Chapter 12

So Close, So Far Away

Legolas bent low over Arien's broad neck, whispering to him softly. Off to his side he could see Elrohir urging his horse onward. They had been going quite fast, and Arien needed no prodding, for he felt ashamed for leaving his master and wanted to get back quickly to help. Legolas had long since noticed how the stallion's limbs shook from fatigue, but that did not stop him.

A few minutes later Arien pulled to an abrupt stop, nearly un-seating Legolas. Elrohir noticed, turned, and came back to them, giving the prince a confused look.

"I don't know. He just stopped." Legolas said, rubbing the horse's neck and talking to him quietly, but still, Arien did not move from where he stood. His ears were pricked forward, listening intently and testing the wind, searching for a familiar smell.

Then all at once he seemed to have found it and sprang away, going in a slightly different direction than they had been, ignoring Legolas' voice and commands. Legolas did not persist, for Elrond had said the horse would be useful in finding Aragorn and Elladan, and now that seemed to be kicking in.

Arien flew through the trees, breathing hard, and yet barely made a sound. The ground beneath them was soft and springy with dew, easily hiding his normally heavy footfalls. Legolas hung on tightly as the horse galloped away, praying to find something, and that Arien would get there in time.

A short while later Legolas felt Arien slow his canter to almost a walk, then stop altogether. Arien turned his head and looked at Legolas wistfully, and nicker at him almost too softly to be heard. Legolas knew they were close, so close that Arien had stopped to avoid any mistakes. Legolas quickly and quietly dismounted, and waited for Elrohir to dismount when he caught up to them.

They left the horses in the trees with the assurance that they would not go anywhere, and began to head in the right direction, following the now still fresh trail of Arien and Hísië. It was easy to follow since there had been no intention of hiding it, even in the dark. For the next short while they slowly picked their way to where their family members were.

It wasn't long until both of them received the familiar twinge of dread creep over them, and soon they could both hear sounds that did not belong to the forest. They knew what they were. Soon they were close enough to see them. The orcs had built a large fire in the middle of a clearing and gathered around it, while many continually glanced over to one cluster of trees with looks of glee. The demon remained outside of the gibbering, but rather contented himself to only watch the cluster carefully, then look up at the sky. To an observer, he watched with hate and distrust.

Legolas and Elrohir moved forward as silently as shadows, not alerting any of the enemy to their presence. When they felt they could go no farther, they hid behind many thick bushes.

"Well, what do you want to do?" Legolas asked, nodding toward the clearing and it's occupants. Elrohir watched them without speaking for a few moments, and then turned back towards the prince.

"They keep looking at that cluster of trees," Elrohir began, nodding in its direction. "I don't think it will take to much effort to guess why."

"But why would they leave them over there? They aren't near the orcs at all, they just tied them up in the trees and left them?" Legolas looked astounded that the orcs could have made it so easy for them.

"No, they've done something to them. They've both probably been beaten, then left in the cold to freeze, or they already . . ." Anger and fear rippled over Elrohir's features, adding to the tension that was already building in Legolas' heart.

"Come," Elrohir said, gesturing Legolas to come with him. "Let's go see if we can find out what they've done. Then we'll know how badly they'll need help."

Legolas nodded, and they both crept forward. Crawling on all fours like spiders, slinking like snakes, they made their way through the grass; around the trees, under bushes, until they had made it to the group of trees that caused such interest to what remained of the orc party.

Even before they got there they could both smell something odd and sweetish, but horrifyingly familiar. Legolas looked behind him at Elrohir when he first noticed it, and Elrohir nodded and urged him to go forward faster.

Legolas increased his speed, but still barely made a noise. Elrohir followed him carefully, up until they could see through the dense trees and what they hid.

Legolas waited for Elrohir before he looked. The sweet, but sharp smell was almost overpowering to his keen nose, and he knew that Elrohir could smell it just as well. When Elrohir was next to him, at the same time they peeked out through the tree trunks and into a living nightmare.

Both Elladan and Estel were bound to the trees with their arms behind them and knelt on the ground as best they could with their legs on either side of the tree's base. Elladan was closer to where Elrohir and Legolas were, and they could see him much better. His eyes were shut from the torture and emotional damage he had gone through. Now he was wandering through the hazy clouds of his mind, forced to relive everything he had witnessed and endured. His hair covered much of his face, but both the on-lookers could see the hidden tearstains, plus the bruises and gashes that lined his face, neck, and arms, and through the large rents and tears in his tunic. He sagged against his bonds, and did not move.

Legolas heard a strange whimper next to him, and looked at Elrohir. Elrohir's face was suddenly drawn and tight, and he was trying to hold in his emotions; but Legolas did not miss the pain-filled cry that sounded like a sob of a lonely traveler on a hill far away. Legolas reached forward and gripped Elrohir's arm tightly, and did not move as Elrohir gripped him back.

After a few moments Legolas tugged at Elrohir's arm, jerking his head toward Estel. The young man was more hidden from their view in the place they were in, and he wanted to find out how badly his friend had been hurt, and judging by how Elladan looked, he feared the worst.

Legolas carefully made his way over to where Estel was. Again the sharp sweet smell grew stronger as they got closer. Legolas did not even wait for Elrohir this time, and quickly he peered through the trees and at the human.

He slapped his hand over his mouth to keep from alerting the orcs with his barely retained cry.

What he feared the worst was there, only so much more . . .

Legolas was right behind Estel, and could see his back clearly. It was layered with nothing but thick and heavy whiplash marks. It looked as though the demon had beaten him so hard there was hardly anything left. The sweet smell had now come into full clarity – Estel had been bleeding badly. The skin was horribly broken and inflamed, and in some places aside from the whip marks still held the marks of the orc beating. Legolas reached around the tree and touched one of his hands. It was a pasty white and frigid to the touch from the tight ropes that bound him back. He had not moved since the orcs had left him there.

Thoughts of the paper in his pocket came back, and Legolas moaned. "Estel . . ." Legolas whispered as he gripped the human's hand tightly. How did he know?

Elrohir reached around on the other side and latched onto the young man's other hand, leaned forward, and rested his head against the tree trunk. Moments later, he looked over at Legolas, shame and anguish written on his features.

"What are we going to do?" he whispered to the prince. Legolas knew what Elrohir was thinking. How were they going to help either of the captives? The orcs and the demon were continually glancing over to where they were, so there was no way they could free either of them without alerting someone. They were already playing with fire as it was. Helplessness crushed both of them.

"We need help." Legolas said as he tightened his hold on Aragorn's hand. "We can't do this alone. Elrond is coming. We'll have to wait for him."

"But Legolas!" Elrohir whispered back a little harshly. "They need help now! Look at them! We don't even know if they are still alive!" his voice choked at the thought. "We can't even find out, not really, not without getting caught. We're stepping too close to the line as it is."

Legolas sighed and shut his eyes. Elrohir was right. They couldn't get caught, that wouldn't do Elladan or Estel any good. But not knowing if either of them were even alive! The very thought and uncertainty was maddening.

"Wait . . ." Legolas said as he noticed something. Had he seen him move? He looked back over at Estel and carefully watched his back. The entire length of it was bloody, red, and raw, and he could see the ranger's back shine and flicker slightly. Then, ever so gently, he felt one of the man's fingers twitch in his hand.

"He's still alive! I felt him move slightly." Legolas could not keep the slight relief out of his voice, but with it came panic. Time was slipping from them, life slipping from Estel as they waited.

"We have to do something!" Legolas hissed at Elrohir. He now understood fully that they needed to do whatever they could. "I'll not sit here and wait, they need help now! Both of them are tarrying to close to the end, we need to get them away from here, and fast!"

"What do you want to do?" Elrohir asked, not angry, but harsh. "We can't get caught!"

"I don't know. . ." Legolas thought for a moment. "We need to draw the orcs and the demon away for a moment so that we can free them."

Elrohir was about to respond when they heard a strange groan. Both their heads snapped around and looked at Elladan, who had shifted uneasily in his semi-conscious sleep. Elrohir immediately forgot what he was going to say as he quickly rushed over to his twin's side behind the trees and whisper desperately.

"El? Elladan! Please, my brother, say something!" Elrohir said and waited with hope-filled terror for a reply.

At first Elladan did not react, as though he were trying to register what he had heard clearly in the depths of his foggy mind. When he decided it was not a dream, he turned his head slightly toward Elrohir's voice and cracked his eyes open.

"Elrohir?" the word was but a whisper, but at hearing the sound of his twin's voice again, Elrohir thought a part of his heart would burst with joy.

"Elladan! You're alive!" Elrohir reached forward and tightly grasped his twin's hand. Elladan broke out of the daze he was in and tried to hold onto Elrohir's hand, but after so long without blood flow his hands were beyond feeling.

"Elrohir? Elrohir, we need to get out of here! The orcs and the . . ." Elladan froze, remembering something, whipped his head around to the right and looked for Estel. He again saw the human slumped over and not moving, but his left hand was covered by another hand.

"Elrohir, who is . . . Legolas!" Elladan strained his eyes to see the partially hidden elf in the trees.

"Yes, Elladan, it's me."

Elladan could only stare at him as well as he could through the trees in disbelief.

"You . . . you're . . . !" Elladan still could not believe that he was really seeing the prince.

"Yes! Yes I do stand before you. I have not come from the Halls of the Mandos to haunt the living, I am yet alive."

"Elladan, it is Legolas," Elrohir said, "and Ada is on his way, but we have a problem. Elladan, we need to know; what happened? What's wrong with you and Estel? What have they done to you?"

Elladan put his head down at the mention of the past, and spoke so quietly that both Elrohir and Legolas had to lean in closer to hear him.

"They were the ones that we had been running from, the ones we rescued Kathalion from. Obviously you know that story since Legolas is here. Once we got away, we thought we had lost them entirely. We rode long and hard until we stopped here, to rest the horses and ourselves. But something remained with us – some evil shadow stayed behind us, and though it caused worry to even Kathalion, we did not dwell on it as we should have." Elladan stopped for a few moments as he tried to recollect his thoughts and breathe deeply. "They found us. If Kathalion hadn't been alert they may have overtaken us. We sent our horses ahead and Kathalion told us he'd bring us help . . ."

Elladan continued to tell them everything the demon and the orcs had done to them, all their conversation, everything that had transpired. His voice grew weary and pain-filled, but never stopped until he had relieved the whole story on the other two. It was as if he knew that once he had told the story, he would be able to handle it better.

" . . . Then they bound us in these trees, and as much as I tried I could not free myself and help either of us. I could not help him. He hasn't spoken, nor even moved. It took only a few moments for me to realize what had really happened to him – he was bleeding. Bleeding badly. I couldn't help him!" Elladan again hung his head as grief began to overtake him. "Now I do not know even if he still lives. The uncertainty has been nothing short of maddening for my heart. Legolas!" Elladan turned his attention to the prince again, pleading with his eyes. "Does he still live?"

Legolas had maintained a tight grip on Estel's hand throughout Elladan's story, horrified at the turn of events that had taken place. But now he gratefully could give Elladan some comfort.

"He still lives, but is to close to the edge to be of comfort. We've got to get you both out of here."

"They have not hurt me so badly that I can be of no use," Said Elladan, as he tried to sit up better in his bonds. "If you can get me free I swear I will fight to the bitter end with you."

"We have no doubt of that my brother," said Elrohir. "but we have a problem. We don't know how to get you free without attracting attention. Those orcs and the demon are constantly looking over here; we don't know how we're going to release you without them knowing. Do you have any ideas? Both of you need to seek some help and care for your injuries, and we cannot do so with you both bound as you are."

Elladan suddenly looked over toward the mountains a small pink glare was forming in the clouds. It was nearly dawn.

"There is nothing you can do without some way to kill the demon and his orc party." Said Elladan, his voice heart-breakingly soft. "It is nearly dawn the demon will call for both of us soon. We need help that is beyond either one of you to give on your own!"

"I will not just sit here and watch you both die! I will not!" Legolas hissed at him, horrified at the thought. "I'm going to do something to help you or die trying."

"Hold it Legolas." Said Elrohir, piercing the prince with a strong glare. "You will be of no use to us dead. Help us think of a plan."

"We need Ada, Elrohir!" said Elladan. "We can do nothing until we have a worthy force to fight the demon with. You told me he was coming. Just pray he comes swiftly."

"All right." Said Elrohir. He looked over at Legolas quickly, giving him a well-known glance. "Legolas?"

Legolas sighed with anger and regret. "All right. We will wait."

Though, it wouldn't be long before Legolas would hate those easily uttered words. Soon a riot went up amongst the orcs, as though they were waiting for a command. The demon turned to the quickly rising sun and faced the orcs.

"Bring me the prisoners!"

The orcs let loose a loud cheerful cry and many ran for the little tree grove.

"Legolas, come on! We need to get away from here! They cannot see us!" Elrohir whispered urgently, casting a long, heavy look over the captives. Legolas couldn't move, frozen in place.

"Legolas, NOW!" Elrohir hissed as he moved toward the prince and grabbed his arm. Legolas fell into step with the younger twin, but only far enough to hide behind some nearby bushes before turning around and watching in painful silence. The orcs roughly cut an unconscious Aragorn and a horribly weakened Elladan from their confinement in the trees and drug them back into the clearing. Aragorn was too far-gone to try and resist, and Elladan wasn't risking anything, wasn't risking more pain for either of them at the fault of himself.

Legolas pulled his elven knives from their sheathes and clenched them tightly in his hands, as though they were his only source of resistance, the only way he could keep from running out into the clearing like a madman. He knelt on one knee, crossed the blades in front of him, bowed his head, and shut his eyes. Elrohir sat next to him, right there, and yet so far away.

00000000

Elrond leaned low against his horse's neck, following Mithrandir closely. They were so close they had to be. Mithrandir had been going much slower than when they had started, the situation much more serious. But then his sharp elven hearing picked up a sound coming from up ahead of them. Moments later, Mithrandir heard it too, and brought the small company to a halt.

It didn't take long for Elrond to recognize the sound it was hoof beats. And not unfamiliar hoof beats either.

"Mithrandir, horses approach us, and they are some of our own!" and sure enough, they could see two distinct darkened shapes running toward them, steadily growing more clear.

Arien left the other horse behind as soon as he saw the elf lord and made a beeline for him. Stopping next to the Elrond's side he nudged his leg hard and urgently, whickering softly. Understanding the stallion's gestures, Elrond dismounted, and began to follow Arien on foot into the trees. It was as if he could read the horse's mind, and knew that he could no longer ride. One by one, the elven warriors and the wizard followed suit. They all slunk through the grass so silently and swiftly not even an owl could know they were there.

Elrond put his hand on the hilt of his sword, an old habit, as he followed his youngest son's stallion, who apparently knew just where to go.

00000000

"So! Have recent events made you want to tell the truth now?"

Elladan was the only one alive enough to answer, but he just couldn't. He was too wrapped up in what was happening to Estel. The demon didn't really mind that he was being openly ignored. What was happening to the young man was more intriguing to watch then try to break the elf just yet. Besides, it was happening without his help anyway. The orcs obviously thought the man was trying to feign unconsciousness, and were trying to wake him.

Flinching hard and none too discretely, Elladan watching with sorrow-filled heartache and fear as he watched them shake and slap the human. But he couldn't do anything! They'd kill him without a second thought, and Estel would be left without his protection. They'd put an end to him so slow it would make the toughest warrior tremble in horror. He wouldn't risk that. Inwardly, he prayed for help, for release, for . . . his father.

00000000

Arien continued right through the forest, Elrond and the others right on his heels. The stallion often lifted his head to test the air, and increased his speed as much as he dared. Something was happening, and he wasn't the only one who could sense it.

Elrond could also sense shreds of evil in the air, and stayed in step with the stallion. He could see and hear things that were still distant, but not unrecognizable. He moved swifter, dreading what he might find waiting for him. Looking forward, he could see firelight.