The Rapids- Chapter 4

Here it is, the last chapter. I hope that everyone who has read this fanfic has enjoyed it, and if you would review, it would make me so happy.

Disclaimer: see Chapter 1

It was the middle of the night, and Legolas dreamt.

He dreamt of the noise of soil, slithering over loose rocks and falling into the river. The horror when the rocks under his feet, the ground that was meant to be so stable, tilted and collapsed. He remembered reaching out and grasping Elrohir with one hand, whilst scrabbling at the riverbank with the other. Elrohir's hand has tightened on his briefly, before a rock had come hurtling down from above. There had been a dull thumping sound, and Elrohir had cried out, before his hand had gone limp within Legolas'.

Legolas dreamt of the noise of the water underneath them, and the feeling of the rock loosening in his hand. He remembered the panic that had welled up in him, and the tightness in his chest as he supressed a scream. The rock had given way and he had fallen, his father's frightened face above them.

He dreamt of the sound that he and Elrohir had made when they had hit the water. His hand had tightened on Elrohir's as the current caught them and played with them, dragging them down before tossing them and spitting them back up. He had screamed then, the sound ripping its way through clenched teeth. He remembered fighting against the rocks, trying desperately to move around them. He remembered that it had not worked- that no matter what he did, he was pummelled again and again by jagged spears.

He had tried to grab onto one rock, but Elrohir's hand slipped from his grasp as he clung to the wet surface. He had let go then, grabbing onto Elrohir as tight as he could. His other arm had smashed against the rock as the rapids had swung them around, and Legolas dreamt of the scream he had uttered when he felt the bone crunch.

He dreamt of the white water, churning around them. He dreamt of the pain that had sung through his entire body. In his dream, he saw his father running down the bank, but he was too far away, too far away. He dreamt of the water rising up like some wild beast and crashing over them, pulling him down.

Legolas dreamt of the water rushing in his mouth, filling him so he could not breathe, choking him, drowning him. He awoke screaming.

Elladan jumped up from where he was sitting by the side of Elrohir's bed. "Legolas!" he cried out in hushed tones, hurrying to his friend's side.

Legolas sat up in the bed, cradling his broken arm to his chest. His breaths were coming fast and short, his chest heaving as he gasped for air.

Elladan sat down on the bed next to him. "Mellon-nin?" he asked, rubbing Legolas' back in an effort to slow his breathing. "Legolas, what is it?"

Legolas rocked back and forth as he struggled for breath. "Drowning…" he gasped. "Drowning."

"It's alright" said Elladan soothingly. "It's ok. You're safe here."

Legolas, though still breathing heavily, shot him an annoyed glance. "I am…perfectly…aware of…that" he said in between gasps.

Elladan grinned. "Fine then, don't let me help."

"Sorry…" gasped Legolas. He sat back and gradually his breathing became normal, though there was a haunted look in his eyes. Elladan shifted on the bed.

"Do you…want to talk about it?"

"There is little to say" said Legolas. "I dreamt the entire thing happened again. I dreamt I was drowning." He glanced sideways at the bed where Elrohir, still unconscious, lay. "I almost envy him" he muttered.

"What?"

"Elrohir. I almost envy his concussion. It most likely will come with memory loss, and he will not be able to remember the entire event."

Elladan sighed. "And I suppose you can remember it all?"

"Aye" said Legolas shortly. "I remember." He fell silent for a while, before looking up at Elladan.

"The worst part wasn't even falling into the river, or being swept along by the rapids. It was waking up on the bank and having no idea what was going to happen." He shuddered. "I didn't know if Elrohir was alright, or whether you were coming. I didn't know what was happening, and it scared me, Elladan, it scared me."

"But we did come" said Elladan soothingly. "I would have never stopped searching for you."

"Seeing your torch was the best moment of my life" said Legolas softly. "And waking up to find Elrohir next to me. If I had let go of him…" He shuddered, thinking of the possibilities.

Elladan nodded. "It is alright now" he said. "You are both going to be alright. Adar says Elrohir will wake up soon, and then it will all be alright."

Legolas nodded. Already he felt tired and his eyelids drooped. "Aye" he murmured, as he sank back onto his pillows. "It will all be alright."

His eyes slid shut and he fell asleep.

0-o-0-o-0

Elrohir had never felt so bad. His head was apparently now home to a Dwarven party, judging by the hammering in it, and he felt sick from the pain. On top of that, when he tried to move his entire body simply hurt.

He could hear someone speaking, and he tried to make out what they were saying. Everything seemed blurred. He panicked when he suddenly realised he couldn't see. Then he calmed down slightly, working out that actually his eyes were shut.

That voice called out again, and Elrohir tried to listen. They were calling something, he thought. With a jolt he realised it was his name. But who would be calling it?

Elladan, thought Elrohir suddenly. He tried to open his eyes, and felt his eyelids flicker. Trying again, he prised his eyes open.

"Elladan?" he whispered, squinting in the sunlight.

Someone moved and there was a swishing noise as drapes fell across the window, darkening the room. Elrohir sighed in relief.

A familiar face moved into view. "Elrohir?" asked Elladan softly. "How do you feel?"

Elrohir tried to move his arm to touch his head, but found that he couldn't. He looked down, surprised to see it immobilised in a sling. Now that he was more awake, he realised that his arm, and his shoulder, were actually quite painful.

Elladan reached out and gently touched Elrohir's other shoulder. "Brother?" he whispered fearfully. "How are you?"

Elrohir smiled slightly. "It hurts" he admitted. "But why is my arm in a sling?" He looked around him, recognising the healing wards of Mirkwood. "Why am I in the healing wards?" His gaze fell on the bed next to him and he let out a gasp. "Why is Legolas lying in the next bed?"

Elrohir tried to get up to go to his friend, but Elladan pushed him back down. "It's alright, muindor-nin" he said calmingly. "Legolas is going to be alright, as are you." He smiled a small smile. "You had us worried for a bit, as usual."

Elrohir frowned. "Why? What happened?"

"Don't you remember?" asked Elladan. His gaze grew troubled. "What is your most recent memory?"

"The day we went with Legolas hunting spiders" said Elrohir promptly. "You got covered in webs. Why? Did something happen?"

Elladan groaned, running a hand through his hair. "That was four days ago" he said softly.

"Four days" murmured Elrohir. "How…?"

"Two days ago, you and Legolas fell in the river when the rocks collapsed from underneath you. You were hit on the head, and were unconscious when we found you. Legolas pulled you from the river, and has woken up a few times since, so he is going to be alright." Elladan frowned. "Do you really not remember anything?"

Elrohir sighed. "I don't know" he murmured. "Maybe, if I concentrate, but as soon as I grasp something it slips away from me."

Elladan nodded. "You have concussion" he said. "And so your memory may be a bit patchy for a while. But it will get better. Remember when I was thrown from my horse? That was far worse!"

Elrohir chuckled. "I remember! You couldn't remember anything for a whole week. I found it quite funny."

"I'm sure you did" said Elladan. He looked up as the doors to the healing ward swung open. "Adar is here" he said softly.

Elrohir looked up to see Elrond standing over him with a smile. The Elf-lord knelt down beside the bed. "Ion-nin!" he said joyfully. "How do you feel?"

"Not too bad" said Elrohir. In actual truth he was feeling rather scared. What if he couldn't remember anything? What if from now on his memory didn't work properly? With a jolt, he realised he didn't even know what month it was.

Elrond seemed to read his mind, for he smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry" he said. "Your memory will return very soon."

Elrohir nodded, but then a new voice broke into the conversation.

"Is that Elrohir?" said a voice from the next bed. Elrohir looked over to see Legolas looking at him with tired grey eyes from his bed. When they saw Elrohir, awake, they lightened and Legolas smiled.

"Elrohir!" he said. "You're awake, finally. It has been getting a bit boring in here."

Elladan laughed as he moved over and helped Legolas sit up against the headboard. He passed Legolas a cup of water. "A bit quiet, you mean" he said jokingly. "I have never known such peace."

Elrohir chuckled, whilst Legolas simply raised one eyebrow. He finished the water and looked around. "Where is Adar?"

"Organising a feast" said Elrond wearily. "Apparently they take forever to get ready."

Legolas nodded in understanding. "They do, you know" he said when he saw Elladan's sceptical face. "You haven't been at a proper celebration until you have had a feast here. They are truly magnificent."

Elrohir grinned. "Excellent" he said. "Now, if only I could remember what a feast is, I'm sure I would be fine."

Elrond frowned, but both Elladan and Legolas laughed. "Stay awake" said Legolas. "And we can fill you in on what has happened. Maybe it will jog your memory."

Elrohir nodded, pushing himself up in his bed with the help of his father. "Fine" he said. "But if you tell me lies, or make me believe that I did something stupid, I will find out." He laughed at the look of innocence on Legolas' face. "I have my ways" he added darkly.

Elladan laughed. "Yes, muindor-nin, but I happen to know them all, so you have gotten nowhere."

Legolas grinned. "Are you two going to bicker all day?" he asked. "Or can I tell the story?"

Both Elladan and Elrohir turned to him with captivated expressions. "We are all ears" said Elrohir.

"Right then" said Legolas. "It was a nice sunny day…"

0-o-0-o-0

Legolas cursed softly. "Elladan?" he called out. "Elladan, are you there?"

He heard the soft tread of elvish feet, and then the not so soft snort of laughter as Elladan approached. "Really Legolas" said Elladan. "I'd have thought you'd know how to at least dress yourself by now."

Legolas gritted his teeth. "It's my arm" he said defensively. "I can't move it to get it through the sleeve."

Elladan sighed. "Come here" he said, and Legolas felt him pull the tunic around and manipulate it until he could pull it over his head. "There we go" he said brightly. "Just like a Prince."

Legolas muttered something under his breath and reached up to do up the clasps of the tunic. Elladan watched him. "Do you want me to do that?" he asked.

Legolas shook his head. "I…can…do…it" he muttered as he concentrated. Finally the last clasp was done up and he smiled triumphantly. "Done!"

Elladan grinned. "Shall we go then? I believe they are awaiting us."

Legolas nodded, and grabbed hold of the crutch next to him. Pushing himself up, he moved them under his arms and took a step forwards, his heavily splinted and bandaged leg dangling off the ground. One arm was held securely in a sling, and he leant on Elladan as they made their way to the door.

Elladan grinned as he put an arm around Legolas' waist, supporting him. "Very smooth" he said with a grin.

"Aye" replied Legolas. "It wouldn't do to fall on my face at the feast my father has so carefully planned, all in honour of Elrohir and I surviving our little fall."

Elladan laughed and was about to say something, but at that moment there was a knock on the door, and it swung open to reveal Elrohir. He was dressed in deep blue robes, though one of the sleeves was cut away to reveal a splinted arm, which was in a sling. He was on one crutch, for his leg had been badly bashed and cut by rocks, though not broken. He smiled. "Are we ready?"

Legolas nodded and together the two of them limped down the corridor, Elladan behind. Over the past week Elrohir's memory had returned more and more, though it went blank at the point the rocks gave way. They were both healing well.

Legolas turned down one of the other corridors. He was wearing his customary forest green clothes, though a deep green cloak was draped over his shoulders, and one leg of his leggings had been slit at the back to accommodate for his broken leg. He smiled at Elrohir as they reached the large doors leading outside. The feast was being held in the woods, though they were to meet all of the elves outside of the gates. "Ready for this?" he asked. "Once we go out, there is no going back."

Elrohir grinned. "I'm ready." The doors swung open and together, Legolas, Elrohir and Elladan came out onto the grass to a round of applause. Thranduil was standing at the front of the crowd with Elrond. Both of them were smiling as they cheered their sons. Thranduil was dressed in his formal robes of a silver-grey, and his crown rested on his head. At this sight Legolas suddenly realised something.

"My circlet" he muttered to Elladan and Elrohir as they limped across the grass. "It must have fallen in the river."

Elladan laughed. "Are you complaining, mellon-nin?"

Legolas shrugged. "Not particularly" he murmured. He smiled and made his way towards the waiting crowds.

The End

And there we have it! Not much action in the last two chapters, but I find it interesting to write all the conversations. Elvish translations are all on chapter 1, if you want to know. Next up, being published in the next few days, will be a fanfic mainly about Legolas and Thranduil at the Battle of the Five Armies. Plenty of angst in that one, I believe. Mwahahaha

Thank you so much to everyone who has read this, and a massive thanks to anyone who has reviewed (though I have already messaged you saying that).

Ta-ta for now!