-Dead Inside-

-ElvenHope-

:o:O:o:

Part Five

Elladan caught his twin's eye as Elrohir looked at him blearily. Elrohir felt as though he was about to faint, everything was distorted, sound and time an odd blend of grey.

Elladan was saying something - or mouthing it, he honestly couldn't tell, and then his twin's face twisted in pain, his eyes screwed shut.

Cazdagh looked down at Elladan his eyes glittering evilly as he drew a black blade from the younger twin's shoulder. "You are lucky that we ran out of poison, we used most of that up on your mother."

Elrohir's attention focused at the mention of his mother and Elladan looked at the orc horrified.

"No," Elladan shook his head slowly in disbelief.

"Yes," the orc grinned. "You gave your lives for nothing, she only has days to live."

Elladan closed his eyes his forehead creasing. No, this wasn't happening, his mother couldn't die, not after all of this.

"You stupid creatures, love makes you do the most insane things and what for? It's just an emotion…" The orc looked at him thoughtfully. "Well it does not matter now, I will enjoy this. I have learnt over the years that the thing which hurts you the most is not your own pain." Cazdagh moved in a split second the blade twisting in mid air as he stabbed Elrohir in the chest. "But the pain of someone else. Especially someone you hold dear…"

Elrohir gasped, winded, unable to cry out as his breath left him from pure shock. The blow had not been intended to kill, at least not straight away. He was finding it difficult to breathe and he was wracked suddenly by a coughing fit.

"Elrohir!" Elladan cried as the younger twin coughed and blood trickled down his chin. The colour wasn't dark, but Elladan had seen this happen once before when his father had been working on a patient. The elf had had an arrow wound, the arrow had pierced a lung and he had begun to cough blood. It had not been serious at first, but the problem had to be treated quickly as it could escalate within minutes.

Cazdagh drew the blade out slowly, painfully slowly. "I hope that I remembered correctly where to hit him. Thing is that you're no use to us dead, at least until we've left the pass, so unfortunately I can't kill you. I don't believe the wound was fatal, but I find that I am somewhat careless," he grinned, "and besides I only need one of you really."

"'Ro?" Elladan looked at his twin his face pale with shock. "Elrohir."

Elrohir's breath was coming in short, quick, drowned gasps and more of the diluted red liquid ran down his chin as he looked across at Elladan panic clear in his eyes. He couldn't breathe, he felt like he was drowning, he couldn't get enough air into his lungs and he gagged on the blood which rose up his throat filing his mouth with a coppery taste.

Elladan felt awful, he needed so much to help Elrohir, but his hands were bound securely behind him tied through a bolt that had been driven carelessly into the wall that now dug into the small of his back. He couldn't even reach out and touch his twin, couldn't even offer a reassuring embrace. Elrohir made a sound like he was going to be sick all the while gasping for air. Elladan saw the terror in his eyes and knew that his twin needed to calm down he was only making everything worse because he was panicking. It was a normal reaction, and Elladan couldn't blame him, but he knew that he should be able help Elrohir. he would be able to if only he wasn't tied up. Instead he was forced to watch the scene play out before him.

Cazdagh and the other orcs watched the whole thing nonchalantly Elladan gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing. How could any creature be so heartless? He did not understand how anything could be so evil, so purely dark and cold.

He turned his attention back to Elrohir suddenly as the younger twin made a sound which sounded like his name.

"Elrohir, it's going to be alright," Elladan said his voice switching to elvish so that their conversation would be private for the most part. "There is a patrol coming remember? Ada would have sent one out, especially after we went out too."

"I… I c-can't breathe," more blood ran down Elrohir's chin as he tried to speak. "I-I think I'm dying…"

"No," Elladan said firmly. "Elrohir you're not. Just relax. You can't panic it will only make things worse."

Elrohir nodded resting his head back against the cave wall trying to breathe. "Sorry 'Dan."

Elladan looked over confused before realizing what his brother meant as Elrohir's eyes rolled shut and he slumped back against the cave wall.

"Ro!" Elladan could only stare and for a moment of horror he had thought his brother was not breathing. Then he caught the slow rise and fall of his twin's chest and leant his head back against the cool cave wall. It was alright, Elrohir was alive. He would have felt something if he was dying.

Cazdagh's cold calculating eyes flickered across to Elladan an evil glint within their dark depths. "We're not done yet."

Celeborn felt tears clouding his eyes as he held his child gently, his heart breaking at the sight of her broken body. He pulled her against his chest where he sat in the snow. Celebrían's dress and the snow about them -- which had both once been of the purest white -- were now stained with blood. The viscid liquid matted Celebrían's hair and stained Celeborn's tunic but not for one moment did he care. His whole life seemed to have come to a juddering holt. How on earth could this have happened? In all of his life he had never imagined that this would happen. And even though it was he couldn't believe it.

"Celebrían," he whispered over and over again, stroking her hair which now hung limp and lifeless about her wan face.

"Ada," Celeborn put a finger to her lips stopping what he thought would be a futile protest or explanation. Blank, dead eyes turned on him and his heart was torn from his chest.

"I'm so sorry iel-nin I should have been here sooner, I should have sent a patrol out to meet you," his voice broke and he pulled her closer - tighter, all the while careful not to hurt her.

The Galadrhim who had accompanied their Lord could only stare filled with pity and sorrow, and yet none of them dared to disturb him.

"Ada-"

"It's alright Celebrían you're safe now-"

"No," for a moment Celebrian's voice grew stronger an emotion that Celeborn could only describe as fear filling it. "Ada, you don't understand, Elladan and Elrohir are in there!"

Celeborn stiffened looking down at his daughter eyes wide. "What?"

"Elladan and Elrohir," Celebrían whispered tears coming to her eyes. "They traded themselves for me, they're back there in that cave."

"Elbereth," Celeborn whispered before turning to his guards lifting Celebrían up gently. "It's alright I will bring them back."

He handed his daughter over to one of the few healers he had brought with him hushing her quiet pleas for him to stay where it was safe. The healer caught his eyes for a moment and he saw the sadness there. Many of his men had known his daughter when she was younger. He pulled his gaze away from her bloodied form of his daughter and ordered the rest of his patrol to follow him, his sword drawn. By the Valar he would make those beasts pay, soon they would wish they were dead.

Elladan whimpered as Cazdagh slapped him across the back of the head. "Get up you stupid creature, even the whore who spurned you was stronger than this."

The elder twin did get up then, he made to jump at the orc leader - to beat an apology out of him, but was immediately choked by a noose about his throat. The creatures had untied his hands, only to tie him back to the wall again like a dog. The Elven prince was not enjoying one minute of this, his dignity sorely damaged. Right now, however, that was the least of his worries.

Choking, Elladan glowered at the creature his silver eyes blazing. He would not let that orc get away with insulting his mother, he would live to rue the day his kin had ever set foot on this earth.

"Foolish creature," Cazdagh caught Elladan's face roughly in a clawed hand and Elladan bit down hard on the fleshy part between the orc's thumb and fore finger. He bit down so hard and so fiercely that he drew blood and with a yelp Cazdagh detached himself from the elf as Elladan tried not vomit, spitting black blood onto the floor. The orc dealt his captive a hard back handed blow and Elladan was so stunned that he fell again, his head smashing against the hard floor.

He groaned and lay there a while pain lancing across his back from the bite marks a whip had dealt him only moments before. His tunic was torn and clung to the wounds agitating them, but he was more preoccupied with his brother's well being.

Elrohir was still breathing, but his breaths came out shallow and faint and every now and again blood would run down his chin - the colour growing redder each time. His brother desperately needed medical attention.

"Get up!" The orc ordered, but Elladan had already resigned himself to the fact that he was dead. There was no way they could escape whilst Elrohir was in such a bad state and he was not planning on leaving his brother.

A booted foot kicked him in the ribs and he gasped, another blow across the back of the head made his vision swim as stars danced in front of his eyes.

Elladan would have welcomed unconsciousness, his mind was foggy and blurred and the pain from his wounds was just enough to push him under. But then something happened and he desperately tried to cling onto the waking world, not understanding what was going on.

The orcs had turned their attention away from him, back to the main passageway and he could hear voices echoing through out the caves. Not the cracked voices of orcs though, the ethereal ones of elves. He lifted his head slightly wondering if he was dreaming. Elves…? How could that be possible?

The more he listened the stronger the sounds grew and the orcs in the small chamber with him and Elrohir seemed to forget about their captives drawing their weapons and turning to the doorway.

Elladan hauled himself up moving towards Elrohir deciding to use the sudden distraction to get his brother free. He pulled the noose over his head his movements hampered by his injuries, his sword arm held protectively across his chest.

It was almost impossible to untie Elrohir's ropes with one hand and it took far longer than he would have liked with two. Fire lanced up his arm as he aggravated the deep wound on his forearm and pain danced across his back.

A feral cry from the doorway made him turn and his eyes widened as he saw elves spilling into the room. One of them he recognized immediately and his heart filled with hope. His grandfather had come, they were saved. A child like feeling that his grandfather could defeat any adversary rose inside of him, but somehow he knew that it was true. He knew that Celeborn could not be stopped, not now.

He turned back to his brother his hands hurrying to untie the knots that bound his wrists when something struck him across the back of the head sending him sprawling across the floor with a pained cry.

A clawed hand grabbed his injured arm dragging him up and away from the fray at the doorway. Elladan hissed looking up, his silver eyes meeting Cazdagh's yellow ones. A cold grin spread across Cazdagh's face and Elladan grimaced biting his lip as the orc yanked on his arm.

"Lord Celeborn I believe that this whelp here belongs to you!" The orc shouted to get Celeborn's attention.

The Elven Lord looked up freezing amidst the battle that took place in one side of the chamber. His eyes met Elladan's fearful ones and he took a deep breath seeing the crude black scimitar in Cazdagh's hand.

"I'm going to enjoy this," Cazdagh whispered into Elladan's ear the scimitar rising in his hand glinting evilly.

Elladan swallowed hard, he had to do something unless he wanted to make an unplanned for trip to Mandos' halls within the next minute, and yet there seemed to be no way out of the situation.

The blade moved suddenly and someone shouted his name. Elladan moved like lightning ducking and jerking himself out of the orc's hold crying out as the blade caught his already injured arm and jarred on the bone. He fell to the floor the blade pulling free and within moments an arrow had imbedded itself in Cazdagh's frontal lobe.

The orc dropped dead and Elladan scrambled out of the way before the creature fell on him. He lay panting against the far wall of the room viscid blood spilling from his wounded arm. His vision was going muzzy and vague thoughts of lectures about blood loss entering his mind, though at that moment he was too dazed to care.

Celeborn immediately broke through the fray racing across the room to his fallen grandson heart pounding wildly in his chest.

"Elladan," he gasped gathering the youth into his arms tearing up his tunic in a feeble attempt to bandage the boy's arm. He was no healer and he knew that Elladan needed one desperately.

"Grand father," Elladan smiled slightly his vision fading rapidly. "Thank the Valar."

"It's alright Elladan I'm going to get you and Elrohir out of here." Celeborn said glancing over to Elrohir distractedly, checking that the younger twin was alright before turning back to Elladan. Blood was pouring from the boy's wounded arm and Elladan was paling rapidly.

The orcs, now leaderless were fleeing, most of them cut down before they could escape. Celeborn's second in command was working on freeing Elrohir easily lifting the unconscious elf into his arms.

Galadhrim raced over to help their lord and Celeborn quickly scooped Elladan up understanding the urgency to go. They had to get the twins to a healer and they had to move in case there were more orcs hiding somewhere within the mountain. The last thing he wanted was to be trapped in that cave with both of the twins desperately needing medical aid.

He carried Elladan carefully down the corridors guarded closely by his men, and eventually they left the cave walking into the blizzard that was sweeping it's way through the pass. Elladan had fallen unconscious by the time they reached the pass and Celeborn held him close feeling the viscid liquid on his hands.

The few that had remained behind had erected a few tents and managed to start a fire amongst the blizzard.

Celeborn was quickly directed to an empty tent where he lay Elladan down on a pallet whilst his second in command did the same for Elrohir. A healer followed them in and more followed. Eventually Celeborn was taken to his daughter's bed in another tent as there was not enough room in the one where Elladan and Elrohir were.

The blizzard died down before dawn and Celeborn felt so useless sitting there holding his now sleeping daughter's hand. No word had come of the twins and half of him feared for the worst, though he would not let his imagination get the better of him.

A healer came at dawn telling the Elven Lord that he had wounds which also needed tending to. Celeborn had barely noticed, but complied anyway too distraught to think straight. His wife's words rung inside his mind a haunting reminder of what was to come - one of them will not come out of this alive.

Nearly a day later Glorfindel found the remains of the twins' campsite, the blackened ashes of a fire and drops of blood on the snow. He knew now what had happened to the horses, he had met Mereet as she made her way down the mountain and had then found a mound next to a particularly treacherous bit of track. He felt sorry for the twins when he had found out, they did not need that on top of everything else.

Unfortunately elves didn't leave footprints, not even in the snow, something that made Glorfindel's job harder. At least before he had been able to follow the horses tracks.

The Balrog Slayer turned and looked down the mountain side to see that the patrol was not very far behind him. Asfaloth had found it hard to negotiate the track up the mountain side and the patrol which was on foot was not catching up. He scanned the area quickly searching for any trace of the twins, but there was none and so he made his way on through the mountain pass searching for them.

After an hours ride the pass rose up to a low ridge before steadily winding on down towards the Dimril Stair and it was there that Glorfindel found blood on the snow. He did not have to stop to know that it was elven blood and he kicked Asfaloth into a canter, knowing that once he reached the top of the ridge he would be able to see everything for the next few miles.

As he road on up the path he saw smoke rising from somewhere beyond and finally reaching the top of the ridge he found its source. Below him was a small camp of elves, fires burned near its centre and small makeshift tents had been erected here and there.

He made his way down towards them slowly, knowing that the elves were from Lorien. When finally he reached the edge of the camp he dismounted turning to those few who had come to greet him.

"Lord Glorfindel," one of the elves said bowing. "What brings you this way?"

"I am searching for the sons of Elrond," Glorfindel explained his eyes scanning the small camp. "They left Imladris unaccompanied in search of their mother."

"They are here," said the elf who had spoken before. "Lord Celeborn is with them, let us look after your horse."

Glorfindel passed Asfaloth's reigns to one of the elves and followed another to a tent near the centre of the camp.

"Lord Celeborn," the elf said pulling back the flap of the tent and looking inside. "Lord Glorfindel is here, he was following your grandsons."

Celeborn appeared suddenly at the door of the tent and nodded to Glorfindel in acknowledgment. Glorfindel repeated the gesture noticing how tired the Lord of Lorien looked.

"Mae Govannen Glorfindel," Celeborn said in greeting. He moved out of the way to allow Glorfindel to enter the tent before following after him.

The Balrog Slayer stopped dead in his tracks when he caught site of the two raven haired elves that lay on pallets next to each other at the opposite end of the small tent.

"Are they alright?" Glorfindel asked worriedly. "What happened?"

"They were attacked by orcs," Celeborn answered tiredly as he made his way towards Elladan's pallet and perched upon the end of it looking at the twins lovingly. "They found Celebrían in a cave not far from here. I am not sure what possessed them to do so, but they tried to free her on their own. Elladan has an arrow wound to his thigh and a serious cut in his upper arm. Elrohir had a serious problem with his breathing which was caused by a stab wound - the healers have been fighting for his life all night."

Glorfindel's expression paled and he asked a question that he was almost afraid to, not wanting to hear the answer. "And Celebrían?"

Celeborn's expression turned grim a great sorrow filling his eyes. "She has been poisoned by a morgul blade," he replied his usually strong voice shaking ever so slightly. "Only Elrond can heal her, but I fear that taking her back to Imladris in this condition may kill her."

"I can ride back to Imladris," Glorfindel replied. "Asfaloth knows the way it would not take too long."

"Thank you Glorfindel, that would be most appreciated, but I think that you should rest first," Celeborn said softly. "Maybe you could wait for the twins to waken, they would be glad to see you."

"How did you find them?" Glorfindel asked studying the younger elves waxen faces. "Have they wakened since you did?"

"We found them tied up in the orc's caves. Elladan was conscious when we found them, and he woke again earlier today. Elrohir has not yet woken, he has lost a lot of blood."

Glorfindel looked at the twin's pale faces, the way their eyes were barely open. "I shouldn't have let them go," Glorfindel said sitting down opposite Celeborn - on Elrohir's bed - and resting his head in his hands. "Elrond told me not to let them go, he told me to keep them in Imladris, but I let them go anyway. They seemed so so… desperate."

"It is alright Glorfindel," Celeborn tried to reassure the Balrog Slayer. "They will be fine."

"If you want to go and sit with Celebrían I can stay here," Glorfindel said realizing how much Celeborn needed to be with his daughter. It was the same look he had seen in Elrond's eyes years ago, the same fear.

Celeborn nodded. "Thank you Glorfindel," he said rising. "I need to be with her for a while I think."

With that the Elven Lord left and Glorfindel sat there watching the twins silently, praying to the Valar that everything would be alright, and at the same time cursing them for doing this to Elrond and his family again.

It was later that day as the sun set that Elladan woke feverish and still half asleep. Celeborn - who had returned to eat dinner in the twin's tent before going back to his daughter's bedside - immediately put down what he had been eating on the makeshift floor of animal pelts and woven rugs before hurrying over to the elder twin's bedside. Glorfindel followed behind the Lord of Lorien looking down at Elladan with mixed emotions, of happiness, sadness and guilt.

"Grandfather?" Elladan whispered his voice dry.

"Yes pen-neth, it is I," Celeborn answered stroking some sweat dampened hair from the elder twin's brow. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, I have a head ache," Elladan replied, his eyes shifting to the Balrog Slayer who had just returned from fetching a water skin. "Glorfindel?"

Glorfindel nodded. "Yes Elladan," he said quickly. "I have been following you, I arrived here some time this morning." He held out the water skin to the elder twin. "Have a drink, you must be thirsty."

Elladan gave him a small smile pushing himself into a sitting position with his good arm and taking the water skin. He drank quickly before handing it back to the Balrog Slayer. "How is Naneth?" The question was directed at Celeborn.

"She is very ill pen-neth," Celeborn replied sadly his eyes dropping to his hands were they lay in his lap. "We need your father to heal her."

Elladan looked worriedly at his grandfather. "Will she be alright? Can we get her home in time?"

"I hope so Elladan," Celeborn said quietly. "I do not know what to do now, you and Elrohir need medical attention as soon as possible. I believe that we came ill prepared. Lorien is closer, it would be better to take you there, but your mother has to go to Imladris."

"I want to go with her," Elladan glanced across at Elrohir, taking in his brother's bruised face. "Elrohir will too, we have to see father, we have to know she's alright."

"Elrohir is in a bad way too at the moment," Celeborn informed Elladan. "He has lost a lot of blood, he needs the aid of a proper healer, something we do not have at the moment, nor do we have the supplies to deal with his injuries properly. Taking him to Imladris may be enough to finish him off."

"But we…" Elladan paused unable to believe that his grand father would even think of separating them from their mother after all of this. "We have to go with her."

A/N: Thanks to Makerel for the support and help with this chapter it is very much appreciated

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