~Sensing Danger~

It had been nearly two hours since the council had come to begin speaking, and so far it held no hope for ending any time soon. The dwarves were arguing about the treaty, meanwhile the elves were arguing about them, while the King, Elladan and the older man remained quiet.

It wasn't long after the first argument, that Estel noticed the elf, who had protested his being here, began staring at him quiet angrily when no one was looking. This was making Estel very nervous. However, as promise he remained quiet, reading his book and half listening to the conversations in the council.

"We are not asking for you to like each other, or even talk to each other, we're asking that to keep peace between us in the coming times you sign the agreement!" Bit Elladan angrily.

"You will keep your tongue master elflings!" yelled one of the dwarves.

"And you will do well to keep yours! My father spent years fighting alongside humans and dwarves. He will not watch it all go to Mordor now! We are simply asking that if you are needed in such a quest you help us," Elladan bit back.

"His request is not so hard," spoke the wizard quietly. Elladan looked at the older man with a soft smile.

"Mirkwood will not stand for it, we are a peaceful settlement here, we will have none of their kind. Or humans either!" yelled the elf who had been eyeing Estel.

"The humans are trying to help us as much as we are trying to help the dwarves! Don't you see what your stubbornness will lead to? Dark times are coming!" the old man said angrily.

"Those humans abuse our own, why should we help them!" bit one man.

"I agree with that, those humans hurt my son," the King stated.

"Sire, if I may, but that was a small section of humans. You can no more say my brother would harm you. Not every human wants our heads on a silver platter!"

"Ay, maybe not, but whose to say they aren't. Who is willing to take the chance? Surely not I young elflings. I don't care what your father thinks. He is a half blood, he should not even be king."

"You will hold your tongue about Lord Elrond, for he is a good king and elf. He has done nothing to deserve such allegations against him," stated the wizard.

"My father, half blood and all, believes in humans and in elves. He also believes that there can be peace if you're willing to fight for it! Can't you see that, I'm not asking for you to murder, I'm asking for you to defend what is yours!? Middle Earth is ours! Not Sauroman's, and he has no right to it! I will not leave these lands without knowing those I love are safe."

"Why do you worry, for your brother will be unable to join you!" bit an elf.

"Leave my brother out of this!" Bit Elladan in response. He had tried to keep his temper but Admin was being difficult.

"Humans, dwarves, elves and wizards! What a joke, what is next hobbits? Surely you can not expect us to sign such a decree, for it would be the end of middle-earth."

"El, I have to go to the bathroom," whispered Estel. Elladan looked at his brother and sighed.

"Go and come right back, do you understand," Elladan said, in obvious tenseness.

"Yes sir," with that the child hurried out of the room.

~*~

The halls of Mirkwood were beautiful, as Estel headed towards the washroom. As he continued to walk, he suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his head tingle. He stopped, listening for something, anything. When he heard nothing he slowly kept moving, keep his ears alert for any sound. He remembered what his brothers had taught him about hunting and listening to what was around you.

Once again he heard nothing so he continued on his way, when suddenly he felt a hand over his mouth and something cold placed tightly against his throat. Fear etched in his soul, however, Estel kept silent and still, knowing the cold steel on his throat probably was a knife, and a sharp one by the pain he could already feel developing there.

"You know you're place boy you will keep your mouth shut," hissed a voice. Gray eyes grew wide in fear as Estel listened to the voice.

"Your brother killed my father, maybe not out of hate or anger, but he killed him just the same. And it's because of your brother that you're going down," spoke the deep evil voice.

~*~

Elladan would liked to have said he was paying attention, however as he noticed his brother was gone longer and longer his worry began to climb. The meeting was getting no where, for the dwarves still refused to sign the decree, and some elves still refused to sign it. However, Elrond had been very insistent on getting the decree signed so everyone know they were responsible for the war that was to come.

"King, would you mind if we took a short break?" Elladan asked guiltily.

"Of course young one, I tend to agree, I think it would suit us all to take a break and think about what we are faced with."

"Thank you Milord," with that Elladan hurried off to find his brother.

"Estel?" He whispered gently when he reached the bathroom, however, no one was there. "Estel, I'm not joking, you're going to be in big trouble soon," murmured Elladan with worry.

As he continued to walk his worry spiked, no sign of the little child anywhere, and fear was increasing. What if something had happened to him, what if he was hurt.

"King Thranduil Estel is gone!" Elladan said rushing into the great room, where the King and a few of the other elves were seated.

"Elladan, son, calm down and tell me exactly what happened?"

"I don't know, I've checked everywhere, he's no where to be found, we have to find my little brother," Elladan stated.

"Do not worry child, we will find your younger brother," the King said softly.

"What if he's hurt?" Elladan asked worriedly. He couldn't imagine his life without his younger brother, another reason why he often times cursed the fact his brother was Edain, and would die eventually.

"He will be fine young elf, now come let us search for him..." the king was cut off when one of his guards entered.

"Milord, you are needed," the guard said. Thranduil looked from Elladan to the guard.

"Go, I'll find him," stated Elladan with annoyance.