As usual my thanks go to all those of you still sticking with me through this story. I must admit it has turned out to be far longer than I originally had planned. My muse has got a little out of hand I think.
Special thanks go to hoopagnam and elven buddy for adding it to their favourites and to estaron for following. Also to Legolaslover2003, DaHybridQueen, sehellys, betsam0731 and Ilovevolleyball for the lovely reviews. It means a lot when you take the time to let me know how you feel. :)
ILVB - glad you like the little bromance thing going on (and that is all it is!). You'll soon find out who has the company in their sights, and hopefully wont hate me too much for putting you through that cliffie! Although, on second thoughts you might not like the end of this one either. *Picks up milkshake and krispy kreams and runs off to hide*.
Chapter 45
A peal of silvery laughter splits the air as a lithe figure drops to the ground in front of the tensely strung group of elves and humans with a wicked gleam in his eye.
"Doronor!" Elladan exclaims in relief and moves forward to clasp the shoulder of the wood elf in a warriors greeting. "You certainly know how to make an entrance." He steps back to grin at the princes lieutenant. "Tis good to see you mellon nin."
"You also." The tawny haired wood elf replies with a wry smile, "Although I'm not sure you will be so happy to have met me once I have returned you to my Kings dungeons." His gaze passes from one twin to the other then lands upon Estel. "Ah, Estel, still keeping bad company I see." He chuckles and the young man returns his broad grin with one of his own.
"Unfortunately as their brother I have little choice in the matter Doronor." The young man ignores the snorts of mock hurt he hears as the twins feign offence at his words then dodges a playful punch from Elrohir. "But what have they done this time, to merit a stay as the Kings 'guests' ?"
The twins share a glance realising they have not had chance to explain the nature of their diversion for ensuring the young mans unimpeded entry into Mirkwood to him before now. The unexpected alteration in their original plan and the manner in which they came upon their human brother and the wounded prince having driven it completely from their minds.
"You do not know they insulted the King in his own throne room?" The wood elf tilts his head slightly and raises an eyebrow. "Nor that they named him coward?"
Green eyes stare into Estels grey yet he can not read the emotion he sees within them. He almost thinks there is a twinkle of amusement but can not presume this correct in light of what the elf has just said. Breaking the stare he turns to look at his brothers for an explanation and notes a faint flush of embarrassment on Elrohirs cheeks.
"Is this true gwedeir nin, my brothers?" Estel crosses his arms in front of his chest and stands with the air of a stern father confronting his wayward sons, trying not to let the mirth he feels at the picture of Thranduils reaction show on his face.
"We were only acting "
"In your best interests."
The irrepressible pair showed no signs of remorse as they present him with identical poses, hands held out palms up, shoulders shrugged, faces wreathed in unrepentant grins. For all the world like two elflings caught out in some mischief and seeming so much younger than the stern human they face.
It is Elrohir who breaks first, dissolving into fits of laughter, closely followed by his twin then Estel as they can hold back the flood no longer.
"If you had seen his face Estel," Elrohir squeaks out through the chuckles.
"I have never seen him so livid," Elladan barely manages to speak as tears begin to flow down flushed cheeks.
"You did rather impugne his character in front of his whole court I believe." Doronor stood watching the helpless trio with a haughty air, only slightly offset by the faint twinkle in his green eyes. "I wish I had been there however. It is not often my kings pride is so publicly affronted. His ire must have been something to see." His face suddenly breaks into a grin "You two get worse with each passing century, I swear." He moves forward then to place a hand on each of the twins shoulders. "Mae Govenen, mellyn nin, well met, my friends."
"Mae Govanen," the pair reply in unison their laughter fading as Doronir suddenly stiffens when he notices the figure on the stretcher behind them.
"Nin ernil, my prince!" In two strides the wood elf reaches the prone archer and kneels down beside him, head bent in deference. "Diheno nin, forgive me, I did not realise it was you."
"Baw, Doronor, rise." Legolas' blue eyes are filled with anguish although his voice sounds cool and clipped. "I am not worthy of your fealty and can no longer claim it." He looks away from the green eyes that rise to meet his unwilling to see the contempt he feels will be revealed there. "I am prince of this realm no longer, I have no realm, I am nobody." Waiting for his erstwhile Lieutenant to rise and walk away he desperately holds back the tears he can feel forming in his eyes and for a moment wishes the orcs had finished the job rather than allowing him to live to see the revulsion his long time friend must feel for the act he has perpetrated and knowing he must witness it over and over again from others as they too learn of his crime.
"You will always be my Prince."
The conviction in Doronirs words makes Legolas look up in confusion. Had the wood elf somehow not heard of the archers disgrace? His heart quails. Must he be the one to break the news to his steadfast brother-in-arms?
"Nay!" The cry bursts from the young Princes lips involuntarily and his cheeks begin to glisten as threatened tears can no longer be held in check. "Have you not heard?" his voice comes out as a whisper, "I " he pauses as the words hold fast in his throat "I ... Lhosson... I... have been named" again he hesitates, gathering his resolve. "Kinslayer." It is finally out and he turns his head away, waiting for the condemnation he is sure will come.
"I have heard." Compassion fills his voice as Doronor reaches out to lay his hand upon the fallen elfs shoulder and squeeze it gently. "But I do not believe." He raises his arm in signal and suddenly the stretcher is surrounded by green clad figures, all dropping to their knees, heads bowed low. "We do not believe."
Legolas feels his heart swell from the love and pride emanating from the company surrounding him and fights to stop himself being carried away by their emotions. He knows that to allow himself to surrender to this now will mean deeper pain later but he does not know if his heart will be able to withstand much more without shattering under the weight of despair.
"Saes," Forcing himself to look into Doronors eyes Legolas raises himself onto his elbows, wincing visibly under the strain. "But it is nonetheless true." He gathers to himself all the regal air he can, determined to make them understand. "The title is mine by right. Lhosson died by my hand." He summons all of his courage for the last few words. "I am a kinslayer." As soon as the words leave his mouth he gasps, icy fingers grip his heart squeezing it tight, his features twist in agony then he crumples, all his energy spent, eyes shut, head slamming into the ground to lie exhausted as despair washes over him in waves, whilst Lhosson is impaled on his knife over and over again in his mind.
"Legolas!" Estels voice splits the air as he rushes over to his friend, pushing through the ring of kneeling figures to gather the prone form into his arms. "I am here Mellon nin, hold on." He kneels, hugging the elf to his chest, swaying gently and murmuring nonsense words softly under his breath. "Fight this, Legolas, do not leave me." Tears stream down his face as he looks for his brothers amongst the sea of concerned faces surrounding them. "Help me 'Dan, 'Roh!" he cries. "Help me." He rocks faster as panic begins to set in. "Saes, Legolas, saes, you must stay with me, I need you, we need you. Saes."
"Let him go Estel." The cool, calm voice of his elder brother breaks through the young mans terror and he ceases his movement to stare up at him in incomprehension. "Let him go, Estel." The twin repeats slowly , "you are aggravating his wounds."
The young mans eyes widen as the import of the words sink in and he relaxes his hold then scans the bandaged figure inhaling sharply to see the widening spread of crimson staining the white linen bound across the archers chest. "Sorry, sorry, so sorry." He repeats over and over whilst gently laying the elf down once more and easing aside for Elladan to take his place.
"Fresh water and bandages Estel. Now!" the youngest twin spins him and pushes him towards their packs then kneels to join his brother. "How bad?" he murmurs for his twins ears only.
"He is fading fast 'Roh."
A look passes between the elven siblings and all conversation ceases. Needing no verbal communication the pair move as one. One places a hand upon the princes brow, the other over his heart before joining their second hands together to complete the circle. With one last shared glance they then open each to the other, allowing their minds and senses to merge. There is a brief moment of euphoria, as the feeling of completeness threatens to overwhelm them but it is reluctantly suppressed and they begin to focus on the task before them. Their breathing slows and their heartbeats synchronise until it feels like there is only one heart, one pair of lungs to match the singularity that is now their mind.
In complete harmony the awareness that was two stretches out through fingers it can barely feel, searching for another it can sense slipping away. Chasing the ghostly thought the singular duality is suddenly engulfed within a cloying dark blanket that clutches and pulls as if trying to prevent its passage.
Twisting and turning the twin mind fights its way through, slashing and cutting at the dark with its senses in the same way their bodies might wield steel against twisted foes. Up ahead the pale wraith of another's fea flits ahead, dark tendrils reach out to caress it, almost lovingly, as it passes, before turning upon the singularity to tear and rend, hindering it from catching up to the other.
Smothering rising frustration the dual awareness suddenly stops. Stops fighting, stops moving. Hanging in the dark it waits and watches. For a moment it seems as if nothing will happen, then the ghostly remnant ahead also comes to a halt. It turns. Dark tendrils play up and down its pale form, and the singularity can only watch, transfixed, as the tendrils increase their movement and the wraith writhes sinuously under their touch. "Legolas" the name appears as a pulsing light, pushed out from the twin mind towards the fea that is rapidly disappearing into a seething dark mass. "Come back Legolas, come back to us ." The light swells and intensifies, rushing towards the distant figure, burning the dark tendrils out of its way as it goes. Gathering momentum as the singularity concentrates all of the merged love it contains within it, the light flares into incandescence and all becomes a painfully bright white before it feels itself torn apart and two minds cry out at the feeling of loss that pervades their very souls.