Elrohir saw Elladan fighting the orc, saw him fall. Then he himself was attacked by two orcs at once, and had to concentrate on his own fight. When he had a moment to look again, Elladan had disappeared.

Elrohir engaged orc after orc in battle, always keeping one eye out for his brother. If the orcs had taken him, just after he thought he had him safe again… He wasn't sure what he would do.

He also hoped Katie was alright. She was nowhere to be seen, which hopefully meant she had found a safe place away from the fighting and was staying there.

The noise of battle finally quieted across the field as the last orcs were swiftly despatched. Elrohir lowered his sword and looked around at his comrades.

There were a number of wounded; he and Aragorn would have their hands full patching them up. But there must not have been any men killed; it seemed they were all there—all except Elladan and Katie.

"Elladan!" he called desperately.

000

Katie struck the orc on the neck, and it seemed to her in that horrifying moment that its head seemed to move loosely from its shoulders, black blood spraying everywhere. It crumpled without a sound at Elladan's feet.

"Quick!" she said, sticking her sword clumsily back into its sheath. She grabbed Elladan's knife with one hand and hauled him to his feet by his good arm with the other, then half-coaxed, half-dragged him out of the battle and to the shelter of a small copse of trees.

When he caught his breath, he took his knife from her and moved to run back and help his comrades.

"No!" Katie caught him across the chest with both hands and struggled to hold him back. "They're fine! You're no good to them wounded and exhausted!"

"I have to—have to help Elrohir!" he panted.

"You'll help him a lot more by surviving!" she countered sternly. "It almost killed him when he thought you were dead before. Stay here and keep yourself safe!"

Elladan stopped struggling and looked at her blankly. Suddenly, his knees seemed to give way, and he slumped to the ground.

"Elladan?" Katie asked in panic.

He waved her off. "I am fine, gwathel-nín," he protested breathlessly. "I am just a little more winded than I thought." He turned his attention back to the battle, seeking out Elrohir's shape in the firelight.

Katie suddenly felt extremely ill, now that they were out of the immediate danger and her adrenaline rush had slowed. Weak-kneed, she bent over and retched into the high grass.

"Katie?"

"I'm fine," she managed after a moment, trying to make her words lighter by imitating him. "I'm just more winded than I thought."

000

"Elladan?" Elrohir called, panicked. "Elladan!"

"Right behind you, Brother," Elladan called back

Relief flooded back through Elrohir so intensely that he felt his legs wouldn't hold him up. He had to lean on his sword as Elladan and Katie appeared from their hiding place beneath a copse of trees. Both of them looked pale and grim, but whole.

"Elrohir!" Aragorn called from nearby, and he had to sheath his sword and move quickly to help with the wounded.

A few of the soldiers had deep cuts which would need sutured. Aragorn and Elrohir set to work at once. Legolas directed the uninjured soldiers to help their wounded comrades and clear the orc bodies away from the immediate area.

Katie stood in the middle of the camp as if entranced, watching the proceedings vaguely.

"Katie? Katie, come sit down," Elladan said gently.

Katie shook herself and looked up at him. "No, I'll help," she volunteered, and moved over to Elrohir to hand him bandages.

Elrohir finished suturing a soldier's arm, and took the bandages abstractedly. He paused, noticing blood on the white cloth.

"Katie, you are hurt!" he exclaimed.

Katie stared down at her left hand. There were small slices in her thumb and first two fingers.

"Wow," she said vaguely. "When did I do that?"

Elrohir mistrusted the look on her face; she looked like she was going to pass out. "Katie, mellon-nín, sit down," he said gently. She obeyed promptly, and he gave her a clean cloth to press against her hand until it stopped bleeding.

"I think I must've cut it when I sheathed my knife," she said as Elrohir finished bandaging up the soldier's arm. Her voice sounded much clearer and stronger.

"Your knife?" Elrohir said in surprise. "Did you have to use it?"

Elladan managed a chuckle. "You should have seen her, muindor-nín! She ran over, shouting like a madwoman, and cut that orc's head right off!"

Katie shuddered. "Ce mae?" Elrohir asked her in concern.

She managed a weak smile. "I'll be fine," she assured him. "There, it's stopped bleeding," she said, looking down at her hand.

"Katie," Elladan said gently, "do you know what this means?" She frowned at him, confused. "You are a hero. You saved my life."

Katie leaned away, appalled. "No-oo—no, I'm not a hero," she said, looking very uncomfortable. Elladan and Elrohir exchanged a grin. "I was terrified! I threw up in the bushes!"

Elrohir laughed. "That is what most soldiers do in their first battle."

Katie continued to protest. Laughing, Elladan leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Thank you, mellon-nín."

Katie blushed and smiled. "Sa 'ell nîn," she said quietly.

Elrohir stood. "These bodies must be cleared away and burnt, and then I think we should move camp," he suggested to Aragorn and Legolas, who had come over to hold conference with him. "We could all use a good night's sleep."

"I agree with that whole-heartedly," Elladan said feelingly, unconsciously cradling his arm.

"You must let me have a look at that," Aragorn said, kneeling beside him. Elladan gave in without an argument.

"Elrohir?" Katie said in a small voice as the elf was turning to get to work. He looked down at her. "Please tell me there are no more orcs out here?" she said plaintively.

Elrohir smiled widely. "There are no more orcs out here, Estel-oneth."

"Good," she said, and closed her eyes wearily.

000

Arwen and a number of her guests were seated in a comfort able sitting room. Arwen and Mistress Rose both stitched silently while the children played quietly nearby. Elanor was entertaining Elboron. They had become fast friends since Elboron's arrival. Little Rose, Pippin, Goldilocks and Ham were playing with a set of wooden blocks and trying to keep Daisie from putting them in her mouth.

Arwen put down her sewing and stared abstractedly into the middle distance. Mistress Rose looked at her with some concern. It had been almost a week since the King and Lord Elrohir had ridden off in search of Lord Elladan, and the Queen was quite anxious about her husband and brothers.

Hiding the worry in her voice, Mistress Rose said comfortably, "I am sure they will be back soon. Daisie, Darling, blocks are not for eating."

Arwen looked over at her small guest and forced a smile. "Yes. You are right. They are all doughty warriors, with many years' experience behind them."

"Many years," Rose said with a smile, and Arwen managed a more genuine smile in return.

"What is that sound?" Elanor asked, looking up from where she was sitting with Elboron.

Now that she listened, Mistress Rose could hear servants bustling about and exclaiming outside the room. In a moment, a maid entered and curtsied quickly.

"What is all the excitement about, Gelladareth?" Arwen asked her.

"The search party has returned, My Lady!" Gelladareth answered excitedly.

Arwen and Rose put down their stitchery and flew toward the entrance hall as fast as decorum would permit. "Elanor, watch the children!" Rose called over her shoulder.

Arwen quickly outdistanced her guest in her distraction, and Rose found her at the doors, scanning the approaching riders for her loved ones. "There he is!" she cried when she found her husband in the front. "And Elladan!"

In a moment, Rose picked out the tall figures of Aragorn and the Queen's brothers. Elladan's right arm was in a sling and he held the reins in the other hand. As they came closer, Rose saw that Katelyn Elvellon rode behind Elrohir, with Legolas beside them. They had all returned!

As soon as they pulled up and dismounted, Arwen embraced her husband and her brothers in quick succession. "Oh, but you are hurt!" she exclaimed.

"A broken arm; nothing more," Elladan hastened to reassure her. "Careful, muinthel-nín, you will dirty your dress," he added as she gave him another relieved hug.

"And what does that signify, pray?" she declared, laughing and hugging her husband again. "We have you all back safely. Elboron will be glad to see that you have returned," she added to Katie. "He has been asking after you ever since you left! He seems to know you were responsible for saving him."

"She was responsible for saving many more than him," Elladan said, putting his hand on Katie's shoulder. Katie blushed and ducked her head with a smile.

"That story will wait until you are all rested, and yes, cleaner!" Rose interjected. "Into the house, all of you!"

They all laughed and moved to obey her.

TBC

AN:

Ce mae?—Are you alright? (Sindarin Phrasebook)

Sa 'ell nîn.—My pleasure. (Sindarin Phrasebook)

Gelladareth is a Sindarin translation of Abigail. (Council of Elrond Name Database)

My brother graduated from college this morning, and this evening is our extended family Christmas party!
Thanks to everybody who reviewed; you're keeping me from being too bored over break!

Please review!