The Healing of Elves and Trees

Title: The Healing of Elves and Trees
Author: Eliza 422 (eliza_422@hotmail.com)
Pairing: Elrohir/Haldir (eventually), Elladan/Legolas
Rating: R
Summary: AU Story. Elrohir and Celebrian are captured by orcs. They survive the attack but Elrohir is changed. Will he ever recover from what he has experienced? And will Elladan?
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JRR Tolkien.
Author's note: Read part 1, the prologue, to understand the alternate universe elements of this story.

Chapter 2
"I could lie here all day," Legolas said. He was lying on his back next to the river that wound its way through Imladris. He and Elladan were enjoying a picnic lunch, and the weather was perfect.
"I could watch you lie here all day," Elladan replied softly. He was on his side, head propped on his palm. He was running a lock of Legolas' soft golden hair through his fingers. He brought the hair to his lips and kissed it.
Legolas laughed at his husband. "If your father's guards could see you like this they would keel over laughing."
"What, can't a man kiss his husband's hair?"
Legolas turned to face Elladan and smiled. They had only been married a few months, but it felt like he'd known Elladan his whole life.
"Of course, El! It's just that you have such a macho reputation. No one realizes your soft as lambs wool on the inside." Legolas ran his fingers down Elladan's cheek.
Elladan growled. "Lambs wool, eh? I'll show you lambs wool!" He rolled over on top of Legolas, capturing his lips in a kiss. He moved his hand deeper into the blond hair to pull Legolas close.
Legolas laughed again. He moved his arms around Elladan's neck, deepening the kiss.
Elladan finally broke the kiss, but didn't move. "I love you," he whispered.
"Soft as lambs wool," Legolas said. He pulled Elladan back down for another kiss.

"Oh, Leggy," said Elladan as he rolled off Legolas onto his back. He grabbed another lock of blond hair to play with.
"Don't you start calling me that! It's bad enough that Elrohir does," Legolas said.
"It's just such a perfect name! You do have long, beautiful legs. Ouch!" Elladan winced at the punch he got in the stomach.
Legolas sat up and pulled his hair out of Elladan's hand. "Give me that back!" He started braiding his long hair, ignoring the pout on his husband's face.
"I like when you leave it unbound," Elladan said. "It's much prettier."
"Nope!" Legolas said, sticking his tongue out.
"I'll just have to take a whole braid then!" Elladan said, wrapping his hand around one of the newly-formed thick braids. He pulled Legolas toward him for another kiss.
Legolas turned away at the last moment. "I think you've been taking too many liberties with my hair, elf! I'm telling my father!"
"Now you're playing hard to get?. Is this a way for a grown elf to act - especially to his husband? I have unlimited access to that golden mane of yours and I intend to take full advantage of it!" Elladan wrapped his arms around Legolas' waist.
Legolas struggled briefly, but his laughter finally made him relent. He leaned close to Elladan's face, forehead to forehead. He looked deep into gray eyes.
"You win, elf. Do what you will with me," he said.
"I like the sound of that," Elladan replied. He moved in to kiss Legolas again, winding another braid in his hand.

The two elves kissed for a few more minutes, then lay back down on the blanket. Elladan pulled Legolas over to lie on his chest. It felt good to lie in the sun. He took a couple of the blond braids and undid them. He smoothed out the hair so he could run his fingers through it again, occasionally kissing the soft strands.

The couple were dozing in the sun when Elladan awoke suddenly and sat up, dumping Legolas onto the ground.
"El, what did you do that for? I was comfortable!" Legolas chuckled when he noticed his unkempt hair.
"I don't know. Something is wrong, I can feel it."
Legolas sat up, all laughter gone. "Don't fight it, Elladan, just relax. You'll figure it out."
Elladan could feel something gnawing at his insides. Something was really wrong, but who? What?
"I think I need to see my father."
"OK, let me get our things." Legolas quickly packed up their picnic. He was worried - he had never seen Elladan look so scared before. "Let's go." He grabbed Elladan's arm and hauled him up off the ground. They started walking back home.

Elladan and Legolas made it to the main courtyard. They saw Elrond talking to Glorfindel and Erestor. Elladan picked up the pace until he was almost running.
"Elladan, wait!" Legolas said, running after his husband.
Elrond and the others turned toward them after hearing Legolas yell. Their smiles quickly faded when they saw the expression on Elladan's face.
"Son, what's wrong?" Elrond said, walking toward Elladan.
Elladan stopped so suddenly Legolas ran into him.
Elladan looked into his father's eyes.
"Elrohir," he whispered, the blood draining from his face.
"Elladan, what's wrong? What about Elrohir?" Legolas said, frantic at the ashen face of his husband.

Elladan lifted his face to the sky and cried out, dropping to his knees. He rolled forward, his head touching the ground.
"Elladan!" Legolas cried, crouching down, putting his hands on Elladan's back.
Elrond also knelt down next to his son.
Elladan started sobbing, repeating Elrohir's name.
"Elladan, is he...is Elrohir...is he dead?" Legolas whispered the words. Elladan didn't respond.
"Please help him," Legolas said, turning to Elrond, tears streaming down his face. He was surprised to see Elrond's eyes closed, acting as if he was looking for something.
Legolas looked up at Glorfindel and Erestor to see shocked looks on their faces. All three elves watched as father and son knelt on the ground.

Elrond finally opened his eyes and looked at Glorfindel. "Celebrian is in trouble - and Elrohir too, by Elladan's reaction. I don't know what's wrong, but I can guess." He stopped talking for a moment and closed his eyes again. A tear ran down his cheek. "She's so afraid," he whispered, his voice trembling.
"Orcs have them," Elladan said suddenly, coming out of his grief for the moment.
"Yes," Elrond said in agreement.
Glorfindel turned and ran toward the guard barracks. He started barking orders to everyone around him.

Elrond turned back to Elladan.
"Elladan!" He said gruffly. "Elladan! Get up. We have to go now if we're going to save them."
Elladan didn't move from the ground.
Elrond turned to Legolas. "Legolas, help me get him up." The two elves stood and each took one of Elladan's arms. They hauled him to his feet, steadying him as he sagged down again.
"Father, I can't," said Elladan, turning to Elrond. He was ready to drop to the ground again.
"Elladan, snap out of it!" Legolas shouted, slapping Elladan.
"Legolas!" Elrond said, shocked at his son-in-law's behavior.
Legolas ignored him and slapped Elladan again. "Elladan! You won't do your mother or brother any good acting like this! You have to be strong for them!"
"Enough!" Elladrabbrabbed Legolas' arm before he could deliver another blow. He had snapped out of the fugue state he was in and fury twisted his face.
Legolas stepped back, afraid for the first time of his husband's temper.
Elladan calmed down a little when he saw the fear in Legolas' eyes. He let go of his arm. "I'm not mad at you, my love. You did what you had to do."
"Elladan, go change into travel clothes. We leave within the hour!" Elrond said. He stopped for a moment and gave Elladan a fierce hug. "We'll find them and bring them home, son. Keep that in the forefront of your mind. Elrohir will feel that." He looked at his son's face. He was so pale and scared.
Elrond turned to Legolas. "You will help him get ready?"
"Of course. Come quickly, Elladan!" Legolas said. He grabbed Elladan's arm and headed to their chambers in the great house.

Legolas quickly packed two travel bags - one for himself and one for Elladan. Elladan was sitting on their bed staring into space. He hadn't said a word since they arrived in their suite.
Legolas changed his own clothes and they were ready to go. He turned to Elladan.
"Elladan, love, I've packed. Are you ready to go?"
Elladan came out of his daze and looked at his husband. Legolas was dressed in his brown and green travel clothes; his bow and quiver were on his back and his fighting knives were strapped to his legs. His long blond hair was fully braided in the Mirkwood style. He held two travel bags in his hands.
"Why are you dressed like that? Where are you going?"
"What do you mean? We're going with you father and the others to rescue your mother and Elrohir."
"We? I don't think so!" Elladan harrumphed and grabbed his backpack from Legolas.
"Excuse me?"
"You're not going anywhere, Legolas. We'll be back as soon as we can."
Legolas face flushed. "Oh, I'm going." He started toward the door.
Elladan stepped in front of him and grabbed his arms. "I said you're not going."
"Get your hands off of me, elf. I'm going with the rescue party."
"You are my husband and you'll obey me. You're staying here where you'll be safe."
Legolas shrugged Elladan's hands off his arms. "Obey you? OBEY you? This isn't the First Age anymore - I'm my own elf and I will do what I please."
"You will obey me! You're staying here!" Elladan yelled. ow yow you listen to me, husband. Elrohir is my closest, dearest friend - the only person I'm closer to in this world is you. Celebrian has been a mother to me since my own died. I am a very competent warrior and I'll not let your macho posturing keep me from doing everything in my power to help those I love. You can either go with me to help your family or you can sit here and spout antiquated chauvinistic ideas at the walls. Either way, I'm out of here." Legolas slipped around Elladan and ran out the door.
Elladan grumbled as he headed out of their chambers to the courtyard. "Damn ellian elves."

The courtyard was full of horses and elves preparing for battle. Elrond was consulting with several healers who were going with the rescue party. Glorfindel was giving final instructions to the four elf captains leading the warriors.
Elladan saw Legolas attaching his back pack to his horse. Legolas saw Elladan looking at him and turned his back to his husband. Elladan sighed, knowing it was no use trying to stop Legolas from coming along.
Legolas came up next to him while Elladan was settling his pack.
"I put 10 packets of lembas and 3 skins of water in your saddlebags," Legolas said, avoiding Elladan's gaze. "That should be enough to get you there and back." He turned to walk away.
"Legolas, wait." Elladan took his hand. Legolas turned back to Elladan, this time looking into his eyes. "I don't want anything to happen to you, that's all." He reached out to stroke one of Legolas' braids.
Legolas smiled gently. "I know, my love. But I have to do this - I love them too. And I'm a damn fine shot, you know that."
Elladan laughed for a moment, then his face turned sober. His lips started trembling. "I've never felt such fear in myself before - I don't know if it's me or Elrohir," he said softly. He started rubbing Legolas' braid frantically. Tears fell from his eyes.
"This is my fault," Elladan said suddenly.
"What? How can this be your fault?"
"I let them go without me. Elrohir argued and argued with me that he and Mother would be fine. If I had been there nothing would have happened!" Elrohir grabbed Legolas into a rib-crushing hug.
"Elladan, let go," gasped Legolas. "You're hurting me."
Elladan let go. "See, first I hurt them now I'm hurting you!" He began sobbing.
"Listen to me. First of all, you were just hugging me a little too tight - no big deal, honestly. Secondly, what happened to Elrohir and Celebrian was not your fault. The most likely scenario is that they were ambushed by orcs, right? What makes you think that one more warrior would have turned the tide? You're an incredible warrior, Elladan, but even you're not invincible!"
"It was my fault! Glorfindel and I were the ones responsible for purging the orc menace in the Misty Mountains - obviously I failed miserably. I thought we'd eliminated the orc threat there. And I let Elrohir talk me into letting him and Mother go alone to Lorien. What is it with you ellian elves? You never obey any more."
Legolas snorted in laughter. "What did I say earlier? This isn't the First Age anymore, when ellian elves were second class citizens."
"You were never second class! You are precious and need to be protected."
"What a crock! That's an old excuse you males like to trot out when we do something you don't like. Elrohir would have gone to Lorien no matter what you said. Besides, they were escorted by 20 strong warriors." Sadness came over Legolas. "I wonder if any of those warriors survived. All we can do is hope. Hope and be ready to fight!"
Elladan turned away. "I...I don't think I can feel any hope right now. All I feel is Elrohir's fear - Elrohir's and my own."
Legolas moved closer to his husband. "We'll find them, El, and bring them home." He pulled Elladan's head to his shoulder and stroked the thick black hair. Such fear was a new sensation for Elladan - Legolas knew that Elladan would need his support like never before to make it through the next few weeks. He would be there every step of the way - even if the worse should happen.