Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings belong to J.R.R Tolkien, the only people I own are Alenor Talagand, Bréil, Sebastian and Victoria.

REVISED/EDITED

Fate's Paths-Chap8-Elrond's Plight-

Through the hazy distorted maze that was his vision, he could see her. She was hurt. Dying. He could do nothing to help her. Struggling frantically, Elladan tried to get closer so he could hold his sister and comfort her. Every step he gained she drifted farther away, .The pain lingering on her face stood out, imprinted forever in his mind.

"Alenor!" he screamed, feeling as if he were wading through chest deep water with a current beating against him. The water was pushing him back; he was slowly losing sight of her blurred image. Why could he not help her? She needed help! She was losing a battle with the torture and pain.

Screaming, Elladan's eyes flashed open and for a disoriented moment he didn't remember where he was. The ceiling above him was unfamiliar, but it had a certain touch to it that suggested that he should know where he was. Someone was beside him, and confused and pleadingly the Elf Lord's eyes swung in that direction. A man sat by his bedside; his tired young head was bowed down in sleep. His breathing whistled out even and strong.

Feeling the fingers of a sleepy haze creep around the corners of his sight, Elladan lunged out and grasped the man's hand. He knew that the man had a name, a name he should know but he didn't. A blank wall was separating him from everything he knew. He was too tired to fight it. He focused all his will on the branded memory of Alenor's pain. The name slipped from his mind for a moment and with effort he pulled back the treasured name. It was vital to tell someone. She was not safe.

The man gave a shout, leaping to his feet. The chair crashed against the floor with a resounding and painful echo. For a moment the man gazed wildly about the room, looking for the source of his startled awakening. His eyes came to rest last on Elladan and they widened. "Elladan."

Elladan struggled to regain contact with the man's hand, barely aware of the fact that the person had spoke. His head was beginning to pound with a frightening urgency and the black haze was hampering his sight, driving it even narrower. He did not have much time.

An obsessive fear gave him strength, and his hand clasped the man's tightly. He noticed the wince. "Alenor," he gasped, his voice cracking, with the hysterical pitch it had taken. "She is hurt! She's bleeding. Blood it's everywhere! Help her! You have to help her!"

"Elladan, Elladan calm down!" The man cried, gripping the Elf's hand and seating himself next to him, leaning forward. "Alenor's alright. She's home. It was only a nightmare. Stay here while I get Adar, I don't know what kind of medication he has been giving you." The mortal made to stand, but Elladan refused to let go of his hand. He gripped it as tight as he could with his fast-fading strength.

"You lie!" he screamed, struggling now to get out of bed. Alenor needed him. Alenor was in trouble. Why weren't they looking for her? For a moment the question of "who is Alenor again?" entered his head before he ruthlessly squashed it. There was no time to question his ailing memory.

"Elladan what are you doing?" the man demanded, trying to push the elf back against the pillows. He turned his head toward the door. "Talagand! Help! Get Elrond!" The momentary distraction almost gave Elladan his freedom, but the mortal recovered in time to throw the heavily wounded Elf back. "Elladan don't make me hurt you worse then you already are. You need to calm down. Do you hear me?"

Screaming, Elladan struggled to find a way past the man's defenses. He tried everything he could but couldn't manage to throw his worst at the man's face. Gasping in exhaustion he collapsed back, writhing under the strong arms that pinned him. "You traitors," he sobbed, tears spilling down his cheeks. "You let her die! You aren't going to save her. I hate you all!"

"Estel move out of the way."

Elladan turned his head towards the new voice, realizing that it was also achingly familiar. But who was he? And who was Estel?

"Elladan, drink this. It will help make you better."

"It's poison!" Elladan shouted, his had shot out to knock the approaching cup away from the stranger's hand. The last of his strength failed and instead his hand collapsed back onto the mussed coverlet. Besieged by lack of breath, Elladan turned his head away, fighting for air. Exhaustion stole over him as the closing of the emotional floodgates left no strength for him to use.

He felt a warm liquid pour uninvited down his throat, but he no longer had the strength to fight it. As the draught took hold,and as the darkness swarmed over him, pushing him back in the black world of nothing, Elladan managed a few last words. "How could you let Alenor die alone and in pain?"

Elrond swooned back, feeling Estel's strong arms circle around him, supporting his weight. "I'm alright Estel," he breathed, taking the young man's hands. "Just help me stand on my feet."

"Are you sure Adar?" Estel voiced his concern, but did as he was told anyway. "You're pale."

Elrond turned around to meet Estel's gaze. He refused to stare at the still form of his son that lay in the bed behind him. "I need you to find Halbarad and the other highest ranking Rangers in Ilmadris. After that I need you to find Elrohir. Last I saw him he was pacing in the Hall of Fire. He was cursing this ill-begotten weather that caused your search to be delayed."

"Yes Adar," Estel hurried away without a word of complaint. He had heard the dangerous undertone of his foster-father's voice. He paused at the door for a minute, wrapping his hand around the frame. "Would you like me to tell them to gather in your study?"

"What?" Elrond jumped in surprise, having though Estel had left. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache come on. "Yes, tell them to go to my study as soon as possible. Thank you Estel."

Estel nodded wordlessly, not mentioning that he was only doing the favor because he was worried about Elrond's pent up emotions exploding if he didn't.

Once alone, Elrond let himself turn slowly to face Elladan, the stern mask of the Lord of Rivendell slipping away like the river carrying away the sand.

Elladan looked horrible. His face was deathly pale and he had dark, gaping hollows under his eyes. His breathing was ragged, and forced, as if he could not breathe properly. He had lost weight since he had received the injury. He had shrunk down until the whole bed seemed to engulf him.

Hesitantly, Elrond stepped forward and gently clasped his dying son's hand. It was cold and clammy to the touch. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes as unable to bear it he released the hand and turned back to the cup he had left on the dresser. He needed to wash it out before Estel or any other Healer detected the faint whiff of poison drifting from its depths.

"I'm sorry Elladan," Elrond whispered brokenly, picking up the cup as he glanced at his son. He felt a terrible burden growing within his heart, knowing that he was part of the reason why Elladan was dying so swiftly. He should have been able to make it the Fall Harvest at least before his life gave out on him. But the Fall Harvest was a long time away. It would mean weeks of endless suffering. Such a time Elrond would not have his son endure. He did not want such hurt to emanate from his son. He was in too much of it as it was. The only choice had been to speed the process.

The poison was tasteless and colorless. Elladan would not be able feel its effects as it worked quietly through his body. He would die peacefully in a matter of days. Elrond could only wish that Alenor would have been able to say goodbye. He did not give up on the hope of finding her, but the hope of her coming back before Elladan died had long been lost.

"Adar, we've been waiting in the study for a few minutes now. What's wrong, how come you're still here?"

Blinking slowly, Elrond looked toward Elrohir. He gave his younger son a weak smile. "I'm sorry, my thoughts were drifting, I hadn't realized so much time had past." He stirred, straightening to his full height. "Come, I did not mean to keep you waiting." Wrapping an arm around his son's shoulder Elrond effectively pulled him away from his brother's sickroom.

For a long moment the two walked quietly down the hall. Elrohir had surrendered completely to his Father's embrace, and had even let his head rest against the comforting shoulder. It was Elrohir who finally broke the silence.

"Adar, I want you to tell me the truth," he whispered, his eyes darting around assuring that the hallway was empty save for them. Seeing that it was, he continued, his voice dropping a measure lower. "Are you poisoning Elladan? Helping him along?"

Elrond sighed, knowing that he should have known that Elrohir or Estel would eventually figure out what was going on. "Elrohir," he said slowly, drawing his son even closer. For a moment their feet tangled together and they nearly tripped. When they had recovered, faces a little red with restrained laughter, Elrond continued. "You have to understand what I'm doing, is for the best."

Smiling faintly and widening the gap between them so that further mishaps would not occur, Elrohir nodded. "I understand Adar. I do not want Elladan to suffer either. And," he faltered, closing his eyes, struggling to regain his composure. "And if you think it best that you help Elladan along then I will not protest."

"I am relieved that you think so," Elrond whispered, his voice full of emotion. "But Elrohir. Hear me out, I must say something."

"You do not want me to inform Estel what you are doing," Elrohir supplied, guessing his Father's thoughts. "He is not a child anymore Adar but I understand your wisheshes. The less who know, the less we have to worry about...Will Alenor be able to say goodbye?"

His heart near to breaking with strain placed on every one of his nerves Elrond drew Elrohir close again. Placing his lips next to his son's ear he whispered what he had known from the minute Alenor had disappeared. "No Elrohir.I'm sorry, but the hopes were slim when we started the search and with Estel's news it is nearly impossible that we will ever find her before the year is done."

Elrohir sighed, his eyes suddenly finding the leaf-shaped tiles very interesting. "I had feared so. But we must have hope, right Adar?"

Elrond smiled proudly down at his son, seeing the stubborn attitude that shimmered around him like a near-invisible veil. It was a trait he had learned well from his Mother. "Of course," Elrond said, pushing away the past. "Hope is always there, though sometimes it may not look like it."

For a long moment there silence, broken only by the light click of boots on the tile floors. Only when they had drawn close to Elrond's study did Elrohir give himself a shake, as if shedding his thoughts, turning his eyes towards his Father.

"Do you think Mandos will allow Elladan to be reborn?" he asked, his voice pitched low so that it would not carry out to the other occupants in the hallway. "He has done it with Glorfindel. But will he with Elladan?"

Elrond laid a hand on his son's shoulder, hearing the undertone of worry and grief. "We all don't want him to suffer Elrohir. That's why I'm doing what I'm doing. If Mandos sees fit that he can be reborn and that such rebirth will not cause him the grief that is being laid upon him now, then perhaps for once his heart will be softened again and Elladan will walk the forest paths again."

Elrohir nodded his head once, a short jerking motion that carefully revealed nothing of his inner emotions. "I sent a letter to Arwen in Lothlorien like you requested Adar. It will be too late when she comes. Do you wish to…?"

"I already have," Elrond assured, pushing the door open to the study. "There is nothing left to do but turn our attention back to Alenor." He smiled encouragingly before entering the study.

As one the Rangers stood up, bowing to the Lord of Rivendell. Halbarad straightened first, his keen eyes searching for a hint of some emotion in Elrond's eyes. "Why were we called here my lord?" he asked. "Poor Estel is soaked to the bone."

Elrond glanced over to see Estel hunched in a chair shivering. His dark locks spread across his knees and dampening the chair and carpet. For a moment Elrond's breath hitched angrily. Not that blasted chair again! How many times do I have to get the cover repaired? Forcing the anger away he quickly ordered the man to get some common sense and sit before the roaring fireplace.

"I forward Halbarad's question Adar why are we here?" Elrohir spoke up, sitting down next to his brother. His eyes quickly searched out the seven other members of the higher-ranking Rangers.

Elrond took the time seating himself at his desk. Carefully he leaned forward, making a steeple out of his fingers as he regarded everyone in the room. A few lowered their eyes, shifting their feet. Some like Halbarad, Estel and his son returned his gaze with confidence, but with the lurking weight of the burden that lay beneath.

"We are here," Elrond spoke the words, slowly, and measured, making sure that everyone was listening to him with their utmost attention. "Because Elladan has had a vision in which Alenor was hurt. Our time to find her is growing short."

"Adar! Are you saying that what Elladan saw was truth?" Elrohir exclaimed, jumping up, his hands clenching into fists. "Then..." he trailed off his eyes flashing to the window panes that were shadowed from the lead-colored skies and lashing rain. "Tinúviel..." he slumped down, Estel reaching over to hold his brother close, trying to comfort him. Elrohir didn't pull away from the soaking embrace.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Elrond nodded. "We have two choices. We can wait till the weather wears off, or we continue to search now."

The words were hardly from his lips when Elrohir shot to his feet and stormed from the room. Estel shot Elrond a defeated look before running after the Elf. Elrond sighed. He was afraid this would happen. "You're all dismissed. If you decide to take the journey report to me before you leave. Halbarad would you stay a moment?"

Boots shuffled on the carpet and chairs scraped back as the men stood and exited the room, talking quietly. Elrond kept his head on the desk, feeling an overpowering surge of despair sweep through him.

"What do you need Elrond?" Halbarad asked.

With an effort, Elrond lifted his head and looked at the concerned Ranger. "Go with my sons. Protect them, I know they are old enough to look after each other, but rage and fear may have blinded their sight. I have one son injured don't make me look after two more."

"Yes my lord," Halbarad bowed, and hurriedly left the room so he could catch up with Estel and Elrohir.

Once alone, Elrond sunk into the chair, tears coursing down his cheeks. Shoulders trembled from the effort of trying to hold them back, he pressed the heels of his palms into his closed eyes. He had to be strong. For himself, for his people and especially for Elladan. They all needed them, and Elrond couldn't let them see that he was suffering.