So, I'm back! I've also been told that I have been using incorrect Sindarin- which I most likely am, ) so just to clear that up! Also, I was referring to the Tower of Barad-dûr in the previous chapter. I should have been specific and I apologize to those I've confused. If there are any mistakes in grammar it is because I have to use my phone since the computer is usually taken by my sister. Thanks for the reviews! Another note, I will be changing up a few things involving Sauron and Morgoth so anyone who knows the history behind the two won't be confused.
Hope you enjoy the chapter!
-Nescit Cedere-
Aragorn could find no rest that night. No matter how hard he tried, he could not sleep. Around midnight, Aragorn decided their was no use in trying and silently slipped out of bed. Arwen remained asleep and he crept to the door, carefully opening it and closing it as he left. He walked across the hall to his childrens' room, stopping first at Eldarion's and Elrudan's. The two were fast asleep in their little beds, two fingers popped into their tiny mouths. He then checked on Thalion. The child was wide awake and seated on the bench outside of his room, staring at the stars.
"Thalion."Aragorn's voice startled the child that he nearly fell off the bench. He slowly turned to face his Father, tired blue eyes meeting Aragorn's.
"Ada?"
Aragorn approached the young boy and sat beside him. "I would have thought you would have been asleep by now." Aragorn softly said as the four year old snuggled closely to him.
"Too scawed." Came the response.
"Scared of what? Have Uncle Dan and Ro been telling you there are monsters under your bed?" Aragorn reminded himself to tell the twins to stop terrorizing his little ones. Thalion's eyes grew wide.
"Fewe awe monst's unduh my bed?!" He exclaimed in horror and Aragorn was quick to calm him.
"No, no, Thalion. There are no such things as-" scratch that. "No monsters under your bed. What frightens you then?"
"Awa and 'tel not home 'et."
"No...but they will be soon."
"Pwomise?" Thalion turned pleading blue eyes towards his Ada. He had been having nightmares of his siblings ever since they had left. Terrible ones that showed Awa, 'Tel, and Aw'fore getting hurt. Aragorn nodded, holding his son close.
"Ada is leaving tomorrow to find them. We will bring the them home safely, do not worry." Aragorn lifted Thalion and went to put him to bed when Thalion clutched his shirt.
"C'n I stay wif wou and Nana?" He timidly asked and Aragorn smiled down at the sleepy child.
"Of course you can, Thalion." as Aragorn walked to his room, he couldn't help but think about his children. That was when it suddenly hit him.
Aranyth swung her blade lethally as the heavily cloaked being attacked. Faramina shrieked in surprise and leaped back, whipping out her bow and quickly notching an arrow onto the string. She suddenly heard Aranyth's cry and snapped her head up in time to see Aranyth's cloak vanish over the edge of the windowsill. Horror and dismay filled Faramina as she shot to the window.
"RYN! Ryn, no!" Faramina rushed for the open window and peered down, watching with horror as Aranyth's sword spun towards the ground far below. Tears blurred her vision as the horrific truth struck her.
"Faramina!" Estel, Thranduin, and Arathorn burst through the door to find her collapsed against the window, weeping bitterly. "Faramina, what is it? Are you injured?" Arathorn immediately asked. They had just been attacked and separated from the girls. They had heard Ryn and Faramina shouting and were only able to locate them because of the racket being caused on the floor above them. Faramina turned to face them, eyes dead and expression one of grief and pain.
"She...she..." the Dunedain could say no more before sobbing once more. Estel felt his heart sink as he searched the room for any sign of Ryn.
"Faramina, where is Aranyth?" This caused Faramina's cries to worsen.
"She fell!" It took a moment for it to sink in, and when it did...
"No..." Estel ran to the window, noticing the blood staining the sill and the dagger embedded within it. Dread filled him as he put two and two together. "ARANYTH!" The heartfelt cry echoed through Mordor as Arathorn fell to his knees in shock. Shadows covered the walls of the corridor behind then and Thranduin urgently forced them to move.
"We must leave! They are coming!"
Thranduil gracefully walked through the halls and corridor of the citadel. It had been many years since he had last walked through the place. He remembered when it had first been built but could hardly recall every moment since he was but an Elfling at the time. His father had taken him to the citadel just before the Last Alliance to speak with Elendil and Isildur. It was there he reunited with Elrond and Erestor. He shook his head at the memories and gazed at the many portraits he passed. He continued down the hall, searching for his son and the twins. He had a feeling they were probably up to no good. Just as he was about to turn and go back, he heard a small, terrified shriek.
"Ada!" He whipped around and quickly walked in the direction of the Elfling's voice. He looked to see Thalion, the third youngest in the Elessar family, shaking a prone figure lying on the ground. Aragorn. He was at the man's side in a flash and knelt down to see what was wrong. Thalion's eyes widened when he saw an unfamiliar Elf beside his Ada and was about to break down into tears when Thranduil reached over and smoothed his hair.
"Hush child, I am here to help your father. Do you know what happened?" he asked and the little one shook his head.
"No! We wewe wawk'n when Ada fewe!" Thalion's bottom lip trembled as he begged for his Ada to wake up. Realization dawned over the Elvenking and he was quick to soothe the child.
"He is well, Thalion. Do not worry. He is only very tired." he lied smoothly. "I need you to fetch your Naneth and Glorfindel. Can you do that?" Thalion quickly nodded and rushed off, disappearing into the nearest room. He jumped onto his parents' bed, startling Arwen as she sat up with a start.
"Thalion! You insufferable little-" Arwen shook her head but Thalion did not allow her to finish.
"Ada!" was all he said, pointing out the door, still trembling before running away to find the Golden Elf. Arwen was up at once, quickly throwing the nearest robe on and leaving the room while tying the laces together. She saw Thranduil knelt over Aragorn and rushed over.
"Is he well?" she inquired, kneeling beside her husband in concern.
"I believe he is having a vision." Thranduil replied and Arwen sighed in worry.
"They are growing worse. Ever since the children left his visions have become more powerful."
"Is this the first time he has collapsed?"
"No..." Arwen shook her head. "This would be the third time."
"Nana!" Thalion came running back with Glorfindel and Erestor both in tow. Glorfindel did not have to be told what happened and lifted the unconscious man and placed him on the bed in Arwen and Aragorn's room. Thalion clutched his Naneth's robe and Arwen lifted the boy into her arms. "Ada 'kay?"
"Your Ada will be all right, tithen pen." Arwen said, swaying back and forth in order to comfort her son. Aragorn suddenly bolted upright with a cry, clutching his shirt, frantically searching the room before his eyes landed on Glorfindel.
"Easy, Aragorn." Glorfindel attempted to ease him back onto the bed but Aragorn would not allow him.
"The children! They are in Mordor! We must leave now." He urgently spoke and the two Elves glanced at one another. Arwen threw a fearful look to Erestor and Thalion burst into tears. He knew his older sister and brothers were in danger. Aragorn calmed himself when he realized Thalion was in the room. "Oh, ion-nin..." He beckoned the child to him and Thalion threw himself into his Ada's arms. Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas having heard Thalion's worried shouts came rushing to the room.
"What has happened?" Elladan demanded to know. Thranduil straightened and turned to face them.
"We leave in twenty minutes." He declared and Glorfindel nodded. The three Elves didn't question the Elvenking and went to prepare.
"I shall remain here with Arwen, Aarya, and the children." Glorfindel informed them. "Erestor knows Mordor well, he shall accompany you." Erestor looked to Aragorn.
"What did you see?"
"They were inside the Tower." Aragorn replied, confusion lacing his tone.
"The Tower? But it was destroyed..." Arwen's voice trailed off and Aragorn shook his head.
"I do not understand, but that was where they were."
"If that is so, then we do not have time to waste." Thranduil left with Erestor to ready the horses. Aragorn stood, placing Thalion into Arwen's arms.
"I hope we are not too late." he whispered.
Aragorn stared at the land before them. It had been seventeen years since he had stepped foot in Dagorlad. Aarya had been right. The Black Gates were visible in the distance, as was the Tower of Barad-dûr. "I do not understand." He murmured as Legolas halted beside him.
"There is a dark magic at work here." He told Aragorn. Glorfindel, Erestor, and Thranduil rode up beside them, the twins having already gone to scout the area ahead for a way to enter the Black Land.
"Sauron was destroyed and the Istar have already left...Then who can be behind this?" Aragorn asked.
"We know as much as you do, Aragorn." Erestor said as he studied the Black Land. A shout drew their attention to the twins, who had appeared atop a boulder, waving their arms in the air.
"The twins have found something." Glorfindel urged Asfaloth forward with everyone close behind. They reached the twins who leaped down from the rock.
"There is a tunnel here." Elladan said as he led them behind the rock and revealed the large hole Aarya had spoken of.
"It is a tunnel..." Legolas blinked, leaning forward for a better view. The tunnel was aligned with years-old torches.
"It is not Orc or Goblin-made." Thranduil murmured as he dismounted and took a closer look.
"No...It was made by Elves."
"That cannot be possible." Erestor frowned deeply. "I do not recall any tunnels having been built in Mordor or the lands near it."
"It appears to have been made at least four thousand years ago." Glorfindel remarked, having jumped down onto a ledge beneath him.
"How could you possibly know that?" the twins and Aragorn incredulously asked and the Balrog Slayer lifted an object that he had found. It was a crest with a symbol engraved in it.
"This is the Mark of the-"
"-House of Renthalyon!" Thranduil and Erestor breathed in surprise.
"House of Renthalyon?" Legolas repeated.
"You would never have heard of them. The Elves of Renthalyon were few in number and a hidden people. None knew where they came from or who they were and it was rare to come across an Elf from that House. They had not been heard from for over four thousand years, which leads me to believe this tunnel must have been made then. But what would they be..." Glorfindel's voice faded and a thoughtful expression appeared in his eyes.
"What if they were linked to them?" Erestor asked. "That would explain why we had no knowledge of the House."
"Erestor, during your time in Mordor, who served Sauron?"
"Mostly Orcs...But there were also others. Elves that were a part of the Guard, the Gatekeepers, and messengers. You do not think-"
"It is possible the Elves were those of Renthalyon." Glorfindel nodded. Thranduil narrowed his eyes in thought.
"I do recall meeting a few of those Elves Erestor speaks of. They were not Dark Elves nor were they Sindar, Silvan, or Noldor..."
"I am lost." Elrohir whispered to Legolas, Elladan, and Aragorn, who nodded. They had no idea what the Glorfindel, Erestor, and Thranduil spoke of.
"Though I find it hard to believe..." Glorfindel said under his breath.
"Why?"
Glorfindel looked up at the Elves.
"I knew Renthalyon."
The small group camped near the Black Gates and the next day, prepared to try finding a way into the land. The tunnel they had found had already collapsed which forced them to leave and search for another.
The night was falling and they had yet to find anything.
After two days, Aragorn was willing himself not to give into despair. He had not had a vision as of yet so he had no idea how the children fared. He hung his head, feeling very helpless and weary. He had not had much sleep the past few days and the worry for the children was not helping. Anor was just sinking below the horizon when Glorfindel suddenly nudged him.
"Aragorn! Look!" Aragorn straightened and looked in the direction Glorfindel was pointing to see small dots climbing a rather steep hill. His eyes widened as hope stirred within him.
"Is it..."
"The children!" Elladan and Elrohir cried in unison and Aragorn took off.
"ESTEL!" He called in overwhelming relief and joy of seeing them alive. Both Estel and Arathorn's heads whipped in the direction of his voice, coming to a stop as they stared at him in shock. The children all froze beside them, wondering whether they were truly seeing their King full out sprinting towards them, wearing his Ranger garbs and no crown on his head. Estel and Arathorn both ran towards him, meeting him halfway and were engulfed in a strong embrace as Aragorn held them close to him, burying his head in his childrens' hair as they returned the hug.
"Ada!"
"Thranduin!" Legolas smiled widely upon seeing his son and Aragorn held an arm out to Faramina, who smiled and joined with their hug. Elladan frowned. Someone was missing. Actually, two people were missing.
"Where is Elrudyn?" Elladan inquired and the children glanced at one another in surprise. Faramina's hands flew to cover her mouth.
"Oh Valar! He was not with Estel, Arathorn and I!"
"And he was not with us." Thranduin frowned.
"Oh please do not let him be..." Faramina began to sob. "We...We already lost..." She hiccuped. Aragorn then realized someone else was missing from the group.
"Estel...Where is your sister?" he slowly asked and when Estel did not answer, Aragorn asked again, dreading the answer. "Where is Aranyth?" Estel forced himself to face his Father, but hardly kept eye contact as he opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Arathorn turned to look away, closing his eyes as tears threatened to fall.
"Aranyth...fell..." Estel managed to say, voice shaking. Aragorn felt as though the world had come crashing down on him as he remained still, not realizing what Estel had said at first.
"She cannot be..." Aragorn shook his head, looking to his son.
"She is dead, Ada!" Arathorn buried his face in his Father's shoulder, his body trembling as he wept once again. Thranduin went to stand beside Legolas, head bowed as his father wrapped an arm around his shoulder and Thranduin was thankful for the comfort. As Glorfindel held Faramina, Aragorn pulled his oldest son towards him. Arathorn clutched both his brother and father, wondering what they would tell Naneth. It would break her heart, as it broke their Father's.
No one spoke once camp was set up. Arathorn and Estel were both seat beside their Father, resting. Faramina had curled up against Glorfindel and Thranduin slept beside Legolas, eyes closed in exhaustion and grief. Thranduil and Erestor had left to find Elrudyn, who had mysteriously disappeared. The children felt awfully guilty for having not noticed that he was not with any of them. Elladan and Elrohir had also gone in the direction they had found the hole, wondering if Elrudyn had taken another route towards Mordor or to find whether he had turned and was returning to Gondor. Legolas looked up to see Aragorn was looking worse for wear. He appeared drained and lifeless, mourning the loss of his one and only daughter. The news had dealt a blow to everyone, seeing as she had, since she was little, wrapped everyone around her little finger. She had had Aragorn's charm from when he was a child. He sighed and stared at the stars, pleading with the Valar that Elrudyn would be found safe and sound. The wind blew and caressed the Elf, and for some reason, Legolas felt as though it were trying to comfort him.
'Safe...' His eyes flew open in surprise and he searched the campsite but found no one else there but them. Then who had spoke? Aragorn had also perked up, having heard the same thing and shared a bewildered look with the Wood-Elf. Glorfindel showed no signs of having heard it. They brushed it off as nothing and went back to gazing into the fire.
-Nescit Cedere-
Pain...
That was the first thing I felt when I awoke. I was aware of a bandage covering my eyes and ears, darkening my vision and muffling my hearing. I was lying on something soft and my arm was strapped to my chest, my leg propped up against some sort of pack. I made to move but stopped and hissed in pain when I jostled my arm. A hand gently touched my shoulder.
"Do not move, tithen pen. That was quite a fall you took." a soft voice spoke and I turned my head towards it, regretting the action immediately as the world spun in the darkness. The person chuckled. "I did say not to move."
"Wh..." My voice felt hoarse and I coughed, cringing as it sent pain shooting through my body. The person smoothed my hair and placed a cup against my lips. I drank the water slowly then cleared my throat. "Who are you? Where am I?" I asked.
"I am one of the Dunedain and we are on the border of Mordor."
"How long..."
"It has been three days since I found you. Do you remember anything?"
"Everything." I replied.
"Good. Now rest." I did not have to be told twice. I was too exhausted and in pain to stay awake and allowed myself to drift away into the world of sleep.
A Day Later-
I awoke to find myself feeling better than before, but still sore. During that day, I drifted in and out of sleep, listening as the man went about camp and cleared some things up and packed. He would often come and change my bandages but would never allow me to open my eyes when he redid the one around my head. I guessed my eyes were probably badly scratched since he would put some sort of salve around them. It stung, but I knew it would help. I do not know why, but I felt at ease around him, though he had yet to give me his name. At night, he would sit beside me and help me to eat. Sometimes, he would tell me stories and we would speak every now and then. It had to be a few days before I was able to sit up, but I was not allowed to remove the bandage wrapped around my head.
"What is your name?" He abruptly asked me one day. I tilted my head.
"I already gave it to you."
"Yes, but it was not your real name." I could hear the smirk in his voice as he spoke.
"Why would it matter to you?" I asked him. He hesitated.
"You remind me of someone I once knew."
"Oh...Who was she?"
"She was a strong, courageous, and kind-hearted woman."
"What happened?"
"She fell in battle long ago. When I was a small child, she took me in and raised me as one of her own. We partook of many adventures, exploring the outside world. Of course, we were never allowed to leave alone. It wasn't until several years ago she had to leave without me. I received no word from her for many years. It was coincidence we met once again in the midst of battle...I was with her until the end."
"I...I am sorry." I bowed my head and he placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Do not be. Would you do me a favor?" I raised my head in question.
"What would that be?"
"When you return home...I would like for you to ask your Father whether or not you were named after someone." My brow furrowed in confusion. That was an odd favor to ask.
"I...I will."
We did not speak much after that.
-Nescit Cedere-
As expected, Arwen did not take the news of her daughter's death well. She was bedridden for a few days, seeing as the time for having the twins was coming soon and the worry as well as the pain of losing a child did not help at all. Thranduil, Erestor, and the twins had yet to return. Elrudan and Eldarion were confused when Faramir attempted to explain that Aranyth would not be coming home anymore but understood they would not be seeing their sister any time soon. The citadel was deathly silent, the news of Aranyth's death spreading faster than any thought possible and soon, the whole city was in mourning. Three days passed when Thranduil and the others came through the gates of the city.
"They have returned, Aragorn." Faramir informed the mourning King, who did not miss the melancholy tone the Steward had spoke in but nodded his thanks and left the room, his cape flowing behind him. He opened the doors to the courtyard and froze at what he saw. There were Thranduil and Erestor, a stretcher attached to their horses with the body of a young Elf lying upon it.
That young Elf...was Elrudyn.
Aragorn could have sworn he felt his heart stop when he took one glimpse at Elladan, who was unresponsive and sitting before his brother, knew at once it was too late. Elrudyn was dead.
No words were spoken as Aragorn led them through the corridors, servants and maids bowing their head in dismay as Thranduil, Erestor, Aragorn, and Elrohir carried the stretcher to the Healing Rooms. Legolas quickly distracted the children, Thranduin, Aarya, Arathorn, and Estel when he saw them coming. It would not do for them to see Elrudyn. It would only worsen the condition they were already in. Once they arrived, Erestor carefully lifted the pale body of the young Elf and laid it on the bed.
"We found him among the corpses of Orcs and Uruks not far from the Tunnel." Erestor softly informed Aragorn who closed his eyes, flinching from disgust and remorse. From what he could see, the Orcs and Uruks had had their fun with him. He had died a rather slow and painful death.
"Two in one day." Aragorn whispered, filling a bowl with fresh water and grabbing a few cloths from the cabinet. He set to work cleaning the blood and the wounds Elrudyn bore. The wounds were from battle and the torture the fell creatures had put him through. This brought back many memories that Aragorn willed away as he worked. He wondered how they would break the news to the others. Estel and Arathorn were already suffering much, having been weakened from grief and Aragorn was more than worried over them. Elrudan, Eldarion, and Thalion did not exactly understand the meaning behind 'Aranyth is not coming back' and he was thankful they were too young to know.
When Aragorn had finished, Elrudyn looked as though he were only sleeping, only the cuts, bruises, and wounds said otherwise. He, Erestor, and Thranduil left the room to see Legolas and Glorfindel waiting. At Legolas's hopeful look, Thranduil shook his head.
"He is dead." The Elvenking softly said. Legolas lowered his head and Glorfindel shook his.
"This cannot be...Elladan?" He inquired.
"He is not taking it very well." Erestor responded. They left the rooms in silence.
-Nescit Cedere-
Far across the sea, an Elf sat on the windowsill of his new home, gazing out towards the Sea. His long brown hair blew in the wind, a far away look in his piercing brown eyes.
"What troubles you, ion-nin?" An Elloth drifted into the room, gliding over to where the Noldor sat. The Elf turned to face his Father-in-Law.
"Did I make the right decision? Leaving the way I did, at the time that I did?" he asked as the Wood-Elf seated himself beside him.
"I do not know." The Wood-Elf admitted. "You did what you believed was the right thing to do. You should not regret it."
"I do not...Yet at the same time, I do." The Wood-Elf narrowed his eyes.
"You have seen something." It was more of a statement rather than a question. The Noldor's shoulders slumped slightly.
"I have seen the death of both my grandson and granddaughter." He closed his eyes, bowing his head.
"Elrond..." Pain-filled eyes opened and locked onto his.
"Aranyth fell and Elrudyn was slain by Orcs. I have lived a life full of grief and pain...I have never wanted my son to go through what I did."
"That was not all you saw." Celeborn murmured. Elrond shook his head.
"Nay. There is something stirring within Arda. An ancient Magic long forgotten by its people." Celeborn now understood how Elrond felt. Elrond was regretting having made the decision of leaving Arda. Elrond believed he had abandoned his family, had left them to fend for themselves when he could have stayed and helped protect them till Aragorn and Arwen had departed from the world. "I fear what it may bring...And I am too far away to do anything..."
"There is still hope, Elrond. I do not think there is nothing you can do." with that, Celeborn stood and left, knowing his son-in-law would need time to himself. He found Galadriel and Celebrian seated outside in the courtyard, enjoying their time together. He turned to face the Sea, troubled by what Elrond had told him. An 'Ancient Magic' he had said... He had believed that with Sauron defeated, everything would return to normal. Apparently that would not be so.
-Nescit Cedere-
It had been several days and I was allowed to wander about as I pleased. The man continued to help me, constantly checking my wounds and ensuring that they were healing well. He still would not tell me his name, which I found strange, but never did question it. I was overjoyed to hear that he would be removing the bandage over my eyes since they had already healed.
"Do not despair if you do not see anything. It may take time." he had told me earlier that morning. He said we would have to wait till it was night to remove it because I had had it on for a while he did not want to hurt them even more by taking it off during the day, when the sun was shining. The day seemed to drag on and I was growing rather impatient. I wanted this bandage off! Then I could find my way home to my family. They were probably very worried if Estel and the others already returned without me. I knew Estel must have been beside himself. Night came faster than I thought it would and now I was seated before the man, who was carefully undoing the bandage.
And there you have it! Another chapter! Stay tuned for the next chapter :)