A/N

This is the fifth chapter to my story! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I have sent you a reply via email. In this chapter, we see Elrond's pretty much useless plan, and find out just how stubborn Legolas and the twins can really be.

Chapter 5

Elrond hurriedly stuffed a small bag full of athelas, bandages and healing implements. His mind raced. Morcion? He had thought Morcion was gone for good. The dark-haired elf had been his friend once, a long time ago. But what he had done was unforgivable, unforgettable, and so Elrond had banished him from Imladris.

The Lord of Rivendell had assumed that Morcion went into hiding, spiteful and alone, refusing to return to the normal world. But he had grown stronger, and to Elrond's disbelief, had gathered a group of followers.

Elrond finished packing his bag and turned around, but flinched when he noticed Glorfindel standing beside his horse.

Elrond cleared his throat. "Glorfindel, I am busy. I beg you, go and help the twins and Legolas in the healing wing."

Glorfindel didn't move. "Elrond, I am coming with you."

The dark-haired elf lord raised an eyebrow. "No, mellon, you are not."

"Why?" Glorfindel asked, sounding not too different from a young elfling asking for sweets. "Why will you not let us help you? We love Estel just as much as you do, why should we not be a part of his rescue?"

"Because, Glorfindel," Elrond answered gravely. "There is a risk in every action we take, including this rescue, and I will not endanger the life of my son any more if I can help it."

"Elrond! It is suicide going out there alone! You do not even know who has Estel!"

Elrond turned around to face his friend. "Yes, I do," he said solemnly.

"Who?"

"That is of no importance now, mellon. I need you to stay here, and ensure that Imladris does not fall into shambles. And, I need you to stop the twins and Legolas from following me. I know they want to help Aragorn, but it is too dangerous, for them, and for him." Elrond said pleadingly.

Glorfindel gave Elrond a scrutinizing glare. After a few seconds, he sighed, clearly beaten. "Of course, my lord. I expect you to be back in no longer than three days, or for you to at least send word."

Elrond nodded in agreement, hoping he would be able to keep that promise. He jumped up onto his horse. Leaning forward to whisper in its ear, the steed gave a soft whine and took off at a full gallop through the trees.

The golden-haired balrog slayer stood, watching one of his oldest friends ride into the distance. Sighing, he closed his eyes and turned to walk back to the healing wing.

Elladan sat on an empty bed in the healing wing, turning Estel's dagger between his fingers. He was numb with disbelief. His father had left the note from Morcion on the floor, and he had read it, passing it on to Elrohir when he was finished.

He had completely forgotten about Morcion. His father hadn't mentioned him in a long time, but Elladan remembered why the green-eyed elf had been banished, clear as day.

He returned his attention to the present and watched Elrohir and Legolas argue.

Legolas asked confusedly. "Why does this Morcion hate your father? I don't understand!"

"We don't have time to explain that right now Legolas!" Elrohir answered heatedly.

"Then let's not waste this time, Elrohir. We have to follow Lord Elrond! If we do not leave soon, it will be too late and we will never find Estel!"

"Legolas, wait! We have to prepare first. And what of Rivendell! We cannot just leave! Someone must take charge of Imladris."

At that moment, Glorfindel walked into the healing wing. "Your father has assigned that role to me, Elrohir."

Elladan hurriedly shoved the note into his pocket. "Glorfindel! Did ada mention anything else about what he was planning to do?"

The twins and Legolas managed to keep innocent faces. Glorfindel eyed them suspiciously. "No, he did not. But he will return in three days, and he has explicitly ordered that the three of you do not leave Imladris."

Legolas feigned a look of offense. "Lord Glorfindel, we know better than to interfere with Lord Elrond's plans."

The twins nodded vigorously. Glorfindel raised an eyebrow. "Of course. I am going to go find Erestor, but I expect all of you to be in the dining hall for supper tonight. And, I suggest lowering your voices. That poor elfling clearly needs rest, and you three certainly are not giving it to him."

The golden-haired elf walked out of the room.

Elrohir looked at Calanon. The elfling was fast asleep, and it did not seem that even an oliphaunt marching through the room would cause him to stir in the slightest.

Legolas sighed. "We need to leave now. If we go down for supper tonight, I'll bet my bow that guards are going to be keeping watch on us until your father gets back."

Elrohir nodded. "Go and prepare, and Elladan and I will meet you down in the stables in twenty minutes. And, whatever you do, don't get caught. The last thing we need is more delays."

Legolas gave one last glance to the sleeping elfling in the bed, and swiftly left the healing wing. The twins watched him go. Elladan turned around to face his brother, still twirling the dagger between his fingers. "Elrohir, we need to find him," Elladan whispered despairingly. "We made a promise to Arathorn, that we would protect his son with our lives. He is the last hope of Middle Earth, the last hope of men, and, no matter what he says, our little brother."

Elrohir studied his twin, worry flashing in his eyes. "Elladan, I promise you, we won't lose another member of our family." The younger twin rose defiantly. "Let's go find Estel."

Aragorn rolled his shoulder, trying desperately to ease the burning pain that the arrow tip left. He spat the blood out of his mouth, but his broken lip and bleeding nose quickly filled it again. He was weary with blood loss, courtesy to Donngal reopening his shoulder wound and his obvious curiosity at how far a knife could go without damaging vital organs. He closed his eyes, blocking out the cave walls that confined him. The dark-haired ranger had almost lost hope of finding an escape plan. He couldn't think straight, not with his blood pounding in his ears.

Trying to blink the grey spots that were beginning to cloud his vision, he vaguely wondered if Elrond had received Morcion's message. He was caught between the selfish want for his father to rescue him, and his wish for his family to stay out of danger. But his biggest worry was for his brothers. He knew that Legolas would have arrived by now, and he knew that the reckless prince would only add to the twins urge to come find him. And if they came alone… needless to say, it wouldn't end well for any of them.

Aragorn had grown up among elves. He had been raised by kind souls and free hearts, the result being that he was a reasonable person. He had never truly hated any being on Middle Earth, with the exception of orcs, trolls, and other servants of Morgoth. But Donngal was a different case. That man was truly soulless. He had no hesitations about spilling blood. Not only that, Aragorn mused, he relished it. He tortured others for only one reason, to make himself feel stronger. And any man who did that was clearly empty inside, save for the dark torrents of hate and insecurity.

Unfortunately, said man was now entering the cave. Estel greeted the heartless man with an icy glare that should have frozen him solid. Donngal glared right back. "Good afternoon, unbearable ranger."

"Not as unbearable as you, pe-channas." Aragorn shot back.

Donngal managed to hide his obvious fury at not being able to understand the prisoner's insults.

"No ranger, haven't you learnt your lesson about your precious elvish insults? Or would you like a reminder? It could be arranged…"

The captain gripped Estel's wounded shoulder, his fingers digging into the already irritated flesh. The ranger bit the inside of his lip, refusing to make the slightest noise and give Donngal any satisfaction.

"Did you only come for some entertainment then?" Aragorn asked angrily.

Just as Aragorn felt that the vice-like grip upon his shoulder was becoming too much, the mousey-brown haired man released it. The captain smirked. "I wish, boy. But in fact, I came to inform you that you have a visitor."

Aragorn's breath caught in his throat. Please don't let it be my brothers. "Who?"

Donngal gave him a knowing glance. "Your father."

Aragorn scowled. "You lie," he hissed, infuriated.

"No. No, I do not. Lord Elrond has come to save his human son, a son he only agreed to take in out of pity, a son who will always be a burden. You will be the reason for Rivendell's downfall. Lord Morcion will get all he deserves, and I will rule by his side, rolling in hills of gold."

Gold. Was that all men cared for now? To move love and peace back to a second assurance, and bask in unnecessary riches? Aragorn hated this man with all his heart. Slowly, Donngal's words took effect. Estel closed his eyes in anguish. It was his fault. Valar, how could he be so foolish? The twins and ada must hate him, and Legolas… he would be ashamed to call him his friend. How could he be the downfall of Rivendell? The Last Homely House, a sanctuary which had stood for centuries, and centuries more it was meant to endure. He wondered hopelessly if Elrond would even try strike a bargain with Morcion, if the Lord of Imladris thought he was worth it.

Estel noticed Donngal was still watching him, waiting for a reaction. Well, Aragorn thought defiantly, he wasn't going to give him one. He took a deep breath. Where had these hopeless feelings come from? He was Estel, to give up hope meant to give up on himself. And he couldn't do that, not yet at least…

"Where is Elrond now?"

Donngal gave the ranger on the floor an almost pitiful look. "I would say he is still riding through the trees, following fake trails we set for him, right into the trap that was prepared. We have had a group of scouts following him for quite a while, now."

"WHAT?" Aragorn roared. "You men are a disgrace! I am utterly ashamed to claim that you and I are of the same race!"

Donngal rolled his eyes. "Oh, don't get all high and mighty now, ranger. Remember why we are in this current situation."

Aragorn clenched his jaw, refraining from saying something he might come to regret.

"Learning now, are we ranger? Well, if you aren't going to give me any reason to have some entertainment, I had best be off to be informed of our guest's predicament. I trust you will be comfortable down here while I am gone?" Donngal said mockingly.

Going against his previous self-drawn guidelines, Estel spat at the captain's boots. It missed by a mere inch.

Donngal directed one last scathing glare down at the prisoner, which Aragorn returned, before turning on his heel, exiting the dank cave and pulling the heavy iron-grated door shut behind him.

Aragorn kicked the ground hard in anger, growling with frustration. Elrond was headed right into a trap, set up by Morcion… and from what he had been able to tell from Donngal's information, he was alone. The worst detail was that he didn't even know why Morcion so clearly resented his father.

Estel wondered vaguely if he would ever see his family again. Elladan… the last time he had seen his brother, they had fought. And he hadn't seen Legolas for months. The ranger closed his eyes. This was turning out to be so much worse than he ever thought it could be…

TBC…

Athelas – A healing herb that grows throughout Middle Earth, also known as Kingsfoil.

Mellon – Friend

Ada – Father

Pe-channas – Lacking intelligence (fool)

I don't really have anything much to say. If you want more scenes with a certain type of character, please leave a review or PM me. All reviews will be replied to in email.

Thanks for reading!