RACES AGAINST TIME
CHAPTER THREE
The Hunt
Day 1
Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas and Estel were still laughing hard when they crossed the Bruinen, between two laughs, Estel managed to say.
"Ada is going to be so mad when we come back."
At that, the others stop laughing and looked rather afraid. None of them had thought about that and surely Elrond would not accept Elrohir's idea that Rivendell was dull when they were not there.
"You're right brother." Elladan said. "I hope that his anger will have diminished in the next two days."
"Maybe" Elrohir added. "But the kitchen's staff won't let us have extra food. A mischievous grin suddenly appears on his face. "We'll have to rely on Estel's charms for that."
At this remark, Estel leant a little toward his brother to shove him but he lost his grip and fell off his horse. In a flash, Legolas and the twins were on his side.
After a quick glance at him, Legolas saw that he was not hurt and let the twins take care of their brother. He looked at them with a grin when the twins begun fussing over him like mothers hen.
"Estel, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Leaning on your horse like that. You could have been seriously hurt in that fall." Elladan yelled while looking over his brother for injuries.
"Well, I was not. Now stop fussing." Estel told his brother.
"I think that father will not let you out again if he learns that you got hurt when we'd just got out of Rivendell's border. Elrohir said with a grin.
"That's why you won't tell him brother. Unless you want me to tell him who it was that hid all his formals robes last spring when the delegation of dwarfs came." Estel said with a devilish expression.
"You know Elrohir; I don't think that father needs to know about this mere fall." Elladan said quickly and Elrohir nodded vigorously.
"Now that's settled, why don't we make camp? I'm a little tired." Estel said.
Legolas, who saw the look of concern on the twins faces and the exasperation on Estel's, added.
"Estel is right, we should make camp. Beside, I do not think that any of us slept well last night."
The twins pondered the decision a little but finally agreed and begun to unpack their things.
After having ate a little and set the watches, they settled themselves. Legolas, having drawn the first watch, was sitting in a tree looking over the camp; Estel had been put so close to the fire that one false move and he would probably burn himself; the twins were at each side of him and were both at arms length. It warmed Legolas heart to see the bond they shared, something that he didn't have since he was an only child.
"You know," He said. "Tomorrow, we should stop being so carefree and begin testing Estel. After all, that's why we came here for."
The twins agreed and Estel groaned. He suddenly realize that the "test" idea wasn't just an excuse they had invented for his father, they were really going to test him! "Valar help me!" He thought before falling asleep.
Day 8
The hunting trip of the four had been transformed into a form of fleeing. The day after they left, they had met a border guard who had told them how enraged Elrond had been after their prank. After meeting the guard, they had all agreed that a few days would not lessen Elrond anger and since Estel had never been to Lorien they decided to go there. There was also the fact that Lorien was a ten days ride from Rivendell and the farthest they were from Rivendell the better.
Estel's skills were really good when they left Rivendell but after a week in the wild, he was becoming more and more talented. He'd just passed the last test they had for him, which had been tracking Elladan into the forest. It had only took him two hours, which had been really good since Elladan was the better tracker of Rivendell.
They were now sitting around the fire talking about Estel success. Legolas looked at the twins and suddenly exclaimed.
"What did I tell you two about Rivendell's elves and tracking, it seems that Estel has already surpassed you."
Estel and he stopped short in their laughter when both twins lunged at them and soon all were wrestling on the forest floor.
After the twins had forced Legolas and their brother into submission they went to sleep, leaving the first watch to those who lost. Legolas and Estel were both sitting near to camp and were whispering to each other when a piercing cry followed by some inhuman shrieks broke the silent of the peaceful night.
"YRCH!" Legolas yelled while reaching for his bow and Estel for his sword.
Elladan and Elrohir had their weapon ready and soon all were running toward the noise when another cry was heard, more desperate this time.
When they reached the clearing, Estel saw a small group of orcs running from the battle, but he did not pay it attention and launched himself into the battle. Had he pay more attention to the fleeing group, he would have seen a young elfling in the arms of one of the orcs and then a lots of troubles would have been avoided.
TBC
CHAPTER THREE
The Hunt
Day 1
Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas and Estel were still laughing hard when they crossed the Bruinen, between two laughs, Estel managed to say.
"Ada is going to be so mad when we come back."
At that, the others stop laughing and looked rather afraid. None of them had thought about that and surely Elrond would not accept Elrohir's idea that Rivendell was dull when they were not there.
"You're right brother." Elladan said. "I hope that his anger will have diminished in the next two days."
"Maybe" Elrohir added. "But the kitchen's staff won't let us have extra food. A mischievous grin suddenly appears on his face. "We'll have to rely on Estel's charms for that."
At this remark, Estel leant a little toward his brother to shove him but he lost his grip and fell off his horse. In a flash, Legolas and the twins were on his side.
After a quick glance at him, Legolas saw that he was not hurt and let the twins take care of their brother. He looked at them with a grin when the twins begun fussing over him like mothers hen.
"Estel, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Leaning on your horse like that. You could have been seriously hurt in that fall." Elladan yelled while looking over his brother for injuries.
"Well, I was not. Now stop fussing." Estel told his brother.
"I think that father will not let you out again if he learns that you got hurt when we'd just got out of Rivendell's border. Elrohir said with a grin.
"That's why you won't tell him brother. Unless you want me to tell him who it was that hid all his formals robes last spring when the delegation of dwarfs came." Estel said with a devilish expression.
"You know Elrohir; I don't think that father needs to know about this mere fall." Elladan said quickly and Elrohir nodded vigorously.
"Now that's settled, why don't we make camp? I'm a little tired." Estel said.
Legolas, who saw the look of concern on the twins faces and the exasperation on Estel's, added.
"Estel is right, we should make camp. Beside, I do not think that any of us slept well last night."
The twins pondered the decision a little but finally agreed and begun to unpack their things.
After having ate a little and set the watches, they settled themselves. Legolas, having drawn the first watch, was sitting in a tree looking over the camp; Estel had been put so close to the fire that one false move and he would probably burn himself; the twins were at each side of him and were both at arms length. It warmed Legolas heart to see the bond they shared, something that he didn't have since he was an only child.
"You know," He said. "Tomorrow, we should stop being so carefree and begin testing Estel. After all, that's why we came here for."
The twins agreed and Estel groaned. He suddenly realize that the "test" idea wasn't just an excuse they had invented for his father, they were really going to test him! "Valar help me!" He thought before falling asleep.
Day 8
The hunting trip of the four had been transformed into a form of fleeing. The day after they left, they had met a border guard who had told them how enraged Elrond had been after their prank. After meeting the guard, they had all agreed that a few days would not lessen Elrond anger and since Estel had never been to Lorien they decided to go there. There was also the fact that Lorien was a ten days ride from Rivendell and the farthest they were from Rivendell the better.
Estel's skills were really good when they left Rivendell but after a week in the wild, he was becoming more and more talented. He'd just passed the last test they had for him, which had been tracking Elladan into the forest. It had only took him two hours, which had been really good since Elladan was the better tracker of Rivendell.
They were now sitting around the fire talking about Estel success. Legolas looked at the twins and suddenly exclaimed.
"What did I tell you two about Rivendell's elves and tracking, it seems that Estel has already surpassed you."
Estel and he stopped short in their laughter when both twins lunged at them and soon all were wrestling on the forest floor.
After the twins had forced Legolas and their brother into submission they went to sleep, leaving the first watch to those who lost. Legolas and Estel were both sitting near to camp and were whispering to each other when a piercing cry followed by some inhuman shrieks broke the silent of the peaceful night.
"YRCH!" Legolas yelled while reaching for his bow and Estel for his sword.
Elladan and Elrohir had their weapon ready and soon all were running toward the noise when another cry was heard, more desperate this time.
When they reached the clearing, Estel saw a small group of orcs running from the battle, but he did not pay it attention and launched himself into the battle. Had he pay more attention to the fleeing group, he would have seen a young elfling in the arms of one of the orcs and then a lots of troubles would have been avoided.
TBC