Okay, so I'll be posting about once a week, maybe sooner, but I have an incredibly busy schedule coming up to where I'm going to busy about every night for the next month or so, therefore I cannot promise much about writing.

Also note, to all those wanting to see (or rather read) Estel and Elrond's little talk, it is in this story, at the end. So do not fear, I have not forgotten about it.

I know a few of you really love abbreviating, and I don't mind, but when ever other word is abbreviated, it gets a bit hard to follow what you are saying. I'm not the brightest person in Middle Earth, so please don't use to many of them, otherwise I'll just ignore you. Not trying to be insulting, I just don't want to decode a handful of reviews every time I post.

And, lastly (I promise) before moving onto R2R. Because I do not respond to you does not mean I am ignoring you. Mind you that if you leave a review something along the lines "It was great, please continue" or "I can't wait for more" I cannot really respond in any way to those statements. My reviews go to those who ask questions, or leave certain comments. I do appreciate each and every review quite a bit. The more reviews I get, the quicker I write, and the more I write as well.

So, now that that is over, onto the R2R…

Elladan-

That's great, I'm glad you were able to find it. I hope it helps. Sorry for not reviewing last chapter, it was great, I loved. I just haven't had much time for reviewing lately, I've been so busy.

Carrie-

Ah…so a newfound nickname for the young adan I see. Though I doubt he enjoys it. AYA! Hehe, well Estel will make it out alive, that is all I can say, no spoilers. And of course they have to get into some kind of trouble, what is a story without a conflict? And besides, I love picking on Estel just to irk you, you do know that, right?

Maniac? I think not, at least not tonight, you were only one person this time, so I don't think you are insane, at least not yet.

Web page, YAY! My friend and I are slowly constructing it, it's hard because we don't get together very often, due to our busy schedules. And with next month coming, I have Marching practice three nights a week, plus job shadow, testing and more. Sounds like fun huh? That's not even counting home chores and all. But our site will consist of stories, pictures, a bit of history stuff and a few other odds and ends.

LOL, Carrie, you have freaked me out long ago, it is way to late now. But I don't mind. I'll here from you later, chapter 4 will be done…whenever I finish, how does that sound?


Lock Owl-

Poor Estel, yes he always seems to be in trouble, doesn't he? And your question is answered above in the A/N, a lot of people want to hear the little conversation Elrond and Aragorn will have when the adan returns.

ThE iNsAnE oNe -

Whoa there, settle down. Yes I posted, but there is no need to give yourself a heart attack for it.

Hey, the TBC could have been The End. Now what one would you rather prefer? If you hunt me down then I cannot finish the story, neither could Carrie and I finish our next stories and get them posted. I love that truthful fact, it's sort of an…author's insurance to say at least.

Chapter 2: Lost Among the Woods

Pale light shone on his face, he could hear the hooves of a thousand strong stallions racing along the broken ground, only to realize a moment later that it was only the throbbing of his temples, pounding with malice aforethought. His breathing, so languid that it would be unheard by even Elven ears, reverberated deafeningly in his ears.

His eyes, closed since the fall, doubted that they had strength enough to open. They felt as if gravity itself was tearing the lids down far enough that they would be forever stretched out of shape. His mind drifted aimlessly, wandering over memories, both favorable and hurtful.

After some time, the darkness faded somewhat, leaving the mind open, and free to explore. Pebbles cut into his cheek, leaving trails of blood that traveled a short distance along his skin before falling into the growing puddle of crimson liquid beneath him. A gentle wind blew across the back of his waterlogged tunic, the fabric torn here and there where the rocks below had torn their icy claws into him.

Time seemed to come and go, night faded into day, before fading back into night. How long he lay there, he did not know, but finally he willed his aching body to move.

He opened his eyes slowly, it seemed to take every ounce of strength to complete the small task. The river still pulled at his feet, threatening mildly to drag him away. How far the river had carried him he knew naught, he knew only that it must had been some ways. His surroundings were unfamiliar. //Great// he thought wryly. I'm lost, again

With difficulty, he was able to push himself up into a sitting position. He almost fell, swaying as a tree in the wind. He fell once, and would have fallen again if he hadn't locked his elbows. How much did he want to collapse and drift into an aimless sleep, but he feared that if he did, he may never wake again.

Once sitting, Aragorn pushed the wet strands of hair from his eyes, so he could get a better look at his surroundings. The sky held a pinkish tint, as the sun slowly slid from view, and he shivered as a gust of wind blew by him. Every muscle throbbed, pain coursed through him, dull but quite there. He could remember every detail, it was all so clear…

~~~~~

The log had rolled beneath his feet as it slid towards the ground below. In a last effort, he had tried to reach the other side in a fierce jump, but he knew beforehand that it was too far. He was shocked to find himself falling, although it did not really surprise him.

He had hit the water harshly, slamming into the ground with such force that it stole the breath from his lungs. The river was shallow, barely above the knees of a full grown man, but the current was strong, dragging him easily. He fought his way to the surface, his lungs crying out for immediate air.

He broke through the surface, realizing for the first time how truly cold the water was. His starved lungs drew in desperate gasps before plunging back under water. He could still feel the sharp bite of the rocks as his head was thrown against the jagged surface. Then he remembered no more as darkness claimed him.

~~~~~

He was shivering, trembling now. He needed to find shelter, or the others. He knew they would be searching, but he couldn't stay out here. His body wanted to collapse, to give in to the much wanted sleep. The wind kept biting into his skin.

Dragging himself to his feet, Aragorn waited as a wave of dizziness washed over him. With unstable, crooked steps he made his way slowly into the forest that rose before him, shivering as darkness began to fall over the land.

*~*~*~

Legolas made his way over a fallen log, stepping carefully over the plants that grew beside it. Kneeling down he ran his hand over the hard ground, wishing it had been softer. Hard soil did not show prints easily.

He had followed along the river's edge, ever watchful of the river itself, searching the depths for any sign of the young human, hoping all the time that he would not find any. The river was low, the bed showing much more than he had ever remembered in past times. He wasn't sure, but he thought he remembered one of the soldiers at Askverba mention something about low rainfall this year.

It would make sense, he supposed, to why the river indeed was low, and why the ground was dry. He hadn't thought much about it until now. Pushing the thoughts from his mind he turned and glanced behind him, hoping to see the twins. But the horizon lay empty. Closing his eyes for a moment, he prayed that they were safe

As he searched the ground, he rubbed his leg, the pain still evident, but it had dimmed somewhat. How far down he had traveled was unknown to him, but he came across an area of the rocky shore where the rocks had been disturbed by more than the river's pull.

A faint redness stained some of the rocks, as Legolas' narrowed his eyes he could see that it was indeed blood. Aragorn had gotten out of the river, now the only one question remained, where he had gone?

Legolas had been able to follow the trail easily at first. He could tell the ranger was hurt, the ground near the shore was sand and left traces of his muddled movements. But the farther into the forest he went, the harder it became to track him. The ground no longer held footprints, no rocks could be upturned, and no blood could be found.

With a sigh Legolas stood again, ignoring the pain that throbbed in his leg. He turned his attention instead to the forest around him, listening intently with his keen ears for any sounds that may not be related to the woods around him.

He could hear the chattering of chipmunks and squirrels as they raced up the trees, the flutter of wings as birds flew from tree to tree, the chirps of the crickets, who were slowly coming out as night fell. But none that would be made by a human.

Shaking his head he kept on moving, making his way deeper into the forest, pausing to call out Aragorn's name, and then listening for a response. But only silence answered him. He watched the sky as the last rays of the sun disappeared from sight. He knew he had to find Aragorn soon. The night air could bring the young, wet human to his death.

*~*~*~*~

"Sleep Estel, tomorrow comes early," Elrond said quietly.

He held his foster son in his arms, rubbing his back in soothing circles. The young human boy was new to their house hold, his parents slain in battle. His father was Arathorn, Chieftain of the Dúnedain, and Elrond held in his arms his only son, Aragorn, heir of Isildur. It seemed ironic that the child now hid in his arms.

But the child was only the age of two. It had been almost a month since he had arrived here, but the young adan still had nightmares.

"Scared," the soft word was muttered from the boy's lips, muffled even more by the Elf lord's sleeping tunic.

"I know you are, but I'm here, nothing will happen. I promise," Elrond told the child. He could hardly imagine what invaded the boy's dream, hearing the cries of his kin as they were slaughtered by Orcs. He walked back across his room, looking out the window. Night was still fresh, and it seem unlikely he would get a good night's rest. The young adan was reluctant to go back to sleep so easily. His tiny fingers dug into the sleeping robe, as if afraid he would be torn away any minute.

"Please Estel, try to sleep," Elrond cooed softly, as if talking to a newborn foal. He began to sing softly in Elvish, and even though his youngest son could not yet understand the Elvish tongue, he relaxed to the sound of his voice, his eyes sliding close ever so slightly.

"Strider?"

Aragorn woke from the dream slowly, not even realizing that he was indeed awake, no longer in the world of dreams. A soft groan left his lips as he opened his eyes, heavy from both fatigue and pain. He shivered uncontrollably, but he felt as if he was on fire at the same time. How this was possible, he wasn't certain, but at that point he was too worn to think straight.

He had found what he thought to be a secure place behind a few large ferns, leaning against the large tree the plants grew in front of. He had drifted off into sleep almost immediately after he had hid, too weary to remain awake for long.

The sun had slipped from the sky, leaving him alone in the darkness. Carefully he shifted, leaning his head back against the tree, closing his eyes once more. He was certain someone had called his name, but the forest was quiet. It had to be his imagination.

*~*~*~*~

Legolas called out Aragorn's name once again, as he reached a deeper part of the forest. He had seen no signs that the human had left behind for a while now. With a sigh he dug the toe of his light fitting shoe into the hard ground.

He was about to call out again when the slightest noise attracted his attention. A soft groan, barely detectable, coming from the bushes not too far away. Something, or someone, was hiding behind the leafy plants. He dropped to a crouch, praying that it was who he thought it was.

Pulling away the thick leaves of one of the ferns, he let out a sigh of relief as he spotted Aragorn, his eyes closed, the steady rise and fall of his chest. Through the darkness he could see that the man's tunic was tattered and torn, blood soaking from small hidden cuts. He was also bleeding from a cut on his forehead. The man was shivering, his arms wrapped around his chest as if to drive away the cold he felt.

Legolas gently placed a hand on the man's knee, calling his name softly. With a groan Aragorn's eyes fluttered open, resting dully on the Elf.

"Legolas?" he muttered, his voice barely audible.

The Elf nodded. "Yes, I'm here. Are you all right?"

The man's eyes slid shut as he slowed his heavy breathing. At first Legolas didn't think he had heard him,. but then Aragorn nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Just sore," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "Where are Elladan and Elrohir?"

Legolas looked back over his shoulder. "I don't know exactly, they had to travel upstream before they could get down."

He turned back to Aragorn, placing a hand lightly on the young man's forehead. The young ranger had once again closed his eyes. Legolas let his hand drop onto Aragorn's shoulder, calling his name softly, until he opened his eyes once again.

"Strider, look at me," Legolas told him gently.

Aragorn complied, his breathing hitching as he drew his arms around his chest tighter. He fixed deep blue pain-filled eyes on the Elf, wishing he would say whatever he had to say, so that he could once again fall into the darkness that was so close.

Legolas waited until the young edan's eyes were focused on his own. "Rivendell is not far away. We would make it by morning, and Elrond can see to your wounds. Can you walk?"

Aragorn lowered his eyes, thinking carefully over the words the Elf had just said. It was getting so hard to focus now, he felt so tired, and right now he only wanted to give into the darkness, it took too much energy to fight it.

He shook his head in answer.

Legolas sighed heavily. He already knew the answer before he had asked it. He nodded, even though the human could not see it, since his eyes had drifted close again.

"We'll rest here for the night. I'm going to get wood for a fire, I'll be back soon."

Aragorn nodded as he fell into shadows of repose. He didn't even hear the mild singing of the Elf as he worked to build a fire in the night air.

*~*~*~*

"They were here," Elrohir said, his voice quiet and calm, though filled with a silent relief, as well as worry. Nieninque rounded the base of the fire pit, running his nose along the hard ground. Mud covered his white fur here and there, indicating that the young wolf was definitely in need of a bath.

Both Elrohir and his brother had traveled a fair distance within the night, frustrated by the length they were forced to travel upstream before finding a path that allowed them easy access down the rugged cliff. Elladan had been willing to jump the gap, and he would had if Elrohir hadn't stopped him.

"You won't be able to help Estel with a broken neck," he had told his elder twin, holding onto his arm with a light, yet forceful grip that willed him to stay where he was.

Once down they crossed river at the shallowest point, being careful so that the irate waters would not drag them away as well. They had spotted the upturned rocks along the shore easily, and had been able to track the human into the forest for a ways. But then the signs seemed to disappear. Until the faint scent of old smoke lingered in the air. It brought them right to the dying embers fire.

There they found the soft outlines of footprints, Estel's boots they were certain, leading away from the river. "They spent the night here," Elladan said, searching the forest around them . "They can't be too far ahead."

*~*~*~*~*

"Are you sure you know where you're going?" Aragorn asked, trailing after the Elf.

Legolas nodded, "Of course."

With a sigh the man shook his head. "I don't get it, we should be in Rivendell by now."

"We're lost," Legolas stated with a mater of fact voice.

"What do you mean we're lost?" Aragorn cried, quickening his pace to catch up with the Elf. He still held his left arm, the pain evident whenever the Elf checked on him. "I thought you said you knew where you were going."

Legolas sighed, "I do, I just don't know how to get there."

Aragorn opened his mouth in reply, but snapped it close after a moment's pause, and ended up only shaking his head. Elves were so hard to deal with sometimes.

"Don't worry my friend, we can't be too far from the trail," Legolas reassured him.

"That encourages me," Aragorn mumbled, rubbing his arm. He glanced around at the unfamiliar woods, their branches bare and dry as they stretched toward the sky. Everything here was so different than he was used to. Even with Spring slowly coming in, Winter had been harsh, little rain had fallen and hardly any traces of snow had landed. Rivers ran low and only the strongest of plants had survived.

Aragorn had awaken that morning, lying next to the fire. Most of his clothes had dried during the night. Legolas was already awake, if the Elf had even slept at all, watching the sun rise boldly into the sky. The aching in his body had dulled some, and moving was still was a task he had to complete, but he found that once he started moving, most of the pain disappeared.

"Why don't we just find the river? Then we can climb the cliff side where it is not so steep," Aragorn suggested quietly.

"That's what I've been searching for," Legolas remarked, ceasing his stride. "I wasn't able to retrace our steps, the ground's far too hard."

With a sigh Aragorn glanced at the woods around them. "Then what do you propose now?"

"We take a different course," Legolas said easily, turning to the young man. "We're bound to get it right one of these times."

TBC…