Part Four

Once they had shoved the boulder aside and the dust cleared the pair of them gasped.

"Elladan," Elrond said seeing the form of his elder son amongst the rocks.

Glorfindel shouted to the others for help, but Elrond barely heard what the blond Lord had said. Tears were already pooling in his eyes as he saw the state his son was in. There was scarcely any light in the dark space and yet Elrond could still see the thin broken figure of his son in the darkness. Whatever light Elladan gave out was swallowed by the pitch black - if he gave out any light at all, the idea that the boy was no longer living made Elrond's heart twist painfully in his chest.

Elrond was immediatly on his hands and knees crawling through the gap before Glorfindel could stop him. He moved carefully all too aware that if he made one wrong move he could bring the whole rockslide back down on him and his son. When he finally reached Elladan he crouched down next to him trying to evaluate the situation.

The young elf was pinned face down by the rubble and there was a large gash going from his already spilt temple across his forehead, his hair caked in the sticky red substance. As well as that his right arm was twisted back on itself in a bad looking way and Elrond was certaing that his arm was broken. He reached down hesitantly with a shaky hand tracing down Elladan's chin up to his neck praying to Iluvitar that he would find a pulse.

He closed his eyes when he felt nothing, and then there it was, a slight fluttering against his fingertips. It was weak, too weak, but at least it was there. He leant forwards to kiss his son's raven hair. "Thank Eru, oh Elladan your alive, I couldn't ever loose you."

Elrond turned his attention back to the rocks that trapped the youth. He could shift most of them easy enough, but there was one that lay across Elladan's legs which could be a problem.

He began to pull the smaller rocks off his son and passed them to Glorfindel who sat at the entrance, all the while careful not to bring the rocks down on them, or worsen his son's injuries.

The other elves began to work on enlarging the opening and soon Elrond had freed the boy from the rubble. Elladan's leftleg was most certainly broken as well, he had no doubt about that, his leg had already swollen up a fair bit - as had his arm.

Gently, Elrond began to ease the young elf up to the entrance of the hole and eventually pulled the boy out into the daylight. A collective gasp greeted the sight of the young elf and all those who saw the state of Elladan felt their hearts go out to Elrond and his family. No wonder the Elven Lord had been so stressed.

The injuries looked even worse to Elrond in the daylight and as well as that he could now see that the Elladan was caked in the grey dust from the rockslide. New tears had already sprung in Elrond's eyes as he cradled the boy in his lap and for a while no one wished to disturb him.

Eventually Glorfindel knelt at his friend's side, resting a hand on the Elven Lord's shoulder. "We need to get him back home Elrond," he said softly looking at Elladan sadly. "We brought a stretcher out for him."

Elrond looked up and nodded then Glorfindel helped the raven haired elf to lift his son onto the stretcher. Elrond had wanted to help carry the stretcher but Glorfindel insisted that he just walk beside the injured elf, knowing that Elrond was on the verge of collapse and slowly they made their way down the mountain.

Elrohir had fallen asleep hours ago and yet Celebrian still had not let go of his hand. She had no reason to, it seemed to calm him down every time the nightmares took hold of him she just squeezed his hand and he relaxed again. It hurt her terribly to know that her child was in so much pain and she could offer no more than her prescense as a comfort. She wanted so much to just take away all of his fears.

The nightmares tore at her heart and she had been brought to tears more than once that night when Elrohir had called out for her in his sleep and begun sobbing until she reassured him that he was safe. She had broken down after that; he had sounded so helpless and so frightened.

Late in the afternoon she heard voices coming up to the house and was tempted to rush to the window to see who it was, but Elrohir's tight grip on her hand stopped her from moving, she would know soon enough if Elladan and Elrond had returned.

She waited for only a short while, her heart pounding wildly in her chest before the door to the healing room she and Elrohir were in opened and Glorfindel walked in followed by two elves bearing a stretcher and finally Elrond.

"Elrond meleth-nin!" She cried when she saw her husband. The Elven Lord didn't look like he normally did, in fact he looked far from it. At first Celebrian was worried that he too was hurt, for there was blood all over his forehead where Elrond had pushed the hair out of his face, but it turned out that it was really only his hands that were damaged from the sharp rocks. The same could be said for Glorfindel and most of the other elves, but Elrond was by far the worst.

The Elven Lord hurried forwards to embrace her neither of them caring about what the condition of her dress would be like afterwards. This day had been far too stressful for both of them, neither knew how much longer they could keep this up.

When they finally pulled apart Celebrian caught one of her husbands hands with her free one looking worridly at the lacerated skin; in some places, mainly his fingertips the Elven Lord had managed to pull a good few layers of skin off. "You're hurt."

"It's nothing," Elrond said pulling his hand away. "Now I must go and help Elladan."

"You will do no such thing," Celebrian snapped. "With hands like that you are not going near either of my sons." Celebrian turned to a young elleth standing in the doorway, who had rushed down to the room after she had seen someone being carried in on a stretcher. "Sila," the Elven Lady said addressing the elleth, "please could you find me a healer, and quickly?"

Sila nodded and hurried off down the hall.

"Celebrian-"

"You need to clean those," Celebrian said gesturing to her husband's hands.

"But-"

"I do not need you to get an infection," Celebrian said her voice firm. "I need you here Elrond."

"Elves don't get ill," Elrond said grinning a little. "Surely you know that."

"Of course I do," Celerbrian said. "You are a peredhil though and suseptable to illness if you are not careful now go and get cleaned up. Besides it is unsanitary."

"But-"

"Go," Celebrian said again she was not giving in, it may be true that Elrond ruled over Imladris, but she most certainly ruled over him in matters such as this.

Elrond stood walking over to the sink in one corner of the room filling the basin with water and slowly placing his hands under the warm water. He had been ready for the stinging pain, but it still hurt more than he had expected. Once the wounds were cleaned he returned to Celebrian's side glancing briefly at Elladan before turning back to his wife her sad expression tearing at his heart.

"Are you alright?" Elrond asked his wife looking at her wan face and troubled eyes.

"Yes," Celebrian sighed heavily. "Your son has been calling for you."

Elrond felt his heart twist painfully in his chest. "Celebrian," he whispered, his voice hoarse from calling to Elladan. He looked away trying not to show her the pain in his eyes. "When I... When I found them..."

Celebrian put a finger to her husband's lips directing his gaze back up to meet hers. "Hush meleth-nin," she said quietly their faces barely inches apart. They stared deep into each others eyes seeing all of the pain and hurt that was in their hearts mirrored in the other's gaze. Finding that he could muster no words Elrond closed the gap between them and kissed her gently loosing himself in that moment, even though it was only a moment and they boke the kiss quickly. They both felt the walls that were closing in on them relent a little knowing that the only thing that could get them through this was the love they all shared for each other. It was a small light in the darkest of places, but it was still there.

Elrond glanced at Elrohir sleeping on the bed then to the small crowd around his eldest son before kneeling down next to Celebrian finally finding that his energy was leaving him. He rested his head in Celebrian's lap and she stroked his hair like she had done for Elrohir. Soon the remainder of the peredhil family were sleeping.

Glorfindel smiled at his friend finally finding peace in the arms of his beloved. It was good that he was resting after two long days without sleep. He turned back to Elladan and grimaced. The young elf had most certainly broken both an arm and leg, but it was neither of these that caused Glorfindel concern. He had a nasty head wound which should have swelled up by now, but it hadn't. It wasn't a good sign. If it hadn't swelled up then it could mean that there was pressure on the brain from either bone fragments, serious fluid or a blood clot. Pressure on the brain would then lead to seizures which in turn could cause respatory or cardiac arrest and maybe even coma or death. This situation was not a very promising one.

For once in his life Glorfindel felt like cursing those who had given him a second chance. It wasn't right. It just wasn't right for one so young to be in a life threatening situation like this. He glared up at the ceiling as though he could see the Valar themselves through it if he stared hard enough. Was it not enough for them to torture the child? Would they take his life as well? And what about Elrond. They had destroyed his friend's life in stealing his parents and brother from him. Could they not spare him the heart ache of loosing his family as well? If Elladan died then it was almost certain that Elrohir would follow him; Celebrian would be taken by grief and either leave for Valinor or die as well. And Elrond would be left here at the end of all things as the grief slowly knawed at his heart. His friend would not leave for the western shores, he had responsibility. He would have to stay if only for them, as an empty shell where once a valiant warrior had been. The thought made the Elven Lord feel ill; how could the Valar be so cruel!

At that moment Nesteron the best healer in the last homely house save Elrond rushed into the room standing beside Glorfindel and checking the boy over as the golden haired elf hurried to explain his condition.

Nesteron stood back and grimaced. "Your suspicions are indeed correct, although I wish they were not." He smiled at Elrond who was still sleeping with his head rested in his wife's lap, propped up against Elrohir's bed. "I wish that Elrond was not such a brilliant teacher, but alas it is not so. At the moment there is little I can do for him. I do not want to do unnessecary and life threatening surgery if it can be helped. At the moment the only sign of pressure on the brain is that his pupils are dialated; if, when he wakes, he shows more symptons then we will have to operate on it, until then that is all we can do for him. We just have to wait until he wakes up."

"If he wakes up," Glorfindel murmered looking at the boys pale face.

Nesteron gave Glorfindel a weak smile which was more of a grimace. "One has to pray at a time like this."

"A great lot of good that will do," Glorfindel spat his temper getting the better of him. "The Valar haven't exactly been on Elrond's side recently."

"They blessed him with two beautiful children," Nesteron reminded him.

"Only to steal them away again," Glorfindel said frostilly. "Along with his wife and everything else he holds dear."

"Glorfindel, if that happens then you have every right to be angry, but until then stop your complaining, sometimes a little faith can go a long way." Nesteron said before turning to leave. "Let them rest for now, they need their time alone."

Glorfindel followed glancing back at Elrond and his family one last time. Looking sadly upon the younger elves and sighing softly. Faith? How could one have faith when catastrophe was inevitable. If Elrond's luck continued to be as bad as it always was then things were about to get far worse.

They were everywhere, surrounding him, pulling at his hair and ears and then there was pain. It hurt so much the whips felt like fire. He could hear Elladan crying somewhere nearby calling for their parents. Elrohir did the same crying for his Nana and Ada, shouting desperatly for them to save him, but they would not come. Wherever they were they would not come.

Sobbing? Somewhere a child was crying. It was such a sad sound and it pulled at his heart strings unmercifully. Why would no one comfort it? Why would no one help the poor thing? How could anyone be so cruel as to leave it? And then realisation struck home.

It was his child!

Elrond's eyes snapped open.

He sat up quickly gently brushing Celebrian's hand asside and turning to Elrohir. The young elf had lost his mother's hand and was searching for it desperatly. He had managed to tangle himself in the covers and the strain he was putting on his wounds from thrashing about so much was probably only making his nightmare worse and far more realistic.

He reached forwards and caught his son's hands. "Elrohir, it is me, it's Ada."

Elrohir just tried to pull his hands away kicking madly. "Ada where are you? It hurts... It hurts so much..."

"It's alright Elrohir it's me I'm right here," Elrond said trying to soothe the distressed child. "It was just a dream."

"Ada...?" Elrohir asked his eyes fluttering open.

"Yes Elrohir it's me, it's alright," Elrond said pulling the child into his lap and hugging him protectively. "They can't hurt you now, I'm here to protect you."

"They can hurt me though," the young elf whispered. "You can't protect me from nightmares only I can."

Elrond sighed heavily and looked over to where his elder son slept. Elrohir followed his gaze and gasped when he saw his twin.

"Elladan!" He cried trying to pull free of his father's grip.

"Elrohir stay still, you'll hurt yourself," Elrond said still holding onto his son.

"But..."

"Elladan is fine, he is just sleeping at the moment alright," he paused looking at Elrohir. "Now I need to change your bandages the blood is coming through your tunic. Do you want a glass of water? You're probably dehydrated."

Elrohir nodded. "Yes I'm thirsty, thank you Ada."

"I'll be back in a minute," Elrond said laying Elrohir back down on the bed and standing up. "Stay there, your mother is here if you need anyone and I am just down the hall."

"Alright," Elrohir said resting his head on the pillow.

Elrond smiled at his son and left the room walking down the corridor.

As soon as Elrond had gone Elrohir sat up slowly and rather painfully. He swung his legs out of the bed and onto the cold wooden floor standing too fast and having to sit again as spots invaded his vision. He stood again and this time managed to stagger forwards to his brother's bed before collapsing. He pulled himself up to sit on the bed and shook his brother gently.

"'Dan wake up, Dan," he whispered shaking his brother a little harder when he didn't wake. "Elladan please!" Elrohir felt a lump appear in his throat and fougth it back. Why was he being so stupid? Elladan was just sleeping. But then again if he was just sleeping wouldn't he have woken by now? "Elladan?" Elrohir looked at his brother sadly, the nasty gash from when Rorzagh had thrown a rock at him had been bandaged and his right arm and leg had been splinted. His brother's face was pale, too pale and his lips were cracked, his eyes closed. His breath was coming too fast and short as well Elrohir knew that, he knew something was wrong. He may not have been too skilled in the art of healing, but his father was the best healer in probably the whole of Arda, he had picked up some medical knowledge - enough to know his brother was ill.

When Elrond re-entered the room he noticed that Elrohir's bed was empty and panicked, but immediatly looked across to Elladan's bed to see Elrohir sitting perched on the edge of the matress.

"Elrohir," Elrond said quickly placing down the bandages and water carefully on Elrohir's bedside table. "What did I say about staying put?"

"I just wanted to see Elladan," Elrohir said looking at his twin. "But he won't wake up."

Elrond knelt down next to his son. "It's alright Elrohir he'll be fine, now come back over to your bed and let me see to your wounds."

Elrohir nodded and Elrond helped the young elf back over to his bed, sitting Elrohir down then sitting behind his son. He pulled the light shirt the boy was wearing up over his head and inspected the bandages working hard to stay calm. He wanted to kill those who had harmed his son, he already had, but he wanted further revenge, there were things far worse than death.

He took the glass of water from the bedside table and handed it to Elrohir who took it and drank thirstfully.

"Slow down penneth, the water isn't going anywhere," Elrond said catching Elrohir's wrist to stop him from drinking so fast.

Elrohir slowed down, but he was still drinking too fast for Elrond's liking.

Elrohir lowered the glass as it suddenly felt heavy in his hand and Elrond caught it as it slipped from the young elf's fingers setting it down on the table.

The young elf stifled a yawn and rubbed his heavy lidded eyes realizing all too late what his father had done.

"Don't fight it ion-nin let it come." Elrond said supporting Elrohir as he went limp.

"But I don't want..." the young elf managed fighting sleep.

"Ssh," Elrond whispered. "It's alright I need to stitch the wounds on your back. I hope that this time sleep brings you the rest you deserve this time."

Sorry for any Sp/g mistakes, I can't remember if I edited it or not.

Oh and blame the involuntarily romantic bit between Celebrian and Elrond on Savage Garden. I was watching the Final Fantasy X music video for it and well yeah it must have gotten to me seeing as I was listening to it over and over late at night whilst typing lol.

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