Ok so, we may be getting somewhere soon I promise.
Thanks as usual to all of you still reading and especially to those of you following and/or who have added this story to your favourites. It makes me feel so happy to know that there are people out there nor only reading but liking my writing. *Blushes*
Constructive critiscism is always welcome.
Special thanks also go to Artista321, DaHybridQueen, Teapot of Transformation, ILoveVolleyBall and Lasgelendil for reviewing. I don't know where I'd be without your input. :)
ILVB - Two reviews! Wow. You really know how to make my day. Thanks. Maybe a little twin/leggy bromance would work. *Thinks* Will have to see what happens. I'm glad you like the touches of humour still. I don't want to overdo it. Snickers cake - A Mazing! Keep the coffee coming hun. I need caffeine to keep the brain ticking! :) :)
Please note.
Work is being a real pain atm so the next update may take a little longer than usual. I promise though. I will post it as soon as I can.
Chapter 47
Legolas fights against the cloying blanket of sleep that keeps trying to smother him as he slowly becomes aware of his surroundings. Unsure of where he is and how he has come to be there he remains completely still his eyes shuttered and reaches out with his senses for clues as to his wellbeing and whereabouts. His body aches, but not intolerably so, and his head feels as hazy if a cloud has come down from the sky to take up residence in it but there does not seem to be any permanent damage to his physical being. He is surrounded by a vaguely familiar scent tickling at the edges of recollection, and a faint murmuring of voices that sound too sweet and clear to be any but those of elves, lay just on the edge of his hearing. A vague memory of being lifted, turned about and washed pushes itself to the surface but he is unsure if it is real or a produce of his dreams. The bed he lays on is soft and welcoming, unlike the hard unyielding ground he has been more used to in recent days and there is a presence at his side that he would recognise anywhere.
The distant voices hush and there is the sound of a door softly closing. He carefully allows his eyelids to ease upwards and peeks out from between long, fluttering lashes.
"Estel" the name comes out in a croaked whisper he hardly recognises as his own. He feels a soft breath of air fan across his face before a cool hand is placed upon his brow and he finally allows his eyes to fully open and focus on the beloved features of his best friend, as he leans over him.
"I am here mellon nin." the young man gently replies happy to find no sign of heat or pain upon his friends face. "You are safe."
A smile wipes away the careworn expression he has been wearing for days as he takes in the re awakened sky blue gaze that has been so sorely missed. The archers lips turn up but in his joy at his friends awakening Estel fails to notice that the smile does not reach the elfs eyes, nor that those eyes appear unable to meet his own.
"Drink this" Estel says softly as he holds a cup to the princes dry lips. "'Tis only water" he smiles at the frown on the others face, aware of past attempts to coax various pain relieving and sleep promoting draughts into the stubborn being, "I promise."
Legolas sips warily at first but can taste none of the bitterness he usually ascociates with the various herbs he has been given in the past for inducing sleep and eventually relaxes and swallows more deeply until the cup is empty.
"Hannon le, thank you" he murmurs and rests his head back on the pillow once more then rakes his gaze around the room.
As awareness has increased the scents and sounds around him have merged into a picture in his mind and he realises he is in a healing room, yet it is not large enough to be in the main halls, an outpost then, he thinks, but this is bad enough, for him to be found within his fathers forest at all means he must forfeit his life. He feels a surge of anger he knows is irrational towards the friend who has brought him to this place, and tries hard to suppress it. Estel is human and brought up in Imladris, he can not really be expected to understand the strict laws by which his people have had to live. But even whilst assuring himself of this another small voice from deep inside keeps telling him that ignorance is no excuse, the man was there when the kings decree was issued and has been informed of its consequence.
"Where have you brought me Estel?" the anger in his voice is barely veiled and he sees the young mans eyes widen slightly as he recognises the emotion.
"Doronor thought to bring you to his command outpost." By mentioning the lieutenants name Estel hopes to ease his friends mind but is dismayed when he sees the fire building within the normally cool being.
"Doronor?!" the elfs voice cracks with strain as he shouts the name in disbelief "You have involved Doronor?" Estel quails under the icy stare now levelled upon him "Do you have any idea what you have done Estel?" struggling to move Legolas urges his body into a sitting position, batting away the young mans hand as he tries to push him back down.
"You needed help" the young man stutters watching in horror as the elf sits on the edge of the bed, swaying with the effort it has taken. "You almost died Legolas, the healer has done what he can, but now you need peace and rest." He reaches out a hand instinctively to help but is forcefully pushed away once more.
"I am fine!" the posture belies the sharp words that leave the elfs mouth and he needs all of his steely determination, to force himself to stand.
"You are not fine Legolas" trying to remain calm against his friends fury the young man fights to keep his voice even. "We would have lost you if 'Dan and 'Roh had not called you back."
"What?" blue eyes open wide in disbelief. "They did what?"
"We did nothing gwador." The mellow tones of Elladans voice break in between the contentious pair and two pairs of troubled eyes swivel towards him as he moves from where he has been leaning against the door watching the pair intently. "You did it yourself, we only showed you the way."
The eldest twin walks closer and smiles and Legolas feels his legs give way beneath him. Two pairs of arms reach out to catch him before he falls and gently help ease him back down to sit upon the edge of the bed. He looks up at their concerned faces, anger vanishing as quickly as it arrived, leaving behind confusion and remorse in its place.
"Do you remember aught?" Elladan speaks quietly, noting the air of perplexity in the young elfs face.
"Nay" Legolas replies softly, "At least," he pauses, suddenly feeling unsure as vague memories twitch just out of sight of his minds eye. "I don't know." He turns his eyes to the dark haired elf who has just seated himself on the bed beside him. "I remember darkness, and a bright light, but that is all." he speaks slowly, stretching out the sentence as if willing his mouth to fill the gaps his mind can not.
"That is enough" Elladan slowly places an arm around the slender shoulders beside him drawing the younger elf into a gentle embrace. "For now." He adds and bestows a light kiss onto the top of the others fair head. "Estel is right mellon." He gently releases his hold and eases away to look Legolas in the eyes "You do need to rest, and this is the best place for you to do that." Holding the troubled blue eyes with his own rich brown he helps the archer back down to a lying position. "Do not worry for Doronor, he knows the risk and is willing to take it." he smiles down at the now prone figure, pouring all the love and tranquility he can through his eyes into those of his friend. "As are we all."
Legolas feels himself surrender. Fixed by the warm depths of Elladans eyes all the anger, pain and confusion he has held within seep away to leave him as calm and relaxed as a mill pond on a windless day. Unable to withstand it any longer he feels himself drift away and his friends sigh with relief as his eyes glaze over when reverie finally takes him.
"Hannon le gwador" Estel breathes his thanks to his brother as they stand over the now quiescent elf.
"It will only be a temporary respite," the twin replies. "but let us hope he is in a calmer frame of mind when next he wakes." He places his hand round the young mans shoulder and gives what he hopes is a reasuring squeeze. "Come, the healer will be back shortly and our friend will rest for a while yet. Let us go and see if 'Roh has managed to get that brigand of yours to talk."
With a last rueful look at the injured elf Estel allows his brother to lead him from the room and out into the complex beyond.
Flinn is confused. He does not know what to make of the figures in front of him any more. One of the Ravens, has been joined by the Mirkwood elf who, to his mind, earlier appeared from the trees by some kind of magic and they are now, all three, sitting on carved wooden seats around a circular table in a small room with mugs of ale in their hands, looking for all the world as if they are merely friends enjoying a companiable drink together rather than a captive being questioned by his guards. That is something else he finds confusing also. Questions, or rather, the lack of them. He has been expecting lots of questions, and violence, lots of that too but neither has so far happened. Instead, they sit in silence, silence that stretches inexorably on, taking time and twisting it into a future he fears, yet can not avoid.
After witnessing both Draegs and the Masters cruel methods of interrogation in the past, his nerves feel as if they are being drawn tighter than a bow string as he waits for the beating he is sure will come. In fact, he finds himself beginning to wish they would make a start rather than prolonging this interminable anticipation and eventually snaps under the pressure.
"All right!" the over loud words at last break the tension filled silence. " I can't take this no more. I'll tell yer what I know." Licking his lips nervously the man stares at the elves as if daring them not to listen.
"I thought you knew nothing?" Sarcasm drips from Elrohirs voice and his mouth curls into a feral smile as he realises the ploy has worked. "Are you now telling me you have something to share with us after all?"
His dark brown eyes bore into Flinn with discomforting intensity and the man feels a shiver of fear run down his spine. He has seen enough of both this elf and his mirror image in action to know what they are capable of and the picture of Draegs demise flits unbidden into his mind. He shivers and the Raven breaks eye contact to look over at his companion.
"I would my brothers were here to hear this." Elrohir smiles grimly at the lieutenant then visibly starts as he hears a well loved lilting voice behind him.
"'Tis just as well we are here then." Elladan and Estel enter together, smiling widely at their brothers discomfiture as they share a knowing glance.
"What, brother," Estels eyes gleam with mirth. "It is not often a mere mortal can come upon you unawares!" the foster brothers chuckle as Elrohirs cheeks tinge with pink which deepens in hue when he is reminded of Doronor's presence by a silvery laugh from the lieutenant as he watches the trio.
"Come 'Roh. Have you learned aught from the brigand yet?" Elladan decides his twin has been teased sufficiently and turns the conversation to more important matters.
"Nay, " the younger twin shoots his brother an appreciative glance "All we have learned so far is that he has decided he doesn't 'know nuffink' but indeed has something he wishes to share with us." He grins at their bemused faces as his brothers try to make sense of the sentence just uttered. "And with no force stronger than my own charming presence." he bows his head slightly as if to accept their praise.
"Spare us your fatuous humour muindor," his siblings words are tempered by the grin on his face "I feel it is way past time we had some answers from our friendly bandit, what say you?" these last words are aimed at the lieutenant who is now lounging in the doorway eyeing the brothers with unconcealed delight.
"Aye," Doronor pushes himself away to stand upright, his face taking on a serious air, slightly off set by the twinkle of mirth that remains deep within his eyes. "There are many questions we in the Greenwood would have resolved, mellyn, friends, and the sooner the better for us all I feel."
Nodding in agreement the brothers look over at the man who has remained seated throughout the exchange watching them with an increasing air of unease.
Suddenly finding himself fixed by four pairs of unforgiving eyes Flinn shrinks back into his seat wishing that he had some means of disappearing from view but knowing that is not possible, and as the quartet advance upon him he feels his heart begin to race anew.
"I said I'd tell ya." the mans voice trembles with fear and he holds his hands out as if in supplication. "I did." Sliding from the chair to the floor he lands resting upon his knees "I will." His head nods emphatically "Whatderyawannaknow?"
The terror in his eyes coupled with his frantic words have Estel and his older brother wondering at their siblings chosen method of persuasion and two pairs of questioning eyes turn to Elrohir who calmly looks back with a self satisfied smirk on his face.
"Well," he drawls slowly and advances upon the stricken male, "Lets start with why you were waiting for those yrk!" he spits the final word out with such vehemence the man visibly quails before him "And work up from there."
With these last words Elrohir takes hold of Flinns collar and hauls him to his feet, holding him briefly upright to stare into his eyes with such fury that the man almost looses control of his bladder, before slamming him back down into the chair he has so recently vacated and bringing his face close enough to the mans for him to feel the hot breath of his next words on his skin.
"You may begin."