A/N
I forgot about this story for a while, and I just checked the stats and I'm nearly at 5000 views and 50 reviews! Thanksss guysss (: I don't know where this story is going anymore, its working on the suggestions I got in my PMs, so message me if you want something added 3
Chapter 11
Elrohir's pale face shone with a sweaty sheen. His side ached, his forehead burned with fever, and his eyes were beginning to droop. It was out of sheer determination that he didn't pass out in the saddle.
Raising a weary hand, the youngest twin attempted to wipe the sweat and tears that were mingling on his face from his eyes. His wound was clearly infected, and he knew he was fighting a losing battle. But he'd be damned if he left his brothers and friend alone deliberately. He was going to reach Glorfindel or die trying.
Elrohir's breaths started coming in pained pants. His eyes fluttered slightly as he slumped forward on Rochiril, and his white mare gave a comforting whinny. As his head bounced against Rochiril's soft mane, he closed his burning eyes in shame and guilt. He was going to fail. Estel and Elrond were going to die, Elladan and Legolas were going to die, and it was all his fault. Tears of self-accusation fell from his grey eyes and flowed down his fevered cheeks.
The young elf continued to lay slumped over the horse's back, focusing on staying conscious. But he was startled from his remorse when he heard the distant sounds of many hoof beats up ahead.
Elrohir whipped his head up from Rochiril's mane, regretting the action as pain burned behind his eyes. Whispering to his horse soothingly, he carefully veered the horse off the path, enough to be concealed by the trees. The elf pulled the bow from his back and slung an arrow from his quiver, ready to defend himself against whoever was coming, despite his sluggish state.
His forehead rested against the cool bark of the tree trunk as Rochiril obediently stood still beneath him. He waited with bated breath as the sounds grew closer, ready to launch an arrow into the midst.
Aragorn groaned as he woke again, immediately closing his eyes again as bright light filtered its way into his tired eyes. He felt himself slightly swaying, and realised he must still be atop Tangaa, which meant Morcion's company was still travelling towards Rhûn.
He was sick of waking up like this.
Estel desperately wanted just to close his eyes and drift back off into nothingness, but knowing that his father was here now, that was simply not an option. He would lie low as not to alert Donngal's guard to his state of consciousness, while he slowly regained his strength.
Hearing heavy hoof beats rapidly approaching, the ranger quickly slumped over in his saddle again, listening to the commotion behind him.
"…. returned, Lord Morcion!" Estel tensed slightly at the use of the elf's name. Please, not now…
"The detour took a little longer than expected, Commander." Morcion's cruel voice sounded, confirming Estel's suspicions.
Donngal's whining voice reached the ranger's ears. "What was it that delayed you, my lord?"
Morcion's reply chilled Aragorn to the bone. "An elf. One of Elrond's spawn, no doubt. But it is not worth a second thought, he will not be any trouble, not anymore."
"What do you mean by that, my lord?"
"When I found the elf, he was half alive. Took an arrow in his side. He was without companions, so he is likely already dead. I tried to track whoever shot him, but there were no tracks to follow."
Donngal sounded confused.
"A single arrow is enough to fell an elf?"
The ranger shivered at Morcion's cold reply.
"A poisoned one, yes."
Donngal made a grunt in agreement. Estel tried fiercely to keep his swirling storm of emotions in check while he processed this new information. His panic rising, he tried to reason with himself.
Morcion was surely talking about Elladan or Elrohir. Even though the elf had stated the twin was alone, the ranger knew the twins were never far apart. With any luck, Morcion just hadn't spotted the other twin. But this did nothing to settle his worry. Unless the twins had the right herbs to treat a poisoned wound, his brother could truly have suffered a fatal wound. A new thought struck him. Provided that Legolas had really reached Rivendell, there wouldn't have been a chance in the world that he had let the twins leave by themselves. There was every chance that Legolas was here somewhere, aiding his brothers, and that brought him a little comfort.
Estel felt a wave of fatigue wash over him as he tried to fight back his guilt. His family, his best friend, they were all in this situation because Aragorn had allowed himself to be captured. Even if they got out of this and his family forgave him, he knew he would never be able to forgive himself for placing them all in peril. Valar, why was he so stupid?
Shifting slightly on his mount, the ranger subtly moved his hand to the side of Tangaa's neck, and began whispering comforting words to his horse in Sindarin. He inwardly prayed to the Valar. Please let it be okay this time.
Elrohir waited with bated breath, his bowstring pulled taut and his arrow ready to launch. The weary elf's hand began to quiver, and he accidentally let his arrow fly prematurely. In his injured state, he dazedly watched it whizz through the canopy a split second before the first horse came past. And never had he been so glad to miss his target. For atop the mount before his eyes sat a certain golden-haired elf who was supposed to be in Rivendell.
"Glorfindel!" The youngest twin exclaimed, not daring to believe his eyes. It had appeared that the balrog-slayer had just rode past him, and he was at a loss for words. Illuvatar, this was too good to be true, was it not?
The golden-haired warrior sported a very undignified expression as a series of emotions flitted through him. Elrohir studied his mentor with detached amusement, watching the reactions on his face. Shock, surprise, relief, and finally fury. The young twin's face fell when he remembered why that might be.
"Elrondion."
Glorfindel's voice sounded positively murderous.
"Perhaps you would like to explain to me why you, your brother, and our dear guest the prince of Mirkwood thought it fit to leave Rivendell, after I specifically told you not to?"
Elrohir distantly heard a break in the warrior's voice when he realized that the twin was severely injured and barely hanging onto consciousness.
"Elrohir? What happened? Confide in me, pen-neth, and perhaps we shall discuss your incompetence later?"
Glorfindel sounded increasingly concerned now, trying to regain the elf's attention.
But Elrohir wasn't listening to his mentor. Because, filtering out from behind Glorfindel were at least twenty of Rivendell's best guards, and they seemed to have brought a small arsenal of weaponry.
The young twin's fevered face cracked into a grin. Right before he promptly passed out.
The two elves sat in silence across from each other. They had thoroughly scouted the area and had located the camp that held Estel and Elrond, but they couldn't get close enough to see if they were alright. It was incredibly frustrating for both of them not to charge into the camp, but they had promised they would wait until morning. That way they could properly scout the area and form a half-decent attack plan.
But for the time being, they were stuck here in the dark, not willing to take the risk of building a campfire and making their presence known to the enemy camp. There was no way they were going to jeopardise this rescue mission.
Elladan fiddled restlessly with the hilt of his knife, trying desperately to ignore the fact that his human brother and father were merely a few leagues away. Valar, it was so tempting, just to rush into the company and kill those responsible for threatening his family. But he knew he couldn't do that. He was being irrational. He only needed to wait until morning, and then nothing would be able to stop him. The eldest twin growled inwardly. He was going to make Morcion rue the very day he was born.
Still on edge, the dark-haired elf looked up across at Legolas, his elven eyes easily piercing the darkness as he studied his friend. In contrast to him, the prince looked weary and overwhelmed. And for good reason, he thought condescendingly. In the span of less than a week, the blonde elf had journeyed across the mountains to Rivendell, been injured during the journey, reached the Last Homely House for less than a day, and promptly left again in search of his human friend before having fully recovered. It was a miracle the elf was still alive, much less still awake.
Seeing that the prince was in a dreamy state, Elladan called softly to him.
"Rest Legolas, I will take first watch."
Legolas's tired blue eyes gained some clarity after the twin's request brought him back to the present.
"You must be tired too, Elladan."
"Nay mellon-nin, I have too much on my mind to rest. Do not worry, I will wake you halfway through the night for you to take your watch."
The fair-haired elf considered it, but did not seem convinced.
"You won't be any good to Estel and Elrond if you are dead on your feet, my friend," Elladan added strategically.
Legolas creased his brow in internal conflict, but Elladan's reasoning and his sheer exhaustion eventually won out.
"Fine, as long as you really do wake me for your own rest."
Elladan nodded assuredly, even though he had no real intention of waking Legolas. He really did need to recuperate. Satisfied, Legolas jumped up onto the low bough of a tree, settling comfortably against a branch. In less than a minute, he was asleep. Contented for the moment with Legolas asleep, Elladan gave a long sigh as he pondered what tomorrow might bring. But he knew only one thing for sure, and that was that he would fight with everything he had, and if that was not enough, he was going to bring Morcion down with him.
Elrohir felt miles better, courtesy of Glorfindel and his skills in the art of healing. After the twin had fallen unconscious, the company had stopped for roughly an hour, both to help the Elrondion and to gather some more information about their current situation.
For about the fifth time, Elrohir tried to rise off his makeshift bedding of thin rugs and satchels, only to once again be pushed down by Glorfindel.
"We have only fifteen minutes before we set off again, Elrohir. Rest."
The younger twin scowled lightly, still grateful for the warrior's help and in disbelief for his timely appearance.
"Why did you feel the urge to abandon Rivendell and take nearly two dozen of the guards, Glorfindel?" Elrohir asked suspiciously.
Glorfindel turned his calm blue eyes on the young elf.
"I only stayed in Rivendell in the first place to ensure it was protected, as your father asked, Elrohir. But it seems that when Estel, Legolas and you and Elladan are absent, Rivendell is in no need of protection."
Glorfindel smirked slightly as Elrohir raised an eyebrow.
"I figured I would be of much more use here, and I know that Morcion is a force to be reckoned with. Besides, I left Erestor in charge, and he is more than capable."
Elrohir nodded slightly, his relaxed demeanour turning tense again at the thought of his brothers.
He looked at Glorfindel with heart-wrenching worry in his grey eyes.
"Glorfindel, we have to help them. All of them. They are depending on us."
The golden warrior smiled gravely as he offered the twin a hand.
"Well then I suppose we should go and save them."
Elrohir smiled gratefully and accepted the hand as Glorfindel began to pull him up, but stopped when the warrior leant in close.
"If you do anything reckless, I'll tell Elladan that you tore every last one of his stitches, and I shall leave the punishment entirely up to him."
Elrohir gulped audibly, taking in this new threat. Glorfindel really did know how to initiate a compromise.
"Note taken," the dark-haired elf said seriously.
Grinning in satisfaction, Glorfindel hoisted the elf up onto a horse, mindful of his wounds, and turned back to address the elves behind him.
"Drego morn!"
The elves behind them took up the cheer, as they spurred their mounts in the direction of the slowly rising sun.
TBC
Pen-neth – young one
Drego morn – "flee night", a traditional elvish war cry
Suggestions anybody?
Thanks for not abandoning my fic despite the insanely long waits in between ;)
