Chapter 22: All Are Safe

Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings

Author's notes: Well, here is chapter 22, I hope that you will enjoy it!

Elrond dropped the ground. He was exhausted, feeling the adrenaline from the battle slowly leaving him. His eyes continued to scan the river for any trace of Duirellon, but there was none. But with the current this fast, he wasn't sure if the body was somewhere below the river.

Then he remembered that he had to get back to his sons and Legolas. He slowly stood, now aware of the cut in his arm. It was really shallow, too shallow for needing stitches, but it was painful.

He took a look around, and realized that he was in another point different to where he had entered the river. The strong current had carried him downstream, so now he had to make his way back.

He began walking, deep in thought. Duirellon had not always been like that. He had been, in fact, one of the captains among the warriors. However, he felt that it was Elrond's fault that his brother was dead. Elrond knew that in that battle many of his warriors had been lost, but Duirellon still held the grudge against him.

Salion was injured, his fall had not been as fortunate as Elrohir's. He was unconscious, and had a broken arm, along with some bruises on the arm and leg on his left side, the side on which he had fallen.

One of the warriors was tending to him. He knew something about healing, so he had been assigned by Glorfindel to check on the injured human.

There was still one human missing, Nebegon, and Glorfindel wondered where he was. He did not dare to send warriors after him, as already their forces had been split. Some had gone searching for Elrond, and Glorfindel wanted to have his sons also secure. Besides, there was also Salion, he did not wanted to leave him without custody, even though he was unconscious.

He did not know, however, that the humans were brothers, and the other one was looking for his missing brother, afraid that the Elves had got him.

He was walking slowly, making his way back towards the camp. He was dripping wet after coming out of the river, a difficult task at that. The river at that time was flooded with all the water form the recent rains, making the current strong.

Elrond now found himself walking to get to his sons and the Mirkwood Prince and make sure that they were alright. As a father, he couldn't keep those thoughts from his mind. Now that the danger was over, he was afraid over them. They had been captives to Duirellon, but at last it was over now, or so he thought.

His senses were brought back to present when his elven ears caught the sound of hooves. Someone was approaching, and fast. The sound grew louder and louder, but he was out of the forest, leaving it behind while pursuing Duirellon.

He had no where to hide, so he hoped that whoever was approaching was a friend, and not a foe.

The water rushed by with great force, the current was too fast for someone to cross. The deep waters of the river were overflowed due to the recent rains. No one dared to cross it when the river was like this, not even the best swimmers would attempt to cross it. The chances of succeeding were slim.

However, not so long ago two elves had fallen in. Duirellon in a desperate attempt to get his revenge on Elrond had thrown him in the water, but instead of throwing only Elrond, he had also ended in the deep waters.

Elrond had barely had time to grasp air in his lungs, and as time passed by, he didn't know if he was going to make it to the surface. He reached it, and took in the air his lungs wanted so badly. The next thing was to fight to get to the shore, out of the monstrous current.

He reached it, and now he was safe on the ground. Duirellon, however, had not been as fortunate. The current had seeped him in, deep into the river's waters. He had fought; he desperately fought to break the surface, to take in the air he needed.

But with all the jostling and turnings he gave in the water as he fell, he was pretty confused about which way was up. He didn't know where Elrond was, and right now he didn't care. The only thing he cared about was breaking the surface to grasp some air.

He slowly started seeing black dots as his vision blackened, and then he knew no more, falling unconscious, being dragged away by the strong current.

Nebegon was near the Elves' camp. He knew that Salion was injured, and he wanted to be right there by his brother's side. However, he was afraid of the Elves. He knew that they could be mean to humans, or that was what Duirellon had told Salion and him, and so had tried to protect them. But knowing the kind of person that Duirellon was, for all that he cared that may be as well another of his many lies.

He didn't understand why he had tried to hurt his Lord by capturing his sons, besides a Prince. They had seemed friendly enough, not dangerous like Duirellon.

If they Elves were so mean, they why they were tending to Salion's wounds? He could not understand that. They were showing mercy and kindness, not wrath and unkindness. Duirellon had told them what real elves were like, they would not show any kindness to a stranger, and were unmerciful creatures.

He had to take action quickly, afraid to loose his brother. Either he walked towards his brother or he walked away. He really wanted to go to his brother, but…

Someone nudged him forward. He turned his face, and besides him was his horse. Its coat was bared with sweat, his sides were heaving as each breath was taken. The poor animal had been pushed to its limits, but was ever faithful to his owner. Nebegon loved his horse, he would not hurt him purposefully, but he had done so following Duirellon's orders.

First he had to race to get the small child, then back, and then flee the Elves. He had turned aside a path in the forest, but Salion was caring one of the Elves, so he had to follow Duirellon. His horse had taken a rest, but was still to tired for him to mount him.

He patted him on the neck, aware that the horse was by his side. The horse nudged him again forward, towards the Elves. Nebegon looked ahead, but he didn't want to face the Elves. Then he looked back. The horse besides him snorted. Although he was not an elven horse, he still knew that the elves were not going to harm him, so why was his master so worried about them?

He nudged him again, and Nebegon now understood. He took a step forward, and then another, his horse following behind. Getting nearer, he saw that the elves were really treating Salion's wounds, not hurting him further. However, the elf that was tending to his brother looked up, and saw him.

He froze in his place. Now was the time to know what elves were really like. The one who looked up told another Elf something, and then two elves began coming forward to meet him. Nebegon was rather nervous, not knowing what to do.

He took the horse's halter in his hands, trying to reassure himself that everything was going to be fine.

"Lord Glorfindel, it looks like we found the lost man. Or rather, he found us"

Glorfindel stared ahead. His keen eyes caught sight of the human walking towards them with the tired horse following behind. There must a cause as for why he was returning.

Glorfindel went ahead to meet him. He walked surely, with his light feet fell soundlessly on the soft ground beneath him. He knew that the human alone was no threat for him, as he looked tired. But he decided not to take any chances anyway. He kept the hilt of his sword ready in any case.

When Nebegon looked up, he realized that an Elf was coming towards him. His heart was thumping hard in his chest, he was so nervous. He could turn back, and run away, but that, he decided, was not the best course of action. He needed to get to his brother.

"Stop. You may go no further. What do you want from us?" Glorfindel asked.

Nebegon stopped. The Elf had catch up with him faster than what he had thought. Now, this strange elf stood in front of him. How could he explain that they had his brother? He only wanted to see him.

"Excuse me, but … but I think… that you had my brother" Nebegon said. He was more nervous than what he had thought at first.

"Your brother?" Glorfindel asked. This was strange. This man was looking for his brother.

"Yes, I think that he fell of a horse" Nebegon said. He needed to make sure that his brother was going to be fine, that he wasn't too severely injured.

Of course, Glorfindel thought. The two humans serving Duirellon are brothers!

Glorfindel could not leave him alone. After all, he looked too tired, as did his horse. And he had returned looking for his brother. He decided to bring him with him to the camp. He doubted that the human was in condition to fight, and his horse wouldn't carry him unless he had first a well deserved rest.

"What's your name?" Glorfindel asked.

"My name is Nebegon" He answered.

"Do you carry any weapons?" Glorfindel asked.

Nebegon didn't have weapons, so he answered truthfully "No, I don't"

"Follow me, but be warned, you will be watched. Do not try to escape" he said, and started walking towards camp, always keeping a watchful eye on the human.

When they arrived, Nebegon went quickly to his brother's side. He saw that Salion indeed was hurt. His left arm was bandaged, he was sure that it was broken. And his face was also coverd in bruises.

He had seen the accident from behind. Salion's horse had stumbled, and Salion and the elf had fallen. With his quick reflexes the elf had jumped in time to keep from falling, and he succeeded in trying to stop the fall. He had fallen, yes, but not as hard as Salion. Besides, the ground was a little soft with all the grass that grew, and with the recent rains the ground was moist. It wasn't as hard as when it is dry.

Salion, however, had gone down with the horse, falling directly to the ground. He had not been as quickly as Elrohir to prevent the fall, and had landed heavily on his left arm. He had been really scared when he saw it all happening, but he could not approach because there were so many elves.

But now he was here, by his injured brother's side. He took his uninjured hand in his, and whisper to him "I am here, Salion, do not fear. Everything will get better.

Elrond heard the riders approaching. They were closer each time, but there was no place to hide and make sure that they were safe to approach. Then he saw them. He was glad; he felt the joy invade his heart. They were elves, and more to that, they were his warriors!

He stood in font of them, and the horses came to a halt. The captain dismounted, and greeted Elrond. "Hir nin".

Elrond just smiled. They had arrived at the right time. " Mellon nin, it is good to see you!" he said.

"But, Elrond, you are dripping wet. What happened?" The captain said, and the last was said with concern.

"Don't worry about it, let's just go back with the rest. It is now over" Elrond said.

Now, he was going to his sons and Legolas, to make sure that they were fine, leaving all this nightmare behind.

Elrond mounted a spare horse, and although he was still dripping wet, now he commanded the small group of riders, leading them back.

The river was flooded. Something was floating in it, something that couldn't be distinguished. The thing came floating downstream; being carried by the strong current.

The river turned, and on the bend, the thing was slammed into the shore. It lay there, but now the figure can be recognized. It is a body, the body of an Elf, Duirellon is the name.

However, the journey the elf had taken downstream had not been a pleasant one. He had slammed several times against boulders and other things in the river, and had passed out.

Now, he lay there on the river bank, not moving. Suddenly, his hand moved, but then he lay completely still. But was he still alive?

TBC…

Author's notes: I want to thank to the ones who reviewed. Your reviews mean a lot to me, thanks so much!

Well, things are not over yet! And well, more is coming soon!

Silverstreak wolf