AN: Hey all…Thank you all for the reviews. I so appreciate them. Enjoy this part.

Stolen

Chapter Five

The wind had picked up and now beat ruthlessly against the trees. Rustling leaves protested the treatment and, as if in response, the wind blew harder. The ground was still wet from the rain the night before and grey clouds were low in the sky. The forest seemed hunched in on itself, waiting another onslaught from nature.

All in all, it made tracking anything especially difficult.

Elrohir had pulled the hood of his cloak up, trying to keep the small drops of wind driven rain off his face and his own hair out of his eyes. The wind would have none of it, though, and flipped his hood back off. In what he knew was a futile gesture, Elrohir pulled his hood up and looked down at the ground and to the broken branches and scrapes in the earth.

"Are you finding anything at all?"

Elrohir glanced at his brother. Elladan gave him a sympathetic glance. His younger twin was covered with mud, face and hands smudged, and he'd not to long ago had cut his fingers on a jagged branch. Elrohir sighed and stood up.

"We're tracking someone bigger than Rabryn, but still slight. There were footprints; whoever it is is barefoot and bleeding some. I can't say how much; the rain's washed much away."

Elladan nodded. "The path is irregular. From tree to tree. Did you notice?"

"Yes, like someone not sure of their balance."

They paused, the only still creatures in the wind blown forest. "Father says we're too impulsive; that we've picked up on what gets Estel and Legolas into trouble."

Elrohir nodded at his brother's observation. "But then again, if it is someone in need, or connected to Rabryn in any way..."

"There is a such thing as coincidence, Elrohir."

The younger elf frowned. "But not always are such things coincidence."

"But not always are such things connected."

Elrohir eyed his brother for a moment. "Are you done arguing?"

"I believe so."

"So we can go now?"

"Yes, but Father will need to know I argued against this should anything happen."

"Of course." Elrohir smiled suddenly. "Shall we go, then?" Elladan cocked his head in the direction the tracks lead them, and the twins continued through the rain soaked and wind beaten trees.

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

Rabryn sniffled and tried to tell himself it was because of the cold and not because of crying. He attributed the wetness on his cheeks to the rain and not to tears. No one who saw him would think that way, though, as the child vigorously rubbed the wetness off his cheeks with one corner of still dry tunic. To his mind, it made perfect sense to go out into the woods; after all, four others had and Rabryn's mum was looking for him. He just knew that. Enna needed him. He was sure of it, so he left.

He felt sorry for Fiwen. The pretty elf had been assigned to watch over him, and Rabryn felt bad about tricking her, but if tricking the elf meant he could get into the forest quicker, than so be it.

That was a phrase his Enna used often: "so be it." If something happened that she didn't like, she'd alway say that and change her plans. Rabryn, in trying so hard to be like her, had picked up on it and said it enough that his father would roll his eyes and good naturedly tell Enna she should have had a daughter.

Not to say that he wasn't good in a hunt, Rabryn quickly thought. His father had taken him out often, and on special occasions, brought Enna out to camp with them. Sometimes, that was one of her "so be it" situations, but she always went with a smile. Rabryn frowned. After what happened last time, though, Enna and his father might never go out again.

They weren't supposed to be attacked. It just didn't happen when a family camped and hunted. It shouldn't happen. Rabryn sniffled again, and the force of the wind actually blew him sideways a few steps. The trees creaked and groaned in protest and the sky had darkened considerably. Bigger raindrops started coming down on Rabryn, who hadn't even a cloak. He shivered. Suddenly, coming out here seemed a horrible mistake.

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

"This might have been a mistake."

"I always have said you were too impulsive."

"Not a word, Legolas. Not one word," was the whispered response. Aragorn scowled at his friend, who only cocked an elegant eyebrow in response. "I merely followed because they are this close to Rivendell and apparently have no qualms about shooting at people. I want my homes borders safe."

Legolas glanced down the small hill. At the bottom was a camp of men numbering almost thirty. Through the wind, the elf could make out some conversation, but nothing pertinent so far. He concentrated on the man that seemed a leader. Jamyn, they called him. Legolas narrowed his eyes, trying to only hear what he wanted. Snatches of conversation floated upon the wind to him.

Aragorn tried to watch both his friend and the actions of the men below him. Jamyn gestured wildly and the man before him cringed. The men around watched the confrontation warily, obviously trying not to look like they were actually paying attention. "What's going on?" he whispered to his friend.

"Apparently, Narit there is relating what happened between us to Jamyn. Jamyn is not happy." For some reason, Legolas smiled at this.

"Do I even want to know?" Aragorn asked.

"No," Legolas answered, then chuckled. "Though I will have to remember that particular threat. This Jamyn seems creative."

"Great."

Legolas narrowed his eyes again and Aragorn fell silent, aware his friend was concentrating intently on the conversation. After a moment, the elf started slightly and turned to Aragorn. "We have to go."

"What?"

"Leave. Now."

Keeping his questions in check, Aragorn followed his friend as they slipped through the underbrush. They moved quietly, not leaving a sign of their passing. Legolas had his bow in hand with an arrow notched, obviously ready for action. Knowing nothing small would spook his friend so, Aragorn had drawn his sword. "Legolas?"

"Jamyn found out Narit went after an elf. Now he's curious."

Aragorn, had Legolas not been so jumpy, might have rolled his eyes at the vague answer. "Curiousity, then, is an offense worth an elven arrow through the heart?"

Legolas snorted as he glanced down at the ready weapon in his hands. "Merely prepared, Aragorn. They are slavers."

"Passing through?"

"With less 'cargo'," Legolas spat the last word in distaste, "than before the incident."

"Incident?"

"I know not, but he spoke of the young one and the woman."

Aragorn cast a glance back the way they'd come. He looked back toward his friend. "We need to speak with Rabryn again."

"That would be wise."

"Legolas," Aragorn called quietly, stopping the elf. "Peace. They knew not we were there."

The elf's features softened. "I know. I-" he paused. "I take offense at being thought of as property." He furrowed his brow. "Or for that matter, the thought alone of being caught." He shook his head, smiling a little. "Never mind, Aragorn. I cannot seem to explain it."

"Made sense to me." He motioned forward. "To Rivendell, then."

"With all haste."

tbc...