DISCLAIMER – I don't own any of Tolkien's characters or Middle Earth place names etc

The eagle caught him.

The eagle caught him. It took a moment or two for him to realise that he was still alive, that the vision he had seen of the bird in the sky had been real, and that he was no longer plummeting towards the ground.

'Are you OK?' someone screamed in his ear, above the noise of the wind. He tried to work out who it could be, whose arm was this which was hanging onto his…

'Ylfronir' The person shook him. He turned his head, warily, to see who it was, and

'Nathradril!' he gasped

He saw relief in her eyes, which quickly turned to anger, as she said

'What the hell were you…'

'Nath', he interrupted, 'Celidel's still…'

The eagle must have heard. Sprawled on its back, Ylfronir was uncomfortably aware of every wing beat, as it swerved to face the Nazgul again. Behind him, Nathradril shuffled into an upright kneeling position, clinging to the bird's feathers with both hands. Ylfronir's gaze flicked desperately between her precarious position and the hovering Nazgul which they were fast approaching…

'Hang on to me,' she yelled at him. Trying not to think about what he was doing, Ylfronir edged himself around, staying low against the bird's back. He stretched one arm down around the eagle's neck, and reached up to hang onto Nathradril's legs with the other. She let go with both hands, and pulled her bow from where it hung on her back. Ylfronir gripped her as hard as he could as she put an arrow to the string and tensed to draw.

They were close enough now for Ylfronir to see the limp shape of Celidel still held in the creature's claw. He felt Nathradril release the arrow, saw it tear through the night sky towards its target. The monstrous beast seemed to rear up in mid air as it tried to avoid the arrow, letting go of Celidel as it thrashed the air with its huge wings. The eagle swooped down, sending Ylfronir's stomach into somersaults. He hung onto Nathradril for dear life.

'I can't see him!' he heard her shout, 'Where…?' then a sudden jolt almost dislodged Ylfronir from the eagle's back, as the bird grabbed Celidel out of the air in its own talons.

'Got him!' cried Nathradril, exultantly. 'Now for the Nazgul…'

'What …?' began Ylfronir, hoarsely. He raised his head a few inches to scan the night sky, 'I can't even see it any more!' he shouted, 'let's just…'

There was a sudden screech from above. Ylfronir tipped his head right the way back and saw the jagged outline of the Nazgul bearing down on them. The eagle was still descending rapidly.

'Go back up!' screamed Nathradril, letting another arrow fly, 'we can finish it!' but, to Ylfronir's relief, the bird did not heed. They plunged towards the ground. Hindered by avoiding the arrows and its more unwieldy shape, the Nazgul did not seem to be catching up.

The trees were much larger now, and Ylfronir saw that they really were above a river, not that he had any clue which river it could be. As they approached the ground, the eagle slowed, to deposit Celidel as gently as possible on the grass, before landing a few feet away. Ylfronir slid gratefully off, not trusting his legs to support him for the time being. Nathradril sprang to the ground too, and the bird instantly leapt into flight once more, shooting off into the night sky. They heard thumping wingbeats passing overhead as the Nazgul gave chase. Then all was still.

When he forced himself to stand up, Ylfronir saw that Nathradril was bending over Celidel, who still lay on the ground

'Is he…' he began, hesitantly,

'He's fainted,' she said, 'and I think his ankle might be broken.' She removed her cloak and spread it, slowly and deliberately, over the elf's prostrate form. Then she rose, and turned to face Ylfronir.

'I think an explanation is in order.'

'I…' He didn't know where to start. But then he remembered something, 'You should be in bed!' he exclaimed.

'I what?'

He hurried over to her and grabbed her arm

'You're ill, Nathradril, you…'

'…should be in bed,' she finished, starting to laugh

'It's not funny!' said Ylfronir, hearing his voice become more high pitched as he protested. He found himself involuntarily beginning to laugh as well. Nathradril was suddenly leaning on his arm more heavily, and he lowered them both to the ground, as their laughter became more hysterical.

'I didn't mean for you to find out I'd gone!' Ylfronir managed to choke out

'Well you shouldn't have stolen a horse from the royal stable!' gasped Nathradril, 'I suppose….on balance…that was a bit of a mistake…' he admitted, trying to regain some modicum of self control. For a moment they just sat there, teetering on the edge between laughter and tears.

'But an eagle?' he asked, as his brain began to kick in again

'Are you complaining?' she smiled, but her face was pale,

'No! But how?'

'When I realised you'd gone, I was pretty sure I knew where,' said Nathradril, serious now, 'And I knew that you were extremely likely to get into some serious trouble. I thought that to have any chance of finding you I'd need an…ariel perspective. And I still have some friends in Lothlorien,'

'Are you suggesting I don't?' asked Ylfronir, in mock surprise. She smiled again, but exhaustion was clearly written on her face now.

'As luck would have it,' continued Nathradril, 'I heard this morning that an eagle had delivered a message to the Lady Galadriel. So I slipped out of the sanatorium…'

'…just like that, eh?'

'Like I said, I actually have some friends in the Golden Wood,'

'Point taken…

'And I begged Malwyr…'

'…the eagle…?'

'…right. I begged him to help me. And, lucky for you, he was willing.'

She looked up to the stars, her face grave,

'I hope he makes it…'

'An eagle like him can out fly a Nazgul any day of the week,' Ylfronir tried to reassure her, 'especially now he's not weighed down by 3 elves.'

'I suppose you're right,' she said.

They sat for a moment in silence. Then Ylfronir noticed that Nathradril was shivering,

'Here, take my cloak,' he said, giving her the torn garment, 'such as it is,'

'You should have nicked a new one from Lothlorien,' she grinned, but took it gratefully.

'I suppose we had better set up camp for the night,' said Ylfronir, 'I think there's a river nearby, let's head for that. I could certainly do with cleaning up a bit…'

Willing his aching muscles to give him just a while longer before they gave up in protest, Ylfronir managed to hoist Celidel off the ground.

'I could take his legs,' suggested Nathradril,

'No,' said Ylfronir, panting with the effort, 'the broken ankle, remember, I don't hate him that much…'

He staggered off in the direction of the river, Nathradril following. After a moment she said, thoughtfully,

'That's Celidel, from Loth Lorien, right?'

'…right….'

'Why do you hate him? For that matter, why is he here? And hang on a minute,' her tone suddenly became exasperated, 'I still haven't had an explanation of what the hell happened to you both!'

'It's…um…a long story…'

'We've got all night.'

'OK…But can we at least get a fire started first, I'm bloody freezing…'

………………

Druluk stared in awe at the scene before his eyes.

'It's…beautiful…' he said, turning to Thrrl, who stood beside him on the stone bridge overlooking the dark waters of the underground river.

'Not the word I'd use,' she said, morosely.

Druluk couldn't take his eyes off the orc fleet. A row of boats, stretching right the way along one bank until a bend in the river meant he could see no more, each vessel bearing a firey fringe of lanterns around its hull. It was beautiful. But from their vantage point, Druluk could see orc companies boarding the ships and taking up positions at the banks of oars. And however much he tried to block thoughts of the past from entering his mind, he couldn't help but be reminded of the time he had stood similarly in Isengard, staring down at the bustling activity of Saruman's underlings. Just before Ylfronir had fetched him to take him to that fateful meeting. Ylfronir. At the memory, a wave of anger washed over him, and he suddenly snapped

'Why did you wait until we were on the move?'

'I'm sorry?' said Thrrl, not understanding

'You could have told me about my friends before we started marching, when we were still near the heart of the Collective. Then I could have gone to search for them.'

'I didn't think…'

'…you didn't think? Or you thought that you'd quite like to have me on this little suicide mission…'

'…You flatter yourself!'

'No, I don't think so. As far as I can see, you don't have any friends in this whole damn Collective. Not one out of 50 thousand, that's pretty poor going…'

'…I never asked you to come with me. And…' her voice cracked, 'I'm sorry about your friends…But I truly believe that it wouldn't have made a difference. They are gone.'

'So why did you tell me about the water at all?' asked Druluk, suddenly overcome with sadness rather than anger,

'It was…weighing on my conscience…' She sighed heavily , and continued 'like a lot of things.'

'Like the fact that you allowed their execution?' He couldn't help but say it harshly. Even now, every time he looked at her, part of him wanted to meet out revenge on Ylfronir and Nathradril's behalf.

'Yes,' said Thrrl, so quietly he almost didn't hear. 'Yes.'

…………………..

Ylfronir was glad of the fire, not just because he was cold and exhausted, but because he was desperately worried about Nathradril. The words of the healer in Lothlorien kept running around his mind. Not for the first time, he cursed his own idiocy in leaving Lothlorien in the first place. He should have known that no good could possibly come of it.

They laid Celidel as close to the fire as they could, and now Ylfronir began to try and bandage up his ankle, using strips which he cut from Celidel's own cloak, and improvising a splint out of some fallen branches. Nathradril observed him, warming her hands in the glow of the fire.

'So?' she said, 'you keep putting off telling me. Shall I begin for you? You went to the stable and you…'

'…stole a horse. Yes. And then…'

'…Nathradril?' an incredulous voice suddenly called out of the darkness

Ylfronir tensed, his hand already on the hilt of his knife

'Who's there?' he shouted, but Nathradril held up a hand to silence him

'It couldn't be…' she whispered to herself. Ylfronir looked around in incomprehension…and suddenly became aware of two figures approaching them. He sprang to his feet, saying

'Get your bow ready,' but Nathradril had risen too, and she stepped in front of him, holding her arms outstretched in a gesture of welcome

'Legolas!'

'Legolas?' exclaimed Ylfronir in disbelief, 'Legolas! What the…'

But at that moment, the newcomers drew near enough to the fire for Ylfronir to see that one of them was indeed the prince of Mirkwood. The other appeared to be the dwarf whom Ylfronir had seen with Legolas, Aragorn and Mithrandir all those days ago in Fanforn forest.

'Nathradril!' Legolas looked as surprised as Ylfronir felt, 'what in the world brings you here? And…' he stared at Ylfronir, 'it's…Ylfronir…isn't it?'

'Yes…' spluttered Ylfronir, confused, he had not expected the prince to know his name,

'Ylfronir…' said Legolas thoughtfully, 'I haven't seen you in Mirkwood since…'

'…since Gollum escaped,' interrupted Ylfronir, 'yes, well, I…'

But Legolas had suddenly caught sight of Celidel's prone form

'What has happened here?' he exclaimed, 'Who…?'

'This is Celidel, from Loth Lorien,' explained Nathradril. 'He's wounded,' she added, unnecessarily.

'What happened?' asked Legolas, kneeling down beside the unconscious elf. Nathradril snorted, 'I've been trying to get Ylfronir to tell me that! All I know is that the pair of them were in the clutches of a Nazgul and…'

'Nazgul!' cried the dwarf, speaking for the first time, 'where?'

'Oh, it's gone now,' said Nathradril, 'I'm sorry, have we…?'

'Oh,' said Legolas, 'my apologies, this is my friend Gimli, son of Gloin,'

'Pleased to meet you,' said Nathradril, inclining her head,

'Likewise,' said Gimli, bowing, 'any friend of Legolas…'

Ylfronir sent Nathradril a venomous look, which she ignored completely

'…is a friend of mine,' finished the dwarf.

'Come,' said Legolas, standing again, 'you must come with us,'

'Where?' asked Ylfronir

'You have bound his leg well, but there is one nearby who has greater skill at healing than any on Middle Earth.'

Ylfronir tried to think who Legolas could be referring to 'not…Aragorn?' he guessed,

'The very same.' Legolas crouched down beside Celidel once more, to lift him, whilst Nathradril quickly kicked soil over the fire to extinguish it.

'But…' began Ylfronir, hopelessly, 'but…'

He suddenly became aware of how heavily Nathradril was breathing, even after the small exertion of putting out the fire. He stepped to her side and gently took her arm. Being in the company of the greatest healer on Middle Earth would be no bad thing right now.

'Alright,' he said, 'where's your camp?'

'Oh,' grinned Legolas in the moonlight, 'it's not a camp exactly…'

………………

Druluk eyed the arrays of oars unenthusiastically as his company neared the boats.

'I've never done anything like this before…'

'It's not that complicated,' said Thrrl, 'you'll get the hang of it…'

'In truth, I've never actually been on a boat before…'

'And do you think that many of these others have either?' she asked, gesturing with an outstretched hand. 'We're all in this together…Well…in the boats together anyway…'

'Excuse me?'

'I won't actually be rowing…'

'Oh really…?'

'I am still, technically, a member of the council...'

'Oh right! So you'll sit in comfort with Glonya while the rest of us slog it out on the benches? Nice…'

'Glonya isn't coming!'

'What?'

'Oh no, she's happy enough to forge alliances with war-hungry despots, and send members of the Collective to fight their battles for them, but you won't catch her risking so much as a hair on her head…Her nor any other member of the Council actually. Well…' her voice dripped sarcasm, 'We need them safe and sound to keep running our lives for us, don't we? I mean…'

'…So who's leading the army?' interrupted Druluk

'Leading? No one. We all know where we're going.'

'I don't understand…'

'We're going to Mordor,' she said, giving him a funny look

'Yes,' said Druluk, irritated, 'but if no one is in charge, then who's to say we don't just head off somewhere else?'

'The Collective has made a decision,' she said, staring at him in incomprehension.

'Yes, but…'

'We are all part of the Collective, Druluk, we act as one,'

'One idiot,' muttered Druluk under his breath. If Thrrl heard she did not let it show.

………………

'A boat?' said Ylfronir incredulously, 'a boat? And…' he looked more closely, '…an Umbar boat at that?'

'Correct,' said Legolas, 'we captured the whole fleet yesterday.'

'You and…?'

'…if I told you, you wouldn't believe me... Aragorn!' he shouted suddenly, 'Aragorn, are you there?'

A man's voice replied

'Legolas! Back so soon? Did you find anything worth eating or is it going to be Lembas bread again tonight?'

There was movement on deck, and then Ylfronir instantly recognised the heir of Isildur leaning over the boat's rail,

'You've brought company!'

'Aragorn, this is…' began the elf prince

'…save the introductions,' smiled Aragorn, 'I'll let down the gang plank.'

A mere 5 minutes later they were sitting below deck on the captured ship, enjoying the warmth cast by a metal stove. Celidel had been made as comfortable as possible on a pile of blankets, and Aragorn was examining him.

'The ankle should mend quickly,' he said, 'it's a clean break. And the rest looks painful but pretty superficial.'

He pointed to the bruising which was just starting to show around Celidel's neck.

'I take it he was held prisoner?'

'Yes,' said Ylfronir. 'We were both…orc prisoners…Then the Nazgul came…'

His voice trailed off. For a moment no one spoke, then

'Did the orcs beat you?' Nathradril asked him

'How do you mean?'

'Only that…and please don't take this the wrong way…your face looks like you were trampled by a stampede of wargs…'

'Actually,' said Ylfronir slowly, 'actually that was Celidel.'

Everyone stared at him. Ylfronir sighed.

'Maybe I should begin at the very beginning….' he said

Aislynn – thank you so much for your review! I'm glad you like the story, and I can reveal that Ylfronir and Druluk will meet again…but not under the most pleasant of circumstances I'm afraid…

Azla – here, at last, are Aragorn and Legolas, I hope you like it!