N/A: Hello everyone! I'm really sorry for the delay but i've been busy studying, i have this big test coming that will decide if i go to college or not. So, here you go, another chapter, please if there's any mistakes, just tell me ok?.

And also, a BIG thank you for those who reviewed and ffollowed and favorited this story,you made my day

Now, on with the story:

-;;::;::;::;;::;#-

"Blood was everywhere, in the woods, pooled on the crushed grass, oozing from the dead bodies. Oh, and how many corpses were there! Enemies and friends, orcs and elves, all rotting around. He felt a wave of nausea at the disgusting scene, these warriors deserved better than that, a burial at least. But they didn't have the time, someone else would have to do it. They needed to find their mother. Celebrían had been gone for almost four days now and he could only imagine her pain, left alone with those monsters. It made his blood boil with anger. They had left as soon as the surviving guards dragged themselves inside Imladris and mumbled whatever nonsense to get their point across. The clearance now behind them had probably been a bloody battlefield, where their mother's party must have been ambushed.

"Elrohír! Look!" Elladan pointed at a cave several foots ahead, with orcs guarding the entrance. "They must have taken her there."

"Aye. There is blood in the ground." He honestly wished he hadn't noticed it, and for the horrorized look on his brother's eyes, neither did he. It wasn't the trail of dripping blood, it was the sickening dark red trail of someone being dragged away to the cave. They shared a look.

"Dan? What if... what if we are too la-"

"Don't say it. Don't you bloody dare to say it, Ro."

(His brother was right. Saying would make it too real.)

Neither of them breathed as much as a word while fighting the orcs with a blind fury, only the clashing of steel against steel and steel against flesh to be heard.

"Ammë?"

Elladan's voice had been no louder than a whisper, but loud enough to distract Elrohír, almost getting him wounded, had he not beheaded the orc first.

"Elladan? "

He approached his older brother, coming to stand at his side.

And almost threw up at the sight that greeted him.

His once beautiful mother laid now in rags, covered in blood and dirt, unconscious, hurt in too many places. All light seemed to have left her body, leaving her looking like a discarded ragged doll.

"No..." Elrohir breathed out, choking back a sob, tear staining his dirty cheeks. "No, Dan do something!"

"Elrohir"

"You're a healer, you-"

"Elrohir"

"-can save her, you-"

"Stop it!" Elladan shook him, turning his head away from Celebrian and facing him. "There's nothing I can do. Stop it... please..."

"No, no, it is not too late!" He screamed. "She's still alive! Look! She's not gone, Dan!"

"I know, never said it was. But she's too far gone for my skills. We have to take her to father." He looked from the corner of his eyes to his mother and felt a chill in his spine, she looked too much like a corpse. "He is the only one who can save her now."

Elrohir barely nodded, panic filling his chest, the worst scenarios playing in his mind. He felt his heart hammering madly inside his ribcage, his breath becoming erratic and his vison starting to blur. He weakly tried to reason that it was just a nightmare, he only had to open his eyes, just open his eyes and everything would be okay, just open his ey..."

.

.

.

Elrohir bolted upright , wide grey eyes clouded with panic and fingers white from clutching the bedsheets. His frantic gasps for air slowly turned into deep breaths as the nightmare started to fade away and reality crept in. The younger twin looked around wildly, half expecting an enemy to sudden reveal itself from its hiding place, taking in every detail to make sure that yes, he was in his room in Rivendell and yes, he was safe.

And maybe it was the emptiness of it or the fact that both his father and brother were (gone as well ) away, but the Hidden Valley just didn't bring him the same sense of relief and safety and home. All he felt was the silence.

Falling back into bed with a defeated sigh, he closed his eyes tiredly, willing his body to drift off again. He hoped that once daylight filled the room it would wash off the unsettling ( memories ) feelings and everything would go back to normal again.

But of course it was a foolish hope.

After almost an hour of tossing and rolling around, Elrohir had had enough. If he wasn't getting any more sleep that night ( morning? ), he might as well start his day. Jumping out of bed and dressing himself in record time, he shut the door behind him, lingering in the hallway for just a moment, unsure of where to go. Usually, he would join Glorfindel in the courtyard to report their last patrol and then train until lunch. But it wasn't morning and neither would Glorfindel be waiting for him.

So, instead of turning left on the corridor, he took the right and headed to Elrond's study. It was time he took care of his responsabilities.

.

.

.

.

"Daro!"

Elrond's voice rang and ricocheted through the woods, powerful and commanding and for a moment Elladan believed even Arda itself would stop moving. The lord of Imladris stood proud and serious in his horse, a frown had fallen in his features and seemed unwilling to go away. It was a side of him that Elladan hardly knew, today spoke not the lord nor the father nor the elf, today it was the warrior, the Herald of Gil-Galad that led the small party along the borderlines of the Hidden Valley. It was like an ancient picture of times long lost, something out of the ballads Lindir sang in the Hall of Fire, re-telling the ever-so-sad tales of heroes of the old days, where Arda had a different shape and the greats elven kingdoms were yet to fall, tales that the young elf ( not an elfling, not anymore, thank you very much ) had always dreamed of and now found extremely alike the situation they were in.

It was hardly his fault, really, who wouldn't feel that sense of adventure and heroism with two legends at their sides? Glorfindel just plainly glowed, all golden and shiny in his armor, and Elrond had the noble and heroic aura of the ancient warriors. Really, it wasn't his fault.

Elladan couldn't be blamed for feeling glad for his father's sudden order and defensive stance. Couldn't be blamed for wishing for more... emotion. He wanted to have something exciting to tell his brother ( and perhaps the pretty maids also, who knows? He does. ) when he finally gets back. So he can't help but feel restless and fidget impatiently while Elrond and Glorfindel discuss something with quiet whispers and discret glances.

"We're going back. Everyone, start moving, if we start our way back now, we should make it until tomorrow morning." Elrond gravely announced. "There's nothing else to investigate. Let's go."

"What?" Elladan stared dumbfounded at his father, anger starting to boil inside him. "But father, something is off around here." And you know it.

To be fair, the elf knew he was pushing a bit too far.

"I am your father and lord and you will listen to me, child! Do as you are told! " The barely contained rage behind his father's eyes and the harsh words stung more than Elladan was willing to admit. Sure, he had been pestering the older elf for a long time now and should have seen that coming, but was it really necessary to snap like that? It wasn't anything like his father to have such outbursts of fury. " Are we clear?"

"..."

"Are we clear?"

"Aye, atar."

Glorfindel was the first to snap out of the shocked daze, throwing him an apologetic glance before turning and following his lord, quickly mimicked by his companions.

Elladan just stared at his father's retreating back.

Something was going on, something big.

Something dangerous enough to scare the lord of Imladris and the Balrog-Slayer.

And he was going to find out exactly what it was.

.

.

.

.

Elrohir wanted to scream in frustration. Or break something, he wasn't picky about it.

He honestly couldn't care less if elf-A had a chicken that had disappeared and elf-B suddenly materialized one in his godamned garden out of thin air. He could not, for the life of himself, understand how it was important. It was a freaking chicken. People lose track of their chicken everytime everyday, just as much as people bought chickens everytime every-freaking-day. That's what markets are for.

And he also would be very pleased if the papers he was currently trying to decode just spontaneously combusted. He even glared at the offending sheets of papers for half an hour, willing it to catch fire.

Yes, he was that desperare.

(He settled for turning the papers into a crumpled mess and hiding it in the flower pot by the window.)

Elrohir sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. Stupid rulership with stupid papers. He wasn't cut out for this. He should be in the courtyard. Sparring. Fighting. Training. Not locked inside an office signing and reading letters and stuff. He shouldn't be doing his father's work.

Because he was doing a terrible job at it.

Surely, as soon as Elrond was back, his lovely advisors would be gossiping about how much of a mess Elrohir had made and how Elrohir should not spend his freetime messing and playing in the yard and grow up.

Lovely.

And the worst part was that he knew it was going to happen, but was hopeless to change anything. It wouldn't matter if he was trying his best or if Erestor would stand up for him. His father would still shake his head and give him that horribly sad disappointed look before walking away.

Just freaking lovely.

So, instead of trying to figure out whether some edain would trade with the Valley or not, Elrohir just stood up and left.

It was a lovely day outside.

.

.

.

.

.

Raunín had been bored.

She had been terribly bored. Beyond boredom. She had slept the whole night, no nightmares, thankfully, and spent half of her afternoon with Olochen in the archery field. The captain, much to her dismay, was a far better archer than her, and would not waste the opportunity of rubbing it in her face.

She was sure she would never hear the end of it.

So, when the wheather became way too hot and they retreated to the main house for shelter, she took her chance and dove into the first room to escape her friend's antics.

And that room happened to be the library. A deserted library.

Therefore, she was bored.

Sure, she could pick some random book and entertain herself, but most of the lower shelves held books she had already read or sounded boring.

And she was already bored.

Bored meant dangerous. Bored meant her brain would come up with ideas that her normal and reasonable self would never agree with.

And that's why Raunin found herself currently in the middle-shelf, barely holding on and trying to reach a book in the top-shelf, all the while doing her best not to look down.

And failing miserably.

So, when she heard a surprised "What on earth?" she could not help but shriek and fall back to the ground with a graceless "thud". And she also had no way of preventing half of the books from falling with her.

"For the love of Eru, what were you doing?" The owner of the voice that startled her was a dark-haired elf that seemed inclined in leaving her on the ground.

"Trying to reach that book?"

Just for the record, the book that started this whole mess was still on the shelf looking very innocent and very pleased with itself. Or so she thought.

"Did you even think of using the ladder?"

"Oh."

"Yes, oh."

The only good excuse she could think of was that she was bored.

The elf shook his head in disbelief, but a smile tugged at his lips. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine." She felt slightly awkward sitting on the floor under his knowing gaze. "I'm Raunín, by the way. I'm with Captain Olochen's party."

"My name is Erestor, Elrond's chief advisor. Now come, let's find this book of yours."

The elf then proceeded to bring a tall wooden ladder, using it to safely reach the book.

"Thank you." She felt her cheeks reddening with shame. "And I'm really, terribly sorry for the mess."

"What a mess, indeed." The older elf looked around at the books sprawled on the floor. "Here, help me put them in alphabetical order."

Raunín complied without a word, it was the least she could do.

"May I ask you a question, Master Erestor?"

"Yes, you may, child."

"Where is everyone? What is going on?"

"I thought you said one question." He raised his eyebrows at her, amused at her curiosity.

"Sorry." She muttered feeling very childish indeed.

"Lord Elrond left yesterday morning with Lord Glorfindel and Lord Elladan. They were investigating some perturbations at the borders." He answered nonetheless. "Nothing to worry about."

"Lord Glorfindel? You mean, that Glorfindel?" She was sure she was gaping. Very princess-like. "The Glorfindel?"

"Yes, child." He laughed at her wonder. "The Glorfindel from Gondolin."

She blinked, wide eyes filled with excitement.

"I wouldn't mention it to him, though." Erestor added as an afterthought. "That pompous elf can be ridiculously dramatic."

Raunín was about to say something when the library door was burst open, reveling a bewildered elf.

"For Eru's sake, Lindir!" The advisor was on his feet in a second. "What happened?"

"It is Lord Elrohir, he just left!"

"What do you mean?" The older elf raised one eyebrow.

"He took his horse and stormed off." Lindir shifted awkwardly. Raunin was mildly pleased to know that she wasn't the only one to be bothered by Erestor's gaze. "He didn't say where he was going or when he would come back. He seemed distressed."

"Let him be, Lindir." Erestor pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Let him be. He shall come back at his time."

"Lord Elrond will kill me if something happens."

"Calm yourself, elf. Elrohir can fend for himself." Lindir took deep breathes and nodded. "He shall come back safe and sound."

"I hope so, Erestor." And with that he took his leaving.

It took several heartbeats until Raunin spoke up again.

"Do you think something happen with Lord Elrond?" She handed him the last book.

"No. If that was the case, the guards would have been warned." Erestor finished organizing the shelf before looking the fading twilight sky through the large window. "No. Whatever troubles Elrohir is something else entirely."

"I wish I could help."

"And so do I. But I'm afraid there is nothing we can do for now. Come on, I believe supper is almost ready, child."

Raunin let him change subjects and led her away. The advisor clearly wouldn't be giving her any more information.

"Come on, Elrohir will come around eventually. He can't hide forever."

.

.

.

The door was closed but the candles burned all night long.

.

.

.

"Tomorrow is another day and you won't have to hide away.

You'll be a man, boy.

But for now is time to run.

Run, boy, run. This world is not made for you.

Run, boy, run. They are dying to stop you."