CHAPTER THREE
Presumably Undying Regret

Ancú and Glorfindel rode side by side on their horses. Glorfindel was stuck riding a gray mare as Asfaloth was still recovering. The Rivendell Elves were listening intently, as Glorfindel had told Ancú about all the dangers and all the details of the attack. Unfortunately it appeared that they would have to split up to cover all the ground around Rivendell in time to warn the Elves that may be out far in the wilderness.

" Ancú you take the Western and Northern borders near the river Bruinin and I will take the Eastern and Southern ones. We will meet back in Imladris," concluded the Gondolin Elf quickly. They had not time to spare and being out here, where he had been attacked gave him shivers, though he would never admit it. His shoulder still ached and he wished he had taken Aragorn's advice instead of choosing to be the know-it-all Elf that he was commonly called by Aragorn.

"All right, but do you think it is more danger inviting to split up?" asked nervously. He felt a chill run up his spine and lift the hairs on the back of his neck. A tenseness seemed to make the very air shiver and throb in his ears.

"You will be fine," stated Glorfindel calmly, and to his way of thinking it was a whole lot calmer than he felt. "What reason would they have to kill you? You are too young to have even been a part of the feud, so relax." The Balrog-Slayer gave the young Rivendell Elf a pat on the shoulder. "See you in Imladris," he said with a smile that was meant to give Ancú encouragement. Glorfindel spurred his horse and went off at a canter.

"Yes," sighed Ancú heavily; "see you in Imladris." His voice was small and he felt fear creeping up on him. He was alone, and he had never seen a Dark Elf. Did they look any different than Elves like himself? He was not sure how to distinguish them from friendly Elves. What if he went to warn supposedly nice Elves and it turned out to be the enemy? He shivered and spurred his own horse, but not before pulling his hood down tight about his face.

Ancú was riding along the bank when he stopped. He could have sworn he had heard a splash in the water. Turning his sharp eyes to look behind him he looked about himself and the land he had already tread upon for several minutes. He hadn't found a single other Elf and he was tired. He wanted to go home, to safety.

He turned around and saw a host of Elves standing in the water before him. He felt his heart skip a beat and his breath catch. Where these the Dark Elves? He was not sure. Then he narrowed his gaze, determined not to let them scare him. "Who are you?" he asked in a low voice that was edged with anger that he held in check.

The threatening Elves laughed a cold and hard laugh that reminded him sharply of iron bells clanging. "First who are you?"

Ancú whipped out his sword, "I am one you will let pass with no trouble," he snarled. If they wanted a fight, by Valar, he would give them one. His hazel eyes flashed ice and he whipped his hood back, letting his dark hair fall about his shoulders. These Elves had attacked Glorfindel and threatened his dearest friends.

They laughed even harder and said, "do you know whom you are messing with young one?" The one that seemed to be in the head whipped his sword out and walked up to Ancú, clanging his weapon with the younger Elf's in a joking way. Ancú did not move, but then knocked the other Elf's blade free of its master's hand in a fast and fluent move that put the decidedly Dark Elf into a state of sudden shock. "Apparently you have not been told the tales and do not know that we are feared by many, otherwise you would have not dared to provoke us."

Ancú growled back as he raised his sword, "I have heard the tales, but I do not fear you. You have no power here, the Lord Elrond does." His voice sounded shrill yet hard in his own ears. He wished Glorfindel was here, he wanted someone to have his back. "You are Dark Elves long sent into exile since you refused to return to the path of light and reason."

"So you have heard the tales?" asked the one in the head with a grin. "Then you know what we do to lone Noldor Elves that choose to side with Elrond and his kind?" He gave a cold flash of hate and walked up closer, gripping the bridle of Anc's horse.

Ancú snarled defiantly, "its Lord Elrond to you." The Dark Elf sighed and was about to reach up and twist Ancú from the horse when the younger Noldo spurred his horse at the same time whipping the reins back, causing the frightened animal to rear up. The Dark Elf was forced to let go of the bridle and step back to avoid be stricken down by the beast's flying hooves.

One of the Dark Elves behind the foremost one asked, "should I bring him down?"

"Yes, but spare the horse, we will need it." The other Dark Elf with dark hair to match Anc's own notched an arrow. The foremost fallen immortal said simply, "sorry we have to do this. We really didn't want to, but you got in the way. We may release you later, for though you are another mislead Noldo, we are not after you."

Ancú felt a wave of fear wash over him as he saw them aim the bow for him. He felt his face nearly loose its composure, but he stonily held it. Then a thought crossed his mind, how could they free him if they shot him? He saw the shaft released and ducked, but he did not know that was what the Dark Elf had been expecting and the projectile pierced his right upper arm. It did not hurt very badly at all, it was little more than a bee sting feeling and he looked at it to see it was a thin dart like arrow. However, he saw it was painted and coated with a venom of some sort. He looked at the blood coming from his arm in shock and then at the Elves that surrounded him.

The young Noldo felt himself growing cold and he shivered against the chill developing in his blood. Suddenly, his hand released its grip on his sword against his will. He panicked when he found he could no longer move his fingers. Hazel eyes wide, breath coming in quick gasps, he stared at them and asked through sluggish lips, "what...is...happening?" He felt weak, and he found he could not move his arms and neck.

He struggled, but with no effect and terror gripped his heart. Where was Glorfindel, he prayed fervently that the golden-haired Balrog-Slayer would show up soon, for he was frightened. The Dark Elves smiled knowingly. This foolish young Noldo was going paralyzed and soon would be about as able to move as a boned fish. "Don't fight young one, it won't help. You are simply drugged for now so you will be as likely to resist us as a dead being." Ancú found it odd that their voices sounded like that of normal Elves that were friendly, and had they not attacked him, he would have mistaken them for good Elves.

Ancú felt nauseous as the drug moved through his abdomen and for a moment he thought his breath was stilled. His legs became unmovable and he began to slide from the saddle. The other Elves took and placed a rope about his lean wrists, tying them to the saddle so the Elf would not fall from the horse. The bonds were not tight, but firm. They obviously were not meant to be cruel. Ancú stared at them and then felt dread siege him, what were they going to do with him? "What...do you want...with me?" he asked in a rough whisper as he tried to breathe. The paralyzing drug could stop his heart if he was given an over does and they could still his lungs with this potion. The thought of suffocation sent another wave of fear washing over him.

"Nothing really. You will help us enter Imladris without any incident and then we are done with you. Believe us when we say that you were the last thing on our minds when we came here to finish what they started. However, you showed up and interfered, that makes you an enemy and we can't let you walk free. Rest assured we do not seek your life, only your captivity for a time," they explained. This was hardly enough to ease the Elf that was under their utter control and Ancú shut his eyes tightly as he tried to ward off a sickening feeling. Suddenly one turned and looked at Ancú with a scowl to darken the sun, taking a thumb he gently opened the captive Elf's eyelids to see the color of his eyes. Hazel. This was the common trait of a Noldor Elf besides having dark hair or gray eyes the shade of polished steel. "You are a Noldor Elf and your allegiance lies with Elrond?" Turning to the others, he said, "I think we should slay him Aldalossë." Ancú opened his eyes and looked at his captors with a fire of defiance. However any one could tell from the young immortal's labored breath that he was scared, not so much because he was captured, but because he had lost control over himself and was no longer able to move. It was a horrifying feeling to have. He was at the mercy of his subjugators. He was grateful that they were not men, for humans had a horrible way of treating helpless Elves.

The one in the head said, "No! Morceleb has not returned yet and we need him to say what should be done. His orders were, 'until my return Elves captured are to be treated as well as they deserve and put in as little pain as possible, if you manage to get your hands on the twin brats you may hurt them some but enough they will be fully awake and well to meet their father. However it is my job to try and guide them into our clever trap so you probably won't have to worry about them.' Those are his words and we must follow them or else suffer the consequences. We aren't here to hurt Elves that disagree with us, just to kill the sons of Elrond and make our statement that should have been made years ago with Elrond and Elros. That we deserved the Silmarils." His voice was adamant and Ancú could tell that they meant him no harm yet. He did not think it would remain that way for long.

But his mind fled to the thought that Elladan and Elrohir were in big trouble. They were going to be killed. He hoped that Glorfindel would make it back so someone could warn them. He hoped that the twins did not go looking for him. However, that was highly unlikely and if the twins didn't, he knew that Aragorn would. He did not always like the human, but the man's heart always seemed to be in the right place. But how was he going to help these Elves get into Imladris? He asked the question and none too carefully, "how am I going to be of any use to you getting into Rivendell? I am no one important."

"You rode with the Balrog-Slayer, and he was raised from the dead."

Ancú snorted, "he is my friend."

"Trust us, they will open the gates when we ask, they would hate to see you perish with the twins," answered this strange Elf, Aldalossë. He looked at Ancú for a moment and then said, "we don't want to kill you, understand? As long as you behave and cause no trouble you will be fine. But try to escape or attract help and you may not be lucky enough to live to regret it."

The young Rivendell Elf just glared. But his eyes fluttered as he felt helpless sleep coming upon him. He tried to fight it, but it was not working. He felt them pulling his hood around his face again, probably to hide his features and help ease him into slumber. Ancú knew he should be putting up more of a fight, but he felt too tired and his body was suddenly craving rest. He was not really afraid, he was honestly convinced these Elves meant no harm to him. But that was not entirely true, he was afraid, but for his friends. Before he went into a deep sleep, he promised himself that he would not help them get into Imladris, they could take his life first.

Aldalossë slowly mounted the horse that Ancú had been riding, taking great care not to knock the drugged Elf off into the water. Gently he placed a hand about the young Elf's slender middle to help balance the both of them out on the horse. Ancú moaned softly and Aldalossë looked at him to make sure he was asleep. "I will take this young one back to camp to see what he knows about the security of Imladris."

"Do you expect this one to speak the truth?" they asked. "He has no loyalty to us; he will not tell us anything we want to know."

"Exactly why we don't want to know it," he winked at them and they smiled. "And if he doesn't tell us, then he will shortly, the truth stone we have will bring it." Spurring the horse, he went off at a trot into the brush.I hate the way I feel tonight

And I know I need you in my life

I hate the way I feel tonight

And I promise to make the sacrifice

12 Stones "The Way I feel" (these lyrics are meant in a non slash way)

Aragorn went before Elladan's door and knocked. It would be easier to get Elladan to tell him, he figured to himself. A startled voice from inside said, "who is it?" Aragorn wondered why it sounded for the world like Elladan had jumped as he spoke. Though his brother was blind, he still did not frighten that easy.

Aragorn sighed and said, "it's Estel, now open the door!" He heard the shuffle of feet and the doorknob turned.

Elladan's face was not surprised. He smiled thinly, "shouldn't you be at dinner?"

Aragorn laughed and retorted back, "shouldn't you?" Then the man frowned. He knew why Elladan was not at dinner. Elrohir was right, Elladan had a way of skipping meals and it made him anxious. "Elladan you have to eat," he said in a more serious tone.

Elladan just shrugged, "for some reason I'm not hungry." He backed up and sat on the edge of his bed and sighed. Aragorn looked about and noticed the curtains were closed. It could be because of the danger his brothers were in, but he doubted it. He knew they were closed because they made no difference to how Elladan saw things. The Noldo had loved to watch the sun set and now he could not. For some reason it seemed to Aragorn that the things that everyone loves most got taken away from them. He had loved his mother and though he had hardly known his father he still loved him. Now they were gone. Elladan and Elrohir had lost their mother and Legolas had lost his. It really wasn't fair.

Aragorn sat on the corner of Elladan's mattress and said softly, "it was a beautiful sun set, the pink and orange balanced out just right and the sky was clear. Can you picture that in your mind Elladan? With hints of purple and dark blue shades?"

Elladan smiled, "hannon le Estel. But you know that is a little more difficult to "see". I know you mean well, but just go and eat."

Aragorn smiled and said, "not without you. I know you are hungry."

Elladan frowned and knitted his brow, "you are irritating, you know that?"

Aragorn drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Where are you going?" he asked softly as he looked at Elladan, watching his face.

"Going?" echoed the twin as he kicked his boot heel against the bed ruefully. "I am not going anywhere." His voice was hardened with a firm resolve that made Aragorn narrow his eyes and stare at his elder brother.

"But what about all that Ada talked to you about earlier? I know what happened in there, it is more than obvious that he wants you to go into the West," disputed the ranger fiercely. His gray eyes flashed. Now that he knew was Elladan going to deny it still?

Elladan said thickly, "Ada would like us to go, but neither of us are leaving. Our choice is delayed."

Aragorn frowned and said, "Elladan, I think you should go." As much as it hurt the human to say it, he had to. He did not want his brothers to get hurt, he did not want Elladan do stay here and be unhappy because of his blindness. Even if Elladan learned to cope and lived here for many years, like the ranger thought he would, what is a long life worth if you are unhappy the whole time?

"You what?" asked Elladan as he narrowed his brows. "I don't believe you Estel," he growled. He had just worked to convince their father that he would stay because of Estel and now the boy was telling him to leave. In was a shock and it sent volts of anger through him.

"I don't want you to be unhappy and I certainly don't want you to die, I know what seeks your life." Aragorn choked these words out, he hated doing this, but if it came to it he would drive his brothers away. It would not be his fault that they would get murdered by an insane group of Elves. "You will be safe in the West and there you can live forever in happiness."

Elladan banged his boot against the bed and said, "Elrohir nor myself will abandon you Estel. Our place is with you." He got up and paced as best as he could being blind. "You don't understand, just leave!"

Aragorn got up and grabbed Elladan by his shoulders. He wanted to shake his brother till his teeth rattled but instead he tightened his grip until he nearly felt Elladan wince. "Somebody wishes you dead!" Elladan tried to pull free but Aragorn squeezed harder, "I don't want you to be killed."

The Elf finally pulled free and pushed Aragorn back. "And what of you gwador nín? Are you not our brother?"

Aragorn snapped, "not by blood!" It hurt like being pierced through the heart with a double edged sword to say this, yet he had to.

Elladan shook his head. "But you are related to us. They will want you dead as well. We will not leave with you alone in danger like a couple of milk sopping infants that fear the dark!"

Aragorn sighed, "Elladan, if you left the danger would lessen. I am sure of it."

"If we leave who will look after you? How will we know if you are alive or dead? We want to help you fulfill your destiny," argued Elladan in a near whimper.

"Ada will look after me and Legolas is here," comforted Aragorn softly. Although the next words Elladan said nearly made him laugh, for he had more than half expected them.

"Legolas? Look after you? He can barely look after himself, how often does he need patched up?" Elladan's voice had a tint of sarcasm in it, but it was also serious.

"Take the ship into the West Elladan," said the human. "You and Elrohir leave."

"No," came the retort.

Aragorn did not want to say this and it was far from the truth, but if he had to do this, he had to do it. "I hate you Elladan. You obviously don't care if you are going to stay here and leave me to lament your death when those Dark Elves catch you! Fine I don't care if they do kill you!" he shouted, tears streaming down his face. "Go and die! See if I care!"

Elladan let a tear roll down his cheek, "Estel-" he began, sorrow filling his voice. He felt a lump in his throat and he wanted to cry like he had when his mother died long ago.

"Don't 'Estel' me! You want to die, fine, there's the door, go and find them!" he growled through clenched teeth. He loathed doing this, for in all reality he wanted to go and hug his blind brother and tell him that he loved him.

Elrohir came in to find them both just as Aragorn screamed out the harsh words. When Elrohir came through the door his face was chalky white and he said, "Estel we only wanted to stay here to protect you." The younger twin must have heard the entire conversation. The ranger's heart burned in his chest and he wanted to cry and tell them he didn't mean it, but then they would stay, they would die.

Aragorn knew he was being selfish, but he knew that they would die if this happened and he was not going to allow that. "Elrohir no! I hate you both!" he said with false conviction and ran out of the room. Elrohir felt his jaw drop and then he snapped it shut. Going over to Elladan's window he tossed open the shades and crossed his arms angrily as he watched the stars at night. If Estel was going to be that way, fine, let him! He had no idea what they were going through right then and Elrohir felt deeply wounded. Elladan just sighed and sat on the bed. He did not think that Estel really hated him, but still he felt hurt. He loved his brother dearly and for this to happen was like Elrond disowning them as his sons.

Aragorn ran down the hall and nearly banged into Legolas, who gripped his arm, "what did you do?" he asked. His blue eyes were narrowed and his voice full of wonder and fearful awe.

"Let go Legolas!" snapped Aragorn. He pulled to get free and Legolas tightened his grip. Aragorn thrashed against the prince, but it was no good.

"Calm down and lets go to dinner," he said, like a parent with a small child.

Aragorn glared. "I'm not hungry." Legolas rolled his eyes and proceeded to tug the human down the hall. "You can't make me eat Legolas!" snapped the irate man, "so don't you even try!" Legolas ignored him and kept walking.

Aragorn realized as they were walking that Legolas was not taking him to dinner. He was not surprised when he found himself outside the prince's room. Legolas opened the door and shoved him in then shut it. Turning in the human who stood rubbing his arm where Legolas had gripped it nearly too hard. "What did you do to them?" he asked thickly.

Aragorn frowned and said, "I did what I had to." His voice went serene, but his eyes still had tears to shed. Legolas glared at him and Aragorn said, "they have to go into the West. Otherwise they will die."

"Aragorn you have made a horrible mistake," said the Elf to his closest friend. "In that room down the hall, the closest family you will ever have is going to go across the Great Sea thinking that you hate them!"

"They know I don't," said the human with a sigh. He actually felt deep down that Legolas was right, he had gone too far. He knew he should not have said what he did and he wanted to apologize, but then Elladan and Elrohir would never leave.

"Do they?" asked Legolas. "Because that will be their last memory of you, screaming that you don't care if they die and that you hate them. And those memories will last forever over there Estel, there is not turning back from what you have said once they are gone."

"They will heal with time," said Aragorn, even though he knew he was wrong and was grasping at straws. "I just don't want them to die Legolas, I can't let that happen."

"We don't know it will," answered the prince. "What we do know is that they are hurting deeply. If you act quickly enough you may be able to heal the wound you dealt them, but in another day it will be too late." Legolas smiled and said, "they are willing to die for you and stay with you through the darkness when even the stars may be shaded, you should be grateful and not angry."

Aragorn got up and said, "I know Legolas, thank you for helping me to see. It is not my job to drive them away, but to help them as they dwell here and let them guide me. How could I have been so selfish?" Here Aragorn frowned and flopped down on the Elf's bed.

Legolas looked amused and said, "what are you doing?" His lips curved into a thin smile. "That's my bed! Go to your own!"

Aragorn looked up at the Elf's astonished face and laughed, "I'm going to sleep."

Legolas picked up a pillow from the corner at the foot of his bed that had been commandeered by the ranger and laughed, "you filthy human, get off my bed!" Taking the pillow, he swung out at Aragorn, hitting the human in the back as he got up, slamming the man back onto the bed again.

Aragorn grabbed a pillow and warded off Legolas' blows. Suddenly, he swung out and low earning a grunt from Legolas as he struck the prince's stomach. Aragorn rolled to dodge a pillow aimed for his face and suddenly found nothing below him and he hit the floor with a bang. It hurt a little, but he laughed. Legolas thought he was hurt and jumped up onto the bed like a cat then looked over the edge.

Aragorn reached up before the Elf could react and knocked Legolas' feet our from under him. The prince fell backwards, but as he fell, the look of complete surprise on his face was priceless.

Suddenly Aragorn sat up. Just an hour ago he would have been willing to joke around and raise havoc around Rivendell with the prince. Now he could not forget the hurt that he had caused his brothers, and maybe his whole family. Legolas looked at the ranger. He wished he could understand what Aragorn was going through, but he could not.

Aragorn felt tears sting in his gray eyes and then he let them fall. Legolas went and sat by his best friend, holding him as the man cried. He really had not wanted to hurt his brothers and he had. He did not want them to go into the West and that was where he was purposefully driving them. He felt so confused and he put his face against the prince's shoulder and let his tears fall like rain.

Legolas gathered the man against him like he would a small child and said, "calm down. It will all work out in the end if fireside stories are any guide." The Elf rocked with his friend and listened to the human's sobs of regret that made the blonde immortal nearly cry himself. In fact he had to shut his eyes to will the tears away. What ever anger he had felt at the human had washed away in the torrent of tears that were being spilled. He knew the man hated the way he felt that night.

TBC...yes, we promise that there will be Elf and ranger angst to come. Pretty emotional chapter, huh? Poor twins!

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