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Landslide	By : NekoMegamichan Category: -Multi-Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2665 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
As always, thanks to those who took the time to review. I�m so glad Legolas is getting better now. It was fun to torture him but he really deserves to be happy for a little while.

Landslide

Chapter XI

By NekoMegami_chan

nekomegami_chan@hotmail.com

Elladan roamed the landscape of his dreams. Gentle memories replayed in his mind to lighten the darkness of his current reality. He gladly accepted the comfort they presented.

He was walking through tall grass. His tunic and shirt were cast aside that he might better enjoy the finest gifts of Arda. Bees alid ond on the flowers that bloomed in all their brilliant colour. A hawk flew high above the field and the great bird�s keen eyes scrutinized the lay of the land. Elladan called out to it, his throat forming the perfect imitation of the hawk�s screech.

The airborne predator whistled shrilly in reply ere some small creature at the forest�s edge caught its attention. The bird swiftly disappeared ad Elladan began his search for some other amusement.

Their horses grazed on the far side of the embankment, tails swishing idly. The rays of a hot summer sun soaked into the green hillside where his brother rested. Elrohir lay sprawled near the river�s edge, reading a volume of poetry. His raven hair was piled atop his head, the hunter�s plaits tied together so that the light breeze coming off the swiftly moving water could cool him.

A sudden playfulness overcame Elladan. Darting forward he snatched the book from his twin�s hands and rolled Elrohir into the river. He collapsed laughing at the expression on Elrohir�s faces as he surfaced.

�You look the perfect picture of tragedy and rage!� Elladan danced out of reach when Elrohir tried to pull him in as well. �You will have to be more cunning than that if you want to catch me!�

Hauling himself out of the water, Elrohir leapt and bore his twin down to the grass. �Or simply faster,� he panted, pining Elladan beneath his knees. �In any case, I have always been able to best you in a wrestling match.�

�I yield!� Elladan coughed out. But his mirth faded when he felt his brother grow l. l.

A chill wind whipped up, turning Elladan�s skin to ice. The bright sun sank beneath an abrupt outpouring of dark and menacing clouds. Elrohir pushed away and sat down heavily, his eyes were wide as he stared back at the river.

Frightened and fearing the worst, Elladan slowly pushed himself up and turned to follow Elrohir�s gaze. The river was expanding, rippling to the horizon. Great waves sprang up in the distance with ar. r.

A sea gull wheeled overhead, a pale shadow of the hawk Elladan had seen before. Through different, the gull was equally beautiful. Hauntingly so, like an errant soul. Yet its wailing call struck deeply into Elladan�s heart in a way that the other bird�s cry had not.

Tears of longing welled up in him. The eternal and uncorrupted peace of the Havens lay beyond the sea. His mother and his love, Surinen waited for him across the watery expanse. Elladan could almost imagine their open arms welcoming him as he stepped off the boat.

His heart ached and his chest constricted. He had put off this journey for too long. Imladris had ceased to be his home and instead became his prison. Middle Earth was lost to the elves, their time had drawn to its inevitable close.

Elladan�s hand sought out Elrohir�s and gripped the warm fingers tightly. It was their squeeze that reminded Elladan why he yet remained in Arda. Biting back a moan of despair he slumped into Elrohir�s waiting embrace. �Do not be troubled Elrohir,� he murmured. He had always found his own strength in providing strength for others, a trait he had inherited from Elrond. �I will not leave you! I will stay until you are ready to join me in the Grey Havens.�

Elrohir rubbed his brother�s back and stroked his hair. �No. You will go. You must sail ere the year�s end, else you will fade. I have seen it. And when you do, I will be by your side.�

Elladan�s eyes grew wide. This was not the brother of his dreams and memories. Elrohir was here with him, holding him. He sat back to look Elrohir in the face. �We have never discussed this before and now is not the time. You are to be resting, and you are under the influence of powerful herbs.�

�The herbs only affect my body, which is sleeping deeply. But they also serve to heighten my spirit and inner sight. I know that this has never come up between us, yet this is not the first time I have felt your suffering as you stave off the sea-longing. The cry of the gull throbs within you still. Look! You tremble with it! Do not let it consume you; this is one battle which you cannot win.�

Elladan knew his brother was right. He rubbed at his eyes with the back of his forearm. �I know that you are resolved in this and unlike your dear Legolas, I am neither brave nor foolhardy enough to defy your good senses. But I must insist that you do not leave before your time has come. To do so would be folly. You are still recovering from grief and we both know that you must remain with Legolas.�

�I will heal it time, and it will only do me good to begin my life anew in the Undying Lands. Legolas is strong and will be happy, finding joy in his friends and the living things of the world. When all of the mortals that he loves have passed, he will join us.� Elrohir stood and offered Elladan his hand. �I was wrong to have been so selfish of Legolas. Ere the Fellowship departed Imladris I told him that to be away form him for even so long as it would take him to make the journey would be beyond my ability to bear. I thought only of my own happiness then. I have grown in wisdom since that time.�

Elrohir slung an arm around Elladan�s shoulders. �Yet no matter what comes to pass, I shall remain by your side � forever and without fail.�

�And so to do I vow,� Elladan said, blinking as he came awake. He gazed across at his twin�s sleeping face and frowned as the spectral squeal of the gull seemed to echo the heavy pre-dawn air. �And what is between us; that much at least, is clear.�
* * *

Legolas was already asleep by the time Elrond swallowed his first mouthful of wine. Glorfindel had taken only a sip from his glass before setting it aside and stooping to aid Erestor into a nearby bed.

The elegant advisor coughed and sent a lopsided grin in Elrond�s general direction. �Well done Elrond. You have another saved another life,� he was forced to pause in order to arch a dark brow at Glorfindel, who was removing his slippers with the air of a practiced nurse. �If you do not go down in the history books as the greatest healer of Middle Earth, than perhaps you will find yourself liste the the most prolific one!�

Glorfindel laughed heartily and helped Erestor to manage a few swallows of the potent wine. �I�m sorry, my friend,� he apologized, tucking the younger elf beneath the covers. �I fear our dear Lord Elrond is not in the mood for levity this night!� The ancient blue eyes glinted with mirth born of relief.

Elrond swirled the wine in his goblet and stared at it contemplatively for long moments before he spoke. �There is still a long road of recovery ahead of him. Some infection remains, despite my best efforts. It was left too long unattended. And his hip troubles me also I-,� Elrond was cut off in mid sentence when Glorfindel, who had already situated Thranduil on the bed nearest the prince, plucked the glass from his fingers.

�There is only I left awake to listen to you, Elrond,� Glorfindel said gently. There was no need for formal titles between them, no when they were alone. Millennia of friendship and eliminated the need for such trifles. �And if I know you half as well as I think I do, you are overly concerned. You have done your best and the young one will be perfectly well in time.�

Elrond nodded. He closed his eyes, fully intending to rest in the chair for a few hours ere he rose to see to Elrohir. He knew the effects of grief first hand, the depression, guilt and loneliness on the mind and body. And his son was never happy to have been drugged, even as a remedy for pain. Elrond resented the loss of control, though Elladan had no such qualms.

Glorfindel carefully lifted Elrond from the chair, causing the elf lord to stumble from his inner musings with a start. Glorfindel sighed and arranged his friend on a bed across the aisle from Erestor before covering him with a quilt. He promptly placed a finger over Elrond�s lips. �There is no sense in arguing, unless you desire for me to treat you like an elfling.�

With a yawn, Elrond sank back into the swans� down mattress and fell into a deep sleep. One of his hands remained entangled in Glrofindel�s tunic, and the Elda slowly uncurled the long fingers from his clothing. �If I had ever had a son � I would have wanted him to bear your qualities, Elrond,� the ancient elf murmured. �And I already think of Gladriel and Celeborn�s grandchildren as my own.

A small noise in the hall attracted Glrofindel�s attention. It was the maid, come with a pitcher of cool water and the tray of food he had requested. He rose to greet her silently, and ushered her inside.

She set the tray on the nearest unoccupied table, and curtsied. As he turned to leave, Glorfindel cleared his throat. �I really must apologize,� he whispered. �But I can�t seem to remember you name.�

�Just another effect of old age, my friend,� Mithrandir grumbled from a shadowed corner near the window. �I believe it is Maeneth, is it not?�

Glorfindel did not remark upon the wizard�s abrupt arrival. He had become strangely desensitized to such bizarre happenings centuries ago. �Ah! So it is!� he quietly exclaimed, even as he telytely dismissed the serving maid, who wasted no time in making herself scarce. Glorfindel held up a piece of cheese and fruit, �Care to join me Mithrandir? It seems we must take the first watch this night.�

�With pleasure, old friend,� Gandalf chuckled, easing his old bones into a chair and selecting a slice of sweet bread. �Now, tell me what has transpired.�

* * *
- 10
- 11
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Landslide