First thing he became aware of was hot agonizing pain in his body. Elrohir groaned struggling to open his eyes. In an instant cool hand touched his burning brow.

"Elrohir?" Came shaking familiar voice. "How... How do you feel?"

"Not too well, Legolas." He managed to gasp. "What happened?"

Elrohir's sight cleared a little bit and he was able to see pale concerned face of the younger elf. Legolas put a flask to his friend's lips.

"There was a landslide and you fell down. You've hurt your back." He told after Elrohir drank few big gulps.

"Where's Elladan?"

"Went to get help. For we cannot move you."

Elrohir nodded wincing in pain.

"Here, drink it." Legolas placed a cup against his lips. "Elladan made it to help the pain."

Elrohir wanted to answer something smart about his brother's potions but he simply had no strength. He seeped at the herbal concoction grimacing at the disgusting taste. But the pain indeed subsided to a bearable level.

"Have you been hurt?" He asked Legolas eyeing the younger elf suspiciously.

"Just few bruises. Elladan saw to them." Legolas replied smiling. He felt much better now, when Elrohir was awake.

"Fear not, Legolas. All will be well. Just another misadventure." Elrohir was smiling but inside he sighed in frustration. He hoped it would be calm relaxing journey. He wished he could spare his younger friend the sorrow of this situation.

His anger increase when he felt sleepy. Damn potion. He should have known it included sleeping herbs! Struggling to stay awake he missed the sudden change in Legolas' expression.

"What... what is that?" He asked, his tongue getting heavier with each breath.

"Orcs. They are near and they are going straight to us."

Legolas voice was trembling slightly. But the determined look at the prince's face concerned Elrohir. When Legolas pulled few blankets to cover his friend's body and placed a flask with water in Elrohir's reach, elder elf understood far too well what it meant.

"No... Please..." He wasn't able to say something more for the herbs took control over his system sending him into the deep sleep.

XXX

Legolas made sure he hide Elrohir well before whispering to the big tree, asking it to watch over the noldor elf. Than he stood tall clenching his bow in his hand. He was no warrior, moreover, he was considered as a child. But what mattered now was his injured friend that would be killed if the orcs came. He needed to draw their attention away. Maybe he would be lucky enough to escape.

Legolas started to walk toward the rising noises. Trees around him rustled in disgust, highly insulted by the foul creature's presence. Young prince raised his bow taking deep breath to steady his hands. He fired the arrow only an instant before starting to run, leading now roaring orcs further away from Elrohir. He truly started to believe that he was going to escape. But a cliff appeared in front of him. Looking around in despair Legolas saw no way out. His quiver was half empty and first orcs started to rush out the wood.

The moment Legolas saw about two dozens of foul beasts coming near him, swinging their weapons, he knew he was in a great trouble.

XXX

Elladan was running without stop for long hours, cutting the way wherever it was possible. He felt like he was betraying his brother and friend although he knew he was not. But anyway, he could not get rid of the strange feeling that something bad would happen. Anyway, at the moment all he could do for now was praying to Valars and running fast toward Imladris.

When he stumbled in the courtyard Elladan's heart was ready to jump out of his chest.

"Elladan!" Elrond rushed to his son steadying him.

"Landslide... Elrohir... hurt..." Young elf gasped out desperately trying to catch his breath.

"Calm down." Elrond said softly but a dreadful feeling had already settled in his heart. "Breath deeply. Now tell us what happened."

Elladan lifted his eyes and saw Glorfindel who now stood beside them, concern expression at his fair face. He took in few deep breath and told the whole story. Elder elves stood quiet for a few moments.

"Glorfindel, my friend, could you gather the warriors? Tell me when you are ready." Elrond asked leading his son into the house.

"I'm too coming." Elladan said stubbornly stopping near the doorway.

"I know." Elrond smiled grimly. "I would expect nothing less. All I want to do is to take a little look over you. May I?"

XXX

Hot pain accompanied the returning consciousness making Legolas moan lightly. His head was pounding as if there were few crazy drummers playing in unison inside it. His right shoulder was still bleeding from the arrow wound he'd received during the fight. Legolas tried to shift his position to have a better look around, but he found it to be a hard task. For his ankles and wrists were bound together tightly. Wincing in pain he stubbornly lifted his head. And suddenly wished he didn't. His headache seemed to double sending black spots to corrupt his vision. When his sight cleared a little bit, Legolas groaned in frustration. He was laying near the huge tree surrounded by the large group of orcs. Foul creatures were settling the camp, cutting trees and throwing garbage everywhere around. Legolas could hear the mourning of the fair wood around him.

"Well, well. Who's awake!" Legolas focused his blurry vision on the large orc that now was standing over him.

This was rather ugly and unwelcomed sight to keep his aching eyes on and the elf closed his eyes tiredly. He felt fear rising inside him, storming like the mountain river during the flood. He knew that he was in a deep trouble, but he kept repeating to himself that he did right.

"Do not dare to ignore me!" The orc meanwhile grabbed Legolas by the collar, lifting him off the ground. He stared at his prisoner with pure hate and envy that his kind had for the elven race. Than the orc snorted. "We need to entertain our guest." He said to others. "Will we?"

Legolas felt like crying in fear and despair when he was grabbed by a few pairs of arms and dragged to the tree. Orcs rebound him so that he was now positioned between two trees, his arms and legs sprained greatly, sending waves of pain through his body. But the young prince never show his inner feelings. Not to this foul barbarian creatures. He clenched to the thought that his deed would help Elrohir to survive. That knowledge made him stronger, at least for the moment.

Legolas gathered all good and happy moments of his life to help himself endure whatever the orcs planned to do. But the moment his shirt was cut off of him, his inner voice sadly stated that it wouldn't be enough. But he will be strong... At least he'd try to.

…TBC

This one is short as well. Sorry, but I need to settle things at university. Hope it wasn't bad. I will be greatly thankful for any review. And I'll try to finish it this year.