This story is based on the characters of the movie/book Lord of the Rings. They belong to JRR Tolkien and whoever else has substantial claims on them. They aren't mine, but the story is mine. All mine…and Songbird's…for better or for worse anyway. All disclaimers apply. No copyright infringement is intended. Also, we take no responsibility for bouts of insanity, heart attacks, or any other infliction that is supposedly caused by this story…
With what seemed like perfect timing, there was a knock at the door. "Hmmmm," Kaolith said with a twinkle in her eye. "I wonder who that could be." She opened the door to two very curious Elves who quickly took in the situation. Kaolith was almost back to herself again. They figured the slight nervousness had to do with boats and water.
Selinde still held a deep sorrow in her eyes. They wondered if Kaolith had noticed, then figured she probably had. Selinde must need to work this out on her own. When she was ready to talk, she would let them know. They all headed off to the dining hall together.
Once again they were treated to the company of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. After finishing a sumptuous breakfast, they once again found themselves at the rivers edge. "We have packed all the items you will need into the boats," Lord Celeborn explained. "You will be able to take the boats as far as the falls. You will then need to carry them around to the other side, and take to water once again when there."
"Thank you Grandfather," Elladan said.
Their Grandmother stepped forward and kissed them both. "Take care of those whom you travel with," she said. "Where you are headed is no place for women of any race. I wish for them to return here again one day, no worse for wear."
"Yes Grandmother," they responded.
Galadriel then turned to Kaolith. "You have lived but a short time on this Earth young Ranger. Yet you have experienced more than most Elves do in their lifetimes. Go with hope in your heart, knowing that the companion you have chosen to travel with, will never willingly desert you. She will always remain loyal."
At last turning to Selinde, Galadriel looked deeply into her eyes. "You have also known much pain my young friend. I hope now you will see that not all of your Elven brothers and sisters have deserted you. May you always know that you are welcome in these lands, and that you may find refuge here. And though it is against our laws to accept humans, your companion will also never be turned away. Be mindful of those who walk in the Halls. If you let them, there love will be a shield to you as you continue on your path in Middle Earth."
With the good-byes out of the way, the four headed to the boats. Elladan noticed Kaolith's discomfort. "Do not worry Kaolith," he smiled. "I will not let you fall out." And so the four companions sailed away from Lothlorien headed to a distant land, none of them ever wished to see.
They had traveled for many days when they finally came unto a sight that Kaolith was astounded by. "You will have to let Estel know that you saw the Argonath. He has wanted to see it for a long time," Elladan whispered in her ear, and then realized grimly, that it was a very real possibility that his brother had seen it, and recently.
Kaolith smiled at the thought of doing something before Strider did, and made a note to make sure she told him, when they found the two. Still overly uneasy in the boat, Kaolith was glad when they reached shore and jumped onto land faster than any of the elves thought possible. To make up for lost time, the twins had paddled through the night, letting the river pull them along when they were too tired to continue.
Selinde laughed as Kaolith stomped her foot on the ground, making sure that she wasn't dreaming and that she was once again standing on solid ground. The she-Elf couldn't resist, and called out, "you do know that we have to get back into these boats again in just a little while, don't you Kaolith?"
The glare she received was enough to make her laugh, and she soon found herself sitting in the water. Not sure how to go about this, none of the Elves moved until Kaolith laughed and waded in to continue splashing her friend...
"Tell me Elladan and Elrohir. You have been around human children before, or at least one. Do they never learn?" As she spoke these last words she upended Kaolith into the water, making sure it was not deep enough to frighten the young Ranger. "Now we will both be wet as we walk little one."
As the four companions each took an end of a boat, Elrohir decided to answer the unanswered question. "Truthfully Selinde, we sometimes had to teach Estel the same lessons over and over again. Boy was he stubborn."
Elladan laughed, for he had been the only one to see the look on Kaolith's face. "And it seems to me Selinde, your young companion may actually be more stubborn then him."
And so it was that they carried their boats down the North Stair and made it back to the River. When Kaolith dropped to the ground, they were all afraid that she might not get back into the boats. Kaolith was studying the ground when she realized there were three pairs of eyes staring at her.
"Tracks," was all she said.
The Elves looked down at where she was pointing and saw that there were indeed tracks that looked suspiciously like Orc tracks, mingled with the tracks of many Humans, Elves, and Dwarves. Those tracks they had followed down the North Stair, and gave credence to the Lord Celeborn's reports, but it was the Orc tracks that worried them.
"We must get back in the boats, quickly," Elladan reminded them, though they had all wanted to stop and eat. Kaolith was still staring at the tracks that they'd followed down.
"Do you think any of those tracks are from Strider and Legolas? I mean, is there any way for the two of you to tell them apart?" She looked up hopefully, not wanting to be taken so far out of the search as the City of the Corsairs if there was no sign that the two were even there.
"No, little one, there are too many tracks here to tell, but have hope, and remember that we found Estel's knife with that group. That group was going to be sold to a slaver named Breg, and this is the way that Breg takes his slaves to the City. In all likelihood, we are on their trail." He didn't want to think that there was a possibility that this jaunt was taking them further away, and not closer to, their friend and brother...
Startled out of their thoughts for Aragorn and Legolas. The group quickly became concerned. "Orcs," Elladan hissed. "Hurry, lets move." They had barely made the center of the river, when the first arrows were set to fly. They were more of a nuisance than a threat, for none of the Orcs on shore were capable of hitting such fast moving targets.
Relieved for the moment, the four companions sat back with their own thoughts. Ahead of them was Osgiliath. Mordor however was also ahead, and even the Great Anduin was far too close to the evil that dwells there.
When the threat of the Orcs had passed, the group of travelers settled back and relaxed. Well, three of them relaxed anyway. Kaolith was none too happy with the idea that they were indeed back in the boats and she could not even see the land deep below her, never mind step on it at the time. She kept looking apprehensively over the side and then back at Elladan who smiled reassuringly.
"Relax, little one, there is ground under us, and we will soon walk again. You will not fall out unless I wish it, and now is not the time to exact my revenge upon you for the sneezing powder." He smiled again as the color momentarily drained from Kaolith's face, but then showed a slight twinkle in her eyes that Selinde would have picked up as a new plot forming.
"Brother, we are coming up on Osgiliath soon. We should keep the boats closer together in the middle of the Anduin and make haste past. We do not know what lies in wait for us there, and I doubt with only one human in our company anyone there will be willing to let us pass easily," Elrohir called from where he and Selinde sat.
The two Elven brothers slowed the pace of the boats. They timed the passing of Osgiliath to happen in the dark of the night. But this night was not to provide what they needed. As a full moon appeared in the sky, Elladan cursed. "Tis our luck I suppose to have the brightest of nights, when we only need darkness."
"Then we shall have to be extra quiet 'Dan and not attract any attention."
Both the young women sat silently as the boats started to pass through Osgiliath. They let out a collective sigh of relief, when they were finally passed. Elladan and Kaolith drifted a considerable amount ahead of the others and never noticed the grapple that attached itself to their companions' boat.
They did, however, hear Selinde's cry as the boat suddenly lurched to a stop and she was thrown into the water. She came up sputtering and called out for Elrohir to jump. They couldn't afford to be caught by the sentries at this fortress, and the fact that he was an Elf would not make it any easier for him. He had no chance, however, as the grapple was reeled in with the helpless Elf floundering in the bottom of the boat. If the situation hadn't been so grave, Elladan may have laughed.
Kaolith saw Selinde struggling with the current, and before she knew what she was doing, flipped over the side of the boat and floated after her friend. She could hear Elladan yelling in the background to keep her head up and her feet downstream, but couldn't concentrate on his advice as she was swept under and clawed back up to the surface. Because of her small size, she was swept along more quickly and soon caught up to the Elf, holding on for dear life...both of theirs.
Elladan was shocked, freezing as Kaolith had jumped overboard, and turned back to his brother's predicament, as there was little he could do for the women. He shot off his arrows, but could not control both the boat and the path of his arrows, and he was floating away from the one so desperately wanted to save. When the elder twin could no longer see Elrohir or his captors, he turned to search the shores, hoping to find one, if not both, of his free companions on the banks of the Anduin.
Teeth chattering, Kaolith stuttered, "W-w-where's El-Elrohir? W-w-what hap-happened to him?" She looked up imploringly into first Elladan's eyes and then Selinde's. Then what she had done, and why she was so cold dawned on her and she hit the ground, eyes widening as the seconds passed.
Elladan draped his cloak over her shoulders. "You're as bad as Estel, you know. I thought you were afraid of the water. You could have b..." he was stopped abruptly as Selinde's hand was clamped over his mouth.
"She knows that, would you have done differently for Elrohir if you had been in her position?" she hissed into his ear.
Bowing his head and shaking it 'no', he looked at the human with new admiration. "We have to go back and rescue 'Ro, and quickly. Who knows what they will do to him when they get the chance. But first, I think we need to start a fire and get this little one warmed up." He smiled as Kaolith looked at him through the hood of the cloak that had fallen almost completely over her eyes. It was entirely too big for her.
When a smokeless fire was burning, concealed from view of the River, Kaolith's shivering lessened to the point that she could form full sentences without stuttering. "So, when are we going after him?"
"Always cut straight to the point, don't you, Kaolith? We need some type of plan first." The lone twin stared off towards Osgiliath.
"Would it not be helpful to know where he is being help before we try to figure out what we're going to do?" She threw back, with a smile on her face that Elladan picked up as her outsmarting him, for once.
"Okay, little one," he smiled at the look that was pointed his way, "you win. I guess it wouldn't help to plan to rescue Elrohir from a dungeon if he's in an outdoor cage." He laughed at the tongue that she stuck out at him, and watched as she stood up, only to fall back to the ground quickly.
"I am not sure however, that you are strong enough for the job." Elladan questioned the young Ranger's strength.
"I will have to be," Kaolith reminded them. "I am the only human. They would probably not trust you."
"We will sit here for at least a little longer, until you have regained some of your strength." They could both see that Elladan was impatient to be off. "We will all go together, until it becomes unsafe for us. Is this agreed?"
"All but one point." Kaolith stood. She was still weak they could both see, but she managed to stay on her feet.
"And what point would that be, little one." Selinde also stood as she joined the conversation.
"The point that I am leaving now." Kaolith thus turned and walked away from the fire.
"Damn stubborn humans, I don't know why I put up with her." Selinde looked at Elladan. "We better catch up if we don't want to lose her."
The Elves caught up to Kaolith quickly, and silently moved to each side of her, ready to catch her if she fell, but not close enough that she felt as if they were hovering. They walked through the woods, just out of sight of the River, until they came upon the boats that Elrohir had been brought to shore with. Kaolith looked at Elladan as if to tell him to track his brother, because, though she wouldn't let on, she couldn't see quite as well as she would have normally, and the tracks were switching in and out of focus.
They traced the tracks to as close to Osgiliath as they dared before breaking off of the main path to search for a way in that would not alert the entire population to their presence.
When they had found only a small opening that neither Elf could fit through, Selinde looked at the child with them. "No, there has to be some other way in. She can't go in there alone."
"Selinde, thel nin, better if only one of goes into the heart of this city, for we are less likely to be caught. Besides, they will expect and Elf to save and Elf, not a young child like me. I can blend in, and even if someone sees me, there's not really a chance that they'll connect me to Elrohir.
And so, alone she was. Kaolith silently crept through the city, listening for anything that may help her find Elrohir. When this proved futile, she approached a nearby guard.
"Sir," Kaolith looked up with scared eyes. "I think I saw something in the river earlier. Whom should I report it to?"
The guard, who was completely oblivious to being tricked, look at the scared young human. "It is okay little one. Return to your home and sleep well, for we caught what was lurking in the river."
At this Kaolith's eyes got even bigger. "Really," she said, letting her voice catch in fear. "What was it?"
The Guard thought for a moment. After a while, he reached his decision. "Come young one, I will show you. For you may never again in this lifetime get the chance to see an Elf."
The sight that the guard brought her to see was a relief to Kaolith. Elrohir was behind bars in a small prison, one that any passerby could gawk at the prisoners, but he looked well, for the most part. The only visible injury was a small bruise on his forehead that was probably from falling in the boat, and the Elf looked less than thrilled at his predicament. He looked up as the guard kicked the cage, and Kaolith tensed.
Elrohir was taken aback at the sight of the bedraggled child who he knew so well at the side of the city guard, but remained quiet, not blowing her cover. He could only hope that the others were free as well, and were hidden somewhere that the humans would not find them.
"So, that's and Elf?" Kaolith asked, playing her part rather well. "He doesn't look all that magical or dangerous." She watched as the guard stooped down to her level and looked in her clouded eyes.
"Do not let their appearance fool you, young one, for they are older than they seem, and hide their magic in their features." The Ranger had steeled herself from flinching at the name, and thankfully, only Elrohir saw the fear that was still present. "Now that you have seen him, run along home, child, for you do not look well."
"Thank you, sir. It has been an experience that I will not soon regret, and I'll remember your words," Kaolith said, continuing the thought to herself, *so we can laugh about it later, ignorant human. *
With one last look at Elrohir, promising him with her eyes that she'd be back for him, Kaolith took off in the opposite direction of where she had come from, away from the hole in case the guard was taking note of where she was going. She would double back when she was out of sight, so that the free Elves could know what they needed to plan for. When she turned a corner at the first house, however, she stumbled, falling to her knees in front of an old woman. Kaolith couldn't get up.
She all of a sudden felt weak. As her teeth once again started chattering, she wished for Elven healing abilities.
"Are you all right, young one?" The old woman asked. As she knelt down to feel the child's head, Kaolith finally succumbed to the exhaustion her body felt. "You are burning up!" The woman exclaimed.
Concern for the child laying on the ground in front of her, the woman called out for help. Proving Kaolith's suspicions, the same guard rounded the corner.
He had not been following her, as Kaolith would have assumed, because he suspected her of anything. He had followed her because he felt guilty for letting her go in the first place, when she was obviously not well.
"Thank you," he said graciously to the woman. "I will get her to the healers." He picked Kaolith up and headed back in the direction he had come. When they passed the caged Elf, no one took notice of the color draining from the Elf's face.
Meanwhile, outside the city, Selinde paced. "She should have been back by now 'Dan." Not realizing that she was using Elrohir's pet name for his brother. "Something is wrong, and I cannot wait out here any longer."
To the Reviewers:
Elendil - Wow Eleni! I quite honestly don't think we are that good, but I'm glad you are our number one fan. You do so much to lift both Cube and I and we are eternally grateful.
TC – We are both glad she didn't lose it TC. Were glad you like it so much that you have kept reading. Next chappie should be up soon.
xsilicax - Cube and I are glad you are still enjoying it Cathy. As for Estel in the next chapter, you would have to ask Cube. I can't even remember what's next until it's posted. Nope Cathy, we are not trying to kill him. We are just trying to give you the torture you love. Keep enjoying.
To Darfs etwas mehr sein: We thank you for at least giving our fic a try. This is our first attempt, and we appreciate all critiques. We will consider your words and decide how to go from there. Once again thank you.
