Chapter Three

Dreams Recalled, Danger approaches

Elladan hissed between his teeth as the sudden flood of memories of his childhood dreams came back assaulting his reason. His eyes took in the white flowers scattered across the field, the small rolling hills, and the darkened trees in the distance. Behind him the trees loomed up reaching high to the sun. He swallowed the lump in his throat and he ran his fingers through his hair. He cast a glance at his brother who watched him with narrowed eyes.

"It cannot be so, Ella." Elrohir glanced around him taking in the field. "This place is beautiful."

Elladan shook his head and turned horror filled eyes away from his brothers piercing ones. "It is not beautiful to me." He whispered nudging his horse around to reenter the protection of the trees.

"What are you doing?" Elrohir asked urging his horse to follow. "Are we retracing our steps?"

Elladan nodded furiously. "I will not enter this meadow."

Elrohir frowned curiously, but followed without question. Elrohir paused however when the cracking of wood reached his ears. He stopped his horse and turned in the saddle cocking his head to the side listening intently. "Elladan." He hissed quietly.

Elladan turned in his saddle looking at his brother.

The younger of the twins furrowed his forehead and turned his concerned eyes to his brother's matching ones. "Listen."

Elladan mimicked his brother's pose, and his keen hearing caught the faint sounds of something trudging through the forest making a dreaded racket. He urged his mount and pulled up along side his brother. "We must hide. Something is tracking. Either us or something else." Elladan whispered so quietly; anyone else would think it naught but the wind.

Elrohir nodded, and quickly dismounted. He shouldered his saddlebag and unclasped the long sword clipped to the leather strapping of the horses harness gear. He unbridled the horse and gently swatted the horse causing it to quietly dart into the trees. Elladan's horse followed. Both twins glanced at each other warily and climbed the trees around them, hiding among the leaves and branches.

They sat and waited, both keeping their hearing quirked for signs of the ones in the forest. Elrohir sat up quickly when the shrill whinny of his horse drifted to his hearing. Elrohir winced and cast a glance at his brother who shook his head sadly. Another horses cry reached them, and both elves lowered their heads. They were now on foot, and their quarry knew they were out here. Elladan sighed and swallowed.

"What will we do?" Elrohir whispered.

"Why are you asking me?" Elladan shot his brother a look of confusion.

Elrohir shrugged slightly. "You are older?"

Elladan snorted. He sat and thought frantically. "We cannot travel without mounts, and make it back in the time we gave father. However, being out here for only a few short days will prove to father that we are not ready for travel without guardians."

Elrohir nodded in agreement.

"I do not see how we can continue our journey to Bree. Firstly we must find out what this enemy is. Whether or not we can outrun them, or if it is wiser to stay hidden within the trees."

"They already know we are out here." Elrohir whispered, hearing the approach of heavy footfalls now heading closer to their hidden solace.

Elladan nodded his head, thinking furiously. "Aye, but they do not know where."

Elrohir cringed as a loud screech filled his delicate ears. He squinted his eyes and cast a warning glance at his brother. Elladan nodded and both elves slunk closer to the branches successfully hiding themselves from sight. Elladan bit his lip closing his eyes from the sight that quickly emerged from everywhere.

Elrohir hissed softly seeing the blackened flesh and oozing wounds. "Yrch."

Elladan's eyes shot open instantly. The elder of the twin's clasped his hand over his brother's mouth quickly. Not knowing how keen these beasts hearing was. With wide eyes he leaned over and glanced down seeing whether they were heard. With a silent sigh he leaned back and shot his brother a dirty look. He released his hand and put a finger to his lips signaling silence.

Elrohir nodded giving a look of apology and he wrinkled his nose as the foul smell of the monsters below them wafted up to him. He pinched his nose closed with his fore finger and thumb and shook his head in disgust. Elladan smiled wanly, nodding in agreement. Elladan touched his brother's shoulder catching his attention. The elder twin pointed above him and signaled them to move out of the tree to another further off.

They quickly rose to their feet and silently climbed higher into the branches. Once near the top, Elladan signaled his brother go first, and he cast a wary glance once more below him to see where the orcs were. Elrohir nimbly jumped to the next tree, and swung into the branches without a sound.

Elladan watched his brother climb into the protective shade of the tree before jumping across the wide space himself. He grasped the branch and pulled himself up not so nimbly as his brother had, and rejoined his twin's side.

Elrohir smiled slightly at his brother's flustered look. They nodded to each other and continued their retreat from the forest. Elrohir placed his hand on his brother's shoulder pointing towards the west and smiled widely at the sound that reached his ears.

'The river.' Elladan mouthed.

His twin nodded and jumped to the next branch and crouched waiting for his brother to join him. Elladan stood and his foot slipped on the branch and the look of utter horror crossed his face as his hands gripped the trunk for balance. With eyes wide he looked to his twin who only shook his head in amusement. Elrohir waved his brother over and nodded encouragement. The younger twin watched as his brother closed his eyes and took a deep breath before attempting to jump the distance again.

This time Elladan successfully swung himself up to his brother's side and grinned with accomplishment. Elrohir smiled and the twins once again jumped from branch to branch racing to the river's edge. The last tree stood before them as they crouched down thinking furiously listening to any sounds of pursuit. Hearing none the both jumped out of the tree landing on their feet and flying towards the raging river. They came across an old bridge worn from years of wear and tear. Elladan stopped and listened briefly before nodding to his brother signaling it was safe to cross. Elrohir eyes narrowed at the sight of the swollen river and the worn bridge before them. He turned gray eyes to meet his brother's, and he shook his head pointing to the bridge.

Elladan walked up to his brother and knelt down beside him. "It is our only chance, Ro." Elladan whispered. "They will catch our trail soon enough and we must attempt to cross it."

Elrohir nodded and sighed. "We must be careful. The bridge is older then we are, Ella." He whispered back.

Elladan cocked an eyebrow smiling. "We could always go back?"

Elrohir shot his brother a look of disbelief. Then snorted as he saw his brother's jest. Shaking his head he stood cautiously and proceeded to the bridges edge. He was held back by his brother and pointed over his should to the trees they had left behind. He drew his sword and watched as his brother drew his own. "Quickly now, and as silent as mice."

Elrohir nodded in agreement and placed his foot on the bridge, which creaked in protest at the slight weight that was being added to it. Elrohir lifted his foot warily. He glanced at his brother, took a deep breath and lowered his foot once again. Slowly he lifted his other foot taking another step onto the bridge. It held his weight but still groaned. Elladan followed, backwards, keeping his eyes on the forest behind them as Elrohir kept his eyes locked onto the forest ahead. Back to back the twins crossed the bridge slowly, which left them open and unprotected. Elrohir lowered his head slightly to glance at the raging river below him and he swallowed quickly. He was not one to fear heights, but he knew that this time of year lead to rapids and furiously roaring rivers that left nothing but destruction in their wake.

Both twins froze when the sounds of orcs approached. Elrohir turned around and placed his hand on his brother's shoulder glancing over it to the tree line. Both of them gasped when the black monsters emerged and let out a battle cry of rage. "Go." Elladan barked.

Elrohir turned and broke into a run but lessened his retreat when he did not feel the following footfalls of his brother. Twisting around in mid air the younger twin caught sight of his brother standing facing the orcs, with a drawn bow. With a startled exclamation, Elrohir raced back. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of an orc with bow and arrow locked onto his brother's unsuspecting body. Crying out a warning, and racing across the bridges surface with all the strength he possessed he plummeted into his brother's back, as the twang of the arrow and bow were released. Elladan flew forward and rolled on the hard wooden planks of the bridge. He turned his head at the familiar sound of an arrow's hiss and heard the arrow hit its target. He looked up in time to see his brother's face go instantly white.

Elladan scrambled to his feet and saw the startled expression on his brother's face. Elrohir looked up with pain filled eyes as his hand reached out to support himself with something. His hand connected with the rotting wood of the railing, and the sharp sound of cracking wood echoed through the air. Elladan jumped forward to catch his brother as he tipped and his hands frantically sought out support from his plummet to the raging river below.

"RO!" Elladan cried as his brother's body fell from the bridge's surface and flew to the river below them, landing with a loud splash as his body was pulled under the current. Elladan heard the whistling of arrows being released and he quickly ducked to avoid being hit. He darted to the other side of the bridge and used his sword to cut the ropes of the bridge to stop pursuit. With a second thought, he cut the ropes completely and wrapped his hands around them as he raced down the bed of the river trying to catch sight of his brother.

Elladan frantically climbed over overturned tree stumps and rocks, his eyes searching the river furiously for signs of his brother, but not once did he see him.

Elrohir used his full weight to push his brother out of harms way, not once thinking about his own safety. He saw his brother fly forward relief flooding his body instantly. His felt a smile grow upon his lips but faded as his body lurched backwards when something imbedded itself into his chest. He gasped surprised and lowered his eyes to see the arrow protruding from his left shoulder. He lifted his eyes and met his brother's fear filled ones, and Elrohir reached out for something to support him to remain standing. He grasped the wooden railing and he felt his eyes widen at the distinctive sound of crackling wood as his hands pushed right through the rail. He lost his footing and slipped over the edge. He took a deep breath and he cried out as his body rammed into the river, being pulled under instantly by the current. He frantically used his right hand to swim to the top. But found that the swirling and spinning of the river was confusing him as to which way he was going. He was loosing his battle against the roaring river, loosing his breath quickly, in his panic for air.

Elladan jumped over a fallen tree, and slipped on the slick mud and leaves. His legging caught a waylaid branch and caused him to stumble and fall to his chest. The impact caused him to cry out in pain as he glanced over his shoulder at what had caused him to fall. He pulled his legging from the clutches of the branch. He heard the distinct sound of ripping cloth and felt a warm sticky substance trickle down his leg. He rolled over and pushed his legging up and saw the gash on his calf and he cursed. He scrambled to his feet and picked up the rope and his sword which he quickly sheathed and started his race down river for his brother. A small limp was all Elladan suffered but he cursed at how it was slowing his progress. He glanced towards the river again and slowed his pursuit.

Reason settled into his mind, as he realized if he kept running with haste he could miss the smallest sign of his brother. He stopped running all together and lowered himself to the forest floor sinking his head into his hands. He was alone, and so was his brother.

"Elrohir." Elladan whispered quietly. His brother was injured, and the healing pack lay back by the bridge, with Elrohir's saddlebags. Slowly and feeling defeated, Elladan retraced his steps back to the bridge carefully listening to any sounds of the orcs. His wound prevented a faster retreat as he climbed the hill, and he did his best to ignore the stinging feeling and numbness that started to over take his leg. Night took over and Elladan had to force himself on and finally he caught sight of the bridge a head. He slunk closer to the ground stilling all movements listening for any signs of the orcs, and he remained still until the sun started its rise in the east. Seeing and hearing nothing, Elladan slipped unnoticed from the trees and quickly gathered the abandoned saddlebags, and slung them over his shoulder, and limped back into the trees, where he would clean and tend his wound before tracking his brother down river once again.