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Disclaimer: I do not own the character or places associated with the Lord of the Rings or Middle Earth. They are the creations of J. R. R. Tolkien and the property of Tolkien Enterprises.
"If
at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn
fool about it."
-W.C.Fields
***********
Aragorn scrambled down the riverbank as soon as he saw his friend go over. He caught sight of the elf’s golden hair in the moonlight and bolted towards him. Legolas seemed to be struggling to stay above the water although the river was swift it was not that deep. An elf should have easily been able to fight its current.
Aragorn dash ahead of his friend a bit and ran out as far as he could on the rocks and tried to get as secure hold. Legolas passed by him just as the elf’s head went underwater and the ranger barely managed to grab a hold of one of his arms. The jolt almost tore the ranger from the rock, but he clenched his jaw in determination and pulled for all he was worth. He practically ripped the lithesome elf out of the water and onto the rocks. Legolas came out of the water coughing and gasping as he lay face down.
“Easy my friend,” the ranger said as he patted the elf’s back.
Legolas closed his eyes as he lay there and waited for his head to stop pounding so loudly. As he lay there the throbbing did indeed start to abate as well as the sounds around him and all he wanted to do was stay lying right there. Aragorn’s voice cut through the elf’s thoughts bringing him out of his peaceful daze.
“Legolas?”
Legolas sighed and opened his eyes to fix the ranger with a weary gaze.
“Amin quell,” the elf responded to the human’s concerned gaze. //I am well//
Aragorn was not entirely convinced, but he kept silent and helped his friend to his feet.
“Mani sii’”?” the ranger asked. //what now?//
“Well mellonamin I am sure someone will come looking for us very soon so we must move from this area. After that we should head back to Rivendell.”
Aragorn nodded and turned briefly in the direction they had just come from.
“Take care you two,” he whispered and then turned away.
***********
Emlin moved through the trees at top speed. She was risking her cover leaving Imladris again so soon, but she needed to check to make sure that those humans had managed to capture the prince and Elrond’s human boy. She had almost reached the camp when the same burst of wind that caught the others off guard whipped her off her feet. Cursing, ina very unmaid like fashion, she picked herself up and dashed for the camp. Emlin made it there just as Elrohir was stopping his struggle.
The golden-haired maid paused as she entered the scene. Several of the men were on the ground, Glullyn had a dagger to Elladan’s neck, the elf in question looked stunned, Elrohir was just standing there as men surrounded him, and Vocyn was just sitting up holding his nose again.
“What in Middle Earth is going on here?” she practically growled.
“Uh…” Glullyn stuttered as he dropped the elf.
Elladan struggled to remain alert as he hit the ground and closed his eyes to block out the spinning world. To his credit he managed not to pass out, but no one came to bind him and he assumed everyone else thought he did. For once the elf stayed quiet and let his brother do the talking. He understood the need for this conversation between the two because he also knew that his twin had liked the she elf.
Emlin had never seen such a cold expression as the one that Elrohir gave her when he caught sight of her. She ignored him and turned to Glullyn as he was helping Vocyn off the ground.
“Damn it all, what is it with those two?” the procurer mumbled as he stood giving the two dark-haired elves sour looks.
“Well?” the maid snapped.
“Where are the other two?” she asked quickly losing her patience.
“Um… the other elf and the boy got away just now,” Glullyn answered.
“What?! Dolts, go find them! If they make it back to The Last Homely Home we are all in trouble. Find them and take them down.”
Glullyn gave the maid a confused stare.
“I thought we were not to kill them?”
“You wrongly assume my mercifulness extends to them all. Now find those two now!”
Several of the men, the ones still standing anyway, took off out of the camp with gleams in their eyes to begin their hunt. After cleaning his face Vocyn also set off after the two who had gotten away. With a malicious smile he decided it was finally time to take to the shadows. ‘Besides,’ he thought rubbing his nose, ‘it is too painful to stay around those two dark-haired elves for long,’ although he vowed he would pay at least one of them back eventually.
The maid’s words were not lost on Elrohir and he clenched his jaw in anger. How dare she try to kill his father, hurt his twin, threaten his little brother and friend, and do it so coolly after all the years she had lived in this valley. For the first time in years Elrohir lost his temper and for the first time ever he let his tongue fly at a maid.
“Laurelin you heartless coward. How could you after all the years you have lived under my father’s protection?”
The golden-haired maid was caught off guard by Elrohir’s bluntness and the words stung. She clenched her hands in anger.
“I would watch your tone, the two of you are alive because of my good graces.”
“You believe that will make up for what you have done to my father!” the dark-haired elf snapped.
“No,” Laurelin answered truthfully, “I do not expect you to understand. I suppose were our situations reversed I would feel just as protective, but as it is they are not, so do not look to me for mercy when it comes to your friends or father.”
“By the Valar Laurelin, you a healer, how could you possibly poison anyone?” Elrohir pleaded.
“I was a living being before I ever became a healer! But,” she visibly calmed again with a strange smile, “I suppose you are right again. Even though I hold no pity for your father, I could not bring myself to do it.”
Elrohir bit back the comment he had prepared and stood there stunned.
“Yes,” she began upon seeing his expression, “the one you are looking for is still safely back at Rivendell and even though my absence will probably be noticed shortly by that infuriating wizard, my friend will sit snugly by everyone’s side.”
Elrohir could not think of anything to say at the moment. Someone else in their house was a traitor and Legolas and Estel had no idea that there was another.
“Who?” he breathed.
Laurelin’s silvery laughter was his reply.
“Do you seriously think that I am going to tell you? Let the others figure it out if they can. The two of you will stay right here and keep me company where you will not be able to tell anyone.”
“At least tell me why,” Elrohir pleaded.
“Let us just say that my quarrel with your father does not extend to you. He was responsible for my parents death before you were even born so you could not have known.”
Elrohir wanted to point out that if he was not born than neither was Legolas and most definitely not Estel and that Elrond would never intentionally harm anyone let alone have them slain, but he knew it would do little good. Pure and simple hated glimmered in the maid’s eyes when she spoke of his father. Although he did not know to what event she was referring to, there was nothing that he could say to convince her otherwise.
“Do you have an antidote?” Elrohir asked quietly.
“Yes,” she answered in the same tone, “there is enough to cure one person, as well as enough Rathrae left to inflict more damage if need be.”
“Laurelin, I will ask this only once, please let me have it,” Elrohir said his voice full of emotion.
“Nys,” she answered almost sadly. //no//
Elrohir sighed.
“Then our doom is already set. I promise I will personally take it from you without regret,” he said sadly.
Laurelin gave him a sad smile as her hair glowed a soft silver gold in the moonlight. A quality of hers he had always been fond of, along with her seeming tenderness. The later a trait he now realized that was false.
“I did not expect it any other way,” she lamented.
**********
“That last surge was rather violent Mithrandir,” Glorfindel said calmly.
“I agree and unfortunately I believe they will only get worse,” the wizard said shaking his head.
“How far will you let it go before you take it from him?” Glorfindel asked.
He had purposely said you because the elf knew he would not be able to unless the situation was desperate. Gandalf looked thoughtful for a long while before he answered.
“The ring was entrusted to Elrond and he is its bearer. I would not presume to take it from him unless it was absolutely necessary, besides it may actually be doing more good right now than harm.”
“You believe it is lending him strength then?” asked the elf.
“I cannot be certain,” Gandalf began, “but we both know the ring amplifies natural abilities and Elrond has always been a stubborn one. I can only guess that is why, although his condition continues to worsen, he is not deteriorating as rapidly as I feared.”
“I agree with you mellonamin, but I will spread the word that everyone stay inside just in case.”
“Yes, I think that would be appropriate.”
***************
Legolas and Aragorn had no more than crested the riverbank when they both heard the sounds of pursuit behind them. Unfortunately since the river had pulled the elf downstream a ways their pursuers stood between them and the path back to The Last Homely Home.
“We shall have to arch around them, come,” Legolas said as he lead the way.
Legolas’ head was pounding furiously, but the elf still set a strong pace. He held back to make sure his human companion would be able to keep up with him and as he ran Legolas tried to force his senses outward through the pain. They had a grand total of one dagger between them, which the ranger still held, and could not afford to run head long into the group looking for them. To the elf something did not seem right, but he could not place it. The feeling was so faint though he contributed it to him just being too cautious.
They stopped when the sounds of the humans behind had died away. The ranger insisted on inspecting Legolas wound and was quite persistent at it. The elf relented so he would not have to listen to the human’s badgering all night.
“What are we to do when we reach the house?” Aragorn asked as he unwrapped the bandage from the elf’s head.
“We will find that traitress and demand she yield the antidote to us.”
“You think she has one then?” asked the ranger.
“If Laurelin wanted Elrond to die quickly she could have given him something that would have done the job rapidly, but she did not. There is no reason to poison someone with something that works slowly unless you intend to use the antidote as leverage.”
“But what could she possibly be after besides my father’s life?”
“That I do not know neth min,” Legolas said shaking his head. //young one//
Aragorn sighed.
“Well from what I can see in the dark your injury doesn’t look any worse.”
“Satisfied?” the elf asked trying to hide his smile.
“Not hardly, I can tell it is causing you a great deal of pain.”
The ranger held his hand up at the protest he saw coming.
“Before you even start, just listen, it will only take a few minutes to find something that will cut down your pain and besides I have a feeling we are going to need all of your senses tonight, which will be sharper after the throbbing I am sure you feel is cut down. Now we will both look to cut down on the time, alright?”
Legolas smiled openly this time. It never ceased to amaze him when the wisdom he knew the young one would possess one day shone through. Aragorn was right, at the moment Legolas knew his senses were considerably dulled by the head injury. The elf did not say a word, but just nodded, smiled, and gestured to the ranger to begin.
The two walked off in separate direction scanning the ground. Aragorn found what he was looking for growing near one of the trees and bent down to pluck some of the leaves off the plant. He heard a slight sound behind him and assumed it was Legolas coming up to him a split second before he realized that he had never heard the elf approach him before, but by then it was too late.
***********
The humans watched him warily, but no one protested as Elrohir walked over and knelt down next to his brother. Elladan had been dropped unceremoniously face down. Elrohir reached out to gently shake the other elf.
“Wake up Elladan,” Elrohir called.
Elrohir was surprised when Elladan’s voice sounded in his head.
I am alert my brother and I heard
all.
Elrohir recovered quickly so he would not draw attention and busied himself with checking over his brother while they talked.
Are you well? Elrohir asked.
Well enough. I am sorry Elrohir.
Elrohir sighed again. He did not have to ask what Elladan had meant by that.
That is not important right now,
what are we to do?
Well, they think me unconscious,
Elladan began, I will distract them.
No, I will not leave without you.
You obstinate elf, someone must warn Legolas and Estel that they are heading back to danger at home, Elladan said firmly.
Then you go, Elrohir pleaded.
You do not have the element of surprise halfwit and besides most of the men are out looking for our brother. Now please Elrohir.
Elrohir did not respond, but his defeated sigh was all the answer his brother needed.
Laurelin, wondering what was taking so long, approached the two.
“Mani naa ta?” she asked coming to stand next to Elrohir. //what is it?//
Elladan was right, someone had to get back to Rivendell and warn everyone there that danger still lurked there and that his brother could probably catch them more unawares than he could. But they had already attempted an escape that had allowed Legolas and Estel to get way and if this worked Elladan would be left here all alone to face the wrath of the others. Elrohir did not have a choice really, his brother was going to do it whether he agreed or not. Elrohir forced his features to look calm and answered with a steady voice although his heart was racing.
“Would it be possible to get the bag of herbs Estel brought into the camp with him?”
The she elf looked at him with suspicion in her green eyes, but after a short paused called for one of the men to bring it over. The man brought it over between the motionless elf and the she elf.
As soon as he bent over to place it on the ground Elladan sprung eyes blazing. He shouldered the man sending him flying backwards into Laurelin while grabbing the man’s sword. Before either recovered the dark-haired elf roughly jerked the female’s up and wrapped one arm around her neck while positioning the sword at her back. The others including Glullyn started to come forward, but Elladan tightened his hold.
“Go ahead, try it,” he warned them.
The men stopped unsure of what to do. This was there employer after and if she died they didn’t get paid.
“I never thought I would ever see the day when one of the sons of Elrond would threaten a lady,” the maid hissed from Elladan’s grasp.
She felt him chuckle more than heard it.
“After all you have done, I would hardly call you a lady. You caught me off guard once remember, so I am simply repaying the favor.”
Laurelin’s eyes narrowed at the male.
“You do realize this was a futile attempt?” she began her voice low with anger, “I am not dense enough to carry the antidote with me and you will not get very far with me in this position.”
“How dense you are is a relative argument and I have no intention of going anywhere with you, my lady,” he finished the last two words with a sneer.
After she pushed past the insult the maid caught on. Her eyes frantically searched the camp for Elrohir only to discover he was gone. She clenched her hands in anger again.
“Maybe not as futile as I thought,” she conceded.
She was surprised when the vise like grip on her suddenly loosened and she stumbled forward as the male pushed her away. The remaining men had formed a circle around the two and Elladan knew he was trapped, so he didn’t try. He had accomplished what he was trying to do and the longer they stayed here to secure him the longer the head start his brother had. The maid whirled around to face the dark-haired elf and was surprised to see he was smiling at her.
“What could you possibly be smiling about?” she asked.
“You are right about one thing Laurelin. I couldn’t have slain you, not because you are a maid, but because you were unarmed.”
“The two of you are trying my tolerance. I cannot protect you while you two take such rash actions. Secure him, tightly,” she snapped to the man Elladan had pushed into her.
As the man came forward and bound Elladan he looked at the maid seriously.
“None of these humans here will be able to catch Elrohir, you know that, you are the only one who has a chance and he will not let you stop him. Please stop this now,” he suggested quietly.
“It has already gone too far to halt. I came into this willing to accept banishment from all the elven realms and exile from all my kin, but I did not want to add you and your brother to the list of those who must die. Your actions may have left me now choice now,” she said regretfully.
“But I will not let either of you two stop me,” she said shaking in anger as she drew her sword and struck the male in the side of the head with the hilt.
As Elladan crumpled to the ground the last thing that flashed through his rapidly dimming world was the lament, ‘not again.’
The dark-haired elf hit the ground limply as Laurelin turned to Glullyn.
“Watch him carefully. If he causes anymore trouble or tries to escape again - kill him.”
Without another word the she elf bolted out of the camp at top speed. She had a complication to deal with and she knew only one of them was going to make it through the night.
************
A hand clamped over the ranger’s mouth and he felt the cool touch of steal under his chin.
“Easy ranger,” he whispered to Aragorn.
“Elf!” the procurer called out, “your companion and I require your presence over here. Nice and slow though.”
After a few tense moments Aragorn saw Legolas walking calmly towards them. Anger flared in the ranger at being used like a pawn and he cursed himself for letting the man sneak up on him so easily.
“Very smart elf. That is far enough.”
Legolas stopped where he was and looked calmly at the ranger.
“Are you alright Estel?” he asked with an even voice.
On the inside Legolas was fuming. Both at this pathetic human for treating his friend so and at himself for letting a human get the drop on them. He should have heard the man approaching, more like following, he realized with irritation. The flicker of anxiety he had felt earlier was his instincts trying to warm him something was not right, but he had carelessly brushed it off and now his friend might pay the price.
Vocyn removed his hand so the ranger could speak.
“I am alright,” Aragorn responded.
“It has been a long night human, what do you want?” Legolas asked coldly.
“A long night, huh,” the procurer laughed, “come now, the night is just starting.”
Vocyn felt the ranger’s weight shift slightly and he tightened his hold.
“I wouldn’t be too brash ranger. The knife at your throat was a gift from a pretty lady and she coated it in Rathrae with love. All it would take is one knick. I was told it took almost the whole morning to bring a strong elf like your ruler down, unless you would like to see how a human reacts to the poison I would be more careful.”
Aragorn did indeed stop his movements. He already knew the answer to the man’s ponderings; a human would probably not even last for the length of a morning.
****************
Celaviel – silver gale
(rough translation)
Laurelin
– the golden tree that was in Valinor
Emlin
– a yellow bird or "yellow hammer”, used more for the yellow hammer
Malentuilinn - yellow swallow, a name we haven’t got to yet