Half Blood

Lady Luce

A/N: I changed my username. What can I say I apologise SO much for making you wait for this.

Chapter XV

Elrohir sat on one of the stone benches in the garden eyes clouded with thoughts; he was so deeply immersed in them he didn't notice his mother as she sat down beside him watching him closely. Elrond had seen to his hand – the knuckles had shattered after his fall – though Elorhir had been too busy gasping out his story to properly feel the pain. He was far more concerned for his twin and the occasional sting only caused a slight furrowing of his brows or a surprised hiss.

His father had pressed him until he retold the whole story down to every minute detail – though he had halted Elrohir's rapid speech to check Elladan over. After everything that had happened Elrohir had no qualms about telling his father the whole story. At least he wasn't worried that Elladan would be angry with him; there was a part of him which deeply feared what Rael could do to them even if Elrond knew.

Everything should get back to normal now though, the lies had been too much to take, he was glad that it was over. But there was something in the air which told him it wasn't. A cold shiver running up his spine and clouds gathering on the horizon threatening to storm.

Celebrían broke the silence finally making Elrohir jump. "What are you thinking penneth?"

He turned to face her eyes wide. "Mother, I-I didn't notice you."

Celebrían smiled and Elrohir felt the storm cloud's receding ever so slightly. "I could tell; you appeared to be deep in thought."

Elrohir turned back to the horizon and the setting sun his voice quiet. "Well I've had a lot to think about," he paused. "How is Elladan?"

"He'll live," she said with a grin though she wasn't sure if her younger son knew she was joking. Elladan really wasn't so bad, he'd woken up a short while ago – in fact that was why she'd come to find Elrohir. "He's awake now, he wants to see you."

Elrohir nodded though he didn't move. "I should go then." He sighed and bit his bottom lip. "This… it feels like it's all my fault… if only I had told Ada sooner."

"The important thing is that you're alright 'Ro," she glanced at his injured hand. "Well save for your hand it appears you won't be able to write for a while. I guess that means you'll get a break from your studies. Erestor will probably be glad to be rid of you two for a while."

Elrohir chuckled and the cloud's lifted again if only for a moment. "Yes he always has said we'd be the first to give an immortal a premature death."

He stood then and turned to his mother intending to make his way back to the healing wing when something stopped him. That niggling sensation in the back of his mind had just struck its target.

"Where's Arwen?" His eyes widened again panicked and Celebrían noticed the sudden change in him alarmed.

"She was out in the gardens playing," the Lady's brow furrowed. "Now that you mention it, it is getting late."

Elrohir's mind was racing trying to remember what had happened after Glorfindel found them. Which direction had Rael gone?

"Did Glorfindel find Rael yet?" Elrohir asked trying to seem nonchalant. He didn't want to panic his mother though he knew something was desperately wrong.

Celebrían looked thoughtful then shook her head. "I don't believe so. Elrohir is everything alright?"

He nodded trying to force a smile. "Yes, I'm going to find Arwen first. Tell Elladan I'll be there soon."

The peredhel took off at a run before his mother could stop him and Celebrían eventually decided that it was best to return to the house and inform someone of both Arwen's disappearance and Elrohir's bizarre behaviour. There was something going on here and she knew too little to decipher it all though she prayed that Elrohir would be alright.

Elrohir's panic only heightened as he made his way back through the forest where he had last seen Rael. He tried to quell the sickness he felt upon reaching the clearing and the river. There was still a hint of sanguine on the rocks and the memories washed over him making his stomach churn. He had doubled back earlier making his way through the forest on the other edge of the clearing when Rael had first taken Elladan. Terror had gotten the best of him and he'd tried to intervene – and failed bitterly he reminded himself – but he had at least noticed the distinct track on the opposite side of the wooded glade. A track he knew was not made by the patrols who watched this area.

Reaching the almost indistinguishable trail he suddenly realized why he had noticed it earlier. Branches and bracken alike had been broken; there were distinct indents in the soft earth where someone appeared to have dug their heels into the ground.

Elrohir ran a hand through his hair; normally elves wouldn't make a single imprint in the earth, but if one were being forced…? His face paled a second later when his sharp eyes caught site of something caught on a large thicket to the right of the path. Snatching the material from the bush it took him only a second to identify it as part of one of Arwen's dresses.

Pure terror lodged in his throat and Elrohir found himself running before he knew what he was doing. He had to stop every now and then because he had lost the trail, but he found it again in a second identified by the tracks, a broken branch or a snatch of hair or scrap of cloth. The one coherent thought in his mind was that they had Arwen and that was enough to keep him going. It was too late to get help now he was going to have to do this himself. He was her big brother and he had promised to always protect her. He wasn't going to let her get hurt again!

The rain was pelting down, the storm closing in on Imladris and Elrohir's breathing was becoming ragged as he sprinted through the woods dodging the tangle of branches. He was going further and further into the wilderness and what was more the steep angle the path was suddenly taking made his stomach churn anxiously. The narrow track was leading him up to the waterfalls which his home was famous for. Up there it was perilous especially in this weather. His eyes focused determinedly on the climb ahead if Rael had dared to hurt his sister he would pay.

Elladan could barely look at his father as he was interrogated. The stress seemed to have gotten to the elder elf though Elladan could detect the underlying caring in his tone. He was simply worried that was all and he had a right to be.

Celebrían entered then and Elladan was relieved to see his mother return though he was slightly perplexed when Elrohir didn't appear with her. He looked at her questioningly, but she simply turned to Elrond.

"Have you seen Arwen?"

Elrond was caught off guard by the question and hesitated before replying. "I don't think I have today. She was in the gardens wasn't she?"

Celebrían looked troubled. "She hasn't returned yet. And Elrohir went running off when I told him. I couldn't catch him. He seemed anxious about something."

Elladan listened with growing dread sudden understanding, the pieces slotting together with a terrible precision. "Rael!"

The sudden yell made both of his parent's jump; Elrond was the first to speak whilst Celebrían's frown deepened.

"Elladan what do you mean?" Elrond's tone was sharp leaving no room for argument, not that Elladan intended to do so.

"Rael, he said if we – if I – told then he'd do something to Elrohir or Arwen," he looked at his parents desperately. "It must have been him. Ada you have to find Elrohir, I don't know what he'll do…"

Elrond nodded understandingly and pressed Elladan back into the bed when he tried to rise. "You are staying here; Glorfindel and I will find your brother and sister."

"But I-"

"I'm sorry Elladan, but that's an order," Elrond said firmly and left the room quickly with the instructions to Celebrían to keep an eye on him.

Elladan lay back in the bed looking sullen, eyes darting about the room as though searching for an escape though despair was showing on his features. He felt useless here, he needed to help! Celebrían smiled at his expression seeing it so similar to her husband's. Even in bad times she was an opportunist and she had every faith that Elrond and Glorfindel would return her children safe and sound. Besides she needed to get Elladan's mind off things.

Arwen sniffed and huddled further into the corner of the cave where she had been dumped. The roaring of the waterfalls drowned out everything else and she tried to close her eyes and simply melt into the sound she often found so comforting but now it proved no use. There was a thunder clap and the cave was lit in an instance as lightning split the sky. They were up high in the mountains surrounding her home. Rael had half dragged her here in a fit of rage and now he stood at the second mouth of the cave. This one overlooked the waterfalls and the river far below water masking most of its entrance. She wished that he would come away from the precipice. As much as she hated the blond elf she didn't want him to fall either…

Tears were running down her cheeks and she made no effort to hide them glancing desperately to the only entrance of the cave – though it was the second exit. A hollowed out door in the jagged rock led out into the darkness of the night and the slippery slope beyond. It had been almost impossible to get up here because of the rain and mud, and the trees hid the cave entrance far too well. No one would find her here, and that thought made the tears come harder.

"There's no use thinking about escaping," the boy at said silhouetted by a sudden flash of lightning as he turned. It made his face look skeletal and she turned her head away from the gruesome sight. "You're not getting out of here alive. You can thank your brothers for that."

"They did nothing to you!" She attempted a shout though her voice sounded incredibly small and was almost drowned out altogether by the waterfall.

"Your very existence is an insult to me," he stalked towards her eyes wild and she drew back as he crouched before her so that they were at eye level. "Whilst you filthy half bloods draw breath I will never rest."

"You're insane!" She shouted right into his face not really knowing what she was saying just needing to retaliate. "You're crazy and when my father finds out what you've done to us you'll never be allowed to step foot in Imladris again!"

There was a loud smack as Rael's fist collided with her cheek. Arwen howled in pain clutching the split skin and in a panic made to run.

Rael grabbed a fistful of her hair and she screamed in abject terror as he pulled her round to face the falls. "You're wrong there. And I'll make you regret those words. Maybe you'll have some comfort in the fact that your brothers will join you soon."

"No!" She yelled clawing at the hand in her hair though it did little good. "Let me go! You can't do this! Let go!!"

Rael grinned maliciously. "It's a long way down," he looked her in the eye. "But maybe if you're lucky you'll survive. You're a tough little thing after all."

"No! Please!"

"Let her go!"

Arwen's eyes widened in surprise and she turned to the door-way though she was unable to make out anyone standing there. But that has been her father's voice she was certain of it.

"Ada!"

The grip on her hair loosened as Rael's eyes widened in shock and she made a break for it then rushing to the doorway. She was halted though when a second lightning flash illuminated the darkness and the figure who stood there.

"Elrohir?"

The peredhel entered the room quickly pulling Arwen into his arms and glaring at Rael. "Father's coming soon Arwen it's alright." He had no idea if that was true or not, but if Rael believed it things might turn out better.

"You're not getting away with this."

Rael's soaking face was one of pure shock and though the cold glint returned to them a second later there was something missing there. He backed up a step closer to the rushing water and the precipice beyond. His smile widened as Elrohir's expression turned from one of hatred to horror.

"Just watch me."

Another step and Elrohir threw Arwen from his grasp diving across the distance between him and Rael. He had almost disappeared completely into the rushing water when Elrohir caught his hand and held on tightly. As much as he hated this elf he didn't want him to die.

"You don't have to do this!" Elrohir shouted to make himself heard through the falls and the storm. He stared into the other elf's eyes beseechingly. "Please Rael come back with us."

The elf below him scoffed and made no move to hang on even as Elrohir clung to him with both hands his injured one screaming at him to let go.

"I won't rest with you in this world peredhel," he spat. The boy did pull himself up then the force nearly sending Elrohir over the edge. Rael gripped Elrohir by one shoulder using the edge of the precipice for support.

"Just know that this is your fault," he hissed into Elrohir's ear making the boy's heart stop. Then pain burst in the back of his mind and Elrohir's grip slackened as his broken knuckles burned. Before he could even realise what had happened Rael's form had disappeared beneath the rushing water.

He lay there watching the churning waves for what seemed like hours before he finally moved.

Heaving himself out of the mud Elrohir gritted his teeth and turned back to Arwen resolute though his soul cried out at the injustice of it all. Rael hadn't deserved to die even if he had done bad things. He caught Arwen in his arms as she ran to him and hoisted her onto his back smiling slightly though it didn't reach his eyes.

"I guess it's time to go home."

The first pink fingers of dawn were streaking across the sky, but already the House of Elrond was awake. Elladan had decided that it would be fun to watch the sun rise that morning and both of his siblings had agreed. The soul occupants of the gardens of Imladris – save for wild-life and the occasional guard – lay on one of the many rolling lawns staring up at the sky. Arwen was between her brothers and Elladan was telling her the story of Beren and Luthien for what must have been the thousandth time. It was Arwen's favourite story and she would often chastise her brother's for accidentally missing out parts.

Elrohir was content to watch the sunrise in silence with only the morning chorus and his brother's voice for company. He knew now that everything was going to be alright. Rael's death had been unfortunate and he still regretted it, but he knew the boy would find forgiveness in the next life. Glorfindel had taken some time off his guard duties to spend time with his favourite pupils and Elrond was also taking a break from his work though it often proved to be easier said than done.

He turned his face into the rising sun and took a breath as peace bloomed across the earth and sent a taproot straight to his heart.

A/N: I actually finished it! Just wow I never thought I was going to manage it, but I did. I apologise for it I really do. My interestes have moved on somewhat from Lord of the Rings, but I realised when writing this how much I truly missed the fandom. So who knows really? I was planning a sequel, but that seems rather unlikely. Still we'll see eh? I'm sorry if this chapter seems a little rushed. As much as I love this fic I just wanted it done you know?

And let me say THANK YOU to all those people who have reviewed/favorites/added to C2s! You guys rock!

-Lady Luce