A/N Here is the moment that you all have been waiting for: The rescue of our beloved Celebrían!
As the company reached the end of the trail that led away from the place Celebrían and Tinil had been taken from, Elladan and Elrohir sped off away from the main group. "Elladan! Elrohir! Wait!" Elrond called out to his sons. It would do no good for them to get separated and then for an ambush to happen. But the twins did not listen. Elrond growled and urged his horse ahead, gesturing for the others to follow. "Those two are going to get themselves or us killed!"
When Elrond and the others finally caught up, they found the twins in the middle of a huge fight. Apparently, they stumbled across a huge Orc camp, and the twins found themselves surrounded by a large group of Orcs. Elrond unsheathed his sword, charging headfirst into the crowd of Orcs. "Fight!" As soon as their lord gave the order to attack, Glorfindel and the others rushed in and began their assault on the Orcs.
Although largely outnumbered the Elves caught the Orcs by surprise, giving them the upper hand forthwith, however, they knew it was only a matter of time before they lost the advantage. Their only hope was to kill the scouts before the larger Orcs arrived.
Glorfindel and Elrond fought off the scouts on the outer flanks, the sound of steel against steel and the cries of both Elves and Orcs filled the air. Suddenly, Elrond noticed a large cave close to the back of the encampment.
"Glorfindel, look, that must be where they are holding Celebrían and Tinil!"
The golden-haired warrior looked to where his friend referred to and knew if Celebrían and Tinil were here, that would be the most likely place they would be held. Knowing they had very little time left before more orcs arrived, Glorfindel shouted for his friend to leave. "Elrond go! I will hold them off, if we are going to find them, now is the time."
Elrond nodded and swiftly began to make his way to the cave. Before he entered, he heard Glorfindel yell. "May Eru protect you!" Smiling, Elrond ran into the cave.
The first thing Elrond noticed upon entering the dark cave was the stench of rotting corpses. The smell overpowered Elrond, causing him nearly to lose the contents in his stomach. The second thing he noticed were small tunnels branching off from the central passage.
The Elf-lord did not know how he would find his wife with all the different passageways. He knew he would not have time to explore each one as they had raised the alarm and it would not be too much longer before the enemy overpowered them, taking them captive or slaying them.
Elrond just decided on a tunnel to take, when he heard a scream coming from the opposite tunnel. The dark-haired lord recognized that cry from anywhere. His blood running cold and heart racing, Elrond could only form one word as he took off toward the cry. "Celebrían!"
Elrond raced through the tunnel not paying attention to where he went, nor did he care. The only thing which mattered was reaching his wife before anything foul befell her. He just about made it to the source of the scream when he came face to face with Orzag.
Elrond barely had time to duck as he noticed a thick blade advancing at him from the dark shadows, almost dismembering his head from his shoulders. The dark haired ellon scarcely had time to regain his composure as Orzag barreled down once more taking another swipe at him. Elrond quickly raised his sword up and blocked the oncoming blow from his rival's sword.
"So, have you come to rescue the She-Elf? I will personally enjoy bringing her the head of her would be rescuer!" Orzag sneered advancing on Elrond once more.
Elrond felt his blood begin to boil and started to fight even harder. He didn't have time for this, his wife was so close, he could feel it, and she needed his help! "You stay away from my wife!" Elrond snarled blocking another crushing blow from his opponent.
Orzag's grin grew wider when he heard those words. "Oh, so she is your wife, is she? Well, how kind of you to share her with us. Her screams have made our days so much better, and I can guarantee you, Azgad has enjoyed her as well," he replied with dark implications glistening in his eyes.
As those words left the Orc's mouth, Elrond lost all sense of self-control, and within only a few seconds he annihilated Orzag leaving him in pieces. Kicking the body of his foe, Elrond resumed his frantic search for Celebrían. He knew she was here as minutes earlier he heard her pleas for help. Elrond went further down the tunnel before arriving at a fork in the passage. Closing his eyes, Elrond searched for his wife's fëa, and relief washed over him when he felt it not too far from him.
When Elrond opened his eyes, he took the turn to the left. Running with all haste, he eventually emerged into a large cavern with several torturing devices, what he saw nearly made his heart stop: right in front of him just a few feet away was his wife frantically trying to lose her bonds as an Orc lunged straight for her with his dagger in hand.
"Celebrían!" Elrond yelled, not even recognizing his voice.
Elrond's angry shout caused the Orc to stagger in surprise causing him to drive his blade into her shoulder instead of her heart. Celebrían screamed in agony before losing consciousness. Crying out in a blind rage, Elrond cut the Orc down before running to her, cutting her bonds loose. For a brief second, Elrond thought his beloved was dead and searched desperately for her fëa. "Oh, Eru please let her be alive, please do not take her from me," Elrond whispered over and over trying desperately to wake her up.
As Elrond beheld his wife, he started to break down right there and then. Glancing over her wounds, he noted her face appeared swollen and bruised; several pinpricks punctured her throat and collarbone. Taking her hand in his, Elrond noticed several crushed fingers, and dark, ugly bruises covered her entire body. But what made him freeze were the endless lacerations covering her sides, back and the stab wound in her shoulder. Elrond could hardly believe this torn, and abused creature could have once been his magnificent and lovely wife, and indeed, he would have doubted the possibility, save for the ghost-like pulse of his bond with her, a fragile reminder – in spite of impossible odds, she still lived.
Elrond breathed a sigh of relief but knew he could not stay here. He had to get her out of this place quickly, unsure of just how much longer she would survive. With every passing second, he could feel her slowly slipping away from him. If only he could get to his horse where his healing supplies remained, he could treat her – at least partially. "Hold on love," he murmured placing a soft kiss on her brow.
Picking her up gently, he made his way back outside where he prayed that the others were faring well. Fortunately, he did not run into any adversaries on his way out which indicated they remained engaged with Glorfindel and the others. As soon as he emerged outside, he caught the attention of several Orcs and they instantly charged straight towards him and his precious cargo.
Quickly setting Celebrían down shielding her from the oncoming enemy, Elrond swiftly destroyed his would-be attackers before picking his wife back up attempting to make his way to his horse. Catching Glorfindel out of the corner of his eye, he cried out grabbing his attention, "Glorfindel, I need you to keep the enemy away so that I can tend to her!"
The golden-haired warrior did not even need to look to see who his friend referred to and immediately Glorfindel started hacking his way to his dark-haired friend, fiercely defending him as Elrond tended to Celebrían's wounds.
When Glorfindel dispatched the last Orc, he stared helplessly at Celebrían appalled by the condition; she was in. "How is she?" he asked afraid of the answer he would receive.
"She is stable at the moment, but I am afraid she will not last long out here. We must get her back to Imladris as fast as possible. Recall the others, we leave now," Elrond ordered as he started bandaging the worst of her wounds.
"Where is Tinil? Was she not with Celebrían?" Even as the words left his mouth, Glorfindel already knew the answer.
Elrond stopped momentarily from tending Celebrían. "No, I noticed no sign of her. I can only assume the enemy took her." His voice held remorse as he continued once more his ministrations.
Glorfindel bowed his head and placed a hand on his heart. "May she rest in peace." When he raised his head, he started to call for a retreat when Elladan and Elrohir ran up to them. "Father, how is mother?"
Elrond did not even need to say anything as the look on his face told it all. Their mother was in grave condition and would not last long without help. The twins did not even have time to respond when the second wave of Orcs started to pour in.
Instantly, they began fending them off, but half way through, another onslaught came crashing in on them. Hopelessness began setting in on the small band of Elves as it seemed to look like they were not going to leave here alive.
"Elrond, you and the twins take care of Celebrían, the rest of us will hold the enemy off!" Glorfindel commanded, giving no room for argument.
Elrond nodded and ordered Elrohir to hand him his bag and to help support his mother as he bound her more severe wounds. Elrohir set his sword down before kneeling to help his brother hold Celebrían as their father took the cloth and started wrapping her back and fingers up.
"We must get out of here now! I can do no more for her here. She is fading fast and will not last much longer."
"Father, you stay with mother, and we will get the horses. Elladan, this way, quickly!" Elrohir said getting to his feet.
"We will be right back." Elladan placed a quick kiss on his mother's forehead and went to help his brother retrieve the horses.
Fortunately, most of the Orcs remained occupied with Glorfindel and the other Elves, allowing the twins to recover the horses with little conflict. When they returned, their father was holding their mother waiting anxiously for them. "Here, I will hold her while you get on," Elladan said reaching out his arms to take his mother. Reluctant at first, Elrond did not want to let her go, but knowing he would probably cause her more pain mounting his horse while holding her, he gently handed her over to his eldest.
Quickly mounting his horse, Elrond motioned to his son he was ready to take Celebrían, and Elladan gave his mother back over to his father. As he positioned his wife securely in front of him, he took hold of the reigns, giving a sidelong glance at his youngest. "Elrohir, tell the others we are leaving now." Elladan mounted his horse, holding the reins of his twin.
Elrohir quickly ran to within earshot of his mentor. "Glorfindel, we are leaving now, call back the others. Mother must get back to safety fast!"
Glorfindel acknowledged Elrohir and gave the order to retreat. As he looked on to make sure everyone was out he felt a sense of remorse as he noticed several of his comrades who had fallen during the battle. He hated leaving them here without a proper burial, but he knew there was nothing he could do about it. To stay would mean certain death.
The Balrog-slayer swiftly got on Asfaloth and started to fight his way out with the others. As he continued to make his way out slicing down opponent after opponent, he realized the Orcs sorely outnumbered and overpowered them. There was no way they would make it far at all. "Elrond, we are outnumbered!"
Elrond somehow managed to wield his sword as he made his way out of the skirmish. "We must try! I will not leave my wife here to die!" Elrond yelled, but inside he knew his friend was right.
Glorfindel screamed in frustration. So, this was how he would meet his second end? At the hands of Orcs, failing to protect the Half-Elven family? "Lord Glorfindel." Glorfindel looked over to his left and noticed one of the younger ellyn, Raithon looking at him with a determined look in his silver eyes. "Take the others and leave. My brother and I will stay behind and hold the enemy off so you can escape.
"I cannot let you do that; you will die!" Glorfindel started to argue, but Raithon's brother Radhron stopped him. "My lord, it is the only way. If Lady Celebrían is to make it back alive along with the others, then this is how it must be done."
Glorfindel laid his hand on Raithon's shoulder and smiled bravely trying to hold back the tears. "I am so proud to have trained you and to have fought by your sides. Songs shall be sung in your honor for your selfless sacrifices."
Radhron placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head. " Sweet waters and light laughter until next we meet."
Bowing his head, Glorfindel placed a hand over his heart. "My heart shall weep until I see thee again," he said before he turned and off rode off, leading the others to safety.
When Glorfindel was out of sight, the two brothers turned back towards the approaching enemy. "Are you ready brother?" Radhron asked?
"Ai, I am." Raithon held his sword high and with one final cry, "Death to the enemy!" They charged into the horde of Orcs taking down several of them before they too were overpowered.
Glorfindel stopped just close enough he could still see the two brothers charge the remaining Orcs. He tried to pull himself away but found he was unable to. He could only turn when he saw the brothers shot down off their steeds and pummeled as they tried once more to rise and fight. Not wanting to be seen by the Orcs he forced himself to flee and to catch up with the others.