Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hey there people! Gives the site a suspicious look. Still here, still working? Going to put out the author alerts like it's supposed to? Hmm, we'll see. Anyway, thank you all so much for your reviews! Hmmm, seems a lot of you think that I am particulary evil. MWAAHHHH! Well, I am! LOL! Thank you all so much for your reviews! I love you all! A huge thanks to my beta enb2004 who has one of the best HP stories out there. As promised, here is Chapter 8! Enjoy!
Five days had passed in Mirkwood and both Elladan and Estel had finally been let out of the healing wing, much to Himband's dismay. Everyone agreed though that it had been a wise move.
Elladan had been the first to be let out of the healing wing. His leg had healed quite nicely but was still somewhat tender. He was on strict instructions not to put to much weight on it too often. Many were positive the only reason he had been let out was because of his and Estel's incessant complaining.
Surprisingly enough, Estel had recovered very swiftly and by the third day he had been in the healing wing, he was close to driving everyone in the palace to madness. When Himband had finally let Estel go, one could have sworn that they had heard all of Mirkwood sigh in relief.
Even though Estel had been released from Himband's care, it did not get him out of being mothered to death by every healer, his brothers, and the royal family every chance they got.
Despite his insistence that he was fine, everyone just raised skeptical eyebrows before telling him to go back to his bedroom and rest some more. To put it mildly, Estel was fed up with it.
"So, what are you up to today tithen gwador?" Elladan asked as he entered Estel's room.
Estel scowled at him in response. "The same thing that I have been doing for the past five days Elladan! Being confined to my room with everyone coming in and checking on me every half an hour."
"It is for you own good Estel," Elrohir said as he caught the trail end of the conversation.
Estel scowled at the younger twin before looking out the window dejectedly.
"Well, I do have some good news for you brother," Elrohir said with a smile.
"What?" both Estel and Elladan asked together in surprise.
"I have just spoken to Himband and he believes that it might do you, as well as everyone else, some good if you were to spend a little time outdoors today," Elrohir said with a smile.
Estel sprang out of bed and hugged Elrohir tightly. "Oh thank you, thank you Valar!" he exclaimed.
The twins just shook their head in amusement at their little brother's antics. The way he was acting, one would think he hadn't been outside in five months, not five days!
"You are to take it easy though Estel. If I find out that you have overexerted yourself again, there will be hell to pay," Elladan said menacingly.
"You are one to speak Elladan. I thought that Himband told you to stay off that leg for a while more," Elrohir said.
Elladan scowled but sat down on Estel's bed nonetheless. "Shoo, be gone with you. I know you want to go to the gardens. Legolas shall join you soon enough probably. I just wish I could join you," he said longingly.
"Don't worry Elladan, you'll be up and around before you know it," Estel snickered. Finally! The roles had at last been reversed.
"Don't do anything that you might regret Estel," Elrohir warned as Elladan shot Estel a scathing look.
"Don't worry, I won't!" he called back as he quickly left the room before his brothers could change their minds.
"Humans," the twins muttered fondly.
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Behind one of the various statues that resided in the palace, Gorothdil watched as the creature left its room. Shortly afterwards, the twin sons of Elrond left as well. Now was his chance.
He had set up quite the distraction that was sure to keep everyone busy for quite a while. Oh yes, the horses would be in quite the panic when their stable erupted into flames.
Everyone would be so busy trying to put the flames out and getting the horses to safety, they would never hear the urchin's plea's for help. With all the commotion, they would never even realize a scuffle had taken place until it was too late. It was perfect.
Making sure that no one was in the hall, he silently crept into the urchin's room. Scanning the room, he positioned himself in the darkest corner of the room besides the bed.
Yes, here he would wait until the urchin entered. Then, he would attack. At last, after sixteen years of waiting, his time of revenge had finally come.
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Within Imladris, Erestor was pacing up and down in Elrond's study. Normally, Erestor was not someone who was prone to pacing, but in this case, he would make an exception.
He was worried. Extremely worried. Elrond's visions were not normally as specific as the one he had had about Estel. Erestor shivered when he thought about the images that Elrond had described.
He prayed to the Valar that Glorfindel would get to Mirkwood before some harm could befall Estel. By now he knew that both Elrond and Glorfindel were probably nearing their destinations. They would not have stopped for anything, not when the stakes were so high.
Erestor was jerked out of his pacing by a harried looking servant. "Forgive me Lord Erestor, but this just arrived sir," the servant said handing Erestor a sealed message.
Erestor looked at the message and felt his stomach drop somewhere around his feet. He didn't know why, but he had a very bad feeling about this message.
"Thank you, that will be all," Erestor hastily dismissed the servant. The servant bowed and left the room quickly.
Once the servant had left, Erestor sank down into a chair and turned the message around. He frowned in thought. Could Glorfindel have reached Mirkwood already? There was only one way to find out.
Erestor broke the seal and unfolded the piece of parchment and began to read.
Lord Elrond of Imladris
Mellon nin,
Please, forgive me my old friend, I have betrayed the trust you place in me.
Erestor paled as he realized just who was the author of the message and to whom the message was meant for. This was from Thranduil to Elrond. Glorfindel hadn't arrived yet and the beginning of the letter did not sound good at all. Swallowing hard, he read the rest of the letter.
Estel has fallen ill with some unknown ailment and I'm afraid that Himband has been unable to identify it. I believe it would be best if you would make your way to Mirkwood with all haste. Once more, forgive me mellon nin. Your were right, we should have stayed on in Imladris for a few more days. Perhaps then, none of this wouldn't have happened. My sincere apologies.
Your old friend,
Thranduil
After finishing the letter, Erestor jumped up and started to swear in several different languages for a good few minutes. This was not good at all. He had to forward this message to Elrond, and quickly.
He wondered if Estel's mysterious ailment had to do with the unknown assailant that Elrond had seen in his vision. After having knowing Estel for quite some time, Himband was more than used to the various illnesses that Estel seemed to pick up. For him not to be able to identify and treat this illness was very worrisome.
Perhaps the assailant had already struck Estel with some kind of poison? Erestor grimaced at the thought. Valar willing it was only a different kind of illness that Estel had picked up, one that they hadn't seen before.
Deep inside though, Erestor knew that it was not so. Sighing, Erestor sat down and looked out the window while praying to the Valar for Estel's safety. He knew that there was not much time left.
"Hurry Glorfindel," Erestor whispered to the air.
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Deep within the woods of Mirkwood, Glorfindel was riding full out. Ever since he had entered the realm of Mirkwood, he had felt a sense of extreme unease that had nothing to do with the various foul creatures that lurked in the shadows.
Every fiber of his being was telling him that he had to hurry for Estel was in serious danger. The closer he got to the palace, the more pronounced this feeling became.
Glorfindel urged his horse to go all the more faster as a sudden sense of dread filled him. If he didn't get there soon, he would be too late, if he wasn't already.
No! He could not think like that. He would get to Mirkwood in time to save Estel if it was the last thing he did. Estel was not going to be killed, not while he still lived!
As the forest flew by, Glorfindel finally saw the gates of the palace, and something that made his heart jump into his throat.
Smoke was rising from the palace and screams could be heard even from a distance.
"By the Valar, I'm too late," he whispered brokenly.
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Estel couldn't believe his luck. He had never thought that his brothers would allow him to go to the gardens. He had quickly left his room before they could change their mind.
He loved the palace gardens. There was always at least one type of plant in bloom. If it wasn't so cold out currently, he could have stayed there for hours.
As it was though, the temperature felt quite cold to him and he was somewhat weary. Not that he would tell his brothers that of course. Estel lingered for a while longer and continued to stroll through the different paths, simply enjoying the beauty that surrounded him. As he walked, his thoughts turned to Legolas.
Legolas hadn't been able to join him unfortunately. He had gotten held up in one of his father's many councils, much to his disgust. If there was one thing that Legolas hated, besides yrch, spiders, and wargs, it was councils. He had complained to Estel and his brothers many times about them but had yet been able to get out of attending one.
A sudden cold breeze blew up making Estel shiver. Sighing, Estel decided that it was time to head indoors. He was starting to feel really cold and a nice warm fire sounded particularly good.
Much to his surprise, he didn't encounter his brothers. Estel had thought for sure that they would hound him the second he walked inside for staying outdoors for too long.
Deciding not to question his luck, Estel headed for his room. Maybe if he was lucky, he could take a quick nap without the twins and Legolas ever knowing.
As Estel entered his room though, all his senses suddenly went on alert. There was someone in the room with him, he was certain of that.
"Very funny Elladan. I won't fall for this prank again! How stupid do you think I am?" Estel said aloud.
But Elladan didn't answer him. The hairs on Estel's neck stood on edge as he nervously scanned his bedroom. His instincts were screaming at him that there was something very wrong here and that he should run for it. Slowly, Estel started backing up towards the door, fully intent on running for it as soon as he opened it.
He never got the chance though. One minute he was standing up and the next he was on the floor and the world was spinning out of control around him.
Normally, Estel would not have called for help as his pride would not allow it. Right now though, he was unarmed, dizzy, tired, and someone was attacking him. Pride forgotten Estel cried out, hoping that someone would hear him. "Someone! Help!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
He heard his attacker growl and he rolled to the side just in time to avoid what would have been a viscous kick to the ribs.
To his shock, he saw that his attacker was an elf. A very angry elf by the looks of things.
"Who are you?" Estel questioned angrily, as he avoided yet another blow.
The dark elf didn't answer though. He did, however, lunge for Estel, who nimbly avoided him.
"Hello little urchin. What, you don't remember me? How disappointing. I guarantee that you won't forget me this time! Hmm, on second hand, you won't be alive to remember!" the intruder sneered.
"Who are you?" Estel demanded again as he searched frantically for an escape route. This was bad, very bad. He was trapped in a corner without any weapons with an obviously insane elf that was after his blood.
"No one is going to here you this time urchin. This ends here and now," the elf growled as he drew his long, very sharp sword.
Seeing the sword, Estel shouted out for help again. "SOMEONE, ANYONE, HELP ME!"
It was too late for Estel though. Before he had even realized what was happening, the elf had pinned him to the floor and was slowly bringing down his sword in order to stab him.
Translations:
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Adar: Father
Mellon nin: My friend
Tithen gwador: Little brother
A/N 2: Hehe, so, how many of you are about ready to kill me? Ducks sharp and heavy objects. Running the other way now! See you all in a few days! Tata!