Fading Light

by Shandrial

Traitorousness has come to Rivendell and Elrond lies dying. His time is running out and the twins, Estel, and Legolas must scramble to find an antidote, but things are never as easy as they seem and their search soon becomes a fight for their own survival

13. Last Flight of the Golden Raptors

Author's note: Oh my, lookie what story I actually updated! Can you believe it? I can't, hehe. Anyway, next to last chapter, so enjoy!

Warning: Character deaths

************

Chapter 13: Last Flight of the Golden Raptors

Never chase a lie. Let it alone, and it will run itself to death.

-Layman Beecher

************

Arwen held her breath and smoothly glided to the door separating her father's room from the hallway. She was uncertain whether to open the door or not, afraid of what she would find behind it. Gathering her resolve the maiden reached for the door handle and barely cracked the door open. What she saw made her suck in her breath and she almost collapsed to her knees. The wall was the only thing keeping the fair being standing.

"Ada…" she whispered.

***********

"Be well ada" Elladan whispered from their hiding place.

Laurelin from her place fully agreed with Elladan. During their short trip here she had been thinking hard. How nice would it be for her and Malentuilinn to not have to worry about vengeance for once? To maybe settle down near some of their kin?  To simply know what it was like to be elven…

**********

Elrohir and Aragorn where beginning to lose hope of ever seeing the sky again.

Elrohir's elven body was trying to mend his wounded chest, but mentally he was a wreck. Elves were not known to do well in caves to begin with and some could even die from getting trapped underground. Unlucky for Elrohir, he was one of those 'some' that did extremely bad in caves. He wanted nothing more than to quicken his pace to hurry up and get out, but all it took was to cast a glance back at Estel. The ranger wasn't fairing well.

They were both gripping the wall, the elf out of a need to keep his sanity, and the ranger to simply stand.

Another painful wave hit Aragorn then. He never noticed as he collapsed to his knees and practically balled up. His muscles felt like they would simply tear from strain and the darkness tried to drag him down once again. The pain in his head became so bad he could neither see nor hear.

Elrohir turned sharply as he heard a slight whimper from Aragorn and he kneeled down with the ranger as he collapsed to his knees. He did the only thing he could do, and that was to put an arm around his human brother and offer him soothing words. Words the elf was pretty sure his brother couldn't hear. As Elrohir was kneeling there talking, he caught a familiar scent on the musty air.

Elrohir sniffed the air. Why had he not noticed before? He had been too occupied with his thoughts to notice that the air was getting a lot fresher and just now he caught the scent of flowers.

"Forgive me Estel, I shall be right back," Elrohir whispered.

The dark-haired elf rose and quickly made his way down the tunnel. He rounded a corner, and there to his surprise was the end of the tunnel. The light from the entrance was blocked by the sharp bend and he had been too occupied to notice the air, but right there is was. They were so close!

**********

"I suppose you have no regrets?" Glorfindel asked almost bitterly, "even though Elrond practically helped raised you."

"Don't forget the, left me to die part," the maid answered coolly.

Before Glorfindel could say more the small group of five figures reached the meeting place.

"Is this him?" one figure asked indicating Glorfindel.

Malen nodded in response.

"As promised Lord Elrond's right hand elf," she said giving Glorfindel a small nudge forward.

"And he can show us the secrets to the valley staying hidden?" the man reassured.

Malen nodded again in response.

Despite his tentative hold on his emotions, anger welled up in the golden-haired elf.

"You would sell out Imladris to a guild?" he hissed, "You even know that without Elrond the valley will stay hidden no longer!"

"True," the she-elf responded.

The golden-haired maiden reached inside her tunic and brought out a small phial.

"It is too late for Lord Elrond, but without this his human son will die as well. The young Estel is poisoned with the same substance that just slew your precious Lord of Rivendell. Tell me Glorfindel, how dear do you hold that human? What are you willing to do for him?"

"Would you be willing to shield us in this valley for his life?" one of the cloaked figures asked without missing a beat.

"We do not even ask for the other elves to leave," another began, "simply some place to rest our weary when the time is of need."

"You mean a place to hide the guilty when justice finally comes for them?" Glorfindel asked almost angrily.

"Justice?" Malen laughed, "The kind of justice that abandons ones hopes and dreams? Come Glorfindel, you are old enough to know that that does not exist in this world! There is only survival!"

"There is far more to this world than survival Malen," Glorfindel countered.

"As an elf, what need have you of these human riches as I am sure they have promised you?" he asked.

"Those riches and these humans have gotten me through the worst of times. It's something you and your sheltered existence would never understand."

"Perhaps not, but were you not so blinded by bitterness you might understand," Glorfindel said sadly.

**********

From their hiding spot in the brush above, the three elves saw the phial Malen had pulled and all heard as well.

The one thing that stood out in Elladan's mind right now was that phial. He might be too late to save his father, but there was no way he was going to let Estel die as well. Elladan knew that if he let himself he would be consumed with grief right now, so he focused all his energy on that phial. They must get it!

On either side of him he could feel Laurelin and Legolas stiffen at the site as well. Four of them to fifteen wasn't bad, considering they were four elves to mostly all humans.

"I will talk to her," Laurelin stated, "but if it comes to the worst, you know who's side I am on."

With that the golden-haired maiden rose from her hiding spot in the bushes before the other two elves could stop her.

Elladan and Legolas' eyes widened.

"I meant afterward, not now!" Elladan hissed.

Elladan and Legolas gave each other resigned looks and rose as well. Oh well, they had to come out eventually, they thought.

**************

Although he gave no indication outwardly, Glorfindel could feel the three elven presences hidden from the eye and one more that was fainter. This feeling gave him hope. There was nothing he could do for Elrond now and he had to trust in Mithrandir and Galadriel. But there was something he could do for Estel.

To say that Glorfindel was confused when he suddenly saw the three elves rise from their hiding place and stroll nonchalantly towards them was an understatement. The golden-haired elf managed to keep his manner composed.  Although unaware of the situation, he was silently cursing Elladan's brashness.

However, Malen, beside Glorfindel, did let her eyes widen. She tried to hold faith in her osellë, but she had her suspicions from the start that the girl's heart was too faint for this kind of work. Damn it, she thought. Glorfindel, Elladan, and even the young prince were tough foes. If a fight broke out now, none of these humans could handle the elder elf, she would have to deal with him. At least, she thought, I have one trick up my sleeve for one of them yet.

Laurelin stopped at the edge of the tree line, almost as if she were afraid to enter the small clearing.

"Malentuilinn," she tried to say confidently, "please give the antidote to Glorfindel."

The maid looked as if she wanted to say more, but at a cold glance from Malen her words caught in her throat. She glanced quickly to her side and caught Elladan's eyes.

He wasn't thrilled at the idea of just walking out like this, but they were here nonetheless. The dark-haired elf gave the maid an encouraging look with his eyes.

Go on, at least try, he urged her mentally.

"Please stop this now, Malen. This isn't the way to settle this. It has gone too far. Look around us, look at all the people involved now! What do any of them have to do with the past? When will it ever end? When is enough, enough?"

Malen's eyes seemed to soften as she looked at the younger elf.

"You don't get it do you?" Malen asked almost sadly.

"This is your vengeance Emlin, not mine. I brought you into this so that you may take your revenge. For me, it is simply business."

That simple phrase hit Laurelin with the force of an angry dwarf.

The maid's eyes went wide and her face paled. My vengeance? Not ours? Was I a pawn, she wondered? Merely a pawn? An icy numbness spread through her body at the realization and she felt herself shaking. She forced her breathing to steady and she looked Malen straight in the eyes. She felt her anger welling up inside her. She had merely been a pawn in this horrid game!

"So, I was a tool? Is that it?" the maid asked with an unnervingly quiet voice.

"Don't be silly girl," Malen shot back, "you knew your place in this just as well as I knew mine. We are all someone else's tools. That has nothing to do with feelings. This is business Emlin."

"Hand over that antidote Malentuilinn!" Laurelin demanded.

The elder maid's eyes hardened at the demand.

"What?" she asked icily.

The elves and men alike could feel themselves tense up as the two maids bickered.

"I said hand over that phial!"

"It matters not whether you do or don't," Glorfindel's calm voice cut through the argument.

Malen looked sharply over at him and the rest gave the elf a confused look.

"When I came out here with you Malen," he began calmly, "I did not know Estel had been poisoned also, only that Elrond was in danger, but either way it matters little. The Lady Galadriel is in the Last Homely Home as we speak and it is true that she may not have been in time to save Elrond, that has yet to be foreseen, but she may very well be in time to save Estel."

Glorfindel turned to fully focus his cold glare at Malen.

"I came out here with you to see what has been transpiring and to see it come to an end. You have no leverage here Malen. This ploy is over," Glorfindel stated with an air of finality.

Malen struggled to keep her face neutral as she absorbed the information. Glorfindel had been going along with her from the start. She was never in control of this situation. Pure and simple hatred welled up inside her. All the planning, all the work, it was all over because of that meddlesome witch!

"What is going on here?" one of the hooded men hissed.

"I thought we had a deal?" another asked angrily.

There was a chance that Galadriel could save the human boy, but it was not definite. And, as she clenched the phial in her hand, she planned to make sure no one ever got a hold of this. Malen took a deep breath and turned towards the five men calmly.

"Glorfindel is right, our plan has failed. For the murder of an elf lord, if you wish to keep your lives, I suggest you fight, and fight well."

Everyone tensed.

Malen snapped back around and struck out at Glorfindel with her arm. The other elf avoided the blow, but was caught off balance momentarily. Exactly what she was hoping for. The maid followed through by throwing her weight into him and knocking the elf down.

In the brief time she had, the maid turned to her own men.

"If you want to live, fight your way out!"

With that clipped phrase Malen clenched the phial in her had and dashed full force for the trees. She would throw this along with herself in the Bruinen before she even let Glorfindel have it.

*************

As soon as Malen bolted the frozen tension lifted from everyone like the undoing of a spell. Everyone burst into action.

"No you don't," Laurelin said with narrowed eyes.

The maiden with the silver-gold hair went into a flat out run after her osellë.

Glorfindel gracefully rose once again and proceeded to follow the two she-elfs.

***********

Legolas and Elladan saw Laurelin and Glorfindel go after Malen and turned their focus on the fifteen men in front of them.

"It would appear that they have left us to deal with everyone else," Legolas said to Elladan dryly.

Elladan, drawing his sword, gave the other elf a halfway smirk and went to close the distance between himself and the humans.

Legolas drew his two knives and was about to follow Elladan when something dropped in front of him. The elf was forced back and he stumbled a bit in his weariness before he found his footing. There blocking the path in front of him was the thief / assassin with that annoying smirk on his face and a dagger in each hand. A smirk Legolas intended to personally wipe off.

"You haven't forgotten about our unsettled duel now have you?" Vocyn asked coyly.

"Humans always tend to talk to much. Let's get this over with," Legolas said.

Vocyn simply chuckled.

"Cocky aren't we?" the thief said merrily, "I do believe I drew first blood last time and almost won. Let's see if you can do any better this time around."

Suddenly the thief's face turned serious and Vocyn charged the blonde elf.

************

Elladan approached the mercenaries first. If they were like the others he fought then he could handle all of them if need be, even with a splitting headache. It was the five hooded figures he was worried about. He had a suspicion that annoying Vocyn was from their group, and if they were anything like he was, this could get complicated.

Right before Elladan reached the mercenaries a familiar figure stopped in front of the elf, wheeled around to face his men, and took a defensive position.

"Alright, I'll give ye all the same choice I gave the other boys… who wants to go first?"

A huge grin broke out on Elladan's fair face.

"Well met Glullyn! I was beginning to wonder if you switched sides again," the dark-haired elf said lightly.

The mercenary simply grunted in reply to the elf and faced the shocked faces in front of him.

"I'll do my best to handle this lot, you focus on them shady ones," Glullyn said without turning around.

Elladan nodded and cautiously approached the waiting thieves.

***************

Elrohir turned and dashed back to the ranger. Aragorn was still huddled miserably against the wall.

"We have made it Estel! You are almost out; just hang on a little longer. Be strong."

Despite his injury, the elf knelt down and picked the human up in his arms. Elrohir clenched his jaw as he felt the strain tear open the wound once again and as he walked he felt a warm trickle down his chest, but he didn't care. They where almost out of this nightmare of a cave and help may very well be waiting for Estel. Elrohir had to try. He carried Estel the short distance around the bend in the tunnel and all the way to the cave entrance. The elf stepped out onto the small ledge and into the sunlight and fresh air. Immediately he could feel his heart lift and his senses increase. He could hear the Bruinen a short distance away. The elf laid the human down gently and as he did Aragorn opened his eyes.

The ranger squinted up blearily at the morning sky.

"I don't believe it," he managed in a small, airy voice.

"That's right little brother," Elrohir said sweeping hair our of the ranger's face and took his hand, "we made it."

The ranger closed his eyes contently and smiled to himself. He had really not wanted the place for him to die to be in the gloom. He wanted to die in the open like a ranger should.

Elrohir could guess the ranger's thoughts and looked down with eyes full of sorrow at the human. He was about to say something when a familiar feeling came back. The elf looked sharply to the right. Elladan. He could feel his brother out there and not that far away. Hope once again came to the elf. The elf released the ranger's hand and looked over the edge of their ledge. With his wound there was no way he could get Aragorn down that drop off, short for an elf as it was, by himself. He risked dropping his brother whom would then get a short, but abrupt ride practically straight down. But if Elladan were here they could do it.

As Elrohir peered over the side movement caught his eye and for a second the elf feared he had gone mad. There, getting ready to pass him a short distance away was a she-elf running full speed in the direction of the river. Before the dark-haired elf could figure this out, Laurelin darted by a short time later. He had no idea what was going on, but it was likely that one of those two she-elf's had the antidote Aragorn needed.

Elrohir knelt down next to Aragorn again and the ranger looked tiredly up at the elf.

"Aragorn, listen to me," Elrohir said steadily as he put his hand on the ranger's shoulder, "I will be back as quick as I can. Something is happening below and I must go on the hope that the antidote is down there. I swear I will bring it back. You must hang on a little longer, be strong, I know you can."

With that the dark-haired elf turned and made his slow way down the side of the rock face.

***************

Malentuilinn had no idea where she was going. She could outrun Emlin that she knew, but outrunning Glorfindel was another matter. She had to make it to the bridge; it was the only way out of Rivendell in this area, aside from the plummet down into the river. Which being an elf, she could probably survive if worst came to worst.

The golden-haired elf pushed herself harder and put on more speed. They would not catch her and they would not get this phial!

She came to a small path and grassy knoll. The bridge was in site now. Once she crossed that, she could cut any direction she wanted and be ride of this place. She approached the bridge at a full run and a smile came to her face.

That smile quickly vanished though as something caught her from the side right before she set foot on the bridge and she went crashing painfully to the ground in a tangle. Malen and Glorfindel hit the ground and slide from the force. Both elves recovered quickly and rolled to their feet. Glorfindel made sure he came up between Malen and her escape route. Malen silently cursed under her breath as she noticed this fact.

"I don't suppose you would move out of the way for old times sake?" she asked lightly.

Glorfindel gave something close to a snort.

"Very well," she said and drew her sword.

Glorfindel was unarmed, but he didn't seem fazed by that fact. He just stared calmly back at the she-elf. Both heads turned as Laurelin finally caught up and came to a stop leaving Malen between the two.

"You will not pass over this bridge Malen, make this easier on yourself and quit now," Glorfindel advised her.

Is was Malen's time to snort.

**************

Vocyn came at Legolas with a sweep from the dagger in his right hand, but at the last moment feinted to the left. The elf saw through the move though and blocked the dagger before the thief could follow through with it and struck out with his other hand. The strike was at an odd angle as so there was not much power behind it, but Legolas managed to leave a long cut down the assassin's right arm.

"First blood to you this time," Vocyn said narrowing his eyes.

Legolas almost smiled at that. Instead the elf went on the offensive. For his part, Vocyn managed to block every single attack. But some of them just barely, Legolas noted. Before he had time to think about it more, it was his turn to defend himself. The thief came on in a flurry of attacks that normally the elf would have no trouble blocking, but Legolas' body was getting tired.

Legolas blocked a blow with his left knife and used the opportunity to strike out with his right. The assassin countered the move and before the elf knew what happened he felt a sharp pain in his side. Vocyn had simply reversed his grip on the dagger Legolas first blocked and struck down. The dagger bit a deep gash into the elf's side and he stumbled backward as they separated. He could feel the blood starting to seep out of the jagged wound.

It was a move he would normally never have succumbed to. Legolas realized he was more exhausted than he thought. His injuries combining with the stress of the night was beginning to weigh heavily on the elf. He needed to finish this quickly, before his guard slipped again. The next time might be the last time.

Remembering he was dealing with a faster than normal human, the elf decided to see exactly what the thief could keep up with. He would win this now with this move or he would be too tired afterward to even defend himself. If that happened, he already knew the outcome.

************

Glullyn decided to just get it over with. He knew he could beat every man here. Okay, maybe the odds where a bit against him in numbers, but he had seen worse. With a cry the man charged one man. As he struck with his sword at him, the same time the mercenary kicked out at another. The man was taken by surprise as Glullyn's boot landed firmly in his middle and he went skidding backwards. The old mercenary then went about running through and striking at the group. He wanted to cause as much confusion as he could.

**************

The five hooded men started to circle around Elladan and they reminded him greatly of a pack of vultures. The elf heard the clash of steel to the right and knew that Glullyn was beginning his struggle. Well, he thought, might as well test what these vultures can do.

The dark-haired elf charged the man in front of him. The man reacted by bringing a short sword up to his defense as Elladan's sword fell. The man deflected the strike, but the elf didn't hang around. He wheeled in the flash of an eye and struck out sideways at the next nearest man. His sword wounded the man in the arm before he could fully bring a knife up in defense. As soon as he inflicted that wound the elf side stepped the man and backed away quickly. He had broken through their ring around him and now they would have to move to reform it.

From his quick assault, Elladan determined it was worse than he had hoped, but not as bad as he had expected. These men where fast and good, proven by how fast the first man had reacted to the elf's charge, but they were not as fast as the opponent Legolas now faced. The dark-haired elf smiled. He should be able to deal with them nicely.

***************

Malen charged Glorfindel swinging her sword in a wide arch. The wide breadth of the sweep caused the male elf to react quickly. He dropped to the ground in a roll and came up clear of the sweep. But still in the way, Malen thought with frustration. The two elves went about this attack and dodge routine for some time. Glorfindel received no help from Laurelin and neither did he expect any. The young elf seemed torn between her loyalties. Wanting to help stop the chain of events, but unable to forget the past.

Malen was growing extremely frustrated with this situation. She simply could not get past Glorfindel. She was not new to fighting, but she could not hit the annoying elf. It briefly crossed her mind that she didn't want to hit him, but she shook that thought away.

As Malen was making another attempt at striking the elf she finally saw an opening. Finally! She mentally cried. Glorfindel had went into a roll again, but this time when he started to rise he had to cut to the side to avoid banging his head into a small tree. The move delayed the elf only for a second, but Malen was known for her speed.

Laurelin saw what was coming and ran forward.

The she-elf started to stab the blade down to skewer the other elf… but at the last moment she pushed it foreword making it a cut and not a stab. The blade sliced through Glorfindel's arm as he rose leaving a deep gash, but nothing more. Glorfindel and Laurelin stopped stunned.

Damn it all, Malen shouted mentally! The she-elf backed slowly away from the male elf and stopped closer to Laurelin and the edge. All this time and she couldn't do it. Well, this isn't the only escape route, she thought.

"What are you doing?" Glorfindel asked alarmed as he saw the she-elf scoot towards the edge of the bank.

"I say I have a fair chance of surviving, don't you think Glorfindel?" Malen asked as she edged closer.

"But.." Laurelin began as she started to approach Malen.

"I won't go back Laurelin," Malen said firmly.

"Please Malen!" Laurelin pleaded.

Before anyone could say more, a clear voice rang out.

"Both of you hold it right there!"

All three heads turned to see a battered looking Elrohir holding his bow steady halfway between Malen and Laurelin.

"Which one of you has it?"

Laurelin looked over at Malen and for some reason he trusted that look, so he focused solely on Malen. He also noticed her edge back towards the drop off ever so slightly. The she-elf was already within a short jumping distance of her destination.

"Move any closer and you won't have to worry about surviving the fall. Now I want that antidote," the dark-haired elf demanded icily.

Malen gave Laurelin a look that took her a moment to interpret. It was a look that held regret and she knew what the older elf was going to do. Before she realized it, Laurelin was moving. Elrohir must have noticed the look also because he fired on the golden-haired maid.

Malen fully expected to feel the arrow pierce her as she moved, but it never came. Before she knew it Laurelin was directly in front of her and the young elf's eyes where wide in surprise and pain. It took a moment for the elf's shocked mind to come to grips with what happened.

Laurelin had stepped in front of the arrow's path.

In front of her.

To save her.

Not her young osellë! She mentally pleaded. The only person she even remotely cared for. She felt the sting in her eyes that signaled tears where about to well. How very small and vulnerable Laurelin looked at that moment when the arrow struck her. She wanted to reach out and comfort the child. To tend to her wound. Her eyes locked with Laurelin and she knew that the younger elf understood.

Before she could react though, two gentle hands reached out for her. One grabbed something and the other gave her a rough shove backwards.

Glorfindel and Elrohir watched stunned as all of a sudden Laurelin was in front of Malen with an arrow embedded in her back. The two seemed to freeze there for a breath or two and then the young maiden almost gently shoved the older elf off the edge of the bank.

In a flash of golden hair Malentuilinn disappeared over the side without a sound and Laurelin collapsed in a pile of silver gold.

As soon as she hit the ground Glorfindel and Elrohir rushed forward. Elrohir knelt down next to Laurelin and Glorfindel peered over the edge. From this height there was no sign of Malentuilinn.

"Why?" Elrohir asked simply as he went to inspect the wound.

Laurelin stopped the dark-haired elf's hand.

"This way I keep all my promises. I stayed loyal to my osellë and she might yet escape, and," she paused putting something in Elrohir's hand, "I can also keep my pledge to help stop this nightmare."

Elrohir looked down and to his surprise there was a small phial in his hand. He didn't have to ask what the maid had given him. The dark-haired elf looked back into Laurelin's eyes with surprise written all over his face.

"Elrohir," Glorfindel's voice cut into the elf's thoughts, "where is Estel?"

Elrohir turned his eyes up to the opening in the rock face.

"He is still up there. I yet hope it is not too late and I can not bring him down by myself."

"Go Elrohir," Laurelin whispered, her voice full of pain, "go, save your brother."

"Go take that to Estel, I will stay with Laurelin and I will send someone up there. Elladan and Legolas should be done with those humans by now."

Elrohir gave Laurelin one last look. The look he saw in her eyes was happiness. Even though she was gravely injured she was happy it was all over.

Elrohir nodded and took off for the rock face.

"I've got it finally little brother. You had better not be dead after all this!"

**************

Glorfindel did the only the he could and cradled the young elf maid. It was a shame she had to die at such a young age for an elf, but she had made her decision. She didn't seem to regret it all. The young maid had a look of peace on her face.

"Tell Elrohir and Elladan… that I am sorry," she said airily.

"I believe they already know, but I will."

"And… if you ever see Malen again… tell her…"

The maid with the silver-gold hair never had the chance to finish her sentence before she let one final breath out and went limp in his arms. She needn't worry though; he understood all too well what she was going to say.

Glorfindel sighed. One had been saved from her path, but it was too late. It really was a shame.

**************

Legolas was attacking with everything he had. His hands worked in a blur and the assassin was forced back on his heels. He wasn't expecting such a fierce or bold attack from the injured elf. Legolas forced Vocyn back until he finally saw an opening. The thief was barely keeping up with the rush and in his haste he left a spot open. Legolas took the initiative and struck out with his knife putting his whole body into the attack. The move was brash and had the thief not been taken back by this string of attacks, he probably would have stabbed the elf right in the middle. But Vocyn was taken by surprise and Legolas' knife slide firmly into the thief's left shoulder and when Legolas threw his weight behind it; the thief went crashing to the ground.

Legolas was left panting after the ordeal and he felt like he barely had enough energy to stand. He managed to keep a stoic face though and glared coldly down at the thief. Vocyn was sitting on the ground glaring back up at the elf with his knife still embedded in his shoulder. By the way the thief was holding his arm, the elf knew he had rendered it useless.

Vocyn glared at the elf scrutinizing him and Legolas knew he was being studied. The elf's arms felt like dead weights at the moment. If he caught on to how exhausted the elf really was he knew the thief would attack again, even with one arm. And most likely win, he thought wearily.

Legolas guessed the thief couldn't see through his steady posture as he saw the blonde man smirk.

This fight was over.

In the blink of an eye the thief launched his remaining dagger at the elf's head. It was pure luck Legolas barely managed to get his knife up to block the missile weapon. By the time the elf recovered the assassin was gone. He knew that wasn't the last time he was destined to fight that man. The elf simply sighed.

Legolas then took the time to look over at Elladan and noticed the human leader fighting along side his friend. Stranger things had already happened thus far so the elf simply shook his head. Elladan and the human where fairing well. Elladan already had three of the five hooded men down and the human was keeping the larger group of men disorganized. Well, I suppose I should do something, the elf thought lightly.

Legolas went over and retrieved his fallen bow, keeping out of rushing distance, and fired two consecutive shots. One into the hand of a hooded figure and one into the ground beside a mercenary.

The motley group stopped and stared at the archer.

"That's enough everyone!" the elf called, "Unless you want the next one in someplace more vital."

The remaining thieves and mercenaries slowly began to drop their weapons.

"It's about time," Elladan said coming over to the fair-haired elf, "we've dealt with half of this group before you chased off one man!"

Legolas knew Elladan was joking, but he narrowed his eyes and quietly seethed anyway.

The two elves and one human had just finished tying up the group, with varies things… even clothes, when Glorfindel came bursting through the brush.

The golden-haired elf gave the human a side-glance.

"He's on our side," Elladan and Legolas both said.

"Alright, then you," the older elf indicated to the human, "stay here and guard these men."

The human gave a curt nod in response.

"Legolas," Glorfindel began.

The golden-haired elf took in Legolas' disheveled and battered appearance and thought better of it. He turned to Elladan and the young lord of Rivendell didn't look any better. What had happened to the four of them overnight?

"Legolas," he began again, "make haste back to the Last Homely Home and let Lady Galadriel know what has transpired. Elladan, I need your help. We have the antidote, but we must help Elrohir get Estel back."

Legolas and Elladan gave quick nods and the fair elf took off for the Last Homely Home while Elladan followed Glorfindel.

***********

Elrohir looked up as Elladan and Glorfindel crested the ledge and sighed in relief.

By this time Aragorn had become completely none responsive and his complexion was deathly pale.

"How is he?" Elladan asked.

"Not well," Elrohir answered, "the poison has spread too far through his body for the antidote to work completely. I believe it will help and it may keep him alive long enough for Galadriel and Mithrandir to help him. If they cannot then he will simply have to fight through it."

"The antidote may give him the edge he needs to overcome the poison," Glorfindel tried to say reassuringly.

"Where is Laurelin?" Elrohir asked.

Glorfindel gave the younger elf a sad look and Elrohir didn't need to ask anymore.

"We can worry about that later, for now we must hurry back."

The two twins nodded in agreement. They were anxious to return and find out what had happened to their father and to help their brother.

One may be dead and the other may yet die shortly.

Either way, they had to go back.

*************

TBC…

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Well, last chapter coming up! Hope you guys enjoyed.

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goblz – So I am, so I am, hehe. Thanks for reading! ^_^ Hehe, they made it out after all!

NightShadow131 – Hehe, yeah it did, cause look at the size of this one. Could you imagine the two together?? Hehe. Thanks a bunch for complement! ^_^ And as for Elrond… one more chapter to go! I'm so evil, I know.

Sodalite – I am known for evil cliffies, yes. Muahah! Here is your update.

Zammy – Sorry Zammy, but these chapter take a long time to write, which means I have to have a huge block of time to do it. Sometimes that comes rarely. Glad you like, though. And only one more chapter to wait to find out about Elrond. Hehe, just one little chapter…

Coolio02 – Why thank you!! Glad you like! Welcome aboard and thanks for reviewing.

Legolas amin Aniron – Thanks for all of them! And thanks for reviewing. ^_^

Lady of Nimrodel – Like Aragorn torture, eh? Me too! For more, may I direct you to The Choices We Make? Hehe, I don't mind the language at all. ^_^ I'm just glad you liked it so much! Wow, thanks!

Elven Kitten – Haha, where would the fun be in that?! And I do agree, everyone is gonna sleep like a rock!

Leggylover – Hehe, I know you do. ^_^

Mystic Girl – Well, I can still understand your English just fine! ^_^ And I do look forward to emailing each other again, I enjoyed it. I recently got married and just got back from the honeymoon, so it's been slightly hectic. But I will have more time over the summer here. ^_^ Ah, torture Elladan all you want! You know I love it. ^_~ Talk to you later mellon nin!

Kedi – Thanks! And thanks for sticking with me! ^_^ Oh my, I do hope you were / are okay. Heh, of course you would be by now though, but still!

Deana – Thanks!! Glad you enjoyed it! Haha, I do that too, get hooked on a story then I just HAVE to finish it! Welcome aboard.

Ryuu no Furui Yami – Hehe, I'm know to write them, yes. Here's your update!

Lirenel – Hehe, you may or may not be write! Yes, evil I know, te he he. Thanks for reviewing.

Lily C – Thanks, and will do. That's what late night writing gets ya.

Karri – Tell me about it! Too complicated for my likes, but we shall get out. Nope, I'm not retired just yet. Just had to take a little break.

LalaithoftheBruinen – Yep! I did, and I did it again! And you'll find out next chapter. Thanks for reviewing! ^_^

NeptuneHelena – Like you expect anything else from me? Muahah! Last Chance will probably be next. ^_^ *hugs* Thanks Hikari!

Red Tigress – Yepper!! And I did it again! Haha, that is so funny! You don't know how tempted I was to make her break her leg! Haha.

Tithen Min – Thanks for understanding. And yeah, I am back! I am doing better, thanks. You know me and my cliffies! Muahah! I didn't get the update as soon as I liked to, but it's here! Enjoy!

Tychen – Thanks for not giving up on me! Hehe, yes, I like my cliffies. ^_^ And they got out! Yay! Finally, uh?

Catquest – Ah, don't give up hope yet! I never forget about a story, it just may take me awhile. Hehe, but the ending is getting near.

Haldir's Heart and Soul – Well, you get to find out next time!

Celebaladh – Not a problem. Traitorousness: Noun: 1. Disloyalty by virtue of subversive behavior. (according to Merriam Webster's Word Web)