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I must put a disclaimer here, so I will

I didn't do it and you can't prove it.

What I mean is I own nothing.

Ten second delay

"My lord all but a few goblins were dispatched. The ones that fled made way to the Misty Mountains." Coamenel relayed the band was larger than they thought and while they had no deaths two elves had received severe wounds.

Elrond took this to be good news. Goblins were showing up more and more each passing year, not enough to be a threat but enough to bear close watching.

"See to your people. You have done well this night. If you are willing attempt to track the goblins see where they go. If you can not follow them, send word the Lord Glorfindel that the threat is unaccounted for."

The horrified face that went across Coamenel, he could completely sympathize with. Their little mia could be quite vengeful if he felt slighted. It did not help that Glorfindel found much of his antic amusing, only punishing him if was caught in the act. "It will teach him to hide well. He can not defend himself, concealment will be his only defense for a time yet." he and others had been told. The guards just learned to watch more.

"Yes, my Lord I will track the goblins with great earnests. I will send Thaunthala in the morning with word."

"Has he forgiven Elcalad for the pine cone yet?" not that he would ever tell Thaunthala, seeing him slip on a pine cone and into a water trough was amusing.

"No, but to have fewer elves on his list is better. I do not want to be within his sights if he is set on mischief." He paused for a moment then in an overly respectable voice stated "My lord when Elcalad reaches his manhood I ask to be sent very, very far away, if every all your sons and he are in Rivendell together."

That had become a great concern; would Rivendell have any inhabitants left when all four were grown.

0o0o0o0o0oo0

Night was almost over. The five surviving goblins fled to the mountains then turning on their leader that lead them into the elves boarders. "Easy pickin's he said. Lookie he'd said. Two elvies' wont that be a meal. There were twelve of us before." Blogin grumbled.

"It was two elves he just missed the other three. We lucky we got out." another goblin replied.

"Who care bout dat' I am still hungry fresh elf would have been good." The third replied. Then pointed toward the river. A shine had caught his eye.

"Is you seeing what I seeing" Blogin asked.

"One sleeping elfy, fives us, means lots of meat. This time we can't be killed." The stealth of a goblin was not very great, but they managed to sneak to the edge of the valley. Then began their charge before the elf noticed them or so they thought.

Now normally fighting one elf wouldn't be to hard from five goblins. But this elf was a high elf well know for his fighting skills. He was also not allowing himself complete rest. He heard them coming as soon as they started to charge. He had his sword in his had before truly registering the intruders charging camp. Never before had the true terror the balrog seeming less frightening than a band this small. Beheading the first and removing the arm of the next when two more attacked head on.

Elcalad woke to clanging metal and screams. His ada was fighting monsters. Smaller than Glorfindel but there was two attacking at the same time. He grabbed his training sword, when he saw a third sneaking up from behind. Standing up and charging he whacked as hard as he could into the knee of the monster. It turned, no damage had been done but distracting him from his ada. The monster raised it sword above its head.

Pyxis trumpeted and charged the golbin standing over him. Attacking knocking the goblins down and away from him. The horse rear and kicked. Blogin was on the ground getting away from the horse demon. "Easy meal they say" he thought to him self trying to grab his curved sword off the ground. The other forgot to count the horses as a threat as goblins were know for eating them when they could.

Glorfindel took slice in his arm momentarily distracted when he heard his ion scream.

"Run, Run Elcalad!" Glorfindel yelled. Moving as quickly as he could Elcalad made it to Marvin clambered up and took off. Not fast enough to get away. The monster that had its' arm cut off saw an easy meal, went that direction, tackling Elcalad off his pony into the river as it flowed south. Marvin feeling his rider fall reared and raised his sturdy legs in the air. Connecting however it could taking hits small and large cuts on his legs till the monster fell with one kick to the stomach.

All the goblins had been killed, his arm was a trifling matter. Nothing a few stitches and elfish healing would not reverse in a matter of days. Pyxis was fighting the goblin attempting to retrieve his sword behind him. Glorfindel he beheading it, calmly. After soothing Pyxis he took a quick look only the injured goblin was unaccounted for. Till he saw rider less Marvin dancing on him. Front leg, front leg, spin, rear, slamming his hooves down on the obvious corpse, over and over.

The five were taken care of easily. He thought all would be well, he just had to find Elcalad from wherever he hid himself. Going to the pony to look he saw the signs of the pony sliding at the river and no sign of his son anywhere.

0o0o0o0o

He couldn't get out, the river kept grabbing him, flinging him in circles. Try as he might he could not reach shore. It was all he could do to keep his head out. Magic he thought, he hadn't used magic that wasn't his marbles in a long time but he needed to get out and get to his ada. He tried to picture it like the tornado in the attic so long ago. He tried to see himself on shore. Going under again trying to fight the current dragging him, he felt magic building. Then a pop and he was on shore.

Catching his breath he saw the river but he was on the wrong side, and he was all by himself. 'Well, I took care of myself before. I just have to follow the river. I can't swim it but I will see my ada soon. I just have to keep walking.' He never noticed that not only was he on the wrong side he was much closer to Rivendell, Glorfindel was many miles the opposite way.

0o0o0o0

He couldn't find him. There was no sign he was anywhere but in the river. The current stronger than he was. He knew how his son slashed in the little steam off the back of the house. However, he was not a proficient swimmer. Going to the horses he found Marvin was going to be fine with attention. His horse sustained few injuries, nothing to slow him down. As the sun rose over the horizon and morning bringing in a new day, this should have been a peaceful moment. Elcalad could be anywhere, lost, confused or hurt, he could not acknowledge any other alternative.

Gathering his pack and weapons. His bow and quiver, secured on his back. He went to Pyxis whispered in his ear "Go, go quickly." Then arranging his saddle and bridle to mark his direction. Marvin he set him on also in the direction home. He could count on help being sent when his horse arrived with in a few hours and caught up.

He was going to follow the current.

0o0o0o0oo0o

"My lord, Pyxis has returned without a rider. Marvin soon followed he has wounds, and appears to have been under attack." was said by a stable hand entering the hall. He clearly upset.

He had just sent Thaunthala with word that a portion of the goblin band was unaccounted for. After much grumbling and promise to cut down every pine tree in Rivendell he left. Elrond also knew that little Elcalad would also be upset over his trip being cut short and felt sympathy for the messenger. This news makes him wish he had sent word during the night.

Looking to his sons he indicated his consent and they were going. He had no doubt they would follow Glorfindel to find out the reason, for such an unnerving sign. Why would he send his horse, back unless he was unable to return himself.

O0o0o0o

Elcalad was getting tired he had been attacked by monsters and flung into the river. Now he was running away from the river. He was going to get lost and never find his ada ever again.

He had bent over the edge to get a drink when a huge dog came out growling. He knew it wasn't a real monster just a wolf, but it seemed like one. He could see the ford ahead that meant he would be near Rivendell and the elves would save him. He ran and ran, he just had to make it to the trees. Then dog leapt before he could get there and bite his arm. He screamed and kicked and hit. It wouldn't let go. Then it did, it felt like a lightning bolt came out of his hand where it connected. The wolf whimpered and staggered the other way.

'Got to get to the trees just get to the trees.' It was all he could think about. He had to get there, the elves lived in the trees they would fix his arm and then he could go home. He was done with adventures.

He made it he was in the trees, but he couldn't see any elves. Maybe if he climbed the trees, the monster wouldn't find him. So that is what he did. By the time he was up his arm was bleeding badly removing his tunic he wrapped and got it tied.

The wind was started to creep up and cool the afternoon air. He could tell a storm was going to coming. He decided that this was the best place to wait. The monsters couldn't get him and Ada was the best sword wielder in all Imadlris he would be alright. If his ada did not find him then he would wait for a patrol and then they would find his ada. He made his decision and waited and waited and waited.

Afternoon came and left, no sign of the dog, or monster which was good, but there was no sign of elves. Now what, he asked himself. He was not ready for this. Estel was right he was too small, not that he would ever tell him that. Late afternoon came and still no elves. Now he was hungry, tired and getting wet. The storm opened up, and more than that he was getting very mad.

0o0o0o0o

Glorfindel had followed the river for two mile. There was no way his Elcalad could survive this far. When he heard horse coming up from behind. Elladon and Elrohir, this sight would have lifted his spirit hours ago. Now, he knew he was just looking for a body and not a little boy.

"Are you well Glorfindel" Elladon asked before dismounting.

"I am unharmed, the goblins were little more than an inconvenience to dispatch."

"Where is Elcalad?" Elrohir asked

Tears made and attempt to fall. Baring down, he breath, to controlling himself. He would not morn till he found Elcalad.

"I know not. A goblin" spiting the name with more hatred then they ever heard "had attacked him as he fled, the pony killed him. But I… I can not find him. He fell into the river I have seen no sign he made it out on this side or that he crawled out on the other."

It was worse than they thought. "Hope my friend, remember how he arrived, there maybe no sign, we know not how his magic works, do not despair yet. Thaunthala comes behind us, I will have him ride back, and send a send search party to look on the other side." Elladon rode back the way he came.