Title-Time Stands Still

Chapter-The Wedding

Author-Gilraen Aclamense

Beta-Gwen

Disclaimer-I don't own anything that you recognize.

Gilraen blinked her eyes open slowly. "When did I fall asleep?" She asked aloud. She rubbed her eyes in vague irritation. For some reason, she couldn't seem to focus on anything. Gilraen rolled over and was shocked to realize that she had woken up on a packed-dirt floor. She sat up and rubbed her eyes frantically. What had happened? She remembered bathing…what happened after that?

Gilraen was getting frustrated and scared. What on earth was wrong with her eyes? Gilraen stood on shaky legs. She noted that she was wearing a dress. The fabric was rough but not scratchy. It could be wool. The dress traveled just past her knees and Gilraen noticed a second cloth over the front of the dress that tied in the back. She guessed that it was an apron. The sleeves of the dress were cropped just below her shoulders. Gilraen brushed away a stray hair that had fallen in front of her face. That was odd…her hair had never been a problem before. Gilraen reached up to feel her hair and gasped in shock when she felt the locks falling only to her shoulders. What could possibly be going on?

Gilraen grabbed onto the wall and noted the rough surface. It had to be stone. Gilraen walked along the wall with shaky steps. She hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage again and continuing on. Gilraen desperately wished that her vision would clear. All she could see was the variations of the fuzzy darkness that surrounded her.

Gilraen's bare foot was caught by a rock in the floor and she tripped. Gilraen could feel the gash in her foot begin to bleed freely. She also noticed the gash in her arm. Gilraen sat against the stone wall and wrapped her arms around her knees. In the dark silence, Gilraen allowed her frightened tears to lull her into a restless slumber.

Legolas walked briskly to his and Gilraen's room. He was carrying a tray with everything the pair of them would need for a light dinner if Gilraen was up for it. He entered the room and was shocked to find that Gilraen was not in the bed. Legolas set the tray down on the desk and walked to the door to their bathing chamber. He knocked smartly on the door. "Gilraen?" He called gently. "Are you in there love?" He grew concerned when there was no response so he knocked again. "Gilraen…Gilraen, is everything alright." When no response came again, Legolas threw the door open. He stepped cautiously into the bathroom. It was in slight disarray. Legolas looked first to the tub. The water was cold, but more concerning was the small spot of blood on the stonework. His eyes widened, this did not bode well. He went over to the window to call down to the guards but when he looked down he saw the guard laying face-down on the ground.

"No!" Legolas whispered, this couldn't be happening…not again! The crowned-prince of Mirkwood hurdled out of his room and down the maze of corridors.

All in the dining chambers were shocked to see Legolas enter with a wild look in his eyes. "She's gone." He gasped out. "She's gone."

Elrond stood and swiftly walked over to Legolas. He put a firm hand on his shoulder and guided him out of the dining chambers. As soon as Elrond figured they were out of hearing distance he placed both hands on Legolas' shoulders. "Now," He said softly, "I want you to explain to me exactly what you saw."

"No…no…" Legolas shook his head in small, erratic motions. "No…I-I have to go and find her!"

"Legolas." Elrond smacked Legolas' face lightly to get his attention. "Legolas, you must remain calm."

Legolas shook his head to clear it. "I apologize." He muttered. When Elrond nodded he continued. "I took the meal to our rooms…Gilraen wasn't in bed so I set the tray down and knocked on the door to our bathing chambers. After I knocked and called twice I opened the door. Her bathing water was still in the tub but there was a small blood stain on the edge. There were markings that…something…like an elf…was dragged through the chamber. I moved over to the window to ask the guard if they had seen anything….he was lying face down on the ground bellow…that is when I came to you." Legolas sunk down to the floor in grief. "I cannot believe that I let this happen." He moaned. "I vowed to protect her and look what happened!"

"Do not blame yourself for this." Elrond demanded. "It is in no way your fault, you did not wish this to happen." He sighed…the guards he had set had not been enough to protect his family. "A search party will be sent out immediately." He told Legolas. "I must find the guard…if he lives I will question him." Legolas nodded distractedly as he stood. "Do not leave just yet, Prince Legolas." Elrond ordered, using Legolas' royal title. "I need you to wait until the search party is formed."

"Would you truly ask me to stay?" Legolas asked. "Would you ask me to stay when your daughter…my wife has been taken by only the Valar know who?"

Elrond shut his eyes against the tears that threatened him. "Do not think to assume that you love my daughter more than I. You will not understand for many years what the love of a father feels like…until then, Greenleaf, do not be so quick to judge me."

Tears had welled in Eldarion's eyes. This wasn't happening…it just couldn't be. He brushed the tears away angrily. He was not a child and refused to be seen acting like one. Aragorn noticed his son's struggle and rested a comforting hand on his knee. Gwendolyn was speaking softly to Eveleen and Arwen had Námotur in her arms. The child had started crying. Aragorn looked up at his wife's face to see to silvery trails running down her face. He looked away from her and to his twin brothers. They were staring at each other with great determination. Aragorn sighed. This was just awful. They had all just gone through so much to find Gilraen and restore her memories and now she was gone.

He stood and looked at his eldest son. "Come with me." He said. "We are going to speak with your grandfather."

Arwen gazed at her husband. She was against her first being to involved in anything more serious than a hunting trip but nodded slowly. Eldarion was almost a man now and needed to be treated that way.

Aragorn led his son out of the dinning chambers. The pair walked briskly down the hall and stopped when they saw Legolas sitting on the floor speaking to Elrond. When the talking ceased, Aragorn stepped forward, followed by his son. "What can we do to help Adar?" He asked softly.

"Estel," Elrond said thoughtfully. "Why don't the two of you get the search party ready?" He suggested

Aragorn nodded slowly. "So, she's really missing then, she didn't wander off?" He questioned nervously.

"No, ion nin," Elrond answered. "Gilraen was in no condition to wander off on her own."

Aragorn nodded sadly and led his son to the family study. He grabbed a few leaves of parchment and handed one to Eldarion. "You are going to write to King Eomer in Rohan." He said. "You need to ask for his aid. Inform him of our current situation and inquire if there are any extra soldiers he could provide." Aragorn looked at his son sharply. "Do you understand? This is not a personal letter. This is a letter from a prince of one kingdom to a king of another asking for aid. Can you do that?"

"Yes adar." Eldarion said with a firm nod.

"Good." Aragorn said. "After you have completed that letter you need to write one to Faramir. This one needs to have a slight tone of ordering. We need fifty to one hundred of Gondor's able-bodied soldiers that will be under their prince and obey his commands."

Eldarion looked at his father who was smiling softly. "Adar…" He said softly, "Are you sure?"

"I am very sure, ion nin," He said. "I was probably your age when I was on my first search and rescue mission. Eldarion, you have excelled wonderfully at all of the lessons that your tutors have taught you. You are one of the best trackers in all of Minas Tirith and you are brilliant with a sword. You have always made me very proud." Aragorn patted his son on the shoulder. "You had better get started. I'm going to go get in contact with our scouts here."

Eldarion sat down and dipped his quill into the inkwell. After thinking for a few moments he began the letter.

Dear King Eomer son of Eothain, King of Rohan,

Today at dinner-hour it was discovered that Gilraen Elrondian Peredhil, wife of Legolas Thrandulion, Prince of Mirkwood, was missing. I am writing to enquire if there are any extra soldiers that could be sparred to help in the search it would be much appreciated.

I thank you for any help that you could provide,

Prince Eldarion Telcontar, Crowned Prince of Gondor

Eldarion read the letter to Eomer a few more times before feeling satisfied and setting it aside to allow the ink to finish drying. Eldarion shifted the second parchment so that it was directly before him. He tapped his chin before he started writing. This would be far more difficult.

Dear Lord Faramir, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor,

It is my deepest regret to inform you that today, at dinner hour, Lady Gilraen Elrondian Peredhil, wife of Prince Legolas Thrandulion, Crowned prince of Mirkwood, was taken from Imladris. Upon your arrival in Minas Tirith, I ask that you send fifty to one hundred of our best soldiers. They must be highly skilled in search-and-rescue missions and they must be willing to obey and follow the commands of the crowned prince of Gondor, Eldarion Telcontar. King Elessar Telcontar and Queen Arwen Elrondian Peredhil Telcontar will be returning with Princess Eveleen Telcontar, Princess Gwendolyn Telcontar, and Prince Námotur Telcontar before the snow blocks their passage.

I anxiously await the assistance,

Prince Eldarion Telcontar, Crowned Prince of Gondor

Gilraen was slammed into wakefulness by rude shaking. She cried out at her assumed assailant.

"Shut up." A dangerous voice hissed. The sudden voice made Gilraen shudder and frightened her more than she would admit. The voice was smooth as silk but for the rasp that she had strained to hear. It wrapped itself around her and threatened to control her and drive her mad. The voice spoke again. "It is time for us to leave and I refuse to carry you any longer."

"Then leave me here." Gilraen spat, sounding braver than she felt. "I certainly have no intention of going anywhere with someone who has taken me captive and could wish me pain and torment."

A hand stroked Gilraen's cheek and she jerked away harshly. The voice chuckled. "You hit right on." He murmured. "But for the most part, the pain and torment won't come until we reach our destination…unless you fight me of course, then you will be at my mercy."

"Was that supposed to encourage me to go with you?" Gilraen demanded in irritation. "If it was it didn't help you at all."

"You don't want me to leave you here." The voice hummed. "You're nearly blind and totally defenseless. The place we're headed to is the only place that has the antidote for the toxin I gave you."

Tears stung at Gilraen's eyes as she weighed her options. She could go with this person and hope to find her way home or remain here and hope to the Valar that someone would find her…before the wolves did. "I stay here." She said softly.

"I believe that I can persuade you to come." The voice announced.

Gilraen heard the 'shink' of a blade being pulled from its sheath. That was the only warning she got before she felt cool metal against her cheek. She bit back her frightened whimper as he traced a variety of patterns across her face. He hummed a demented lullaby as he worked. Gilraen could feel the thin film of blood coating her face. The knife was pulled away and Gilraen expelled the breath that she had been holding in. Quite suddenly, Gilraen felt a soaked, rough cloth on her face. It didn't take long for the captive to realize that it was water…saturated with salt. Gilraen moaned in agony and arched her back to try to get out of the hold of the mysterious person. "Daro! Daro, Saes!" She cried. "No more, no more! Please stop it!" Gilraen shuddered violently as he rubbed at her face harder. "Stop! I will come with you! Just stop it!"

The cloth was pulled away. "I knew that I would be able to convince you." The voice said. "We will leave in ten minutes. I think that I should get you ready." Gilraen tensed as her hands were bound in front of her and shoved under her apron. The voice did not speak as he put a bandana over her head and ears. "Now I am going to give you a mild sedative." He whispered as if he were a healer. "Open your mouth." Gilraen nervously agreed and followed the command. As soon as the toxin hit Gilraen's tongue, she shuddered and felt her body slacken. "Wait here." The voice ordered. He placed a soft kiss on Gilraen's neck and she was too dazed to react at all.

Gilraen was led out of the cave and into the light. She still could not see. She was lifted up and sat on a horse and the animal immediately began to move. Gilraen had just enough control to lace her fingers through the horse's mane.

Their travel by horseback was slow and the voice insisted that they stop every six hours so that Gilraen could get another dose of the sedative. Gilraen hated the drug that the voice was using. She had no control over herself and she felt helpless.

Five and one half hours had passed since Gilraen's last dose and she was beginning to shake the control of the sedative. "Where a' we goin'?" She slurred.

The voice chuckled warmly. "Are you ready for your next dose, my gem?" He asked, placing a hand on her knee.

Gilraen shied away from the hand and only just held herself from falling off the horse. "Anseh my queshin!" She demanded.

"Oh yes…" The voice hummed as the horses stopped. "You need your dose now." Gilraen was lifted down from the horse and cradled in a pair of thin and yet firm arms. She struggled weakly and the voice tutted. "Don't fight me." It said gently. "You know as well as I do that this doesn't hurt. Now open your mouth." He whispered in Gilraen's ear. When she refused there was an annoyed cluck of the voice's tongue. "You must obey me." It said provocatively. "I would just hate to do something…horrible to you."

Gilraen suddenly felt something wet sucking at her neck. She whimpered and struggled to get away. "Are you ready to take your medicine like a good girl now?" The voice asked breathlessly before returning to her neck. The sucking had become nipping that traveled up her jaw and back down again.

Gilraen arched her back with a withheld moan. "Yes! Please, please just stop it!"

"I thought so." The voice said. "Now open your mouth." Gilraen obeyed as tears ran down her face. "If you would just be a good girl…these things wouldn't happen."

Eldarion was doing his best to stand tall and proud in the courtyard in Imladris. His parents and brother and sisters were leaving today. Eldarion gladly accepted the warm and comforting embrace from his mother. Arwen released her son and stepped back to get a good look at him. "I want you to be very careful, my son." She said softly. Tears welled in her eyes as she brushed a stray hair back behind her son's ear. "I only wish that your father and I could remain here and help find her."

"Adar is needed at home." Eldarion said firmly. "Faramir is a good leader, but our people need their king."

"You are very wise, Eldarion." Arwen whispered. "Far beyond your seventeen years. I am worried." She admitted.

"I know." Eldarion said. "But try not to worry yourself too much; I will bring Aunt Gilraen home in no time." He promised surely.

"Bring yourself home as well, Dari," Arwen ordered softly.

Aragorn checked to insure that his son was occupied with Arwen before walking over to sit beside Legolas. Aragorn laid a calloused hand on his friend's shoulder. "Legolas, mellon nin, I need you to focus on me." The prince of Mirkwood turned his worried, cerulean eyes to his friend. "My son has a marvelous search plan ready." He said gently. "This will not be like last time…Gilraen will be found."

"I know." Legolas said softly. "I have to find her. I only wish that I could leave sooner!" He exclaimed.

"I am sorry my friend." Aragorn said, trying to comfort the elf. "I apologize for leaving you right now as well…"

"Your people need you." Legolas said with a shrug. "Don't worry about it. The first round of scouts found what could be a trail. I'll be catching up with them soon."

"Send me news." Aragorn requested as he patted Legolas' shoulder. He walked over to his son and Eldarion practically jumped into his fathers arms. "I'll be in contact." He murmured into his son's hair.

Eldarion nodded and stepped back. He saluted to his father as any of the captains would do. "Farewell, Ada." He said softly.

"Farewell, Eldarion." Aragorn said. He swung up onto his horse and nodded once more to his son before leading the rest of the family out of the courtyard. Eldarion watched sadly until his family passed from sight.

Gilraen was miserable. If she was correct she had been gone for five days. She had seen neither hide nor hair of a search party. She didn't think that they had any idea of where the two of them were. The drug made her feel all sorts of awful sensations. There was cold, hunger, and creepy-crawly feeling constantly bothering her. When she was under the influence of the drug she had a low sense of self and it was like she was incapable of thought process. The only reason that she was lucid now was because it was night time. The voice never woke up to give her the drug during the night because she was tied up. Gilraen curled up by the wall of the tent. She was in such an awful situation.

Gilraen's well-tuned ears easily caught the soft shuffling noises from the other side of the tent. She shook in fear as she realized that the voice was waking. "Are you awake my Gem?" He hummed. "Why don't you come over here and lay with me?" He suggested softly.

Gilraen shook her head rapidly and scrambled away as she heard the voice coming to her. "Be still." The voice whispered. "I will not hurt you just yet." A pair of hands lowered Gilraen down into a laying-down position. She trembled as she felt a warm body lay down next to her and wrap her up in a pair of arms. Gilraen tried to struggle away as she felt a nose nuzzling her neck. "Stop moving around." The voice hissed. Gilraen whimpered as she felt a set of teeth nibbling at her ear. The movements stopped as the voice pulled its arms from around her and moved away.

When Gilraen noticed that the voice was asleep she crawled out of the tent on her hands and knees. It was the hardest thing that she ever had done. She was blind as she crept out to the tethered horses. She straightened nervously as she felt a pair of hooves. "Saes, mellon nin," She whispered earnestly as she pulled herself onto the horses back with her bound hands. "Be silent, I need to get out of here." The horse nervously sidestepped. Gilraen nudged its sides gently as she could. "Go!" She hissed. "Saes, mellon nin, please go!"

"She won't listen to you, My Gem," Came the voice. It was laced with an underlying threat. "Why don't you just come down from there and I won't have to hurt you."

"No!" Gilraen cried. "Eyesight or no eyesight, I refuse to obey you any longer!" She thrashed as she was lifted down from the horse.

"How easily you forget your earliest lesson." The voice hummed as he bound Gilraen to what she assumed could only be a pair of trees. A calloused hand ran across the partially healed cuts on Gilraen's face. "You must be aware; I will only use the same punishment once. I rather enjoy coming up with new ways to teach those who are…disobedient." Gilraen jerked when a gag was roughly secured in her mouth. "This is how this will work." The voice said. "I will strike you with the whip of my choosing. You will count. If you don't count I will then take the fire poker and brand the number into your skin at either end of the lash."

Gilraen thrashed and tried to get away as the rough dress was ripped off of her shoulders and was allowed to fall to her hips. The air hit Gilraen's bare skin and gooseflesh rose on her chest and back. She felt the first slash and let out a garbled half-scream. "What was that?" The voice asked. "You need to count." Gilraen made no move towards counting. She refused to cower below this mysterious voice. The voice sighed. "Have it your way then." Gilraen's scream was barely muffled by the gag as the number was traced into her back twice. The odd noise was full of agony and sounded animalistic. It felt like her entire back was on fire. "Now you know why you should count." The voice hissed, it nipped at the crook of Gilraen's neck gently before continuing with his line of thought. "That was one."

The whip hit Gilraen's back again, this time it was right below the first one. "'oo!" She called out, the gag prevented her from pronouncing it correctly.

"Good girl." The voice murmured.

Gilraen was stuck again and her back arched. "Ree." She whimpered uselessly. "Wease…s'op…I' sorry 'at I 'ied 'oo es'ape."

A hand ran over Gilraen's bare arms and hugged her close. "That's what I wanted to hear, my Gem." He whispered as Gilraen felt her bonds cut. She was lifted into the voice's arms and offered no resistance. She was tired of this situation and her strength to keep fighting was quickly fading. Gilraen noticed that her dress was not covering her chest and she moaned in protest, trying to cover herself. She was laid back on the ground and the voice held her arms above her head. "You are beautiful." He whispered. Gilraen shuddered violently as she felt a pair of thin lips trail a line of harsh kisses down her collar bone. "Go back to sleep." The voice hissed as Gilraen felt an arm rest over her waist.

Eldarion rode his horse hard. He was two and a half days hard ride out of the valley. He had only stopped to rest his horse once. The stallion was the first offspring of Brego, his father's noble steed. Loki was bay in color and had an undertone of gray. He had been given to Eldarion on his tenth birthday. He was called Loki because he was a troublemaker who had been extremely difficult to train. Eldarion's mother had been against giving him such a misbehaved horse but his father had remained firm. The sun had just risen as Loki jumped a wide creek which was the northern boundary of his area to search.

Eldarion reined Loki in and slowed him to a stop. "What do you think dear friend?" He asked softly in his mother's native tongue. "Will we find her today and bring her home to grandfather, Legolas, and the others?'

Loki raised his front legs off the ground a small bit and the horse called loudly. "Loki daro!" Eldarion snapped. "Oh well done! Now anyone who's out here will know where we are." Loki started to pull against Eldarion, trying to take control of his head. Eldarion gave the horse his head and Loki tried to bolt. Eldarion was shocked but immediately began to turn his horse in tight circles. "What is wrong with you today?" Eldarion muttered as he dismounted.

Loki anxiously yanked Eldarion down another path from the one they were on. "There's something that way isn't there, Lok?" Eldarion said softly as he swung back up onto his horse's back. "Take me there then." Loki trotted off and stopped in the middle of the path. He put his head down and Eldarion dropped his reigns so he wouldn't fall. "Loki!" He groaned. He noticed that his horse was eating from a patch of clover blossoms. That was just like the idiot animal.

Gilraen tried to sit tall on her horse but it was so hard. Her back burnt with a torturing fire. Between the pain and the drug running rampant in her system, Gilraen was pretty sure that she had reached her lowest point. Gilraen whimpered as the horses stopped abruptly. "It would seem as though they have sent a mere child to search for you." The voice said in a near whisper.

Gilraen's drugged self was unsure of the cryptic words until she heard a second voice. "Hello!" A familiar voice called. "Where are you traveling from?"

'Eldarion' registered in her brain. 'Come on 'Dari,' she begged silently, 'If ever I needed you, I need you now.' "No…'ert 'im" Gilraen mumbled softly.

"What is she saying?" Gilraen heard Eldarion ask. 'Recognize me, Dari!' Gilraen begged in her head.

"My wife is very sick." The voice answered steadily. "I am taking her to her mother for medical treatment."

"I'm sorry to have delayed you." Eldarion's voice said softly.

"'Ari!" Gilraen moaned. She had to get to her nephew if there was any hope.

"What did she…"

"Oh no…don't worry, Gem," The voice hissed. "I'll get you help. You'll forgive me…but my wife is deteriorating."

"Of course."

Tears fled down Gilraen's face as she was led away at a much faster pace. After getting a fair distance away the voice spoke. "You have a very…elegant…nephew."

"Leave 'im 'lone." Gilraen muttered, fighting to control her body. She couldn't let this voice go after Eldarion. He was so young and she didn't want him to get hurt.

"I don't know," The voice said. "He would make a very lovely addition to our group."

"No." Gilraen mumbled. She was getting more and more lucid. The voice must have forgotten about the drug. "Do wha'ever you want 'o me, but leave 'arion 'lone."

"I might just take you up on that." The voice chuckled. "For now at least, but if he gets in my way I'll make no promises." There was a pause. "You might make for good conversation when your not drugged…I might keep you this way." Gilraen looked in the direction of the voice in suspicion. "I'll have more rules though." It said. "You can't try to call for your rescue and you can't try to run away. Do you understand?" Gilraen made no response but turned her face forward. A hand grabbed Gilraen's wrist and almost yanked her off the horse. "I asked if you understood." The voice growled sharply, harshly smashing his lips to Gilraen's.

Gilraen yanked away with a look of disgust on her face. "I understand." She muttered in aggravation.

"I would discourage you from speaking to me in that way." The voice said threateningly. "Don't worry yourself this time." It said mildly. "But, next time, I will not be as forgiving."

Gilraen contemplated the voice. She had heard it before…who was it? Why was he suddenly treating her so different?

Legolas stared down at the book in his lap. It was the middle of the night and there was a candle lighting the maps he was reading. He traced the border of the lands he would be searching. The going to get there was slow; he had not brought Mellonaur with him. Legolas wanted more stealth than speed. He wanted to be able to get to Gilraen and her captor, remove her from the situation, and get her home as quickly as possible. Come to think of it, a horse would have been useful for that last part.

Legolas sighed and slammed the small book shut. This was ridiculous. If he wasn't going to sleep he should be heading towards his destination. He stood and stretched a bit. Legolas looked to the mountains heading east and sighed. It seemed so far and it would be so long. He looked down at the wedding band on his finger and tears sprung into his eyes. Gilraen was out in the wilds with some madman and he felt like he was doing nothing. He wondered how far his best friend and his family were. He opened the book again and looked at Eldarion's location. He hoped the kid was alright, Gilraen would be heartbroken if she was found and Eldarion had been hurt or worse. Legolas shook his head and slipped the book into his pack. The kid would be just fine. They would find Gilraen before the end of the month. Legolas had to keep telling himself that. This search mission was simple. They would find Gilraen, go home, and no one would be hurt. With that in mind, Legolas headed towards the mountains.

Aragorn stopped Brego and the rest of his family stopped as well. "We should rest here." He said. They had been resting for long periods and traveling slowly. Arwen knew what her husband was doing. He was scouting small areas in case they were following the route of Gilraen's captor. So he would go out 'hunting' and Arwen would watch all of the children. She was worried about her eldest, though. Eldarion was searching for Gilraen and Arwen knew that he was alone. She wished that she could do something more for her sister.

Arwen sighed as she saw Estel coming back to the campsite. He sat down heavily and pulled out his pipe. She would never say it, but Arwen liked her husband best when he was like this, wearing his old ranger gear. She laid her head on Estel's shoulder. "It will be alright." She said, trying to assure herself as well. "Gilraen has always been a survivor; she's not going to stop now."

"I know that in my head." Aragorn said softly. "But I can't seem to convince my heart to believe it."

"I know." Arwen said. "That's the hardest part."

Aragorn took a few long draws from his pipe. "How did you know what I have been doing?" He asked after a few moments.

"I have known you for long enough to know the signs of what you were doing." Arwen said gently. "You have never traveled as slowly as you have been this trip." Arwen held up an elegant hand to show that she was not done. "I think that you are doing the right thing." She said. "You may find something that the others will miss."

Faramir looked up as he heard the high-pitched cry of a hawk. It was circling slowly. He recognized it immediately. "That is Eldarion's bird." He whispered. Eomer looked over at Faramir before looking up at the bird as well. Faramir secured his arm guard and held his arm above his head. The hawk swooped gracefully down to Faramir and landed. Faramir gently ran his hand down the tawny feathers.

Eomer noticed the red ribbons first. "The letters are urgent," He said softly.

Faramir had not previously noticed the ribbons and he hastened to check the letters. He read the smooth script of Eldarion. That was odd…he knew that Aragorn had been teaching Eldarion but he didn't know that Eldarion had been applying what he was learning. Unless…dear Eru…unless something had happened to Aragorn. Faramir looked back down at the letters; they were addressed to King Eomer of Rohan and Lord Faramir, Steward of Gondor.

He handed his companion his letter and opened his own. He read through the well-written letter. The color faded from his face. "We must quicken our pace." He said to Eomer. He turned his horse to face his guard. "Return to Imladris." He ordered. "When you arrive follow the orders of Eldarion and the elves there. More soldiers and scouts will be sent after you once I arrive in Minas Tirith. Eomer instructed his guard in the same way. The two men locked eyes and kicked their horses into high gear. Eldarion's hawk screeched and lifted off Faramir's arm.

I'm seriously begging for reviews. I am giving like huge updates after all