Chapter 2! Of course this continues, don't worry, anonymous reviewer! Also wow guys, so much feedback, I love you :D thank you a lot, I'm glad you like it and I hope you also like this chapter! :)

Chapter 2 - Rescue the Human

Stunned, Estel looked around the clearing if anyone had noticed. None of them seemed to have any idea there was an elf this close nearby. Or anybody for that matter. The leader leaned over one of his men who was writing the letter, giving him instructions while a few of them sat at the fire nearby, laughing at the words as if this was some kind of play. He had a guard nearby, but didn't seem to think him looking up was suspicious.

All of this was interrupted when an arrow hit the ground, hard and fast.

It flew past the leader's head so closely that the tip drew blood on his ear, but the man had had no time to react at all.

"WHOA what the hell?!" he yelled, holding his ear and looked around at his men.

"Which of you idiots shot that?!" he demanded to know. None of his men seemed guilty, as none even held their bows. He whirled around as one guy had already lifted up the arrow from the ground, where it stuck as if embedded with great force.

"It has a note." He commented and the Leader glared at him, tearing the note from his hands. Grumbling, he read it aloud to the rest.

"'Let the boy go or we will let the rage of the Valar rain upon you.' HA!" he laughed and held up the arrow. "Whoever you are you couldn't even aim properly, why should I be afraid of some lowly cowards not even showing themselves?" he boasted, but still he held up his hand, telling his men to ready themselves. They got out their shields, facing the direction the arrow had come from.

No, you're wrong, Estel thought, that was a warning shot.

As if to prove a point, another arrow was shot from the trees. This one cut off the head of the first arrow –still in the leader's hand- clearly and embedded himself in the leg of one of the other hunters. Screaming, the man went down, holding the wound in pain.

That arrow had come from a completely different direction.

Estel observed the scene with wonder, eyes wide open and tears forgotten.

"Shit." The leader whispered and threw down the first arrow. "Get the boy!" he yelled and the guard next to him scrambled closer, starting to cut his bonds.

When a sudden falling tree branch hit him square in the head, knocking him out, Estel gasped and drew back, afraid that the tree was somehow falling apart and the next branch would hit him.

Another hunter started to run over, when suddenly something landed right in front of Estel.

It was the elf, the blond one he had seen in the tree. His drop to the ground had made no noise and he stood up slowly now, bow already drawn and three arrows between his fingers. Estel couldn't see much of him as his back was turned but to him, with the firelight being the only source of brightness, this moment seemed brilliant.

"Not a step closer." He warned, now fully standing. His Westron seemed rusty but clear, his voice icy in this warning, threatening tone. In his full height he towered far over any of the men. His shoulders were wider than Estel's brother's and the longbow he held was drawn to his cheek, holding it in this position as if it wasn't straining his muscles one bit.

The men were stunned, some of them –if not all- clearly seeing an elf for the first time.

"Have they harmed you, Estel?" he asked in Sindarin.

Now if Estel hadn't been completely stunned before, he was now. How did this elf know who he was? Had he met him before and Estel had just forgotten? And what was that weird Accent in his Elvish? He'd never heard that way of speak before.

Since he was still bound, he could not answer with words. So he just shook his head when he saw the elf slightly looking in his direction.

The men around the clearing seemed to think his short inattention to be an opening and one of the closest ones attacked him with his sword. Estel grunted out a warning but the elf didn't need it. He simply stepped aside, elbowed the man in the head and he dropped to the ground with a grunt. The bow was back in place within a second and the other men halted in their steps, now unsure.

"I will not harm you if you let me leave with him quietly."

"And what keeps us from shooting you when you turn to free him, huh, youngling?" asked the Leader, clearly mad at the inability of his men to bring down that one elf. A few in the back also had bows, and they were slowly drawing them too. Estel squirmed in his bonds, certain that this was true and he didn't want his newfound savior to be just another captive. Or worse.

The elf did not react to his jabs however and just tilted his head.

"Youngling?", he asked. Estel could not see his smirk but he could certainly hear it.

"Estel, lift your arms." He just spoke to him again and suddenly, Estel noticed that the pressure around his wrists had subsided. Immediately, he sprang to his feet, the feeling of freedom swimming through him.

Whoever this new elf was, he didn't even care anymore, but he was most certainly a genius.

"Hannon Le." he whispered and snuck up to the elf's side. In turn the other just nodded and slowly backed up into the forest.

"My horse is waiting for us a few feet away." He said and Estel just nodded.

"What about the others?" the boy asked, clearly thinking that more elves were waiting around in the trees. The elf just smiled, clearly amused.

"There are no others. I just bluffed." He admitted, the smirk mischievous. He still had his bow drawn and as he slowly backed up with Estel behind him, the men wearily followed, obviously not ready to give up their prey.

"Damnit." He heard the elf curse. "We'll have to be quick. Can you run?" he asked without looking back at Estel.

"I think so." The boy answered with a nod, glaring at the men with a mixture of fear and resentment. His fingers curled around the fabric of his new friend's trousers and he felt unsettlingly like a small child in doing so.

"Have your brothers taught you to climb a horse yet?" was another question from the elf and Estel nodded eagerly. He glanced behind them and indeed, there was an elven horse waiting in the dim light of the moon, looking at Estel with curiosity.

"This is Bethron, she will take you back home." He said, a fond smile on his lips. Estel stopped short when he could make out a little more of the animal. It was white and elegant, sure, but there were barely any provisions on its back and-

"There's no saddle." Estel observed, his stomach dropping. Elladan and Elrohir had taught him to climb a grown horse, yes, but not without a saddle on. How did this elf get here with no saddle and headcollar on?

The elf bit his lip, clearly seeing the problem that approached them. If he helped Estel mount the men would attack, certainly hurting them severely. The elf had pissed them off enough that they probably didn't care anymore if they got ransom or killed them. The glares they shot him from between the trees were pretty telling. It was probably just to his demonstration of quick reflexes and looming threat that there were more elves in the trees that they didn't.

They were however starting to surround them from both sides, probably figuring that the elf couldn't attack them all at once if one came from behind. If they wanted to escape, they really did have to hurry.

Estel felt the elf's muscles tense, and then suddenly relax as he let out a breath.

And lowered his bow.

No, what…no what was he doing?

"You can have me instead but let the boy go." He stated bluntly. Again, Estel felt his blood run cold, this time for his newly won friend, not for himself. No! These men were bad news, he couldn't just leave alone and let him stay in captivity! The men were quiet, weapons still drawn, the leader still pissed but his eyes were narrowed. He was listening.

"The horse can carry him home. My people will pay you much more handsomely than his father would for his safe return." Then he whispered behind him. "climb on my shoulder and get on the horse." Estel shook his head, the tears in his eyes threatening to come back, mocking him.

"No I won't leave you with them!" he whispered in protest. The elf smiled at him warmly, still half turned to the front.

"That's brave of you but trust me to be able to handle this, okay? I will be alright. Your brothers must be worried sick for you and I'd rather have you be save with them." Estel glared at him. Again, he was treated as a child. He hated this, elves and their superiority complex!

Meanwhile the men were coming too close for comfort. The leader had still not said a word to the elf's offer and now suddenly smiled.

"Why don't I just take you both then?" and from all sides, the men started to scream and attack.

The elf seemed prepared for this. He took Estel below the shoulders, lifted him as if he weighted nothing, sat him on the horse and gave the horse a clap on his backside.

"Take him to Imladris", he ordered to his trusty companion, who neighed and galloped off.

Cursive means Sindarin btw. I hope you liked it! Tell me what you thought about it :*