Authors' Notes: Wow do we ever apologize! Writing a story with three authors can be very complicated. Life got in the way for all of us, and we wrote this chapter a few months ago but we didn't get it ready for posting until just now. We posted as quickly as all of us were ready for it to be posted!!! We hope you're still with us and reading. We can't promise when the next chapter will be posted but we have EVERY intention of finishing this fic!

Chapter Three

Elrond stood on the balcony of his den, the same place where he had watched his three sons fading into the distance, traveling away from Rivendell, on that very morning. This was the same place where he always stood to watch them leave, and most often where saw them return. This was the place he had stood when he saw Celeborn riding in with Celebrian at his side, white flowers in her hair for their wedding, and the place where he first saw Estel, carried in the arms of Elrohir, Gilraen riding stiffly behind. And, at the same time, this was where he saw Celebrian behind Elladan, her eyes vacant. Elrond lowered his head, closed his eyes and tried to banish all the memories that had suddenly crowded his mind. This was not the time for them.

Glorfindel and Erestor were with him, deeply involved in a discussion that the elf-lord was taking no part in, he was too busy gazing at the land stretched out before him, the mountains standing around like guardian sentinels, and wandering the paths of his memories.

Glorfindel and Erestor humored their friend, for he was always worried when the twins went hunting, despite them being more often than not outside of their home. Ever since Celebrian's departure overseas, Elladan and Elrohir had constantly been hunting orcs, extracting their vengeance, while their father stayed behind, worrying endlessly until their homecoming, whether they were safe or injured. Whichever was the case, Elrond was usually better at hiding his worry. But not today; today was different.

Today the twins had taken Estel with them, and while this trip was hardly an Orc-hunting trip, or even a hunting trip at all, Elrond could not suppress the worry he felt. Anything could happen to his sons, and he would not be there to protect them. While the twins were quite capable of taking care of themselves, Elrond still felt very protective of them. And he was more protective of Estel, who could not protect himself at his young age. The twins, Elladan in particular, would protect their fosterling with their lives. Elrond shuddered at that thought. It would not come to that, he reassured himself. Still, he could not wait for his sons to get home, and with each passing minute, his worry only grew.

The sun would set behind the mountains in her fiery glory within a couple of hours and Elrond had expected his sons home a few hours ago. Glorfindel had assured him that the three were probably just having too much fun to be mindful of the time, and Elrond had nodded then, agreeing, but had said nothing.

"Lord Elrond," Erestor finally spoke to the elf-lord, hoping to distract him. "We should make sure there is plenty of food for your sons when they return, they will no doubt be hungry after their trip."

Elrond sighed but finally turned. "Yes, you are right. They are always hungry, especially Estel, and this has been an exciting day for him.

Just as he was about to step inside with his friends, a sharp wave of pain washed over him, followed by quick flashes, scenes in his mind, that Elrond recognized as visions. Elladan and Elrohir chained to a tree Estel bound and gagged, Elrohir crying out as a whip continuously barreled down on his legs, arms, and back. Now Estel, running towards his brothers but being held back by humans and whipped as well. Elladan trying not to cry out as he also was whipped. Elrond knew these things had already happened to his sons, in the daylight, and the visions did not stop, but suddenly he was seeing the three in a new place, in some sort of basement or cellar. The three were separated and each taking such horrific abuse Elrond felt sick to his stomach.

When the visions clear and the pain faded, the elf-lord realized he was on his knees, being held up by Erestor and Glorfindel, and was gasping for breath. His body was drained, useless, and his mind reeling with emotions. The other two elves looked upon him with great distress and concern.

"My lord, what is it?" Glorfindel asked, his voice thick with barely concealed panic, as soon as he saw lucidity return to Elrond's eyes. "Shall we take you to the Halls of Healing?"

"Horses," Elrond gasped, still trying to regain his breath. "Weapons. Troops. My sons."

Immediately it dawned on the other two elves that something had happened to Elladan, Elrohir and Estel. As Glorfindel helped Elrond to his feet, Erestor hurried to gather a troop of willing elves for the search.

While Erestor was looking for troops, Glorfindel looked into his long time friend's eyes.

"What has befallen your sons?" he asked. "Tell me, I want to know. Will we be too late?"

The elf lord looked up at his friend with tears in his eyes and spoke. "Mellon nin they are being tortured as we speak. Let us not tarry with idle words, let us hurry before it is too late."

With this they rushed to find Erestor and gather all supplies needed for the search.

*****

Elladan and Elrohir had long ago given up the fight not to cry out; the pain was just too intense. Each whimpered as another lash fell across them. They often tried to see Estel, to catch his gaze for just a moment and try to reassure him, but long ago had he fallen from the beating, tears still fresh on his face.

The men did not care that the child had fallen and continued to beat him even after consciousness had fled. They seemed to enjoy every lash they gave him. Every time the twins tried to yell to stop them, they received vicious kicks to the stomach, with threats of watching their so-called brother die a slow horrible death. This kept them quiet for the moment.

They silently prayed to Valar for someone to save them, wishing that their father was there, anyone. The men took special notice of Elrohir for some reason, and Elladan did not like this at all. He did everything his mind could think of to get the attention away from his brothers so that he would receive most of the brutality, but as his body and spirit weakened his mind did as well and eventually he was unable to think of ways to distract their captors.

As evening set on the camp all was still for the moment. the men tired from spending the day torturing the elves and young boy.

Estel awoke as if from a long dark nightmare. The pain hit him almost immediately and he swayed even though tied. The sick feeling he had made he retch, and he nearly suffocated on his own vomit. The sight of his brothers brought fresh tears to his eyes, and he yelled out to the men.

"Why do you hate us so? Why not leave us alone?"

The leader seemed to be angered by his words and came over and slapped him hard. "You have chosen a life of exile for being with elves; your blood and mind have been poisoned by them. Therefore I think it only fitting to see them die before you receive the same fate."

"Dartho! Leave him alone!" Estel cried out as the man approached Elrohir, who was semi-conscious, his head lolling on his chest as if his neck were broken. Estel could tell by the blank look on the younger twin's face that Elrohir did not comprehend what was going on.

The man grabbed Estel by the hair of his head. "Such vile words you speak. I think just for those words we shall have to see if the elf lives and I tell you now I doubt it." The man laughed. "And it is all your fault."

Estel looked on in horror as the men came closer to his beloved brother while Elladan struggled against his chains. "Leave him alone!"

TBC