Disclaimer: If you think I own JRR Tolkin's Middle Earth then you need your head read – and fast!

Double, Double

Sequel to Elemmire and Amdir

A/N: A bit of fluff for you before we get into the serious story line… Enjoy! Thanks to all reviews. I appreciate very muchly….

Chapter Three. Into the Wilds

Elemmire ran forward and greeted his small dapple grey horse with a cry of enthusiasm. His horse Lithônion seemed to just snort and step away as if it was merely bored. "O come on Lithônion don't tell me you aren't excited as I am!" Lithônion bent his muscled neck down and stretched his leg.

Elemmire let his shoulders limp as he surveyed his horse critically. "Typical," he muttered ruefully patting the grey's neck. Ainion, Amdir's white horse started to nibble curiously on Elemmire's cloak. Elemmire however knew it wasn't because the horse was actually excited about leaving the confines of the Last Homely House and into the wide open world; no Amdir had the awful habit of sneaking the best fruit into the stables. And Ainion could not tell he difference between his master and his twin…

Ainion started chewing at the cloak in earnst sure that there had to be a treat hidden somewhere. This was how the others found him. Playing tug-o-war with his cloak and Ainion and muttering cursing under his breath.

"Now, now, now," Amdir said grinning. "You're a gentleman – erm – elf… and you shouldn't be using such language like that like a common Ranger."

"Hey!" Estel shouted with a chuckle. "I take offence at that!"

Amdir glanced back at Estel cheekily. "My apologies good sir!" Amdir cried with a mock bow.

Elrohir and Elladan rolled their eyes in unison and mounted their horses, a pair of large bay stallions. Thalion, Elrohir's horse, danced to the side a little and stood beside the misbehaving Ainion who was still attempting to eat Elemmire's cloak. Hérion, stood peacefully under the weight of Elladan and blinked his large brown eyes slowly.

Amdir thought it was best to help Elemmire before his poor horse got indigestion from eating the elvish materials. Both of the young twins tugged and pulled but Ainion was holding on for grim death. That was until the little white horse decided to let go sending Elemmire and Amdir sprawling across the grounds.

Estel laughed as he gracefully mounted Beriadan, his black horse, with the fluency of a grown elves.

Amdir and Elemmire glared up at their mortal 'uncle' heatedly. The Ranger spread his hands in mock surrender and turned to Elrohir and Elladan.

"It is difficult to tell where one twin ends and the other begins," Estel commented as the twins scrambled rather clumsily back to their feet.

Elemmire smiled graciously and mounted his bored grey. Amdir merely raised his eyebrow and mounted Aionin whispering a few harsh words in elvish. The white horse's ear flickered back at the sound of his master's voice then flicked forward and ignored what Amdir had to say.

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"That's it move slowly now."

Elemmire pressed his advantage. Estel was crouched beside him his breath tickling the insides of his sensitive elvish ear. He moved forward careful to keep his slim body close the ground. His eyes trained forward through the long scraggly grass on the form of his Ada who was lunging in the camp speaking with his Gwador-Adar.

"Slowly…"

Elemmire's movements stilled then his arm crept forward and he inched closer, relishing the feline feel of his movements.

Elrohir's eyes widened suddenly and Elemmire watched as he motioned for Elladan to stop talking and listen. He froze and still his breathing as Estel had taught him.

A sly grin spread across Elrohir's face and he nodded to the underbrush silently. Elladan returned the nod communicating that he understood.

Elemmire dared not to move.

For a while nothing happened. And Elrohir and Elladan shrugged and went back to their spots seemingly forgetting what had startled them.

Elemmire pressed his advantage and moved stealthily through the grass, hardly making a whisper of sound. He was closer now only a few paces away.

"There!" Elrohir pointed to the grass. "I plainly see you."

"Ah… Aaaddda," Amdir whinged looking disappointed and standing in his spot to give his position away. "And I was working so hard to catch you out."

"Not this time, ion-nin," Elrohir smirked.

Elemmire crept forward and gripped his long knife tightly in his hand. Quick as a flash the blade was lying on the exposed skin of Elladan's neck. Elladan had been too busy watching Amdir's display of disappointment to be weary of anything behind him.

"What's this?" Elemmire asked in a mocked concerned voice. "A son of Elrond caught of his guard?"

Elladan leaned his neck back and looked into the laughing eyes of Elemmire. Elrohir whipped around surprised by the youngster's presence.

"Bravo!" Estel cried standing from his spot and clapping his hands. "Well done."

Elladan grinned and grabbed Elemmire waist and flipped him over easily so that he lay on the grass beside him. "Hmm. What's this?" Elladan returned. "An elfling playing tricks on his beloved Gwador-Adar?"

Amdir was grinning ear to ear. "Well done, Elemmire… but next time it is my turn."

"Your turn?" Elrohir glanced from twin to twin.

Amdir rolled his eyes. "Really, Ada, I thought you would have had us all worked out. I was the decoy."

"Oh, well excuse me," Elrohir cried tackling Amdir and started tickling him ferociously.

Amdir let out a shriek of surprise and fell to the ground with Elrohir on top of him, and kicking the air in great gasps of giggles.

Elemmire scrambled to his feet to help his twin only to find himself caught firmly in Elladan's arms. Elladan waggled his finger under Elemmire's nose. "Don't think you're getting away from me…" Elladan brought his prey quickly to the ground and in moments silent tears were streaming down Elemmire's flushed cheeks as he was assailed with tickling fingers.

"E – es…tel…help …hahaha…me…" Elemmire shrieked trying to fend of Elladan's fingers.

"I think you're rather enjoying the attention," Estel said tilted his head as if he was assessing the situation.

"W- w-w hat –t a hahaha..bout meeeeee…?" Amdir asked accidentally kicking Elrohir in the ribs.

"I think Adas are entitled to a certain amount of revenge."

The tickling fingers soon stopped however and Elladan and Elrohir rolled off the youngsters laughing themselves and holding the identical stiches in their sides. Amdir and Elemmire lay panting beside the adult elves their shirts untucked and their braids undone.

Elemmire was the first one to recover. He sat up and glared half heartedly at Elladan. "I hope your sides hurt almost as much as mine."

Elladan grinned up at him and didn't say a word…

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Night fell swiftly on the third night of the journey to Lorien. The day had been muggy and unpleasant. Any breeze that blew offered very little relief. Amdir stretched in his saddle and glanced towards Elladan and Elrohir, who were discussing whether or not to stop for the night.

On the negative side there was very little shelter or protection from any elements. Then again who knew how long they could go without finding suitable shelter…

Elemmire was unconcernedly humming and singing with Estel. His young elvish voice wafted on the breeze. Amdir grinned and recognising the song joined in with the chorus adding his voice to harmonise with his brother. Elemmire glanced back at him with his eyes shining bright. Amdir hadn't seen Elemmire so happy in a long time…

Suddenly Lithônion baulked abruptly stopping Elemmire's song. "What's wrong, eh?" Elemmire asked and gazed into the distance.

"Ada?"

Elladan and Elrohir were still in a debate and weren't listening to Elemmire.

"Ada?" Elemmire didn't seem so sure of himself any more.

"A moment please, Ellie," Elrohir said lightly turning back to Elladan.

Elemmire whirled his horse around. In that moment Amdir felt what Elemmire had. Danger was approaching. Lithônion movement had been one of warning.

"Ada please," both twins rejoined a desperate note to their young voices.

Elladan and Elrohir looked up, their elvish eyes widening when they too realised the danger.

"What is it?" Estel demanded whirling, Beriadan around.

"Yrch," Elladan snarled unsheathing his long elvish blade.

As if on cue an ugly black arrow whizzed past Amdir's ear. He gave a shout and Ainion reared violently. Amdir wrapped his arms around the white horse's strong neck and prayed to the Valar that he would stay mounted.

Another arrow came from the darkness embedding itself in a tree stump where Estel's head was a moment ago.

Elrohir felt his heart beginning to sink in realisation they were perfectly trapped. The orcs had almost encircled them in a neat trap. Who knew these brutes were capable of intelligent thought?

The gap was closing quickly and all chance of escape would be lost. Elemmire was pulling out his bow and Amdir his sword… Elrohir glanced at his youngsters and then to the ever enclosing gap. The best he could do was allow his adoptive sons escape. They would have a chance. They were not experienced enough to be able to hold their own in a real battle situation…

"Elemmire, Amdir!" Elrohir hollered.

The young twins turned to look at him their faces pale even the moonlight. Like two spectres.

"Go escape…."

Even at the distance he could see with the help of his elvish sight the incredulous glances of the twins. "Go now…" Elrohir pleaded with the Valar that his sons might be obedient. "Go now while it is not too late," Elrohir screamed.

Amdir seemed be the first to rouse himself. He glanced at Elemmire. For a moment Elrohir thought his boys were communicating via a telepathic link at last… then he saw Amdir's mouth moving frantically.

Elemmire's head turned towards Elrohir. Elrohir gestured towards the gap.

The twins horse spurred through the closing gap. Elrohir charged after them knocking down the orcs that threatened their retreating backs…

And then they were gone…