Note from Author: I am so sorry at the delay in posting this story. Many things ended up getting in the way, but the worst was this cold I picked up from work. I ended up having to take antibiotics just to clear it up; my doctor began to think it was going to turn worse instead of better. I just had no energy to do much, besides sleep. I will ensure that a delay like this does not occur again, if I can possibly help it. Thanks for your patience and your reviews Ida Cippo (many thanks), Lightmare852, Elflingimp, Elbendrache and Setrinan. Please continue to review and tell me what you think.

"Wake up!" A deep and grizzly voice echoed above him. "Wake up, Maggot. I weary of lugging you around like a fresh kill!"

There was a silence for a moment as Laitheryn struggled to conscious, shaking off the darkness he had been dreaming of. His injuries made it nearly impossible though. And as he became more conscious of his surroundings, Laitheryn also became more aware of the pain too, and he almost wished he could escape to the darkness that held him before.

He shifted his gaze slightly from the ground he was forced to study, and up towards the faces of the elves standing near him. Many still had numerous injuries donning their bodies, their ripped and darkened clothes bespoke the blood that had fallen from them and bodies near theirs. They looked exhausted, and many of the ones that had suffered greater injury were leaning on those that were less struck with agony.

It was in that moment that he noticed something. There was a distance between the elves of the separate realms as if a wall had been placed between the two groups with none closing the gap. The ones wearing the forests' colour were walking a little apart from the others, keeping a physical distance to symbolize the one that had haunted both realms for many years.

They seemed to be surrounding one elf almost closing him in completely, enough so that even Laitheryn, with his elven vision, could not see past their obscuring bodies. The only reason he knew of the elf in the center, was for the few glances he had seen of him. Laitheryn found himself wondering why one elf in particular would be granted more protection than others in the same situation. But no answer would appear to his internal question.

There was great grief that separated the two realms and he feared that no calamity would bring the two realms to peace, with the past and the present once more. No situation would ever bring the two most separate elven realms together, not even the danger they were in now. 'If I am a Woodelf I will not distance myself from my friends at Imladris, no matter who asks it of me.'

There had been a few years where he had stayed with the twins in Imladris, and had learned many things from the elves that resided there. Lord Elrond had invited him to travel back with his sons, after one of their trips to the Dreamflower elven city. Ever curious about other realms, Laitheryn had accepted and had stayed there for four decades before returning to Lorien. He would not place those he had learned to cherish as brothers and sisters and some as mentors at a distance.

The Great War, so long ago now, had caused so much turmoil and grief for every elf that had been involved or had sent a loved one to serve the elven and human realms. Greenwood the Great had lost many elves, more so than the other realms combined. It had also been that one realm that had wished not to take place in the war and to uphold the peace of the forest. The King of Greenwood had been convinced to aid, by the then Lord of Imladris and many had died as a result.

One that had been lost that had been mourned by all was Oropher, their king; cut down in an attack that went so wrong that day. Cut down by orcish blades; he had died, without seeing the forest he and his kin had tried to protect. He died in the plains of death, now called the Dead Marshes, never to return to the place he loved most. The old king was gone to Mandros' halls, but would not be forgotten. And it was his death that sealed the almost tangible animosity between the elves of the valley realm and those that resided in the Great Forest.

It was with King Orophers' death that his only surviving son, Thranduil, took the throne and led his mourning people through the rest of the war and its dire results. The new king had then led the survivors back to the trees of their home; grieving for those that had been left behind and blaming the elves and humans of the realms that had beseeched them to join.

"AWAKE!" Laitheryn flinched slightly at the loud voice that echoed so close to him. It was a voice of malice and of ill intent.

Elladan caught his eye, and Laitheryn could see a concerned look behind their grey depths. Laitheryn nodded to him, trying to tell him without words that he was fine and would rather walk then be hauled like a kill over the shoulder of the orc that held him.

"Wake!" The orc above him spoke once more, and then struck him harshly when he did not respond to its demands.

"If you wants it to awaken, you should not hit it." Another reasoned. "That will only cause it to sleep once more and you'll be forced to carry it further."

Laitheryn frowned, struggling to listen to the harsh words and bring his dozing mind back to focus through the haze he felt. His world turned once more as Laitheryn found himself hefted off of the shoulder of the cruel orc that held him. His stomach turned at the sensation and he almost lost out to the nausea that gripped him when he was roughly pushed into the crowd of Imladris elves.

Before he could fall and injure himself further, Laitheryn was caught by one of the ready elves and lowered quickly to the ground. He blinked away the fog and was met by the concerned visage of Elladan.

"Peace, Mellon nin." Elladan advised. "Your injuries do not heal…"

"Aye."

"Was the blade poisoned? Another elf asked, having appeared to the left of the two.

"Nay." Elladan answered after a moment as if surprised by the question.

Laitheryn turned his attention to the elf that had asked; his deep brown red locks hanging in messy tangles down his shoulders onto the deep green cloak he wore over his shoulders. The elf's hair clung to his face, held there by the blood of those that had fallen.

His clothes were ripped and torn through the fell touch of knives and other dark weapons that had thirsted for his blood and had almost succeeded in their quest. Laitheryn tried to catch the elf's eye, but could not. It was as if the elf was avoiding looking at him and refused even a quick glance. Laitheryn felt his irritation rise further and battled it down.

"Their intent was to capture, not to kill. He will be fine."

"You stated that his injuries were healing far slower than what you wished."

"Aye, but they will heal."

"But not quickly."

Point and counter point, Laitheryn thought, watching a display of Woodelf stubbornness. 'Was I ever this difficult?'

"Aye…T'is true."

Laitheryn wondered when they would realize that he was awake and wished that they would stop discussing him as if he were not right there and able to hear.

"You will watch him. HE requests it." The young elf pressed.

There was no question there, just a demand. And it appeared that the young elf expected that whoever had issued this request would be obeyed, without question.

"Tell him I will continue to watch over him."

"I wish to know whom you are speaking of." Laitheryn interjected in a tone that stated quite plainly that he expected an answer too. He found himself missing a large section of this dialogue and did not wish to be left in the dark further than he had.

In response to his question the young elf risked a quick glance down at him and their eyes met. And in that second he saw flickers of emotions run through his age mates' eyes. There was pain, as if a past hurt had been recalled in that moment. Some remembered grief darkened the expression that could be read from the Woodelf's eyes; there was great sorrow, but also faint hope too.

There was also something Laitheryn longed to see, after coming into unintentional contact with the elves from Greenwood. In the eyes of this elf, Laitheryn saw recognition and watched as the cold edge in the elf's eyes died to something softer and gentler.

They had been friends long ago. This elf had been friends with the elfling he had left behind in that river so long ago, and had recognized him as that child. And Laitheryn recognized the eyes of the elf as one of the elflings that had been riding with him in the forest in his vision.

For the barest second Laitheryn could almost hear the sounds of the horses and of the forest around him. He could also hear the elfling's voice, like a breeze drifting across leaves, and both the elfling and the eyes of the older version of his friend, danced in his memory. He also recalled a name for that gentle brown haired elfling, who's older counterpart now studied him intently.

In that second the elf's eyes softened further and it seemed a name raced across their deep depths and his mouth parted as if to say what name had occurred to him, the wood elf seemed to catch himself and cut off the cry on his lips. But Laitheryn could still hear the name of the golden haired elfling in that steady gaze, and almost understood.

The elf blinked and seemed to tare his gaze off and forced it away from the quiet exchange they had just had and Laitheryn watched as the mask returned over his expression and the hope faded from the brown haired elf's eyes and could have wept. 'Who do I remind you of, Mellon Nin? We were friends once and you recognize me from that. Why do you not speak then? Why can you not say my name?'

"You will let no further harm come to him." The woodelf demanded of Elladan.

The young lord nodded and the Greenwood elf walked away, heading back in the direction he had arrived from. He was swallowed up by the group of elves, right into the center of their group. Laitheyn lost sight of him in the group as he reached the center and could not hear the words exchanged between the elf and the one that had sent him. Losing in that attempt to follow the Woodelf with his eyes, Laitheryn turned his attention back to Elladan instead to voice his next questions.

"Whom are they guarding?"

Elladan started at the quiet question, and brought his gaze back down to his. Laitheryn was shocked by the confusion that swirled in the calm grey depths.

"T'would be better if I do not speak his name here." Elladan whispered back. "There are unfriendly ears about, who certainly know of him and would recognize his name."

Laitheryn frowned at that answer and tried to determine more. "They guard someone important?"

"Aye."

"To them alone or to the survival of the Greenwood realm?"

"To both. The realm would suffer if he were discovered by the enemy of the free realms of Arda; it would surely topple as he has no heir to take his place. The elves of that realm would allow no other to lead them on."

Laitheryn inclined his head thoughtfully pondering on the near answers that Elladan had giving him in the forms of riddles. Someone who's life affected the survival of the forest realm alone and if discovered could crush the land of the Woodelves. There was only one that came to mind immediately; their King.

Thranduil had ridden among the patrols and had also been captured by the wiles of the Orc army. It was him that the Woodelves guarded so fervently. Laitheryn allowed his eyes to show Elladan that he understood the reason for secrecy and would not speak further. But he wondered what force had brought the King of the Great Forest from his palace under the trees and out into the open.

"Why is he here?" Laitheryn followed his last thought.

"There was a meeting to be convened between Imladris and Greenwood."

"Truly?" Laitheryn could not hide his surprise at that. "I had heard that the rift between the realms was so great that it was thought unattainable to try to heal that."

"Aye. Though I fear that will not occur now, as present circumstances may embitter the Woodelves once more..." Elladan trailed off and seemed to be studying him intently.

"That was no patrol they captured." Laitheryn continued, ignoring Elladan's gaze.

"Nay. An escort."

"Do the Orc's know whom they have captured?"

"Nay. It would be terrible for Greenwood if they did. And terrible for Imladris if they realized who I was."

"…Aye."

"That is why I have distanced myself from my father's name."

"I understand. I will speak no more of this."

There was a pause between the two and Elladan seemed to have decided to occupy himself by checking over the injuries he had sustained in the battle, Laitheryn did not argue and let himself be tended too. As long as the pain was not too great he could let his mind wander. And his thoughts turned once more to the deep brown eyes of the Woodelf that had fled back to the center of the circle to report to their king.

Laitheryn thoughts deepened there too. The one that he would still call friend had been sent there with a request from the king of Greenwood to oversee his safety. 'Why does my safety concern the king of the Forest Realm so much so that he sent someone to ensure that Elladan would not be remiss in his care for me? Was it the king that sent him? It easily could have been one of the warriors close to him. Perhaps they all have recognized me, and wish to question me later. It is possible that many elflings have been lost from that realm with the dangers that have assailed it as of late. And all have recognized me as one of those elflings thought lost.'

He found that this thinking was increasing the steady pounding in his head and Laitheryns' stomach seemed to agree; beginning to match the drumming pace behind his temples with one of its own. He found himself closing his eyes to rid himself of the pain that speared up suddenly.

"Rest's over, Maggots. On your feet!" An orc snarled out.

There was no pause as Laitheryn found his arm gripped by the large hand of the orc that spoke and he was hauled out of Elladan's arms and forced to his feet. He would have fallen back to the welcoming soil for the pain he was in, which now included the agony that had exploded from his arm as the orc pulled. He had nearly forgotten that that arm had been cut deeply once by the blade of an orcish sword and many times more by tiny pricks of a practiced assault. That hurt had faded quickly in his mind, but it was now returning.

The orc released him, and Laitheryn found that a gentle arm had circled around his waist and kept him from the ground. Laitheryn raised his gaze from the soils of Arda and gave an appreciative smile to the elf that had caught him, speaking his thanks without words.

The elf's silver eyes met his and they spoke of concern for all the elves around him. He wore a plain, deep blue tunic that did not designate a rank any different than the ones that he led. His eyes spoke of the anger that they all had that their brethren had been so injured by the likes of those that now held their lives in the palm of their dark hands. His gaze also included sorrow, that the orc's that had detained them had once been elves and had been darkened, by cruel hands long ago. Laitheryn could pick up the whisper of fear that they would share the fate of their tortured brethren too.

Another elf had helped Elladan up, and had began to follow the relentless paces that the orc's had set moments prior. Laitheryn risked a glance backwards and watched as Elladan seemed to have recovered enough that he walked on his own and bade the elf that assisted him to help with the more injured.

Assured that his friend was uninjured, Laitheryn turned back and caught the speculative gaze of the elder elf that supported his weight. There was great darkness to the elf's gaze, as if he were lost in his thoughts and could not find a way out.

"I do not burden you overmuch?" Laitheryn found himself saying, trying to start a conversation and break the patrol leaders' thoughts.

"Nay, Penneth. Be not concerned." He responded shortly.

Laitheryn watched as the silver eyes darkened further, as whatever the elf dwelled on caused greater harm. The silver eyed elf was surrendering to the grief and the fear of the situation and could not be rid of their evil touch. Laitheryn tried to reassure him with his eyes, but knew it had failed to falter the pain that the elf found himself in. 'For this elf to lose hope and perish, would be a harsh blow to the younger elves of Imladris…'

"You see much, Penneth." The elder spoke, softly. "More than the others. I fear for us all."

"Fear is wise, Dinenant, in such evil times. But being lost amid fear when there is still hope; is folly."

"What hope is there, Laitheryn? I see none." His soft tone left his voice and a harder one emerged.

"You do not look far enough then. The peoples of Imladris and Eryn Galen will not allow this to be your fate. They will not allow any elf to suffer thus."

"Imladris and Eryn Galen are far away."

"Aye, but not that far that hope cannot come."

"They will not know where to look. And Eryn Galen does not know that there is a need to look. Greenwood is our best chance of survival and they do not realize that we are in need of assistance! They do not realize that their own Ki…"

Laitheryn cut him off before more could be said, sensing where that cry was headed and knowing it would doom one of the three elven realms if he allowed it on.

"Peace, Mellon nin. They have realized that their kin are in need of assistance." Laitheryn continued, easily covering up the near dire mistake with a word that would still make sense in the context that it had been driven too. 'King with kin.'

It was not hard to guess that more than the elves from Imladris were witness to this dialogue and the elves of Greenwood were listening too. Laitheryn would not let the panic of one destroy the small chance the two realms had of reconciliation. He would not let the Patrol leaders' panic rob a realm of its leader. He would ensure the secret was kept safe, for elvish ears may not be all that were listening to this dialogue. With that in mind he lowered his voice further, masking it in with the footfalls of the orcs.

"Before I was discovered by the Orc's I sent a plea for assistance through the trees to the populous of Greenwood." Laitheryn continued. "They will come; the trees will lead them to us."

"…Do you trust that message will be delivered?" There was much doubt in the elders' voice.

"Have hope, Dinenant. I trust the message has been given and aid has been sent to all of those that are captured, and not just their kin."

"I do not know if I can hold hope like that, and trust so easily."

"The trees have never failed me, when I have needed them." Laitheryn started. '…but I have failed them.'

Deliberately breaking from that thought Laitheryn continued on. "And no elf wishes this fate on another, even if the realm they descend from cannot be at peace with the other. Help will come, have hope."

"I cannot."

"You cannot, or will not?"

"I have been witness to the cruelty of Orc's before, Penneth. You do not know what you should fear."

"…If you cannot have hope for yourself, than at least pretend that you do for others. Do not make this worse for those that look to you as their leader. If the youngers' in your patrol realize that you have lost hope and have lost the will to fight their oppression; then they will lose hope too. If I cannot give you hope with my words alone; then at least allow for those that you say you lead to have less fear than before. You owe that to them as their patrol leader. Do not fail them."

Dinenant drifted into silence and Laitheryn hoped that the leader of the Elf Patrol would heed his advice and have hope, or at least listen enough so that the fears of the younger elves would not be made that much worse. Laitheryn stayed quiet too, waiting for some clue to what the elder was thinking. Suddenly the elf that was supporting him smiled softly and his gaze softened, his dark eyes becoming gentler as the seconds passed.

"Aye. I have been told that I lose hope too quickly. And you have reminded me that it is not for I alone that I must hold hope for. I was remiss in my duties as their leader and needed to be told that. Ai, I have never been told off by an Elfling before!"

"I am not an Elfling…" Laitheryn knew that the silver eyed general was teasing him, but could not resist the common retort.

It brought a second smile from Dinenant and he matched it with one of his own.

"My words were not too harsh then?" Laitheryn asked.

"Nay. You said what I needed to hear, and did so in a way that I would listen and would obey." Dinenant trailed off here and chuckled softly. "You would make a wonderful leader, Laitheryn. For many, even those that do not wish to hear, will heed your voice and your reason. You have a great gift, and any realm that you would lead in, even if it were just a patrol, would be greatly enhanced; even if you ARE just an elfling."

Laitheryn frowned and directed it towards the general that supported him, not pleased at the gentle teasing he was enduring.

"I speak partially in truth though." The elder continued suddenly. "With the possible exception of that Greenwood elf that approached you earlier, I would say you are the youngest of the entire party. He did not even give us his name…"

"His name is Taurnun and he is a few years older than I." Laitheryn answered automatically.

Dinenant studied him intently for a moment. "It is true what they say of you, then. You do hale from Greenwood…"

"They say that of me?" Laitheryn questioned in interest.

To his surprise it was Elladan that answered. "When you were unconscious one of the elves from Greenwood approached you and seemed to study you intently for several minutes. He then returned to his group and there seemed to be a discussion occurring where the one that observed you claimed you were descended from Greenwood."

"Did they speak of my name?"

"The name you were given by my Daernana is not known to them and I have not heard if they would address you with a different one. I am sorry." The Elf lord continued gently.

"Nay. Do not apologize." Laitheryn started before breaking into the thought that had haunted him for several hours. "If they recognize me, why do they not speak of it?"

"I believe it is who they recognize you to be." Dinenant answered his question. "Think of it this way, Laitheryn. An elfling they had thought of as lost, one that has been grieved for a millennia ago, suddenly appears once more, not as an elfling but as a youth instead. If I were in their position I would be confused by this, and would question whether it was merely a coincidence or a cruel joke."

"I cannot prove that I am descended from an elf in Greenwood. I do not even have a name to lay claim too…"

"You will. You have given me hope with your words alone. And have made me remember that allowing fear to rule you, courts ruin. I would give your faith with mine." The silver eyed general broke in calmly. "I have faith in you."

"For all the times we spent in each others company in Imladris, Mellon nin. I have learned one thing about you. That you will not surrender when there is still hope. Have faith that this will end, and you will have your answers. You will have your name and the family you have lost. Have faith in yourself and the Valar." Elladan answered. "Have faith that this evil will end, and you will have what you seek."

And the march continued on.

Daernana – "Grandma."

Dinenant – "Silent Gift."

Taurnun – "Great Forest Born."

Another gap in the story has occurred, where I mentioned that Laitheryn had spent four decades in Imladris. This will be covered eventually, in other stories not in this arch though. As I see it, to get the full story about Laitheryn I had to use many elves. And to escape the confusion of switching constantly between their points of view, when so much had happened around them as individuals as well as in a group, I decided that each of the four elves would have their own story in this arch.

The separate stories I speak of, will be from this series of the years I have not covered or have mentioned and glossed over. For example, it will be stories from Laitheryns' stay in the village of the humans, of his stay in Lorien and Imladris. Also there will be stories of what occurred after he returned to Greenwood.

I will not be only using his point of view for those stories. There will be some where he is mentioned only or plays a minor role, but will not be the main character. I suppose the saying is true. We are our own main characters in the play of our own lives…It's interesting to write a story that holds that to be true.