Chapter VI: Interesting Information

Note: We hear a lot of what is Ravin thinking throughout this chapter. In itlaics of course. All elvish spoken, again, is in itlaics with quotation marks and any translations will be at the end of the chapter.

That was easy, too easy to be honored with a reward. However, I will acquire one nonetheless. I just hope Darryn realizes what he is up against. Why do I even continue taking orders from Darryn? He exhausted his uses years ago. What is it about that elfling that unnerves me so? Wants me to desire the feel of his blood all over me. He took a sip of ale from the flagon he held in his hand in the dark corner of the common room of the Bubbling Kettle, an inn in Strayton. His dark grey eyes drifted over and examined the scantily clad tavern wench serving an already drunken customer at a nearby table. The man was singing a tune off key and rather annoyed Ravin. Her eyes met his and she sauntered with a spring in her step over to him. The empty tray hung by one arm against her hip.

"Anything more I can do for you, Love?" She asked looking him up and down. She'll do nicely. Ravin smiled and took another sip of ale.

"Yes."

A pair of identical faces on nearly identical horses rode down the side of the valley of their home. Their series of orc hunts had been a success and now they were arguing about the amount they had slain over the past few weeks. "I still say it was three and sixty," Elrohir once again claimed as he had already done several times on their journey home.

"And I say that you are still suffering from that knock you received on the head a few weeks ago. It was fifty and seven," replied his brother, Elladan.

"You know, 'Dan, you never were really good with mathematics. It was sixty-three and you know it," He pointed his finger at Elladan. Their horses clattered single filed across the stone bridge.

"I killed three and thirty and you killed four and twenty. Three and thirty plus four and twenty equals fifty and seven."

"No, brother," Elrohir shook his head, "because you will see, when you add the correct numbers: the twenty-eight I killed and thirty-five you killed, it will equal three and sixty." They dismounted and sent their horses towards the stables with loving pats and bids of farewell.

"'Ro-"

"'Dan," Elrohir quietly shushed his brother ending their argument and nodded towards a lone figure crossing slowly across the yard. Gilraen's face was mournful. Old and fresh tear tracks were on her cheeks. Within moments they were across the yard with gentle hands placed on her shoulders. "My lady, what has happened? Is Estel ill?" She looked up into elves' eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but whatever her words were converted into sobs. The lady fell against Elladan's chest and sobbed into his tunic. Elladan put his arms around her in a gesture of comfort. The twins looked into each other's eyes in silent agreement. While Elladan comforted Gilraen, Elrohir left to seek his father for the information.

Elrohir did not know much about human sickness, but surely it would only cause Gilraen this much grief if it were very severe. If Estel was sick, Ada would most likely be caring for him in the healing wing, but he found neither there. Elrohir peered into his Ada's study but it was empty. Puzzled at not finding his father in either place, he sought him in his chambers only to find he was not there either. He was passing Estel's door, when he paused. The door was slightly ajar. Perhaps Ada was caring for Estel in the boy's room. Slowly and quietly he opened the door further and looked into the darkened room. His father sat on the edge of Estel's empty bed staring down at his hands as if he was in deep thought. "Ada?" At first he did not move, but after a long moment of silence, Elrond turned his face upon Elrohir. "Ada, where is Estel?" taking a hesitant forward, Elrohir entered the room.

"Your brother has been kidnapped."

"What? How?"

"The why's and how's are not important at this time." Elrond motioned for Elrohir to come and sit before him. Elrohir crossed the room and sat on his knees on the floor in front of his father.

"What are we to do? What is being done?"

Elrond raised a hand, "You are impatient, my son." Elrohir opened his mouth in response but thought better of it and shut his mouth. Resting his hands on his knees he waited for his father to speak. "These men," he said at last, "whoever they are, have Estel and have showed no qualms about their intent to hurt or kill Estel if their requirements are not met. They have requested a large sum, which was loaded up this morning and is on its way to Pine Hill near Strayton, where we shall be contacted within the week."

"You're just going to let them get away with this?"

"Again you are impatient my son. I have sent a message to Dírhael to gather any of his folk he can spare and are at hand. I want you and your brother to go to Strayton. Find out any information you can about these men. If possible, find Estel, but use extreme caution when dealing with these men. My guess is that no one will show up till the end of the week they have allotted us to claim the ransom."

"Nai, Atarinya."

Upon waking, Ravin maneuvered to sit on the edge of the bed and stretched. He rubbed his hand against the back of his neck. He stole a glance at the woman that lay asleep next to him before standing and pulling on his clothes. The wood floor of the inn underneath his boots was old and creaked as he walked down the narrow staircase. He rounded the corner to enter the common room then darted back and pressed himself against the wall next to the door. Four hooded figures sat at the back of the room, two of which were rangers he could tell by their garb. He did not know the two that sat against the wall facing the doorway he was behind, but he had his suspicions. He swore quietly and ran his scarred hand through his hair, wondering how he would get out of the room without being noticed. The only way out of the inn was through the common room.

Ravin coolly entered the room and as expected was spotted by the two "non-rangers" who spoke the rangers. The two turned and greeted him, motioning him to join them. Reluctantly, he waded through the tables of the near empty room. There was not much business this early in the day. Halgon took a seat beside one of the rangers, both of which were from his village and very young. Whatever their assignment, it is most likely their first. Pity they would most likely be dead before next spring. Now that he could see their faces, he knew for certain whom the mysterious beings were as he gazed into their shadowed faces. Confound these nuisanic* immortal half-breeds! These brothers, or half-brothers or whatever they are to the little mutt.

"Hunter, we did not realize you were so close," the ranger closest to him greeted again by the name the local villagers had given him. "What brings you this far east?"

"He must of heard about their brother," the other said a little loud and motioning to the elves.

"Quiet, Sparrow, not so loud," one of the elves shushed the young ranger. Hunter glanced at each of the four before clearing his throat and adjusting in his chair.

"Yes, I have heard of this…this mishap. However, I have not yet heard what our brethren are to do."

Sparrow spoke again in a whisper, "We have only just arrived but we are seeking any information that may lead us to the kidnappers. If Elladan and Elrohir do not find and rescue their brother first, Dírhael is gathering any of us that can help to catch them after they collect and their brother is safe." Interesting.

"Unfortunatly though, I am busy with other matters and regret that I cannot help you search for these men. I offer my sincerest apologies. However, if you would describe him to me in case I come across him during my business."

The same elf that spoke before described, "He's about eight years old, long dark hair often plaited, and grey eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue tunic with a mahogany colored velvet vest. We call him Estel." That's the brat alright.

"I'm not wanting to sound like I am prying," Ravin questioned cautiosly, "but it was to my understanding that Lord Elrond only had two sons."

"Estel is…special," The other elf smiled. This is very interesting. Ravin smiled faintly back.

"I am afraid we cannot explain any further at this time," quickly spoke the first, "Perhaps it will be made known at a future time."

"If you'll excuse me gentlemen," Ravin stood up from the table, "I am late in leaving." And with that he left the Bubbling Kettle.

"That was odd," remarked Sparrow.

"Hunter is always odd," commented Thrush. "We are expected back soon. Come, Sparrow." They bid each other farewells and the young rangers left the sons of Elrond alone in the common room.

"'Estel is…special'?" Elladan questioned his brother.

"He caught me off guard. It was all I could think of in the moment. Estel is special," Elladan nodded in agreement, "I could have said something much worse. Thank Eru I did not."

His long legs turned away from the inn, walking hotly. He wasn't one to give up on something once he had set out to do it. These cursed elves and my "people" are going to make it difficult. I hate them. I hate their lifestyle. I hate the creatures that had killed my parents. I hate my parents for dying and leaving me alone. I hate my ancestors for their decisions. I hate all the chieftains of my people that lived and died during my lifetime. If I ever see another heir of Isildur, I'll kill him myself. Not that Arathorn or his son and wife had survived the last major orc attack…or did they? Arathorn was dead for certain, I know. I had witnessed it first hand, but I cannot recall seing the bodies of the child or Gilraen, although they had held a funeral for them.

So, this Estel is "special". What makes him so "special"? He's not much older than Halbarad. Elves grow at a slower rate than humans do, from what I have heard. That would mean that the child is human.

What of his ears? His inner voice reasoned. Elf genes are dominant and show up in the descendents of Númenore* in various ways though it runs faintly. For instance, you are very tall of stature.

This is true.

He could be just a human whom the elves have decided to take in for some pleasure of their own.

What possible reason could they have to take a human child under their wings? Unless…

Unless he is the son of makes him and heir of Isildur.

What of Darryn's plans for the boy?

Kill the boy. Get the gold if I can, but kill the boy.

Darryn may talk tough but he'd never let any serious harm come to him.

I outgrew Darryn a long time ago.

TBC

Nai, Atarinya: May it be, Father- Q. Closest thing to yes I could find in my pathetic crappy elvish dictionary on the weekend.

Nuisanic: alright I made it up. But hopefully you get the idea. Continual nuisances.

Sparrow: rather small of stature for one of the Dúnedain. Very active and self-reliant temperament. OC

Thrush: slightly older and taller than his brother Sparrow. He can sing well and has sung for the villages in Stayton and Pine hill area before, thus they named him. Their involvment with searching for Estel is not their first assignment; however, they have not been rangers long. They are often found near and around Strayton. I hope to use them again in another story if I continue writing. OC

Eru: The One, He that is alone- S. Ilúvatar (the All-Father-Q).

Quote: Elf genes are dominant and show up in the descendents of Númenore in various ways though it runs faintly. I have no idea whether or not this is true but it works for the story. I kind of made it up. And no, he's not a Scizo. It's just the way he thinks and sorts stuff out.

N: Rest assured the ransom is quite a bit, but I couldn't come up with a good figure.

Next chapter. Chapter VII: A Past Forgotten…or Darryn….I haven't decided yet…or even finished it yet : ). Thanks for the few who have stuck with me and my (at times) crappy writing skills and periods of "nonmuseableness".