Chapter 4

                  The gray dawn crept over the mountains just as the two awoke.  A thin layer of white frost coated the ground.  Both bound their quivers and bow to their backs and strapped some provisions and other weaponry to their sides.  They left their horses free, grazing in a field just outside the forest and then set into the woods.

                  The trees above them were unnaturally silent.  No birds chirped, nor did a single leaf twitch.  It was eerie, the two elves decided.  The hairs on the back of their necks stood on end as if the forest was full of energy.  Elrond bit his lip before stopping Ereinion.  The half-elven glanced around cautiously.

                  " I think we should-"

Ereinion motioned for him to be silent and crouched down.  Elrond sighed, following his example.

                  A tawny colored buck appeared, glancing about nervously.  Ereinion slowly began to reach for an arrow.

*What luck!

The buck's head swung around, catching the movement.  It sensed the imminent danger and bounded away.  Ereinion sighed, rising and beginning to follow.  Elrond tried to stop him.

                  " Ereinion, something is not right here."

Ereinion pointed after the deer.

                  " Have we ever had such luck on a hunt?"

Elrond shook his head.

                  " That is not the point.  Why is the deer even here when it seems all other life has left?"

Ereinion waved a hand.

                  " You think too much, Elrond."

Elrond crossed his arms.

                  " Usually my premonitions mean something."

Ereinion bit the inside of his lip thoughts snowballing about in his mind.  He sighed.

                  " I know, but I want that buck."

Elrond chuckled a bit.

                  " Fine.  I am probably just being overcautious."

~*~

                  Miserable.  He was bloody miserable.  He gritted his teeth as Elrond bound his weak wrist.  Ereinion tested it, picking up his bow and trying to hold it steady.  Elrond nodded.

                  " It should be fine."  A smirk appeared.  " Next time let me take the shot.  You might hurt yourself again."

Ereinion had tripped over a vine, nearly puncturing himself with the arrow meant for the buck. 

                  Ereinion glared into the forest.

                  " I think that buck is just an Elf taunting me."

Elrond shook his head.

                  " Just because you cannot get a decent shot does not mean you blame it on the deer."

Ereinion rose.

                  " I am the king.  Out here, I will blame it on you."

Elrond just chuckled.

                  " Ornery, eh?"

Ereinion swatted at him.

                  " When did you become so infuriating?"

Elrond brushed off his hands, letting the comment run off him like water on a duck's back.

                  " About the same time you became so clumsy."

Ereinion looked down before grinning.

                  " I have never been this clumsy."

Elrond laughed.

                  " Are you sure?"

~*~

                  Elrond hated the closeness in the dense forest.  It was nearly suffocating, not to mention unnerving.  A barely perceptible leaf rustled.  Elrond turned his head only slightly, noting that Ereinion was too keen on the hunt to notice.

*No wonder he needs someone to watch his back.  He becomes too focused on other things.

                  The usually calm Elrond was on edge after ten more minutes through the forest.  He glanced over his shoulder, now sure of the trailing stranger or strangers.  Ereinion noted the edginess as well as Elrond's ready bow.  The half-elven glanced again over his shoulder, fingering the feathered end of the arrow.  Ereinion tapped his shoulder.

                  " What is it?"  He asked.

Elrond peered into the forest.

                  " Someone or ones is tracking us."

                  So the hunters became the hunted.  They flinched, whipping about when a twig snapped to the right of them.  The silence descended again, leaving them at the mercy of their stalkers.  A silvery laughter seemed to echo at times taunting them further.  Ereinion's hand went to his sword, cursing himself for leaving Aeglos at home.

                  " Reveal yourselves."  He muttered.

                  In the thicket, nothing could be seen.  Again, the silvery laughter came reverberating through the leaves like a gentle breeze.  Elrond tensed, as it went deathly quiet.  He drew back the bowstring, waiting for whatever might come.  Ereinion drew his sword, preparing to fight the beast or person.  A loud twang surprised both of them.  Ereinion fell with a loud grunt, his sword falling from his hand.  Elrond turned to bend down, but an onslaught of arrows caused him to rise, unsheathing his own sword.

                  He barely had time to prepare for the assault of…Elves?  Elrond could not contain his surprise at his own people attacking them, trying to kill them.  Ereinion staggered back to his feet, sword in hand, and arrow jutting from his shoulder.  Together, the two defended themselves mechanically, trying to forget they slew their own kind in self-defense.  A sword jabbed into Ereinion wound along with the arrow.  Ereinion glared at the Elf and lashed out, his blade blinding them all in the patch of sunlight.  With a strangled cry, the Elf fell dead. 

                  Elrond fell to his knees gasping for breath.  He coughed violently trying to breathe.  Ereinion bent beside him worriedly, wincing and putting a hand to his own shoulder.

                  " Are you ok?'  He asked.

Elrond ran a hand over his face, looking as if he were about to be sick.

                  " These are Elves, Ereinion.  They tried to kill us."

Ereinion just closed his eyes, leaning weakly against a tree.  Elrond leaned over him, pulling out the sword.

                  " Mandos, Elrond!"  Ereinion exclaimed, putting in a few other good curses as he held his shoulder.

                  Elrond examined the blade before throwing it at a tree.

                  " Just as I guessed.  Poisoned."  He helped Ereinion up.  " Someone sent them to kill you.  We must get back to Lindon."

Ereinion just nodded, his shoulder throbbing without release.  A crackling roar cut them off guard.  Elrond looked back wide-eyed, before pulling Ereinion with him.

                  " Run!!"

~*~

                  Galadriel smiled graciously, seeing her nephew coming down the hall towards her.

                  " Aunt Artanis, I have been looking for Ereinion.  Do you know where he is?"

Galadriel shook her head.

                  " He and Elrond left about three days ago on a hunt.  He has given me temporary control of Lindon.  If your need is urgent, then I can hear it."

Orodlin shook his head.

                  " I need to speak with him directly over this matter.  Thank you anyways."  Orodlin began to walk away, and then turned back with a smile.  "Lovely day today is."

Galadriel watched him go with a befuddled expression.  Orodlin smiled to himself.

*My aunt in charge?  This is almost too easy.

~*~

                  Orodlin sat in his room, preparing an arrow.  A single knock came before three Elves slipped in.

                  " The woods are aflame.  Even if they did live, they could not have escaped with Ereinion in his condition."

Orodlin nodded, motioning for an Elf to sit beside him.

                  " Have we convinced Celebrimbor to our cause?"

The Elf shook his golden head.

                  " Nay, Glorfindel remained with him the entire time.  There was no time to ask this time."

Orodlin rubbed his chin.

                  " Then go back and convince him.  I need the heir of Fëanor to agree, else he may try to claim the crown."  Orodlin rose, pulling up the Elf by his collar.  " This is the accumulation of everything my life has been about.  Do you wish to be the one that ruins it for me?"

The Elf shook his head quickly.

                  " I will leave now, my lord, for the Havens.  Glorfindel should have left them by now."

Orodlin rubbed his chin nodding with a sly smile.

                  " And if the opportunity presents itself on your journey, dispose of the King's head of guard."

~*~

                  A golden haired Elf walked beside a bearded one.  The bearded one ran fingers through his whiskers, deep in thought. 

                  " I think you should stay an extra night, Glorfindel."

Glorfindel shook his head, his royal blue robes swishing in the wind.

                  " I think I can make it to Lindon before the storm sets in.  My sister will get worried, Círdan."

Círdan glanced up, his face dark.

                  " I fear there is ill happening in Lindon.  The South is ablaze.  Halmir died of suspicious causes.  Ereinion and Elrond have left on a hunting trip south.  Some evil is at work among the Elves."

Glorfindel rubbed his chin.

                  " Among the Elves?  I beg to differ, Círdan.  We are not lowly men whom evil can taint."

Círdan shook his head.

                  " Yet it still has tainted us; even those of us who came not red-handed; even those of us that never saw Aman.  We are all affected by this sin."

Glorfindel turned his head away.

                  " Who?"

Círdan shook his head.

                  " I believe that Celebrimbor may know more than he is letting on to."

Glorfindel turned down a hall.

                  " Where are you going?"  Círdan called.

Glorfindel looked over his shoulder.

                  " To find that son of Morgoth."