Ok longer post this time and hopefully they will stay this way. i have an idea for a sequel to this and so I can leave it on a happy or another ending your choice.
Disclaimer: see second chapter
italics is flashback (and assume that when the elves are talking to each other and no-one else is around they are talking in sindarin (i hope i spelt that right) but i can only write a few words of that but i will put them in for emphasis) Anyway on with the story.
It was morning before Elrond and Elladan finished treating Estel but he had yet to wake up, which part of Elrond had been thankful for as he would be in a lot of pain when he awoke and most of him had been very worried about as he thought it likely that Estel had a bad concussion no matter how hard his head was. Elrond asked Hebrimbor to watch Estel for a while before going to his study which, luckily, wasn't far away. When he got there he was not surprised to find Elrohir and Legolas already there and that Elladan had followed him.
'Here' Elrohir handed him a cup of tea 'and before you ask or look at me or that suspiciously I haven't added anything to it and nor has Legolas' he added as he handed a cup to Elladan as well.
'You need to rest.' came Legolas' comment.
'As always you manage to point out the obvious. And I will as soon as I find out what happened and have checked on Estel again.' Elrond knew he was being more than a little irritable but he knew that the other occupants of the room would attribute it, quite correctly, to his tiredness.
'How is he?' asked Elrohir obviously concerned.
'Still unconscious and not out of danger yet but he should be fine.'
Almost simultaneous sighs of relief came from across the room and Elrond smiled.
'Well then I suppose I should tell you how we happened to be the ones to drag him home this time as I don't believe my brother over there should be allowed to.'
A group of about 5 elves were riding though the woods going back to Rivendell after a successful hunt. They were laughing and may have looked relaxed but were very much alert for the slightest thing that might be wrong. Suddenly they all stiffened and stopped talking. Something was wrong.
Elrohir and Elladan went ahead to scout out what it was leaving their horses with the others once they had gotten a bit closer.
'Yrch'
'I know. They seem excited about something'
'I hate to think what about but we need to find out.'
Silently they moved closer. They were downwind of the camp and up in the trees so they knew that as long as they were careful they would be fine. The two sentries were both distracted by what was going on to and so the twins were able to get quite close without much worry. Unfortunately as soon as they realised what was so interesting they wished that the sentries hadn't been so absorbed by it.
Their little brother Estel was tied to a post in the middle of the camp. He was stripped to the waist and there were orcs all around him. They were jeering and laughing as one and then another of their number went up to him and kicked, punched or cut him. He looked a mess, half covered in blood and dirt. The twins stopped moving for just a second, shocked by the sight and for a second Estel stumbled and looked up for a moment to regain his balance and saw them. Hope flooded his soul and he could stand up a little straighter knowing he would be safe soon.
But seeing this the leader of the orcs stopped and looked around not seeing anything he shouted at the sentries to watch the forest not the sport and turned back to the prisoner.
Shaking out the whip at his belt he said to Aragorn 'We haven't heard you scream yet tonight'
Elladan nearly moved to try to help, to do anything but a look from his brother stopped him.
'We can do nothing to help him without the others except get caught and so take some of the attention away from him by becoming their new sport.'
As the twins slipped away unable to watch and do nothing their brothers cries rang out into the night.
When they got back to the other elves and told them what they had seen they were all in agreement. It was a fairly large camp holding maybe 25, 30 of the foul creatures but Elladan had spotted that at least some of these were injured.
Once night had fallen and they were sure that all but the two sentries were asleep they attacked. First silently taking out the sentries with well placed arrows and then those around the edge of the camp. Unfortunately they had only killed about 5 when a warning was called. Elrohir swiftly shot two who were quick to rise and then jumped down from the tree he was in. A glance at his brother showed that he and Dunthil who he was with were already fighting and then he landed on the ground and was absorbed in the fight.
It had been a hard fight but it was fairly short. The last few surviving orcs turned and ran and two of the elves followed. They couldn't allow any to escape this close to Rivendell and the nearby village. Elrohir hardly noticed however all of his attention was on the unconscious figure slumped against the post he was tied to in the middle of the camp.
Quickly reaching him he cut the ropes tying him to the post and the ones around his wrists and ankles.
'How is he, brother?'
Elrohir was quickly assessing his injuries.
'Bad. We need to get him to ada now.'
'We cleaned him up and bandaged most of the cuts then rode straight here.'
'How far away were you?'
'Near a days ride away. Maybe 20 hours' unexpectedly it was Elladan who had answered, not Elrohir.
'The question is what were they doing so close to Imladris? Do you think they knew or were just being stupider than usual?'
'I don't know but we will think about it when you've had some rest.'
'Of course. Although I'm sure there are enough places in Estel's room for you all to stay there can I please ask that you at least not annoy Hebrimbor too much?'
As they all started to leave Elrond called Elrohir back.
'Can I have a word?' When the other two had left and shut the door he asked 'Do you know what is wrong with Legolas? He didn't say anything just then and that isn't like him at all'
'Yes I do but I am not going to tell you now. In fact I will only tell you when I think you have had enough rest so I suggest you go.'
Shaking his head Elrond left.
it was longer and I am not becoming evil from reading too much fanfiction written by evil authors and so I didn't leave it on a cliffhanger
No-one had reviewed by the time I put this post up so no review responses
please tell me if you like it. I probably will carry on even if no-one reviews because i hate it when i find a story that was written 2 years ago and was stopped because of no reviewers when i really like it. Anyway before i get too annoyed please review please
(and before you tell me i am shamelessly begging i know)