here we are again...

CHAPTER 18

Hadereth's eyes widened as Andro handed him a knife.

" You want me to kill him?"

Andro raised an eyebrow.

" Did I stutter just now? Do as I say!"

Hadereth looked at the knife. Erestor thought it was a look of disgust that passed along Hadereth's features. He gasped when Hadereth dropped the knife on the ground and stepped away from it. Andro glared at him.

" Pick that up."

Hadereth shook his head.

" I will not."

Baethoriel stepped forward and picked up the knife, walking toward Hadereth.

" You dare betray us?"

Hadereth glared at him.

" Killing elves is unjust!"

Andro rolled his eyes.

" And taking them against their will is not?"

Hadereth lowered his head, not giving a reply. He heard Brethiel's voice cut in.

" Ada, Hadereth is right. We cannot kill them."

Baethoriel's eyes darkened in anger.

" What did you just say?"

Brethiel swallowed hard.

" We came to scare them, which we have. I never wanted death upon them."

Baethoriel charged toward his son, knocking him to the ground.

" Do you love him Brethiel? Would you betray me for him?"

Brethiel did not need to ask who his Ada meant by 'him' for he knew he only meant one elf: Haldir. Brethiel lowered his head.

" I do, but he does not love me. Not after all I have done to him. I would rather make my amends than harm him any further."

Haldir's eyes widened.

" Brethiel?"

Brethiel looked at Haldir and knelt beside him.

" I know you cannot forgive me Haldir."

Hadereth raised his head and smiled at Brethiel. He had always known that even though Brethiel could be a cruel elf like his Ada, Brethiel's heart was not like his Ada's at all. Hadereth watched as Andro advanced on Brethiel as well and decided he could not, would not allow any harm toward the younger elf. Hadereth ran to Brethiel's side, aiding him to stand.

" We want part of this no longer."

Andro and Baethoriel looked at each other for a moment. Andro's confused look turned into a smirk. He pointed at Erestor while looking at Hadereth.

" You will stay as part of this, the both of you, otherwise Erestor will suffer."

Brethiel watched in shock as Hadereth leapt at Andro, knocking him to the ground, then knocking the knife from Baethoriel's hand. Brethiel felt a strong sense of happiness as he saw Hadereth cut Erestor from the tree. Baethoriel tried to grab at Erestor, but Brethiel knocked his Ada to the ground. While both Andro and Baethoriel lied unconcsious on the ground, Brethiel untied the other elves. They fled back toward Lord Celeborn's talan, encountering Anania and Elithraniel along the way. Elrond gave them a short explanation and they went to gather some patrol to lead Andro and Baethoriel out of Lorien.

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Brethiel and Hadereth sat in a guest talan, awaiting the arrival of Lord Celeborn. Brethiel sat on the floor and sobbed.

" Did I make the right choice?"

Hadereth sat beside him and rubbed his friends back gently.

" Yes mellon nin, you did. There is something I must ask you."

Brethiel turned to Hadereth, waiting for his question. Hadereth swallowed hard.

" Is it truly Haldir that you love?"

Brethiel nodded and blinked in confusion when he saw Hadereth lower his gaze.

" Hadereth? What is it?"

Hadereth rested his chin on his knees.

" I wanted it to be me."

TBC...