Disclaimer: Me no own...

Sry 'bout all the grammer and/or spelling mistakes.

Eesh.. I haven't written since volleyball ended. It already started up again for the season. -=sighs=- Sry I've been sick for like a week, if not more. And volleyball is twice a day; I've been sleepin' when I get home.. gettin' like 4 hrs of sleep and then bein' sick doesn't help. Haven't really been in that great of a mood and not in a writting mood. School's also goin' to be startin' soon... hisses Don't make me go!!! The year has already started off horribly. -=sighs=- Just make me shut up....

Review Responses

boppy - whoaness... that high up, huh? thx... I'm so undeserving. Sry 'bout the long update.....

Lady of the Twilight - thx... sry for the late update.

empath89 - np.. just glad you're enjoying the story.. reviews are always encouraging though... -=sweatdrop=- That doesn't happen too often... and they are just typos. Sry....

Deana - -=cowers in the corner=- Gah, I'm so ashamed... I took way too long to update. -=sighs=- I'm so sry! Plz forgive!

Mornflower - Yeah... poor elves.... Glad ya think it wasn't crap. And so sry 'bout the wait.

5!! Haha... I win! Thx for your reviews! And thx for bein' patient.. I hope you are anywayz. I know by now I woulda been mad.. or somethin' along those lines or wait a month! Gah! I'm so pathetic. Well, at least I'm updating, right? -=sighs=- Prob'ly not.



If it's not one thing, it's another

Chapter Nineteen

What's with all the orcs?!

"We must find them quickly." Aragorn stated the obvious, with concern and fear.

"Well, by looking at the footprints it looks as though they went this way." Legolas crouched down, brushing his fingers lightly across the prints, inspecting them. "One of them is being carried!" He realized, fear rising, for one of them to carry the other meant he was seriously wounded.

"Let us go." Aragorn commanded sternly.

This time Legolas put up no arguments to the arrangement. All that mattered was finding the twins, hopefully, in a conscious state.

With a last saddend glance at Elladan's horse, they left. He served Elladan well. Aragorn thought, about the horse. It is a shame his life had to come to an end. I hope it was at least swift. The horse had been with Elladan as long as Aragorn could remember. It surely broke Elladan's heart to have his loyal horse die, and at the hands of orcs.

"Estel." A sad and strained voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "They went that way."

Aragorn was so deep in his thoughts that he wasn't even paying attention to where he was going. If not for Legolas he wouldn't have realized his mistake for a while. What a grave mistake that could turn out to be too.

About ten minutes later they came across a cave... the tracks headed right into it.

"They went in there?" Legolas questioned in disbeif. By the footprints they definitely went in there, but for an elf to enter a cave.... well, it was used as a last resort. To say the least, elves did not like caves. The endless darkness, the suffocating air, the cramped space, dark, seemingly endless tunnels... everything about it. An elf could, and sometimes did, go insane when stuck in a cave. Legolas shuddered just thinking about it.

Aragorn felt Legolas shudder, since he was still in front of him, and tightened his hold for comfort. He was adopted into a family of elves and knew how much they feared caves. "I shall go in and look. You stay here. You should not be moving around." He added as an afterthought.

"Nay, I shall go with. You cannot stop me." Legolas said, grateful that his voice came out smooth and strong, not weak like he had thought it would be - like he felt.

Aragorn, not wanting to start another argument, decided to let it drop and dismounted his horse. Then he headed towards the cave's entrance.

Soon after Aragorn had dismounted, Legolas followed. Swaying slightly at the pain that he was constantly trying to ignore. Once again, he pushed it aside, going after Aragorn. However, he kept his pace normal, if not slightly faster, knowing that the human was deliberately going slower so he could catch up without over-exterting himself again.

Once in, they noticed traces of a fire. They wouldn't have noticed it if they hadn't been looking very closely for any sign that they had been here. They could tell that which ever twin covered their tracks did it in haste.

"Look here." Legolas shouted from the other side of the cave. He had pushed away his fear, deciding the twins were a lot more important.

"What is it? Did you find something?" The ranger said, going over to join his friend, who was crouched down looking at something on the cave's floor.

"Aye, this is blood. Elvish blood." The prince said, worry shown in his voice. "Most likely belonging to Elladan or Elrohir."

Aragorn got up, without a word, and continued searching the cave. "They were picked up again, seeing that the blood is only there." After a pause he motioned for the elf to follow him out of the cave.

Legolas nodded, and solemnly followed the human out. Thank the Valar they did not go further into the cave! He didn't know how much longer he could hide his fear before his mask broke. It had even been getting darker and darker in thet cave, which did nothing to help him.

They reached outside of the cave and saw that night had fallen. Stars shown brightly in the sky; some hidden by the vast amount of trees.

Legolas took a deep breath, taking a moment to enjoy the fresh air.

"Mellon nin..." Aragorn said to get the archer's attention. He knew how relieved he was to be out of the suffocating cave, but they needed to press on. They already wasted enough time.

With a heavy sigh Legolas made his way over to Aragorn and mounted Lor again. With Mîr closely following them, they continued, keeping a keen eye for any details that would help them find Elladan and Elrohir.

Elladan stopped suddenly hearing heavy footsteps and the foul language of the orcs.

Nay, I cannot fight them alone. The elder twin thought about his options - he didn't have many. He could risk the fight, but he very much doubted he could fight all of them and come out alive. He would also have to protect Elrohir. He could hid, but where would Sûl go? She was a lot harder to hide, the bushes aroudn them not being tall enough. That left him with one last option. One he did not wish to risk but had no choice. Ride Sûl. This was definitely going to endanger Elrohir's health even more, but what else was there to do?

Elladan mounted Sûl with difficultly, seeing as he had to bring Elrohir up at the same time, while staying balanced and being careful about it. Luckily, Sûl made it easier for him. He urged the horse forward, he knew that she would do everything to avoid causing her master more pain, if possible.

Now, he hoped Elrohir did not wake... while they were riding at least. It would only hurt him and he couldn't stop since they were running from the orcs. Hopefully, they didn't hear them or wouldn't see them.

Legolas and Aragorn had followed the tracks to a river. They did not stop there, though, there was no need. Both could tell the twins only stopped for a short drink adn then went on their way. By the looks of it even Sûl had some water, for there were hoof marks at the edge of the river.

At least they have one horse with them. Aragorn thought trying to lessen his worry. This did help some, surprisingly. Having the horse meant that they would have at least one bag of supplies, and also a means of travel. Although, they were still walking, with one carrying the other. This puzzled the human. Why would they not use Sûl? The trip would surely be faster if they did. He let it go, however. There was no way he'd be able to find out unless he asked his brothers himself. If only he could get to them!

An hour later and Aragorn commanded Lor to a halt.

"What is it, mellon nin?" Legolas asked. He had been trying to pay attention but the pain in his still healing wound was finally getting to him because of all the riding and with how hard they were riding.

Aragorn, who knew of this, pointed ahead of them to the footprints or rather hoof prints. "They are now riding Sûl" The ranger explained. "I wonder why..." He thought aloud.

"I am sure we shall find out when we get closer to them." Legolas said confidently. Both feared what it meant though. There was obviously a reason for walking. What caused them to rush so? Only another question to add to the already big pile. Also another reason to rush, despite Leoglas' injury. Aragorn hated to do it, but he couldn't help it. And the blonde elf did come along, knowing the consequences.

Aragorn sighed and lead Lor forward again.

Elladan felt Elrohir shift slightly in his arms.

"Nay, not now." The elder twin muttered. A weak moan and another movement was his reply.

Of all fo the times for him to wake.... He was thrilled that his younger brother was finally waking but at a time like this.... he wished he could have waited longer, as bad of a thought that is. "Now what am I to do?" He quietly asked himself.

Elladan slowed Sûl down so the ride wasn't so rough. It would have to do for now. He really did not want to stop, the orcs would surely catch up if he did. And he could not fight thtem alone.

"Elladan?" A weak and pain-filled voice questioned.

"Aye, it is I." The elder elf answered, torn by the sound of his brother's voice. He wanted nothing more than to be able to stop and help him, however, the orcs would never allow it. What could he do? Why does there seem to be so many orcs after us?!
The elf in his arms groaned loudly, showing that he was still in a lot of pain.

He had to stop. There was no other choice. Elrohir was in too much pain, and riding would only make it so much worse. Maybe he could find a spot to hide. He'd have to.

"Hold on, Gwanunig nin." He whispered to the elf. Then with a heavy sigh he started off at a slow pace to find somewhere to hide from the orcs. They were still pretty far behind so he did have some time... hopefully enough.

Mmmhmm... that's how it is. Short. Blahness. Crappish. Oh, and btw, sry if there are more mistakes than usual. It's 2:50am and while I'm usually up at this time sickness sucks and I should be sleeping. Also my eyes are goin' blurry-like on me so.. sry again. -=sighs=- I sure do say that a lot. oh well... I will try to get the next out soon, but no guarantees.. as usual. Still have to update my IY fic too. So.. yeah.

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