Even now they are approaching the fortress.

Galadriel's words haunted Nóruiestel's mind. Where were the twins? How close to Gundabad were they? She feared for Elrohir, and paused to wonder why she had thought of him first. Why not Elladan? Why was she more concerned for Elrohir? Nóruiestel was interrupted from her thought by the sound of scuttling feet. From the shadows a small part of the wall slid back, and Durar crawled out.

"So that's how you do it." A bit of amusement showed in her voice. "No great big appearing trick, just a hidden tunnel within the wall."

Durar smiled back at her, "Afraid so!"

He bent down beside her to look at her injuries.

"Nór, this gash on your shoulder still doesn't look good. I'm worried that it is becoming infected; we're going to need to concentrate on keeping it clean."

Nóruiestel laughed. There wasn't much you could do to try to keep clean in an Orc fortress. Durar gave her a sympathetic smile and reached into his pocket.

"Here, you need to eat." Durar extended a hunk of bread, which Nóruiestel gratefully accepted.

"Look, I'm sorry." Nóruiestel looked quizzically at the dwarf.

"Whatever for?"

"For deserting you- I shouldn't have run. I should have stayed and protected you from the Orcs. I was a coward and I have no excuse."

"Nonsense! You've been brave even to come and see to me. If you had stayed they'd have killed you and probably punished me. You don't need to feel bad Durar."

"Nevertheless, I'm not leaving you."

Nóruiestel smiled at the dwarf and reached up to embrace him. Just then, they could hear the plodding of orcish feet and the creaking of a cart rolling down the hall.

Durar pulled out a short dagger and stood in front of Nóruiestel.

"No Durar! Get back in your tunnel." He looked down at the injured elleth pleading with him.

"I cannot leave you to this torment."

"If you stay, you will be killed."

"I could not bear the thought of you staying here, young Nóruiestel, undefended."

"I am not so young as you might be led to think. A five hundred and twenty-four year old woman can take care of herself. Go and at least conceal yourself in the mouth of the tunnel. They bet on who can kill me emotionally, not physically. I do not think they would easily abandon their gambling and I will not easily give up."

"If they try to kill you I will be in here faster than a warg."

"Do not be too rash Durar, and stay safe, my friend."

"You as well."

The moment she heard the stone slide partially closed, the wooden door opened and her tormenters entered.

"Hello pretty, are you ready for your 'treatment'?"

And it began, this time rougher and harsher, continuing on after Nóruiestel lost consciousness.

They had their plan; supply wagons would enter just before noon, and the Orcs guarding it, had usually already helped themselves to the liquor. Elrohir would hide in one wagon, Elladan in another. Then they would try to make their way through the tunnels while the wagons were being unloaded and the Orcs gorged on meat and spirits.

"Elrohir, once we are inside, we should stick together and navigate our way to the dungeon."

"I agree, but even if we find the dungeon, it will take a while to find where Nór is."

"Brother, we have come this far, we will be able to do this."

Elrohir looked up to the sky, the sun was almost at its peak, and right on cue the supply wagons rounded the corner.

They found that the wagons at the back were almost completely unguarded, and they slipped in while the two inebriated Orcs bringing up the rear were distracted by their own drunkenness. Both ellon sat motionless while the final minutes, before they entered Gundabad, crept slowly by.

Durar watched through the shadows as the orcs packed up their tools. Nóruiestel was becoming like a daughter to him, and it killed the older dwarf to have to sit by while they hurt her. He scurried back to his home, a larger gap between the walls, large enough for his few belongings. Durar hurriedly grabbed his satchel and threw in two water skins, the rest of the bread he had taken from the Orc stores, strips of dried deer meet he had taken, poultices for Nóruiestel's wounds, and bandages. Last of all he ran to the wall and removed a small box that was hidden inside one of the stones, and then tucked it inside his shirt.

Then he ran back to where Nóruiestel's cell was. He was done hiding in the shadows, this ended now. He was going to get Nóruiestel out. Today.

The wagons finally stopped and both of the twins peered out of their wagons, trying to judge the right moment. They sprang simultaneously, and darted to the wall of a dark corridor. Elrohir froze and held Elladan against the stone. On the other side of the wall, they could hear harsh voices. They talked, not in some manner of orcish, but in Common Tongue. Perhaps because they all had different native tongues. But it was not the fact that they spoke common that caught the twins attention, but what they spoke of.

"Cursed elf won't fade. Stinking vermin is making me lose my bet with Ghorbuk."

"Oughta' just kill 'er next time. Thataways no ones owes anyones anything. Oughta' go back now and finish her off."

"Come on you little rat, we'll eat first then decide what to do with 'er."

Elrohir's heart raced. Nóruiestel was alive, but if they didn't act soon, she might not be for long. The twins stayed still until they saw the Orcs head to the wagon, and then they ran down the hall that the orcs had come down. He could feel it; they were close, oh so close to saving Nór.

Durar stepped into the cell. Nóruiestel was wounded worse than before, and infection was almost certain. She would die if he left her here. He bent down beside her unconscious form and brushed the matted hair away from her face. It was now or never. He reached under her to pick her up, but was stopped by the sound of feet. Panicked, he ran into the shadows; if they saw him trying to escape, they would both be dead.

The twins ran, glancing in each cell, finding that none held Nóruiestel until, at last, at the end of the hallway, in the very last cell, Elladan saw the body sprawled on the floor and knew as soon as he saw the hair that it was Nóruiestel.

"Brother, I…I found her."

Elrohir ran in and collapsed beside her. He looked up at her, with tears running down his face, and his heart broke. Her clothes were so torn; they were no more than strings. Her body was covered in layer of cuts and lashes and bruises. Several of her bones protruded at strange angles. He kneeled beside her and gently raised her head to his chest, and hope filled him as he felt her breath, weak but steady.

"Do you know her?" A gruff voice asked from the shadows.

Elladan drew his sword and pointed it in the direction of the voice. "Who are you? Step out of the darkness."

And out of the darkness came Durar. His eyes were filled with strength and determination, looking like one of the great dwarves of old.

"I am Durar, and Nóruiestel is very dear to me. So if you are her friends, you will help me get her out of here."

"We will help you, though I do not think we can slip out unnoticed."

"Maybe not the way you came, but if you take the secret tunnels, I can get us out."

"We must leave now; my brother and I overheard that the Orcs plan to kill Nóruiestel. If they return, I doubt even you would be able to get us out safely."

Elrohir sat unmoving, watching Nóruiestel's face. He almost didn't believe it when her eyes fluttered. He almost thought it was just his mind, until they fluttered again and finally opened. She smiled up at him.

"You finally found me." And her eyes closed again.

He smiled back at her and scooped Nóruiestel up off of the ground. He looked Durar in the eyes.

"Well then, lead the way."

So sorry for the long wait! I was out of town for a while and left my computer at home. Well, I hope ya'll liked this chapter!

Read and Review please :)

-MellethDaegyl