Chapter 12: Poisoned

Disclaimer: I still don't own them. They belong to Tolkien

Author's notes: thanks to all my reviewers! I couldn't believeI got that much for one chapter. Thanks! And welcome to all the new readers that started reading this story.

Glorfindel was really getting anxious. They were searching as fast as they could, but still not one clue to the whereabouts of those four. He was beginning to get really worried, with those four no one could really guess what the outcome would be.

His party was as well looking for them, although they had spread to cover more ground. "Maybe they had been lucky enough to have escaped the avalanche, unscathed and were returning by themselves to the Last Homely House" Glorfindel thought. Then he laugh, realizing that that would be the first time that they are not dragged in by others and left unscathed. He just dismissed it as a crazy dream.

His thoughts were interrupted however when he spotted two lonely figures in the distance. One was an Elf, he was sure of that, as he was standing over the snow. And the other one was a human, he could tell, as he was at a lower level than the other. Relief flooded through him however at having found two of four. "Now," he thought, "let's get them to Elrond".

He was as well concerned because the Elf, no matter that he was over the snow, was relaying heavily upon the human.

The human was Estel, there was no mistake in that, but who was the Elf, and where were the others? Just staring at them wouldn't lead to the right answers, so turning back at present again, he called his party and they set off towards the lonely human and Elf.

Thranduil was dumbfounded at what he found. There, on the cold snow, lay an unconscious Elrohir. His skin was getting a pale tone of blue, and his skin was deathly cold.

He was sure that he was trapped during the avalanche, as he was alone, and quite deep in the snow.

Carefully, between him and one of his warriors, they got him out and laid him on the cloaks that had previously being spread. They were not sure of any of Elrohir's injuries, as he was a warrior, not a healer, and sadly, he had only brought warriors with him. He only knew how to threat small wounds.

The first thing that occurred to him was to move him slowly, because he was not sure of the exact damage that had been done.

Secondly, they needed to get him to Elrond as fast as possible, as he was so deathly cold, and had his eyes closed. They didn't know how long his body could endure the coldness that surrounded him, as he was far too cold, even for an elf.

Now, they were facing the problem regarding how to move him without causing further damage. They could not sit him in a horse, because the horse would jostle too much his wounds if they were some.

The only solution to this was to make a litter. He called to two of his men, and told them to go back the way they had come, and to bring two sticks thick enough to support Elrohir.

This said, they left hurriedly in search of any branch that could serve them for this use, leaving Thranduil alone with other two guards.

After making sure they were gone, Thranduil headed back his attention to Elrohir, and before covering him with his cloak, he noted that his arm was bended in a strange matter, in an unnatural manner. Surely it was broken.

The first thing they needed to do, was to secure Elrohir's arm, trying not to move it to much, and to prevent it from moving during the trip to Rivendell. He cut a strip from his own cloak, and tied it around Elrohir's arm, securing it in place.

Then, taking notice of how cold he was, he put over him his own cloak. He didn't want to use another as it would be used in making the stretcher that would carry him. They would cover him with more if they got any spare after making the stretcher.

Thranduil couldn't believe his bad luck. He had found one of Elrond's sons, lying on the hard ice. As always, hurt. Only in this occasion it had been due to the bad weather. Now it was up to him to beak the news, oh, just imagine the look on Elrond's face!

On the other part, he also felt relief flooding through him, as they had just found one, now they only needed to return him and find the other three.

The other warriors came. Together, between the four of them and Thranduil, they set the two wooden sticks laying parallel to each one, then spread one cloak between the four poles. Then they put another one for support. Then, being very careful, they grab Elrohir and lay him down.

They got two other cloaks, and seeing that Elrohir was no better, they also cover him with them. And together, walking slowly careful of the young Elf, they set out to Rivendell.

Glorfindel and his warriors rush to where Estel and Elladan were. Glorfindel recognized the elf as Elladan, but he wondered where his brother and Legolas were.

He noted that Estel looked pale, and sick. Elladan fared no better, as he too was pale, looked exhausted, and was limping his right leg. Again, return to Rivendell wounded.

Just then Elladan and Estel noticed him, and tried to walk to him, but both looked really tired. Elladan was relaying heavily on Estel.

He only gave quicker paces, then he sprint in a full run. When he got to them, he embraced them, and they returned it. After all, they felt that Glorfindel was like an uncle to them, someone they could trust, someone they could talk to, or even play pranks. He also was one to tell amazing stories since they were elflings, or in Estel's case, a little human boy.

After they separated, Glorfindel looked them over with a critic eye. He was no healer, but new something about healing, as he had often helped Elrond tending to an occasional wound or two.

He noted that Estel was becoming sick, if he already was not. He would have a hard cold that was for sure. Elladan looked worst than his human brother. He was pale, as if he hadn't sleep in various nights and needed proper rest, and he was limping his right leg. They needed to get them to Elrond, so that their wounds could be healed, however, they also needed to eat something to gain some strength to return home.

Glorfindel all to one of his men, and ordered him to bring the horses. Then he asked the dreaded question "Are you hurt?"

Elladan, feeling responsible over his brother, thought he had to answer about Estel's health, so he responded "Estel is becoming sick"

"And Elladan has two cracked ribs, didn't sleep last night, and has a wound in his right thigh" Estel put in, knowing his brother would not tell of his injuries, wanting to get Estel to safety first, but Estel knew that Elladan needed it first.

"Do not worry, we will get you home soon enough. Elladan, let me see your leg" Glorfindel stated.

Elladan reluctantly sat down on the snow, and Glorfindel inspected the wound. Now it stopped bleeding, but the edges were still red.

"It was fine when I last checked it, only bleeding a little. And I bandaged his ribs also" Estel informed Glorfindel.

"I think the wound is poisoned, look at the edges, they are very red" Glorfindel stated.

Estel took a look at it. Now, the bleeding had stopped, but the edges were a very bright red color. "Maybe it is, just that it wasn't that way when I last check it"

Glorfindel bandaged it again, and told them that the faster they got them to Rivendell the better. After all, they needed some rest.

"Where are Elrohir and Legolas?" he asked, noting that they weren't present.

"Elrohir was caught in the avalanche with me, and when I came out, I didn't see him, we have been looking for him ever since. And Legolas when to search a little further, and we haven't seen him return" Elladan said.

This was a serious matter, knowing that Elrohir was still trapped on the snow, and that Legolas was still missing. Knowing that they were already too worried, he tried to reassure them "Do not worry, I am sure that the other searching parties will find them" He only hoped that they would find them soon enough.

After the horses were brought, Glorfindel gave Estel and Elladan a small piece of lembas bread. They gratefully took it, as they were really hungry.

After finishing it, they were getting ready to leave to Rivendell, but just as Elladan stand up, his eyes rolled out, and he fell to the floor, unconscious. Maybe they wound was poisoned after all.

TBC...

Umm, was that an evil cliffie? Sorry, I couldn't help it. More is coming next week!

Author's notes: Any suggestions or opinions are always welcomed. As always, your reviews mean a lot to me. Thanks to all my reviewers.

Response to Reviewers:

HarryEstel: Yes, I know, sometimes cliffies are just the right place to stop.

Slayer3: Your welcome mellon-nin. Yes, they really should stay inside. In your closet? Do you really want to be on the receiving end of their pranks? Well, maybe they will behave. :)

CKlovesme2040: Here is an update. Yes, in due time they should get better.

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Deana: Thanks, another chapter is here!

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