Black Death

(*)

Test of time,
Test of faith.
What have you done,
For the gods,
To test your own house?
You brought,
Ill fortune in.
Now you must,
Drive it out.
Elf of great wisdom,
What will you do?

(*)

An arrow whizzed by, picking up thin strands of black hair as it passed close to Elrohir's head. Determined to get his point across to the small encampment of soldiers, Elrohir remained still. Even as the human notched another arrow, this time not attending not to miss. He knew the humans had misgivings about him, especially at the fact he refused to come close to them.

'I repeat, I am Elrohir, twin brother to Elladan, son of Elrond Peredhil lord of Rivendell. I come in peace with a message.' Elrohir repeated. 'As you can see I am unarmed and of no threat to you.'

That was the honest truth. He was in to much of a hurry to depart that Elrohir didn't get any of his weapons. It was not customary for him to carry weapons around Rivendell. Slowly Elrohir raised his hands to further clarify his unarmed status.

'Wait,' The human leader intervened finally.

At first Elrohir didn't know what caused the sudden change. Then he noticed the off white color of his bandages. Elrohir had completely forgotten about them.

'Your injured elf, are you sick yourself?' The leader asked nervously.

'No, I am not ill. I acquired these injuries saving my brother from a fire.' Elrohir unwrapped his hands. 'Now please will you hear me out?' Elrohir pleaded.

'Go on elf, what is this about?'

'We have found the carriers of this disease.' Elrohir shouted. 'It's the fleas that infest your homes and cities.'

'You calling us filthy elf?' The leader said with warning in his voice.

/Yes,/ Elrohir thought. 'No,' Elrohir replied.

Moments passed in silence. The leaders eyes firmly locked on Elrohir's. Searching for any flicker of dishonesty. By the steadiness in the elf's eyes, the leader knew for certain the elf was not playing them for fools. Taking a deep breath the leader kicked someone, but Elrohir could not make out who.

'Listen to the elf.' Elrohir over heard. 'Send out riders to spread the word.'

Curiously Elrohir watched them move. His senses told him to run, dignity told him to stand his ground. In time the leader stood a bow and arrow in his hands. A th-wump filled the air, as an arrow whizzed through the air again. Landing barely a centimeter from Elrohir's right foot.

'Drink it elf.' The human leader ordered. 'I know it won't kill you, for your not a man, but it'll slow you down and keep you from following us.'

Growling to himself, Elrohir bent over. Uniting knot of the string that held the little bottle, face contorting with the ill feelings he had. On most occasions he would not drink such a thing, resort to trickery to avoid it. But once his father told him, there is a time to put yourself at risk, or ill health, to save lives. Quickly he downed the liquid, surprised at how sweet it was.

'Thank you elf, this assures peace between us, and the honesty of your words.' The humans said.

Elrohir nodded. 'May I go now, or do you want me to be here till I wither in misery?'

'Yes, go. I promise you on my honor, and the honor of my men, that we will pass the message to everyone.

Turning heal, Elrohir swiftly walked away. His stomach burned as the poison settled in. Somewhere behind him he heard the hoof beats of horses as the promise was kept. It would be awhile before Elrohir realized it was all worth being poisoned.

(*R*)

Free falling into the air, Glorfindel felt awed as he watched his world pass by him. For this point he felt no exhilaration, but he could not feel his heart beat. The instant his feet left solid stone his heart stopped. His hair flapped behind him waving to the elves he knew were making their way now down the treacherous trail down the falls.

A breath before he hit the water, Glorfindel recalled the pandemonium that burst out, and Legolas' pale disbelieving face as Glorfindel jumped into thin air. Straitening out his body, Glorfindel slipped into the churning waters with a splash.

For a few seconds he remained suspended in the water before his body told him to swim. When he surfaced treading water that wanted to pull him under again, Glorfindel felt the exhilaration of the fall catch up. His limps tingled, stunned from hitting the water. Glorfindel knew as soon as his limps recovered he would feel the chill of the water.

Skillfully he swum to Elrond, managing the water and it's currants Glorfindel rolled the limp form over. Elrond's lungs did not draw breath, nor did his heart beat. It seemed to Glorfindel the elf lord was dead, but he could not think the worse.

(*)

Elrohir stumbled, behind him a large number of orcs hunted him. His head spun wildly, and his stomach wished to spew its contents. Disoriented Elrohir tripped over a branch sprawling unto the ground. Frantically he crawled forward, trying to get away. Minutes, that's all Elrohir knew he had.

Elladan saw his brothers plight kneeling down beside him. His brother looked ill, and he could hear the orcs. He stood drawing his bow and arrow, he came prepared.

The orcs froze, last time they saw an elf matching that description he was struggling to move. Now there they thought he stood, healthy, not as sick as they first thought. Confused the orcs stopped, talking among themselves. Squabbling among themselves they drew back, if the elf was now healthy he either left someone easier to harm behind, or was luring them into a trap.

Orcs gone, Elladan knelt beside his twin. Which by now was out cold. His breathing was regular, same with his pulse. Besides for later side affects, he knew his brother would be fine.

(*)

Elrond stood in a beautiful field, the road to the elvish after life. Carefully he took a step forward, the world went black. Startled Elrond looked around for the answer, the reason for the change. His sharp elven eyes could make out nothing, cept for darkness.

"Hello?" Elrond called out.

"Elrond Peredhil, lord of Imladris, elf of wisdom." A voice echoed, neither male or female. "You know it is not your time to go."

Elrond opened his mouth to speak, but he felt that urge crushed by something in the air. He thus remained quiet.

"You remember how you got here Elrond Peredhil?"

Elrond recalled that he was walking along the edge of the falls. His mind going over every little problem that was going on. The questions of why kept ringing through his head painfully. Vaguely Elrond recalls a poorly placed step. A stone turned under his foot.

He had fallen into the air, free of solid ground. To make matters worse he did not have the strength in him to make a less painful impact with the water. Elrond had landed flat on his back.

"You should be dead," The voice taunted. "I will not allow that though. Gil-galad was surprised when I finally let him die. Finally finding an elf to carry me through the centuries."

Elrond drew back startled that the voice said such a thing. How did it know of Gil-galad? Why did it say those things? The voice chuckled to its self. Finding Elrond strangely amusing.

"That is what you wished me to say is it not?" The voice asked.

Thinking back Elrond recalled the thought saying that the voice was evil, nothing more. The feeling in the room grew heavy, as if the voice grew sad.

"No, Gil-galad found you on his own. The day he died he talked to me, asked me to let him go. He knew as long as he lived, you could never come my master." The voice paused. "Gil-galad admired you Elrond Peredhil. He knew the fine elf you would make someday. If you know not my name by now, I am called by the elves, Vilya."

At the sound of the name Vilya, Elrond gasped his eyes wide. Staring at nothing, yet staring at the ring he so cherished for all these centuries. The only thing he cherished more was his wife... And his children. Suddenly Elrond urned for his children.

"You get it now Elrond Peredhil." The voice softened. "It is all right, I will not let you die. You are to greatly needed on Middle Earth. Know elves look up to you for comfort and hope. It is up to you to look for the light, in darkness."

A bodiless hand touched Elrond's face lightly. Elrond reached up, touching where he figured the hand to be.

'I em Vilya, the greatest ring of all of elves, dwarves, and men. I will be ever with you Elrond, even the day you pass away."

With those words said, Elrond could feel himself slipping back in time.

(*R*)

Sadness choked Glorfindel, he could not get any life from Elrond. The group of elves approached them as Glorfindel stood over the lifeless body of the prince. A light shown brightly blinding Glorfindel, and when it faded he looked at Elrond.

He was breathing.

(*H*)

Estel leaned against the door, he was tired, but he was more thirsty. He had herd the elves leave, for a few minutes he waited for their return. When they did not he decided to get up and find water on his own. Now as Estel slowly made his way back to his room, commotion arose. Quietly he remained were he stood, as elves filed in.

At first he did not worry, then he noticed a dripping wet Glorfindel caring a limp wet elf. Fear filled Estel as he recognized his father. The man he thought could never get hurt, or sick, now looked dead. Elrond's arm hung out limp, as his head bent backwards.

"Father?" Estel whimpered.

None of the elf noticed the little voice cept for one; Legolas. The Mirkwood elf looked from Elrond, then to Estel. Breaking off from the group, Legolas took Estel in his arms. Swiftly carrying him away from the scene.

"FATHER!" Estel screamed.

"Shh Estel, be quiet." Legolas ordered none to kind.

"No let me go!" Estel screamed. "FATHER!"

"Estel!" Legolas shouted trying to not let his feelings take over. "Please Estel calm down."

His words didn't sink in as Estel continue to struggle and scream for his father. Legolas held the child close, feeling need to protect the child from the sites. Trying to protect him from what still may come. Estel screamed again, Legolas drew him closer.