Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hey there people! Sorry about the delay in updating, but I have had computer problems and I also had to chose which way this story would go. I had two options and I had a rather tough time choosing between the two. But I chose, so here you go! Many many thanks to my beta enb2004 who has some amazing Harry Potter stories, so go read hers! As promised, here is Chapter 17. Enjoy!
Haldir, marchwarden of Lothlorien was not having a good day. He had been in the party that had been ambushed by orcs, and had watched as several friends of his were injured, none mortally thank the Valar.
He had been in the healing wing with the fallen warriors when he saw Elladan and Elrohir rush by, about to kill the orcs that had dared to attack their party. He had wanted to go with them, to avenge his injured friends and comrades, but the Lady Galadrial knew his intentions and forbade it and had ordered him to take some rest.
Reluctantly he had agreed, and only because the Lady had ordered it, and was now making his way through the hallways of Imladris, pondering on why there were orcs so close to Imladris.
"They should not have been able to get that close. The ground patrols would and should have seen them," he thought worriedly. He was drawn out of his thoughts however by the ring of a sword being unsheathed, just down the hallway.
Without a second thought, Haldir ran toward where the sound had come from. No one should have been drawing swords in this hallway. He quickly came to where the sound had come from just in time to see a door close silently.
For a moment, Haldir faltered. He was probably being over cautious as he had been told numerous times by Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadrial. It was probably one of the warriors who had escaped unscathed from the battle who was also going to rest.
Just as Haldir turned away from the door however, he heard a muffled scream coming from within the chamber. Without a second thought, Haldir rushed into the chamber.
Estel was in bed and was trying not to fall asleep. Normally it was his Ada who put him to bed, but tonight it had been Glorfy because his Ada had to help heal the elves who had been injured in the accident.
Estel sighed and watched the door hopefully. Normally, it someone else had to put him to bed, his Ada would come by later and check up on him. It had been a ritual for as long as Estel could remember.
Estel's eyes were just closing, when he thought he heard his door open. He opened his eyes immediately expecting to see his Ada.
However, he did not see anyone. Estel sighed, thinking that it was his imagination and was about to close his eyes, when someone put their hand over his mouth.
Estel tried to scream, but the hand clamped over his mouth prevented that.
"Hello little urchin," Gorothdil said, still holding his hand over Estel's mouth, the other, holding a long sword.
Estel's eyes went wide when he noticed the sword, and he looked up at Gorothdil in scared confusion.
"Ah, I see that you have noticed my sword little urchin. You know what its for?" Gorothdil asked nastily.
Estel was scared beyond comprehension. Never had he seen this sort of anger directed at him before. There was a sword at his neck and the elf that was standing over him, with his hand clamped over Estel's mouth, was scaring him very badly.
Estel shook his head no and continued to look up at the elf, his eyes wide with fear.
"No? Then I shall tell you why! It's for ending your miserable little life!" Gorothdil hissed quietly, taking the sword and plunging it through Estel's arm.
This time, Estel screamed in fear and agony despite the hand clamped over his mouth, and it was audible, barely, but audible.
"You little urchin! Pathetic little edain, did you think I would make your passing that easy? You were wrong. My master wants you killed, but left it up to me to see how you die. It will be a long slow death edain," Gorothdil hissed with malice, never noticing the doors bursting open.
Estel did however and begged silently with his eyes to the newcomer to help him.
Haldir burst into the chambers, fully expecting to see an orc that had somehow gotten into Imladris and was attacking an unsuspecting elf.
What he saw however, was something he never expected to see. There, in front of his eyes, was Gorothdil, threatening Lord Elrond's adopted son with a long slow death. The little boy apparently saw him, while Gorothdil did not, and was begging silently for help.
Without even thinking, Haldir threw his sword at the elf's leg, watching as the elf crumbled in surprise, and hurried over to the little boy's side.
Estel was crying at Gorothdil's threat and from the pain in his arm, and never noticed that Gorothdil was lying on the floor, incapacitated for the time being.
"Shhh, tithen pen, it is all right. He can not harm you now," Haldir whispered to the little boy, glaring daggers at Gorothdil, who was sitting upon the floor with a stunned expression on his face.
Estel continued to cry and it was only then that Haldir noticed the stab wound in Estel's arm.
For a moment, Haldir was torn. He had to get Estel to Lord Elrond immediately, but he could not simply let the traitor get away. The stab wound on his leg would not keep him down for long.
"Someone! I need help in here!" Haldir shouted at the top of his lungs.
Haldir put Estel back onto the bed, and quickly bound Gorothdil while he was still stunned frown the stab wound. Once he was secure, Haldir turned his attention back to Estel, only to see that Estel had passed out from the pain.
Haldir gently picked Estel up and glared daggers at Gorothdil once more, who was glaring straight back at him.
"I do not envy your fate Gorothdil, but you deserve it. Neither Lothlorien nor Imladris takes well to traitors. By the time Lord Elrond, Lord Celeborn, and the Lady Galadrial are done with you, you will probably be unrecognizable," Haldir said loathingly.
Thankfully, Haldir heard footsteps and saw some of his warriors coming down the hallway.
"In here!" Haldir said.
Seeing their marchwarden, who was unknowingly covered in blood, they hurried forward, immediately asking questions about his welfare.
"I am fine. The blood is Estel's. This traitor here tried to kill him," Haldir said with disgust, while kicking Gorothdil. Watch him while I take Estel to his father.
The warriors nodded in shock. Gorothdil would loathe the day he had tried to harm the son of Lord Elrond and the grandson of the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien. They would make sure he would paid.
Seeing their agreement and the angered looks they were shooting Gorothdil, Haldir took off as fast he dared for the healing wing.
Translations:
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Tithen pen: Little one
Edain: Human/mortal