The Wrong One

By Nefhiriel

A/N: YAY! I've reached 100 reviews – 100!!! A huge hug to all my wonderful reviewers! I never really expected to get this many for the entire story! My mom keeps asking me what I'm walking around smiling like that for : ) Sorry this chapter didn't get out earlier (you all certainly deserved it!). hasn't been letting me log in today, and yesterday was REALLY busy : P So here it is, Ladies, Gentlemen, Elves, Miar, Valar, Dwarves, Woses, Ents, Huorns Halflings, Wizards, Númenorians...etc. (I don't suppose I have any Trolls, Wargs, Nazgûl, Orcs or other such creatures among my audience?) – a new chapter! Somebody cheer already? Thank you all for your support – I LOVE all my reviewers (and all you lurkers too)!

-This chapter dedicated to Advil: strength and pain relief to keep on typing! Ok, so at the last minute I realized I hadn't thought of anyone to dedicate it to, and my back has REALLY been bad lately so... -

Chapter 9: Keep on Going

"They followed the tracks as far as they could. In the end they brought them to a river." Glorfindel continued his report to Elrond, "The horse was probably led from through the stream for a ways, from upstream or downstream, I don't know."

"Did they look for tracks further up and down the stream banks?"

"Yes. They searched for quite a ways too. Acharndil isn't taking any chances." Glorfindel looked over to where the twins, Legolas and Dolenil were silently listening. "It seems he's a rather good woodsman. If you do eventually pick up the trail I have no doubt you'll be sorely pressed to follow it. Unless, of course, he was so confident in his ability to lose us at the stream that he didn't take the time to cover his prints. I have a feeling that won't be the case." He paused and looked to Elrond, not quite sure how to end. All four of them looked up in surprise when they heard the amount of levity in his voice.

"One more thing before you go. Moranuen has been less than helpful with guarding Curuar, so I relieved him of guard duty and decided to send him with you."

They returned his smile. It would be good to have Mora along.

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Each moment his eyes were growing heavier, he just couldn't hold them open any longer...

"'ey their! What do you think you're doin'?" the man punctuated his words with several kicks. "Thought you might catch a few minutes of sleep 'eh?" a particularly savage blow to his already bruised ribs forced a groan from Aragorn. "Well think again!"

Now another man joined the first, chuckling and punching eagerly as a third man pulled Aragorn to his feet. Dagron's voice boomed out menacingly from the cave entrance.

"Oh, come boys, what do you think your doin', beatin' the prisoner the moment the chief's back is turned?" the blows stopped as Dagron's footsteps came closer. "Ah, the poor li'l elf-lover. Looks like you 'urt 'im!" the other men joined him in laughing. "Well," Dagron continued lightheartedly. "while the cat's away the mice will play!"

Aragon felt his rib crack as Dagron landed a square punch in his chest. He refused to make a sound, he would not give them that pleasure.

"Aren't you the tough one?" Dagron punched him in the face once, twice, three times, his stoicism only encouraging him on to more wrath. "I suppose you learned endurance from those bloody elfs, 'eh?"

Soon he hung limp between the two men, too weary to even hold his own head up. Dagron grabbed a fistful of his hair and jerked his head up. He was astonished to see the amount of fire that still lit the ranger's eyes. Too much fire. Though he couldn't see his tormentors, he still glared straight ahead determinedly with a fierce light glowing in his eyes.

Dagron bristled with rage but decided to leave the prisoner for the moment. He could finish breaking him later. He couldn't be certain how much this man could handle. For all his defiance, he really wasn't looking too good... Dagron had no desire to find out how Acharndil would react to returning to find a dead prisoner.

Giving him a departing punch to the stomach, Dagron directed the men to leave him. The men obedientlythrew him onto the hard ground and left.

Despite the pain Aragon couldn't help but chuckle, they obviously thought him too weak to even attempt escape. He was sure he could think of some way to take advantage of this situation... He'd have to work on that. As soon as he could breath properly again and his head stopped trying to explode, that is.

Without his tormentors there to hear, he let a moan slip from his lips as he rested his aching back against the cool stone. His arms throbbed from all the hours of being pinioned behind his back and he was sure he had at least one broken rib. As much as he hated admitting it, he couldn't help but agree with the men—he felt too weak to do anything but sleep.

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Plodding along unhurriedly, Acharndil waded upstream. By the time he reached the entry point and sloshed out onto shore, he was soaked and freezing cold. Still, he smiled. It was worth it.

He stood there for a moment, water dripping off him and seeping into the sandy ground. He took a couple of strides forward before realizing that he had forgotten something. With a sigh of frustration he gathered up a pile of leaves and walked back. Carefully he spread them over the prints leading out from the waters edge. Again he strode forward, halted to look back at his work and then, with a sigh of satisfaction, continued on his way.

There were few things that Acharndil didn't take into account. He was sure he had thought of every possible threat that might disrupt his plans. But then, he never stopped to consider what the loyalty of friends and the determination of family could do: he was about to find out.

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Elladan and Elrohir crossed the small stream and began to examine the ground, Moranuen started working downstream on the other side. Legolas went to the same side as the twins and Dolenil placed himself opposite him. Immediately they commenced their hunt.

Legolas and Dolenil moved steadily on, stopping every now and then to examine a patch of ground more closely. But always their findings turned out to be nothing of importance. For hours they continued on, slowly and thoroughly.

Stooping low, Legolas crouched next to a pile of leaves. Something was wrong with the picture. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Dolenil moving further upstream, and soon he was out of sight. Legolas focused on the scattered leaves before him and then up at the branches spread above him. Of course!

And I dare to call myself a wood elf...

He berated himself on not having noticed it more quickly. The tree above him was a gigantic Oak, the leaves spread out before him were those of a Maple. Excitedly, he brushed aside the leaves. There they were: the imprints of a horse's hooves as well as some human footprints. He brushed aside a few more leaves and followed the prints away from the water. Frustration seized him as he was forced to pause upon reaching the edge of the soft soil of the riverbank. The prints disappeared more effectively into the yielding, spongy, moss that now lay before him. Rocking back on his heels, he scanned the woods ahead, his eyes came to light on a group of trees. He smiled. It was a cluster of maple trees. The only maple trees for some distance around.

With new energy he picked up the trail. In his haste he forgot to call to one of his friends.

Often he was stumped when all the leads would suddenly dry up, then he would remember a trick Aragorn had taught him and he would find the trail once more. Each memory only proved to drive him on toward the end of the trail. But what would he find? He refused to consider whether or not Acharndil had told the truth. But the last lines of the letter continued to haunt him no matter how he tried to block it out.

...rest assured, he is alive. How long he remains that way is up to you.

He pressed on even harder.

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The three Noldorin elves carried on their monotonous search. They were as thorough as possible, but remained utterly fruitless after hours of work. Regretfully, Elladan, Elrohir, and Moranuen began to retrace the many miles that lay between them and their starting point. The sun was far overhead by the time they reached it.

"Look, here's Dolenil." Elrohir pointed out, as up ahead Dolenil came into view.

"Dolenil, where's Legolas?" Elladan asked, not seeing his friend.

The lines in Dolenil's face drew together.

"He's not here?" his face turned a shade paler.

"No, he went with you." Elladan continued firmly, "He crossed over and went upstream with you."

"Yes, I know!" it came out a little shorter than Dolenil had meant it to, his worry becoming more apparent as he strove to keep his voice even. "I know he crossed over. We followed each other for about an hour, then I lost track of him. I haven't seen him for a couple of hours. I thought for sure, when I didn't see him, that he must have come back here."

"Well, as you can see, he isn't here." Elladan commenced to take charge of the situation. "We'll wait a bit, perhaps he's just fallen behind."

And so they waited.

Elrohir checked the horses, Elladan paced, and Moranuen watched Dolenil fidget.

"Legolas is over two thousand years old and quite grown up now. I'm sure he can take care of himself by now." Moranuen joked half-heartedly in an attempt to cheer him.

"Over two thousand years old and "quite grown up" he may be," Dolenil stopped fidgeting. "but sometimes I doubt his ability to take care of himself."

For a minute they all stared at him, not sure whether this serious, cautious Mirkwood elf had meant it as a joke. They saw his mouth quirk into a smile and laughed.

"Remind me, El, to tell Legolas about this..." Elladan taunted mischievously.

"Oh yes, certainly! I'll bet poor Legolas hadn't a clue his faithful mellon said such things about him!" Elrohir smiled tauntingly.

Dolenil surprised himself with the amount of pleasure he felt at joining his companions in the simple joke. He'd never experienced something like this before. The amount of ease and familiarity with which they treated each other amazed him and he felt a strange longing to fit in.

Sadly, he found reality drawing him back to the present, his Prince was missing. How long had it been now? He would have died to save Legolas and now he couldn't help but resent the human who held so much of his loyalty. This human was endangering them all. Why was Legolas risking so much for this ranger? He just couldn't understand. Part of the conversation he'd had with Legolas sprung to mind:

"Dolenil, if you decide to block out humans simply because you have heard of evil in their race, I can not help you. But let me tell you this: you will miss a great many true friends if you do. Estel has become even more than mellon-nín (my friend), he has become gwador-nín (my sworn brother). Even in the short time I've known him, Estel has grown to be one of the best friends I've ever known. Perhaps the best."

"I'm sorry, I just don't understand."

"Perhaps not yet. But please, give the race of men a chance."

...give the race of men a chance.

The last words echoed around in his mind. Why? Why give the race of men a chance? Men were weak, men would always be weak. Why trust someone who will only fail you? Dolenil brushed away the questions, now was the time for action. He would not let questions about this human confuse him. Right now all that mattered was finding Legolas.

Elladan, Elrohir, and Moranuen instantly noticed the change in Dolenil. His face clouded over and he resumed his fidgeting, glancing up every now and then to check for any sign of Legolas. Inwardly, they all sighed. It had been interesting to see the more relaxed side of Dolenil.

Elladan rubbed his temples.

And I thought that Legolas was a hard one to figure. In comparison to Dolenil he's positively carefree, open and outgoing!

He grumbled to himself.

These Mirkwood elves...

"I guess we'd better start looking for Legolas." he said out loud.

Dolenil surprised them a second time by how quickly he jumped up.

"Let's go."

"Wait. Some of us should stay here just in case he's already crossed over." Elladan halted Dolenil mid-stride. "Why don't Elrohir and I go across? You and Mora can wait here, Legolas might be making his way back here from this side of the stream."

Dolenil contemplated arguing. He didn't much like the thought of sitting around here waiting. But he decided against it, every moment they lingered could be dangerous for Legolas if he was in trouble.

"Very well then." he begrudgingly assented.

Elladan and Elrohir set out and quickly became engrossed in following Legolas's all but invisible trail. They both gasped in surprise when they found the prints of a human and a horse, with the slight imprint of an elven boot along side them, leading away from the stream. They became so absorbed that they made the same mistake as Legolas, letting the trail lead them onward without one look back. And so, forgetting to fill their friends in on their success, they went on. When they did finally realize their mistake they were already too far along turn back.

The path was much easier for them to follow than it had been for Legolas since they had two trails to follow. Legolas had made no attempts to obliterate his trail or keep his passage a secret, so his trail was an easy path for the trained elven eye to read.

To Be Continued...

Reviewer responses:

sielge: Wow, first to review once again! Thank you! I'm glad you like it.

Star-Stallion: Hello! You know it's funny, I've seen and read your reviews of other peoples stories so many times...I feel like I've already met you : ) I've always thought your name was so neat, creative, and very pretty. Anyways, I'm glad you stumbled onto my story – and that you like it! It's encouraging to know that new people are still finding and reading my story. Thank you so much for reviewing, too, I can always use more encouragement!

Isadora2: Oh, I'm so glad to hear from you again! I was getting a little nervous, wondering if perhaps I said something rude by accident while I was fooling around with German phrases : ) Danka doesn't mean "buzz off" or something, does it? LOL. J/K. I just assumed that you were busy – aren't we all? This time of year can get so hectic... : b But thanks for taking the time to drop me a review! Glad to know you're still reading!

elvingirl3737: I'm sure glad that little scene of the twins crying was successfully touching and made you want to cry along with them. It really felt bold, making Elladan cry - almost too bold. I was worried that he might seem a bit OOC. But then, at the moment he has an adequate excuse, I think, to be acting a little odd : ) I just wanted to portray how torn he was feeling over Estel being captured, and not being able to do anything about it. Well, as always, thanks for reviewing!

Mornflower: Hey, just because you don't have a skit doesn't mean you're not making me laugh! Besides, I'm the author, I'm supposed to be entertaining you : ) Funny reviews are just a...um...bonus. (grins) You just continue to make me laugh...whether you mean to or not, LOL. Thanks for the review!

HarryEstel: Foolhardy... Yes, I agree, it's always so much fun to see what rash things Legolas and the twins are going to do next in order to save Estel. I can't give anything too explicit away, but rest assured there's going to be plenty of hot-headed recklessness later on : ) Come to think of it, there was some of that in this chapter, wasn't there : ) I'm so glad you like my story! (blushes) Thank you for the review!

polingly: Hehehe, I actually had to have Imbecamiel figure out all the time problems for me, otherwise it probably wouldn't have been so easy to understand. I actually had all the characters going on different time scheduals! But, with a "little" help from Imbecamiel - "little" as in she spent an entire evening lying on the couch muttering: "...and if this person was here at this time, then that person should be there, but then what about THIS character here..." I was only able to figure it out with my amazing intellect! (Imbecamiel laughs hysterically in the background) OK, so she helped me quite a bit, and typed it all out, and is now trying to figure out the other chapters, and... LOL, she really is great : ) I'm glad Acharndil is succeeding in being thoroughly evil...(go ahead, vent your anger on a superfluous guard : ) Yeah, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity of using a pre-made torture plan that Chauvelin so helpfully created with his cruel, twisted little mind : ) It was most definitely NOT smart of Aragorn to start joking about being able to sleep with his eyes open... Again I got the idea from Eldorado. I've always loved the part where Percy says he's learned how to sleep with his eyes open, LOL. I couldn't agree more, I just LOVE seeing how noble and self-sacrificial all my favorite heroes can be during...well...during what I put them through : ) Oh, all this talk about the SP reminds me: did you see that there is now an SP fanlisting on ? I just signed Imbecamiel and I up. Well, anyways...I'll try to get around to sending you an e-mail one of these days (sorry I'm taking so long!). Hannon le, gwathel-nin esse Ilúlvatar!

Naesse: I LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU! Um...I mean... (grins sheepishly at her outburst)...thanks? I'm glad you're looking forward to LOTS more Estel angst because I'm not even half-way through the story yet, and I haven't even BEGUN the angst : ) OK, so maybe it's BEGUN, but I'm far from done with my evil plans for the poor ranger. (maniacal laughter) (Estel glares) Sorry Estel, got to keep my readers happy, you know. (smiles innocently) Thanks so much for the review!

Cookie: Oh, hi again! Don't you just love it when you forget about a story, and then come back to find that the author has posted a bunch of new chapters? That's always so much fun. I'm so glad you rediscovered me : D Please do pressure me! It really helps keep me posting. It's wonderful to know that you're liking it that much : ) Well, thank you so much for reviewing!!!

jacquelinestel: (is doing an inept effort at the Heimlich Maneuver on JE) Just in case the choking wasn't for dramatic effects... (JE turns red) We've got to make sure that M&M isn't still stuck! (JE turns pale) Lack of oxygen is not something to be taken lightly! (JE turns blue) OK, you look better now. (JE gasps as Nef finally quits squeezing her) Shame on you, Estel, for laughing at her during a life and death EMERGENCY – she could have DIED on that M&M!!! (shakes head at still unrepentant Estel) Don't mind him, he really would miss you...I think. LOL. Thanks for all the compliments! (tries to huggle a fleeing JE)

Lizzie Blakeney: Hi, Lizzie! It's so fun to hear from you again : D I'm glad that you think this is coming along well – I've worked very hard on it! Thank you very, very much for reviewing!

viggomaniac: Oh no, when people start getting serious it shows me up for the weird, dramatic, and eccentric person I am! Ah well...It's really nice to have a few reviewers who'll sit down and take the time to write you a serious, well thought out review - really, I appreciate you! I think it's only right and compassionate that you cry when you run over chipmunks. If you think that is overreacting...When I was about eight, or so, I adopted a caterpillar and brought it home with me. I set it on the counter, but somehow it got brushed off into the sink – oh how I mourned the passing of the poor little caterpillar (really, I remember sobbing)! By the time we finally fished the caterpillar out of the water it was dead. I was so upset, that my Mom forced my poor Dad to hold a funeral service for it : ) He could barely keep a straight face, and finally he said (between laughs): "Honey, I am NOT going to PRAY over a CATERPILLAR!" We've got a whole section of our yard dedicated to being a graveyard for various hamsters, rabbits, snakes, birds...etc. LOL. Who would have ever known that I'd go from there, to end up writing this stuff... (grins) OK, I'll try and be serious as well. I was pretty timid about attempting OC's, so I'm glad my OC villains are evil enough for everyone. Sometime while I was writing this story, I think they must have got a little out of hand (I mean, I would never come up with the idea of doing all this to Estel! What? What are you looking at me like that for?). Hundreds!? Hooked on MY story!? (whistles) There's a thought that kind of blows my mind... Whahoo! You'd actually like this to be long and drawn out?! That's a very good thing, since, at the current rate I'm posting, this story won't be completely up until almost Christmas - I'm not even half-way through yet. And I think that many of the chapters get longer, the further on this goes (I found that, as I gained a little more experience, I began to just be able to write bigger chunks at a time and put more detail into things). I'm really enjoying posting, and getting all these reviews, but what you said about curling up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate, reading an Aragorn torture fic...well, it makes me wish a had a good story to read (and the time to read it!). Well, you go ahead and enjoy yourself as you sit by the fire...(grumbles) Thanks!

Lady Leeanne: (fishes doorknob out of umbrella stand and tries to put it back on the door) Yep, he's in the closet, and happy to be there after all the disturbing sounds he's heard coming from outside... No need to thank me! I thank you! Really, you and Polly have been sooo encouraging to me! (huggles both of Leeanne and Polly) It's the least I can do. I'm sure you'll make my villains recant of their evil ways : ) Wow, Teletubbies for a month?! You are cruel, mellon-nin, CRUEL : ) Acharndil is now officially scared. Of course, it's not likely to affect his behavior too much, seeing as how he doesn't really care if he even survives, but Teletubbies truly is a fate worse than death. Unfortunately, Dagron is a bit too stupid to be scared, even by that. Besides, his mind works kind of on that same level, so who knows, he might even LIKE Teletubbies : ) The twins almost made you cry?! Legolas almost made you cry?! My characters are believable?! My ELVES are believable?! Oh, I'm so glad! OK, start back at the beginning Nefhiriel...The twins. Yes, that scene was very tentatively written, because I felt nervous having the twins actually crying. I don't know why, but somehow I was afraid that I might be overdoing things. I'm glad you liked the way I did Legolas, too. How to write about a race that you've never seen...Elves can be hard, especially Elrond. It's so difficult to make dialogue seem 'real' and to not make it stilted with really corny sounding Shakespearian English. You want them to sound old, like they're from the Middle Ages, but not weird...Well, I'm happy to hear that you think I'm succeeding with the enigmatical race of the Elves! I like your owl a lot, he's very cute : )

A special thanks to Star-Stallion and elfstar54321 for adding me to their authors alerts! And also to Nietta and spiritstllionofthecimarro for adding me to both your alerts and your favorite authors!

OK. I hope I got everyone in my responses. has been being very difficult (that, or my e-mail - maybe their in cahoots to drive me insane!) and refuses to send me review alerts, so I have to keep checking on the internet to see if I got reviews. (rolls eyes) Oh well, thanks you all SOOO much for the lovely reviews – I NEVER get bored of hearing from all of you!

I don't know WHAT the next chapter will be called, for the very stupid reason that I forgot to think of a title. Anyways, chapter "X" will be out Friday or Saturday : )

- Nefhiriel

Vice President and Co-founder of the SNWCG & the F.F.F.F.F