-Half Blood-
-ElvenHope-
Chapter XIII
He had finally given Glorfindel the slip after two days of skulking in the shadows and hiding around corners. He knew this for a fact as he passed the edge of the forest, darting through the trees. There was no way on Arda that the Balrog-Slayer was going to find him now.
Elladan did feel bad that he was probably going to get his tutor in trouble with his father. He just needed some time to be on his own and think. His father should have known better; if Elrond had truly been set about keeping an eye on him he would have been locked in his room. He probably would be after this.
The peredhel sensed someone approaching and reached up for a low hanging tree branch, hauling himself up to his stomach and readjusting his balance. He was about heave himself up the rest of the way when someone grabbed his ankle. He cried out in surprise loosing his grip on the branch and fell to the ground with a bump.
"I thought it was you."
"W-what…? Elrohir?" Elladan asked confused nursing his right ankle. "What was that for?"
"Where is Glorfindel?" Elrohir demanded his gaze steely.
"I gave him the slip," the elder twin replied standing up and trying to ignore Elrohir's disapproving expression. At the moment Elrohir was being as bad as his father! "Elrohir you know more than anyone else that I am not going to hurt myself – I didn't even try to in the first place-"
"Then you should be punished for lying," Elrohir said curtly folding his arms across his chest. Now he really was starting to look like Elrond.
"I just need some time to think," Elladan sighed. "You don't know how hard this is."
Elrohir looked at his twin, studied his expression. "You're right 'Dan I don't know how hard it is, but you're torturing yourself and everyone who loves you. Can't you see that?"
Elladan glanced at his twin hesitantly. "Don't you think I know that? I just," he bit his lip, "I don't want anything to happen to you and Arwen."
"This is stupid!" Elrohir shouted suddenly. "I am going to go and tell Ada right now and I don't care-"
"No!" Elladan yelled grabbing his brother by the shoulders and spinning him round, pinning him against a tree. "You can't!"
"Let go!" Elrohir yelped struggling madly. "This isn't you Elladan! You're acting insane!"
Elladan's eyes widened and he let go, running a hand through his hair. "Just give me some time 'Ro to let me think…"
The younger twin rolled his eyes amazed that he was about to give in to his brother yet again. "Alright, alright! I'm giving you an hour to meet me back here, and if you don't it's your own fault." Elrohir turned then stalking away and Elladan wondered whether or not he should go after his twin. He felt slightly betrayed. Elrohir had promised that he would keep his word, but a lot had changed since then. His twin was right, he was far stronger; Elladan was just being a coward.
He turned, walking into the trees; it was cool in here out of the sun, refreshing. He tripped suddenly, his foot catching on a root and crashed to the ground head first. He cursed himself irritated. Elves never tripped…
Grunting he attempted to push himself up only for someone to shove him back down again.
"Elrohir what on Arda-"
"It's not Elrohir, Elladan," a voice leered from above him. The elder twin shivered. What had they heard? Did they know that Elrohir was going to tell their father?
"Rael," the name made his throat run dry. "What do you want?"
The elder smirked and he heard snickers from around him. The blond haired elf wasn't alone then. This was most certainly not good, Rael was hard enough to deal with without anyone else.
"I want…" he paused then offered Elladan a hand. "I want to have a little talk."
The peredhel took it reluctantly anger bubbling through him. Rael was grinning like a Cheshire cat and there was a glint in his eyes which Elladan couldn't place.
Elladan gave him a sharp side-long glance, saying that he didn't trust the elder elf for a minute. "About what?"
"All in good time," Rael replied draping an arm around the boy's shoulder and pulling him close. Elladan went rigid and that only made Rael's grin broaden as he walked forcing Elladan to follow him. "There's a nice little spot through here by the river."
Rael was right, moments later the trees cleared to reveal yet more gardens. It was a little more wild here than in the main gardens, but it was still beautiful as ever. A river wound through the clearing the trees thickening on the other side of the green meadow backing onto the high waterfalls.
As they approached the river Rael's arm dropped suddenly to grasp Elladan's hands in an iron grip, wrenching them behind his back. A rope bit into the sore flesh of his wrists and he struggled madly.
Rael grinned and there was so much malice in that look that it frightened Elladan. The twinkle in the boy's eyes was for that fear and the younger elf knew it. Rael's hand moved to grip Elladan's collar.
"It seems that news of what happened ago has slipped out," he sneered his smile broadening when he saw the boy he grasped by the scruff of the neck pale visibly. "I believe that I said there would be consequences if such a thing occurred."
Elladan shook his head wordlessly trying to choke back the cold dread rising in him.
"No… no… I didn't mean for it to happen!" He exclaimed. "Elrohir swore that he wouldn't tell!"
"That does not matter," Rael snapped. "It is obvious that I did not make it clear to you the first time Elladan. I want no one to know of this and I want you to do anything necessary to stop this from happening again. I had hoped that our first talk was enough, but seeing as it wasn't…" he paused then dragging the boy over to the edge of the river where the side dropped away sharply with no incline. Shoving the younger boy down on his knees he pushed Elladan's head down close to the water so that he was staring back into his own terrified silver eyes.
"You shall have to be punished and I hope that you learn from it this time," Rael said maliciously giving Elladan's head a quick shove for emphasis. Though his nose only just grazed the water's surface it set alarm bells off in Elladan's head. With his hands tied and Rael's hand at the nape of his neck forcing him down he was powerless; and Rael had made it very clear what he was about to do.
"No, no!" the elder twin shook his head violently, his breathing quickening. "Don't, please I won't tell anyone again! I'll make sure that 'Ro keeps his mouth shu-"
The peredhel's head was unexpectedly plunged under the water and what little breath Elladan had left in his lungs was forced out in a cry of fear and surprise. He was pulled back up two seconds later coughing and gagging his damp hair clinging to his pale cheeks and his eyes blurry with the murky water.
"Stop!"
Elladan's head snapped round. He knew that voice and he wished more than anything that he hadn't heard it. "Elrohir no," he breathed not finding enough breath to make his warning any louder.
"Stop it!" Elrohir yelled running from the woods where he had been hiding. "Stop! Let him go!"
Rael turned a grimace of disgust on his face. The elder boy's gang immediately took care of the problem, grabbing Elrohir by the arms even as the younger twin protested and struggled.
"Maybe your brother should pay for his part of this offence," he taunted his thin lips curling into a malicious grin. "After all it is his fault."
Elladan's gaze flashed with anger and terror as he looked at Rael. "No," the elder twin gasped. "No, it's my fault."
"Let go of me!" Elrohir's shout broke through the cacophony of fear in the elder twin's mind. "Let go! That hurts! My father will-"
Rael laughed turning his piercing gaze on the younger twin. "What? What will he do Elrohir? I hope those are empty threats you filthy half blood, because if anyone else ever learns of this the punishment will only continue to get worse!" He shoved Elladan's head back down under the water again without warning and the younger boy tried madly to jerk away. Any air in him had been knocked from him by panic and Rael was holding him under longer this time.
"Elladan!" Elrohir practically screamed trying to break free so that he could save his twin. "Stop! Let him up!"
Rael relented finally pulling the elder twin up laughing as Elladan sagged against him panting. "You didn't enjoy that did you?" he asked shaking his captive harshly. "Do you want this to happen to your brother? Because it will next time, don't you worry!"
"No," Elladan coughed as spots danced in front of his eyes. "Rael please…"
Rael shook his head feigning disappointment. "I'm afraid it's too late now Elladan," the elf leered pushing Elladan back under again. Yanking him up he gripped Elladan's chin harshly forcing the boy to look him in the eye. Elladan's own eyes were out of focus blurring everything around him into a haze the only clear message he was receiving was the need for more air. Though he heard his twin's voice in the background and that made his heart ache.
"Shut him up would you?" Rael shouted to the boys holding Elrohir and Elladan heard the harsh thud of a fist connecting with his brother's stomach. Another hard slap told him someone had backhanded Elrohir across the face.
He gritted his teeth a tear slipping down his cheek to mingle with the water which dripped from his hair as Elrohir moaned softly.
"Let him go," he hissed at the elder boy trying to focus. "Let Elrohir go! He has done nothing!"
"He must promise not to say a word," Rael sneered his words loud enough for them all to hear. "Only then will I leave you alone." He paused smiling at Elladan. "Now take a breath."
Elladan took one shakily, but it was not enough before he was shoved back under.
"No!" Elrohir cried tasting blood. This was a nightmare and he just wanted to wake up. He struggled and shouted, but another blow dazed him and his only thoughts which he could focus on were his twin. Rael had allowed him to come back up before dunking his head beneath the icy depths of the river again. He could see tears running down his twins cheeks; could see the pain in his brother's eyes and knew that Elladan was breathing far too fast. How long would it be before Elladan passed out?
The next time he held Elladan under was the longest. Elladan squirmed desperately and Rael's smile broadened.
"Let him up!" Elrohir yelled knowing that his twin couldn't hold on much longer. "For Valar's sake let him up! You're going to kill him!"
Elladan heard the blood pounding in his ears, felt white hot pain sear behind his eyes. His heart beat was getting faster; louder. He was going to pass out soon and maybe worse if Rael didn't let him up. He was choking on water, mind only focused on one thing – air.
Elrohir was holding his breath tears pricking the edges of his eyes as a hand clamped firmly over his mouth. An inaudible shout was muffled by the hand as Elladan went limp. Rael dragged the boy up quickly Elladan's unconscious form slumping in his hold.
Everything was quiet for a minute then the younger twin went mad, stamping on his attacker's feet and elbowing him in the ribs until he finally let go. He raced over to where Rael was crouched and shoved the elder boy out of the way.
"What have you done to him?" He yelled snatching his twin from the other as he tried desperately to untie his brother's hands. A hand clamped about his throat held him in agony for a second before sending him sprawling across the rocks.
"You'd better keep your mouth shut, peredhel," Rael hissed into Elrohir's ear. "Or believe me this will never end; never."
With that he turned disappearing into the trees, the others following him and leaving Elrohir alone.
"Oh Valar," Elrohir whispered moving over to his brother once again. He wiped some of the ebony hair from his brother's face where it clung to his alabaster skin. Was his brother breathing? He couldn't tell… "Elladan!" He didn't know what to do, he wished that his father was there, he would know.
His fingers worked furiously at the rope and eventually got his brother's hands untied rolling Elladan onto his side and hoping that it would help his breathing. Luckily for him it did. Elladan coughed and choked bringing up water as he tried to pick himself up mind reeling.
His arms were too weak to support him and he rolled over glancing at Elrohir before blacking out again.
A/N: Okay so something happened in this chapter apart from the general talk-about-the-same-thing thing. I can tell sometimes when my chapters start reiterating themselves which bugs me immensely, but I just wanted to get everything out of the way first if that makes sense. Once again thanks for the reviews!! And this thing is probably going to end at 15 chapters maybe even 14 though I like rounding chapters up to either multiples of four or five. Don't ask me why…
-ElvenHope