A/N: I'm really really really sorry about this taking sooo long. First of all I've had some issues with writing a lot. I'll really try to keep up… And I know how to spell it…. Leave me be… but thanks for your concern… Anyways to the story!

Chapter 4: The Arrival

Estel began to whimper as he was thrown against a tree. His horse bolted back towards the castle.

Vesper held him at arms length, pressed against the rough bark of a tree. Estel was fully clothed, but the rips signified they had recently been forced off and carelessly put back on. His face was bruised and blood dripped from cuts in his backs.

Ropes lay on the ground, tied in knots at one end and rut with a sharp stone at the other.

"Estel!" the gaurds screamed from inside the castle. "Estel, your father wishes you here!" Estel looked at Vesper, pleading with him. His eyes silently asking the question will you let me go? Vesper jerked his head in the direction of the castle and sat on the ground. He liked the look on Estels face… he looked beaten.

Not only did he look it, but he felt beaten too. He decided that to tell anyone about his pain would mean disgrace on his fathers part. His gaze fell down as he couldn't bare to look at the castle as he approached. His mind wandered back to earlier. He remember Vesper ripping off his clothes and pushing him to the ground…and… Estel stopped his thoughts with the fear of crying. But another thing that worried him was he had blacked out and when he woke he had felt a pain deep inside him, something he couldn't remember. It didn't matter now… it was over.

"Hey, Estel," said one of the guards in a cheery voice. "You hurt Vesper." He sounded sarcastic. Estel, eyes still held on the ground, slid past him and wandered in the halls to his father's chambers. He came to his father sitting at a table, fumbling through papers. Without looking up he asked, "Are you ready to leave, Isthilius is better now."

"Of course father…"

"Good," his father nodded. He stood up and motioned for Estel to follow. He ended up down in the courtyard, his horse tied up next to the others. Vesper was there, already mounted next to Isthilius. He nodded in Estel's direction and smiled.

"Estel, where ya been all day?" Isthilius asked.

Estel gave him a smile… a broken smile. Isthilius felt he could have picked the smile apart, piece by piece. Estel crept forward and jumped onto his horse. Isthilius rode up beside him.

"Hey, old king," Isthilius said jokingly. "You mind if your son and I here run off ahead?"

"Go ahead," he said. "It's not like I could stop you…" he added under his breath.

The two boys smiled at each other and rode off towards Mirkwood.


There was a cool calm about the forest, that Isthilius told Estel was Mirkwood. He had been here many times visiting family. However, Estel had never been to the forest. Isthilius would point out different streams and trees, explaining the history and their importance.

They came upon the golden gates of the city. Estel gasped at the banners and the welcome party that stood just on the other side. He saw the guards standing with open arms upon the top of the walls.

Isthilius pulled his horse to a stop and motioned for Estel to do the same. He looked uneasy, something to do with the silence Estel had imposed on him. He had not said a single word since they had left the others, and the silence was becoming a little too much for Isthilius.

A while later the caravan approached and headed towards the gate. A cheer went up from the welcome party, and the gates opened up.

Yet somewhere from the crowd a cry was let out. "Estel!"


Foot note… Plzz review! It makes me feel a whole lot better… And again really sorry about the delay…