Summary: Legolas and Aragorn ride ahead to Mirkwood to celebrate an
occasion but never make it.
Disclaimer: I don't own them for their own good.
A/N: Written for a challenge issued on Mellon Chronicles.
Chapter 10
Elladan had listened to his brother and friend for over three hours. They had shed many tears, but in the end Estel admitted he felt better. "I am hungry a bit," Estel said as Elladan stood to depart the room.
"You are not really healed yet little brother and I would not aggravate your injuries further."
A hint of a smile came across Legolas' face. "Would you rather he snuck out of the room or would you like to escort him? You know he will not stay in bed for very long."
Elladan gave a mock glare at both of them and relented. "If you promise to tell Ada, and King Thranduil that I was forced, then I shall help you downstairs."
Estel let his brother help him to his feet but Legolas was having none of it. "I am an elf, and have nearly healed. I will not require your help Elladan."
Elladan turned from where he was helping Estel and smiled. "I shall inform Ada that you are no longer in need of his services as a healer. I am sure you will enjoy his lecture, almost as much as you will enjoy the cup of tea."
"Wait!" Legolas grumbled but held out his good hand to be helped to the doorway by Elladan. He didn't enjoy the wrath of Lord Elrond, and his teas were always sure to have you sleep at least two days.
The three of them made their way down the stairs, and Amras made his way inside the room. He was proud of himself for passing by the guards of Mirkwood unnoticed. Although they were very busy when the human and elf were brought in. Four of the guards were pulled from the gate to surround the house, making sure no one entered.
He looked about the room, and found where he would hide. The closet was at least eight foot long inside. A perfect hiding place to pounce on the unsuspecting pair as they slept.
Just as Elladan stepped foot into the dining hall Elrond was on his feet followed by Thranduil. "Is there something wrong? Are they in pain?"
"Ada, all is well. The two of them refused to stay another minute upstairs," Elladan told his father, as he helped Estel and Legolas take a seat at the table.
Elrond sighed knowing the stubborn streak in both of them. "You shall partake in dinner, but only if you show no signs of growing weary."
Estel and Legolas recanted the few details that they could about their captors as they munched on a few vegetables, neither of them truly hungry. This put the whole of the room in a somber mood, and Erestor felt it was time to relieve the tension. "I think it is high time we do what we came here for."
Thranduil looked perplexed. "What may that be?"
"We came to celebrate your birthing day of course," he announced though he thought the idea a bit far fetched.
This produced gales of laughter from Thranduil. "I am thousands of years old and you wish to celebrate my birthing day? The very idea of lighting that many candles would surely burn down all of Mirkwood." Thranduil continued to laugh till he saw the somber faces of not only Estel, but Legolas as well. "I did not mean to jest so," he said. "If it means that much to you we shall celebrate the occasion."
Estel's face brightened some, but if you knew him as his father did you could see the traces of embarrassment left behind. "I shall have the cooks prepare a cake in your honor."
"There is no need for that. While the two of you were off healing I had the cooks prepare the cake. I have also taken the liberty of wrapping the gifts that were brought," Erestor informed them.
"Leave it to you to have everything ready," Thranduil said, rolling his eyes in a very unkingly manner. "Shall we go and sit in the study, and sip brandy until it arrives?"
Everyone stood for the short walk to the study, the twins helping Estel and Legolas to their feet. "We are injured yes, but we are not invalids Dan. I can walk by myself," Estel spoke. It was only a second before he realized his harsh words. "Forgive me Dan. It is only the toll of the last few days that has made me so irritable."
Elladan smiled, "There is nothing to forgive Estel." Elladan eased away from his brother, letting him walk unaided but stood close enough to catch him should he falter. They had almost made it to the study when Estel stopped.
"I have forgotten my gift! It had to have been lost in the scuffle."
Estel's face was ashen, and he felt like he was going to be sick. For two years he had planned and sought out this most precious gift. He had found it in a shop, bargained with the shop owner and then gotten the item. On his way home with it he had been attacked and almost beaten to death, but he kept the item secure. Now he would not get to bestow it to King Thranduil and return it to its home."
"Do not let yourself be saddened Estel," came the soft words of Erestor. The advisor walked over to the sullen human. "Your weapon and package were found among the things at the campsite. Both are upstairs in your room, just inside the closet."
The twins both grinned from ear to ear. They knew the sacrifices that Estel had made to get the present, even selling his own sword at the time to get the money. "Would you like me to go and get it for you?" Elrohir asked.
"Nay, I shall have Legolas walk with me. If you will wait for us in the study Elrohir, I will call you should we need help."
Neither twin wanted to let the two walk alone, but at the urging of Elrond they relented. Estel held the banister to the right and Legolas to the left, each using their good hand. Step by step they walked until the whole of the way to the room. Estel paused outside the room to catch his breath, his hand slipping to hold his side, as the welts underneath burned.
After catching his breath he looked to Legolas who by this time was paler than his usual self. "We have struggled to make it once again my old friend but we have made it," Aragorn said to Legolas. "Come I have waited many years to give this gift to your father."
Legolas did not know what Aragorn was so anxious about for he had not shared what the gift was before now. He carefully made his way to the bed, and sat down. Aragorn went to the closet, and grabbed his cloak off the rack. He did not see Amras standing in the shadows in the back, when he closed the door, his joy too much. "Look at this Legolas," he said laying the item on the bed. "Unwrap it."
Legolas took the thing bound up in paper and began to wrap it, the job difficult with only the use of one hand. It seemed small, and almost weightless to him. When the last piece of paper was removed he gasped. "Estel, it is my mother's."
"Aye, I saw this necklace in a shop during my travels. I bargained for over two years for it, and now I shall return it to your father." Tears filled Legolas' eyes as he stared down at the necklace.
"My Amme was given this on her wedding day by my father. He had it made for her. He said the sapphire reminded him of her eyes."
"Yes, and if I recall your father told me one night while we sat sipping wine that the green stone was added upon your birth so that she could remember her son, who reminded her that all was green and golden in the world despite the ever lurking dangers."
"Tis a treasure indeed," Legolas said, before the tears fell from his eyes."
"One your father shall enjoy again," Aragorn said, as he rewrapped the gift, using a piece of twine to tie it up. Their joy was short lived as the closet door opened.
"Tears, how endearing a trait. Sadly you will need those for later when you beg me for your very lives," Amras said, the glint of his blade announcing he now stood behind Legolas. "Do not scream young one, for it would be the last thing your friend here ever heard."
Aragorn wanted to yell, knowing within seconds the room would be filled with guards and their family, but the look of pure fear in Legolas' eyes kept him from it. "What is it that you want?"
"I thought that was obvious human. I wish to kill you both. I wish to hear you beg me for your lives before you draw your last breath, but most of all I wish to send your father's to find what is left of you when I am done."
The scramble for the sword was unexpected, and Amras faltered for a second, but the blood on Estel's shirt was halted their escape. "Did I not say that I would in fact kill you? Let this be the first lesson to you."
Legolas went to Estel's side, helping him back to his feet as he had fallen. He did not see Amras approach, but he felt the sting of the blade as it was swept across his own skin. His teeth clenched trying to hold back the scream. "Stand up! Your spilt blood shall warn the others, and they will come for you. They will be too late, but that is no matter, I will enjoy the looks upon their faces before I take their lives as well."
"You seem confident that you will prevail," Aragorn said, through gritted teeth.
"Why should I not be? I have you, and soon you both will know that you have seen but a taste of pain. Your deaths will be my vengeance, and I shall enjoy the looks of horror on your face elf, as the weaker human dies first."
Aragorn and Legolas were led down the hallway away from the study and their families. Out through the back entrance into Mirkwood and out into the yard. There Aragorn stopped to catch his breath, holding his bloodied hand out to Legolas. "We shall survive this Legolas, or I shall be there waiting for you in the end." Legolas placed his own bloody hand in that of Aragorn's, his tears held back by sheer willpower. "Together we shall go or not at all. If we die know that I shall be the one holding my hand out to you in Mandos' Halls."
Amras moved the two of them away from the palace, but inside two others were also moving, up the stairs Elrond and Thranduil were going to check on what was keeping their sons.