Elrond's face was drawn and worried. Late afternoon on the third day and still there was no sign of his son. He came in only to change horses and was on his way back out when his daughter called to him.

"Father..." She took his hand. "He will be fine. He is at home in the woods."

AI know, Arwen. But my heart tells me something different this day." He looked up as riders entered the courtyard.

"Lord Elrond," greeted one of the riders. "Arwen."

"King Thranduil," returned Elrond. "I thank you for your help."

The king of mirkwood gazed back at him. "There is no love lost between us, Elrond, but I would not have our children suffer because of it. I know you would do the same if Legolas were missing."

Elrond nodded, then turned to his daughter. "I'll be back soon. Keep watch here," he told her gently.

"Aragorn and the others will be here shortly," she said. "We'll find him, Father."

Elrond mounted his horse. "Let us go, Thranduil." The two elven lords turned their horses and left the courtyard, followed by the small band of elves that had come with Thranduil.

*****************************

Elentaari glanced over at the wounded elf. She had tried to make him as comfortable as possible. Moving like that had taken all of his energy, and he was still, much too still for her liking. Worse, he had started his leg bleeding again. She tore more pieces from his tunic and bound the wound, after she had washed it. The only thing she had to use medicine was athelas; she thought about going back to the cabin for medicine, then decided against it. She used what athelas she had, chewing it to release the juice and then wrapped it to his leg. He was still unconscious, his face pale and his skin warm. His eyes were closed, his sleep not a natural sleep, but rather a dark void of unconsciousness. She sighed deeply, dreading her next task. She wanted to get the elf to Rivendell, to the healer there, but she was loathe to leave Ereniel's body to be mauled even further by the warg. Finally she decided to lay her friend in the lower tree branches until she could come back to give her the honor in death she deserved. She took Ereniel's cloak and wrapped the still body in it, then lifted it gently to the first branches on the mallorn tree. Elentaari scrambled up beside it and then painstakingly moved it to another, still higher branch. She wanted to make sure the body would suffer no dishonor before she could come back. "I'm sorry, Eneriel," she whispered, tears running down her face. "I'm sorry to leave you. But I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise." She wiped her eyes and made her way back down the tree to where the elf lay. His fever hadn't gone down any that she could see, but neither had it gone up. He looked so tired - Elentaari hated to disturb him, but there was no way she could carry him by herself.

"Wake up," she said, shaking him gently. "Please, wake up."

The elf groaned and tried to sit up with a start.

"Careful," cautioned Elentaari, helping him sit up. "It's all right. You're safe now." For a while anyway, she thought to herself. She felt his forehead gently. A little cooler, she thought hopefully.

"Who are you?" the elf asked. "Your friend -" He stopped and shivered. "Cold," he whispered.

"My name is Elentaari," the she-elf answered him shortly. "Let's get you up now. Can you walk at all?" She stood up and helped him to his feet. It was going to be hard going, she thought. It looked like he couldn't put any weight on his injured leg. She looked at him critically. He was pale and his face was drawn with pain. He had to get to Rivendell quickly, or..... she pushed the thought away. "What are you called?" she asked him.

"El-" he began, and his face contorted with a spasm of pain. He clutched her arm tightly.

"Breathe," she instructed him. "Breathe through the pain in your leg." He nodded slowly, keeping his eyes on hers as she mirrored his breathing. Finally he relaxed his grip on her arm.

"Sorry," he whispered.

"It's all right," she told him, trying to keep him occupied. "What is your name?"

"Elrohir." He took a ragged breath. "I am Elrohir of Imladris."