Wow, the number of reviews for the last chapter tells me quite a lot of people are still
reading this! *happy grin*
416 reviews so far - you make me a very happy author !!!!!!

thank you for all the nice threats, hugs, cookies, flowers ... and comments :-)
I enjoyed each of them very much.
And as I am one of those who can not get enough : please, keep them coming!!!

A big thank you to Little My for beta reading!

So, on with the story... I hope you enjoy it as much as I love reading your reviews.

___

Surdim's eyes were fixed on Gimli, waiting for the answer to his question, knowing
the dwarf could provide it. He hardly took notice of Lian leading the horses close to
him. Yet no answer came. The dwarf stood proud, holding Surdim's gaze with his
own dark eyes, not even trying to hide the anger and disgust burning in them. For
long moments the silence stretched.

Elladan noticed his brother shifting ever so slightly. A quick glance sideways showed
him his fingers had tightened around his bow, tension visible in his posture.

'One quick shot,' Elrohir hissed, his voice so low that no mortal ear could catch its
sound. 'I would not miss.'

'It is too great a risk to take,' Elladan whispered back. 'If he would move at the wrong
moment, you would risk hitting the child.'

'Where is the elf?' Surdim once more demanded an answer, his voice louder than
before, a shrill tone of something akin to hysteria in it.

Gimli remained still, refusing to answer. The knife at the child's throat held him
immobile, but he would not betray his friend.

'Answer me, dwarf!' Surdim yelled, his grip on Dian tightening. The boy let out a small
whimper, a mixture of fear and pain, as he was pressed even harder against the
man's chest.

@@@

The two elves still hidden from sight shared a quick look. Calenuial's bow was ready
in his hands, an arrow nocked, but he had hesitated to fire for the same reasons the
sons of Elrond had.

The small sound was more than Legolas could bear. He moved forward to step out of
the concealing wood. A hand closing around his arm held him back.

'Legolas.' Calenuial's eyes were wide with concern.

'I cannot allow him to hurt the child.'

'You will achieve naught if you show yourself. This man has lost all reason--he will
not let the child go even if he has you.'

But even as he spoke Calenuial could see the decision in Legolas's eyes. Maybe it
was the fact that not only was the boy in danger but that Gimli also stood there,
unprotected and defenseless against the building rage of the man, that hardened
Legolas's resolve.

Knowing his friend's noble action would only cause more harm, he let his bow slip
from his fingers, moving swiftly. His arms slipped around Legolas, pinning his arms
against his sides and holding him immobile. For a moment he could feel Legolas's
surprise at this sudden action, then his struggles began.

Under normal circumstances the elf knew he could not have maintained his grip on
Legolas for more than a few moments. But his friend still suffered from the
aftereffects of both the wounds he had received and the draught he had been given.
It weakened him, not dangerously so but enough for Calenuial to keep the upper
hand in this struggle.

With a quick movement he overbalanced Legolas, bringing them both down to the
ground. A grunt of pain escaped Legolas as Calenuial's weight pressed down on him,
causing his broken arm to scream in protest. For a moment the pain took his breath
away and his resistance broke. It was enough of an advantage for Calenuial to use
as he shifted his own body on top of Legolas to effectively pin him down.

'I am sorry,' he whispered.

Angry eyes blazed at him.

'I know what I do. Let me go.' It was an order now, given by the son of Thranduil, the
Lord of Northern Ithilien.

Closing his eyes in dismay Calenuial shook his head in denial. He would not allow his
friend to endanger himself.

'I cannot.'

'You do not understand. It is I this man seeks and he will not hesitate to kill even a
child.' A pleading note had entered Legolas's voice now.

For a moment concern and guilt warred in Calenuial's eyes.

'He has reason to hate Gimli as much as myself. He will take his revenge on him if he
cannot get me,' Legolas added, desperately trying to get his friend to release him.

For a moment Calenuial was tempted to let the dwarf face these dangers rather than
his friend. But he knew his own warrior's pride would not allow him to let another take
hurt in his place. He could not force Legolas to do what he himself would not. With a
deep sigh he loosened his grip and stood.

Legolas was on his feet at once, anger darkening his eyes as he stared hard at
Calenuial.

'Never try anything like that again,' he hissed before he turned to move towards the
camp once more.

@@@

Gimli stood, his face calm, while thoughts raced through his mind. He could not tell
the truth, could not betray Legolas, but the man demanded answers and in his state
of mind Gimli feared what he would do.

'He is dead,' he finally spoke.

For a moment the man stared at him, surprise slowly turning to disbelief.

'You lie,' he spat. 'Tell me where he hides or the child will suffer.'

'He is dead,' Gimli repeated, his voice rising. 'One of your own men took his life, a
coward like yourself as he used a weapon against a bound elf.'

All the dwarf's rage was in these few words as well as showing on his face. He would
have gladly strangled the life out of Surdim to avenge the hurt his friend had taken,
as well as the blind terror and fear he could see on the boy's face. No child should
ever know such fear.

It was the emotion he could see on Gimli's face that made Surdim believe his words.
Satisfaction from knowing the elf was dead mixed with disappointment that he had
been robbed of his own revenge. Then a grim smile appeared on his face.

'Then I will have to treat with you in his stead, master dwarf. I recall your mighty
words and brave actions as you dealt with us when we were wounded and unarmed.
We will see how you act if the tables are turned.'

His eyes flickered to the man standing only a few feet away, the horses' reigns still in
hand.

'Tie his hands and feet, Lian, but do it well. And put him on a horse--I will take him
with me.'

@@@

A small part of Clardyn's mind remained cool and untouched as she observed the
dealings taking place in front of her, while another part of her raved in silent despair
and fear. The deadly danger her son was in had frozen her, and she had not moved
and hardly taken a breath since Surdim had taken him. Yet she knew the situation for
what it was, even through the turmoil of emotions. She could see the way Surdim
stood, her son in front of him so no arrow could reach him without endangering Dian.
He could oversee the whole camp, as the only one still standing behind him was she.

Lian obeyed his commands, moving towards the dwarf, and she knew without a
doubt that he would do nothing that would risk Dian's life. Everyone else in the camp
seemed to be frozen in place, and as much as she was grateful for them not
endangering her son she still wished someone would do something. Anything to free
her child.

The announcement of the elf's death had shaken her.

She watched her husband step next to the dwarf, a rope in his hands, and her eyes
turned back to Surdim, boring into his back once more. She heard his laughter as
Gimli did not resist Lian's touch and suddenly she knew he would not let her son go.
Without a doubt, she knew that should Surdim be allowed to leave she would never
see Dian again. There was no explanation, no reason, just this chilling knowledge
that she would lose her son and it filled her heart with sudden agonizing pain.

She moved without a clear thought, not hearing the voice calling out from the trees,
only acting on a sudden impulse as if someone else was directing her. Without
realizing that she had bent down her fingers found a stone, the size of a man's fist.
She had not even noticed it was there before her fingers closed around it and she
stood again, moving silently as never before. It was despair and fear, rage and
desperation, and the fierce determination only a mother protecting her child would
know that guided her hand.

@@@

Legolas had stepped forward, leaving the protection of the trees, his clear voice
calling out.

'I am here, man!'

Calenuial stood behind him, still hidden in the shadows with his bow drawn, an arrow
ready to be fired should the opportunity arise.

Surdim's head whipped around, as he was taken by surprise as much as anyone else
in the camp. His eyes focused on the slim figure standing tall and proud and a cruel
smile started to form on his face. His lips moved, but the words were never spoken.

The stone in Clardyn's hand found its target, not the back of Surdim's skull as the
man had moved at the last moment but his temple, crashing down with a force that
would have been expected from a warrior's hand and not a woman's.

He crumbled without a sound, his muscles loosening in sudden unconsciousness
and letting go of the knife and child at the same moment.

Stunned silence followed, then Lian's hands fell away from Gimli and the man turned
with a strangled cry that sounded like a sob to rush to the fallen man's side. Uncaring
hands rolled the limp body away, searching for and finding the small body of the
child. Another sob escaped the man's lips as he drew his son into his arms, shaking
fingers pushing away strands of hair from the frightened face.

'Dian.'

The boy stared at his father with uncomprehending eyes before he was enveloped in
a crushing embrace.

The stone fell from Clardyn's fingers and she moved slowly, sinking to her knees next
to her husband. Their eyes met and he reached out an arm, drawing her close. With
a sob of relief she sank against him, her hands touching her son, stroking his hair.

It was then that the boy's body started to shake as tears of relief and still lingering
terror broke free and the sound of his sobs filled the silence.