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Destined Darkness: It's not over yet. They are not the only one... more hurting on the way.. and yes, I did enjoy it and still do. Thank you for reviewing it, glad to know that you enjoyed it, more to come though. *Hugs & Kisses* Have a great weekend and keep smiling.
Sage of the Woods: I'm trying to do it. Thank you for reviewing it, glad to know that you enjoyed it. More to come though. *Hugs & Kisses* Have a great weekend and keep smiling.
Angel:Here's another chapter, hope you love it. Thank you for reviewing it. Poor Legolas though.. evil grin... More to come. *Hugs & Kisses* Have a great weekend and keep smiling.
Guest: I will finish it, though the story is not finished yet. More to come. Thank you for reviewing it, glad to know that you enjoyed it. *Hugs & Kisses* Have a great weekend and keep smiling.
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Disclaimer, Summary and Warning could be found in 1st chapter.
Beta: Aranel
Chapter 12: Shattered, Hope!
"We had better leave…" Aragorn mumbled and rose.
"I am not leaving him behind!" Thranduil hissed at Aragorn, his gaze locked on his son's dull eyes.
"I did not mean that we should leave Legolas behind," Aragorn said defensively, and then he added softly, "We should take him with us, but we should go now, as you, Haldir and Elrohir are not in a good condition."
Thranduil lowered his head, knowing that his words were similar enough to what Lord Elrond had thrust upon his son.
"Forgive me for jumping to conclusions. I did not mean it that way," Thranduil said.
"There is nothing to forgive, Thranduil," Aragorn smiled and put an arm on his shoulder.
Thranduil raised his head and looked at the man; he knew now how fortunate he was to have friends this trustworthy. And he could understand the reason for the ever-growing friendship and loyalty between Aragorn and Legolas. He could indeed be a proud father.
"Who will ride with him?"Elladan asked, looking at the king and the man.
"I will," Galdor cut in as the other two remained silent.
Aragorn and Elladan exchanged looks and then the man nodded his consent, "It might be for the best."
"And we have our hands full," Elladan added to his little brother.
Galdor grinned, even as he caught the disappointment on Thranduil's face. "I will not let him fall, King Thranduil," Galdor assured his friend.
"I know that you will take good care of my son. I have no doubt of that," Thranduil looked at him and then his gaze turned into a glare. "And Galdor, we've talked about this over and over again – and everyone here can stand as witness. And if you should address me by my title again... one more time and I will take action, and believe me, my friend, you are not going to like it."
Galdor only grinned and shrugged as he held Legolas's limp body securely.
"Will he be all right?" Aragorn asked Elladan.
"He will be," Elladan replied and then he added with a smile, "And then we will need to remind him that friends stick together whatever happens."
"That we will, but now is not the time. Now we all need to find healing," Thranduil reminded them.
Aragorn helped the king to mount on his horse. That was true. Only himself, Elladan and Galdor were in any condition to fight. He quickly joined Elladan, riding ahead of the group. If they wished for better care, especially for Legolas, they had to ride hard for Lothlórien.
The landscape unfolded beautifully all around them but Elladan stopped abruptly. Something was wrong; it was as though someone had been watching them, but he could not place it. He had no wish of leading his friends into an ambush.
"Elladan, what is it?" Aragorn asked with concern.
"Something is wrong… I can feel it…" he replied, sighing heavily, his eyes still locked on the trees, watching for any movement, trying to hear everything that surrounded them. He asked his brother, "Have you had the feeling that something or someone is watching you?"
"I have it all the time," Aragorn replied dryly. His brother did not even smile. Aragorn continued seriously, "Now my greatest concern is Legolas, and I fear we might lose him. I do not sense anything in particular but it is very quiet."
"We must hurry," Elladan turned to his brother. At that moment, he saw a shadow approaching. "Ride fast, Estel, let them know that we are in danger."
"What about you?" Aragorn asked.
"I will be all right, now go!" Elladan ordered.
Aragorn wasted no time, sensing the urgency. He hurried back to the others.
"Estel, where is Elladan?" Elrohir asked at once.
"He ordered me to go. He will buy us more time," Aragorn replied.
"All by himself?" Elrohir asked.
"You are not going; all of you are hurt too badly. Respect your brother's wishes," Aragorn reminded Elrohir. It was hard to have to leave Elladan behind to fight alone but they had no other choice.
"Once we reach safety, we will send reinforcements for your brother," Thranduil decided as Aragorn nodded in agreement.
Aragorn led them quickly down another route. Lothlórien was in sight; they could see it from where they were. But they had enough of a distance to cover till the reached. And suddenly, they heard sharp shrieks. Orcs!
"Make for the border!" Aragorn steered his horse around to face the ugly creatures. "I'll hold them back."
Elrohir was not going to let him be. "Galdor, take Thranduil and Haldir," he instructed. "I will stay with Estel."
Galdor nodded, pressing the horses on. They had to act quickly or none of them would make it safely.
"Elrohir, go, please, you are not well," Aragorn tried to talk sense into his brother.
"No, Estel, I will not leave yet another of my brothers alone to fight. Elladan, he's my twin, and you, Estel, don't you understand that Thranduil and Legolas depend on you?" Elrohir explained quickly.
"All right then. Now, we should join forces with Elladan. He can't be getting all the glory," Aragorn told his brother with a smile.
As they rode off, they could hear Galdor calling to Thranduil's and Haldir's horses. If he could smell the blood, the orcs could as well. And he was certain that neither of them were in fighting condition.
"Just a little longer and we'll all be safe," Galdor whispered to the horses, "Stay steady, and keep your masters safe."
Thranduil stirred as he heard his guard's voice. "Who were you talking to, Galdor?"
Galdor sighed heavily. Lothlórien might be within sight but it could be a very long journey as well.
"To the horses… K… Thranduil." Galdor replied, correcting himself in time.
"Why?" Thranduil asked. His voice was growing weaker.
"To keep you from falling," Galdor replied and then he added, "You should conserve your strength, Thranduil."
"Are you saying that I should stop talking?" Thranduil asked, his glare far stronger than the state of his body.
Galdor had to smile at that before he replied, "Yes, I am, Thranduil."
"And why this audacity?" Thranduil asked, his voice cut off as another fresh burst of pain hit him.
"Because you've gotten yourself hurt," Galdor replied, smiling.
"How is Haldir?" Thranduil struggled to ask. Galdor turned around. Haldir's condition was deteriorating. Even the king was clutching his midsection painfully.
"He is fighting bravely," Galdor replied.
"Where are the twins? Where is Estel? I do not see or hear them."
"They are buying us some time to get to safety," Galdor replied.
"We should help them," Thranduil mumbled.
"How exactly?"
"We could fight till the end," Thranduil replied.
His guard's disagreement was apparent. "What about your son?" Galdor asked, "You are barely fit to fight, Thranduil. The moment you fall from your horse, you would not stand a chance."
Thranduil glanced at his wounds. He had to admit that his guard was right; there was no use for him to fight in such a condition. Haldir was in no shape to fight either and they might pose a greater danger to their friends.
Thranduil sighed. "You are right, Galdor. I cannot put our lives in further danger. We must hurry to save those we left behind."
Galdor pushed his steed into a gallop, whistling for the other two horses to follow.
Rúmil and Orophin reached them even before they had crossed the border.
"What's happened to you?" Rúmil asked, and then he noticed his wounded brother, "What happened to Haldir?"
"I'll tell you later," Galdor replied, "I need you to send guards out. Elrohir is injured, but he's fighting with his brothers. They stayed behind to save us."
Orophin nodded and immediately called for the guards to follow the trail of blood back to the twins and Estel.
Galdor could finally breathe as he followed Rúmil into Lothlórien. There, the king and Haldir were well taken care off, and Galdor watched appreciatively as Rúmil helped to carry the prince to the Lady of light.
"Your brother fought bravely," Galdor told him.
"He has always been the protective one," Rúmil said. He was clearly concerned even if he did not show it readily. Celeborn and Galadriel joined them and Rúmil stepped back.
"You have found him," Galadriel spoke, her eyes shining toward Legolas's unmoving body. "Is there any hope for him?"
"My lady Galadriel, we have come in hope that you could take care of him as well as the wounded elves, amongst them being my king and your March-warden," Galdor bowed respectfully. He spoke sincerely; there was no use hiding anything from her.
"Only Elrond has the power to heal Thranduil, Legolas and Haldir; I only can ease their pain," Galadriel spoke softly to the guard.
"I do not think that my king will speak to Lord Elrond after everything that has happened," Galdor said as he stared at the pallor on the prince's visage. If the light and hope did not return to the elf, the king might take things matters into his own hands.
"Where are Elrond's sons?" Galadriel asked.
"Orophin and the guards should be back with them," Galdor explained, "They stayed behind to save us, and I do not know their condition."
Celeborn nodded. "Rest now, Galdor, you have done what you should."
Orophin and his guards found the brothers easily and joined the battle. When the remaining orcs had fled, they surveyed the damage. Aragorn was wounded in his shoulder. Elladan's battered body was half-hidden in the bushes and he could barely talk. Elrohir was not any better off; his wounds had reopened.
"What in the name of Valar happened?" Orophin asked as the guards helped them to their horses.
"Is it not obvious?" Aragorn asked, clutching his shoulder.
"Are Galdor and the rest safe?" Elladan asked with concern.
"They are, thanks to you," Orophin replied. "We heard what you did. You fought in bravery to save them, and now all your company, save one, is hurt."
"Galdor is left unscratched after all," Aragorn chuckled.
"The only one," Orophin reminded him. They rode into Lothlórien and Orophin led them toward Galadriel.
"All I can do is to ease your pain," Galadriel said softly, her hand touching each wound. "Only Lord Elrond has the power to heal."
"Thank you," Aragorn said though he would have endured the pain silently, "Do what you can; we will deal with adar later."
"I will try to ease your pain; I know that you are in pain, young man."
"Then, when you call our father, please, my lady, I am asking you not to mention that elves from Mirkwood are here as well. Or he would not come, much less help them," Aragorn finished just as he gave in to the darkness of sleep.
"I will see what I can do about Lord Elrond," Galadriel said, her hand caressing Aragorn's face.
Later that day, she passed a piece of parchment to the messenger. It was of utmost urgency for Imladris and it should be given to Lord Elrond alone.
End of Chapter 12.