Sorry this chapter was so late. -Insert sheepish grins- We honestly wished to post it Friday but it was impossible. School caught up with us and we had papers to write and projects to do. Then we found a mistake and had to re-write the last portion of the chapter. So, enough of our rambling:-)

On with the chapter! Hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

No Honor Among Thieves

"Get up little prince, or is that all you can do?" asked King as he sneered down at Legolas, who lay doubled over with his arms across his stomach, his head bowed. It was evening and King had decided to see if Legolas was fit to fight for the following day.

The prince looked up and growled, "that is all I am going to do for you." King snorted and placed the toe of his leather boot under Legolas' chin then twitched it, bringing Legolas' gaze up to meet his. But that lasted only a brief second, before he caught the prince in the side of the ribs with his boot and flipped the immortal onto his side from where he had been lying painfully on his chest. That wound was still painful.

"You are worthless!" he laughed as he drew his real sword and placed the tip of it against Legolas' throat, applying a fair amount of pressure. "You are worthless, except for one fact that keeps you alive. You are the prince of Mirkwood." Withdrawing his sword, the man chuckled coldly before saying in a flat voice that abruptly cut off his mirth, "you tire me Elf. And if not for your identity, I would kill you. But because you are royal, I am willing to give you some more chances."

"I don't want your charity, King, "spat Legolas back as though he was a snake spitting venom. Anger blazed in his eyes, rising from his pride. King

King pressed the blade a little further and laughed as he said, "tomorrow you are going to fight." Whipping the edge of the sharp weapon back as he spoke and sheathing it, the man continued, "I expect you to win. If you win, you will be given a tunic and cloak to keep you a little warmer at night, for they grow colder and more lethal. If not, however, you will receive not a drop of water and no food. Then, when I find our friend, for I intend to before Calmir so that I might be able to spare him and turn him into something, then I shall have to kill him slowly in your presence so that you can hear his pitiful screams."

Legolas felt the color drain from his face. He could gamble with his own life in matters such as this, but to place Rothinzil's on the line was unthinkable and totally out of the question. Even though he knew Roth would place on a brave and as a matter of fact, totally fearless face, on things, he could not bear to see his friend die thus. For like all of his kind save a few, he way to weaken Legolas, was to put a friend or an innocent living creature in sheer agony with his ears and mind having no refuge from its cries.

King noticed the change that over came the Elf and inquired with a raised brow, "so I am understood?" He smiled, "that bodes well with both of us. But before I put you back into your cell to rest and think about tomorrow night I want to know something of you."

Legolas glared, "what is it that you do not know already. You know my name, my weaknesses, what is there left?" he questioned with a biting look.

King circled around the Elf that was now kneeling on the floor and getting ready to rise. "I want to know who all is going to be coming after you. You are the prince, so therefore I doubt that your father or any in Mirkwood, would let your lack of presence go unnoticed and unattended to." He stopped his pacing around the Elf and whispered, "I want to give them a royal welcome to my humble kingdom."

Legolas said, "I do not know." This was the truth, though he did not expect it to be believed.

Indeed, it was not.

"Don't lie to me, my little prince. It can make horrible things suddenly happen to those who you care most about," prodded the man and he watched, rocking back on his heels, as the blonde being before him drew a haggard breath before standing up.

"I really can't tell you. I do not know. It is a time of festivity among my people. You should know that. Dark Dúnadan," he hissed the slur resentfully.

King said, "lets look at it is this way Legolas," he narrowed his eyes and got up into the prince's face, pulling the Elf closer by a lock of hair, "if I can't capture them alive when they come for you, then their souls shall have to visit Mandos. Am I clear?"

"You would kill them?" asked Legolas, hardly realizing the obvious stupidity of his question until he had already opened his mouth. Inwardly slapping himself, the blonde Elf looked at King with unflinching eyes.

"That is the general meaning of my statement. If you want to know how I can tell you that too," he voiced with an evil grin. Legolas just shuddered as he felt panic rising his heart. He did not want to see his friends dead. He knew Aragorn was coming for him and he knew Elves out of Rivendell had to coming to look for the ranger. Most likely Glorfindel leading them.

"It has vaguely something to do with an arrow being placed in each of their immortal hearts," he said with a brief wave of his hand. He released Legolas from his grip and asked as he cracked his knuckles, "so how many cages should I prepare for my guests?"

Legolas wrinkled his brow in hard thought. He did not want to sell his friends' freedom, but he didn't want them to pay for his stubbornness with their lives. He knew that a life in a cage was far from merciful to them, but then they still had a chance at life. Involuntarily his lips moved and he spoke before he could snap his mouth shut.

"Around ten you think?" asked King. He shrugged. "Less than I imagined, but of course if there isn't enough I can always just get rid of some of them, after all the wargs are always hungry, something you should keep in mind."

"Why can't you just let them go?" asked the prince. "I would be willing to do whatever you wanted if only you would not kill them."

"Ah, Elven loyalty. Renown among the races of Middle Earth. How touching. But if I let them live, they can lead an army here and send my underground little world into ruins. I have to look after the well being of my people, do I not?" He finished with a sigh, "Which is why I am entering you into the fight. They want to see some new blood spilled and seeing how your stitches are holding, you should have no problem in there."

Legolas snapped, "you can't just kill them! This is unfair!" he growled as King placed the manacles back on Legolas' wrists and jerked them harshly to make sure that they were firmly in place before he began to guide the captive towards the door out of the room where he trained his fighters.

"Sorry, I have to get the traps and such prepared. Feel free to consult me afterwards." Legolas dug his heels into the ground and held his ground. "If you win tomorrow night, I might reconsider it."

He yanked painfully on the manacles that were clamped painfully tight on the prisoner's wrists, lurching the now chained Elf forward.

Legolas' glare deepened and in a moment, he had stopped them from moving again by placing his feet against a random rock that they would have to go around. The man came back and his eyes were now hard and had a look of flint and steel such as the prince had never seen before. Legolas now had to question whether resisting the man had been an intelligent decision.

"I consider myself reasonable towards prisoners and their constant resistance. But you have stepped over the line Prince Legolas." He spat the name and title at the Elf in a vicious way that made the blonde being's stomach pitch.

Legolas began an inanimate back step, but was stopped by the chains on his wrists. Having no where to go, the Elf stopped and just watched the man with eyes that matched when it came to spitefulness and ice.

The Dark Dúnadan snarled, "You can go back to your cell whole or in pieces. I really don't want to hurt you, but I can if I have to in order to get a point across." He came closer and Legolas felt thrills of fear tickle his spine and the back of his neck with a cold and prickly sensation that made him feel numb. The man went on with his reasoning, "I do not need you to get more Elves to be my slaves. All they have to do is think you are alive and come down here to get killed or captured. It is that easy."

Legolas said nothing, but his fierce scowl was enough and King went at him in a blur of fists.

Normally Legolas could have gotten out of the way in time while delivering a few punches of his own. But he was so weakened by cold, hunger and the heaviness he felt on his heart not to mention weighed down by manacles, which were making more than half of the difference, that he was not able to block anything or defend himself.

The man used the chains as a grip to hold Legolas where he wanted to so he could get a good shot at his face and Legolas received a heavy blow in his jaw that made him wonder if it was broken. He let his head go to the side as the room swirled and images merged to create a living nightmare.

With a small rivulet of blood tracing down his chin in a bright red streak Legolas just met the human's incensed eyes with a look of you-know-you-can-never-break-me flashing in his own. You my break my body, but you will never harm my spirit, traitor, spoke the Elf in his mind.

King did not seem satisfied and dragging Legolas over to the rock wall, he slammed him against it ruthlessly. Legolas finally gave a slight cry of pain, but King was still displeased. Legolas had taken advantage of his kindness and patience, now he was reaping what he had sown.

Taking a lock of the loose golden-hair, the man used it as a painful handle to knock the back of Legolas' head into the wall.

Pain shot through the prince's awareness and he slid to the ground and down onto his knees before seeing everything alternating into darkness with stars and other odd shapes and colors swirling about. His eyes suddenly went back into his head and he went limp at the man's feet.

King frowned. He had not wanted to do that, but Legolas had asked for it.

Picking up the Elf, he went ahead and carried him to his cell and placed him inside upon the blanket that made up a bed for the prisoner.

Caranfëa looked on and he leaped up when he saw Legolas was limp. "What did you do!" fumed the smaller Elf angrily as he grasped the bars of his own cell so tightly that his knuckles were white. His eyes were narrow and dark except for a faint green glow of utter loathing.

King regarded him with scorn as he stepped out of the small dungeon. "I taught him a lesson, Caranfëa. One that I hope he will be smart enough to learn, unlike you." And with that he slammed to door to the prison shut and locked it so that Legolas could not get out once he awoke. He looked at the small immortal as he asked, "oh, I almost forgot to ask if you were hungry! Too bad you can't eat."

With that he left the rows of cages where the Elves and animals were kept.

After walking down a maze of passageways, he entered a main room, where there were many men all talking and taking a break from the mines where they tried to earn extra money aside from the use of the arena fighters.

Calmir came up to him and when he spoke it was in a slurred voice that more than anything showed he had consumed one drink too many, or perhaps a couple too many. "You are going down tomorrow King of nothing!" The drunken man laughed and put an arm around King's shoulder.

King shrugged the arm off and said crossly, "we shall see. Now I need to talk about more pressing matters." He pulled the younger man before him and said, "there are going to be more Elves coming. If we are careful we can take them by surprise and capture them all. I am expecting them to be warriors, just what we need."

Calmir shook his head, "Elves won't venture into caves."

'If we have their prince they sure will and then we will see what kind of welcome we can work up."

Calmir did obviously not understand anything being said and he laughed. King rolled his eyes in frustration. If he wanted something done, he had to do it himself.

Suddenly a man came up and said, "we found something you should see."

King raised a hand to silence them and said, "but I am busy."

"It will be to your benefit, sir." The man eyed his superior with a frown.

"Very well, lead the way Haddag," came King's harsh reply.

After going through more dark and newly created passageways Haddag halted the older human with an out thrust arm. "Be very careful," he whispered carefully. Then handing King a sputtering torch, he murmured, "look down there, but take care not to cast yourself into it." As King looked at the other strangely, he found it even more odd that he heard strange noises like skin sliding over sandpaper and out of place hisses in the thick, dark air.

The Dark Dúnadan knitted his brow and taking the firebrand peered into the vault. What he saw was enough to make his spirits rise and his ambition seemed to grow.

It was a reptilian refuge for the winter. There were all varieties of snakes down in the vault, hungry and restless. A constant slithering sound could be heard and hisses were evoked as the light spilled onto the creatures that had dwelled in darkness for so long.

The vault was deep, about ten feet and the snakes covered the bottom so thickly that you could not see the dirt or what ever was at the depths. Smiling, the man said, "I think I have found what I have been looking for."

He drew a deep breath to commemorate his victory, but then he stopped and coughed. There was horrid stench, like thousands of dragons and orcs put together. Spluttering, he kicked a stone over the edge and watched in amazement as it plunged through the snakes and he heard a soft splash as it seemed to hit water.

It was then he realized that they were living on each other. The snakes were in an under ground water supply and were living on top of over ten score of dead bodies, frozen corpses of other snakes that were slowly decomposing sending a wreak up for the heavens to remember.

If he had been looking for the best place to torment a victim psychologically he had certainly found it. Of course they might not live long, but that was why he was going to wait until he did not need them any more.

Haddag looked at him with a grin and said, "I told you, you would like it."

"Oh I do indeed." His voice was murmur and he stared down at the snakes with an expression of delight flashing across his features. "Haddag, you lost your beast in The Pit as I last recall, did you not?"

"Yes, the damn thing just died on me," he spat into the snake lair, and they seemed to hiss back. He wondered if they could talk what they would be saying. The thought made him shiver.

"How would you like to have an Elf or two?" asked King casually as though it was normal to talk of tormenting and imprisoning Elves for ones evil uses. He looked at the younger man with a charming smile that seemed nearly kind.

"Would I!" exclaimed the other. He looked at King with a wrinkled brow that was plainly a sign of his doubt . "How can you offer me such? Do they plan to come willingly to their enslavement?" He highly doubted this and his tone was more than skeptical.

"Haddag, they are coming willingly, believe it or not. They come for that which I have. All we have to do is get them set into bonds before they know what is befallen them." King smiled seemed to get brighter and he chuckled airily to himself.

"Do you have any suggestions?" asked Haddag somewhat crossly. King had to be joking. "I mean as to how we can do that?"

"Yes," he answered slyly. "But we will not speak of such things here. Even walls can sometimes have ears." Haddag rolled his eyes and yet he submitted himself to being lead out and told about the plans.

He doubted that anyone as around who would care to try and listen in on their conversation.

Meanwhile, back in the 'common room' as the men of the mines called it, for it was like an underground bar with the strongest liquor one could imagine, Elméra walked cautiously in. Her eyes darted abut as she looked for her brother.

He was in the middle of attention as usual, she sighed to herself. At least he was happily drunk and probably wouldn't recognize her.

Swiftly, she glided over to where he was and tapped his shoulder, "brother, dearest?" she asked in a soft voice. Then, for good measure, she batted her eyelashes innocently.

He turned onto her. "Sister! What are you doing here? Come to join the fun?" he asked incredulously. His eyes slid over her.

"Actually, you are sick brother. I have come to take you back to rest and fix you some hot tea." She placed a hand on his shoulder and he brushed it off.

"Am I?" he asked as he looked himself as though seeing what the problem was.

Oh yes, he was far from sober and that could be good or bad. Things could go from bad to worse and great to brilliant in a matter of a few seconds now. She rolled her eyes mentally at her brother's drunkenness and then said, swallowing down a mouthful of fear, "Yes, very. You are not yourself."

He smiled at her she just shook her head. "I think some sleep will do you good."

As she thought about it, it was getting on to evening. Soon the stars would be out and she wished she could see them. And, she thought to herself, seeing them while being wrapped in the comfort of Rothinzil would be much better.

She was so frightened and she wished he were with her. Elméra felt strangely safe when he held her close. It was kind of ironic that she had saved his life, but she wanted him to save hers.

"I am staying right here!" Calmir snarled in a commanding voice. He shoved her aside so hard that he stumbled against a table and her hand brushed against a candle's flame, burning it. She gave a hiss of pain and several men jumped up, surrounding Calmir with angry looks and clenched fists.

He had a made a large mistake of insulting and hurting a women and the only women present. There was no honor among thieves, but they had a code that they tried to follow.

Elméra stood up and brushed her dress off, watching as the men surrounded her brother.

He suddenly seemed more aware and less drunken and blithe. His eyes darted from man to man, taking in their anger towards him and when one said, "would you like to get as good as you give?" that was enough.

"G-G-G-G-Good-night….g-g-gentlemen," he told them in a slurred speech. Elméra went behind him to follow him out. He was finished for the night and was going to go home and rest.

She could feel her face turning red as she heard the men talking about her and her brother. They were talking about her family. It made her see red, but she managed to not burst out, "I can hear you, you idiots! Would you kindly shut-up?"

Once at the part of the mines that Calmir called his own, she walked in and her sharp eyes saw a trunk. That must have been where he kept his clothes. For certainly it would keep them dry and safe from most moths. He might even have some food and things in there that she could 'borrow'. It would actually be more of a payment for him making her life miserable, she rationalized.

Calmir went and fell upon the bed in a drunken stupor. He suddenly screeched, " Elméra! Where is that Elf! He wasn't there!" His intoxicated voice made her wince. He was still her brother, whom she had looked after since he was little and it still hurt her to see him thus, even when he had been so cruel to her, part of her still remembered him as a child.

She felt her heart leap into her throat and she whispered in a low answer, "where you will never find him." He didn't hear her, he was not meant to, but she gave no further answer.

Her brother continued to cackle himself to sleep, "When I find him (and I will) I will rip him apart and feed him to the wargs!" But his voice was becoming lower, though it was still rough and the tone alone would start a fight.

She still made no response. Perhaps he would forget she had been there. Then she might have a chance. His back was too her as he lay on his bed and she clutched at her heart, which seemed to be more than willing to leap out of her chest and go bouncing around the room. Her breath came in quick gulps that she was silently willing to steady; though they would not.

He continued to make threats even as sleepiness stole over him and his voice became no more than a whisper. She watched as his breathing became deep and long. He was going into a deep sleep.

Elméra took a ginger step forward and kept her eyes transfixed upon the ground, so as not to trip over a stone and risk waking him.

The trunk was only feet away. She could make it that far. Rothinzil was counting on her. If she didn't do this, she could not very easily return to him. She would rather runaway and die.

After steps that seemed to take forever, she reached the box and found that it was closed, but there was no lock. Smiling at her luck, the maiden placed a spare hand on the lid and found her hands to be shaking. Cursing her fear, she began to tediously lift the heavy lid.

It was heavy; her luck had not been that good.

But once the lid was up minutes later, she found what she had sought. There were old cloaks and tunics along with knives of various assortments. The knives she could look at later, now she was interested in the garments.

They were slightly worn, but the dust that covered them said he didn't use them more than once in ten years, she told herself with a roll of her eyes. Taking out a cloak, she set it on the ground and then looked through it for tunics. There were several, but almost all concerned had a bloodstain or some other thing wrong with them. Like a gaping tear from a brawl or other. Really, he had to learn to take better care of his clothes and himself, she told herself mentally as an after thought.

He always seemed to be trying to compensate for something, like height and brains, she thought scornfully. Elméra knew that all the fights he got into were to make him look bigger and smarter than he really was. He could plan an evil deed, but when it came to true wisdom, he was at a total loss.

One tunic was still in reasonable condition and it looked like it would work. All though, if she were Rothinzil she would much rather freeze than wear something of the like. But what choices did they have? None other than this and so she set the tunic on top of the cloak.

As the maiden glanced through the trunk one more time she decided that Roth might want a weapon. His sword and bow were long ago taken and a weapon just might come in handy.

There were three knives that she saw. They were all wicked looking and might have well been orc make. But there was one, in the corner that was not. It looked Elven and as she gazed in further she saw that it was. And she noticed that there were more with it.

She had found Rothinzil and Legolas' knives. Of course their bows were hidden somewhere. But she was not going to press her luck and look for those. They were probably under the small inadequate mattress that served as the bed and that was out of the question.

Reaching in she pulled out a long single knife with an oak hilt that was etched with silver and gold in drawings of birds and other beasts of the forest. It was beautiful and she felt her breath stolen away as she looked at it. Elves were beautiful themselves, but their crafts were amazing.

Drawing it from it's sheath, she saw it glitter like silver and it seemed to sing as it was pulled form it's sheath with the joy at being free and being able to avenge its master. Worried she might damage it, she slid it back into its sheath and put it by the tunic and cloak.

Next she saw a pair of twin blades, white handled and with a faint glow about them.

They were so rich and beautiful she guessed right away that they had to be the blonde Elf's…Legolas' blades. He was a prince from what she had heard Roth say and she assumed that these weapons had been made for him along ago.

She looked through the trunk swiftly for any more, but found nothing that she would want to take.

Having the feeling that she was pressing her luck, the woman closed the lid as quietly as possible and then unwrapped the tunic once more and set the Elven weapons into it before wrapping and folding it up once more.

Calmir would be waking soon and once he discovered that the weapons were missing the war would be on. He would come after her with all he had, knowing she was harboring the Elf.

For that reason she wanted to leave now and be as far away as possible before he woke up.

However, as she stood up and cast one more look upon the trunk she realized that her hands prints wee all over it in the dust. To wipe it all away would draw his attention even more. She was marked more or less for him to hunt out.

Her heart racing, Elméra quickly left the room and found herself alone in the hallway, or at least she hoped she was. Night was upon them now.

Aragorn shifted his weight on top of the horse he was riding. The silvery beast snorted and pawed the snow uneasily. It sensed the ranger's discomfort and was trying, being the Elven horse it was, to understand the urgency the human was showing in how he rode.

"Your leg is touching mine! Stop it!" snapped Erestor abruptly from where he was sitting before Glorfindel on the horse Naneth. Rothinzil's horse snorted and back stepped as Erestor pulled back on the reins.

"We are sharing a horse!" argued the Gondolin Elf angrily. "I can't help it. It isn't like I am happy with this arrangement either and your complaining isn't helping." He kicked Erestor's boot pointedly and the adviser whirled his head around to face the golden-haired Elf.

"Glorfindel, just stop it! I can't read a map if you are kicking my boot and irritating the horse!" His tone was harsh and Glorfindel rolled his blue eyes with annoyance. It was after dark now, and not a one saw the motion. They had been traveling with this arrangement for hours without a single rest to they were more than livid with each other, friends or not.

The Gondolin Elf snorted, "you know with a friend like you, I hardly think that enemies are necessary." He reached forward to take the map, ready to analyze it himself once more. He was getting tired of just hearing descriptions. They only did so much to help him get an idea of the area and when a map was handy he was going to make full use of it.

Erestor jerked it away and said, "see? If you would stop this we would go a whole lot faster!" The dark-haired adviser sighed as he tried to hold the lantern with the other hand while balancing out the horse's reins and the map.

"It would, except for the fact that the one with the map typically is not the one with the horse's reins, oh wise one!" retorted the other darkly. "Why don't you let someone else have a chance with those reins?" he inquired shortly.

"Because I really don't trust you," remarked Erestor back as he traced lines over with his eyes on the parchment. "I know what I am doing."

"All right!" broke in Aragorn, unable to stand this bickering any longer. "I have never heard you both argue this much in at least two years! And now you choose to do it again?" he asked in total exasperation. Sighing so he would be able to resist the urge to strangle both of the Elf-lord's, the man said, "Legolas and Rothinzil are Valar knows where in Valar knows what conditions and you two are arguing over such trivial things! And to think you are 'respectable' Elf-lords!" he finished bitterly.

"I apologize Estel," Erestor said. "I didn't forget, but I am getting extremely frustrated. This map still has no indication of an entrance anywhere to seen." He finally gave a weary sigh and folded it up carefully before stowing it in a pocket.

"Erestor," began Glorfindel as the counselor glanced back at the golden-haired Noldo. "The map was folded. You must really be stressed out!" With a roll of his eyes the adviser actually consented.

"Yes, and getting more so." Holding the lantern high, he looked around them. There were rocks, everywhere. The dark-haired Elf had never felt more hopeless in his life. He suspected the door would be hidden among the rocks, but finding it would take time they did not have.

"Glad to see the both of you cooperating," muttered the ranger under his breath as he gazed up at the starless and moonless sky. There was no light there to guide them and it was a bit frightening. It was like the Valar were not there. Suddenly, he had the strangest sensation they were being watched.

He did not sense like the eyes that were hidden were evil, but foreboding, ominous and waiting for something. Looking to Glorfindel he said, "something is out there."

The ranger spun his horse around and looked behind them as though he expected the figure to appear from behind and attack or…something. The wind blew Aragorn's hood away from his face, snapping his dark hair in the wind and then plastering it to his face.

Erestor looked at how the man was carrying himself in the saddle. He was slumped, not straight as usual. His shoulders sagged and he could tell the human's breath was uneven and very hot from the dense and erratic puffs of steam that came from Aragorn's mouth and nose, showing white in the darkness. The ranger had a temperature. His sickness was growing worse. The weather was fast becoming the man's worst enemy.

That was kind of an odd thought, but it was true. He felt Aragorn could survive an attack from Dragons but the weather was going to kill his lord's son. In this was Erestor also felt responsible. He guided he and Glorfindel's horse over to where Aragorn was and reached his hand out to feel the young man's forehead, gently brushing aside stray locks of wavy dark hair.

It was damp with perspiration and hot with fever. Aragorn was burning up. It was likely he would catch his death out here. Erestor said in a low voice, "you are getting sick. Put your hood up!" Then he added a quick, "now!" for good measure.

Aragorn said, "I will be fine. We have to get Legolas and Rothinzil. It was my fault they were captured! I would rather die trying to save them then die later knowing that I did not even attempt their rescue. Glorfindel," he addressed the Gondolin Elf, "you know the way I feel. That is why you came after me. I knew you would!" Suddenly the young human coughed and sputtered into the wind. His chest felt tight and it was all he could do to breathe again.

As much as Glorfindel wanted to get the ranger into safety and could easily do it, he knew that Aragorn was right. There would be no living with the man if they did not let him do this. "Estel, I will back you to whatever end, but try to be a little less rash," he pleaded towards the end.

Erestor nodded, "as will I, though it is against my liking and we shall all rue it bitterly before the end I fear." Glorfindel just stared into the wind before hissing tersely,

"Get your weapons ready. Something approaches. There are shadows moving among the rocks. I do not know who or what they are." Erestor placed a hand on his sword hilt and he could feel it shaking slightly. He wasn't afraid, was he? No, but he was anxious. This was one of the last things they needed.

Glorfindel had his bow notched and bent and targeted at one of the moving figures. Suddenly another arrow sang through the air and struck the ground at the feet of Naneth. She snorted and it was all Erestor could do to keep control of her. More arrows hit the ground around them and they realized they were hemmed in. One arrow cut by Glorfindel's face and a commanding voice, "drop your weapons or we will shoot you were you are."

Glorfindel reluctantly let his bow slide from his fingers to fall and sink into the snow. He sighed and looked at Erestor, whose face was white, but grim. The counselor unsheathed his sword and dropped it, but he called out as he let it fall, "who travels under the cover of night waylaying those who have done them no harm?" His tone was bitter and cut through the air like a blade through butter.

"I would watch my tongue if I were you!" warned the voice. "And what adversary are you?"

"That depends upon your identity," returned Erestor in an icy tone. He rode forward a bit more, towards the voices. Glorfindel placed a stopping hand on his shoulder and squeezed. It was a gesture that plainly meant, please be careful. Don't do anything you won't live to regret!

"We are not servants of the Dark Lord if that is what you are prodding at," stated the voice openly and a tall, dark-haired Elf came into the lantern light. He was clad in green and brown, one of Legolas' people. By the way he carried himself and the way he took command, it appeared he was a captain. But the Elf's tone was sharp when he added, "only Dark Elves travel under the cover of night without stars unless the Elves' of Light have great need."

"Our need is great," answered Glorfindel, "and who do we have the honor of having as company?"

"That is not yet your business," said the Mirkwood Elf bluntly.

Aragorn rode Legolas' horse forward and said as he squinted in the dim light at the Elf before him, "Celebalda?"

The other Elf's jaw dropped, "Strider?" he asked abruptly. "You have changed." He stared at the beast that Aragorn rode. "You ride Legolas' horse," he observed.

"His master is missing," said Aragorn. "We are searching for him now. But thus far it has been in vain." Other Elves came out of the shadows and into the lantern light, clad in greens, browns and grays. Their hoods concealed their faces. Bows were at their sides.

Celebalda looked at Glorfindel and said, "I am sorry Lord Glorfindel. I did not realize it was you. And who rides with you?"

"This is Lord Erestor," said the Balrog-Slayer, "chief of the counselors of Elrond." Erestor nodded politely and Celebalda returned it saying,

"I am pleased to meet you. Had we met under better circumstances I would like to talk with you. But now as you well know, things are rather pressed."

"I understand," spoke the dark-haired adviser grimly. He turned to Aragorn, "you have to get out of the wind, Estel." The brisk gusts were getting sharper and more frigid.

"No, I-" Aragorn began to argue. A withering glare from Erestor ended that notion quickly. Sometimes he thought living with Elves was a real disadvantage. They always won arguments and they always found ways to laugh at you. The only one who hardly ever teased him was Roth and that was because the Wood-Elf had no room to talk.

"And where do you suggest we go?" asked Aragorn grumpily as he muttered to himself about the advantages and disadvantages of traveling with Elves. He was beginning to feel rather angry at this whole situation.

Celebalda reasoned, "we found a reasonable sized cave near here. It is not far and hides you from the wind well. It has a passage that goes further back, but that we have not explored."

"A perfect recipe for trouble I would say, "responded Glorfindel tersely. "Who knows what could be hiding in the depths."

"I know," commended the captain regretfully. "But we were in great need and thus far nothing has happened." Thalionril moved unobtrusively closer to his captain and glared through the darkness at Naneth, studying the creature.

"Sir, Rothinzil's horse is with them," he pointed out, trying to be helpful.

"I would imagine, that as usual, Roth is in over his head in trouble with Legolas," muttered Celebalda to his younger charge. "It is a bond they seem to share." Naneth seemed to glare. Celebalda found that disturbing and brushed it away as an effect of the cold on his mind set. The Mirkwood Elf nodded at his Elves and they began to head back to the cavern haven they had discovered.

Erestor looked back at Glorfindel and the Gondolin Elf shook his head slowly. They had no other choice and alone the three of them could not rescue Legolas and Rothinzil. They would need aid. Aragorn watched Erestor turn the floundering horse towards the warriors, to follow. Aragorn was reluctant to go with them and slowly turned Legolas' beast to trail the others. It struggled awkwardly in the deep snowdrifts before finding its feet.

He felt so lightheaded and the billowing snow was swirling into strange blurs as the wind caused his head to spin from cold chills.

TBC……….Review please? We love that kind of thing, you know? Thanks so much. Yeah, just a few more chapters to go! Maybe it will be finished before Christmas Break, who knows? Wow! Still have to buy gifts and all that! -Authors count on fingers- only ten more days! Yikes!

Sorry, but there is no time for review responses, which really stinks, because that is one of the most fun things to do! LOL But we are extremely pressed:-(

However, we will next time, so please review and let us know what you thought of this chapter!