SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG....I WAS.....UH....BUSY!!

Firniswin....indeed, poor poor Estel.

HALO!! You say my cliffies are irritating?!! AHAHA!! *laughs for about 3 hours straight, then becomes eerily calm* What about you!?! I want more of your storyyyyyy! *whines pitifullY* LoL!

ZAM!! Finally?! What about YOU?! The Journalists Tale is waiting...tsk tsik. LolL Sorry to harass you about that, I couldn't resist. Yes, and Halen is a good buddy. He's cool. Unlike some people I know *eyes you distastefully* JK JK!! Love ya sissy!! LOL!

The Insane ONE! AAH@!!! AHAHAA! Darn...I thought I had gotten rid of her.........I'll just have to try harder next time. LOL! JK!

Musicgrl! Thank you so much! Brilliant? Oh, you flatter me!!

marbienl!! Exactly...when all else fails, blunt sarcasm works!!! Legolas is a regular psychologist, what can I say?

Freakizimi!! *pulls horse off of Freakizimi* Oops!! Sowwy!!! LOL! Thanks buddy! ]

WeasleyTwinsLover1112.....AAH! *flees frying pan* See?! I posteD@!!!

Nili! Good morning is for polite people?!! LMBO!!!!!

*growls* You would have killed my baby?!! *growls again, sounding eerily like a Balrog*

Alright...Silvan...not Sylvan....I get it!! LOL!

Thanks buddy!! DON'T YOU KILL CELYLITH!! *growls viciously*

Elwen-Star Maiden...yes, hurting my baby makes me happy in some sick, twisted way. I'm scary. I haven't gotten very far in Never Look Back, but I'm working on it. THANKS!!

CARRIE!!! I posted FINALLY!! SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG!!! I know I said I'd have it out sooner.....but....fine, there are no excuses. HERE IT IS NOW, THOUGH!! JUST FOR YOU!! LOL!!! I have two more weeks until my school starts, and now I'm hellbent on finishing this story before it starts!!!

Eomer: *sniffs distastefully* How dare you-

Mariana Nimeneth....yes, darn those bodyguards. LOL!

arwen-evenstar...indeed, poor thing. poor Estel!

Anarril...good point. Oh,and Eomer says his horse says hello. I don't understand horse speech, but Eomer says that his horse says "hail, and well met, Anarril of the fiction.." or something like that...lol

Bill the Pony...thanks!!

I HOPE I DIDN'T MISS ANYONE!! SORRY IF I DID!! HERE IS THE POST!!

DISCLAIMER: Don't own, don't sue. Don't get it? That's your problem, not mine. I've said my disclaimer, that doesn't mean ppl have to understand.

NOTE : This is the prequel to Piercing the Veil, Beneath the Surface, and Bridge of Remembrance.

You don't have to read those to understand this, obviously, because this is a prequel.....it happens before all of that.....so, I hope you enjoy!

ALSO, you guys know this........Estel is Aragorn. Just so you know.....but you already know, I"m guessing, but still, ya know...lol

OH, BTW.....my translations are off. Forgive me.



Ch. 8

Legolas watched his young companion from a short distance away, wondering what memories plagued him in such a way. It was evident that the Edan was grieving, but who he was mourning was the question.

But that was an answer that Legolas would have to gain with time and earning trust.

And it seemed that the world could never grant the unlucky pair that time. For in that moment, an Orc cry echoed in the near distance.

Legolas looked up, startled. His senses tingling with imminent danger, he warily stood. "Estel, I believe we have a problem....."

The Edan turned pain filled eyes on the elf as he was jerked from his reverie. He shot a questioning glance at the Prince.

"*Yrch [Orc],"Legolas hissed in disgust as the scent of the foul beasts neared even more.

At that, a fire suddenly lit in the human's eyes. Only slightly weakened by illness, no longer as pitifully ill as he had been when he had first met Legolas, his brain was flooded by images of his last real battle with the foul creatures of Mordor.

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

The Orcs flooded the clearing in which Halen and Estel were camped. Standing back to back with weapons drawn, the two friends glared at the foul beasts, hatred for the abominations in their every move.

The horrid creatures wasted no time. They sprang to action, intent on killing their prey.

But the two warriors were not going to give in without a fight. Working as a unit, Estel swung low behind him as Halen leapt into the air, the human's blade passing beneath him to chop the feet out from beneath an Orc.

Estel then spun away from his friend, locked in intent battle, slicing at the beasts without mercy. He dodged to his right side, stabbing upward as he fell to one knee.

As Estel did that, Halen charged a group of the creatures, whirling in a graceful, lethal dance with his twin Elven blades. The warrior ducked a particularly long slash from one of the Orc, but was not prepared for one of the beasts sneaking up behind him.......

Estel whirled upon hearing a short, pained grunt.

He turned just in time to meet Halen's gaze as his lifelong friend crumpled to the ground, mouth opened in a wordless scream of agony.

"NOOOOOOOO!"

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

Legolas was slightly taken aback as the young human suddenly drew his sword, brandishing the hilt with a gleam in his silver eyes.

But the Prince of Mirkwood did not have much time to contemplate the abrupt change in his companion. For in that moment, the foul beasts of Mordor entered the clearing.

With lightning quick reflexes, the Elven warrior let loose a volley of arrows into the oncoming horde. Just off to his left behind him, stood Aragorn, an odd bloodlust in his usually gentle gaze.

The Orcs ignored their comrades that fell beneath the lethal accuracy of the Prince's bow and charged towards their prey.

Giving a short battle cry, Estel rushed forward to meet them, hatred burning in his chest as a series of painful memories splashed across his mind's eye.

Halen's death......

Horrible grieving, fleeing Imladris....

Never wishing to care for another friend again....

Then, meeting Legolas, who *cared for his well-being........

In that moment, Estel vowed to himself that he would never lose another friend to the foul beasts of Mordor ever again.........Never again.

With renewed energy and intensity, Estel rid yet another Orc of his life.

Off to the side, Legolas was fighting his own battle. The catlike reflexes that came with lessons hard-learned were not failing the Prince. He spun, planting both daggers in the remaining Orc of the ones that had charged him.

But just when he thought all was over, a soft cry pierced his awareness.

Estel doubled over slightly as an Orc dagger embedded itself in his stomach. He gripped the Orc's wrist tightly, keeping it from completely entering his gut, but not before it had pierced flesh and skin, causing a considerably painful wound.

The young human looked over the Orc's shoulder to see Legolas turn, distracted. In that moment of distraction, the Elven Prince did not see an Orc coming up behind him.

*~*~*~*~*

He turned just in time to meet Halen's gaze as his lifelong friend crumpled to the ground, mouth opened in a wordless scream of agony.

*~*~*~*~*

Estel jerked the dagger from his own flesh, slashing it into the Orc with all his might. "NO!"

With a desperate cry, he slung the dagger at Legolas's attacker. "DUCK!"

Obeying instinctively, Legolas hit the dirt, feeling the wind of the dagger as it sailed over his head, embedding itself in an Orc's chest.

It took a moment for the shock of the battle to wear off as Legolas straightened, looking wildly about for any further threat. Once he had it established that there were no more Orcs, he turned a grateful smile towards his companion, "Thank you, mellonnin. I owe you."

Estel winced, staggering a step. "Nay, Legolas........we are even.....we are even." The young human then collapsed to one knee, head swimming.

Immediately, Legolas was at his side. "You are wounded,"he murmured, trying to pry the Edan's arm away from his stomach without success.

"That much is readily apparent,"grunted Estel, grimacing in pain as he straightened to allow Legolas to view his wound.

"Insolent human,"Legolas muttered, wincing inwardly as his gaze roamed the hole in his friend's abdomen. It was not horribly deep, but it was still considerably lethal. With hope, it had not pierced any major organs, but he could not be sure.

Slowly pulling Estel's arm around his neck in support of the young Edan, Legolas stood. "We need to get you back to the palace."

Estel smiled faintly, his gaze slightly cloudy with a thought that occurred to him. He would not make it back to the palace at the rate they would have to move. "If you say so, Legolas....if you say so."

With that, the two friends started off at a slow, halting pace.

* * * * * * * * *

Elrond, Lord of Imladris, rode swiftly upon his horse through the forest of Mirkwood. The tracks of a human could be seen in the dirt, as well as the almost imperceptible signs that an Elf had been there.

What human, other than Estel, would travel with an Elf ??

The tracks gave the three searching Elves renewed hope as they rode along. It was not long before they reached a clearing filled with dead Orcs. Blood covered the ground, black staining green........

But amidst the black, was red.

Smudges in the patterns of the dirt showed that a human had sank to one knee, but had been halfway drug off.

A hard, icy ball of dread solidified in the Elf Lord's stomach. Was Estel...........dead?

No.

He refused to believe it.

Elladan looked up, his eyes icing over as he kicked a stray corpse. "If they harmed Estel—"

"They will pay,"Elrohir finished.

"But by the looks of it, they already have,"Elrond pointed out, a dry humor masking the worry in his voice.

Both twins glared shortly for a moment before mounting their horses once again. "You know what we meant....."

The three pressed on, riding at a swift pace. It was not long before they reached the end of the tracks....

* * * * * * * * *

Legolas froze dead in his tracks as he heard the sound of hooves in the distance. He glanced from Estel's pale face to the road behind him, indecision in his gaze.

What to do? Should they hide? Or would it be best to wait it out and see who the newcomers were?

The decision was made for him as three figures burst into the clearing on horseback.

"ESTEL!"

Upon hearing his name, the young Edan looked up to see the Lord of Imladris, and his two sons, rushing towards him.

Relieved confusion swept through Legolas's awareness as he realized that the lord of Imladris knew his companion and was obviously on good terms with him.

"You're injured,"Elladan muttered, anger tightening his jaw.

Estel chuckled weakly, pain coloring his features. "Yes......everyone keeps pointing that out."

Elrond gave a soft laugh, giddy with the relief of finding his youngest son alive. Pulling him into a hug, he scooped him up into his arms, cradling him as if he were a child.

Estel gave a soft grunt of protest, which was quickly hushed.

"You are wounded, my dear son........and let a father greet his son like he wishes. It has been far too long,"Elrond murmured, moving to lay Estel off to the side where he could treat him.

Legolas leaned heavily on the twins for support, confusion and exhaustion bombarding him. "How.....what?"

"It is a long story, mellonnin. But we are grateful for your help with our brother,"Elrohir stated softly, his gaze never straying from where his brother laid.

"Your brother? Estel?"Legolas shook his head slowly.

"He is our adopted brother, Legolas. And we would have it no other way,"Elladan murmured.

Off to the side, Elrond had mixed a sleeping draught. "Drink this, my son......your wounds will be painful to cleanse."

Estel eyed the concoction with disgust, but accepted it nevertheless. Within moments, his eyelids were drooping.

The young human drifted off into merciful unconsciousness with the knowledge that he was indeed safe........

*************

*climbs atop Eomer's horse*

Eomer: ROHI-

Lina: WAIT! I have an announcement.

Eomer: That being....

Lina: I must announce that I am now adding two new love slaves to my captive crew.

Eomer: Who?

Lina: I now have Jack Sparrow and Will Turner from Pirates of the Caribbean in my room. They are now Lego's and Aragorn's roommates. Just so yall know.....lol. (i've seen PotC three times...ehehe...)

Eomer: Are you quite finished?

Lina: Yes. Just......REVIEW PLEASE!!

Eomer: ROHIRRIM! WE RIDE POINTLESSLY SOUTH!!

*flees angry reviewers*