This chapter is warmly dedicated to two of my most faithful reviewers: Thorongirl and estelstheone. Their encouragement and support has been not only highly motivating and most appreciated, but perhaps even vital to ensuring the continuation of this dark and difficult but important story. Thanks so much guys!

As always, I greatly appreciate any comments or critiques any reader would care to leave me. I would love to hear what you think of this chapter.

"Elladan," Glorfindel approached the makeshift healing tent, in fact little more than a tarp the twins had thrown hastily over some low branches to shield their patient from the elements. The night was growing colder, and rain threatened. Though the soothing scent of athelas permeated the air, it could not completely mask the stench of bile and blood and something even more sinister from Glorfindel's sensitive nose. "How fares Estel?"

Elladan stood abruptly and turned to him, bringing his face close. A wild look was in his eyes, one that Glorfindel had not seen there for centuries. "Finally he sleeps, due to the herbs, but we have done all we can for him here. We must get him home, to Father."

Glorfindel studied the young peredhel for a moment before replying. He was tense, wound taut, like a coil twisted to its very limit. He had managed so far to contain his rage, at least for the most part, but were he to remain much longer his tenuous restraint would not last. Best give him something to do, and remove from him the opportunity to take any more rash actions. "Then everything is in hand here. Ride ahead with haste to warn your father of what has happened and ready the needed healing supplies. Elrohir will follow with Estel. Also, inform Erestor of the need to prepare a suitable place to hold seven prisoners."

Elladan's right hand lingered dangerously on the hilt of his sheathed sword as he answered, his voice low: "I have a far better idea, Glorfindel. Why not let me make the 'preparations' and save us all the bother?"

"No," came Glorfindel's swift and unwavering response. "Already you have taken one life today. You will take no more."

Bringing his face closer, Elladan's eyes narrowed slightly in challenge: "Was it not you, my Lord, who gave the signal to shoot?"

Keeping his eyes fixed on Elladan's, Glorfindel answered firmly: "To shoot, yes, not to kill."

With a quick glance to the side, and slight shrug of his shoulders, Elladan replied, the distain clear in his voice: "It was an accident."

"An accident? I have not seen your aim stray so far from the mark since you were but a youth of sixty years! You were to graze his leg, and yet your arrow pierced his chest straight through the heart, killing him instantly."

"From the injuries I have seen on Estel with mine own eyes, I only regret that errant arrow did not strike a point somewhere in between! Death came with far too much mercy for that perverted piece of filth! It was a little beast that will be little missed or mourned!" Visibly shaking with rage, Elladan turned in the direction where he knew the rest of the men were being held. "Nor would any of those others."

Grabbing him forcefully by the shoulders, Glorfindel brought Elladan back to face him. "That is not your decision to make, young one. Need I remind you, we speak of men, not orcs?" Beneath his steady and controlled tone, there was a hint of warning.

The fire of defiance flared again in Elladan's eyes. His grip tightened on his sword. "These are no men! Only orcs could be capable of such vile acts of..."

"Elladan! Would you slaughter bound and disarmed men?"

"Why should I not? The crimes they have committed against Estel are far more heinous! Their right to draw breath is forfeit!"

"Estel lives, and though I fear his recovery may be long and difficult, he will, eventually, recover." An image came unbidden to Glorfindel's mind of Estel's state when first they reached him, far too late, and even the seasoned warrior of many battles could not wholly stifle a shudder. He took a deep breath before he continued, though a slight tremor remained in his voice: "Do you not know I share in equal measure your anger and your pain? But, no matter how much we may wish to, still we can not take the role of assassin in the dark in the middle of your father's own woods. We must bring them back for your father to decide their fate and see justice done in the light of day."

Placing a firm hand on Elladan's cheek, Glorfindel turned his face to better see into his eyes. "Elrondion, I urge you, do not risk that perilous road of revenge again! These scum are not worth the toll you would pay."

For a long tense moment, neither moved nor spoke. Glorfindel searched the other's face, looking for any sign of concession, any sign that his stubborn charge would see reason and relent. Then--there it was--a slight flicker in the flame that burned behind Elladan's eyes. He would seek no more blood this day. Releasing a shaky breath, Elladan bowed his head slightly, and Glorfindel closed his eyes in a brief prayer of thanks to the Valar before he spoke again: "Let us keep our thoughts now on Estel and his care. Will you ride ahead to ensure that all is prepared for our return?"

A slight tip of his head was the only response as Elladan turned abruptly and strode to his awaiting stallion. With a swift and effortless leap, he mounted the steed, setting off at a pace far too brisk for a path through the woods in the dark of night as the rain began to fall.

The hoof beats of Elladan's galloping stallion echoed in Glorfindel's ears long after he had disappeared from sight. With a sigh and a shake of his head, he turned back toward the healing tent, preparing himself to face an entirely different kind of grief.

Elrohir had adjusted the tarp as best he could to shelter his patient from the rain, and now he knelt protectively over his sleeping charge. He was singing, softly, and Glorfindel paused for a moment simply to listen. To his surprise, he realized he did not recognize the tune. It sounded, perhaps, like a Dúnedain song, one they might sing to comfort their wounded and their dying.

Though the hot logs sputtered and hissed in response to the small drops of water that assailed them, still the fire, built to warm Estel and boil the healing herbs, burned brightly. The light of the flickering flames danced on the tarp, casting those huddled beneath in an almost ethereal glow. Glorfindel watched as Elrohir reached out tenderly to bush a stray lock of Estel's dark unruly hair behind a rounded ear, never ceasing his haunting melody. Elrohir's shoulders were slumped, and he looked so very weary. He seemed, almost, to have aged.

The scene before him chilled Glorfindel to his very bones.

Elrohir's voice faltered, and the last notes died on his lips. For a moment he sat in silence, unmoving, his eyes never leaving Estel's face. Then, without turning, he spoke: "The days grow dark indeed, Glorfindel. Though oft my father has forewarned of the spreading of the Shadow, and many times I have witnessed great evil, I was not prepared for this. Is there naught left on Arda worth fighting for? Does no valour, no honour, remain amongst Men?"

Glorfindel stepped forward, and sat down beneath the tarp, studying Elrohir's profile with concern. "It is unlike you to lose hope. You know this is not true! What of Aragorn's own people?

"For many centuries I have watched them dwindle, and die. Now they are so few in number. It is not enough!" Elrohir turned to look directly at him, and Glorfindel could see the depth of his despair. "Gilraen once told me, not long ago, that she has not the strength left within her to face the darkness yet to come. How will she cope when we return her son in such a state? How will any of us?"

"We will cope as we have always coped in the face of tragedy," Glorfindel's response was swift and sure. "We will take what comes with each new day, and in those times when it seems as though we can not endure until we see the next sun rise, we will take each moment as it comes." Glorfindel paused for a minute, well aware that he had said nothing specifically of Gilraen. In truth, he feared she might not fare too well. With a soft sigh, he continued, offering Elrohir what reassurance he could: "Estel is young and strong. Given time to heal, and with our care, he will grow stronger still. You will see."

Elrohir looked away without responding; and taking a cloth soaked in cool athelas water, he began to lightly wipe Estel's brow. Due largely, no doubt, to the aid of a draught, the young man slept, but he did not rest peacefully. By the flush of his face, Glorfindel could see that he was feverish.

"Elladan has ridden ahead to ensure that all is prepared for our arrival home. Dawn will break soon, and then you will take Estel, though at a slower pace than that set by your brother, I hope. The guards and I will follow with the prisoners on foot. We are already at the borders of your father's realm. Your path should be safe enough without an escort."

Suddenly, the cloth was thrown down in disgust, and a rare flash of anger crossed Elrohir's face. "Estel should have been safe enough here! This never should have happened!"

"The perimeter guards were well aware of the presence of these vagabond men just beyond the boundary of your father's woods!" Glorfindel could feel his hands clench into fists, and he bowed his head to look down at Estel as he continued far more quietly: "I told them not to act. I told them to watch the men's movements and report back to me. As long as they did not set foot within the borders of Imladris, I did not deem them a threat."

"That was where you were wrong!" Elrohir's reply was quick and heated. "And now Estel must pay the price!"

For a moment, Glorfindel did not respond as he reflected on his own actions. With the information he had then, could he have acted differently? To his knowledge, these men had committed no crime; they had not, yet, even trespassed. Taking a deep breath, he resolved that he would not allow himself to fall into the pit of guilt and doubt. What was done, was done, and indulging in self-blame would benefit no one. Turning back to look at Elrohir, he answered calmly: "What I could not know was that Estel would most unexpectedly happen across their path."

As quickly as it had come, the anger in Elrohir's countenance was replaced again with profound sorrow. Taking a fresh cloth, he continued to tend Estel as he questioned with a weary sigh: "Why was he here? What brought him out to these woods alone at dusk?"

"I do not know," Glorfindel answered, perhaps a little too quickly. Though not entirely the truth, his words were not a lie either. He thought it none of his business to reveal that earlier in the day, Elrond had summoned Estel to his chamber. Glorfindel did not know the reason for this conference, and he refused to engage in idle speculation and the spreading of rumour. He would leave it to Elrond to share, if he wished, the words that had passed between them.

Elrohir cast him a quick glance, as if unconvinced, before turning back to his work again.

As the first rays of the morning sun began to peek over the distant mountains, Glorfindel stood and placed a hand on Elrohir's shoulder. "I go to speak to the guards and check on the prisoners. Be prepared to leave with Estel within the hour. The sooner we get him home, the better it will be for him."

He paused for a moment to cast one last look at the sleeping boy. No, he reminded himself, Estel—Aragorn—was a boy no longer. He was a man now, and too soon he would have to learn to make his own way in a world of men. Had they failed him? They all had tried their best to prepare him for the trials he would face, of course, but had he been too sheltered, was he too trusting? Frowning, Glorfindel shook his head. Of course Estel would trust no longer. His first challenge alone had been a terrible ordeal, and the next days and weeks and months would be most difficult, for all of them. As Glorfindel turned to leave, with a sigh, he added softly: "Then he can begin to heal."

The next chapter is the last one that has already been written, and over the next few months I expect that my writing time will be quite limited. However, reviews are always very encouraging and highly motivating! I would love to hear what you think.