*is looking under various pieces of furniture* Where can it be? *notices you watching her creepily* AHH! Oh, hello. Have you seen my mind? I seem to have lost it somewhere... *looks under couch cushions* Now where could I have put it? *Legolas mumbles something about being retarded*
ForceOfHobbit: What was that?
Legolas: Oh, nothing...
Anyway, I took my dear sweet time with this one...I don't really have a reason why, *ducks various projectiles that fly her way* Hey, that one had sharp edges! Anyway, here is your next installment. I promise the one after this won't take nearly so long.
To those of you patient enough to withstand my inane ramblings (aka, my reviewers):
leggylover03: hmm, where could it be?
SilverKnight7: Those things are tricky little buggers...keep figuring out my traps.
Barbara Kennedy: Ooh, very good. Legolas is much too headstrong to do what he's told.
Frisha: There is some in here in this chapter. I actually got really violent when writing this chapter.
tmelange: thanks. This chapter is much more involved than the last though.
goodnightmoon: aww, it's almost over...*single tear*
anonymous: Oh, just wait until next chapter...you'll get your fix.
angelic star: thanks, I try:)
My name is Hotaru9: Thanks...uh sorrie about the delay:(
MoroTheWolfGod: A very detailed and thorough review. I thank you for your input *gets slapped for being a smart-ass*
nightshade3: Major sacrifice, eh? that gives me an idea...
Nikola Greyhaym: Thanks a lot:) That's partially why I don't update for so long. If I don't feel in the perfect, Tolkien-ish mood, I won't wright because it doesn't sound the same unless my hearts in it. A breath of fresh air? That's both intelligent AND flattering! I thank you!
Lutris: Elves are clever little bas--, uh...buggers...yeah...these men will get what's coming to them.
Victoria: Wouldn't you be terrified? I know I would.
********
Young and Free
Chapter 6
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
********
The morning dawned bright and cheerful, and gave all appearances of a normal day. Lindir was crouched low in the bushes, watching the strange men intently. He had come upon their camp just as the sun began to rise and had lain in wait ever since. They were all dressed similarly, in the colors of fall and they were all heavily armed. Lindir hadn't expected that there would be so many of them; there were a hundred at least, and they seemed to be preparing to move again.
He had caught sight of Estel almost instantly after he found the camp. It was actually the baby's cries that led him here. He was in a beige colored tent standing in the center of their midst, and he hadn't stopped crying since Lindir arrived. He heard various burly looking men complain about it.
"...damn kid won't stop crying..."
"...kept me up all night..."
"...almost feel sorry for him, hey orders are orders..."
"...would do anything to get him to shut up!"
It made Lindir's blood boil to hear them speak of the child as such. He crept away quietly, and once he was out of sight, leapt into a tree over head. He made his way stealthily back into the camp through the thick canopy of branches. He went as far as he could before he decided he would be seen if he moved once more. Drawing his bow and quiver, he prepared to leap onto a group of men below him. If he was lucky, he would be able to reach Estel and get back into the trees before they could surround him.
The baby's cries were louder now, and just as he was about to strike, a man with stringy black hair and a split lip walked into Estel's tent. Lindir cursed under his breath. He could hear the man yelling.
"Shut up! Shut up!"
And then he heard Estel's tiny sobbing voice. "Ada! Ada!" between cries and gasping little breaths.
"Shut up!" The man yelled, and then Lindir's heart skipped a beat. He heard the sickening crack of flesh hitting flesh. For a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, there was a deafening silence in which an older looking man started to run towards the tent. Just before he reached it, Estel let out a long piercing scream and his crying and wailing was redoubled. Lindir let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. For a moment he had thought that Estel was dead.
Evidently so did the other man. His yells of anger could be heard mixed with Estel's cries and the man with the split lip came stumbling out of the tent. At the sight of him, Lindir's blood boiled. Fire was in his veins and in his eyes. Rage consumed him. He no longer cared about stealth or secrecy of the number of men below him. All he knew was that this man had dared to strike a two year old child, Lord Elrond's two year old child, and he deserved no mercy.
Lindir leapt from the trees with a cry that rang out through the morning air. He let fly three arrows that each hit their mark before landing on the man with the split lip. The man cried out, but Lindir pinned him to the ground and began to punch him in the chest and face. He became aware of strong hands grabbing his arms and chest and lifting him off the other man. The man with the split lip (and now black eye, cracked collar-bone and missing teeth) scrambled up off the ground and back away.
Quicker than lightning, Lindir whipped out his sword and swung it expertly around himself. Immediately, ten hands and arms that had been restraining him fell lifelessly to the ground in a shower of blood and cries off anguish. More men showed up, with weapons this time, and Lindir disposed of most of them quickly with his blade. He leapt onto the back of a falling man and sprung catlike in front of his prey. With a quick swiping movement, he split open the belly of the man who had struck Estel.
Than man crumpled to the ground clutching his gut, and Lindir became aware of a sharp pain in his shoulder. He raised his arm once more to strike, but an arrow pierced his hand, causing him to drop his sword. Wasting no time, he snapped off the arrow head and pulled it from his hand. It was like molten lava pouring through his wound, but his mind no longer responded to pain, only anger. He quickly whipped out his bow and let loose eight more arrows before turning back to the man on the ground before him. He was now brandishing Lindir's sword in one hand, and clutching his split belly in the other. A sword swiped across Lindir's shoulders and he dropped his bow. The stringy-haired man grinned.
A man jumped on his back and Lindir flipped him onto his sword. The grin faded from the stringy-haired man's face as he struggled to free Lindir's blade from the body of his comrade. Winding up all the strength he had in his arm, Lindir rammed his open palm into the nose of his prey. In an instant, the man's nose shattered, and his head snapped back, breaking his neck instantly. The stringy-haired man fell lifeless to the ground.
Lindir whirled around to face his other attackers, only to find that there were none. There were signs of a hurried retreat, but Estel was nowhere to be seen. //All a distraction!// he cursed himself silently. He bent down to retrieve his weapons, becoming all too aware of the arrow protruding from his shoulder and the hole in his hand. He reached back and plucked the offending arrow from the tight-slung muscles on his shoulder before tightly wrapping his palm. He set off after the other men.
********
"Sir?" asked a soldier breathlessly as he ran carrying Estel.
"What?!" Dagland snapped at the man. They were nearly to the horses now.
"What do we do now? With the Elves pursuing us this early, how will we make it back to Mirkwood?" he panted over the wailing of the baby.
"Fool. There was only one of them," Dagland retorted, "and he's injured. If we make it to the bank before he does, everything will go as planned."
"You still intend to keep the child then?" he said as they stopped to mount the waiting horses.
"Of course. The Princeling will go quietly so as not to harm the child, and the Elves will not fire on us for the same reason." The man looked a bit perplexed as he handed the baby up to his Lord. Dagland sighed. //Why do I surround myself with such fools?// "Once the Elves see that we mean to keep the child as a form of protection, they will not fire on us for fear that we will hurt him."
"I see..."
"Besides, with that dullard Leforn out of the way, I'll be needing to train a new heir to my future kingdom." He smiled a broad, sly grin as he looked down on the weeping child in his arms.
********
A splendid company out of Rivendell stood on the banks of the Bruinen as the sun started peeking over the tree-tops. Lord Elrond was there, dressed in fine robes of purple with a shining star on his brow. Elladan and Elrohir flanked either side of him in matching tunics of gleaming silver. Their chestnut tresses were eloquently twisted up into jaunty knots in the backs of their heads. Erestor, after much "discussion" with Lord Elrond was sitting atop a spotted mare, as he was too weak to stand on his own. Glorfindel, dressed in a beautiful green silk tunic of Legolas's, and bearing the Prince's bow and quiver, was standing silently, eyes trained on the glistening surface of the water. Scattered along the bank, various sentries were stationed.
Legolas, who had begged and pleaded with Lord Elrond on the matter of attending the exchange, had ended up staying back at The House of Elrond so as not to arouse suspicion. Unbeknownst to all those present, the haughty prince was crouching in some not-too-far-away bushes surveying the scene. He had only his white knife in his belt, and was dressed in earthy brown and green leather. He watched silently for any sign of the men.
After a few moments, the sounds of hoofbeats combined with the weeping of a child pricked the ears of all those present. A party of ten men, plus Dagland carrying Estel came into view. Lord Elrond stiffened. It didn't feel right. The younger man, Leforn, was not with them. Elladan and Elrohir looked to their father quizzically, and with a nod, he silently reassured them. If this was how the men wanted to play at it, he had his own archers hidden in the wood behind him. He trusted their skill better than that of the men.
"Greetings, Lord," Dagland shouted across the Ford. Elrond nodded. "I see you have held up your end of the bargain, and I have held up mine." He lifted the baby in his arms for emphasis. "A switch at the middle, I should think?"
"Very well," replied Lord Elrond solemnly, and man and Elf began to cross the river accompanied by "Legolas" and Estel. Elrond noted also that two guards followed closely behind that greying man. When they were no more than five paces from each other, Dagland stopped.
"I'll have you toss your weapons aside, Prince," he said, motioning towards Legolas' bow and quiver. Glorfindel did as he was told, and tossed Legolas' weapons up onto the bank behind him.
"On three," Dagland said with a glint in his eye. An alarm sounded in the back of Elronds head, and he flipped his hair around as a signal for his hidden archers to make ready. Legolas gripped the handle of his blade as he heard twenty bow-strings pull taut in the trees around him.
"One..." Elladan and Elrohir stiffened, their eyes searching the other bank for signs of movement. Glorfindel starred hard and the man in front of him.
"Two..." Estel had stopped crying, sensing his father, but was squirming uncontrollably in the other man's arms. Elrond watched with apprehension, and Erestor tightened his grip on his steeds reins. It seemed as though the world was holding its breath.
"Three."
Nothing happened. The man stepped closer to Elrond, and Elrond, who was shocked yet relieved, stepped closer to the man. Legolas poised to spring. When they were but an arms distance away, Elrond stopped and looked down at Estel in the other mans arms. The baby squirmed and reached up to him, and Elrond noticed a large, purplish whelt on his face. His face snapped up to meet Dagland's. The man was grinning largely.
Just then, Elrond heard wind swoosh, and felt a sharp pain at his neck. he noticed Glorfindel's hand fly up to his chest as something hit him as well. Elladan and Elrohir dove to the ground, and Erestor's horse reared. The two men behind Dagland rushed foreword trying to grab Glorfindel. Elrond whipped around to protect him, but suddenly felt weak and tired. Arrows flew from his side of the bank to the other, and many of the men on the bank fell dead.
He reached a hand up to his neck and pulled out a small, brown dart. He shook his head to try and shake the fog from his eyes, but he felt dizzy, and the world began to blur. He wanted to sleep. He no longer saw Glorfindel or Dagland, and he realized that he was on his hands and knees in the water. Many of his sentries lay motionless on the bank, but he could hear others descending from the trees. The world grew cold and dark around him.
Elladan and Elrohir, along with many other Elves from the trees, sprang into the river after the men. They saw Glorfindel and Estel get carried away into the trees on the other bank, but went immediately to their father, who was lying face-down, motionless in the water. They lifted him up and flipped him over, relieved to see him breathing. In all the commotion, no one noticed Legolas slip from the bushes and dart across the river.
Erestor, on horseback, was beside the twins in the water now, and Elladan spoke first.
"Can you ride?" he said quickly.
"Yes, I believe so," Erestor answered with a drooping head. They lifted Elrond into the saddle in front of Erestor, and watched with a little uncertainty as Erestor steadied himself on the horse.
"Be safe," he said to them, and turned and rode towards Rivendell. Twin brothers stood and ran after the men.
********
"Here, take him," Dagland commanded one of his men as he handed Estel over to him. "Split up. I will take Prince Legolas, you take your men and the baby. We will join once more at sunset."
"Yes sir," the man answered before taking his men and departing. Dagland, with Glorfindel over his horse, rode off with his remaining men.
Estel was wailing loudly in the arms of the man he had been handed, and the offending mortal kept snapping at him to be silent. It was because of this wailing that the band of Elves reached these men first.
They sprang at them from all directions, on the ground and through the trees. Elladan and Elrohir came in, swords raised and headed straight for the man carrying Estel. Blood sprayed the ground and the trees, but the Elves were easily outnumbered. Elrohir slashed at a man who blocked his path, but took a slice to the bicep as a result. Elladan quickly disposed of the man who had done it, but was himself wounded on his left thigh.
They came finally to the man they had been seeking, to find him carrying Estel in one arm, and a sword in the other. He looked panicked at seeing the identical Elvish furies, and he turned his blade on the baby.
"Come a step closer, and I'll kill him," he said with a strained voice. They held their ground, momentarily fearful that the man would do as he said, but they did not drop their weapons.
"I'll do it! Just make one move-"
"You will not!" Elladan cut him off.
Sensing his brothers train of thought, Elrohir continued. "If you kill him, there would be no child for you to hide from us behind."
The man made jerky movements as he looked from one twin to the other, and he slowly began to back away. Battle raged around them, but Elladan and Elrohir did not move. Suddenly, an arrow from the trees above struck the man in the back of the knee, and he fell to the ground, crying out in pain. Elrohir decided to take a chance and moved to grab Estel while the man was preoccupied. The man however, lashed out with his sword just as Elrohir leaned over him to lay arms on the baby, and caught him across the stomach.
Elrohir, not letting go of Estel, clutched his abdomen and doubled over in pain. Elladan, in a fit of anger, landed a flying kick to the mans head as head struggled to stand. He flew back and hit a tree, and at the same time, a very bloody Lindir dropped from the boughs above.
"Lindir?!"
"My Lord Elladan," Lindir said in a slightly amused voice.
The man made a move to rise again, but with one quick swipe from Lindir's sword, he fell lifeless to the ground.
"Elrohir!" Elladan said as he made his way over to his brother. He was doubled over on the ground, but he had Estel in his arms, and the baby wasn't crying.
"Elladan, take Estel," Elrohir said as he struggled to rise. Elladan took the baby, who promptly wrapped his arms tightly about his brother's neck. Lindir moved to help Elrohir stand, and he surveyed the scene. Some men were running off. Many bodies littered the ground, but thankfully none of them were of Elf kind.
One of the sentries from the trees came over to where the three of them stood with Estel and he addressed Elladan.
"My Lord Elladan, should we pursue them?"
Elladan furrowed his brows in thought, but answered shortly, "Send four to follow then in secret so that we do not lose the trail. Take the rest of your archers and collect those who were wounded at the bank."
"Yes my Lord," he replied and they began to make their way back.
When they had crossed the river, they found mounted Elves already beginning to collect those who were unconscious. They took horses and rode in silence back to the House of Elrond.
********
Hope it was long enough for your liking. I took long enough writing it...anyway, please R/R! The next chapter is sadly going to be the last one. We've just about finished our tale, so I hope you all tune in for the next installment!
ForceOfHobbit: What was that?
Legolas: Oh, nothing...
Anyway, I took my dear sweet time with this one...I don't really have a reason why, *ducks various projectiles that fly her way* Hey, that one had sharp edges! Anyway, here is your next installment. I promise the one after this won't take nearly so long.
To those of you patient enough to withstand my inane ramblings (aka, my reviewers):
leggylover03: hmm, where could it be?
SilverKnight7: Those things are tricky little buggers...keep figuring out my traps.
Barbara Kennedy: Ooh, very good. Legolas is much too headstrong to do what he's told.
Frisha: There is some in here in this chapter. I actually got really violent when writing this chapter.
tmelange: thanks. This chapter is much more involved than the last though.
goodnightmoon: aww, it's almost over...*single tear*
anonymous: Oh, just wait until next chapter...you'll get your fix.
angelic star: thanks, I try:)
My name is Hotaru9: Thanks...uh sorrie about the delay:(
MoroTheWolfGod: A very detailed and thorough review. I thank you for your input *gets slapped for being a smart-ass*
nightshade3: Major sacrifice, eh? that gives me an idea...
Nikola Greyhaym: Thanks a lot:) That's partially why I don't update for so long. If I don't feel in the perfect, Tolkien-ish mood, I won't wright because it doesn't sound the same unless my hearts in it. A breath of fresh air? That's both intelligent AND flattering! I thank you!
Lutris: Elves are clever little bas--, uh...buggers...yeah...these men will get what's coming to them.
Victoria: Wouldn't you be terrified? I know I would.
********
Young and Free
Chapter 6
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
********
The morning dawned bright and cheerful, and gave all appearances of a normal day. Lindir was crouched low in the bushes, watching the strange men intently. He had come upon their camp just as the sun began to rise and had lain in wait ever since. They were all dressed similarly, in the colors of fall and they were all heavily armed. Lindir hadn't expected that there would be so many of them; there were a hundred at least, and they seemed to be preparing to move again.
He had caught sight of Estel almost instantly after he found the camp. It was actually the baby's cries that led him here. He was in a beige colored tent standing in the center of their midst, and he hadn't stopped crying since Lindir arrived. He heard various burly looking men complain about it.
"...damn kid won't stop crying..."
"...kept me up all night..."
"...almost feel sorry for him, hey orders are orders..."
"...would do anything to get him to shut up!"
It made Lindir's blood boil to hear them speak of the child as such. He crept away quietly, and once he was out of sight, leapt into a tree over head. He made his way stealthily back into the camp through the thick canopy of branches. He went as far as he could before he decided he would be seen if he moved once more. Drawing his bow and quiver, he prepared to leap onto a group of men below him. If he was lucky, he would be able to reach Estel and get back into the trees before they could surround him.
The baby's cries were louder now, and just as he was about to strike, a man with stringy black hair and a split lip walked into Estel's tent. Lindir cursed under his breath. He could hear the man yelling.
"Shut up! Shut up!"
And then he heard Estel's tiny sobbing voice. "Ada! Ada!" between cries and gasping little breaths.
"Shut up!" The man yelled, and then Lindir's heart skipped a beat. He heard the sickening crack of flesh hitting flesh. For a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, there was a deafening silence in which an older looking man started to run towards the tent. Just before he reached it, Estel let out a long piercing scream and his crying and wailing was redoubled. Lindir let out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. For a moment he had thought that Estel was dead.
Evidently so did the other man. His yells of anger could be heard mixed with Estel's cries and the man with the split lip came stumbling out of the tent. At the sight of him, Lindir's blood boiled. Fire was in his veins and in his eyes. Rage consumed him. He no longer cared about stealth or secrecy of the number of men below him. All he knew was that this man had dared to strike a two year old child, Lord Elrond's two year old child, and he deserved no mercy.
Lindir leapt from the trees with a cry that rang out through the morning air. He let fly three arrows that each hit their mark before landing on the man with the split lip. The man cried out, but Lindir pinned him to the ground and began to punch him in the chest and face. He became aware of strong hands grabbing his arms and chest and lifting him off the other man. The man with the split lip (and now black eye, cracked collar-bone and missing teeth) scrambled up off the ground and back away.
Quicker than lightning, Lindir whipped out his sword and swung it expertly around himself. Immediately, ten hands and arms that had been restraining him fell lifelessly to the ground in a shower of blood and cries off anguish. More men showed up, with weapons this time, and Lindir disposed of most of them quickly with his blade. He leapt onto the back of a falling man and sprung catlike in front of his prey. With a quick swiping movement, he split open the belly of the man who had struck Estel.
Than man crumpled to the ground clutching his gut, and Lindir became aware of a sharp pain in his shoulder. He raised his arm once more to strike, but an arrow pierced his hand, causing him to drop his sword. Wasting no time, he snapped off the arrow head and pulled it from his hand. It was like molten lava pouring through his wound, but his mind no longer responded to pain, only anger. He quickly whipped out his bow and let loose eight more arrows before turning back to the man on the ground before him. He was now brandishing Lindir's sword in one hand, and clutching his split belly in the other. A sword swiped across Lindir's shoulders and he dropped his bow. The stringy-haired man grinned.
A man jumped on his back and Lindir flipped him onto his sword. The grin faded from the stringy-haired man's face as he struggled to free Lindir's blade from the body of his comrade. Winding up all the strength he had in his arm, Lindir rammed his open palm into the nose of his prey. In an instant, the man's nose shattered, and his head snapped back, breaking his neck instantly. The stringy-haired man fell lifeless to the ground.
Lindir whirled around to face his other attackers, only to find that there were none. There were signs of a hurried retreat, but Estel was nowhere to be seen. //All a distraction!// he cursed himself silently. He bent down to retrieve his weapons, becoming all too aware of the arrow protruding from his shoulder and the hole in his hand. He reached back and plucked the offending arrow from the tight-slung muscles on his shoulder before tightly wrapping his palm. He set off after the other men.
********
"Sir?" asked a soldier breathlessly as he ran carrying Estel.
"What?!" Dagland snapped at the man. They were nearly to the horses now.
"What do we do now? With the Elves pursuing us this early, how will we make it back to Mirkwood?" he panted over the wailing of the baby.
"Fool. There was only one of them," Dagland retorted, "and he's injured. If we make it to the bank before he does, everything will go as planned."
"You still intend to keep the child then?" he said as they stopped to mount the waiting horses.
"Of course. The Princeling will go quietly so as not to harm the child, and the Elves will not fire on us for the same reason." The man looked a bit perplexed as he handed the baby up to his Lord. Dagland sighed. //Why do I surround myself with such fools?// "Once the Elves see that we mean to keep the child as a form of protection, they will not fire on us for fear that we will hurt him."
"I see..."
"Besides, with that dullard Leforn out of the way, I'll be needing to train a new heir to my future kingdom." He smiled a broad, sly grin as he looked down on the weeping child in his arms.
********
A splendid company out of Rivendell stood on the banks of the Bruinen as the sun started peeking over the tree-tops. Lord Elrond was there, dressed in fine robes of purple with a shining star on his brow. Elladan and Elrohir flanked either side of him in matching tunics of gleaming silver. Their chestnut tresses were eloquently twisted up into jaunty knots in the backs of their heads. Erestor, after much "discussion" with Lord Elrond was sitting atop a spotted mare, as he was too weak to stand on his own. Glorfindel, dressed in a beautiful green silk tunic of Legolas's, and bearing the Prince's bow and quiver, was standing silently, eyes trained on the glistening surface of the water. Scattered along the bank, various sentries were stationed.
Legolas, who had begged and pleaded with Lord Elrond on the matter of attending the exchange, had ended up staying back at The House of Elrond so as not to arouse suspicion. Unbeknownst to all those present, the haughty prince was crouching in some not-too-far-away bushes surveying the scene. He had only his white knife in his belt, and was dressed in earthy brown and green leather. He watched silently for any sign of the men.
After a few moments, the sounds of hoofbeats combined with the weeping of a child pricked the ears of all those present. A party of ten men, plus Dagland carrying Estel came into view. Lord Elrond stiffened. It didn't feel right. The younger man, Leforn, was not with them. Elladan and Elrohir looked to their father quizzically, and with a nod, he silently reassured them. If this was how the men wanted to play at it, he had his own archers hidden in the wood behind him. He trusted their skill better than that of the men.
"Greetings, Lord," Dagland shouted across the Ford. Elrond nodded. "I see you have held up your end of the bargain, and I have held up mine." He lifted the baby in his arms for emphasis. "A switch at the middle, I should think?"
"Very well," replied Lord Elrond solemnly, and man and Elf began to cross the river accompanied by "Legolas" and Estel. Elrond noted also that two guards followed closely behind that greying man. When they were no more than five paces from each other, Dagland stopped.
"I'll have you toss your weapons aside, Prince," he said, motioning towards Legolas' bow and quiver. Glorfindel did as he was told, and tossed Legolas' weapons up onto the bank behind him.
"On three," Dagland said with a glint in his eye. An alarm sounded in the back of Elronds head, and he flipped his hair around as a signal for his hidden archers to make ready. Legolas gripped the handle of his blade as he heard twenty bow-strings pull taut in the trees around him.
"One..." Elladan and Elrohir stiffened, their eyes searching the other bank for signs of movement. Glorfindel starred hard and the man in front of him.
"Two..." Estel had stopped crying, sensing his father, but was squirming uncontrollably in the other man's arms. Elrond watched with apprehension, and Erestor tightened his grip on his steeds reins. It seemed as though the world was holding its breath.
"Three."
Nothing happened. The man stepped closer to Elrond, and Elrond, who was shocked yet relieved, stepped closer to the man. Legolas poised to spring. When they were but an arms distance away, Elrond stopped and looked down at Estel in the other mans arms. The baby squirmed and reached up to him, and Elrond noticed a large, purplish whelt on his face. His face snapped up to meet Dagland's. The man was grinning largely.
Just then, Elrond heard wind swoosh, and felt a sharp pain at his neck. he noticed Glorfindel's hand fly up to his chest as something hit him as well. Elladan and Elrohir dove to the ground, and Erestor's horse reared. The two men behind Dagland rushed foreword trying to grab Glorfindel. Elrond whipped around to protect him, but suddenly felt weak and tired. Arrows flew from his side of the bank to the other, and many of the men on the bank fell dead.
He reached a hand up to his neck and pulled out a small, brown dart. He shook his head to try and shake the fog from his eyes, but he felt dizzy, and the world began to blur. He wanted to sleep. He no longer saw Glorfindel or Dagland, and he realized that he was on his hands and knees in the water. Many of his sentries lay motionless on the bank, but he could hear others descending from the trees. The world grew cold and dark around him.
Elladan and Elrohir, along with many other Elves from the trees, sprang into the river after the men. They saw Glorfindel and Estel get carried away into the trees on the other bank, but went immediately to their father, who was lying face-down, motionless in the water. They lifted him up and flipped him over, relieved to see him breathing. In all the commotion, no one noticed Legolas slip from the bushes and dart across the river.
Erestor, on horseback, was beside the twins in the water now, and Elladan spoke first.
"Can you ride?" he said quickly.
"Yes, I believe so," Erestor answered with a drooping head. They lifted Elrond into the saddle in front of Erestor, and watched with a little uncertainty as Erestor steadied himself on the horse.
"Be safe," he said to them, and turned and rode towards Rivendell. Twin brothers stood and ran after the men.
********
"Here, take him," Dagland commanded one of his men as he handed Estel over to him. "Split up. I will take Prince Legolas, you take your men and the baby. We will join once more at sunset."
"Yes sir," the man answered before taking his men and departing. Dagland, with Glorfindel over his horse, rode off with his remaining men.
Estel was wailing loudly in the arms of the man he had been handed, and the offending mortal kept snapping at him to be silent. It was because of this wailing that the band of Elves reached these men first.
They sprang at them from all directions, on the ground and through the trees. Elladan and Elrohir came in, swords raised and headed straight for the man carrying Estel. Blood sprayed the ground and the trees, but the Elves were easily outnumbered. Elrohir slashed at a man who blocked his path, but took a slice to the bicep as a result. Elladan quickly disposed of the man who had done it, but was himself wounded on his left thigh.
They came finally to the man they had been seeking, to find him carrying Estel in one arm, and a sword in the other. He looked panicked at seeing the identical Elvish furies, and he turned his blade on the baby.
"Come a step closer, and I'll kill him," he said with a strained voice. They held their ground, momentarily fearful that the man would do as he said, but they did not drop their weapons.
"I'll do it! Just make one move-"
"You will not!" Elladan cut him off.
Sensing his brothers train of thought, Elrohir continued. "If you kill him, there would be no child for you to hide from us behind."
The man made jerky movements as he looked from one twin to the other, and he slowly began to back away. Battle raged around them, but Elladan and Elrohir did not move. Suddenly, an arrow from the trees above struck the man in the back of the knee, and he fell to the ground, crying out in pain. Elrohir decided to take a chance and moved to grab Estel while the man was preoccupied. The man however, lashed out with his sword just as Elrohir leaned over him to lay arms on the baby, and caught him across the stomach.
Elrohir, not letting go of Estel, clutched his abdomen and doubled over in pain. Elladan, in a fit of anger, landed a flying kick to the mans head as head struggled to stand. He flew back and hit a tree, and at the same time, a very bloody Lindir dropped from the boughs above.
"Lindir?!"
"My Lord Elladan," Lindir said in a slightly amused voice.
The man made a move to rise again, but with one quick swipe from Lindir's sword, he fell lifeless to the ground.
"Elrohir!" Elladan said as he made his way over to his brother. He was doubled over on the ground, but he had Estel in his arms, and the baby wasn't crying.
"Elladan, take Estel," Elrohir said as he struggled to rise. Elladan took the baby, who promptly wrapped his arms tightly about his brother's neck. Lindir moved to help Elrohir stand, and he surveyed the scene. Some men were running off. Many bodies littered the ground, but thankfully none of them were of Elf kind.
One of the sentries from the trees came over to where the three of them stood with Estel and he addressed Elladan.
"My Lord Elladan, should we pursue them?"
Elladan furrowed his brows in thought, but answered shortly, "Send four to follow then in secret so that we do not lose the trail. Take the rest of your archers and collect those who were wounded at the bank."
"Yes my Lord," he replied and they began to make their way back.
When they had crossed the river, they found mounted Elves already beginning to collect those who were unconscious. They took horses and rode in silence back to the House of Elrond.
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Hope it was long enough for your liking. I took long enough writing it...anyway, please R/R! The next chapter is sadly going to be the last one. We've just about finished our tale, so I hope you all tune in for the next installment!