Shrill whistles rang in the night. The camp was filled with frenzied motion. The healers worked furiously preparing the injured for transport while others planned their retreat. The noise woke Erestor from a deep sleep. The barracks he was in was barely half-filled.
"We are evacuating! Don your armor and get your weapons. All of you will all be part of the second group. You depart in thirty minutes." One of the captains called. The room was dim, lit only by moonlight. Erestor quickly rose.
"Erestor, report to Lord Cirdan as soon as possible." The captain added quickly prior to departing the barracks. Erestor swiftly pulled on his clothes and armor. He hastily threw his things into his pack. Turning he grabbed Elrond's armor and his travel pack as well. His friend was currently staying in Lord Cirdan's cabin. Stepping outside, he saw that many of the severely injured from the healing rooms had already been transported on litters to the stables. It appeared as if approximately five hundred elves were ready to depart in the first group.
In the courtyard a small contingent of elves from Amon Ereb were arguing with Cirdan. They sought to rejoin their Lords, Maedhros and Maglor at Amon Ereb.
"You will not go alone. Take three patrols with you and leave within the hour. They will be needed to help strengthen the defenses around Amon Ereb. Our two northern outposts are not defensible against this invading force of well over ten thousand. We will fall back to a position with greater natural defenses." Cirdan ordered. The elves bowed in acknowledgement of the order and left. Cirdan turned to address Erestor. His face was grim. He felt guilty at having contributed to Elrond's exhaustion by sending messages yesterday.
"Erestor, I need you to wake Elrond and escort him to the stables. He is in a deep sleep due to yesterday's work with the healers. I will send Durgin to meet you at the stables." Erestor nodded and looked up in surprise as the Lord grasped his shoulder.
"May Elbereth keep you safe until we meet again." The Mariner prayed aloud. Then he turned and left to guide the rest of his forces.
Erestor left his packs by the stables and took his friend's armor with him to Lord Cirdan's cabin. The sitting room was dimly lit by candlelight. He passed into the bedroom. One look at Elrond's sleeping figure and Erestor knew his friend was in a deep healing sleep. Waking him would be a difficult to say the least. Erestor sat down and focused all his thoughts on Elrond, calling him to wake. Calling him towards the light. Ten minutes passed and still he was unsuccessful. He did not have much time if they were to depart with the second group. In desperation Erestor turned to more drastic approaches.
Xxxxxxxx
"Elrond!" Someone shook him. Then slapped him across the face. "Elrond!" He felt hands pull at his clothes and force stiff metal armor around him.
"Wake up peredhel! We are evacuating!" Erestor cried anxiously. He pulled Elrond to his feet and flung his friend's arm over his shoulder. "Must I carry you?" He shook Elrond again.
"Elrond! Wake!" Erestor said, concentrating all his mental energy on his friend. Eyes opened but stared blankly ahead.
"Rester?" Came Elrond's voice, soft and dreamily.
"Elrond, a large orc force approaches. Cirdan has ordered us to leave. Our group heads for the outpost due south. Most of the forces will meet and make a stand there."
"Erestor?" Elrond repeated in a daze voice. Erestor cursed in frustration and pulled his friend to his feet. It was obvious that his friend had not understood a word he had said. But at least he was waking.
"Elrond. We must go." Erestor settled for simple commands, leaving off all explanations. He buckled the sword securely to Elrond's waist and pushed the bow and quiver securely over one arm. Then he guided the dazed elf outside, nearly falling down the steps.
"Elrond! You must wake!" Erestor cried. He half dragged his friend towards the horses.
"Erestor! Elrond! Hurry!" Durgin called and came closer. The captain focused his energy on Elrond. "Elfling! Awaken!" Elrond blinked dazedly and to Erestor's surprise answered Durgin in halting speech.
"Durgin…. What?. … I am awake." Elrond managed.
"Can you ride on your own, elfling?" Durgin held his eyes in a deep glare.
"I…I think so." Elrond said haltingly.
"Good. Then go." Durgin ordered. Elrond stumbled along beside Erestor to the horses. They mounted, although Erestor noticed that Elrond's horse was uneasy. Obviously sensing the state of its rider and the tension in the surrounding party. The sound of battle rang in the night. Just how close was the orc invading force?
"We ride now." Durgin commanded them forward. This group numbered approximately five hundred strong. In the center of their unit were those with minor injuries. The most seriously injured had been transported with the first group. Erestor kept his steed close to Elrond's trying to keep an eye on his friend in the dark. The unit departed under a blanket of silence. The warriors were organizes in a tight formation. It seemed as if they had only just crossed the boundaries of the settlement when they became aware of foes in the trees above them. Durgin's warnings and commands rang into the silence. If separated, they were to make for any of the southern outposts.
Arrows sped around them. Elrond's steed reared in fear, exposing its rider. One arrow hit Elrond's pack while another slammed through his sword arm. The impact pushed him forward until he slumped against his mount's neck. The horse was unnerved by flow of his rider's blood leaking onto his flank. The horse panicked and bolted away from the group. Elrond struggled just to remain in the saddle. He had not the strength or the where with all to calm the animal that now raced through the trees. They weaved around tree trunks. The moonlight and stars now giving just brief flashes of light to the forest floor. Elrond's head swam and the next sensation was one of falling. The impact of his head with the forest floor stole all his senses.
"Elrond!" Erestor cried, spurring his horse after his friend. In the darkness he could barely make out the fleeing horse, which was already far ahead.
Xxxxxxx
Elros was at the head of the formation of men. They were leading nearly five thousand men north to rendezvous with Cirdan. Celeborn was currently riding with them although a similarly sized elven unit was several miles ahead. They were debating how to integrate the two groups, given that in general men were less experienced warriors. Suddenly Elros paled and clutched at his chest, leaning forward in the saddle. Celeborn drew their horses close together and reached over to steady the peredhel.
"Elros, what is happening?" Celeborn demanded. A lumped formed in his own throat as he realized that tears were now streaming down the youth's face. "Elros, we need you here. We need your strength and diplomatic skills to coordinate the Edain. You can not send you strength to your brother now."
"I can no longer feel him. I can not sense our bond." Elros choked out in a low voice. He trembled with the realization. Celeborn maneuvered their horses to the side and dismounted. He pulled Elros from the saddle and sat him under a large beech tree.
"Have him clear his mind of all else." Came Galadriel's calming advice. "There are many other possibilities besides Mandos' Hall. There are other situations in which their bond could be briefly disrupted. Focus on the positives."
"Elros, look at me." Celeborn forced a calm, soothing tone to his voice and caught the distraught peredhel's eyes with his own. "There are many possible explanations. Do not dwell on the worst. Clear your mind of your fear and search for your bond with your brother. He may have fallen abruptly unconscious." They sat for long minutes as Elros tried to control his fears.
"I could not live without you, my brother." Elros thought in panic.
"Leave aside your fears. Your brother has come through many dangers already. Within two weeks we will be joining their group." Celeborn soothed. "Clear all thoughts from your mind. Focus on the beat of your own heart."
Elros trembled and drew in several deep, cleansing breaths. He tried to focus on carrying out Celeborn's directions. After some minutes he could hear the gentle whoosh of his own breathing and the rhythmic pulsing of his own heart. His mind shut out all other sound, listening intently to the thrum of life within his own body. Then he felt the fragile thread. It was the central connection to the only family that he had left. His heart fluttered at the realization that this bond was still intact. Tears again slid down his check as he examined the delicate thread and realized both how vulnerable it was and how powerless he was to help. Elrond yet lived but he could not contact him nor send aid through their fragile connection.
"Elros?" Celeborn asked tentatively. Suddenly, he knew that Elros would not survive the death of his twin. The renewed flow of tears down Elros' cheek made him fearful of what the young one had discovered. He pulled the peredhel into a gentle hug.
"He lives." Elros whispered. "Though his life hangs by a thread. I cannot tell more than that. I can not aid nor speak with him."
"It is enough. Your brother lives. Hold on to that thought. Elrond is strong. He will endure against adversity. You will be reunited soon." Celeborn said.
Xxxxxxxx
It was dark when Elrond finally woke. The metallic taste of blood was on his lips. He could hear the sounds and smells of orcs close by. He clutched at his throbbing head easily feeling the large welt on his temple. The trees greeted him as if he had been unconscious for a while. They whispered danger. Elrond could not see far. It appeared that he had landed in some type of ditch. He heard the babble of a stream close by but no sound of animals. His sword arm throbbed and he realized that he had sustained an arrow wound, though he could not remember how. Working quickly, since he did not know how long he could stay conscious, he broke the tail off the arrow. He bit down hard to stop moans from coming out of his mouth and alerting his enemies to his presence. Then he pushed the other end free of his arm. Blood flowed freely from the wound. Thankfully he could detect no poison. He tore his cloak at the cleanest spot, creating a makeshift bandage. He had no water to clean out the wound and he did not trust himself to stand. So he let it bleed for a short time before staunching the blood flow. His vision shifted painfully and he quickly moved to tie the bandage around the wound before the darkness took him.
Xxxxxx
"Wake! Wake! Danger! Danger!" Screamed the trees to the elf curled near. "Wake, little one!" Elrond stirred smelling smoke. The screams of the trees echoed in his mind. The forest was burning and the demon flames were approaching. He struggled to his feet, nearly falling again as his head pounded dreadfully. His sword was still belted to him, but his pack had fallen into the water. He picked it up, discarding the enemy arrow that protruded from it. The pack was heavy and waterlogged. He removed the soaked clothing and left them, lightening the load enough for him to carry.
"Run! Run east! Run little one!" He heard the crackle of the flames and stumbled forward, his feet splashing into the stream. Smoke burned at his eyes and nose. He bent and soaked a small piece of fabric in the water, squeezing it and quickly using it to cover his mouth and nose.
"Hurry, little one!" His unsteady feet followed the river, eastward. Gradually, his footing steadied and he was able to increase his speed. The smoke bellowed around him and he stuck to the river's path, following the call of the trees. Tears filled his eyes as he heard the shrieks of the trees succumbing to the flames behind him. His mind was numb and his legs moved him almost unconsciously forward to find safety. The only stops were to steal a few sips from his canteen. His head pounded too much to be able to walk and drink at the same time. To the west he heard sounds of his foes and plotted a course southeast to avoid them. What seemed like hours passed in this monotonous state until the screams of the trees faded into the distance and a strange hush fell around him.
"Shelter" He thought, he needed to find shelter. Closing his eyes he reached out around him with his mind, using the gifts all elves possessed to commune with nature. His heart was emboldened by the songs of the world surrounding him. It was songs of life - songs of hope and the simple joys of nature. The melodies of life washed through him nurturing and strengthening him. He smelled ripening fruits. Wild berries were sprinkled in vines nearby and he gathered some, savoring their life sustaining juices on his parched lips. He gathered nuts and edible greens as he searched for safety. With both arms weak, his sword arm injured from the arrow wound and his other arm still mending from the sword gash sustained weeks ago, he did not want to risk climbing a tree. Although the thought of being safely above the ground where he could spy approaching danger better did appeal greatly. No, a cave would offer better shelter this night. He wandered, imploring the trees for guidance, asking their assistance in locating a safe spot.
"This way, youngling." They called. He followed wearily. His body was close to exhaustion. He could not longer tell the direction he was heading. His aching head still did not allow him to reach out to his brother. He was truly alone. It was a thought that would make his heart ache if he allowed himself to focus on it.
"No" He reminded himself. "I am not alone. Feel the forest. The steady beat of life and love."
"Come, little one. Just over here." He spied a small rocky outcrop. It was not really a cave but it could definitely shelter him from view. He could rest there unnoticed. Carefully, he studied the area. There was enough room for him to lie down. It would serve for the night, until he could heal some and regain some strength. He settled his pack in the corner and pulled his camouflaged cloak from around his shoulders. Carefully, he gathered prickly brush to further conceal the opening and protect him from any wild animals. Then at last he allowed his body rest, covering himself with the concealing cloak and sinking quickly into oblivion.