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English
Series:
Part 3 of Where Family was made of more than blood
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Published:
2023-04-25
Updated:
2023-04-25
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1,487
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2/?
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The Aftermath of the Cliff

Summary:

What happened after Aragorn fell of the cliff.

Notes:

Disclaimer:
These characters belong to Tolkien. I am merely playing with them.

Chapter 1: In Imladris

Chapter Text

         Lord Elrond was looking out at the courtyard of Imladris through the window in his office. The day had been peaceful enough yet he was still restless, a sense of foreboding settled over him. He shook himself out of his musing. Valar knows he had enough work to do. He did not see the surface of his mahogany desk nowadays. Just as he was about to return to his work, he saw a rider galloping into the valley. His foreboding increased as he made his way to the door to greet the rider.

         As he descended the last few steps into the courtyard, he was joined by his twin sons. Together they approached the rider who had just dismounted from her horse.

         “Greetings Master Elves! I come bearing a letter from Theoden King of Rohan to Lord Elrond of Rivendell Could you please guide me to his Lordship”

         “You have come to the right place Mistress, for I am Elrond the Lord of this beautiful valley of Imladris known to Men as Rivendell.”, Elrond stepping forward to receive the letter, which the messenger handed over with a bow of respect.

         He had a feeling- nay, he knew that this concerned his youngest ion. He broke the seal depicting a horse running in front of a rising sun and unrolled the scroll and scanned its contents, only to drop it with a gasp.

         The twins heard their father’s gasp. Elrohir stepped behind his father to see what was wrong as Elladan reached for the fallen letter. But before either could succeed in their self-appointed tasks, Elrond’s knees gave out and he fell to the ground, silent tears unning down his face.

         “Ada. Ada, Man te” (Father. Father, what is it), Elrohir asked shaking his father, deeply concerned. He could easily count all the times his father had cried in public, even before them. The last time had been when Thranduil had come and Elrond had to tell him about the quest he had send their sons on.

         “Elladan picked up the letter and read it , his eyes widening, it would have been comical if the situation was not so dire.

         “Nay, It can’t be, not my tithen munidor, Nay”, whispered Elladan, he was trembling. Elrohir had picked the contents of the letter from his twins mind and was hugging his father and shedding tears for their lost brother while Elladan turned towards the girl and demanded, “Is this true messenger?”

         “Aye ‘milord, it is true. The Lord Aragorn died protecting the retreating Rohirimm on our way to Helm’s Deep” It was as though the life force was sucked out of him. His fingers grew numb and the paper fluttered to the ground, free for everyone to see the words that had brought the powerful elven family to their knees,

         The tear-stained parchment read,

Half the writing was smudged by the tears and the usually elegant handwriting of the prince was barely legible. His sign was accompanied by the seal of the White stag of Eryn Galen surrounded by the birds that made the sigil Legolas’s own, giving the heart wrenching message credibility.

         Elrond finally pulled himself together as the concern for his other son permeated his mind. He now feared for Legolas’s fëa. He did not believe that Legolas would journey to the sea by himself now that he had

lost his husband. No, he would not, could not lose another son. His family will not survive that.

         “Elladan, Elrohir, I need you to ride to Rohan with haste and bring Legolas to Mithlond.”, Elrond said holding his grieving sons by their shoulders, “I shall order for the remaining elves to pack for our last journey. The elves will sail now that there is …”, his voice broke off. He took a deep breath and continued, “there is no hope.”

        The twins nodded denoting their understanding of the order. They went into the house to pack the essentials needed for the journey . Elrohir also packed a skin of miruvor, the mead of Valinor. He prayed to the Valar that it will be enough to sustain Legolas till they reached the Grey Havens. Legolas, Elbereth, he could only imagine what he was going through, loosing his husband again, this time permanently. He could not afford to think such thoughts, he has to be strong. He will do as he was bid, then, he will grieve.

They loaded their packs onto their horses, they had not packed much -only their weapons and lembas-so as to not burden their horses and compromise speed. And soon two riders cloaked in grey rode out of Imladris.

 

Chapter 2: The lone rider

Notes:

Disclaimer:
These characters belong to Tolkien. I am merely playing with them.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

In helms deep

          The sentry that was stood at the ramparts spotted a lone rider mounted upon a horse riding through the dew-laden grass covered rolling hills, approaching the keep. The sun shone from behind the rider concealing his face from the fair-haired Rohirrm

         The rider was allowed entry by the guards. The people gathered around to glimpse at the newcomer, for it was Lord Aragorn, a man they had given up for being dead. “‘Tis a miracle”, whispered one, “Nay it was a sign from the Gods”, whispered another. It was the general consensus among the people when a short figure barreling through the crowd bellowing, “Where is he? Where is he, I am going to kill him.”

         “You are the luckiest, uncanniest, and the most reckless man I ever knew.”, berated the dwarf and then he hugged Aragorn. “Bless you laddie.” The strong voice of the dwarf dwindled into a mere whisper, as he was overcome with emotions and relief, not only for the friend in front of him but also the one in the tower behind.

         “Gimli, where is the King?”, asked the battered man for he had seen a great army of uruks marching on Helm’s deep and weighed heavily on his mind.

 

         “You may visit the king Aragorn but first come with me.” And having stated that the dwarf dragged him to one of the castles towers. “Gimli what-?” but the Adan had no time to protest before they were upon the crumpled form of their fair companion on the floor.

         Estel quickly crouched near his friend and look over the elf. “How long has he been like this?”

         “Since we came here. He was coherent enough to write a letter to your family relaying your death. King Theoden had it sent. But now I see that it was an ill-advised decision.” Answered Gimli

         But Estel had no time to contemplate the last piece of information, for his companion was fading before his eyes, and had been for three days. Estel feared that he had come too late. But he had not- could not give up hope.

         “Legolas, Legolas awaken. Look I have come. Meleth nìn open your beautiful eyes, I fain to gaze into them.” Said Estel, as he shook his elf. He could feel his fëa, though, it was tethered by a thread. He poured his remaining strength into Legolas, opening the connection between their minds. He could feel Legolas’s mind besieged by cold. He tried to call upon him and his efforts were rewarded when the cerulean eyes open.

         “Am I dead already?” asked already, his eyes never leaving Estel’s.

         “No. You are not, neither am I.” spoke Estel softly, his face barely a breath away from Legolas’s. “I survived the fall ‘Las nin. I did not die. And neither will you. I have you.”

“But, but you fell. I felt could no longer feel your mind in mine.” Said Legolas, tears of anguish falling from his eyes,  both on the mind numbing pain he had felt when he thought Estel had died and the knowledge that he had abandoned his mate for dead.

         Estel embraced his beloved to offer what comfort he could to make the pain and guilt that shrouded his lover go away. But he knew that such hurts cannot be healed in a moment.

         Legolas finally accepted that Estel was truly alive and was no figment of his imagination and he leaped onto Estel holding for dear life and sobbing into his shoulder telling how lonely he had felt. The pain of grief and finally peace and relief as he found himself fading. Then how it had not been fast enough and he had tried to speed it up by own hand.

         When Legolas admitted to have slashed his hand with the intent to die, Estel felt his eyes own eyes tear up and his hands shake as he reached down to examine the archers hand. He found new gashes that were too deep for comfort, yet not deep enough to be life threatening, among the old scars. He tightened his hold on Legolas and rocked him.

         They stayed like that till Legolas’s tears had been exhausted and that was how Lady Eowyn had found them later- Aragorn rocking Legolas, while the latter straddled the former.

Notes:

What would happen next I wonder....

Thank you for reading and I sincerely apologize for using Aragorn and Estel interchangingly. I hope you are not terribly confused. Let me know what you think :). Until next *hopefully* week .