-Dead Inside-

-ElvenHope-

:o:O:o:

Part Four

A/N: The term 'rescued' covers a big category. I didn't want to do the usual 'Dan and 'Ro kill fifty odd orcs save Celebrían unharmed and go galloping back to Imladris. Rescuing someone doesn't mean that you get out of the situation unscathed. And so here is my interpretation. I hope that it's different.

Both of the twins froze suddenly, all reason flying from them, every sense forgotten as they turned back towards the entrance of the cave. Elladan was the first to move, sword raised as he raced into the firelight forgetting how stupid he was being, forgetting everything but the need to kill. Elrohir was not far behind his brother, slightly dazed as though he was watching everything through someone else's eyes. He knew that instead of this he should have grabbed Elladan and pulled him back, but his body would not listen and so he ran full pelt into the cave.

The first few orcs fell dead before they even knew what was happening arrows imbedded in their chests. Elladan threw himself into the fray whilst Elrohir covered his brother. There were not as many orcs as he had expected guarding the entrance to the cave and fortunately they had the element of surprise.

Elladan span about, slitting the last creature's throat in one clean swing. As the orc dropped dead he turned to his brother panting slightly, his eyes wide and worried. Elrohir moved closer an arrow nocked as they looked down the passage before them. They could hear the screeches and footsteps of the creatures as they prepared themselves for what ever battle was about to ensue, not yet knowing what enemy they were faced with.

"We have to move," Elrohir hissed keeping his bow ready waiting for more of the creatures to spill into the passage. "We're trapped here, and we have to find Naneth."

Elladan nodded leading the way slowly down the passage. Both of the twins moved as quietly as possible, following the fair voice that they knew to be their mothers, freezing every time the orcs seemed to come too close.

The deeper into the mountain they went the more Elrohir thought that it was a bad idea. He wanted to save his mother, he wanted to see her safe, but at the same time he knew that they were so heavily outnumbered there was no way they could possibly win. It was complete and utter madness and yet they couldn't stop now, not when they were so close.

They turned a corner suddenly entering a small chamber on the right to search it and a sight that would stay with them forever met their eyes.

Celebrían lay huddled in a corner, her once golden hair now lank and tarnished. Blood stained her pure white gown that was now tattered and torn, it had been beautiful once, one of her favourites, now it was ruined.

They could not see her face, her head drooped against her chest and a curtain of matted hair hid her fair features. Cruel chains encased too thin wrists, evil looking instruments lay scattered about the room and Elrohir felt like he was going to be sick.

The twins froze for what seemed like an age their breath stolen in that instant. Elladan moved first soundlessly crossing the room and dropping down in front of his mother.

He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and Celebrían groaned deliriously. "No please," she whispered trembling. "Not again."

Elladan was taken aback slightly and tried to soothe his mother as she was obviously distressed. "It's alright Nana, it is me, it is Elladan. Elrohir is here too. We have come to rescue you."

"No," Celebrían pushed Elladan off feebly quiet sobs racking her frame as she curled into the corner further cowering away from her own beloved children. Elladan reached out again trying to pull her face gently round so that she could see, but Celebrían slapped her first born's hands away. "Leave me! You evil creatures leave me!"

She broke down completely then, soft pleas and whimpers escaping her amidst the sobs. Elladan pulled her forwards suddenly into his arms, easily overpowering his weakened mother. She wailed and struggled, but Elladan didn't care, he had to hold her close, maybe she would realize that he and Elrohir weren't actually orcs.

"Nana it's Elrohir and I," Elladan tried again his voice rough with the threat of unshed tears. "We are here to save you, it's us. Nana, your sons."

Elrohir chocked back sobs of his own as Celebrían still struggled against his brother trying to pull away begging them to just get it over with. What it was Elladan dared not think.

"Nana please-"

"Just let me die Valar, please just let me go."

Elladan doubled over weeping then, unable to take anymore. Both of the twins felt as though their hearts were breaking. Celebrían sounded so desperate, so distraught…

Elladan rested back against the cave wall pulling his mother close as Elrohir carefully pushed the stray hair behind her pointed ears and cleaned the blood from her face.

A tear drop landed on Celebrían's cheek and finallyher eyes flickered open. Her vision was unfocused and at first she could not make out the being who held her watching over her with worried silver eyes. It was an elf, and one she knew well, but she was not certain.

"Elrond?" Her vision still unfocused she reached up and stroked her son's cheek.

"No Elladan," the elder twin said the shadow of a smile crossing his face at the fact his mother had mistaken him for his father. If the situation had been less dire then Elrohir would have laughed at him, but knowing that he looked exactly the same as his brother the joke would not have lasted long.

"Elladan," Celebrían repeated a lightness to her voice. Her vision was clearing and she could see that it was her elder son who was holding her so carefully. Shifting her gaze she caught sight of Elrohir and lifted a gentle hand to wipe a tear from his cheek. "Do not cry for me pen-neth."

Elrohir sniffed swiping the back of his hand across his eyes. His nightmares had all been true then, he had seen it all. That was a secret he would keep from his mother if he could, it would most certainly not help her to know that. He was sure that she would not care about such fickle things now, but later perhaps… Unless there was no later. He swallowed hard forcing back the bile welling in his throat.

"We have to get you out of here," Elladan said studying the pegs driven into the wall, which his mother'schains werewelded securely to.

"Do not bother yourself ion-nín," Celebrían whispered. "Please get out whilst you still can I would not have you endure this torment."

Elladan sniffed, tugging at one of the pegs to no avail. "We have braved a lot to get here Nana so like it or not we're staying." In truth that was not at all the reason that they were staying and they all knew it. No matter what they had to do the twins would never leave their mother like this.

A sudden sound caught their attention making Celebrían quake in her son's hold and Elrohir snapped his head round. Celebrían screwed her eyes tight shut. "Run please! Leave me save yourselves."

"No," Elladan ground out around a set jaw tugging at the pegs in the wall with all his strength still holding onto his mother carefully."Not without you."

"They're coming," Elrohir said rising slowly his sword drawn.

Elladan nodded laying his mother gently against the wall heart pounding. "We will not let them get you do you understand?"

"Please Elladan-"

"No." With that Elladan turned drawing his own sword and waiting. It was a mere second before the first orc raced into the room scimitar held high, followed by its companions.

Everything moved in slow motion then. Both of the twins charged the miserable creatures; flying into a rage neither of them knew was possible. Anger and hatred swelled into power and nearly every blow was fatal. The noise brought more orcs flooding into the room and both of them knew suddenly with an odd sense of clarity that they were going to die here, and yet at the same time neither of them cared.

Celebrían was forgotten now, crumpled in a heap in the corner of the room, her back heaving and her breathing ragged. She couldn't understand what was happening, the world was slowly fading before her and she was simply thankful that the orcs had chosen to leave her be for a while her mind failing. A pained cry from across the room mad her lift her head and she looked blearily through the darkness. She gasped when she understood what she was seeing a choked sob escaped her lips.

"Elrohir," she murmured, her eyes fixed on her youngest son who had fallen to his knees abruptly, the shaft of a crude black arrow protruding from his left shoulder. Tears fogged her vision, her sons had come for her, they had risked everything to save her. Now Elrohir was hurt and there was nothing she could do, she couldn't help them and she could see no one else with them. They were outnumbered, they wouldn't win, it was impossible.

Elrohir gasped trying to control his breathing, as his eyes slowly met his mother's, he felt light headed and there was a ringing noise in his ears. The arrow had barely missed vital organs instead it had smashed into his shoulder bone breaking and driving straight through flesh and muscle. Now he was finding it impossibly difficult to get back up. When his eyes locked with his mother's though, when he saw the despair and fear there - he knew that it was fear for them and not herself - he felt a strange strength rising within him and with an enraged cry he rose.

"Elrohir!" Elladan called frantically, unable to see what had happened to his twin and worried that it was something terrible. Then he caught sight of Elrohir again, saw that he was badly hurt and cursed himself for his stupidity. He should have been sensible enough not to race in like this, now Elrohir was hurt, now they could not win. Their father had been right, Glorfindel had been right, now they were going to die unless the valar took pity on them and granted them a miracle.

Elrohir tore the arrow from his shoulder gasping as the shaft broke and black wood pulled free. The tip of the arrow was still imbedded somewhere in his shoulder. He swung his blade up in an arc, circling for another kill and suddenly everything seemed to stop.

One of the creatures threw a heavy blow across his brother's shoulder, the blade cutting all the way to the bone and Elladan dropped his sword. In two minuets the creatures had him pinned and Elrohir looked on in horror, managing to defend himself when an order in the orcs fowl tongue was shouted across the chamber.

The band of orcs went still, Elrohir froze, his sword ready and slowly one of the creatures moved towards Elrohir grinning. Cazdagh had been waiting long enough for the fight to be over, and far longer to spill elvish blood.

The orcs black lips twisted into an evil smile. "What's this then? You two actually thought you had a chance against us?"

Elrohir looked around, took in the thirty or so orcs that remained standing, saw the others that lay strewn across the floor dead. "I'd say we had a pretty good chance," he countered. "We have killed at least a dozen of your band even when the odds heavily outnumber us, and you have not managed to kill either of us yet."

"I think that is about to change," Cazdagh looked over to where Elladan was being held, forced onto his knees by the orcs that bore down on him.

Elrohir frowned, gritting his teeth. He couldn't move, if he did the creatures might kill Elladan. His brothers death seemed inevitable, but he couldn't just stand there and watch him die, he had to do something.

"Wait," Elladan said catching Cazdagh's attention. "I'll make a deal with you."

Cazdagh laughed. "I don't really think you're in the position to be making deals right now elf."

"Maybe not, but my brother is," Elladan said thinking furiously. He knew that what he was about to do was not only take his own life, but his brother's as well. He knew that he was about to try and barter with something that wasn't his, but like Cazdagh had said he was in no position to bargain, he had to use Elrohir. "Think about it, even if you kill me, how many of your men will he kill before he's taken down? Too many, elves are travelling from both Lorien and Imladris to find my mother, you're trapped." Elrohir winced realizing how stupid it was to tell the creatures his relation to Celebrían. It was obvious that Elrohir and he were related, but his mother looked so ill that it really was impossible to tell.

The orc's yellow eyes slid across to Celebrían who was sitting in the corner with tears in her pale blue eyes, barely controlling her tears.

"Think about it," Elladan said trying to draw the creatures attention back to him. "You have two options, either you kill me and my brother kills a good half of your little band here. Or you let my mother go and take us both as captives instead."

Elrohir locked eyes with Elladan when he glanced across to him and nodded slowly. Celebrían couldn't believe what she was hearing, she wanted to shout at them to stop it, she wanted to jump up and kill every creature in that hell hole, but she couldn't. Even if she had the strength to do so she was chained securely to the wall.

The creature looked thoughtful weighing up the odds, his eyes darting between the twins and Celebrían.

"The elves from both Lorien and Imladris are not far behind us," Elladan said earnestly, hoping that he didn't sound desperate. "My brother and I are worth a lot to both elven realms, you can use us as hostages and get safe passage through the mountain."

"Your mother is good for that job," Cazdagh said quickly. "You are all wealthy, she is a noble Lady, and you are her sons, your worth the same in my eyes."

"My mother is weak," Elladan said softly. "How long will she last if you flee? You cannot stay here, they will find you."

Cazdagh bit his lip, flicking his eyes across to Celebrían one last time before nodding. "Alright. Lower your weapon."

Elrohir glanced at the orc, knowing that their race was famous for going back on deals. "You promise to let my mother go?"

"Don't Elrohir," Celebrían said her voice cracking with the mere effort of talking.

Elrohir ignored his mother gritting his teeth. "You promise?"

Cazdagh nodded. "We promise." He grunted an order in the orc's tongue and some of the creatures hobbled over to free Celebrían pulling the elleth roughly to her feet.

"Don't hurt her!" Elladan protested as Celebrían sagged in the orcs hold, barely supporting her own weight.

"Lower your sword and we let her go," Cazdagh growled. Elrohir didn't move. "Hurry before I change my mind."

"Elrohir saesa, don't," Celebrían whispered, but it was too late. Elrohir released the hilt of his sword and the blade fell to the rocky floor, the sound of ringing steel echoing around the room.

"No," Celebrían sobbed her heart breaking, as the creatures bore down on Elrohir, bringing the younger twin to his knees. Elrohir resisted even though he knew it was hopeless. Elladan's helpless gaze drifted from his mother - who was being led to the exit - to his twin. Elrohir met his brother's gaze wordlessly, the same thought passing between them. They were going to die and they didn't even know if they had saved their mother.

"Bind their hands," Cazdagh ordered. "You two have just made the biggest mistake of your lives."

Celebrían sobbed helplessly as she was dragged down the twisting passages wanting to break free and go back. Needing more than anything to defend her children who had just traded their own lives for her useless one. She knew that she had been poisoned, there was something wrong with her, an odd illness that was slowly misting her mind. Killing her from the inside out. They didn't know… but then again they knew she stood no chance of surviving out in the wilderness by herself…

She was dragged out into the night air suddenly, the pale moonlight hit her face and the cool breeze dragged snow through her hair. The orcs through her unceremoniously down into the snow, grunting in their foul tongue before turning and disappearing back into the cave.

Celebrían lay in the snow for a long while shaking, sobs racking her body as she heard a pained cry echo from the depths of the caves. She had to save Elladan and Elrohir, those creatures had her precious children. And yet she couldn't go back, even if she had the strength to move going back would forfeit all of their lives.

She clawed her way up into a sitting position, looked around blearily, her head spinning. A blizzard had blown up in the space of a few minutes, but she couldn't tell if her own eye sight was failing or whether it was the snow whirling in flurries over the mountains.

The Elven Lady pulled herself up, staggering forwards, not knowing where she was going, just searching for help. She fell after a few steps and was unable to push herself up, completely exhausted. Half of her wondered if she was dying, wondered if the poison could possibly work that quickly.

She heard a voice, caught on the wind and her forehead creased. She knew that voice, knew it so well, but it couldn't possibly be…

Celeborn led the patrol through the pass of Caradhras. They had been walking for over two weeks and had nearly come to the end of the pass. Knowing that his daughter and grandsons must be close by Celeborn had urged his men to walk on through the night. He had to find them before something bad happened to them. He was determined not to let his wife's visions come true. He didn't know what would be worse, the death of his daughter or the death of his grandsons.

It was not something he liked to think about, it was not something he wanted to think about, but he had had plenty of time to do so. He knew that if only one of the twins died the other would follow, they were so close. But then again Celebrían was so close to her sons… Elladan and Elrohir were so naïve though, they had raced to their mothers rescue not actually knowing what they were up against. They had thought they were younger than that time all those years ago, but they were still young, they thought themselves mature, but they were still barely adults.

Sobbing, he heard sobbing. He looked up breaking out of his thoughts, concentrating on the sound.

Ordering his men to draw their weapons - just in case - he pushed his horse on along the ridge and met his worst fears face on. His heart leapt up into his throat as he looked down on the sight before him and he could have sworn his heart stopped entirely. A huddled form lay in the snow, golden hair streaming over a bloodied white dress. He knew instantly who it was, he saw a glimpse of the fair face and he blanched swallowing back his emotions.

Celeborn raced forwards to where his daughter lay in the snow, blood staining the pure white snow. He did not yet know whether he was too late or not, he could not tell whether she was still alive and the thought frightened him so much he felt physically sick.

He pulled Celebrían too him cradling her against his chest and she shifted slightly, one hand curling into the cotton of his tunic.

"Ada?"

Critique is encouraged!