Title: Pseudonym

Author: Lauren

Editor: Ed the Editor (whom really exists)

(for disclaimer and summary see chapter 1)

To my reviewers:

Sake Girl Duelist - I hope all my chapters meet up to you expectations.

Innocent_Immortal - I have something to say to you in this chapter and it is: Innocent? Yeah and I'm married to Elijah Wood.

~*Chapter 3: Surprises*~

Elenion stood slowly. "Now drop you bow," the deep voice instructed. The bow landed softly next to the deer. He felt the arrow pull away and his dagger was taken from his belt. "Turn around."

He apprehensively turned around to face three blond elves wearing clothes similar to his. They had large smiles on their faces and seemed as though they would start laughing out loud at any minute. One of the elves, standing apart from the others, bore a similar look to himself. He was twirling Elenion's dagger in his hand. Elenion let out an audible sigh, "Ed' i'ear ar' elenea! {By the sea and stars!} Endmacar!"

The two elves behind Endmacar could no longer contain their laughter and burst into a fit of mirth. "Ah little brother, you are too easy to sneak upon. You really do need to keep your wits about you if you are going to travel this far south. Did you know there are men in the area? You need to pay attention to everything around you." Endmacar's smile had quickly faded during his lecture.

"Mankoi naa lle sinome?" {Why are you here?} When his brother raised his eyebrows at him Elenion shrugged his shoulders and rolled his eyes, " I know the danger of being in this area. Besides, men are a lot louder than you are...most of the time anyway." Elenion ducked as Endmacar took a swing at his head. The two elves laughed even louder at the foolish antics of the two princes.

"Endmacar, it seems the young prince has got you there." Endmacar turned and glared at the elf, the elf's smile quickly faded. "Come now, let's help your little brother to get his fine catch home."

"Thank you, Celenion," Elenion nodded at the tall elf, "At least someone around here has the decency to help." The fading daylight and the sounds of the forest set the four friends on their way. They talked and laughed as they made their way back towards their home.

Elenion picked at the small patch on the shoulder of his tunic out of boredom. He looked upon the design as he had done so many times before. It was a golden circle. In the circle was a fancy black A outlined in green. It was the royal seal of the house of Anbrethil. It was put on all his clothing in one way or another. The only other elves that had this seal on all their clothing was his brother and father. It was to mark the royal family and no other elf could bear it on their clothing.

Endmacar turned when Elenion ceaseless jokes discontinued. He smiled at his brother's old habit. He dropped back, matched Elenion's pace, and softly swatted his brother's hand. "You know if you keep picking at that, it will eventually fall off and if father finds out you've ripped another one off, he'll be furious.

"He'll be angry anyway, that is once he finds out I traveled this far south, alone, again. Do you remember what he said last time?"

"The next time I catch you that far south by yourself, I'm going to assign you a guard to follow you everywhere and keep you out of trouble," Endmacar did a perfect impression of their father, causing Elenion to chuckle.

"Don't even think about telling father, he will probably decide you're not very responsible for letting me go this far south, and he will probably give you royal guards too," Elenion smirked at Endmacar.

"You know, I think you're right," he looked ahead at the two elves in front of him. They had stopped their conversation and were listening as the two princes talked. "However, I believe Celenion and Arendur may need to be persuaded into keeping their mouths shut."

Celenion and Arendur took one look at each other and sped down the path. The two brothers quickly followed after, the deer all but forgotten in their bliss. It didn't take long for the princes to catch up and tackle the two they were chasing. Their laughter spread throughout the clearing.

~**~

Schlaf watched the elves laughing and rolling about the ground. He quickly noted

their position and headed back to camp.

~**~

Rahane was still fuming over his argument with Duriel when Schlaf hastily slipped from the darkness of the trees, and into the light of the camp. He walked precariously over to Rahane to report what he had seen.

"You saw four elves, two bearing the royal seal of Anbrethil?"

"Yes, captain."

"Quickly tell everyone to break camp. Do not take any arguments from that elf. If they were to stumble upon our camp and see her, they wouldn't hesitate to attack." Rahane slipped off into the darkness as soon as he was that Schlaf was attending to his duties.

Rahane watched two elves busy themselves around their makeshift camp. Just as he was beginning to wonder if Schlaf had lied, two more elves walked into the camp. One was carrying a deer and the smaller of the two was carrying firewood. He watched as they started a fire and sat around it. From his vantage point, he could see only one wearing the royal seal. So it was true, a prince of Anbrethil in the middle of the wilderness with only three companions, one of which was supposedly the only other prince of Anbrethil.

He knew he had to do something to keep them from finding the camp. An elf amoung a group of men was not very common these days. He swiftly came up with a plan and moved off to put it into action.

~**~

Endmacar heard the whistling of the arrows before he saw them. His first instinct was to protect his brother. Pushing Elenion down on the ground, he grabbed his bow, and fired off several arrows in succession. He scanned the trees while issuing out various orders, "Celenion, you and Arendur go into the woodland and see if any of the attackers. are left. Elenion and I will break camp. It wouldn't be wise to stay her any longer."

"My prince, your brother...he was hit...an arrow...he...fell unconscious just a few moments ago." Endmacar whirled around to find his brother lying on the ground; Arendur was knelt next to him, checking the gash in his shoulder. He knelt down next to his brother as Celenion picked up a nearby arrow with a trace of blood on it.

Arendur looked up at him, "I don't understand, the arrow grazed his shoulder, nothing more. He shouldn't have fallen unconscious. Unless..."

"The arrow had some type of poison on it." Endmacar stared into the grey eyes of his closest friend before looking up at Celenion, who was inspecting the arrow. "I'm not quite sure what it is. I can't identify the smell."

Endmacar turned back to his brother and stared into his half-closed eyes. "We have to get him back now. We do not have the knowledge of the poison, nor do we have the materials to counter it." He allowed Arendur to bind Elenion's shoulder before he picked up his brother. He nodded at the two elves waiting his command. They raced off into the forest, opposite the way of the unknown man camp.

~**~

Rahane cursed the elf that had fired back. He looked down at his bleeding arm. His plan had worked; the elves were heading away from the man camp. He raced toward the clearing where the camp was stationed.

He stepped into the now empty clearing. There was hardly a trace anyone had ever been that. Rahane scanned the forest behind him to be sure he wasn't being followed, before heading back to Mt. Edan.

~**~

Duriel took one last look out into the setting sun before sliding into the dimly lit cave. The closeness of the cave walls made her head spin as she made her way quickly to the larger chambers further on. Instead of going into the main chamber she headed off into a side path toward her room. She didn't really want to be there when her father dealt out the punishment to Lawr.

As Duriel walked into her room she started at the sight of a tall, dark haired half-elf.

"Father! You surprised me." Vanwathulë smiled at the expression on his daughter's face.

"Yes, well I'm glad to see you too." It was Duriel's turn to smile. "I'd like to thank you for your help with Lawr."

"It was really no problem. Did you need something? I've been out all night and barley got any rest."

"I won't keep you for long." He walked over to his daughter and brushed a few stray hairs out her face. "I was thinking, you are just about old enough to go out on a task for me...without a company of men."

Duriel's eyes lit up at this suggestion. "Really?"

"Yes, but you'll need to do something for me first."

"Anything"

"Very well, follow me. Oh and bring your bow with you."


~**~

A/N: I think that's my longest chapter so far. So what do you all think? Cya next week.