A/N: I'm reposting this since stupid decided to delete it.

Beta: Kalisona (Le hannon, mellon nín!)

Chapter 4

Legolas froze in horror. Orcs… Well, at least the spiders were gone, but the elf wasn't at all sure he liked the change.

"What should we do with them?" One of the orcs asked.

"We can take the elf," another replied and lifted Legolas. The prince was feeling incredibly dizzy from the spider poison, and his attempts to fight were pathetic. "The human looks dead or almost dead, so we can leave him here," the orc continued, giving Aragorn a fierce kick. The body rolled over, and Legolas gasped as he saw how pale his friend's face was. The orc must have been mistaken, Estel wasn't dead, or… was he? He tried to fight his captor, but failed miserably.

"Even if he's still alive, the spiders will come back and finish him," the first orc remarked.

The elf's eyes widened in terror. What the foul creature spoke was true; once they left, the spiders would come back and feast on his friend. And all because of him…

"Let me go!" he cried and thrashed, but his captors ignored him and dragged him along their way. Legolas felt shivers going down his spine. As the orcs were leaving the clearing, ominous dark bodies started coming back. Crawling on their disgustingly thin legs. No! No!

"No!" he cried out loud, but the orcs had had enough. One of them turned back and backhanded him. The spider poison, the worry, the guilt, the sorrow, and now the blow – it was too much. Legolas could take no more and soon surrendered to darkness.

---

Elrohir stared, open-mouthed. This was certainly a surprise. "Ada!" he whispered in shock. "What are you doing here?"

"I didn't expect to see you here," Elladan continued his brother's thought. "I thought you –"

"You thought I didn't care about Estel?" Elrond raised an eyebrow at the twins, who looked down guiltily. "That is the greatest mistake you have ever made, my sons."

"But you told him –" Elladan tried to protest, but his father interrupted him.

"Do you remember what you told him, ion nín?"

The older twin swallowed hard and looked down. "Aye. I told him that he had betrayed us. That he is not my brother…" the elf shut his eyes, trying to erase the painful memories. "But I didn't mean it, Ada, I swear, I didn't."

"I know my son," Elrond said gently. "We all said things we didn't mean. I might lose my daughter, but losing a son will not make matters better. I don't want to lose him."

"Then let's go and find Estel," Elrohir interrupted. "I have the feeling that something bad had happened."

"I feel it too," Elrond whispered. He didn't know if it was his gift of foresight, or just a father's fear, mixed with guilt, but he felt that something was very wrong. And he had the uneasy feeling that they were running out of time.

---

"What should we do with him?" One of the orcs asked, as he tied their prisoner to a tree. "Can we have some fun?"

"Not yet," another one grunted. "Let him wake up completely first."

And indeed Legolas wasn't in the best possible shape. After all of the toxins that had entered his system, it was a miracle that he had regained consciousness so quickly. But he couldn't let himself succumb to darkness. He had to get away and get back to Estel. Before it was too late…

Desperately fighting to stay awake, Legolas tried to focus on his surroundings to keep his mind occupied. But what he saw surprised and worried him.

The orc party was quite small. They were maybe no more than ten. He could have easily dealt with them if he wasn't so weakened by the spider poison. But as it was, he had no chance to fight them.

But why would such a small group enter Mirkwood?

Orc invasions in the forest were rare, but certainly not nonexistent. It had happened before, and Legolas was sure it could happen again at any time. No, he wasn't surprised that the orcs had come to his home. What he couldn't understand was the size of the party.

Every time the orcs dared to come to Mirkwood, they came in large and well-prepared groups. These orcs, on the other hand, were no real threat. Obviously, they couldn't have had any illusions that they could fight the elves. That would mean that the orcs weren't here to fight. But what could be the purpose of their coming here?

Those thoughts gave him no rest. Suddenly, one of the orcs noticed him and moved to their leader.

"I think the scum is wide-awake after all," he whispered, not even trying to hide the anticipation in his voice.

---

"Be careful," Elrond said softly. "Something isn't right."

"I can hear some noise, Ada," Elrohir whispered. "But I can't make out what it is."

Elrond and Elladan stopped and tilted their heads to the side, listening intently. Soon they heard it too.

The sound was coming from somewhere near, but it was so soft that only elven ears could detect it. It sounded like small droplets of water, gently hitting the ground. But the rain had stopped some time ago. No, it wasn't water.

The twins suddenly lifted their gazes and stared at each other. "Feet," they muttered in unison.

"What creature can walk so lightly and quietly?" Elladan voiced his confusion.

Instead of a reply, Elrond took out his sword and walked in the direction the sound was coming from.

"Umm…Ada, I'm not sure that's a good idea," Elrohir whispered. "We don't know what's there."

"I do," his father replied. "Spiders."

The twins exchanged a surprised and slightly worried glance. "Well, then I can say for sure that this is not a good idea," Elrohir pointed out.

"Ada, I don't understand," Elladan added. "You always blame Estel and Legolas that they find trouble too often, and now you are intentionally going to the spiders. You are not setting a very good example, you know. Unless…" The elf gasped in shock as realization suddenly struck him. "You don't think he is there, do you?"

"I think that there is only one way to find out." Elrond spoke quietly.

Without waiting to hear what his father had to say, Elladan ran past him, rushing in the direction of the spiders. Those disgusting creatures had better not harmed his little brother. They certainly wouldn't want to meet his fury…

---

"Awake, little elf?" One of the orcs asked.

Clear blue eyes stared at him defiantly. "What do you want from me? What are you doing in Mirkwood?"

The creature grinned. "What are we doing in Mirkwood? I wonder if I should tell you…" He looked at his companions, who only nodded. "Well, you are going to die anyway, so I guess it doesn't make a difference. Then I will tell you – we are here on a very, very special mission…"

"Besides, we love visiting Mirkwood," another one added with a smirk. "The darkness suits my tastes just perfectly."

"Mirkwood isn't dark!" Legolas glowered at him, although he knew that the orc was right. He had hit a tender spot. No lie, no matter how evil it was, could be more painful than the truth.

"Oh, not dark indeed. It is not nearly as dark as it could be. As it will be…" he added mysteriously.

"Is this your special mission?" The elf challenged him. "To turn the forest darker?"

"I suppose it will be darker after we finish. After the others finish, actually."

"The others?" Legolas didn't like this.

"Yes, the others. The army of orcs, goblins, and wargs, assembled to complete the mission."

"And the mission is…?" The prince was getting impatient. He suspected he wouldn't like the answer he was going to hear.

"To inflict a severe blow on the elves that still dare live here," his grin widened. "We first thought we should kill King Thranduil, but he hardly leaves the palace. So we thought we could kill their Prince. We were sent on an investigation mission – to find out when and where he goes, so that the army we assembled could find him and kill him easily."

Legolas choked in surprise. So that was why the orcs were here – to find out how to kill him. Well, their task had turned out to be much easier than they had expected, but they didn't know this yet. Legolas thought bitterly that he had done everything possible to make their task easier. Yes, it was only his fault that he was here now. And that Estel would be killed by the spiders…

"You don't happen to know the Prince, do you?" one of the orcs asked him.

"Actually I do know him." Legolas smiled confidently. "I believe I have seen him a couple of times."

The orcs exchanged surprised murmurs. They seemed happy. "What does he look like?" their leader asked.

"Well, let me think…" for a moment Legolas seemed to be deep in thought. "Hmm, as far as I remember, he has pointed ears, long hair, slender figure…"

"Stupid elf!" The orc backhanded his prisoner and glared at him. "All elves look like that!"

"Of course," another orc grinned. "All elves look alike!" They all burst in laughter and the captive was momentarily forgotten.

But when the laughter died out, the orc leader turned towards Legolas once again. "You are pushing my patience, elf. I think it is time to teach you a lesson."

---

The view that greeted Elrond and Elrohir when they arrived at the clearing made their hearts freeze. The entire space was swarmed with huge, black spiders. Elrohir closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath. Spiders had always disgusted him, even the small ones he could see in a normal forest. And Mirkwood's spiders terrified him.

When he opened his eyes, he saw some of the dark shapes lay on the ground, struck by Elladan's arrows. His brother had his sword out and was engaged in a fight with three spiders at the same time. But what worried him was not that his twin was fighting three spiders, but that the spiders were only three. There were so many of the evil creatures. Why didn't the rest attack them? Did they have something better to do?

They did. Elrohir's heart skipped a beat as he saw a dark heap of moving bodies. He couldn't see what lay below the creatures, but it was easy to guess.

The spiders had gathered to eat their prey.

The elf rushed towards the heap with an angry shout. He could see his father and brother follow him closely. No, they had not come too late. They couldn't have come too late…

A huge spider lunged at him, and Elrohir pushed it back and thrust his sword into the body. He turned just in time to stick it into another creature.

The elf turned in a circle, swinging his long blade, cutting through legs and bodies. Suddenly he heard his father shout his name in alarm, but before he could register what was happening, two spiders jumped on him. They had been on a tree branch above him, but he had failed to see them.

Elrohir tried to shake them off, but suddenly he felt something sting his neck. The spider had bit him. Another bite followed, and he felt the world spinning. His knees buckled under him, and as another spider pushed him, he fell to the ground, his head colliding with a heavy rock.

---

"El!" Someone was vigorously slapping his cheek. "El, wake up!" Elrohir slowly opened his eyes, surprised that he had lost consciousness.

"Estel?!" He half questioned, half screamed.

"Shh, calm down." His brother gently touched his face. "Ada is taking care of him."

Elrohir rose to a sitting position and took a look around. "The spiders? Did you kill them all?"

"Most of them. The rest ran away when they saw that the prey wouldn't be as easy as they thought."

Elladan helped his twin get to his feet, and they slowly walked towards their father. Elrond was crouching next to a fallen body. Elrohir stopped and gasped in shock as he saw Estel's face. He had never seen his brother that pale before. "Ada is he –"

"He is alive," Elrond answered promptly. "But his condition is very bad. Too many toxins have entered his bloodstream. We need to prepare the antidote, and quickly. You also need to drink, ion nín. And don't tell me you are fine," he added as Elrohir began to protest. "Build a fire," the elven lord commanded.

The twins set quickly for the task. They had brought all necessary herbs, and fortunately, their father was wise enough to bring a small kettle. They poured water into it and set it to boil. Elladan got up to bring the herbs, but suddenly he stopped and stared at a dead spider.

"Ada, we didn't kill that spider." He spoke softly, his voice alarmed and urgent.

"Many spiders were already dead when we arrived." Elrond was surprised at his son's worry. "Estel has done good work."

"This arrow isn't Estel's." Elladan spoke again and took out the arrow. His father and brother gasped and stared at it. Of course it wasn't Estel's. It was Legolas'.

The three elves were shocked at the implications of their new discovery. The prince had been here, and they knew that there was no force in Middle-earth that would make him leave Estel to the spiders. Obviously Legolas hadn't left willingly. That could only mean that someone, or something, had made him leave.

The twins quickly got up and went searching around the clearing.

"Here!" Elrohir called suddenly. "I can see many feet, and someone has been dragged." Elladan and Elrond exchanged a worried look. They had no doubt who had been dragged.

The elven lord got up and quickly walked to the tracks. It was clear that Legolas was taken by someone and he was in trouble. He could only hope they would find him alive.

"Go find the prince, my sons," he commanded. "I'll stay with Estel. Take this," he handed Elrohir some leaves. "It will help fight the toxins."

The twins hesitated. They wanted to rush to save their friend, but they also wanted to make sure that Estel would be alright. "Go," Elrond urged them once again. "I'll take care of Estel, don't worry. Go! Legolas needs you."

Elladan and Elrohir gave their human brother a last glance and disappeared into the forest.

---

Legolas watched his captors in horror. He had been captured by orcs too many times and knew very well what awaited him. He vowed silently that he would never show them his pain. But what pained him the most was that he couldn't help Estel. The thought that his friend would be killed by the spiders, if he wasn't dead already, broke his heart.

"So, what should we start with?" An orc grinned at him. "What do you think, elf?"

Legolas replied with something not really appropriate for an elven prince, and first the orcs stared in surprise, but then burst in laughter.

"I think you are not helping yourself, elf." The orc took out a small knife.

"Wait," another one stopped him. "I have an idea."

The elf was sure he wouldn't like this. The orc seemed too happy.

"An idea?" The first orc seemed intrigued. "Sounds like something I will like."

The evil creature grinned, "I am sure you will. Well, of course we are going to play with our prisoner. But before that I think he needs some preparation." He quickly explained what he had in mind.

Legolas paled and was unable to hide the fear in his eyes. He knew that he was going to die and had almost accepted it, so he was surprised to see that he cared that much, but this…it frightened him. Now he could only hope that his father and friends would never find his body. That he would stay forgotten in the forest forever, food for scavengers. No, he didn't want the ones who loved him to see him like that. It would break their hearts.

The orc took a step towards him and raised his scimitar. Legolas closed his eyes. He could feel his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

One swift swing of the blade and it was done.

The orc unclenched his fist, leaving long locks of golden hair fall to the ground.

He took a step backwards and looked critically at his pale prisoner. "You look much better now. At least now you don't look exactly the same as the other elves," he grinned. "You are ready. Let the fun begin."

---

When the antidote was finally ready and had cooled enough, Elrond gently lifted his foster son's head and helped the unconscious man to drink the liquid without choking. Then he could only wait.

Estel opened his eyes cautiously. He was surprised to be alive. The last thing he could remember was his thought that if he died, it would be better that way.

He looked up, and suddenly paled and averted his gaze. What was he doing here? He didn't expect to see him.

"Look at me," the elven lord gently turned the man's face towards him.

Estel closed his eyes. He couldn't look at his foster father. He couldn't bear to see the accusations, the dismissal, maybe even the hatred he knew he would find there. "Lord Elrond…" he started hesitantly.

"Shh," two fingers were firmly pressed on his mouth. "I am not Lord Elrond to you, Estel. Call me Ada. If you could ever forgive me…"

Estel's eyes snapped open. There was no accusation in his father's eyes. Only regret. And love. "Ada! Forgive you what?" the young man was confused. "You have done nothing wrong!"

"I have done a great wrong, ion nín, and you know it." Estel's heart jumped when he heard how Elrond called him. "I had no right to talk to you like that. We don't control our hearts, my son. And if you fell in love with Arwen, I'm sure it was meant to be. And I know that it will be for the better."

Estel blinked several times, unable to believe what he was hearing, "You mean… you still love me?"

"I always have, ion nín," Elrond pulled him in a tight embrace. "I always have. In our life we form many bonds, Estel. Some are strong and last for ages, and some are brief and fragile as a little string. But the bonds with your family are always strong. They are unbreakable."

"Oh, Ada," Estel whispered, not trusting his voice. "How could I have doubted my family? Will you ever forgive me?"

"There is nothing to forgive, my son. I made the greater mistake. It was I who first doubted our family. But I was wrong. The bonds of family are too strong and nothing can destroy them. I will always be your father and you will always be my son, and there is nothing that can change this."

The young ranger embraced his foster father and sighed with immense relief. He had thought he had lost the thing that he treasured most. But he was wrong.

Finally he lifted his face and took a look around. The ground was covered with fallen spider bodies, some slain by swords and some pierced by arrows. His gaze suddenly drifted towards one of the spiders. Or actually, towards the arrow that had killed it. "Legolas?" He stared in confusion and shock.

Elrond swallowed hard. Estel was far from being alright and he didn't want to worry him. He didn't know what to say.

"Has Legolas been here?" Estel turned towards his father, noticing that the elf suddenly seemed insecure. "Has he?" he asked again, as Elrond didn't reply right away.

"Yes, it seems he has been here before I arrived," he replied slowly.

"Where is he now?" Estel asked, a sudden suspicion forming in his mind. It could not be true. And yet… he fully deserved it.

"I don't know," Elrond replied and looked away.

This was more than enough to answer Estel. His father didn't want to tell him the truth. And no wonder.

Obviously Legolas had come that way. It seems the spiders had attacked him, and he had killed some of them. Then he had seen that the spiders were about to kill Estel, and… had left. Had just left. Hadn't bothered to save him. He didn't care, and Estel couldn't blame him, not after everything he had said.

And I thought you were my friend. But I have been wrong.

Estel closed his eyes and all the pain he had felt before returned to him anew. It seemed that his father had been wrong.

Even the strongest bonds were breakable after all.

To be continued…

I am so sorry for the late update, mellyn nín! You have been such wonderful readers and you don't deserve to wait that long. I promise that the next chapter will come sooner. I hope you will manage to forgive me and will review :o)

As you might have noticed, I got a beta (many many thanks to Kali!!!), so I am not going to torture you with my bad English anymore ;-)

Important announcement: The deadline for the Spiders competition of the Estel Angst Central has been extended to April 15. A link could be found at my profile page. If you wish to write and need additional extension, tell me, and I'll be happy to give it to you. You may or may not remember that this story was actually written to encourage people to write for the challenge and is supposed to follow all guidelines in the competition description.

I hope you are not horrified that I cut Legolas' hair. It will grow soon enough. If he survives this, of course :D

8