A/N: Here it is all the next chapter.

As always I am sorry for making you wait a good chunk of eternity for this next chapter. I've been captured by orcs for the last six months and finally got rescued by Legolas and Aragorn. Okay so I was captured for like a day and spend the rest 5 and a half months hanging out with Legolas and Aragorn on a deserted island. Come on you all know you'd be doing it too.

Ouch…Legolas just threw an apple at me. "That's it Legolas. Next time you can hang out in someone else's fantasy so there. And who is totally excited about the next pirates of the carribbean movie coming out next summer? And the next Harry Potter movie in like 2 weeks and The chronicles of Narnia. I swear this summer we had all these weak stupid movies and now all the awesome ones are coming out.

That was totally off subject, but that's okay I'm feeling kinda manic cause it's about 1 in the morning and I am exhausted (and this is mostly concerning because I don't have a bipolar disorder.). And I'm currently doing my nursing clinicals at a mental health hospital so I keep thinking about mental health disorders and stuff.

So anyway…

I hope you find it worth the wait and I apologize if it was disappointing. I tried to keep it exciting and defiantly high anxiety.

I was in a little rush to try and finish it tonight so I didn't re-read so please forgive mistakes. And I know elhoir is spelled wrong. I always spell it incorrectly because that's how I end up sounding it out when I type it out. Hopefully someday I will remember how to spell it correctly. I know there are huge errors in this but hopefully it will be interesting enough that those won't take away from it too terribly.

I also want to thank all those who have continued to support me and encouraging. I would also like to thank Viggomaniac for suggesting me to a LOFTR mailing group and Kathleen who is my number one fan. And all the little people…no I'm kidding. Without you all I would never have the determination or motivation to keep writing. You keep me sane and you keep me writing so thanks to all of you….Aragorn and Legolas would thank you too, but they are currently chained up in my basement. So Read and Enjoy.

Chapter Six: Hope Enough to Trust

Into your head, into your mind
out of your soul, race through your veins
You can escape, you can escape.
(Aly & AJ)

"Quickly this way." Legolas replied leading them into the healing ward.

Elrond and the twins followed quickly after, Elladan caring his unresponsive burden.

"Lay him on the bed my son." Elrond commanded as he began to sort through his healing bag.

"Elhoir please get me some water. Legolas I could use some bandages."

The room erupted into organized chaos as each of the elves formed a unified front in their attempts to save the young human's life.

Elrond hastily cut away the boy's remaining clothes and was distressed to see his chest no longer rose and fell. The elf lord placed his ear against the human's chest, but the heart remained stubbornly silent.

"We have no time." Elrond replied worry evident in his voice. The boy's lips were starting to turn blue and his skin was much too pale. "Elladan I need your help."

"Yes father. Can you help him?" Elladan asked fearfully.

"I will do all that is in my power to keep the boy with us. I need you to breath for him. I while compress his chest to help his heart beat."

The two elves worked in a steady rhythm each intent upon their task. Nothing else mattered, but the too still figure before them.

Elrond allowed a smile stream of healing energy to flow through his hands into his young patient, praying silently to the Valar that it would be enough.

After a few tense moments Elrond sighed in relief as he felt the boy's chest rising and falling on its own.

"You can stop my son." The elf lord replied with silent relief. "He is breathing again and his heart once more beats."

"Will he live?" Legolas asked quietly from the corner of the room where he watched desperately for any sign of life from his young friend.

"I do not know your highness. His injuries are grievous. He has lost much blood, He has two arrow wounds, his wrist is broken, and he has been gravely neglected. He is severely dehydrated and looks as though he hasn't eaten in several days. He simply has no energy left and perhaps no longer a will to live. He suffered more than anyone aught and I fear his spirit may be irreparably broken.

"It is all my fault." Legolas whispered mournfully. "I am to blame for what has happened."

"What do you mean?" Elladan asked dangerously. He and Elhoir stood protectively over their small charge staring threateningly at the young elf prince. "What have you to do with this?"

"He…he came to me for help and…and I turned him away." Legolas dropped his eyes unable to maintain eye contact. "I knew he was ill cared for and I did nothing. I…I could have prevented this. His blood is on my hands." Legolas replied guiltily.

Elladan and Elhoir glared darkly at the prince prepared to repay blood with blood.

"My sons enough. Go help the young one. I must speak to the prince a moment."

The twins hesitated a moment caught between helping their young charge and defending him.

"Go." Elrond repeated a bit more forcefully. "The child needs his wounds tended to if he is to last the night. I will be there to help in a moment."

"This is not over prince." Elladan said brusquely.

The twins nodded slightly to Lord Elrond and turned back to their young patient, working in silent tandem to bandage the young child's wounds, pointedly ignoring the room's other two members.

Elrond approached the young elf prince. Legolas bowed his head slightly waiting to be berated or perhaps even beaten. He did not move waiting patiently for the physical or verbally blows to fall. He deserved either or both for what he had done. Sadly there was no greater punishment that the elf lord could inflict that came close to comparing to his own mental anguish and shame at seeing young Estel so close to death's door.

"Prince Legolas."

"Yes Lord Elrond." Legolas replied quietly. He flinched slightly as the elf lord's hand rested on his shoulder.

"It was not your fault. You could not have foreseen this and I do not believe you would have allowed it had you known." The elf lord replied compassionately.

Legolas looked up forlornly at the elf lord. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I can see your heart. You care for the boy deeply and I believe you would die to protect him." Elrond replied.

"I…I don't know." Legolas said with worry in his eyes.

"Oh I think you do." Elrond smiled weakly. "You just don't want to admit it yet. You should go and get some rest. The boy is stable for now and I will let you know if anything changes. There is really nothing you can do for him now…his life is in the Valar's hands."

"Yes Lord Elrond. I will do as you say. Please if you need anything let me know." Legolas replied as he cast one last look at the sleeping boy

"Do you think he will live?" Legolas asked quietly as he watched the steady rise and fall of the human's chest.

Elrond thought about the birthmark on the young boy's chest and looked at the prince with utter conviction in his eyes. "Yes I do. That boy has a great destiny ahead of him and I have a feeling the Valar has much here left for him to do. Middle Earth isn't through with him just yet." Elrond smiled encouragingly.

Legolas nodded once and made for the door.

"And Lord Elrond," The prince said as he turned back around. "Thank you for having faith in me." The prince left the room quickly embarrassed at being so personally when he barely knew Lord Elrond, and yet trusted completely in him. If anyone could save the boy it would be Lord Elrond.

Elrond watched bemused as the elf prince left. It seemed Mirkwood was indeed changing for the better and Elrond suspected it has all started with the meeting of a human slave boy and an elvish prince.

Into your life, into your dreams,
Out of the dark, so light again.
You can exclaim, you can exclaim.
(Aly and AJ)

Estel slowly opened his eyes, but quickly closed them again, as a wave of pain pounded against his skull relentlessly. The light was too bright…it burned his eyes.

He whimpered softly at his body's reprimand and instinctively curled in on himself. He burrowed deep underneath the warm unfamiliar cloth that shrouded his frail body, for the covering blessedly blocked the light out from his sensitive eyes.

The young boy tucked his legs protectively under his chin and reached shakily up to his head trying to alleviate the hurt.

While the left arm compliantly rose to Estel's demands, the right arm seemed stubbornly locked in place. He tugged it again eliciting a wave of pain up the right side of his body. Unable to stifle a cry, young Estel buried his face inside the soft cushioning beneath him so that his cry became a scarcely heard muffled sound.

He did not know why he muffled his moans of pain…he only knew how important it was to be quiet. Noise was his enemy…noise would get him into trouble.

If only he could remember why? His mind was agonizingly slow to return to consciousness. And these constant stirrings of pain made it so difficult to concentrate.

Who was he?

Estelles…that was his name. No…No that didn't sound quite right. Estel…Yes Estel that is what he was called now.

And he was a slave…a despicable human who lived to serve the elves of Mirkwood.

But he did not wish to be a slave. He wanted to see the world.

He wanted to dream.

But no slaves did not travel and they most certainly did not dream. Dreaming hurt…not the body, but the soul.

Where was he now?

That question was not so easy to answer. He did not want to open his eyes again…it hurt to open his eyes. But how else would he know where he was?

Perhaps he was on his mat sleeping. Perhaps it was night time. So why couldn't he hear the other slaves. It was too quiet, no one was snoring, no one whimpering, no one restlessly moving about in their slumber.

Perhaps he was in the dark room with the cold chains. This made him shudder. He did not like the dark room. But no it was too bright here. But he couldn't move his right arm…something was binding it in place. So why was his other hand free then? Could he move his legs? He didn't want to find out. What if it hurt like moving his arm had?

And he couldn't feel the hard floor beneath him either. He had never felt anything like this before. It was soft…that was the right word wasn't it? He wasn't sure if he remembered soft correctly. His mother used to tell him how soft his skin felt. But this didn't feel like skin.

The texture was much more similar to cloth, but cloth was much coarser then this. At least the cloth he recalled was. But he had heard some of the house slaves say the cloth the masters wore was not coarse and rough, but almost as smooth as silk. But he didn't know what silk felt like either so he wasn't sure.

He suddenly felt anxious. Maybe he wasn't suppose to be here. Had he fallen asleep somewhere he shouldn't have? He needed to get up and away from here before he got in trouble. They would send for Firithgalad to punish him soon.

Firithgalad!

The words sent a wave of paralyzing terror through him. His breath came out in ragged gasps and he started to sweat profusely even though he suddenly felt very cold inside.

The elf guard had always frightened him before, but now he felt absolutely terrified.

He couldn't let Firithgalad find him. The elf guard wanted to kill him…had tried to kill him.

He started to shake uncontrollably, his pain only a dull throb to the insurmountable panic that overtook him.

Please don't let him find me. Estel prayed fervently to any Valar who would hear him.

The memories of the past few days started to play through his mind being relived in the moment of their remembrance.

He wept as he remember nana being knocked unconscious by the outraged elf guard. She had only been trying to protect him and now she must be dead. Dead like his parents. They had tried to protect him too and suffered for it.

Nana hadn't been dead when they left her…at least he didn't think she was. He would have felt it wouldn't he? His heart would feel emptier like it did when he thought about mama and papa.

But Firithgalad had threatened to punish her if he misbehaved while out in the forest. And he had misbehaved. He hit Firithgalad with the rock. He remembered the rock. It had made an angry red slash on the elf guards cheek. He would be furious with Estel now and punish nana for it.

Would he take her to the woods to?

Estel whimpered at the thought. He had brought suffering to everyone he had ever loved. And so he wept for a childhood he would never have, a family he had lost before he had ever known it left forever alone, for the constant fear, and for the sheer exhaustion of it all.

He didn't know how long he was lost in his silent misery before he heard the approaching voices, but they admittedly sent a fresh wave of alarm creeping up his spine.

Someone was coming!

He had to get away from this place….he had to hide before he was caught.

Estel slowly opened his swollen eyes against the blaring light. After a few eye wrenching moments the light became less painful and Estel allowed himself a sigh of relief.

He gently pulled the covering off afraid of damaging material as fine as this. He laid it delicately draped over the end of the bed making sure none of the beautiful covering brushed the floor. He rubbed the soft comforting material with secret longing, before the approaching voices pulled him from his reverie.

The voices were getting louder. He was running out of time!

He pushed his feet over the side of the bed without a second thought. Pain rushed up his left side. Estel grabbed his left thigh gritting his teeth against the burning pain. His left thigh was bandaged tightly and Estel remembered the arrow that had previously taken up residence there, a dire reminder he needed to make haste if he did not wish to suffer further mistreatment.

He gritted his teeth, blinking away tears of pan, as he slowly forced his left leg the rest of the way over the bed.

More than you land spinning around,
Lifting your feet right off the ground,
You can't believe this is happening now.

(Aly and AJ)

The boy gave himself a brief rest. He was breathing hard and pain seemed doomed to be a constant companion. He was so tried. That brief amount of movement had utterly fatigued him. How ever did he hope to escape if he could scarcely get a few feet before he collapsed from exhaustion. But he had no choice. He had to try. He couldn't just sit here and accept what awful torment lay in store for such a disobedient slave as himself.

Estel stood up on wobbly knees like some new born foe. He leaned heavily on his right leg. Dizziness created black spots in his eyes and he was forced to lean against the backboard of the bed lest he collapse then and there.

Through a disturbing ringing in his ears Estel realized the voices had finally reached his door. He had only seconds left before he was ultimately discovered.

Panic left Estel paralyzed with fear. There was simply no time left to hide. He would never make it to a closet or behind a curtain and attempting to sneak out the window would as surely be a death sentence as discovery. He was just too weak.

He was defenseless out here in the open for anyone to find him, most importantly Firithgalad. Perhaps the elf guard was one of the voices outside the door coming to exact his final revenge.

Esel broke off a frustrated sob lest he give himself away. He couldn't give up now…there was still hope that no one knew he was here. He could still escape…he had to.

He looked frantically around the room for somewhere to hide in the few moments he had left.

A laugh rang out behind the door. The knob slowly begin to turn. Estel watched with wide startled eyes. Time was up!

The young slave boy dropped to the floor and scurried frantically beneath the bed. It was painful maneuvering, but adrenaline and fear kept the boy from passing out. He succeeded at getting his entire body beneath the bed just as the door swung open. He scrounged into the darkest recesses of his hiding place watching fearfully from the shadows as two sets of boots entered the room.

The unnatural position was painful on the boy's wounds and he forcibly gritted his teeth against the scream rising in his throat. His breath was heavy from fear, fatigue, and pain and his heart beat a racket in his chest. His own fear would surely betray him. He waited in fearful anticipation begging his heart to be silent.

One pair of brown doe skin boots started to approach his hiding place.

He couldn't help but admire the beautiful leather fur-lined shoes. He had never seen such a marvelous pair of boots. He imagined how smooth they would fell under his touch.

Estel imagined wearing such fine boots, feeling the warm soft fur against his skin.

He had never owned shoes before, but if he ever were to own a pair of shoes he imagined they would look just like this.

Perhaps when he was older…sometimes the male slaves were sent on orc raids like his father and given boots as a sign of their status. Father had very fine boots. They were not so new and fine as these, but ever day when father would return from the hunt he would patiently stitch up the holes and wash off the dirt until the shoes looked nearly new again. But the other slaves had never had such nice boots. Dirt was permanently clumped to the smooth material and holes were left unmended in the heels. He'd often heard the men complain they were too small and caused their feet to cramp.

He remembered asking his mother about it once. Why his father's boots were so much nicer than the other slaves. She had told him that his father had his boots from when he was captured. There men had been born into slavery and were given old throw offs the elves no longer wanted. He didn't want a pair of thrown off shoes though.

No that would not be his fate. He would leave this place. And someday he would buy his own pair of boots. They would never get crusted over with dirt that stold their soft sheen or have holes in the heels that ruined the insulatory effect. And he would clean them every day just like his father had taught him and leave them by the fire each night to dry.

His imagination brought a smile to his lips and he briefly forgot about the imminent threat before him.

The beautiful boots were so close he could smell the warm familiar scent of leather. His hands itched to feel the soft leather against his skin and he could feel his hand slowly reaching out from beneath the bed. If he could just touch them once…

A shout of distress and anxiety rang out, like the roar of a wounded animal startling young Estel from his dreamy reverie. A bowl crashed to the ground shattering into hundreds of tiny pieces only inches from the young boy's reaching and as yet unnoticed hand. Estel felt a hot stream of liquid splash across his exposed flesh pulling a whimper from his lips as he jerked his hand back beneath the safety of the bed.

He cradled the injured appendage against him. Now both hands were useless…he had never felt so helpless. He curled up into a tight ball as tears of pain, fear, and shame again salted his face…praying silently to the Valar his cry of distress had not given him away, for he imagined discovery would only lead to a fatal end.

Can You feel it, can you feel it,
Rushin' through your hair,
Rushin' through your head,
Can you feel it, can you feel it,

Don't let nobody tell you, your life is over,
Be every color that you are,
Into the rush now,
You don't have to know how,
Know it all before you'll try.

(Aly and AJ).

Elladan and Elhoir were talking and laughing cheerfully as they walked down the palace corridors, their dark moods lifted with the assurance that the young elfling would live.

The Perendill twins had kept constant vigil throughout the night along with their father Lord Elrond beside the young child's bedside, certain each breath would be his last. But the elfling was strong and had resolutely pulled through the long seemingly endless night.

And this morning as Elrond had examined the young boy, while his sons waited with baited breath, the elf lord turned to his sons with a smile reporting that the child's fever had broken in the night and his body was slowly beginning to heal.

Not even the visit of the Mirkwood prince could dampen the twins mood, as he tapped hesitantly on the door this morning requesting entrance.

Elladan felt a snarl of "No" rolling from his tongue as he opened the door, prepared to send the prince on his way, but after taking in the Mirkwood elf's rumpled appearance the words died on his lips.

Legolas had dark circles etched beneath his eyes as though he had not slept that night or perhaps many nights. He seemed to be wearing the clothes of yesterday, which were now wrinkled from use. And his face bore a lost hopeless expression as though expecting the harsh words that would deny him entrance and in the same breath reject him from their sight. The prince's sad innocence and obvious anxiety over the boy melted Elladan's hardened heart and he simply moved aside silently ushering the prince in.

Legolas bowed formally to the twin princes, but his eyes remained locked on the peacefully sleeping boy. He walked slowly, cautiously up to the bed as though approaching the dead. He gracefully eased his way upon the edge of the mattress, the boy perhaps finding some comfort in the presence edged closer, though remained peacefully asleep.

Legolas watched the boy silently, content to see the boy alive and while not well certainly much better than last night. Color had returned to the boys too pale cheeks and he seemed to be resting peacefully.

The prince gently brushed Estel's hair affectionately back from his young innocent face, eliciting a small smile from the boy…perhaps the boy was dreaming it was his mother near, but Legolas was pleased all the same that he could bring the boy some measure of joy if only unconsciously.

The twins stood guard, allowing the prince a measure of privacy with the young child, but watching to ensure no more harm befell the poor youngster. While the perendils could easily make out the prince's softly spoken words they tactfully kept their silence, pretending to hear nothing, as the prince exposed his heart to a young child he had grown to love.

"Forgive me Estel." Legolas whispered tenderly. "I know I have no right to ask, but I could not bear it should you grow to scorn me. I have failed you my friend. When you needed me most I turned my back on you. I sent you away when you practically begged me to let you stay. I might as well have plunged the arrow in your arm myself…I could be no less a monster than Firithgalad. I was such a fool…pretended to be so blind. I knew he hated you Estel, and still I sent you out to the wolves to…to die, Legolas wept bitterly. "You should never have had to suffer so cruelly.

The prince held Estel's hand tightly and as he wept silently over the sleeping child his naturally glow seemed to waver like a flickering flame.

Can You feel it, can you feel it,
Rushin' through your hair,
Rushin' through your head,
Can you feel it, can you feel it,
(Aly and AJ)

The twin's watched with silent awe as the prince's life energy flowed down his outstretched arm into the young human's. Similar to their father, Lord Elrond's healing trance.

It was a very rare ability, one even the prince's had very limited skill at, and one had to have a deep-seated connection to another person for the energy transfer to even be successful. The twins identically looks of awe quickly turned to anguish as the prince's naturally glow started to disappear. The prince was giving too much of himself, if he kept going he would die.

The twins looked at one another in worry. What could they do? It was nearly impossible for an outside force to interfere with a healing bond. They had watched their father heal many times, but he had always known when he had given enough. Lord Elrond had never exceeded him maximum energy supply. But the young prince was ruled by his emotions and probably didn't realize what he was doing at the moment anyway.

"Prince Legolas you must stop." Elhoir cried out.

You are giving too much energy…you will kill yourself." Elladan added.

Legolas remained oblivious to the twins pleas, lost in his own grief and sorry.

The twins watched helplessly as the prince's light started to flicker out. Legolas had become deathly pale in a considerably short period of time and his eyes were starting to dim. The prince no longer wept as though too weak for tears, but he still held resolutely on to the young boy as though the child were his lifeline, where in this case the child was taking his lifeline from him.

Lord Elrond hurriedly entered the room, brushing past the two startled twins as he made his way towards the bed, perhaps driven to the power he felt being expended. "Prince Legolas you will stop now!" Elrond demanded, his voice calm and forceful. Where the twins own pleas had fallen on deaf ears, lord Elrond had an authority about him that one could not ignore.

The prince's hand slipped limply to his side and his head dropped weakly over the young boy. The room hung in silence except for the prince's quick rasping breaths.

After a few moments the prince seemed to gather what strength remained to him and looked weakly up at the elf lord. "I…I feel so tired all of a sudden. What is happening to me?" Legolas asked in a quavering voice.

Elrond smiled reassuringly. "It seems young prince that you just performed an energy transfer bond."

"A what?" Legolas shook his head in confusion.

"You gave the young one here some of your life energy, but you over did it a bit.

"Estel…is Estel okay." Legolas jerked quickly around to look at the young human sleeping peacefully, his skin tone looking considerably less pale. The prince felt a wave of dizziness nearly send him crashing to the floor, but a strong pair of arms caught him leaning his spinning head against a warm solid chest.

"Estel is that his name? Hope…how very appropriate." Elrond smiled as though knowing some secret significance. "'Estel is quite well young prince and do to your help it is a certainty that he should recover. You however nearly ended your life in middle earth. You were quite prepared to give every ounce of energy you possessed to help young Estel."

"But how?" Legolas looked even more confused at the elf lord's explanation. "I don't understand what is going on."

"You are tired. Come Prince Legolas you need to rest. You have overexerted yourself more than enough for one day. I'll explain everything later once you've rested." Elrond helped Legolas to get to his feet and gently prodded him towards the door.

"Thank you Prince Legolas…for your help." Elladan replied finding new respect for the elf prince. He had been willing to give his life for their young charge, the greatest sign of compassion.

" I imagine prince Legolas is getting the regular mother hen treatment at the moment." Elhoir replied apparently reliving the same memories.

"Well better him than us brother." The elder twin replied.

Elhoir laughed at his brother's joke and tried to juggle the tray of hot soup he had brought for the young Estel and open the door at the same time.

After a few exasperating moments of trying to turn the knob without also spilling the scalding broth all over him, Elhoir turned in frustration towards his patiently waiting brother who's eyes were twinkling just a little too brightly as he watched his brother's predicament.

"Brother, perhaps you would be so kind as to offer your assistance." Elhoir groused.

"Why I thought you would never ask. It would be my pleasure." Elladan smiled smugly as he opened the door and bowed with a flourish as he ushered his brother into the room. "After you your majesty."

"At least one of us acts are station." Elhoir ground out as he entered the room fighting to keep a smirk off his face at his brothers affronted expression.

Elhoir's merriment quickly died as he took in the empty bed. Elhoir looked frantically around the room, but the child was no where. The room was abysmally empty.

Elladan following close behind his brother rammed into the younger elf lord upon Elhoir's abrupt stop sending soup and all crashing with a distinct shattering.

The noise seemed to drive the paralysis from Elhoir's limbs and he turned to his brother with a glare.

"Now look what you've done clumsy elf. Look at this mess. Can't you watch where your going?" Elhoir muttered.

"I'm clumsy! You're the one who dropped it. And how was I suppose to know you were just going to stop without warning. Why don't you watch where your stopping. What's up with you anyway. You looked like you lost your senses brother." Elladan replied.

Elhoir turned his glare from his brother and again quickly scanned the room, but the results were still depressingly the same. The boy was gone.

"Haven't you noticed anything odd Elladan? Perhaps that the room is minus one person."

Elladan moved past his brother and realized what had alarmed Elhoir enough to stop him in his tracks.

"Estel is missing." Elladan replied is shock.

"Thank you lord obvious." Elhoir muttered allowing his fear and anxiety to make him irritable.

"Where do you think he's gone? We have to find him. He's not healed enough yet he could hurt himself worse." Elladan replied as panic started to overtake him. He could not allow the boy to be harmed. He had vowed to protect the child and that was exactly what he intended to do.

"How am I suppose to know where he has gone. I am no psychic brother." Elhoir snapped his own anxiety making a normal sweet kind hearted elf into an angry tiger protecting his cubs.

"What….what if that elf took him." Elladan whispered in distress as he imagined all the boy might be going through now. Was the boy even now being tortured by that orc in elf's clothing? Was he dead?

Elhoir took in his brother's own distress and instantly his annoyance with Elladan faded away. He laid his hand gentle on his brother's shoulder sharing his fear and his horror on what might have become of their beloved charge.

"We will find him Elladan…I promise you. And if anyone has hurt him we will make them pay for the injustice in blood."

"Hush" Elladan muttered. "I heard something.

Elhoir scowled at his brother, but complied with Elladan's demand. The younger elf lord perked up his ears straining to hear what had drawn his brother's attention.

A low whimpering sound seemed to be going from the bed.

Elhoir turned confused eyes on Elladan What trickery was this. It was obvious that the bed was empty.

Elladan pointed downward and realization dawned. Someone or something was under the bed.

Surely it was Estel, but why in middle Earth was he under the bed?

Elladan was smiling in relief and walking slowly towards the other side of the bed. His eyes were twinkling with mischief.

"Oh brother I wander where that elfling has gotten to. I don't see him anyway. And the cook said she was making some nice warm hot cookies for supper tonight. I guess we'll have to eat them all ourselves." Elladan looked positively malicious. He had himself positioned on the other side of the bed now.

Elhoir allowed his own mischief to take over as he followed suit and approached the opposite side of the bed. It seemed young Estel was about to get a good scare.

"Yes I suppose your right brother." Elhoir replied. "It really is a shame though I imagine Estel will be sorry to have missed it."

At his brother's signal both elves dropped down shouting "boo" at the exact same time.

Young Estel curled tightly into himself shivering in the terror of discovery. He whimpered softly as he tried to push himself further into the shadows underneath the bed, trying not to look at the two maliciously gleeful elves.

They had taunted him with promises of cookies that they knew slaves were not allowed to have. He had not had something sweet since the day his parent's died along with his hope and his happiness.

And now he would join them. There was no escape. He was surrounding by two identical malevolent faces, wallowing in his despair.

He berated himself bitterly for the wet hot tears that burned his cheeks. He would die now. All he had been through all he had suffered for was for nothing. He was a fool to think he could possible be free…he was powerless, a slave who's only worth was in his ability to obey and do what was commanded of him by his masters.

And since he was no good at obeying or following commands, his only use now was to die, giving his master's as much pleasure in the process as his stricken screams were able.

He couldn't stop trembling as he imagined Firithgalad gleaming down at him with his skinning knife pressed against the young boy's throat. Laughing at the boy's frantic pleas and hopeless screams.

"Come out Estel. It was only a joke. I'm sorry we scared you." Elladan called smiling, oblivious to the boy's true cause of distress.

Had Firithgalad sent these two to bring him back? How else would they know his name, he had never told them. But know these two had distracted the irate elf guard, if they hadn't ridden up when they did he would be dead now…his body left for the orcs to eat.

He wanted to believe they were here to help him, but what if he was wrong?

"Come now Estel. You can't stay under there all day. You might open up your wounds again. Ada would be furious with us if we let you hurt yourself. Don't make us come under there to get you." Elhoir replied concern stating to sink into his voice. Estel was too silent…too sullen. This was not the behavior of a child playing a prank. He had been hiding because he was afraid.

"Pl…please don't hurt him." Estel whispered hoarsely.

"Hurt you." Elladan replied in shock. "We would never harm you young one. We are here to help you. Don't you remember we found you in the forest. Our ada fixed up your wounds and we brought you back here. We nearly thought we'd lost you, but your stubborn like Elhoir over there and your fever broke."

"Hey!" Elhoir protested indignantly. "Your more stubborn then me. Remember that time you went in that bear cave even though I told you not to…"

"That's not the issue brother. Why must you always get off subject?" Elladan replied hastily before Elhoir could finish that highly embarrassing story. He had nearly found himself the dinner of a very hungry bear. "Now please Estel come out. We brought you some food."

"Did F…Firithgalad send you?" Estel asked warily.

"Firithgalad! No of course not. I'll wring that elves neck with my bare hands if I ever see him again. I promise you Estel he will not hurt you again." Elladan replied vehemently.

Estel flinched away from the elf's angry reply.

"It's okay Estel. Elladan is not angry at you, but the elf who hurt you. Please young one don't be afraid….we would sooner take the heart from our chests than lay a hand against you. I swear it by the Valar himself." Elhoir replied soothingly. Imploring the young boy to trust him even though Estel scarcely knew them.

Estel looked at the two elves indecisively. How he wished everything could be like it use to be when his mother and father still lived. It was by far not the happiest child hood, but they had always protected him and made him feel safe. Everything had been so much easier then. But now he was alone, there was no one left to protect him, but these elves had made the offer.

But could he trust him? Would they hurt him like so many others had before them.

Estel allowed himself a sigh. He really had no choice anyway. They obviously had no intention of leaving and were more than capable of waiting him out. They might take him out by force if he didn't comply soon anyway, and they might be less pleasant about it then. There was no reason to create greater animosity. Didn't he have enough people angry at him already without adding more enemies. After all you could only be killed once.

And perhaps he had hope enough to trust once more.

Estel bowed his head in defeat and slowly dragged his protesting body from beneath the bed. Everything hurt and he hissed with pain as each individual wound made itself known.

Estel tensed as he felt a strong pair of hands help pull him from beneath the bed. He was completely at the mercy of these strange elves. They could do whatever they wanted with him and no one would make a fuss, not even nana, after all she had a husband to protect.

As Estel cleared the bed he blinked his eyes against the bright light dropping them submissively.

They might not be working with Firithgalad, but surely they would still punish him for laying on the bed and for his insubordination. Being kicked a few times wouldn't be so bad, so long as they didn't take him back to the dark room…how he loathed that cold, empty, hopeless room.

"Look at me Estel." 'Elladan commanded lifting the boy's chin gently upward. "What happened? Why were you underneath the bed? What happened while we were gone…did somebody try to hurt you?"

"I…I swear I don't know how I got on the bed. I know I wasn't suppose to be up there." Estel blurted out. "I woke up and I was here. Please don't tell Rovan. I'll be good. I swear I'll do what I'm told. Please" Estel turned frightened pleading eyes on two identically astonished faces.

"What do you mean Estel?" Elladan asked in confusion. "We put you in here."

"Y…you did this." Estel asked in disbelief his eyes shining with betrayal. He pulled away from the elf lord's touch. The young slave turned his eyes downward least the tears threatening to leak out gained purchase from the sight of his betrayers. Why would they intentionally try to get him into trouble. They said they were here to help him, promised to protect him. "Why…why are you doing this to me?" He whispered mournfully.

Elhoir gazed at the young child with hurt in his eyes. It was painful to see the boy pull away from him physically as well as emotionally. "Estel I don't understand. Why are you upset? You were hurt. The prince told us to bring you here. Have we done something wrong?"

"Legolas…Legolas told you to bring me here?" Estel asked hopefully. If Legolas said it was okay than everything was alright. Legolas would never hurt him…never betray him. He had seen into the prince's heart and knew that it was pure.

Estel bowed his head no longer out of subservience, but shame. He loathed to face the two elves hurt. They had been nothing, but kind to him. Without them he would most assuredly be dead by now. And all he gave them in return was distrust. A very fine show of gratitude.

"Forgive me. My distrust is uncalled for. You have been kind to me and my gratitude is ill given. I owe you my life, a debt not easily repaid."

Elladan gently lifted the boy's down turned chin and smiled reassuringly. "There is nothing to forgive young one. You have every right to be wary. We are strangers to you. And you have been through much hardship. I only hope you will earn your trust and friendship in the future young Estel."

Estel smiled weakly, a little surprised he still had the ability. "I would be honored to be numbered among your friends. You have done more than enough to earn my trust and my gratitude. And I pray I might someday repay your kindness in kind."

A silence fell over the room as a deep understanding and friendship grew between the three beings. A moment in time that while seemingly insignificant would someday mean the redemption of middle earth and the survival of more than one race.

"Well enough of this. You my young elfling need to have those wounds tended to. No doubt all this moving around under beds and what not has ruined all father's hard work. And I'm sure we'll never here the end of it either. And if I'm not mistaking it looks as though you have some how hurt your other hand as well" Elhoir scolded, smiling to gentle the rebuke.

"Elfling?" Estel thought worriedly. What were they talking about. Surely they knew he was no elfling. Perhaps Elhoir had misspoken. Estel feared to share his identity…feared the rejection and revulsion that came with finding out they were associating so intimately with a lowly human, a slave that was of less important then the mud upon their boots. Estel did not wish to lose the newly formed friendships he had made and so he remained silently praying to the Valar the elf twins already knew or would never find out his deception.

Estel smiled sheepishly as he allowed the elf lords to flock over his injuries like a gaggle of gees. "I'm okay. It's really not so bad as it seems."

The eldest elf clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Not as bad as it seems. Young one I'm not sure if there is a square inch of your body that isn't either burned, bruised, or swollen. And it's not hard to mistake the winces you keep making every time you move. I'm not sure it could get much work as a matter of fact."

"We of course are to blame for the burnt hand I'm afraid. A certain clumsy brother of mine rammed right in to me and your lunch it seems is now decorating the floor." Elhoir added.

"And I must apologize for a clumsy brother who has the reflexive skills of a 5 year old." Elladan added looking at his brother snidely.

Elladan continued to check the young boy's various wounds and was pleased to see they had not reopened with all the activity. He felt the young child's head and was dismayed to feel that it was slightly warm. "It feels like you are starting to get a fever again, I fear those arrows might have been poisoned, but father was certain they hadn't been. Perhaps we've over looked something. It's unnaturally for an elf to feel this warm. And you aren't even glowing a little bit. I thought surely once you had rested it would come back. I think I should get ada Ro, something just isn't right."

"No I'm alright." Estel replied hastily. A thorough inspection would surely reveal him for what he truly was. "I just need a little rest. I should go back to my room."

"So you live here in the palace?" Elhoir inquired curiously. "We didn't have the opportunity to find out from the prince when he visited this morning. Your ada and Nana have not come by yet…I thought the prince would have told them, but perhaps he has forgotten."

"I…I don't have any parents. They…they died when I was small." Estel replied turning his face away as sadness washed over him. The pain still seemed so unbearable as he remained his mother's musical voice and his father's hearty laughter."

"I'm sorry young one. Our mother died when we were elflings ourselves. I understand your pain." Elhoir replied compassionately. His own eyes now reflected a similar sadness as he was reminded of his own mother.

Elladan brushed the young boy's hair gently from his face and gasped slightly as his hand rubbed against a perfectly rounded ear.

"Your human." Elladan breathed out in surprise.

Elhoir's head jerked up in shock as he processed his brother's words.

He followed his brother's gaze and both looked questioningly upon the cowering form of the young human boy.

Elhoir gently shifted the boy's hair exposing a small beautifully circular ear. "No wonder he doesn't glow." The younger elf lord thought in amazement. He had seen a few humans before in his life time, rather Elhoir was amazed that he could not have realized the truth. The boy did however look remarkably like an elfling. He was lithe of form, graceful in his movements. But his hair was dark, that in itself should have been a dead giveaway. A dark haired elf was quite common in Rivendell, but a near rarity in Mirkwood.

Estel forced his aching body to kneel and bowed down to the two elf lords, laying his feverish head against the carpet. "Forgive me masters." Estel said forlornly imagining the loss of his two new friends. "I accept punishment for my actions." He had been exposed and now they would surely despise him….if they didn't do worse to him. His body tensed expecting the sharp pain of a kick in his side of a rough blow to the head for his deception or perhaps they would just decide to slit his throat and be done with it. Impersonating an elf was a crime considered nearly as bad as murder and punishable by death of the worst kind.

Estel shuddered as he remembered the stories of human's being beaten to death for such an affront. And while his had not been entirely intentional the results would still be the same, but worse because the deed would be carried out by those he had finally come to trust.

"Get up from there." Elhoir demanded sharply, horrified at the boy's prostration.

Estel flinched at the elf lord's harsh tone, but quickly complied, but remained kneeling with his head downcast awaiting punishment, submissively.

"Where do you live Estel?" Elladan asked quietly.

"I…in the palace master."

"Where in the palace." Elladan asked afraid he already knew the answer.

"I…in the slave quarters, master." Estel whispered, his face burning with shame.

Elladan and Elhoir exchanged looks of pity and sadness for this child who seemed destine to suffer much and vowed in that same look that their young companion would be a slave only so long as it took for them to leave this place and take him with them. They would not leave him here to be treated so cruelly, even if they had to take on every guard in Mirkwood to achieve it.

"Why didn't you tell us Estel." Elhoir asked his voice more gentle. He laid his hand softly on the boy's shoulder causing the child to flinch away from the contact.

"I…I'm sorry. I thought you knew at first…and then you called me an elfling and you were so nice to me and I'm so lonely. You wanted to be my friends and I didn't want you to despise me. Please have mercy masters, kill me quickly." Estel choked out as tears clogged his throat. He was afraid to die, but even more afraid of their rejection.

Elladan lifted the boy's head up wiping the tears tenderly from the boy's cheeks, forcing the young slave to look him in the eyes. There was no rejection there only compassion. "We are not your masters Estel. I am the same person I was a few minutes ago and you are the same person you were a few minutes ago as well. Nothing need change between us. The vows we made are not weakened by a change of race. You are still our friend and we would still die to protect you. You may not be a brother by blood you are a brother of the heart, and that's just as strong as blood in all the ways that matter."

Don't let nobody tell you,
Don't let nobody tell you,
Don't let nobody tell you your life is over,
Be every color that you are,
Into the rush now,
You don't have to know how,
Know it all before you'll try.

.

(Aly and AJ)

Elladan had not realized what he was going to say until he had said it, but the words felt right. And he could feel that his brother more than agreed with him. This young orphan had become a brother as dear to him as Elhoir. He couldn't explain, but their was a connection between them, that could not be broken, a connection beyond their power to understand or explain.

Estel looked at the twins with wonder in his eyes that he could be so unconditionally accepted. He could see it in their eyes that they didn't care that he was human, and a slave. They didn't see him as less for it, only different. "Thank you." Estel smiled hesitantly. "For being my friends."

"You never have to thank a friend for caring about you." Elhoir returned the smile. "That's what friends do."

"Now back to bed with you. If ada ever finds out how long you've been out of bed he'll have our heads." Elhoir said as he slowly helped Estel to his feet.

Estel moaned softly as he took a step towards the bed and pain erupted up his injured leg.

Elladan came up behind him scooping the young boy into arms.

"I can walk." Estel protested half-heartedly. His face was flushed with exertion and embarrassment that his weakness was so apparent.

"I know." Elladan winked at him conspirationally. "But Ada would be displeased with me if your wounds reopened."

Estel smiled with gratitude and relaxed back into the older elf's strong arms allowing himself to fall into a slight stupor as sleep started to gnaw at his consciousness.

Elladan smoothly laid him in the soft bed, covering him up lovingly. "Sleep young one. We will go get you some fresh bandages and something to eat. Rest you are safe." Elladan tenderly rubbed his hand through the drowsing child's hair smiling affectionately. Elhoir followed suit grinning at his new little brother. Both kept silent vigil till the boy had drifted off into peaceful dreams before closing the door gently behind them.

"Do you think ada will be pleased about the new addition to the family?" Elladan asked jokingly as the twins wandered down the hallway.

Unbeknownst to the twins a shadow parted from the wall slipping lithely past their awareness and slipped into the room they had just left.

A glint of light reflected off a gleaming metal knife that slid smoothly from the shadow's belt sheath. The shadows eyes glinted with madness as he stared psychotically down at the peacefully sleeping child.

The shadow smiled with pleasure as the boy sensing the

malevolence in the room started to squirm uncomfortable in his dreams.

The shadow bent towards the sleeping child, enjoying how the close content caused the boy to unconsciously tremble in fear. "My little slave. Your all mine now. It's time you learned real fear." The voice whispered possessively as he placed the sharp metal edge of his knife against the fragile flesh of the young boy's throat.

A small frightened pair of silver eyes snapped open as the words stirred dark memories.

The young boy awoke to his greatest nightmare…the shadows resolved into Firithgalad.

It takes you to another place,
imagine everything you can.
All the colors start to blend,
The system overloads again

(Aly and AJ)

A/N: There you have chapter six. I hope you all liked it and it wasn't too cheesy and that the cliff hanger doesn't drive you absolutely crazy. I tried to keep it entrance and I hope it has good flow to it. As always I want to thank all of the wonderful people who sent reviews and checked on my throughout my long absences. It means a lot when you haven't written in 6 months and you have people still showing interest in your stories and I hope this chapter was worth the wait. I will try to hopefully have the next chapter by Christmas. I wish I could promise it sooner, but school tends to keep me extremely busy and I seldom seem to have time to really give it the attention it deserves. Thanks again to all my faithful readers and I hope you share your thoughts and feelings on how you think this chapter went. And just to give you a few little sneak peaks the next chapter is going to have some Estel/ Firthgalad interaction (no not slash) and let's just say it's not going to be a friendly conversation.