My congratulations and apologies to Elithraniel who correctly named the band, which was Green Day, she did not reach me with the line in the chapter she wanted to put in, so when she contacts me her line will be put into the next chapter!

I thought that flashback would awaken sympathy for poor Godéad, ah well. And for those of you who want to know what his name means, I will (in the last chapter) be including all the names, meaning, and origins of the characters!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He couldn't breath. It was too dark, so dark. The world was empty, he was alone.

How could his brother have abandoned him?

How could Legolas have?

He could hear his heart thumping; an example of how close the space was. Aragorn closed his eyes and cried out as a sharp pain came through his left shoulder, "Legolas! Elladan!" he whimpered. He couldn't do this he couldn't… he gasped and banged once more on the door to the box before crumpling against the side unconscious.

Legolas' eyes widened when he saw Godéad take out a knife. He watched as the man ran his eyes up and down the box, clearly contemplating something.

Godéad raised the knife; "if I am correct, his shoulder should be right here, I do hope I am not wrong…" he chuckled.

"You cannot mean to…he is innocent Godéad, he did nothing!" Legolas said.

"Innocent? Innocent? Ha. A human who degrades himself by associating with elves, even loving them, is no innocent. The blood is as much on his hands as it is in yours. I do not need him anymore, you, my dear elves, all speak the common tongue. This man is naught but an extra mouth to feed. Tell me, why should I not kill him now?"

Legolas gaped at the man, "If you touch him I will..." he began.

Godéad stopped him, "You will what? You can do nothing, son of Thranduil. I own you," he caught the flash of disbelief in Legolas' eyes. "Oh yes, I know who you are. The son of a murderer. You, and that elf right there, tell me, what will your father's do for you? Will they even care?"

My father is no murderer," Elladan spoke now; his voice was harsh and his eyes cold. Any trace if fear that might have once been found on his features was gone.

"Oh, of course he isn't. No, her blood is on his hands! You think that man is innocent? She was more innocent than any combined, she was…" the man broke off and moved towards the window. He appeared to be conversing with someone, "no dear, of course. Go outside now…I love you too, have fun with our daughter."

"What…" Legolas had barely spoken before the man turned around and his eyes narrowed. With purposeful strides he was next to the box. He plunged his dagger into it, grinning manically at the cry of pain that came from within.

"Take them back to the mines, they have work to do," Godéad said quietly, his eyes dark. He turned and strode from the room showing no sympathy for the man who was still encased in the box.

The last sight Legolas had of his friend was of the imposing black box before the intricate wooden door shut, and the prince was dragged away.

---&---

Elrohir ran his hand through his hair and glared dangerously at his father, normally he would never have dreamed of saying anything like what he was about to say. But the circumstances for anything but normal.

"I do not care! I do not! My brothers are out there and just because you have given up and want to hide in Rivendell doesn't mean I am going to!"

"What are you saying, my son?" Elrond asked quietly.

"I am saying what I never thought to say before, you are a coward father. And how Glorfindel will ever look at you after you abandoned him to the mercy of the others I will never understand!"

"We do not know that he has Glorfindel and Elladan…"

"But we do! You saw the note, it said Rhûn father, and the note we found after their disappearance, it was from Rhûn! What do you think! And not only are you putting your friend and sons in danger you are risking the life of the best apprentice healer Imladris had ever seen since your days!"

"Elrohir…"

"And even if we didn't know, would you abandon Estel and Legolas to that fate! Would you?"

Elrond didn't answer.

"You think you can fix everything by sitting here and ordering people around, well you are wrong! I am going to find them!"
"Elrohir, you are not going anywhere," Elrond barked harshly.

Elrohir visibly stiffened, "is that an order, father?"

"If it has to be. I will not lose you, do you hear me?"

"I hear you, my lord, please excuse me," Elrohir replied his voice cold.

As the elven lord watched his son sweep from the room his eyes filled with tears, once he was gone Elrond sank to his knees his head in his hands.

'Am I to lose all my sons to a cruel twist of fate, Valar, I cannot lose my family. I can not stand it…I cannot…' the elven lord thought desperately.

'Elrond, you are not alone. Give him time, all will be well,' Galadriel's voice came to his ears, the words had been spoken to him about a different song not long ago. The calming voice of his mother-in-law was enough to make the elven lord rise to his feet.

After this mess was over they were all taking a very long trip to Lorien.

If only for his peace of mind.

---&---

Glorfindel was a tiny bit frustrated,

No…actually he was very, very, very frustrated.

There were not many times an influential elven lord was frustrated. There were even fewer time one who had slain a Balrog was frustrated. In fact, Glorfindel could count on one hand, on four fingers the times he had been frustrated.

When he had been fighting that Balrog.

When Erestor had dumped maple syrup on his head because 'he was bored.'

When he had been unable to get to Ecthelion, in fact, that one was a bit more like guilt.

And now.

In his opinion he had a fairly good reason to be angry, or frustrated. Or whatever you happened to wish to call it. Reason one: He had two, very worried young elves on his hands. Reason two: he had one very irate healer breathing down his neck about not over-stressing his injuries. And number three: well, he didn't have a number three, but he was pretty sure it would sound better if he said he had three reasons.

"Glorfindel, when do you think they will bring him back?" aforementioned young elf asked.

"Glorfindel, sit down!" aforementioned healer snapped.

Aforementioned elf lord sat down with a sigh.

"Elladan, I do not know. Lamaeneth I am sitting."

"You weren't before," the elleth replied with a smile. She sat down next to Elladan and smiled encouragingly at the younger elf. "He is strong, he won't give up."

"Will he?" Legolas said from across the room. "I do not doubt his strength, but who knows what lies Godéad may be feeding him, he could think…"

"He wouldn't," Glorfindel replied.

"But he would," Elladan said softly, "when I was in there, I believed everything he said, when he talked about you, told me you didn't care…"

"Elladan," Glorfindel said softly. The dark-haired elf looked up, "Elladan, you know that is not true, do you not? I think of you three as my own sons…you don't think that…" the elf lord faltered slightly.

"No! I…of course I know, it was just…frightening."

"Good…I am sorry, Elladan, I did not know…I did not think…I am…forgive me."

"No," Elladan said.

Glorfindel's eyes went instantly to his knees.

"No," Elladan repeated, "there is nothing to forgive."

Glorfindel rolled his eyes, "that, Elfling, was a cruel trick," he said.

Elladan just grinned at him.

"Lunch is over!" the overseer called. With a sigh they all rose and went back to work.

---&---

"How hard is it to anger an elf?" Morwen asked grumpily as they went over another hill.

"Depends on the elf, you wouldn't want to anger some of the more powerful ones, like Lady Galadriel," he replied then shuddered. Valar…isn't she Strider's grandmother? Oh…joy.

"Really? Well, it is quite easy to anger the queen of Rohan. Especially if you, oh, I don't know, capture her best captain and good friend, not to mention his best friend. Oh yes, that might do it," she fumed.

Randir raised an eyebrow, until now, the queen had been fairly even tempered. He had seen a sometimes harebrained maiden, and one with a fierce loyalty. He hadn't, he decided, yet met Steelsheen, the fierce warrior queen who was an idol to the people of Rohan.

"In fact, if you do that, you just might leave room for her to kill you with pleasure."

"Lady Steelsheen! That is not something a Queen should say!" Randir protested all the while grinning bemusedly.

"Ah, you might be right. However, I am not queen out here in the wilds. I am simply Morwen, and would you please stop using lady…it is most…" she broke off, her mouth hanging slightly open.

"Morwen?"

"Well, my dear elf," she said smiling grimly, "I would wager that we have found them."

Randir's eyes widened as he took in the immense structure before him.

The castle was tall and dark, casting eerie shadows on the dirt and dead grass of the ground. It might have once been majestic, but years of neglect had worn it down to a mere shadow of its former glory, yet the air about it was ancient, the castle was old. It had seen many years and many masters. And though elves could not speak with stone Randir could almost hear it speaking, 'each master is worse than the last. Does no one care for the structures of old? Treat me well or put me to rest!' it seemed to say.

"It is old and weary. It will not hold out much longer," Randir said softly, his eyes dark. "Morwen, we must figure out how to get in…"

"I suppose storming the castle is not an option?" she inquired almost lazily.

"Not unless you have an army of Rohirrim around you," the elf replied.

"No, but I do have something better…"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ooohhh. What does Morwen have? –blinks- oh wait. I know the answer to that she has…

Oops. Cannot tell you; that would ruin the surprise! –grins-

So, I have a question; how old do y'all think I am?