Characters, and everything else associated, belong to who so ever the law says they do, in most cases this is not me and I'm content. For fun not profit.

A/N This came whilst I was working on The Way Back and it won't let me progress that until I've written it down. A few lines that seem to have got bigger.

Retrieval

The arrow was ready almost before he thought to do it.

'The line of Isildur has a weakness', his fathers words echoed in his head, "it is their pride that they can stand against all evil and remain stalwart when staring into its eyes. Elrond too is weak on this matter for reasons you know well, therefore you must be the guardian my son, you must not let their pride and weakness doom others as happened in the previous age."

The words had been ink on parchment and yet he had seen his fathers face so clearly as he read them.

'In the last age the elf that had the chance to see the evil destroyed squandered it and many have paid the price for that. I give you leave to go on this understanding, that you, a Sindar prince, will not make that mistake, that an elf will not fail again, that one of the firstborn will this time sit guard upon the weakness of the secondborn and their allies. The slightest hint of corruption in the one that bears the ring must bring action if the mistakes of the past are not to be repeated, and it will fall to you my son to be the agent of that action, of that I have no doubt. Go with my blessing for I know that you have seen enough of the shadow of evil not to fall to the blandishments of a friendship claimed, and to you alone do I trust with this. Not even to the wizard do I trust.'

At the time he had thought his father mistaken, understandable given that he knew little of the other members of the fellowship, and he had no doubt that the halfling Frodo and his friend Sam would not succumb, at least not before the quest was completed. But Frodo was caught by the wraiths and stabbed and though he lived he was weakened and the burden seemed like to kill him before Mount Doom was reached. When he asked Estel to relieve him of the burden for a little while it seemed to carry no harm and the ring was returned to the bearer without delay or complaint, the second time also. But the third, then he had seen the hint of shadow flicker in the grey eyes of the ranger and though the ring had been returned and Estel had said nothing Legolas had watched more closely afterwards. The fourth time the hesitation had been clear enough to elvish sight though quickly banished, but this time the shadow in Estel's eyes did not lift and a harsh and brooding mood set upon him, though never shown when the ring bearer was close by. That more than all else told the tale.

So when Frodo wearied again his steps becoming slow and hesitant, his skin taking on the tint of old ice and his eyes the shadow of a dark night Legolas had watched the face of a friend more closely than before. He saw the hunger, the anger, the pride boil like some poisonous broth in the others face and had known that they stood upon the brink. It would indeed fall to him just as his father had said, for the Wizard was lost.

He took to the trees, he who so often stood watch that none noticed the difference. It was in a beech that he stood when the moment came.

"No my little friend." Estel's voice was soft and gentle but the light in his eyes had the quality of steel and thunder, "you are too weary. The wound besets you despite all treatments, for the burden of this thing will not let it heal. Gandalf is lost to us and your kin are too young. Sam may take it if he wishes but I think you need his strength. Let me bear the weight of it a little longer, it is only right that I should be your respite when it was my line that left this evil in the world."

The words were fair but if there had ever been any doubt it was fled now for Legolas had been well taught in the lore of the dark ones treachery. But Frodo nor Sam had no such teaching and he heard the earnest hobbit voice close out the small chance there had been.

"Listen well Mr Frodo, for he is right. You are too weary and pained to take it back this night. I will take it if you wish it but I think my place is watching over you for I am better fitted to that than to great tasks." He looked towards the rangers pack sat close beside his feet. "It is safe enough where it is for the moment, none will touch it unless danger finds us, which will be soon enough for you to take its burden back unto yoursel"
There was a moment of silence then Frodo smiled up into Estel's face with grateful thanks.
"A little while longer then, until morning, then I will be rested and will take back that burden I swore to bear."
The ranger smiled and clapped him lightly upon the shoulder.
"Yes, I will carry until morning when you will be better rested. Sleep now for Legolas scouts for danger and he will give us good warning should evil approach."
Frodo nodded and settled back into his blankets as Gimil returned with more wood for the fire.

"Wretched elf, again there is no sign of him when he is needed. Mutters something about hearing the soft footfalls of the evil one and disappears."
Estel frowned towards the dwarf.
"What did he say and in which direction did he go?"
"He said no more than I have told you. Other than that he would scout further back along our trail so that we were not caught unaware. Oh and that he might not be back to eat. As for direction, he headed towards the river in as much as I could see."
With that Gimli began feeding the fire and bustling about with packs and pans.

Estel had looked towards the river with that faint frown still upon his face, but after a few minutes he settled down beside the fire and joined in the chatter and preparations for the meal.

It was a dark night, neither moon nor stars offered light, but that is no problem for an elf of the Greenwood. So when Estel stirred as all the other slept it was not hard to see. Sam had been set the watch but he had been drowsy as soon as the quiet descended on the little group and half asleep not long after, by the time that Estel sat up and reached for his pack the hobbit was too far into the land of dream to see. Though what could he have done if he had?

Estel rose slowly and slid further into the shadows away from the fire. His hand moved into the pack and was withdrawn' he made a fist, something, some deeper shadow hanging below it. Slowly he raised his other hand and reached to grasp it but he was too late for the first arrow was flying, biting his hand before he heard it, the second came close after catching the falling shadow and bearing it away into the trees.

The cry that escaped him at its loss gave testimony to how close he had come to damnation, only the sight of his own blood stemming the rise of bitter anger as he realised what had been done and what had so very nearly been done.