For once a quick update… although I should be working *sigh*. But I could not ignore
so many requests :-)

Thanks to all of you for reviewing not only the last chapter but all my stories! Some of
you asked if there will be another chapter to 'Breaking and Mending'… and I fear
there will be none…
But I will continue writing this story and maybe one or two new ones as well… :-)

So, thank you to all of you who keep reading and for the many nice & encouraging
reviews I have received so far.

A special thank you as always to Little My for beta reading.

So, on with the story… and let me know if you like it!!!

___


Surprise widened Elrohir's eyes as he stared at the one who had managed to sneak
up on him.

'You are careless, son of Elrond,' a soft voice spoke. Blue eyes sparkled at Elrohir for
a moment only to darken in sudden shock as a blade was pressed against his throat.

'Not as much as you, Calenuial,' Elladan hissed in his ear.

For a moment they stood frozen, then a small chuckle escaped the golden-haired elf
and he lowered his bow.

'True, I should have known the both of you would not be far apart,' he answered. 'But
catching one of you unawares was too good to miss.'

Elladan's knife disappeared.

'What brings you from Ithilien to this place?' Elrohir asked. 'And in whose company
do you travel?'

'Let me guess,' Elladan quickly added. 'The elves of Northern Ithilien sent you to look
for their lost lord.'

Another chuckle escaped Calenuial.

'Aye, this is quite close to the truth. Legolas left our realm in a sudden hurry and only
a short message was sent to inform us that he was well.' The elf grinned at his next
words. 'When I heard he had set out with Gimli the dwarf and the sons of Elrond I
chose to follow you, for your penchant for trouble is well know.'

The twins exchanged a quick glance, having heard what had not been spoken aloud.
They knew this elf to be a close friend of Legolas's. The last adventure Gimli and
Legolas had faced had almost cost the elf's life and this had shaken Calenuial
deeply, enough to cause him great unease at the knowledge that his friend and lord
once more was out there, facing unknown dangers.

'A message had to be delivered to Eomer, King of the Mark, and I offered to do this.'
With a vague wave towards the direction where voices and the sound of hooves were
getting louder, he now added: 'These bushrangers have been a great trouble lately to
these lands, so it was decided to find and destroy their hiding place once and for all.'

He did not mention his feeling of foreboding at receiving the message from Legolas a
few days after his hurried departure from Ithilien, saying that he would stay away for
some time longer. There had been no doubt for him that Legolas would once more
travel with the dwarf. He had ridden to Minas Tirith only to find them already gone.
His pride would not allow him to follow them, but as Aragorn spoke of a message to
be delivered to Eomer he had offered without a second thought.

'So these are the king's men?' Elladan asked.

'Aye.' Calenuial's eyes sparkled. 'But not only. It seems the King of the Mark does not
have much opportunity to go on the hunt these days.'

'King Eomer is with them?' Elrohir's question was answered with a grin.

'Where are your companions?' Calenuial finally asked. He expected for Legolas to
have joined them by now.

The twins exchanged a quick glance before Elladan spoke. 'They are a bit behind us.
Some of Gimli's kin joined us. We had a kind of…'

'…confrontation,' Elrohir supplemented, 'with these bushrangers. A sad sight, if I
have ever seen one.'

'So the dwarves stayed behind to watch the captives we have taken.' Elladan chose
not to mention the fact that one certain elf was unconscious. He would leave
explaining that part of their story to Gimli. An angry Mirkwood elf was more than he
wished to handle.

'The bushrangers? So you have found them already?'

'Aye.' There was a smirk in Elladan's voice. 'But we left some for you. Their camp is
hidden in the forest and a few of them are still there.'

'Then let us bring this news to the Rohirrim,' Calenuial spoke, and with a short nod of
consent the twins followed him. The riders were close now and it took only a few
moments to reach them.

Surprised shock registered on their faces as three elves stepped silently from the
woods surrounding them.

'Hail, Eomer, King of the Mark,' Elladan spoke and the twins bowed in greeting,
hiding their smirks. It was always fun to see how easily men were taken unawares.

'Hail, Elladan, Elrohir.' Eomer recovered quickly, his eyes darting between the
identical faces. He could not tell them apart and chose to look at them both.

Necessary information was quickly shared and soon the Rohirrim followed the sons
of Elrond into the forest.

@@@

The dwarves sat quietly, their silence getting more and more tense, the more time
passed.

The sound of hooves getting closer brought them to their feet, axes ready. Without
conscious thought they stood in front of the silent elf, their bodies building a
protective wall between him and whoever approached.
Only when Elrohir stepped out of the shadows did they relax.

'Friends they are,' he spoke. 'The Rohirrim led by their king himself.'

Axes were lowered as they waited until the men, leading their horses now, came into
sight.

Gimli stepped forward to greet Eomer, and this movement revealed the unmoving
form behind him. An expression of surprise flitted across the man's face but his
glance was not directed at the elf but at the dwarf.

'Gimli?' he asked, uncertainty in his voice.

But ere he had the chance to speak further someone else recognized Legolas.
Without a word and quick as an arrow Calenuial passed them by, sinking to his knees
next to the still form. His hands touched Legolas's brow, relief washing over him to
feel him warm and alive. Then fear turned to anger and he moved his head to glare
at Gimli.

'Why is it that each time I meet you, Legolas has taken hurt?' he hissed.

The dwarf found himself speechless for once, as he had neither expected to see this
elf here nor to be accused like this.

'Is he badly injured?' Eomer asked, concern evident in his voice.

'Nay,' Elrohir quickly answered. 'He has been given some draught that renders him
unconscious.'

'Not to mention that broken arm and the blow to his head,' Elladan added helpfully,
his voice losing some of its glee at the dark look he received from Calenuial. 'But he
should be well quickly,' he added lamely, glancing towards his brother for
confirmation.

The golden-haired elf stood, his eyes dark. 'Some draught?' he asked. 'What kind?'

'We know not,' Elrohir answered. 'It was given to him by one of the bushrangers while
he was held captive…'

'Captive?' The voice was quiet but dangerous. 'It seems you left out part of your
story, son of Elrond.'

Had Gimli not been seething with anger at being accused in this manner, he would
have found great amusement in seeing Elrohir squirm under the dark glare. So he
spoke up, turning attention on himself.

'It is a long story to tell and we lack time for this. Those we have taken captive are
excepted to return to their camp soon. If we take out the guards, our approach will be
no cause for alarm for they will think us to be their own group, returning from
waylaying us.'

'Wise words,' Eomer agreed, relieved that Calenuial refrained from further argument.
His still seemed angry, and he shot the dwarf another dark look but held his tongue.

At least now Eomer was sure that it was indeed Gimli, for the last time he had seen
him the dwarf's hair had been a dark red where now it was a dark brown.

'We will follow your lead as you know the way.'

'One should stay behind to guard Legolas,' Gimli suggested, already half-expecting
the reaction to his words.

'I will stay with him.' With that Calenuial settled down, keeping his bow in readiness
next to him.

Satisfied in knowing his friend was safe, Gimli took one last look around, seeing the
horses secured and all ready to go. A short nod towards Elladan and they were on
their way.

@@@

Calenuial did not move until the last of the men had disappeared from sight,
marveling at how much noise men and dwarves were able to make. Then his
attention turned to his friend, keen eyes studying the pale face. He remembered well
the last time he had found Legolas like this and it still filled him with dread. How close
they had come to losing him then.

He removed the cloak covering his friend, checking him over carefully. He did trust
Elrohir, knowing his gift of healing, but wished to see with his own eyes that this time
the injuries were minor. The broken arm was well tended and he could find nothing
else to worry over. There was a wound at Legolas's temple and blood matted his
hair, no doubt from the blow he had received. But he could feel the strong and even
heartbeat and his fears abated. Legolas seemed only deeply asleep, fighting off the
effect of the draught he had been given.

He sat back on his haunches, his eyes coming to rest on the bound man. He had
noticed the captive before but only now did he see the hate burning in the eyes that
were fixed on him. He rose to step closer and the hate turned to fear.

For a moment he pondered removing the gag and questioning the man to learn the
whole story of what had transpired here. But disgust won over curiosity. Legolas
would tell him, or he would force the truth from one of the twins.

His body relaxed as he settled down, his keen senses turning to their surroundings. A
sudden smile played around his lips as his anger cooled with his fears. And he would
have to find out how the dwarf came to have dark brown hair all of a sudden.

@@@

The sound of horses made Clardyn's heart clench. She had been awaiting Surdim's
return with growing dread, anticipating his ire when he found the elf gone.

She had prayed that he would not return alone, that he would bring Lian with him.
Her husband would offer a source of protection she would dearly need in facing
Surdim.
So it brought her great relief to see two riders emerging from the woods, one of them
her husband.

Her heart was beating wildly in her breast as she watched them dismount. She could
see Lian's expression, see the reluctance in his movements. It seemed he was not
too eager to face whatever Surdim had planned for the elf.

Surdim walked over to her with Lian following in his wake. She could see his gaze
wander over to the tree where he had left the elf and his eyes widened in shock to
find him gone. With quick strides he was in front of her, his fingers digging painfully
into her shoulders.

'Where is he, woman? What have you done?'

'Let her go!' Dian had seen him arrive, and sensing his mother's apprehension had
quietly stepped next to her. With his father close, he dared to contradict the man he
was normally afraid of. His childish voice rang loudly in his own ears.

'Stay out of this, brat,' the man hissed, his eyes boring into Clardyn's. 'Where is the
elf?'

'Karim took him,' she answered, hoping his anger would redirect itself towards the
other man.

Then Lian was there, his hands calmly removing Surdim's from her shoulders. But his
eyes burned with anger at seeing his wife treated in this manner.

'Karim?' Surdim turned to face the camp, noticing most of the men were gone.
'Where is he?'

'He used the elf as bait,' Clardyn answered. She had had time enough to think of
what to tell him. 'They are out to waylay some dwarves--they should return soon.'

'Dwarves?' He turned to her again. 'Dwarves have been here?'

'Yes,' she answered him, fear coiling in her insides at the deep rage she could see
building in him.

He closed his eyes for a moment as if to think, and it was then that they heard the
sound of footsteps approaching.

'They are returning,' Clardyn exclaimed, hoping his ire would now turn towards
Karim.