"You have heard the scout's reports, hir nin?"
"Aye."
"If they continue on their current course, the humans will enter our valley within a day's time."
Elrond turned toward his seneschal, a grim smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. "They intend to enter Imladris, mellon nin."
The golden haired elf lord returned the smile. "Why do I bother to tell you anything? You already know everything."
"Not everything."
"No? Then it would surprise you to know that they are incredibly well armed and are approaching our home as they would a battle?"
There was a slight pause.
"No."
"See?"
Elrond could not help the grin that spread across his face. With a sigh, the dark haired elf lord leaned his elbows against the balcony railing, peering out over Imladris' peaceful twilight. He had been standing in this position more and more frequently over the past few days. It was here that he had the best view of the road entering his home. When the twins returned, (when, he reminded himself, not if), they would appear on that path.
It had been nearly a week since Legolas had been brought to the last Homely House's doors, more dead than alive. However, the prince was young. And he was an elf. He recovered swiftly. Perhaps not as swiftly as he would have wished, but faster than any human, his healing powers far outstripping even those of the Numenorian blood line. Already, Mirkwood's heir was moving about, restless. Granted, he could not move very far, nor very fast, but that was much better than any human would ever be able to boast.
A human probably would not have survived to make it back to Rivendell in the first place.
What state would Estel be in? Elrond's fingers closed into a fist, his gray eyes cold. The humans that approached were of the same band that was responsible for the appalling injuries Legolas suffered, and for the abduction of his youngest son.
The elf lord did not know if they were insane, or just stupid, but either way, he intended to make sure that they would regret overstepping the boundaries of his valley.
0-0-0-0
Halith pulled his horse to a halt. The moon shone down brightly, lighting his craggy features in silver. With a grim face, the human swiftly directed his captains to split their small army into five groups. They would enter from many points, bringing their assault against the elves quickly. Halith sighed softly as he watched his forces divide, his men swiftly leading their groups to strategic positions around the valley. They would wait until dawn, then in the early hours of the morning, they would all sweep forward, killing everything in their path until they met at the middle.
At least, he hoped that was what would happen.
Halith remembered an icy glare emenating from silver eyes. There was steel in those eyes. He shivered slightly. The ranger had been broken, he reminded himself sternly. He could not allow himself to believe otherwise.
With a sigh, the human dismounted and prepared to wait out the hours remaining till dawn…
0-0-0-0
Elrohir sank to the ground with a groan before the fire he had just created. He was tired. Bone tired, and starving. Looking back over the last few days he tried to remember the last time he had slept or eaten.
He couldn't bring it to mind. He had been running on adrenaline alone apparently. Food wasn't a big problem. In the woods, he or Elladan could catch something eventually. Sleep however…he needed that. An aching line of fire was throbbing across his ribs, reminding him that he was wounded as well.
But he would live. And more importantly, so would Estel. Elrohir glanced at his little brother, his fair face drawn with concern. At least, he hoped so.
Finding some way to travel with the young ranger had proved to be quite difficult. Estel was weak from days of torment, and a poison wreaked havoc with his endurance. Even riding on the one horse soon became impossible. The human did not have the strength to remain sitting upright. They attempted to have one twin ride behind Estel and hold him…but that too was not to be. The slightest pressure on his back caused the ranger incredibly agony, and though he tried to hide it, his brothers soon discovered his pain and refused to force him to endure it.
In a stroke of brilliance (Estel insisted that it was his only stroke and therefore more notable) Elladan recalled the sling Elrohir had constructed for Legolas, and suggested one similar for their little brother. To lessen the pain to his back, they made the sling large, allowing the horse to tow it with ease, and laid him in it face down. This speeded up their progress quite a bit. Unfortunately, it was still very slow. Neither twin wished for speed to increase their little brother's discomfort.
But the poison was doing that for them. It made him sick to hear the sharp intake of breath that came from the young human every time the sling hit a slight bump. It hurt him deeply to see his brother even now.
The ranger was asleep, his dark hair thrown over his face. The face was so pale. Dark shadows stood out under his eyes vividly. Even in slumber, his features were tense. Sweat stood out on his forehead. He had drifted into this uneasy repose shortly after they had halted for the night.
Elrohir glanced at his twin. Elladan had said very little since they left Daeion's quarters. Elrond's first born was seated, his head leaning back against a tree trunk, eyes half closed and unfocused. For a moment, Elrohir almost thought that he was asleep.
But there was something strange to his breathing. A hitch, that should not be there.
Elrohir frowned, then with a groan, lifted himself from the ground and crossed to his brother's side, sinking to his knees next to the young elf lord. "Dan?"
Elladan started, turning wide gray eyes toward his brother.
Wide…and strangely unfocused. Elrohir's own eyes narrowed. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing," Elladan replied quickly. Too quickly. But he did not need to answer. Elrohir had already caught sight of what was causing his twin's curious detatchment. He swore violently, but softly, not wishing to wake Estel. Carefully, he reached out and took hold of his twin's shoulder.
Elladan tried to resist for a moment, but Elrohir's withering look made him heave a sigh of resignation and allow the young elf lord to pull him forward, revealing his back. Elrohir swallowed hard. "When did this happen?"
A dark stain covered the greater portion of Elladan's back, and Elrohir did not have to be a genius to understand what it was. It looked as though the elder twin had been stabbed in the back. Though elves were stronger than humans, the sight of so much blood loss unnerved Elrohir. How long had Elladan been bleeding, and why had he not told anyone?
"The human I was chasing," Elladan said quietly. "I seized his shoulder and he swung backwards with a blade. I tried to evade the thrust but…"
"Why did you not tell me?" Elrohir snapped, resisting the urge to shake his brother. His worry flowed over into frustration.
"I thought you would react badly."
"Badly! What would make you think I would react BADLY!" The younger twin's voice steadily rose as he spoke until the last word came out as a hoarse shout.
Elladan clapped a hand over Elrohir's mouth. "Quiet." He cast a meaningful glance at the young ranger on the other side of the fire. "You will wake Estel."
Elrohir immediately yanked the hand away from his lips, his eyes dark. "You should have said something" He hissed, the acid in his voice belied by the gentleness of his hands as he removed his brother's blood soaked tunic. It was not easy. The blood had dried, effectively pasting the garment to the young elf lord's skin.
"I thought we had agreed not to notice each other's injuries," Elrond's firstborn gritted through his teeth. He winced as Elrohir slowly peeled away the cloth.
Elrohir winced himself. He knew this was causing Elladan pain. On the other hand, he felt slightly relieved. If the blood was dry, it meant that Elladan was not losing any more of the precious ruby liquid. Finally, the wound was revealed. Elrohir probed it gently with his long fingers and let out the breath he hadn't known he had been holding. Though it was deep, and would require stitching when they returned home, it was not life threatening. If only Elladan had said something before. He had lost a lot of blood. Enough to weaken him. Elrohir could see it in the way he sat, his head hanging slightly, the dark braids swinging about his pale face. His gray eyes were half unfocused, as though he were about to drift off to sleep.
Of course, the elder twin's exhaustion could have something to do with the fact that he had not slept in…how many days? Elrohir could not remember, his own weariness refusing to allow him to access the information.
There was no doubt about it. They were all in pretty poor shape. He, Elrohir, seemed to the most fit of them all, but…a twinge from his ribs reminded him that he was not entirely healthy either.
If it were just he and Elladan, he would have chosen to make their way back to Rivendell slowly, allowing time to travel without pressing themselves on in an unfit state. However it was not just them.
Elrohir cast worried eyes across the fire. He knew that Estel would not hear of them speeding their return and endangering their health all for his sake…but truth be told, he did not think that his little brother would be in a state to hear anything very shortly.
"I will not slow us down, Ro."
Elrohir brought his attention back to his twin sharply. "What?"
Elladan met his eyes. "I will not slow us down. We must get Estel to Ada as quickly as possible. And I will not allow you to slow down for me." His grey eyes burned fiercely for a moment.
"Dan…you are hurt…"
"I will live. Estel must get those things out of him. He may not be able to endure very much more."
With great reluctance, Elrohir nodded. He did not wish to push Elladan, but knew that it might become neccesary.
Elladan allowed the corner of his mouth to tip upward as he saw his brother nod. With a sigh and a wince, he leaned back again the tree, his eyes sliding out of focus. "Wake me soon," he said softly. "And I will take my turn at watch."
"Of course." When dwarves dance ballet, Elrohir thought. "Rest for now. I will wake you." His conscience stung him slightly for telling such an obvious falsehood, but not very badly. The younger twin settled himself down, preparing to wait out the night, and wondering what the dawn would bring.
0-0-0-0
What would the dawn bring? Halith wondered as he gazed at the group preparing to follow him through the elven valley.
0-0-0-0
What would the dawn bring? Elrond took one last look at the path that led into his valley, then with a sigh turned away, his noble face grim. Grey eyes burned in a fair face as the elf lord strode through the halls of his home. The humans who had taken his son were coming to him. And he would be ready.
0-0-0-0
Mellon nin- My friendHir nin-My lord.