Yo. How are you all? Sorry to do not post this chapter sooner. Lily and I were busy with our real lives. That always happens, you know.

Thanks Lily Baggins and Mabienl who do me a big favor by beta-read this chapter.

Thanks all the readers who follow this story so far both who reviewed and didn't reviewed

And Thanks to

Gia : I wondering what was your idea.

HaloGatomon : ^///^ those are my fav as well. Sorry to hang this story up for long.

NekoNinja : Thanks for your replying. Who would know that the story that started between one of my hardest time will be the one that many people like?

Cele or Celest : Thanks for reading it. I love to know that people like my story because I would feel bad to know that no one likes this story. ^_^

Erin bla bla (frodo fan) : OK. You have it. My computer is stupid sometimes too. T-T

Elvin Flame : I need your help to get rid of the orcs too! Help!!!

woodelf193 : Sorry to take this chapter too long. Well, I must say grammar is my weak point because it seems I always forget the rules. lol

Disclaimer : See at chapter 1

*...* for thought.

'...' for some saying but not out loud or the sentence in the past.

Chapter 11

Elrohir sneaked back to their encampment silently. The others were still sleeping like he had left them. He went straight to his brother and shook his shoulder. After only a second, Elladan's blank eyes turned to focus on him. Elrohir put his hand on his twin's mouth, preventing him from saying anything out loud.

"Orcs," he whispered and pulled his hand off.

Elladan nodded. He stood up quickly, went to the fire and kicked the wood out before stomping on any sticks that still burned. Soon the fire died out and everything went dark.

Meanwhile, Elrohir woke Legolas and Frodo.

Legolas blinked his eyes softly, trying to get used to the dark surrounding him until his eyes caught on Elrohir. He didn't ask him at all for he could foretell something wicked must happen. Firstly, Elrohir wouldn't wake him up unnecessarily. Secondly, the tension on his face confirmed his prediction. Thirdly, he smelled the foulness in the air which only orcs possessed.

"Orcs?" Legolas asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Yes. Let's hurry. It's about a hundred miles from my surmise,"
Elrohir said.

Legolas nodded and disentangled himself from the hobbit. Fortunately, Frodo was lying on his side with his back to him; only his hand was caught by the boy. He gently pried his hand out and went to his bags, putting on his quiver, arrows, bow, and his sword and discussing with the twins at the same time.

"What are we going to do?" Elladan asked. Though he wasn't afraid of the orcs at all, he had to consider Frodo's safety first.

"Run. We can't risk getting Frodo in any battle. He's too young and too innocent for such a fight with blood and corpses. If he saw it, it would frighten him, scare him and certainly, affect his life somehow," Elrohir said.

The others agreed. Children absorbed the things that surrounded them. Just hurt, brutality, horror and all unhappy things were enough to craft and wound their minds deeply. And when it occurred, it was very hard to cure and might not be able to be cured at all.

Legolas went back to wake his younger friend from their bedroll, which was not easy if you knew children well. They cared not how serious the situation was. The only things they wanted and needed were food and sleep, especially at night. Frodo therefore, didn't cooperate with Legolas at all. The elf had to shake his shoulders and slap his face lightly to get his blue eyes opened.

"Mmm…" the boy murmured sleepily, wondering why the elf had disturbed his rest in the middle of night. He gave the elf a big yawn and rubbed his eyes before glaring at his bigger friend indignantly.

Legolas cared not at Frodo's anger. He thought only of getting the boy to a safe place now.

"Listen to me, Frodo. The orcs are going in this direction. We must get out of here now," he said, feeling bad about telling the boy the truth that would scare him. However, it was better than a lie and gave the boy reason. Besides, his keen sense told him that they couldn't escape without a big fight. Therefore, Frodo should have some time to prepare himself for what he might see.

The little figure in his arms tensed; the small shoulders shuddered with fear and pressed closer to Legolas as if asking his protection. Legolas hugged the boy tighter and whispered some soothing words.

"Don't be afraid. I won't let anyone harm you, I promise."

Frodo said nothing, only wrapped his arms around the elf's shoulder with trust.

Legolas carried the boy to the horse. The elf was going to lift the hobbit onto the steed's back when an arrow shot toward them.

With his elven skill, Legolas dodged the arrow in time. However, his horse wasn't as lucky. The arrow pierced his rump. The poor horse cried out with startle but didn't run away.

The elves realized they couldn't escape easily. Each slapped their horse.

"Get back to Rivendell!"

* * *

Elrond Peredhel was sitting on a stone bench in the garden, staring at his father's star, Earendil, when Glorfindel rushed toward him in a rather ungraceful manner.

"My Lord. I have a serious tidings to inform you," the elf lord paused briefly. "The horses are back and they have many wounds on them."

Elrond gasped. He stood up and walked back to the house, inquiring of his friend on the way. "How are my sons and the others?"

"They didn't come back with the steeds." Glorfindel knew that his Lord must understand what might have happened. He also worried about them so much though his anxiety couldn't compare to Elrond's. He watched the half-elven's expression. It was paler than the moon.

"Erestor is setting a trap while we are talking."

Elrond gazed at his friend gratefully, doubting where he would be without this elf. Glorfindel always knew his duty---how to do and when he should do it. His responsibility as the Lord of Rivendell would be harder if the blond-haired elf wasn't there.

"Well done, Glorfindel. Do Bilbo and Gandalf know?" He didn't want them to know yet. For Gandalf, he didn't mind if the old wizard heard of this bad news because the man had passed adventures enough to compose himself in such a situation. However, Bilbo was different. He was afraid the old hobbit would insist on going with them. Elrond understood Bilbo but the last thing they wanted was to be tardy. The hobbit couldn't be as swift as his force. Thus the elf Lord was relieved to hear the answer.

"No. There's no need to disturb their rest. I shall come back in the morning with your sons and our guests."

The Peredhel stopped his feet and stared at the blond-haired elf. *How can he think I wouldn't go out to save my sons? I know it's his duty to protect me but he should have known better that I can't stay here while the twins are in danger.*

"You aren't going alone. Give me ten minutes to arm and I will see you at the gate. Erestor will organize here during my absence," Elrond said and hurried to his own chamber.

Elrond pushed the door open; he didn't care to close it a bit. He changed his formal robe to a tunic he snatched from his wardrobe. His armories were grasped from its shelf in a hurry. The elf would have run out of his chamber if his healer sense hadn't stopped him. He walked back to the hearth. On the mantelpiece was a wooden box that contained dried herbs and medical kits that might be needed. He picked the item up and rushed out the door.

*Please Illuvatar save them. Don't let them be like Celebrian.*

* * *

Legolas left the twins behind and ran into the forest. All the time, Frodo clung to his neck tightly with fear. *I have to find a shelter for Frodo first,* Legolas thought as he fought the orcs who came into his way with his long knife. He ran farther a bit after he shook the orcs off his tail. A very big and tall tree was in front of him. *This will serve my purpose well.* He climbed it immediately, up and up until he found one spot where two branches joined out of the tree. Frodo could sit on them comfortably enough and wouldn't fall out of the tree either.

Legolas sat on a branch and pried Frodo's tiny arms out from around his neck but the hobbit didn't allow it. His little figure shuddered with silent weeping as he buried his head in the elf's chest, asking for his protection.

Legolas stroked Frodo's back a bit and tried again with more force. This time, the hobbit's arms unleashed from his neck and the elf saw that the hobbit still had hold of his stuffed dog.

"Frodo."

The hobbit looked at him, tear stains running down his soft cheeks though no sounds could be heard. Legolas' heart melted at the scene in front of him. Frodo looked so frightened. However, he had to go. The twins were waiting him.

"Frodo, I have to leave you here because I must return to help the twins. I promise, I will come back to get you as soon as I can."

Frodo's face went paler. He nodded as a sign of understanding and hugged the dog more tightly to his chest.

Legolas kissed his forehead tenderly and climbed down the tree, leaving the child with the stuffed animal alone in the middle of night, forest and enemy.

* * *

A tall man in a dark cloak stopped when his ears caught a strange sound from the distance. He was on the way to Imladris where he could rest his tired soul for some time before he went on his way to the north to meet his friends. With curiosity and caution, he pulled his blade from its sheath and walked to the source of the sound carefully. The nearer he went, the more certain he was that it was a fight in this forest.

His dark eyebrows frowned. This land was deserted. No one dwelt here, only the wild animals and some stray orcs. His eyes flared as he walked closer to the voice. The orcs were there, encircling three elves in the ring. It was obvious that the elves were great warriors because they fought the orcs bravely, sending those foul creatures to their dooms, one by one, around their feet.

The moon shyly came out from behind the clouds and shone light on the battlefield. The man's heart beat faster when he saw the elves were the sons of Elrond and the Prince of Mirkwood.

He beheaded the orcs nearby and went to parry with the elves immediately.

* * *

Meanwhile, Elladan had slain the orcs, but he couldn't help thinking why and how they had come there. It was very clear that this was an orc army, not stray orcs as they should be. He and his brother had traveled this land many times and never once had seen the evil creatures come out from their cave in such numbers. It was so strange.

Then someone came to join them killing the orcs. Elladan gaped a little when his eyes settled on the stranger.

"Estel, I didn't expect to see you here," Elladan said as he killed the orcs on his right.

"Yes. Tell me, how are you here?" Elrohir joined the chatting but didn't stop his task at hand for a minute.

Both twins were relieved to have their brother there. Aragorn was a great warrior, as they were. He had passed many battles as well as them and might have been one of the best healers too, though he was still far below their father, Lord Elrond.

"I was on the way from Rohan to Rivendell when I found you trapped here. As usual, you find the most unwanted company," Aragorn said.

"Say as you want. But note in your mind that Arwen will pay you back for insulting her beloved brothers," Elladan retorted back, chuckling at his imagination what things his dearest sister would say to punish her fianc?é.

Aragorn only snickered with that threat. He looked at the elf prince, who said nothing and seemed as if his mind was on another subject instead of slaying orcs.

* * *

Frodo held the dog to his chest. He didn't know how long Legolas had left him in the tree that was so kind to him. It tried to comfort him. But only a little could it help for he was so afraid. What if Legolas didn't come back? What if he got hurt? What if he died like his parents? What if…? Those thought made the hobbit shudder more. New tears gathered behind his long eyelashes. He cuddled closer to the tree and listened to its soothing sound silently.

Suddenly the tree stopped its mumbled song. Frodo, stunned with the sudden change, didn't dare to breathe out.

/Child, a strange creature is climbing on me. You must go now./ the tree whispered.

Frodo's heart fell onto his feet. He trembled with fear.

"But how?" he asked, not knowing what to do in this situation. He had never climbed such a tall tree--nothing like this big one. Moreover, everyone knew that if you wanted to get down a tree, you must climb down. How could he escape when the only way to run was blocked by someone who wasn't his friend?

/Climb on my branch to another tree./ the tree said.

*What?* He screamed in his head and looked at the branch that was his only way to flee. The end of the said branch was touching another tree's limb. But it was so thin that the hobbit was afraid he would fall to the ground if he tried to creep along it.

"But…"

/No but, you must go. Whatever that thing is, it isn't a good one. Hurry!/

Frodo hesitated briefly. He gazed down at the trunk and saw a pair of yellow eyes staring back. The strange creature was climbing up so fast that it was only a few feet below him now.

The hobbit threw the dog in his hand down, aiming at its head, but it dodged the stuffed animal. The yellow eyes narrowed and glared back at Frodo with more malice.

"Preciouuuuusssss. We arree commiiingg."

Although Frodo was only a child, he could tell that it was evil. He shuddered and started to crawl on the thin branch. He went slowly, swaying a little up and down every time he put his weight on it. He tried hard not to look below and forced himself to go on. His hand almost touched another tree's branch when something caught his ankle and pulled him back.

Frodo turned his head to look at the yellow-eyed thing. He saw its sharp teeth, glinting in the pale moonlight.

"LEGOLAS!" Frodo screamed before a filthy and stinky hand covered his mouth.


To be Continued...