CHAPTER SIX

The Price of Love

Rothinzil was only partially awake after Legolas was finished telling the ending of Beleg's life when the constable arrived with their food. Legolas noticed it did have steam, so at least it was hot. That was always a bonus to having a full stomach. Strangely Legolas did not feel hungry.

The man hurriedly handed the food to Aragorn, who took the tray with the bowls and set it on the ground by Legolas' feet. Then he asked or rather demanded for clean water to cleanse Roth's wounds. "He is in a lot of pain from the wrongful and unlawful beating he received at the hands of your men. I am going to treat his wounds but I need cloth and water to do it."

The man said, "too bad, Nothing my men do is unlawful and you can stake your life on that. If they said the Elf whelp deserved it, I trust them."

It was too bad for the man that he had not put the door between himself and the ranger. Aragorn grabbed his tunic front and shoved the man against the wall roughly. "I would rather not trust my life on it, as I know this Elf and he would never do anything to reap thirty lashes!" The deadly flame in the ranger's eyes served as a good reason for the man to do as he was asked.

It was odd how this young ranger, that was thin and certainly weaker than he had more control over him. The ranger was like a bloody Elf when he was angry. "I will get the water and cloth, but you had better watch yourself ranger!" he spat and jerked himself free of Aragorn's grasp, but only, he noticed, because the younger man let him.

Aragorn went to Legolas and saw that already had Roth awake and was handing him the bowl with its contents, some form of soup. Legolas did not ask what was in it and he didn't try to figure it out. He had not been hungry before, but he definitely wasn't now. It utterly turned his stomach and he felt it doing flips.

However, he was going to make Roth eat. The younger Elf's condition would only deteriorate if he did not get any energy to go on and replace the energy he had lost. "Roth you have to eat."

Roth looked at the strange stew and suddenly turned away, "Legolas, I am going to be sick." His stomach felt so ill he did not want any food in him now. He began to shiver and Aragorn looked at Legolas and Legolas looked back, their eyes connecting. This was the answer they were expecting.

Legolas tried again gently, "you have to try. If it turns out you can't keep it down you can eat some more later."

Roth mumbled, "no, thank you." He lay back and curled into a ball. Legolas noticed the sweat on his forehead and he carefully brushed some of Roth's hair away from his sticky skin. He was angry. It was tragic that this should have happened. Damn it! Roth was a mess. Legolas did not think they had broken his friend, it would take more than that, but they had done a lot of damage.

"Rothinzil, I know you feel like your insides are turned inside out, but if you do not eat you will get weaker." Legolas was afraid for his friend. He would have rather had this happen to himself, he knew how to deal with it, but Roth was too innocent of heart and this was torment beyond anyone's knowledge.

Roth got up and sat on the straw, trying to stay off the cold floor. He shivered one last time and said, "Legolas, I am not hungry!" However, he really was, but the food just did not look like something he would like to eat.

Legolas appeared to have not heard and taking a spoonful of soup, he blew on it to cool it and put it to Roth's mouth. "Open up," he said flatly. Roth raised a brow and looked at Legolas to see if the blonde Elf was joking and Legolas raised one of his to match.

"Legolas this is not-" in came the stew. Roth was taken by surprise and swallowed before he even thought about it. It did not taste all that horrible, but the texture left much to be desired. It had a spicy taste that actually was kind of pleasant and it was hot. Legolas smiled as he watched Roth's face.

"Not hungry, huh?" he said with a grin. Roth shook his head and took the bowl from Legolas' hands. Now that he had tasted the food, he wanted more.

He smiled and said, "when did I say anything resembling that?" The raven-haired Elf then took and downed another steaming spoonful. He smiled and said after a moment, "it's not half bad."

Legolas just smiled and said, "good, eat it all."

Aragorn looked at Legolas and said, "why aren't you eating yours?" He tried to keep a smile off his lips but it was an uphill battle he soon lost.

Legolas just shrugged and said, "I am not hungry. I will eat it later." He drew his knees up to his chin as he sat and rested his head on them. This place was wearing on his heart. Its dankness, and the darkness that was creeping about them. He was frightened and that was disturbing. The Elf then raised both of his brows and asked, "do you want some then?"

Aragorn's smile broadened and he muttered, "Legolas do not make me force you. I will."

Legolas gave a snort and said, "you can't make me! I won't let you!" He gave a chuckle as the human frowned and said with total nonchalance,

"you are just asking for me to prove you wrong Legolas." The prince made no move for his soup and watched the human from the corners of his eyes. Aragorn wouldn't dare. "Legolas, do I have to make you in front of Roth? It would be a rather ugly episode, no?"

Legolas closed his eyes and smiled as he shut them. He knew he was inviting trouble, but he was beyond caring. Let the man try, he would show him for certain. He was not worried about being jumped by the man, after all, would he not hear the mortal before he sprang? Of course he would!

Legolas let his breathing relax and was nearly asleep when the young Dúnadan leaped on the blonde immortal, not enough to seriously harm the Elf, but enough to hurt his pride. Legolas gave a curt cry and Aragorn laughed as the Elf looked at him in shock. "Are you going to eat? Or do I have to demonstrate my capabilities further?"

Legolas just snapped, "how did you do that?" H stood up after the ranger released the Elf of the grip he had on the prince's tunic collar. Legolas brushed straw from his clothes and glared fire at the man who was smiling,. Legolas just snapped further, "what are you smiling about? I see nothing funny about this!"

"Elrohir taught me that," he said with a gin that was lopsided and Legolas felt it was also rather ill-conceived.

The prince muttered roughly, "that figures! When I get a hold of him I'll teach him something!"

Aragorn asked, "are you going to eat?"

Legolas just scowled deeper and said, "if you insist!" He was still picking straw out of his golden hair.

The young man laughed and said, "good, because I do." He picked up the bowl and handed it to the prince. "You are lucky. It is still hot." Legolas jerked the bowl from the human's hands with a snort of contempt.

"If you were not my friend I tell you truly you would be dead!" he said around a mouthful of hot stew that tasted so good and he was actually somewhat glad he had decided to eat. But the fact that Aragorn was not disturbed him and he said, "so my friend, where is yours? Coming perhaps? Oh! I know! You aren't hungry either!" If Aragorn had made him eat he could not resist the prospect to return the benefaction.

Aragorn knew this was in no mood to play the prince's game. He said back, "I have Lembas bread and that is good enough." He wasn't really hungry and he wasn't the one who needed to save his strength, was he?

Legolas looked at his friend and bit his upper lip before saying with a frown, "incase you have forgotten you are a ranger, a human ranger. The cold is going to take a heavy toll on you if you do not eat enough. Just be careful."

Aragorn was surprised that Legolas was not arguing with him and he watched the Elf curiously. Something was not all right. Legolas was not the type to pass up a chance to argue with his best friend in friendly jest. He knew these signs, he decided at length. Legolas was tired. He was acting like he had had the life beaten out of him and yet there was no evidence to support the conclusion.

Then he saw it, the gash in the prince's arm. It did not appear to run too deep or be infected, but all the same it looked ugly even if it wasn't. Aragorn said abruptly, "Legolas!" The Elf nearly jumped at the sound of his name being spoken so quickly and harshly. He sensed anger in it.

"What?" he snapped back with a flash of hot silver in his eyes that showed he was ready to do battle. He knew he sounded sharp, but he was beyond caring. This was place was making even breathing feel like a burden, because he felt hated, because it was dark, because it was dank...because the light of trees and stars were gone.

"Your arm!" Said the young ranger rather fiercely. He could not believe that Legolas had just forgotten about that. Actually, he could, because he knew exactly how Legolas would react to any wound he received that did not put him at Death's Door. In all fairness, Legolas could be ringing the bell on Death's Door and act like he had no more than a slight scratch or bruise.

Legolas looked at his arm and he said, "well, right now there are more important things than my arm! Roth is hurt, it is no more than a mere scratch and I will not let you see it until you have seen to Rothinzil!" He pulled his arm close and cradled it by his body. Now that he did remember it, it did hurt. It was smarting with requital and he would rather that it had remained forgotten.

Aragorn looked at his friend and he said quietly and serenely so as not to provoke another argument, "I will tend to him first then look at your arm, alright? Now settle down."

Rothinzil, who had been quietly watching after managing to drink the last of his soup said, "no you won't! See to Legolas first! I refuse to be put before my prince!"

Aragorn sighed and closed his eyes to ward off screams of frustration. Elves. They were impossible. Utterly stubborn and completely hopeless! He was about to take and strangle Rothinzil with his bare hands but Legolas relieved the situation.

Staring at the dark-haired Elf, Legolas said, "Roth can you ever just think of me as your friend?"

Roth said back, "I do, but you are my prince and I have to lookout for you as captain of the 1st guard of Mirkwood. What would your father say?"

Legolas rolled his eyes, "that doesn't matter. He is not here, I am and I say that you are acting silly and rather annoying! I command you to let Strider see to your wounds first!" The prince then watched as Roth's face darkened and his hazel eyes flashed a bit more bright green than Legolas liked seeing.

"Legolas," whined Roth, "you are being unfair! I do not think it is very dignified for an Elven Prince to use his position of power to get what he wants!"

Aragorn finally could take this no longer. If they had been doing it quietly, he might not have minded, but they were nearly shouting at each other. "Roth, I am going to see to your wounds first! And you will keep quiet and let me. Legolas, you are next whether or not you think it is severe enough!"

Both of the Elves fixed a mutinous glared on Aragorn and things might have gotten ugly, but the man returned, carrying a bucket of water and some ripped pieces of cloth.

Aragorn took the bucket and bandages quickly from the jailer, who was keeping a careful eye on the two prisoners. Legolas was glaring ice picks back and Roth was not looking at the man. He had not really wanted to meet anyone's eyes. The raven-haired Elf still felt horribly ashamed. He had screamed and he could not change that.

Roth sighed as he lay upon his stomach on top of Aragorn's spread out cloak. They had carefully pealed his tattered tunic from his back to reveal the horrible whip welts and bruises that were turning black and blue. Straw was under the cloak to prevent the younger Elf's ribs from hitting the stony floor as they were throbbing enough already.

Legolas noticed with distress that Roth's face was pale and his breathing was raspy in his misery. No being should have to suffer this, none on earth except perhaps servants of Mordor and doers of evil. Legolas had carefully shifted Roth's dirtied and tangled hair from the lacerations to keep it from interfering.

Legolas was glad that Rothinzil was putting a brave face on things. Roth looked up at Legolas and said sardonically, "Legolas, I think we should come back here for a holiday sometime."

Legolas smiled thinly back down and said, "how about we not and say we did."

Roth then recalled how it was drawing up to the day of the Winter Solstice. "We are going to be here on a holiday anyway." He dark-haired Elf snorted and drew a deep breath.

Aragorn took and dipped one of the three pieces of cloth that had been brought to them into the bucket of water. It was icy cold and he might have expected as much. This was not going to be pleasant and wouldn't have been under good circumstances. But anger flared up within the man as he thought of the pain that Roth was going to have to experience just to be healed.

He said softly, "Roth I am going to get them wet now so don't be surprised if they begin to really smart." Taking the cloth he wrung it out over the welts and jagged cuts that were already red and inflamed around the edges.

The water seemed to fall as though in slow motion in droplets of crystal before the prince's eyes. Rothinzil jerked slightly but not a sound, even a hiss, escaped him. Legolas watched as blood ran off the wounds, crimson and staining.

Aragorn watched as the blood ran onto his cloak to stain it. His cloak was stained with Rothinzil's blood as he felt his hands were. If he would have been quicker, if he would have stayed with them, he could have saved them.

Gently, the man folded the cloth up and began to carefully pat the wounds and cleanse them of any dried and caked blood that had not rinsed away. Roth just shifted uncomfortably under the attention and under the pain. He knew that Aragorn was trying to be as gentle as possible, but it still hurt.

However, it was hurting him in thought as well. A man had inflicted his wounds and now his wounds were stinging again. Though he trusted Aragorn, it was Legolas who had called him from the dark and bid his eyes to lift from the floor where they had been held for so long in shame of his difference and in fear of those who loved him.

He looked at Legolas and they connected eyes for a brief moment.

In those bright hazel eyes Legolas saw Roth's soul. Rothinzil was recalling things that Legolas did not know and remembering places the prince had never walked...seeing faces that Legolas had never seen and never would for they were dead. Legolas turned his head away and diverted his attention else where.

Roth just sighed and said in a shivery breath, "Thank you Strider." Then he said with a weak smile, "I know you tried to get here, don't blame yourself." Roth's voice then turned biter, only whether it was bitter towards himself or to the men of the town he did not know. "I should have known not to even try to talk with anyone."

Aragorn stated softly, "now you blame yourself unjustly." Roth opened his eyes and shifted his gaze up to the man stooped over him with the cloth, gently massaging his wounds. Aragorn said with a sigh, "you could not have helped it."

Roth seemed to read the young Dúnadan's heart. He said in a thoughtful quiet voice as he diverted his eyes to the soft cloak he was lying on, "neither could you."

Aragorn shook his head, "that is not true. If I would have stayed with you-" Legolas looked at Aragorn and his eyes plainly said he held the ranger blameless.

Roth rolled over onto his side and gripped Aragorn's hand. "It is because of you now I am being healed. Your name is Estel, that is 'Hope', well you have given me my share of it, Estel."

Aragorn looked away and said no more. He did not know what to say. Legolas just looked at Rothinzil. Rothinzil had made Aragorn think beyond his guilt, he had brought back the reality of the situation. That was something people often tended to over look or exaggerate.

Roth laid back on his stomach and closed his eyes as Aragorn began to wipe his wounds clean again. Roth noticed however, that the sting of the wounds was carrying more of a bite. Aragorn, in frustration with himself was rubbing them harder than he had been earlier.

Rothinzil said nothing of it however, and just set his jaw against the want to hiss. Aragorn had enough to think about.

Legolas just watched his mortal friend carefully cleaning the raven-haired Elf's back. Roth's eyes were closed now and a peaceful look was coming across his pale face. Legolas hoped that Rothinzil was drifting into sleep.

But Legolas noted the temperature. Elves did not feel the cold that much, but Roth was shirtless and he had human blood in his veins. Legolas began to wonder whether Roth had made the decision to be mortal in immortal. That would certainly have an effect on how he felt cold, but since Rothinzil was not shivering he guessed that his friend was immortal and was relieved. He knew that Aragorn was going to die and that twins could not stay forever.

Legolas was afraid to be alone. Chances were that his father would sail, but Legolas had never really given it much thought. He was a Woodland Elf and his heart was with the trees. If Roth choose to be immortal he knew that the other Elf would never leave his side. Legolas knew he would never be alone.

Even though it sounded selfish that was how Legolas felt. For Elves nothing was worse than being alone and watching their friends and the world pass them by.

It was about an hour later and Rothinzil was sleeping on top of the cloak still on his stomach. He was more weary than either of the friends could have guessed. Legolas had taken his cloak and draped it over his friend to help stave off the winter chill. He watched through a cloud of his own breath as Roth's back steadily rose and fell. Looking at Aragorn he said softly and in a low voice, "he sleeps."

Aragorn nodded and said, "now for your wound." Legolas did not argue as the human reached his hand out as though saying, 'give me your arm and don't make a scene.'

The prince walked over by Aragorn and took a seat on the ground before his friend that he very easily trusted with his life, much less his arm. Actually, if he lost his arm, he would loose his life. Archery was his favorite past time and was what his chief protection was. If he could not do archery, his spirit would recoil and he would die or be forced to sail.

Aragorn gently took and rolled up the sleeve of the tunic. Legolas hissed and the man looked at him with a single dark eyebrow raised nearly into his hair. "Legolas, come on my friend, Roth made less noise."

Legolas snorted, "he never made a sound."

Aragorn looked at it and asked with a sigh as he took up a cloth to cleanse the wound, "dare I ask where you managed to find this?"

Legolas said, "I wouldn't." He would never tell the man anyway. It was because he had fallen out of a tree. A Wood Elf had fallen out of a tree.

Aragorn looked at it and his curiosity peeked, "I guess I will be daring and ask: where did you get it?" He gently began to wipe the blood from it. Fresh blood replaced the old with a brightness that was astonishingly so. Aragorn did not want his friend to bleed to death and he put the cloth back on the wound, gently pressing.

Legolas answered the ranger quickly; "I refuse to tell you!" He would never live it down. And what if the twins or Glorfindel found out? His life would be miserable for at least fifteen years! This could not happen...

Aragorn looked at Legolas and saw embarrassment flickering in the Elf's azure eyes. The man gave a curt laugh and Legolas looked at him, "what?" he snapped.

Aragorn just laughed again and said, "you fell out of a tree or something of that nature didn't you?" He jolted Legolas' arm accidentally as he laughed and the Elf was more than irate about it.

"You are hurting my arm!" he growled more out of self-consciousness and abashment than anger and pain. In fact, it hurt very little.

Aragorn just laughed, "very well." The ranger winked, "you never fell out of a tree," he finished with another chuckle that he could not withhold.

Legolas said with a rumble of alight anger and aggravation, "you say that now but the first time you need to buy yourself free from Elladan or Elrohir's grasp you will tell them, I am sure." Aragorn snorted loudly in an effort to avoid laughing, but it was a failure. Legolas rolled his eyes and said, "I see nothing funny about this!" Then he looked at Roth's sleeping form. "And if you wake Rothinzil up now I will never forgive you for it!" he hissed venomously. The blonde Elf glared in the direction of his resting friend, "I think the blood of men in his veins must be the reason he is a bit grumpy to wake up."

Aragorn looked at Legolas and said, "that is supposed to mean what?"

Legolas was not in the mood to banter now and he said candidly, "it means you are a grump in the morning!"

A heavy silence hung in the air and Aragorn did not like it. It was eerie and challenging. The young man finally broke the silence, "Legolas, tell me all that happened before I came here. I want to know exactly what we are up against or else it will be really hard to save both you and Rothinzil's lives."

Legolas gave a slight hiss as the cloth was removed from his wound and as he looked down he saw the bleeding had stopped. "Roth and I were on our way home. We...I...had problem's traveling...we decided to stay with these men, and around them was a herd of horses. It seemed safe enough and my wound was-"

Aragorn interrupted, "Legolas I told you, you were too weak to travel!"

Legolas glared and said, "that is not the point! Are you going to listen or criticize?" Aragorn held up the dry cloth and began to fold it to bind the wound with. Legolas frowned and said, "I am not sure what happened, but they tried to capture us. The one, Calmir, he wanted to get his hands on Roth and I so badly that it give me chills to think of it. But this man's father said no, and I do not know what happened exactly. He killed his father or some of his friends did it and apparently the horses were stolen as well."

"We were brought down by hounds and taken here where we were humiliated and treated cruelly and still are, but it is better now thanks to you."

Aragorn finished wrapping the wound and pulled the sleeve back down over it. "We need answers and I am going to get us some, but I am going to have to leave you now to do it. I will try to be back before dark. I know how much you hate it in here and other such places after dark." He brushed some dark, wavy locks from his eyes and finished, "it will all be well, I promise."

Legolas smiled, "I know it will. I trust you." He frowned and scooted closer to the wall. The Elf let his head go back against the wall and sighed. "If you are going to get back before dark you had better get going."

Ten minutes had passed and Legolas had found he could get no rest. He just was unable to sleep in this dreary place. His sharp ears picked up the sound of rats and mice scuttling around in the cracks of the walls and along the ceiling in the rafters. It was down right creepy and he did not want to hear anymore. But he could not make it stop.

Without Aragorn in this world of men he was afraid. It was a hard fact that he was loath to admit even to himself, but it was nagging him and he knew it. But Aragorn was going to be coming back some answers and all would be well, right?

A noise in the corridor outside his cell alerted him to some men standing outside of his cell. He pretended to not care about their eerie presence, but he was really alarmed. They came closer and Legolas heard the lock turning. He opened his eyes all the way and shot his head up right. "What is going on?" he asked wildly. "Where is Strider?"

The man, whom he had recognized as the constable that had tried to pick a fight with him earlier, said, "he is out for now, finding answers I believe. Hope he doesn't bite off more than he can chew!"

Legolas snapped quickly as four...five...six men filed in, "why are you here? Who are you?"

The man in the front laughed and it sounded as cold and fear filled as ice grating against metal and as scornful as fire hitting water and hissing in steam. "My name is Kixer. Do not tell me you do not recall me from earlier Elf!"

Legolas said, "regrettably I do!" The man nodded and two placed one of their feet each on Roth's back. The raven-haired Elf woke with a start and hissed as their boots ground into his healing lacerations. Legolas shouted, "have you not done enough to him? Leave him be!"

Kixer came forward and he grasped a handful of Legolas' long golden locks. He pulled the blonde prince to his feet, dragging him though the straw and said, "you are a dead Elf, you just don't know it yet." He looked into Legolas' eyes expecting to see fear, but that Legolas had carefully hid and he was not about to show anyone. He had a mask of defiant anger and loathing.

"You still have not answered one of my questions from earlier," said Legolas with a growl of anger. "Why are you here? I thought you were told to leave me be?" Legolas wrinkled his nose at the stench that came from the man's breath.

The mortal just laughed and said, "we aren't here to hurt you yet Elf, but to give you a warning for your friend's sake."

Legolas felt his heart growing cold and he asked carefully, "Strider?"

The human pulled Legolas closer with his grip tightening on the fair hair and he spat on the floor before saying, "what ever...That man is in danger here. See we figure if he is your friend, he must be in league with you bloody-handed Elves. If you want him to live, I suggest that you get him to leave. You seem to command him enough as it is..."

Legolas gasped, "what? Are you saying I have power over him? I have none! He is free to come and go as he wishes."

The man laughed and said, "Oh! We believe you!" He then shook Legolas so that his head seemed to rattle. "Just make sure he is gone before tomorrow or he won't see another day. Got it Elf? We can't abide possessed men in our town. They are nearly as bad as the warlocks and witches they serve!" He then threw Legolas to the ground and turned to leave.

The prince did not get up, but looked up at the man with burning eyes that were clouded with thunderheads that threatened to strike. But for Aragorn's sake he held his peace. If what he could say would threaten the life of his friend, he would rather be silent.

The other men released Roth and filed out behind Kixer. The man turned back around as his men went past him and said, "don't forget Elf, or it is his life..." Legolas would not forget. Rothinzil just looked at Legolas for a sign of what they were going to do next, but nothing other than bewilderment and frustration marked the prince's face. It seemed that this mess was a dead end that held no escape.

Elladan, Elrohir and Glorfindel stumbled into Rivendell.

Elrond had been pacing near the gates ever since his sons' and Lord Glorfindel's departure. He had hoping every evening and every morning to see them coming back safe.

He knew the snows had closed the mountain passes and some effects of the stormy and evil weather were seen in Rivendell. The snow was close to over three feet deep and though it was more beautiful here than any other place in the world, for snow and seasons never touched Lothlorien's beauty or charm.

However, The Lord of Rivendell was interested in the beauty of his home. It could be the ugliest place on Middle Earth as long as his sons and Glorfindel came back safe.

When he saw his son's and the Gondolin lord come limping back he could not contain his joy and a smile burst across his face. But as he only counted three, the smile flipped upside down and into a dark and dangerous frown. He missed Estel, where was his youngest?

Elladan and Elrohir looked at Glorfindel in a way that plainly stated this was not their idea. Elladan's face was shadowed and he looked like he had not ever agreed with the idea from the start. Elrohir looked numb, as though he knew it had to happen but wished it had not come so soon.

All of their faces were pail and careworn. Glorfindel looked surprisingly serene. Elrond glared at his friend and said in a thick and tightened voice, "what did you do Lord Glorfindel?"

Glorfindel said, "he feared something had befallen Legolas and Rothinzil in the town of Farlost. It was no use denying him the right to go. We could not very easily have gone, we would have ended up the same as them..."

Elrond interrupted pointedly, "if in fact they are there!" He narrowed his eyes and knitted his brows in a way that made Glorfindel uneasy.

The golden-haired Elf-lord said, "but I am sure they are. If anyone can help them it is a man with the courage to stand for what he believes in and the will to carry through. You know that town as few do."

Elrond closed his eyes and said, "leave me for a time Glorfindel. Elladan! Elrohir! Come with me!" Glorfindel just frowned. He understood Elrond, but as much as the raven-haired lord seemed to wish, fate was not going to stop and it was nearing Aragorn's time to leave the nest.

Elrond walked towards the Last Homely House, his sons walked beside him. Elladan and Elrohir had to trot to keep up. He asked them when they were far enough away he was sure that Glorfindel could not hear, "did you two even try to turn Estel aside from the path he chose and followed?"

Elladan looked at his father and said, "he left without a good-bye Ada, he left without a good-bye." Elladan wished he had had a chance to tell Estel how proud of him he was and how he was more worthy to live in Rivendell than many that did.

Elrohir did not say anything. He was deadened and asleep inside. He couldn't feel anything, he could hear his father speaking yet the words were not registering. His will seemed to have split. He wished for Estel to find his path and follow it yet he wanted his foster brother to stay with him forever, in safety. Who would look after him if not his family?

Often Estel had been separated from them, but he had never been parted from them in this extreme weather that could kill an Elf much less a man.

Elrond looked at his sons and said solemnly, "I could have spared you this you know. I thought of it, indeed, I thought of it for a long time. "

Elladan looked at his father curiously and Elrohir nodded quietly. The elder of the two asked, "what is this you speak of Ada?" He was not sure he wanted to know. A lump began to grow steadily in his throat as he awaited Lord Elrond's answer.

"I could have never given you the chance to love Estel and become close to him. I could have hid him from you as I hid Arwen from him for a time." Elrond's voice sounded lifeless...and even cold. They had never heard their father in this manner and it frightened them.

"You could have, but without a little pain nothing is won worth keeping," answered Elrohir in a near whisper. "It is better to be close to someone even for a short time, than to never love at all."

Elrond said with a smile, "that is what I thought at the time, though it seems now a large price for such a short time of joy. He is not Elven and some day will leave us. Even now he treads a dangerous road where none of us can follow, into a place where being and Elf is no advantage and I perceive one will die. My heart forebodes that it will not be Estel, it is not yet his time and in Legolas I see much promise for a bright future, but Rothinzil's road is darkened."

Elladan and Elrohir were silent and then they said, "you are not made at Glorfindel, are you?"

Elrond gave a thin smile and said, "no. He did what I have prepared for, for years and yet could not." Elrond's eyes seemed far away, lost in thought and bittersweet memories. He loved Estel with all his heart as he loved Elladan and Elrohir and even Ancú. He loved Estel for the relationship between them that was that of a father and son, of close friends, and if not only for the memories that he would hold for ages to come though time should decay the world.

Elladan smiled as he watched his father's face, "I take my leave then father."

Elrohir nodded, "and I as well."

Glorfindel sat on his bed with his chin in his hands. He did not think that what he did was wrong, but he wondered still...had he done it for the right reason. He knew it was very easy to do the right thing for the wrong reason or the wrong thing for the right reason.

The Gondolin Elf had not even taken his cloak off. He did not care that the melting snow was damp ad uncomfortable, he did not even feel it. His blue eyes watched the floor and the growing puddle from the snow sliding off his suede boots.

Erestor came and poked his head around the doorway. "Lord Glorfindel?" he asked quietly and in a tone that the golden-haired immortal had never heard before.

Glorfindel swiveled his azure orbs up to see Erestor. The raven-haired counselor was watching him and his eyes looked at the Elf of Gondolin with wonder and sorrow, surprisingly at Glorfindel's depression. He did not particularly like Glorfindel, but it still hurt him to see such a normally optimistic and proud Elf-lord now in such doubt. It made him uncomfortable.

Glorfindel mumbled, "not now Erestor."

Erestor knitted his brow and said in his usual manner, "Glorfindel you are acting like an infant! You did no wrong and Elrond knows that. You should not be so hard on yourself."

Glorfindel bristled at Erestor telling him what to do and said, "Erestor I told you! Not now!" He sighed and said, "do you even realize what I did? If Estel does not return, it is I who prevented Elrond from saying his last good-bye to him! I don't know if I can live with that!"

Erestor came in and said, "you could not have prevented it if you had wanted to. You know as well as I do he is an adult in human years and could have left if he had wished with or without your approval and you know he would have done it." The ebony-haired Elf wrinkled his nose and said, "pray will you stop acting this way? It is beginning to scare me!"

Glorfindel looked up at the counselor with a slight grin and a playful twinkle in his eyes, "you do care Erestor!" The Gondolin Elf laughed and Erestor looked horrified.

"I do not!" he argued in a near shout. "Now wait just a minute!" How could Glorfindel say such a thing? He was not allowed to, he would pay...

Glorfindel just smiled, "so you say Erestor, but why did you come looking for me in the first place? Afraid I was hurt perhaps? Or was it you wanted to help me unpack?"

Erestor frowned: Glorfindel's smile was grating on his nerves. How could Glorfindel be smiling while he was so serious? It wasn't fair in the least. Crossing his arms Erestor said, "if you insist upon knowing I was going to see if you were even in your room so I could get back the book of mine you just had to borrow and have not returned in ten years! Elf-lords (especially ones who can't seem to die) should not be sulking, so I could not help but investigate further!"

Glorfindel looked a bit uncomfortable and he said quietly, "oh." Where had that book gotten to? It must be in his study mixed with his papers and other books. Erestor glared and Glorfindel said, "what? I didn't lose it! It is in my study somewhere!"

Erestor shook his head and said, "as though that narrows it down!" The counselor's dark eyes flickered and he said, "did you ever even bother to read it?"

Glorfindel snorted and said, "of course! Why else would I dare to venture to your study to ask for it?" He then stood up and snapped, "it has not been ten years!"

Erestor just rolled his eyes, "yes it has!"

Glorfindel smiled ad said, "you are mistaken!" He would have never continue to keep a book that long and especially if he thought it would draw Erestor around him. That was like drenching yourself in honey and walking among flowers, yet expecting the bees to ignore you. It was not logical.

Erestor shook his head again, "no, I am not!"

Glorfindel said, "admit it Erestor! You messed up! As a matter of fact I think I returned the book to you some time ago. Are you sure you have not misplaced it?" Then the golden-haired Elf smiled deviously, "it is not becoming of an Elf-lord to accuse another of thievery when he has not checked his own study carefully, nor is it flattering to scold and argue like an old mother hen!"

The two were still arguing over the said book when Elrond came in. When he saw them quarreling for what had to be tenth time in three weeks he drew a long heavy breath and said, "can you too at least pretend to like each other around me? This is really beginning to give me a headache. Do I not have enough to worry about?" he asked with the last of his previously drawn breath. "I suppose I had better send a message to King Thranduil about Legolas, though I hate to tell him. I expect he won't be overly surprised though."

Glorfindel raised a brow and said incredulously about the implied needed delivery of a message, "now? In this weather? Who would go?" Elrohir could not go out into this and Elladan could not possibly go alone. Ancú was down for the count. His newly healed lung was in danger of ripping again.

Elrond looked at the Gondolin Elf and Erestor with raised brows, "I was hoping you two could go. You know well that I cannot send Elladan or Elrohir and Ancú is not allowed to rise for another month." He should have thought of this long ago. If he was lucky, their trip home would be delayed and he would be allowed a little peace. But, no, for that the twins would have to gone as well. Unless he confined them to their beds they would most likely break something or start a quarrel within the hour.

Erestor snorted, "Lord Elrond is that really necessary? I mean, he knows Legolas and if the prince hasn't returned home chances are he knows that his son is in trouble again. I doubt he needs a message to tell him that!"

Elrond shook his head and said, "he needs to know that I am doing something about it and he needs to know that Estel is out looking for Legolas and Rothinzil right now. Do you think Rothinzil could have at least made it out of trouble?"

Glorfindel frowned and said, "I honestly doubt it, Rothinzil would have willing stayed with his prince even if he had the chance to escape, which I doubt as well. I have one question, why us? It isn't like Erestor can fight!" He cast a glare at the raven-haired adviser and Erestor all but turned his nose up at the golden haired other.

The counselor snapped tersely, "I can so fight. I wager I can better than you!"

Elrond smiled inwardly. It was going to be rather pleasant being rid of them for a week, hopefully prolonged to a delightful month. "Nevertheless, you two are going to go together and tell King Thranduil all that has transpired."

Glorfindel said in a whine, "why can't one of the warriors go?" He had just gotten back after all. He did not want to travel all the way to Mirkwood this time in all that snow.

Elrond said flatly, "because I told you to and I think it will do you both some good. Who knows, maybe you will come back as friends." It was not likely, but there was always that little nagging hope that you could not ignore if you were desperate enough.

Erestor looked at Glorfindel and said, "don't tell me Lord Glorfindel is scared to leave his home again?"

Elrond looked at Erestor with narrowed eyes and asked, "is that really helping things? Remember, you have to travel with him." Erestor just sat on Glorfindel's bed and snorted in protest, but said no more.

As Elrond got up to go Glorfindel said, "I really don't think it is quite fair how you use your power to force me to travel with my worst enemy. Isn't that a little cruel?" Oh yes, it was!

Erestor said, "yes, it is undoubtedly despotic, not to mention extremely cruel..." He actually looked at Glorfindel for help as he was too flustered to think of any more words to say. Elrond felt his lips curving into a smile.

Glorfindel said, "Lord Erestor I think another word describing such abuse of power would be "destructive", particularly to me."

Erestor said, "I agree..."

Elrond nearly took a step back in shock. Erestor agreed with Glorfindel? That was truly amazing. Erestor looked at Elrond and said with a glare, "what is so amusing? I see nothing droll about this!"

Elrond shook his head and said, "it is good to see you two cooperating for once. Though I am not sure (while we stand here speaking of what is fair and what isn't) that two against one is entirely equal either."

Glorfindel frowned, opened his mouth as though to speak and then shut it again with a snap. No words could describe his frustration at the moment, so he just glared as hard as he could and Elrond said in a serious tone, "I m counting on you two." Then the raven haired Elf-lord left, leaving Glorfindel still glaring at the spot he had been standing on moments ago.

Erestor just scowled and said, "I am going to go and pack. You can pack your things. We will meet in the Hall of Fire." He was not looking forward to this trip at all. He gave Glorfindel a hard look and said, "I know you still have my book."

TBC...Please review. We are getting a wee bit frustrated here.

Next post: Monday

Review responses:)

Deana: Yeah. Hehehehehe…no kidding.

Snow Glory: Roth hurtsies, Lego hurtsies soon to be ranger hurtsies….oops (we didn't say that LOL)! Awwwwwwwww…thanks. Oh yes, we will tell you all. LOL We don't know why they aren't either…but then again we kind of do. –g-.

Tin: Bad bad bad! You aren't supposed to do that!

Please review. Please? Thanks. We stuck ourselves out on a limb to post this chapter!