Friends are for Such a Time as This – Part II
By Vikki
* * *
It seemed to Estel that Elladan was laughing at him.
"You must keep your arrow aligned with your gaze, Estel, or the arrow will not find its mark," the elder twin patiently reminded the child. "Try again, and do not drop your elbow. If you flinch away from the bow, then you have lost."
Estel scowled with concentration, drawing the bow taut. When his fingers lay against his cheek, he released the arrow, but the string struck his cheek as it slacked off and he winced, pulling away. His shoulders fell with disappointment as again the arrow went awry, glancing off the edge of the target and burying itself in the ground. Swiftly he turned his gaze on his Elven brother. "Do not laugh, Elladan! I know what I did wrong," he said before the Elf could speak. "I held the bow too close to my body, and the bowstring struck my cheek." He rubbed the sore spot ruefully. "I also flinched away from the bow, and thus did not follow through."
Elladan looked as if he wished to smile, but his well-trained features were so schooled as to be unreadable. "You have learned quickly, Estel. You show maturity. I concur with your assessment." Here he paused, contemplating. "But the hour grows late. It is time to eat. Let us retrieve your arrows."
Estel followed the Elf to the target and freed his first arrow from the ground at its side, thinking upon his brothers and the hunting trip thus far. Three days previous had the party of fourteen set out from Rivendell, and three quiet days they had been; not the slightest sign of evil had they seen, although Elrohir had felled a wounded wolf the day before.
"Tonight we sit a day's ride from the borders of Imladris," observed Elladan gently as he slipped several more arrows into Estel's small quiver. "On the morrow you must return home."
"I know," said Estel, and he could not keep the disappointment from his voice.
Elladan sighed, placing a hand upon Estel's slender shoulders. "Are you dissatisfied?"
"I know that father only wants to protect me, but he cannot protect me forever!" cried the child, unable to hold back his frustration. "I am learning quickly, and I know that I am safe with you and Elrohir."
"You are safe," agreed Elladan, "but there will be more than enough adventures in your lifetime to make up for this uneventful trip. Someday you may even wish you did not have quite so many adventures."
But Estel would not be comforted. "Can I not stay with you for one more day?"
Elladan shook his head as he led the boy back to their camp. "I am sorry, but I cannot allow it. Father would be mortified!"
Estel sighed heavily, but he could not help but smile at the image of Elrond's face that Elladan's words conjured. "He would be, wouldn't he?"
Elladan laughed, nodding. "So you see why I cannot let you come? Enjoy your last night here, and remember that your trip is far from over. You still have three days until you shall be back in Rivendell."
Estel nodded reluctantly. "I will try."
"That, young one, is all we ever ask."
* * *
The night was quiet.
Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil and prince of Mirkwood, crouched silently in the branches of a tree, his bow in his hands and at the ready. His sharp Elven eyes pierced the darkness as he gazed out into the night.
He was uneasy, although he did not yet speak of it to his companions. Indeed, the night was quiet, but the silence was unnatural. He could not hear the birds, and the trees whispered amongst themselves of intruders. The Elf shifted slightly and fingered an arrow in his quiver.
There were four Elves in the hunting party, of which Legolas was one. They had traveled far from their realm in pursuit of an Orc band, but now they neared the edge of Rivendell, and all were eager to return to the realm of Mirkwood. They were many leagues from their home.
"I do not like the feel of these woods," said the Elf perched on the branch below Legolas. "There is some evil here that we cannot see. The trees speak of it and the silence murmurs of it."
"I sense this as well as you, Airelond," murmured Legolas. He again shifted. "It is the reason that none of us sleep tonight, I fear."
"We are almost a league from the Misty Mountains," observed Airelond, "and even further from the evil that pervades our own home. Why does the same sense of danger lie here?"
Legolas could only shake his head, for he too wondered from whence this unease came. "Perhaps Encirith shall return with some explanation."
As if Legolas' words had called him, the fair-haired Elf named Encirith appeared from among the trees. He inclined his head in deference to the prince. "Legolas, I fear I did not find the evil that we seek, but I saw something I did not quite expect. Some miles to the south of us, a party of Elves has made camp. Their appearance and attire suggest they hail from Imladris."
"That is not so strange," Legolas replied. "We are no more than twenty leagues from Lord Elrond's domain."
"Perhaps they seek the same Orcs that we do," suggested Airelond.
"Perhaps," agreed Encirith reluctantly.
"Regardless," broke in Legolas, "we are turning back, come dawn. We are too far from Mirkwood to be of any aid to our people, and the business of Imladris is not our concern. Nonetheless … how far from our camp do they rest, Encirith?"
"I would say no more than eight leagues distant. They have made camp in a nearby clearing."
Legolas frowned in thought. "How many in their party?"
"More than ten. I did not come close enough or watch carefully enough to determine more, for they were not what I sought."
Legolas nodded, the subtle suggestion that they leave well enough alone not lost upon the prince. "That is so. I thought only to warn them of the danger possibly at hand."
"Legolas, I would not risk it," said Airelond, "For they are some miles from our own path. In addition, they too are Elves, and they shall be on their guard just as we are. This warning in my heart is surely sensed by all our kind. There is no need for us to waste our time coming to them."
Legolas closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought. "How say you, Encirith?"
"I find Airelond's council to be wise, for even you yourself have said the business of Imladris is not our own," replied the fair-haired Elf.
Legolas smiled wanly. "Then we shall turn back and not detour unto their camp," he agreed. He gazed beyond his companions into the gloom of the night. "Where is Glirhuin?"
Airelond merely shook his head. "He has not returned from his watch, but you know how he can be. Mayhap he only waits for one of us to come relieve him."
Legolas began to nod. "Then I shall go to—"
"Legolas!"
The Elven prince and his companions turned towards the cry, and all drew breath at what they beheld. Glirhuin leapt through the trees, his features etched with worry and his hand upon his side. His bow was in his hand and his quiver was emptied. "Orcs! They come towards us from the east, and their numbers are not as few as we might like," he said grimly as he came to rest on the outer branches of the tree. He bowed slightly to the prince. "I am sorry, Legolas, for I fear I alerted them to my presence. An Orc chanced to see me in the trees, and I foolishly released my arrow. If I had not done so, perhaps the foul creature would have dismissed what he saw."
Legolas shook his head quickly. "It is of no matter."
"Glirhuin, you are hurt," cried Airelond, prying the Elf's hand from his bleeding side.
"It was only a glancing blow, and the arrow was not poisoned," Glirhuin dismissed the wound. "We have more pressing matters to attend."
"I can hear them," observed Encirith sharply.
Legolas too could hear the approaching Orcs, for they were not stealthy creatures. "How many, Glirhuin?"
"Forty I counted, but I did not dare tarry long," replied the Elf, allowing Airelond to wrap the wound as he grimaced. He caught Legolas' concerned gaze and shook his head. "This scratch can wait until we are in the clear. What is it you would have us do, my prince?"
Legolas thought swiftly and assembled a simple plan. "We shall flee south, towards the Rivendell Elves, but we shall do so stealthily. We are far from home and although they are evil beings, we are not equipped to deal with great numbers. I will not allow our party to unnecessarily put itself at risk. Do not shoot unless you feel that you have no choice." As he spoke he drew several arrows from his quiver and handed them to Glirhuin. "Try to stay in the trees."
"We would have done nothing else," acknowledged Encirith.
Legolas gave a curt nod. "May Elbereth keep us all safe."
They scattered into the trees without a sound.
* * *
"There is evil in the trees, Elladan," murmured Elrohir.
The elder twin nodded gravely as he stood by his brother. Both gazed into the trees to the east of their camp.
"If the scouts find Orcs, shall we pursue them?" asked the younger Elf. "It would be strange to see a band this far west."
"If such a band exists," said Elladan, "Then we would do well to strike them down. We cannot tolerate a band of Orcs this close to Rivendell. It is difficult to allow them even the Misty Mountains! I would that we could wipe their scourge from the face of Middle-Earth!"
Elrohir placed a calming hand upon his brother's arm. "Calmly, brother. We do not chase our mother's kidnappers," he said quietly.
Elladan drew a trembling breath. "I know, Elrohir, I know. But at times it is difficult to bear that in mind. How fares Estel?"
"He sleeps."
"It is just as well," sighed the elder twin, "For Orcs are still beyond his skill. When I sought Father's permission to allow Estel to join us forth, I expected he might have a chance to fell a wolf, no more."
Elrohir shook his head. "It seems that Fortune thought differently. I shall stay with Estel here in camp, along with two good warriors, supposing that the scouts indeed report that there are Orcs to hunt."
"I think that wise," agreed Elladan. "Look! I see a scout approaching even now."
As the three Elves conversed at the edge of camp, however, they did not realize they had an eavesdropper.
Estel lay wrapped in his blankets, shaking his head slightly. "I want to fight!" he whispered into the dark, and he swore to himself that he would fulfill his wish.
* * *
Author's Notes: Thanks to all who reviewed!
Good point – I'm a dork. 'Elrohir' is spelled with an 'r' in the middle. I'm a dope.
I like Elladan and Elrohir. They're fun to write.
I hope no one minds the original character Elves. They probably won't be instrumental to the story.
Part Three coming soon … lots of battles! *grins*
~~Vikki