XXX

"That was too easy," Esendri said, staring up at the entrance.

"No armies," Legolas said. "But the map is singing. This is the correct place."

Elrohir did not answer, not having spoken much since the confrontation with Legolas. It was as if some type of barrier had come between the pair. While Legolas had tried to extend a branch of peace to him, Elrohir remained reticent and quiet, although he still watched over Legolas like a hawk, ready for any danger.

Staring at the imposing structure carved out of ice, Legolas felt doubtful. Walking in and taking the water stone for themselves seemed wrong, even though the lakes afforded a good protection against all but the very determined. It had taken them four days to reach the castle made of ice, days of wading, and swimming at times. it left them tired and drained, in spite of their immunity to the cold. The sleet had turned to snow on the third day, and the lakes were icy and treacherous.

A pain flashed in Elrohir's eyes, and he risked a look at Legolas. He had noticed that Legolas had not eaten in at least five days, always putting his own share back into their dwindling supplies. Legolas looked so wan that Elrohir had a sudden urge to force some food down his throat. He brought himself under control, and instead opened another packet of bread.

"We all need to eat," he said.

Surprise, then gratitude washed over Legolas. He had worried that he had succeeded in driving Elrohir away. While a part of him reasoned it would be better for Elrohir to be less hurt should his doom claim him, the rest of him felt cold at the thought of not having Elrohir beside him, watching for any danger. Why he had to be so dependent on Elrohir frustrated him to no end, but seeing that Elrohir still cared caused a wave of warmth to flow over him.

"Please, do not fight me, for a change," Elrohir said, mistaking Legolas's hesitation for resentment.

Not waiting for Legolas to reply, he turned away, ignoring Esendri's piercing look. In doing so, he missed Legolas biting his lip to prevent himself from saying anything.

"Let us shelter within the walls of this place, for the wind is cold," Esendri said.

Elrohir looked alarmed, remembering the enchantment of the last castle, but he did not say anything, and followed behind.

"It is beautiful," Esendri said.

"Which is why it is dangerous," Elrohir said, snorting.

The ice thrust up high into the heavens, the carvings on them no less severe or imposing than seen from the outside. The Elves felt a chill run through their spines.

"So cold," Legolas said, staring at the austere corridor receding into the distance.

"There is a light that calls to me," Legolas said, taking a step forward.

Elrohir stepped in front of him, blocking his way.

"It is dangerous," he said.

"But it is singing, telling me that my heart's desire is so close!"

Legolas tried to walk around Elrohir, but was stopped as Elrohir pushed at him.

"I said: it is too dangerous!"

"Who are you to stop me?" Legolas cried, fighting back while Elrohir tried to restrain him.

A resounding slap sounded across the cavern, and Legolas snapped up to stare at Elrohir, disbelief in his eyes. The stinging of his cheek confirmed that Elrohir had hit him -- and hard too.

"Stop being such a fool!" Elrohir said, his anger failing to abate.

Blue eyes regarded him for the longest time. Elrohir was shocked to see the flickering flame in them dull. While they were so clear before, they were now murky.

"I apologise," Legolas muttered, finally looking away.

"Lass," Esendri said, touching him on the arm, as he felt some pain pass from Legolas pass into him.

"Do what you want," Legolas said. "It matters not anymore."

Elrohir started. What had he just done? And what had he just seen in Legolas's eyes?

"I will go first. I do not want to risk anything," Elrohir said, and started down the pathway.

"Yes, apart from yourself," Legolas said, resentment building up.

"Please, stop fighting," Esendri whispered into his ear.

"It is the last thing I want," Legolas said, before following Elrohir down the corridor.

While the invisible castle had led them high up into the air, the corridors of ice seemed to sprawl outwards across the wintry landscape. It was warmer within the icy structure compared with the outside world, but their breaths were still visible before them as they treaded through the magnificent tunnels that glittered like diamonds. For a while, it was almost serene.

Much time passed, before Esendri gave an involuntary jump. They had lost track of the time, and he could not say how long ago they had entered the ice palace. Only the dropping of the already-dim light indicated the passage of time.

"Legolas?"

"Yes?" Legolas stopped, but Elrohir forged on.

"It has been a long time since we entered."

"Has it?" Legolas said, his gaze wondering aimlessly past Esendri. "I had not realised."

Esendri felt alarm starting to spread in his stomach. There was something about the way Legolas was looking bored and distracted which scared him.

"Can you hear --"

Esendri stopped as he saw that Legolas had disappeared down the corridor and so he rushed after him, worry multiplying with every step. Everything felt unnatural, as if brought on by an enchantment.

Up ahead, Elrohir and Legolas were conversing in toneless voices, and Esendri rushed to catch up with them.

"This way," Elrohir said.

"Perhaps that one is better," Legolas said.

Elrohir shrugged. "Maybe you can go down that one, and I will go down here --"

"Stop it!" Esendri cried, and the pair turned to stare at him. Their surprise was replaced by boredom, and they stared down the corridors again.

"We could go there," Legolas said, pointing to Elrohir's earlier choice. "I do not think it would make a difference."

"No --"

"This leads northward," Legolas insisted.

"Which is why we go south to go north," Elrohir said.

Esendri felt something flicker within him, as if Elrohir's words had awoken a nascent thought. He listened to the pair bickering without much interest as he struggled to find the form of his argument --

"Elrohir's right!" he cried, rushing to the corridor. "This is water: fluid and random! We should stop trying to find a purpose!"

Legolas and Elrohir looked startled, and Esendri almost laughed at the frown on their faces. Legolas and Elrohir's strange behaviour lacked any structure -- like water. He felt as if a great weight had been released from his shoulders as he realised the reason for their actions was simply the enchantment of the place, which they would easily overcome. Almost smiling, Esendri stepped into the corridor.

A creaking sound filled the air, and the companions tensed up. Elrohir's hand flew to his sword's hilt, and Legolas's to his bow. More creaks, and Legolas threw himself against Esendri, knocking him aside.

It was not too soon, as the ice below Esendri's feet gave way, and crack started to spider their way through the rest of the corridor.

"Lass!" Elrohir cried, as a crystal of ice thrust upwards from where Esendri had been standing. It continued to push outwards, groaning as it did, before stopping when it towered well above their heads.

When there was no further movement, Legolas took a step closer and examined the structure in the dim light. He let out a cry of surprise when he saw it contained a small, shiny stone, embedded in the thick ice.

"The stone," Elrohir said, drawing his sword from the scabbard.

"What are you doing?" Esendri said.

"Extracting it!"

"No!" Legolas cried, as Elrohir swung his blade at the ice. There was a flash of light, and a force which picked Elrohir up and threw him backwards against the wall.

Esendri found no time to wonder at Elrohir's uncharacteristic impulsivity as Legolas rushed to Elrohir. Once sure that Elrohir was unhurt, Legolas started to examine the chink in the ice Elrohir had carved out of the pillar.

"There is a crack in it! Look! It is starting to bleed!"

Elrohir approached the ice structure to take a closer look, and saw that a red liquid was starting to ooze out of the stone.

"Physical strength will not work," Elrohir said, frowning.

"I know," Legolas muttered, pressing his palm against the ice and allowing its cold to seep into his hand.

A sudden flash of inspiration hit him, and he withdrew the map stone.

"Perhaps this will tell us."

"Lass, are you sure about using magic?"

Seeing how the stone was continuing to bleed, Legolas threw caution to the wind and held the stone up near to the ice column. He waited, but there was nothing. Frustrated, he took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, as he shut out the image of the bleeding stone.

"Stop!" he heard Esendri cry, and started out of his trance.

Looking down at his hand, he let out a cry as he found it to be covered in silvery, viscous liquid. Startled, he managed to stop himself from dropping the stone.

"Wrong one!"

In an instant, Legolas understood, and flames shot from his hand, reducing the ice structure to a pool of water. Elrohir reached out and grabbed the water stone, covered in red liquid.

"It is freezing," he said, tearing off a strip of cloth from a cloak and wrapping the stone in it.

"Roh, your arm!" Legolas cried, as his eyes came back in to focus on the present and took in the sight of Elrohir's suddenly burnt arm.

Elrohir pushed him away.

"We must get out of here," he said, as the network of cracks seemed to widen and stretch into the distance.

"Run!" Elrohir cried, and the Elves tore down the corridor, chasing the advancing fractures in the ice.

"Which way?" Esendri shouted, as they came to the junction.

"This has five tunnels!" Legolas cried, staring around in confusion. "It had three earlier."

"Just choose one of them," Elrohir said.

Running, the Elves found the ground beneath their feet start to give way as the cracks deepened.

They had not the time to cry out as they plunged into freezing water. The ice structures around them were collapsing, sharp spikes falling from above seeking to impale them.

Legolas grabbed Elrohir's hand, took a deep breath, and dived into the water, dragging Elrohir down with him as Esendri followed them. The cold hit them hard, threatening to break through their natural defences against the elements. Once a few feet under, Legolas started to swim across, and Elrohir realised that the falling spires of ice were harmless to them at this depth.

Without thinking, Elrohir drew nearer to Legolas and put an arm around his waist as he tried to block out his fear for Legolas. Shocked, Legolas turned to stare at Elrohir, but an insistent tap on the shoulder from Esendri brought him back. Already, his lungs were starting to feel uncomfortable, but Elrohir's proximity sought to drive some of the cold away.

Which way? Legolas's weak, apprehensive thought brushed Elrohir's mind.

Hold on, Lass-nîn, just keep swimming, Elrohir replied, tightening his grip as the pair propelled themselves forward after Esendri.

Roh! The cry was filled with pain, and Elrohir's free hand flew up to Legolas's face.

Shivers started to take over Legolas, and his lungs were ready to burst. He felt Elrohir's arms around him, holding him in a heated embrace, and thus allowed himself to fall, into the warm flames --

Elrohir kicked harder still, glancing up in search of something he did not know. Esendri ahead was almost unconscious, as he too succumbed to the cold and the lack of air.

Reaching out for Esendri, a sudden adage filled Elrohir: water flows everywhere and anywhere. Their means of escape can to him, and he started to fight his way to the surface. As long as he believed, he would come up in the clear.

Breaking the surface, he was blinded by thick snow falling fast. He drew in a breath, and scanned the area. The shore was less than a hundred yards away, and he had to get Esendri and Legolas there.

The rest of the swim was a blur, and Elrohir found himself kneeling beside Legolas, pushing down feebly in a weak attempt to rouse him. Valar, he was so cold and tired, so bereft of any strength, but he fought on. The last thing he remembered was collapsing, falling --