Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.

Note: Thanks for the reviews. Let's begin.

Adrenaline was flowing through him, blocking out pain, exhaustion and everything else as he looked at Erestor, taking in the way the dark eyes narrowed before Erestor looked away. His beloved was wounded but Glorfindel had no idea how badly injured Erestor was. He sighed and held a finger to his lips before he held out a hand, feeling the smaller fingers curl around it as Erestor squeezed.

Alright we need a plan. It is too dangerous to walk outside with those orcs waiting there, we've no idea how many there are there.

Have you explored the rest of the cave?

No, I have not.

It is dangerous to start exploring it now, the orcs could come in and we could be trapped.

Do you wish to fight our way out of this then?

I currently have no ideas, Erestor.

Me neither, especially with my headache

Surely somebody has realized by now that we've gone missing or that something may have happened.

They would not know where to start to search. These woods are large.

But we are not far from the border.

It is futile to set your hope upon something as trivial as Elrond finding us. We need to fight our own way out of this.

You can barely walk!

Glorfindel had to break off the mental conversation as he wrinkled his nose when it caught the overpowering stench of the orcs. They were getting closer. He could almost see them in the gloom beyond the waterfall but he knew they had to get out of here. They could not be seen like this, trapped, waiting to be butchered by the orcs.

He pulled Erestor up to his feet, keeping an arm around the wounded elf's weight as he muttered through the bond.

It is the only chance we have to go and explore the cave. We may be able to hide out there and distract the orcs

They have a good nose, they could smell us

Do you have a better plan then?

He tightened his grip upon Erestor's hand and he caught the look his lover was sending him, yes, it was time. Slowly breathing in through his nose he tried to calm himself. His heart was pounding his chest and he was more frightened then he had ever been before.

Normally he was never frightened in fight, he had confident in his own abilities and if he died, then so be it. But now he was with Erestor and he knew for a fact that he did not want to die. He had tasted what truly alive meant. He did not want to live without Erestor and he did not wish for Erestor to fall.

A hand curled around his and he looked at his husband. The cool scout of Elrond stared back at him, raising an eyebrow and Glorfindel could feel himself growing calmer. Erestor had once been a warrior just like himself and his elf knew what was at stake.

He gave a nod, reaching for his dagger as they stepped away from the entrance to the cave, footsteps muffled by their natural silence and the water falling down into the river. He could hear the snarls of the orcs but he ignored them in favor of feeling Erestor's body heat close by.

He pulled Erestor along, setting a quick pace. Pain leaked through the bond but Glorfindel tried to ignore it. Yet he couldn't keep the wince off his face because his beloved was in pain. A part of him wanted to go back and kill all of those orcs for harming Erestor but he knew it was dangerous, if the orcs got either one of them, well, Glorfindel knew what they did to elves.

He looked back, his keen eyes could barely make out the cave but he could see the shapes moving in front of the waterfall and he growled low in his throat, hand tightening upon his dagger as he led Erestor around the bend.

"Look, we need an additional plan. Do you have a dagger somewhere upon your person?" He could make out the pale face in the gloomy light but Erestor nodded, his eyes glazed over as he held his head for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"Good, if we do not find another entrance to this cave, we'll set up a trap and kill those orcs. I have no idea how many there are but it is the only way." Erestor nodded again, this time closing his eyes.

"Erestor, stay with me! Just hold on, I will get you back to Elrond, I promise." Glorfindel tilted the handsome face before him so he could look into Erestor's clouded eyes; his elf gave him a small smile.

"I smell elf flesh!" The nearly happy cry made Glorfindel bit back an angry curse and they were off, running down the passage quickly. Glorfindel did not care if he made any sound; the orcs knew they were here. He could hear Erestor's breathing heavily behind him.

Glorfindel?

Glorfindel ignored the whisper, he looked back, expecting to see the orcs behind them but there was only darkness and the blurred shape that was Erestor.

Glorfindel!

Glorfindel ignored the scream that went around his head, wincing slightly before he pushed Erestor forward, turning around to protect the wounded elf's back.

Glorfindel!

What is it?

There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Glorfindel turned his head so quickly that he was sure he could've killed himself if it had just been a fraction quicker. Erestor was right; there was light coming from the a little ways beyond. Feeling his soul sing out, Glorfindel pulled Erestor along towards the fortunate exit.

Xx

Erestor's head ached horribly but he ignored it, pulling himself up from the small hole they had to crawl through. Rocks had fallen over the second entrance to the cave and Erestor was lucky that they had managed to remove a couple so they could crawl through and hopefully escape the orcs.

He turned around to pull some rocks away so Glorfindel could safely come outside. His husband was bigger and broader in the shoulder then he was so it was best that he did not get stuck.

A tingle along the back of his nap had Erestor turning around; he brought up his dagger but barely had the time to duck as the arrow came flying past him. His body protested against the movement but Erestor knew he had only moments to assess the situation.

His eyes scanned the trees and he could see the movement before another arrow whizzed past his head. He stayed down, ducking behind a boulder. He cursed. Glorfindel would be a sitting duck when he managed to crawl out of the hole. Why had the orcs waited with firing? It wasn't like them to be so organized.

Glorfindel, be careful, there are archers in the trees.

How many are there?

From what I can see there are at least three if not more. I haven't had the time to do a proper count yet.

Where are you?

Crouched behind the boulder but if one of the orcs comes round the back, I do not stand a chance.

Then run for the concealment of the woods

It is too long and I do not know how many orcs there are hiding in the woods. It is too dangerous and I will not have you shot in the head simply because I ran away.

Erestor could hear the curse that Glorfindel moaned through their bond. He knew it was just a matter of time before his elf crawled out and Glorfindel needed to focus his efforts now else he would fall prey to the orcs in the cave.

"Come out, pretty!"

Erestor bit his lip, biting back his rage. It would do him no good to lose his head; his safest option was to wait for Glorfindel. He could hear a grunt beside him and Glorfindel dropped into a crouch, the general's eyes were already scanning the trees.

"How many did you count?" He asked, slightly breathlessly.

"I counted two at the very least and one called out to me." Glorfindel's head swirled in his direction so quickly that Erestor wondered if he had to massage Glorfindel's neck whenever they got safely back home.

"Orcs usually do not call out." His confused husband stated with narrowed eyes.

"I know, Glorfindel! But this one did…"

"You know what this means."

"Yes, it means that this was a trap. They've been waiting for us." Erestor's face was grim and it was easier to distract himself from the pain. This meant one thing, the orcs had laid in an ambush, waiting for elves from Rivendell and Erestor and Glorfindel would lucky if they could escape with their lives.

"Do we even stand a chance?"

"If we can distract the orcs then we may stand one but it is a long shot. There are only two of us and who knows how many orcs unless there is help underway from Rivendell."

"We cannot count on the help; it is too dangerous for us to foolish hope for help that may not come at all. We need to move to the woods so that we can try to run and leave the orcs behind." Erestor glanced down at his wounded leg. He knew that he could not run quickly or long with it.

"We do not even know how many orcs there are hiding in those woods. There could be several more then we know about." Erestor shifted his weight to his other leg and Glorfindel wrapped an arm around his waist. Erestor didn't realize how much his leg was hurting him as he leaned some of his weight against his husband.

"I say that it is worth the effort."

"Yes, especially when I fall flat on my face and give you the opportunity to run ahead while the orcs torture and devour me." Glorfindel shook his head and for a moment Erestor could feel the anguish seep through the bond before he pressed a light quick kiss to his beloved's tense lips.

"That is not going to happen! I'll come back for you."

"I know you will but that is not the point. I cannot move quickly with my injuries."

"We will move together, we will escape. We will run as quickly as the elves of old when they fled Morgoth's demons." Glorfindel's voice held a deadly edge and Erestor realized how old his lover really was. Glorfindel had seen ages that were now only a tale or a horrid memory in Elrond's mind.

"Yes, if you lead how can I not follow?" Erestor was awed and the light in the blue eyes shone brighter as Glorfindel smiled. It seemed almost like the very forces of nature would answer the elf's call but Glorfindel blinked and focused back upon the stretch of land between the woods and their hiding place.

"We still need to move, my love and I suggest that we move now!" There was a sudden flash of lighting and it lit up the whole area, blinding them momentarily. Erestor had not even heard the thunder approach as the heavens opened and the rain poured down, soaking them to the skin as he was pulled to his feet and they ran to the dark woods.

He could hear the cries of the orcs as they saw them flee across the grounds but he ignored them in favor of following Glorfindel and trying to stay on his shaking legs. Arrows were flying overhead and he more than once was forced to duck out of the way so he would not get hit.

Finally Glorfindel stopped, breathing heavily as he placed a finger against his lips, listening into the night for sounds of the orcs. The night was still and Erestor doubled over, his leg shaking so bad that he could no longer put any pressure on as it buckled underneath him, causing him to fall to the ground.

Immediately strong hands helped him up and Erestor leaned heavily against Glorfindel. The sounds around the woods seemed muffled to him and his heartbeat thudded in his ears. There were familiar cries in the distant and he could feel Glorfindel's anxiety through the bond but there was nothing he could do about it as he collapsed and the world went dark.

That is it for now. Another cliffy, I couldn't help myself, review of course.