Disclaimer: For full disclaimer, please see chapter 1.
A/N:
*reads reviews*
Death threat ... death threat ... oh, here we have a three headed dragon that breathes white lightning that will be coming after me ... death threat ... death threat ... the threat to chain me to a chair and force me to watch horrible trashy romantic movies for _six hours_ *shudders* ... death threat ... Legolas/Elladan/Elrohir/Elrond who will come after me ....
*looks up, beaming at readers*
Thank you very very much! I LOVE death threats!
*giggles*
Yeah, I agree, Donyc is a horrible, evil, sadistic person, as is Cornallar - I don't like them at all! And perhaps you are right and Aragorn killed the _only_ friend Donyc ever had - no wonder he's so angry! *g*
But I'm glad you still liked the chapter! Even though Estel got banged up a bit ... okay, right, quite a bit... *evil grin*
Well, here's chapter 13 already - Thirteen! Wow! Can you believe that!?
Okay, chapter 13, in which ... hmm, yes, the rescue finally gets under way, Nólad has a talk with several people, Elrond *thinks* and Aragorn, well, Aragorn doesn't do much, I'm afraid... *g*
Have fun and review, please!
(*points* See! I changed it from "Enjoy and review"! It's a lot better, isn't it? *g*)
Chapter 13
Legolas stood outside Lord Elrond's chambers, waiting patiently for him to finally come out. The twins had left fifteen minutes ago, Elladan hurrying to catch up with his brother who was seething with rage and murmuring none too softly colourful curses in Quenya. From what the fair haired prince had been able to catch, Elrohir had been comparing his father to a multitude of animals that were known for both their stubbornness and stupidity.
The controversy had ended just like the prince had predicted when Elrond finally had had enough of the constant arguments: He had ordered them to remain behind, putting Elladan in charge of Imladris for the time being. The older twin had shot his father a scathing glare and had hurried after Elrohir, murmuring under his breath that he would get a horse ready. While Elrond had been too upset himself to notice his oldest son's amazingly compliant behaviour and had closed the wooden door before Legolas could even utter a word, the younger elf was left to ponder his friend's unusual attitude outside.
'There is something going on,' Legolas thought, leaning back against the stone wall and watching the shadows that the ornate bronze lamps cast onto the cream coloured stone. 'No son of Elrond would just give in like that. I wonder what is going on in that schemer's green haired head…'
He had to grin when he thought of Elladan's hair. It wasn't really visible anymore, but in his fevered state it had indeed seemed bright green yesterday. As it had been two weeks ago, Elrohir had assured him and described the prank he and his human brother had pulled on the older twin, although he had given Aragorn most of the credit. Legolas shook his head, it was truly a miracle the three of them had not yet killed each other. Most of the time he felt somewhat sorry he didn't have siblings when he watched his friend's and his brothers' antics, but there were times, this being one of them, that he was in fact very glad he was an only child.
Remembering the look on Elladan's face when Elrohir had described his rather undignified appearance that morning a fortnight ago, he was almost startled by the soft, creaking sound of the opening door. He looked up and saw the Lord of Rivendell stand in the doorway, apparently ready to leave. Elrond had donned simple travelling garments in the soft grey colour the elves of Rivendell were known for and was just returning his sword to its sheath which hung next to two elven daggers, and it was one of the most beautiful weapons Legolas had ever seen. The sheath was plain, but the blade itself was of finest mithril, the bluish metal adorned with elven characters.
Noticing the prince's stare, he smiled slightly and said, walking out of the door and into the direction of the courtyard,
"It's a few thousand years old, but it will do."
"It's beautiful," Legolas replied, falling in step next to the elven lord.
"That it is. It was a present from Gil-galad, a few years before he fell in that last battle. Somehow it feels right to use it for this," Elrond explained, smiling softly in recollection of his old friend.
"I understand," the younger elf said softly, his hand unconsciously straying to the pocket where he kept Estel's brooch. He paused for a second, wondering how to get the fact across to the elven lord that there was absolutely no way that he was staying behind. When he had just opened his mouth to begin his reasoning, Elrond's firm voice interrupted him.
"No, young prince. I will not allow you to come."
Legolas face darkened as he wondered how it was that both his father and Lord Elrond always seemed to know what he was thinking. Oh, and there was the Lady Galadriel as well, but she was known to be telepathic.
"Lord Elrond, I …"
Elrond stopped in the middle of the Hall of Fire they had reached by now, but which was all but empty, except for one or two elves who didn't look their merry selves at all. Ever since Estel's disappearance few had felt like celebrating.
Turning serious grey eyes on the fair haired elf, he said,
"Legolas, I know that you want to find Estel as badly as I do, but I cannot allow you to accompany me. Please," he held up a hand to silence Legolas who was about to object, "Hear me out. I have told you enough of Cornallar for you to understand that we cannot take any chances with him. There is no way to predict what he will do if he feels that his demands have not been met."
Legolas nodded reluctantly.
"Aye, my lord, I understand. But if we do let you go alone, we will not be able to come to your or Aragorn's assistance in case we are needed, and we will be. I cannot say why, but I have the feeling that he is in mortal danger, no matter what we do. Cornallar is not to be trusted."
Elrond grimaced and resumed his walk.
"No, you are right, he certainly isn't. I know that perfectly well. But I will not endanger my son's life any more than it already is. We can only hope that he doesn't find out who Aragorn truly is."
Legolas stopped in his tracks, renewed worry shining brightly in his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
The older elf stopped as well, running a slender hand over his face and sighed.
"Cornallar doesn't like men in the first place, but he loathes those of Númenorean descent, and he will surely kill any of the House of Elendil he can find. I don't have enough time to tell you all of it right now, so let it be enough to say that he would give everything to get his hands on one of Anárion's descendants. But since, as you well know, the House of Anárion, brother to Isildur, whose heirs ruled the southern kingdom of Gondor, ended with the death of Eärnur more than 900 years ago, I am sure he would settle for a descendant of Isildur instead."
The elven prince blinked slowly, trying to come to terms with that new bit of information. Every few hours another piece of information would show up, making the situation his young human friend faced appear even darker than before. Shaking off the fear for Strider, he took a step forwards, looking at Elrond with pleading eyes.
"One more reason to let me come. You don't know what Cornallar is planning! You will need all the help you can possibly get. Take at least me and the twins with you, my lord. Please," he added as he saw the steely glint in the other elf's eyes, "I must go. I have left him behind once, I cannot do it again. I've failed him! He was in danger and I had the chance to help him, but I did nothing! I cannot live with the knowledge that I left my best friend behind to die!"
Elrond studied the silver-blue eyes closely, noting the way they darkened in despair. Steeling himself, he stepped through the doors and began to make his way down the stone stairs into the dark courtyard.
"No, Legolas. I am sorry."
Shaking his head in frustration, Legolas hurried after him.
"You cannot order me like the twins!" he exclaimed heatedly, instantly regretting his words as Lord Elrond froze in mid-step and turned to face him.
"No, Prince of Mirkwood, I cannot," he retorted softly, giving Legolas a smile, "But I can ask you. I need you to stay here to make sure the twins don't get themselves into trouble, I'm afraid they don't agree with my decision." At that even Legolas had to smile; that was an interesting way of putting it.
Elrond stepped closer and placed a hand on the younger elf's shoulder.
"I know you want to help Aragorn. But I will neither allow Cornallar to take my two other sons as well, nor to kill the only heir to a neighbouring kingdom. Estel would not want you to throw your life away in a vain attempt to safe his life. Besides, you are not fully healed yourself yet, you won't help anyone if you rip open my stitches. I am sorry, Legolas, but there is no other way."
Gazing into the grey eyes that looked so much like Aragorn's, Legolas lowered his head and nodded soundlessly.
Elrond smiled softly.
"They are stubborn, both of them. Keep an eye on them for me."
"I will," Legolas replied softly as they neared the horse the twins and a few stable hands were preparing and added, "Not nearly as bad as Aragorn though."
The dark haired elven lord smiled sadly.
"He is a lot like my brother sometimes," he said, speaking of Elros who had chosen mortality so many years ago, "Elros wouldn't see reason either when his mind was set on something."
They reached the small group that clustered round the horse that was eyeing the activity patiently. While Elrond was stowing away the supplies he'd brought, among them a bag full of healing herbs and bandages about the size of a small boulder, Legolas exchanged a look with the twins, who were winking at him through dark lashes conspiratorially. He had to stifle a grin as he watched his friends turn their eyes back on their father, who was just mounting, just the right amount of disgruntled acceptance and fear on their faces.
'They could have fooled me with that look on their faces,' he thought appreciatively.
The Lord of Imladris looked down at them, giving all three of them a stern glare.
"I hope I have made myself clear. You are not to follow me, understood?"
The twins nodded reluctantly.
"Very well. In my absence Elladan will be acting Lord of Rivendell, and so I have told the members of the council I could find at such short notice. Until I and Estel return, listen to them and especially to Erestor. They will convene tomorrow morning, and I trust you to explain to them why and where I am going."
His gaze softened when he looked into the solemn faces of his elven sons.
"If I am not back in two week's time, and you have heard neither from Estel nor from me, send word to Lórien. The Lady Galadriel will know what to do."
Elrohir nodded and took a step closer to his father's horse, grasping his hand.
"May the grace of the Valar protect you, father. Bring him back, so we can teach him to be more careful in the future."
Elrond smiled at them.
"Namárië, my sons. Look after them, young prince."
Legolas, who had kept back to give father and sons time to say goodbye in private, took a step forward and nodded his head, his blonde hair reflecting the pale light of the moon.
"Don't worry, my lord. We will be fine. May Elbereth watch over your path."
The elven lord gave them one last look and spurred his horse on, soon disappearing in the distance. The three of them waited until the horse had passed out of sight, and when not even their elven eyes could see it anymore, they turned as if on an unspoken signal and hurried into the direction of the main house. When they crossed the doors and reached the broad staircase that led to the upper levels, they stopped, looking at each other.
When all he could see in his companions' eyes was silent approval, Elladan began to speak, looking at his brother.
"Elrohir, if you could see about the supplies, please. Don't forget to pack the herbs, we will need them."
Elrohir nodded and dashed off into the direction of the kitchens, missing his brother's mumbled "Especially when father gets a hold of us."
Elladan turned to Legolas, giving him a lop-sided grin.
"I will get the horses ready and try and explain all this to Erestor. I would be honoured if you would be so kind to get our clothes and weapons from upstairs, my prince. You know where everything is, I suppose?"
The elven prince gave the other elf a contemptuous smile and made his way quickly up the stairs, heading for their rooms and suppressing the guilt he felt for breaking his word to Lord Elrond.
'It is for his own good,' he reasoned, pushing open the door leading to his own room, hastily gathering his clothes and weapons and packing them up as quickly as possible.
'Lord Elrond will need our help, I just know he will. As will that reckless human."
He grabbed his bow and quiver and moved into the direction of the door.
'Hold on, mellonamin,' he thought as he left his room, turning to the right to enter Elladan's chambers, 'We are coming. Just a little longer now.'
Nólad walked purposefully across the little camp, his left hand tightly closed around his small bag. He gave the guard a cold stare, not feeling particularly sorry for the man who was probably suffering from a rather nasty headache, judging by the painful looking lump behind his ear. That was the one, the elf remembered, Donyc had almost killed a few hours ago in his fury and ordered to keep watch for the remaining hours of the night, as punishment for letting the ranger escape.
Under any other circumstances the fair haired elf would have considered this a highly unwise decision, since the man was obviously more than a little tired already, but this time he had to agree with the human commander that the captive would not try and escape again. Not for a long time, anyway.
Turning his mind to the matter at hand, he said,
"I'm here to have a look at him and make sure you haven't damaged him beyond repair."
The man grinned evilly at him, gesturing into the shadows under the tree a few yards to his left.
"Oh, you can look all you want, Master Elf. There's not much left of him though, I'm afraid. Suit yourself."
Nólad gave him another glare. The more time he spent with the humans, the less he liked the lot of them. And he didn't like their kind to begin with.
"The torch," he demanded slowly, as is talking to an extremely stupid troll.
The human dropped his eyes under the irritated look of elven testiness and quickly handed over the cackling torch he had stuck into the ground in front of him.
Snatching the burning wood from the man, the elf took a few steps forward, walking slightly around the tree that still bore ominous stains, now dried to a rusty colour.
Lighting the area with the torch, he took a deep breath when the cone of light touched the still body of the ranger.
'Ilúvatar, he's a mess,' he thought as he let his eyes wander over the bloody form, suppressing any remorse and sympathy he might feel. He was here to make sure the dúnadan survived, nothing more.
Making up his mind quickly, he sank to his knees and turned back to the guard, gracing him with the most authoritative stare he could manage.
"I won't require your assistance. I will call for you when I am finished."
The man looked as though he wanted to protest, but thought better of it. If he had to choose between his commander's wrath and that of their employer that would descent on him because he had not obeyed a command of the elf's friend, he would take Donyc every time.
"Alright, Master Elf, but do not untie him. You know what your lord and Donyc said about that for the future."
Nólad gave the guard a smile that did not even look as if it was meant seriously and nodded.
After the human had shuffled off to settle down next to the fireplace in the middle of the clearing, the elf turned his attention back to the young human in front of him.
"I told you to be careful, ranger. But humans never listen, do they?" he whispered softly, trying to decide which wounds to treat first. After a moment's hesitation he opted for the shoulder wound; that arrow needed to come out as quickly as possible. He had watched enough humans die from blood poisoning after such a wound because the arrow hadn't been removed quickly enough to know that this was the most serious injury. Well, at least this one was not poisoned. He hoped.
The fair haired elf was just turning the unconscious human over on to his back when he heard a man approach him, treading lighter than most of the men, who in fact could be confused with a horde of clumsy orcs if one did not listen closely enough for the subtle differences.
Without turning around, Nólad ran his fingers over the ranger's bruised and discoloured chest, feeling for broken ribs and finding them quickly enough. After a while Donyc had got tired of the whipping, and he and a few of his men had taken to beating the young man instead. At that point the ranger had been so far gone that he didn't even have enough strength to scream, and when a particularly nasty blow to his head slammed his skull against the bark of the tree and the young human had finally lost consciousness, Nólad had been sure that even a few of the men had sighed in relief.
Pressing down lightly on a dark bruise that would assume a spectacular multicoloured tinge in a few hours, he said in a low voice,
"If you are planning to sneak up on something, young one, I would advise you not to step on every single twig you can find. Most of them tend to snap under a human's weight."
Turning around, he saw Seobryn stand in the light of the torch, looking awed by the fact that the elf had not only heard him approach, but had obviously known who it had been as well. When Nólad raised a questioning eyebrow, he explained hastily, showing the ranger's overcoat he was carrying as proof,
"I thought he should have this, it is awfully cold so far away from the fire. And," he dropped his eyes, "I know a bit about healing, I thought I could help you."
The elf sighed in exasperation.
"Very well, as you're here already … Have you brought any water?" he asked, returning his eyes to the bound human in front of him.
Seobryn nodded quickly, flicking his brown hair out of his eyes and producing a water skin.
"Yes, Master Elf, I have. How is he?"
"Not good," the fair haired elf admitted, noting the pallid hue of Aragorn's face and the cold sweat that stood on his brow. He placed a slim hand on the man's chest, feeling for a heart beat, which was too fast for his liking.
"Do you see the grey colour and these spots on his face? His heartbeat and breathing are too fast as well, he's gone into shock. What a surprise," he added wryly, noting the way the boy next to him blushed in embarrassment.
Locking eyes with Seobryn, he told him, seizing the dark shaft of the arrow that was covered with dried blood,
"Hold him down. This will be quite unpleasant."
The young human complied and took a hold of the ranger's left shoulder, wincing as he thought of the weals on the man's back he was pressing into the ground in the process. When Nólad started to slowly pull out the arrow, careful not to rip any more muscles and tendons while doing it, Aragorn's body jerked and tried to escape their treatment, but was altogether too weak to throw Seobryn off. The elf tightened his own grip on the ranger's right upper arm that had got slippery with blood that flowed freely from the open wound, and with a final tug, the arrow slid out of the shoulder, glistering red in the moonlight. The young man gave a short, soft cry of pain and opened his eyes that were dulled with pain and tried to focus on something, without much success it appeared.
Nólad leaned over him to press him back down when silver eyes fixed on his face, clinging to his as if holding on for dear life.
"Legolas?" the injured human muttered so softly that Nólad could hardly understand him, "Legolas … you … how …"
Without even thinking, the fair haired elf pushed him back gently while at the same time struggling to fasten a bandage on the shoulder wound.
"Shh, everything is alright, don't worry. Go back to sleep," he whispered softly in Elvish as he searched the ranger's bruised face for any signs the boy understood that he was not the elven prince he thought him to be.
Aragorn did not heed the elf's words, his body struggling against their hands that held him down, trying to sit up.
"Legolas … you … alright … please ... don't go … need … you …" he stammered, teeth chattering with cold as his body slipped even farther into shock.
Nólad gritted his teeth, fighting down the wave of pity that swept over him. Right now the human looked a lot younger than his twenty-something years.
"I am just fine, mellonamin," he said, giving the arm he held a squeeze, "I won't go anywhere."
Trying to remember what the name Cornallar had told him about had been, the one Elrond's sons had used, he added after a second,
"You need to rest, Estel. Sleep."
The young human's eyes closed as unconsciousness once again claimed him, relaxing his body and causing his head to loll to the side.
"Is he …" Seobryn asked, eyeing the still body anxiously.
"No," the elf replied, motioning him to help him turn Aragorn onto his stomach to clean his back, "He isn't. He will be fine, in time. If the wounds don't get infected, that is."
The boy nodded as he avoided looking at the deep welts on the ranger's back that were still oozing blood.
"The name he just called – that's his elf friend, isn't it? The one we met on the road?" he asked a few minutes later as they were just finishing wrapping the back up as best as they could.
Nólad nodded his head as he fastened the end of the last bandage.
"Aye, young one. That was Prince Legolas of Mirkwood."
"He … He called that name earlier, you know – before," Seobryn said quietly, spreading the leather overcoat over the ranger's motionless form as the elf packed up his rapidly depleting supplies. "He said some more, but it was elf speech, and we couldn't understand it."
The fair haired elf took up the remains of the torch and rose to his feet, deciding to ignore that statement.
"You'd better get back to the others before the guard sees you here, Master Human," he said, giving the boy a slight smile, "I'm sure Donyc wouldn't be too pleased if he found out that you came here to help him. Why did you, by the way?"
Seobryn looked at him with big, serious eyes.
"I knew he'd be cold and couldn't stand the thought of leaving him like this for the whole night, after all that's … happened," he explained, struggling to find the right words. "He could have died like that, and I wouldn't have that on my conscience."
He gave the elf a shy look and added softly,
"Just for the same reasons why you are here, really. Good Night."
He turned around and disappeared into the direction of the camp, twigs snapping softly as he went.
Nólad took one last look at the unconscious ranger in front of him and turned to notify the guard that he was finished.
'Naïve, that one,' he thought sadly as he told the man that he could return to his post, 'Just what does he think will come to pass?'
Watching the guard walk back into the direction of the tree, he returned to his horse to put away his bag, wondering what exactly his motives had been for caring for the young dúnadan.
Elrond looked up at the sky that was slowly beginning to brighten as the sun prepared to resume her endless journey across the heavens. Stifling a sigh, he rose to his feet and once again took up his pacing back and forth on the little spot of the road he had chosen for waiting, wondering for a moment what Glorfindel would say.
'A lot,' he decided after a while and turned on his heel to walk back the way he had come, 'Or, if I were really unlucky, he would only give me his "There-are-things-a-proper-elf-lord-never-does-and-pacing-is-one-of-them-look", the one he uses to emphasize the fact that he died for the first time when my own father was but a child of seven years and is therefore much older and wiser than me.'
He arrived at the spot where he had left his horse on a grassy patch near the road where it could graze to its heart's content. The animal lifted its head and gave the fidgeting elf lord a glare that clearly said it suggested that Elrond sit down and be quiet if he didn't want to make the rest of the journey on foot. The elf lord in question returned the glare, narrowing his eyes as he stared the horse down. After a few seconds he realized what he was doing and blinked, sitting down on a log next to the beast.
'Ilúvatar, what am I doing? Staring down a horse? Well, I do not dare to even imagine what Glorfindel would say to that…'
Resting his head in his hands, he tried to calm himself. He couldn't remember being this upset since … well, a very long time. Not since Celebrían's capture. Interrupting this unpleasant train of thought, he raised his head and clutched the hilt of his sword so tightly the white knuckles showed through the skin.
'It will not end like that,' he told himself firmly, 'Estel will not leave me. He can't, it's too early, far too early! There is so much he has not yet seen, so much depends on him. Elbereth, there is so much I need to tell him…'
Getting to his feet again, he began his pacing anew, giving his horse a wide berth that looked thoroughly annoyed by now, judging by the way its tail swished from side to side. The last thing he needed now was getting attacked by his own horse.
Walking up the path, he studied the night sky.
'"Be there in time",' he fumed inwardly. 'Well, I am here, the only problem is, no one else is!'
Elrond turned his mind away from this problem that only served to increase his fear that Cornallar might already have killed his human son and pondered the twins' docile behaviour instead. When he had had time to think about it, he had realized that their obedience was at least weird, if not alarming.
They were up to something, he decided, turning around to walk back.
'If I find out they have put as much as a toe out of the borders of Imladris, they will wish I had taken them with me and presented them to Cornallar on a plate as a sign of my good will!'
He was just cautiously approaching his horse when he heard soft hoofbeat that was coming closer quickly. The elf turned round to study his surroundings, but the place was truly well chosen for such a meeting. The fork in the road lay a little to the south of the main road that led to the Misty Mountains, into the direction of the Bruinen whose source was located not far from here at the mountains' foot.
All around it there was a dense wood, preventing anyone inside to see approaching riders, but anyone outside could watch the main road and the surrounding area for miles. The next hiding place was up the road to the west, and since any escort he could have brought with him would not know where to go, they would be too far away to be of help to him.
Elrond closed his eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to force his face into the calm façade befitting a millennia old elf lord. The last thing he wanted was for Cornallar to see how worried he really was, and how his sudden appearance had stirred up buried memories and reawoken old doubts.
But it wasn't the dark haired elf he remembered who rode up the road a few minutes later, and, unless Cornallar had changed considerably over the past 3000 years, it wasn't him at all. It was a human, quite ordinary looking, clad in dark clothes, who looked at him calculatingly. The elf lord studied the man closely. So that was one of the men who had taken his son, Elrond thought, a cold fury spreading in his chest, and, by the look the human shot him before dropping his eyes, on his face as well.
The man swallowed nervously before asking,
"You are Elrond?"
The dark haired elf nodded, not taking his eyes off the man.
"Yes, I am. Where is the one that pays you and your companions for your … services?" he asked, contempt and distaste in his voice.
The man shifted in the saddle, valiantly risking a glance at the elf.
"I will take you to him. I …" he took a deep breath, plucking up his courage, "I need to ask you to surrender your weapons."
He dropped his eyes quickly and therefore missed the battle of conflicting emotion that flashed across the elf lord's face. After a few second Elrond nodded.
"Very well, I will do what you ask. But first you must give me your word that the ranger is still alive and well."
The man nodded quickly, slightly surprised the elf was really willing to comply. His employer had assured him he would be, but he had found that hard to believe.
"That I can give you, as far as I know, Master Elf. When I parted with the others less than three days ago, he still was, and they stressed that he was not to be harmed unnecessarily."
He decided in an instant that this was all the elf needed to know, the facts that the ranger had fallen off a tree and had managed to antagonize Donyc with a surprising speed were not relevant.
Elrond nodded and unbuckled his sword belt, handing over the blade and his knives. He mounted his horse and beckoned the man to lead the way. Before he could comply, the elf manoeuvred his horse closer to that of the human, his grey eyes boring into the man's.
"If you have harmed him, I will take these back and kill every single one of you," he said in a soft voice, as if stating nothing more than the fact that the sky was of a particularly beautiful colour today.
The man swallowed, a shiver racing down his spine. As he guided his horse into the direction of the main road, he cursed his commander once again for making this deal with the elves. Elves were known to be strange and dangerous, and, it seemed, they had got the strangest and most dangerous of the lot.
Remembering the look that one had given him, he swallowed again to suppress another sudden shiver of fear.
Yes, he thought, he believed that elf would do as he said. Without even getting in a sweat or batting an eyelid.
The morning dawned brightly and clearly when Cornallar could see his friend make his way towards him and the human commander, giving Donyc a barely disguised look of disgust. When the fair haired elf had reached them where they sat by the fire that was doing its best to ward off the morning chill, he smiled and greeted his friend.
"Good morning, mellonamin! Is everything ready?"
Nólad returned the smile and settled down next to his companion.
"Good morning to you too, my lord. Everything is ready. The men who are to come with you have been supplied with the swiftest horses and await your command."
"Good, thank you, my friend. How is the edan doing?" he asked, an strange glint hidden in his dark eyes.
"He will live, I suppose," the other elf answered indifferently.
Cornallar nodded his head and added, eyeing his friend closely,
"Donyc here has informed me that you have visited our little guest during the night and seen to his wounds?"
Nólad shot the human a scathing look before fixing his eyes on the dark haired elf, looking him straight in the eye.
"Yes, my lord, I have. Since Donyc here," he interrupted himself and gave the dark haired human another glare, "Has overdone it a bit yesterday evening, I thought it best to make sure that the ranger made it through the night. We want him alive, after all."
His companion nodded his agreement.
"You are correct, mellonamin, forgive me." He turned to the human commander and asked, "Could you please make sure that your men are ready to leave? How many have you assigned to come with me? Three?"
Donyc rose to his feet as he shook his head.
"No, Master Elf, we agreed on four. I think you need at least four to carry out your plan, and I even found two who have some experience in that area. They will be ready in a minute."
Giving them a nod, he turned and walked away, calling out the names of the four men as he went.
Cornallar watched him for a second before turning back to his friend.
"In the future I would like you to coordinate your actions with me, Nólad. I know that you only have my best interests in mind, but I feel you have developed something of a soft spot for that dúnadan. Have you?"
The fair haired elf met his friend's calculating eyes steadily.
"I have not. I merely see no point in endangering his life or letting him suffer at the hands of Donyc or his kind before the time."
The dark haired elf laughed, putting an arm around his companion's shoulder.
"Ah, my friend, you never knew how to enjoy life. But I haven't given up on the hope to teach you one day."
Pulling his friend to his feet, he began to walk him into the direction of the horses.
"When I have left, you will be in charge, Nólad. Take them over the mountains as quickly as you can and try to avoid being seen by anyone as far as possible. I have asked Donyc to send for more of his men to meet you once you get home." Noting the questioning look on the other elf's face, he explained, smiling condescendingly, "Yes, I know, it's hard to believe, but the edan really has a few carrier pigeons that never fail to reach their destination, or so he claims. He sent one of them to his friends this morning."
They reached the horses and Cornallar mounted quickly, anxious to be off. Nólad watched his friend, noting the way his eyes shone in anticipation of the encounter that was to come. No, he thought quietly, there was no way to dissuade him from this course of action. Perhaps a few months ago, but now it was too late. First blood had been drawn, and Cornallar would see this to the end. Sighing inwardly, he lifted his head and looked at his friend again, who was just giving him a few last-minute instructions.
"The horse I had to shoot yesterday will not be able to carry much, so the little edan will have to ride with someone else. I would have suggested Donyc, but I think after yesterday evening that would be a little bit … unwise, wouldn't you agree? I think the dear commander hasn't forgiven the boy for not giving in yet. He could be tempted to do something foolish. So I think it would be best if you took him, if you put your things on the injured horse you should have room enough. Tomorrow he should be able to ride alone again – if he wakes up till then, that is," he said sneering, his eyes turning to the still unconscious figure of Aragorn on the other side of the camp.
"Oh, and remember, mellonamin, the ranger is not here to have a little vacation. Make sure he doesn't die till we arrive, but nothing more. Do you understand?" the dark haired elf asked, his dark eyes burning into Nólad's light grey ones.
The fair haired elf nodded, dropping his eyes.
"Yes, my friend, I have. We will await your arrival. Namárië."
Cornallar smiled at his companion.
"Namárië," he replied. „Have an eye on the edain. I do not trust them."
Nólad bowed his head slightly as he watched his friend spur on his horse and disappear into the direction of the rising sun, followed by four men who had trouble keeping up with the elven horse. His brow wrinkled in barely hidden contempt when he heard Donyc step closer.
"Very well, Master Elf," the man said cheerfully, oblivious to the feeling the elf harboured for him, "Let's get them moving and wake the ranger, shall we?"
His tone of voice left no doubts about the methods he intended to employ for that task.
The elf stifled another sigh and turned to follow the dark haired human.
'No,' he thought frowning, 'I really do not like that one at all.'
TBC...
mellonamin - my friend
dúnadan - 'Man of the West', ranger
edan - human, man (sg.)
edain - humans men (pl.)
See? See??? No cliffhanger!! Well, at least I think so... That's worth a review, isn't it? *g* I know I know, I'm not normal, but hey: Show me one person who is reading this and still IS normal and I will gladly agree to marry Cornallar. *thinks about it* Well, then again, perhaps _not_... *g*
Stay tuned for the next chapter, which will be here soon and in which the twins and Legolas run into - what else? - trouble. *sighs* How do they do that??
Additional A/N:
Imbefaniel - *grins evilly* I'm glad _someone_ likes my sense of humour! When I was working in Switzerland for three months, _nobody_ understood my jokes! They just kept staring at me till I said "Uhm, sorry guys, it was a JOKE!" They don't even _know_ what sarcasm IS there - the only person I liked was someone from Wales! You read all three books in three weeks? Wow, I'm impressed, I needed about four or five!!
Arwen-Evenstar - *pokes her* Dying? Uhm, don't you think that's a bit extreme? *g* But well, if you want to, go ahead... *g* Well, I'm glad you liked the torture bit, because I _really_ did not like writing it. I was muttering "OMG, what am I doing, no! That's gotta hurt, NO!! Estel!!" all the time - my family thought I were crazy! Mind you, they still think that... *g*
Aralondwen - *wide-eyed* You're off to take a swim in Mount Doom, huh? Ah well, if that's what you like... You and your silver dull spoon of death? Well, that's something I reallly do NOT want to see... *huggles Aralondwen* Thanks so much for adding me to your favourites! And thanks for the cookies! They are delicious!
Mouse - *hands Mouse a cookie* Well done! You know our dear elven prince and his friends the twins quite well! So you're an Aussie then? I've met quite a few and they were all definitely weird...uhm, I mean, very nice!! Really! Pefectly nice and NORMAL and... *g* Just kidding. Well, I'm happy someone likes poor Nólad! I love him, but I'm not yet sure what to do with him... *g* We'll see.
E - Calm down, girl, everthing is alright, breathe... *pats her back* Better now? Don't worry, they will all get what they deserve in the end - I think. Since it's not written yet, I can't promise that... *giggles* Elrond put him in a cage and prod him with hot irons? That is such a NICE idea! *eyes glaze over* Ohh, just imagine.... Well, but you're probably right, he wouldn't do that. Damn. Thanks for all your compliments! And the review, of course...
Princess Earine - Update faster, huh? Well, I do what I can, but unfortunately there is something called RL - dammit to Hell! *g* I hope you liked this chapter as well, ans thanks a lot for the review!
Lievre - The one behind Pluto it is then! (Sorry, I never knew our solar system's planets by name - pretty weak, I know...) *chuckles* A three headed dragon, huh? That's somthing different for a change... Okay, point noted, a bit too long. I don't really think so, but I'll remember it in the future. *thinks* Perhaps you are right and it was a bit long... *shrugs* I'll think about it. And the characterization: Who? How? When? Why? *g* No, really, if you would tell me what exactly it is you mean, I will do my best to change it. I know it's a bit modern, but that's unavoidable, at least with me. But please tell me, I always try to improve. If you'd like, just send me an email and we can talk about it. Thanks!
Lurker - Hmm, two hours? Wow, thanks for spending so much time on this... *g* And the time frame thing: You are right, I didn't say it in the fic itself, but at the beginning of ch2 I said it took place in 2953, when Estel was 22 years old. So that means it takes place about 1½ - 2 years after his 20th birthday, and therefore the time when he learned of his heritage. A bit complicated, I know... *g* Thanks for reviewing!
Firnsarnien - *uncovers ears* Feel better now? My my my, it wasn't that bad, now was it? And here is the update, just for you! *g* Thanks so much for all your reviews!!
Angel - *blushes* Owww, thanks so much for your kind words! *grins evilly* Well, _of course_ trouble is brewing, is a story about Legolas and Aragorn, isn't it? I think there are few enough times to count them on one hands when there was NO trouble brewing! *g* Thanks a lot for the review!
TrustingFriendship - *frowns* Nólad help Estel in the end? Never!! *shakes fist* No, don't worry, just kidding! Let's just say, it's a possibility, okay? I haven't quite decided yet. We'll see. Thanks for all your reviews, it's always great to see familiar 'faces'!
Acacia - *raises eyebrow* It wasn't me! It was my alter ego, SHE made me do these things! I didn't want to!! *g* Mhahaha, I'm schizophrenic! And you are quite right, Elrond will _not_ be happy! Well, I didn't update 'now', but I hope this is soon enough?!
ManuKu - *grinst stolz* HAH! Sie ist sprachlos! Das hat man ja auch nicht oft! Ja, du kannst mir glauben, ich habe SEHR gelitten! Und wie! Ich habe die ganze Zeot zitternd vorm Bildschirm gesessen!! Tjajaja, Nólad ist schon ein armes Schwein... *taetschelt seinen Kopf* Armer Junge. Was aus ihm wird, steht auch noch in den Sternen... *fieses Grinsen* Mit der Fortsetzung: Eine vage Idee habe ich schon. Betonung auf vage. Ausserdem habe ich einen Umzug vor mir und fahre MItte Maerz fuer eine Monat wieder nach England. Vielleicht habe ich da ja Zeit, mir Gedanken zu machen und anzufangen. Wer weiss. Allgemein bin ich dieser Idee jedoch nicht abgeneigt! *g*
Raquel - *grins* Exactly! Where would be the fun when if got back unscathed? Hm?? Well, I don't really know if Cornallar's son had a 'bad' relationship with his father, he just didn't see things his way. And Cornallar is one of these "Who is not not with me, is against me"-types. *shudders* Idiots. *slaps forehead* Dammit! Am I that predictable? *hangs head* Yes, I am, I guess... *beams* I'm so glad you like Nólad! The more I write about him, the more I come to love him! I don't know yet what exactly will happen to him, although I have some ideas... *evil cackle* I know. That can't be good.
Aurienia - Owww, don't cry, see, he is still alive and well! Well, ALIVE, at least... *g* And I can assure you that I pray every evening that they will NEVER find me! I would be soooo dead then... *shudders* You are going to France? Cool! Way better than Antarctica!! *g* Thanks for reviewing!
XsilicaX - *evil grin* Don't worry, I will have someone heal that cut in the end! We wouldn't want to spoil his great looks, now would we?? Thanks for saying you liked the torture, I wasn't sure about it. I still am, to be precise... *g* Yes, well, running off - not exactly, huh? They wait till he's gone, that's all, so they have at least matured a bit... Thanks a lot for the review!!
ThE iNsAnE oNe - *stared wide-eyed* Ah well - so you liked the torture scene, I see? Donyc is a very nice chap, isn't he? Ack! *runs away and hided from tio's wrath* You didn't, then? *g* *pats her back sympathetically* I know, I know ... we are sick. Very sick. But they are so much nicer in their tortured states... what am I saying? Let's find us a therapist, shall we? Mhahaha, I still know a bit more: "Look, love, what envious streaks do lace the severing clouds in yonder east? Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day stand tip-toe on the misty mountain's top. I must be gone and live, or stay and die..." *rereads and giggles* See that? 'Misty Mountains'! Hah!
Ciria - Lucky you! I haven't seen TTT for ages - at least a month! Wow, you are the first Nólad-lover here! Except for me, of course! Well, than this chapter whould have been just your thing - lots and lots of Nólad. And don't worry, he will be in here a lot - he is one of the main characters, isn't he? *coughs* Have you forgotten already? Glorfindel is in Lothlórien on an errant from Elrond, the twins and Aragorn escorted him to the borders - the wargs and all that, you remember? Hm, I guess Estel had Elrond and the twins teaching him as well as several other elves, but Glorfindel is one of the 'main' teachers, at least here. No, he didn't mean Aragorn's parents, just the men who were killed during the War of the Last Alliance. The ones Cornallar and those of his kind killed. And, last but not least, Cornallar's hair is black. Thanks so much for the huge review! *hugs her*
Alilacia - *g* As I said, I think an entirely serious scene would be quite boring - besides, these things just keep popping into my head. *shrugs* There's nothing I can do. LOL, a running jump off the Falls of Rauros! That's a great mental picture!! Owww... *wipes eyes* You put my villains on the 'Hated Villains List'? That's so sweet! I'm sure Donyc and Cornallar will be very pleased... *g* Well, don't worry, the rescue is under way now!!! Yay Estel!!
Miss Undastood - *grins evilly* Well, I'm glad you liked it!! Oh, and: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I'm sorry I couldn't make it yesterday, but there was really _no_ way. Sorry. And, just as ordered, more Seobryn, only for you!! *g*
Alexa - Yes, they are wicked, arent't they? (I love that word as well, it is - uhm, well, wicked??) Okay, so you are a Legolas fan? More of your favourite is coming up in the next chapter (*winces at mere thought* Poor Legolas!!) !! I could never resist puppy dog looks... *sighs*
AngelsofLight - 5 Hours?? FIVE HOURS?? Really? That long?? Wow, I didn't know it took that long... *shakes hand* Well done! Well, to quote Elrond: You have shown extraordinary resilience against its evil!! Don't worry, I would never kill my baby!! All the obsessive fans would hunt me down!! *shudders* And hey, your English is not bad! And since English isn't my first language either, I am hardly in a position to complain, am I? *g* Thanks for reviewing!!
Reginabean - LOL, indeed, Nólad for secret ally!! Still snowing?? Poor you!! It's finally getting warmer here! Yay!! I'm sick of ice and cold and snow and winter!!
Salara - *kippt um* SISSI!! Wie kann man denn nur so grausam sein? Was fuer ein krankes Gehirn kann sich eine Sechs-Stunden-Version ausdenken?? *schuettelt sich* Das ist gegen die Menschenrechte!!! *grinst* Aber ich muss zugeben, effektiv waer's... Tja, auch dem Autor tat's weh, das kann ich dir versichern. Ich bin wohl im 'Comfort'-Teil besser als im 'Hurt'-Teil... Na ja, durch manche Sachen muss man einfach durch... *g* Und deine Dialog-Review war exzellent! Boese, aber gut...*g*
Lina - *sniffs* No, you didn't review last chapter! I was very sad and cried the whole day... LOL, don't worry. FF.net has probably deleted it, it does this kind of stuff all the time!! *backs away from Lina* Well, "A Human Pincushion" is a bit exaggerated, it's only ONE arrow... And, please, don't kill Legolas, and DON'T touch his hair! At least not if you want him to help Estel! You know how he is - he will brush it for hourse until he's ready to go anywhere... *sighs* Prissy elf. *pats Éomer's head* Right you are, dear, only you can cry unrestrained, manly tears. Don't worry. *g*
Zam - *g* I always knew they were strange, but that they were incompetent as well ... Perhaps you should consider asking Lina for another orc horde, Zam. They seem to be quite useless... *g* LOL, Estel as a dwarf!! Now, that IS sad!! Ask Lina!! And, dwarf or not: *hisses at Zam* Take your hands off my baby, now!! Ah, I see you have exchanged the orcs for a horde of treehuggers? A very good choice!! They are scary!! *g* *jumps up and down* A new chapter? I will go and read it now!!!
Carrie - *grabs Aragorn and Legolas* Stop it!! You mustn't choke her till she's finished her story, understood? *edges backwards slowly* Well, what possessed me ... I don't know ... I was sitting in this _boring_ lecture and then I though "Hey, everybody has whips. What about a nice thick branch with THORNS on it??" and so, you see ... *grabs Carrie quickly* Don't hug him! Think of his back!! Hugging is BAD right now... LOL, Cornallar, the insult to Elvenkind?? You could say that... And Nólad has been his friend for millennia, he cannot turn his back on him now - and he doesn't think so differently about the matter itself, only about the methods - at least now. And I'm not afraid of the orc horde, Snikdul likes me. Her treehuggers, on the other hand... *shudders* Thanks a lot for reviewing!!
So tired ... need to go ... to sleep ... tired ... *g* Ah well, I should go to bed. *huggles all reviewers* Thanks so much!! Reviews really help me a lot!!
A/N:
*reads reviews*
Death threat ... death threat ... oh, here we have a three headed dragon that breathes white lightning that will be coming after me ... death threat ... death threat ... the threat to chain me to a chair and force me to watch horrible trashy romantic movies for _six hours_ *shudders* ... death threat ... Legolas/Elladan/Elrohir/Elrond who will come after me ....
*looks up, beaming at readers*
Thank you very very much! I LOVE death threats!
*giggles*
Yeah, I agree, Donyc is a horrible, evil, sadistic person, as is Cornallar - I don't like them at all! And perhaps you are right and Aragorn killed the _only_ friend Donyc ever had - no wonder he's so angry! *g*
But I'm glad you still liked the chapter! Even though Estel got banged up a bit ... okay, right, quite a bit... *evil grin*
Well, here's chapter 13 already - Thirteen! Wow! Can you believe that!?
Okay, chapter 13, in which ... hmm, yes, the rescue finally gets under way, Nólad has a talk with several people, Elrond *thinks* and Aragorn, well, Aragorn doesn't do much, I'm afraid... *g*
Have fun and review, please!
(*points* See! I changed it from "Enjoy and review"! It's a lot better, isn't it? *g*)
Chapter 13
Legolas stood outside Lord Elrond's chambers, waiting patiently for him to finally come out. The twins had left fifteen minutes ago, Elladan hurrying to catch up with his brother who was seething with rage and murmuring none too softly colourful curses in Quenya. From what the fair haired prince had been able to catch, Elrohir had been comparing his father to a multitude of animals that were known for both their stubbornness and stupidity.
The controversy had ended just like the prince had predicted when Elrond finally had had enough of the constant arguments: He had ordered them to remain behind, putting Elladan in charge of Imladris for the time being. The older twin had shot his father a scathing glare and had hurried after Elrohir, murmuring under his breath that he would get a horse ready. While Elrond had been too upset himself to notice his oldest son's amazingly compliant behaviour and had closed the wooden door before Legolas could even utter a word, the younger elf was left to ponder his friend's unusual attitude outside.
'There is something going on,' Legolas thought, leaning back against the stone wall and watching the shadows that the ornate bronze lamps cast onto the cream coloured stone. 'No son of Elrond would just give in like that. I wonder what is going on in that schemer's green haired head…'
He had to grin when he thought of Elladan's hair. It wasn't really visible anymore, but in his fevered state it had indeed seemed bright green yesterday. As it had been two weeks ago, Elrohir had assured him and described the prank he and his human brother had pulled on the older twin, although he had given Aragorn most of the credit. Legolas shook his head, it was truly a miracle the three of them had not yet killed each other. Most of the time he felt somewhat sorry he didn't have siblings when he watched his friend's and his brothers' antics, but there were times, this being one of them, that he was in fact very glad he was an only child.
Remembering the look on Elladan's face when Elrohir had described his rather undignified appearance that morning a fortnight ago, he was almost startled by the soft, creaking sound of the opening door. He looked up and saw the Lord of Rivendell stand in the doorway, apparently ready to leave. Elrond had donned simple travelling garments in the soft grey colour the elves of Rivendell were known for and was just returning his sword to its sheath which hung next to two elven daggers, and it was one of the most beautiful weapons Legolas had ever seen. The sheath was plain, but the blade itself was of finest mithril, the bluish metal adorned with elven characters.
Noticing the prince's stare, he smiled slightly and said, walking out of the door and into the direction of the courtyard,
"It's a few thousand years old, but it will do."
"It's beautiful," Legolas replied, falling in step next to the elven lord.
"That it is. It was a present from Gil-galad, a few years before he fell in that last battle. Somehow it feels right to use it for this," Elrond explained, smiling softly in recollection of his old friend.
"I understand," the younger elf said softly, his hand unconsciously straying to the pocket where he kept Estel's brooch. He paused for a second, wondering how to get the fact across to the elven lord that there was absolutely no way that he was staying behind. When he had just opened his mouth to begin his reasoning, Elrond's firm voice interrupted him.
"No, young prince. I will not allow you to come."
Legolas face darkened as he wondered how it was that both his father and Lord Elrond always seemed to know what he was thinking. Oh, and there was the Lady Galadriel as well, but she was known to be telepathic.
"Lord Elrond, I …"
Elrond stopped in the middle of the Hall of Fire they had reached by now, but which was all but empty, except for one or two elves who didn't look their merry selves at all. Ever since Estel's disappearance few had felt like celebrating.
Turning serious grey eyes on the fair haired elf, he said,
"Legolas, I know that you want to find Estel as badly as I do, but I cannot allow you to accompany me. Please," he held up a hand to silence Legolas who was about to object, "Hear me out. I have told you enough of Cornallar for you to understand that we cannot take any chances with him. There is no way to predict what he will do if he feels that his demands have not been met."
Legolas nodded reluctantly.
"Aye, my lord, I understand. But if we do let you go alone, we will not be able to come to your or Aragorn's assistance in case we are needed, and we will be. I cannot say why, but I have the feeling that he is in mortal danger, no matter what we do. Cornallar is not to be trusted."
Elrond grimaced and resumed his walk.
"No, you are right, he certainly isn't. I know that perfectly well. But I will not endanger my son's life any more than it already is. We can only hope that he doesn't find out who Aragorn truly is."
Legolas stopped in his tracks, renewed worry shining brightly in his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
The older elf stopped as well, running a slender hand over his face and sighed.
"Cornallar doesn't like men in the first place, but he loathes those of Númenorean descent, and he will surely kill any of the House of Elendil he can find. I don't have enough time to tell you all of it right now, so let it be enough to say that he would give everything to get his hands on one of Anárion's descendants. But since, as you well know, the House of Anárion, brother to Isildur, whose heirs ruled the southern kingdom of Gondor, ended with the death of Eärnur more than 900 years ago, I am sure he would settle for a descendant of Isildur instead."
The elven prince blinked slowly, trying to come to terms with that new bit of information. Every few hours another piece of information would show up, making the situation his young human friend faced appear even darker than before. Shaking off the fear for Strider, he took a step forwards, looking at Elrond with pleading eyes.
"One more reason to let me come. You don't know what Cornallar is planning! You will need all the help you can possibly get. Take at least me and the twins with you, my lord. Please," he added as he saw the steely glint in the other elf's eyes, "I must go. I have left him behind once, I cannot do it again. I've failed him! He was in danger and I had the chance to help him, but I did nothing! I cannot live with the knowledge that I left my best friend behind to die!"
Elrond studied the silver-blue eyes closely, noting the way they darkened in despair. Steeling himself, he stepped through the doors and began to make his way down the stone stairs into the dark courtyard.
"No, Legolas. I am sorry."
Shaking his head in frustration, Legolas hurried after him.
"You cannot order me like the twins!" he exclaimed heatedly, instantly regretting his words as Lord Elrond froze in mid-step and turned to face him.
"No, Prince of Mirkwood, I cannot," he retorted softly, giving Legolas a smile, "But I can ask you. I need you to stay here to make sure the twins don't get themselves into trouble, I'm afraid they don't agree with my decision." At that even Legolas had to smile; that was an interesting way of putting it.
Elrond stepped closer and placed a hand on the younger elf's shoulder.
"I know you want to help Aragorn. But I will neither allow Cornallar to take my two other sons as well, nor to kill the only heir to a neighbouring kingdom. Estel would not want you to throw your life away in a vain attempt to safe his life. Besides, you are not fully healed yourself yet, you won't help anyone if you rip open my stitches. I am sorry, Legolas, but there is no other way."
Gazing into the grey eyes that looked so much like Aragorn's, Legolas lowered his head and nodded soundlessly.
Elrond smiled softly.
"They are stubborn, both of them. Keep an eye on them for me."
"I will," Legolas replied softly as they neared the horse the twins and a few stable hands were preparing and added, "Not nearly as bad as Aragorn though."
The dark haired elven lord smiled sadly.
"He is a lot like my brother sometimes," he said, speaking of Elros who had chosen mortality so many years ago, "Elros wouldn't see reason either when his mind was set on something."
They reached the small group that clustered round the horse that was eyeing the activity patiently. While Elrond was stowing away the supplies he'd brought, among them a bag full of healing herbs and bandages about the size of a small boulder, Legolas exchanged a look with the twins, who were winking at him through dark lashes conspiratorially. He had to stifle a grin as he watched his friends turn their eyes back on their father, who was just mounting, just the right amount of disgruntled acceptance and fear on their faces.
'They could have fooled me with that look on their faces,' he thought appreciatively.
The Lord of Imladris looked down at them, giving all three of them a stern glare.
"I hope I have made myself clear. You are not to follow me, understood?"
The twins nodded reluctantly.
"Very well. In my absence Elladan will be acting Lord of Rivendell, and so I have told the members of the council I could find at such short notice. Until I and Estel return, listen to them and especially to Erestor. They will convene tomorrow morning, and I trust you to explain to them why and where I am going."
His gaze softened when he looked into the solemn faces of his elven sons.
"If I am not back in two week's time, and you have heard neither from Estel nor from me, send word to Lórien. The Lady Galadriel will know what to do."
Elrohir nodded and took a step closer to his father's horse, grasping his hand.
"May the grace of the Valar protect you, father. Bring him back, so we can teach him to be more careful in the future."
Elrond smiled at them.
"Namárië, my sons. Look after them, young prince."
Legolas, who had kept back to give father and sons time to say goodbye in private, took a step forward and nodded his head, his blonde hair reflecting the pale light of the moon.
"Don't worry, my lord. We will be fine. May Elbereth watch over your path."
The elven lord gave them one last look and spurred his horse on, soon disappearing in the distance. The three of them waited until the horse had passed out of sight, and when not even their elven eyes could see it anymore, they turned as if on an unspoken signal and hurried into the direction of the main house. When they crossed the doors and reached the broad staircase that led to the upper levels, they stopped, looking at each other.
When all he could see in his companions' eyes was silent approval, Elladan began to speak, looking at his brother.
"Elrohir, if you could see about the supplies, please. Don't forget to pack the herbs, we will need them."
Elrohir nodded and dashed off into the direction of the kitchens, missing his brother's mumbled "Especially when father gets a hold of us."
Elladan turned to Legolas, giving him a lop-sided grin.
"I will get the horses ready and try and explain all this to Erestor. I would be honoured if you would be so kind to get our clothes and weapons from upstairs, my prince. You know where everything is, I suppose?"
The elven prince gave the other elf a contemptuous smile and made his way quickly up the stairs, heading for their rooms and suppressing the guilt he felt for breaking his word to Lord Elrond.
'It is for his own good,' he reasoned, pushing open the door leading to his own room, hastily gathering his clothes and weapons and packing them up as quickly as possible.
'Lord Elrond will need our help, I just know he will. As will that reckless human."
He grabbed his bow and quiver and moved into the direction of the door.
'Hold on, mellonamin,' he thought as he left his room, turning to the right to enter Elladan's chambers, 'We are coming. Just a little longer now.'
Nólad walked purposefully across the little camp, his left hand tightly closed around his small bag. He gave the guard a cold stare, not feeling particularly sorry for the man who was probably suffering from a rather nasty headache, judging by the painful looking lump behind his ear. That was the one, the elf remembered, Donyc had almost killed a few hours ago in his fury and ordered to keep watch for the remaining hours of the night, as punishment for letting the ranger escape.
Under any other circumstances the fair haired elf would have considered this a highly unwise decision, since the man was obviously more than a little tired already, but this time he had to agree with the human commander that the captive would not try and escape again. Not for a long time, anyway.
Turning his mind to the matter at hand, he said,
"I'm here to have a look at him and make sure you haven't damaged him beyond repair."
The man grinned evilly at him, gesturing into the shadows under the tree a few yards to his left.
"Oh, you can look all you want, Master Elf. There's not much left of him though, I'm afraid. Suit yourself."
Nólad gave him another glare. The more time he spent with the humans, the less he liked the lot of them. And he didn't like their kind to begin with.
"The torch," he demanded slowly, as is talking to an extremely stupid troll.
The human dropped his eyes under the irritated look of elven testiness and quickly handed over the cackling torch he had stuck into the ground in front of him.
Snatching the burning wood from the man, the elf took a few steps forward, walking slightly around the tree that still bore ominous stains, now dried to a rusty colour.
Lighting the area with the torch, he took a deep breath when the cone of light touched the still body of the ranger.
'Ilúvatar, he's a mess,' he thought as he let his eyes wander over the bloody form, suppressing any remorse and sympathy he might feel. He was here to make sure the dúnadan survived, nothing more.
Making up his mind quickly, he sank to his knees and turned back to the guard, gracing him with the most authoritative stare he could manage.
"I won't require your assistance. I will call for you when I am finished."
The man looked as though he wanted to protest, but thought better of it. If he had to choose between his commander's wrath and that of their employer that would descent on him because he had not obeyed a command of the elf's friend, he would take Donyc every time.
"Alright, Master Elf, but do not untie him. You know what your lord and Donyc said about that for the future."
Nólad gave the guard a smile that did not even look as if it was meant seriously and nodded.
After the human had shuffled off to settle down next to the fireplace in the middle of the clearing, the elf turned his attention back to the young human in front of him.
"I told you to be careful, ranger. But humans never listen, do they?" he whispered softly, trying to decide which wounds to treat first. After a moment's hesitation he opted for the shoulder wound; that arrow needed to come out as quickly as possible. He had watched enough humans die from blood poisoning after such a wound because the arrow hadn't been removed quickly enough to know that this was the most serious injury. Well, at least this one was not poisoned. He hoped.
The fair haired elf was just turning the unconscious human over on to his back when he heard a man approach him, treading lighter than most of the men, who in fact could be confused with a horde of clumsy orcs if one did not listen closely enough for the subtle differences.
Without turning around, Nólad ran his fingers over the ranger's bruised and discoloured chest, feeling for broken ribs and finding them quickly enough. After a while Donyc had got tired of the whipping, and he and a few of his men had taken to beating the young man instead. At that point the ranger had been so far gone that he didn't even have enough strength to scream, and when a particularly nasty blow to his head slammed his skull against the bark of the tree and the young human had finally lost consciousness, Nólad had been sure that even a few of the men had sighed in relief.
Pressing down lightly on a dark bruise that would assume a spectacular multicoloured tinge in a few hours, he said in a low voice,
"If you are planning to sneak up on something, young one, I would advise you not to step on every single twig you can find. Most of them tend to snap under a human's weight."
Turning around, he saw Seobryn stand in the light of the torch, looking awed by the fact that the elf had not only heard him approach, but had obviously known who it had been as well. When Nólad raised a questioning eyebrow, he explained hastily, showing the ranger's overcoat he was carrying as proof,
"I thought he should have this, it is awfully cold so far away from the fire. And," he dropped his eyes, "I know a bit about healing, I thought I could help you."
The elf sighed in exasperation.
"Very well, as you're here already … Have you brought any water?" he asked, returning his eyes to the bound human in front of him.
Seobryn nodded quickly, flicking his brown hair out of his eyes and producing a water skin.
"Yes, Master Elf, I have. How is he?"
"Not good," the fair haired elf admitted, noting the pallid hue of Aragorn's face and the cold sweat that stood on his brow. He placed a slim hand on the man's chest, feeling for a heart beat, which was too fast for his liking.
"Do you see the grey colour and these spots on his face? His heartbeat and breathing are too fast as well, he's gone into shock. What a surprise," he added wryly, noting the way the boy next to him blushed in embarrassment.
Locking eyes with Seobryn, he told him, seizing the dark shaft of the arrow that was covered with dried blood,
"Hold him down. This will be quite unpleasant."
The young human complied and took a hold of the ranger's left shoulder, wincing as he thought of the weals on the man's back he was pressing into the ground in the process. When Nólad started to slowly pull out the arrow, careful not to rip any more muscles and tendons while doing it, Aragorn's body jerked and tried to escape their treatment, but was altogether too weak to throw Seobryn off. The elf tightened his own grip on the ranger's right upper arm that had got slippery with blood that flowed freely from the open wound, and with a final tug, the arrow slid out of the shoulder, glistering red in the moonlight. The young man gave a short, soft cry of pain and opened his eyes that were dulled with pain and tried to focus on something, without much success it appeared.
Nólad leaned over him to press him back down when silver eyes fixed on his face, clinging to his as if holding on for dear life.
"Legolas?" the injured human muttered so softly that Nólad could hardly understand him, "Legolas … you … how …"
Without even thinking, the fair haired elf pushed him back gently while at the same time struggling to fasten a bandage on the shoulder wound.
"Shh, everything is alright, don't worry. Go back to sleep," he whispered softly in Elvish as he searched the ranger's bruised face for any signs the boy understood that he was not the elven prince he thought him to be.
Aragorn did not heed the elf's words, his body struggling against their hands that held him down, trying to sit up.
"Legolas … you … alright … please ... don't go … need … you …" he stammered, teeth chattering with cold as his body slipped even farther into shock.
Nólad gritted his teeth, fighting down the wave of pity that swept over him. Right now the human looked a lot younger than his twenty-something years.
"I am just fine, mellonamin," he said, giving the arm he held a squeeze, "I won't go anywhere."
Trying to remember what the name Cornallar had told him about had been, the one Elrond's sons had used, he added after a second,
"You need to rest, Estel. Sleep."
The young human's eyes closed as unconsciousness once again claimed him, relaxing his body and causing his head to loll to the side.
"Is he …" Seobryn asked, eyeing the still body anxiously.
"No," the elf replied, motioning him to help him turn Aragorn onto his stomach to clean his back, "He isn't. He will be fine, in time. If the wounds don't get infected, that is."
The boy nodded as he avoided looking at the deep welts on the ranger's back that were still oozing blood.
"The name he just called – that's his elf friend, isn't it? The one we met on the road?" he asked a few minutes later as they were just finishing wrapping the back up as best as they could.
Nólad nodded his head as he fastened the end of the last bandage.
"Aye, young one. That was Prince Legolas of Mirkwood."
"He … He called that name earlier, you know – before," Seobryn said quietly, spreading the leather overcoat over the ranger's motionless form as the elf packed up his rapidly depleting supplies. "He said some more, but it was elf speech, and we couldn't understand it."
The fair haired elf took up the remains of the torch and rose to his feet, deciding to ignore that statement.
"You'd better get back to the others before the guard sees you here, Master Human," he said, giving the boy a slight smile, "I'm sure Donyc wouldn't be too pleased if he found out that you came here to help him. Why did you, by the way?"
Seobryn looked at him with big, serious eyes.
"I knew he'd be cold and couldn't stand the thought of leaving him like this for the whole night, after all that's … happened," he explained, struggling to find the right words. "He could have died like that, and I wouldn't have that on my conscience."
He gave the elf a shy look and added softly,
"Just for the same reasons why you are here, really. Good Night."
He turned around and disappeared into the direction of the camp, twigs snapping softly as he went.
Nólad took one last look at the unconscious ranger in front of him and turned to notify the guard that he was finished.
'Naïve, that one,' he thought sadly as he told the man that he could return to his post, 'Just what does he think will come to pass?'
Watching the guard walk back into the direction of the tree, he returned to his horse to put away his bag, wondering what exactly his motives had been for caring for the young dúnadan.
Elrond looked up at the sky that was slowly beginning to brighten as the sun prepared to resume her endless journey across the heavens. Stifling a sigh, he rose to his feet and once again took up his pacing back and forth on the little spot of the road he had chosen for waiting, wondering for a moment what Glorfindel would say.
'A lot,' he decided after a while and turned on his heel to walk back the way he had come, 'Or, if I were really unlucky, he would only give me his "There-are-things-a-proper-elf-lord-never-does-and-pacing-is-one-of-them-look", the one he uses to emphasize the fact that he died for the first time when my own father was but a child of seven years and is therefore much older and wiser than me.'
He arrived at the spot where he had left his horse on a grassy patch near the road where it could graze to its heart's content. The animal lifted its head and gave the fidgeting elf lord a glare that clearly said it suggested that Elrond sit down and be quiet if he didn't want to make the rest of the journey on foot. The elf lord in question returned the glare, narrowing his eyes as he stared the horse down. After a few seconds he realized what he was doing and blinked, sitting down on a log next to the beast.
'Ilúvatar, what am I doing? Staring down a horse? Well, I do not dare to even imagine what Glorfindel would say to that…'
Resting his head in his hands, he tried to calm himself. He couldn't remember being this upset since … well, a very long time. Not since Celebrían's capture. Interrupting this unpleasant train of thought, he raised his head and clutched the hilt of his sword so tightly the white knuckles showed through the skin.
'It will not end like that,' he told himself firmly, 'Estel will not leave me. He can't, it's too early, far too early! There is so much he has not yet seen, so much depends on him. Elbereth, there is so much I need to tell him…'
Getting to his feet again, he began his pacing anew, giving his horse a wide berth that looked thoroughly annoyed by now, judging by the way its tail swished from side to side. The last thing he needed now was getting attacked by his own horse.
Walking up the path, he studied the night sky.
'"Be there in time",' he fumed inwardly. 'Well, I am here, the only problem is, no one else is!'
Elrond turned his mind away from this problem that only served to increase his fear that Cornallar might already have killed his human son and pondered the twins' docile behaviour instead. When he had had time to think about it, he had realized that their obedience was at least weird, if not alarming.
They were up to something, he decided, turning around to walk back.
'If I find out they have put as much as a toe out of the borders of Imladris, they will wish I had taken them with me and presented them to Cornallar on a plate as a sign of my good will!'
He was just cautiously approaching his horse when he heard soft hoofbeat that was coming closer quickly. The elf turned round to study his surroundings, but the place was truly well chosen for such a meeting. The fork in the road lay a little to the south of the main road that led to the Misty Mountains, into the direction of the Bruinen whose source was located not far from here at the mountains' foot.
All around it there was a dense wood, preventing anyone inside to see approaching riders, but anyone outside could watch the main road and the surrounding area for miles. The next hiding place was up the road to the west, and since any escort he could have brought with him would not know where to go, they would be too far away to be of help to him.
Elrond closed his eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to force his face into the calm façade befitting a millennia old elf lord. The last thing he wanted was for Cornallar to see how worried he really was, and how his sudden appearance had stirred up buried memories and reawoken old doubts.
But it wasn't the dark haired elf he remembered who rode up the road a few minutes later, and, unless Cornallar had changed considerably over the past 3000 years, it wasn't him at all. It was a human, quite ordinary looking, clad in dark clothes, who looked at him calculatingly. The elf lord studied the man closely. So that was one of the men who had taken his son, Elrond thought, a cold fury spreading in his chest, and, by the look the human shot him before dropping his eyes, on his face as well.
The man swallowed nervously before asking,
"You are Elrond?"
The dark haired elf nodded, not taking his eyes off the man.
"Yes, I am. Where is the one that pays you and your companions for your … services?" he asked, contempt and distaste in his voice.
The man shifted in the saddle, valiantly risking a glance at the elf.
"I will take you to him. I …" he took a deep breath, plucking up his courage, "I need to ask you to surrender your weapons."
He dropped his eyes quickly and therefore missed the battle of conflicting emotion that flashed across the elf lord's face. After a few second Elrond nodded.
"Very well, I will do what you ask. But first you must give me your word that the ranger is still alive and well."
The man nodded quickly, slightly surprised the elf was really willing to comply. His employer had assured him he would be, but he had found that hard to believe.
"That I can give you, as far as I know, Master Elf. When I parted with the others less than three days ago, he still was, and they stressed that he was not to be harmed unnecessarily."
He decided in an instant that this was all the elf needed to know, the facts that the ranger had fallen off a tree and had managed to antagonize Donyc with a surprising speed were not relevant.
Elrond nodded and unbuckled his sword belt, handing over the blade and his knives. He mounted his horse and beckoned the man to lead the way. Before he could comply, the elf manoeuvred his horse closer to that of the human, his grey eyes boring into the man's.
"If you have harmed him, I will take these back and kill every single one of you," he said in a soft voice, as if stating nothing more than the fact that the sky was of a particularly beautiful colour today.
The man swallowed, a shiver racing down his spine. As he guided his horse into the direction of the main road, he cursed his commander once again for making this deal with the elves. Elves were known to be strange and dangerous, and, it seemed, they had got the strangest and most dangerous of the lot.
Remembering the look that one had given him, he swallowed again to suppress another sudden shiver of fear.
Yes, he thought, he believed that elf would do as he said. Without even getting in a sweat or batting an eyelid.
The morning dawned brightly and clearly when Cornallar could see his friend make his way towards him and the human commander, giving Donyc a barely disguised look of disgust. When the fair haired elf had reached them where they sat by the fire that was doing its best to ward off the morning chill, he smiled and greeted his friend.
"Good morning, mellonamin! Is everything ready?"
Nólad returned the smile and settled down next to his companion.
"Good morning to you too, my lord. Everything is ready. The men who are to come with you have been supplied with the swiftest horses and await your command."
"Good, thank you, my friend. How is the edan doing?" he asked, an strange glint hidden in his dark eyes.
"He will live, I suppose," the other elf answered indifferently.
Cornallar nodded his head and added, eyeing his friend closely,
"Donyc here has informed me that you have visited our little guest during the night and seen to his wounds?"
Nólad shot the human a scathing look before fixing his eyes on the dark haired elf, looking him straight in the eye.
"Yes, my lord, I have. Since Donyc here," he interrupted himself and gave the dark haired human another glare, "Has overdone it a bit yesterday evening, I thought it best to make sure that the ranger made it through the night. We want him alive, after all."
His companion nodded his agreement.
"You are correct, mellonamin, forgive me." He turned to the human commander and asked, "Could you please make sure that your men are ready to leave? How many have you assigned to come with me? Three?"
Donyc rose to his feet as he shook his head.
"No, Master Elf, we agreed on four. I think you need at least four to carry out your plan, and I even found two who have some experience in that area. They will be ready in a minute."
Giving them a nod, he turned and walked away, calling out the names of the four men as he went.
Cornallar watched him for a second before turning back to his friend.
"In the future I would like you to coordinate your actions with me, Nólad. I know that you only have my best interests in mind, but I feel you have developed something of a soft spot for that dúnadan. Have you?"
The fair haired elf met his friend's calculating eyes steadily.
"I have not. I merely see no point in endangering his life or letting him suffer at the hands of Donyc or his kind before the time."
The dark haired elf laughed, putting an arm around his companion's shoulder.
"Ah, my friend, you never knew how to enjoy life. But I haven't given up on the hope to teach you one day."
Pulling his friend to his feet, he began to walk him into the direction of the horses.
"When I have left, you will be in charge, Nólad. Take them over the mountains as quickly as you can and try to avoid being seen by anyone as far as possible. I have asked Donyc to send for more of his men to meet you once you get home." Noting the questioning look on the other elf's face, he explained, smiling condescendingly, "Yes, I know, it's hard to believe, but the edan really has a few carrier pigeons that never fail to reach their destination, or so he claims. He sent one of them to his friends this morning."
They reached the horses and Cornallar mounted quickly, anxious to be off. Nólad watched his friend, noting the way his eyes shone in anticipation of the encounter that was to come. No, he thought quietly, there was no way to dissuade him from this course of action. Perhaps a few months ago, but now it was too late. First blood had been drawn, and Cornallar would see this to the end. Sighing inwardly, he lifted his head and looked at his friend again, who was just giving him a few last-minute instructions.
"The horse I had to shoot yesterday will not be able to carry much, so the little edan will have to ride with someone else. I would have suggested Donyc, but I think after yesterday evening that would be a little bit … unwise, wouldn't you agree? I think the dear commander hasn't forgiven the boy for not giving in yet. He could be tempted to do something foolish. So I think it would be best if you took him, if you put your things on the injured horse you should have room enough. Tomorrow he should be able to ride alone again – if he wakes up till then, that is," he said sneering, his eyes turning to the still unconscious figure of Aragorn on the other side of the camp.
"Oh, and remember, mellonamin, the ranger is not here to have a little vacation. Make sure he doesn't die till we arrive, but nothing more. Do you understand?" the dark haired elf asked, his dark eyes burning into Nólad's light grey ones.
The fair haired elf nodded, dropping his eyes.
"Yes, my friend, I have. We will await your arrival. Namárië."
Cornallar smiled at his companion.
"Namárië," he replied. „Have an eye on the edain. I do not trust them."
Nólad bowed his head slightly as he watched his friend spur on his horse and disappear into the direction of the rising sun, followed by four men who had trouble keeping up with the elven horse. His brow wrinkled in barely hidden contempt when he heard Donyc step closer.
"Very well, Master Elf," the man said cheerfully, oblivious to the feeling the elf harboured for him, "Let's get them moving and wake the ranger, shall we?"
His tone of voice left no doubts about the methods he intended to employ for that task.
The elf stifled another sigh and turned to follow the dark haired human.
'No,' he thought frowning, 'I really do not like that one at all.'
TBC...
mellonamin - my friend
dúnadan - 'Man of the West', ranger
edan - human, man (sg.)
edain - humans men (pl.)
See? See??? No cliffhanger!! Well, at least I think so... That's worth a review, isn't it? *g* I know I know, I'm not normal, but hey: Show me one person who is reading this and still IS normal and I will gladly agree to marry Cornallar. *thinks about it* Well, then again, perhaps _not_... *g*
Stay tuned for the next chapter, which will be here soon and in which the twins and Legolas run into - what else? - trouble. *sighs* How do they do that??
Additional A/N:
Imbefaniel - *grins evilly* I'm glad _someone_ likes my sense of humour! When I was working in Switzerland for three months, _nobody_ understood my jokes! They just kept staring at me till I said "Uhm, sorry guys, it was a JOKE!" They don't even _know_ what sarcasm IS there - the only person I liked was someone from Wales! You read all three books in three weeks? Wow, I'm impressed, I needed about four or five!!
Arwen-Evenstar - *pokes her* Dying? Uhm, don't you think that's a bit extreme? *g* But well, if you want to, go ahead... *g* Well, I'm glad you liked the torture bit, because I _really_ did not like writing it. I was muttering "OMG, what am I doing, no! That's gotta hurt, NO!! Estel!!" all the time - my family thought I were crazy! Mind you, they still think that... *g*
Aralondwen - *wide-eyed* You're off to take a swim in Mount Doom, huh? Ah well, if that's what you like... You and your silver dull spoon of death? Well, that's something I reallly do NOT want to see... *huggles Aralondwen* Thanks so much for adding me to your favourites! And thanks for the cookies! They are delicious!
Mouse - *hands Mouse a cookie* Well done! You know our dear elven prince and his friends the twins quite well! So you're an Aussie then? I've met quite a few and they were all definitely weird...uhm, I mean, very nice!! Really! Pefectly nice and NORMAL and... *g* Just kidding. Well, I'm happy someone likes poor Nólad! I love him, but I'm not yet sure what to do with him... *g* We'll see.
E - Calm down, girl, everthing is alright, breathe... *pats her back* Better now? Don't worry, they will all get what they deserve in the end - I think. Since it's not written yet, I can't promise that... *giggles* Elrond put him in a cage and prod him with hot irons? That is such a NICE idea! *eyes glaze over* Ohh, just imagine.... Well, but you're probably right, he wouldn't do that. Damn. Thanks for all your compliments! And the review, of course...
Princess Earine - Update faster, huh? Well, I do what I can, but unfortunately there is something called RL - dammit to Hell! *g* I hope you liked this chapter as well, ans thanks a lot for the review!
Lievre - The one behind Pluto it is then! (Sorry, I never knew our solar system's planets by name - pretty weak, I know...) *chuckles* A three headed dragon, huh? That's somthing different for a change... Okay, point noted, a bit too long. I don't really think so, but I'll remember it in the future. *thinks* Perhaps you are right and it was a bit long... *shrugs* I'll think about it. And the characterization: Who? How? When? Why? *g* No, really, if you would tell me what exactly it is you mean, I will do my best to change it. I know it's a bit modern, but that's unavoidable, at least with me. But please tell me, I always try to improve. If you'd like, just send me an email and we can talk about it. Thanks!
Lurker - Hmm, two hours? Wow, thanks for spending so much time on this... *g* And the time frame thing: You are right, I didn't say it in the fic itself, but at the beginning of ch2 I said it took place in 2953, when Estel was 22 years old. So that means it takes place about 1½ - 2 years after his 20th birthday, and therefore the time when he learned of his heritage. A bit complicated, I know... *g* Thanks for reviewing!
Firnsarnien - *uncovers ears* Feel better now? My my my, it wasn't that bad, now was it? And here is the update, just for you! *g* Thanks so much for all your reviews!!
Angel - *blushes* Owww, thanks so much for your kind words! *grins evilly* Well, _of course_ trouble is brewing, is a story about Legolas and Aragorn, isn't it? I think there are few enough times to count them on one hands when there was NO trouble brewing! *g* Thanks a lot for the review!
TrustingFriendship - *frowns* Nólad help Estel in the end? Never!! *shakes fist* No, don't worry, just kidding! Let's just say, it's a possibility, okay? I haven't quite decided yet. We'll see. Thanks for all your reviews, it's always great to see familiar 'faces'!
Acacia - *raises eyebrow* It wasn't me! It was my alter ego, SHE made me do these things! I didn't want to!! *g* Mhahaha, I'm schizophrenic! And you are quite right, Elrond will _not_ be happy! Well, I didn't update 'now', but I hope this is soon enough?!
ManuKu - *grinst stolz* HAH! Sie ist sprachlos! Das hat man ja auch nicht oft! Ja, du kannst mir glauben, ich habe SEHR gelitten! Und wie! Ich habe die ganze Zeot zitternd vorm Bildschirm gesessen!! Tjajaja, Nólad ist schon ein armes Schwein... *taetschelt seinen Kopf* Armer Junge. Was aus ihm wird, steht auch noch in den Sternen... *fieses Grinsen* Mit der Fortsetzung: Eine vage Idee habe ich schon. Betonung auf vage. Ausserdem habe ich einen Umzug vor mir und fahre MItte Maerz fuer eine Monat wieder nach England. Vielleicht habe ich da ja Zeit, mir Gedanken zu machen und anzufangen. Wer weiss. Allgemein bin ich dieser Idee jedoch nicht abgeneigt! *g*
Raquel - *grins* Exactly! Where would be the fun when if got back unscathed? Hm?? Well, I don't really know if Cornallar's son had a 'bad' relationship with his father, he just didn't see things his way. And Cornallar is one of these "Who is not not with me, is against me"-types. *shudders* Idiots. *slaps forehead* Dammit! Am I that predictable? *hangs head* Yes, I am, I guess... *beams* I'm so glad you like Nólad! The more I write about him, the more I come to love him! I don't know yet what exactly will happen to him, although I have some ideas... *evil cackle* I know. That can't be good.
Aurienia - Owww, don't cry, see, he is still alive and well! Well, ALIVE, at least... *g* And I can assure you that I pray every evening that they will NEVER find me! I would be soooo dead then... *shudders* You are going to France? Cool! Way better than Antarctica!! *g* Thanks for reviewing!
XsilicaX - *evil grin* Don't worry, I will have someone heal that cut in the end! We wouldn't want to spoil his great looks, now would we?? Thanks for saying you liked the torture, I wasn't sure about it. I still am, to be precise... *g* Yes, well, running off - not exactly, huh? They wait till he's gone, that's all, so they have at least matured a bit... Thanks a lot for the review!!
ThE iNsAnE oNe - *stared wide-eyed* Ah well - so you liked the torture scene, I see? Donyc is a very nice chap, isn't he? Ack! *runs away and hided from tio's wrath* You didn't, then? *g* *pats her back sympathetically* I know, I know ... we are sick. Very sick. But they are so much nicer in their tortured states... what am I saying? Let's find us a therapist, shall we? Mhahaha, I still know a bit more: "Look, love, what envious streaks do lace the severing clouds in yonder east? Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day stand tip-toe on the misty mountain's top. I must be gone and live, or stay and die..." *rereads and giggles* See that? 'Misty Mountains'! Hah!
Ciria - Lucky you! I haven't seen TTT for ages - at least a month! Wow, you are the first Nólad-lover here! Except for me, of course! Well, than this chapter whould have been just your thing - lots and lots of Nólad. And don't worry, he will be in here a lot - he is one of the main characters, isn't he? *coughs* Have you forgotten already? Glorfindel is in Lothlórien on an errant from Elrond, the twins and Aragorn escorted him to the borders - the wargs and all that, you remember? Hm, I guess Estel had Elrond and the twins teaching him as well as several other elves, but Glorfindel is one of the 'main' teachers, at least here. No, he didn't mean Aragorn's parents, just the men who were killed during the War of the Last Alliance. The ones Cornallar and those of his kind killed. And, last but not least, Cornallar's hair is black. Thanks so much for the huge review! *hugs her*
Alilacia - *g* As I said, I think an entirely serious scene would be quite boring - besides, these things just keep popping into my head. *shrugs* There's nothing I can do. LOL, a running jump off the Falls of Rauros! That's a great mental picture!! Owww... *wipes eyes* You put my villains on the 'Hated Villains List'? That's so sweet! I'm sure Donyc and Cornallar will be very pleased... *g* Well, don't worry, the rescue is under way now!!! Yay Estel!!
Miss Undastood - *grins evilly* Well, I'm glad you liked it!! Oh, and: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I'm sorry I couldn't make it yesterday, but there was really _no_ way. Sorry. And, just as ordered, more Seobryn, only for you!! *g*
Alexa - Yes, they are wicked, arent't they? (I love that word as well, it is - uhm, well, wicked??) Okay, so you are a Legolas fan? More of your favourite is coming up in the next chapter (*winces at mere thought* Poor Legolas!!) !! I could never resist puppy dog looks... *sighs*
AngelsofLight - 5 Hours?? FIVE HOURS?? Really? That long?? Wow, I didn't know it took that long... *shakes hand* Well done! Well, to quote Elrond: You have shown extraordinary resilience against its evil!! Don't worry, I would never kill my baby!! All the obsessive fans would hunt me down!! *shudders* And hey, your English is not bad! And since English isn't my first language either, I am hardly in a position to complain, am I? *g* Thanks for reviewing!!
Reginabean - LOL, indeed, Nólad for secret ally!! Still snowing?? Poor you!! It's finally getting warmer here! Yay!! I'm sick of ice and cold and snow and winter!!
Salara - *kippt um* SISSI!! Wie kann man denn nur so grausam sein? Was fuer ein krankes Gehirn kann sich eine Sechs-Stunden-Version ausdenken?? *schuettelt sich* Das ist gegen die Menschenrechte!!! *grinst* Aber ich muss zugeben, effektiv waer's... Tja, auch dem Autor tat's weh, das kann ich dir versichern. Ich bin wohl im 'Comfort'-Teil besser als im 'Hurt'-Teil... Na ja, durch manche Sachen muss man einfach durch... *g* Und deine Dialog-Review war exzellent! Boese, aber gut...*g*
Lina - *sniffs* No, you didn't review last chapter! I was very sad and cried the whole day... LOL, don't worry. FF.net has probably deleted it, it does this kind of stuff all the time!! *backs away from Lina* Well, "A Human Pincushion" is a bit exaggerated, it's only ONE arrow... And, please, don't kill Legolas, and DON'T touch his hair! At least not if you want him to help Estel! You know how he is - he will brush it for hourse until he's ready to go anywhere... *sighs* Prissy elf. *pats Éomer's head* Right you are, dear, only you can cry unrestrained, manly tears. Don't worry. *g*
Zam - *g* I always knew they were strange, but that they were incompetent as well ... Perhaps you should consider asking Lina for another orc horde, Zam. They seem to be quite useless... *g* LOL, Estel as a dwarf!! Now, that IS sad!! Ask Lina!! And, dwarf or not: *hisses at Zam* Take your hands off my baby, now!! Ah, I see you have exchanged the orcs for a horde of treehuggers? A very good choice!! They are scary!! *g* *jumps up and down* A new chapter? I will go and read it now!!!
Carrie - *grabs Aragorn and Legolas* Stop it!! You mustn't choke her till she's finished her story, understood? *edges backwards slowly* Well, what possessed me ... I don't know ... I was sitting in this _boring_ lecture and then I though "Hey, everybody has whips. What about a nice thick branch with THORNS on it??" and so, you see ... *grabs Carrie quickly* Don't hug him! Think of his back!! Hugging is BAD right now... LOL, Cornallar, the insult to Elvenkind?? You could say that... And Nólad has been his friend for millennia, he cannot turn his back on him now - and he doesn't think so differently about the matter itself, only about the methods - at least now. And I'm not afraid of the orc horde, Snikdul likes me. Her treehuggers, on the other hand... *shudders* Thanks a lot for reviewing!!
So tired ... need to go ... to sleep ... tired ... *g* Ah well, I should go to bed. *huggles all reviewers* Thanks so much!! Reviews really help me a lot!!