The storm raged on for three more days. The twins hunted in the brief lulls between the downpours but never went far to save being soaked when the rain started again. Elrond instructed the fires to be lit to keep out the chill and the damp knowing how easily his human son got sick. Dry sets of clothes were laid out ready in both Estel's room and the adjoining guest room in which Legolas would be staying. As the rain eased off on the fourth day and the storm moved away the twins waited restlessly for the travellers to arrive. Amusing themselves they practised their archery next to the courtyard but still no-one did not arrive. Elrond reassured them needlessly saying how the storm may have delayed them further away, which the twins well knew. As the sixth day drew to a close though and they still had not appeared even Elrond was slightly worried.
'Tomorrow Ada can we go out and meet them' Elladan asked
Elrond sighed knowing full well they really meant to go and look for them, but the sense of something being amiss would not leave him, so he agreed.
Aragorn groaned as he was jerked awake again as he stumbled and fell to his knees. The orc's had been marching none stop for days, he didn't know how long, his mind was slow and sluggish, he was asleep on his feet. The orc holding the rope attached to the chain of his manacles growled impatiently and tugged hard dragging him along until he staggered back to his feet. They headed ever onward, to where he could not tell, any more than he knew where he was now. Groaning he carried on following the orc's as a new day dawned. Squinting against the harsh sun which rose over the mountains in the distance he thought only of his desperate thirst, kept at bay until now by the rain, and the hunger gnawing at his belly. He could only pray they stopped soon he knew he could not take much more than this.
A sharp and constant pain slowly dragged through his conscience. The cawing of crows and ravens rung in his hears but muffled and far away sounding. He turned his face away from the pain slightly and closed his eyes as a dull roaring filled his ears and darkness flooded over him.
As the day dawned Elladan and Elrohir swiftly saddled their horses. They each carried saddlebags filled with provisions and dry clothes should they be needed. Mounting up they waved goodbye to their father as he stood on the steps before turning and riding out through the gates
'Valar bring them all home save' Elrond breathed as he watched his sons ride out of sight.
Despite knowing that Estel and Legolas could be very close by the twins chose horseback simply because it was faster. Also they knew if they did run into them at the entrance to the valley they could claim to have been off on a hunting expedition. As they cantered swiftly along the path leading away from Rivendell the twins joked lightly of meeting them around the corner to ease the tension they both inexplicably felt. By mid day they had slowed to a walk and all joking had passed at the lack of the two they sought. As they continued on through the forest they lapsed slowly into silence each wondering what had kept the two travellers for so long. Evening began to draw in but neither suggested stopping for the night, so they rode on each still lost in their own thoughts and worries for the two and now for Elrond left at home worrying about all four.
Elrond again found himself in his adopted son's room. He had lit the small night light hours before and now carried it to the window where he set it down. Looking out he prayed that the light would guide them all safely home. Drawing up a chair he sat by the window and waited and prayed through the long hours of the night. Losing himself in his own thoughts, and fears, he tried hard not to think of how many nights in the past he had spent like this awaiting his son's safe return. Seeking out the brightest star, Earendil, he dreamed of the new day dawning and bringing is sons back home.
Far away Aragorn slumped to the ground when the orc's finally stopped for the night. Not caring to find somewhere more comfortable, despite the harsh twigs which jabbed into him, he lay on the ground exhaustion settling over his limbs like a heavy blanket. Unable to even draw his cloak over him for warmth he curled up tucking his knees in as best he could. Looking upwards he sought out the brightest star in the sky Earendil. Closing his eyes he prayed this night would never end for he knew only that dawn would bring only more endless travelling. He drifted off swiftly into the deepest of sleeps his exhausted body graving the same release as his emotionally drained mind.
He failed to stir even when his captures staked his chains into the ground for the night. Escape the last thing on his mind.
Dawn broke to find the twins still searching as they journeyed further away from home. During the night they had dismounted to ensure they did not miss any sign of a camp made for the night and to give the horse some rest from the constant travelling. Emerging into a clearing they stopped and released their horses to graze freely for a while, while they scouted out the surrounding area. As they stood and listened to the forest around them Elrohir became aware of the increased calls of the birds nearby. Puzzled he looked over to his brother, reading the unspoken question in his brother's face Elladan nodded 'I noticed it to'
Looking around them Elrohir found a silver ash which was suitable to climb and swiftly swung himself up into its lower branches and followed closely by his brother. Scaling the tree swiftly they reached the uppermost branches and scanned the forest and sky, both soon spotted a large gathering of crows and ravens circling in the air on the morning thermals coming off the next rise. That many birds in one place they both knew could only mean one thing, carrion. Leaping back down the tree branches the gathered their horses and mounted swiftly. Setting off to find the cause of the disturbance both prayed that they were wrong in their conclusions.