Jeez, I'm so sorry I've not been around. Life decided to throw me many MAJOR bummers all at once... which is actually an advantage to you lot as I'm in that mood again in which I can really pick on the characters, particularly Legolas... –evil grin- Well, you demanded it people!

Terreis; Only if he was older? Oh Terreis... poor Estel, he was looking forward to a cuddle!

ESTEL: No I wa-! -clamps hand over Estel's mouth-

Quiet you...

Deana; Thanks! :-D

leggylover03; Good question? –calls to the lovely characters- Hey lads, you reckon you're going to get back in one piece?

E&E&L&A&H: xx

Guess not...

Angst-a-mania; Lol, I think you got here just 1 chapter too early! :-) Just read on to find out... I mean, of course Aragorn and Legolas are going to get a little... something... after all, this is their series, eh? –evil grin-

Mellaithwen; If you want my recommendation for a good anime DVD, get Rayearth. They only do the OVA over here, which is still brilliant (I must admit to having a bit of a crush on a guy called Ferio... -sigh- What is it with me and fictional guys?!), but I'm ordering the first series box set from Amazon. I'll send you the trailer for it if you want...

not-sure-of-your-name-as-there's-nothing-there! ;-); Ooh, very metaphoric! :-) I'm so glad you're enjoying the story, and you've made me feel much better with those nice comments. Ah, thank you! Just goes to prove that you can't believe everything on the internet! Here's the update for you!

Faerlain; Someone who agrees with me! :-D Yes, I know how protective you are of Hal, I know! Well, let's just say that he's going to cause some problems for Legolas and leave it at that... -sigh- Brothers...

kel; No, Legolas didn't get hurt last chapter, but I think I can hear the winds of change a'blowing in!

Stoneage Woman; Yup, another cliffie!!! I'm going to have to try and cut down on those a little... he he! Well... maybe just one more... –evil grin-

Estel; YOU'RE ALIVE!!! –huggles Estel- :-D Hmmm... looks like the marriage is on the rocks! –runs and hides-

Astievia; I don't know, I seem to like Elrohir more... –ponders for about an hour on the absurdity of that statement as they're identical...- I've noticed, most writers seem to portray him as the light-hearted jokey one and Elladan as the more calmer one. Strange, seeing as we hardly know anything about them, but we love the still the same! HA! I can just imagine that...

HAL: Estel, I'm afraid we're going to have to cut your arm off.

ESTEL: WHAT?! Why can't you just cut the branch?!?!

LEGOLAS: Harm the tree?! -glares- Estel. That's disgusting...

-screaming ensues as the Elves get to 'work'...-

Painful. Libraries are one of my favourite places, especially the old historic ones; peaceful, quiet, and no morons hanging about ready to rip the book from your hands, squash it in the mud and say that only geeks read (a little taste of the kind of month I've had -seethes-). The only consolation is, I CAN read – they ought to try it some time, they might actually learn something... Ah! -blushes- All I can say is, try and suppress the laughter at the funny bits! I find it hard too, but sometimes, it's just needed...

Celebrean; Too many SPORKS!!! AAAH!!! –runs away-

shadowfox8; Well, have fun with them!:-) Ok then, I'll take a look at your story! ;-)

Dha-Gal; Well, we're equal because this chapter is incredibly late too! –removes shotgun from Ro's grip- Naughty Elf!

Linuvial Greenleaf; -waves wildly in return- Linuvial!!! :-D Nice to see you! Hmm... inarticulance... no, that's not a word, but inarticulacy is! :-. Lol! Ok! I got a tablet for Xmas, so I'll probably be doing a lot more drawings!

Joy; -attempts to communicate telepathically- Nope sorry, no can do. You'll have to settle for this I'm afraid...

Woah, these review replies are getting way too long! He! Oh well, I'm not complaining; it means I'm getting reviewers! Someone asked me why I do them; it's because I reckon that if the readers took the time to write something, then they ought to get a reply in return, at the very least! Well... enjoy this chapter because we BOTH know you've waited too long for it!

Oh, by the way... this chapter is a little gory... but only a little...

.: Chapter Five :.

"Ro!!!" Elladan ran as best as he could through the thick mud. He had seen a flash, heard a cry, and suddenly Elrohir was falling and the tree had caught fire. Now the still pouring rain had almost completely extinguished the flames, leaving dark smoke and a hissing sound in its place.

Elladan looked his brother over. Elrohir's hands were burnt quite badly, and Elladan was sure that the fall from the tree would probably have done something as well. With just a bit of luck, the lightning may have simply thrown Elrohir from the tree, rather than running through him as well.

"Ro? Come on, wake up!" He shook Elrohir's shoulder gently, but it did not work. The younger twin remained unconscious, regardless of the worried of his brother. Elladan pulled him up from the layer of mud and half carried, half dragged him to the edge of the where the water had ran down where the land was more firm and drier.

Laying Elrohir on the ground, Elladan swallowed and kicked at the dirt in frustration. 'Why?!' he thought angrily. 'Every time; every damned time! Everything was just getting back to normal... and then something crops up to set us all back again...'

He dropped down, sitting on a fallen tree trunk, and ran a hand through his hair. In his own opinion, life was being incredibly cruel and unfair to them all at the moment, and the thing that irked him the most was that he couldn't understand why.

In fact, the more he thought about it, there wasn't much about life he understood at all. Having thousands of years to live didn't automatically make you all-knowledgeable. He cast another glance over to Elrohir who was still unconscious. No... life wasn't fair.

Not fair at all...

----

A lone wolf's howl echoed eerily through the valley of Imladris, causing a tiny tingle to run down Legolas' spine. He had forgotten how easy it was to get lost in the woods around Rivendell. He didn't even know whether they were still within the border patrol area or not.

As they had been walking, they had found a few of their things; some scattered arrows and a pack with food which had become completely waterlogged. they were not great finds, but they could prove useful later on.

They still hadn't found what they were really looking for though. There had been no sign of Elladan or Elrohir anywhere on their travels, and it worried Legolas to no end. How far had they been swept by the water? Had the twins stayed in the tree until the water levels dropped, or had they been carried off as well? There was no way of knowing.

The three of them had been trekking for some way, but as for how far? He had no idea. He was too busy trying to keep Estel awake. Hallataulë was pretty convinced that the bang on the head that the teenager had received had given him a concussion, and Legolas wasn't about to argue as Estel's lethargic actions seemed to confirm it.

Hallataulë had heard the howl as well, and unlike Legolas who had discarded it, he was more concerned. It sounded much too close for his liking. He didn't want to worry the younger two though, so he simply kept a sharp eye out for anything out of the norm.

Estel leaned heavily on Legolas' shoulder while the Elf kept an arm around him in an attempt to keep him upright.

"Are you alright Estel?" he asked.

Estel raised his head slightly and nodded. He'd been much better, obviously, but he'd also been worse. Nothing made much sense at the moment anyway, and the blurred lines of his thoughts and what was really happening were just confusing him. His shoulder throbbed mercilessly, the only true thing he was feeling right now.

A sudden hush descended, an uncomfortable silence which made them all uneasy. There was something close by...

"Hal," whispered Legolas, shifting his grip on Estel a little. "What's happening?"

The older Elf hushed him sharply and looked around nervously. "Be quiet."

Estel realised all of a sudden that there was something behind Legolas and him. Lifting his head weakly, he glanced in that direction and his eyes widened at what he saw. Two bright yellow eyes were staring directly at him.

"Le-!" He was cut off suddenly as the wolf howled loudly and sprang from it's hiding place, knocking both him and Legolas down. The teenager cried out in pain as his shoulder was jarred badly and the few arrows Legolas had left scattered all over the woodland floor.

Hallataulë whirled around and saw the wolf circling back to attack the two again. Grabbing a small knife from the inside of his boot, he threw it at the beast, striking it in the side.

The wolf growled, and spinning yet again, swiped at Hallataulë with its paw, claws gleaming with a fire all their own. The Elf fell backwards, the air rushing out of him and putting sudden pressure on his ribs. Stars danced in front of his eyes, and in his confusion he didn't register that they wolf was coming back for him. 'Damn,' he thought. 'Estel was right...'

Legolas watched in horror as the wolf stalked towards his older brother, teeth bared in a snarl. A thousand thoughts rushed through his mind at once...

You know, I sometimes blame myself?

If it wasn't for me...

That's my fault...

Maybe now he could make up for all that...

Legolas grabbed a single arrow, raised his bow, and aimed carefully at the wolf. Pulling back on the string, he prayed it would hit the mark. The arrow struck the beast in the leg and it roared in pain. Glaring in the direction that the arrow had come from, her eyes fixed on Legolas who was desperately looking around for another arrow. The wolf's eyes narrowed, and she suddenly launched forward at the Elf.

Hallataulë shook the dizziness from his head and fixed his gaze back on what was happening. What he saw shook him.

Legolas gasped as the air was shoved out of him. The wolf had barrelled into him and knocked him flying. His bow fell from his grip and broke to pieces on the floor as it fell underneath him, and as he was shoved back, Legolas put a hand out. The splinters dug deeply into his palm. That was the least of his worries though.

Raising her paw high, the wolf sliced three deep gashes across Legolas' chest before going for him with her powerful jaws. Legolas screamed as the wolf's teeth clamped down into his arm, tearing through the skin.

Hallataulë looked around desperately for something to help his younger brother, but his knife was stuck in the side of the beast and he had no arrows or even a bow. Another cry from Legolas drove him almost to despair as he realised that he had nothing to attack with.

Legolas' panicking mind had almost given up hope when the wolf suddenly went slack. Her eyes dies and she perished there, blood gushing out from her back. Legolas was just able to take a glance at his saviour before falling unconscious...

----

What happened, what was that noise? Where am I? Hang on...

Where's Elladan?! What's going on, how did I get here?! Elladan! Help me! I don't know what's going on, I- ouch! That hurts, what is that?

Wha-?...

His eyes snapped open and Elrohir found himself lying on his back breathing harshly. He was so confused; one moment he was climbing down the branches of the tree, the next he was here. And what was that flash of light? What was going on?!

"El... Elladan?"

He surprised himself with how weak his voice sounded. There had to be a reason, but there was a blank between being in the tree and now. He just couldn't remember. Suddenly his hands stung sharply again and he hissed.

Elladan had thought he'd just been hearing things when Elrohir had called his name, but there was no mistaking the pain filled hiss. "Ro!" He got up and knelt by Elrohir's side. "You're awake!"

Elrohir nodded. "Yes, and I'm also very uncomfortable. What happened?"

"Lightning struck the tree," explained Elladan. "You were thrown from it. Are you alright?"

"I feel alright, aside from being a bit bruised." He hissed again sharply as his hands began to hurt again, but worse this time. He finally got the chance to look at his hands and he was shocked to see them burnt, dark red and raw.

Elladan grasped Elrohir's wrist very gently and wrapped some material around the wounds. Although it stung, Elrohir was quite glad of it; it would stop any further damage and he wouldn't have to look at them.

"Don't worry Ro, they'll get better," said Elladan. "I mean, remember that time when I spilt that hot oil on my leg?"

Elrohir laughed. "How could I forget? You screamed the whole of Rivendell down to the ground that day!"

Elladan blushed slightly. "Yes, I know Ro... I was there... well, my point is, that was a bad burn too, but it healed. You'll be fine."

Elrohir felt a little better now. "I guess we'd better go look for them..."

Elladan nodded gravely as the mood suddenly turned as sombre as a graveyard. He had no idea what they would find; whether the others were hurt or not, or even if they were still alive. He quickly banished such thoughts from his mind. He had to hope, didn't he?

----

Estel took in a shaky breath as the wolf keeled over and died. His left arm hung limp at his side and in his right hand he held a bloody sword. Dropping it with a clang, he fell heavily to his knees.

Hallataulë ran past him to see Legolas. The younger Elf lay still, eyes closed, as red blood flowed profusely from his arm. Attempts to bring him round were useless, and Hallataulë finally admitted defeat. They would have to give up looking for the twins and instead head back to Rivendell. Both Legolas and Estel needed help now, and no more time could be wasted.

Picking up his younger brother, Hallataulë faced Estel. "Estel, do you think you can walk unaided?"

The teenager nodded. He was feeling less dizzy now, perhaps the bump on his head wasn't so bad now. "I think so. If you just go, I'll follow, don't worry."

The sun had gone down and now a chilled wind was blowing through the valley, but they had to walk and carry on regardless of their missing companions or the dangers the night might possibly bring...

-looks at fingertips and realises they're flat- O.o Woah... well, I hope you enjoyed that! I'm hoping to get more time to write now, so you shouldn't have to wait that long for updates again. ;-) Tell me what you think!