Chapter Twelve: Lost Beyond Hope
His mind became aware of his surroundings before he was able to open his eyes. He heard the chirping of birds, the sounds of the leaves dancing against the wind, and the sounds of shuffled feet. Sniffing at the air, his nose detected the scent of flowers, the muskiness of healing herbs, and the smell of coffee. He sat bolt upright in his bed and glanced around him. He was in the healing rooms of his father.
With a startled exclamation, he jumped out of bed and raced to the door. The effort alone caused him to loose his balance before reaching the door and he slumped to the floor mere inches from his confined room. Reaching out with his mind, he searched down the golden strands of the bond that was wavering just out of his reach. Snarling with rage, he pushed himself up, and leaned against the door, closing his eyes to help in reaching that bond.
Reaching out with his fae, Elrohir floated down the golden strands, and followed it to where he would meet up with his brothers. As he travelled he gasped when the colours of their connection changed from a bright golden to a deep menacing red. He stopped suddenly glancing around him in confusion. Everything around him was dark, the usual golden aura that lit up the emptiness around him was black, and not even his elven sight could make out a thing. Fear entered his heart, and the presence of his fae stopped its search for it's other half. Elrohir felt his fae waver in defeat, and turn back with its own fear. Startled, and bewildered, Elrohir tried to send his fae out towards his brother's but it refused to proceed forward.
Elrohir looked down at the path, and saw the distinguished colours of their bond. The part he stood upon was bright golden yellow, and with a prominent line separating it, the other half was a deep angry red. He allowed his eyes to travel up the red strands and he felt himself shake with fear. Gingerly, he took a step, but he was shaking so bad he could not place his foot down. Suddenly without warning, a sharp tearing sound reached his ears, and he looked down again. A single thread had snapped and floated aimlessly off into the blackness.
Shaken, he watched as another threat tore off and floated off, then another. He felt his heart wrench at the slow severing of their bond and he knew that his brother was fading before he fell to his knees in despair.
Elrond shook his head silently. "Legolas, your timing is most unfortunate. Certain things have come into play here in Rivendell, which prevents me from leaving. I cannot go with you to your homeland until my son is found."
Legolas reached out with his hand and sat down slowly in the chair he had refused earlier. "I do not think I understand My Lord."
"Elladan is missing, and Elrohir has been returned to me injured. I must stay here and tend to my son and help him until Elladan has been found."
Legolas felt his face fall. "Is Elrohir alright? Will he live?"
Elrond pinched the bridge of his nose, and he sighed. "That I do not know. If Elladan is not found, then what befalls my youngest is uncertain. I have hunters out searching for my eldest as we speak."
Legolas nodded. Furiously thinking to himself, he smiled suddenly. "If I help in the search, and help in aiding with their recovery, then will you come to Mirkwood and see my brother?"
Elrond looked up frowning. "What is wrong with your brother?"
Legolas glanced down and wrung his hands. "Since Galen passed, he has not fully recovered from his grief. They were close, grew up together, and watched over me. My father fears he will fall into his grief and not recover from it."
Elrond closed his eyes and nodded. "I give you my word Legolas, that if my son's are safe, I will go with you and see your brother. I will send one of my healers with your guard and have him asses Erysyn as we move forward in our search."
Jumping up, Legolas grinned and bowed gracefully. "You have my thanks, Lord Elrond. Now, whom will you team me up with for this search?"
Before Elrond could respond, the door to his study banged open revealing a shaken elven healer. "Milord, you must come quickly."
Eyes wide, Elrond fled the room with the young elf prince behind him. Panick entered Elrond's throat as they raced down the healing wings to where his son was situated. The sounds of shouted rage reached his ears, before he turned the corner and saw what his mind could not comprehend.
Elrohir was pinned down by two guards, kicking and screaming with a fury Elrond had never seen in his son. Elrond knelt down and received a fist square between the eyes. He fell back stunned for a moment. Shaking off his surprise, he saw Legolas help in pinning Elrohir down. The young elf prince used his free hand to smooth back the thrashing elf's hair, and whisper calm words in his ear.
Elrond lowered his hand to his son's forehead and felt the heat emanate from his body. Elrohir slowly stopped his wild kicking, and lay on the ground sobbing hysterically. Frowning, Elrond gently picked his son up and carried him back into the room. Laying him gently on the bed, Elrond pulled the covers over his son and searched his son's eyes for an explanation. The blank expression and despair he felt coming from his son made his heart skip a beat. The words that were so calmly whispered from his son, made his heart almost stop.
"Elladan fades."
Galathil pulled his horse to a stop and leapt to the ground quickly. Racing to the tree, he knelt and picked up the small article that lay beside the great trunk. It was Elladan's signet ring. On it bore the sign of the hawk. The green jewel glistened in the sun, and the gold of the hawk glittered. The ring bore a semblance of his position in Rivendell. Marking him the heir and eldest, it also told those who did not know him to return him to the peaceful elven city.
The elf gripped the ring tightly in his fist and stood glaring at the lands around him. He felt anger radiate from him and he turned to mount his horse. Something brushed against his shoulder startling him enough to turn. The old tree's branches swayed in the slight wind, and Galathil glanced up frowning. The elf lord reached out his hand and touched the old bark, and felt the rage emanate from the tree. The tree knew what happened. Hope filled the elf's heart and he knelt beside the great old oak laying his hands upon the trunk quickly.
No conversation was passed between Galathil and the tree, only feelings. Fear, anger, rage, hopelessness, hurt, pain, and finally, defeat. Galathil stood after what had seemed mere minutes, but actually was over an hour, and remounted his horse. Shouting to his hunting party, they galloped off into the fields to resume their search for Elladan.
Elrond sat back on the edge of his son's bed and watched as the tears flowed unchecked down his son's face. He lifted his head and looked at Legolas who stood there silently. Elrond knew that the elf prince knew what his son was feeling for he was going through the same thing.
"Elrohir." Elrond glanced back to his son again. "Tell me what happened."
A choked sob escaped his son's mouth as he rolled over onto his side, clutching his stomach as if it hurt.
"Elrohir! You must tell me what you have seen." Elrond cried.
"Why not look for yourself as you have done so many times in the past?" Elrohir hissed heart wrenchingly.
Elrond swallowed. His son was right, so many times before when his son's were children, he had invaded their thoughts with a simple touch, but since they had become adults, he had given them peace, and allowed them to tell him what they had felt. It had been many years since he had entered their thoughts that he almost feared to do so now.
"Elrohir, I will do as you ask. But first, you must prepare me for what I will see."
Elrohir rolled over and gripped his father's hand hard. He lifted it to his forehead and narrowed his eyes, his lip curling in a snarl. Glazed grey eyes met the blue ones of his father's. Closing them, Elrohir forcefully dragged his father into himself, and he felt his father's fae, stiffen. Startled by the ferocity of his son's fae, Elrond followed silently, glancing around him at the new surroundings. When his sons were children, there had been rainbows of colours, blues, greens, yellows, as well as other colours. Now there was only the strong golden one he strode upon.
Elrond followed curiously. His son's bond had changed since he was last here. Stunned by the sudden change he felt his fae stop suddenly, and he gasped. Ahead of them, darkness loomed. The colour of the strands turned suddenly from golden to red. Stopping in his tracks, Elrond felt his fae pause, a silent fear emanating suddenly. Elrond felt his fae inhale sharply, and race to the edge quickly. Before Elrond could stop his fae, memories of his brother came rushing back.
Elros had pulled Elrond into their shared bond as they stood before the Valar. They had their choices before them and Elros wanted Elrond to visit one last time before they decided. Outward the twins began making their choices and Elrond knew that his brother, his twin had made a different choice then he had the moment the bond started severing. The silvery strand wavered suddenly and sharply snapped in half causing Elrond to cry out in despair. The twin's fae's wailed in protest and both twins' were wrenched from each other. Elrond had opened his eyes and saw the pain in his brother. Elros had fainted. Elrond watched as Manwe lifted his brother and carried him away, and the healer felt strong arms pick him up and follow.
Elrond drew his fae back sharply, his own grief of his brother's loss resurfacing with ferocity he had not felt in many years. The elf lord glanced at his son's fae, and a sense of defeat and fear was thrown at him. Slowly, Elrond understood, their fae was stronger then his and Elros'. Elrond had survived his brother's choice, as well as his brother's death. But now looking upon his son's fae, he knew instantly that once the bond severed completely, both would pass to the halls of Mandos.
Elrond retreated pulling his son's fae with him, and opened his eyes. He had caught a glimpse of his son's connection and now he understood them better. The golden strand had already begun to come apart, and Elrond was going to do everything in his power not to allow his son's to feel that sort of pain and despair that he had felt. Jumping up quickly, Elrond grabbed Legolas' arm and dragged him from the room.
"Can you find him?" Elrond snapped.
Legolas stood straight and nodded.
"Find him for me and I promise I will do what I can for your brother."
"What happened milord?" Legolas whispered.
"My son's have begun to fade. If we do not find Elladan soon, both will die, and I will not loose my children as I did my brother. Find him for me Legolas, and bring him here to me!" With that Elrond turned and walked back into his son's room slamming the door behind him.
Drawing himself up, the young Mirkwood Prince left the halls of Imladris, and mounted his horse in secret. Swearing an oath to himself, he swore he would find Elladan before he passed from this world.