Signs of Depression

By Elven Hope

Rogir sat his back leant against a tree staring up at the sky. He rubbed his leg; it still hurt a little, but not as much as his heart ached at the moment. He didn't understand. He didn't understand anything anymore. Ever rebellious, he had snuck out of his room when Thranduil had left him there telling him to get some rest, because he needed to think.

"Are you alright gwador-nin?"

Rogir had been so deep in thought he hadn't noticed his brother come over. He looked up at Aradwyn and attempted a smile to make his brother think he was all right and go away, but it didn't work.

"I'm fine Aradwyn." Rogir said crossly, angry that his voice still made the terrible squeaking noise. "I thought you had to rest your head after your battle with the tree?"

"Ha ha, very funny," Aradwyn said sarcastically sitting down next to his brother.

Rogir shifted and moved away a little hoping that Aradwyn would get the message, but he didn't, either that or he ignored it.

"So what's the matter?" Aradwyn asked again looking at his younger brother.

"Nothing." Rogir said flatly.

"I know there's something wrong don't try and hide it." Aradwyn said still looking at his brother. When Rogir did not answer he tried a different tactic. "Do you remember when..." he paused his own voice was shaking just thinking of what he was about to say. "Do you remember what naneth used to say? Do you remember how she would say that talking helped? That not all tears were an evil? Do you remember?"

He watched as tears filled his brother's eyes and he immediately regretted saying anything about their mother.

"Rogir... Rogir I'm sorry I didn't mean--!"

"What did you mean then?" Rogir yelled throwing his brother an evil look and Aradwyn would have dropped dead if looks could kill.

"I didn't..."

"What did you mean then?" Rogirrepeated jumping up, partly so that he could have the height advantage over his brother, and partly so that he could make a quick getaway if need be.

Aradwyn just looked up at Rogir, but didn't say anything inwardly kicking himself for being so stupid.

"Answer me!"

Aradwyn jumped up at the tone in his brother's voice grabbing Rogir's arm. "Don't you talk to me like that Rogir, understood?" Aradwyn asked crossly shaking his brother a little. "Understood?"

"Let go of me!" Rogir yelled trying to break free of his brother's strong arm. "Let go!"

"No," Aradwyn said firmly as his little brother struggled like a wild animal caught in a trap. "You're going to see Ada, you shouldn't be out of your room anyway, but there's something wrong with you."

"I said let go!" Rogir yelled and without warning his fist went flying up striking his brother across the face.

Aradwyn yelled in surprise and stumbled backwards, letting go of his brother clutching a hand to his bleeding nose.

In seconds Rogir was off. Aradwyn watched him go and sighed heavily, he would go inside now, he couldn't be bothered to chase after Rogir especially when he was in a fowl mood; he just hoped that he would calm down soon.

Rogir ran on for ages, tears streaming down his cheeks. He finally stopped in a clearing panting heavily and looked around. He wiped away the tears with the back of his hand furious that he had let them fall. Then he paused. He heard something not far away and decided to investigate. Creeping stealthily through the thick undergrowth, he soon came upon another clearing, this one was smaller and shrouded in trees, a good place for a group of miscreants to play.

Rogir moved from tree to tree quickly trying to get a better view, eventually he crept forwards hiding behind a large bush peeking over the top to get a good look.

In the middle of the clearing sat four boys all ranging from his age to the elvish equivalent of eighteen.

"Have you seen the way they act?" The largest asked. "They're not even elves and they're treated like royalty. Filthy half-blood humans!"

"Thelion is right," one of thempiped up. "They should be sent back to where they came from."

The two others nodded in agreement, but one looked a bit unsure.

Rogir growled low in his throat and regretted it immediately, for Thelion raised his hand to silence his followers. Rogir shifted uneasily and regretted this even more than he regretted growling as a twig snapped making Thelion stare right at him, or at the bush he was hiding behind.

Thelion got to his feet whilst the others watched their leader walk over to the bush deliberately crunching the autumn leaves beneath him to frighten whoever had dared to spy on them. Rogir crawled back away from the bush not caring about the noise he made, he knew it was no use hiding. Before he could get far enough away, however, Thelion dove forwards crashing through the bush and grabbed the young prince by the leg. He lifted him up by the ankle and watched happily as his victim squirmed in his hold.

"Well, well, well, looks like we have a spy in our midst," he said evilly waving Rogir about a bit to emphasize his point. "And not just any spy, it's a prince of Mirkwood, how nice of you to join us."

The others snickered malevolently and Rogir grimaced. "Put me down!" The younger elf ordered, but his voice cracked and they laughed even harder. "I'm warning you, when my father finds out..."

"Oh but he won't find out will he?" Thelion asked. "Because your not going to tell him are you?" He dropped the prince unceremoniously in the midst of the little group.

Rogir's eyes widened in fear as he realized what was about to happen to him and he looked around wildly trying to see a way to escape, but there was no where to go.

"Oh it's alright little princeling don't be frightened." Thelion cooed bending down to Rogir's eye level, making the prince shuffle away.

Thelion noticed the red around Rogir's eyes and the way they were shining and smirked. "Have you been crying?"

"No," Rogir said firmly.

"Come on you can tell us," Thelion said pulling Rogir closer to him and grinning. "We're your friends."

"Get off me," Rogir hissed trying to push away from Thelion.

"Fine, fine, if that's the way you want it," Thelion said letting go of the prince. He stood up and turned as though he were about to leave then span back around again, his fist slamming into Rogir's chest.

The dark haired elf cried out surprised as he was flung backwards onto the ground. He brought his knees up to his chest trying to relieve himself of the pain, but that didn't stop Thelion and his friends.

One of the other elves grabbed him by the scruff of the neck pulling him up whilst another held his hands behind his back. Thelion walked forwards tangling his hand in Rogir's hair and pulling it forcing his head back.

"What are you?" Thelion asked. "You're no prince, princes are strong not cowards like you."

The younger elf just stared at him, but already tears were coming to his eyes at the harsh words. How could someone be so cruel? As if his day hadn't already been bad enough!

"You're pathetic," Thelion said cruelly. "No wonder your family hates you."

Rogir's blood ran cold and his heart seemed to skip a beat.

"It's true, no one likes you everyone knows you were a mistake. The only thing to mark a perfect family."

"Shut up!" Rogir yelled struggling uselessly to get free. If he was, then he may have given Thelion a run for his money.

"Remember your place, whelp!" Thelion yelled striking Rogir hard in the side of the head, knocking him senseless for a moment.

Spots danced in front of the younger elf's eyes and he tried desperately not to fall either into unconsciousness or to his knees. It was harder, however, to stop himself from doing the latter and he stumbled slightly, but forced himself to remain upright.

"Let me go!" Rogir yelled the words slurred and his head still spinning.

"Why should I?" Thelion growled.

"Because I say so."

The elves that were holding Rogir up dropped him immediately and he crumpled to the floor unable to hold himself up properly. Thelion froze turning slowly around to see who had found them. He had thought it would be Thranduil by the sound of the voice and was relieved when he saw Aradwyn standing there. The crown prince was two years younger than Thelion and that made the older elf feel powerful. Aradwyn was however, far more of a threat than his brother, and that was why Thelion felt slightly anxious about the whole situation.

"Get out of here Thelion." Aradwyn ordered coldly, striding forwards towards his brother making the other elves back away all save Thelion who looked at him crossly.

"Why should I?" The dark haired elf asked angrily.

Aradwyn glared at Thelion, he knew him by name because he was from a noble family. "Because I say so, and because your father will be disappointed in you and because if you don't leave or stop bothering meor my brother then I will have no choice other than to tell my father and the outcome will not be pretty."

Thelion glared at the prince. "What happened to your nose?" Thelion asked eyeing the prince's bleeding and swollen nose.

"I said go, Thelion!" Aradwyn yelled at the older elf.

Thelion growled angrily, he knew when he was beaten. "Come on." He snarled and stormed out of the clearing the other elves hot on his heal.

So, now we've definately met an enemy! lol how mean of him!

theodarkstar- NOOOOOOOOO! U cannot elf nap ANYONE! lol Admir is not self centered in anyway, and she truly cares more about Rogir than her own life. Hasn't she already shown that? If not, the next chapter should prove she cares for him. Admir isn't too thrilled w/ Arwen. Admir is more of a tomboy, she thinks Arwen is too girly, but would never admit it, and Arwen wants Admir to be more like her. As for Estel and Legolas, no they really care for eachother at the moment, they're rivals. And as for Anna and Elanor? They are a secret. They will play a big part MUCH later, at the moment they r just 2 little elf girls.

TobiasHawk13- Yes, Elven Hope and I like to torture him too!

Shawna D.