Erestor took a sip of wine. "The first that I knew of anything untoward happening was some time after the fighting had begun, I think, I am not sure. Thalion, one of Ada's captains and two others of the Palace guard came to fetch me back to the palace, but they would not tell what was happening. As we got closer to home, I could hear the commotion, but the sounds were foreign to me. I was led not to the palace, but to the barracks and as we drew closer I was better able to understand what I was hearing, it sounded like a hundred soldiers sparring!

Thalion picked me up then as we got close to the building and I could see the other two guards had turned away from us as a dark haired elf appeared from the bushes. I watched them fight, 'twas then I realised that they were not sparring but fighting in earnest, and the younger of the two was run through, and fell heavily to the ground." Erestor shuddered in recollection, his eyes briefly slipping closed in grief for a lost life. Gil-Galad searched the elfling's eyes when they turned to him once more, but there were too many strong emotions there that he could not tell how Erestor fared, and he wondered if he should stop him, but before he could voice this concern Erestor had begun talking again.

"Thalion placed me on his shoulders and pointed to a window on the upper level of the barracks. He told me that I had to get myself through the window and that he would see me later. I did as I was bid, though I had to stand upon Thalion's shoulders to reach the narrow window. I began to lose my balance and he held up his arms to steady me. So intent was I on reaching the window that I did not see the dark haired soldiers approach, nor did I realise that his arms raised as they were to support me left him defenceless.

I caught the ledge and was grabbed firmly about the wrist by one of the soldiers within the barracks. Thalion's arms fell away from me at once and I think he fell, I never saw him again." Erestor wiped at the tears that spilled from his eyes.

"From there I was ushered into a room where Elwing was waiting and Culannûn, Ada's seneschal was in a heated conversation with Lord Celeborn. Lady Galadriel was present also, she looked as stunned and as lost as I imagine I looked." Erestor paused to take a sip of his wine.

"Elwing hugged me tight, she was crying and I asked her where Ada and Nana were. She did not know, but from the reports I have read of that day since then, I suspect they were already dead. A short time later Eluréd was led into the room.

Lord Celeborn addressed us then, making it clear that we should say goodbye to each other as Elwing was to go with him and what remained of his guard and Eluréd and I were to go with Culannûn and the palace guard.

It was an emotional farewell, Elwing was distraught, though Eluréd was putting on a brave face, and I tried, less successfully I'm sure, to do likewise. Elwing had each of us swear in turn to protect the other and to keep the other safe, and I have not seen her from that day to this."

Unable to keep silent Gil-Galad opened his mouth to speak, but Erestor raised a hand to silence him, "I am certain you have questions, and I may be persuaded to answer them, but I will not do so until my tale is ended." Gil-Galad nodded once, resigning himself to listening to the painful events without comment.

"I had never seen a dead body before that day, but I saw more on our escape from the barracks than I could ever have imagined, even in my worst nightmares. And not just fair haired Sinda elves, but dark haired elves also. I do not ever wish to see the like again.

We received no more than a couple of volleys of arrows on our escape from the barracks. Looking back, it seemed too quiet, but that thought did not register with me at the time, and at that time I think we all still dared to hope.

The barracks were placed in such a way that there were only a limited number of ways out of the maze of buildings. Culannûn led us through a little known and little used path down the side of the laundry and across the herb garden to my Grandmother's walled garden. From there we would have cleared the palace complex and could make our way through the woods.

I should perhaps explain that the group now consisted of my brother and me, thirty or so of the palace guard, some were injured," he said thoughtfully. "And some of the palace staff, my tutor and some of the scribes, we were a mismatched group, and many without skill in the arts of warfare, some even unarmed." Erestor paused and lifted his goblet so that Gil-Galad could fill it.

He took a large draught before continuing. "All was well until we had fully entered the walled garden." Erestor closed his eyes. "I have not the heart to describe what happened next, suffice to say that when the fighting had ceased the ground was wet with blood."

It happened so very quickly, Eluréd and I clung together and it was not until all had been quiet for a time that I dared to open my eyes to see that the dark haired soldiers were searching and looting the bodies of our companions." Gil-Galad cringed, imagining how that must have looked to two innocents, to witness such a massacre and such disrespect at such a tender age.

"I saw Maedhros then; he was knelt by the body of a dark haired soldier, Culannûn's sword still embedded in his chest. Culannûn lay nearby; he looked strangely peaceful despite the blood that covered his face. He looked as if he was sleeping," Erestor raised his haunted eyes to the high king and lifted his hand to his mouth to stifle a hiccup.

"Eluréd whispered to me that we should try to sneak away unnoticed, but we never got the chance as Maedhros fixed eyes full of hate upon us. He gave out an order in Quenya and pointed at the guard that stood closest to us. That guard looked at us and then back to Maedhros.

Eluréd wanted to know what the elf had said; he never had grasped that language. I told him the truth, for I had not the wits to lie" Erestor paused, fixing his large dark watery eyes upon Gil-Galad, "He had ordered us killed."

Gil-Galad cringed and finally gave in to the urge to touch the elfling by laying a hand upon his arm, in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture. Erestor did not move away and he was grateful for that.

"The elf ordered to carry out our execution began to speak to Maedhros, but they spoke so fast, I could not understand more than a fraction of what was said and it was ended with a sword; Maedhros took the life of one of his own men!

It was clear to us that we would not survive much longer, I believe that the Noldo who lost his head at Maedhros's hand that day, refused to kill us.

The next command Maedhros gave was to bind us and search us, we were also blindfolded. And sometime later we were thrown onto horses. I am not certain for how long we travelled, but it seemed like an age, and when finally the horses came to a stand we were tossed to the ground.

The guards talked amongst themselves, but again I was unable to translate their words, and had no idea as to our fate until our blindfolds were removed and a guard sat on his haunches before us. He had a kindly face," Erestor rolled his eyes at his own recollection, "is that not an odd thing to think at such a time?" But Gil-Galad was too absorbed in the horror he was hearing to react to the elfling's observation.

"He spoke to us in Sindarin. Saying that Maedhros was grieved by the death of his brothers and had ordered us to be abandoned trussed as we were, to starve or be killed by some passing beast as the Valar saw fit. His companions had mounted and he stated that once he had checked that our bonds were tight they would leave. When I felt the cold steel at my wrist I thought he meant to do me further injury, but the blade was gone almost as soon as I had sensed it and I felt the rope fall away. He whispered in my ear, that he would give us a chance, and to stay as we were till they were long gone.

After some time, I released Eluréd from his bonds and we tried to get back to the palace, but we were unfamiliar with this part of the forest and could not find our bearings, so after two days of wandering without success, we started the journey south to the sea.

You likely know better than I the time it took us to reach the Nimbrethil, we were weakened by hunger, and the journey was cold and hard.

You know the rest." Erestor finished, his eyes downcast.

Gil-Galad moved then to sit on the divan and snaked an arm about Erestor's waist, and the elfling leaned into the embrace, laying his head upon the High King's shoulder. "There is still a part I do not know, little one, what happened to your brother, what happened to Eluréd?"


A/N CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur, RMC and Ilaaris – Thank you all for your kind comments :o)

Crecy – LOL, Erestor has asked me to return the weapons (he's not too fond of them), but says thanks for the sweets and particularly for the books. Thanks for making me smile :o)

Athanasia – Thank you for your comments, I'm glad you are enjoying it. Of course you are correct about Maedhros, and I can see how my words might have misled (I meant dark in tone, not dark in colour)