Estel, waiting in the courtyard before the House with his contingent of elvish soldiers, felt as if he was glowing physically with excitement.

He was not only....married (he smiled to himself at this) but he was going off to see that Rivendell was not threatened by marauding orcs.

He was no longer a child in the eyes of the elves around him. He was a man! Wait until he told Fanuiriel!

He had looked for the she elf before he mounted up, but saw no sign of her. However, he had noticed a lot of she elves going to the river, so perhaps Fanuiriel had gone with them, not knowing he was leaving.

Adjusting his helmet and the armor he wore, Estel was bursting with pride and purpose. Even though the metal plates were bit hard to get used to. Light as it was, it was still something he'd never worn for long.

Finally, the troop was given the order to ride out and Estel, eyes forward, missed seeing Fanuiriel join the crowd of watching elves. She tried to catch his attention by saying his name loudly, but the farewell hymn drowned her out and she stood biting her lip as the horses moved off.

She watched incredulous as they swept over the bridge: Estel was being sent off to fight orcs! But he was too young! Could Lord Elrond be angry with Estel and sent him off as punishment? As a way to keep them apart?

On the other hand, Estel had not sat his horse slumped in dejection. Granted with his helmet's visor down, she could not see his expression.

Maybe he had just been putting on a brave face?

Confused by her feelings, Fanuiriel went slowly back to the House to her rooms.

She needed to decide what to do next.

Estel rode off with the elven soldiers, spirits high. He didn't even mind that the twins and Glorfindel randomly checked on his whereabouts and well-being. This was the biggest event he had ever taken part in and he was going to make everyone proud of him, especially Ada and Fanuiriel.

Though Estel knew roughly where the orcs were, he had no idea it took so long to get to them.

By the third day, Estel was getting bored. He'd been on maneuvers with the archers before. And he'd taken part in mock skirmishes and done some hunting. Here, the more experienced elves were sent out to hunt and to maintain the watch through the night. He had little or nothing to do.

Polishing his sword for the third time in as many days, Estel looked up at the sudden flurry of activity at the entrance to their camp as Glorfindel rode into their midst on a lathered Asfaloth.

Putting down his sword, he ran to join the others gathered around the disheveled elf lord.

"The orcs have split into two groups and have ambushed the rear flank, killing several elves. Take up your armor and get ready to ride!"

Estel couldn't help himself as he grinned at Glorfindel's terrible news.

He was going to be in his first battle! Against orcs!

Running faster, he went and got his armor and weapons and ran for the picket line and Angren.

Wait until Fanuiriel heard about THIS!

Fanuireil had spent the last three days consumed by indecision.

She was sorely tempted to confront Lord Elrond with the news of her and Estel's marriage without the groom present.

But what if he did not believe her? Estel was not going to be there to back up her claim.

She stared off her balcony in the direction that the departing elven soldiers had taken to confront the orcs.

What if, Valar forbid, Estel, did NOT come back? How then could she prove the truth of her words?

With a sudden thought she put a hand to her belly. Could she already be pregnant? That would certainly help to convince Lord Elrond!

If she told Elrond that she and Estel were married, might he then call Estel back to Rivendell and out of harm's way?

Fanuiriel went back into her room and threw herself on her bed and buried her face in her hands.

Oh what to do?

Estel had mounted up and was just about to ride off when Glorfindel, making his way through the departing elves, grabbed Angren's reins and stopped him.

"Halt Estel! I need you to stay here! There will be wounded coming in shortly and I need you to help the healers."

Estel just sat there, mouth hanging open, his spirit dropping into his boots. No! He couldn't be stuck here and....wait until the wounded came in!

"But, my lord, surely you need me on the field. You need all the help you can get in such a fight. I will just get in the way here! Please, let me join the troops!!" Estel hated it that his voice had risen at the end.

Glorfindel, his face impassive said, "Estel I am sorry, but I am your commander, and I need you here."

The dejected young man heard the unspoken words...."and your father would wish it."

Nodding, he slowly turned Angren's head and went back to camp.

Glorfindel, only making sure that Estel obeyed, whirled Asfaloth around and he cantered off to catch up with the departing soldiers.

Estel flung himself off Angren and testily pulled off the horse's tack.

Going back to his tent, he flung the armload down and then threw his helm down for good measure, letting out a loud shriek of anger.

Knowing it was childish, he did not care. There were few in camp to hear.

Estel sat next to the wounded elf and held his hand. The healer in attendance did not think he was going to survive the chest wound, but he did what he could, cleaning and binding the injury.

The young human did not even know the wounded elf's name, but his pale face, even unconscious, was twisted in pain.

Tears filled Estel's eyes as he heard the elf desperately trying to breathe. He clutched the soldier's hand harder.

But with one last gasp, the elf was gone.

Estel bowed his head and said a prayer and the healer closed the elf's eyes.

Oh if Ada could have been here, maybe he could have done...something.

But looking at the wound as the healer slowly covered up the dead soldier, Estel knew enough medicine to know it would have been beyond even Elrond's skills to repair.

Estel let the dead elf's hand go and the healer finished settling the body. He then joined in the lament for the dead that the other elves in the tent began.

Estel had never had an occasion to sing the lament for the dead.

When they were finished, Estel stumbled out of the surgery and went towards the edge of the camp to be alone.

Watching the elf die had not been very heroic.

Estel looked up at the stars twinkling above the dark edge of the trees over his head. They were so cold, and so far away.

Wiping his eyes, he wandered the edge of camp, working his way to Angren. He just wanted to hold something warm, and alive.

As he came upon the horses, he found they were all restless.

"Shh Angren, I am here lad." He petted his gelding's soft nose having to shift suddenly as the next horse in the picket line crowded him.

"Hey now, be careful there!"

Then he heard rustlings in the brush behind him. Not sure why he did it, he untied Angren, and the horse next to him.

The other horse pulled his head up and whinnied in fear.

Oh no! Estel heard grunting and stomping...could it be...orcs?

Terrified as the sounds got louder, Estel did not hesitate but vaulted onto the back of Angren and rode off---just as a hoard of the evil creatures boiled out of the trees!

"ORCS!" Estel screamed as he raced through the camp.

His shouting stirred the weary soldiers into action and Estel kept going until he roused everyone.

He turned to see what he could do to help even though he was weapon-less.

As he sat there in shock watching the orcs and the elves clash by the wavering light of the camp fires, Glorfindel ran up and heaving a full rucksack and sword at him he cried, "Ride for the messenger's point Estel! Tell them we need reinforcements!"

Nodding, he turned Angren and raced through the woods.

But, he did not leave the camp unscathed.

Dodging around the bulk of a large pine, he was confronted suddenly by three orcs at the eastern edge of camp. Angren reared, terrified. Estel hacked at the closest one with his sword. The beast fell back enough and Angren bolted through the hole he made.

Estel, adrenaline pumping, leaned close over his gelding's neck just as an orc arrow streaked by his face, grazing his cheek. Slapping at the bloody gouge angrily, Estel didn't let the wound stop him.

Soon they had outdistanced the sounds of fighting. But Estel, grim faced, urged Angren on, letting him run as far as he could before exhaustion slowed him.

Pulling the valiant gelding up he slowed him some, but still kept the pace brisk. He had to get to the messenger point quickly!

Even though his face really began to hurt, Estel kept going.

An hour into his flight and about half way to his destination, the young man began to feel woozy. The landscape of trees and boulders began to look all the same to him. Was he going in the right direction?

"Must be hunger," he murmured to himself as he began to weave from his seat on Angren as he pulled the horse around obstacles.

Finally, failing to sit up straight, he fell on the neck of his horse and held on dizzily as they continued to plunge on in the darkness.

He could hear Angren breathing hard beneath his knees, so he pulled up the horse even more.

But trotting made his head ache, so he signaled Angren to walk.

By the time he reached the messenger point, however, Estel was ready to fall off and his arms were going numb. How could a small arrow wound undo him so completely?

Angren pulled up to a halt, snorting and then lowered his head, blowing hard.

The elf that stepped out of the midnight dark shadows holding a shuttered lantern, dropped the light and caught the young human as he started to slump sideways.

"Orcs---attacked---second camp. Tell Ada." Estel gasped out, his head whirling.

He then passed out.

The elf, seeing the glistening wound on Estel's cheek looked grimly at another elf who joined him.

"Harnal! I ride for Rivendell with Estel."

"All right Amanar. The Valar speed you!"

In moments, Harnal had mounted his horse with the unconscious human before him racing at a dead run for the next messenger point.