Woo, another chapter! Without a great long wait. I'm definitely getting better, wouldn't you agree? The updates will be random like this, but it's better than waiting weeks like before I guess.

Thank you for all your lovely reviews and replies are below as always.

Faerlain

Rayame325 – If you've got a break, then you can review! You're going to Chicago! Duuuuude! That is sooooo cool. Me be very jealous now. Have a good time anyways. Thanks for reviewing.

TheAmazingTecnocolourRingWraith – Dude I love your name! I'm really pleased you like it. Thanks for reviewing.

Tiara Shin – Poor poor 'Ren. Leggy is on his way though! Me good ol' Leggy. Puppy-dog eyes! You're not online at the mo, so I'm guessing you're either cooking…backs away...or busy with Haldir. Wink. Thanks for reviewing.

Star-Stallion – Yeah, sure you can. Though not a lot of people have been on it. Pout. Send them to my Tiscali address which is in my bio. Glad you're enjoying the story. Thanks for reviewing.

Elerrina – Yup, you certainly did. No, they're not twins. More info on the sharing wounds thin coming up in this chapter. You have so many questions! Keep your eyes open, and hopefully the answers are in the story. Thanks for reviewing.

Kalayna – Hands over King-sized box of tissues. Better? I haven't read that book. Is it worth reading? I'm glad you like the names and the story in general. I try and put little bits of dry humour in there every now and then, just to lighten the mood a little! Wink. Thanks for reviewing.

Deana – I know! Poor 'Ren. Thanks for reviewing.

Chapter 4: Blood.

In her room, Sîladiel screamed in pain. She fell to her knees, clutching her left eye. Blood leaked out between her fingers, dripping onto the mat.

The door swung open and Hithaer stood there. He rushed to her side. "Sîladiel, look at me."

She collapsed against him in a dead faint. He picked her up and hurried her along to the healing room.

He burst in without knocking and set her down on a bed. "Help her!" he cried. "I don't know what's wrong. She just started screaming, and there was blood…"

"Shh Hithaer." Nauralad was in there. She was training to be a healer. She went to him and slipped an arm round his trembling shoulders as the other healers rushed to the bed. "Come and sit down. Deep breaths, that's it. Calm down, she'll be ok." She handed him a glass of water, and he took it in shaking hands.

She walked over to where the healers were. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Cut just under her left eye my Lady," one answered. "Goodness knows how she did it."

Nauralad nodded and went back to sit beside her brother. She took one of his hands. "You heard what's wrong," she told him. He wondered at how she managed to keep her voice so calm and level. "Now I need you to fetch naneth. Go, quickly."

He nodded and ran out down the corridor. Nauralad stood and went to her elder sister's side, taking her hand and stroking her forehead. "Don't worry Sîladiel," she whispered. "You'll be ok."

"Brethiliaur, Cullas, and Tatharion, you take first watch tonight. Wake myself, Cellin, and Gîlorn after three hours, understood?"

"Yes my Lord." They moved off to their posts.

"The rest of you set up camp and get some rest. It'll be a steady ride all day tomorrow, and the day will be long. Make sure your horses are tied up. We don't want them bolting now."

The Elves set about their duties. Legolas tethered his horse, and then took his younger brother aside. "Gîlorn, I was harsh on you earlier, and I am sorry. But you must understand that you should not be here at all. I am seriously considering sending you back home still. You have tomorrow only to prove yourself. By then, we will be too far away from the palace for you to ride back, and I cannot spare anyone to go with you."

"How can I prove myself to you Legolas?" Gîlorn asked, slightly confused.

"I'll be watching you all day," his older brother answered. "Very closely. If I believe you can keep up with us and not make any mistakes, I'll let you stay. If not, you'll be going back home."

"Ok," he replied quietly. He went and started preparing a small fire.

"He loves Ladrenîl as much as you Legolas," a soft voice beside him said. He turned to look at the only female Elf they had with them. "He only wants him back safe and home with us."

"I know that Thandiel. But I worry for his safety."

"You have no need to. You and Ladrenîl have been training him together, remember. He's perfectly able to watch his own back."

"But…"

"No buts. Do not doubt him so. He is stronger than we all think I reckon. You just watch. He'll prove himself. Maybe not tomorrow, but if we encounter any trouble along the way, he'll protect you, and the rest of us, with his life. Trust me; he is a good asset to this group." She wandered off to help Gîlorn with the fire.

Legolas sighed and leant against his horse. "What do you think Rochael?" he asked. "Shall I let him stay?"

The horse snorted and nodded his head. Legolas smiled. "On your head be it," he said, stroking Rochael's neck fondly, and then walking off to check the borders of their small encampment.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?"

"I couldn't naneth."

Aurêl sighed, taking her eldest daughter's hand. "You are like your grandmother," she said fondly, stroking the pale cheek. "Almost too much I fear."

"Grandma Hinonen?"

The Queen nodded. "Yes. My mother had the gift of foresight. A curse though, she called it. You do not have foresight, but you have something else…some other gift."

"Or curse."

"Or curse," her mother agreed. "You feel your sibling's pain."

"Yes. Like the time Esgalloth fell out the tree and broke her arm. I sprained my wrist at exactly the time. And whenever Lothriel scraped her knees, my knees started bleeding. I share their pain, their grief, their emotions. I share everything with them. So I am deeply worried about Ladrenîl. The cut just came out of nowhere. He's been badly hurt by something naneth, just here." She pointed to her left eye. "My wounds are never as serious as theirs, but I get them all the same."

"Ok, don't worry about it too much my dear. Sleep now. I need to talk to your father about this. I'll send Esgalloth in to keep you company if you wake up." She kissed her cheek softly and left, sending her other daughter in as she did so.

She knocked softly on the oak door of Thranduil's study. "Come in." She entered and smiled at hum, shutting the door. "What is it Aurêl?"

"I need to talk to you about our daughter."

"Which one?"

Aurêl smiled. "Sîladiel."

"Ah yes. How is she now?"

"Calmer. Thranduil…she has a gift."

Thranduil put down the quill he was using and looked at her. "Sit down my love. What do you mean, a gift?"

"She can feel when her brothers and sisters get hurt. When they are injured, she too, gets a similar wound. She thinks something has happened to Ladrenîl concerning his left eye."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Certain. Remember the time Esgalloth broke her arm? Well, Sîladiel sprained her wrist. When Lothriel used to fall over a lot when she was learning to walk and grazed her knees, Sîladiel's knees would bleed as well. She says she can feel when one of them feels grief or happiness. If one of them has been hurt, she feels it too."

"She sounds like some reincarnation of your mother."

"Thranduil, please be serious."

"I am being serious! Aurêl, this is important. If Sîladiel does indeed have this…gift, as you call it, then we must monitor it carefully. What if Ladrenîl's wounds get worse? What if he gets too weak?"

"You mean what if he dies? Then she will die also."

Thranduil sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. "Ok, I need to talk to her."

"Not now, she is resting. Later, when she has regained some of her strength. For now, let her rest. She needs it."

"Ok then, later."

Gîlorn scanned the surrounding undergrowth carefully with his eyes. Nothing. Not a single movement. No sounds either. Well, no suspicious ones. A few birds were still twittering, an owl was hooting somewhere to his right, and he could hear the stream bubbling happily along.

Legolas was a bit further round the camp on his left. He turned his head to look over at his older brother. Legolas had his bow hugged tightly to him, as if fearing to let it go. Gîlorn saw the moonlight reflect off the twin dagger hilts in his quiver, and the golden feathers of the arrows. He smiled. He liked being on watch with Legolas. Somehow, it made him feel important.

He greatly respected his two older brothers. Ladrenîl and Legolas. They were very close, and Gîlorn knew how Legolas felt about Ladrenîl being held against his will.

He sighed to himself. He was always trying to live up to their standards, trying to be like them, but no matter how hard he tried; he could never be as good as them. Ladrenîl was Captain of the Mirkwood Army already, and he was only 750. Legolas was only a little younger than him, 695. 55 years. That was nothing. Legolas was also the best archer in Mirkwood. Already!

And he was only 512 himself. How was he ever going to be able to live up to his father's high expectations of him? With those two to compete against, he had no chance.

He turned his face back to the forest in front of him. Oh yes, he respected his older brothers, but he was highly jealous of them too. Who couldn't be?

He gripped his bow slightly tighter. A cold breeze blew through the woods, and a tingle travelled down Gîlorn's spine. He squinted. Something was out there, watching them. He could feel it.

He silently unsheathed one of his daggers. Legolas caught his movement and looked over. Gîlorn motioned to the trees ahead of him and Legolas nodded in acknowledgement. He took an arrow from his quiver. He in turn signalled to Cellin, who also drew an arrow.

Gîlorn held his bow in one hand, knife in the other. He took a few deep breaths. If they were indeed about to be attacked, this was his chance to prove himself to Legolas that he could be of use. A rustle to his right caught his attention, and all three Elves turned that way. A growl followed. Deep and guttural. Gîlorn recognised it immediately. Warg.

He sighed to himself. It was up to him. The Warg was nearest to him. It would charge at him first. He had to fend it off for maybe only four orfive seconds, then Legolas and Cellin would be at his side, but still, if he made a mistake…

The Warg lunged straight at him out of the bushes. He brought his knife up and swerved to the side. He heard Legolas' bow sing, and an arrow embedded itself in the Warg's front leg. It howled, but kept its gaze fixed firmly on Gîlorn. He quickly dropped his bow and drew his other knife.

The Warg charged again, and he ducked this time, pushing his knives upward straight into the Warg's belly. It fell to the side, and lay twitching.

The rest of the Elves were awake now, and had their bows and knives at the ready. Gîlorn stood and tried to stop his legs shaking. They listened, trying to hear if any more Wargs were around.

Another entered the camp form the opposite side and Cellin and Thandiel dealt with it swiftly. Three more came in from different sides, and the Elves switched quickly into battle mode.

Gîlorn ran to his brother's side and they fought together. Gîlorn protected Legolas with his knives while the older Prince fired arrow after arrow. A single Warg managed to dodge every single one, and leapt at Gîlorn. He brought a knife up, and it slashed across the creature's muzzle.

But it quickly turned and knocked him to the ground, making him lose the grip on his left knife. He stretched out for it desperately, but it was just out of his reach.

The Warg cuffed him round the head, making him see stars. He brought his other knife up, lunging at nothing. He heard the Warg howl, and felt claws rip down his right side.

Suddenly, the weight on his body was gone, and he was able to breathe again. Someone knelt down beside him, and lifted his head up slightly. It was Legolas. "Gîlorn," he said, "Gîlorn, can you hear me?"

"Er…yes…just about."

His head was placed in someone's lap, and gentle hands started tending to the wound in his side. Someone eased his fingers off from around the hilt of his knife, and he stretched them painfully. He hadn't realised he was gripping it so tightly.

"It's alright Gîlorn," he heard Legolas say. "You can stay with us." He felt a kiss on his cheek and smiled.

Then he slipped into unconsciousness.

Bit of a short chapterand my darling Gîlorn is DESPERATE to stay with his big brother to look for his other big brother! Aww. I feel kinda sorry for him now. After all, he was helping Leggy…

Takes tissues from Kalayna.

I need them now!

Faerlain