Reflection

by Celebdil-Galad and Tinlaure

Painful memories of heartache and betrayal return to haunt Legolas and Aragorn as they relive an adventure they had years ago, only this time the tables are turned and nothing is as it seems. Longer summary inside

16. How High To Touch Rock Bottom? THE END

How High To Touch Rock Bottom?

Present...

Frinican looked at the necklace he held. On it, engraved with thin delicate lines, was elven leaves and stars, along with a white tree. It was the necklace of a ranger. Why this Tethane would have it, he did not know other than that Captain Draciar, the elf lover, was not what he seemed. The man had killed and ravaged enough rangers to know what the things they wore looked like. This lady was the wife of a ranger and they were going to free Elladan. "Go," he said to the men around him. "Burn the house, take what loot you can find. Kill the girl and the elf. I want none left alive."

"Where are you going?" the asked in return.

"I have unfinished business with a certain elf and ranger back at camp." He gripped the necklace and showed it to them. "This is a necklace of the rangers, she is a ranger sorceress. I want her dead and the elf they are trying to protect. I want that house and everything in it leveled!"

- - - - - - - - - - -

Elrohir sat the horse, he was nearly asleep, for the heat of the day was wearing away at his energy. He was leaning back unconsciously onto Glorfindel, who seemed not to really care. It seemed he was asleep as well, for his blue eyes were half lidded. As Elrohir shut his eyes, a thought came to mind unbidden...

Elrohir suddenly saw flames. Smoke seemed to choke him and burn his eyes. The air around him wavered in heat.

He looked at the floor (for it seemed to him that they were in a house) and saw Elladan.

He called to his brother, but the twin did not answer. A dark puddle was around his neck and face. His hands, they looked bone white, and had blood on them, showing dark against the ashen skin.

Another vision was one of Ancú and he was ghastly pale, with blood running from his lip. Elrohir saw the other elf's lashes were wet, with tears or water, perhaps rain perhaps not.

A voice came to him. "Elrohir...Elrohir..."

It was a whisper.

"Who are you?" asked Elrohir steadily.

"Manwë, you know me Elrohir, master of horses." The voice was soft as butter, yet strong as ever.

"I do my lord," came the equally soft answer from the breathless twin.

"Do you like what you see?"

"How could I?" asked Elrohir, furrowing his brow. Were the Valar against him? What had he done?

"I didn't think so. But it is what will surely come to pass, unless.."

"Unless what?"

"Unless old fears are conquered that should not be existent and a friendship finds its way."

"What?" asked Elrohir, taken unawares.

But the voice was gone, and the vision faded.

Elrohir recoiled as he felt cold water splash his face and turned a deadly glare upon Ancú as he realized it was his friend that had drenched him in water. Ancú just grinned foolishly. "You nearly fell off this beastly horse. I should have let you just to teach you a lesson." Elrohir's glare deepened.

He raised a dark brow and said, "oh? And why is that my friend?" Ancú smiled and shook his head. Roth watched in silence, but a beaming grin played across his clean features. Ancú finally could not contain himself any longer and a laugh broke through in a musical tone. Rothinzil snickered. Elrohir turned his head away and rolled his eyes.

Asfaloth side stepped and Ancú leaped backward faster than anyone, man, dwarf or elf could blink. He looked at the horse like it was a Balrog ready to spring upon him and incinerate him. The jolt of the horse side stepping was enough to alert and awake the Gondolin warrior atop the horse's back. He gaze a quick look in the direction that the horse had stepped in and saw Ancú standing stock still and tense, eyeing the horse.

Glorfindel stared upward and said, "Oh please! For the love of Elbereth, he isn't going to bite you!"

Ancú scoffed, "you know that is not the case Lord Glorfindel, as well as do I." He glared at the horse, whom he could swear under pain of death was looking at him in the meanest and yet scornful fashion a beast had ever done. Rothinzil went behind Ancú and gave him a little shove forward. The Rivendell elf dug his heels into the ground and pivoted to face the Mirkwood archer, who had a diabolical smirk on his face. Ancú just frowned and snapped, "try that again and I will prove to you how accurate my long bow is up close and personal!" Elrohir chuckled and quickly stowed it when the other Rivendell elf spun around to fix a wrathful glare upon the him. However, he could not conceal his mirth and a smile, like a burst of sunshine, danced across his face.

"An elf afraid of a horse!" said Elrohir with a slight snicker. "That is unheard of!"

"And it had better remain unheard of!" snarled Ancú threateningly. "If you three tell anyone, distinctively someone I know or am around often, I swear I will show you all the accuracy of my long bow!"

Nevertheless, the wrathful look and seemingly idol threat was enough to put the once sleepy trio of elves into a fit of choking hysterical laughter that showed they were clearly wide awake now. Ancú straitened his shoulders and proceeded to walk ahead of everybody.

Those bunch of imbeciles! He could shoot every last one of them at the moment, which was chiefly why he walked away. It was better than finding himself filling all of them up with arrows like a pincushion. The funny thing was, he could picture them looking like a bunch of pincushions and even though he knew he shouldn't laugh, he could not help but give a giggle. It was too whimsical.

The Rivendell elf suddenly stopped walking and went rigid. He had heard the crack of a twig or he was deaf. There it was again. He turned to look back at his friends, who were slowly coming up behind. Rothinzil trotted up by Ancú and said, "what is it?"

"I don't know," answered the Noldo uncomfortably. He felt not the dread of something horrible and dark, yet it was unknown and dangerous in that manner all the same. Whipping his bow off his back, he notched an arrow with gray fletchings into the weapon. He did not draw the string back, but he kept it ready to be pulled back and fired at any instant. Roth gaze Ancú a strange look and notched his bow as well.

Glorfidnel and Elrohir exchanged looks and the Gondolin elf's blue eyes swirled as he tried to see the source of the noise, for his ears had picked it up as well.

Suddenly, a man came. He was running and they could all hear his hard breath as he crashed through the brush. Ancú scowled, the man looked like a Corsair of Umbar. Evil beings, beings that had taken his friends captive. He drew back his bow and put the human in his sights. Rothinzil looked at him and did the same and a cold and deadly flame glittered in his eyes. These men had harmed his prince. They would pay. The elves felt the fletchings brush his brush against their cheek. The elves drove out all other thoughts of the world about them and focused on their target.

A shout of the Gondolin elf in the High Tongue of Quenya disrupted their train of thoughts. "Don't shoot! In the name of Githoniel, hold your arrows!" The Elf-lord's voice was clear and the other elves felt their bubble of concentration tremble as the call penetrated it. Reluctantly, as though against their will, they lowered their bows, but never once let their eyes leave the mortal that now stood before them, breathing hard. They did not know who he was and even though Glorfindel said he was not to be killed, they were not sure to trust the Gondolin elf's judgement. After all, thought Ancú darkly, the golden-haired elf thought that Asfaloth was safe and he knew the animal was not.

Glorfindel said, "he is a friend. Anders of the north, Son of Halbarad, Aragorn's kin." Elrohir stared at the human dropped jawed, for he had known him, and all other rangers, since they were children, and yet this mortal's disguise had totally thrown him off. For he knew is was a guise.

"Anders?" he stammered slowly. "Why in the name of Eru are you dressed like that?"

Anders stared at the twin and said, "I have no time to explain Elrohir, your brother's life is in danger! I have him hidden for now, but it will not last long and when they find him it will not go well."

Elrohir raised a brow and said, "which brother?" It wouldn't surprise him either way, but he had to know.

Anders panted, "I have Elladan hidden, Aragorn and Legolas are still with the Corsairs. I went to gather what Southern rangers I could find, but it is hard."

Rothinzil looked at Anders and said, "what? They still have Legolas? Where are they! If they harmed him..."

"You will do what?" asked Glorfindel. "Silence yourself Rothinzil! Continue Anders and hurry!"

"I left him with my wife, Tethane in Shishma. But it will not last long, for to get him, she had to give up the necklace of my heritage, the silver one that I gave her. They will find out, and when they do, they will kill her and do Elbereth knows what to Elladan. We must make haste. I do not know what they will do to Legolas and Aragorn when they find out, perhaps nothing, but who can say?" finished Anders tiredly.

Elrohir's face had gone an unhealthy shade of gray and he looked at Glorfindel, who also had paled. "Glorfindel-"

"Elrohir, shhhhh! I am trying to think!" growled the golden-haired elf irritably. He looked at Anders carefully, as though deep in thought. "How long would it take to get to Shishma from here?"

"Not long, but long enough," answered Anders promptly. "I need your help Firstborn."

"And you shall have it. Get the rangers rallied, meet us all at Shishma," concluded Glorfindel.

"I fear the house will not be standing by the time we are all gathered, "argued Anders urgently. "I think it would be far better to get all the rangers and attack the camp where Legolas and Aragorn are. After you get Elladan and Tethane, send Ancú and...him, "he pointed at Roth.

"Rothinzil," volunteered the Mirkwood elf, bowing politely.

Anders continued, nodding at the Wood elf, "Rothinzil, to us and we can attack the camp while you and Elrohir lead Elladan and Tethane to safety."

"It will be dangerous, so much can go wrong, "said Elrohir and he looked at Glorfindel.

"I don't like it either," uttered the golden-haired elf almost to himself. Ancú and Rothinzil were in danger that he could not fathom, he sensed it.

Anders shouted in exasperation, "but there is no other way! We are wasting time!"

Glorfindel looked at the human and said, "we will do your will, but only because you have risked much before for us, that and even though it is more dangerous, I think it may be wiser." Ancú and Roth exchanged looks. Elrohir blew air upwards to shift a loose strand of hair on is forehead.

Anders nodded his gratitude. "May we meet again soon Lord Glorfindel, Lord Elrohir and friends." Then he turned and began to get back to his swift task of tracking down the rangers of the South.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Legolas sat next to Aragorn who was leaning on his shoulder this time. The ranger was not asleep, and his steel gray eyes watched everything in the camp. Legolas leaned his head back against the tree they had been set near, but amazingly not tied to. He was thinking about ways of escape. Aragorn looked at the elf and said, "Legolas, you know there is no way out of this."

The elf looked at the human and said with a faint grin playing on his face. "You should be sleeping, this heat takes away one's strength."

"Weary are we?" asked the ranger mockingly.

Legolas said with mock dignity, "And you aren't? But yes, I am tired, tired of fighting, tired of pain, just plain tired." The elf prince felt Aragorn's head and neck stiffen against his shoulder and he could sense the ranger's hard and concerned gaze upon him. Legolas shifted. "Don't trouble yourself with me Aragorn."

"Legolas..." began the man.

"Aragorn, rest." The elf sounded so adamant that Aragorn nearly complied.

Stifling a yawn, he answered the elf back, "my friend, you are planning something." Legolas looked down at Aragorn as he raised his head to look into Legolas's blue orbs that still sparked with a faint fire.

"You are as bad as your brothers. But, yes, I have a plan," voiced the elf quietly, as though he was still piecing it together. Aragorn remained silent for a moment.

"Well, are you going to tell me?" he whispered in annoyance.

"We are not bound," began Legolas.

"That may change," interrupted the ranger pointedly.

Legolas raised a fair brow and glared down at the human. "Let me finish Estel. In this heat, they grow weary, I can see it in their eyes. As soon as they begin to lay down and grumble amongst themselves, there will be enough of a distraction I think that we can escape to the stream that I saw as we came into this camp outside the city. We will hide under a ledge until they have called off their search, then go and find Elladan."

Aragorn rolled his eyes. "What a plan mellon nin. Elbereth help us."

Legolas smiled and looked at the sky then back down at the ranger, giving a curt nod. "She will." Aragorn just smiled and set his head back against the elf's shoulder.

"I am glad you are with me Legolas Thranduillion, mellon nin," said the mortal happily, with a spark of content.

Legolas smiled and then turned serious, "even if I would die, I would not have it any other way." He then looked at the ranger and said, "do you remember the last time we were here?" Here the elf prince incidentally put a hand on the right of his chest.

Aragorn looked at his companion and said, "I do. You fell, I thought I had lost you. I thought I had lost myself. At times it seems so vivid."

"I know," whispered the elf. "It has been on my mind since you were first captured and I wounded. It seems so long ago," he finished sadly.

Aragorn just looked at the immortal and said, "you feel the pain anew, don't you?"

Legolas grinned, "not so much in reality, but it is in my memory and plaguing my thought." Even as the elf spoke, his eyes watched the camp. They were searching for the most opportune moment of weakness in the men that held them captive. Their time of escape was drawing near. But, then the elf's eyes fell upon Aragorn, he was weak from his wound and the heat, he was human. When these men weakened who had not been through so much, the ranger would as well. How then would they escape? "Estel," he said, calling the human by his old name that the man's brothers still used; "how are you feeling?"

Aragorn looked at the blonde immortal and said, "I feel well enough to walk if that is what you are getting at."

"I was just wondering Aragorn, you don't need to bite my head off," said the elf in shock. Aragorn had never really raised his voice at the elf and Legolas felt slightly hurt. "I was just trying to help. How is your arm? I mean where he stabbed you?"

"I will be fine my friend, but I am sorry. I should not have snapped at you like that," said the man sadly. "I am tired and it makes me say things I shouldn't." Legolas just shook his head. Humans. But, he understood.

Then, the elf persisted. "How is your arm? Don't tell me it doesn't hurt that much or that you are 'hale', I am no fool. You and I seem to see the word in two different lights."

Aragorn snorted. "Legolas, I am telling you, you and Elladan are remarkably alike. My friend, you do seem to love playing the mother hen don't you!" accused the ranger lightly.

"No! I pity people like you! You filthy human!" teased the elf carelessly.

"Stubborn elf!" teased the ranger back with about as much effort and seriousness. While the ranger was laughing, Legolas reached out his free hand and touched Aragorn's shoulder delicately. The ranger withdrew his smile and winced. Legolas smiled wryly.

"So it hurts? I thought as much," he said. Aragorn rolled his eyes.

"It is not infected, but it only just quit bleeding a few hours or so ago. I will be fine," stated the human to the immortal who glared at him with a look of concern.

"You are the most pigheaded mortal I have head the pleasure of knowing!" said Legolas with a near laugh. "But if we do not quiet down, the men shall not fall asleep."

"They won't anyway Legolas. It is hopeless, you know this," confirmed the human ruefully.

"It is well mellon nin, and our time approaches," answered the elf happily. "We will escape within the hour, you'll see," said Legolas with simple conviction. Aragorn could not help but trust the elf that he had found dependable in the past.

"Do you recall what happened to you after you fell Legolas?" asked the wavy- haired human.

"I do, how could I forget? I hit a horse and rider. Then I was nearly slain." The elf sounded indignant. These thoughts were not pleasant, but they had to come out.

"I mean after that?" asked the ranger. His gray eyes looked softly at Legolas's face as he saw pain reflecting back.

"Now that is not so vivid," answered the prince gravely. "I remember someone shaking me, calling me back to consciousness. And then..." here he looked at Aragorn. "I saw you fall, and I let the darkness claim me, believing it was death and a door out of my pain." Aragorn shifted and felt tears burn his eyes.

"That is why I let my world go black that day," said the mortal. Legolas looked at him.

The elf prince continued, "I recall waking and seeing the trees swaying over head and hearing birds calling to each other. I remember thinking, 'where is Aragorn, where am I? Is this the Halls of Waiting?' Then when a human reached over me and grabbed a flagon of water, pressing it to my lips, I knew it was not. I remember seeing the cursed arrow lying beside me and feeling blood on my tunic and seeing my blood on the arrow's head." Legolas passed a trembling hand over his brow as he recalled the thoughts he had pressed away for years. Everything he was feeling was relentlessly true and painful. "I remember feeling an aching in my chest, then looking over and seeing you and thinking that my pain was nothing. Your face was pale and blood flowed from our brow. I thought you were dead."

Aragorn spoke now in a soft and thoughtful tone, "I thought you were dead and I was ready to die, but when I was near the brink of the dark abyss, I heard your clear voice calling me and I resolved to live. It was as though you refused to let me die is more like what happened."

"I did call for you, because I was scared to be alone. I was in a strange land and with men Aragorn. I did not know whom to trust." The elf sounded hurt and yet happy. "I recall when you heard my voice and opened your eyes. You looked at me and smiled, saying, 'hello elf. Where have you been?' and I said, 'right here Aragorn.' You closed your eyes and I thought you had left me and then you drew a deep breath and I knew it was the breath of life and you were going to live." Aragorn looked at the leaves swaying on the trees.

"I have reminisced the time often ere our misadventure started, when I looked over at you some time later to see if you were well, and your eyes were closed and you were sleeping. I saw your blood and knew it was the Valar that had preserved you."

Legolas said in a slow voice that was filled with awe and joy, "and I knew they had preserved you mellon nin."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tethane tugged and pulled at Elladan. "They are coming, you must get up. You must fight!"

Elladan snapped back as he got to his feet, clutching his ribs with one hand. "How and to what purpose Lady Tethane? I am grateful for what you did for me, but you are right, they are coming and it is over for me. I would die in peace knowing that you still lived."

"You just need to believe Lord Elladan. Time is fleeting, let us go!" she grasped his wrist and pulled him behind her. Elladan stumbled along behind. He was terrified inside and did not know what was going on. Everything was black to him. "We are nearing the stairs and we have to get down them. You must come. I will be here and support you."

Elladan put a foot forward and then drew it back. "I can't." She pulled him forward and he felt her hand tremble in fear. He could sense her fear, for her, the person who had tried to save him, he had to try. He had to not give up, if he gave up, it would be to her destruction as well. Hesitantly, the raven-haired immortal put an uncertain foot forward to touch the first stair.

Tethane smiled despite her fear, "good, now the next." A clattering smash caused the front door to shiver. Elladan jerked his head up and looked in the direction of the noise. The men were breaking in. Tethane stood frozen to the spot. Her heart raced and her spirit quailed. Another such noise and the door gave.

Elladan heard a swooshing noise, the sound of a bow being released of its burden, a dark shaft. He heard the sickening sound of it entering flesh. At first, he thought it was his own and shivered. Then he heard Tethane gasp and her voice go ill with pain. "Elladan..." The elf looked in her direction. "Elladan..."

"Tethane?" he asked nervously. What was going on? He heard footsteps on the stairs and the shouts of men around him.

He then heard her soft and delicate voice croak, "I am sorry...I have failed...forgive me."

"You have not failed. There is nothing to forgive," he said with tears in his eyes. She sagged against him s the pain shot through her. The women's body was going into a state of shock. Elladan felt her shaking like a leaf against him. He also felt hot blood, stick and loathsome, running over his hands as it flowed from a wound in her breast.

Her breath hitched and she said, "I have failed my husband." Then, Elladan felt her draw a deep breath and a tremor ran through her body. Then all went still and the elf knew that it was death and that had been her last breath. He felt her go limp and he broke down. Never before had he experienced actually death, this close. At first he was glad not to see her pale face. Then, he wished he could, for he longed to tell Anders she had died in peace.

This made him recall something he had not recalled in a long time. He recalled when Arathorn had died and he had felt him raw his last breath as he tried to save him. That had been his last experience with death. He recalled how cold Arathorn had been and then he recalled Aragorn as a child and finding a life to replace the loss. He recalled finding a new purpose. Now he had no purpose that was anew. As far as he knew Elrohir had been slain by the orcs. He did not know what had become of Aragorn.

He suddenly felt a shoulder smack into him, casting him down the rest of the stairs. The immortal felt Tethane fall from his grip and pain smash his ribs, drawing the air from his lungs as he slammed into the stairs. So this was how it was going to pass.

He held his breath for what seemed ages when he felt himself strike the bottom. He finally gasped and then he felt a man's boot press down on his chest, pinning him in place. "Elf, before you die, I want you to hear this and hear it well." Elladan heard the sound of metal scraping as a knife was pulled from its sheath. "Know that Frinican is not easily fooled and you have paid the price for your folly. The lady fair is slain, an arrow through her breast. Now, draw your last breath and remember that you brought this pain upon your self." Elladan felt the man stoop down and pressure made his ribs scream, for the human did not remove his foot from Elladan's chest.

The twin felt a cold touch of steel to his neck and drew in a quick breath. The elf whipped his head away in a last ditch effort to avoid the inevitable death that was to come. He felt a stinging pain as the human pressed his knife down upon the left side of the ebony-haired immortal's throat and pulled it across the pale skin. Elladan winced as hot blood, his blood spouted from the wound that stretched across the left side of his neck. Blood trickled from Elladan's mouth and his hands went to his throat involuntarily. He felt the sticky liquid coating his palms as he lay on his back, ribs throbbing and blood gushing from his throat.

This was how it was going to end, how he was going to leave Middle Earth. Elladan was not going to go across the sea, he was going to die and go to the Hall's of Waiting to see Elros, his uncle and all his other relatives that had died in the Second Age. He drew in another hitching breath and smelled the filthy odor of smoke filling the room. The immortal now turned mortal could feel heat coming closer and he realized that the house was burning and it would not be long now, before he went with it.

Men, in their heavy boots stomped by him and he heard the floorboards creaking beneath their feet. The elf could also hear the roar of flames taking the house. He felt that he had failed Tethane. If he might not have been so reluctant to get up, he and she might have escaped and be hiding in the brush by now. But, it was too late and all he could do was pray to the Valar to end him quickly.

As he lay, bleeding to death, he thought back to when he and Elrohir were small elflings and they had first learned to hunt together. He recalled how Elrohir had nearly shot him in the leg, because he had not been strong enough to hold the bowstring back for long.

Then, his thoughts strayed to when they had taught Estel to hunt and Elrohir had nearly gotten shot by the human because he had foolishly said that you shoot things that look like Elladan, forgetting he was a twin himself when he made the jest. Aragorn had obviously thought that the advice applied to both of the elves and that was when Elrohir learned that Estel took things much more seriously than did most men. Of course, then he came up with the bright idea of telling Estel to shoot blond elves and Glorfindel and Legolas had to watch their backs for a while before Aragorn realized it was a joke. Aragorn had been five then.

Elladan was going to miss his brothers. They had been his closest friends besides Ancú and Legolas. Who was going to tell the healers how Estel liked his tea when he got sick? Who would tell Elrohir to blow out the candle and go to bed long after everyone else had? Who knew his brothers' greatest fears and foremost joys? Such as Elrohir didn't really like the pitch dark and had to have a campfire when they weren't at home; or that Estel loved the spring when new life came forth and there was so much to explore in the woods? Nobody ever got as close as brothers. Yes, their father would be there, but it would not bee the same. Drawing a deep breath, he waited for death. However, he still felt the whole tragedy was his fault.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Glorfindel, Elrohir and Ancú along with Rothinzil were now on the outskirts of the city. They did not know how they were going to get through it. Men hated elves here and would not hesitate to kill all of them as soon as they laid eyes on the immortal.

Roth was a Mirkwood elf and a friend of men, for hey lived near the Long Lake and traded with mortals so he saw not the danger. "Why don't we just go? Perhaps they can help us."

Elrohir rolled his eyes, "You are a fool Rothinzil! Not all men are as friendly and safe as the ones at Lake Town! These men would see us hang before they allowed us to pass the gates!"

Glorfindel just gave then all a strange look and said, " we are going to have to go through, one way or another." His eyes fixed on the house farthest away; smoke, black and choking was rising from the home and he knew it was not good. Narrowing his eyes, he made sure that the house was the one that Tethane should be in. It was. "The house is burning! We have no time!" Ancú looked in the direction of the house, following Glorfindel's gaze.

"We are going to have to go through the town. If we don't we will get there too late!" begged the Rivendell elf, no longer caring for his own life. Elladan was in there and he meant to get him out.

The dark-haired elf began to run for the town and Rothinzil followed right behind him at a run. The Gondolin elf and Elrohir exchanged glances and then Glorfindel heeled Asfaloth into a canter to catch up with the friends that were sprinting ahead. The elves were already past the gates and now amongst people in the town, who gave them strange looks of curiosity, but did no more.

Soon they were at the house. The smoke nearly blinded all of them Elrohir looked at the house in dismay. His brother was in there. Taking his good foot, he kicked the horse, urging the animal closer to the house that was going to collapse soon. Glorfindel clutched the reins and pulled Asfaloth back. They would not be going in there. Elrohir looked back at the other elf in consternation. "What are you doing? Elladan is in there!"

Glorfidnel did not answer. He just looked at the house, his eyes immovable on the flames that poured from its windows. Flames; they brought back so many memories. Death, falling, blackness and pain; all of these ran through his mind. Then clear as ever came the Balrog, heat radiating from its body. His enemy. Elrohir felt the Gondolin elf shudder behind him. "Lord Glorfindel?" asked the twin urgently. "We have to get him out! Why do you hesitate?"

It was the flames. They were calling him calling him back to the grave. No, he would not go back. "We aren't going in there Elrohir, if Elladan is in there, he is dead by now."

Elrohir growled, "what are you saying? No! He is alive, I feel him!" Elrohir was not going to sit there and face that his brother was dead.

Glorfindel dismounted and stepped over by Ancú, who stood by Rothinzil, watching the flames with desperate eyes. Elrohir suddenly snapped, "fine, if nobody will help me, then I will go alone."

The raven-haired elf spurred the horse and it broke into a gallop. The door to the home was laying on the ground, smashed down by the men who had destroyed the home and killed Tethane. Elrohir drove Asfaloth to go through it. It didn't take much, for the elf horse did not have much fear. He leaped nimbly through the opening and they were in the house. "ELROHIR!" shouted the golden-haired elf after the twin, but Elrohir was deaf to the cry.

The first thing that the twin noticed was the thick smoke that made everything dark and hazy. It filled his lungs and caused him to cough. Drawing a deep breath he urged Asfaloth forward. The horse reared in terror as a beam, clothed in flame, fell from the ceiling and landed very close to them. Elrohir fell from the horse and landed on the ground.

Whether by chance or fate of some strange kind, he landed by Elladan. He felt his brother's heavy breathing and a sticky substance coating his hand. He knew it was Elladan's blood. Elrohir narrowed his eyes against the smoke and heat of the flames about him. It burned his face and he felt his mouth go dry with ash. "Elladan?"

It was silent for what seemed to Elrohir for hours. Then a croaking voice said, "Elrohir? Am I dreaming or dead?"

The smoke cleared and Elrohir saw Elladan's pale face, coated with ash and blood running from his neck. His throat was cut. He was dying. "No, I am here. I will save you." Elrohir heard Asfaloth race out of the house, his hooves clattering on the floorboards. The elf paid the animal no heed.

Elladan smiled at his brother's touch to his bloodied hand. "But you can't El. I am blind, my throat is cut. It is over." Elladan suddenly coughed, from blood or smoke. "In...a minute...the house will fall...and you will die as well...leave me...go."

Elrohir grasped his brother's slippery hand tightly and said defiantly, "no. We will go together." He was not going to leave his other half, his twin, his brother. He shifted his leg and suddenly noticed that it was caught, broken through a weakened floorboard. With a wry smile, he whispered through the smoke that had dried his throat, "I can't anyway Dan. My good leg has gone through the floorboards and is hopelessly caught." Elladan shifted and grasped Elrohir's hand.

Elrohir watched as the smoke cleared and he saw that the cut was on Elladan's left half of his neck. It was not in the jugular. There was hope, at least for this wound. Releasing his grip on his brother's hand, he placed his fingers in the deep laceration and pressed the wound shut. Elladan jerked his head away and Elrohir's fingers slipped free. "What in the name of Elbereth are you doing Elrohir?" asked Elladan. "Do you want me to burn alive?"

"Your wound is on your left side, I can patch it and you can live," explained the twin as he put his fingers back into the wound pulsing red blood. Elladan relaxed. Even though it was hopeless, if it helped Elrohir cope, he would do it.

Elrohir suppressed a shudder as he felt the hot liquid run over his hands and arms. This was the vision he had seen, and now it was over. The vision as coming true. What had he done to deserve this?

He felt the scorching flames drawing closer; soon they both would burn. He shut his eyes tightly and braced himself for the pain he would feel before falling into darkness. Elladan suddenly shifted a uttered, "they killed her."

Elrohir asked, "killed who?"

"Tethane. She tried to save me and they shot her dead," answered Elladan with a choking voice. He wanted to cry and the smoke along with his pain caused a tear to run from his eye and flow down his face. "She is dead."

Elrohir said, "well it wasn't your fault."

"But it was," said Elladan sadly. "She tried to get me to get up and I contended. If I would have done it to begin with, we could have escaped, she could have lived."

"No. You could not have prevented it. She made her choice," said Elrohir back to try comfort his brother, whom he knew as going on a guilt trip. Smoke caused he younger twin to cough again and Elladan stiffened as he knew his brother was going to die.

A joist suddenly fell from the roof and crashed down by them, sending sparks into Elrohir's face. The twin shook his head to relieve it of the burn.

All at once, he heard a louder crash and a voice above him said, "You didn't give up did you?" It was the clear voice of Glorfindel and the golden-haired elf looked down at the pair of ashen elves that were sitting on the ground.

Elrohir glanced up and said, "no! Never!" Glorfindel smiled and jumped from the horse, and Rothinzil jumped down as well. Ancú came limping from behind warily, he had refused to ride the horse. The Gondolin elf sped to Elladan and placed an arm under the twin's head and another under his knees, lifting up the Noldo, pushing aside the fiery pain that shot through his broken arm. Elladan smiled thinly. "Glorfindel?"

"Elladan be quiet until we are out of here." The golden-haired elf gently helped Elladan up onto the horse as best as he was able with one arm, for the bad one threatened to give on him. The twin sucked air between grit teeth as his ribs that had been broken sifted and ground together. Glorfindel took Elladan's blood slick hands and set them on the mane. "Hold this, wait until I give the signal for you to ride." Elladan nodded wearily. Up on the horse, he felt the hot smoke burning his throat and filling his lungs.

"Elrohir?" he asked with a cough.

"We are getting him," said the Elf-lord quickly. He noticed Elladan's throat. Quickly he reached up and set his good hand about it, slowing the blood flow. The red liquid coated his hands the same it had Elrohir's.

Ancú and Rothinzil had assigned themselves the task of freeing Elrohir's leg and Ancú put his hands under Elrohir's arms and pulled him up. He held him while Rothinzil gripped the twin's leg in one hand and gently worked it loose. Elrohir smiled. "Hello Ancú, glad you could join me."

Ancú smiled down. "Don't push it unless you want to be left here." Elrohir snickered. Ancú grinned and laughed as well. Suddenly, he felt the Noldo become rigid as his foot pulled through and scrapped against the rough wood and its jagged edges that bit through his boot and trouser leg. Ancú pulled Elrohir up the rest of the way and Rothinzil helped to support the raven- haired elf.

Glorfindel said from his position at Elladan's side, "set him on the horse."

Elrohir looked at Ancú and teased, "unless you are too scared to get near it?"

The other elf glared and snapped, "do you want me to drop you?"

Elrohir just frowned and said, "no, I don't think I would like that." Roth snickered.

Ancú smiled, "good, hush!"

They soon had the brothers up on the horse and Glorfindel released his grip on Elladan's throat. "Ride Elladan, Asfaloth will find his way out."

Elrohir looked at the other three elves standing nearby, "what about you three?" Were they mad?

"We will walk out! You must ride!" yelled the Gondolin elf. Elladan heeled the white horse and it tore out of the house, flames licking at its heels.

In what seemed seconds, the twins and animal were out of the burning structure. Elrohir turned the horse around to see if the others were coming. They weren't. " Ancú! Glorfindel!" Silence, save for the sound of fire roaring up to it's max. "Rothinzil! Somebody!"

Fear for his rescuers shot through the twin's system. Suddenly, all three of them burst out and were coated in sweat. Elrohir would have cracked up into hysterical laughter, had the situation not been so dire. For all three of the elf face were black with soot. Then, the twin realized his face was probably about the same as theirs, for even Elladan's face (pale as it was) was coated with black ashes and perspiration.

They were all alive. Elrohir still was worried about Elladan and his laceration in his throat. Glorfindel felt Elrohir's anxiety and he exchanged looks with Ancú, who shrugged. Suddenly, he grabbed a piece of the Rivendell elf's cloak with his good hand and said Roth, "cut it please."

Ancú looked at the Gondolin elf like he had just gave the command for him to be beheaded. Was Glorfindel mad? That was his cloak! "Excuse me?" he said. "That is my cloak!"

Glorfindel shrugged, "oh well."

"Roth if you touch it-" Roth took and cut a strip about three feet long from the mantle. Ancú frowned as he stared ruefully at his once long and graceful garment. Glorfindel took the strip and went over to Elladan. Ancú supposed he could suffer his favorite mantle to be cut for his friend's life, but he still wasn't happy about it.

Taking the cloth, he bound it tightly (without choking the elf) around the Noldo's throat. They had no way to administer stitches so they had to pray that a tightly wrapped bandage would be enough to last Elladan until they got help. Elrohir watched anxiously.

The villagers had come to surround them. They brandished pitchforks and shovels along with a few random spears. The men who had originally set fire to the house stood by, rallying up the crowd against the elves. "Look what they have done! The women lies dead!" The humans glared at the elves as they spoke. "If not for them, and their reckless blood shed, she wood still be alive, not dead with an arrow through her!"

Ancú rolled his eyes, "oh please! Anyone can see it was one of your arrows that killed her!" protested the young elf heatedly. His eyes flashed with anger. What were these men driving at? That they had killed Tethane and burned the house down? Glorfindel put a hand on Anc's shoulder as a warning to hold his temper. Elrohir and Elladan just at on the horse, watching everything. Elladan was too ill to speak and Elrohir was too worried over his twin to say much of anything. Beside, he knew Ancú would take care of that despite Glorfindel's caution.

One of the men made a comeback. "But we wouldn't have accidentally shot her of you hadn't tried to rescue the slave, who was sold to the lady fair!" He pointed at the elves that stood uneasily by, watching as events took a horrible turn. The villagers came closer, with mounted anger. "It was their fault! I say they get their just punishment!" Ancú jerked his face in the direction of the man threatening them.

Backing closer to Rothinzil, he said, "run Roth. It is going to get dangerous in about a minute."

The wood elf glared at his friend. "Now why would I run and leave you?" he asked with some heat. What did Ancú think he was? Roth was no coward and he was not about to be made out as one.

Ancú shook his head. "You are a wood elf, right? We need some help and someone needs to rescue Legolas and Aragorn. You can escape over the roof of the huts or something with your skill in climbing," breathed the other elf carefully to the Mirkwood archer.

"I can't do that!" objected Roth stubbornly. "I wouldn't get more than a few feet out before getting speared or ran through with a pitchfork!" That was true, the humans had pressed quite close and could easily kill the elves.

Ancú carefully, so as not attract attention, set his hand on his sword hilt. "Not if I have your back. I won't make it out, but you can," he whispered in a hiss.

Ancú and the other elves had not really been paying much attention to the growing mob about them, but all at once a shout was raised and the humans lifted their weapons and voiced something even the elves could not understand.

Elrohir looked at Elladan, who was going back to a sickly shade of gray. His lips had a tint of blue in them. Elladan was dying, if he didn't die, he would most likely go into a coma. Glorfidnel looked at the Sons of Elrond and frowned. Both of them were not well. Elrohir's face was flushed; of course, considering he had just come out of a burning house he was not too worse for wear. The Gondolin elf whipped his head in the direction of Ancú and Rothinzil when he heard the sound of metal being scraped on metal. Ancú had drawn his sword and was walking towards the crowd, who was stepping back in confusion. Even Frinican's men watched in wonder. Were these elves stupid? Ancú seemed to be peaceful, yet a strange glow of hesitation lingered in his eyes.

These were men, he had never hurt a human before, nor had one ever hurt him. He was not sure about doing this even though he knew it had to happen or else they would all die.

Roth was walking up behind Ancú slowly and seemingly like he was going to draw his weapon any minute. As they neared another hut that was not far from the smoldering house that had been Tethane's, he reached up quickly and put a hand on a overhanging part of the roof. In one swift and fluent move, he was up and standing on the cottage and fleetly going to spring on the roof of the next. The crowd gasped and Glorfindel yelled, "Rothinzil, what are you doing!" The elf was mad for sure.

Some of the men drew back their pitchforks and spears to skewer the immortal with, but the weapons fell from their hands as Ancú struck them down with his sword. It wasn't long however, before he found himself surrounded and a man managed to reach Anc's blade wielding arm. Gripping it at the wrist, he squeezed until the Rivendell elf was forced to drop his weapon. Then, he whipped the dark-haired elf's arm back behind him and twisted it sharply, causing Ancú to bite back a cry. Taking a chain, they put it about Anc's wrists and set a odd collar about his neck. One of the men leaned forward and whispered, "we use that on our wargs but it will work for you." Ancú thrashed about, but only earned a fierce fist to his stomach. The blow knocked the wind out of him, causing him to gasp for air.

Looking over to his friends, he saw they were caught as well. He glared angrily when he saw that they had knocked Elladan and Elrohir from the horse. Elrohir's face had gone a shade whiter and he guessed that the twin had landed on his broken leg. Elladan was on his back and he wasn't really moving, but groaned when the men rolled his over and placed a boot between his shoulder blades.

Ancú felt his blood boil. He had always thought of men as being kind, not so now. How could they do this? The twins were not even well enough to put up a small struggle. There was no reason for them to be so harsh. Ancú was getting scared, but he was also getting irate.

The Rivendell immortal's eyes darted to Glorfindel who was being held by some men, who had a firm grip on his upper arms. Ancú noticed angrily that they had twisted the arm with the broken shoulder and that Glorfindel was obviously in a lot of pain.

The mob had grown angry in turn, it was not that they believed the tale however. They just hated elves period. If they could make an example of these three, then maybe no more would come to trouble their village. But there was the fourth one who had escaped. Perhaps it was well he was free. Then he could warn his race of the malice of the south. Or, on a dangerous note, he could get help, decided the corsairs darkly.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Legolas whispered to Aragorn, "it is time, they are nodding and lax. We are going to leave now." The ranger looked at the elf and smiled.

"You are crazy Legolas, but we have to try something and I have no better idea." Aragorn sighed and shifted his head off his companion's shoulder. Legolas rotated it get the blood flowing in it again. The prince slowly stood up at a crouch and Aragorn watched. Legolas listened attentively, then stood the rest of the way. The men did not seem to notice. Aragorn stood up with the elf.

Legolas looked at Aragorn and stood a step forward, then another. Aragorn followed. They were near the edge of camp when Aragorn stumbled from weariness. Legolas stuck out a bruised arm to stop his fall. Aragorn cursed his lethargy under his breath. Legolas looked at him with big blue eyes of fear, he did not wish to be caught again, for he guessed the punishment for an attempted escape was painful and death rendering. "Come, hurry," Legolas whispered urgently.

Aragorn straightened himself and followed the elf. Legolas looked back and noticed something. Frinican was coming back into the camp. He saw the human talk with some of the men and looked in the direction of the place where he and Aragorn had been resting. A cry went up, "they are gone! The slaves have escaped!"

The hunt was on. "Go Strider!" growled Legolas. "Go to the stream and get under a ledge."

Aragorn looked back at the elf. "What? That water has got to be like ice!" complained the human.

Legolas glared at the human with jagged eyes. "Go." His voice sounded harsh and resolute.

A stream flowed ahead and it had a deep, swift current that had washed away many places into deep carved ledges that protruded from the sides of the bank. Under them, the current was dark and shadows cast all about the cave like places. It was the perfect hiding place; if you could swim for long periods of time in the frigid temperatures of water.

The elf leaped over the edge of the bank, making a soft splash as he entered the icy water. His head surfaced and he called to Aragorn, "come! We don't have much time!" Aragorn nearly laughed at the long strands of blonde locks that hung in the prince's face. However, now was not the time to be making jests. Aragorn looked at the dark, swirling water and closed his eyes as he jumped in.

Legolas watched as he landed alongside him with a splash that sounded as loud as on oliphaunt's trumpet. When Aragorn surfaced, the prince grabbed him by his collar. Aragorn winced as his injured shoulder was jerked. Legolas felt the flinch and looked back, "I am sorry." He released his grip and said, "follow me Aragorn."

The human looked at the elf and watched s the immortal swam off and ducked under a ledge that only gave enough room for one's head to be above the water. Aragorn frowned at his options, (getting caught, or possibly drowning) and ducked under with the prince. Legolas looked at him and smiled, "see? We made it."

Aragorn nodded. "We did, but we aren't out of the woods yet." Legolas nodded back in agreement. His eyes darted to look above him and he listened for sounds of the search party. He heard none. However, he heard another sound. Light feet running. Aragorn looked hard at Legolas. "What are you listening for? There is nothing there!"

Legolas looked at his friend and smiled. "Maybe nothing you can hear. I hear the feet of one of my people." He looked back up and his smile grew. "It has to be Roth, only he would make that much noise for an elf. I tell you Aragorn, he is a horrible plea for an elf at times," finished the blonde immortal with a shake of the head.

A sudden thought crossed the immortal's mind and he tensed. What if the search party that was looking for he and Aragorn found Roth instead. That would be horrible, for they would ask Roth were he and the ranger were hiding, and the elf would not be able to answer. Legolas shot Aragorn an alarmed look. "We have to tell him to hide!" Legolas began to swim out from under the ledge. Aragorn grabbed his arm.

"Legolas, are you mad? You will be caught and receive who knows what kind of punishment!" growled the ranger with much anxiety.

Legolas snapped back, "and what about Roth? He needs me Aragorn. I know I am young for an elf, but he is far younger! He may be as young as Arwen! He also trusts men far too much (no offense to you). He will ask them for help and they will take him and rip him apart."

Aragorn sighed as Legolas drifted out and called softly in the Gray Tongue, "Rothinzil! Roth, it is Legolas, can you hear me?"

Roth looked down at the water. "What? Legolas? Where-"

"I am down in the water Roth!" called the prince to his friend. Roth looked over the edge at the soaked blonde elf that was beckoning him to join him in the swirling stream.

Roth hesitated. "Why are you down there?" he asked with a raised brow.

Legolas frowned and snapped, "do you wish to be captured?" Roth scowled and shook his head.

Taking a last, doleful look at his clothes, and how dry and comfortable they were, he leaped over the edge. Roth's drenched brown head popped up and he smiled then shivered. The water was freezing. Legolas grabbed he younger elf's upper arm and pulled him with him until they were under the lip of the cave like dwelling. Aragorn rolled his eyes when he saw them enter. At least they were safe, he had been very concerned for the prince's safety.

Apparently they had just gotten over the edge in time and hidden. Heavy boots could be heard above and rough voices. One was certainly Frinican's. he sounded so angry that Legolas shuddered at memories of the last time he had seen the human. Roth looked at the prince in alarm and with wide eyes. Aragorn calmly set a condoling hand on the elf's shoulder. He was the only one who really knew what the prince had suffered that night. "Where are they? They can't have gone far, the stream blocks the way!"

Another voice said, "aye, if they can't swim, but rangers and elves is odd folk and more likely than not stepped atop the water. I seen an elf walk neat as neat across a blanket 'o snow once." Legolas resisted the urge to chuckle. No elf could walk across water. That was preposterous! Roth smirked as he listened and Aragorn smiled grimly. All of the companions hidden under the ledge felt a lump catch in their throats as the human finished. "Course I shot it neat as neat and their blood is red like ours I can tell you!" Roth's eyes flashed with a lethal fire. He had never seen this side of men before and it scared him, but it also angered him.

Roth suddenly felt ill. Ancú, the twins and Glorfindel were all caught an liable to be put to death for a murder that they had never committed. He wanted to tell the prince, yet Legolas was burdened enough, for he saw how the prince was constantly watching to see if Aragorn was growing weary. He knew their was a fierce relationship of friendship based love that was between them and that Legolas had to be over his head in worries right then. For Roth saw that Aragorn had a bandage over his arm and it was tainted red. It looked as though the human had lost a lot of blood and his cheeks were sunken more than Roth had ever remembered.

Legolas's eyes shifted upward as though he could see through the rock ceiling of their hideout. Hoof beats could be heard and the screech of a tired and hard ridden horse. "Lord Cracire say to move the men to the city at once. Apparently, they have captured some elves and for a fair trial, Lord Cracire has to be there. He wants all his forces in!" Legolas looked at Aragorn in alarm and Aragorn looked at Roth.

As the men all trotted away in a hurry to fulfil the commands of their lord, Aragorn looked at Roth with a stern, commanding look. "What happened? Where are the twins, where is Glorfindel and Ancú?" The ranger was so sickened with anxiety that he nearly stopped treading the water all together.

Roth looked at the water and said in a low voice, "arrested by the villagers for supposedly murdering Tethane and setting the house ablaze." Tears stung in Roth's eyes but he said in a calm voice. "I didn't want to leave them but Ancú commanded it and he helped me escape while they were all taken."

Legolas was angry, not at Roth, but at the situation. However it came out wrong when he snapped, "why didn't you speak of this sooner?"

Roth looked wounded. "I saw you were burdened with Aragorn and I didn't want you to have more on your mind."

Legolas saw the wounded look and said in a softer voice. "Look, I am not angry at you, not in the least, however I am not actually happy with the situation either." The prince's face was tensed as he thought the circumstances through. How would his friends be most likely put to death? Probably in a painful way. Aragorn nodded at the prince's statement.

"We had better get them out quick, you heard the message," said Aragorn ominously. Legolas braced his feet against the bank and shot out of the shadow of the overhang. Aragorn suddenly vaulted out and caught up with the blonde elf. He looked serious and said, "you do burden yourself to much with me. Lighten up. I am no longer a child."

Legolas spun around and said in teasing voice, "it depends on how you define 'child'. If you mean wearing footies on your pajamas and eating mush, then I agree. But if you mean no longer youthful and more serious, we differ."

Aragorn smiled and said with a playful tone in his voice, "then we are both children!"

Legolas narrowed his eyes and knitted his brow, but a grin spread across his face. "What? You would call me a child? Aragorn, I am how many years old?"

"Age has nothing to with it. You are as playful as a child ever was! I will prove it," here he splashed some water and it hit the prince square in the face. Legolas spluttered and suddenly his face contorted and he shut his eyes. Aragorn thought he was in pain, but all of a sudden...Legolas sneezed! The noise bounced off the rocks and water. Legolas looked around with large blue eyes. What was that? Roth swam over to the prince, but his look was anything but worried. He looked amused. Aragorn looked smug. Legolas finally croaked, "what was that?"

The ranger laughed, "it was a sneeze. We humans do it when we are sick." Roth snickered and looked at the ranger. He had a little mortal blood in his veins and once in a great while he sneezed. Legolas had none and the noise had been a total surprise.

"So am I ill?" he asked in a worried voice.

Aragorn looked grave. "I can't tell. Let me see your tongue." Legolas reluctantly stuck his tongue out and peered down his nose at it. Aragorn pretended to look it over. "Well you are getting big purple spots and ouch, what is that?"

Legolas looked worried then he pulled his tongue back in and shot Aragorn a venomous look. "I can't be sick!" Aragorn and Roth began to laugh and Legolas scowled. "You two! Both of you are children!" he accused as he stumbled up onto the bank, spilling water everywhere. He began to wring out his blonde hair and ruefully slid his finger through for tangles. His hands then went to his tunic, which he twisted to wring any water out of it as well.

Before long all of the companions were on the bank wringing out their clothes and shaking the water out of their ears. Legolas then looked at Roth and said, "so you know where they are?"

Roth twisted his hair and said, "I don't at the moment, but I am sure I could find them. Why?" His eyes darted nervously to his prince and then to Aragorn who was emptying water our of his boots.

Legolas voiced, "well then you could go and tell them we are going to get them out of there as soon as we can. In the mean time, you go an keep them from getting killed."

Rothinzil glared and said, "but...I don't know if I can get into the village with out getting caught."

Legolas said with a frown, "Roth, how did you escape last time?"

Roth lowered his face into a sulky expression and said, " Ancú helped me. He could have escaped, but he helped me to. I leaped from roof top to roof top until I was out of the crowd and could run on the ground."

Legolas raised a brow. "You leaped from roof to roof without falling? Remarkable." Roth dispatched him a look that plainly said for him to shut up while he was ahead and Legolas felt too weary for anymore jests. Actually, he was feeling rather homesick. He missed his uneventful life just a little more than he liked to admit. It actually had him worried, because he had always tried to live a more eventful life than did most elves.

Roth saw the weary look n his prince's face and said, "very well. I will go, but if I get maimed I will blame it on you for letting me do such a foolish thing!" Wringing some more water out of his long, dark locks, he checked to make sure he had his weapons, and then said with a heavy sigh, "well, I hope to see you again." The Mirkwood archer smiled and then took of at a steady, light jog in the direction of Shishma. Legolas winced when he saw the other elf suddenly run into a sapling. Roth was such a clumsy elf he gave them bad names. Yet, Legolas doubted he could very easily live without the klutz for a friend.

Now, it was Legolas and Aragorn's job to find the rangers and get them to assault the village to save the other elves. Legolas looked at Aragorn, who was still draining water from a pair of soggy boots. "Come on ranger, let's get going!" Aragorn grinned and slipped his water logged boos back on. When he stood up they made a squishy sound.

The noise was grating on Legolas's nerves, but the funny thing was, his did it too. Legolas hated it because he was no longer very quiet and perfectly balanced like a normal elf should be. Aragorn teased, "elf, you sound like an oliphaunt!" Legolas shot him a deadly glare and the human backed off as he realized that for once, the prince was not in the mood for a jest. Dead seriousness flickered in the prince's eyes.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ancú sat with his back to a pole and his hands bound painfully tight behind him. He rested his head back against the smoothed wood and sighed heavily. The men had removed the collar from about his neck, but he still had the odd feeling that it was on it and he wanted to take his hands and feel his neck just to make sure. Nevertheless, that was not an option.

He closed his eyes. Not that it made much difference in the hut he had been placed in along with his companions. It was dark, save for a few oil lamps that swung from the ceiling. There were no windows, for this place was a make shift prison that was used for slaves who misbehaved.

Glorfindel was tied in the same fashion as Ancú, still and all, he had a much darker mood. Anger flashed in his eyes. They had not killed her! But he knew better than to expect the villagers to believe that. That was way too much to hope for. He knew they were in for the death penalty. He was not scared, but he was not happy with anything either. He doubted that the death would be merciful. People of Umbar were cruel and liked to hurt their prisoners, so whatever it was, it was most likely going to be a horrible way to die. He looked over to his right and saw the twins.

Hot anger raged in his heart when he saw that they were being treated the seem when they were in no position to fight at all. Elladan's throat was not really bleeding anymore, yet he was at death's door anyway.

The elder twin's face was pale and his eyes were half-open and nearly expired. His head lolled to the side, as he was too weak to support it and his breathing was slow and rasping. Glorfindel felt horrible, for the Noldo was still blind and was totally unprepared for any blow he received because he never saw it coming. Glorfindel felt he could have prevented the blindness, if only he had fought a little harder, if only he had seen ahead, if only...

Elrohir was awake, yet his face was ashen. The Gondolin elf could not tell whether it was from his pain, or understanding of his brother's. For Elladan and Elrohir were remarkably close. After their mother had left and they went on their wild orc hunts, they were all each other had. Being twins of course gave them a special closeness aside from the experiences they shared. Elrohir's leg was not doing well. The golden-haired elf grimaced when he thought of the fact that to set it properly again, it would have to be rebroken. But that was if they got out of here, and the possibility was looking rather bleak.

Elrohir saw Glorfidnel looking at him and said, "Glorfindel, he's dying and I can't even be near him! He will leave soon, I don't even think he can hear us speaking, for I can tell he slips in and out of consciousness."

Glorfindel frowned, "I know. It may be more merciful if he dies now rather than later. These men will not give us a clean death Elrohir, you know that."

Elrohir sighed and said in a odd voice, "what is it like to die Lord Glorfindel?"

Glorfindel smiled as he recalled the peace of the Halls of Waiting. "It isn't terrible. " Elrohir gave him a look that plainly meant for him to continue. Ancú pretended not to be listening, and in fact he was trying not to. The elf was young and not really prepared to yield to death. Elrohir was young but not quit so, and he had been through much already in his life. "Well," continued the golden-haired elf slowly. "It is not painful once you have passed over. You feel all the sorrows you have ever known lift off your shoulders and then all turns to a silvery luster. I can't describe it really."

Elrohir smiled slightly. "That's not too bad I suppose." He was trying to make ready his mind for pain, suffering and death. "Do you think we will die?"

Glorfindel really had no answer for this. He was silent for a moment, then said, "I think it is a definite possibility." The Gondolin elf shifted his weight and tried to loosen his bonds just a little, for he could not feel his fingers and his hands were stinging horribly.

Ancú looked at Elrohir and said, "We may not, Roth is free." The Rivendell elf was not ready to despair.

Elrohir said, "even if we don't," the twin's eyes strayed to his brother's drawn face, "he will and I don't think I can live without him." Ancú had never seen Elrohir this way and it scared him. Elrohir was more of a carefree spirit, which was probably why they got along so well. "He was always there at night when we camped out and he knew I didn't like the dark, so he let me keep the campfire."

Elrohir looked at his brother and he wanted to cry. His brother, best friend, was dying and he was tied like a mad beast, unable to be comfortable. Elrohir longed to get up and heal his brother.

Ancú jerked his head in the direction of the door when he heard the bolt being drawn and the door opened. In came Lord Cracire and with him was Frinican and a few other men. The lord came to stand before the elves and said, "well, you think you can come and terrorize innocent people? You burned a house and murdered in cold blood a women of our village. What do you have to say for yourselves?"

Ancú growled, "we didn't do it and you know it! Let us go!" The mortal came and backhanded the Rivendell elf across his face and Ancú winced as he felt a burn spread across his features.

"You have broken more than just the law against murder, you attempted in the freeing of a slave, around here that alone warrants death," stated the lord with a snarl.

Ancú snapped back and said, "I didn't know there was a law against murder, since you do it so often!"

Lord Cracire just smiled and said, "You are going to be the first to die. I will make sure of it. But tell me elf, did you not kill some people out there when you helped your friend escape?"

"I killed no one!" protested Ancú venomously. His eyes flashed. He was no murderer.

"Oh! So some poor men who had wives and children that lie dead in our streets are no one?" asked Frinican with a cold smile.

It was Elrohir who spoke up this time and he said, "you killed them! We harmed no one!" The Noldo wanted to get up and tackle this human to the ground.

Lord Cracire grinned like a child poking at a cat that is tied and can't do a thing in defense of itself. "And do you wish to go second?" He gave Elrohir's broken leg a dig with his boot toe. "I believe that can be arranged." He then gave Elladan a look. "He is at Deaths Door. You are twins, perhaps you should die together Elladan and Elrohir Perenhil."

Elrohir glared and said, "can't he just die peacefully? You are a barbarian! We may die, but you will die too and then have to answer for your cold blooded killing!"

Lord Cracire had had enough and snapped angrily to all of these elves that seemed to think themselves so high and mighty, "you are all going to be executed tonight!" he churned through grit teeth.

Frinican smiled and said, "have a fun last two hours my pretties." The men walked out and slammed the door behind themselves.

Ancú pressed his eyes shut and leaned back against the post he was bound to. He did not want the men to see his fear, but now that they were gone, he let it show.

Elrohir looked at Elladan and said, "Dan! I know this sounds awkward, but you have to die now! It will be better that way," he pleaded to his seemingly unconscious brother.

Glorfindel said, "you shouldn't urge death to take a being, he will meet it in his own time."

It seemed that death was going to be their fate and by the time Aragorn and Legolas arrived it would be too late.

Glorfindel was not going to strive against the inevitable. He closed his eyes, and lay his head back against the wooden pole that he was bound to. If he had two hours left to live, he was going to live them in peace, the peaceful dreams of sleep.

Elrohir just stared at his brother, hoping he would die within the next two hours so he wouldn't have to suffer worse than death. He thought of Estel and his Ada. What would his father say when he found out he was dead? He knew what would happen, his father would die of a broken heart. A broken heart was just as lethal to an elf as an arrow and killed about as quickly, but sometimes, like a bad shot, the pain lasted long before death. Elrohir did not want his Ada to suffer. He especially didn't want Lord Elrond to learn the manner of his death.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Legolas and Aragorn limped through the woods and brush. Aragorn was taking note how Legolas stumbled with each step as though he was carrying a heavy burden, but really, the ranger knew it was the elf's ribs and broken body that was catching up to him. Legolas's face had become pale and the weight they carried from their drenched clothes was not helping ease their traveling.

Legolas watched as Aragorn floundered in the thick brush as well, for the human had lost much of his blood and was weakened sorely by it. He had a ghastly face that disturbed the elf prince to the core. Legolas also noticed that the ranger had lost much weight. He had always been thin, but now, he was bordering on an anorexic look that sickened the blonde immortal.

Aragorn noticed the same loss of tonnage on the prince and his heart ached. The Firstborn was obviously starved and Aragorn felt a burning anger towards those that had done it to his friend.

"Aragorn," uttered Legolas in hardly more than a whisper. "You have to rest. You are stumbling far too much." The elf's cobalt eyes looked at his friend and said plainly that the elf thought Aragorn would die of he did not rest.

"Not while Elladan ad Elrohir and my friends are in danger. I will drop dead first," contended the human obstinately.

"Don't you see?" asked Legolas. "You are going to drop dead! Every step and breath you take brings you closer to the brink of death! What good are you half dead?"

Aragorn shook his head, "you see it wrong Legolas." The elf opened his mouth to protest, but Aragorn help up his hand. "No. I am half alive."

"Do I?" snapped the prince. "Then why am I always pulling you out of everything and you always get me in trouble?" he asked.

"Because you are too stubborn to leave and stay out of trouble! You insist on following me into every 'dragon lair' and trying to make it out alive too!" argued the ranger. He as grumpy and both of them were at the ends of their ropes. Then Aragorn frowned and said, "however, you always insisted on getting me out alive too." His voice sounded soft and Legolas furrowed his brow to study the man's care worn face.

"I only go because I am your friend Aragorn and friends don't quit, no matter how stubborn their companion may be," answered the prince matter-of- factly.

"Hannon le Legolas for being my friend," said the ranger. Legolas smiled and stuck out his arm and the ranger grasped it in a friendship hold.

"What choice do I have?" asked Legolas with a wry grin that Aragorn found was contagious and he laughed. "Now let us find those rangers," said the prince in a determined voice; "and lets hunt some corsairs!" Aragorn nodded in concurrence.

The two turned to go and halted abruptly when they saw a human standing there, leaning on his cross bow. It was a ranger of the South. He was smiling and men were behind him. They all had cross bows and swords that shone brightly in the sun. Legolas and Aragorn looked at each other and grinned again. "It looks like we found them," said Legolas happily.

Aragorn smiled and said, "yes, I think we have mellon nin."

The ranger that was leaning on his bow smiled and said, "Not often do we witness such a bond of friendship between an elf and a man. If any more such mutual regard exists anywhere else, yours is the greatest Prince Legolas, Son of King Thranduil and Aragorn, Son of Arathorn." The men around grinned as the elf and human came to see the Southern rangers, Aragorn's kin from afar.

"Hannon le," said Legolas; "you flatter us." The human laughed and Aragorn just looked anxiously around. He had to save his brothers. The prince then said, "but we need your help. The Corsairs have captured, more like arrested Ancú, the twins Sons of Elrond and Lord Glorfindel. We are certain they will be executed." The elf drew a deep breath before voicing so all could hear, "we cannot allow that to happen!"

The Ranger of the South looked at the immortal and said, "we would love to help you. But they outnumber us in the village. We could be wiped out."

"You can't-" began Aragorn angrily.

"Their fate is regrettable, yet unpreventable. We will give you aid home, but they will have to be left there," stated the human with adamancy.

Legolas was about to say more when a human sprang out of the bunches of other men. "You two are alive!" It was Anders, the ranger that had been disguised. "I agree with Legolas and Aragorn that something must be done!" he stated as he turned to the Southern men. "We may be able to sneak in disguised and cause a distraction or just free them in a swift movement. Make an attack on their forces then withdraw, leading them into the wilderness where we will have the advantage."

Legolas said, "Aragorn and I can free them, if you can give us time."

The head ranger asked, "how much time?"

Legolas looked at Aragorn and said, "as much as is possible." The Northern ranger nodded.

"I think we can do that. But we could suffer such heavy casualties-" began the Southern ranger but was interrupted by Anders.

"No if you do it right. The houses are made of thatch mostly. Burn them, in order to save the town they will have to stop the execution and the prisoners could disappear in the chaos."

Legolas suddenly felt weak at the knees and he clutched at a tree that happened to be near. He recalled the words Roth had said, murdering Tethane... Tethane was Ander's wife. She was dead? How could he convey that to the man? Yet if he did, it may inspirit the ranger to assault the Corsairs and save his friends. Anders looked at the prince with apprehension. "Legolas?" Aragorn went to his friend and set a hand on his shoulder.

"No, I am fine. But I fear now the evils I was told must now come forth. Your wife is dead Anders. The Corsairs shot her when she tried to save Elladan and burned her house to the ground. That is how they all got captured, for Ancú, Roth, the twins, and Glorfindel are being charged with the murder of her and for aiding a slave in escape," said Legolas dispiritedly and with closed eyes. It hurt him to have to impart this to the man who had given up so much already to save him and his companions.

Anders did not move. His face was contorted. "No!" His hands shook and his face turned ashen, sweat pooled on his forehead in beads as he strove for control over his emotions. She could not be dead, but she was. He should not be here, but he was. In fact, nothing should have been as it was. Elves were immortal and yet they were dying, men were mortal and yet they were living. Everything was in paradox to the way things should be. Maybe the world was changing; maybe the elves were fading. But no, that could not happen, they were the Firstborn and would always be, maybe not in Middle Earth, but in Valinor.

It was not possible. But then his face hardened. Tethane had died to save the elf that was going to be executed that night or sometime soon. Would it be she had died in vain if he did nothing to prevent the death of this elf that he had made her swear to protect? No, he would not allow that. If she was willing to die to try and save Elladan, then he could too. Anger swelled in him and he said, "we must assault their village and save the elves. My wife died to save them, will she have died in vain?"

The captain of the Southern rangers went quiet for a moment, then he said slowly, "we will attack them, but it won't be easy."

Legolas spoke, "well if indeed their huts are thatch, we could burn the village to the ground. Certainly they would try to put out the blaze before everything was destroyed. Then, we can save Ancú, Elladan, Elrohir and Glorfindel."

"It is a good plan, but how will we get in close enough to light the houses? They will be watching," voiced the captain.

To this Anders had the answer. "Corsairs are evil and crafty, but will not expect an assault upon their village, for rangers have never done that before. I have been disguised and gotten in, so can you. An execution of four elves would be a big event, something people would come from miles to see."

The Southern ranger nodded. "But the more people, the more security. "

"Not necessarily," stated Anders with a devilish look in his eyes. "They do not think in those terms."

The captain of the Southern rangers looked at his men. He shook his head and then said, "prepare yourselves for a battle, we go to Shishma!" Just then a clap of thunder shook the air so that it vibrated in Legolas's sensitive ears. The prince looked to the north, a storm was coming and in a matter of hours it would reach them.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Roth looked at the town. All seemed deserted and he was glad. It had to be around dinner time for these people and they were at home. However, something caught his eye. Men were standing before a hut and had spears in their hands and swords at their side. The twins and Ancú, along with Glorfindel had to be in there, under guard. He saw the hut had no windows. It was like a prison in most appearances, except no stone or iron. It shouldn't be too hard to break into.

Roth pulled his cloak hood over his eyes and pushed his dark hair behind his ears and back into the cover. He would have to slink over to the hut very carefully, for he had no mind to join his friends. Darkness was creeping over the alleys and streets. All he had to do was stay in the shadows. It was an odd thought to walk in shadow to save lives.

He started into the darkest alley he could find that led by the prison like hut. He did not know how he was going to get into the hut, but he was going to do it. The problem was, he did not want to slay the guards, for that would raise alarm and let people know that the elves were going to get rescued. He would have to find another way in.

It was not long before he had gotten along side of the hut soundlessly. It seemed impenetrable and a hopeless cause. But then, the elf saw a flap that was tied over a window. The opening was very well concealed and obviously meant to stay that way, but elves had sharper eyes and Rothinzil was used to darkness from his life in Mirkwood so he had keener eyes in the dark than did other elves.

His hand went to the sheath of a small knife at his side that was a miniature version of one of Legolas's twin knives. Taking the blade, he slipped it beneath the stitching that held a piece of leather over the window. As he did the old threads began to pop back quickly. He sawed and they shot back.

Before long, he had the leather opened enough that it could close and open like a flap. Sheathing his knife, the immortal grasped the window frame and pulled himself up. He was grateful he was an elf and had the gift of being light, for the husks and stalks that created the hut did not give under his weight, but held him up. Carefully, he dropped into the cottage that the elves were being held in. Dust jumped up from under his soft boots as he hit the dirt floor of the house of detention.

Ancú was the first to jolt awake and look in the direction of the cloaked elf. "Who are you?" he asked slowly.

Roth smiled and flipped back his hood, allowing his long, dark hair to fall down his shoulders and his pointed ears and fair features to show. Ancú smiled happily as he recognized his friend. "Roth! You are here! But you have to leave!"

Roth smiled and said, "sorry. I am here for you, but be quiet, the guards are outside the door and can hear us if we aren't careful," he added with a hiss.

Ancú nodded, "but Roth they are going to kill us within the hour. Public execution. You have to leave now! They will catch you too." The Rivendell elf was scared for his friend. How could he make Roth understand how dire their situation really was?

"I don't have concern if they do catch me," said the Mirkwood archer matter-of-factly.

He crouched by Ancú who scowled and said, "pardon?"

Roth said, "I don't care."

Glorfindel raised a brow and looked at the wood elf. "And why is that? You know something we don't," he accused grimly. His voice was sullen and had lost its radiance and spark of joy.

Roth answered wryly; "Legolas and Aragorn are going to rescue you." The elf's voice sounded excited and happy.

Elrohir raised his head where it had been leaning against the pole as he watched his brother dying. "How is that mellon nin?" he sounded ill and Roth looked at Elladan, who he knew was the main cause of Elrohir's pain. The twin's face was pale and his chest rose and fell softly. However, it was obvious he was oblivious to everything around him.

"They are going to disguise themselves along with some rangers and create a diversion to spare them time to rescue you," responded Rothinzil. "It won't be long either." He furrowed his brows; it had better not be long. They did not have much time; it was fleeting like a swift flowing river. Within the hour...

Roth suddenly heard feet shuffling outside; a change of the guard perhaps? He doubted it. It was time and the men had come to get the jailed elves. He had to flee, but he would make sure that nothing happened to them. He would die trying to save them if he had to. Looking at Ancú he said, "I will be back my friend." Slipping his hood over his face once again, he went to the window and leaped up onto it with the grace and skill of a cat jumping onto a counter top. Then, he was gone.

Seconds after Rothinzil's departure, men came in, armed with spears. Seeing the elves awake they smiled, "unable to rest?"

Ancú glared with the bite of a viper in his stare. "Actually, we aren't tired." The elf's voice was fatal in tone and carried the air of a silent threat. The response garnered was a harsh slap across the face by one of the men. The human's metal gauntlet bit deeply in Anc's face and blood welled from a deep gash that ran from the beneath the immortal's eye, across his cheek bone, and to his chin. The laceration was not so deep as it neared the chin, as a matter of fact, it was a mere scratch by the time it had reached the chin. The Rivendell elf stifled a cry as he felt his skin tear and bit his lip.

The men put a collar about the elf's neck again. It was large to fit on Ancú who was not nearly as wide or full of mass as a warg might be. The human cinched it tighter and sneered at the elf. "Now lets se you misbehave." Ancú rolled his eyes as the men unbound him and pulled him up, only to retie his hands behind his back again as soon as he was on his feet.

More men went and grabbed Glorfindel and pulled him out after unbinding him from the pole. Other men were stationed alongside the twins. "Change in plans," said the mortals scornfully. "You and Goldy Locks go first." The Gondolin elf rolled his eyes and felt like saying something about how the men needed to shower more often as an insult back, but it wouldn't help matters.

They had no need to put a halter over Glorfindel, for they could twist his injured arm and pretty much get the elf to do whatever the wanted.

Elrohir watched as his friends were lead outside to be put to death. He wanted to scream their names, to say anything. But he opened his mouth and all that came out was a whisper, "good-bye."

The elves were led out of the hut and were greeted by a seemingly happy crowd. They were shouting stuff in a tongue either of the immortals understood. Suddenly, some sack cloth was brought over and it was placed over the elves' tunics like a tunic in and of itself. Glorfindel felt sick. He knew exactly what this meant. They were going to be burned. Sack cloth caught fire easily and in no time at all the elves would be ablaze. Their only hope was that the smoke would kill them before the flames did. Ancú looked at Glorfindel and saw the expression that the golden-haired elf was plainly trying to hide. He knew what was going to happen. When he was young he had heard of it in tales.

Anc's eyes went wide and he shivered. He had never felt the horror of flames licking his skin and he had no desire to. The men pulled on the neck band that was about the Rivendell elf and snarled, "come on." The dark- haired elf allowed himself reluctantly to be led to a small dais in the town square.

Before he reached the spot of the execution, women from the crowd spat at him and struck at him with brooms. "Murderous elf!" they screeched. "Now burn! Burn and trouble us no more! Sorcerer!" This angered the Rivendell elf tremendously. That was what they called the nameless terror of Dol Guldur, the necromancer. He was no warlock! Elves did not possess magic! But, men would never understand that.

One women stuck out her foot and tripped the elf that fell on his knees. The halter jerked painfully against his neck and cut of his air temporarily. Once the elf was down, she gave him a brutal kick in the ribs. Ancú hissed and jerked against another kick to his unprotected abdomen. He could not get back up with his hands behind him and blows rained down on him. He felt a hand snarl in his hair and the guard that was to escort him to his death yanked him up. "Keep up elf," he growled in the immortal's ear.

He dragged Ancú further down the road. Suddenly rocks sang in the air, thrown by other women and children. One struck Ancú in the head and sent stars before his vision. His guards made no move to stop the torment, plainspoken, they enjoyed it.

Ancú soon found himself being forced to walk up onto a small platform and in the middle were two stakes. He balked for a moment as he saw his fate before him. Then he put his chin in the air and walked assuredly forward. There was a time not so long ago when he would have feared death. He was not ready for it and did not welcome it, but he did not fear it.

He looked beside him and saw Glorfindel calmly allowing himself to be led beside him. The Gondolin elf's face was paler, yet firm. Ancú cringed when he saw a black and blue bruise forming on the lower part of the Gondolin elf's jaw where somebody had punched him or hit him hard with something.

Both of the elves were bound with their backs to the stakes and Ancú looked at the golden-haired elf. Glorfindel was staring at the crowd and he looked serene, yet a cold, and near dead flame of fear flickered in his eyes. Fire. He had died by it once before. Now he must face it again. He recalled how he had fell feet uncountable, burning. He could smell vividly the odor of his own burning flesh and hair and he could feel the sting of the hungry flames licking his skin and clothing, melting his armor. The memories he had not thought about for years now came to plague him. It was a waking nightmare that he could not escape except through death or by the grace of Valinor be healed.

Cords were placed about the elves' feet and tightly cinched so that their legs went numb.

Men came with huge bundles of sticks. They placed them at the elves' feet and about their waists. Ancú resisted the urge to flinch as he saw the humans bringing the oil to soak them in so they would go up in flames like torches.

The anointment was poured over the wood and then drained over both of the immortal's heads. Ancú spluttered as he felt the bitter tasting liquid flow thickly into his mouth. He felt totally indecent with this dirty grease on his hair and running down his face. He was an elf and getting defiled and dungy was hardly a part of his life style. Glorfindel just looked utterly disgusted by the whole predicament. A scowl adorned his normally fair features.

- - - - - - - - - -

Legolas looked about the crowd. His hand went up to his ears and he reached under the had band that went about his ears to hide their points, even beneath his cloak's hood. The elf felt flushed inside with embarrassment. He felt a fool. For his face was smudged and his blond hair was dirtied with mud so it looked a dingy brown. It was also pulled back behind his ears and tied at the nape of his neck with a cord so that it would not fall over his shoulders and betray him. The elf had a quiver that was plain and made by men. His bow was very simple. Legolas's blue eyes flickered with a look of curiosity as he surveyed his surroundings.

He looked at Aragorn, who had a large cloak draped about him and the hood drawn tight about his face. Legolas could see the gray eyes burning in the mantle that did a poor job of concealing his friend's fire of life. "Do you see them?" asked Aragorn of the elf prince.

Legolas shook his head. "I cannot. We have to get to the front of the crowd where I imagine they will be." The elf prince was about to go forward when he felt a hand grip his shoulder and tighten almost painfully. Legolas nearly gave a cry and spun around to see his attacker. He was surprised to see a set of hazel eyes that he knew so well staring intensely back at him with a look of relief and worry. Legolas smiled, "Roth."

"Aye Legolas, it is I," answered the Mirkwood archer with a light smile. He then frowned, "you have to get them, they are already to be burned."

Legolas's face went awry and he asked in a breath, "burned?" His cobalt orbs flickered as he looked to Aragorn. "How much time do we have?" he asked the other elf.

Roth looked down and whispered, "minutes only. I beg you Legolas, do something!" The Mirkwood archer looked to his prince. Legolas knew that Roth would follow him to the death and they're in lied the problem.

He looked to Aragorn and said, "Strider, we have to find our way to them fast. You must get to Anders, tell him to set fire to the houses now!"

Aragorn looked at Legolas and said, "mellon nin, where are you going?"

Legolas looked at Aragorn and smiled weakly, "I will see you in the end Estel." The prince looked to Roth who smiled thinly.

"But where are you going?" asked the ranger earnestly. Where was Legolas going without him? What if they didn't see Legolas at the end? What if he never got to say good bye?

The elf looked at him and knew what the human was thinking. He saw it in his eyes. Aragorn knew that the immortal saw right through him and he knew it would be no use to argue, but he prayed the prince was not about to do something totally reckless. "I will be with Roth, we are going to free Ancú, Glorfindel and the twins. You get the Southern rangers to set fire to the..." Legolas never finished his sentence. A clap of thunder shook the air and lightening lit up the sky in a flash of magnificent purple. Legolas sensed rain as not far behind. This could ruin everything. Gripping Aragorn by his shoulders, the blonde being shook him, "go and set fire to those houses, rain is coming!" Aragorn hesitated a moment before seeing the dire look on the prince's face and the pleading in his eyes. Then he turned and began to make his way through the crowd.

As Legolas watched him go, he wondered if he would have a chance to tell the human farewell if something should go ill. Roth grabbed Legolas's arm and said, "come my prince, we don't have much time." Legolas seemed drawn out of a trance and he followed his friend.

The pair forced their way through the crowd and found themselves soon in the front. Legolas felt sick at the sight and yet worried. He only saw Glorfindel and Ancú. Where were Elladan and Elrohir? Roth wrinkled his brows in confusion. Not all four elves were there, but where were they then if not here? He looked at Legolas and said with a tone of great anxiety, "they are still in the hut that was used as their prison. If the rangers set the town on fire-"

Legolas finished, "they will burn." His eyes darted to the two elves about to be burned at the stake for all to see, yet he knew something had to be one about Elrond's Sons. Aragorn would never forgive him if he let something happen to them. "Roth, could you find them?" he asked urgently. Roth was hesitant. "Roth!"

"I could Legolas," said the elf to his prince. "I will Legolas," changed the Mirkwood archer in response to Legolas's near angry and yet frustrated expression.

The blonde elf nodded and smiled, "you do that Roth I know you can."

Roth just didn't show any sign of understanding, or hesitation. He pivoted and went back at a slow trot. Legolas turned his full attention to his friends. He saw men bringing a torch and his spirit nearly quailed. Death. How could they all evade it in this cursed country far from home?

Doing the last thing he thought possible, he darted swiftly up onto the scaffold and whipped out a small sword to do battle with. Cries went up from the crowd and guards began to make their way up on the platform. Legolas felt a strange resolve he had not felt before, for no that he had come this far, he knew he could not go back. Suddenly a flame rekindled in his spirit that had been at a loss for hope. He wanted to see his woods again and dance with his people. He wanted to be with his friends again in joyful times and sing about the gladness of the trees and all that is good. Inside the prince felt a determination to go back home and he would. He whipped back his hood and the men could see the fell blue fire that adorned his eyes. Maybe someday he would flee, maybe someday...but it would not be that day. If he died, it would not be that day.

Ancú looked at Legolas and smiled. He had come just as Roth had said, all would be well. The immortal tugged at his bonds and twisted to get free. One of the men socked him the gut and Ancú sagged against his bonds. Legolas slammed into the men, running one through with his sword and ramming his elbow into another, knocking him from the four foot scaffolding. The elf then grabbed a sword from the sheath of a human nearby and used both of the swords as he would have used his twin knives.

Suddenly he smelled smoke and looked up to see the roof top of a building on fire, dark smoke filled the air in a billowing cloud. Another roof lit and another. He could hear voices screaming, 'fire, the houses are burning!' Legolas spun around and ran to free Ancú first, for that elf was in better shape than Glorfindel and could help them free the others.

Suddenly Legolas felt a sword hilt slam into his back, throwing him to the ground upon his stomach. He rolled over and shook his head, knocking loose strands of blonde hair out of his vision. The elf stared up into the blazing eyes of Frinican, "I might have known you would do this after you escaped you fool elf! You just don't know when to quit!" Taking one of his knives, Legolas swung it, not for Frinican, but at the bonds of Ancú, which were within his grasp. He ran his blade down the post and the cords slithered off the Rivendell elf's wrists and ankles. Ancú jumped free of the mast and grabbing a sword that was close at hand, he looked at Frinican, who stood in awe of this trick he had never thought of. Grabbing Legolas, he put his sword across the blonde elf's throat. "Kill me and he dies."

Ancú looked at the man and the tribulation about them. It was the last place he had thought he would be. He had never thought that the world of men could be so corrupt and so full of evil. He had never thought that men hated elves. The elf had set out on a mission to save Elladan and Elrohir and he had ended up here, fighting men and facing death.

Everything seemed to be going in slow motion. Every movement made by someone in battle, a thrust, a stab, a parry, seemed all too slow to be real. Maybe they weren't real, maybe it was all a bad dream and he had yet to open his eyes and it would all fade away. He would see the trees and hear the waterfalls of Rivendell and their many voices and songs. Ancú suddenly closed his eyes tightly and knew he was not dreaming, everything was still there and it was his choice.

Tightening his grip on the blade he rammed his whole body into the man and thrust all his mass into the blow. Frinican had been taken totally off guard. He dropped the sword that he had been holding and Legolas fell the wooden boards with a slight cry as his bruised ribs banged against the timber. A man lunged for Ancú, not to kill, but to capture. He held a net of chain and rope that wood have easily ensnared the Rivendell elf, but Ancú suddenly drove his blade deep into the human's chest and pulled it out, turning white when he saw the red blood on the tip and sliding down to the hilt. Red blood, not black like orcs, but red. Legolas saw Ancú standing there looking at the sword with a face that was horrified. The prince shouted, " Ancú! Go! Get Glorfindel! Get Glorfindel!" The Rivendell elf looked at the wood elf prince for a moment before dashing off in the direction of the Gondolin elf. Legolas watched as the other elf ducked a blow that was intended for his skull and drove the sword he held with a cry of disgust and consternation into the human that had attacked him.

Suddenly, Legolas looked to see Frinican standing above him. He sprang to his feet and gripped his swords like he would of his knives. Frinican swung at the elf, Legolas blocked the blow with a loud clang of metal on metal. Frinican aimed another for his head and the prince parried it as well. Frinican smiled, "not bad elf." The human thrust his blade for Legolas's heart and the elf half twisted half spun aside, striking out with one of the swords. He cut Frinican in the side; however, the human was too concentrated on his enemy that he hardly noticed he was wounded.

Suddenly Frinican smiled and looked beyond he blonde elf. Legolas spun around just in time to see a heavy net of chain and rope fall upon him. The weight of it knocked him down to the ground. Legolas thrashed about to try to get up and only entangled himself further. His swords were caught hopelessly in the webbing and the more he tugged, the worse it got. Frinican picked up a spear from the ground and dropped his sword. Taking the spear, he held it above the prince's chest. Legolas watched in horror, as the blade was lowered and about to gore him through. Without warning he heard a cry from the nearby and saw Anders coming with his sword. The ranger swung the weapon and knocked the spear from its intended path.

Legolas sighed, letting out the breath he had not realized he had been holding. Anders slammed his shoulder into Frinican and knocked the man off guard. "You traitor. You will die with the elves!" snapped Frinican angrily.

Anders smiled a smile of vengeance, "I am no traitor, for a betrayed no one. You on the other hand are a traitor and will die a traitor and a murderer." A deadly fire flashed in the man's eyes as he gripped his sword with both hands. Frinican raised his to fight back, but something sparkled in his eyes. A look that had not been there before shone through. He was doubtful. Anders struck at him and the other man twisted aside just in time to escape getting drilled through the heart.

In the fire light of the burning houses and the choking smoke all of this looked imaginary and mythical. Legolas watched as the two men locked into a deadly combat. Suddenly, the blonde elf heard a voice he knew so well say, "need a hand?"

"Aragorn!" said the elf with contentment. The ranger came and gently untangled his friend from the net; careful not to let the heavy metal links hit against the elf's battered rib cage. Legolas smiled when the net was lifted. It felt great, then he frowned, "Where is Rothinzil and the twins?"

"I thought he was with you," said Aragorn quietly. His gray eyes flashed.

Legolas's scowl deepened. "He was but I sent him to find your brothers. He should have found them by now."

Legolas struggled to get up and Aragorn grabbed his friend's hand, pulling him up. Together they ran through the crowd, dropping their weapons. Ducking blows and still running they continued into the smoke covered streets. It was hard to see or even breath. Both of them stopped. Smoke inhalation could be deadly and most often was. But they could not do anything about that now, if Roth had passed out from smoke and the twins were still trapped, they had to find them.

The air around them was hot as they went from burning cottage to burning cottage, knocking in the door and screaming out Roth's name and the twins. Both of the friends were beginning to tire. The heat was oppressing them and they stumbled. Even the elf, which normally had strength greater than that of many men faltered. Sweat drenched both of them.

Finally, Aragorn fell. Legolas stopped and crouched by his friend's side, falling to the ground himself. Gripping Aragorn, he pulled the human close and cradled the man's head in his lap. "Come on! Please Strider!" begged he elf.

He gently brushed wisps of dark hair away with his hands and Aragorn smiled, "I can't you stubborn elf." Legolas smiled sadly. His elven eyes looked about the foggy world. As if on cue, Lightening lit up the sky and the town. The prince saw the rangers regrouping for one final assault on the Corsairs. He saw Anders still fighting with Frinican and then he breathed deep and felt sick to his stomach and his throat burned.

"Aragorn?" he asked wearily.

"What?" answered the ranger in a dull voice?

"This is just like the last time we were down South. The rangers came to our aid. Except this time we aren't going to be the ones to survive," finished the elf. "We will not go home this time. I think the story is going to end here."

Aragorn smiled. "It may, but we thought it would end before and the Valar surprised us." He looked up at Legolas and the elf grinned.

"Well I am tired and the ground is soft. " Legolas lay down and closed his eyes softly. Everything felt so peaceful and his pain seemed to fade away. He saw his father again and the woods of his home. The prince smiled and laughed slightly as he saw Roth dangling from a tree by one hand and singing at the same time just for fun. If one would have come by and seen him they would have thought he was crazy to be laughing while at Death's Door.

Aragorn closed his steel gray eyes as well and he saw Rivendell, safe and well. He saw Elrond sitting in a chair and reading a book and writing. The man saw Ancú vaulting over the edge of a low balcony with the twins leaping behind him and teasing him unmercifully.

- - - - - - - - --

Anders wiped a weary hand across his brow. Frinican stood panting before him. The tormentor saw the weakness of Anders and took this chance to try and run him through. The ranger dodged the strike and struck out with his sword. Frinican jumped clear and charged Anders. The man held his weapon out just as the other man tried to ram into him and Frinican was gouged deep. The blade pierced through his chest and Anders gave it a vicious twist then pulled it free. "That is for my wife you blood thirsty butcher!" he snarled. Frinican looked up the man who had just slain him and saw the cold fire in the man's eyes that he had seen before. Then, he drew his last breath and he was dead.

Suddenly Anders felt something cold hit him and he looked up at the sky. A cold rain began to fall, hissing as it hit the flames. Smoke and steam rose and all seamed closed in a world of shadow. Out of the ruble stepped Roth, bearing the limp figure of Elladan, alongside him limped Elrohir. He was leaning heavily on a stick for support. They gave a weak smile and said, "It is finished."

Elladan shifted in Roth's grips and said, "no, it has hardly begun and adventures never end."

Roth said back, "I was hoping not to hear that." Elladan smiled thinly and Elrohir grinned wryly.

A pair of beings stepped out of the mist. It was Ancú and Glorfindel. The Gondolin elf did not look too badly, and Ancú as fine besides the cut on his cheek. Anders looked at the pair and said, "nice shirts," he remarked the sackcloth that had been placed on them and that had had not time to take off.

Glorfindel raised a brow and said, "thanks." The Gondolin elf crinkled his nose; "it stinks."

Ancú looked at his and hastily ripped it off. Then he looked at Glorfindel, "are you sure its not the person that is wearing it?"

The golden haired elf frowned and said unexpectedly, "where are Aragorn and Legolas?" To this no one had an answer.

Roth blanched, "they are still in the fire?"

Glorfindel nodded. Anders looked devastated and Anc's face had gone an unwholesome shade of gray. "Are we not going to find them?" asked Elrohir in a hoarse whisper.

His brother and friend were out there and they could be alive.

Ancú looked at Roth; "we will go. You all need rest."

"But-" protested Glorfindel, then he consented. He was tired and his wound ached. Elrohir looked at the Gondolin elf and then at Anders.

The ranger sighed, "I will accompany you."

- - -- - - - - -

As the three walked in the street and saw the ash and dead bodies they began to wonder how anyone could have lived through this horror and their hearts began to despair.

Then, as they walked into a dark alley that was filled with ruble and nearly leveled they saw two figures lying side by side. An elf prince and a man; but you could not tell just from looking at them, you had to know them.

Both of the beings' faces were pale and yet smiles touched the frost that seemed to linger on their features. Everything around them was burned to a crisp, but they were not even singed. Roth collapsed at Legolas's side and said, "Legolas! Wake up! We have to go home!" No answer, except a smile and a tinkle of laughter. It seemed the prince was no longer in their world, but yet he was alive. Anders knelt by Aragorn and Ancú hung in the back uneasily. Aragorn's face was peaceful and a laugh played on his lips.

The search party gathered their ill friends in their arms and brought them back.

Epilogue

Weeks later in Mirkwood's Healing Halls...

Legolas woke and looked up to see a carved ceiling with designs of leaves and birds. He shifted and realized that he was lying in a bed and a cloth was on his brow and was dripping down the sides of his face. He reached up to take it off and a voice said, "Legolas, don't."

"Ada?" asked the prince with a smile.

"Legolas, my son, "said Thranduil. The prince tried to get up, but Thranduil pushed him back down gently and the younger elf made no move to stop it. It felt good to feel his father near him again, even though he was often far from home. "I was wondering when you would wake up."

Legolas smiled, "you know me, I like to sleep in."

Thranduil ruffled his son's now cleansed blonde hair and said, "yes, I know." The prince just laughed a deep laugh from the heart.

Suddenly he frowned and said, "Ada, where is Aragorn? Where are the twins and everybody?"

Thranduil smiled and said, "mending nicely. Although poor Elrohir had to have his leg rebroken and reset. He is healing well inspite of that I hear. Elladan is getting better, although he is still blind."

Legolas nodded and said, "what about Aragorn? What about Roth and Ancú?"

The elder elf smiled a warm smile. "I was getting to it, but you always were impatient." Legolas laughed slightly and then turned his attention back to his father. "Aragorn is with his brothers and helping to look after them in fact. You have been asleep for a long time. They will go back to Rivendell today. For to heal properly Elrond will have to look after them." Legolas frowned. They were going home. Thranduil saw his son's sadness and said, "about Rothinzil and Ancú..." He trailed off and looked beyond Legolas's bed to the door where two elves stood with a man beside them. "Well perhaps they should tell you the rest. I have things to do."

Legolas followed his father's gaze and saw his friends standing there smiling and leaning on the doorposts casually. Aragorn was the first to come and he said, "Legolas, I was wondering when you were going to get up." He shook a finger at the prince. "You always were rather lazy." Legolas scowled.

Thranduil pushed past the two elves that still crowded the door. Roth spoke up, "Legolas do you fancy you are up to beating me at a hunt today?"

A shout echoed down the hallway behind Roth, "don't get him started Rothinzil!" It was the voice of Thranduil, but their was a laugh in it. Roth just giggled.Ancú wiped a hand over his healing cheek absent mindedly. The abrasion was nearly gone.

Legolas shook his head, "I will be far to weak for a hunt for a long time to come."

Aragorn smiled broader and said, "my friend I will be going home soon along with Ancú and my brothers today, within the hour actually. You are welcome to come and visit anytime as always."

Legolas smiled and said back, "and you are welcome here anytime you like, although I fear I have had enough adventures for a while so don't come anytime soon."

Aragorn laughed and said, "well you seem to be well enough to insult me. Don't worry, I am sure you will come and find me before I find you."

Legolas raised a brow in a fair arch, "now who is insulting who?" Then he frowned, "how did we get here?"

Aragorn frowned too, "I have to prepare to leave so perhaps Ancú and Roth could tell you the tale." He began for the door. "Namarie Legolas, my friend."

"Well it began when we discovered you and Aragorn missing after the action as usual..." Legolas lay back against the pillows and listened to their tale, no matter how exaggerated it was, it had to be better than listening to nothing but birds for the entire afternoon..

The End

"Whether you are an old family or a new family or a family in the making, whether you be lover or friend, it is the experiences you share with others the stories that you tell about those experiences afterward, the tales you bring from the past and future that create the ultimate bond."

Clarissa Pinkola Estés, PH.D -- The Gift of Story

This tale is over now. But we have a new one to come so be sure to read the preview and tell us what you think. But please take the time to review and tell us what you thought of the ending as well. We love to hear from you.

Snow-Glory Yes, just when they think it is safe---BANG! They get it hard! LOL Yes, we are good at that.

Veritas and Aequitas Not wimpy? G that's cool! Sorry if this one was 'wimpy', but it had to end somewhere LOL

Shadowed Flames Yes, too bad for the elves and rangers, LOL

Gozilla Thanks, you flatter us!

Strider's Girl Yes, it is hard and confusing, hope this last chapter wasn't, but we doubt it. Undaunted? There are days we don't want to continue!

Deana Hehehehe! Thanks. Now you have the next story to look forward to LOL

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