Sarah here again! :D *hugs the wonderful readers all around*
Lurker_elf: *big squeeze* I wish I had words for how much we enjoy your posts! *checks around in far corners of vocabulary* Hm, I really need to clean this place out. I mean, how often does one use 'Stradivarius' anyway?? Never mind, there are no words here that I can use. *hands Lurker a stuffed Legolas* Fortunately, plushies speak louder than words. ;) Your brand of insanity is, in fact, very similar to ours. Ah, so *that's* where the chapter titles came from! Hope you don't mind if we just laugh, and don't actually use them in place of our originals. ;P Twins: Don't worry, you'll be seeing them in this chapter! *smile flattens, then disappears altogether* Yeah, mm-hm. :| Thank you so much on behalf of our villains!! It is a constant pet peeve of ours that most fan fiction cop-outs come in when people are writing the villains. Only trouble is, they have a good reason: villains are no picnic to figure out… *sighs in relief that Kallomore and Eression passed the 3D test… so far, anyway* :) Any compliment on subtlety is prized, and we're glad we handled the ickiness right. ;P As for your questions: don't worry, we'll answer them all! Eventually. Man, we've really got you going on this Lindamar thing, haven't we…? *small smile*
phoenixqueen: Don't worry, the character death is an OC, not a canon! :) You liked our funniness? Chocolate for you! It's interesting, most of the humor just sort of happened as we were writing, but the rest was purposefully added after the fact because we looked at our story and realized that it was the most dark, depressing, creepy little fic we could have concocted. We're glad it doesn't stick out or feel awkward; it would be embarrassing to fix one problem only to create another one. :P Questions; yes, we've been getting a lot of those. Let's see… 1) Captain Eression is… Captain Eression. 2) Lord Kallomore is likewise Lord Kallomore, and he knows about the Nwelmai because he is Lord Kallomore! 3) Hm. Well, they might kill one, they might not. Nwelmai are mysterious creatures… 4) Elladan and Elrohir are in the woods. Odd that you should ask because— well, you'll find out in a minute. 5) The hobbits: No, you won't be seeing these hobbits again. See? I *can* answer a question straight! If you want straight, and/or more complete answers to the rest of these: don't worry. We cover them all at one point or another in here! :D No, I'm really not being frustrating just for the sake of being frustrating. If I gave away some of those answers, Hannah the plot-leak-stopper would probably have to hurt me… :P
Belothien: LOL! Yeah, as you know, 'you can't pick your relatives'. Of course, you *can* pick your friends and Legolas has certainly contributed more than his share of difficulties to Aragorn's chaotic life, so maybe the ranger should stop griping. ;D *winces at character death worries* Sorry, wish I could just tell you, but, well… I can't. :P Don't worry, we get criticism (constructive and otherwise) from other people; and we love pointless rambling! :D Glad you like our names! The first thing we do after we write down our chapter outline is name everyone — an interesting, time-consuming, and generally humorous pastime since we often suggest some really strange ones (ones that mean things like 'bad egg', or else have good meanings but sound like a hiccough in elvish). :P You like Eression? It could be worse. Funny thing is *Hannah walks in and puts a hand over Sarah's mouth, muffling the next sentences* mf mm ermnt er mm hmm 'hmnrmmng hmhmhmm mm hmemhr hmng' hm hum hh hnn mm mmhen hmm mm. Hm hm mm, hm *mm* hmmmrr hm. *Hannah removes her hand and sighs over her sister's loose tongue* Oops. Sorry, I have a bad habit of giving away too much in my responses… Good thing I'm not writing this by myself! :P In fact, I think that's *my* cue to stop as well…
Laswen: LOL! Sorry things are so hectic! I know how loud it can get; we have nine kids in our family and our mom's sister has ten kids, whenever we visit them, or they visit us, it's absolute pandemonium!! Yeah, most of our cliffies are pretty mild. Especially if you compare them to Cassia and Sio's! *shudders*
Iverson: Hey, don't worry about it! Time is like the tide: it waits for no man, it has one killer undertow, and jellyfish swim in it. *blinks* Skip that last one, actually. Too much Finding Nemo… :P
Mariana Nimeneth: Thanks for the heads up! Actually, we looked up Dúnedain when we first started writing (so that we could get it right), and I just looked it up again now, and unless your version of Return of the King is different — which is possible, I guess — it's 'Dúnadan' (singular) and 'Dúnedain' (plural). Thus Aragorn would indeed be 'Dúnadan' to Glorfindel because there is only one of him. Now if Aragorn were *Gollum*… *snorts at weird mental picture* Never mind, ignore me! Strange thoughts should stay out of print. ;D What is with Captain Eression, you ask? *grins like the Cheshire cat* You'll have to keep reading. In the meanwhile, if it makes you feel any better, he hasn't so much 'joined' the orcs as he is 'in charge of' the orcs. Of course, he's still working in their company, so I don't suppose that helps a whole lot… :P ROTFLOL! Poor Legolas! Reduced to ridicule by one of his own fans. *grins* It's a funny thing, isn't it, that most of the best parodies/jokes are written by true fans? And as for it being relaxing, stick around for the special features. *mysterious chuckle* Thank you for reserving your zapper. We greatly appreciate the safety! ;D
Anarril: *laughs* It's actually rather refreshing to see someone who likes humans better than elves! I will heartily agree that elves are not as perfect as they seem to think. For example, to quote the *movie* Elrond (a character rather different from the *book* and the *fan fiction* Elrond): "It is because of men that the Ring survived" Yeah. And it's because of the elves' lack of caution that it was created in the first place. And don't even get me started on the kin slaying, or the burning of the ships, or the wars for the Silmarils! *shakes head* Obviously, we have a certain rant in common… :P
Maranwe1: Ah! A problem universal amongst us all! I'll pass on a trick that has worked for my sibs and I and maybe you can try it next time ff.net gives you the 'chapter title, but no chapter' problem. Say you want chapter 7. Chapter 7 is on the list, but ff.net is saying 'chapter does not exist' when you try to go to it. Go to the address bar, copy off the last part of the address (the part that should say '&chapter=7'), paste it onto the end of the address a second time (so that the end of the address now says '&chapter=7&chapter=7') and press enter. There you go! We're not sure why this works, so I don't know if it will work for you, but hey! You can try at least, right? (Notes: if the address does not say '&chapter=7', but rather it has no '&chapter=' part at all, you can try typing it onto the end yourself. OR if the address has a *different* chapter number (like '&chapter=6'), you can go ahead and change the number before copy/pasting it. You can also paste it more than twice if it doesn't work the first time.) Good luck! :D Yeah, those are the dudes that unlocked the tower, and yeah, Legolas will of course be following along on Aragorn's tale! Isn't he always? ;) As for responses: hope this counts and our apologies if we have left you out in the past! We don't usually respond to really short reviews (there's not a whole lot you can say in answer to 'Really good post. I want more.'…), but that's certainly not a problem with you. Our apologies in advance if we mess up and forget at some point or other; it is not our intention! :)
Lady Sandry: Thank you so much! Yeah, this isn't an AU, therefore the twins are safe … from death, anyway. :P Glad you liked Halbarad's second sight there! We figure: he's known Aragorn for quite some time. ;D 'Ever on and on'? Well, we don't know. We have another one lined up after this (you'll get to see the trailer for it in our Special Features chapter), but after *that* one, we just don't know! It will depend on whether we have an idea (that Cassia and Sio have not already done! ;D) and on whether we have the time. We certainly don't WANT to stop! :) *Sarah nearly keels over at the very word 'slash'* Yuk, I know what you mean! Slash is one of those things I have absolutely no patience with; I don't even bother with the 'well, it's okay if *you* like it, it's just not for me' kind of tact. I frankly think slash is unhealthy, and furthermore: disgusting. Don't worry, you're safe here! ;D And glad you liked 'El and El', though the nicknames weren't actually our idea, they were Cassia and Sio's! We thought it was cute, and it's also an easy way to mention them without saying 'Ell-a-dan and El-ro-hir' (which is a cumbersome seven syllables). ;D
Cassia: LOL!! Well, we're glad to know that you're learning so much in those classes of yours! The benefits for US at least have been impressive. ;D Speaking of which, I don't remember if I mentioned this in the last piece of feedback I left you, but I really liked that picture of yours! It was incredibly well pasted (or cloned, as is more likely…)! Of course, I also worry that one of these days some teacher is going to glance over your shoulder and nearly leap out of her respectable shoes when she finds that her student has been mutilating a picture of some blond guy with pointy ears… ;P 'Loads of angst and owies' you want? At least your honest. Sorry, though: can't answer… yet. :) *chuckles* Ah yes, Macs… Honestly, Macs are (in general) better computers, and at least *they* didn't copy most of their ideas off another company — but the fact still remains that Microsoft is more common, we are more familiar with its workings, and its cheaper. Basically: my dad loves Macintosh — and I own a Toshiba with Windows XP. That says a lot, if you think about it. ;D
Karina: Oh, thank you so much! The hobbits were lots of fun to write, so we're glad they were equally fun to read. ;) And you liked the red hat? *squeals in delight* :D Interestingly: it was largely because we started thinking about the Dúnedain and the work they did that we wound up concocting this fic in the first place! And 'I raise my hat to them' is fine! I've usually heard it 'I take my hat off to them', but it's exactly the same concept. That's cool that you come from France; I'm just sorry it's so cold! *wipes forehead* Maybe you'd like some of our sunshine — it's currently eighty degrees where we are. ;)
_____: Sorry I didn't greet you by name, but it doesn't look like you put one in! :) LOL! I loved that line! If I remember rightly, it's from My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding; the mom says it to her daughter when the daughter wants to go to college and the dad won't let her. ;D Will Aragorn get to save his brothers? Hm. *ruminates for a moment, and then…* Sorry, can't tell. ;)
Well, I have to say, you are all very discerning! I mean about the whole 'calm', 'before', and, er, 'storm' thing. Yeah. *realizes she has been talking for WAY TOO LONG* Oops.
So anyway, here's another chapter for y'all! In particular you will find: TWINS! Oh, and before you can complain: 'kidnapped' may bring to mind pirates and therefore seem bizarre in an LOTR fic, but one of our other chapter ideas (and really a much more appropriate one, given the circumstances) was 'leverage'. If that doesn't bring to mind pirates, then I don't know what does. JackSparrow: (leans drunkenly onto responses) Savvy? Me: Forget it, Jack, you may not be on my responses. You've already taken over my feedback. Go before I burn your hat. *Sarah spins back to readers* Anyway, enjoy! :D
______________________________________________________________________________
Darkest Night
By Sarah and Hannah (Siri)
(disclaimers, explanations, and summaries
available at the top of chapter 1)
Chapter 6
Kidnapped
"Admit it."
Elladan frowned but did not respond.
"Admit it, brother," the voice persisted but the elf still refused to answer, scanning the path ahead of him — though maybe 'path' was the wrong word. "Oh don't be so ashamed about it." The voice took on a impudent tone that Elladan knew all too well. "I'm sure many elves lose their way in forests, even ones so small as the Chetwood, and I highly doubt anyone will find it at all strange."
"Elrohir," there was a warning in Elladan's tone but his twin only smiled and this aggravated him still more. To add to this most recent irritation: the clouds which had been gathering thickly since morning had begun to rain down their heavy load. It was not improving Elladan's mood any. "If you think it so shameful, why don't *you* find our way back."
Elrohir laughed and shook his head, loose strands of hair slapping wetly across his face. "Not for all the gold in the Lonely Mountain; you took us both into this predicament and you are the elder, as you so oft make me aware."
Elladan shook his head and turned back to the task at hand. The ground was growing slippery, but this proved a minor inconvenience to the sure-footed and he started up the path in front of him. "I shan't be able to find anything with your endless noise, so if you want to ever see anything living again I'd suggest you quiet yourself."
Elrohir did and, though it was only for a few minutes, Elladan had to begrudgingly admit it was more than he had expected.
"But Elladan, how can you say that we will never see a living thing when we are surrounded by trees?"
The elven twin patiently stared his brother into silence before returning to his tracking. "Here is a fresh plan Elrohir: you remain here and I shall find my own way back."
"It sounds as though you are trying to be rid of me," Elrohir said, with the obvious sound of a smile in his voice.
"Not at all," Elladan responded dryly, pulling himself over a log that barred the path and starting into the trees once more. "Better yet, do not remain here, turn south and ask directions of Lindamar."
He knew his brother would follow him, so he did not concern himself with looking back. He had gotten only four paces when, through the pelt of rain and a sudden roll of distant thunder, he heard a snap and a wide rustle of disturbed brush. Whirling suddenly he spied through the growing mist something that made his heart freeze.
Elrohir, who was still standing a good few yards away from his brother on the opposite side of the thick log, was suddenly hemmed in on every side by orcs. An ambush. Now that they were upon them Elladan could not guess how they had moved so stealthily; or hidden so well, if they had instead been lying in wait for their prey. He had only known of one group of orcs to possess such skills and these he had wished never to see the like of again.
Elrohir called a warning to his brother even as the enemy appeared and he drew out his bow. Starting back towards him, Elladan found his way blocked by more orcs spilling out of the forest on all sides. As they came so did the rain; it began to fall more fiercely and a peal of thunder rent the air.
"Elrohir!" Elladan called over the din, pulling out his own weapon. He heard the bare sound of an arrow release beyond hideous creatures blocking him and the shriek of an orc in response. Leasing an arrow of his own Elladan shot it with enough force to send it straight through one orc to impale the one behind. Both fell against one another and crumpled to the ground.
The enemy were so tightly packed that Elladan repeated the same maneuver and felled many of the beasts. None had yet managed to venture close to him, but at each shot new orcs replaced the old. At such close quarters he knew he would never gain a great enough advantage to pass through their ranks and he felt a desperate need to reach Elrohir.
Unsheathing his sword he struck at the orc closest to Elrohir's position, hoping to break through. From the screams beyond he guessed that Elrohir was doing the same.
Swinging a back cut at an orc just behind him, Elladan felt the familiar hatred rising cold in his heart. It was the old and long-held revulsion that all the first born carried for Melkor's twisted recreations of them; and in Elladan and Elrohir the emotion was all the more strong. With a cry he slashed forward again causing many to fall around him; slitting them at the throat, slashing them in the middle and impaling them at the chest. Long had the sons of Elrond battled such spawn of the shadow and they knew how to bring even such a great host to their destruction.
In a very short time Elladan could again see his brother battling close by — though through the ever growing rain it was difficult. The younger twin turned, seeing his brother in a brilliant flash of lighting.
Taking a chance Elrohir pushed forward, turning constantly to keep himself from being set upon from behind, and at last he reached the log and vaulted its height with one leap, landing steadily beside his brother.
"We must flee now," Elladan turned briefly to speak, again having to face the fresh attack from their brutal opponents. "We shall not be able to hold our stand so long if they continue to replenish themselves, and this ill weather shall bear us to ruin unless we reach firmer ground."
Elladan did not wish to admit it, but he knew in an effort to break through to each other, the orcs had been allowed to gain ground on their other sides; they were becoming trapped and Elladan knew that before long it would be too late for any escape.
Moving quickly to escape the charge of an orc warrior, Elladan broke apart from Elrohir only briefly and the brothers each tried to push his way out from under the ever growing mêlée. All around the orcs gave shouts of glee; this foul weather to them was familiar fighting ground and they pushed its use for all they were worth. Even as the water pooled around them they kept surprisingly steady feet and never once eased their ferocious attack.
Elladan took advantage from a brilliant flash of lighting followed by a crack of thunder and shoved his way through an opening provided him. He had only gained a few feet of free ground however before he suddenly heard a voice break through the chaotic din. It was the voice of neither orc nor goblin and it confused him, for it sounded like the voice of a man.
"Drop them!"
Elladan knew not what the words meant, but in another moment he was made to see. A creak above him, which could not be mistook for lightning, made him look up a moment too late. A heavy, tightly webbed net fell on him from the trees, bearing him to the ground under its weight. Elladan tried to cut through the bonds but another moment brought a second net down upon him, crushing him closer to the ground. He caught brief sight of Elrohir being born down in the same way. Elladan felt his legs kicked from beneath him by a vicious blow. He sank to his knees into the mud and felt it seep around his legs. At a blow to the head he crumpled beneath the netting, only just able to keep from landing face first in the miring ground beneath him. He vaguely heard Elrohir cry out and the elf clenched his fists in the sodden netting, wishing to tear it apart, but a second vicious kick to the head left him disoriented and he saw the world hazing and spinning around him as another loud rumble of thunder was heard.
The last thing Elladan remembered was the strange sensation of being drawn across the ground and the distant sound of someone calling out his name.
Aragorn swung underneath the slick branch dropping down the incline; dirt and leaves wetted by rain were thrown up around him as he skidded to the bottom. Legolas was close behind, sprinting easily down the same incline until he reached Aragorn's side, breathing evenly and already trying to follow the ranger's next move, but the man was giving his friend a patient glare.
Legolas caught his gaze and returned it with a bewildered expression. "What is wrong?" he asked, a little anxiously.
"You," Aragorn responded shortly shaking his head and starting forward again, pushing lightly over a crisscross of fallen branches barring his path.
"What did I do?" Legolas was still confused as he scaled the precarious debris after his friend.
Abruptly Aragorn laughed as he caught his friend's mystification. "Oh, you're showing off — that is all."
Legolas jumped down from the branches to land beside Aragorn once more and frowned, "I don't mean to."
"I know that," Aragorn waved a hand. "It's an unfortunate thing that your light-footedness and extended years are two of the many things I could never aspire to gain."
"You do your best," Legolas pointed out. "Rangers may be human, but they are the most elf-like humans I have ever had the pleasure to know."
Aragorn chuckled at that. "Celboril would be quick to tell you that the surest differences are to be found in appearance and cleanliness." Considering that the rain pouring down in light currents seemed to be centered fully on Aragorn at that moment and very nearly missed the elf prince altogether they could both find the observation accurate.
Legolas leaned across the way to pull a tattered leaf from his friend's weather-worn coat and tossed it into the foliage. "Cleanliness I cannot answer for in this climate. As to appearance, if only you would dress in elven attire instead of this dark, earthen toned garb then it would not be so obvious."
"Legolas Greenleaf, I may as well tell you now that this is one battle you will never win against me. Ask my brothers, I would never be seen in the wooded-lands in such attire as you favor."
"Well I would ask them," Legolas replied absently, "if only we could find them."
Aragorn nodded, "Yes it is beginning to worry me; they are usually not so hard to find. I've tracked them with fair ease up till now, but the rain will make it difficult if I cannot find them soon; they strayed quite far from the camp, that is sure."
Legolas concentrated on tracing the signs of passage before them, but he knew that Aragorn far surpassed him in this area, especially when it came to his brothers.
They walked a fair distance forwards — the rain had begun to pick up and the thunder rolled heavily above them — and Legolas kept his ears strained for any sound of movement, allowing Aragorn to concentrate on his tracking. It was decided between them that this was the quickest way to track without being caught unawares and Aragorn appreciated not having to split his attention.
It was between a great peal of thunder that Legolas heard it and halted. "Aragorn," he whispered.
The ranger came to a halt and turned, "What is it?"
"Listen!" Legolas held up a hand and motioned to the east, his eyes scouring the trees. Aragorn came up beside him. The splattering of rain, the distant preamble to a thunder clap, and then, quite abruptly, an unearthly scream rent the air — scoring the silence.
"Orcs," Aragorn whispered, starting at a run in the direction from whence the sounds came, Legolas close behind. Another orc's scream was heard and though Aragorn felt sure he would find his brothers at the source of the commotion, he began to fear in what state he would find them.
As they went the rain suddenly broke loose, beating upon the two friends and blinding Aragorn as he ran down a steep incline. Taking a few short jumps, he managed to keep a sure footing and avoid a collision. Legolas remained just at his elbow.
As they drew nearer the noises grew louder and they heard the clash of metal against metal. The screams of the orcs were now plain.
Aragorn thought for a moment he had heard Elladan's voice, but it was drowned out in a clap of thunder. Briefly again he tried to focus on the sound, but a sudden brilliant flash showed him a broken tree just before him and he swerved to miss it.
With his eyes raking the trees ahead Aragorn knew they had nearly reached the place when he heard a sound that made him pull up short. It was Elrohir crying out. Aragorn looked at Legolas, saw the elf draw out his bow and set an arrow upon the string, and as their eyes locked for only a second, the man nodded. Pushing the last few steps, fighting against the fear that beat mercilessly at his heart, Aragorn broke through the trees.
The ranger came out behind the orc host, while Legolas quickly ran along a fallen log which split the clearing in two. Neither wasted a moment, and even as Aragorn withdrew his sword from the twisted body of the first orc, he saw that the two just beside him had fallen to elven arrows. Aragorn made a path towards Legolas, the elf covering his approach until he had reached the fallen tree. The orcs, who at first seemed to have been leaving the clearing at the unexpected attack, recovered quickly and now tried to charge the human in their midst. Aragorn spun through, attempting to protect himself on all sides as he sought out his brothers in the fray — but this was to no avail. He drew up to the log and placed his back against it as he slashed at the orcs pressing on him. Ducking down Legolas hastily grabbed his arm from above, pulling him up beside him before another blow finally reached his throat. The orcs tried to follow, angry at loosing their prey, only to be met with more arrows.
"Where are they?" Aragorn could not keep his voice calm as he turned frantically on the slick wood, trying to sight the elven twins.
"I do not know." Legolas responded before leasing another two arrows into the orcs attempting to converge on them, now on both sides. "But we have stepped into a snare, my friend." Aragorn's head came up and he suddenly realized how many orcs surrounded them. As he cast an eye around the glade and saw the many tens of the foul creatures wending between the trees, his mind reeled; how could they have come down from the mountains with such haste and in such great numbers?
"Elladan!" he called, his hopes of an answer faint indeed. Another orc leapt up; halted; fell back, headless. "Elrohir!" Aragorn called again, turning his gaze each way as he tried desperately to catch sight of one of the twins.
Then he saw the man.
He was standing in the rain between two great ash trees, his arms held loosely at his sides —seemingly unconcerned by the foul weather or the loud conflict. He was a young man — scarcely Aragorn's age — but a strong bearing balanced his years; his hair was dark, and the hood he wore only half shielded him from the rain. Silver gaze clashed with silver gaze as the two men met each other's eyes squarely. An unreadable look played across the stranger's face as he recognized a Dúnadan. Then, giving a short nod, the man turned and motioned to the side.
Aragorn followed his gesture and reached to grip Legolas' arm. The wood elf's arrow reeled off course but struck an orc anyway in the closely knitted swarm. He turned to Aragorn with a frown.
"My friend, we cannot—"
Aragorn nodded to the sight that held his heart captive and the elf stiffened with understanding.
Somewhere around a dozen orcs were bearing two heavily woven burdens through the pooled water. Grunting and growling the monsters jerked the loads roughly across the churned up earth. And through the woven rope of one bundle both friends recognized the form of an elf. His ebony hair was just visible — as was a pale hand and a trail of red blood trickled from the netting trickling into the mud, thin and bright as a crimson thread.
A snarl quite close to Aragorn's ear alerted him that his watch had been far too lax. Spinning to look into the flat yellow eyes of a snarling orc, he saw only its gleaming teeth before its face sunk, its eyes glazed, and it fell limply back, an arrow protruding from its skull.
"Come Aragorn!" Legolas tried to recall Aragorn's attention. "We need to fight free!"
"I must follow them," Aragorn responded tensely. He moved to defend himself now, but almost as though he was in a trance, and his eyes continued watching in horror as his brothers were born away by their captors. "They are escaping," he whispered. "Legolas!" Aragorn turned back to his friend, the orcs had for a moment risen up around them and Legolas had turned to his knives. Slashing furiously, Legolas cut each from the log and pushed their corpses down into the remaining horde.
The orcs snarled beneath them and Legolas turned, gripping Aragorn's arm. "I know, Aragorn," he said, forcing Aragorn to meet his gaze. "I know. But I need you now; we need to get free of these orcs before we can follow."
Aragorn gave a single nod, tearing his gaze away from the forms retreating into the gathering mist around them as Legolas released him to return to the fight.
The ranger brought up his sword in a series of hard cuts. Decapitating any orcs that drew close enough and impaling the ones too far, he made quick work of those that had gained the fallen tree.
Behind him Legolas worked quickly as well, his jaw clenched in grim concentration as he moved nimbly across the slick wood and efficiently slit each of the monsters' throats; gradually turning the black tide back.
With the advantage of higher ground, Legolas soon returned to his bow and though now the orcs scattered back into the woods as if upon a prearranged signal, the elf caught many of them in their retreat. Before long both friends stood upon the broken tree, alone in the clearing with only the fallen corpses of their enemies.
Aragorn drew in a long breath. Ignoring the stinging cut he had received on his forearm, he quickly dropped down from the height and stumbled slightly. Even in his weakened state he ran in the direction that his brothers had been taken; he felt ache in his legs from tracking first his men and then his brothers so far, he felt the burn in his back and his arm, he felt weary and drained — but something like mad resolution pushed him on and he reached the crest of the rise where the mist gathered. He gripped a thin tree for support as he tried to find the definite tracks. But because of the last scattering of the orcs, every inch of ground had been churned up in all directions and he could not tell one set of tracks from another. Pushing himself forwards he dropped onto the filthy ground and tried to find the direction: digging through the mud with his fingers… pressing aside the ground foliage… he *had* to find the direction!
Aragorn's breath came in a shuddering form that sounded far too close to a sob and he bit it back, closing his eyes as he sank back on his knees and clenched his fists in the earth. He knew it was useless.
He was aware of someone beside him and then he felt a hand on his shoulder. When he opened his eyes he saw Legolas crouching beside him.
"Aragorn?" he inquired gently.
"I cannot find the direction," Aragorn whispered , rain or tears falling down his cheeks as he dropped his head, letting out a staggered breath. Legolas waited for a moment before giving his friend's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"We will find them, Aragorn, we will."
Aragorn turned his eyes up and there were surely tears standing in them. "We cannot, they have hidden themselves too well. They chose this place for a purpose, the rain—the rain covered everything, the orcs were left behind, they knew where they were…" Aragorn cared not that he was rambling aimlessly, he couldn't help it, his heart was twisting inside him and he couldn't think straight. "The blood Legolas….what if they—"
"They are not," Legolas intervened quickly with conviction. "They are alive. If we cannot track them, then we will find them another way, but we *will* find them. I swear it to you."
Aragorn gripped Legolas' arm, the wet earth on the human's fingers staining the elf's tunic sleeve. At last Aragorn looked up at him through the rain that was pounding about them like a cold veil. There was a fervor in the blue eyes as the man gave a short nod.
"Yes Legolas, we will find them…we must."
TBC…