Chapter Eighteen: Waking Within Pain and Fear

Squinting past the glare of fog in front of his face, he still couldn't distinguish the figure that struggled with the evil shadow that had cornered him. Strangely, he felt safe now that the person who was fighting was there. Determination flew through the air, along with love, pain and fear. Swallowing past the lump in his throat, he crawled forward, squinting harder on the face that struggled for his own life. Slowly, Elrohir made his way to the barrier and felt his face drain of color at the sight before him. A single cry escaped his lips as he caught sight of the elf who fought so hard, and was slowly loosing his battle with the banshee.

"Elladan!"

Gasping for breath, his brother's cry fell upon his ears with relief. Elladan barred his teeth and struggled harder against the frozen hands that held his throat in a vise grip that threatened to crush his windpipe. Snarling with rage, Elladan kicked and punched at the beast, his fists falling on nothing but air. Helplessly, Elladan felt darkness rise in front of his eyes, as his struggles became less from lack of air.

A soft voice filled his head, causing him to scramble backwards in fear. Curling up against the wall again, Elrohir waited for the shades companions to beat him with their long lashes of steel. Shivering in expectation, Elrohir didn't understand what followed instead.

Light seemed to fill the air around him, it wasn't sunlight, and he knew that. It was a soft glow; similar to that those of candles would shed. Opening his eyes wide, his vision cleared and focused on the most beautiful being he had ever laid his eyes upon.

She was tall, far taller then any elf he had seen. Her long golden hair shimmered in the light she cast off her seemingly frail frame. He knew at first glance that she was far from frail. Her tall body held strength, dignity and divinity. Long sinewy muscles formed a perfect body in his mind. As she got closer, he noticed her hair bound together with braids and white ribbons. Deep blue eyes fell upon him and he felt himself gasp as they met his. Peace and tranquility instantly flooded his mind, earning him a bit of respite despite the dread surrounding him.

He smiled relieved that this strange being gave him some peace. Her pale blue dress also seemed to shimmer, and he felt his eyes wander over her delicate features. High cheekbones gave her face an oval appearance. Her small slender nose perfectly aligned on her face, showed no traces of aging. His eyes lifted instantly to her ears and he grinned seeing the perfectly pointed tips poking through her long tresses. He felt his heart pound with instant love and devotion.

She was an elf. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't tear his eyes from her face. He pale face shone with health and peace, no traces of evil marking their passage. She nodded once to him and moved through the barrier. Gasping, Elrohir crawled quickly to the edge and watched as this woman confronted the banshee of his fears. Elladan fell to the ground in a heap at her feet, and anger flashed through her eyes.

Sparks of fury flew through the air, causing the tension to rise and the banshee to cower slightly before making his attack upon the woman. Elrohir flinched as the shade charged the unmoving woman, and he called out a warning. Feeling slightly bewildered and rather stupid for even uttering a word, he watched the woman release her rage upon the evil beast. The screech of terror that rang through his soul as the banshee reared back from the impact was enough for Elrohir to cover his ears fearing they would explode from the noise.

Lowering his hands slowly, he continued to watch through his prison fearfully. He actually felt safe within his boundaries. Elrohir lifted his hands to the barrier and startled fell through the now nonexistent wall. Falling onto his face in an undignified heap, he crawled forward on his hands and knees to his brothers' side who remained motionless. Turning Elladan over, he recoiled from the old broken body of his brother. His brothers' face was gray and sunken from death. Tilting his head back, Elrohir wailed into the emptiness that filled his heart at the image of his brothers torn and battered body. He roared with fury and charged the monster who had taken his brothers' life to revive his own.

Before his body made contact with the slowly recovering banshee, a small hand held his shoulder and he glanced over looking into the face of the woman.

"Do not throw your life away yet young one. Today is not your day for death." She spoke in a soft musical voice that filled his mind once again with peace. "Do not fear for your brother, he is in good hands."

Elrohir fell to his knees and sobbed at the woman's' feet.

He didn't know how long he sat there crying, but when he felt a pair of arms circle him into a large hug, he looked up stunned. Glancing around he noticed his dark nightmare was over, and he was in the arms of the woman. He laid his head on her shoulder and felt his heart wrench at the thought of his brother.

"Do not cry, Elrohir, look around." She whispered in his ear.

Startled that she knew his name, he did as he was told. The dark had diminished, his brothers' body was gone, and the banshee no longer flew through his mind. Confused he looked into the woman's eyes and opened his mouth to ask what had happened. Her long delicate finger pressed his lips closed and she shook her head.

"You and your brother are needed for more important tasks in life. As I said, today was not your day for death. It is time for you to wake and rejoin your family. They need you." She helped him to his feet and shoved his fëa towards a small grassy path. "Go."

He stopped quickly. Spinning around, he asked the one question that instantly filled his mind. "Who are you?"

She smiled and winked before disappearing.

Frowning a simple answer filled his mind causing his frown to twist into a huge smile. Grinning with excitement, he raced towards the familiar bond he shared with his brother.

He opened his eyes slowly, blinking rapidly against the light that suddenly hurt them. Tears appeared and ran down his face, and he groaned lifting his hands to wipe them away. Gasping, remembering his nightmare, he turned his head to the side and saw the smiling face of his brother looking right at him. Crying out with joy, Elrohir flung himself into his brothers' arms and sobbed into his shoulder.

Sniffling, Elrohir pulled back and wiped his tears away with his sleeve. A hand on his shoulder caused him to glance up quickly, hoping to see the woman again. Instead he saw his beautiful mother's beaming face. Sitting up quickly, he felt himself pulled into many tight embraces, and he felt love fill his heart causing him to start crying again.

Soft laughter caused Elrohir to glare over his shoulder. "Will you stop your blubbering?" Elladan chuckled.

"Hush." Elrohir sniffed. His gray eyes locked with his brothers'. "Did you see her?" Elrohir whispered.

Elladan frowned. "Who?" He mouthed.

"The elven woman in my dream."

Elladan frown deepened and he shook his head.

Sighing, Elrohir pulled his mother in for another hug and gripped his father's hand. Finally he was home.

Two days later, Elrohir sat on the small whicker bench in the gardens thinking on the woman who had helped save his life. He knew that he would never see her again. But the memory was burned in his mind and he remembered the peace that she had brought him. He felt his eyes drift over across the small pond to a group of elven ladies who sat at the waters edge with their feet in the water. He tilted his head to the side and saw someone he recognized slightly. His mind drifted from the woman in his dreams to where he had seen this other elf before.

Laughing rudely interrupted his tranquil moment, and he glared over his shoulder at the intruder.

"You look like a love sick elf." His brother smiled striding over and seating himself on the bench.

"What would you know about it?" Elrohir grumbled.

"How are you feeling?" Elladan asked changing the subject.

Shrugging, Elrohir let his eyes wander across the pond again. "Better then I did."

Elladan allowed his eyes to follow his brothers to the elves sitting by the water. "Do you know them?" He asked grinning.

Biting his lip, Elrohir shook his head. "One looks familiar. But I can't seem to remember where I have seen her before."

Elladan glanced over the faces and caught sight of his father's favorite cook. "Celoviel perhaps?"

Shooting his brother another glare, Elrohir indeed saw the blonde maiden amongst her friends. "I suppose, but I feel as though I know her from before she was hired on as a cook."

Raising an eyebrow, Elladan pursed his lips thinking also on the past.

The twins remained sitting in silence as night fell and the stars flickered in the darkened sky.

Elrond sat back in his study, and crumpled up the note in his hand and flung it across the room. Angrily he paced back and forth as to how he was to break the news to the young prince of Mirkwood. His assistant had written a letter explaining in detail the news on Prince Erysyn, and there was no easy way to inform the soon to be crown prince. Taking a deep breath, Elrond exited the study and began his search for Legolas. Elrond stopped halfway through his search and shook his head. Pursing his lips thinking rapidly, he raced down the halls to his chambers and flung open the doors. His wife jumped startled and glared at her husband flustered.

"What are you doing, Elrond?" She asked as he raced around the room flinging weapons and traveling gear onto their neat bed.

"Going to Mirkwood, if I hurry, there may still be time." He explained hurriedly.

"Mirkwood?" She exclaimed.

"Erysyn, remember?"

"Of course I remember. I thought there was no hope?" She stood up and placed her stitching aside.

"I also thought that of Elrohir, my love. If my hope is so dwindled, surely I can find some way to try and save the boy from death." Elrond strode over to his wife, kissed her cheek and left in the space of a breath.

Shaking her head, Celebrían retook her seat and began stitching again.

"Legolas!" Elrond roared, as he began tackling his horse. Turning to the stable hand, Elrond barked. "Find Legolas!" Turning his attention back to his horse, he strapped his water flask onto the saddle and his weapons before Legolas ran into the shed.

"Hurry now, we must make haste." Elrond commanded, startling the prince into action. They mounted the horses and before they were able to ride off, Elladan and Elrohir ran into the stable surprised.

"Where are you going?" They asked in unison.

"To Mirkwood, my sons'." Elrond nudged his horse through the doors.

"Can we come?" The twins' asked.

"I think not!" Elrond glanced back. "Take care of your mother while I am away." Elrond kicked his horse and raced off into the night, leaving the twins' standing their pouting.

Legolas shrugged and kicked his mount to follow Elrond's.

Matching grins filled the night with mischief, as soon as Elrond and the prince were gone. "Time for some fun?" One asked.

"Always." The other chuckled. The twins sprinted away into the darkness, and disappeared into the shadows of the buildings of Imladris.