Sorry, I couldn't get onto the website until now. This chapter's short I'm afraid, and there's a distinct possibility I won't post next Saturday – I have coursework due in and might not have time to write the next chapter this week. I'll try, I really will, but apologies in advance if I don't make it. I'll post as soon as I can. Don't worry, there's not a massive cliffy to freak you out at the end of this chapter, I thought I'd be kind considering I can't guarantee when I'll post. Moving on, I'm not particularly creative today, the England V Turkey had left me a bit weak (do not hold your breath for 90mins, you will lose the feeling in your legs) and England V Georgia & Schumacher V Raikkonen are also jangling my nerves considerably, so err… yeah. I'm thinking of applying a health warning to this story considering the alarming amount of hysterical madness it seems to have induced, but I can't be arsed. So instead send me $39.95 and you'll get a fantastically low priced and unimaginably stylish straight jacket! Complete with FREE Hannibal Lectar mask and random stick so you can scroll down the page! Available in three wonderful colours; Sunshine Yellow, Caribbean Blue and Flamingo Pink, you'll be the envy of the institution! For an additional $16.95, we'll send you our complementary animal print padded walls! All that for just $56.90, how can you say no?! Quite easily, but there you go.

This chapter is dedicated to Vana E, I'm sorry for your tragic loss and I hope I can bring a smile to your face in the coming chapters.

Chapter Eleven: A Moonlit Race   

Estel looked up at the elf, eyes wild with terror and he backed out of Legolas' grasp. A tear ran down his face and he glanced around the dark room anxiously, panicking and shaking miserably. He moved across the room silently, putting his ear to the door.

"Estel!" The elf whispered sharply. "Get away from there!"

"Why? They will kill me if I am standing here or standing there." He replied petulantly but the hopelessness in his voice crackled sadly.

Legolas sighed, and glided across the loft, grabbing his hand and pulling him roughly back to the window. "Estel, forgive the somewhat harsh words I am about to speak, but I must say it. Your lack of hope will get us killed. If you do not try then you will not see your family again. Work with me now, and we will have a chance of surviving this, I am not ready to die and neither should you be." He said firmly, but he felt awful for saying it and was glad it was too dark to see his face.

They stood in silence for a moment, the elf still holding on Estel's arm tightly. He was deep in thought, but still alert to what was happening downstairs, but felt the young boy tapping on his side. Legolas glanced down at him, although it was too dark to see his face, Estel's silver eyes still shone brightly in the dim moonlight. They stared at one another, unblinking and calm until the smaller being nodded gently.

"I will fight."

* * *

Raenir smiled wickedly, his greasy black locks pushed behind his ears, and patted the teenager on his shoulder.

"You have done quite a service, young sir." He said coolly. "Assisting in the capture of two vicious escaped prisoners…"

Kaimin nodded, avoiding his father's astounded gaze and counted the money had been given. The dark haired man looked back to Carinyc, who was following close behind. Roi quickly moved in front of them both, standing at the foot of the stairs, his wavy blond hair swaying above his broad shoulders.

"Vicious escaped prisoners? You must be mistaken, there is no one here." Roi announced coolly. "My son causes nothing but mischief and I am sorry, but he has lied to you. Please, take back your money, we can be of no help to you."

Raenir gave him a long hard stare, before glancing back to the younger man. "You are the one who is lying. Aiding a pair of wicked thieves is not recommended, I suggest you let us past or we shall arrest you as well."

"Arrest me? And what authority do you have to arrest me?" He growled, trying to hold them up as long for as he could.

"They are soldiers of Gondor, father!" Kaimin broke his silence. "Can you not see? They are running from the Gondorian Authorities, not from any bandits!" 

He glanced from his son to the two men, their dark cloaks damp and heavy. "Soldiers of Gondor?" He stared at them incredulously. "And where may I ask are your uniforms? Or any mark of Gondor? Or any indication other than your word that you are such soldiers?"

Carinyc clenched his jaw, resting his gloved hand on the hilt of his sword. The two men briefly glimpsed at each other, and pulled out their blades, knocking the blond father the floor, his back thudding painfully on the wooden steps. Shana cried out, and Carinyc quickly turned to face her, leaving Raenir holding his sword to his throat. The blue-eyed figure sheathed his sword and pulled out a smaller knife that was stained with blood, and threw Kaimin against the wall, holding the red tinted blade to his chest.

"I couldn't bear to wipe away his blood; I can still smell him on the steel; his fear, his innocence…" He hissed, glancing at Shana, who stood horrified and trembling a few feet away. "He won't be as fun as little Estel, then again, I probably won't get to do what I wish to him, so Kai here can amuse me."

"We're wasting time!" Raenir barked. "Do what you will with him later, but we have more pressing business to attend to."

Carinyc smirked, and backed away, following him up the stairs. Shana and Kaimin rushed to his side, helping the winded man to his feet.

"What were you thinking?" He roared at his son. "Gondorian soldiers? I wish you would your head sometimes."   

Thundering up the stairs as fast as his breathless form could go, he found them both kicking at the small door that had obviously been barricaded with something, their heavy weatherworn boots crunching against the wood. Just as he reached them, the door finally gave way and large splinters flew through the air. Their swords were wielded, the long blades shimmering brutally as they burst in. Glancing quickly around the unlit space, their eyes settled upon the window. It was shattered. Raenir roared with anger and ran toward it, stumbling over the unseen obstacles. He reached the ledge and leaned out, watching in vain as the elf and boy scaled down the uneven brickwork with ease. They landed on the soft ground simultaneously, Legolas leaping from a greater height and they hopped over the low fence, sprinting into the distance.

"Rima ten'ta!" The elf cried loudly. [Run for it]

Carinyc was already dashing down the stairs when Raenir turned to run and they were quickly in pursuit of their prey. Legolas sped along quickly, although the heavy clothes he now wore were hindering him. His cloak swished behind him, making it hard to check on Estel's progress. The young boy followed on his heels, his boots thudding against the wet grass. Most would have found it difficult to run down the slope when it was so slippery, but both were light and were running so fast, their feet struck the ground for such a short period of time that it was almost impossible to skid. Estel took another breath and quickened his pace even further, the fear and adrenaline surging through his veins made his body more urgent.   

His heart thumped and lungs heaved. The forest was about two hundred yards away and didn't seem to be getting any closer. He was only a little way behind the elf. Glancing behind him, he saw Carinyc following behind, almost forty yards back, but it felt like forty inches. Estel closed his eyes momentarily, trying to get the man's image out of his head. His breathing quickened once more and his stomach churned.

"Are you still with me?" He heard Legolas cry.

"Yes!" The boy replied breathlessly.

Carinyc was gaining on him. He could feel his eyes burning into his skin. He felt useless running like this. Until they reached the trees, it was a flat-out race, and his legs ached too much to win.

"Asca!" [Hurry]

Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Grudoc storming toward them from the side. He didn't concern either of the fleeing companions; both could outrun him easily, his burly form was strong but slow. Too afraid to check back, he sprinted on. The slim human's legs hurt, but did not affect his pace; his desperate need to stay out of their grasp driving him on relentlessly. Memories of Carinyc made his limbs strive to go faster. Estel moved swiftly, his head reeling.

Faster. Run. He's catching you. Those eyes. That wicked smile. Fly. 

A solitary figure watched them from the flank. His eyes glimmered like the black wings of a raven, and narrowed. They were almost square of him. He doused the head in a murky black liquid and straightened his body. He raised his bow. The dull thuds of their feet and cries muted. He took a short breath and aimed. Only the slight creak of the bowstring as he drew back registered in his ears. One eye closed and his fingers released.

The forest was drawing closer, the tall shadowy trees looming over them and his heart felt a pang of hope. The trees reminded Estel of Mirkwood from the tales his brothers had told him when he was younger. In the forest they could lose them; there was no want in confronting them unarmed. For the moment he was free from their torment he had no intention of being captured without a fight.

The arrow fizzed through the cold night air silently.

He stumbled sideways, unsure what had even happened. Estel didn't make a noise, but his arm was in agony. He carried on running, but he knew something was seriously wrong. Reaching the edge of the woods, he stumbled into the even gloomier confines of the trees, groping at his shoulder. He winced, feeling the smooth length of wood that was sunk painfully in his arm. Estel slowed down, he scanned his surroundings but could see no sign of Legolas. Trotting deeper into the forest, his arm ached terribly and he felt his steps becoming more laboured. His head was groggy and he couldn't focus on where he was going.

He heard a twig snap and voices talking nearby.

They were drawing closer and he quickly tried to pull himself together. There was no time to find Legolas now; he had to look after himself. Walking unsteadily away from the voices, he wobbled and brushed against a tree, the arrow protruding from his left shoulder snapped, leaving the head rooted painfully in his flesh. He hissed in agony and clutched his limb tenderly, the splintered end grazing against his fingers.

Glancing back, he saw their shadows approaching.

He was getting worse by the second. He couldn't think. The pain was spreading from his arm and attacking his senses. He could barely see. Stabs of pain erupted over his small body and black liquid oozed from his arrow wound. He gasped, feeling the breath being sucked from his lungs and his chest tighten. Collapsing to his knees, the brambles and dead leaves on the dark forest floor crunched and cracked beneath him.

The moon emerged a little from the rumbling clouds and a silvery wash of light writhed though the canopy, giving Estel some hope of seeing what lay beside him. Rolling onto his side, his head swung unsteadily. Noticing a dark spot, he fumbled his shaking arms toward it and realised it was a gap underneath the tree roots. Amazed that luck had finally seemed to rejoin him after its desertion weeks ago, he scrambled inside into the pitch black. He lay still. His heart was thudding in his chest unbearably hard. His whole body felt as if it were on fire. Every breath he took made his fragile body hurt more. He could hear them talking. They were close. Short, shallow panicked breaths rung in his ears. He was breathing too loudly. They would hear him. He clamped a trembling hand over his mouth and backed as deeply as he could into the hole.

They were in the small clearing he had been just moments before. His head thumped. He could hear each step they made, feel the slight vibration in the soil. He slumped his head back against the damp wall of earth, willing them to move on. Raenir was very close. He could hear the slight clink from the loose buckle on his boot.

Walk away. I am not here, he urged silently.

His heart skipped a beat. His abductor's leg was grazing against the bramble he had fallen onto. Estel could smell him.

"He will not get far." He heard Donvan's cold voice say. "That arrow has either killed him, or it has injured him enough to stop him running. It is poisoned and will quickly incapacitate him."

A shadow moved over the small entrance of his hiding space and he closed his eyes tightly.

TBC…

Mwahahahahahahaha! *Quickly scrambles for her fake passport and jets of to Iraq, deciding the false moustache will probably get her arrested or shot and therefore shouldn't be taken* Okay, so I lied! Big deal. I know you all like the suspense.

A big thank you to my reviewers this week, who said being neurotic doesn't get you anywhere?

Websterans – Thank you for reading! I thought I'd stick that little line in because there was a little twinkle in Legless' eye when he said it in the film, so I gave it more depth. Then again, Orli always has a twinkle in his eye…for me. Slurp.

Tinnuial – Oo-er, my insurance covers people going mad at this story, not dying from it. Can you go mad instead? There will be more banter if I decide to let them live. Leggy may go mad and end up working as a team mascot in Milton Keynes.

Dragonfly32 – Kai isn't as ruthless as I made him look before, be nice. I have many surprises up my sleeve, except for rabbits, the damn things bite me.

TigerLily713 – Ah, you make a valid point. Don't gut Kai, that's not very nice. He's just a grumpy teenager who swallowed some lies. Okay, another random question; scientists say that all polar bears are left handed, but how do they know?

Alex Mistress Squirrel – How can you question my sanity? Me mad? Never, am I Mr Nutkin? *pulls out sock puppet* Nnnnnooooooooo, you can't make me go back there! I won't go! Maybe I should get one of those straight jackets for myself. But there will be consequences, Miss Rodent, ooh yes, no one questions my sanity and gets away with it!

Maranwe1 – Well stick me on that little list then! Yes, I'm cruel and I love it, I'm English, I have to get rid of my cruel streak through my stories or I'll end up fox hunting. I love you too, but I'm emotionally drained so I love the calculator next to me as well.

Jadelyn Rashwe – Oops, should I feel bad that I've sent you insane? I should shouldn't I? Oh well, mehehehe, you're a crazy ass bitch! No offence. Well, this cliffy will haunt you for a while! Mwahahahahaha!

Grumpy – You can have him as long as I get him back when he's older! You can tempt me away with Hershey bars! Send me some Cookies and Cream bars and I'll send you all the chapters in advance without harming a hair on his head, deal?

Simbelmyn – And what's better to go with your new institution than a sleek and stylish straight jacket? No, seriously though, cure your addiction after my stories have finished (there's at least 8 chapters left and two more stories in this series)

Leggylover03 – I could leave it there because I am EVIL! Mwahahahahahahahahahhahahahaha!

Lita of Jupiter – Wow. That's a hell of a review! You can't steal Legless! Well, you can if I can have Aragorn and Elrond… ooh father and son, kinky! Fan girls are vicious, I haven't decided what I'm doing with Carinyc yet (well I have but I'm not telling you) so you can release them when I say. Yeah, I love the idea of she-elves spoiling him, I'd love to read your dialogue! Elrond and co are in Faliraki and they won't come back, you, go and collect them and I'll stop Galadriel from killing you, it's a good deal all round. Oh, and dead people can't type either…

Astievia – Sorry… cliffies are kinda a permanent thing with me. I don't take kindly to threats missy, cross me and I'll shake you like a British nanny!

Vana E – I'm sorry, it must be extremely difficult for you *sends virtual hug* there will be lots of elf torture in coming stories that might make you feel a little better.

Tithen Min – I don't think I can bring myself to watch it! Hugo is gorgeous in trousers, I'll stick to that. Eurgh, college. It's messing with my story! Grr… Golf umbrellas are evil, and should be banned from people under 6 feet tall! Alice for Prime Minister! I'll ban golf umbrellas, ginger people and the Cheeky Girls! How could you not vote for me?!