…Plans…

"Gandalf!" Elladan and Elrohir echoed, shocked. Two elves helped the brothers out of their bonds, as Legolas narrowed his eyes at the quite self-satisfied wizard. His eyes drifted across the group of elves before settling on Elrond. He paled immediately and Elrond raised an eyebrow.

"You…oh…this is a terrible mistake, all of it!" Legolas whispered, before his eyes landed on Elrond's sons.

"Elladan! Elrohir! Do you know what you've done? Gandalf, what were you thinking you—you grey cloaked fool!" Legolas growled, furious at everyone around him, including himself.

"Legolas?" Gandalf asked, stepping forward, edges of worrying beginning to slide across his face.

"We have to go back," Legolas whispered. "Now, we have to go back now—" he pinned Elrond with his eyes. "I need a horse, now. And a pack. I have to find him."

"Legolas?" Elladan asked.

"What's wrong?" Elrohir continued. Legolas shook his head and then glanced back at the forest behind him.

"It's all gone so horribly wrong. I have to save him—he trusted me and look where it's got him!"

Elrond moved through the group, the pit slowly dropping out of his stomach. He grabbed Legolas' arm, meeting his eyes squarely. "What's happened? Tell me everything."

"Aragorn. He's—it was just supposed to be for fun. Dares and tricks and…orcs took him. I was following his tracks…but with the rain, and then..." he ducks his head to hide the fury he can't help but feel for himself and everyone around him. Forces himself not to blame Elladan or Elrohir or Gandalf, because really, he'd left Aragorn defenseless. He'd left him alone and defenseless and hadn't found him and now…what?

"Orcs took him?" Elrond asks, his voice the barest whisper, eyes dark and furious and then he nods, sharply, walking back to the group of elves that have now drawn in amongst themselves, whispering in shock. He delivers a series of curt, low orders, and then returns to where Legolas is still standing, frozen to the ground. "They'll gather supplies. Go rest, we'll leave in two hours."

"We?" Legolas echoes, and Elrond, Lord of Rivendell, draws himself up to his full height.

"I and a group of trackers will accompany you. Whatever it takes we will find those orcs, and deal with them accordingly."

Dimly Legolas thinks he should be glad that he has never caused Elrond to look at him as he looks now, with fire and darkness and all the power he holds but rarely shows. Behind them, Gandalf steps forward, and he looks older then he did moments before, older and angrier and he says, softly, "I'll come with. If it's orcs you're after I can help with that."

Elladan and Elrohir nod half-numbly, assuming their presence will be accepted, and Legolas, standing in the circle of his friends, sends out a silent prayer that they'll be in time, that Aragorn will have the chance to see what he means to his friends and how willingly they step up to help him. And that he'd have the chance to forgive them for well and truly ruining everything.

"He'll be all right," Elladan whispers, and Elrohir nods.

"If anyone will be, he will."

And Legolas thinks of the last time he saw him, bound and laughing and furious and demanding and he knows he has to tell them about the herb and the ropes and the reason why Aragorn was helpless.

And Elladan and Elrohir know they'll have to admit that they hadn't thought, hadn't noticed that Legolas was tracking someone, hadn't spared a thought for Legolas' constant traveling companion.

And Gandalf hates himself for being irresponsible and laughing as he told Elrond that he had captured his children making fools of themselves.

Everything's fun and games until a dear friend is captured by orcs somewhere in the wilderness and no one realizes until maybe too late.

"Two hours," Elrond repeats, and walks away, knowing there is more to the story but knowing even more then that that if he hears one more word from any of them he won't be able to stop himself from saying something he'll regret. And right now there isn't time for that. There isn't time for anything, at all, but he, Lord of Rivendell, can only hope that Aragorn can be as strong as everyone believes he is.