Black Death

AN: Might not be updating tomorrow, probably be to tired out. Not to mention I got coaxed in to writing a novel. Doubt I have enough skill to get published, but :;shrugs:: at least I can say I tried. I already have two poems published.

(*)

Hope,
Something taken for granted.
Faith,
Strengthened when hundreds of people die.
Unity,
Peace after death decides to leave.
Beliefs,
What is left over when death is gone.
Courage,
Is left to those able to carry on.

(*)

Time passed slowly during the day. Legolas had attended to Estel, the open sores finally beginning to heal. Another good sign that Estel was on the road to mending. As the day grew on to late afternoon, Glorfindel appeared. Low in hopes, for he had been trying for hours to locate Elrond.

"Pardon me again Legolas, have you seen Elrond as of yet?"

"Nay, last I saw of him was when I fed Estel." Legolas answered. "And you know of that."

"Thank you Legolas, if you hear from him let him know I'm looking for him."

"I will-Glorfindel." Legolas slipped in quickly before the elf could take off. "I shall go look for him, you stay and watch Estel. You need the rest after all."

"No chance of that Legolas." Glorfindel boomed out, taking off down the hallway.

Legolas smiled, "And Glorfindel, have you seen the twins today."

For a few seconds all their was, was silence. Then elvish cursing could be heard echoing down the hallway. Glorfindel has finally realized the twins were missing. Amused by Glorfindel's actions, Legolas shook his head. Only stopping when he eyes fell on Estel.

Big beady eyes stared up at him. Legolas could see the admiration as clear as the morning star. Estel smiled realizing Legolas was looking at him, for he had herd the whole thing.

"What is it child." Legolas asked, his smile disappearing.

"Never have I herd Glorfindel say such bad things." Estel replied in awe. "Not even the time the twins sent him over the falls in a barrel."

Legolas' face twitched in disbelief. "The twins set Glorfindel over the falls of Rivendell in a barrel? Estel, if I heard you right please do tell."

"Well father had some very old, and VERY big wine barrels. I ran across them in the woods. I had chased a snake into some bushes you see. But don't tell father I was casing snakes."

"I won't Estel, please carry on."

"Well, of course I had to show my find to my broders. An' they got BIG smiles on their faces. An'... an'... an' next minute I know they're stuffing a drugged Glorfindel into one." Estel explained.

"I hope they waited till he was awake before they sent him over."

"Mmm hmmm they did," Estel put a finger in his mouth. "Needless to say the barrel broke early on, it was very disappointing."

"Poor Glorfindel, that had to be painful, and mighty scary."

"Father said the same thing," Estel paused, "but he was laughing."

"So then the twins didn't get punished?" Legolas asked for clarification purposes.

"Yes, they got punished, that's how father realized grounding them was not worth it anymore."

"What did your father do to them?"

Estel shrugged, "I don't know, but they couldn't sit down comfortably for a long time."

Just barely, Legolas managed not to laugh. "So your dad was mad."

"Yes he was, mad and laughing." Estel looked down lost in depressing thoughts. "You know, father used to hang out by one of the falls, there was a tree shaped like a heart. He told me that was his favorite place, an' it was the last place he and his wife showed untroubled emotions of love."

"I never herd of such a tree in Rivendell." Legolas said thoughtfully.

Estel shook his head, his hair dancing with the movement. "It only began to grow when she sailed over the seas or so father says... How long ago was that?"

"A long time ago Estel, do you think you would be fine by yourself?"

Estel yawned loudly, Legolas took that for a yes. Staring after Legolas in dismay, he wished the elf would have left him some water. He was mighty thirsty.

(*)

"Glorfindel?"

An elf pointed over his shoulder, concentrating more on his game. Legolas rushed past him without a thank you. There was other things more important to do then mess with polite manners.

"Glorfindel?" Legolas asked again.

"I'm right here," Glorfindel replied stepping around a group of elves. "What has brought you to seek me? That desperate to rid your self of the human?"

"No, as much as I wished to." Legolas said honestly. "But it does involve the child."

"Oh?"

"Yes, he remembers his father having a favorite place by one of the falls of Rivendell. Two trees that form a heart."

"I have never herd of such a place, you sure the boy was not delusional?" Glorfindel asked skeptical.

"I'm certain he was not delusional." Legolas replied.

"Pardon," One of the grouped up elves asked, his blue eyes setting him apart. "I do remember such a place, it's not to far from here."

"Show us." Glorfindel ordered.

The elf showed respectful knowledge, leading them forth to find the tree. The sun darkened, as a grey cloud moved in.

(*T*)

The travel from Rivendell had taken longer then expected. For they had to leave their horses behind early on. Sneaking past elven patrols on foot. Only now were they approaching the outer reaches of Rivendell. Elladan stopped, halting his twin to.

"Elrohir," Elladan whispered, "this is where you go by yourself."

Elrohir looked out in front of him. "This will be one of my longest trips without you. To say I'm not wary of it would be dishonest."

"You will be fine brother, now go."

Shrugging off the pack he handed it to his brother. "It would be better if I traveled without this. You on the other hand forgot to pack, and you will be sitting for longer."

Elladan nodded, then watched his brother dart forward, and out of Rivendell. Some where in his heart he wanted to tell his brother good bye, but good byes were forever. He shouldered Legolas' pack looking the disappearing form of his twin.

"See you later Ro." Elladan whispered to the wind.

(*G*)

Legolas looked around, they had found the tree but no evidence that Elrond was around. Something pulled Glorfindel to stare over the edge off the falls. At first his keen elven eyes didn't pick up anything queer. Just waves as the falls tumbled down into the wide deep river. Then he saw what the elves did not want to see.

Elrond was floating in the water far below. His face was down in the water, his limbs floated, and his body limp pressed against a rock by the currants. The small waves from the falls, made Elrond's hair wiggle like worms.

"I found him." Glorfindel groaned.

(*)