Disclaimer: As always, please see Chapter 1 for a full disclaimer on what's mine and what's not.

Diola lle, my friends!

Evenstar/Elaine... Had she looked, Galadriel might have seen this coming, but remember, she respects Haldir's desire to not know the future. That respect would extend to his family, too.

Mercury Gray... Hope I haven't left you hanging too long (and that you find it worth the wait)!

Utsuri... While Elves can connect on a telepathic level it seems, this is just a simple premonition for Haldir.... And yes, there will be other stories once this is done (see "Fallen" that I just posted), and if the desire strikes you, you can always read (WARNING: shameless self promotion coming...), my "Darkstar" novel.

Chapter 19: Edge of the Abyss

The forest floor was covered by blood. There were several dead Orcs and five dead Elves, all bearing the crest of Dol Amroth. Two Elves they found were still alive. Haldir knelt down next to one.

"My lady, Runevalas, where is she?"

"They took her," coughed the Elf. "Her and three others: Findariel, daughter of Darreyn, and her children Andaria and Celebryn. They headed back towards the mountains."

Haldir looked up and towards the snow-capped mountains. His expression was distant, cold. He reminded Rumil of a wolf that has caught a scent on the air.

"You," Rumil culled out several of the Archers. "Take these two back to Lothlorien with all speed. Their lives depend on your swiftness. If anyone can save them, our Lady Galadriel can."

A few of the Archers frowned; they were eager to hunt down the Orcs, but they immediately set to their task when Haldir turned back to them.

"Why do you hesitate?" he growled coldly. "You have your orders. The rest of you, come with me."

It took two days to track the Orcs. They found the two children, Andaria and Celebryn, at the end of the first day. They had been strangled and gutted, and there were teeth marks on their legs and arms. Haldir was horrified. Celebryn was the older of the two; her blue eyes revealing she had just crossed the threshold between child and adult. Andaria was close to his own daughter's age, and as he looked down at the broken bodies, he didn't see their faces, he saw Valariel's.

Then he thought of Runevalas. What had the Orcs done to his mate? Would he find her the same way, soaked in blood and entrails? There would be no arrows for these lowly curs. Haldir wanted to see their faces as they died, wanted them to see who sent them to the abyss. Orcs had taken Maranwe from him; now they may have taken Runevalas. They will pay the price for that, he swore. With their blood and their heads, they will pay.

Several hours ahead of the Archers, the party of Orcs had stopped for a break, unable to resist the temptation in their midst. Findariel was screaming. Several of the Orcs had already had their way with her, and her gown was in tatters. From where she was held, Runevalas could see the bruises on her arms and legs already starting to turn purple. One Orc was holding Findariel's arms behind her back. Another was holding her face.

"You think you're pretty, don't you Elf?" he snarled. "With your pretty blond hair and your white skin."

He brought his curved, filthy dagger up and Findariel screamed louder. The Orc dragged the blade across Findariel's left cheek and then across the right one. The blood poured down her face, staining her shoulders and dress. The Orc frenzy rose as they smelled the blood and fear. One ran in and grabbed Findariel; he started to lick the blood from Findariel's face and she struggled weakly. Another started to grab at her.

The Orc with the dagger turned to look at Runevalas. "Bring her up," he snarled. "let her watch." They dragged Runevalas forward, forcing her to watch what the others were doing to Findariel. Runevalas tried to look away, but the chief Orc pulled her hair back, forcing her to raise her head. Then, Runevalas' deepest nightmare started to become a reality as the Orcs tore at the skirt of her gown and put their dry, calloused hands on her. She struggled not to think of Valariel, fearing she would connect mentally with her child and expose the girl to some the horrors she was witnessing.

There was only one person who she could reach out to, and as the first Orc took her, Runevalas' mind screamed out:

:HALDIR!:

Well, one more chapter down. This was a bit of a short one but I didn't think it was necessary to belabor what was happening to Runevalas and Findariel. Please read/review and let me know what you think!