The search party was spread out far and wide in the trees when they heard the sound. Every elf's head shot up at the tone.

An elf-horn blowing to the west.

They were off in an instant, riding toward the sound of the horn. Was it Elrohir, calling for help? Or perhaps one of their number had found the twin at last, or was under attack?

They sped off, leaving the Ford unguarded in their haste, and not a single elf to watch the road toward Rivendell.

000

While waiting for the signal to move out, the men gagged Elrohir and tied a rope around his neck, leaving a long lead. One of the men was chuckling nearby.

"Smart o' them elves, havin' Garaveg blow an elf-horn. Ev'ry elf in the area'll follow that sound. They won't stop to think about the possibility somebody might cross the Ford—'cause who can get across the water with that magic spell on it?"

Elrohir gulped. So that was the signal. And Garaveg was right, if most of the remaining ellyn of Rivendell were out searching for him, the sound of one of their own horns would bring them from all over the vicinity. They would have no reason to doubt it was one of their number; they would've never guessed that Delwon and Garaveg were with these bandits, or that one of them would've taken a horn with them into exile.

Elrohir was marched up the stairs and through an area so dark he couldn't see what anything was. Ducking under some scorched beams, he came out into the light.

He would've rejoiced greatly at the sight, had the situation not been so dire. Finally, to see the lights of sunset again! For awhile he had despaired that he would ever feel the sun on his face again.

He turned to see the building they had just come out of. It was a ruin, burnt and falling down…

Dorlarth's hideout. They had been in the cellar of Dorlarth's hideout. That explained a lot.

The men all came out and stood in a large group. Perhaps it was just his mind playing tricks on him, but Elrohir had thought that, populous as this troop was, there had been still more men in the cellar—half again as many as stood here.

Delwon joined them, leading his horse out. Two or three others of the men had their own beasts, but the rest were going to walk. The rope around Elrohir's neck was tied to the pommel of Delwon's saddle, and Delwon mounted up.

"Remember to wait on the near bank for my signal, when I set off the marker," Delwon told Radek. Elrohir saw him touch something at his neck. "Even if Garaveg has not joined you yet, lead out the men. We will have need of them."

Radek nodded and stepped back, and they set out.

Elrohir followed after Delwon's horse the best he could, but he could feel himself stumbling and staggering along. Stopping was not an option; he did not want to be dragged by his neck, and Delwon knew it. He would just have to keep on.

By the time they reached the Ford, his breathing was very unsteady. He didn't know how much longer he could keep up.

The sun had set below the horizon and the shadows were deepening, but Elrohir wasn't in the mood to enjoy it. All he could think was, Why are they bringing me along?

And then he knew. The bandit's comment about the river, the fact that Delwon hadn't killed him yet… They were going to get him in the water so that his presence would mask theirs and allow them to cross the Ford and attack Rivendell.

His suspicions were validated when Delwon stopped his horse right by the water's edge and all the men hung back. "Get in the water," he ordered Elrohir. The young lord looked straight ahead and feigned deafness. But Delwon had never really believed he would do it voluntarily. He gave him a swift kick in the back.

Normally, this wouldn't have done anything, but in Elrohir's current condition, with his balance shot and his legs so unsteady, he staggered forward and slipped on the wet rocks by the river's edge, ending up on one knee in the river. Before he could jump up and scramble out of the water, Delwon rode his horse forward.

The lead line tautened and held Elrohir where he was, in the river. "Push him in a little farther," Delwon ordered his men as they poured into the shallower water.

The men were quick to obey, and Elrohir found himself half-pulled, half-pushed farther into the river. He slipped on the algae-covered rocks and fell, going under.

There was a moment of shock at the cold, and of panic, and then he managed to scramble to his feet again, coughing and choking. The gag in his mouth had been soaked, and he could barely spit out the water he had inhaled. He felt like he was drowning. By the time he managed to catch his breath again, his ribs feeling as if they were on fire, the bandits were across the water and Delwon was leading him forward again.

He tried to hurry up so as to beat Delwon out of the water and so bring the wrath of the river down on him (even though he knew if Delwon were swept away, he would be too), but he couldn't manage it. The horse beat him out of the river easily.

"There, that wasn't so bad, was it?" one of the men said with a cruel laugh. "Now to make sure Radek and his men can cross as well—"

Something came down on the back of Elrohir's head, and darkness fell over him.

000

Katie and Arwen slipped as quickly and quietly off the horse and they could, and sneaked off the road into the trees. Once there, Arwen whispered something to the horse and put her hands on either side of its head, and it stood still as a statue, and as quiet.

They peered out of the trees in the failing light. A whole troop of men was striding quickly down the road toward Rivendell, an elf on horseback at their head. A million questions darted through Arwen's head—was that not Delwon, who had been exiled a year before? And who were all these men with him? Were they attacking Rivendell? How had they gotten through the Ford?

She glanced over at Katie. She girl's eyes were wide with fear and amazement, but she had stayed perfectly silent. She glanced back at Arwen and their eyes communicated; no words were needed.

When the last of the men had disappeared past a curve in the road, Arwen cautiously led the horse back out onto the road. Katie followed her, looking like she was about to start wringing her hands.

"They're the bandits!" she said in a strained whisper. "One of them was the guy who kidnapped me. They're attacking Rivendell!"

Arwen nodded. Her blood was rushing in her veins, but she was outwardly calm and thoughtful.

"We have to go and warn them!" Katie exclaimed, and moved toward the horse.

Arwen held out a hand to stop her. "We cannot," she said steadily. "There is no path between here and Imladris that will get us there before the bandits, and we cannot ride through them to try and reach my father. They would cut us down like weeds."

Katie was now bouncing with nervous energy. It would've been funny had it not been so dire.

Arwen made up her mind. "Come," she said. "I have a suspicion I know how they crossed the Ford."

Katie frowned in confusion as she followed her. "What do you mean?"

Arwen didn't answer; a lump was rising in her throat. She merely lengthened her stride and quickened her pace. Katie, with her shorter legs, had to jog to keep up.

At the riverside, Arwen scanned the edge in the pale and fading light. Her suspicions were horribly confirmed when she saw a figure lying crumpled on the near bank, his feet in the water.

Elrohir.

000

The sun had gone down, and Elrond headed down the corridor. He had slept little the past two days, his mind taken up with worry. And that worry had not lessened when his remaining son had failed to return at sundown as usual. In fact, none of the search party had appeared this side of the Ford. He could only hope this meant that they were finally on Elrohir's trail, and not something direr.

A shout outside brought him up short. It was followed by more shouts, and the sound of a clang. Steel on steel.

The elf lord took to his heels in a moment, flying down the corridors to find a window. The sight that greeted his eyes was one he had not seen for centuries. Battle was being done in the courtyard.

The ellith and the few ellyn in the near vicinity had grabbed whatever weapons came to hand and were fighting desperately against a band of shady-looking characters. Elrond had barely had time to register this when Erestor was at his elbow.

"The bandits are attacking!" he cried. His sword was already drawn, and a light was in his eyes. Elrond didn't pause to answer, but flew to his study. His sword, Hadhafang, hung on the wall, its cold steel glinting in the pale light. Elrond snatched it up and ran for the courtyard.

Healer or not, it was time to take up arms again in defense of his people. His eyes shone with determination. He knew they were outnumbered by the foe. Nevertheless, neither he nor Imladris would go down without a fight.

TBC

AN: Do I have you on the edge of your seat yet? lol

werewolflemming: Yes, as an artist on Elfwood put it, "Poor Remus. He's not happy. He's not healthy. He's not human. That's just gotta suck." Only prob with this thing with Remus in HBP is, it has now made my HP fic officially AU. Lol

Fk306: Only if they can find the cellar they're holding him in, which they have so far been unable to do, thanks to Delwon and Garaveg hiding their tracks so well.

Thanks also to Laer4572, lunelwe, Erasuithiel, Yuk-Yuk, crazycatluver, and IwishChan. You're all beautiful! lol

Tetho enni! (Write to me!—IE, review!)