Disclaimer: See last chapter.
A/N: Here is another chapter for everyone. Thanks so much for you reviews. They are greatly appreciated. Now on to the story.
Chapter 6
Hold On
'Scream, deeper I wanna scream. I want you to hear me, I want you to find me. Cause I, I want to believe but all I pray is wrong and all I claim is gone. And I, I got a question, I got a question- Where are you?'
Silence by Jars of Clay
Elrohir twitched slightly as he began to regain consciousness. The first thing that registered was the pain in his head. He groaned slightly as he lifted a hand to his aching head.
"Glad to see you awake."
Elrohir opened his eyes at the sound of the voice. He quickly realized he was riding horseback with Aragorn behind him. He looked over his shoulder.
"How long have I been out?" He asked trying to remember what had happened.
"For a few hours." Aragorn replied.
Suddenly memory flooded back to Elrohir. "Linriel!" He almost yelled.
"Ssh. Sidh, gwador." Aragorn comforted. (Peace, brother). "Linriel is alive." Aragorn said pointing to his left.
Elrohir turned his head and saw Linriel on a horse with Legolas. She leaned against him with one hand across her torso. She was resting in elvish sleep. Elrohir breathed a sigh of relief, but suddenly panicked again.
He looked to his right and saw Elladan slumped forward on his horse. Elladan met his eyes and smiled.
"I was beginning to worry." Elladan said with a raspy voice.
Elrohir smiled slightly and looked up at Aragorn. Fear and concern was in his eyes.
"He has a serious arrow wound. We must get to Rivendell quickly." Aragorn replied to his unasked question.
Elrohir looked back at his brother. Elladan's face was pale and his left arm hung limply at his side. Elrohir noticed the blood stain on the green tunic. With his other hand, Elladan wearily clutched the horse reigns.
Without even asking Aragorn to stop his horse, Elrohir slid his leg underneath him and leapt from the horse. Aragorn pulled Amothol to a stop, looking down at his brother. Elrohir quickly swung up behind Elladan, pulling his brother against his chest. He held on to his brother and the reigns, giving his brother a chance to rest.
Gently he placed one hand against Elladan's arrow wound. He felt blood against his hand and he cringed.
"Estel, we need to stop so I can change his bandage." Elrohir said as he looked at Aragorn.
"I am fine." Elladan choked out, trying to keep pain from his voice.
Elrohir ignored him. "He has probably torn a stitch from riding."
Aragorn nodded and dismounted. Legolas rode near him and gracefully dismounted with his sister in his arms. Gently, he placed her on the forest floor.
Elrohir slowly passed his twin off the horse to Aragorn and then dismounted. He quickly began to check his brother's wounds.
"I told you, I'm fine." Elladan tried to argue.
"Well you don't look it." Elrohir said.
"It's only a minor arrow wound. I will heal." Elladan tried to convince his brother.
Elrohir rolled his eyes as he applied some of Aragorn's paste to his brother's wounds. Then he wrapped it with clean bandages. He stood and walked to Aragorn who was just finishing with Linriel. Aragorn looked at him and stood. The two walked a short distance from the group, but far enough away, so they could talk.
"His wound is infected and deeply poisoned." Elrohir began. "We are still three days away from Rivendell at fast speed. I do not believe he can last that long.
Aragorn nodded. It was not a good sign when Elrohir was not optimistic about the circumstances. "We will make it in time." Aragorn said, trying to be optimistic for his brother.
Elrohir nodded with a sigh. "I'm guessing Linriel has been poisoned too?"
"Yes, but her wound is not as serious and the poison doesn't seem to be effecting her as bad."
Elrohir looked up at the sky. "Somehow, one of us always manages to get hurt." He said gravely. Then with a slight grin, he added, "Ada's going to kill us."
Aragorn smiled. He was happy his brother was still able to joke. "I suppose we'll get the same 'Be Careful When You Travel' lecture too." Aragorn said with a bemused smile.
"Well, then what are we waiting for. Sooner we get to Rivendell, sooner it will be over." Elrohir replied.
Aragorn nodded and walked back to the group. Legolas was helping Elladan drink from his canteen of water as the two approached. Legolas looked up slightly.
"Are we ready?"
Aragorn nodded.
The group quickly set out once again. They traveled without stopping for many hours. As the first night began to fall, Aragorn became worried. They could still travel in the darkness, but seeing danger became far more difficult. They had no choice; however, for Linriel and Elladan's condition had worsened. They were both now running high fevers. Elladan drifted in and out of consciousness, weary from blood loss. Aragorn could tell he was in a lot of pain, though he would not admit it openly, it was written on his face. Aragorn had tried to give him medicines to help the pain, but they did little to relieve the anguish.
Aragorn sighed as he looked around. It had been two days now since the attack. The group had hardly rested, leaving them all weary and fatigued. Legolas and Linriel still rode together. Linriel lay gently against Legolas chest, fully awake. Her wound did not seem to be causing her too much pain, but Aragorn could tell the fever was affecting her. Legolas had wrapped his cloak around her to keep her warm, but still she seemed to be shivering.
Elrohir still held Elladan close to him. The older twin was awake, but only barely conscious of his surroundings. The poison was beginning to make him delusional and dizzy. When he was awake, he would keep his head against Elrohir's shoulder, staring straight ahead.
Aragorn looked up towards Rivendell. Two days ago, he had aloud Elrohir's horse to travel back to Rivendell. The other horse had followed behind, though he had no idea where to find the valley. Aragorn knew that E'osten, Elrohir's horse, would find his way to Rivendell safely. Elrond would then know Elladan and Elrohir were on their way home, but that there was trouble. E'osten would never leave his master unless bidden to do so.
Aragorn hoped Elrond would get the message and send Glorfindel out to find them. The elder elf would bring medical supplies and he would help them make it to Rivendell safely. He looked up to the sky and prayed silently for safe travels and that help would come quickly.
Elrond sat quietly on his balcony, staring out into Rivendell. His eyes focused on the trees ahead of him in the vast plains of Rivendell, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Many things lay heavily on the elf lord's heart. His heart was full of grief, worry, concern, and fear.
He thought about his twin sons. They had left over six months ago in search of their brother Estel. Estel had left Rivendell nearly three years ago. He had decided to travel the world as a ranger from the north. He had left abruptly, having fought with Elrond the night before.
Elrond sighed at the memory. They had had a simple disagreement. Aragorn thought he was ready to journey on his own, but the elf lord still saw him as a child. He did not want his youngest to get hurt. Evil was creeping into Middle Earth. The elf lord could feel it. He wished to protect his youngest from it forever, but knew it was not possible. Estel had to eventually grow up and experience the dangers of life. Elrond just wished it had not been so soon.
He had told his son of his heritage as Aragorn son of Arathorn when he reached twenty years old. Estel accepted his heritage reluctantly, but still wanted to be Estel adopted son of Elrond. He understood what his responsibility would be one day, but he chose against it. He turned away from that path, not wanting to be King of Gondor, only wishing to live out his life as Estel and as a ranger.
Elrond did not press him on the matter. However, a few weeks later, Estel had asked to leave Rivendell and join the rangers of the north. Elrond knew he wanted to escape for a while and spend time alone. He had asked Estel to stay and wait for his brothers to return to accompany him, but Estel did not take warmly to the idea. He did not want his older brothers following him everywhere he went. For once, he wanted to be independent.
For a long time after he had left, Elrond had heard no word from him. Finally, a letter came saying he was doing well and that he missed his family greatly. He apologized for the fight, but said he was enjoying his experiences as a ranger. Elrond had only received one other letter after that one. It had now been a year since he had heard anything. He was worried for his youngest, yet he knew Estel knew he could always return to his home in Rivendell. There would always be a place for him here.
Elladan and Elrohir asked continually to go in search of him, but Elrond told them to give their brother time. Eventually the twins became impatient and Elrond allowed them to go. He bid them a safe journey and asked them to give their brother space if he needed it.
That had been six months ago. He had received one letter from his sons saying that they thought they knew where Estel was heading and were following him. Elrond impatiently waited for another response.
His grief and fear was; however, because of news from Mirkwood. After Estel had left, King Thranduil sent an urgent message to Rivendell. He said Legolas had been captured by some evil men and was feared dead. Elrond had immediately sent out his best elves, including his sons, to aid the king in his search. They looked for months, but they found no trace of the elf prince. Thranduil was heartbroken. Elrond could feel his grief. Legolas was like a son to him as well. He didn't want to believe the elf was dead, but there seemed almost no other alternative.
The worst news came; however, a week after Elladan and Elrohir left. Thranduil sent another message, this time saying that his daughter Linriel had been captured. His guards that were with her had been slaughtered, but they found no trace of her. Thranduil's guards searched again, but lost hope after a short time. She was gone like her brother.
The news hit Elrond hard for he loved Linriel dearly. His son was engaged to marry her this spring. He couldn't bear to tell him that she was a prisoner, possibly even dead as well. The grief would be too much for him.
Elrohir loved Linriel deeply. What had started out as years of close friendship had eventually turned into love. Elrohir cared for her more than he cared for anyone else. If something happened to her, he feared Elrohir would fade with her.
Elrond stood from his seat and began to pace. His body felt weary for he had not been able to rest for days. His heart was troubled, not allowing him rest.
Suddenly, the elf lord turned as he heard a horse galloping into Rivendell. He heard the sound of hoof beats reverberating off the cobblestone and quickly walked over to the rail of the balcony. In a few minutes, E'othen and another horse came into view. Neither horse held a rider. Elrond's heart constricted as he thought of what that could mean.
Elrond rushed down the stairs of the balcony and towards the horses. Quickly, he checked E'othen over. The horse had no wounds or injuries and no traces of an attack. He knew the loyal horse would not easily leave Elrohir except if he was sent back. Elrond looked at the other horse. He did not recognize the horse and knew it was not one trained in Rivendell.
The supplies on the horses' backs was minimal, meaning Elrohir had most likely taken what he needed and left the rest before sending his horse out. Still, the elf lord wondered why Elrohir would send his horse back if there was no danger. Why would Elrohir ride with Elladan? Was one of the twins hurt? That thought scared the elf lord.
"Lord Elrond."
Elrond turned, startled by the voice, having heard no one approach. A blonde haired elf walked up to him.
"Glorfindel, I didn't hear you." Elrond stated.
Glorfindel looked at his longtime friend. It was not usual for the elf lord to be totally unaware of his surroundings…unless he was thinking of his sons. Glorfindel looked at the horse near Elrond. He recognized the first immediately. It was Elrohir's horse.
"That's Elrohir's horse." Glorfindel stated.
"Aye, it is. He has no wounds or injuries and no trace of a battle, but I fear what the message means. The twins must be in trouble. One of them might be hurt… or both." Elrond shook his head. He looked up at his friend. "Glorfindel I know the hour grows late and that darkness will fall in less than an hour, but I fear for my sons. I need someone to go…"
"Say no more, my friend." Glorfindel said, placing a hand on Elrond's shoulder. "You need not ask me to go. I will go willingly. I will take three elven guards with me and leave right away."
Elrond smiled. "Thank you, my friend."
Glorfindel nodded and turned to leave. He turned around. "I will bring your sons back, Elrond. I will find them."
Elrond nodded as he watched Glorfindel head towards the stable. "Where are you my sons?" He quietly whispered. "What trouble has befallen you this time?" He closed his eyes against fear that rose in his heart. Silently, he prayed to the Valar for his sons' protection and for any one else with them. Then he walked back into his house, deciding to prepare his medical supplies for an emergency.
