Disclaimer: Yes I do indeed own these lovely creatures. *Squad cars converge, the sheriff steps out, followed by the highway patrol, state troopers and the city police. Their guns are drawn and pointing at Alexis* They do, they do belong to me. *The mental health people pull up as well and the police grab Alexis and force her into the armored car. The car speeds away. * You'd think I'd learn, right? I don't own them, but I covet them.

grumpy: Hey there yourself! Thank you for the compliment, I am glad my story is appreciated! I love to hear that, because I am a little self conscious of reviews. *Shush don't tell. * As for who grabbed Estel, you'll find out soon although it will not be in this chapter. We'll just say that it is someone from the past and leave it at that, at least the boss is. The actual people are just normal thieves, but you'll find out more about them later…

elvendancer: *laughs and grins* As you wish my majesty. *Bows low to the ground* Here is the next chapter for you!

Schizo13: Did I really give you an idea for a chapter? Cool! (Sorry I get a little excited…) Yes the last part of the chapter is a flashback, it is when Estel is ten years old and they are travelling to a land called Indilles with his father, grandparents, and brothers. (It ties in with a previous flashback in one of the previous chapters, though I can't remember which one.) I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Elven Kitten: Vedui (greetings) and I have posted again. I hope you like this one as much as you liked the previous ones.

ky: He's in a dark land, Indilles that has been ridden with horrors yet its people want to make peace with the elves. At least I think that is how it will be, we'll see if more of that story line comes into play. As you command. *Bows and smiles*

Lita of Jupiter: Mae govannen mellon-nin! (I had to save you for last because I have the most to write to you) You better post your story soon, got it? I want to read it! Redeem the poor half elf, he comes off as being too harsh! Holiday so far, um, what holiday? I got sick, my parents got sick so we really didn't have a New Years Eve. (In fact I was the only one awake, and I was typing my religion homework.) Christmas was me being tired, sick with bronchitis. But its cool, other then working nothing big happened. I had two religion projects due after break, then exams. * Sneers at the thought. I'm glad to be a senior and exempt from semester exams due to all A's. Pre-cal is evil though* Procrastination is evil isn't it? Other projects, Elven Mortal? *grimaces*

Um… I'm working on it? Actually I've devoted most of my time to this story and my creative writing homework, one story which I think I might get published. But no actually I am also working on this story when Estel is young (seven, nine. I haven't decided yet.) I'm working on them as they come to me. I need some inspiration with Elven mortal, like something bad to happen. Any ideas? I have changed gwador to muindor, except for when Legolas uses it. Elros using foresight, yeah I guess he is, isn't he? I never really thought about that, even though I used the word purposely. Interesting…*stares at the story she typed a little in awe.* In the flashback they were on their way to Indilles, I mentioned it in a previous flashback. No they are not going to Dol Gudur, though I think that maybe the story preceding the other one that I am working on that doesn't have Celebrian in it. Hum… Amine naa lle nai arwenamin (I am yours to command mi'lady) I hope to hear more from you too!

"elvish"

'common tongue'

Italics are thoughts

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"I think we should split up so that we can cover more ground." Legolas said after walking for hours upon end in the pitch black. Every noise made him jump as he walked through a place that can only be described as an abyss.

"I am not so sure that that would be wise Legolas." Elrond said warily as he looked around them into the ocean of barren land. The thought had occurred to him as well, but something nagged at him. "For we do not know if we would be able to find one another after the split has been made."

Legolas grabbed his arm, "But we have to try Elrond! For Estel's sake. We do not know how longer any of us can survive here. It is the best way to make sure that if there is any danger that one of us will be able save Estel from it."

Elrond looked at the hand and then at the face of the elf that owned it. Legolas looked desperate lost even. His eyes were filled with tears. "I cannot allow you to put yourself in harms way, Legolas. Neither Estel nor I would ever be able to bear it if you made a sacrifice on our parts." Elrond turned away, blinking back the tears in his own eyes, searching the land thoroughly with his eyes for a shape, a sign that his son was out there.

Legolas looked at him, shaking his head. "If we are not willing to sacrifice something then what is the use of even trying to find Estel?"

'He is my son!' Elrond yelled in the common tongue as he turned back violently towards Legolas. 'My little boy! Do not tell what I should and should not do elfling!'

'And Estel is my brother! I would give up my life for his in a moment, in fact I was thinking of doing so if the twins had not agreed to take him to the Undying Lands. I refuse to be parted from my brother.' Legolas glared at Elrond. 'Neither of us wanted this Elrond, but it is the hand that has been dealt to us. Now we have to take it and make the best of it. We must find Estel.'

Elrond looked deeply into Legolas' eyes and saw love in them. He had seen it reflected in the twins eyes as they had fought with him about coming and in his own brother's eyes throughout his long years. "If you believe it to be the only way…"

"Aye my lord. I believe that this is the only way, it is a feeling that I have." Legolas said quietly.

Elrond nodded then on impulse drew Legolas into a hug. "Hannon le."

Legolas tilted his head, his face contorted into a small frown. "For what Lord Elrond? I have done nothing."

"Aye Legolas, you have." Elrond said with a nod and a smile. " You have watched over ion-nin for many a year. For that you deserve more then all the thanks that I could ever give you."

Legolas smiled gently, "It is worth it to hear his jokes and laughter. Your son is a light in many people's eyes, especially in mine. I am glad to call him gwador."

Elrond gave a brief nod and then whispered. "Be careful Legolas and watch everything around. Something here is not right. If…when either of us find him, let us meet back here." Legolas nodded taking one of his arrows out of his quiver he jabbed it into the hard clay of the earth.

"Good luck Elrond. May we find him soon and quickly." With that Legolas was gone, heading west.

Elrond began to slowly walk north praying that they would find Estel soon. He could not bear the lack of light that this place had. But there was a growing tug of doubt and worry in his mind. Something was going to happen….

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"Elrond did what?" Galadriel exclaimed as Manwendil sat himself down at the Lady's table where he had been asked to sit. He sat down carefully, holding his hands tightly together.

"Legolas and him have gone into the realms of the dead to retrieve Estel back." Manwendil whispered in a strangled voice, twiddling his thumbs, never making eye contact with the lady. "Atar told me to tell you, so you may know before Lady Celebrian comes…He thought it would be better for you to know all the truth that he managed to get after she left their household. So she can know what it truly is that they are doing."

Galadriel closed her eyes, "What a fool I was, I have brought this upon my grandson and my son-in-law." She sank down onto the seat next to the tense Manwendil. Silently Galadriel sat in thought, seeing and hearing nothing except her own thoughts.

What am I to say to her words? But I know I would hate it if I did something or was a part of something only to have it backlash on to those that I love more then anything else in this world. Manwendil thought to himself, barely breathing. But no words do I have for one with such power, for I fear what would come from saying something wrong.

Slowly she returned back to consciousness, looking over at the petrified son of Elros. "Go back to Elros and tell him that I am going to come over and sit with my family for a while." Manwendil nodded slowly then rose hastily moving towards the door.

Remembering his manners, he turned back in one rapid motion, murmuring softly, "As you say my lady." Manwendil bow quickly and turned. His hand was on the brass door handle when the lady's voice called him back.

"Why do the twin children of Elros fear me, Manwendil?" Her voice was barely distinguishable to the man's hearing. "What is it that causes you to shy away?"

Manwendil shrugged his shoulders, but he felt the need to comfort the great elf lady. He moved closer to her placing his hand delicately over hers. "You have done nothing milady, if that is what you worry about in either of our eyes. I can not speak for my sister but I am just worried that I have caused you to be angry. My sister's reasons come from another source that is more harmful to her." He paused slightly, biting his lip slightly. "Lady Galadriel, it is not your fault that all of this has occurred. Your grandson will be all right, you just have to have faith my lady. I wish you luck."

Lady Galadriel nodded and raised her left hand signaling the boy to go. When he had left she let out a sigh, Galadriel found herself staring out of the tall open window in the room at the silver beech standing close to it. She whispered, as if to the beech, in a barely audible voice, "Celeborn what are we to do?"

A cool hand fell on her shoulder, causing Galadriel to turn around sharply. Her eyes were wild for a moment before she realized whom it was that stood before her. "I know not my light, but I fear it is out of our hands now. We must leave it to Elrond to find a way to bring our grandchild back to us." Celeborn sat himself down next to his wife, taking her hand in his own.

Galadriel looked at him, silver tears flowed from her eyes. "D...do you think that Elrond and Legolas will find him in time?"

Celeborn slid to the floor in front of his wife. He placed one hand over his heart. "I know they will Galadriel. I know it." Then he took his wife into his arms and held her for a long while afterwards, both mourning the grandchild they would lose...

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Estel felt as if his entire back was on fire. The long cuts of the multiple tailed whip bore into his flesh, but worst of all was the beads, glass, and metal snares that decorated the ends of the whip. They ripped into his flesh, taking out chucks here and there.

"Elentari (Queen of stars), Elbereth help me be strong. Shed light so Adar-nin can find me before it is too late." Estel cried in sindarin, earning him a kick in the chest from one of his captors.

'None of that 'air elf talk. Wan't help ya 'ere, ya'r precious elven gods can't 'ear you 'ere. Death can't 'ere ya 'ere eit'er." The leader said to Estel as he hit him across the face. 'Ya don't want ta boss 'earing ya speek tat way eit'er.'

'Nadorhuanrim (cowardly dogs) you dare not stand up to your master. I will not obey you or your master.' Estel said with as much strength as he could draw from the depths of his soul.

'I 'as 'oping ya say tat ya elf toy..' The man said with a smirk, bring the whip down once more on to Estel's back with relish.

Estel withstood the beating as well as he could with out saying a word. He tried to think of his family. Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, Elrond, Galadriel, Celeborn, and Legolas. But there were also Celebrian, Elros, Manwendil, and Tindomiel, people he never suspected he would ever meet. He had to hold on so he could see more of the family, the ones his cousins had mentioned briefly. He had to believe someone would come and try and retrieve him from this dark place. Estel for once found it hard to hold on to his namesake as the darkness closed in around him, threatening to swallow him whole.

But he had to hold on he had to. Estel had suffered more pain then this before as Aragorn. He had suffered much on the journey to Indilles as a child with the darkness that seemed to close in all around him. Estel had been lucky to have such a great family to pull him through the darkness. Now if he could only hold on to hope for a little bit longer. Just a bit more….

TBC…

Namarie until next time…