I am here; I have you now. Let the storm pass."
"ADA!" he cried out, his body arching, tears streaming down his face to mingle with his sweat. "ADA! Help me ada!"
Unbidden tears coursed down her cheeks. She had only seen him like this a few times, when she was very young, for by the time she was born the twins were already growing out of nightmares. More often they would comfort her. But in those rare times, when terror would take one or both (usually the latter) in the middle of the night, they had always called for their mother and father. When Celebrian left, the nightmares returned; Arwen had had them also, though not to the extent of her brothers', who had ventured into the very dens of terror to rescue their mother. Their father, burdened with his own grief and nightmares, somehow managed to comfort them all and survive the ordeal. Thankfully Erestor and Glorfindel were more than willing to take the bulk of the work of running the realm whilst the family gradually recovered.
But their father was not there now. There was only Arwen, mortal and carrying an immense worry over her missing husband, and Derinsul, the oldest son of Thranduil who had had a blazing row with Elladan only hours before because Elladan refused to let him visit Legolas.
"Is- is he all right?" Derinsul asked, almost timidly.
"I do not know, but I do not think so," she replied softly as she smoothed back her brother's dark hair, damp from his sweat and her tears. "Elladan, ada is not here. He has gone to rest. But Arwen is holding you; you trust Arwen, do you not? Come back now, come back to us." She looked into open storm-grey eyes, bearing the blankness of a sleeping elf, and saw the tendrils of pain writhing deep within.
She repeated those words, over and over again, calling out to her anguished brother. Slowly, his body calmed, though his tears still streamed from pain-filled eyes. His wailing was replaced by sobs that shook his entire being. Awareness gradually returned to his eyes, and they slowly fixed on the familiar face of Arwen.
He gazed at her for a moment, recognising her. The storm-grey eyes, exactly like those of their father, widened. His body shook, though less violently now, like it was exhausted. Then he took a deep breath, and let out a second piercing cry of utter anguish.
Arwen's heart quailed. The cry was laden with such exquisite agony and unbearable grief that she wondered if Manwë himself would come and strike Elladan down for disturbing the heavens. She barely registered the arrival of a shaking Éowyn at the door before Elladan's breath finally ran out, and he slumped forwards in her arms.
"Elladan? Elladan?" She shook him, lightly patting his cold face. Empty eyes stared back at her, yet unseeing. His lips barely moved, but she heard the words uttered.
"'S gone. I cannot live without -."
His eyes closed. Her heart stopped.
Then another scream rent the air.
~*~
"Legolas? LEGOLAS!!"
Eyes snapped open. Light silver-blue orbs regarded the Dwarf calmly, curiously.
Then it saw the crystal hanging around the Dwarf's neck. The eyes widened with fear, then went blank again.
"Legolas?"
Awareness returned to the eyes, slowly, languidly. On sheer impulse Gimli reached out and brushed hair off the elf's fair face. The flawless skin was clammy, reminding him of marble and crystal. Legolas drew a shuddering breath, then began screaming again, though it was more of a cry of defiance than the earlier shrieking. Gimli could just about distinguish words.
"NO! Leave me be! I do not wish to see!"
"Legolas!" Gimli bellowed. The screaming stopped; deep, deep blue eyes regarded him again, confused and unfocused, and filled with fear.
"Gimli?"
"I am here, my friend. The dream has passed- come back fully now."
Legolas' body stirred as he shifted, eyes gradually focusing as Legolas retreated from the world of elven dreams. The Lord of Aglarond saw that his friend's clothes were drenched in sweat, though the night was particularly cold and windy. Legolas didn't seem to notice, but peered at the room, as if he was trying to make sure he really was awake. Gimli knew the feeling too well.
"You had a nightmare?"
Legolas shuddered. "Yes, and no. It was a dream, but…"
"It seemed real?"
Legolas gingerly sat up and rolled his legs off the bed, so that he was sitting on the side. His hands trembled, and he half-heartedly attempted to hide it by putting his face in his hands and taking deep, calming breaths. Something else nagged at Gimli's mind, but so scattered were his thoughts that it took him a full minute to realise. He gasped.
"What is it?" Legolas asked worriedly.
"Your legs!" At the Elf's confused expression- apparently this was not a comment he had been expecting- he added, "As I recall, you were having difficulty just moving them last night!"
:Legolas blinked, then understanding dawned on him. He stared at his legs, tentatively moving them. "Ai, I had forgotten, and so had my legs, it seems." He prodded the injured limbs, and seemed surprised by what he found. "AI, It hurts still, yes, and I will not be doing any running for some time." Now the ageless face wore the expression of someone determined to find that silver lining in really dark stormclouds. "But it appears that the bones have healed, and most of the muscles!"
The two of them were silent for a moment. Then the barely perceptible sound of an Elf running with more thought on speed than stealth tracked its owner as he came up the stairs and down the corridor. Derinsul appeared at the doorway.
Gimli had already gotten up in alarm. "What has happened, Derinsul?"
Even to one who tried not to spend more than a minute in the same room with the Elf, it was quite clear that Derinsul was not in a serene state of mind. His face was pale, his eyes deeply anxious, and his breathing was erratic, indicating that great fear had been the motivation for his recent sprint. And there were, in Gimli's limited yet highly perceptible experience, very few things that could frighten Derinsul of Mirkwood. In any case, half the riddle was solved when the light blue eyes sought out Legolas first.
"Nightmare," Gimli said bluntly, ignoring the affronted look on Legolas' face, who obviously did not agree with his brother knowing about it. "Did you have one also?"
It was characteristic Dwarven frankness, and for once Derinsul didn't take offence. Or at least thought that there were more important things to worry over. Gimli's heart grew heavier. "No," he said slowly. "But I think Lord Elladan did- did you not hear him?"
Gimli frowned. "Nay, I only awoke when Legolas, erm, became distressed." Then again, one could not survive in the company of Elves without a bit of subtlety.
Derinsul nodded. He turned to his brother. "You are well, muindor?"
"Yes," replied the Elf haughtily, unconsciously sitting up straighter. "Thank you for asking." But those who knew Legolas well, a category the other two occupants of the room at the moment fell under, would notice his paleness, and the slight unsteadiness in the movements of his extremities. Derinsul and Gimli simultaneously arched an eyebrow, glanced at each other, and reached a silent agreement.
"I'm afraid Lord Elladan is far worse off, and will be unable to tell us anything coherent for some time," said Derinsul quietly. "Perhaps you could shed some light on this, Legolas?"
"He can't," answered Gimli before Legolas could form even a mental response. "They had different dreams."
Derinsul studied Gimli under a look that he had copied, down to the last eyebrow, from his father during particularly long council meetings in which Thranduil was rather short of temper. Gimli, in his couple of visits to his best friend's homeland, had seen it himself on the King. After a moment's thought, Derinsul nodded. Gimli was quite surprised at this, but did not say anything.
Then Arwen arrived, her normally radiant face looking extremely weary and frightened. She saw Legolas sitting up and seemed to nearly collapse with relief. Gimli handed her a glass of water.
"Lady Arwen, how is Lord Elladan?" asked Derinsul.
She shook her head. "Unconscious. I don't know what has happened, yet I fear the worst."
Gimli noted that Legolas' was now intently studying his feet. His arms were beginning to tremble again, and his breathing sounded a trifle unsteady. He didn't think Derinsul and Arwen would notice for a few more minutes.
It's best if they don't.
If you say so. Clearing his throat, Gimli spoke up. "Was Elladan saying anything?"
Arwen nodded. "Yes, he said "Gone, I cannot live without " until he lapsed into unconsciousness. Then we heard Legolas." At this her eyes went to the prince, but to Gimli's relief he seemed to have temporarily recovered and met Arwen's gaze.
"A lover, perhaps?" The Queen gave Derinsul a look. A characteristically Elrond look. He flushed a little. "My apologies, I spoke without thinking."
Tell them.
"No, not a lover," Gimli said calmly, drawing the attention of the two.
"Who, then?" Arwen asked, though her face quite clearly showed that deep down she already knew, and was only reluctant to have her fears confirmed.
"Elrohir. He cannot feel his twin anymore."
~*~
Aragorn was tired of the darkness.
For hours they had been trudging along, step after uncertain step. Occasionally a sound or a rumble of the earth would cause them to change directions, and they came upon several crossroads at which Faramir would randomly choose a corridor. He was nearly entirely dependant on his Steward, and as much as he loved and respected Faramir, he was beginning to take out his increasing frustration on the man.
"Aragorn?"
"I am fine, Faramir," he growled, then caught himself and attempted to lessen the sharp edge to his voice. "I think it is you who needs a rest, my friend."
A moment of silence, then "Perhaps I do." The King of Gondor felt slightly ashamed at his behaviour; it wasn't Faramir's fault that they were lost and he was blind, and the man was only trying to help him. And to add to Aragorn's mounting frustration, an hour or so ago he had started getting a nagging feeling that something was horribly, horribly wrong. Like something had been taken from him.
His stomach grumbled. As if I'd forgotten that we haven't eaten for over a day now, probably longer.
They continued for a few more minutes, apparently to some rocks that they could sit on, where Aragorn gently lowered Faramir. The ground beneath them in this underground corridor felt soft, bordering on mud. Earlier they had come across smooth, slippery stone, as well as sharp skin-grazing rocks. Neither had any idea of where they were going, or what exactly they were looking for, but continued in the hope that walking would eventually get them somewhere, and was surely better than just waiting around.
At the moment, there was very little to be optimistic about.
"Faramir, perhaps you should sleep a little," he suggested, after clumsily seating himself near his companion.
"But what if something happens?"
"Does the place we are in look safe?"
He heard Faramir shift as he looked carefully around them. "Seems so, for now. But I cannot see very far down the cave."
"Then you should sleep," Aragorn said firmly. "Do not worry, I can hear anything that comes, and I shall wake you," Aragorn continued, trying to make his voice gentler. It's not Faramir's fault. Most likely it's yours. "You are injured. Sleep will help your body heal; having you collapse in exhaustion will only double our danger, for though I can lift you I will be unable to go anywhere."
Faramir sighed with resignation. "Very well. I have a feeling you will not stop pestering me until I do, in any case."
"Sleep well; I'll be here if the shadow-monster pays a visit."
"You are most amusing, my King."
"I know."
He heard some small rocks tumble down as Faramir slowly laid back and stretched out. Wishing wistfully for a pipe and a packet of good Shire-weed, Aragorn sighed and leaned back against the cold corridor wall, staring at the darkness.
~*~
Author's Notes:
Sigh, unfortunately I can't spend my whole time writing, so these updates are coming out less often than I'd like. Really sorry about that, and thank you to all who are still reading. My excellent beta Jen, I hope RL is treating your all right!
Oh, and a big well done to Maggie and Erin Theis, who now have a beautiful new ToE layout. And Nat for being famous. A hello also to Trish, who I've managed to lure into the LOTR Plaza (go me!). Apologies to all who I owe reviews to (and I know there are many), I'm unfortunately a patron of the Pits of Lurkdom and Laziness.
Reviewer Response:
xx embyr- *lol* The Easter bunny image is great, and probably true. Thank you so much, and hope you're neighbours are being nice! I'm really glad you like my characterisations, because it's just occurred to me that I have *way* too many characters in this fic, and juggling their different personalities is a headache. Will probably not want to do this again any time soon ^_^ Thank you again, and it was my pleasure to dedicate a chapter to one of my most loyal reviewers!
Aria7- *glomps* Will not tell about 'mysterious elf' yet, though will leave you with something equally excruciating- there are, actually, more than one Elf. Quite a few more, actually.(goes off to take cover) But sharp eyes, spotting the description! Thank you!
edeyle- Thank you very much, such words definitely make writing worth it. Hope you enjoy further chapters!
Hildestohl- Welcome to the club of Who-Is-The-Mystery-Elf *g* Thank you very much, I'm cutting down the chapter sizes due to pace, and also to help me (I find it hard to proof-read overly large chapters). Do start writing, as it's real fun; I'll review if you do! And if you have need of plot bunnies you can look at challenges in archive sites like Tower of Ecthelion () or Henneth-Annun ().
Littlefish- once again, am greatly honoured by such an esteemed author commenting on my work. Also greatly relieved that you could tell it was Elrohir who I pulled the plug off, so to speak, because I wasn't sure I made it clear enough. I am planning angst for nearly every character, but whether or not I'll pull it off remains to be seen. I do know now that it's *extremely* difficult to juggle so many protagonists in one fic. I suppose this chapter hasn't helped with the cliffie situation ^_^ but I do my best *g* I try sticking to canon as best as I can, but if worse comes to worse I'll tack a 'slightly-AU' sign on it. Thank you so much, and congratulations on finishing HoH (an excellent story, and one I look forward to reviewing once I finish reading it *guilty grin*)!!
A Fan- Thank you, and to make you happy there will indeed be a great deal of Legolas-angst in later chapters. The next one has some, in fact. As for the plot, whilst I thought I had a clear plan for the story, it is now somewhere in the dirt that Aragorn and Faramir are treading on. The story mutates as I go along, so even I have no idea what's going to happen. Wish me luck!
Trish- eeek, a double attack! And yes indeed, sweetie, I do love cliffies. And I don't mind shapeshifters; I've been wanting to try out my deadly mechanical pencil darts on something. Hope Spain's being nice to you, and do come online more often! Thank you for reviewing *huggles*
chris- yay, I've got a new reader! Thank you for being interested, chris, and have a safe holiday!