1We are back again, CHAPTER THREE. Lion speaking, we thank you for reviews you sent in.
Please keep in mind when you read this I (Lion) do indeed fangirl Thranie (Thranduil) and he will not be mean for much longer as I can't bear writing him that way. How would YOU feel if you just saw your only son die? I thought so. NO judging him. (huggles Thranduil and Elrond plushies)
And by the way, we picked up a Sindarin expert to be our beta so lots of Elvish to come. A warm welcome to Glor, the lover of Glorfindel. He is her's not your's. So nyah.
Celme: Thank you very much for your feedback, we will from now on make that more distinguishable. You see, we do try to put some kind of distinction in between different parts but when we load it onto fanfic it disappears for some reason.
Viresse: Just wait and see, that's what makes cliffies fun.
Disclaimer: We just own the creepy cult, everything else belongs to Master Tolkien in all his genius.
Chapter Three: Capture of the Wind
Elladan and Elrohir sat in silent shock, completely lost for words.
"That... tha— it couldn't have just happened... I .. we, Elladan..." Elrohir stammered. Elladan looked at the younger twin sadly, and he opened his mouth to say something, but just then the click of the door sounded through the fearful hush.
Elrohir found himself shaking slightly as he looked upon the four who had just entered. He stood to speak but Elrond held up his hand shaking his head, the younger twin sat down his mouth still open. Both of them were in a state of disbelief. It was Thranduil who broke the eerie silence.
"Whatever you say in the next few moments shall save or damn you..." He looked at them both, his icy gaze piercing their stupor. "Well?"
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"Moon ere silver,
Fire ere gold.
Blend together
for craftsmen of old.
Hammer be drum,
Fire be harp.
Sing now in chorus,
Works of the stars."
Delwthross ended the verse, and Wendûath and Sigildur opened their eyes. All three had been lost in the song, reminded of the old world they loved and desperately wanted back.
This made them ride all the more ambitiously towards Imladris, the warm night's air whipping against their determined faces. They had made few stops, and they were tired and hungry for it, but so hell bent on their twisted goal they cared not. Their horses raced forward, panting heavily, sheens of sweat glossing their fur. Delwthross felt a shudder go through his body as the moonlit river appeared in their sight.
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Elrohir was still dumbfounded, so Elladan rose and spoke. "We did nothing!"
Thranduil went rigid, and Elrohir grimaced. Even in his shock he knew that was a bad move, screaming at the father who had just lost his son.
"What did you say... you dare... in that… tone… by the Valar! SOMEONE GET ME SOME DORWINION! NOW!"
Elrond sighed. "I really don't think that wise right–" He was cut off when he noticed a glare. "Uh, on second thought…" he turned to a maid, "if you could bring up a bottle of Dorwinion?" he asked, leading her out the door. "And hide the rest," he whispered to her. She nodded and ran off.
The hours of the night slowly ticked away as did the bottles of Dorwinion (which were supposed to have been hidden until it was decided that there would be a trial to determine the twins' fate). On the next morning the trial would be held... and everything would fall apart.
Next morning...
Morning dawned slowly on Rivendell, fear mixed in with the morning fog. Elladan nor Elrohir, nor half of Imladris found sleep that night, yet everyone stayed in their rooms pretending... pretending to sleep... pretending nothing was wrong and so no one knew.
"It will be well, Elladan..." Elrohir tried to convince his brother.
"I… I'm sure it will be..." Elladan replied weakly. Though neither really believed what he said, they were both as scared as hell of what they almost knew awaited them.
"Ada... he will defend us brother... he will. We will be alright." Elrohir said this with a little more hope in his voice, and his twin smiled and nodded. Just then a clear bell rang out, piercing the solemn morning... it was time. Seconds later there was a knock on the door.
Not many were at the trial, only close family and those necessary. It was in a small room that looked as if it used to be a study, though now it was empty. One wall of the room was open to the outside and then sun shone through as did the sounds of the valley. Elrohir and Elladan walked into the small room, unbound.
Elrohir looked around the small room. Glorfindel was leaned up against a wall and he turned and glanced at them as they entered. He was the only one who acknowledged their presence in the room. Erestor sat at a desk and made a point of closely examining the wood to avoid eye contact with anyone. And in the corner sat Thranduil, his eyes cast down at the floor, his expression unreadable. Finally after a few minutes he looked up.
"Well?" he asked vehemently. "They are here... where is Elrond to defend them?"
Everyone in the room stared at him... that was a good question..
An hour later...
Glorfindel returned to the almost empty room and shook his head. Shortly after him entered Erestor, who had about the same amount of luck. Thranduil gave an annoyed sigh and the twins grimaced. This was not good.
Slowly the minutes ticked away. The door to the room opened and everyone looked to the door, Celebrian entered and shook her head.
"I could not find him.. I am sorry. I am just worried... he didn't come to bed last night either... he always tells me if he is going somewhere... I… I think something may have happened to him." Tears started to fill her eyes; this was not a good day for her, her sons were in deep trouble and now something ill seemed to have befallen Elrond.
Thranduil's sigh broke the silence. "Let us just get this over with... who now then will speak for Elladan and Elrohir Elrondion?" He scanned the room, meeting everyone's eyes.
"I will." answered Celebrian. "They are my sons as well, even if I can not defend them as well as Elrond."
"You were not even there," Thranduil threw back at her.
"Careful, Thranduil" Glorfindel warned. "You might sound like you care if the twins get a fair trial," he added jokingly.
Thranduil rolled his eyes; this was the last thing he needed, a Balrog slayer who thought he was funny. "Garo lam lin, Glorfindel!" (Hold your tongue, Glorfindel!)
The golden-haired elf shrugged and turned to Celebrian. "Are you sure you want t–"
"Yes," she cut in, "Yes, I am."
Thranduil nodded. "Let this begin."
Elrohir looked at Thranduil "We did not kill him… we would not!" he cried.
Thranduil's demeanor remained icy. "Prove it," he said simply.
"Uh… I... we were not even where he was killed.. Where was he killed?"
Elrohir looked to Elladan, who shrugged in bewilderment.
"Near your Ada's study" Thranduil said coolly.
"YOU can't prove we were there." challenged Elladan.
"YOU CANNOT prove you weren't," Thranduil replied. "And my son is no liar."
"He does have a point I'm afraid," sighed Glorfindel
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Delwthross, Wendûath, and Sigildur rode now at even a greater pace than before; now that they had part of what they needed, they rode off with all speed away from Rivendell.
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"No," said Celebrian carefully "They can't... but with that logic you can't damn them any more than save them..."
"Watch me!" Thranduil shot back. "I will not take the chance for the killers of my son to walk free, and even if he wasn't my son, nor prince, think: Do you really want kinslayers walking around freely, unchallenged? Do you?"
None could argue against that – kinslaying was a grave sin, and even if it was the sons of Lord Elrond standing accused, it had to be taken seriously and impersonally. Glorfindel looked at them and then to Thranduil, and nodded.
"But... in fairness, as a wrong damning will be just as grave… where, pray tell, were you that night, boys?" Thranduil seemed to have calmed down a bit to give them a chance.
"We were at the forge," replied Elladan quickly. "And if we send someone to ask," Glorfindel said stepping towards the door. "Go right ahead!" Elrohir shot out confidently. Glorfindel nodded and walked out the door.
The minutes ticked away slowly as they awaited Glorfindel's return. Elladan and Elrohir sat on the floor, waiting in silent agony. Elladan shifted slightly: he had a foul feeling for some reason. Elrohir didn't quite have the bad feeling his brother did, and turned to smile at him.
The door opened slowly and Glorfindel entered, his face expressionless. The twins stood up and looked at him with anticipation; Thranduil too looked up and met his eyes.
"Well?" said the Elven king. "What did they say?"
Glorfindel shook his head sadly. "They say the twins were not there as they claimed to be…" He pulled out the knife found in the prince's back. "And they confirmed that this is Elladan's knife, they recall making it for him not long ago."
Celebrian sighed; there was little she could do to help her sons, she had not been there and all of the evidence said they were guilty. She shook her head sadly again and sank into a nearby chair.
"I am so sorry my sons, I can not help you now…" she wept.
Thranduil looked at her and nodded with a trace of a smirk, "I thought so."
He turned back to Elrohir and Elladan. "What say you now? The truth? Or shall you further your deceit?"
Elladan shook his head in denial; they didn't. He didn't. He turned to his brother, who was now expressionless. "Please, you know we did not… could not… please," Elladan pleaded. Elrohir sighed; this was not good.
"Give me proof or tale you were elsewhere," Thranduil demanded.
"We can't," replied Elrohir, in a surprisingly calm voice.
Thranduil turned to Elladan. "And…" he walked up to Lord Glorfindel, took the knife from him and presented it to the elder twin, "is this not your knife, Elladan Elrondion?"
Elladan sighed and hung his head "It is."
Glorfindel shook his head. Elladan was beginning to panic now, he looked around the room. He saw Glorfindel in disbelief, Thranduil staring at them relentlessly, and Erestor writing down what was written, so silently he was almost forgotten. Then he turned to his twin, who still stood eerily emotionless.
"Well if you weren't near your father's office, then where in the name of the Valar were you?" Thranduil asked again.
"I ..." Elladan couldn't think of what to say.
"We were at the forge," said Elrohir defiantly. He looked up and saw his mother shaking her head at this.
"So that's all you will say then, is it? You will claim nothing else nor give forth the truth?" asked Thranduil carefully. "Is that all you have to say?"
The twins exchanged a glance, and then nodded. "Yes," they said together. "That is all."
Thranduil looked to Glorfindel, who nodded to the Elven guards outside the door. They came in, and one of them bowed his head slightly to the twins, with his hand to the door. "My lords," he said gently. They turned and left escorted back to their room by the guards, until a decision had been made.
Elladan and Elrohir sat on the floor, staring out the window. "What if we never see this sight again, brother?" asked Elrohir, a tear creeping down his cheek.
"I really don't know Elrohir, I really don't. I fear for the worst," whispered Elladan.
So they waited, hours ticking slowly, painfully by. Each minute seemed to last a lifetime, and yet diminish in a second at the same time, and they waited... they awaited the final word on their fate.
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Exhausted horses' hoofs tore at the ground with their reckless speed as Sigildur, Delwthross and Wendûath got closer to home. Now the ruins were in plain sight. Rhuicunn would be pleased of this success, but unhappy at Ihathron's failure, which had cost them precious time. Delwthross grimaced at this, and then the bundle in his arms moved...
Elrond felt a jolting movement as he slowly awoke. He realized he was on a horse, and from the smell of the air and terrain of the ground, not in Imladris anymore. He tried to move his hand but found them bound behind his back; someone was holding the rope that bound his hands. He tried to turn and look, but as he moved, an arm moved up around his throat, holding him still and in place.
A gag was on his mouth, so Elrond was unable to call out or even talk to who seemed to be his captors. He looked warily in front of him, and saw what looked like ruins up ahead… he tried to remember where he had seen them before, but then the gag was pulled roughly from his face, another cloth came up to his mouth and nose, and he knew no more.
Delwthross sighed in relief as the Elf lord fell unconscious again, and he moved his hand back to hold the rope. He gave his horse a hard kick in the side and raced forward even faster; the other two saw him do so, and followed him.
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A bell rang clearly through Imladris, signaling that it was time for dinner. There was a knock on the twins' door, and a guard entered the room. "They have come to a decision, my lords," the guard reported with a bow.
Elrohir sighed, and he and his brother stood up and followed the guard back into the hallway that led toward the study. They entered the study, and as they did their mother stood and left – not a good omen at all.
Thranduil sat in the same chair, looking down at the floor; he didn't even seem to notice their arrival. No one else in the room was making eye contact with them either. Finally Thranduil looked up his face was grim and he stood.
"Elladan and Elrohir Elrondion of Imladris, your fate is decided. You are damned – found guilty of kinslaying, and furthermore, kinslaying the prince of Mirkwood."
Elladan gave out a strangled sob, and Elrohir looked heartbroken, but Thranduil continued, "The usual punishment for such a crime is death." The ellyn both now stood rigid with fear.
"But," the elven-king went on, "you are the sons of Lord Elrond, and have done great deeds, and so it is deemed your life shall be spared." They relaxed slightly. "So instead, your punishment stands thus and let all here witness it and know it. Elladan and Elrohir, sons of Elrond Peredhel, you are henceforth banished from Rivendell, and all other Elven realms of Arda."
Elladan and Elrohir both cried out in despair. But Thranduil continued coldly, "If you return, or are found guilty of this sin again, you shall receive death."
TBC...