Celebrian was heading to the kitchens to ask the cooks if they picnic lunch she'd requested was ready when a chilling feeling of dread washed over her. She gasped loudly, nearly falling forward, and had to grip a pillar to stay steady. Fear ran through her like ice. Something was very wrong! She ran to Thranduil's study and burst inside. At first Thranduil glowered dangerously as he rose to his feet to severely lecture whoever had dared to enter without permission, until he saw the terrified look on Celebrian's face. "Elrond!" Celebrian cried. Elrond hurried to her side.

"What is wrong, my love?" He asked.

"Elrond, something is wrong! I can feel it! Our daughter is in danger! Do you not feel it?" She looked pleadingly into his dark, wise eyes. Elrond stood there for a moment, reaching out with his inner spirit to feel his daughter's. He felt it.

"Ada!" Legolas suddenly ran into the study.

"Legolas?" Thranduil sputtered.

"Ada! A distress cry from the eastern side of the river! The trees are screaming. And I heard Glorfindel's horn." Thranduil stiffened, wide-eyed. His spirit was very troubled and he sensed a dark danger in his kingdom.

"Quick! To the horses!" He ordered.

When he could slip through an opening, Glorfindel flew down to Tatsu and fought off the Orcs that were standing over her, the ones Fluffy had not mangled or killed. He watched as Fluffy pursued the Orcs chasing the girls! The balrog-slayer may have been outnumbered but the Orcs were no match for him. He quickly slaughtered them. Arwen and Alasse! He had to go after them! But Tatsu, he couldn't leave her here alone. He quickly checked to make sure no more Orcs were coming, and to his relief, didn't find any.

Glorfindel looked down at the knocked out elf maiden. She was pale and he saw blood trickling from her neck! Shifting her hair out of the way, he found a small dart! It was most likely poisoned! He quickly felt checked Tatsu for a pulse. He found one, but it was weak. He blew anxiously again on his horn.

Alasse and Arwen panted as they sprinted through the forest back toward the palace. Every time they looked over their shoulders, the Orcs were gaining on them! The young little ellyth ran and ran, but soon enough four Orcs caught up to them and blocked their way! "HELP!" Arwen screeched. Alasse was so scared she couldn't utter a sound.

The Orcs leered down at them. The elflings tried to run, but one of the foul creatures snatched Arwen's arm and roughly jerked her back. He shook her like a rag doll then flung her against a boulder. Arwen gasped as her arm made contact with the rock and a stunning pain ran through her limb. "Arwen!" Alasse shouted.

"Lost elflings. Well, well, what do you know?" One of the Orcs licked his lips. "What shall we do with 'em? Can we eat 'em?"

"Arwen!" Alasse hurried to her friend but something large and sharp-an Orc boot-kicked her in the stomach. She fell over, whimpering.

"Take them! They'll make us a lovely deal with that high and mighty elf king." The Orc in charge said. "He'll pay dearly to get them back."

"No! Noo..." Alasse begged. Then one of the Orcs yelped from behind. Another started hobbling, snarling and cursing, and one by one, they began to holler. Alasse looked up to see Fluffy! He'd come! He was attacking the Orcs with the speed of only an Elven wolf.

An Orc chuckled darkly at Arwen's weeping and punched her in the eye. "No! Arwen!" Alasse shrieked, holding her hurt belly. Fluffy furiously dug his blade-sharp teeth into the arm of the Orc who had hit Arwen. The wolf then went for his throat till the hideous being fell, dead.

Two other Orcs were approached the girls, when a tall man with dark hair and a sword rushed in front of them. "Stay behind me!" Bard commanded the girls breathlessly. Arwen and Alasse stared up at him. Where had he come from? How had he known they were in trouble? "Run!" Bard told them. "Go now! Get away from here!"

Alasse, grimacing, helped Arwen to her feet. Arwen's left eye was swollen and she couldn't see out of it. "Ohhh, Arwen." Alasse began shedding tears. "Ada! Legolas! Ada!" She called and called. She pulled Arwen away from the fight, where the brave bargeman was doing his best to fend off the Orcs.

Fluffy tore into an Orc's ankle, leaving it a grisly mess. Bard brandished his sword skillfully into the Orcs' flesh, and was holding his own pretty well. Fluffy ran after his mistress and her friend to keep them safe. He began howling, urgently, eerily. The haunting sound carried over miles through the Woodland Realm.

Thranduil held a halting hand when he heard the terrible sound. "Ada, is that...it's Fluffy, had to be." Legolas shuddered. They had never heard him howl before, but there were no other wolves in the Woodland Realm.

Elrond himself had to shake off his nerves when he heard the wolf. It was a tragic voice to his ears, and only increased his fear for his precious little girl.

"Advance!" Thranduil bellowed, terrified to the core of what was happening.

Bard managed to fell another Orc, but then one standing behind him and much larger than him, pounded him on the head. Bard sank to his knees, dazed. He struggled to get back to his feet. His vision was bleary. He clumsily stood, raising his sword, but he had to blink to be able to see as he felt his eyesight growing darker. A blow like a brick wall rammed into his right shoulder. Bard screamed out in agony and dropped again to his knees. A sharp jab to the gut sent him down on his back. He tried with all his strength to sit up, but the excruciating pain in his shoulder licked up his remaining strength.

He faintly heard the little elf girls screaming and crying. He saw their blurred little forms running away with the fell creatures on their tails. He heard Orcs screeching in pain and a large, gray shape ripping into them like a mad beast.

Another kick to his side startled him and he saw an enormous, dark Orc shadow hovering over him. He couldn't make out the expression on the monsters' face, but he didn't have to, to know it was purely evil. A wicked stab to his stomach earned an ear-piercing yell, then he felt the arrowhead being yanked from his skin. Bard panted and cried, the pain was more than his strong body could take. He rested his head on the ground, welcoming the peaceful blackness of oblivion.

The Orc standing over the bargeman raised his battle-ax, but an arrow through the skull thwarted him. Glorfindel urged Asfaloth to the clearing and dismounted to check if Bard was alive. He heard screaming and the growls of a large beast. Leaving an unconscious Tatsu on Asfaloth, and commanding the horse to look after the poor man, Glorfindel anxiously ran after the sounds.

Alasse and Arwen screamed as they ran together with all their might. The Orcs were catching up to them, until Fluffy threw himself in front of the frightened little girls and lunged at the Orcs. The monsters didn't appreciate his sharp Elven wolf teeth and his drilling bites. And he was lightning fast! The girls kept running while Fluffy distracted the Orcs.

Arwen collapsed on the ground, crying. Her eye and arm hurt so badly! "Arwen, come on!" Alasse yelled, tugging on her friend's good arm. "We have to get away!"

"Alasse, it hurts too much!" Arwen sobbed. "I want Nana."

"Arwen, come on. Come on!" Alasse begged. Arwen crumpled, holding her injured arm. Alasse was so scared. She wanted her Ada, and her brother! They would protect them! Where were they? Grabbing a large stick nearby, she hovered over Arwen, trying to protect her if the Orcs came to attack. One did stagger toward them as Fluffy scuffled with the others. Alasse screamed with all her might.

"ADA! ADA!" She screeched. "Leave her alone!" She yelled at the Orc, shaking her stick.