chapter 6

Elrond sat silently by the form of his youngest son who was sleeping peacefully in the tent that had been set up for him and his twin. 'Father?' Elrohir woke up and saw the sadness in the lord's eyes. 'What has happened?'

'Father.' Elladan entered before he could answer, 'the scouts have returned, they say they have news.'

'What news? What is going on?' Elrohir was confused so Elladan told him quietly.

'My lord,' the guard bowed slightly. 'We found an orc camp about ten miles north of here. I am sorry my lord, we could not get to her there were too many.'

'What?' Elladan joined them, closely followed by Elrohir.

'We saw Hîrsá.'

'How was she? Was she alright?' Elladan demanded.

'I am sorry my lord, she was not.'

'What do you mean she was not?' his patience was waning fast.

'The orcs had her tied up, hanging from a tree, she was covered with blood...' he trailed off seeing Elrond's expression.

'Thank you captain,' he nodded before shakily walking off.

'I am sorry my lord...' he turned to Elladan.

'No, there is nothing you could have done,' he muttered and followed after his father.

'You are right Elladan,' the elf stated, sitting alone with his back to the younger, 'it is not like before.'

'Father?' he was unsure, Elrond faced his son, tears glided down his face.

'Unlike before, we will not get her back.'

/end flashback/

The night passed slowly as they buried the last of the men. 'Where do you think Aragorn is?' Elrohir asked after they had not found the child, 'do you think the Orcs already got him?'

'No,' he said sharply, not wanting to know what his brother was thinking, but there had been no sign of the child, everything in the camp was dead.

Elrohir looked to his brother remembering when they found the deserted Orc camp all those years ago.

/flashback/

'Nothing,' Elladan called, 'there is nothing.' Anger creeping in his voice.

'They must have known we were coming.' Elrohir put in.

'Lord Elrond,' Legolas called, the three Noldor joined him. Their gazes dropped on a piece of old paper which read 'you're too late' in blood, they did not need to guess whose it was.

'Father?' Elladan noticed Elrond stop abruptly, looking with horrified eyes.

'Stay back Elladan,' he tried to force the younger back, not wanting him to see. 'Just go.' The horrified expression turned on his son. 'Please. Both of you get out of here now.'

'Father why can't we...' they gasped in horror. Elrond closed his eyes, he did not want them to see it, but it was too late. They stopped dead, horrified at what they saw.

Hîrsá body hung smeared in blood which was still dripping to the ground. She was hanging on a tree with a hook going straight through her middle.

'Get her down.' Elrond ordered shakily, his sons moved quickly to do so.

'Oh Hîrsá.' He whispered wrapping his cloak around her bloody body and held her close. 'I am so sorry my little girl.' He rocked her gently.

'Father.' Elladan touched the elf lightly, 'come on, we should leave this place.' He urged softly. 'Elrohir make your way back to camp we will follow shortly.' He nodded before leaving. 'Come on father, it does no good to stay out here,' he moved closer, 'I will take her.'

'No,' he said sharply.

'Father...'

'I can carry her.' His breathing hitched slightly as he shakily stood up and he walked back to camp the twins followed closely behind, worrying for the elder.

/end flashback/

it had hurt them, seeing their father so distraught, but there was noting they could have done.

Something focused the twins attention elsewhere.