Yeah, I know, I'm very, very late. I'm having a few back problems and of course there's also the other excuse called 'school'. Anyway, I'm really sorry. But before you start throwing stuff at me, I'll give you a new chappy. Enjoy! (And if you really can't resist... throw cookies!)

Disclaimer: I don't own, never did and never will. If I did I'd be rich (wish I was).

Promise

Chapter Two: Madness

Legolas glanced once more at his brother before firing his first arrow that day. The arrow ended up in an orc's forehead. It was then Eleiden noticed he hadn't brought his own bow, sword or any other weapon to defend himself with. He cursed loud enough for the other elves to hear. When Legolas saw what the problem was, he quickly dropped one of his twin blades at his brother's feet. Not a word was said and Eleiden knew it wasn't the right time for a discussion so he grabbed the blade and started fighting.

Eleiden tried hard to concentrate on the fight instead of his anger and at the same time, admiration for his brother. He had never actually seen Legolas in a real fight and every single move his brother made, surprised him in a way.

'Focus,' he tried to tell himself.

He was shocked when an arrow almost went through his ear. He sighed in relief when he found his ear still attached to his head. The arrow had missed it, thankfully. He was getting tired and wasn't paying enough attention.

The real shock came when he saw who had released the arrow. His own brother had tried to shoot him? He shook his head.

Legolas pointed at something behind him and mouthed, 'concentrate!'

Only one word that said more than enough.

Eleiden turned around and his eyes fell on a dead orc with an arrow in his left eye. He immediately knew what had happened and nodded his thanks. He wasn't sure if his brother had seen the gesture, but he couldn't care less.

'Should've climbed that tree,' he thought.

Legolas was faster out of arrows than he had expected and apparently he wasn't the only one. He couldn't really recall the last time they had to fight so many orcs; definitely a new record. He remembered a conversation with his father where he had asked for more elves to come along. Unfortunately, king Thranduil had not thought that necessary for a routine patrol. Little did they know that the great king would come to regret that decision.

Lost in thoughts, just like his brother had been a few minutes earlier, he didn't see the orc-arrow coming.

"Legolas!" His brother yelled.

He wasn't able to get out the arrow's path in time and it embedded itself in his left shoulder. His brother had, still, just saved his life; the arrow would've probably embedded itself in his chest if he hadn't moved at his brother's frantic call. Legolas couldn't avoid falling and hitting his head on a hard object though. Only unconsciousness was left now.

llll

Legolas woke with a headache. He opened his eyes only to close them again with a groan.

"Your highness," he heard. It took him a few moments to recognize the voice.

"Arandur," he replied as he slowly tried to open his eyes again.

He felt a stabbingpain in his left shoulder so he brought his right hand up to touch the aching spot, only to be stopped by the commander.

"Don't touch it and don't try to remove the sling," Arandur said on a stern tone, like a mother would.

"What happened?"

Arandur frowned, "you don't remember?"

'Obviously not', he wanted to reply when it suddenly all came back to him.

"I remember," he said instead. "Where's my brother?"

"The orcs… took him."

The main reason Arandur immediately told the truth is because he didn't have the heart to hide it. Legolas would find out anyway and it probably wouldn't have taken long for the Mirkwood prince to figure it out.

Legolas didn't react the way Arandur expected. He didn't know whether to feel angry or sad, probably both, he decided.

"What about the rest?"

"Four were also taken and the others are dead I'm afraid." Arandur knew Legolas was worried, the younger elf just wasn't showing it, which was to be expected.

"Why did they leave us then?"

"Apparently, we were both knocked unconscious. I guess they must've thought we were dead too."

"So now they think?" Legolas said as he tried to get up with the support of a nearby tree.

'Not a wise idea,' he suddenly heard.

"You can't stop me."

"Attempts to stop you are useless, your highness. You will eventually stop yourself when you come to the conclusion you're not ready yet; most of the time that's when you collapse."

Legolas ignored the commander.

'Not a wise idea,' a voice said again.

"Will you stop saying that?"

Arandur frowned. 'Perhaps it's the concussion speaking,' he thought.

"I didn't say anything, my prince."

Legolas meanwhile had given up his plan to get up on his own and was sitting against the tree now.

"You didn't?"

"Perhaps I should check your head injury again?"

"No, I'm fine, help me up," he changed the subject, "I'm going after them."

"How?"

"Look, I know this is madness and I won't ask you to join me and endanger your own life."

Arandur had still not moved. "I will not leave you, and not only because I fear your father's wrath if I returned alone, but because I strongly believe you could use a bit of help," he said as he eyed the sling.

"We don't have much time."

"I'm afraid you are right." Arandur finally obeyed and helped him up.

With surprisingly not too many problems he managed to climb his horse.

llll

"The orcs don't have to see us," Legolas said after a while.

Arandur snorted, not very elflike.

"And how are we going to manage that?"

"We wait till they sleep and then we'll quickly kill the remaining orcs guarding my brother and the others."

"That's a really smart idea; we'll quickly kill the remaining orcs?" He repeated sarcastically. "What if they wake up?"

"We'll improvise."

"I still don't think that's a good idea, wha-"

"Wait," Legolas suddenly interrupted the commander.

Arandur nodded. "We're almost there."

They rode a little bit further until they were right next to the orc encampment.

Legolas sighed. "Now we wait till dark."

-

R&R?

Btw, I'll try to update a bit faster, I promise!