Author's Note: Wow, I am really cranking them out this past week or so. Well, I hope everyone likes the new chapter and would be so kind to review for me and I will continue to write quickly. Hope you enjoy!
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Aragorn slipped past father and son without a glance. Everyone he cared about except Legolas and Arwen was in danger; he had to help them. He followed Athernon to the stables and took a mount from a stable hand. Four elves were already mounted and waiting for Athernon and Aragorn as the horses shifted quietly under their masters. Aragorn nodded silently at the elves and recognized all of them. They had ridden with him once he started looking for Legolas after he had been able to ride again. They all respected each others' ability and actually enjoyed working with Aragorn. Athernon glanced around before nodding to Aragorn who immediately turned his mount towards the gate. The six rode out of the courtyard at a gallop and quickly disappeared into the forest. Aragorn could easily see the trail the horse left in its haste to get to the palace. How did Gorgias sneak away from a Mirkwood patrol undetected? With all of his men? Things weren't adding up like they should. Swearing softly to himself, he pushed the horse harder and wove around the trees with the elves following closely.
Athernon rode up beside Aragorn and grabbed his arm to get his attention. Motioning for him to slow, the group slowed to a walk as Athernon stayed close to Aragorn's side.
"The edge of the forest is near and we need to be cautious. We do not want to alert them to our approach."
"Gorgias will have already moved on. He is not one to linger," Aragorn commented softly as the trees thinned out.
They slowly exited the forest and Aragorn immediately recognized the signs of a fierce battle. Blood was spilt upon the dirt and weapons were scattered as well as bodies. Aragorn grimaced upon seeing several dead elves and he slipped off his horse to check. He recognized the elves but none were his family. Standing, he moved back to the group and remounted.
"We will collect the bodies later. The trail leads south," he said softly and urged the horse forward.
Aragorn followed the trail and occasionally glanced to Athernon as they moved along the edge of Mirkwood. He had no idea where Gorgias was moving to with his family.
"Strider."
Aragorn looked at Athernon when the elf grabbed his arm to stop him. He nodded towards the horizon ahead and to the right.
"I just caught a faint whiff of smoke from that direction. Our quarry is that way."
"Tibalt, go on foot and assess the situation, please," Aragorn requested to one of the elven warriors.
The elf nodded and jumped from his mount to slip into the tall grass and disappeared. Aragorn wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked up at the summer sun. Something did not feel right as he slipped from his horse and squatted in the animal's shadow. His fingertips brushed over the dirt as he stared into the distance.
"What do you think, Strider," Athernon asked softly while scanning the horizon.
"This does not seem like something Gorgias would do. He is cunning and calculating; so for him to stop here in broad daylight in this open area, he must be planning something," Aragorn muttered as he evaluated the situation and outcomes.
Athernon agreed and waited for Tibalt to reappear and report back. Aragorn stood when he saw a faint movement in the grass. Tibalt saluted to Athernon and Aragorn before reporting what he saw at the camp.
"Their numbers are about ten set in a loose perimeter. There is a small tent in the center of camp where I believe the prisoners are being kept," Tibalt reported and looked between Aragorn and Athernon.
"You believe?" Aragorn questioned and Tibalt nodded.
"I could not see them. I only saw an outline of three figures with long hair tied to the center post. I can not be certain if it is Lord Elrond and his sons."
Athernon nodded and looked to the other warriors. "We will approach on foot and spread out to stay hidden. At my call, attack and draw the men away from the tent. Strider and I will approach from behind to free the prisoners. Try and take some of the humans alive for interrogation."
Everyone nodded and left their horses to jog towards the camp. Aragorn and Athernon rode far right to circle around the camp and left their horses. Creeping through the tall grass, Aragorn moved silently with Athernon at his back. Soon, the camp came into view and Aragorn quickly plotted the easiest and fastest path to the tent. Taking a deep breath, he nodded to Athernon and watched the camp closely. A loud bird sound came from beside him and the warriors attacked the camp. Aragorn slowly moved forward, staying hidden as he watched for any men that may discover him. Athernon left his side to help his fellow warriors and Aragorn circled the tent to the front.
Aragorn watched the surrounding fights and knew there were no opponents near him to be able to stop him. None even seemed to realize he was there which was just as well. Turning back to the tent, he failed to hear the sound of galloping hoof beats coming from outside the camp. Just as he started to push aside the tent flap, a scream stopped him and he spun. An arrow zinged under his arm to tear through his cloak and into the tent. Legolas was atop his stallion, galloping into the camp with his bow held ready. Aragorn turned again just as something plowed into him to catch him around the abdomen. Grunting in shock, Aragorn hit the dirt and used his attacker's momentum and catapulted him over his torso. Seeing a sword speed towards his neck, he rolled to the side and rolled onto one knee and pulled his sword from the sheath. Pushing his opponent's sword away, Aragorn rose to his feet and easily deflected the attacks. Pinning the other man's sword, Aragorn slid the knife from his right hip and in one smooth motion pulled it across his opponent's neck. Not stopping to watch the body fall, he pushed aside the tent flap with the bloody knife and scanned the inside. No one else was inside except the body with an arrow in the chest as he snarled in anger and let the flap fall as he turned.
Legolas was staring at the man Aragorn had killed when his friend approached. Aragorn stopped in his steps when Legolas spun and had an arrow notched and aimed at Aragorn's heart quicker than the eye could follow. His breathing was rapid and shallow as Aragorn held his arms out and moved slowly.
"Be calm, Legolas," he soothed and watched the elf's eyes as he carefully put the sword into the sheath.
The bow and arrow slowly lowered as Legolas swallowed hard. Instead of reaching for the bow, Aragorn reached for the elf's hand and gently squeezed it.
"I thought-I thought it was Bretharso again," Legolas murmured and closed his eyes as he took a shuddering breath.
"Bretharso is dead. He can no longer haunt you."
Legolas nodded shakily as Aragorn turned to face the approaching Athernon. The elf warrior did not look happy as he glanced at the prince.
"It was a set up," he said and Aragorn nodded.
"Aye, my family is not here. They intended to keep us occupied here for a while, hoping we would not make a move until nightfall," Aragorn sighed and cleaned off his knife.
"The prisoner we took is not saying where Gorgias has gone with the lords."
"They still head south; towards Gondor," Legolas said quietly and Aragorn looked sharply to the elf.
"The south, you say? How do you know this Legolas?"
"I overheard two of their tail guard on my way here."
Legolas seemed unwilling to go into more detail as Aragorn waited. When it was obvious that no more information was coming, Aragorn turned and walked over to where the prisoner knelt. His knife was still in his hand as he stood over the other man.
"Where is Gorgias going?"
The man chuckled dryly but was cut off by a vicious backhand from Aragorn. Legolas flinched slightly at the sound of the blow.
"You really do not know where Gorgias goes?"
Aragorn growled and wrapped a fist of the man's hair to jerk him closer. The man yelped in surprise and a glance from Aragorn told Athernon to stay away.
"Tell me," Aragorn snarled when he turned his gaze back to the man in front of him as the elves tightened the circle around them.
"I am not scared of the elves."
Aragorn gave a small jerk to get the man's attention again. His silver eyes shimmered with repressed rage as he tightened his grip to painful levels. All the frustration and past anger at believing Legolas dead flared to life in his eyes.
"You do not have to worry about the elves; you should worry about me and what I will do to you if one member of my family is harmed. Now, tell me."
Aragorn's eyes bore into the other man's eyes and let his eyes show the man everything he would do. A faint tremor raced through the man as Aragorn softly growled.
"Erech…he goes to Erech," he stuttered as Aragorn searched the man's eyes for lies.
Angrily, he shoved the man away and turned as he whistled sharply. He turned to Athernon and took a deep breath to reign in his rage before speaking.
"I leave the prisoner in your hands. I am going after Gorgias and my family."
"Once we collect our supplies I will ride with you." Athernon stopped Aragorn before he could protest. "Nay, Strider, do not argue with me. Neither you nor I are equipped to travel after the unknown. You do not have your healing pack and we have no water or food on us; at least not enough to travel to Erech. After we collect these things then we can ride as long and hard after your family as you like until we rescue them."
Athernon stopped and waited while holding his breath for the human to answer. He admired and respected the human but sometimes he plunged in head first without preparing. When Aragorn nodded, Athernon released his breath and whistled for his own mount. He gave instructions to his warriors to take the prisoner back to the palace and to collect the bodies of the elves from earlier. When his mount arrived, Athernon quickly mounted and galloped away towards the palace with Aragorn and Legolas. None of them took their time as they rode hard through the forest. Aragorn had a small list in his mind of what he needed. All his herbs were fresh and he had proper amounts so he would not need to collect any or borrow from Master Pengillen. He was not happy that Legolas was here when he should have been recovering. But having his close friend nearby was comforting as they galloped north.
The gates were open for them as they rode into the courtyard. Once his horse stopped, Aragorn jogged into the palace and towards his guest room. Collecting his travel pack and healing back, he left the room and headed towards the courtyard again. Athernon was collecting the traveling food and water canteens before meeting Aragorn again in the courtyard.
Rounding a corner, he slid to a stop seeing Legolas emerge from his room dressed in traveling clothes with a cloak and small travel pack in his hands.
"I certainly hope you do not think you are coming."
"I most certainly am coming, Estel."
"You need to rest and recover, Legolas. Your fever only broke four days ago and your body is still weakened," Aragorn said as he walked towards the elf.
"Your family was on their way here because of me. I am partially responsible for where they are now," Legolas said and joined Aragorn's side to walk down the hall.
"Your father will not allow you to leave."
"He allowed it once I informed him that I would simply sneak out again," Legolas said with a smile as Aragorn shook his head.
"You are hopeless, mellon-nin," he chuckled and jogged down the steps into the courtyard.
Athernon was waiting for the two by the horses with a pack and the elf warrior looked a little gray. Slowing when he neared the elf, Aragorn looked the elf over and raised his eyebrows.
"The king…talked with me."
"Ah, I see," Aragorn chuckled and secured his pack to the saddle.
"You exaggerate," Legolas said and mounted his stallion.
Athernon and Aragorn looked at each other and laughed. Both knew how protective Thranduil was of his son and what lengths he would go through to ensure his protection. Apparently he had a heart-to-heart with Athernon about what would happen if Legolas was injured.
A few minutes later they rode out the gates and towards the southwest. They stopped and rested rarely as they moved quickly to move towards Erech. Aragorn found the trail easily enough and the other two flanked him as he watched the trail. Two hours before sunset they slowed to a walk and moved over the rolling hills.
"They are moving quickly," Legolas commented softly as he scanned the surrounding area.
"Aye; Gorgias must have a schedule for something. He seems to be on a time restraint," Aragorn muttered ad glanced up at the fading light.
"As are we. We will have to stop for the night soon, Strider," Athernon said worriedly.
"Aye," Aragorn muttered and sighed.
"Estel, I see something ahead."
Legolas kicked his horse forward and rode towards the black lump h saw in the distance. Reaching it, he leapt off the horse and knelt on the ground as Aragorn and Athernon stopped.
"Estel! It is Elladan!"
Aragorn fell to his knees by his brother as Legolas brushed aside the blood coated dark strands of hair from Elladan's face. His face was bloodied and cut as Aragorn gently touched the elf's face.
"Athernon, make a fire, quickly. We will camp here tonight," Aragorn directed and stood to grab his sack from his horse.
Elladan was curled on his side and unconscious as Aragorn carefully inspected his back. There was a five inch long slash on his left shoulder blade and a few whip marks decorated his entire back. Aragorn unrolled a blanket and laid it by Elladan's body.
"Help me move him," he requested of Legolas and shifted closer to his brother.
They gently moved Elladan to the blanket and slowly uncurled him. Overall, Elladan looked well except the elf's entire chest was black, blue and green. There were an occasional cut and slash but that was it. A faint trickle of blood ran from Elladan's lips and nose as Aragorn gently felt his brother's chest. Leaning over him, Aragorn pressed an ear to Elladan's chest and listened to the elf's heart.
"This makes no sense," Aragorn muttered and checked his brother's pulse.
"What is it, Estel?"
"There are no major injuries yet his heart slows," he answered and searched quickly through his sack.
"What?"
"His heart is stopping!"
