Leaving You Behind

Title: Leaving You Behind 12

Author: Sivan Shemesh

Beta: Tena

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?

12.

Imladris

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

“Can you see their faces?” Aragorn asked. He was impatient to know if it was the twins. He had missed his big brothers.

“Why is there shadow over there?” Erestor tried to make out who it was with his keen eyes.

No answer came as all eyes were looking at the two figures who rode through the shadows that engulfed them.

“Oh… my….” Glorfindel said, and hurried over to the figures with welcoming hands.

Elrond saw them too, and hurried after the lord. He wished to hug them and to apologize for his hurtful words that he said to them.

Aragorn sighed in relief, and then he noticed that King Thranduil was leaving them and entering the house.

Aragorn walked after him, determined to know why.

“King Thranduil,” he called formally, and then he continued, “As you can see, the twins have arrived; do you not want to say anything to them?”

“Nay, I think that I will retire. I have become tired, and I will need my sleep sooner or later.” Thranduil replied and walked down the hallway; and to the room that Elrond saved for him.

Aragorn sighed and then return outside to see the twins dismounted from their horse.

“Elladan, Elrohir, I missed you…” Aragorn welcomed then with a bittersweet smile, as he was worried about Thranduil’s behavior.

He was about to reach for Elladan to hug him, but Elrohir stopped him just before Aragorn touched Elladan’s wounded hand. Elladan winced from pain as Elrohir moved Aragorn hands.

“What is it?” Aragorn asked the twin.

“Nothing.” Elladan simply answered.

“We were under attack, and Elladan was hit in his hand.” Elrohir was the one who answered.

“Ada!” Aragorn called with fear.

Elrond came closer, and then after he scanned the man’s face, he said, “He was already taking care of, ion, but he is still in pain it seems. Come with me, Elladan.”

Elladan stared at his Ada, not knowing if he should join him or not, he still feared that his Adar still hated him.

Elrond sighed heavily and said, “I missed you, Elladan and Elrohir, and I wish I could simply take my words back. I hope that both of you will forgive me for my words.”

Elladan and Elrohir exchanged glances, not knowing if they were ready to forgive him.

“When you are ready or when you wish to talk, you know where I am,” Elrond spoke softly. “Come, Elladan, let me see how I can ease your pain.”

Elladan nodded to his half before he went with his Adar.

When Elladan left, Aragorn stayed with Elrohir and started to ask him questions.

“What happened? Tell me from the beginning, gwador.” Aragorn was curious and worried.

When Elrohir finished his tale, he could see how tense the man had become. His eyes brow were up a little, and his mouth was open.

“Aragorn, saes say something…” Elrohir was worried about Aragorn’s reaction..

“Umm…” Aragorn started but then closed his mouth.

“What?” Elrohir prodded, trying to be patient..

“Did you leave because of me? Were you afraid of how I would take the news?” Aragorn asked..

“Nay, we did not leave because of you, we love you, and for the other question, honestly, we just assumed.” Elrohir replied, but then stopped.

“Assumed what?” Aragorn asked.

“We assumed that Legolas was dead when we found you.” Elrohir stared and waited to see if Aragorn hated them for their actions of two years earlier..

Aragorn was shocked, and he did not know what to say..

By the look Aragorn was giving him, Elrohir figures he hated them. He was desperate to hear Aragorn say anything.

“Assumed?” Aragorn asked, his voice was shaking.

“You must understand, two years ago when we found you, you were in bad shape. You were in a circle of the red, life-giving liquid, and dead guards surrounded you and the elf prince. The smell of blood lay heavily in the air,” Elrohir stopped, sighed heavily, before he added, “At first, as we found you, it reminded us of the sight of our nana, Celebrían. She was attacked by orcs, and we were scared to lose you. We love you Estel, and we always will.”

Aragorn swallowed hard. “How could you assume? Have you checked him?”

Elrohir sighed, never realizing how much hurt they would cause. He and his half had once told their Adar, when they came with wounded Aragorn, that they had checked. Then, when the nightmares came, two years after, they told the truth of their actions.

“He lay in the same position that we once saw our nana, and so we assumed that he was dead…” Elrohir replied, trying not to shed tears. He waited for their punishment from Aragorn.

Aragorn gave himself a mature kick, remembering what King Thranduil told him when they reached Imladris, to forgive.

He needed to forgive them for their mistakes that been made in the past, or he just let them go. He was reminded that they had hurt when they had been banished.

He never wished for them to be banished, he wanted them beside him. He wanted to support them as they did when he was just a little boy. He loved them dearly.

Aragorn swallowed hard, he could feel the tears building in his eyes.

“I forgive you,” Aragorn said suddenly, as the tears fell from his eyes. “We have all made mistakes, and I do not want to see you, Elladan or even Adar hurt. Do you forgive me?”

Aragorn asked, staring at Elrohir with pleading eyes. He longed to see the old Elrohir, loving and full of life. He wished this Elrohir, looking sad and emotionally wrecked to leave.

“I do forgive you.” Elrohir answered and smiled at him.

Aragorn went closer to him, clasped his hands on Elrohir’s shoulders, and said, “Good, because now, I will not let anyone else banish you away from me, or hurt you.” Elrohir clasp the man shoulders as well, as he asked with a teasing smile, “Even King Thranduil?”

“Even the king himself.”

“Is the king here?” Elrohir asked with worry in his voice.

Aragorn nodded at him, but replied quickly, “Aye, he is, but he would not yell at you, well, in second thought he might. But he would not banish you, as I already told him, what Ada told me after he banished you, but I still needed it to hear it from you, your own words.”

“W… what is he doing here in the first place?” Elrohir asked.

Aragorn started to tell his tale from the beginning, telling what the king told him, and when he finished he stared at the twin.

“Well…” Aragorn pushed a little.

“So, you came with Thranduil just in time, to save Adar? Was he fading because of us?” Elrohir asked feeling worried and sad.

Knowing now how much their Adar loved them, and that he regretted the moment that he banished them, and sank into grief.

“Aye, we came right in time. Thranduil said something to him that lifted his spirit higher…” Aragorn put some teasing to his voice.

“What did he say?” Elrohir wanted to know so he and Elladan could do the same.

“That, my brother, you should ask him yourself.” Aragorn simply answered.

Elrohir chuckled, “Evil you…”

Aragorn giggled, “But you still love me.”

LYB12

While in Elrond’s room…

Elladan sat on the bed, his eyes scanned the room, noticing the mess. There was a tray of food, pieces of food, and he wondered what had happened to his Adar. He knew his Adar hated to eat in his room. He always ate with them, taking care of them, and he wondered what had happened in their absence.

Elrond sighed heavily. He never thought it would be that hard, from the moment that he banished his sons, and the moment that they came back. His heart ached.

Elladan was hurt, and Elrond hurt to see his elder son like this.

Elladan noticed his Adar’s movement, knowing that he was going to give him herbal tea that would ease the pain for some time.

He gave his Adar all the time that he needed to prepare the drink, and then waited until he came, sitting beside him, placing the hot cup in his son’s hand.

“Drink it slowly, my child.” Elrond guided him softly as he did when he was an elfling.

Elladan drank it slowly, and then handed his injured arm to his Adar, knowing that he needed to check the injury.

Elrond removed the bandage slowly, knowing that if he moved faster it might cause more pain. He did not wish that.

When he checked the wound, he hummed quietly, and then he laid Elladan’s arm on the bed. He went to get another herb that would heal the wound completely and quickly.

Then Elrond sat back beside his son, bit the herb, and smashed it in his hands until liquid formed. He let it drip on the wound, Elrond knew it might sting, but it would heal faster and with less pain.

“Drink some more tea, ion-nin.” Elrond said to him while he let the liquid fall from his hands.

Elladan drank it all, still feeling the pain in his body. He started to focus on his twin, wondering what he is doing now, hoping that he was not hurt.

Elrond noticed when watched Elladan’s face, how the pain mask changed to calm and wondered what the cause was.

“Elladan? Are you all right?” Elrond asked.

“I… am… Ada.” Elladan responded but tried to focus on his twin and not the pain.

“Nay, you are not, ion-nin,” Elrond said sadly. He could feel his son’s pain. “I wish I did not say those hurtful words to you…”

Elladan stared in shock at his Ada, not knowing what he should say to him.

Elrond stopped as he sensed that Elladan might not be following him.

Elrond knew the look on his son’s face; he worked faster with the healing herbs and took new bandages to close the wound, saying healing chants. He was ready to leave his room and Elladan to his thoughts, but he stopped before he reached the door.

“Ada, do not leave me alone…” Elladan called, sounding like an elfling again.

Elrond turned around and hurried over Elladan’s side.

“I will never leave you or your half alone… you are my children…” Elrond softly said, showing his love with his eyes and clasped his hand over the unwounded shoulder and squeezed it lightly.

“Do you forgive me and Elrohir for our acts?” Elladan asked, needing to know, for sure, that their father still loved them.

“I forgive you and Elrohir.” Elrond replied. He did not wish to see his sons walking away from him again.

Silence covered them for a moment, until Elrond finally broke it as he asked, “How were you hurt, ion-nin?”

And so, Elladan told him everything, even when he and his half arrived in Lothlórien, to seek some aid.

“I am glad that they helped you…” Elrond said, smiling..

Elladan nodded, moved his uninjured hand over his Ada’s hand. “I am glad to be home, at last.”

“I am glad that both of you are here, and I will not let anyone else hurt you. I deeply love you.”

End of Chapter 12.