chapter 4

'No,' Elladan's shocked, raged gaze searched the massacre of the Dúnedain camp. Many bodies lay scattered, cut across the field, places had been burned, 'Orcs,' he spat the word seeing the bodies.

'Elladan,' Elrohir called the twin over.

'Oh no,' he whispered not wanting to believe what he saw was real. 'Arathorn,' he knelt by the man's body, they had been close friends.

'Dan...' he murmured weakly, Elladan was flooded with relief. The relief was short lived when he saw the state of the mortal wounds, 'Gil...Aragorn...'

'Shh my friend.'

'Help...them...Orcs...attacked...Gil...she's...save...my...son...Aragorn...he...'

'Shh mellon nin,' he said again, 'I promise I will let no harm befall Aragorn...' he broke off trying to choke back the tears.

'Thank... mellon...' he fell limply in the elf's arms.

Elrohir knelt by his twin, knowing how close the two had been.

'Hiro hýn hîdh ab'wanath.' He whispered looking over to the still form of Gilraen.

'We cannot leave them here like this among these grotesque creatures.' Elladan said standing up.

'They are only men.' Elrohir attempted to cheer his brother up but he only received a glare. 'Sorry.' He muttered.

'They were our friends, and good men they do not deserve to be left like this to rot out in the open.'

'I agree.'

Elladan clamped his eyes tight against the threatening tears, his mind wandered back to the past, thinking of Hîrsá and how worried they were after the attack.

/flashback/

The arrow lodged itself in the tree, scaring away the small easy target.

'You Noldor cannot hunt to save your lives.' Legolas smirked.

'And how often do you kill something first time around?' Hîrsá asked smiling.

'I am a good shot,' the other three started laughing lightly, 'better than you three.' He defended himself.

'And you are the best archer in Mirkwood?'

'Yes.'

'No wonder the orcs and spiders have been coming bolder lately, with soldiers like that...' Elrohir broke off, 'where are you going?' he asked Hîrsá as she walked off.

'No where Elrohir, I just need to get some air.'

'Are you alright?' Elladan asked with growing concern noticing his sister was distant.

'Really Elladan, I'm fine.'

'That's what you said last night.'

'I don't know what it is, but something is coming, it is near.' She cut herself off, 'I'll be back soon.'

'Be careful, if you see anything come back straight away.'

'I will.' She smiled at her brother's over-protectiveness.