Leaving You Behind

Title: Leaving You Behind 11

Author: Sivan Shemesh sivan325@walla.com

Beta: Gilraen Aclamense

Rating: PG-13

Who is in the angst you ask: A few from each as: Aragorn, The Twins, Elrond, Thranduil, and Legolas… evil grin… plus, Faramir and Boromir and Denethor too. And don’t forget Éomer and Éowyn, their presences are needed for this story.

Warning: Angst full ahead, violence… guilt… Character death? OC’s. I forgot the tissues… so bring them on… evil grin…

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Tolkien. I just borrowed them for my own evil plans.

Spoiler: Total AU.

Note: Arwen is not in the story. Forgive me if you wished otherwise.

Summary/Teaser

There had been mistakes;

One was taken

One left behind…

Two were banished!

The Peredhil house has been wrecked…

Family’ love, trust, pride and honor seemed lost forever…

Is there any hope for an ordinary life?

11.

Rohan

“You found him!” Gandalf said in triumph as his face lit up with hope.

“We found who exactly Mithrandir?” Éomer asked in confusion.

Gandalf walked over to the lying form and said, “Let us see, he has long golden hair like the sun,” Gandalf pointed out. “He also has pointed ears. Therefore it is an elf and not mortal man. Though I wonder what has happened all this time…”

“And what…” Éowyn asked curiously, looking from Gandalf to the elf.

“The clothes that he wore seemed familiar to me,” Gandalf continued. He walked over the dirty clothes near the lying form, looking for something, “I’ve found it!”

“What did you find, Mithrandir?” Éowyn asked, walking over to the wizard.

“Something that should be hidden,” Gandalf answered sadly as he looked at the unmoving form. “It has cost much trouble already.”

“Gandalf,” Éomer turned to the wizard.

“Yes?” Gandalf asked, his eyes still on the elf.

“Who did I find exactly?” He asked.

“Prince Legolas from Mirkwood, an elf that was announced dead. You and Éowyn found him, and because of that I am certain that you will be welcome in Mirkwood.” Gandalf answered giving the siblings a large smile.

“But what about Théodred?” Éomer asked. He wanted to stay focused on his missing cousin.

“You and I will ride to Imladris and look for the Ranger who resides there. After all, he is the only one that can find Théodred, and he will.” Gandalf said with confidence.

“How can you be so sure?” Éomer demanded. He was determined to find his cousin and he could not understand why Gandalf was so certain that the Ranger would find him.

“Because I have seen him in action. I am the one that trained him into what he is now.” Gandalf said in gently. He did not want this to result in an argument but he wanted Eomer to understand.

“I will come if my brother does not wish to come with you.” Éowyn suggested with a hidden smile. She knew that her big brother would want to watch over her.

“No, I will come, and sister, stay with the elf.” Éomer grinned at his little sister.

“Is the elf alive, Gandalf?” Éowyn asked, becoming fearful after her brothers words.

Gandalf glanced at the elf and then at the siblings. He wondered what the proper answer would be.

LYB11

Lothlórien

Galadriel walked with her husband, Lord Celeborn, to the mirror. They watched the scenes that were shown to them.

Théodred’s body lay in the city of Gondor, he was covered with bruises… He lay there like he was waiting for someone to spare his life…

Then, the image appeared over the shire, where the hobbits enjoyed the life amongst them… life been taken, screaming, cold-blooded scream was heard from the woman as she was murdered in brutal way… and then the image replace over Mirkwood…

They have seen themselves looking to the map of Middle-Earth one that Bilbo once gave them, and they could see kingdoms of elves one by one, fading from the map… started from Mirkwood, as shadows and savages intrudes and destroyed everything that came… and the prince…

The Battle of One…

Galadriel and Celeborn frowned at each other. Shock was written on their faces and they wondered what they should do next. How could they save their kingdom and all of Middle Earth from a darkness that threatened to consume them all?

What evil lay in Middle-Earth? Is it things that were? Or is it the future that threatens us? Galadriel thoughts became thoughts of dread which she valiantly tried to push away…

Celeborn rubbed his chin; his mind was elsewhere. He wondered what was going to happed to their kingdom and he tried to contemplate how to avoid it..

“Is this the end of Middle-Earth?” Galadriel asked him with fear in her voice.

“I do not know, but let us take care of what is today and not focus on our future… it might not be fact yet… but it is a threat that we need to consider.” Celeborn answered as he stared at her.

“But if it has started… is this what occurred with the prince?” Galadriel asked with worry in her voice.

“We still do not know if he is alive or not, his body is missing!” Celeborn said to her, hoping that she would regain some of the hope that she lost by looking in the treacherous mirror.

LYB11

Imladris

When the food fight had ended Elrond raised his head and stared at the mess and filth that covered the kitchen. He laughs inside, knowing that it was worth the mess.

“Ready for round two?” Aragorn said innocently. He grabbed glass of water and stared at Thranduil and his Adar.

Thranduil stared at his friend and a cunning mask slid over his face. Elrond nodded with a delighted smile.

Thranduil and Elrond went about picking up the food which had already been thrown. Thranduil gathered the strawberries while Elrond collected the Lembas covered in gooey, sticky pineapple juice. The two elf lords were clearly thinking of a maniacal plan. Suddenly they both launched their food at the resident ranger.

“Hey…” Aragorn yelled as he got hit by the food. He found himself covered with food.

Elrond grinned at his son, and then exchanged a glance with Thranduil. Both grinned over the man. Aragorn couldn’t help but smile too, he was glad to see that his Adar was happy.

“I think that we need to get cleaned up.” Thranduil remarked with a smile.

“You think?” Aragorn smirked at him.

“Thranduil thinks?” Elrond questioned innocently, ignoring his friend’s death glare.

“Thanks mellon-nin.” Thranduil said sarcastically, “It’s good to know that you care so much.”

“Any time, mellon-nin, any time.” Elrond answered to his sons laughter.

“You should always do as a king suggests, Adar.” Aragorn said, teasing the King of Mirkwood.

“Perhaps you are right, Ion nin.” Elrond said solemnly. “We will do as the king asks.”

“And what is that?” Thranduil asked the other elf lord.

“To take a bath, of course.” Elrond replied, grinning widely.

“Then, mellon-nin, what are you waiting for? Order to your maids to ready the tubs for we need to clean up before the flies get to us… We have such fair skin, very much different from the human.”

“Excuse me?” Aragorn asked, stepping closer to the king.

“Yes?” Thranduil asked in an innocent voice.

“What is wrong with my skin?” Aragorn asked him.

“The flies, mellon-nin, the flies, they love to sit on your skin and nest… you will be covered in the insects soon.” Thranduil answered with a large grin.

“Argh…” Aragorn groaned at the king and stared at his Adar, clearly waiting to be deffended, but Elrond did nothing.

“Adar…” Aragorn called at his Adar; hoping to be saved.

Elrond grinned at them, and wondered in his mind about the friendship between Aragorn and Legolas, was it the same?

“Yes?” Elrond asked, mimicking Thranduil’s innocent voice.

“Help me…” Aragorn replied to him.

“What exactly you want me to say?” Elrond queried with a small smile upon his face.

“Anything…” Aragorn answered with pleading eyes.

LYB11

While the king, lord and the man chattered, Lord Erestor and Lord Glorfindel left the room, walking to the baths to clean themselves from the food fight.

“While they chat, we should enjoy the warm water and clean ourselves from the food fight.” Erestor said with a smile.

“It’s your fault mellon-nin,” Glorfindel said. “It was bad enough that you got yourself into that but why did you drag me into it?” He asked him.

“Fun, mellon-nin, it is fun, and I assume since we older than them, we should have some joy, and be elflings again, even for food fight.” Erestor explained and put a smile on his face, staring at the Balrog Slayer.

When no answer came from Lord Glorfindel, Erestor glanced at him and asked, “Did you not enjoy it?”

“What? Being sticky and smelly? No!” Glorfindel answered with a hidden smile. He had enjoyed the fun, even if he denied it now.

“You lie.” Erestor said at him as he noticed the smile on Glorfindel’s face.

“Nay, I am not.” Glorfindel defended himself.

“Aye, you are.” Erestor grinned at him.

“Nay, I am not.”

“Aye, you are.”

“Nay, I am not.”

“Aye, you are.”

“You both are.”

Glorfindel and Erestor turned around to notice the laughter coming from Thranduil, Elrond, and Aragorn.

“We both are what?” Erestor asked hoping that they hadn’t heard the entire conversation.

“You are both acting like elflings.” Thranduil supplied.

“That is not what we were discussing.” Erestor said in a smug tone. He was inwardly grateful that they hadn’t heard

“Then what were you discussing? And why are you standing in front of the bathroom? And where are the maids? I need to get clean.” Elrond said matter-of-factly.

“You really want me to answer that? Thranduil has already answered for that.” Erestor asked his lord.

“Then repeat it, what ever you said, King Thranduil.” Elrond requested.

“What? About them acting like elflings?” Thranduil asked. He grabbed the man and they went into the bathroom,.

“While they speak, we will get cleaned.” Thranduil said to Aragorn. Once the maids had readied the tubs the elf and the man climbed in.

Erestor looked around and suddenly realized that two people were missing. “Where are Thranduil and Aragorn?” he asked the other elves.

The elves suddenly realized that the king and the man had already went into the bathroom and they soon joined them.

LYB11

Later that day…

The elves and Aragorn sat on the balcony. They starred over the beauty of Imladris. In the distance they could see a rainbow reaching down to the river.

Thranduil watched curiously when Aragorn impatiently rose. “What is wrong, mellon-nin?” Thranduil asked him.

“I’m not sure. It feels like something is about to happen” Aragorn answered, trying to shake the odd feeling..

“It will pass.” Thranduil assured him, hoping to comfort the man.

“How do you know?” Aragorn asked, doubtedly.

“I have had those feelings before. They began half a year after Legolas….They stopped after the years end.” Thranduil replied he could remember so well, all of the memories that he had shared with his precious son and the hopelessness he felt when he thought of never seeing his son again.

Flashback

“Where is he?” The king had asked the guard that stood next to him.

“Who are you looking for, my king?” Galdor asked curiously.

“Lord Glorfindel, he should come here, I called him to come here, to train Legolas.” Thranduil explained with an excitement in his voice, figured that his ion would love the surprise that he made for him.

Long had the prince admired the Balrog Slayer, long he begged from his Adar, to let him go over Imladris, to meet him and to ask for him to train him.

And now the king finally did it, he brought Lord Glorfindel in secret, as he wished to surprise him.

Lord Glorfindel approached over the king, as he was led by the guards.

He bowed slightly over the king, who came closer at him and stopped him as he spoke, “You do not need to bow me, mellon-nin, it is my honor, and I am the one that should bow you.”

Glorfindel raised his head, staring over the king, he asked, “What is it you need for my, King Thranduil?”

Thranduil turned over Galdor, and ordered, “Bring my son here, but say nothing about Glorfindel.”

Galdor bowed and left the room, searching the prince.

Minutes later, the prince came over his Adar’s room, wondering why his Adar called him for as he finished all his duties that he asked from him.

“Adar?” Legolas asked as he entered inside.

He found himself staring at both elves.

Thranduil could see the open mouth of his ion, and smiled softly at him as he spoke, “You can close your mouth now, ion-nin, or you can greet Lord Glorfindel.”

Before the prince said anything, he first closed the empty space between him and his Adar and then he hugged him, and thanked him for the surprise.

“Hannon-le, Adar.” Legolas said to his Adar.

And then he faced Lord Glorfindel and claps his hands over the lord’s shoulders and thanks him for coming.

“I heard about your skill, Prince Legolas, your name will be heard all over Middle-Earth.” Lord Glorfindel praised the prince.

King Thranduil could felt a tear left from his eye, and wiped it quickly. He had trouble restraining the pride for his son.

“Adar?” Legolas asked as he noticed his Adar’s face, and then he asked in worried, “Adar, did I do something wrong?”

Thranduil stared over his ion with shock, and asked, “Nay, you did not, why?”

“The look over your face,” Legolas replied, and then he continued, “What is wrong Ada?”

“Nothing is wrong, though the words that Lord Glorfindel said, make me so proud of you. I love you ion-nin.” Thranduil explained, and now more tears bursts from his eyes.

“I love you too, Adar, hannon-le.” Legolas softly spoke over his Adar, as he claps his hands on Thranduil’s shoulders. Thranduil did the same though he squeezed slightly on his ion’s shoulders.

“Make your Adar proud, as you train with Lord Glorfindel.” Thranduil said at him.

Legolas nodded, and then he turned over Lord Glorfindel, “Come, let me show you where Mirkwood’s elves practice.”

Glorfindel nodded and followed the prince, he noticed of how many guards surrounded him and the prince, and started to question him.

“Forgive me, Prince Legolas, but I do wonder, why are we surrounded with many guards if you and I are blessed with skills?” Lord Glorfindel asked him, as he wondered.

“You are not used to war everyday as I…” Legolas started to answer, notice the frown look that been mask on the lord he added, “My realm, my lord, been attacked, and attacked because of Morgoth’s creatures, and the shadows closing us, and spiders seemed everywhere, you see, we need to prepare for anything that may come, and one guard, or even you, cannot control it, you can even die, so it does not matter if you are blessed or skilled, you need help even from the guards to be safe.”

Glorfindel stared over the prince with amazement as he said over him, “This is the wisdom answer that I even heard of, Prince Legolas, your Adar teaches you well.”

“Hannon-le, my lord.”

“There is no need from you to call me ‘my lord’, call me my name, Glorfindel.”

“Hannon-le, Glorfindel.” Legolas repeated.

“This is my pleasure, Prince Legolas.”

“Then, this is rude of me, Glorfindel, you can call me in my name, titles mean nothing here.” Legolas said at him.

King Thranduil, who was in the pack, could hear every word that left from them, he cried quietly, while in his heart he was so proud of his ion.

End of Flashback

“Thranduil?” Aragorn asked, noticed the blank stare from the king.

Elrond rose from the chair, he puts a hand over the king’s shoulder, and asked, “Are you all right, mellon-nin?”

Thranduil shake his head from the memories, bittersweet as they were, he still missed his son.

He found himself staring over the beautiful sight of Imladris, and then he could hear the noises, and then of his name been called.

“What has happened?” Thranduil asked.

“You, you my friend, you were elsewhere,” Elrond replied, and then he asked him as he grinned, “Where were you?”

“Memories… memories of Legolas… do you remember what you said in my realm, Lord Glorfindel?” Thranduil asked Lord Glorfindel.

“How could I not?” Lord Glorfindel asked.

Elrond noticed the quick movement that Lord Erestor did, and asked, “What is it?”

“Can you not hear? Riders approach.” Erestor replied and stared over the sight noticed two shadows rode like the wind that blew by.

End of Chapter 11.