XXXIX

"What have I done? Valar, what have I done?" Elrohir choked between his sobs as Esendri held him close.

"You kept your word to him, Elrohir. You prevented him from becoming the monster he feared."

"Why?"

"Because he is your brother, Elrohir. You had to do so because you love him. You saved him from a fate far worse than death."

Elrohir cried for a long time before he ran out of tears. Neither dared to speak nor even think about he fate that might have befallen their friend.

Esendri stared at Elrohir for a long time before deciding to turn his thoughts away.

"How did you escape unscathed? The magic should have torn you to shreds."

"I know not the answer. I had not the time to think. Yet, I could feel him, a part of him was in the air, and it touched me, seemed to keep me in a warm embrace, keeping me safe there."

"He extended protection over you while duelling with the Dyrian," Esendri said, hit with sudden insight into the situation.

"What?" Elrohir said, even though it was clear that he was not paying much attention. Instead, what filled his mind was Legolas's cry as he had struck him down, the way he had crumpled under the Dyrian's renewed attack.

"He left it open for you to attack him. There was no other way of controlling himself," Esendri said. "But enough; we must find a means to escape. Come, Elrohir, let us study this tower thoroughly from the inside. There may yet be something to discover for those who seek."

Grateful of having the distraction, they spent the next few hours closely scrutinising the structure, ascending and descending it, peering out of the windows, climbing to the top of the tower and discussing whether it were possible to escape their wretched imprisonment.

They had just about agreed on the hopelessness of the situation when footsteps sounded outside and the door was flung open to reveal nothing.

"He has agreed to yield to me!" a voice gloated, and then silence.

The pair flew out of the door and onto the raised platform, setting in motion the machinery.

"Where is he?" Elrohir whispered, willing the metal cogs to spin faster.

"There," Esendri said, pointing, and they leapt down from twenty feet up, not bothering to wait for it to reach the ground.

Running to the shivering figure curled against the wall, they saw there were no guards around them.

His heart wrenching painfully, the bile in Elrohir's throat rose as he turned Legolas towards him and he saw that he was half-conscious and muttering to himself, his eyes open and glazed. A quick examination caused Elrohir to cry out in anger at the numerous welts that occurred across Legolas's face, and that his fingers were blooded messes where his nails had been pulled out with a blunt instrument.

An eerie sense of calmness descended over Elrohir then as he mechanically began to bind Legolas's fingers from strips of cloth which he tore from his own cloak.

"The beast!" Esendri swore. "He did not have to hurt him! The magic he employed alone was enough to bend Legolas to his will, but he hurt him out of spite!"

Cradled to Elrohir, Legolas continued to mumble nonsensical words to himself.

"He needs water," Elrohir said, feeling his burning forehead. Was it his imagination, or did Legolas press into his chest and relax ever so slightly?

Esendri nodded, remembering the water-skin they had with them and ascended to retrieve it.

Elrohir was still staring at Legolas in his state of tumultuous disquiet when Esendri returned.

"Lass?" Elrohir whispered. "Lass, will you not listen to me? Open your eyes, little one. Will you do this for me? I know you can."

He felt a grip on his hand, and the pair watched as Legolas started to rouse himself, using Elrohir's words as a guide.

The corners of Elrohir's mouth curved upwards as he continued to stroke the side of Legolas's head and speak to him.

Then, Legolas's eyes snapped onto Elrohir's face, and filled with tears and fear.

"Roh!" he screamed, reaching out to grab at Elrohir.

Startled by the amount of emotion he had just seem, Elrohir nevertheless kept his calm.

"Peace, Lass. I am here."

"Valar, Roh! I thought you -- I saw --"

"Nothing has happened to me, tithen lass -- little leaf --. I am quite alright."

For a moment, it seemed as if Legolas did not believe him, but a flash of lucid joy sprang to his face as he saw that Elrohir was indeed alive and well. But reality and his nightmares started to blur, and his gaze turned murky again.

"Drink," Elrohir said, bringing the water-skin up to his mouth.

Doing as instructed, Legolas nevertheless found that his grip on consciousness was slipping, and the voice started cackling in his ear again. Shaking his head, he found that it started up its laugh, promising him the one thing he dreaded coming to pass.

Leaning forward, Esendri placed a palm on his forehead and almost recoiled when he felt some of Legolas's thoughts filter into him.

"His thoughts are filled with images of death," Esendri said.

"Death?"

"Of his mother. How she died."

Elrohir drew in a painful breath. His father had warned him of this, and indeed it was coming to pass. The Dyrian was using the Queen's death to torment Legolas, to make him yield. While they might be still able to take physical blows for Legolas, it was the mental element which left them as helpless as newborn babes before the onslaught.

"He spoke to me before of how he would dream of her death."

"These are not nightmares, Elrohir! Nor are they delusions! I know not what they are, but can tell what they are not."

"They are the truth."

"How could he have known if he was not there when she was killed? These images are so vivid that --"

"Legolas was there. She had followed him beyond the palace confines when they were attacked. The patrol found the Queen slumped against a tree, wounds too numerous to count and still weeping. And Lass was by her side, clutching her arm, staring into the open forest, too frightened to speak nor cry or even react when they approached. He had seen the whole event, witnessed his mother's slaying, at the age of one barely out of his infancy!"

"Eru," Esendri said, and there were tears in his eyes while he stroked Legolas's pale and cold face. "Her Majesty was one of the kindest souls that graced Arda, and ever so good to me."

"I was told he remembered naught of the event, and they had allowed it to stay that way, fearful of what it might reawaken."

Esendri took a long time to compose himself. The Queen's death had not been the only one which he saw. His eyes flickered from Legolas to Elrohir, as he once again saw Cariel's burning eyes as she took the blow for the one she loved.

"Elrohir?" Esendri said. "What did the Dyrian do to make you utter his name?"

"I saw Legolas being tortured, overpowered by flames, pain, enemies kicking him senseless while he lay there, powerless and chained up, bravely meeting each fist and boot. I saw it, and the intensity increased, while he screamed for me, begged me to make it stop, to make it go away. I heard him call my name every night as he drifted into the black world of sleep, of where sanity was only a curse that would serve to harm him. I tried not to cry out, but it was too much for me to bear!"

More of the puzzle fell into place for Esendri, yet he did not wish to voice his thoughts and discoveries to Elrohir just yet. "I wonder what the Dyrian extracted from him."

Legolas sat upright then, coming back to the present once more.

"I am so sorry," he began, but Esendri quickly shushed him.

"Nay, Legolas, do not say that."

"I told the Dyrian I was betrothed and to be married! I told him about Caeriel! I had to tell him something! But in doing so, I have put her in danger!"

"She is safe in Eryn Galen, Legolas. It was necessary for you to give her name to him. That way he cannot discover knowledge that would give him far greater power over you."

"He wants to make you weep by striking at your heart," Elrohir said, his voice hoarse. "I fear the harm that would come to Caeriel."

"Tell us what happened," Esendri said, deciding to steer the conversation away from the potential quagmire.

"What?"

"We must know more about what the Dyrian did if we are to fight him."

"He has great power, although I feel I can defeat him --"

"You know the jewel must never be unleashed, Legolas," Elrohir said.

"Yes, Roh, and I must thank you for what you just did."

"Even when I hurt you?"

Legolas did not answer.

"What did he bid you do?" Esendri said.

"He wished for me to bring the gem to life," Legolas whispered. "He promised me all my heart's desires were I to give in. How was he to know that were I to do as he said, I would have thrown away anything I have ever valued and loved."

The next words Legolas had some trouble getting out.

"But still, I agreed to do what he ask of me. I gave him an Irrevocable Bond."

"A what?" Esendri said, glancing sharply at Elrohir.

"'Tis why he feels it is safe to leave us here. I cannot leave this place. It is a magic which binds me to his will. I tried to fight against yielding, but contrary to what Ada Elrond and everyone might wish to think --"

"Why did he hurt you after you yielded?" Esendri said.

Legolas looked like he was about to deny it, but then shook his head tiredly. "I know not. He hates me with a vengeance I thought impossible, and through this hate I detect much fear."

Elrohir's gaze dropped to Legolas's pale face laced with injury. It was all he could do to reign in his anger.

"What is the bond you speak of?" he finally said.

And Legolas found himself spilling the words out, unable to stop.

"I signed an understanding, an agreement in blood, and the bonds will force me to do as I have covenanted, that I should bring the true power of the Makleni to him."

"Is it one of the bonds Lord Elrond spoke of when he instructed us?"

"Yes," Legolas said. "It was the only way I could make him stop trying to find out --"

Esendri shook his head very gently.

"Legolas, nobody can think any less of you for doing so."

Calming down, Legolas took a deep breath. "When I signed the undertaking, I left ambiguity in it. I agreed to sacrifice my future wife as consideration, as a consequence of my breaking the vows I have made. I also undertook to unleash the power of the gem --"

"But did not say anything about vanquishing it!" Elrohir cried. Suddenly there seemed like hope amidst the darkness.

"Aye," Legolas said, allowing a thin smile to pass his face. "We could find much more were we to study it more closely, but for now I am tired."

A concerned look crossed Esendri's face. "But no rest will come to you, Legolas."

"We must decide what to do," Elrohir said, trying to fight down his feelings of fear for Legolas.

"I may have a way to defeat him, but you must do as I say," Legolas said, hoping he sounded more authoritative than he felt. "We must allow him to believe that we have given in, that we have simply been bent to his will. We are no match for him; I attacked him with everything I had, and still I could not bring him down. This will change when the gem's true power is unleashed, and I know that I will be able to turn it on him."

"Do you know what you are asking, Legolas?" Elrohir said.

Legolas closed his eyes and tried to steel himself. "I know you would ask me to re-consider, Elrohir. But we must do this."

"You will be asking us to watch as he continues to hurt you."

"Do not forget that he will not be so kind to Master Elrohir and myself too," Esendri said.

"I know. Were you to think of a better course of action, I would have it right now!"

"There is no other way," Esendri said. "Yet we may still hope he will relax his guard now that he believes you are under his control."

"He will hurt you, Legolas," Elrohir whispered. "He will hurt you more than he has already done."

"I know."

Elrohir felt as thought a heavy blow had been struck on his chest.

"May I have a word, Legolas?" he said.

"I will see if he is anywhere near returning," Esendri said. "Where could he have gone?"

Legolas nodded his thanks and turned to Elrohir.

"It is not worth your despairing, Elrohir," he said quietly.

"Legolas, I tried to keep the truth from you, for I have no right to love her --"

"Elrohir, please!"

Elrohir held up a hand. "Hear me out, Legolas. But now that you know, I shall not shirk from it any longer."

"I fail to see where this is taking us," Legolas said, a cagey look suddenly appearing on his face.

"You know the truth, Legolas, and I wish to know what you feel. I need to know if you love her."

The blood left Legolas's face altogether.

"Of course, Elrohir! Surely you have known that all along! What a question to ask! We grew up together, and I love her, and my feelings have not changed since!"

Elrohir made an impatient noise at Legolas's feeble attempt to dodge the subject.

"Legolas, this is not easy for me."

"I am sorry, Roh."

Elrohir's eyes took on a sudden pleading that ran straight through Legolas, softening his resolve. He knew he had to deny everything, but the words stuck to his throat, refusing to leave it.

"Fate is cruel," Elrohir said, giving an ironic laugh. "Who would have thought I would have asked a question as this here, in this --"

He was silenced by Legolas bringing a bandaged hand up to his lips and pressing them softly.

Taking a step back from Legolas's close presence, Elrohir felt that he was close to breaking down. But still he tried to keep his forced cheerfulness.

Legolas's resolve snapped then, and he knew he could not do it. That he could not lie to Elrohir, although to tell the truth would surely mean the death of the noble soul before him.

"Ai, Elrohir!" Legolas suddenly cried. "You should not have to go through this! I do not blame you for anything. There is nothing to feel sorry for."

Hardly able to believe his ears, Elrohir could only stare into the sharp blue eyes, into the gentle, trusting face of his beloved Greenleaf.

"But for now, could you just hold me?" Legolas whispered.

Something akin to bitter joy rushed over Elrohir as they embraced, Elrohir taking Legolas into his arms and placing a fierce kiss on his forehead.

"Thank you, Lass. We shall see this through together."

Legolas tried not to shudder as the feeling of doom rose in him again. Yet, he must not give any further worry to Elrohir, and so he smiled into Elrohir's chest.

"Do you remember how I used to force stories of high adventure out of you and Dan?" he said.

"Yes, how could I forget? You were a memorable guest even by the standards of Imladris, and we have seen rather a strange rabble of visitors!"

Legolas broke into a smile upon hearing that Elrohir's humour was still intact. That did not prevent him from jumping, though,when Elrohir ran a finger over his lips, lightly flitting over the ugly bruise to one corner of it.

"I would give anything in the world to see this smile here forever," Elrohir said.

Touched, Legolas drew up his knees, keeping his head leaned against Elrohir.

"I would have eagerly gone into battle, to fight any evil, but now that I am in one, fear is all I feel," Legolas said, hugging his legs.

Elrohir's only answer was to continue stroking the side of his face, waiting to see if there was any more Legolas wished to say.

"I fear what the Dyrian is capable of doing," Legolas whispered.

"I know you will be strong, Legolas, that you will defeat him."

"Will I?" Legolas had never felt so doubtful in his life, not even when his Nana had died without his understanding, when he thought she had left for Aman. Even then, he had been convinced that he would reach her and be welcomed with open arms when he got there, even when he was hopelessly lost while trapped in the blizzard-cloaked mountains. But now, this was so different.

"I believe in you, Legolas."

"Then I will take strength from that," Legolas said.

Suddenly overcome with exhaustion, he closed his eyes, even though he knew sleep would not be restful for him. A side glance at Elrohir revealed fatigue in his features too, and Legolas said, "We must rest. I believe Esendri returns, and I do not believe the Dyrian shall bother us until he finds where his men have gone."

In his highly-charged state, Elrohir failed to notice the almost imperceptible wince that Legolas gave as he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, and neither did he see the furrowing of the brow as Legolas shifted in his arms. All he knew was the sweet beckoning of the dreamscape that offered much rest and pleasantness for now.