Elladan burst into his father�s study, breathless. For days he rode hard, nonstop, to reach Rivendell. He hadn�t stopped to sleep, or to eat. He knew he had very little time to waste. �Elladan?� The elven lord looked at his son. A second later, the boy collapsed. Elladan became aware of voices. He didn�t want to wake up completely, though something in his mind was telling him he needed to. The conversation became clearer as he drifted closer towards consciousness. �He hasn�t eaten in days,� It was his father�s voice. �I fear he hasn�t slept much either.� Arwen�s voice. �Some ill has come to Elrohir and Legolas, I fear.� �I don�t understand how.� Elrohir finally woke at that statement. He struggled to sit up. Elrond moved quickly to his side, aiding his efforts. �Are you alright, Elladan?� �How long was I asleep? How much time has been lost?� �Only a couple of hours. Are you alright?� Elladan�s mind exploded like one of Gandalf�s fabled fireworks. �It�s Legolas! We met a group of warriors from Mirkwood. They were all quite grave and told Legolas that he needed to go home! His grandfather was killing people, and no one knows where Lord Thranduil is!� �Breathe, Dan. Breathe. You have time to tell us what happened.� Elrond spoke quietly, calming his son. �No! There is no time! Legolas went home, and Elrohir went with him! Don�t you see? It�s happening again!� �Arwen,� Elrond instructed. �Make a sleeping draught for me.� Ellandan protested immediately. �Father, no! We need to go help them! Right now!� �I will go to them. You will stay here. I will not put you in danger by taking you back there. I only let you leave with Legolas because I had hoped it wouldn�t be like this.� He paused. �I should not have allowed Elrohir to go.� �Do you think he would have stayed behind if you had forbade it?� Arwen asked, reentering the room. �No, which is why I didn�t try.� �You shouldn�t have let Legolas go! He was in no shape for it, physically or emotionally!� He suddenly remembered their encounter with Tarduain. �He was stabbed!� �What?� Elrond�s head snapped up. �On our way to Mirkwood, we were confronted by Tarduian and a hundred of his men. He singled Legolas out, and tried to kill him. He stabbed him in the shoulder with a poisoned blade. Legolas killed him�� �And that would have damaged our young friend worse than any wound.� �I don�t understand it though. Legolas is a warrior� his archery is nearly legendary. Why couldn�t he do it�?� Elrond sadly shook his head. �Legolas has been through so many things. He�s seen so many deaths in his few years. He�s seen the effect of those deaths on his loved ones. He can�t bring himself to harm anyone unless it is absolutely necessary. He can�t bring pain on anyone, because he has endured so much of it.� He closed his eyes. He remembered the broken body that he and Thranduil had found, the first time Orophir managed to get his hands on their sons. Elrohir, for his part, was only shaken. But Legolas� they had almost lost him to darkness. As a mere child, Legolas had almost given up the will to live. �Legolas was robbed of the innocent childhood that every parent tries to give their child. He can�t bring it upon himself to inflict anything like that on someone else.� Elladan only nodded slowly. Arwen had left the room, tears glistening in her eyes. �Sleep, Elladan,� Elrond said, handing his son the goblet of sleeping potion. �I will save Legolas and your brother.� �Don�t go alone, Father�.� Elladan drifted into a peaceful sleep. Elrond watched his child sleep for a few moments. He knew what going to Mirkwood would mean. It would mean that he was going to find that broken body again. He and Thranduil were going to have to fight to keep Legolas alive. This time, Legolas� initial distrust of them would be even greater. It would be a miracle if the prince ever trusted anyone again after this was all over. That was just it, though� it would take a very long time, if not forever, for this to be over for Legolas. �No child should have to go through this�� He worried not about Elrohir. Legolas would not let any harm befall him� nothing lasting, anyway. He would pay dearly for it, but he would protect Elrohir. Elrond had faith in that. Legolas bit his lip to keep from screaming. He had one thing left safe from his grandfather, and that was his pride. He would not scream, he would not let his pride go. He knew this show of pride just served as further amusement for his tormentors, but he didn�t care. He lay now, curled on the floor, where Tarduain had left him nearly an hour ago. His back burned with thousands of shallow lacerations. It seemed almost as though Tarduain were cutting patterns in him. He choked out a sob. More than anything he needed someone. He couldn�t stand being alone anymore. He needed his father or Elrohir or Arwen� anybody. �No, you lie to yourself, Legolas.� He chided himself. �You wouldn�t let anyone in here� you would rather die alone than have to face anyone like this.� �Legolas?� A very soft voice broke his thoughts. Legolas did not move. He heard the person enter his room, and quietly close the door. �Legolas?� He paid no attention to voice. His body tensed and pulled away as a hand touched his back lightly. �Legolas, come on. Get up.� The soft voice was now very firm and very demanding. �Please� don�t�.� Elrohir paused. �Don�t what, Legolas?� There was no response. Elrohir shook his head. �Get up, Legolas. Now.� He didn�t want to be harsh with his friend, but Legolas would not listen to soft, polite words. He was adding to Legolas� trauma, but it was the only way to get through to the prince. �Get up! We have things to do. You do not have time to stay here and pity yourself. Get up!� Legolas did not move. �You waste what little time we have!� He bent down, grabbing his friend�s arms and pulling him to his feet. The prince tried to shy away from him, but Elrohir would have none of it. �Look at me, Legolas. Look at me!� His heart almost broke when Legolas finally did look him in the eye. He was beaten up very badly, and his eyes were red and his face tear streaked. �Legolas, it is I, Elrohir. Enimodel. You trusted me once, please do so again.� Legolas turned his eyes back to he floor, which seemed to be moving beneath him. �I want it to be over, make it end.� He was like a small child. �What did they do to you, Legolas? May the grace of the Valar help you through this.� �We must find your father. It is only a matter of hours before they realized I have escaped.� He paused again. �Do you trust me, Legolas?� The prince nodded once, very slowly. �Let�s go then. I have an idea where your father might be. And then we need to see to your wounds.� He looked at the gash on the prince�s shoulder. It hadn�t been that bad when he first received the wound. Elrohir shook his head. �Here,� he handed the prince a tunic from the chest of drawers behind him. Legolas shrugged into it, and warily followed Elrohir out of the room. �I�ll be glad when I�m back home.� Elrohir was mumbling to himself. �You should go.� The Noldor elf stopped. �Go where?� �Home. There�s a way we transport barrels under the castle. You could go out that way and make it halfway to Rivendell before they would even go looking for you.� Elrohir shook his head. �I am not leaving you. I swore to protect you, Legolas. You�ve saved my life twice now, and I�ve only saved yours once.� Legolas smiled. �You�re too stubborn for your own good.� �Look who�s talking, Mr. It�s only a flesh wound.� Legolas rolled his eyes. �Point taken.� Elrohir smiled to himself. He was taking Legolas� mind off his pain. He even managed a weak smile out of his friend. �Things are going to be okay.� He led Legolas down an empty corridor. �I heard your grandfather talking about a hidden set of cells. I think Lord Thranduil may be there.� �I had that thought too. I was just never able to investigate it.� �You knew about the hidden rooms?� �This is my home, Elrohir. I know ever square inch of it.� Elrohir spoke again at length. �You haven�t tried to talk to me in a while. A couple of days.� It wasn�t a question. It was a curious, simple statement. �He took it away from me.� �Pardon?� �The magic that Mithrandir taught me. He took it away from me.� �Your grandfather?� Elrohir mused. Legolas nodded. The prince leaned forward as they reached the end of the hall. He was pushing his weight into the wall. To Elrohir�s surprise, it was moving. |
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