Disclaimer: Please see chapter fourteen.

Thank you Katy my friend and Beta.

Chapter Fifteen.

The flet was not exactly as the guards had last seen it. Their faces lost all traces of colour as they turned to face one very, very angry Elf Lord.

"When did you last check the flet?" It was not quite a roar and the two Elves winced, knowing all too well that they were in very real trouble.

"About an hour ago, my Lord, when we took him the parchment." He seemed to shrivel under Glorfindel's furious gaze.

"An hour ago? Are you not supposed to check a prisoner every thirty minutes to stop this exact problem from arising?" Elladan stood back watching as Glorfindel rightly tore strips off of the guards.

"Yes, my Lord." The voice did not quite quiver. All who lived in Rivendell knew all to well just how volatile Glorfindel's temper was.

"Then, pray tell me why you did not?" Glorfindel's nose was actually flaring.

Silence.

"Well, I am waiting?"

"We thought he could not leave, my Lord."

"Well, he did. You will both come with me, you will be telling your Lord and King Thranduil just how you managed to let Faren escape. And your parts in it. From this moment until told otherwise you are relieved of your duties. I do not wish to have guards under my command that will not take their duties seriously." The guards could no longer look at him, totally ashamed of their inactions.

Glorfindel turned to Elladan. "Alert the guards on the gates, although I am sure that he will no longer be in Rivendell. Your father is not going to be at all happy with this."

"Neither will Thranduil. We had the person who has been attacking his son, in all likelihood and two self confident, arrogant Elves let him escape." The disgust in Elladan's voice was clear. He bent to pick up the parchment and handed it to Glorfindel. He could not believe they had let Faren get away, but the hole carefully made with the quill spoke volumes.

"Hannon le, Elladan. I am not looking forward to this." He left Elladan in the flet and led the way back to the Halls of Healing.

Elladan watched them go and then moved to carry out his own instructions, although he felt as Glorfindel, that it was a little too late.

He was half way to the gates when he heard the angry roar. No one could miss it and all stopped in their tracks, surprised to hear the sound in the usually calm city.

It took both Estel and Glorfindel to stop the infuriated King from attacking the negligent guards. They could do nothing to stop the roar that filled the room.

The two guards looked to Elrond's eyes as if they were trying to make themselves as small as possible. To no avail and if he were honest and his head was not thumping as if it would burst from the pressure, he probably would have joined Thranduil. As it was all he could do was rub his forehead and sigh once more.

"Do I need to tell you how disappointed I am to hear of this dereliction of duty?" Two dark heads shook. "You should be grateful that King Thranduil is not your Lord or you will have a greater punishment. You are stripped of your duties and your status as guards for Prisoner's. You will rejoin the patrols that guard Rivendell. Your position there will be junior to all there, including any trainees." The two gasped, shock on their faces. They knew all to well what that would mean, all the donkey work for the other's in the patrol.

"You will have to prove again to me that you can be trusted. Although at this moment that may be long in happening. Leave, get out of my sight. Lord Glorfindel will have your orders later this day." The two Elves fled the room as fast as their legs could carry them.

Once they had left, Glorfindel moved to hand Elrond the parchment. All attention in the room was on Elrond, apart from Legolas who lay sleeping, much too every one's astonishment. Estel had been sure that his friend would wake at his Father's shout of rage.

They all watched as Elrond's face tightened in anger his lips drawn into a thin line. Once finished he handed the parchment to Glorfindel, who once he read it through began to read the letter aloud for all to hear.

Elrond,

Did you really think you could keep me in custody? You really had no chance. You never will.

Did you enjoy the little fire I set? I hope it damaged a lot more than just some Flet's. Could I hope that some of your family suffered as a result? I would like to think so.

If it had not been for the Adan I would have succeeded and the Princeling Brat would be dead and I would have had my revenge and finished what other's started.

I will be back never fear, you may not know where or when, but one day I will return and if the original assassins have not finished what they started I will.

If it had not been for the Prince, I would still have a brother. But no. He had to go hunting and take your idiot sons with him. Sycophants, the lot of them. He crooks his fingers and all come running. My brother was killed that day and he is solely responsible.

Trust me, I will never forget or forgive.

We will meet again,

Faren

"You were right, Mellon-nin, he was not the cause of all this." Glorfindel felt his shoulders slump. "He was being opportunistic."

"I had a feeling, I will admit, but I wanted to be proven wrong." Elrond turned to Thranduil. "I am sorry, my guards let him escape, and it is unforgivable."

"It is not your fault, Elrond. You could not have known. You have kept my son safe and for that I thank you all." He looked fondly down at his son. "He means more to me than any treasure."

Thranduil took in the sight of his pale son and looked up to Elrond once more. "When do you think he will wake up?"

"Soon, I hope it was he who warned Estel about Faren."

Thranduil turned bright eyes to Estel. "He did?"

"Yes, my Lord. I we would both probably be dead now if it was not for him." Estel still sat by Legolas' side, not wanting to leave his friend.

"We need to keep a close watch on Legolas I do not think who ever is doing this is will give up so easily." Between them they all worked out a rota, Legolas would always have at least three of them with him at all times….

Little did they all know that outside of Rivendell a small group of five Elves were holding a meeting. Held tightly between two was a struggling Faren. All the Elves but he were cloaked. One stepped forward and taking Faren's chin in a crushing grip began to speak.

"You have caused us more trouble than you could ever know. We were ready to strike the Prince again after the drugged tea. But you had to try and use the situation to your advantage. What did you really hope to achieve? Well, you will pay for your greed and thirst for revenge." The voice was so cold it could have frozen the lava on Mount Doom.

Faren's eyes were wild with fright, he had hoped to get a clear get away.

"Leave the Prince to us. We have taken on this assignment for our Lord and no other Elf will get in the way. I hope you meet your brother in Mandos Halls." He looked at the two Elves holding Faren. "Take him away and deal with him and then meet us back here. Leave him where he can be easily found. We need to plan our next move."

The Elves dragged Faren away still struggling, but to no avail…

It was later that night that the patrol found his body, the trainee warrior who stumbled over him being violently sick at the sight before him…..

To be continued

Thank you once more to all my reviewers.

Replies:

Jopru: Sorry about the cliffie is this one any batter?

Deana: Is this soon enough for you? More tomorrow, too.

Othrilis: Thank you.

Azla: Uhm, no, but good guess. As you say Mithrandir is there now, all will be well. We hope. Sorry about the spelling mistakes they must have slipped through the netting.

Gemini969: OK, here you are as you asked so nicely.

Again, thank you for all your reviews please continue to let me know how I am doing.

Thank you and see you tomorrow,

Love,

Shell

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