Umm . . . Post again soon if I know what's good for me . . . Well . . . I listened!

JediKnightBalthasar . . . Hola! Haven't heard from you in a while . . . wondered what happened to you. :o)

Yes Caycayal is quite different from the others, and most of that is from his mother, and she was very special and very intelligent, and she taught him with a true heart as Elrond taught his sons with a true heart.

Are there others? Well maybe. I'm still working on the story, and I am uncertain if there are others out there or not. But if there are they will certainly come out. :o)

And no, hoping can't hurt, it can be disappointing when the outcome is the unexpected, but hope sometimes is the only thing we need in order to make it through whatever we find ourselves faced with.

Impatient? I don't think so . . . I'm the impatient one. *Grin* Hope to hear from you again.

Carrie-

Me? An evil writer? *Bats eyes, trying to look innocent*

Why, I think you have the wrong person . . . Then again *grins evilly*

Umm . . . why do I have the feeling that I am going to have readers blaming me for your upcoming cliffee you claim to have?

I swear I didn't do anything!!!!!! (okay, I did quite a few things, but really, should you punish all of your readers just to make me suffer? Knowing you more in likely yes) *Sighs* Well anyway, any cliffee you might have can't be any worse than the ones I have :o)



Anti and arabella thorne -

(referring to the same question both of you asked)

Hehe. . . are they really that stupid? Well yes, and no. (surprising answer?) Don't be so sure of yourselves in thinking that they will be found out. Yes Elrond knows that Elrohir and Elladan went to the village, so that will be the first place he goes.

Also, don't be so quick to point out the obvious, because it is not always so. Take into account that these *stupid* Elves more in likely have a plan to ward off Elrond, such as they had for Elladan and Elrohir . . . it didn't work, but they could as easily say something such as "They never passed through" or "They left last morning" you get the idea.

So very good eye in catching that fact, both of you, but don't be so quick in ruling out other possibilities. :o)

arabella thorne-

Onto the rest of your questions-

Where is Caycayal? Well. . . Umm that question will remain unanswered, for now, it will come up in the story, but he is not with Elrond and Estel.

---"Kaytar," the voice sounded, calling his name, "Caycayal has been spotted coming down the hill sir," the guard said, stepping up next to him.- --

That tells of his last spot, (along with that rather nice cliffee if I say so myself) but I will say no more! Read on my friend, read on!

'One must never be in haste to end a day; there are too few of them in a lifetime'

-Dale Rex Coman



Chapter 12: Time of Recovery, Time of Loss



Under the care of Lord Elrond, Estel had recovered quickly from his wounds, and he didn't seem to be bothered by what had happened. Elrond had found himself losing the battle against when Estel was well enough to move about, for Estel had chosen that time himself.

Trinea and Corean had come to visit him, and the three sat in sitting room, playing with a handful of toys Estel had drug out of his room. Elrond took great care in moving through the area, stepping over books and small balls that had rolled around.

"My Estel," he said softly, sitting down, "You've certainly have redecorated the floor."

Estel lifted his head up, a proud smile crossing his face, "Thank you Ada." A non-to-amused glance caused Estel to quickly banish his smile, "I'll clean it up," he said, twirling a small play sword in his grip.

Elrond found himself gazing out the window as the youngsters talked quietly. He was beginning to grow worried about his elder sons. What if something had happened to them? After all they did have a reputation for getting in trouble. He laughed softly at the thought of what had happened last time.



'I didn't do it' Elrohir said racing into the room. Elladan was right on his heels.

'Don't blame any of this on me little brother' Elladan said defensively.

Elrond watched with amusement as the two quarreled, before intervening. 'Now tell me my sons. What happened?' At that moment both of them began to talk rapidly.

'If he had just . . .'

'Don't listen to him! I was there the whole time, he doesn't know what happened, I . . .'

'Then all of the sudden . . .'

Elrond held up his hand, silencing his sons in mid sentence. 'One at a time,' he said calmly, 'Elladan, you first.'

'That is quite unfair Ada!' Elrohir exclaimed, 'Why does he go first?'

Elrond gave a sigh, 'Very well then Elrohir, you go first.'

'Ada!' Elladan cried suddenly. 'What about me?'

Elrond shook his head, 'Well then, you go first, if you're so impatient' he inquired softly.

Elladan shook his head, crossing his arms in front of his chest. 'I am not impatient, Elrohir, you go first.'

'Me!' Elrohir cried, 'I am not impatient, you go first!'

'I shall not,' Elladan shouted, turning to face his brother. 'You wanted to tell first, so you go first.'

'Well I won't say anything until you do,' he said shortly.

'Neither will I,' Elladan said, 'So you may just as well start . . .'

'Both of you are beginning to try my patience, and trust me, it is running thin,' Elrond said, irritation edging in his voice. 'Elladan, you start.'

Elrohir snickered softly from where he stood. Elladan stuck his tongue at him in disgust.

'Please, both of you . . .' Elrond warned.

'Elrohir set the farmer's barn on fire," he said quickly.

Elrohir let out a wide-eye expression as Elrond turned a questioning glance at him. 'I did not,' he cried. 'I was, well, I . . .I . . .'

'You?' Elrond said, attempting to help his son finish his train of thought.

Elrohir opened his mouth, but could find nothing to say.

'He was attempting to juggle torches, and he missed. The hay caught fire, and soon enough the barn was ablaze. The chickens went crazy,' Elladan put in for him.

Elrohir laughed, 'They were running around in circles, clucking their heads off.'

A glare from Elrond cut his laughter short. 'And the farmer was where?'

'Oh he was there, he was awfully mad too. Don't worry, I told him that Elrohir would clean up the mess,' Elladan said softly.

Elrond nodded. 'You will clean up everything, do you hear?'

Elrohir nodded swiftly. 'Yes father'

'And Elladan,' he said gazing at his son.

Elladan straightened up, smiling softly. 'Yes Father?'

'When you go there, inform him that you too will also help in cleaning.'

Elladan nodded, 'Yes father . . . what!?' he yelled suddenly as he caught onto what his father had said. 'But why?'

'Because you were not watching your brother when you where supposed to. If you had been, none of this would have ever happened. Do you understand?'

Elladan nodded, hanging his head. 'Yes father,' he glanced harshly at Elrohir, who was smiling.

'Both of you can leave now,' he stated softly.

He smiled gently at the memory, shaking his head. Yes those two certainly could get in trouble.





*~*~*~*~*~

Elladan shifted softly, pain racing through him. He slowly opened his eyes, everything before him was a blur, and he flinched slightly when a figure moved in front of him.

Seeing the change, Elrohir leaned forward, talking softly in the Elvish tongue, knowing that his brother could easily hear him.

"Elladan, it's all right, I'm here. How do you feel?" he asked softly, brushing the thin strands of hair from his face.

Elladan moaned slightly, fixing pain filled eyes on his younger brother. "Where?" he asked softly, his voice was rough.

"They took us to one of the cells, you're hurt, but Caycayal has done what he can," Elrohir said, moving to help his brother sit up.

Elladan glanced over to where the Elf sat against the wall, smiling softly. "Caycayal, you're alive," he stuttered softly.

Caycayal laughed softly, "Well yes, at least the last time I checked I was."

Elladan leaned weakly against the wall next to his brother. His head pounded fiercely, and his wrists were cut from the coarse ropes that had bounded harshly. "Are you two okay?" he asked softly, closing his eyes.

"I'm fine," Caycayal muttered quietly. In truth he was not, but he did not need to worry the twins at this point. "I hope Estel is well," he said softly.

Elrohir nodded, "He is, father said he would be up in a few days, that was before we left."

Elladan nodded also. "Elrohir?" he asked quietly.

His brother turned quickly, worried about him. "Yes?"

Elladan opened an eye, taking in the worn appearance of his brother. "I asked if you were okay."

Elrohir laughed softly, "Yes you did. I guess I forgot to answer, I am fine my brother."

But Elladan wasn't put off. "You're hurt," he said shortly.

Elrohir raised an eyebrow, "Really," he exclaimed, laughing softly, "I didn't know that."

Elladan let out a heavy sigh, "You know what I mean," he said, irritation creeping into his voice.

Elrohir laughed softly, "Yes, I am fine. Sore, but I will live."

Elladan turned a look toward Caycayal, "What happened?" he asked softly.

Caycayal cast his eyes downward, refusing to look into his eyes. "They weren't happy with the fact that I had helped Estel . . ."

"We're glad you did," Elrohir said shortly, "Now, we only need to find a way out before it's too late."

Caycayal closed his eyes, sighing softly. Little did they know; it was already too late.



TBC . . .

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