Chapter VIII: A Change of Plans

N: Whoohoo! Up to 3 reviews now! I'm beginning to think you like it : ). And get ready for the longest chapter I think I have ever written! This chapter has a bit of humor/fluff in it. If you want to call it that. And of course, violence. It starts out the day after Elrond and Celebfán got back to Rivendell, if I did the math right it is about 3 days ago. I think you know the drills about italics now.

*~*~*Three days ago*~*~*

"Hannon le, Tathor, for helping me with this," Celebfán glanced over his horse as he stroked and patted down her left flank at the warrior. They tended to their horses while the animals drank from a stream.

"You are welcome, mellon nin. Though I was surprised you asked me to come with you."

"Estel is my friend. He never ceased to attempt a conversation with me or make me happy despite my pensive moods. In fact, several times when he has visited me, I have not felt so alone and peaceful even at times. Besides, I promised Hir Elrond."

"Iston. However, we should not have left yesterday before knowing what our lord will do about the kidnapping."

"I know what I would have done if I were in his place. I would be doing what I am doing now, chasing down those black hearted filth before they can hurt Estel." Celebfán spat venomously.

"And that is why you are not him." Tathor smiled. Celebán's lips twitched, and for a moment, Tathor saw what he thought might have been a smile before his face relaxed again into his usual blank expression.

CREEAAK!

Halbarad stiffened and held his breath when the stair creaked underneath him. He listened intently for the sound of his mother waking up to come and catch him and scold him for sneaking off in the early morning. It was not even light out yet. Satisfied no one had awoken, he put his foot down on the next step.

CREEEEAAAK!

Stars above! He swore to himself when the next stair creaked even louder than the last. How did his father manage to sneak out of the house so quietly with steps such as these to wake up the whole village? Squeezing his eyes shut tight, Halbarad slowly put his foot down on the next step. It barely creaked under his weight. He let go of the breath he was holding and continued down the steps carefully with only minor squeaks and creaks.

His father was going to save Estel from the bad men that had taken him and he was going to help. He stood on his tiptoes to reach his cloak from the peg near the door. Then he grabbed his sister's cloak. Estel was not wearing a cloak when he had visited and it was going to get colder. He put on his cloak and then fastened his sister's cloak around his shoulders as well.

He opened the door and went outside, slowly shutting it so it barely made a sound. He then ran to the edge of the village where he had last seen Estel and kept going in that direction until it was light enough to read. Now, if I were a kidnapper, where would I go? Halbarad reached into his pack and pulled out the map he had filched from the meeting hall last night. He found the spot that showed where he was and looked for Rivendell where one of the men had shown him. It did not look far and a place marked on the map called Str- stra…he did not know how to read really well yet but this place was even closer on the map to him. That looks like a good place to start. He folded up the map and tucked it in his pocket.

*~*~*Present*~*~*

"Get up!" Darryn pulled Estel up from the ground to his feet. Estel rid the sleep from himself with a yawn and a stretch of his arms with a feeling of déjà vu. Then he shivered when he realized how cold it was. He could see his breath. Darryn unbound his hands, dropping the rope onto the grass below, and put his coat on Estel. It was much too big but he felt warmer.

"Are not you cold?"

"You need it more," Darryn picked up his pack, which he then put on his shoulders and scooped up Estel over his shoulder. Darryn ran off in a different direction than Pine Hill.

"Where are we going?" Estel asked as he hung over the man's shoulder. The man did not seem to hear him. Estel relaxed and allowed himself to be carried. It was then he realized Darryn had not rebound his hands as blood rushed into his fingers. His wrists were red, inflamed, and bloodied from where the ropes had cut into his wrists. "You do realize you have not tied me back up. Ravin going to not like it if I escape again."

"There is no need to, not where you're going and never you mind about Ravin." He's my problem.

"Where am I going?"

"Where you belong."

"You're taking me home? What about the ransom and all that?" Darryn stopped and put Estel on the ground and knelt before him so their eyes were level.

"Estel, I was wrong to do this. I am sorry. If I had not blamed the wrong people for things that happened in the past, I would have helped you get home instead of keeping you from those you love and taking it out on you. I have done some very bad things in my life but never this and I realize now that it was wrong to do. All of my past has been wrong. Taking you back will not undo what I have done, but-" Darryn hung his head.

"But it is a start." Estel put his hands under the man's chin and lifted up his head. "Ada says we must learn from our mistakes. We always do them but cannot undo them, however, learn from them and move on and not make them again."

Darryn looked at Estel and wondered at such wisdom for his age. "Come, we must get you back before Ravin figures out what we are up to." He grabbed Estel's hand and ran.

Where are they? Ravin paced back and forth inside a one room shack on the west end of Pine Hill. The floor was dusty from lack of use and cobwebs stuck in the corners of the room and on the table against the wall. They should be here by now. Could they have been found out? Perhaps he found out Estel was a human. He would not dare change his mind and take the kid back to those blasted elves would he? And Númenor didn't sink beneath the seas. But would he? He stalked out the shack slamming the door behind him.

The noonday sun hung overhead giving him more than enough light to read the signs on the ground of the abandoned campsite. The rope lay in the grass where they had left it. Darryn's footprints were the only ones leaving the site so he must have carried Estel. The prints also showed he was running.

Ravin picked up the rope and gave chase. They had a good head start but Ravin was faster and could run full speed longer than Darryn could. The child also slowed Darryn.

Estel stumbled and fell. He raised himself to a sitting position gasping for air. They had run for what seemed to Estel, forever, but he could run no further. Darryn halted and turned back. "Estel…come on, we…cannot stop," Darryn panted just as heavily as Estel. Sweat rolled down his face.

"I cannot run anymore. My legs hurt too much."

"I'll carry you again." Darryn moved to pick him up but instead fell to the ground clutching the arrow that protruded from his body.

"Darryn!" Estel reached for the man, but Darryn pushed him away.

"Run, Estel!" Estel fell back onto the ground and scrambled to his feet.

Ravin strode forward, drawing a knife from his waist. Darryn stood and made for Ravin telling Estel to run. Ravin grabbed Darryn, stabbed him in his abdomen with the knife, and withdrew it. Darryn fell to the ground.

"No!" Estel screamed. Ravin grabbed him with one hand and knocked him out with a hard punch with the other hand. Estel slumped over. Ravin picked him up and hung him over his shoulder.

This was a bad idea. A really bad idea. Almost being eaten by large animals of the night and only just avoiding a small band of orcs. Shouts came from off in the distance. Halbarad stood still and listened.

"No!" that sounded like Estel.

"Estel?" Halbarad ran towards the scream. He stopped just behind a tree where he could see what was happening. He saw his father pick up an unconscious Estel. A man lay on the ground and appeared to be dead. He must have been one of the kidnappers, Halbarad concluded. He was happy he had found his friend and father all in the same day.

Halbarad stepped out from behind he tree and ran to his father shouting. "Father!" Halgon turned to see his son coming towards him and Estel. He said nothing as Halbarad ran up to him. "You found him! You found Estel! You're the greatest, Dad." Halbarad threw his arms around his father's waist.

Halgon pushed Halbarad away from him. "What are you doing here?" he asked threateningly.

"I came to help you find Estel. He's m-my friend." Halbarad stepped back in shock. His father did not looked pleased to see him. In fact, he looked very scary. "Is Estel okay?"

It was then an idea came to Halgon. Halbarad was very smart like him and had the makings of a prodigy in him, after coming all this way alone at the age of six. Estel was very smart as well. If Estel was indeed the heir, as he suspected, he could turn them to do as he wanted. They would depend on him for their survival and in return, they would obey him or die. Forget the ransom, this was a much better idea. He smiled darkly down at his son.

Thrush and Sparrow paced around the campsite, looking at everything. "A boy and two men were here," Thrush observed.

"Do you know how long ago?" asked Sparrow. Thrush shook his head. He and his brother were new at tracking. Both were now wishing they had studied more. Sparrow watched his brother bend down next to one of the tracks and look at it. A sound caught his ears; he tapped his brother on the shoulder and hid in the surrounding vegetation.

Two horses trotted into the clearing bearing two elves. Thrush and Sparrow stepped out of the brush and made themselves known to the others.

"I am Thrush and this is Sparrow, we search for Lord Elrond's son, Estel."

"Aye, we search as well for him. I am Tathor and this is Celebfán. We have been looking in the area, from here to the river for the past few days. Is this your camp?"

"No, but we suspect it is the kidnapper's. If we read the marks right, they went in that direction," Thrush pointed in the direction the tracks went. "A man went in that direction I assume with the boy, and was pursed by another later."

"Then let us give chase. I will not suffer for him to be in the hands of such any longer," Celebfán offered his hand to Sparrow.

"Will she carry two?"

"Aye, we are light and our horses strong." Celebfán helped Sparrow onto his mare to sit behind him and Thrush behind Tathor. With a word to their horses, they gave chase. Sparrow told them of Elrond's decisions on the way.

At the sound of approaching horses, Ravin grabbed Halbarad and pulled him into a bush. Estel lay on the ground next them, still out, while Ravin covered his son's mouth with his hand and held the struggling boy still. "Quiet," he whispered into his son's ear. The horses passed and the riders did not see them. He had cut the rope in two, retied Estel's hands, and replaced the gag. He tied the other around Halbarad's hands though he had no other rag to gag him with.

As the riders passed, Estel regained consciousness. Looking behind him, he saw Ravin holding Halbarad. He tried to call out to him, but the gag in his mouth restrained him. At the sound Estel had tried to make, Ravin rolled over and shot him a look. The sound of the riders retreated.

Estel glared back at the man, fuming with anger. He rolled over and jumped at the man, striking at him with his bound hands, falling backwards as Ravin stood up.

Standing up from the ground, he held Halbarad, and looked down at the boy. Defiance already! He dares to cross me. I should have expected as much but, nevertheless, a lesson needs to be learned here.

Staring back up at the man, he thought he saw something change in his eyes. Ravin dropped Halbarad to the ground. "Don't you move," he growled at him. Halbarad sat quivering with fear and did as he was told. Ravin turned back on Estel.

A pair of silver orbs glistened as they stared up in fear at the man hovering above him. The sharp steel glinted in his hand and the young boy trembled as the man grabbed him roughly by the neck. The foul tasting gag in his mouth made it nearly impossible to breath. The ropes that tightly held his hands bound in front were bloodied and chaffed unmercifully. "I'll teach you what it means to cross me," the man said coldly, raising the knife. The eight year old closed his eyes and begged silently for his Ada to save him as tears rolled down his cheeks.

Halbarad watched as his father raised the knife to Estel. His father was going to hurt Estel. "Father, no!" He jumped up and grabbed his father's arm. Ravin grabbed Halbarad and threw him down next to Estel.

"Children that don't know how to mind, need to be punished," the tone of the man's voice man Estel shiver. He felt he was not going to be alive much longer.

"Daro," Tathor and Celebfán halted their horses. Thrush jumped down off the horse and moved forward. Sparrow tried to see around the elf sitting before him.

"What is it?" Sparrow asked, sliding off the horse to see. Thrush was knelt beside a man lying on the ground. "Is he alive?"

Thrush reached for a pulse, "Yes, but he needs help quick."

"Roll him onto his back," Celebfán and Tathor had joined them next to the body of the unconscious man.

"How much of the healing arts have you studied, Linaewë?" Sparrow asked his brother.

"Not much, and don't call me 'Linaewë'. You know I hate that name," Thrush glared at his brother.

"I know a bit about healing," the brothers looked up at Tathor, who spoke, "but I shall need some healing supplies."

"Alas we have none," answered Thrush. They stood in thought for a while when Celebfán remembered that he had Elrond's medical pack with him. He had picked it up when they had dismounted in Rivendell and forgot he had it. He ran over to his mare and retrieved it. Tathor took the bag and dug inside as he instructed Celebfán to remove the arrow.

As Celebfán withdrew the arrow, Darryn groaned and woke up. "Where's Estel?" he forced out.

"What do you know about him?" Celebfán snapped back.

"He's not here," Tathor answered in a kindlier manner as he tended the wounds.

"I told him to run, but I fear no one is faster than Ravin. Please, Ravin will kill him."

"Do you know which way he would have gone?" Celebfán asked but the man was unconscious again.

"I think he went back the way we came." Sparrow pointed.

"But we saw no one," stated Thrush.

"I don't think that matters. He could have heard us and hid and we not known about it."

"I agree," said Celebfán, leaving them behind with Darryn.

Tathor looked up from Darryn, "I'll stay here with him. Thrush, go find the twins."

Thrush nodded, "Sparrow stay here with Tathor and help him."

"But-" But Thrush was already gone.

Sparrow sighed heavily. He hated being left behind. Tathor saw his restlessness and attempted some conversation. "Your brother's name is Linaewë?"

"Yes, but he hates it."

"I don't blame him. It is a terrible name for a man. An elf may get away with it, such as mine, but not a man…what is your name?"

"Thalion. It's better than Linaewë anyways."

The hand holding the knife grabbed Estel's chin and pulled Estel's face close to his own, with the knife resting on the boy's cheek. "You know what the problem is with the world today? Improper training of children." Estel whimpered as Ravin let go of his face, allowing the knife to slide across his skin. "Sshh, shh shh," Ravin stroked Estel's cheek. "No, I don't blame you. It is not your fault. Nevertheless, you have to be punished and while we are at it, why don't we rid you of the Elven filth in your blood."

He grabbed Estel's arm and pierced the knife into it. Estel screamed out as the knife was slowly drawn down the length of his arm. Ravin rubbed his hand in the blood, held the bloodied hand in front of Estel's face, and held his chin in the other. "You see this? This is what I am talking about. Elven filth!" He smeared the blood on his hand onto Estel's face, and then he smacked him. He took a deep breath as he straightened and ran his bloodied hand through his hair, speaking of which.

Estel's hair was no longer in its braid and rather mussed. "We shall get back to the matter of your blood later. First, let's rid you of this unseemly hair." Ravin grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head around. With the knife, he poorly cut off his hair about two inches below the ears. When Ravin finished, he pushed him to the ground. Estel sat on his knees looking at his hair mournfully.

Ravin turned his attentions to his son. He grabbed him and held him in the air before him. "As for you, you were told to stay put, were you not?" Halbarad said nothing but stared back at his father in terror. "Are you afraid, son?" Halbarad did not answer. "I asked you a question! Answer me! Are you afraid?" he shook the boy in his hands.

"Put the boy down." Ravin looked at the elf.

"Why should I? He has not learned his lesson yet. Besides this is none of your business, Elf!"

"It is my business when it concerns the son of Elrond. Now, put the boy down."

"Very well." Ravin dropped Halbarad to the ground beneath him. Halbarad cried out, feeling his ankle snap beneath him. He crawled over to Estel and the two huddled next to each other. "Ever play catch?" Ravin picked up his bow, strung an arrow, and pointed at Celebfán. "I throw you an arrow and you catch it, preferably somewhere vital. However, it is a longer game if we start out somewhere less vital." He laughed maniacally.

Estel spied the knife on the ground where Ravin had dropped it. Ravin's back was to him. Estel crawled over, grabbed the knife, and stuck it into Ravin's thigh. Ravin screamed out in pain and released the arrow up into the trees. Celebfán rushed forward before Ravin could restring his bow. Ravin jerked the knife from his thigh and slashed at the elf.

Celebfán jumped back, narrowly missing the blade. The man rushed at him with the blade. He swerved, ducked behind the man, and grabbed him. Ravin used this to his advantage and threw the elf's weight against him. He pinned him to the ground and straddled over him. With the elf below him, he tried again to stab him, while dodging most of the elf's punches.

Celebfán could not free himself. Ravin got him once in the shoulder with his knife. Ravin was not allowing him any room to maneuver in his position. Ravin wore an earring. It was a dirty, underhanded fighting trick, but this was not exactly a fair fight when one is against someone who is mentally unstable. He reached forward, grabbed hold of the earring, and jerked down. Ravin dropped the knife and Celebfán picked it up. There was nothing for it and only one way out of this situation. He plunged the knife into Ravin's heart.

Ravin's heart stilled and his fëa left his body. His body fell forward onto the elf. He pushed the body off himself and went over to children. First, he tended to Estel.

"Celebfán!" Estel cried and wrapped his arms around the elf's neck when his wrists were unbound and the gag removed. "I was so frightened."

"Iston, where are you hurt, tithen pen?"

"I will be fine, check Halbarad."

"Not until I have finished with you." Estel submitted and Celebfán looked him over. Most of his bruises were old and yellowing. His wrists and arm was bleeding, his skin was paler and looked thinner, but nothing overly serious. Apart from a broken ankle, the other boy was in much better condition.

"Is my father dead?" the boy asked as Celebfán looked at his ankle.

"Your father?" he asked in surprise. The boy nodded. "Yes he is, I am sorry."

"What did we do wrong? Why did he try to hurt us?"

"You did nothing wrong, tithen pen, and I do not know why he did what he did, but he is not going to hurt you again."

"I thought my father was a good man and I wanted to be just like him. Am I bad too?"

"No," the elf's blue eyes looked back into the grey ones of the boy. "A person is who he makes himself out to be and often times the person is not what he appears to be."

"What about my father?" asked Estel. Celebfán hesitated. He had not known Arathorn personally, but he had known of him. However, he was not free to speak of him. When Celebfán hesitated, Estel feared the worse. Seeing the look on Estel's face, he hurriedly answered him.

"I did not know your father, Estel." Estel hung his head, "but I know he died protecting you from a great evil and he loved you very much. Come, we must get your injuries treated." He picked up Halbarad and walked back to the place where he had left Tathor, with Estel holding his other hand.

TBC

Translations:

Hannon le- thank you

Mellon nin- my friend

Hir- Lord

Iston- I know

Daro- halt/stop

Linaewë- roughly translated it means songbird. : ) I know it's terrible. Thrush's birth name. Perhaps Linaewë's mother thought he was going to be a girl? : )

Thalion- Dauntless, well better than Linaewë anyways. Sparrow's birth name. No wonder they prefer their aliases.

Fëa- spirit

Tithen pen- little one.

My mind went in a thousand different directions at the end of this chapter, but went with the simpler one. I think about one more chapter and we should be done. : ) Does Darryn live? I guess we shall have to find out. Ravin went nuts. I could not believe it either. It just…happened! Poor Estel. His beautiful hair was chopped off : (