Chapter 5
"Have you seen Legolas or Idrial at all today?" Galadriel looked about the table.
Both Thranduil and Celeborn shook their heads. The three sat in the dining room, their plates having just been cleared. They had been waiting for the return of their respective children since the sun had begun to dip. Each felt a certain dread ebbing in and out of the edge of their thoughts. No sign or word had come from the couple all day.
"They left early this morning." Galadriel noted. "It is unlike them not to tell us when they plan to be away this long."
"Perhaps they went up to the city to visit the Fellowship." Thranduil stood back from the table. "I will go up and check. Stay here in case this is a wild goose chase." The move could have been viewed as overprotective, yet all three elves felt something here was not right. The source of this uneasiness seemed to be their children; more than that they could not make out for certain.
If the Elvenking had hoped to find them in the King's company, he was sadly disappointed. Aragorn was surprised at his inquiry. He had not seen the couple since the feast the previous night.
"And now the sun had completely set. Come, we should head to your tents. They may have returned in your absence."
Concern turned to fear as they found neither Legolas nor Idrial waiting for them. It was quickly decided that they should be sought for.
The hobbits remained behind in case the two got around the others. At first it was easy enough to figure out where the couple had gone. They had told their parents the path they had planed to take. Valandil walked in front of Thranduil, his nose to the ground. They whole company was surprised when he yelped and turned from the path, disappearing into the underbrush.
"Valandil!"
Thranduil stayed Aragorn with a hand. Ordering a dismount, he left Eowyn and Faramir in charge of the horses and followed his hound into the trees. The others came after him in single file. It seemed like forever that they wound through the trees, the dog only a flicker of movement in the dark forest ahead. Finally they stopped in a clearing that suddenly opened before them. The stars shone hard and cold above. Valandil ran in circles as the prints crossed and re-crossed beneath his nose. He worked around the circle, while Aragorn lifted their one torch and tried to read the ground for himself.
"There is not much to be seen in this light, but what I can see worries me."
"What are you looking at?" Gimli came to stand at his elbow.
"Here." He pointed to a spot under one of the trees by the riverbank. The disturbance was so great even the dwarf could see it clearly. "There is evidently a struggle here. Then something, or someone, was dragged away. Over… here." He stopped near the middle of the field where the drag mark ended. "More prints are here, then from there nothing can be made out in this light."
Valandil had returned to Thranduil, his tail low in defeat. "Nothing more can be discovered tonight." The elf sounded as if he was convincing himself more than talking to the others.
"We cannot simply sit and wait for them!" Galadriel's vehemence surprised them all.
"They are together, and they are grown adults who can take care of themselves. We must trust in them for now. No use can we be in this light. We would only get lost ourselves." Celeborn took his wife under his arm.
"Celeborn is right." Aragorn sighed. They could see in each other how hard they all found it to leave the couple for the night.
"My youngest. My only child still here with me." Galadriel stood for a moment, as if waiting for the two to come laughing from the trees, having lost track of time, surprised to see their friends searching anxiously for them.
"He will take care of her. He always has."
The group turned as one without a word back toward the tiny path they had trod in the forest. Yet concern and fear weighed much heavier on them than it had at their departure.
. . . . . . . . . . .
"You only got one of them." Jehethra's voice was almost menacing.
"Elves are a difficult catch, we told you that." Barabas displayed his injuries.
The solid proof seemed to put the gypsy at rest. "The elves have magic, they say. Well, it shall not be enough. We have a little magic of our own. Lay her there."
Both kidnappers blinked at the small tent within a tent that stood before them. Standing where, up to a few minutes ago, not but a wall had seemed to be. Their steps inside were not without trepidation. Barabas dropped the she-elf out of his arms.
"You are certain no one has picked up your trail? The elf has raised no alarms?" Jehethra picked her tools; a knife, some tubes, and several bowls.
"Yes, they were alone and entirely off the path."
"And the elf?" she pressed. "What of his friends? Their parents? Have you naught to say about them?"
"You did not ask us to kidnap them all! The elf has been easily persuaded to remain silent…" Erabus passed a pointed look to the she-elf. "And as for their friends, I would be most surprised if anyone could make anything of the tracks we left."
"If by persuade you mean a promise of safe return then…"
Erabus saw a point to play. "My trade is not one of honesty."
The gypsy smiled at that. "Good." She seemed contented, and was more intent on her work than them. Her smile widened as Barabas paled. "The sight of blood bothers you?" She pushed one of the tubes into an incision she had made in the she-elf's skin.
"Of course not. I am in a bloody profession after all. But, are the tubes really necessary? They look very… unnatural."
"Waste not, want not."
Erabus cleared his throat. "How much will you pay for her?"
"Oh? And who said I would pay you anything with the other half of the deal running free?"
"Give us out payment of the she-elf, and we will fetch you the other."
"Can I be sure?"
"Absolutely. You saw the condition of this one."
"True. And she is serving better than I thought. Yet, your profession is not one of honesty is it?"
"Not with our victims." Erabus replied smoothly. "Different level, different dealings."
She nodded, and after what seemed like quite the internal battle, she gave them their payment. The kidnappers quickly departed.
"The hawk is off to Yulhan?" Barabas checked the still unconscious elf.
"Yes. He will be ready in three days."