Chapter 15: Concern, Not Anger

Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings.

Author's notes: Here is chapter 15, I hope that you will enjoy it!

"NO! Legolas!" Estel screamed. He tried to hug him, but his bounded hands wouldn't allow it.

"Come here! Little Adan!" Duirellon shout.

"No! I will not let you harm him!" Estel said, trying to be brave for the sake of his friend, trying to stop the tears that swelled up in his eyes.

"Oh, now very brave are we?" Duirellon said.

"I will not let you come near him!" Estel said, though Legolas still wasn't responding, even with all the shouting.

Elladan and Elrohir could not believe it. Estel had followed them all the way into this trap. Now the four of them were trapped, and there was no way of escape.

They were worried, but at the same time they were angry. Yes, angry. Angry at how reckless their little brother had been, even though they had warned him along with their Ada to stay safe in Imladris.

Duirellon gave a command to Salion, and he returned a while later with the dreaded whip in hand.

Estel still kept his feet where they had been, in front of Legolas. "Move, Adan" Duirellon said in a threatening voice.

Estel now saw what Duirellon had within his grasp, a whip. He had never experienced anything like that before, and he really didn't want to. But there was no option, that bad elf was going to harm Legolas.

Elladan and Elrohir were moving their heads in an attempt to warn Estel without attracting too much attention, or telling that they were related. It would be best if Duirellon was kept in the dark about Estel being the twins' adoptive brother.

Estel took no heed of them, and he remained where he was, though now the tremors that had momentarily ceased returned. New tears began to form again in his eyes, at the terror of having Duirellon in front of him with the whip in his hand.

"Move, and come here, Adan"

Estel again made no move, but without warning, Duirellon moved his hand gracefully, and whipped Estel's back.

Estel, never expecting it so suddenly, let out a howl of pain.

"NO! Estel!"

"What have you done to him! Monster!"

"He is only a child!"

"Leave him alone!"

Estel was on the cold floor, trying to ease the pain in his back. It was a burning sensation, and never before had he experienced something like that.

"Oh, I see! Those two know you! Excellent! Excellent!" Now Duirellon portrayed pure happiness in his face, he had the twins, he had the Mirkwood Prince, and he had this unknown Adan who knew the twins.

"Tell me, you know this child?" he asked the twins.

They didn't reply, it was no use telling him about Estel being their adoptive brother.

"No? Then can I whip him again?" And he made as if he was going to bring the whip again on the boy's back.

"NO! STOP!" both twins shout.

"Ah, so you know him. My servants told me this child was looking for his brothers? Perhaps you know them?"

Both twins nodded. This was no good for any of them. "Then, where are his brothers?"

Estel now stood up. Duirellon was talking to his brothers, so he tried to save them from further punishment. He slowly said "They are my brothers. Leave them alone"

"Good. Good. Come, human child" and he went to Estel. Estel just recoiled away from him, his back still stinging. Duirellon grabbed him and cut the bonds on his wrists, only to chain them besides Elladan.

"Things should not remain like this, I assure you" then, with a cold laugh, Duirellon exited the room, leaving the four behind. He now knew the things he needed to know, the boy took the twins as his brothers.

This was a big shock to Estel. Never in all his short life had someone treated him this bad. The chains were a little too big for the child's little wrists. He slowly started to get his hand off it, then his hand was free. He had made it! It was possible for him to take them off. He tried with the other one, and he had the same success.

Estel knew that his brothers were mad at him for leaving the house when he was supposed not to. So, he went to his friend. Slowly, carefully, he made his way across the floor to where Legolas was.

He reached him, and started to call him "Legolas, saes, it is me, Estel"

Legolas didn't say a thin, and Estel was getting worried. He urgently called him again "Legolas! Legolas! It is afternoon, wake up" The child was near tears now.

Legolas felt someone touching his arm, calling him, urging him to wake. He recognized the voice, Estel. Yes, Estel maybe wanted to go out to the gardens, but this early in the morning. Wait, Estel said afternoon? Why was he sleeping so late?

Then he remembered. He had never made it to Rivendell, Duirellon had him within his grasp. But what was Estel doing here?

He opened a heavy lid, and saw the little Adan. "Estel, shh, I am fine" Legolas said.

"Legolas! Mellon-nín! Saes, stay awake?" Estel pleaded.

"Come Estel" Elladan said. "Let Legolas rest"

"No! I know you are angry with me!" Estel said. It was true, at first the twins had been so angry with their small brother, but after seeing how Duirellon had treated Estel, their anger turned into concern.

"No, Estel, we were. We are not anymore, some here, saes?" Elrohir pleaded.

By now, Estel had hugged Legolas, and was clinging so hard to the Elf, that was hurting Legolas back and aching ribs. "No, Legolas, please, you're injured"

"Shh, Estel, I am going to be fine, do not worry for me" Legolas tried to gently reassure the little child.

"But you were asleep, and it is already late. Also your eyes were closed."

"Shh, Estel, it is alright, I only need some rest. Go to your brother, saes, they are not angy at you, they are only concerned"

"You promise?"

"I promise, now go to them"

Estel went to his brothers. Both were tied to the wall, but still, their chains allowed little movement.

"'Dan, 'Ro, I am sorry!" And at this point, Estel couldn't help it anymore, he started to cry, shedding all his tears since Duirellon caught him. Then he continued "I should have never left the house, I should have been a good boy, not a bad one escaping my brothers and Ada. Ada is also going to be angry because I left"

Elladan opened his arms, and Estel didn't hesitate, but he swung into the warm embrace.

He started crying again, the tears simply would not stop.

"Cry, Estel, it is okay. I am here, and I am not angry at you, nor is Elrohir. It is only concern, and I am sure that Ada won't be angry when he sees that you are alright" Elladan tried to reassure his brother.

"'Dan… I am…sor…ry" Estel said between his sobs. Elrohir and Legolas just watched as the little Adan poured out his tears.

"Shh, shh. Sleep Estel" Elladan whispered.

"But it hurts 'Dan. My back hurts"

"I know Estel, but your body needs to sleep after all that has happened. Sleep, and the pain will go away", and afterwards, he started singing Estel an old lullaby that their mother used to sing to them, a long time ago, before she sailed into the West.

It was a song about the stars in the night sky, and the blue moon. Although it was afternoon, they still enjoyed it very much. Legolas felt his eyelids dropping, and he once again felled asleep, but this time in a healing, natural sleep.

Estel's sobs began to quiet down, until at last, Estel was asleep. All the last night's events had worn him down, as well as the encounter with Duirellon.

Elladan turn his eyes to Elrohir, finally they knew where their brother was, but for how long was he going to be safe?

TBC…

Author's notes:

Thanks to invisigoth3, IwishChan, Illeanah, HarryEstel, Shadow of dusk, Slayer3, mystic angel of the tarit and Gemini 969 for their reviews. Thanks so much, they mean a lot to me!

And there will be more soon!

Silverstreak Wolf