XXIV

The tunnel was long, and progress was slow, for the roof seemed to get lower.

Elrohir heard Legolas's breathing quicken.

"Lass?" he said.

"Go on, Roh, I can go further yet."

Their patience paid off, as the tunnel gave way to a ledge in a chamber surrounded by a pool of water.

Legolas followed Elrohir out of the tunnel, and noted that the walls were glowing blue too.

"Is this it?" Legolas said, stooping down to peer in to the water, where he noticed a brilliant blue light source.

"I am afraid so, Lass."

A thorough search of the ledge and surrounding walls yielded nothing.

"I believe what we seek lies there," Elrohir said, pointing at the blue light.

Legolas started removing his weapons, but Elrohir stopped him.

"Dan and I grew up exploring the rock pools and caves in the waterfalls," Elrohir said.

"Esendri and I gambolled in Gladsír."

"No, Lass, please."

Much as he wanted to stop Elrohir, Legolas fell silent and allowed him to remove his boots, tunic, and shirt. He was about to tell Elrohir to be careful when the peredhel leapt into the pool.

Elrohir descended into a world of quiet, blue light and noted the lack of life: there was not even algae growing on the smooth rocks. He swum towards the blue light which seemed to stem from a source twenty feet down. The blue light grew more intense as he approached, and he could make out its source as a small stone placed on a rock. Once within a few inches of the item, he reached out for it. His fingers almost clasped around the stone when there was a sudden flash, and Elrohir found himself being propelled backwards and upwards at a high speed.

He broke the water's surface without as much as being able to fight against the force, and found himself being hauled to shore by Legolas.

"What happened?" Legolas said.

"I do not know, but it seems there is a shield protecting a stone, from where the blue light originates. It did not allow me to get too close, and instead flung me back up again."

"And was there nothing else?"

"Not even the sign of weeds, Lass. It is curious."

A shudder ran through Legolas. The walls of the place were hostile and barren, and his skin was starting to feel too big for him.

"I will try again," Elrohir said, worming free of Legolas. "We cannot give up like this."

"At least take this," Legolas said, shoving his long knife in Elrohir's hand.

Elrohir smiled to express his thanks, and plunged into the depths once more. He studied the surroundings, and saw that there were no markings in the rocks, and so reached for the source anew.

A warm hand wrapped around his wrist and another around his other hand, startling him. He turned to see that Legolas had joined him.

Unknown to Elrohir, while Legolas appeared to be calm, his fear of the lifeless cave had made it difficult for him to dive this low. Already his lungs were burning even as he reached out for the stone.

Elrohir watched as a sphere of stronger blue light appeared. Legolas's hand paused for a while, and he hesitated, but he moved forward again at a more measured pace. The blue light yielded without any resistance, and instead ran up Legolas's arm, until his whole body seemed to be radiating the light. His fingers wrapped around the stone, and he lifted it off its resting place.

The deep groan they had heard earlier sounded again and the earth trembled. When Elrohir turned back to Legolas, he saw that his hand was still within the blue sphere, and that he was struggling to remove it.

Panic shot through Elrohir, as he grabbed onto Legolas's arm and pulled, but found it to be stuck in a vice-like grip. A quick look at Legolas revealed that his eyes were wide with fear, and it was not long he had started thrashing about as the sweet rush of air to his lungs was delayed for far longer than he liked.

Elrohir clamped a hand over Legolas's nose and mouth, knowing that he would be lost once he started imbibing water in his panic. At the same time, his other hand continued to pull at the stuck arm. Already, a blackness was starting to nibble into the corners of Elrohir's vision as the seconds went by and he knew he had to surface soon.

He tried to fight down his fear, feeling Legolas's struggles diminish. Ignoring the bursting feeling, he let go of Legolas's hand, taking a second to calm himself. He then reached for the gem, felt a tremor pass from Legolas's face to his other hand, a tingling sensation that ran through his body, to his fingertips and into him. The blue light parted at his touch, and he wrapped his fingers around Legolas's clenched fist.

It came free, and Elrohir found himself dragging Legolas's motionless body, kicking with all the power he could muster, while his own vision started to turn black, then red --

Elrohir broke the surface of the water and took a deep gasp of air, managing to lift Legolas out and throw him onto the rock. He flung his entire weight on his still chest, the impact sending Legolas spluttering to life.

Sinking back to lean against the wall, Elrohir did not find the strength to speak to Legolas, and instead continued to pant like a fish out of water. He watched as Legolas's coughs eased, and he was over on his side.

"Rest, Lass," he wheezed between his gasps, and saw Legolas's eyes turn towards him.

It was a full ten minutes before the pair found it in them to speak again.

"Elrohir," Legolas said, sitting up and reaching for him. "What happened?"

Elrohir's eyes grew wide. He gave out a cry, and plunged into the water again. Legolas's sluggish limbs struggled to follow, but Elrohir surfaced just as he managed to get his legs back into the water.

"What do you think you are doing?" Elrohir said, holding Legolas's long knife in his hands, having just salvaged it from the bottom of the pool. "We must leave. The blue light is starting to dissipate, and I fear what will happen should we fail to leave before the enchantment die off. Are you able to walk?"

"I can crawl!" Legolas said.

"Good."

Elrohir's anxiety was so great that he scrambled to the entrance without checking on Legolas.

"Already I fear we have lingered too long," Elrohir said, looking back at the inky black pool of water.

He proceeded to crawl into the cave, and halfway through the tunnel, the fading blue light caught up with and overtook them, receding into the distance. Left in the dark, the pair had only one another's breaths for company as they worked their way through. Gusts of air were coming through the tunnel, and beads of liquid metal appeared on the sweating walls.

Elrohir was out first, and Legolas could see from where he was crouched that the cavern was bathed in orange light. He stopped as Elrohir's legs backed to the entrance of the cave, and his foot raised, kicking back in a slow motion.

Confused, Legolas backed down into the tunnel as told, waiting.

"My, my, what do we have here?"

A shudder ran through Legolas, as he crept back a further three foot into the tunnel at Elrohir's instruction and tried to remove his bow from his back.

Elrohir did not answer, and the voice spoke again, "What are you doing here, little thief?"

"I stole nothing."

"You are a liar too!"

Elrohir remained silent, and Legolas could see the tip of his sword quiver as he laid his hand on the hilt.

"And there is no need for you to draw your sword either. You have a name?"

"What is yours, for as the host, surely you should introduce yourself first."

"Very well, I am Braunlon."

"Are you not a bit small for a dragon?" Elrohir said.

An irate roar filled the room.

"How dare you enter my lair and insult me? My family will come back soon, and then you and your companion will wish you both had never been born."

Elrohir took an involuntary step back until he was pressed against the wall above the tunnel, while Legolas strained to see beyond his legs.

"What companion?"

"You do not fool me, thief!"

"I travel alone! I was lost --"

Legolas saw a large, tentacle-like object sweep across the tunnel entrance, knocking Elrohir aside, and Braunlon shot a massive column of flame into the tunnel. The last thing Legolas saw was a fireball hurtling towards him --

"Indeed, what companion?" Braunlon said once the flames had ceased.

Elrohir took a while to realise what had happened, before he gave a wild cry and flung himself towards Braunlon, screaming.

The dragon threw a ball of fire at him, but Elrohir dodged it and kept going for the beast with maniacal energy.

A second column of fire caught him on the left, and was about to engulf him when Braunlon suddenly reared up in pain and abandoned its attack.

"Roh!" Legolas screamed, emerging from the tunnel and firing blindly at the armourless dragon, piercing its exposed back.

Elrohir gave a loud cry of joy at seeing Legolas unharmed and tried to rush to him.

Braunlon recovered, and with an almighty roar tried to attack Legolas with its fire. Legolas dodged it, but Braunlon made use of the opportunity to pin him to the hard rock with its tail.

Elrohir froze.

"How dare you!" Braunlon cried, picking a golden plate and sending it crashing at Elrohir. "If you come any closer, your companion dies!"

"Please!" Elrohir cried. "We are sorry, but we had no choice! It was getting dark, and we thought it was safer to hide in these caves till dawn! Please do not harm my cousin! We were lost and cold and hungry, and found the tunnel there to be a lot less big and frightening as the rest of your home! Please, sir, let my cousin go! He is still very young, and I promised his father to look after him!"

Legolas stared at Elrohir, noticing that his entire left arm was singed and raw having caught the flames. Yet Elrohir did not seem to have noticed, and continued grovelling before Braunlon.

"We did not take any of your treasures, sir!" Elrohir said, and shot Legolas another look laced with incredulity at how he survived the attack.

Braunlon stared at him, an unreadable expression in its large, yellow eyes.

"No, I don't suppose you have got the wit to do so, thief."

"No, no," Elrohir said, taking another step back. "Please do not harm my cousin!"

"But you lied to me!" Braunlon roared. "You told me you travelled alone!"

"I as good as travel alone, sir! My cousin, you see, is mute and deaf! He was dropped on his head as a baby, and his brains have never been good since. I take him for walks, as it seems to please him, but we never communicate as you and I do! Look! His mouth is open and his eyes are glazed over in that frightening way of those not with us!"

In reality, Legolas was gaping at the elaborate story Elrohir was whipping up. But upon hearing Elrohir's words, he loosed his jaw further and allowed a gormless expression to work its way onto his face while trying to contain his amusement.

"Indeed you speak the truth, liar," Braunlon said. "But he has got a good aim for one you claim to have so little faculties."

"Ai, sir, it was a lucky shot! He amuses himself playing with my weapons at times."

"The idea of a dumb and deaf slave does have its appeals! Especially one as exquisitely made as him!"

Elrohir fell to his knees in horror. "Please, sir, I --"

"Yes, yes, I know. You are supposed to look after him. Say, I don't suppose you know anything about a prince, do you?"

The Elves felt a shudder run through them, but both maintained their calm.

"A prince, sir?"

"Don't tell me your brains are addled too! A Prince, a son of Kings!"

"But why do you ask, sir?"

"It's a long story."

"But we like stories, especially my little brother. Pity he is not here, or he would be so excited!"

Braunlon thought for a while before letting go of Legolas, who fell to the ground. Elrohir seized the opportunity to rush over to him, and made a large scene of checking over him while at the same time picking up his fallen knife and hiding it just within Legolas's reach.

"Oh! I think his leg is broken! How would I face his mother after this?" Elrohir wailed.

"Silence, rat! You are disturbing my recollection of the story."

"Sorry."

"The story which has been told is that after the re-emergence of our kind in these lands --"

"What do you mean the re-emergence?"

"We were near wiped out when Morgoth's servant was destroyed, save for one. For years Borg laid low in these lands, feeding only when it were necessary and guarding the treasure we had collected over the ages.

"One day, there was a change in the south wind, and Borg sensed that our time had come. The wind told him that a great Prince had been born, a Dark Prince who could serve the purposes of the Makleni. And so Borg allowed the egg he had been guarding to hatch. And over the next hundred and fifty years, we have allowed our numbers to increase in anticipation of this new Dark Prince -- our new Dark Lord.

"The reason why I ask you this is because the ground has been silent for centuries, and only just now it gave a great shuddering groan, as if it was waking up from a long slumber; waking up to its Master's call."

"A nice story, Braunlon, but I fear we have to leave. It is way past my cousin's bedtime --"

"Maybe he'll want to spend it here! All trespassers must die, you know."

"But we did not mean to intrude!"

"I'm sure you didn't, intruder! Let me put an end to his misery!"

Elrohir seized the opportunity to leap into Braunlon's outstretched limb as it came to swipe at them, while Legolas jumped out of the way, throwing himself in the direction of his fallen bow. Braunlon let out a great roar of rage, breathing a column of fire in at the roof, where it exploded against the rock. Elrohir ignored it, and continued climbing onto the dragon's back while it swatted at him, trying to brush him off. A loud scream erupted from Braunlon's throat as Legolas pierced its exposed stomach with a few well-aimed arrows.

Reaching Braunlon's head, Elrohir plunged his sword into one of its eyes just as it started shooting large fireballs at Legolas, who was doing all he could to avoid being hit. Drawing out his sword, Elrohir hacked at the other eye too, not caring about the tail which came to beat him away. Opening his mouth for one last cry, Braunlon gave a large shudder as two arrows caught him in the throat, and fell crashing to the ground, smashing a large pile of treasure.

"So the Dark Prince has come indeed," Braunlon gasped. "Darkness will cover these lands again, my Prince."

Not content with the dragon's still form, Elrohir continued hacking at its neck, ignoring Legolas's horrified cries, until the great head was severed from the body.

"Roh, what are you doing?" Legolas said, reaching him, suppressing the urge to retch.

"I will take no chances with this great brute!" Elrohir cried. "Who is to say he will not rise from the dead --"

"Leave him!" Legolas said, wrapping his arms around Elrohir to still his shuddering body.

"I thought he had killed you, Lass!" Elrohir cried, sinking to the floor. "I thought you had died!"

Legolas continued to hold him, and showed none of his own shock. The way Elrohir had attacked Braunlon had been so brutal and reckless. Legolas had only seen one other fight in that way, and it was when his brother Dethronir, two arrows embedded in his side, had rushed at the Orcs who were attacking his wife.

"But I am alive. Valar, Roh, your arm!"

Elrohir pushed away the hand that came to examine his burnt arm.

"How did you survive?"

"Elrohir, please, let me tend to your arm first!"

Elrohir was about to argue when they noticed a torch flickering through the large passageway.

"Elrohir! Legolas!" A voice called, just when they had started to unsheathe their weapons in anticipation.

"Him!" Legolas cried in surprise as Eilwar came into view.

"Eilwar!" Elrohir said, trying to rise.

"Come, there is no time to waste!" Eilwar said, his tone urgent, the usual scornful edge absent.

"Elrohir is injured," Legolas said.

Eilwar ran over while Elrohir protested, "It is only a burn!"

"A very large and severe burn too!" Eilwar said, drawing out a small flask and pouring its contents onto the burnt, smouldering flesh.

Elrohir gave out a cry of pain.

"That will stop any inflammation. We must leave! The dragons are coming back! They felt the removal of the item and will be here soon!"

Legolas helped Elrohir to his feet and they followed Eilwar out of the caves.

Once outside, they were greeted by a large dragon twice the size of the one Elrohir and Legolas had just slain.

"Well, well, intruders!" the dragon said.

None of the Elves answered, and they waited.

"You filthy thieves, stealing my treasure! Where is that useless Braunlon? I told him to guard the cave! Never mind, I shall have to enjoy roasting the lot of you alive!"

The dragon drew back a large breath and was about to let loose a fireball when Legolas took a step forward and held out the item he had removed from the cave.

"Your Prince has come forth! Yield to me!" he cried, and the stone gave off a brilliant burst of blue light.

The dragon started choking as it tried to swallow its deadly breath.

"What did you say?" the dragon said, while Eilwar and Elrohir exchanged equally confused looks.

"I have come forth to claim my Lordship over you! I am the Prince your tales speak of; do you yield?" Legolas said, and the stone flashed again.

"My Lord!" the dragon cried, bowing its large head. "Forgive me."

"Now!" Legolas cried.

His companions sprung into action, swords drawn, and Legolas drew his bow. The string sang, and he sent arrow after arrow at the dragon, each one sneaking past its strong armour, embedding themselves into grooves between the great plates while the dragon shrieked in agony.

Eilwar and Elrohir had a more difficult time as they attempted to dodge the madly trampling limbs and wildly beating tail, inflicting wound upon wound on the dragon.

"Roh!' Legolas screamed, firing a succession of arrows as a large claw came down on Elrohir, who, unable to dodge tripped over a large rock, falling to the ground.

"Behind you!" Elrohir shouted, as he saw a huge jet of flames coming straight at Legolas's back.

A figure flew out and took the full brunt of the flames.

"No!" Legolas ran forward, and blue light flew out from his outstretched hand straight at the dragon. It was engulfed in blue flames, its scream silent.

Elrohir watched on in horror as the dragon was reduced to a pile of ashes, neither flesh nor bones spared by the onslaught. Only then did the blue light stop, and Legolas scrambled to reach the one who had blocked off the attack for him.

"Eilwar!" he cried, lifting the severely burnt figure off the ground.

"Legolas, it is no use," Eilwar gasped.

"Why?"

"You saved my life once, and now, I return the favour."

"I will get some help! Elrohir!" Legolas turned to see Elrohir staring at them, terrified.

Elrohir turned and ran back to the camp, still unable to speak.

"No, there is no time. You must listen to me. There are many who wish to harm you. I tried to find out who the spy in our group was, but we were hit by the fire in the forest just as I was getting close to finding him. You must understand that you are --"

"I know, Eilwar! I promise you that I will see the gem destroyed!"

"It is not so easy to do so. Spells, ancient magic, and guardian beasts of a horrific nature guard it, and I fear I do not have the time to impart to you what little we found out about it."

"Try to find Glorfindel, and always keep your eyes open, Legolas, for they do not deserve to be darkened like your mother's. You must destroy the gem to bring an end to this madness!"

"Do you still hate me?"

"No, young one, I only hated the memories you brought back. Your mother was so proud of you when you were born, Legolas. Her eyes -- so like yours -- I have never seen them so beautiful as when she looked upon you. And then she died, defending you from evil, ensuring you did not fall to the dark forces that even now stalk you. My heart died with her, and I sailed West. But even in Aman, the nights were cold.

"I apologise for treating you as I did, for it was the only way I could not break down. Your brother, so much more your father's son, was easier to hate. He came to me when he heard I was returning to Arda, and asked that I entrust a letter to you. You will find it among my belongings a hundred feet away from where Esendri is. I am sorry that I pretended you were your brother, your father, and your grandfather, anything just to distance myself from my pain. You are your own person, and your mother will be so proud of how strong and beautiful you have grown to be."

"Please, Eilwar, do not speak in this way! Your wounds will heal!" Legolas said, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"It is late, Legolas! I can see her, dancing with flowers in her hair! Look!"

*****
A/N: Gladsír is Sindarin for 'Forest River', Mirkwood (Eryn Galen)'s main river.