Elrond stood rigid and stared at Vamir, face pale as he tried to wrap his mind around what the young warrior had just told him. Vamir had allowed Sûllaer to fly the leagues back to Imladris and he had arrived long before the other warriors, immediately seeking out Elrond and telling him what had happened.

"Is there any hope they are alive", the elf lord asked finally, voice strained with worry.

"I believe they are with all my heart", Vamir said, resolutely. "And Master Glorfindel seemed to think so too. But we need help to reach them."

Elrond nodded, forcing his shock and fear to fade into determination to help Malorn and Ascal. "Very well then. I shall have Alwin put together and lead a rescue team up to the mountains and I shall lead a team of healers to care for the wounded. You have done well to reach me so fast Vamir. Return to your family now and rest."

Vamir shook his head vehemently. "Nay, my lord. With all due respect, I intend to return with you and continue to do anything I can to help find Malorn. I will not abandon him."

"I had a feeling you would say that", Elrond said, giving the ellon a tight smile. "Very well then, the grooms will tend to Sûllaer and I will send a servant to show you to a room where you can rest yourself while we prepare to leave. I will send for you when we are ready."

"Thank you, my lord", Vamir said bowing.

Elrond nodded and swept out of the room. His first mission would be his hardest by far; telling Thranduil and Legolas what had happened. He knew they would be sick with worry over Malorn and Elrond could only hope that the young elf was alive. He had seen heartbreak and anguish in his friends' eyes too much over the years and he did not want to see it again now. Elrond found the pair on the archery fields, Thranduil watching as Legolas practiced his shooting. He approached them slowly expression grim. Thranduil looked up as he sensed his friend and his brow furrowed in concern at the seriousness on Elrond's face.

"Mellon nin, what is it", Thranduil asked. "What is wrong?"

Legolas lowered his bow mid-aim as he heard the concern in his father's voice and came over to join the older elves.

"Thranduil, there has been an accident", Elrond said softly. "Malorn's patrol was attacked by wargs on the mountainside. He was attempting to defend Ascal, but both were knocked off of a cliff and into a ravine."

Thranduil felt his heart stop in his chest and Legolas' hand gripped his shoulder tightly. He could already feel a tremble running though his son.

"Elrond, is…is he…", Thranduil couldn't force the horrid word out of his throat.

"No one knows for sure", Elrond said. "Glorfindel had not been able to reach them when Vamir left to come bring the news. Vamir believes there is hope that they are alive though, so right now we are proceeding with a rescue, not a recovery."

"As long as there is hope, no matter how slim, I will believe that he lives", Thranduil said with fierce determination. "Legolas and I will ready ourselves and go with you. We will find Malorn and bring him home."

Elrond nodded and turned toward the training fields to have Alwin begin gathering a team to bring back to the mountain. Within an hour, a group of twenty scouts, twenty warriors, and ten healers including Elrond, Elrohir, Elladan, Thranduil, and Legolas were ready to leave Imladris and ride to the mountain.

Alais stood in the courtyard next to Kali, both who were there to see them off. Alais eyes were red rimmed from tears and Kali's face was pinched in worry.

Elrond had been the one to tell Alais what had happened on the mountain and Vamir had told Kali. Both had wanted desperately to go with the rescue party, but Elrond insisted that Alais stay and run the healing wards in his and Elrohir's absence and Alwin upheld Glorfindel's determination that Kali was not yet ready for battle. He did however suggest she stay with Alais so the two could comfort each other during what could potentially be a very long wait for news. Thus the two women stood side by side and anxiously watching the warriors prepare to leave, hoping with all their might that the party would return soon with good news about their friends.

Once the prepartionas were complete, Elrond took a moment to come over to Alais and Kali one more time. He understood the anguish in their hearts, especially in Alais', and wished to comfort them once more before leaving

"Believe in Malorn", Elrond said softly as he embraced Kali and dried Alais' tears. "Believe he will fight and survive and be reunited with you both. We will find him and bring him home I promise."

It escaped neither elleth that Elrond did not promise Malorn would be found alive, but they chose to take Elrond's advice and hold onto hope. Elrond kissed Alais' brow and patted Kali's cheek before turning and mounting up with the waiting group. As one, they galloped out of the gates of Imladris with Vamir in the lead, riding Sûllaer once again. The group was quiet as they rode, all their thoughts being placed with the two young elves that they all desperately hoped were still alive.


Malorn shivered as he walked up the trail to his and Ascal's cave. They had made it through their first night in the ravine, but their wood had all been used up trying to keep warm. Thus, Malorn had volunteered to go find some more that morning while Ascal filled their waterskins with snow to melt over the fire so they would have plenty of clean water. Both were keeping their eyes open for anything that could be used as food. They had had no breakfast that morning and unless Ascal had found something edible on his journey, they would most likely have no lunch or dinner either.

Normally the lack of food would have been no more than an uncomfortable inconvenience, but the stress of the day before and the harsh elements they were being exposed to were quickly sapping the two young elves of much needed strength. Hunger gnawed painfully at their stomachs and both were finding it harder and harder to stay warm. A deep exhaustion that no amount of sleep could cure had settled into their bones and Malorn knew they wouldn't last many more days without being found or at the very least finding something decent to eat to give their bodies strength.

Malorn finally arrived at the cave and he tiredly pushed the boulder aside. He had at least been extremely successful in finding wood for their fire so they would be able to stay warm for the rest of the day and all that night if they were not found before then. Ascal had already returned to the cave and he pulled the bundles of wood inside so Malorn could squeeze through the entrance.

"Did you find any food", Ascal asked hopefully, searching the wood pile for anything to eat.

Malorn shook his head sadly. "Nay, I assume you did not either?"

"Nay", Ascal mumbled. He threw some fresh sticks on the fire and then scooted as close to the blaze as he could without burning himself, continuing to shiver even then.

Malorn did the same on the opposite side of the fire. "I shall warm up a bit and then go look again. There has to be something out there we can eat. You stay here and guard our cave. We will die for sure if we lose our shelter to a warg or orc."

Ascal nodded his agreement and stared wearily into the crackling fire. Malorn stayed in the cave for almost half an hour before feeling warm enough to venture out once more. He crawled out into the wind and snow and headed up the ravine this time, searching for anything at all that he and Ascal could eat. He dragged his weary body over rocks and snow drifts, having to stop several times to catch his breath as he climbed.

It was on one such occasion that he suddenly heard rocks clatter down from the cliff behind him. He whirled around, fearing a warg, but could have sobbed in relief when he instead caught sight of a mountain sheep climbing a cliff only a few feet overhead. It was small and skinny compared to most sheep, but to Malorn it might as well have been a whole herd of deer, plump on spring grass. Quickly, the young elf pulled his hunting knife silently from his boot and melted into the shadows of the mountainside. The sheep felt no pain nor fear when Malorn grabbed it quickly and neatly slit its throat. The animal fell silently to the ground and Malorn collapsed next to the sheep, soaking up the warmth that still emanated from its body and feeling gratefulness beyond words for the gift of food that would keep him and Ascal alive for several more days if need be.

Feeling renewed determination fueling his limbs from his catch, Malorn quickly field dressed the sheep and then hoisted the animal onto his shoulders, trotting as quickly as was safe down the mountain. Once he made it back to the cave, he pulled the rock aside that covered the entrance.

"Ascal", he called excitedly. "Ascal, come out here quickly!"

The ellon crawled out of the opening and his jaw dropped at the sight of the sheep.

"Oh, praise be, Malorn, FOOD", he exclaimed. "I cannot believe you found this for us. It is amazing! Thank you so much!"

Malorn stopped and stared in shock at the thankful and humble statement that poured sincerely from Ascal's lips. Ascal must have heard himself as well for he quickly snapped his jaw closed, swallowed hard, and looked away, trying to hide the blush that crept onto his face.

"I will take it inside and start skinning it", he muttered gruffly. "Not a bad catch, but I am sure I could have caught something better."

With that, he drug the sheep inside the cave leaving a stunned Malorn in his wake. The young prince felt a smile spread on his face. In that moment he had seen a different side of Ascal. A side that was not jealous, threatened, and angry, but happy, grateful, and friendly. For some reason Ascal was trying desperately to hide that side of himself and Malorn realized that it was not he that Ascal was angry with. Ascal was only using him as on outlet for another frustration that had built up inside of himself.

"You just showed me the true side of you, my friend", Malorn thought happily. "Now I shall do my best to help you bring it out so you can let the anger go and be happy."

Elvish Terms:

Elleth – A female elf

Ellon – A male elf

Mellon Nin – My friend

To Isla: I'm so glad you're enjoying this story and I hope it continues to be exciting for you. To answer your question about Malorn's age, he is 54 years old (the equivalent of a 17 or 18 year-old human). Thank you for all your reviews! I hope to continue hearing your thoughts on the story :)

Hope you all enjoyed! Please review!