August 27 TA 1636

"Captain Elladan, are you hungry?"

Elladan glanced at Renil from his bedroll. He hadn't moved since they'd stopped to make camp, his feet sore from the improper boots he was wearing. He had tripped over sticks and torn his leggings on thorns and trees trying to climb them with no success. "No, thank you," he said quietly.

"Something wrong?" one of the team members, Gwilith, asked.

"No, my feet are a little sore, that is all," Elladan responded, pulling his boots off. His socks were torn, various blisters adorned the sides of his feet.

"You are wearing unsuitable boots for these woods. Our boots are far more flexible, and are of softer leather."

Elladan sighed, "I do not have your boots, I only have the boots I wore from Imladris."

Renil turned away from the fire and toward them, and sat next to Elladan on his bedroll, "How are you doing?"

"I am doing fine, thank you," he said, and Renil looked at his feet, then his torn leggings.

"You are not, why did you not tell me your boots were bothering you? Gwilith, get my bag."

Gwilith nodded, and returned moments later with Renil's bag. He pulled a pair of boots from it, and a roll of linen, "These should fit you," he said and nodded to Elladan's feet. "Take off your socks."

Elladan did as he asked and pulled his socks off his blistered feet. Renil poured water from his water skin onto his feet and wrapped them in the linen bandage. He pulled a pair of socks from his bag, and draped them over the boots. "If you have any other problems captain, let me know," he said with a small smile.

"Thank you," he said as Renil returned to his spot near the fire, one of the elves asked him a question and occupied his attention.

The elf he remembered as Brethil stared at him from across their small camp, hatred evident in his sharp features. All of the elves of Mirkwood had dangerous faces, a seemingly permanent side effect of the lethal environment they lived in; but this danger had never been directed at him before that moment. What this elf had against him, he did not know, but he had caught him staring the night before as well. He turned to Gwilith, "what does he have against me?"

"Brethil? He is just jealous is all, do not worry about him."

"Jealous?"

"You are Captain, and he thinks it is because of your relationship with the queen," Gwilith said regretfully, his grey eyes flashed to Brethil, and he looked away.

Elladan shook his head, "that is not true, the queen is not like that."

"That is just what he believes, it is not the thoughts of the entire group," Gwilith said with a small smile, and Elladan returned it.

"Thank you," he said quietly, but was startled by Renil. He stood suddenly, his pupils dilated, "we have company everyone. Look alive."

It was late, the moon and stars were the only thing that kept Huldion's mind off of his terrible luck. The stars were hard to find under the thick canopy of Mirkwood's trees, and he himself enjoyed the view he only got on foreign errands for the King.

He heard steps behind him, and turned to see Luin. He turned around again with a sigh, Luin sitting next to him on the stone wall. "Have you found anything?"

"No. Nothing at all. It is as if they have disappeared. But people continue to vanish, to turn up dead. I have never been at such a loss."

Luin stared out into the night, the fires of the men in the distance burning bright. "Perhaps this was their plan all along."

Huldion looked at him, then back at the sky, "I was thinking the same thing. What must I do?"

"You are asking me?" Luin said and scratched his head in silence. "What do you think was their plan? Why would they get us here?"

Huldion shook his head, "I do not know. They could have any number of motives for what they are doing. But Luin," he paused, "I would like for you to return to Mirkwood."

Luin's head shot up, his eyebrows furrowed, "Why?"

"There is only four of us now, and you are the queen's brother. You are not as well trained as the rest of us. You cannot get hurt on my watch."

Luin shook his head, "With all due respect, I do not intend to leave now. I will not leave you and the rest of the team just because it is a little more challenging than you originally anticipated. I will stay."

Huldion stared at him as he considered. "Fine. If you will excuse me I must write the King."

August 27 TA 1636

"Do you want to start back to the stronghold soon, my lady?" Adanion asked quietly.

She turned with a small laugh, "why would you wish to do such a thing on such a fine day?"

He smiled, his eyes bright, "it is getting late."

She turned and let him catch up with her, "do you know who is coming today?"

"No, my lady, who?"

"Faroth's daughter. She has been living in the grey havens since the sinking of Beleriand, and now she has finally decided to visit."

Adanion's face changed to one of curiosity, "she has never visited?"

"She has never left the havens. I understand Faroth had a hard time when his wife died, and she could not bear to follow him. She believed he was on a destructive path and did not want to see him fade. But Lord Oropher helped him."

"I did not even know Faroth was married before," Adanion said with a sigh.

"He does not speak of her. It is terribly sad," Earien said, her eyes following the tree line to the sunset. The stood on the edge of a small cliff overlooking the river that led to Esgaroth. She sat on the grass and looked up at Adanion and patted the ground next to her. Her and her guard had gotten close over the years, and now she considered him one of her closer companions. He too enjoyed her company. She was always calm, always looking at the brighter side of every situation.

"The King is going to kill me," she laughed.

"He knows I am with you, will that not soften the blow?" Adanion asked with a smirk as he examined a cut on her hand.

"No, he worries so. I understand it after the loss he has had, but I cannot always worry about him worrying. Does that make sense?"

"It does," Adanion said.

"Let us go and meet Faroth's daughter."

It took them not twenty minutes to get back to the stronghold, and Faroth stood at the gate with Thranduil, waiting for the party to arrive. Faroth appeared nervous, and Earien placed a supportive hand on his arm. He smiled graciously with a small nod, and Thranduil spotted a group coming around a bend. They in fact bore the crest of the Grey Havens. They stopped before the gates and bowed before the King and Queen. An elleth got off her horse, and turned toward them with eager eyes. She had the same red hair as Faroth, the same fierce eyes. She was quite small, fragile looking.

Faroth stepped forward and stopped, unsure. Earien took Thranduil's arm and smiled up at him. She smiled, tears in her eyes, and closed the distance, running into his arms. He spun around, her feet coming off the ground. She was crying softly in his arms, and Faroth took her face in his hands, tears pouring down his face as well.

"You have gotten so beautiful," he whispered shakily, beaming.

"Ada, I will not leave you again. I will stay here, with you."

He smiled and embraced her again before he broke away and turned to Thranduil and wiped the tears from his cheeks.

"My Lord Thranduil, this is my daughter, Sidhiel."

"It is a pleasure," Thranduil said, and she bowed her head to them.

"I have heard much of Mirkwood from Lord Cirdan. You have don wonderfully against the growing darkness in the south."

"Thank you," Thranduil said, "this is my wife, Earien."

She embraced Earien gently, "it is wonderful to meet you."

"Come, will you join us for tea your majesties?"

"We would love to," Thranduil smiled.

Earien sighed, and she and Thranduil shuffled back inside. "I have never seen him emotional. He is always so stone faced," Thranduil said to her in his mind.

"This will be good for him," she responded, and he agreed.

They sat in the garden again, Earien's favorite place, and had tea and a small lunch brought to them. Faroth's daughter spoke of her journey to Mirkwood, and Faroth couldn't take his loving eyes off of her. Amandil entered, two scrolls in his hand. Sidhiel met his eyes, and he blushed.

"Can I help you captain?"

Amandil blushed deeper, and stuttered, "Scrolls for you, your majesties."

"Thank you," Thranduil said, and handed Earien hers from Luin. It was the second one she had received since he had left.

Muinthel,

I have enjoyed my time here in Gondor, although I do miss Mirkwood in its strange beauty. I cannot deny that being away from you is difficult for me to bear. I am lonely in a way an elfling is lonely his first time away from home, and I feel foolish. Huldion has been incredibly kind to me, as you had told me. He has begun to search for the culprits without success. He is troubled by the lack of results he has produced, and fears failure. Two of the elves in the group have disappeared, and now there remains only four of us. The men in the village resent us, claiming we have brought danger with us, saying we have angered the pair. I fear for the mission itself and its success.

I am sure Huldion has wrote Thranduil with similar news, and I do not know if we should return or not. Do not worry for me, I am fine. I cannot express my desire to be home and to see you, Legolas, and Thranduil again.

With love

Luin.

Thranduil looked up at her, and she knew his letter was similar to her own. "If you could excuse us."

Faroth looked up, and his face changed from the face of a proud father to the face of the Captain of Defense, "What is it?"

Thranduil shook his head, "It is alright, I can handle it. Come speak with me later on."

Faroth shook his head gently, "My lord-"

"Stop. Take a day off," Thranduil smiled and Faroth relaxed slightly, the corners of his mouth turned up into something that almost resembled a smile.

Earien and Thranduil made their way quickly to his office, and summoned Amandil to join them. They pulled out a map of the area. He knew she had been a skilled as a sharpshooter in the past, and valued her opinion often in military strategy.

"It is heavily wooded, steep terrain. High population. They knew what they were doing," Thranduil sighed.

"What do you think their motives are? This is not a bitter drifting couple," Earien said.

The thought startled him. They weren't. It was all too obvious now.

"I am not sure, but I want them out. They will not have the satisfaction, and I will not endanger the rest of the team off of pride. Send a letter, immediately," Amandil nodded, and pulled a sheet of parchment from Thranduil's desk. He ran from the office, and Thranduil couldn't help but be nervous, his imagination ran away from him. What had he done? Why did he get involved? Why didn't he listen to Salias?

"We have to get them out, Amandil!" he shouted, and Amandil ran down the hall toward him again, "Yes?"

"Double the guard surrounding the stronghold, do not let anyone enter unless you have personal permission from me. They must leave, immediately. Send your fastest messenger."

Amandil nodded nervously, and walked down the hall, yelling for his assistant.

He spun, his eyes meeting Earien's. "where is Legolas?"

Legolas and Calis were the first in the water, Erron stood passively on the shore and watched. It was hotter than most days in Mirkwood, and Legolas had asked Faroth if he could go swimming, for which he nodded with a wave of his hand while he filled out paperwork. It had been permission enough for him. Him and Calis' clothes lay in the grass under a tree, and Erron stood guard over them.

"Come, swim with us!" Legolas called to him.

Erron shook his head, "I am alright on shore."

Calis smirked and dunked his head, "you are afraid?"

Erron turned his head defiantly, "I never learned to swim."

Calis glanced shamefully at Legolas, who rolled his eyes at his cousins insensitivity, "Come, we will teach you."

Erron quirked his mouth in consideration, and pulled his boots and shirt off. He waded into the water, and Legolas nodded in confirmation with each step. Calis still felt guilty about mocking him, and watched silently in his shame. The water reached Erron's ribcage and he stopped, his fearful eyes staring at the gentle rush of the water. "it will not carry you away, I will not allow any harm to come to you." Erron nodded, and took another step toward him. He smiled, and Legolas placed his hand under his elbow, "now kick your feet."

Erron followed his instruction, and his feet were no longer on the river bottom. Shock passed his face and turned to delight, and he leaned on Legolas as he swam deeper into the river. Calis smiled and cheered. Erron moved to put his feet down, as he was getting tired, and Legolas released his arm. He reached for the river bottom with his foot, and he slipped on a mossy rock, his head flew under the water suddenly. Legolas dove for him, and saw no evidence of him. "Erron!" he screamed in panic, and he saw his head bob above the water further down river. "Calis!" he cried and pointed, before diving into the water again. Calis climbed out and dashed alongside the river, leaping over sticks and rocks, keeping his eye on him. Erron managed to keep his head above the water, desperate cries escaped his lips every once in a while. Legolas caught him, and Erron wrapped his arms around his neck.

"Don't let go of me, please," he cried, and Legolas searched the upcoming shores for something to grab onto. Erron was tired, and his weight was too much for Legolas to hold above the deep water, and keeping his own head above water was proving challenging. He inhaled a mouthful of water, his vision fuzzy. Erron tried to help him, but failed against the strength of the water. The rapid portion was coming up as Legolas knew, and he tried not to panic as he dragged Erron with him toward the side. The attempt proved futile, and Legolas' back hit a rock. He cried out, and water poured into his mouth. His head was under water, and Erron was suddenly far behind him, and was pulled onshore by Calis. The small drop that led to the rapids was feet away from him, and the last he saw was Calis running as fast as he could alongside the river.

"I could not find them anywhere, Your Majesty, we searched the whole area surrounding the stronghold," Amandil said apologetically.

He turned to Faroth, who rode up on his horse from the river area, "we found these," he said, his face grave. He handed Thranduil the boys' clothes, and Thranduil ran Legolas' tunic between his fingers a few times, willing his son to be in it once again. "We will find them, Thranduil," He said forcefully, and nodded. "We will."

Thranduil tuned to Lorn, who looked as if he wanted to dash into the forest himself. Thranduil was empathetic with the feeling, but years of his staff restraining him left him with a depressing sense of being trapped during situations such as these, when the last thing he wanted to do was be sensible. "Do you think it was malicious?" he asked the King, and he shook his head,

"I do not know. It is too dark to see signs of a struggle, although my Captain assures me they found none."

Lorn nodded, and turned to Faroth, "I wish to search for them," he put his hand up as the protests began, "I do not care about any excuses you may have. I will search for my son. Now." No words were spoken against him this time, and he turned to Thranduil, "I will find our boys if it is the last thing I do."

Thranduil took small comfort in the words, but the force behind them did reassure him slightly. Earien clung to Thranduil's arm, and together they walked back to the royal wing. No words were passed between them, both too worried to reassure the other. Earien eventually did manage to cry herself to sleep, regardless of her attempts to hide her tears from Thranduil, and he rose and sat in the living room. He drank dorwinion until he too fell asleep.

He woke to no new news of his son, and no news of the group in Gondor. Would it be terribly difficult to get out of the Stronghold without anyone noticing? Especially Faroth?

Thanks for reading! Please review! I hope you all are enjoying the story so far :)

Guest- Thanks so much! It means a lot! I cannot say what these two are up to yet, its too big of a spoiler! ;) sorry! Thanks for the question.

Helen- I know that elves do not die when they sail. I originally wrote the chapter stating that Earien's parents died, but changed my mind as I didn't really want her to have the same experience of loss as Thranduil, and missed correcting the next line. I also meant that she was his only living family available to him in his life in his youth, and growing up. I have clarified that now. I also know that elves do not need sleep, but when elves do sleep its similar to a form of meditation, resting the mind, as Legolas does in Two Towers and Finrod and Turgon in the Silmarillion when Ulmo speaks to them in their dreams. That is what I was intending by rest. Not physical rest but mental, as Luin was missing his sister. Similar to Thranduil in past chapters/stories.

Please note- I do appreciate pointing out inaccuracies/inconsistencies. I am not perfect and do appreciate the assistance. I am the only one who proofreads! But I do wish for criticism to remain constructive, and free of offenses please! I am trying my best! Thanks :)