Chapter Five

Elladan and Elrohir rode around Mirkwood in record time. As the approached Anganor, a hush fell around them that boded no good. Elladan gripped his sword as Elrohir removed his bow and an arrow from his quiver. They spurred their horses on.

Some time later, a swarm of arrows flew at the twins from all sides. Elrohir leaped of his horse and shot back as rapidly as he could. Elladan cried out as he fell from his horse, an arrow protruding from his left arm.
"Elladan!" Elrohir shouted, as he threw down his bow and grabbed his sword. With a wild yell, he charged the orcs, killing many as he ran. The orcs closed in on him as he ran, thus cutting him off from his brother.

Elrohir fought desperately, but he was badly out numbered. Although determined to capture him, the orcs, strangely enough, took great care not to injure him. The half-elf's vision exploded as a club hit him on the back of the head, then everything went black and he knew no more.

********

Elladan opened his eyes with a groan and immediately closed them again. His last memory was riding on the marches of Anganor with Elrohir. Elrohir must have pulled some prank on him, causing his horse to throw him. Suddenly, he realized that his twin was not there. Elladan opened his eyes again and looked around. All around him were the signs of a fight: orc bodies strewn here and there, orc blood on the grass, hoof marks from when the horses had fled, orc arrows in the ground, foot prints, Elrohir's bow, quiver and sword, but no sign of Elladan's brother aside from that.

The half-elf pushed himself to a sitting position. That was when he noticed the pain in his arm. He glanced down at where the pain was and saw an arrow sticking out of his arm right above the elbow. Elladan grasped the shaft and pulled, knowing that unless he removed the arrow, the wound would never heal. Pain shot up his arm as the arrow out.

Elladan looked carefully at the arrow. The shaft was black, except for the very end, where something white was stuffed inside it. Elladan pulled the something out, and discovered that the shaft had been hollowed out so the white thing could fit inside. He unrolled the contents of the shaft. It was a piece of paper which bore this message on it:

To the elves of Rivendell and the Golden Wood,
If you treasure the life of Elrohir Elrondion,
I advise you to leave Middle-Earth forever as soon
as you receive this message. Otherwise, prepare to
receive his body
Giran of Anganor