Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any recognizable characters and/or places thereof.

Author's Note: I know that I keep posting short chapters. Bear with me, I am writing them before school every day.

Lady Laughing Owl: I think I actually had heard the song before, but making you sing it at the museum was far better than listening to it on tape. I still laugh about that.

Grumpy: Um. . .because I did not think of that. Just kidding. The sewer system ends at an underground lake--I learned about those in bio-science a few years ago and was fascinated--so by following the sewers, they would only come out in a lake full of sewage with no exit.

*****

They had started a small fire, dragged logs close around it, and caught a brace of rabbits which none were sorry to see turned to stew. Most of this was done by Estel, who did not grudge the labor, for he knew that, of the six, he was in the best physical condition and was the most rested. Elemmiire and Lysander did not stray from the fire, but chose seats beside each other and sipped stew in silence. It seemed they were most comfortable around each other, and were rather wary. The twins had a grateful air to them, and Legolas seemed in the same position as Estel: watching, and waiting. "You would be well to rest," Legolas advised. Elemmiire and Lysander looked to him and nodded, and did as he suggested. They kept themselves curled up on the ground, but their breathing grew deep and their muscles relaxed. "It would not hurt you two, either," he added with a nod in the twins' general direction.

"You will keep watch?" Elrohir asked, to which Legolas replied that he would, and so Elrohir, also committed himself to sleep. It was growing darker by now, the sun setting and the shadows lengthening. A few birds in the trees sang their fare-thee-wells to the daytime and to the light. Nocturnal creatures would soon awaken, but now was the time when the diurnal animals took to their dens, nests, or holes. Elves, in general, were diurnal, but two sat up, staring at each other across a campfire.

"I think someone should go and check that we have a secure perimeter," Legolas said to Elladan.

"I will--" said Estel, getting to his feet, but Legolas stayed him with a hand to the boy's arm.

"You stay here with Elladan; I will check the perimeter."

Estel sighed, but he nodded. Once again, he was just an edan boy, useless and childish. That wasn't how he saw himself, and, he swore, it never would be, but it was the way the others treated him. Without a sound Legolas disappeared into the trees, and Estel knew it was best the Elf had gone, for no Man could walk upon such silent feet. Elladan shifted across the fire to sit next to his little brother. "You are all right, Estel?" he asked in an amiable tone, but with not-so-well hidden undertones of worry.

"I am fine, Elladan. And you? What--what happened to you--in there?" he motioned back towards the city. "Of course, if you wish not to talk about it, I will not press the matter."

"They thought Elrohir and I knew something that we did not know," was all Elladan would say. "You fared well in our absence, did you not, little brother? You led our people to the city to rescue us and negotiate with the Men there, you sprung us free from that prison and led us back out again. And just earlier, on the fields, you did show a great maturity and care for others."

"Oh, yes?" asked Estel sarcastically. "I endangered the one person in that city I even began to care about, and I endangered you, also! Supposing I had been caught in those cells, or on the way out? I had no plan of action, I allowed my emotions to control me and did not even think! I put every person I have ever loved in extreme danger. Elladan, I relinquish any leadership I may have; you take it."

"Estel. . ." Elladan said gently, not sure of what came next. Estel was staring into the fire, blinking back tears. He had success and did not cry, but the look on his face cried for him. "You did what you had to, to help those you care about. They were in danger already, and any action would have increased this danger. But under your leadership they made it to safety. Look at the way you ran last out of the city. That took courage, Estel."

"Thanks, Elladan," Estel said after a decently long time. "Although there is one thing, it has been bothering me since the city. . ."

"What is it?"

"How did you know where that weapons cache was?" Estel asked, looking at his brother. The turmoil on Elladan's face, and his uncertain silence, answered more than one question for the edan boy. "It is all right, Elladan. Every one does dumb things when they are young. Doubtless, you might have owned up to your actions, but. . .it must have been killing you to keep quiet all this time, never tell Ada or even Elrohir--does Elrohir know?"

"No, Elrohir does not know. Estel, you now know a deep secret of mine. . .and I ask that you keep it quiet."

"Of course I will, Elladan."

"Have you given any thought to a plan of action?"

"Yes. I a yet to formulate a full plan, but I--"

At that moment Legolas returned at a run. "I am sorry to interrupted. I scouted as large a perimeter as I could, and I saw something that may be of interest to us. Unless incorrectly have I read the signs, the Elves of the second city are planning a night attack on the city of Men."

*****

To be continued