A/N
Hey everyone! Thank you sooo much to Midnight Musings and Queries, and Ellifant for taking the time to leave a review on my story, it means so much to me! I will reply to all registered reviewers, but unfortunately I cannot reply to guest reviews. This is chapter four, and I promise the story will start getting more intense. Hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 4
Aragorn's arms ached from being bound together at an awkward angle. Leaning back against the tree he was tied too, he wiped the sweat and blood out of his eyes on his shoulder. He winced as he nudged the arrow tip that still sat deep inside his skin.
Despite the strict orders that 'Lord' Morcion had given that clearly stated Elrond's foster son should not be harmed unnecessarily, Commander Donngal had managed to beat him almost unconscious. Aragorn wondered how no one noticed, but then came to the conclusion that not a person in this camp cared for his health, as long as he wasn't dead.
Squeezing his eyes shut tightly to counter the pain that shot through every part of his body, Aragorn uncomfortably shifted against the tree. Blood poured steadily from his forehead from a deep gash, a result of Donngal's cursed metal club. Valar, how did he get himself into these situations? Usually, he had Legolas by his side, and together, they would always find a way out unscathed. Well, not entirely unscathed. There had been that time when the two of them returned to Mirkwood on horseback, Aragorn unconscious, and a dangerously weary Legolas holding him up…
Snapping himself out of his memories, he fixed his attention on Morcion and Donngal, who were striding across the camp in his direction. Instantly pushing all traces of pain out of his expression, he glared at the approaching figures with a cold, stormy glare.
Morcion ignored his icy stare and gave a smirk. "Good morning, ranger."
Estel remained silent. A strong slap to his cheek whipped his head violently to the side. "Answer when you are spoken too, boy," Commander Donngal hissed.
Aragorn shook his wavy brown hair away from his face. Blood ran from his nose.
Morcion rolled his pale green eyes. "Stop wasting precious time, Commander," he said in annoyance.
Donngal's eyes flashed angrily. "Yes, my lord," he mumbled.
The mousey-brown haired commander bent down next to him, his hand outstretched. Bracing himself for a hit, Estel closed his eyes. Surprised that it never came, he looked down in confusion to see Donngal holding a small object in front of him. Focusing, he realised it was his dagger, a gift to him from the twins. He felt guilt rise up inside him. One of his most treasured possessions, and he hadn't even realised it was gone. His elven name, Estel, was carved on the hilt of the dagger.
"What use does a filthy man like you have for a pure elven blade? You need skill to wield that knife, Donngal, skill you do not have." Aragorn said Donngal's name the way an elf would speak of an orc. Commander Donngal's jaw twitched as he struggled to keep his feelings in check.
"This dagger, ranger, is going to be sent to Rivendell. All we need is a keepsake from Elrond's precious foster son, to show that we have you, and surely he will pay any price to get you back. That is, if he truly loves you as much as he says he does."
Aragorn stared at Donngal and Morcion in horror. They were going to use him to threaten his father! The twins and Legolas would recognize his weapon without a second glance. He couldn't let this happen; he had to escape before word of his capture reached Rivendell…
"How exactly do you plan to deliver the knife without getting caught? My family will be looking for me by now, and I am sure any unrecognizable man or elf carrying my weapon would be the perfect place to start," Estel said defiantly.
Morcion gave him a cruel smile. He clicked his fingers, and a group of men walked up, dragging a small figure between them.
Estel's heart skipped a beat when he saw a little elfling. He recognized the little dark-haired elf as Calanon, but he did not seem to know Estel. His eyes narrowed in anger when he saw the small elflings tunic ripped, blood slowly seeping through cuts on his torso. Calanon's little body was shaking with shock, his eyes wide.
Estel looked at his captors incredulously. "You would kidnap a child? You truly have no soul. Ego, mibo orch."
Morcion smirked in amusement at the insult. Donngal, clearly infuriated that he didn't understand, forcibly grasped the ranger's chin. "The elfling is scared, boy. We are sending him back to Rivendell, on the horse we found you with."
Morcion walked up to them. "The horse is clearly elven; it will take any wounded elf directly back to the Last Homely House. And, we are sending him with a gift for your father."
Donngal released his vice-like grip on Aragorn's chin, leaving the ranger to face Morcion and Calanon. Morcion slipped Estel's dagger into Calanon's cloak pocket, a small note attached to it. Giving one last cruel glance to Estel, the evil elf led the shaking elfling away towards the edge of the forest.
Donngal waited until his lord passed out of sight, then looked down at Estel, an unpleasant expression of his face. "It's time to pay for those insults, you insufferable ranger."
Legolas struggled to process what had happened in only the span of a few days. First, after an incredible amount of pleas to his father, he had left for Imladris with an escort. Almost at the end of their path, they had been attacked by a mysterious group of men, who no one seemed to know anything about. Finally, the worst of all, Aragorn had gone missing.
Elladan paced furiously in the gardens outside the Last Homely House, the early morning sun shining weakly above him. The twins had searched everywhere, but found no trace of their youngest brother. Legolas's brow creased with worry as he watched the eldest son of Elrond march back and forward, tracing and retracing his steps. Only one pink flower remained in his raven hair, the rest scattered about the ground at his feet.
Hearing footsteps behind him, the Prince of Mirkwood turned to see Elrohir striding quickly toward them, closely followed by an extremely anxious-looking Elrond.
Elladan rushed up to them. "Ada, it's my fault, he was hiding from me, and something must have happened, or he would have come home-"
"Calm down, ion-nin, nothing was your fault." Elrond interrupted soothingly. "But Estel must be found, and quickly. A messenger returning from Mirkwood was found dead at the edge of the forest, an arrow in his back. And this arrow was not of men or orcs, it was elvish."
Legolas remained quiet. If only he had arrived earlier, maybe Aragorn wouldn't have been wandering off by himself. He felt sick with fear for his best friend. Elves? Why would elves attack the people of Rivendell?
The twins faced Elrond in shock. "Elves?" Elladan asked in astonishment. "Every elf in Rivendell knows Imladris is no threat, they would not dare make an enemy of you without good reason, ada."
Elrond's expression remained stoic.
"There is still the chance that Estel is seeking solitude; he may not be in any immediate danger," Elrohir suggested hopefully.
Elladan looked at his twin, exasperated. "Elrohir, he is unaware of the men that attacked Legolas. He needs to be warned! Besides, Aragorn would not stay in the forest overnight, he knows it is not safe, and he knows we will worry."
Legolas stood, his blue eyes flashing in unease. "Lord Elrond, we must send out a patrol."
Elrond nodded. "Certainly. I will go and arrange it now. If everyone is prepared, they will leave before noon."
Lord Elrond began to walk out of the gardens, but stopped when a sudden commotion grew at the gates. Whirling around to face the others, they ran to the disruption at the entrance of the Last Homely house.
They reached the chaotic crowd, but no one payed them any attention, and kept on making a scene. 'What is going on here?" Elrond roared.
A lithe red-haired elf worked his way to the front of the crowd. "My Lord Elrond, an elfling, Calanon has arrived at the gate on horseback. He is close to unconsciousness; he needs your help immediately. He is already being taken to the healing wing."
"What happened to him?" Legolas asked curiously.
"We don't know. He wouldn't speak. But it seems he was attacked by something, he is covered in blood and his tunic is torn," the elf answered uneasily.
Glorfindel rushed down the stairs towards the healing wing, quite inelegantly for an elf. Word had just reached him that someone had been found injured, and was now being treated by Lord Elrond. Hoping against hope that they had found Estel, he began to walk even faster.
He reached the healing wing doors, but was stopped rudely by two elleth healers. "Sorry Lord Glorfindel, but Lord Elrond had ordered that we let no one through these doors without his permission."
The golden-haired balrog slayer glared at them, but to their credit, the healers didn't relent. Abruptly, the doors to the healing wing opened, and Elrohir appeared in the doorway. "Glorfindel, why are you out here? Come in!"
Glorfindel tried not to grin at the indignant expressions on the elf-maiden's faces as he pushed past them and walked through the entrance.
"Who did they find?" Glorfindel asked hopefully.
"Calanon, an elfling that went missing while playing in the woods. He seems to be in shock, he will not speak to any of us."
Glorfindel tried not to let his disappointment show that Estel had not been found. Spotting Elrond, Elladan and Legolas at the far end of the room, he strode over to them.
Elrond was cutting the remains off Calanon's coat, to get to his bruised ribs underneath. The young elfling winced as something heavy fell out of the pockets and landed on his stomach. The small object immediately caught Elladan's eye, and he reached out to pick it up.
His heart leapt into his throat. It was the dagger he and Elrohir had given Estel, when he turned fifteen. "Where did you get this?" He asked Calanon as calmly as he could.
Calanon just stared at him, his eyes wide. Elladan's jaw twitched.
Suddenly, Elrond caught sight of the small note that had floated out of Calanon's pocket. Snatching it up, he unfolded it and read it.
Elrond of Rivendell,
We have your foster son. If you do not believe me, take a closer look at the dagger this note was sent with. As I write this, your dear Estel is suffering at the hands of my men, his strong spirit slowly failing as he cowers in the corner of the dark cave he is kept in. A long time ago, you betrayed me Elrond, and I seek vengeance. I desire Rivendell, and all that is in it. If you value the life of Estel, you will meet me immediately in the clearing where we once used to escape our responsibilities together, to enjoy each other's company. Do not bring anyone with you, or I swear I will make your son's death as painful and prolonged as possible.
Don't keep me waiting.
-Morcion
Elrond closed his eyes as memories washed through him. The thought of Estel, alone and in pain, because of him? He could not bear it.
"Ada, what is it? What does the note say? Does it regard Estel?" The twins questioned their father worriedly.
Legolas looked at Elrond, and in his eyes he saw guilt, fear and anger. "Lord Elrond, what does it say?" He asked despairingly.
Elrond ignored his sons and Legolas. "I must leave Imladris immediately. I will return in a few days, and with a little luck, Estel by my side."
Legolas looked up incredulously. "My lord, you cannot go out there alone! If you must go, take us with you!"
"No. I am sorry, Prince Legolas, this time you must stay. You cannot come to Estel's aid now. I must do this alone."
His face pale with worry for his youngest son, Elrond turned and paced out of the healing wing, leaving four baffled elves in his wake.
TBC…
Ego, mibo orch – Go kiss an orc
Ada – father
Chapter 4 done! Thank you to everyone following my story, and I hope you enjoy it! Regarding how many chapters this story will have, I am not completely sure, but I'm guessing anywhere from 7-10. Please review!
