Ok, so heres the next one. Sorry for keeping you waiting.
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Chapter 46
My whole being burns with shame and I run.
A headlong rush without thought or control. Just to go. Away from eyes filled with disappointment and loathing that once held love and respect. Now gone. Blown away with the air passing around one unguarded blade, like dandelion seeds scattered by a whispered breath. Fear, and shame, and reckless hate for all that is me. All that I am. All that I have become.
Deeper and deeper I rush into the liquid velvet, seeking the solace I should be denied but crave none the less. A desperate need to assuage my aching heart before it shatters into a myriad pieces to float unhoused until the breaking of the world.
Cool fingers of inky blackness wrap around my heated skin. Soothing caresses that calm and quiet the rapid drum beat of my heart, still me with tenderness and whispers almost heard. I do not deserve this. This calm. This peace. This. Love?
I pause as long suppressed sensations take my breath and thus my thoughts. Dark tendrils of the softest silk play against my skin, teasing, tormenting as I twist and turn. My need to feel, to touch becoming more insistent as I burrow deeper, seeking what, I do not know.
Almost. Almost I feel. Something. A brush of flesh on flesh. A kiss of mind on mind then it is gone, enveloped in a flare of brightest light and I am left bereft, but not alone.
Elladans eyes flutter open and he groans as bright light pierces them like needles, a prickling pain that forces him to squint through half closed lids. Self assessment reveals he is lying on the ground but memory does not tell why and his head begins to throb with pressure as he digs at his mind, trying to force recollection. A cry of relief draws his head over to the left and a blurred shape looms in his vision.
"'Dan!" Estel falls to his knees by his brothers side. "Thank the Valar!" he smiles down at his elven brother "How do you feel?"
"Like an orc sat on my head!" the twin moans. "What happened Estel? What?" he breaks off as memory comes flooding back, shooting up to a sitting position, then wishing he had not as the pain in his head increases tenfold. "'Roh!" panic edges his voice as he tries to prise unwilling eyes open "How is 'Roh?"
"I am here muindor." the words are softly spoken but strong and the sound of his twins voice plus the feel of cool fingers touching his own calms Elladans fraught nerves and with a smile he releases the tension held unknowingly within. Fingers twine with fingers in a needy grasp and the world around slips away in his brothers touch.
Estel sighs with relief at the sight of his brothers sitting face to face, fingers interlaced, foreheads touching, the physical presence of each an anchor to the other as he has seen so many times in the past when death has been side stepped once more. For one terrifying moment that seemed to stretch for ever he though he had lost them both.
In his minds eye he watches them fly through the air once again, as if flung away from the wood elf by a powerful punch, to land as insensate, crumpled heaps upon the forest floor, the breath of each coming in shallow gasps but with no sign of physical harm on either body. All he had been able to do was watch. Watch and hope for their senses to return. An unwelcome feeling of helplessness pervading his being.
"Legolas, how does he fare?" Elladans concerned question breaks the young man from his reverie and he looks up to see his brothers faces both turned to him in concern.
"He sleeps." the relief is plain to hear in his voice. " You brought him back." a wide smile creases his face "You did it Gwadeir, I don't know how, but you did it."
"Thank the Valar" two speak as one then share a twinkled glance. "We do not want to do that again!" The silvered laughter that spills from their lips releases all tension and for the first time they notice the ring of elven warriors surrounding them as gradually they begin to relax and their world expands once more.
Looking down at the prince Elrohirs brow creases into a frown, he turns to his brother and opens his mouth to speak but is silenced by a thought. 'We will talk later' the words enter his mind directly as his brother looks towards the Mirkwood elves. 'When we are alone'. They share a slight nod then look towards their human brother who stands by the prince, watching them intently. Elladan shakes his head and puts a finger to his lips in an unspoken plea for the young man to refrain from asking questions and is relieved when he gets a small nod in response. Still, the elder twin realises that although Estel may stay quiet for now, they will have to answer him eventually but would rather it be just the three of them when they do.
"The Prince will live?" Doronors words cut through Elladans thoughts and he smiles in response.
"Aye, he will live." He looks at the sleeping elf. "He is too stubborn to give up, even with all that has happened." A fleeting glimmer of sorrow flashes through his eyes before he chases it away with a smile.
"He takes after his father." the lieutenant raises his eyebrows. "In that at least." He chuckles and visibly relaxes.
"Aye" agrees Elrohir vehemently "Thranduil can be most stubborn," he nods, "yet I am glad this trait has been passed on."
"As opposed to certain others?" the lieutenants eyes sparkle with mirth and the twins eyes glitter back. "I would agree with you my friends, only never let the King hear me say so." He winks and turns to the guardsmen who still ring the insensate archer. "We will take the prince to our outpost." He motions to two of the elves "Brethilon, Erynor, you will bear him first." The two elves nod to their leader then bend to pick up the stretcher. "It is nearer than the halls," he explains to the brothers "and we have our own healer" he adds quickly to stall the protest he can see in Estels eyes. "Besides," he murmurs quietly, "he will be safe there from those who would be, shall we say, a little too willing, to carry out the letter of the law and I think we have much to discuss."
Estels eyes widen as the import of Doronors words sink in and he hastily nods and goes to retrieve his pack as Elrohir walks over to where Flinn has been watching the proceedings with a growing sense of unease. The tales he has been of the cold, aloof creatures who would as soon kill you as look at you have been severely tested since his unhappy meeting with the Ravens. He has not understood much of their words and he knows they are ruthless killers, having seen them in action, but it would appear that they are also powerful healers and, truth be told, have treated him a lot better than he and his companion would have treated the elf if he had passed into their custody. The man stands, still musing, when Elrohir unfastens the rope from around the tree trunk and ties it onto his own belt.
"Come, edain." The words are clipped but hold no sting. "We will accompany the guards to their outpost." A slow feral smile crosses his face before he adds "and there we will decide upon your fate."
An involuntary shiver runs down Flinns spine and he amends his previous thoughts. So far he has been treated reasonably, it remains to be seen if this fact continues and with this in mind he follows the elf with some trepidation.
As he walks behind the stretcher bearing his best friend Estel becomes aware of a presence beside him and turns his head to find Doronor silently keeping pace with his stride and staring at him thoughtfully.
"So, Estel," the elf finally says, his voice carrying a hint of the worry etched upon his face. "Will you tell me what has transpired to bring Legolas to this?" he casts a fond glance to the stretcher ahead of them. "And how your brother comes to be towing a human captive along behind him." he sends a nod in Elrohirs direction. "I would hear the full tale if I may."
"Well,, it all started when Lhosson shot Legolas I suppose," the young man begins, noting the other raise his eyebrows at this piece of news. "Did you not know?" he asks and takes a sharp intake of breath as Doronor shakes his head. "An arrow in the shoulder and one in the chest, he almost died from his wounds. It was lucky my brothers turned up when they did."
"I have been out of the main halls on patrol for nigh on a year so have heard only gossip and hearsay about the events." the wood elf says with a sad smile. "You were with him then, when this all transpired?" he asks. "You say Lhosson shot him?" his forehead furrows into a frown. "Without provocation?"
Estel feels the emerald stare burn into his own as if Doronor is trying to reach into his thoughts to ascertain the truth.
"No, I mean yes, I was there," Estel replies feeling a little flustered under the elfs probing gaze "but I did not see who shot him, we only found that out later." He pauses to collect his thoughts before continuing. "After we had caught up with he and Legolas in time to witness the end of their fight."
"Caught up with them?" Doronors gaze intensifies. "It would seem there is much to hear."
"Aye, it is quite a tale" the young man nods his head and begins to relate the full story, from the first piercing of the princes body to the final fatal duel of the elven knives, as they continue on their way through the forest.