Chapter 26

Following his brothers lead, Aragorn silently withdrew his own blade, although a confused frown settled upon his face. If the orcs were close enough to smell, they should have heard them long before. The only explanation his mind could give was that he and Elrohir had been so caught up in their worry for the missing twin that they just had not noticed the creatures approach. Meeting his elven brother's eye he signalled his intent to move and upon Elrohir's nod of acknowledgement stealthily crept away to the left, out of the small clearing and into the shelter of the trees. He knew, without watching, that the younger twin would be mirroring his movement to the right in an oft used manoeuvre to come upon their enemy from both sides at once.

Walking cautiously through the trees Elrohir could not but wonder at the stealth and silence shown by the orcs, the scent of which near filled his nostrils now to the point at which he could taste it. Supressing the wish to retch he stood for a moment straining his ears for the slightest sound but although he could hear Aragorn's slight footfall on the opposite side of the forest he could make out naught else. A chill began to wend its way up his spine. If the orcs had found a way to pass as soundless as an elf this did not bode well for future encounters. He stiffened slightly at a half heard noise behind him but was a second too late to react as he felt the cold, hard press of a blade upon the nape of his neck and a strong arm reached forward to encircle him, pulling him backwards into a firm embrace.

~o~

The elf had finally reached the grassy level beneath the hill and stopped for a second to get his bearings. A noise made him turn and look back up to the rocks above him just as a shower of pebbles rained down from where he had been but a few moments before. Ignoring it as a delayed phenomenon from his passing he returned his gaze to the distant forest, running his eyes back and forth until he was certain he had memorised the exact spot he had seen the interloper when he was up on the tower.

With one last sweep of his eyes over the grassland to ensure he was alone he started out, loping easily over the uneven ground beneath his feet, a feral expression upon his face. He was back on the hunt, and his heart raced with excitement at the thought of what was to come.

~o~

Aragorn moved as silently as only a ranger taught by elves could, his blade held before him, his body as tense as a bow string. There was surely something amiss here and he was hoping against hope that their enemies had not discovered some dark method for concealing their movements. A sudden stifled cry from the trees opposite impelled him into movement and without heed for noise or stealth he raced towards the sound, eyes glittering dangerously with intent to do battle upon any who had harmed his kin.

~o~

Weaving across the grassy hillocks the elf breathed deeply, relishing the clean, fresh air as it entered his lungs and chased away the musty taint of the dark room deep within the fortress behind him. It felt so good to be alive. His body thrummed with pleasure as the slight breeze tickled across his bared torso and lifted his golden tresses so that they danced upon his shoulders. To be allowed outside again, to walk freely over the earth, was something he had dreaded would never come to pass. His eyes never ceased scanning the area before them, flitting across the grassy expanse and up to the trees which grew ever closer. So absorbed was he in the feelings of freedom and the thrill of the hunt, that he never noticed the small band following far behind in his wake.

Finally reaching the tree line without incident he reached out a hand to impulsively stroke the gnarled trunk of a twisted beech then frowned. For a moment he had thought he felt something, a fleeting sense of longing and love but it had passed so quickly he cast it aside as merely a wishful thought. That kind of dream had been left behind long ago. It was from another life, when he was someone else, before he had become unloved and unwanted, cast out and despised. Before he had become a kinslayer. Before he had met his master. He scanned the forest before him certain that this was the entry point of the elf he had spotted before, knowing that there would be very little sign of his passing but then smiled ferally and moved slowly forwards. A small broken twig dangled from the branch of an elderly oak tree and caught within its forked grasp was a long, dark hair, waving like a flag in the breeze. Maybe this would be easier than he thought. Excitement mounting he began to move deeper into the forest.

~o~

High in the topmost room of the ruined fortress the witch king stood transfixed as his mind melded with that of his masters once more. The sense of pleasure he felt pulsating through the link as his lord rifled through his mind, extracting all the information that he held about the turning of the elf was electrifying and he began to hope that his deepest fantasy would be allowed to come to reality

"You have done well." The deep, resonant words were not so much heard as felt. Reverberating through the dark underlings body like the tremors of an earthquake. "If all goes well you may take your reward."

A surge of pleasure ripped through him, from his master's thoughts or his own anticipation he could not tell but the wave brought him to his knees, weak and trembling in its intensity. Then suddenly he was alone again, his master's mind withdrawn and he sagged forwards to rest, leaning on his hands upon the stone floor a sense of mingled pleasure and menace slowly fading away to leave him breathless and wondering at the power his lord possessed.

~o~

Elladan crept through the forest towards the spot that he had left his brothers, senses alert for the slightest sign of pursuit. He was almost certain that he had managed to both enter and leave the old ruin without being seen but a vague feeling of unease tugged at the corners of his mind and he could not shake it off. Stopping every few steps he stood still, listening intently, eyes darting hither and thither until convinced he was alone, only then would he begin to move once more, repeating the process over and over, telling himself he was being over cautious but not being able to stop.

Just as he was nearing the small clearing they had chosen as a meeting place he heard a slight rustle off to his left and he froze like a small rabbit caught by the light of a burning torch. Turning ever so slowly towards the spot his eyes as wide as his father's side plates he focussed his senses as his hand slid down to grasp the hilt of his sword. He took a silent step forwards, then another, gently easing the blade from its dark scabbard as he went, his heart beating faster and faster within his chest. He caught a glimpse of movement through the trees and for a moment a tall figure stood, outlined in the feeble sunlight that crept its way down through the leaves overhead but then it was gone, returned to the shadows once more. His sword was now fully drawn and keeping his eyes fixed upon the place he had last seen the indistinct form he began to move forwards once more, as silently as a shadow, like a hunter tracking a wild stag.

A few paces further and he stopped once more. There, barely visible beside a large elm he saw the figure he was seeking, standing still, head tilted as if straining to hear any sound. With a smile he circled the tree silently, just keeping the tall form in sight, certain he had, as yet not been spotted himself. Once behind the figure he waited barely a heartbeat longer before he darted forwards and in one swift, elegant movement swung his sword up horizontally, placed its edge against the back of the neck partially hidden by the long, dark braid of hair, reached around the muscular chest with his free arm to pull his captive back against his own chest and leaned forwards to whisper into an ear.

"Boo!"

Elrohir emitted a short cry of surprised anger before managing to bring himself under control as he realised who it was that held him in such a tight grip.

"'Dan!" He spat out in a forceful whisper as he squirmed furiously to free himself from his brother's grasp. "What in the name of the Valar do you think…"

"Teaching you a lesson, muindor." Dan broke in as he finally loosened his grip enough for his brother to spin free. "You should thank me, not beat me." He smiled and danced away from his brother's arm as Elrohir lashed out with a hefty swipe at his head. "I could have been an orc."

"You certainly smell like one." Elrohir snarled, glowering at his twin, intent for revenge written all over his face. "What have..?"

The sound of heavy footsteps rushing towards them caused both elves to suddenly quiet and turn as one, the younger fluidly withdrawing his own blade, to stand side by side facing the direction of this new threat. A moment later a figure came barrelling between the trees, swinging his own sword wildly, murder glittering from his deep grey eyes.

"Estel!"

"You! Oof!"

Unable to stop his headlong rush Aragorn ran pell mell into the twins and the trio flew backwards to end up in a tangled heap on the forest floor.

"Estel," Elladan groaned as he pushed at his human brother in an attempt to dislodge him from his position atop and across both twins.

Floundering and disorientated by the fall it took a moment for Aragorn to comprehend exactly where he was, then, as embarrassment flushed his face, he hastened to remove himself, rolling away in an ungainly whirl of arms and legs.

" Sorry, 'Dan, 'Roh." He mumbled as he managed to extricate himself from the heap.

"So you should be Estel. It's a mercy none of us was speared!" Elladan snapped as he pulled himself into a sitting position, picking dead leaves from his hair. "Whatever were you thinking?"

"Come now 'Dan," his twin interjected as he lithely rose to his feet, brushing his hands down his breeches to remove the twigs and leaf mould that had managed to attach themselves. "'twas not his fault."

"He should know better than to go racing into combat without knowing what it is he is facing!" Elladan was not going to be placated that easily, fear lending an edge to his words. "What if we had been a company of orcs!"

"Then I would have killed as many of you as I could!" Aragorn spat through clenched teeth. "I am no babe to be coddled Elladan," he continued angrily as his eldest brother rose to his feet and moved towards him. "I am quite capable of looking after myself!"

"Aye," Elladan replied with a growl as he stalked closer, "You have just proved how 'capable' you are Estel." He thrust his face into that of his human brother, sarcasm dripping from every word. "If I were an orc I would be quaking in my boots!"

Human and elf stood nose to nose, eyes locked together, neither prepared to give way to the other.

"Stop it!" Elrohir's voice was low and forceful. "Look at yourselves." He continued as the pair finally broke eye contact to glare at him. "Like stubborn children arguing over which is the best fighter!"

"But he..."

"He could have…."

The warring pair began together then turned back to glare at one another again.

"I don't care." The younger twin broke in. "We are in a strange and dangerous forest." His words came thick and fast. "Close to a possible source of a multitude of enemies who may at any moment decide to attack us as we stand and you..." He shook his head in disbelief. "You two stand there like rutting stags fighting to decide which is the strongest and best to lead the herd!"

The tirade finished all three stood in silence for a moment as Elrohir's words sank in. Elladan was the first to crack, a smile twitched at the corners of his mouth, followed by a muffled chuckle. He caught sight of Aragorn's face flushing as the young man attempted to hold back the giggles so obviously rising and felt his own mirth building within.

"Rutting stags?"

Blurting out the words, Elladan collapsed into gales of laughter closely followed by Aragorn and although Elrohir tried to maintain an affronted mien it was not long before his own mirth overflowed and he joined them in their unrestrained merriment. For a few minutes the trio allowed jocularity to wash away the tensions of the previous few days, giving themselves up to its thrall and revelling in the chance to enjoy the unforeseen moment.

Eventually the trio's laughter began to ebb and as they found that they could share a glance without dissolving into giggles once again Elladan began to notice the way his brothers were wrinkling their noses and backing away each time he took a step closer.

"What in the name of the Valar have you been doing 'Dan?" Elrohir finally asked as a look of revulsion passed over his face. "You smell awful!"

"Worse than awful I would say." Aragorn added. "You smell as if you fell in a midden!" He grimaced.

"Actually," Elladan began sheepishly. "You are almost right Estel. I…" He broke off abruptly as the sudden clash of blade upon blade rang out from somewhere back in the direction he had not long come. "That sounds like..."

"Orcs!" Human and elven voices called together as grunts and yells filtered through the trees and after a shared glance all three rushed towards the noise, armed and ready to do battle.

A/N

Sorry if it all seemed at little confusing. Trying to juggle with so many POV's is not easy! It will all come together again soon I promise. Thanks to you all for sticking with it. :)

Mention of course must go to my lovely reviewers, without whom I just wouldn't find the incentive to continue. So big hugs to - NirCele, bettsam0731, Obsidianglasses and the irrepressible Ilovevolleyball who has been very much missed. I hope you make it this far my friend. I have missed your ramblings and treats very much :)

Hope you all enjoyed this one and hey... why not let me know whether you did or not I'm always up for a little constructive criticism. :D