Chapter 19.

Legolas could kick himself. The owner of the blade thrust against his neck was right. He had stayed in one place for far too long, forgetting he lived in a dangerous world, and now he would pay the price. He watched Lainfea, who hadn't moved. What was wrong with her? Why didn't she run?

"I knew you would find us," she said triumphantly to Legolas' attacker, smiling happily. The blade was released from Legolas neck. He whipped around to face his adversary, suspecting who it was.

"Lanthir! You annoying little brat! This isn't a joke!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, did I scare you, Legolas?" His brother asked with a cold, sarcastic voice.
"Yes, you idiot! I thought you were an orc! You scared me half to death"
Legolas couldn't believe his brother would even ask such a question.
"Good," Lanthir said frostily.

Legolas didn't understand. He hadn't seen his brother act this cold since they had woken up in Osgiliath. This was his brother's darker side, and Legolas knew that something very serious must have happenend for it to resurface. Had something happened to Lanthir or Limloeth? Why was he acting like this?

"Lanth..." Legolas began. "What's wrong?"
"Oh! You wouldn't have any idea, would you! What could be wrong!" Lanthir shouted angrily. The tone of his voice made Lainfea reach for Bear.
"You know what's wrong?" he continued, taking a step back from his brother. "I was happy. That's what's wrong. I was happy, and foolish enough to believe I could have a life. It was my dream. Then you know what?"

Lanthir gave Legolas an almost deadly glare.
Legolas glared back defiantly.
"What?" the older elf said after a moment of furious looks.
"I woke up," Lanthir said. "I woke up and guess who's bed was empty?"
When Legolas didn't answer Lanthir pointed at him. "Yours!" Then he turned and pointed at Lainfea, who cowered, clutching Bear. "And hers."

Silence then reigned over the forest. When Lanthir spoke again, his voice no longer sounded angry, just hurt.
"I don't know what in the name of the Valar you were thinking. How could you do this to us, brother? Why did you leave?"

Legolas paused for a moment before answering, then placed his hand on Lanthir's shoulder.
"Lanthir, do you remember Ada?" he asked.
His little brother shook his head. "Not really, just that he... he was strong. And blond, like us."
"Well, I do," Legolas said. "I remember his smile, and his powerful shoulders, and the songs he used to sing to us. I remember his laugh; a laugh that would ring out like bell, and stop you from whatever you were doing so you could listen. I remember his stories, and how he would pick me up and run around through the garden. How he made me feel safe.After that, when we were captured, I've never felt safe. Not in Mordor, not in Osgiliath, not ever. And I just thought that if I could reach Greenwood... If I could see Ada again, maybe...maybe I would...maybe then I would not be so empty anymore. Because I am empty, Lanthir. So empty."

He looked into his brothers eyes, begging him to understand, but Lanthir merely looked away.

"Of course I saw you were happy, Lanthir. And I saw Limloeth and Lainfea happy as well. And of course I didn't want to hurt you and take you away from the place where you could feel that way, so I left. Alone. Lainfea is only here because she followed me. I'm very glad you did as well, because now you can take her back, and I can continue my journey."
"Like I could do that," Lanthir muttered.
"Excuse me?" Legolas said.

Lanthir took a step back toward his brother and looked him in the eye.
"I said: Like. I. Could. Do. That. Like I could return to Biddy and Artamir's place without you. Like it would be the same."
"I thought you were happy at Biddy and Artamir's place," Legolas said, puzzled now.
Lanthir's voice grew angry once more.
"Of course I was happy, you moron! But if you think even for one second that I would go back there, without you then you are insane! Don't you understand? Can't you see? I have someone I feel safe with too. But it's not Ada, you idiot!" Tears formed in Lanthir's eyes. Much softer he added "It's you."

Legolas stared at him, speechless.

Lainfea stood up from the ground and pushed Bear into Lanthir's arms. Her brother smiled at her. "What is this, Lainfea?"
"You have to hug Bear. He makes you feel better. He makes you stop crying and yelling and pointing."
"I scared you a little, didn't I?" Lanthir asked her.
"You musn't be angry," the little girl said, wiggling herself into Lanthir's arms. "I don't like you when you are angry."
He placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I was just a little scared when I saw you were gone. Life would get so boring without my little Lainfea."
She giggled.

"Legolas must not go alone on the trip, must he?" she asked Lanthir as she watched Legolas.
Lanthir turned his eyes towards his brother.
"No, he most certainly must not."
"It would be too dangerous," the little girl added seriously.
"Indeed," Lanthir agreed. "We'd better come with him and keep an eye on him.

"But first," he added a moment later, "we must find Limloeth again."
"Limloeth?" Legolas asked. "Did she come with you?"
Lanthir nodded. "I couldn't leave her to find all of us gone, now could I? We went to find you together, but leaving took us a while, for Lim insisted on bringing extra clothes and weapons, and leaving a letter to Biddy.

Sometime yesterday we lost your tracks, and we had a huge argument about what to do next. Limloeth said you would probably follow the river, while I stated that you would probably just take the shortest route. In the end, we split up and made a promise that whoever found you first would make you come to the rendevous point.

And as it turned out, I was right. Now let's go find her, so I can rub it in." Lanthir smiled wickedly. Legolas, however, did not find it very funny. What Lanthir was saying, was that his sister was somewhere wandering alone in orc-infested country.
"Where is that rendevous point you are talking about?" he asked his brother.

Lanthir pointed at an oddly shaped rock a good ways in the distance. "Right there."
Legolas swallowed.
"Lainfea?" he asked. "Those orcs we saw today, which way were they moving?" She thought for a moment, and then pointed in the direction of the same rock.
"Yes," Legolas sighed. "I thought they were."
Lanthir stared at him in shock. "Orcs?"

Legolas nodded sadly and scooped Lainfea into his arms. "Lanthir, get the backpack. We'd better hurry."

They ran as fast as they could, not stopping before they had reached the rock Limloeth and Lanthir had agreed to meet at. When they arrived there it was clear Limloeth hadn't.

Legolas moaned and kicked the rock in frustration.

"Maybe she is just late..." Lanthir said, but without much conviction. "We didn't really agree on the time. She could arrive tomorrow."
Legolas shook his head. He wanted to hope, but twenty years in Mordor had not left him overly optimistic.

"It smell like orcs here," Lainfea said, bringing her child logic ino the situation. "Bear doesn't like it. He wants to go."
Legolas smelled it too.

Their conversation was suddenly disturbed by a scream in the distance. Legolas snatched Lainfea off the ground. Lanthir's face paled, and he stared at Legolas with wide eyes.

"Limloeth," he said faintly. Legolas nodded and the two brothers started running at the same time; towards the danger, and towards their sister.

TBC

Nessa Ar-Feiniel: They all refused to be left behind. grin

Laebeth: I'm glad I got you attached to my characters.. I'm very attacht to them myself.. And I'm glad you are still reading! Thanks for the lovely review.

Karone Evertree: Lainfea is a little sweetheart, isn't she?

Roguish Smile: If Bear gets hurt all hope will be lost I think.. grins

Aly K: Well you we're right, It was nobody who wished them harm..

Moriarwen : Well you got your answer

moonshine44: NO! Stop! Don't pull your hair out! (You'll need some for chapters to come grin)

Rutu : WOW You guessed it!

CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: Each review for you makes me laugh! Thank you so much.

Sam611: Yeah but He found that leaving his siblings is almost impossible..

silverkonekotsukari: Yay! a plus! Thanks!

That was it for today!

Greetz Liek