She probed his mind even as their swords rang against each other in a deadly cacophony. His eyes flashed with hatred but his mind screamed in anguish.
"Witch! Get out of my head!" He swung with fury, the blow jolted her yet further backwards.
"Why?" The one word was calm and measured as she focused on his mind. Images blurred, a single candle illuminating a horror chamber where blood ran in rivers along the floor. Dark chants filled the mind with a black haze of hopelessness. "You live only to serve me." The voice was intense and carried a power and tone reminiscent of the Valar's proclamation upon the first kinslaying.
"Tears unnumbered ye shall shed; and the Valar will fence Valinor against you, and shut you out, so that not even the echo of your lamentation shall pass over the mountains." The horrible doom of Mandos burst to the surface and ironically severed her probe on the attacker's mind. She gasped as if emerging from a dank pool and spun, dropping the trivet to grasp the sword in two hands. The extra grip gave her the strength to firmly deflect the blow. He recovered quickly aiming another strike at her injured left side. She adjusted admirably and reviewed the strategies Finrod had taught her.
"Look for an opening. Strike direct. An orc will give you no mercy. Do not think to give it…" and there it was! She saw it as if in slow motion. His sword dropped lower as he sought to employ a common move meant to derobe the opponent. A snarl curled on his lips. In a flash her sword thrust direct through his midsection, dealing the mortal wound in but an instant. He faltered and sank, his weight driving the sword upward.
"But he is an elf!" Her mind raged as her stomach roiled. His eyes opened wide in surprise and the black haze returned as their eyes met. "The darkness is a trick of the enemy." She pulled backwards, letting go of her sword as her adversary fell sideways.
"There was no choice. His goal was to see you dead." Finrod's voice echoed in her mind. Nearly out of reflex, she pulled an extra apron of the hook and folded it into a makeshift bandage. She pulled it around her torso and positioned it over the wound, drawing in a deep breath as she summoned the strength to pull it tightly and tie it. Screams and cries came from outside the tent and she steeled herself against the possibility that more of the enemy lay in wait.
"Kinslayer!" The word rang unbidden in her head as the poison thoughts of her foe settled on her like a choking fog. "All you touch shall come to ruin!"
"Galadriel!" Another voice called, this voice so beloved. Quickly, she tossed a cloak around herself and bent to retrieve her sword, shuddering as she pulled it out of her expired adversary. The dead green eyes stared mockingly at her, as if willing her towards death and darkness.
"It is but a trick of the enemy!" She fought to remind herself, but the air around her seemed misty and suddenly she was aware of another, grimly clothed in black but so resplendent that she could do naught but recognize him. His eyes scanned their surrounding as his melodious, soothing call for the dead soul swirled around the enclosure. There was a stunned expression on his exquisite visage.
"Do many souls turn away from you, Lord Namo?" The words left Galadriel's lips before she had considered their consequences. The Vala turned in surprise, his eyes narrowing as he focused his gaze on the elleth, but he remained unsettlingly silent. "Is it true that Morgoth tortured elves, mutating them beyond recognition into the first orcs?"
"Granddaughter of Finwë, you best remember to breath, else it will be you that accompanies me home." She gasped in response and the Vala faded as the mist dissipated.
"Galadriel!" The voice held fear that verged on desperation. "Galadriel, please answer." She focused on the bond she shared with Celeborn, stunned that it had slimmed to but a thin thread. It was long minutes before she could summon the strength to answer.
"Celeborn? Where?" The limited message was barely within her grasp.
"The tent of the Besain is in view. I can see no enemies. But no one outside remains standing." He returned, but she could not respond. Instead she pulled grabbed the sword and bolted outside, desperate for the warmth of the sun.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
"Hurry!" Gil-Galad needlessly announced. Bodies lay strewn in front of the tent. A single elleth now bent over one of the fallen. Her hands and cloak were ominously wet and dark, but she paid no heed to their approach as she focused on stemming the flow of blood.
"Galadriel!" Celeborn heart raced with fear that did not abate upon seeing his mate. Their connection was strained and silent. He could feel the ebbing of her spirit and he bent immediately beside her.
"Niphendriel's son." She whispered. The wound was deep and Celeborn immediately stood and yelled to the healers, who quickly came forward to help.
"Artanis, what happened?" Finarfin laid his hand on his daughter's head, his touch gifting her strength enough to respond.
"Exercise caution. Our attackers were agents of Morgoth, captured and tortured to submit to his will." Her voice was soft, calm, and devoid of all emotion. Voices swirled around her in response but she heeded them not.
"Erestor, do not heed the call of Mandos." She commanded suddenly and loudly, startling those around her. Her hand glowed white where she touched him. The other healers quickly followed up on her efforts to aid the sorely wounded elf. "You have a role yet to play in this land. Turn away from the light." Her voice commanded, even as the white light filled her own vision and Namo's eyes met hers.
'It is not in your power to stop death." The Vala's words sent a chill through her body. She was sure no one but herself and Erestor felt the Vala's presence.
"It is not his time, my Lord Namo." Galadriel defiantly returned as she focused her own life force towards Niphendriel's son. "His family needs him here." Her words startled Celeborn to action.
"Galadriel!" Celeborn grasped her hand from the young elf's chest, breaking the healing connection. He turned and brushed a kiss on her cheek, noting with dread the smoky sheen that dulled the normally bright azure eyes. Her head fell forward onto his shoulder as he ran his hands under the hastily fastened cloak. They passed over the makeshift bandage and for the first time, he noted the bloody sword at her side. He swept her effortless into his arms and surveyed the area now flooded with healing personnel. Who would he trust to help care for his wife's injuries? "Merwen, your assistance is required."
"My tent is closer." Finarfin's voice trembled slightly with trepidation. Celeborn nodded and hurried away.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
"Evil still lingers." Oropher surveyed the macabre scene.
"I feel it as well." Elros acknowledged. "If the Lady is correct, then the attackers were programmed by Morgoth." He stooped beside one of the fallen elves.
"But there are no one now able to identify the attackers." One of the healers puzzled aloud. Elros pushed all other thoughts from his mind as he focused on the wounded elf. Blackness, choking and inescapable, swept over him blotting out all vision and sound from the present. He recognized the deadly cold songs of the fallen Maiar and Vala. "An excellent experiment! We can use their own minds against them." Harsh laughter shook his body as Elros fought to break the link with this foe. He reached out to the bright bond that tied him to his brother, focusing on the melody of Elrond's spirit.
"Elros!" Oropher shook him roughly. He choked, leaning sideways and vomited at the other elf's feet. Beleford moved to steady his friend and hand him a canteen of water.
"Move away from the masons! They are new weapons that were under development by Morgoth. They carry a blackness meant to infect the very soul and would induce us to die by our own hand." Elros yelled sharply.
"A weapon from the dark Vala! Are the Yavannildi at risk?" Finarfin startled visibly as he wordlessly directed his Seneschal, who jumped up quickly and hurried to catch up with Celeborn. Gil-Galad exchanged a glance with Finarfin and signaled his guard to follow him in search of the other ellith. Oropher fell in step with the Noldor King, his worry over his wife and daughter now multiplied.
"They are at risk." Elros trembled visibly as the blackness shimmered at the edge of his vision. The absence of the dark music augmented his aching spirit. The music, though horrible, had filled the open ache in his soul and he remembered yesterday's conversation with Elrond.
"Wake up sleepy head." The short, dark haired peredhel gentle shook his brother.
"Go away." The lump groaned.
"It is past lunch sleepy head. Not that there was much food." Elros pulled his brother to a sitting position and handed him wrapped lembas. Food was in short supply. "I am going back to the council. You need to rest. I am sorry that I pushed you so hard."
"Nonsense, we both did our duty. We did what needed to be done. Without everyone working together – without the elves of Aman and those of Beleriand, Himring, Mithlond, and legions of men…"
"Without Adar fighting dragons in the sky." Elros added and they both nodded silently.
"The war would not have been won." Elrond's next whispered words seemed to drain life out of him. "And yet we will not see Adar again. I do not remember what he looks like." It was long minutes before Elrond broke the silence with a guilty whisper. "The world seems dimmer."
"How so?" Elros pulled his brother closer.
"Their music no longer rings in my soul."
"The Maiar song." Elros realized that he was what he also longed for.
"It was painful to hear at times. Mostly I could not understand it but" Elrond began.
"It was comforting." Elros finished.
"It is too quiet now." Elrond was mortified that a tear escaped his eye. Elros pretended not to notice as he hugged his brother soundly.
"Elros?" The Peredhel did not respond, and his stormy eyes were clouded. Oropher turned to Glorfindel. "How does one counter this black disease?"
"Like a black wind or breath it appears to swirl outwards from the enemy. Perhaps it is Morgoth's attempt to concentrate fear, hopelessness and torment to break the spirit of his enemies as he could not do to Maedhros, Finrod, Beren, or Lúthien." Glorfindel mused and grabbed Elros by the arm. The reborn warrior was suddenly aglow with a brilliant light. "Elros leave those dark dreams behind and return to us." The Peredhel blinked dazedly.
"Thank you Glorfindel." Elros said softly.
"Come away from here. You should not have probed our enemies' thoughts."
"There was no other way to discern the danger." Elros followed the Vanya away from the scene. "There will be no chance to turn these assassins back to the light."
"Should we not treat them?" Isilmion one of Finarfin's healers, turned to inspect his team. Those healers bent over the masons were oddly still.
"Glorfindel, help move the healers away from our foes!" Aran Finarfin realized the danger. "Quickly, let us transport the fallen guards away from this menace."
"Erestor?" Elros cried in surprise to see his friend lifted and carried away on a stretcher. They moved the healers and others affected with the black menace away to Noenri's healing tents, as they were closest. Isilmion quickly took control as Gil-Galad's master healer was currently resting in the Vanyar's camp.
"We know how to treat wounds of the body. But how are we to treat this darkness of the spirit?" Isilmion puzzled then turned to Glorfindel who was standing with Elros. "In Aman, bee balm and kava kava are use to treat depression. Do you have such herbs here?"
"Kava kava is known to us, my Lord. Ginkgo is also used to bolster one's mood." The junior healer answered. "But we do not have a supply of either herb. A tea prepared from rosemary and sage can be used, although the tea is much less effective."
"Music, friendship, and love." Glorfindel muttered as his own focus on the remembered music from the gardens of Lorien lent him the strength to banish the dark thoughts.
"Music we can arrange for." Elros smiled with the hope that the music could fill the ache in his soul.
Xxxxxxxx
Thranduil doubled back towards the others, having ridden the aerial slide yet again. The sun had already passed overhead and was starting to sink lower in the sky. They would need to head back for dinner soon. His keen eyes spied a dark-haired elf bent against a young birch tree. The elf's forehead touched the branches and his shoulders were tensed as one experiencing pain. The trees joined together to weave a soothing lullaby, obviously in concern for the young elf.
"Elrond?" Thranduil called out in worry. "What is wrong?"
"Too quiet." Elrond's pain whisper did little to help Thranduil understand. But it was clear that his dear friend, who had at times treated his injuries and had gone out of his way to care for the House of Oropher after Rúmdir's death, needed him now.
"The trees song is deafening!" Thranduil exclaimed as he pulled his friend to sit beside him. Instinctively, he began to sing the traditional Doriath lay of spring and rebirth. The song drew his brothers near and soon Oropher's sons together wove a song of hope and strength and power. Tears streamed down all of their faces as the song came to an end. Thranduil was heartened to see that Elrond looked once again calm and collected.
"Elrond, are you well?" Little escaped Thranduil's probing gaze. "I for one am glad you chose to be counted among the elves. I know your decision has provoked much controversy but there are several Kings who also rejoiced that one of Elu Thingol's descendants will remain among us." Thranduil paused as he saw surprise surface in Elrond's eyes.
"It can not be easy being singled out." Andapher extended an arm to help the Peredhel to his feet. "My brothers and I are forever being blamed for any mishap."
"We have caused our fair share of mischief." Orodiun laughed. "Come, we best return before dinner, I do not wish to forgo a chance for a meal however meager." They gathered their belongings and headed back to the horses.
"Just a mouthful. It is quite precious these days." Orodiun passed around a small flask of Miruvor and they made ready to ride. Braigsûl crowded Elrond as if to stake his claim on the elf.
"That horse appears to have adopted an elfling." Thranduil could not resist teasing. Elrond shrugged and then praised his steed softly.
"I insist you see a healer when we return." Thranduil eyes flashed as he delivered the command.
"I am a healer." Elrond returned non-committally.
"You will talk to another healer." Thranduil whispered urgently as he boxed Elrond's ear. "Before dinner."
"Yes Adar." Elrond grinned.