Okay, ff.net strikes again with weird formatting problems. I am so sorry, but perhaps it shouldn't be me apologizing! J Anyway…we'll try this chapter four thing again. Maybe it will work!

Disclaimers and other general information were in chapter one, but if you must see it again…I don't own anything recognizable as Tolkien's. Straightforward enough, right? There are a few original characters, and while I wouldn't imagine anyone wanting to use them, ask if you must. I'd let you, but I'd like to know. This is pre-LOTR, about the same time period that the Mellon Chronicles by Cassia and Sio (by the way, completely awesome series. If you haven't read it, you're missing out!)  takes place. So, on with the next installment…

Stolen

Chapter Four

Rabryn had woke up alone. He'd slowly sat up, eyes bright with fear, watching the great fire flicker before him. His gaze had gone to the door. He vaguely remembered being brought to this room in the night, but had been so exhausted his memories were only blurred images that made no sense whatsoever.

He remembered falling asleep leaning on the elf. And that he had been brought to an elf's home.

His fear slowly receded. He'd never seen an elf before and had, of course, never been in one's home, either. Rabryn hopped off the couch, wide awake and his gaze jumping from one corner to another, trying to take in everything with an intensity only a curious child can pull off.

Smiling, he slipped from the room after grabbing an apple off a tray near him. He wondered just what an elf's house would look like.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Elrond turned a concerned gaze on Aragorn. "He can't have gone too far. He was asleep not an hour ago, was he not, Elrohir?"

The younger twin nodded. "Right. I checked in on him."

Elrond sighed, emotions caught somewhere between concern and amusement. "This is too much like having Estel small again. I will go this way." Elrond gestured toward the courtyard. "The four of you split and try to find young Rabryn."

Elladan and Elrohir quickly claimed the leftmost hall, leaving Legolas to pull an annoyed Aragorn along toward the Hall of Fire. After throwing an indignant look at his elven father, Aragorn turned and followed his friend.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Fiwen finally found a moment to rest. Not that she minded working hard; it was just nice to relax once in awhile. Claiming on of Rivendell's many benches, she sat and drew her feet up underneath her skirts. Closing her eyes and smiling, she tilted her held back.

She opened her eyes, fully expecting a view of the leaves and clouds above her. Instead, she started when she caught a pair of brown eyes looking down at her. The cherubic face was half-hidden by leaves, but Fiwen could see a large grin taking shape.

She started to speak, but the form above beat her to it. "You're pretty."

The child scampered across a sturdy branch. Fiwen held her breath as he slipped a bit. He recovered his balance, still grinning, and Fiwen breathed again. "Really pretty," he continued.

"Thank you," Fiwen answered, now smiling. "I'm Fiwen."

"Rabryn," the child said absently as he tested another branch and stepped onto it. The limb swayed, but Rabryn seemed oblivious to it. "You look like my mother." Rabryn peered down at her. "Lots like her," he said and Fiwen thought she heard a trace of sadness in his voice.

"Speaking of your mother," Fiwen muttered. "Where is she?" she asked Rabryn.

Rabryn shrugged, his movement making the branch sway. "Don't know."

"Fiwen!"

The she-elf faced the newcomer. Estel hurried toward her, Legolas not far behind. Hurriedly, but full of grace, Fiwen stood and inclined her head. "My lords," she said. She glanced upward. Rabryn grinned and held his finger to his lips. His whispered command for her to be quiet was heard by all three of them. She turned her gaze back to Estel and Legolas.

Aragorn smiled and shook his head. "Fiwen, we seem to have lost a friend of ours. A child. It is quite embarrassing to admit, especially for Legolas," Aragorn said, glancing back at his friend, "for he is an elf warrior of some stature." Aragorn spread his arms in a helpless gesture. "We cannot find him."

Fiwen had to close her eyes to block out the hopelessly lost look on Aragorn's face and the thoroughly annoyed look that graced Legolas' features. She reminded herself that it wasn't her place to laugh at Elrond's son and the prince of Mirkwood. She took a deep breath and carefully schooled her voice into a tone of deep concern. "But, surely, my lord, this child cannot have gone far."

"I hope not, for there are sweetbreads awaiting him."

Fiwen hid a smile, knowing Rabryn could see them. "The poor child must not miss the treat, but – I cannot tell. I am sworn to secrecy."

"You can tell. You can tell," came the urgent whisper from above.

Fiwen promptly pointed up. "In the tree, my lord," she deadpanned.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

There were indeed sweetbreads waiting for Rabryn when he arrived with Aragorn and Legolas. It hadn't been difficult to gather some, especially in the house of Elrond, whose sons – elven and human – all had somewhat of a fondness for sweets. It wasn't long before Elrond had them all in the Hall of Fire. Aragorn sat on the floor, Rabryn eating contentedly beside him. The twins had procured the couch behind them, Elrond in the chair opposite while Legolas had selected a chair as far away as possible and still be considered part of the group's discussion.

"He has taken to climbing trees," Aragorn was telling Elrond.

Elladan groaned. "The last time there was a child here climbing trees – what?" he said as Aragorn swatted his leg.

After meting out Elladan's punishment, Aragorn continued. "And he has a certain charm with the ladies."

At this, Elrohir snorted. He, however, caught Aragorn's hand before it landed.

"Enough," Elrond said mildly.

Aragorn and Elrohir slowly moved their hands back and turned innocent gazes on their father.

"Rabryn," Elrond said with a smile, ignoring his sons, "who were you talking to earlier?"

"You mean in the tree?"

Elrond blinked; he hadn't known that the climbing trees and the charming ladies had actually been on and the same. Off Aragorn's confirming nod, he said yes.

"Fiwen," Rabryn said around a mouthful of bread. "I told her she was pretty, like my mother." Rabryn giggled. "She didn't even know I was there when she sat down. I scared her when she saw me in the tree."

"Fiwen might take exception to that," Legolas muttered, knowing full well Elrond, perhaps all, could hear him. " Rabryn had her charmed so well that he had her sworn to secrecy regarding his hiding place," the prince said louder.

"She's nice," Rabryn said, shrugging.

"You said she was pretty, like your mother," Elrond said gently. "Can you tell me about your mother?"

"She was wearing a blue dress, like Mum was," Rabryn said after swallowing. "Mum likes blue. She stares at the sky sometimes just 'cause she likes the color."

Elrond wasn't sure what to make of that statement, but, after a look around the room revealed raised eyebrows and amused smiles, merely smiled. He briefly wondered what the woman would think if she knew what her child said about her. He hoped Rabryn's description would eventually get around to names and places.

Rabryn paused, stopping to think. "She works hard. She says that since I'm around, she always has to work hard, so it's a good thing she really likes working hard." Rabryn grimaced. "Then she hugs me and sends me to do chores." Rabryn's eyes welled up and he sniffled.

"Child?" Elrond asked.

Rabryn swallowed. "I didn't finish my chores. Now she'll have to work too hard an she'll be tired and grouchy and I miss my mum," he finished in a wail only a hysterical child could accomplish.

Aragorn embraced the now sobbing child and Elrohir leaned forward and put his hand on Rabryn's head. Elrond waited until the child had quieted before kneeling in front of him.

"Rabryn? What's her name?"

To Aragorn, the answer was nothing more than a mere sniffle, but Elrond apparently heard something. The elf sat back, regarding the child with a concerned look.

"What did he say?" Aragorn asked.

"Enna."

Rabryn nodded.

"Enna it is, then," Elrond said thoughtfully. "Enna."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Aragorn stood in the middle of the campsite he'd not wanted to stay in last night. Legolas was somewhere in the trees, looking for anything pertinent to Rabryn's appearance. Elladan and Elrohir had gone the direction that Rabryn had come from. Aragorn stood still, taking in the silence and looked around slowly. Everywhere he looked, he saw tracks on the ground. The fire pit still had ash in it. The pile of dry wood Elladan had gathered the last time they'd camped had been depleted.

"Well, it's been used," he muttered.

"I can see that."

Aragorn jumped as Legolas spoke behind him. "You enjoy doing that, don't you?" he asked as he turned to face the elf.

"Doing what?" he asked innocently.

"You know very well what," Aragorn answered absently as he looked around. He sighed. "It's been used, by more than one person. I'd say ten or fifteen people." The ranger faced Legolas. "I don't even know if this has anything to do with Rabryn."

The elf shrugged. "I didn't find anything." He continued to scan the trees around them, though. He blue eyes narrowed and his jaw set. It was a subtle change, but Aragorn knew his friend well enough to notice right away.

"What is it?"

Legolas shook his head. "I am not sure." Aragorn watched the elf's eyes widen and the prince took a step back as an arrow hit a tree a few feet in front of Legolas. The friends quickly slipped into the trees. "Must have been an arrow aimed at us," Legolas muttered wryly.

"Aimed somewhere in our general direction," Aragorn replied softly as he watched the clearing intently. "Anything?"

Legolas shifted and moved a branch out of his line of sight. His bow was in hand and Aragorn knew he was ready to launch one of his arrows without hesitation. "There," he said quietly. "Beyond the clearing, not far. Hiding as we are. They are not making any move yet."

"How many?"

"I see three. There may be more."

"What do you suggest?"

Legolas was silent for a moment. "Waiting," he finally said. When Aragorn looked up at him in surprise, he clarified. "They seem to be arguing." He shrugged. "I am curious."

"This could get interesting."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Have you gone mad?"

Narit cringed at the harsh words. His hands tightened on his bow and anger boiled within him. "Jamyn said he wanted us to find fresh ones. There's two of them there in the trees somewhere."

Galen cuffed Narit upside the head. "Did you not think, Narit? Didn't you look? An elf, Narit. And elf it was you just tried your new tactics on. Jamyn wants fresh blood, yes, but have you forgotten his preferences? He wants them like the little one you let get away, not a grown man and an elf. You'll never capture one of those."

Narit paled. "That was an elf?"

Galen went to cuff the man again, but the third man caught his wrist. "Perhaps we should leave here before the elf and the man decide to retaliate. That means quickly, before our luck runs out."

"He's right," Galen said. "Come on. Now."

The three men quickly slipped back through the bush, albeit quietly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"They left."

"Come again?"

"You heard me."

"They just left?"

Legolas nodded. "Apparently, they reached a conclusion in their argument. What are you doing?"

Aragorn carefully placed a few stones on the ground. "For my brothers," he explained. "Let's go."

"Go where?" Legolas asked, even though he had a pretty good idea what Aragorn had in mind.

"We're following them."

Legolas slung his bow over his shoulder. "And if they are not involved in our problem?"

"They shot at us. They have become our problem," Aragorn pointed out.

Acknowledging that as logic he couldn't argue with, Legolas led the way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The muffled sobs were heard my nothing but the birds in the trees and the insects crawling on the ground. A dark haired woman in a muddy blue dress shivered uncontrollably as her sobs quieted. She'd tried all day to keep the tears at bay, but as the afternoon turned to evening, she had found hope darkening as well. She sat on the ground, knees drawn up and arms clasped around them, looking up through the tree limbs, watching clouds caress the darkening sky. One more gasping sob shook her slight frame and she stood up, using a tree to support her.

She stumbled as she moved forward. She'd been walking all night and day barefoot and her feet hurt her horrible. Had she bothered to look, she would have found them blistered and bloody. She limped from tree to tree, hesitant to stray too far from their support. She really didn't feel up to falling again.  Nonetheless, she stumbled and was unable to catch herself. She fell into a tree, her cheek scraping against the rough bark before she hit the ground.

She lay on her side, he hand on her now bloody cheek, almost unwilling to get up again. She closed her eyes, ready to give in save for one thing.

There was a little boy somewhere near who needed his mother. There was a man who needed his wife.

She opened her eyes and pushed herself to her hands and knees, wincing as her sore wrists took her weight. She sat back, absently rubbing the rope burns on her wrists. It was her own fault; she'd struggled against her bonds. She'd gotten free, though. She didn't take time to wonder how she'd gotten away. She merely called it a miracle and went on from there.

Shakily, she stood up. Unsure of which way to go, but certain she needed to keep moving, she stepped forward, trying to ignore all her hurts and trying to hold onto an ever waning hope.

Well, hope its to your liking! Chapter five is in the works now.

cheers, Kellen