Tears of the Valar

Disclaimer/Author's Notes: I own nothing but the Original Characters and their adventures. Everything else belongs to JRR Tolkien, the Tolkien Estate, New Line Cinema/Peter Jackson, et. al. This was done purely for entertainment and as an exercise in creativity.
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Alexandra awoke with a start. It was far too quiet in the village and she looked up at Saelbeth in askance. The ellon had not moved, holding her in a gentle embrace as they both slept, but he had awakened with the return of the silence.

“Can you make it to the window?” he asked her quietly.

She nodded and managed to stand, grimacing at the pain in her leg though she noticed it was not as bad as before. Limping over to the window, holding onto the wall for support, Alexandra peered through the slits in the covering. Everything was quiet and nothing moved except the smoke from fires burning in various parts of the city.

“I think it’s over,” she told her companion as she picked up her sword. Helping him to stand and giving him his bow, she went to the door and opened it cautiously. “It’s clear,” she said then put his arm around her and they stepped into the quiet street.

“Any ideas about where we should go?” she asked and Saelbeth shook his head.

“I do not know where any survivors might be. Perhaps we should go back to the place we were billeted. It is a common area for our friends.”

That idea sounded as good as any and the two started in the general direction of their temporary quarters. They had not traveled far when they met Sarendir approaching from that direction. The Rhunian Elf seemed troubled though his smile was genuine when he saw them.

“Thank the Valar you survived,” the dark-haired ellon told them as he took Saelbeth from Alex, assisting the western Elf to walk.

“Legolas?” she asked. Though she felt him in her heart she still wanted confirmation that he was alright.

“He is unharmed,” Sarendir replied though a shadow crossed his face.

“What’s wrong?” Surely, she thought, no one else had died though she knew it was quite likely that they had.

“Cunion perished,” he answered sadly.

“I am sorry, my friend,” Saelbeth said sympathetically. “I pray he finds peace with Mandos.”

Sarendir nodded then forced a smile. “At least we may have found a way to escape this place.” He told them about the escape tunnels and the trio headed in the direction of the temple to join the others. Alexandra prayed they would find the rest of their company whole and safe.

***

Glorfindel and Legolas searched through the ruins of the city sending what survivors they found to the temple and the way out. There were not many people left alive and very few who were injured. It seemed the creatures that had attacked killed those they encountered.

“No sign of Haldir or Elrohir,” Legolas murmured, concerned.

“No,” Glorfindel agreed, shaking his head. “Nor of Elladan. We have not found their bodies so perhaps they managed to escape somehow.”

“We cannot leave, cannot abandon them, not knowing their fate.” Legolas would not leave his friends.

“We will try to get these people somewhere safe; perhaps they can hide until these beasts leave this place; then we can come back and search for them. They may have found their way to the temple and escape tunnels while we have been searching.”

“What of Saelbeth and Alexandra?” Legolas asked. “We have not found them yet either though I feel her in my heart and she seems safe---frustrated but safe.”

“We will continue to look on our way to the temple. Others may have found them.”

The ellyn started back toward the temple. They should take an accounting of those who still lived and those who were missing. Chaos was common in battles and both had been through enough to know they could not make rash assumptions.

***

“Is that where we’re going?” Alexandra asked Sarendir, nodding toward the large stone building that seemed to have multiple domes and towers topped with sharply peaked roofs. Several hundred people were milling about the place, talking, comparing injuries, some simply staring into space while others wept.

“It is the temple we were told contained an escape tunnel,” the Rhunian ellon replied as he eased Saelbeth onto a bench so the Elf could rest his leg.

Alex searched the crowds for Legolas but could not see him. She knew he was safe for she felt him, but she wanted to see him, to hold him close.

Pushing her way through the crowds she found Rumil and Helcarin trying to calm and organize the people who seemed on the verge of panic.

“What’s wrong here? I thought there was a way out,” she said to her friends.

“There is, but there has been some damage and the people are afraid they will not be able to make it through the tunnel. It has been a long time for them since it has been used and some rubble needs clearing,” Rumil replied as he and Helcarin pried at the small door set into an alcove, hidden by a large statue of Lastharos.

Lending her strength to the effort Alex could not help but chuckle. “I see he fancies himself a god. His likeness is in the temple.”

“Is that who that is?” Helcarin asked, raising a brow. “His pride will be his downfall.”

The doorway finally gave way and swung open with the three of them using long candle stands as means to pry it loose. The people began to rush toward the door and soon were crushing one another.

“Stop it!” Alex shouted at them as she and the two Elves began pulling people away from the door, tossing them aside as her anger finally bubbled to the surface. “You are going to kill one another trying to escape. Just go down the stairs one at a time, quickly and quietly. Let one of us go first to make certain there is nothing dangerous waiting for you there.”

The people eventually calmed and Helcarin took a torch and disappeared down the stairs. Rumil remained in the doorway watching his friend descend into the blackness and Alexandra stayed close by.

“Do you need any help?” a familiar voice whispered in her ear and she turned around to see Legolas standing behind her. Crying out her relief, she threw her arms around her husband and heedless of the crowd, kissed him hungrily, wrapping her body around his.

Legolas returned her kiss just as eagerly and lifted her from the floor so he held her in his arms, her legs wrapped around his body as she kept murmuring, “Oh, thank God, thank God,” between kisses.

She finally relaxed and he lowered her so she stood but did not release her from his embrace.

“I knew you were alright,” she told him with a smile.

“And I knew you knew,” he answered. Nodding toward the doorway he continued. “Where does it lead?”

“I don’t know. Helcarin has just gone down into it.”

As if on cue the golden-haired ellon emerged from the tunnel.

“It is clear and I see no signs of imminent danger,” he told Rumil, nodding to Legolas and Glorfindel, who had joined them.

“I will go first and then start sending the people down. Let them take what provisions they can, but only food and water and weapons. No personal belongings.” Glorfindel stepped to the doorway and then drew his sword, taking the torch and leading the first of the people down into the tunnel.

Sarendir and Saelbeth entered the building with Vanurion and the Elves took their places at intermittent points so that they were among the people as they went down. Rumil waited as the others went ahead and turned to Legolas.

“Did you find Haldir?” His voice was calm as was his expression but his friends could see he was quite worried about his brother.

Legolas shook his head. “Neither he nor Elrohir were anywhere to be found. Perhaps they found safety for we did not find any bodies.” He hated being the one to tell Rumil his brother was unaccounted for, but knew it was necessary. “Once we have these people somewhere safe we will come back and scour the city for them both.”

Rumil nodded then took his place in shepherding the survivors to safety. He knew his brother still lived but seemed distant. He would feel it if Haldir had died.

Alex could see her husband was concerned about their friends and reached up to touch his cheek.

“We’ll find them. Haldir’s too mean to die yet; Mandos wouldn’t have him.”

Legolas laughed softly and kissed her forehead. “I believe you are correct, my love.”


“Why are you in Khand?” The mortal stood looking down at the Elves who were still bound in the cave. “What is your purpose for fighting us?”

Haldir and Elrohir merely looked at the man dispassionately. He did not seem angry but rather … troubled. They wondered what was going on in the Khandun army to give its commanders cause for concern. They had seen the three generals in quiet conversation and had heard them expressing their thoughts about Elves invading Khand. Apparently these mortals did not know Elven hearing was quite acute.

Vetoran waited calmly for their answer while Peferio and Crasthion stood quietly behind him. These creatures were quite beautiful and vaguely luminescent even through the dirt and blood from battle. He could see why Lastharos would desire them; the leader enjoyed destroying beauty.

Crasthion finally approached their prisoners and knelt on one knee so he was at eye level with them. He too could see their attraction for the leader and felt pity for any who might fall into Lastharos’ hands.

“We had heard your kind existed but none had ever seen one,” he told them in a conversational tone. “Personally, I always thought Elves were fabricated creatures that were used to keep children in line. ‘Do not stray too far from home or the Elves will get you.’ That sort of thing. But I see you are definitely real and that presents a problem. Why are you here, now? Why have you never ventured into our land before?”

“We are here because we journeyed back to the place of our beginnings,” Haldir replied in a neutral tone. “And we have never been here before because we had heard it was destroyed, but then discovered it was not.”

“If you were here on a ‘journey of discovery’ as you call it, why are you fighting us?” Peferio interjected.

Haldir’s icy blue gaze turned to the mortal. “Your creatures attacked us. Do you expect us to allow ourselves and these people to be slaughtered?”

“These are not your people,” Peferio countered. “Why do you fight for them?”

“They are your people; why do you kill them?” Elrohir shot back.

None of the men answered for a moment then Vetoran replied, “The internal affairs of Khand are no concern of yours.”

“They are when they threaten those of us outside of Khand,” Haldir responded reasonably. “What do you intend to do with us?”

“You are prisoners and will be sent back to the leader for him to determine your disposal. He has ordered that any Elves, should they be encountered, are to be taken prisoner and brought to him.” Vetoran shook his head with a rueful smile. “I never thought I would have to carry out that order.”

Neither Elf spoke but they knew they would be facing likely torture and death at Lastharos’ hands. On the other hand, Orophin and Naveradir were in pursuit of Erestor and there was a possibility they could all end up together. Their chances of survival would increase if such were the case.

The generals were impressed at the poise of these creatures. The Elves did not seem overly concerned with their fate. Perhaps they did not know Lastharos.

“What do you eat?” Crasthion asked the two ellyn. “Can you eat and drink the same things we do?”

Haldir inclined his head. “We are very much like you. We eat and drink, love and lose, feel joy and sorrow as do mortals. Our lives are simply longer.”

Crasthion nodded. “I will have food and water sent to you. We cannot release your bindings but you will not be abused.”

The Elves nodded their acknowledgement as the three men left.

“They will send us to Lastharos,” Elrohir told his companion quietly. “Perhaps we will find Erestor.”

“And perhaps Orophin and Naveradir will find us,” Haldir added. “There is the distinct possibility, however, that we will die once we reach Lastharos’ lair.”

“I am ready for Mandos,” Elrohir replied. “If Elladan is dead, I do not wish to live on in Middle-Earth.”

“You do not know that he is dead,” Haldir pointed out. “He could simply be injured or far from you.”

Elrohir knew the other ellon was correct but his despair and sadness was so great he could not find his way through the sorrow to seek a distant thread of Elladan. He had become convinced of his brother’s death and could not get past it.

True to the mortal’s word, fresh water, some bread and cheese were brought to the Elves. The men who fed them seemed suspicious and a bit awed by the creatures before them, but did their duty without complaint. When they left the ellyn alone, both Haldir and Elrohir allowed themselves to drift into reverie in order to regain what strength they could before their ordeal with Lastharos.


“I will take them to Fwaban,” Crasthion told his comrades.

“You would leave the field of battle?” Peferio asked, stunned.

In response, the younger man held out another parchment, this one recently delivered from Lastharos. Peferio and Vetoran scanned the contents; Crasthion had been summoned to Lastharos.

“It is, no doubt, my death warrant,” he continued. “Lastharos likely wishes me to witness the deaths of my slaves, my household and my family before he kills me. There is no sense wasting other soldiers taking these two to him when I am going anyway.”

“Perhaps not; it may be that Lastharos knows you are loyal and seeks your counsel,” Vetoran replied even though he knew in his heart the young man was likely going to his doom.

Crasthion smiled bitterly. “Thank you for trying to find something good in this situation but I know him all too well.” He started to his tent. “I will depart at dawn. Please have the guards ready the prisoners for travel.”

“How many will you take with you?” Peferio asked.

“None. Just the Elves.” Crasthion vanished into his tent to pack.

***

The man eased Elladan onto a stone shelf so the ellon could sit upright. He smiled and nodded, acknowledging the Elf’s thanks then vanished into the crowd of milling people. They had made it to another safe cavern and Elladan saw there were quite a few people in the caves. At least the entire population of the city had not been decimated. He watched as a group of men went back to see what survivors they could find from the collapse of the cisterns while families tried to account for members.

He wondered about Elrohir. Was his brother safe? He could feel him and knew he lived but there was something wrong. He did not know what had happened but felt quite distant from his twin and prayed that Elrohir was not in danger. Still, part of the risk of battle was death and he knew he would see him again in Valinor should they be parted.

“Here, Master Elf. Drink this.” Allesa stood before him holding out a small metal cup. He took it from her hand and looked at the murky liquid then sniffed it delicately.

“What is it?”

“Something to speed your healing,” she answered. “Now drink.”

He did as instructed and could barely stop from making a face at the taste. It was extremely salty and for a moment he thought he would vomit. It stayed down, however and he was grateful when she handed him another cup of water to wash the taste from his mouth.

“Are we still beneath the city?” he asked when he could finally speak.

She shook her head. “I do not believe so. These tunnels go a long way out from the center of the city for they were built to help people hide or escape should we be overrun. They say a someone from Rhun built them.”

“Why would a Rhunian build tunnels in a Khandun city?” he asked.

“Many of the people here have Rhunian heritage. My mother was half Rhunian and my father was from Rhun. I never saw my mother---she died giving birth to me, but my father visited from time to time. He served Lastharos and was frequently away from home.”

“They must have been quite handsome and kind people to have produced such a lovely and noble daughter,” Elladan replied with a smile. Indeed she was quite beautiful: tall, dark hair, green eyes, faintly golden skin that was similar to Charika’s but lighter, like pale honey through which the sun shone. Her body was strong and she had the gentle curves of a maiden, one who had not yet given birth. Even with dust in her hair and smudges on her face, her beauty shone through. When she blushed she was even lovelier.

“You are a scoundrel with your honeyed words,” she told him teasingly. “I shall begin to believe you if you continue with your flattery.”

He smiled and shook his head. “It is not flattery, my lady. I am sincere.”

She studied him for a moment, her smile fading a bit. “No, it is not flattery; it is merely gratitude. You will come to your senses soon.”

Any reply was cut off when a loud murmuring began among the people suddenly.

“What is it?” he asked. He could not stand on his own to see what was happening.

Alessa stood and looked in the direction the people were pointing and staring. She turned back to Elladan with a smile.

“It seems your friends survived after all.”