Hey! I'm sorry I took so ling to update, but my spiders were teething and putting up a fuss so I couldn't type. I promise I'll update every second day from here on in if you want me too! Silmir,

They set off at a slow pace and Elladan was soon wishing for his cloak, which had been taken from him along with all his weapons. Elrohir had grown paler, but he was still breathing. Lulled by the slow rhythmical movement of the cart Elladan drifted into sleep.

When he awoke night had properly fallen and a few stars peeked through the veiled sky; the cold chill hit him as he opened his eyes. The cart came to a sudden halt and the wheels shuddered in the snow. Elrohir moaned and shifted slightly. Suddenly voices drifted out of the gloom.

"Damn it!"
"You said to drive this way. On your own head be it, if they escape."

"Come on lads. Quick fend them off, they're only small!"

Elladan opened his eyes; advancing on them came ten or so small scuttling spiders.

Well in comparison to the Mirkwood spiders Elladan had seen, they were small but still they stood at almost half the height of the men trying to fight them off.

( A/n There're teething remember)

Elladan moved himself in from of Elrohir, calling his name softly. The men where shouting incoherently in the hope that it would daunt the attackers, but unbeknownst to them one scuttled towards the two elves. Elladan wished he still had his bow on him as he kicked out, trying to defend his brother. The spider didn't take well to being kicked at and lunged at the elf sinking its two fangs into his leg, Elladan cried out.

This roused his brother quickly, he seemed unhurt though thoroughly shaken at the sight of the spiders. "Elladan tell me that didn't bite you!" Elrohir said despairingly; his eyes seemed unfocused, but in them his deep concern for his brother showed. "I'll be fine," Elladan said resolutely "'twas only small."

With a mix of luck and reasonable fighting the men had shaken the spiders, leaving them behind in the dense forest. They soon came out into the open; the air grew cooler and the stars that peeked through the cloudy sky were mirrored in the blanket of snow. The men picked up their pace.

By the end of the night Elladan's condition had worsened tenfold; he trembled, his breath coming in short uneven gasps. The poison had evidently been potent in the spider and if it was affecting Elladan this badly Elrohir hated to think what it would do to Estel if he reached the same fate.

As they travelled Elrohir had managed to untie his ropes and he placed a hand gently on Elladan's brow; his skin was feverish. Elladan moaned softly. "Hold on Elladan it will pass." Elladan opened one eye slowly, "Mae govvan Elrohir," Elladan answered weakly, a soft smile playing on his lips. Between his struggles for breath he spoke to his brother.

" Are you alright Elrohir?"

Elrohir nodded mutely and wrapped an arm around his twin against the swiftly coming cold. Elladan closed his eyes and started shaking again; Elrohir tightened his grip on his brother's shoulder. Elladan murmured something incoherently in his sleep, he trembled as if worn out and with a sharp shake from Elrohir, he opened his eyes again.

"Elladan are you still alive there?" he said lightly, hoping to raise his brother's spirits. "Yes I believe so." Elladan moaned, then looked around still trembling as though he had been running for days. Elladan closed his eyes and fell asleep again. Elrohir tensed, waiting; but this time Elladan lay still and restful as the day's first light drifted across the snow-blanketed land. Elrohir had never been this way on hunts and presumed they where far away from Rivendel, far from the border guards' eyes.

Elladan had woken up again and was lying still, listening to the waking of the world, the light was still feeble and it had barely touched the light frost.

"Get out," growled a voice from the darkness. Elrohir quickly slipped his hands into the loose ropes. Elladan stumbled out and fell onto the snow. His brother leapt lightly next to him and knelt on the ground, his back to his twin. He slid one arm through he rope and grabbed Elladan's hands pulling him to the his feet. "Hannon lle, brother." Elladan whispered. From the seemingly barren landscape a dark hut rose ominously, its windows boarded up and snow covering its thatched roof.

The two elves where dragged through a door that looked to be nearing the end of it's life and roughly pushed into the corner; dust flew up around them and settled in their clothes.

The men came in with a lit candle; its flame jumped up, illuminating the cobwebs and rotten timbers. Elladan fell into a restless sleep and Elrohir keep a watch over him. Though it was high noon outside no light filtered through the grimy windows, and equally filthy curtains were pulled tight across. The day passed with many shouts and arguments breaking out between their captors; Elrohir wished they would be quiet for the throb in is head was getting worse and Elladan stirred whenever they raised their voices.