"I don't understand. It's as if the orcs simply disappeared."

Elrohir frowned. It didn't make sense. Either they had indeed vanished into thin air, or someone had killed the orcs and burned the bodies…. "Perhaps someone got to them before we did."

Elladan nodded. "It does seem like the only option. We've been searching for over a week after their trail disappeared. If the bodies were burned, or thrown over the cliffs, there'd be no trace anymore."

"No, there wouldn't be…" Elrohir trailed off. He looked behind him, as if expecting to see someone there, watching them from the mist. It was a strange feeling, not only could he sense eyes behind him, but he could, hear almost a voice in his mind. An undecipherable whisper, blending in with a buzzing in his ears. He leaned against the slope of the mountain, suddenly dizzy, black spots dancing in the corners of his eyes. The feeling got worse, his legs going weak.

"Elrohir?"

The elf shook his head, his brother's voice sounding so far away. He felt himself falling, the buzzing and whispers now grown to an intolerable volume.

Elrohir.

The voice was feminine, a silky sweet.

He opened his eyes, looking across to the other side of the ravine. A figure stood there masked by the shadows. The mist seemed to cling to her form, shrouding any distinguishable features.

You see me, don't you? Even when I don't want to be seen.

Elrohir's chest tightened. He couldn't move, couldn't speak. A great invisible weight seemed to be on him, pinning his body to the ground. The same pressure was on his mind, making it painful to even think. The skin on his inner left wrist began to itch.

You are drawn there….your blood is drawn there even though it isn't tied to the land.

The itch became more unbearable than the buzzing in his ears.

Why is that, Elrohir?

The elf struggled against his invisible bonds. He pleaded silently for release, so he could move, so he could scratch that blasted itch.

I'm not the one restraining you.

His hand was shaking, the itch so painful he'd rather stab himself a hundred times than feel that way again. Desperately trying to find relief, he attempted to turn his focus onto other things, like moving this invisible boulder off his chest. He imagined the pressure fading as if his will alone could change his predicament. To his surprise, he felt the weight fading. Elrohir concentrated harder, until he had complete movement again. That was when he realized his brother was standing over him, trying to lift him up. Elrohir got to his feet, strength returned to his body, the itch barely noticeable.

"What happened? You just, collapsed and started twitching on the ground," Elladan gestured wildly with his hands.

Elrohir shrugged, "I really don't know. I must have been dehydrated or something." Truth was, he felt fine now, although he honestly had no idea what had just occurred. He looked behind his brother, blood draining from his face when he realized that figure was still there, across the ravine, watching them.

Only, she seemed closer than before.

He watched as a black moth with electric blue wings flew up from the depths of the ravine. It circled a few times around the shadowy figure's head, before landing on her shoulder.

He could have sworn it winked at him.

No, no it couldn't have. There must be some explanation for all of…this. Whatever this was.

And it seemed that explanation was that Elrohir, son of Elrond, was going insane.

He thought he heard the female's laughter following him and his brother as they continued their journey.