STUPID STUPID STUPID MISTAKE I HATE RABBITS

Thanx for pointing it out!!!

Et voila, the corrected version of chapter two…

Disclaimer: I don't owe anything

Preface: This is just a short story about Estel, I expect my readers to have some background information. If you don't understand the story, please feel free to mail me. But don't bother asking me questions like 'Who is Estel?'; my only answer would be: go read the books!!! (Yes, that includes the appendices)

This is also my chance to tell everybody to read the Mellon Chronicles written by Cassia & Sio. Another author worth checking out is Emmithar, 'Family is Home' and 'A Simple Hunting Trip' are really good.

My friend puck also writes good stuff (though it isn't LOTR) and if you'd read and reviewed her stories I'd really appreciate it.

So what are you waiting for? Go read those stories (after you read & reviewed mine that is ;)

Emmithar – Thank you very much for your review, I wanted to send you an e-mail back but couldn't find your address anywhere. I wanted to thank you for writing your LOTR-stories (I'm addicted to your simple hunting trip). I recently also checked out your 'fantasy' story A Fateful Journey, my reaction: I WANT MORE!!! It's really good, I can't wait to find out who those men are who kidnapped Annaa and Kalace!

Read ya around!

Chapter two

While Estel was sleeping soundly, the residents of Rivendell slowly awoke. Elladan was one of the first to emerge from his room. Unknowingly he followed his adopted brother's steps and his first stop was the kitchen. By now the Elves had erased every trace of the party and their spirits had raised considerably. Elladan received a full plate and after a short talk with one of the Elves he went to the dining room. Just as he was about to sit down, he saw his father enter.

'Good morning, Ada,' he greeted.

'Good morning,' Elrond responded. 'I believe Elrohir has not left his room yet?' he asked raising an eyebrow questioningly.

Elladan laughed. 'Considering the amount of whine my dear brother has taken, I don't expect him to wake up for another couple of hours.'

Elrond chuckled, for he too remembered a rather cheerful Elrohir bidding him a good night at three in the morning.

For a while the two Elves ate in silence, both lost in thoughts.

'Ada?' Elladan asked his father after finishing his breakfast. "What do we do about the orcs near the border of Imladris? They're becoming bolder every day and I fear they will venture an attack soon.'

'I agree,' Elrond said, his eyes turning grave. 'They must be stopped soon. We will send a hunting party the day after tomorrow. Please see to the preparations, Elladan.'

'Yes father,' Elladan nodded and picking up his empty plate, he left.

Elrond remained in the dining room, contemplating about how much the world had changed in the past few decades.

'Lord Elrond,' a clear voice interrupted Elrond's meditations. 'Have you seen our young Edain? I am supposed to teach him Quenya, but he is nowhere to be found. I had Manhith and Romenthalion checking out all Estel's favourite places, but they were unsuccessful in their search for him.' Glorfindel stood in front of his Lord, eyes cast to the floor.

Elrond looked up in alarm. 'Estel is missing?' he asked.

'I am afraid so,' Glorfindel answered, finally finding the courage to face the look in the eyes of the Lord of Rivendell. Yet, Elrond was not angry with him and Glorfindel only saw his own concern for the boy reflected in Elrond's golden eyes.

Elrond was about to leave the dining room as Gandalf entered. 'Good morning,' the wizard greeted, but after seeing the look on Elrond's face, he immediately strode to the Elf's side. 'What happened, my friend? Tell me what troubles you this morning,' the Istari asked firmly but gently.

'We do not know where Estel is,' Elrond unconsciously brushed away the friendly arm the wizard had put on the Elf's shoulder. 'We have to find him. Glorfindel, please send someone to fetch my sons and then join us in my study.'

After Glorfindel had left, Elrond turned around and met Gandalf's slightly worried gaze. He wanted to say something, but stopped abruptly and strode briskly out of the dining room. Gandalf shook his head and followed Elrond to the study.

'Ada?' Elrohir simply asked, when he and Elladan arrived in the study. He saw Glorfindel and though the Elf sat in a comfortable chair he looked nervous. However, when he looked on the balcony, hoping to find his father, he saw Gandalf. 'Mithrandir? I thought you had planned to leave this morning?' Though Elrohir loved the old wizard, he knew Gandalf was never one to mess up his plans and something had to be seriously wrong to change the wizard's plans.

'I did, but something has happened and I feel my presence is more required here,' Gandalf said.

Before Elrohir could ask the wizard what he meant by his enigmatic remark, Elrond entered the room. The Elven Lord eyed weary, yet he wore a determined look.

'Estel is missing,' he said. 'He was last seen by Findor in the kitchens this morning, but we have no clues of his wanderings afterwards. Imladris has already been searched and it can be ruled out he is in Imladris.'

The twins looked at each other. 'Have you searched the training ground near the Eastern Falls?' Elladan asked. 'We use it to train Estel's archery. He loves to practice and I'm sure he knows how to get there, though he never actually went there alone.'

Elrond gave Glorfindel an inquiring glance.

Glrofindel shook his head, silently chastising himself for having overlooked the obvious place where the human would be.

'We leave in fifteen minutes,' was all Elrond said and he was the first to leave the meeting. The others followed swift and soon the study was empty.

Fifteen minutes later the searching party was ready and the four Elves and Gandalf took off in eastern direction.

'My poor son, where are you? Please be all right.' Elrond hoped he wouldn't need the medical herbs he had brought with him. 'Where are you, my Estel?'

'We should have warned the residents of Imladris for those orcs! But we, foolish as we were, didn't want to spread needless panic.' Glorfindel thought. 'And now the Heir to the throne of Gondor might run into one of their bands.'

'It is all my fault. How could I let this happen?' Elladan wondered. 'Why did I pretend I was asleep when he peeked into my room this morning? If I hadn't been so selfish none of this would have happened…'

'What is wrong, Elladan?' Elrohir asked his twin brother. Most people wouldn't be able to see something was wrong with his brother, but Elrohir recognized the mask Elladan wore; his brother was hiding his emotions behind the seemingly composed face.

When Elladan didn't respond, Elrohir stopped his brother. 'Elladan, tell me what is wrong… Or do I have to beat it out of you?' he added with a wink.

'You wouldn't stand a chance,' Elladan laughed, but the joy didn't reach his eyes. As the twins slowly started walking again, he continued: 'It's just that I'm concerned about Estel,' he paused for a moment. 'I can't help to feel guilty.'

'What makes you think you are responsible for what happened? You didn't know Estel went to the training ground?' Elrohir replied, confused by Elladan's answer.

'That's the point! I knew! Or at least I should have guessed. I was awake this morning, when he checked my room. I knew it was Estel, I recognized his footfall. But I,' Elladan hesitated. 'I was being selfish and pretended to be asleep. I was still a bit sleepy and didn't feel like playing with him.' He cast his eyes downwards. 'It's my fault Estel is missing, if only I had went with him to the training ground; I could have rested there. So little trouble, and all this would never have happened.'

'But you couldn't foresee what would happen,' Elrohir told the elder twin. 'You didn't know Estel would go to the training ground. And you certainly couldn't know he would get lost.'

Elladan said nothing, not convinced by the words of his brother.

'Elladan, look at me,' Elrohir demanded. 'Look at me. You can't blame yourself for this. It isn't your fault.'

'It is not?' Elladan asked, his voice betraying his uncertainty.

'No, you couldn't possibly know what would happen.'

Elladan was quiet for a while, thinking about what Elrohir had said. 'I guess you are right,' he finally agreed.

Elrohir only smiled in response as the twins picked up their pace to catch up with the others.

Once they arrived at the training ground it was clear Estel was not there. The twins searched the ground and it didn't take long before Elrohir called the others. 'Estel has definitely been here this morning,' he said pointing to the tracks which indicated Estel's earlier presence.

They all followed the lead to the bushes. 'My guess is that Estel saw a small animal, probably a rabbit,' Elladan began. 'He then tried to shoot it using his bow,' he continued, picking up an abandoned arrow. 'When he missed his target, he took off after it.'

'He was frustrated,' Elrohir added, studying the marks the human had left. 'His footfall is heavier as if he didn't take heed when he chased his prey.'

The searching party followed the tracks. Elladan and Elrohir were leading the way, closely followed by their father. Glorfindel and Gandalf brought up the rear.

As the searching continued the time went by swiftly and the weather changed. Soon, the air was damp of the upcoming storm. It was not long before the first drops of rain began to fall. Still, the now soaked travellers continued their search for Estel, but it was becoming more difficult with each drop that fell, for the rain washed away Estel's trail.

But as the storm increased in intensity it was foolishness to keep up their search, they would probably not be able to see Estel had he been right in front of their nose because of the heavy rainfall.

'We have to go back!' Elrohir shouted, trying to make himself audible over the howling wind.

'No!' shouted Elrond. 'We have to find him!'

'Now, my Lord, be reasonable,' Glorfindel tried to calm the desperate Lord of Rivendell. 'We will not help matters if one of us receives injury. We have to go back, gather our strength and return to continue to search for Estel as soon as this raving storm has calmed down a bit.'

'No! We can't leave him!' Elrond pleaded, though he knew it was unwise to continue the search.

'Elrond, listen to me!' Gandalf forced the Elven Lord to look in the old wizard's eyes. 'What if either Elladan or Elrohir gets hurt? What will you do then?'

Elrond was the first to withdraw his gaze. 'You are right, as usual, my friend. Let us go back to Imladris.'

Thus the desperate company headed back to Rivendell, their spirits low. What does one do when Hope is lost?

TBC

========

Please R & R