Black Death

The king as fallen,
The pawns have risen,
Up out of the ashes.
Generations come together,
For it is the time to heal.
You now have the answers,
You now have the key.
The black death's time,
Is almost done.

(*)

The twins drew near Rivendell, Elrohir feeling a tiny headache but nothing to much else wise. It was the first time in a very long time that Elrohir, and Elladan came back to Rivendell without carrying someone. Punching Elrohir playfully, Elladan picked his twin up, flinging him over his shoulder. It just didn't feel right to enter Rivendell with both of them on their feet.

"Elladan I can walk, this won't count." Elrohir complained.

"I can always knock you out brother, would that be better?" Elladan asked teasingly.

Before Elrohir could smart back at his brother, they felt the despair of the elven population. Leary Elladan walked the cliff side pass, into the gates of Rivendell. All the elves that looked at them seemed to do so with disdain. Elladan dropped Elrohir on his feet, scanning Rivendell for answers.

Elrohir grabbed an arm of a passing elf, "Tell me dear friend, what has happened here?"

"If you wouldn't have run off you would have known." The voice said sharply. "But what are we to expect from the sons of Elrond. Definitely not anyone worthy of the lords wisdom, but the direct opposite."

Elrohir let the elf pull free, then with wide eyes looked at his brother. Never before had they been greeted so poorly in Rivendell. It was very unnerving to say the least. Both brothers ran off into their house, ignoring the elves that stared at them.

Once in side they followed the sound of a musical elvish lullaby. The well known voice of a Mirkwood elf. A voice that could put any man or beast to sleep in a matter of a few cords.

In a small sitting room they found Legolas in a rocker, rocking a bundled up Estel. Four tiny scratches shone against the Mirkwood elf's fair face from ear to chin. Estel lay as if he were a mere infant against the elf's shoulder. Stretching from a few inches over the elf's shoulder, to his feet resting on Legolas' leg.

Elladan and Elrohir always knew Estel was small for one of his race, hopefully he would grow more with coming age. Other wise he would be mistaken for a Hobbit. His feet were big enough, same with his appetite.

"You are back so soon." Legolas said softly to not wake Estel.

"Yes, Elrohir met an army which lessened the time... Tell me Legolas, what has happened here?" Elladan inquired.

Legolas' face grew more grave. "Elrond, your father, had an accident. He fell off one of the falls and landed none to gracefully. Thankfully Glorfindel found him in time. As for if he will still live by morning, I do not know."

"You do not know?" Elrohir said as loud as he dared to go with Estel.

"The fall was great, and he has contracted the plague. He may have chosen to be of elf kind, but his immune system does not seem to be handling this like an elf." Legolas hugged Estel closer. "Neither is Estel taking this well."

"I can see, are you okay Legolas?" Elladan asked.

"'Tis just scratches, nothing more."

"I'm going to go see father." Elrohir said hastily heading for the door.

"Elrohir!" Legolas shouted.

Startled by the loud noise Estel began to scream again. Legolas started rocking harder rubbing the young child's back. Elrohir froze in the doorway looking at Legolas.

"What?"

"You cannot go see him, Glorfindel said it would be better if Elrond was to have no visitors." Legolas stated then began to sing.

Elrohir punched the door frame, looking around as if the answers of what to do would be written out. His twin stood confused, being forbidden to see his father was extreme.

"But-" Elladan began.

"No buts Elladan, now please, be quiet now your brother is upset, can you not see that?"

Legolas stood up abruptly bouncing Estel trying to keep the boy from screaming any louder. Usually this would frustrate him, but he grew attached to Estel.

(*G*)

Glorfindel sat wondering how all of this could have happened in Rivendell of all places. The difficult decision that Elrond had made he knew he himself could never have made. The twins, he noticed, were getting a most inhospitable welcome back into their own house. A welcome he was not surprised about thus he condoned.

Glorfindel sighed once more the full force of all the many days events hitting at once. If anyone were to come across him now they would have seen the mighty balrog slayer with tears spilling from his eyes. Finally got up and went to check on Estel again. Wipeing his tears aside.

There Glorfindel found Legolas still rocking the small child. The look of distaste had long gone from the elf's face. He noticed now that Legolas rocked the child as if they were the closest of friends.

"Legolas come let me have him I will lay him down for you so you may get some rest."

"NO!" Legolas yelled though not meaning too.

Legolas had become attached to the child for some reason and saw it as his place to tend to him. He got up and carefully laid the child down and crawled in next to him and fell asleep almost at once. Glorfindel shook his head. With all this death around there was still a small window of hope.

The hope laid in one so small and he hoped one that would live to reunite this torn family. At the same time the small vessal of hope, could heal the hardest hatred. With one last look he closed the door and hoped tomorrow would bring a better day.

Then Glorfindel eyes fell on the two rebellious sons of Elrond. Disappointment soon out weighed the sadness in his heart for this moment. It was at this time, he wished he had the same patience that Elrond possessed. Swiftly he reached forward grabbing one ear of each twin.

"Where have you two been? Your father needed you here. The pure agony of his decision is killing him at this very moment." Glorfindel yelled his anger getting the better of him.

"What decision?" Elladan asked cringeing, forgetting about the humans that died.

"Ouch! Glorfindel you are hurting me." Elrohir said.

"GOOD!" Glorfindel replied for he could not contain the anger any longer and the twins seemed to be a perfect target. "Your father and brother lay possibly dying and you do not even know the other horrors."

Elladan twisted free from the grip of his father's friend and looked at him tears brimming in his eyes. "Glorfindel we are sorry."

"Sorry is that all you can say? Sorry will not bring back those men that are now dead sorry will not heal your brother. Your father needed you and you were gone." Glorfindel snapped letting go of Elrohir's ear.

Glorfindel's words stung the twins and they hung their heads in defeat. The two now walked out of the house trying to clear their heads oblivious to the pouring rain.

Glorfindel still not done yet called for the guards. "Arrest the sons of Elrond. There's some old caves below Rivendell secure them there."

The guards nodded, and before the twins got far they found themselves surrounded by guards. They gave up peacefully, letting their hands be bound behind their backs. Glorfindel glared at them coldly, then turned his back as they were pushed away. He treated them like criminals, but it didn't help his troubled heart.

(*C*)

In a secret wet cave, not to far from the main city of Rivendell, the twins were led. It was cold tonight and one could see their breath in the air. Their feet sloshed in a few inches of water before they came to a ledge. An elf was just finishing securing to pair of shackles to the wall. For Rivendell didn't have any true prison cells.

"Please don't do this." Elrohir pleaded.

The elf shoved Elrohir towards the ledge. Stumbling forward, Elrohir tripped on a stone splashing into the water. The sour feelings the elves had for them right now, caused two to grab Elrohir. Dragging him over the rocks to a pair of shackles. There he was secured, and soon his twin joined. Then they just left them there, all alone. Most frighteningly defenseless.

Elladan scanned the dreariness of the cave. Water trickled in from streams, it was also clearly cold, but nothing that could bother an elf. The darkness was at a level, that depression sank in with no problem. Casting his eyes back to his twin, Elladan noticed his brother jerking.

"Calm down Ro, it will be fine."

"I am not the one to calm down El, you are the one who is shaking not me." Elrohir responded, sitting up.

Elladan looked at his hands, indeed they were shaking. Shamefully he tucked them in closer to his body. Smiling resuringly, he invited Elladan to lay on his lap. It would have been easer if their hands were not secured behind them. Emotionally tired Elladan dropped, his head resting on his twins lap. Seconds later tears burst from his eyes.

(*)

Thanks to Pookums1971 for the help with this chapter.