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Princes Three: In the Shadows of Mirkwood	By : nuwing Category: -Multi-Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 4141 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- 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
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Chapter 10

Mirkwood 2151 III

Anteruon looked in horror at the ragged wound in Elrohir�s left leg. "Your knife, Legolas," he ordered, "Quickly." Turning to Elladan, who had settled the elf-knight�s head in his lap, he continued, "I must open the wound, to rid it of as much poison as possible. �Twill be a swift pain, mellonen. Talk to him."
Taking the razor-sharp blade from his brother, the crown prince quickly cut away the torn leggings, then without a pause cut two intersecting slashes into the spider wound. So sharp was the blade, and so sure the prince�s movements, that Elrohir felt little pain, save the fierce burning of the venom.
As Anteruon began manipulating the opened flesh, squeezing out blood and clear yellow-green fluid, Elrohir gripped his brother�s hand tightly. "Melin chen, t�r n�n, rohir n�n ," Elladan said softly, stroking the pale face soothingly. "Stay with me.
"Melin chen, el n�n ," the elf-knight gasped as a wave of nausea rolled over him. "Where is �Las?"
"I am here, melethen," Legolas answered, his calm voice belying the fear swirling in his chest. Forcing back the tears that threatened, he clasped the younger twin�s other hand, interlacing their fingers. "�Twill be fine, �Roh. Once my brother finishes with his play, we will get you to the healers."
A weak smile flitted across Elrohir�s face, "Aye, I am due a rest, anyway." Closing his eyes against another wave of nausea, the elf-knight pulled Legolas� hand to his face, pressing his lips to the palm. "Melin chen, anor n�n ," he whispered. "I am sorry."
Seeing his brother�s facade begin to shatter, Anteruon interrupted gruffly, "�Tis no need for speeches, peredhel. You will have many years to apologize, and we should head for the Halls now." Motioning the younger prince aside, he added, "You had best warn the healers, t�r n�n . You are much faster than I. Elladan can carry him, and I will watch for spiders and act as a guide."
Legolas opened his mouth to argue, then shut it abruptly, realizing Anteruon was right. Dropping a swift kiss on Elrohir�s sweat-streaked face, he whispered, "Melin chen, rohir n�n . Do not leave me." With a quick embrace for Elladan, he was gone, disappearing swiftly among the trees.
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Imladris 2151 III

The Hall of Fire was awash with light and song. The Lord of Imladris sat by the great hearth, the sharp planes of his face thrown into vivid relief by the flickering flames. "Come Glorfindel, sing us another," he prodded, his devilish grin lending him a startling likeness to his own sons. "Gildor has yet to hear the latest of your accomplishments."
A murmur of agreement sounded from the surrounding elves, and the leader of the wanderers nodded, a mirthful ring in his voice. "Aye, do, cousin," Gildor urged, his deep blue eyes sparkling. "I see you have become learned in things other than warfare." When Glorfindel cast a glance at the chief minstrel, his kinsman chuckled. "Lindir will not mind, mellonen," Gildor insisted, restlessly worrying his own golden braids.
The minstrel smiled, his smoke-pale eyebrows raising slightly. "Nay, I do not mind, h�ren," he agreed in his light, musical tones. "�Twould be a welcome respite for my voice. To be the sole entertainer of Imladris would be quite a heavy load. I am not at all adverse to sharing the burden."
Smiling, Elrond listened as Glorfindel began a familiar tune in his rich baritone, the melody quickly supported by Lindir�s harp. As the words washed over him, the peredhel lord was suddenly aware of a presence�a gentle, yet persistent pull in his mind, as though someone was trying frantically to reach him. Frowning, he rose abruptly from his chair to find the chief advisor at his side. "What is amiss, meldir?", Erestor asked quietly, his indigo eyes slightly narrowed.
"I felt a touch, as though someone is attempting a connection," Elrond answered worriedly, already headed for the door. "But the distraction is too much. I must have quiet."
Following his liege to the study, Erestor closed the door, then waited quietly, his hand on Elrond�s shoulder. With perception born of long experience, the chief advisor noted the link forming and closed his eyes, lending his own considerable mental strength to the peredhel. Though unable to discern a message not intended for him, Erestor shivered as a chill ran through his body, and the feeling of foreboding grew as the other stiffened perceptibly, the profound mental focus faltering briefly.
The connection broke suddenly, and Elrond raised both hands to his face, drawing a deep breath. The chief advisor dropped to his knees beside the chair, slipping a comforting arm around his friend. "What has happened, h�ren?", he probed gently, shoving back his own rising dread.
As the Imladrian lord uncovered his face, Erestor instinctively held his breath. The depth of pain that flared in the twilight-grey eyes was heart-rending, and the chief advisor immediately thought of Ereinion. He had not seen such anguish in Elrond�s eyes since the high king fell. Panic striving with his reason, Erestor grasped his companion�s arm firmly. "Elrond? Please, gwadoren," he said, unconsciously returning to the long-ago endearment, seldom used since the fall of Gil-galad, when Elrond had become, willing or no, the uncrowned successor to his liege-lord and lover. "What has happened?"
"�Tis Elrohir," the peredhel lord answered hoarsely, his face rigid. "He has been attacked by a spider. Thranduil�s healers have done what they can, but he remains unresponsive." Closing his eyes in a vain attempt to hold back his tears, Elrond said tightly, "We must leave at once if there is to be any hope, however small."
Embracing his lord swiftly, Erestor rose to his feet. "I will get Glorfindel, h�ren, and he will stir up a guard, while the servants pack. Would you have me go, or remain here?"
"I wish to have you with me, gwadoren," Elrond replied, returning the endearment with a firm arm-clasp, "But Imladris- and Celebrian- will need you here. I would have you stay and manage the valley in my stead. Gildor will remain, I am sure."
As Erestor started to leave the study, he was struck with a second wave of foreboding. Turning back to Elrond, he asked quietly, "What of Elladan, mellonen? Did Thranduil say how he fares?"
The Lord of Imladris shook his head slowly. "He is not well. Legolas is with them, but �twill be no matter." Raising his head to meet his advisor�s gaze, he said, "If Elrohir passes to the Halls, Elladan will fade. I will lose them both."
"You will lose neither, Elrond," Erestor retorted, his eyes glimmering. "Prepare for your journey, h�ren, and comfort your Lady. I will see to everything else."
By the time the chief advisor had ordered the packing of food and supplies, Glorfindel and his hastily assembled troop were dressed and waiting for Elrond. Drawing the seneschal aside, Erestor pressed a lingering kiss to his lover�s mouth. "Be safe, melethen," he whispered, "And look after Elrond. He is too silent."
"I will, melethron," Glorfindel promised, embracing the dark elf tightly. "Do not worry. I will be safe for the both of us."
Lifting his eyes to meet the sapphire gaze of the balrog-slayer, Erestor added, "Remember of what we were speaking, �Findel. Do not let a chance slip by unused."
"I would wait �til you were there�", the golden elf began slowly, only to be interrupted by his lover.
"�Tis likely to be another century or more ere that happens," the advisor interrupted with a small smile. "�Tis alright, melethron."
"We will see," Glorfindel answered cautiously. "I will promise no more." Catching sight of Elrond, he sighed, "�Tis time to go." Kissing the dark elf soundly, the seneschal strode quickly to his horse, swinging lightly to Asfaloth�s back. With a final word to Erestor, Elrond nodded slightly, and Glorfindel led the way to the gates, passing through them under the starless sky.
*********************************************

Mirkwood 2151 III

Elrohir lay ominously still, even the shuddering convulsions of his body�s reaction to the spider-venom left behind as he weakened further. A week had passed. Seven days in which Legolas and Elladan had sat helplessly beside the elf-knight, refusing to leave his side, eating only bites of food brought to the healing chambers, washing quickly by turns in a tub near the fireplace.
Anteruon entered cautiously, and looked around the room, a frown appearing as he realized the injured elf was alone. Bursting through the door into the medicine room, the crown prince spared his father scarcely a glance ere he grabbed the startled healer�s tunic. Thranduil glowered, grasping his eldest son�s arm. "What are you�"

"Where are they?", Anteruon spat, each word etched in ice. Shaking off his astounded father�s hand, he lifted the unfortunate healer bodily. "Where are his brother and mine?"

"I�I�they would not rest, h�ren��twas only�a sleeping draught�", the terrified young elf spluttered.
"WHERE?", the crown prince bellowed, his furious gaze locked on the limp form in his grasp.
"In the ward, ernilen, just next door," the healer managed. "�Twas only a sleeping�"
"Go get them, ionen," Thranduil interrupted sharply. "I will handle this." As the crown prince rushed out of the room, the king turned his emerald gaze on the other, his voice dangerously soft, "You fool! Have you been so long with your plants and potions that you have forgotten all else? Did you listen to nothing your master said? They are gwan�n, you witless excuse for an elf! You have separated your patient from the half of his soul that is unharmed."
Turning abruptly, Thranduil strode after his son, leaving the mortified elf to ponder his mistake.
Anteruon was trying unsuccessfully to rouse a restless Elladan when Thranduil entered the ward chamber. "There is no time for that," the king said, lifting the elder twin in his arms. "Get your brother, Anteruon, and hurry."
Elladan stirred drowsily, shifting as Thranduil laid him beside his twin. "�Roh?", he murmured, snuggling closer to the still form, "I am here, t�r n�n ." The king watched anxiously, relieved to see some slight movement, as though the elf-knight were drawing strength from his brother. Placing a hand on each dark head, his heart faltered. Elrohir was burning with fever, rivulets of sweat streaking his face and neck. The elder twin was icy cold, his skin dry as parchment.
As Anteruon gently laid his brother on the other side of the injured elf, Legolas reached out sleepily, draping one arm across Elrohir to rest his hand on Elladan�s hip. "�Tis alright, rohir n�n �el n�n ," he mumbled, slipping back into a drugged rest.
Looking at the three elves, Thranduil was struck by a sharp stab of fear. ��Tis not only one life at stake,� he realized suddenly. �Elladan will surely follow, if Elrohir passes. Then what of Legolas?�

As though reading his father�s thoughts, Anteruon said quietly, "Are they bound, Ada?"
"Nay," the king answered slowly, "Least not by rites." Reluctantly remembering the ease with which Legolas could communicate with the twins, Thranduil added, "But there are many different kinds of bonds, ionen. And I would say they are entwined in some way."
"How long ere Lord Elrond arrives, would you say?", the crown prince asked soberly, his hopes, too, pinned on the Noldo healer and loremaster he had so recently scorned.
"Another week, mayhap a few days less," the king replied. "�Tis not impossible to make the journey in two-weeks, even without fresh horses, and I have sent a party of guards with extra mounts to meet them at the foot of the mountains."
"So, we wait?", Anteruon queried, his face troubled.
"Aye, ionen," Thranduil agreed, squeezing his son�s shoulder. "We wait."

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Elvish Translations:
el n�n - my star

rohir n�n - my knight

melethen - my love

melin chen - I love you

t�r n�n - my brother

mellonen - my friend

h�ren - my lord

meldir - male friend

gwadoren - my sworn brother (not by blood)

melethron - male lover

gwan�n - twins

ionen - my son
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Princes Three: In the Shadows of Mirkwood