A/N: Ouch. I just realized how terribly short this chapter is. I'm afraid that may have happened with a couple of chapters down the road… Sorry 'bout that :-P Hey, but you have to give me some credit here - to make up for it's shortness,I posted it a whole DAY earlier! -cheers- Yay for me! Okay, so I guess the REAL reason is that I'm going to be gone for most of tomorrow, but still...the results are the same, right? -g-

See chapter one for disclaimers. Reviewer responses are on the way ;-)

Chapter 4: Nemesis

"Make certain that one of the Peredhils gets it." Acharndil looked the man in the eye.

He wished he could send Kadrin for this important mission, but unfortunately he would be preoccupied with even more vital problems. This man would do well enough—he hoped. He looked intelligent enough, and he really wouldn't be able to tell anyone anything, he was merely an innocent hunter. The man would deliver the message, tell them he knew nothing of the sender or contents, and be on his way. Elladan and Elrohir Peredhil would march straight into his perfectly planned trap—anything for Legolas or their brother.

At last, satisfied with his courier, he said with a hint of amusement, "I would suggest you leave as soon as you deliver this. I'm afraid you're not bearing very good news, and I don't believe they'll be in the most pleasant of moods after receiving this." He handed the letter to the other man as he mounted his horse. The man was beginning to look a little uneasy, so he amended his words diplomatically. "I wouldn't worry, they'll only be a little…upset. Thank you for taking the trouble of delivering it for me."

The man still looked uncertain, but he nodded, turning his horse and moving off in the direction of Rivendell.

-o0o-

"My Lord, a message just came for you."

Elrond looked up from his desk. "A message? Who is it from, Glorfindel?"

"I'm not certain, a man just rode in and asked that this be delivered you." He held out the letter and Elrond took it. Glorfindel sighed and shook his head. "He was very vague about it. All could tell us was that a man—he didn't know his name—had asked him to deliver it to Rivendell, and that it must be given to one of the Peredhils."

Curious, Elrond examined the seal for a crest and, finding none, broke the wax and opened the letter. He silently scanned the letter for a full minute. Glorfindel was just about to leave, when he stopped him. "Is the man who brought this still here?" Glorfindel nodded. "Then send for Elladan and Elrohir, and bring the messenger here—quickly."

The urgency in Elrond's voice was enough to alert Glorfindel to the seriousness of the situation. He hurried off down the hall and soon returned with a now thoroughly bewildered hunter trailing in wake.

"Here, my Lord. This is the man." Glorfindel had to practically push him forward.

Elrond studied the man. The very common, slightly nervous-looking man didn't look suspicious by any stretch of the imagination.

"Ada, what's happened? Who is this man?" Elladan entered the room mouth-first, instantly bombarding his father with questions. Elrohir stood beside him, the anxiety on his face—and his brother's directness—asking all the questions for him.

Wary of the dam he was about to burst, Elrond sighed and handed the letter to Elladan. The pallor of his face didn't escape the notice of either of the twins. Apprehensively, Elladan and Elrohir began to read.

To the Lords Elladan and Elrohir Peredhil,

In your carelessness you killed my family. Now, even though you know, you refuse to take the responsibility for your actions. I tried once to get justice for them and failed, but I will make you pay for what you have done. I underestimated you last time—I won't make the same mistake again.

The Prince of Mirkwood is now within my reach. He and your pitiful little "brother" are totally unaware of my presence, but I have but to give the word, and either of them will be my prisoner. I took your brother last time. Maybe I should take the Prince first this time, just for a bit of variety? Or perhaps both of them? Your brother is remarkably loyal to him; they seem to wish to face everything together. Everything—perhaps even death?

Last time, you were almost too late. Will you be able to reach them in time now?

Do not bring anyone with you or I guarantee you will regret it.

Acharndil

"Melodramatic and arrogant as ever!" Elladan nearly yelled. "We should have searched harder! How could we have given up so easily?" His voice broke and he looked almost pleadingly at Elrond. "Ada, he means to go after Legolas and Estel, and I won't sit here and do nothing. Not again."

Elrohir's eyes shone with identical determination and, as if reading each other's minds, they both turned towards the door at the same time.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Elrond had to smile slightly at their adamant determination. "Wait a minute, my sons. Where are you going?"

"To pack," Elladan said simply.

"My sons." The seriousness of the tone was enough to make the twins stop and turn around. "We must learn all we can before you do anything. The only way we can help either of them is by using our heads and coming up with a rational plan of action."

Elladan and Elrohir nodded, albeit begrudgingly. Time was now a commodity they didn't have nearly enough of.

Glorfindel watched the scene grimly. It was hard to watch his friends encountering such a hardship and be able to nothing about it. Right now he wanted nothing more then to ride out with a dozen elves, hunt down Acharndil, and put an end to his days of tormenting the Peredhil family. But he knew the foolishness of such wishful thinking. Even if Elladan and Elrohir would allow him that pleasure, the task wouldn't be nearly so simple.

Next to him, the poor hunter shifted from foot to foot. He had felt awkward merely meeting the great Elf Lord; witnessing such a private family moment was making things even more uncomfortable. When the three dark-haired elves finally turned their determined gazes on him, he had a sudden mad urge to dash out the door and hop on his horse, hoping never to run into another elf in his life. He shifted a little closer to the door. If he could only find a moment when they were all preoccupied and slip out… But the blond elf behind him kept a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Stay," the tall elf commanded sternly, as if reading his mind.

He gulped and inclined his head slightly as Elrond and his sons came to stand in front of him. "I-I'm sorry if I've brought bad news," he stammered.

"I'm afraid you have," Elrond said, watching the man for any sign of deceit. "But what I want to know is where you got it."

"I-I got it from a man, about five days ride to the East of here."

Elrond nodded thoughtfully. "And this man, do you know who he was?"

"N-no, I don't have any idea who he was." The man continued to stumble clumsily over his words now and then as he spoke. "H-he just told me to give it to you. He said s-something about it being 'bad news', but I—"

"'Bad news'!" Elladan scoffed, glaring at him. "Where is this man now?"

"I don't know! He just t-told me to give it to you!" The hunter said, panicking under the young elf lord's furious gaze.

It was the truth, the man had told him nothing more. He had warned him that they might be a little "upset", but not this…The unfortunate messenger shuddered. There would be no more volunteering to deliver "bad news" for him.

"I don't believe you," Elladan said furiously, in his anger losing most of his usual good judgment.

Desperate, the man was now fairly shouting. "I'm telling the truth! I-I swear, he told me nothing else!"

Elrond put a hand on Elladan's shoulder. "That is enough. Control yourself, ion-nín," he commanded in elvish, before turning to the cowering hunter.

"You must forgive my son," He shot a meaningful glance at the still-fiery Elladan. "you are in no danger from us. But we would all greatly appreciate it if you would give us allthe information you have. Do you remember anything else?"

The man calmed visibly at Elrond's words, spoken so reassuringly. "I'm afraid I really don't know anything else. I-I'm sorry," He still stammered occasionally, but now his voice was calm. Even Elladan could see he was telling the truth. "that's all he told me."

Elrond sighed, but said graciously, "Thank you for your help. I am sorry you had to go through all this trouble. We will replentish your supplies if you are in need of anything. You are welcome to stay the night, if you will." He addressed Glorfindel, "Would you see that our guest gets whatever he needs?"

As soon as Glorfindel escorted the hunter out of the room, Elrond turned to his sons. "And now, we will discuss our plans."

"What plans?" Elladan said impatiently. "Elrohir and I are going to look for Estel and Legolas. If we hurry we can catch up with them soon, before Acharndil gets the chance. Last time we waited too long before looking for him. Acharndil's not going to take any chances this time, and neither can we." He continued almost in one breath, hardly noticing that no one was gainsaying anything he said. "Ada, please don't try and stop us, we must go."

"Of course you must," Elrond said mildly. "All I was going to say was that I hoped you'd be careful. No running blindly into any hostage situations and getting you, your brothers, or Legolas killed." His face softened into a affectionate smile. "I don't want to lose any of you. Understood?"

Stunned into silence, for a moment all the twins could do was stare.

"Do you understand?" Elrond repeated, he smile becoming amused.

"You mean," Elrohir asked haltingly, "you're going to let us go—just like that?"

This time Elrond laughed lightly. "Yes, I'm going to let you go 'just like that'. But might I suggest you start packing and get on your way before I change my mind and lock you in your rooms?"

Elladan and Elrohir scrambled for the door.

Finally left alone, Elrond lowered himself wearily into a chair, all semblance of strength and confidence gone. Even on ordinary occasions, he felt anxious every time he let the twins leave. They always managed to come back somehow the worse for wear, and this time there was no guarantee they were coming back at all.

And there was Estel… Sitting here he felt so helpless! He had to believe that Elladan and Elrohir would get there in time to stop Acharndil from harming Estel or Legolas.

"Ilúvatar, please, bring my sons back to me… All of them."

TBC…

Hope you enjoyed it, despite it's pitiful length - and please, reviews are MUCH appreciated!