Thanks to Nocx. ShadowedRainbow and DaHybridQueen for the reviews and for sticking with the story. And to everyone else still reading of course.
ILVB - I'm missing my caffeine fix!
This chapter is a short one I'm afraid but I really felt it needed to end where it does. The next one is pretty much ready so I may even post that a little early if you're nice!
Don't be afraid to let me know how you feel about it. *Begs*
Chapter 33
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All sense of time and place has left the two elves lying, huddled together, on the hard, stone floor. The oppressive dark silence is bearing down upon them like a great weight and try as he may Elladan can no longer elicit any response from his distraught sibling. The tearful trembling has finally stopped but has been replaced by a still coldness that is even more worrying. He has not seen his beloved brother this bad since their mother sailed all those years ago, just before the thirst for vengeance had overtaken them both, nearly consuming them with its intensity.
The elder twin stretches his limbs and suddenly stiffens, a noise, there was a noise. He strains his ears to hear over the loud thudding of his heart. There it is again, a small, regular clink followed this time by the slight rasp of metal upon metal like the turning of a key in a lock. He tenses.
'Roh!" he whispers urgently "someone is coming" he reaches out and his hand comes into contact with his brothers arm "'come on 'Roh" his whisper becomes more demanding "I need you with me, gwador nin, my brother" He feels a slight twitch under his hand as the arm beneath him responds to his touch. Then a small sliver of light appears, hanging in the darkness like a captured streak of lightening, before lengthening and expanding until a rectangular portal is formed with a ghostly shadow at its centre.
"Come" a whispered voice, barely audible seems to float through the air, "make haste, " the shadow beckons " there is not much time."
Elladan raises himself to his knees "Estel?" he hardly dare voice the hope in his heart, "'Roh" he shakes his brothers arm "come on 'Roh" he pulls his twin into a sitting position and hears him gasp.
"'Dan?" Elrohirs voice sounds so small and lost "is," he pauses "is that really light I see"
Elladans heart constricts at the fear and uncertainty he hears within his brothers normally ebullient voice. "Aye," he replies softly "'tis real, and we must make haste else it disappears once more." He can see the shadowy figure beckon again urgently and helps his twin rise unsteadily to his feet, then supports him as they move silently towards the doorway. The light from the torches held in sconces around the walls seems as bright as the sun after the utter blackness of the room they have just left and the twins are momentarily blinded by its glare.
Standing in the doorway, unwilling to move until his eyes have adjusted Elladan feels strong fingers grip his wrist and a soft voice whispers in his ear, "come." The grip tightens and pulls and he finds himself part of a moving chain as he in turn grasps Elrohirs hand and they are dragged along in their rescuers wake.
Gradually vision returns and the twins begin to move with more confidence over the uneven stone floor. They are walking along a long corridor, lit only by the occasional torch which cast eerily dancing shadows around them, Their benefactor appears to be wearing a long cloak with a hood pulled low over the face and Elladan realises on closer inspection that his first assumption was incorrect. This can not be his mortal brother. The person in front of them is much too tall and the fingers still clasped around his wrist too long and elegant.
The figure leading them on suddenly stops and Elladan almost walks into it. "Wait here" the whisper holds a note of command and he finds himself obeying instinctively as the stranger lets go and moves silently down the corridor and around a corner, disappearing from sight.
"What;s happening?" Elrohir questions, his voice kept low enough not to echo around the walls.
"I am not sure" his brother replies with a frown " I think we are being rescued." He watches the torchlight flicker in his twins eyes, lending them an unearthly gleam.
"I hope so," Elrohirs voice holds a note of desperation, "I don't think I could go back in there again 'Dan."
Elladan reaches out to squeeze his brothers shoulder reasuringly then turns back to wait for the stranger to reappear. As they stand silently in the gloomy passage they hear a faint sigh and a rustle and unconsciously tense themselves for action although unsure what is happening. Then there is a slight shift in the shadows and their unknown rescuer strides back around the corner.
"Quickly" he beckons them forward again and turns back, not waiting to see if they follow. As they walk around the turning they notice a bundle on the floor, which resolves into the figure of an elf as they get closer. The twins share a worried glance hoping that their fears are unfounded and Elladan swiftly kneels next to the body. Holding out a hand, he places it gently upon the neck of the fallen elf and is rewarded by a slow and steady beat pulsing under his anxious fingertips. Letting out a breath he did not know he held he turns to his brother and nods slightly. Who ever their rescuer is, he is not a killer and that, thinks Elladan, is very good to know.
They continue down the twisting passageways for what seem like hours, although may only be minutes. Twice more their companion bids them wait and twice more, when they move on, they come upon unconscious forms marking his passing before they finally see a light in the distance that speaks of freedom. Picking up the pace, they head towards the welcome patch of brightness, their hearts lightening as it expands and they begin to feel the first breaths of fresh air upon their faces. Elrohir breaks into a run and nearly collides with the tall figure leading them on in his haste to leave the passageway.
"Hold!" their rescuer commands as he is nearly bowled over, "There will be one more guard outside" he has grasped the young twins forearm in order to stay his headlong rush and in their tangle his hood slips back revealing his fair features at last to the astonished ex captives.
"Thranduil!" "Your majesty!" two voices speak as one as they stare unbelievingly upon the face of their saviour.
"Hush" he waves a hand peremptorily "There is no time to lose" The king looks beseachingly from one to the other of the young elves "My son is in danger, please" his voice breaks "You are my only hope."