Thanks to those of you who have read so far and especially to those who have favourited/followed my little tale. Here's the next chapter. Hope you like it.
Chapter Four
Fear rises within him, icy tendrils snaking around his core as he tries to move but finds his body is not under his command. He struggles to call out, straining his throat muscles with effort but for some reason he cannot fathom has no voice. A dark wave of terror begins to take over his mind , something feels wrong but he knows not what it is. He watches his truest friends lithe form leap the stream in an elegant bound then turn to face him with a smile that would light the darkest night on his fair face but for some reason chills his heart. Somehow he knows what is coming but can not look away, eyes locked on the scene about to play out in front of him in morbid fascination.
As he stands, transfixed an arrow flies past his face, he feels the ruffling of his hair at its passing then it is gone, faster than thought, swiftly finding its soft, yielding target and the being he watches crumples, like folded paper, to the ground, slowly falling in front of him and all the while holding the smile fixed on his face. He feels the tears that wash from his eyes like a silver waterfall, blurring his vision, yet still he can not look away.
His feet now move of their own volition and he suddenly finds himself standing over the stricken body, staring at it down the length of a green fletched arrow poised in a taut bow string for a brief moment in time which lasts an eternity, then launched by fingers beyond his control into the heart of the one he has called brother and he feels his own heart shatter under the impact.
Estels eyes snap open, a gasp escaping from between clenched lips as he suddenly sits bolt upright. Eyes bright with tears stare wide, trying to make sense of his surroundings.
" A dream" he breathes " only a dream."
As his sleep befuddled mind takes in the well known details of his own room. Then realisation hits hard, he feels the room lurch as he tries scramble out from between covers that have twisted tight around his body during the period of restless slumber.
" Legolas" tears begin to rain down his face, following the tracks of those fallen previously whilst sleep had claimed him. " It was not I, it was not I" the words become a soft litany, repeated over and over as he tries to forget the feel of the arrow between his fingers, the pull of the bow whilst the string was drawn back prior to the release of the tension as he let it go then the noise as the missile impacted upon the fair beings body.
The young mans shoulders begin to shake as he buries his head in his hands in a futile attempt to erase the visions he still sees imprinted upon his minds eye. Guilt washes over him and he feels as if he is being tossed upon a sea of self loathing waiting to drown him in the sobbing tears that threaten to overwhelm all else. He does not hear the gentle opening of the door, nor feel the concerned presence of Lord Elrond enter, swiftly homing in upon the desolate figure of his human son to comfort and console as he has done since Estel was a small child having nightmares in the dark.
"Sidh, ion nin, peace my son", his honey tones, laden with love are designed to soothe cares and allay unwanted fears. He starts to hum gently as he sits on the bed and gathers the human into his arms then begins to gently rock back and forth, replaying in his mind memories of the times he has done this before and knowing that he will repeat the actions as many times as they may be needed in the future.
Estel begins to quieten as he feels strong arms enfold him and the gentle humming of his fathers voice calms his jangled nerves.
" What has so distressed you so much ion nin ? " long, slender fingers reach out and tilt the humans chin so that brown eyes can stare into grey. " Legolas is fine, the danger is past, he still sleeps peacefully. Was it a dream?"
" I killed him Ada!" the whispered words clutch at Elronds heart.
" No, Estel, you know that is not true." He gently pushes an errant brown lock of hair behind his sons ear.
" In my dream I did", his face flushes with shame as he lowers his eyes, unable to bear the look of love in the dark brown eyes he knows so well.
" In dreams we do many things penneth" the Lord gently raises Estels face to his own again. " They are not all right, they are not all real, you are carrying guilt that you need not bear".
He holds the young mans gaze locked in his own, pouring all the love and compassion he holds in his heart for this human into the link between them and is finally rewarded with a soft smile.
" I know, but it was so real, I fired the arrow, I felt it in my hand, felt the bow bend, saw him die." the words tumbled from his lips in a rush as the flood gates were opened and his dream was exposed, his fears acknowledged . " I should have been more attentive, I should have noticed something, I should have been able to stop it, I should… " His torrent of words was cut off abruptly as a slender finger was pressed against his erratic lips.
" Hush ion nin, you did all you could. You saved his life with your prompt action."
" But.." Estel tries to interrupt but finds the fingers gentle pressure is replaced.
" If an elf did not perceive danger, how then could a man? Legolas will not want you to take blame where his heart will tell him none is to be had. You know this."
With a resigned sigh the smile returns to the now silent lips, he knows the truth of his fathers words and can hear his friends voice in his head agreeing with the sentiments spoken as he has forcefully in the past when blame has settled upon his shoulders like a well worn blanket.
" I do know Ada", his voice sounds small, as a young childs again. " But that does not stop the hurt. I didn't even try to find any trace of whoever fired the arrows until after Dan and Ro appeared, in fact, I dread to think what would have happened if they hadn't arrived when they did."
His thoughts go back to that harrowing evening. Remembering kneeling over the fallen elf, the river of red that appeared to flow from him without end, the accompanying metallic smell and the arrows, the green fletched arrows that looked so much like the princes own.
He had not noted that detail himself, it was Elladan who spotted the likeness and that was the reason he had grabbed Estels arm when he was so intent on shortening the offending missiles. He had heard no approach, and had been startled half to death by his brother in the process.
" But why should a Mirkwood archer wish to kill Legolas?" It was a question that had had first been voiced on the breakneck ride back to Rivendell with Legolas clutched in Estels arms on Elladans fleet footed stallion whilst the twins rode together on that of Elrohir.
" We do not know that it was someone from Mirkwood, it may be that the perpetrator is merely trying to lead a false trail" replied Elrond thoughtfully " We may find out more when Legolas awakes properly and we can ask for his side of the tale. We can do no more until then".
In one elegant move he rises to his feet and smiles down affectionately upon his youngest son.
" Come Estel, I feel Legolas will soon awake and no doubt you would wish to be there when he does."
" Try to keep me away". The young mans words bring an indulgent smile to the elders face. " Hannon Le, thank you, Ada, you always know how to lighten my heart".
He scrambles from the bed and embraces his father tightly before they both turn to exit the room, hastening down the hall towards that in which the young prince at present still sleeps, in blissful ignorance of the hurt that has happened and that which they are all unaware is yet to come.