The guard sprinted from the room and down the hall, his boots echoing loudly against the stone walls. How was he going to catch up with the rest? They had left on horseback hours ago! He would have to run without ceasing! This was ridiculous, it couldn't be done!
Lost in his own wonderings, he flew around a corner.
To his credit, he tried to stop. His boots slid and skidded as he desperately tried to cease his forward movement. He didn't want to be anywhere near those two!
Unfortunately for him, he moved much to slowly.
The last thing he caught sight of was a fist, and two pairs of flashing gray eyes.
0-0-0-0
His struggles were weakening. Blackness floated around the edges of his vision. His lungs were screaming for air, but he knew that if he opened his mouth it would not be oxygen the rushed in.
Aragorn could hear Daeion swearing at him venomously as he leaned all his slight weight against the young ranger's shoulders, one hand firmly tangled in the dark locks of hair, holding their owner's head firmly beneath the icy surface of the water. The pain radiating from the wicked wands was slowly sapping what little resistance he had. Soon, he would black out…the water would rush in to fill his mouth and nostrils…
But apparently Daeion was too impatient for that. Aragorn felt the bright flash of pain as the free fist connected with his side. His air streamed from his mouth in a flood of precious bubbles as he gasped involuntarily.
The water flooded inwards and Aragorn choked, but he could not withdraw from the killing liquid. He could not breath…he was going to drown…
0-0-0-0
Elladan was the first to enter the underground chamber, and thus was the first to catch sight of a slender man in the act of drowning another. And not just any other. There was a hesitation of less than a second as Elladan's brain registered what his eyes were telling him.
Estel!
The inarticulate cry that burst from the young elf lord's lips was like that of a dying, and highly enraged tiger.
Daeion's head jerked upwards in horrified shock. The slight man faced a vision from his darkest nightmares. Here was not one, but two elf lord's, their forms blazing in the dimness of the cavern like room. Their rage was like a palpable force emanating from burning eyes.
Elladan's sword was in his hand in less than a moment and he leapt forwards, bringing the blade down in a shining arc with all the force he could muster.
Daeion shrieked in horror, but was fast enough to release his captive and hurl himself backwards out of the way as the sword carved a path through the air that would have seperated his hands from his arms very neatly. Stone chips flew through the air as the blade hit the floor with enough strength to crack the flagstones. The slight man was on his feet in an instant and fleeing towards the door, expecting every moment to be his last…
Elladan almost flung his weapon away and fell to his knees, his arms reaching to jerk his little brother back from the black waters. Elrohir was already there. Seizing the young ranger's shoulders, the twins pulled desperately. Aragorn fell into their laps, his face white. Eyes closed. He wasn't breathing.
Elrohir fought hard to keep his hands from trembling as he laid his little brother flat on his back, his long fingers pressing against the human's cold skin, searching desperately for a pulse.
He found it. It was weak. Too weak.
"Breath!" Elrohir immediately folded his hands together and pressed down on the ranger's chest. No response. "Estel!" Elrohir pushed down again. "Estel, please!" Water poured from the ranger's mouth and he choked, his body jerking under his brother's touch. Elrohir withdrew and pushed his little brother onto his side, letting him expel all the liquid he had inhaled. After what seemed an eternity, he drew in a deep shuddering breath.
The twin's eyes met over their sibling.
Elladan's burning gaze darted towards the door. Elrohir nodded. The younger twin clasped his brother's arm briefly. "Go." He could sense Elladan's indescion. He did not want to leave Estel, and yet the thought of allowing their younger brother's tormentor to escape was unthinkable. "Elladan," Elrohir locked eyes with his twin. His voice was hard and cold. "I will care for Estel. Do not let him get away. Make him pay for what he has done."
Without a word, the elder twin was on his feet and speeding after the man whom he had seen harm his brother.
0-0-0-0
Daeion flew down the corridor blindly, terror putting wings on his feet. The slight man threw a glance over his shoulder as he ran, expecting to see the blazing eyes of an elf lord burning bright and terrible in a fair face.
But there was nothing there.
The momentary reassurance did not slow Daeion's feet. The young ranger's words echoed horribly through his mind. "The elves will come for you…they will come…" and they had.
Daeion's breath sobbed in his throat as he sprinted onwards. He was unused to such physical activity. He could not keep running forever. Slowing down, the human allowed himself to come to a walk. Never in a million years could he outrun one of the first born anyway. What he needed was somewhere to hide.
Cold sweat trickled down Daeion's forhead, stinging his eyes. He knew that it was not entirely because of his recent exertion. He was frightened out of his mind. He turned to look over his shoulder once more…
…and his heart nearly stopped. A shriek of terror tore from his throat.
An elf, tall and terrible was speeding towards him, his light feet making no sound on the hard stone floor. Dark braids whipped in the air behind him. A sword was clenched in his fist and a light of battle shone in the gray eyes, coupled with a thirst for vengeance. An expression of rage had taken hold of the fair features, making him the most terrifying thing Daeion had ever seen.
For a moment, the human could not move. Fear had frozen his feet to the stone floor. Self preservation surfaced however, and Daeion took off with a turn of speed that would have left a hare bewildered. He knew, however, that he could not keep it up. A stitch was already piercing his side, making his breath come in short, painful gasps. As he ran, Daeion fumbled inside his tunic for the dagger he kept as a safeguard.
A strong hand seemed to come from nowhere, catching his shoulder in a bruising grip, the long fingers clasping with crushing force. How had he caugth up so fast? Daeion screamed, partly from pain, but mostly from fear. He could not keep running. The grip was too strong and it was bringing him to a halt. He swiped blindly with his own blade and was startled to feel the hand suddenly release. Relief flooded him, but only for a moment. The next thing he knew, a sharp kick landed on the back of his knees, sending him crashing face first into the stone floor.
Daeion immediately rolled onto his back, his eyes staring fearfully up into the wrathful gaze of the elf. Blood trickled from his lip. He had split it open when he hit the floor.
"Get up." The elf's voice was cold. Implacable. His boot nudged Daeion when the human did not move. "Up, human. Now."
What else could he do? Slowly, the slender man rose from his position on the floor, trying hard not to notice that the elf towered over him by more than a foot. He started to release his weapon, but the elf shook his head, his dark braids swaying.
To Daeion's surprise, the elf lord sheathed his sword. The human felt an unpleasant thrill as the fair being drew forth a dagger instead. The elf meant to fight him in hand to hand combat.
As he looked on in dread, the dark haired elf dropped into a combat position. The blade of the elven dagger gleamed in the dim corridor, flickering with the elf's own glow. He stretched out his free hand, and the long fingers beckoned silently.
Daeion leapt forward, stabbing viciously with his weapon.
He hit nothing but air. Even as he swung, the elf was twisting out of his reach. With a movement almost too fast to see, the fair being snagged Daeion's wrist as it came toward him and lunged, driving the point of his blade into the human's shoulder. But he did not push it in far. It was a flesh wound only. Daeion barely had time to feel the sting of his newly acquired injury before his opponent had withdrawn.
Warm blood blossomed into a crimson stain as Daeion stared at his shoulder in shock. Wounds were not something he was accustomed to. The human turned his eyes toward the enemy and cringed.
The elf was crouched in a 'ready' position once more. His gray eyes were cold enough to frost over the fires of Mt. Doom. And in that gaze, Daeion read the absolute lack of mercy this foe would show him.
He was going to die if he continued this fight.
The human turned and fled.
Before he had taken five steps, he gasped. Agony. Slowly, he crumpled to his knees…then fell face forward onto the cold stone floor.
His last thought before he succumbed to the darkness eating his vision was that this wasn't the way he had planned things at all…
0-0-0-0
Elladan grasped the hilt of his dagger and pulled it from the human's back, his features written over with the disgust he felt for the enemy lying dead at his feet. The human should be grateful. It was far too easy a death.
With a final snort of complete and utter contempt, the young elf lord turned and started to make is way back to his brothers.
0-0-0-0
Elrohir watched his elder brother fly through the door, then turned his attention back to the younger.
Estel still coughed and choked, but he was at least breathing. A sorry sight he looked indeed. Strands of wet hair clung to his white face. His silver eyes had a dull look, as though they were not really seeing what was before them.
"Estel?" Elrohir bent close, hoping to see some sign of recognition, but the young ranger did not seem to have heard the elf's voice. Slowly, his choking eased and he began to breath normally. Elrohir reached out and laid his hand on his younger brother's back, meaning to turn the human so that he rested more comfortably. He was not prepared in the slightest for how Estel reacted.
The young ranger cried out, arching away from his brother's hand. The silver eyes flew wide open as Estel's voice rose in agony. "NOOO! Do…do not…touch me…!"
Elrohir jerked back as if he had been struck with something hard and heavy. His mouth dropped open in shock. "Estel!"
"Do not…" the ranger gasped as he tried to curl himself away from his brother. "Do not touch…"
Elrohir swallowed hard, resisting his initial impulse to reach out and take hold of his little brother, knowing now that something about his touch caused the young man pain. "Estel," he fought to keep his voice calm. "What is it? What is hurting you?"
But once again, Estel did not seem to hear him. He lay curled in a fetal position, breathing hard…half sobbing.
Quickly, the younger twin ran his gaze over Estel, trying to determine his injury. Elrohir frowned. Asides from a few bruises, he could not see anything that would cause undue pain. Of course, he could not see all of the young man's skin either. Though Estel's shirt was missing, there were ropes wrapped around his torso. Not to bind, no, there were ropes around his wrists for that…so what were they there for?
Taking infinite care not to touch his brother more than was neccesary, and trying desperately to ignore his soft sounds of distress, Elrohir swiftly drew his dagger and sliced through the ropes on Estel's wrists. He waited, but nothing happened. No reaction. His fingers trembling slightly, Elrohir reached out, and, as gently as he possibly could, began to cut the rope wrapped around the ranger's midsection.
As soon as the heavy hemp cords were touched, Estel stiffened. He did not cry out again, but Elrohir could tell that whatever he was doing was not comfortable.
The ropes fell away.
Elrohir stared for a moment, not realising at first what it was he was looking at.
There were marks on Estel's back. They looked to be very freshly healed wounds at first glance. But only at first. Running from his shoulder down to nearly his waist, the stripes of very new, pink skin had a strange appearance. As Elrohir bent forward to look more closely, he saw that there were actually raised ridges beneath the new layer of skin covering the wounds. Something had been placed in the wounds created…and the skin had been allowed to grow over it. Elrohir swallowed hard, feeling suddenly very ill.
"Estel," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion.
0-0-0-0
Aragorn floated in a world of pain. He could breath again, thank the Valar, but then again, he wasn't entirely sure if that was a good thing or not. After all, breathing meant that he could still feel every one of those horrible wands embedded in his flesh.
He couldn't take it any more. He didn't even know what he was saying. As if from a very great distance,he could hear his own voice pleading that they not touch him. He hated himself for it, but really, he had no control over his own voice any longer.
Someone was calling to him. He didn't want to answer. He had already told them everything he was going to. If they wanted to kill him, they should just do it and get it over with. Though he was in agony beyond what he could take, he still would not tell them anything more of his home.
But wait…
The voice that was calling was not using the only name he had given his tormentors.
"Estel."
So few people called him Estel. His father and brothers. His heart leapt in his chest. Yes. He recognized this voice now. This was Elrohir. Aragorn could have sobbed in relief.
His brothers were here.
0-0-0-0
Elladan strode quickly back down the long corridor. A cry of pain echoed suddenly and the elf felt his heart squeeze as though it had been clenched in a vice. That was Estel's voice.
Though his feet had been swift to pursue after Daeion, they were swifter still returning to his brothers.
"Estel!" The elder twin slid to a halt in the doorway. He looked in and saw his twin bent over their younger brother, his dark hair hanging in curtains around his pale face. Over and over Elrohir was calling their brother's name. His long fingers moved restlessly as though he wished to hold the young man, but did not dare to touch him. Elrohir looked up at the sound of Elladan's voice, and Elrond's firstborn saw the track of tears clearly on his cheeks.
"Ro…" Quickly, Elladan entered and sank to his knees beside his twin. Was something wrong with Estel? Was their brother dying? "What is it?"
Elrohir gestured wordlessly toward the young ranger, his face set in a stony mask. Grief was etched deeply across his fair features, but there was something else. Underneath his sorrow there was a burning rage.
Uncertain as how to read the emotions he saw in Elrohir's face, Elladan turned toward their younger brother.
Then he saw the marks. And he comprehended what had happened.
"We will have to take him to Ada," Elladan finally said. He winced inwardly at the thought of traveling while Estel was in such a state, but he knew that neither he nor Elrohir had the skill for something such as this. He was already reaching out to lift the young ranger when Elrohir caught his wrist in a strong grasp.
The younger twin merely shook his head in response to the inquiring look Elladan shot him. "I touched him once, Dan." His face twisted in remorse. "I did not even touch him roughly. But he cried out. He is in pain, and he does not know that we are here."
0-0-0-0
But he did know…he could hear them…their voices sounded like music to his ears. He could have wept for joy. Slowly, he let his silver eyes travel from one beloved face to the next. Tears crept over his eyelashes. He did not think that he would ever see them again.
He had thought that he would die without being able to ask forgiveness.
Ignoring the fire that still burned across his back, Aragorn stretched out his hand.
0-0-0-0
The twins gasped in unison as a calloused hand joined theirs. It was weak, though usually strong. However, neither elf could have been happier to feel even it's tremulous grasp.
"Estel!"
Silver eyes met their gaze. A very shaky smile touched the corners of the young ranger's lips. "Gwenyr nin…"
"Met si, tithen pen," Elladan said softly. "Anann met khil le."
"I did not think you would," the ranger admitted. "Not after the things that I said…"
Elrohir looked horrified. "Did you think that we would cease to care for you over words!" The elf gently stroked damp strands of hair away from Aragorn's face. "Never."
"Estel," Elladan said hesitatingly, "we need to leave. We must get you to Ada. Neither Ro, nor I have the ability to mend what has been done to you. It…" Elrond's firstborn faltered for a moment as he looked into his brother's face and saw the mark that pain and suffering had left etched there. "It will hurt."
Aragorn closed his eyes slowly. He knew that it would. And he was so tired. He wanted the pain to be gone, before it leached away what was left of his life. Of course, the only way to be rid of the agony was to endure it for just a little longer. "Iston."
"Can you walk at all?" Elrohir asked. "If you were able to hold up at least some of your own weight, we would not have to carry you, and it might not hurt so badly."
"I…I can try," Aragorn said hesitantly. His eyes flickered open. "But I will need your help, gwenyr nin."
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged looks. They could not remember the last time Estel had asked for help…
Without a word, the twins took one each of Aragorn's arm and slowly helped him gain his feet. Quickly, they threw his arms over their shoulders so that he could lean on both of them as he moved his feet. Normally, they would have wrapped their own arms around his waist, but they did not want to take the chance of hurting him any more than they could help.
Step by painstaking step, the threesome moved forward down the long, dank corridors of Daeion's headquarters.
Although he was in pain, Aragorn felt lighter in heart than he had in days. Mostly because of the fair beings on either side of him. Tears clogged his throat. He had abused them so viley, and yet they pursued him, placing themselves in danger. He had not missed the cut across Elladan's forehead, nor the ugly crimson stain on Elrohir's tunic. Both twins looked as though they had crawled to Mordor and back without sleeping once.
"I am sorry," the ranger whispered.
Elladan jerked his head in surprise. "Sorry for what?"
"My words."
Elrohir cast his twin a curious glance. "What do you mean?"
"You were right…both of you. I was not prepared for what lay ahead, and I should have trusted the advice you gave me. I was foolish, and it shames me to know that my stupidity put you both, as well as Legolas into danger."
Elrohir saw the momentary spasm of grief flicker across Estel's already ravaged face, and correctly interpreted it. "Fear not, gwanor, Legolas is safe. He is in Rivendell."
A burden seemed to have lifted itself from the human's shoulders. "He lives?"
"Yes." Elladan smiled at his brother fondly. "He lives."
"Thank the Valar." A smile stretched Estel's stubbly cheeks. "But please, gwenyr, I need to know…that is…will you forgive me? I was in the wrong. I was not as wise as I thought myself and I ask your forgiveness. You were right. Please accept the apology of one who was too blind to see that your actions were not meant to stifle me, but to keep me from harm because you cared for me."
Elladan stared at his little brother, his jaw slightly open. Until this moment, he did not think he had truly seen Estel in years. Where had the curly, bouncing child gone? At what point had he grown into the suffering, weakened man leaning against his arm with a wisdom dearly bought shining in his silver eyes. Somehow, sometime, something had changed. With a pang of sorrow, Elladan realised what exactly it was. Estel the boy was still there…but he had been eclipsed for the most part by another.
"Aragorn," he said softly. "I accept your apology…as given by a man."
His little brother turned his head sharply to look at him, but seeing the sincerety shining in his eyes, allowed his own face to slide into a tired, rather lopsided, but genuine smile.
"Thank you." He whispered softly.
0-0-0-0
Gwenyr nin-My brothersMet si, tithen pen. Annan met khil le.- We are here, little one. Long we two followed you.
Ada- father(daddy)
Gwanor-brother
0-0-0-0
QueenofFlarmphqal- Yes, Aragorn was in some VERY real danger there. Wasn't it great:) I love angst so much…Glad you liked the twins. I love to write stuff with the twins being all mad and stuff. There's just so much potential for cool things to happen. And I got a YAY for updating on time! And I'm about to get another one! Woohoo!
Ainu Laire- Glad you liked those lines. Those were my wonderful beta sibling's idea.:) She comes up with some great stuff. The ranger is living…for now anyway./evil smile/
Evergreene- Don't act so surprised. I mean, I've updated in a week before…it was…well…I'll think of it, give me a moment…:) I know I know, my update record has been simply dreadful on this story. Usually I'm not this bad, I swear. But hey, for the second week in a row, I am posting on time! Aragorn wasn't forced to hold his breath for over a week.;) Woohoo! Glad you liked that line. It was my wonderful beta sibling's idea.:)
Greeneyedelf001- Unfortunately, I am not in charge of the cliffies, that would be my muse. And I would tell her for you that you do not appreciate the gut wrenching feeling of the cliffies that she inserts into my blah, fluffy, huggy sweet fiction, but that would mean that I would have to approach her…/casts nervous glance over at shaking cage/ And she can get kind of testy…:)
Andromida-1971- glad you liked the angst of the last chapter, and hopefully you enjoyed the angst of this one too.:)
SmileyHalo- Hey! Bring him back here I need him for the rest of the story/retrieves the ranger from SmileyHalo/ besides, if I don't keep him around he'll never get those things out of his back! Anyway, was the killing of Daeion to your liking:) Since I try to please everybody, I didn't even put a cliffie in this chapter. AND it's on time. Of course, what would an angst story be without a cliffie every so often? I realise that I do kind of include more than the daily reccommended dosage of evil cliffies…but it's so much fun! I try to feel bad about it but I just can't. So hopefully everyone will forgive me for that.:)
Athena- I know what you mean. I have lost count of how many times I have sat down, read a really good fic, known that I needed to review, got busy…and the next then I know they're putting up the next chapter. Doh! Oh well. Thanks for reviewing this time! Glad you liked the twins lines there. That was one of my wonderful sibling beta's ideas.:) Oh…and do you realise how many different ways 'put the ranger our his misery' could be taken/evil smile/
Tiz02uk- Well here is the next chapter…on time! Woohoo! Oh I just love it when that happens. Hopefully Daeion's death met with your approval.:) It might not have been long, but at least he was really scared. That's almost as good, right? And lovable Estel has been rescued…kinda.
Nietta- One of your favorites? Really/blushes/ thanks! Stuff like that always just makes my day. Glad you are enjoying the torture and the angst.:)
Helluin-trip- how could I ever forget the ranger pain? It would be like leaving the chocolate out of a chocolate cake. I know what you mean about homework though. Just started second year of college./shifts her own rapidly growing pile under her bed/ but I'm on time with my post! And that's all that matters, right? Who cares if math doesn't get done/notices evil glare of her professor/ asides from him. :)
Viggomaniac- Wow! I am overcome by praise! Thank you again and again for your wonderful feedback. I'm glad you liked the angst and torture that my muse is so happily spinning away. She's been waiting to write this stuff for ages…and hey! I'm on time posting! Isn't that great? I bet nobody thought that I would ever get my lazy rear into gear and actually get back on track. Oh, and by the way, Daeion is LYING. I made him do nothing…I am simply an innocent bystander recording events…well, maybe not exactly innocent, but close enough. Glad you liked the twins lines. Those were actually my wonderful beta sibling's idea!
Deep Sorrow- Sibling! Another chapter up on time. Oh I am so proud. And those sweet covered heros are looking goooooood. Is that chocolate? One moment….um…here/thrusts keyboard into startled muse's hands and races off after confection covered elves and ranger/ (SM) Um…well I suppose I'm supposed to be responding here…of course, I already wrote out nearly the whole flocking chapter I mean, is a muse's work never done? But hey, I've bet you've noticed that since the more angstier chapters have come up they've gotten out on time…you know…cause I'VE been writing them. Maybe I should just go into fanfiction by myself…/Sadie returns, licking a very unhappy Legolas./ Want some? (SM) Forget everything I just said. /SM and Sadie eagerly share Mirkwood prince/