'Thoughts and flashbacks'

"Language"

" 'Enemy' "

~Rivendell~

"No." "But Alice, if your father is the one asking you to return, then surely you can?" "No, Elrohir, I cannot. She had informed the other advisors and told them lies in order to get me exiled." Alice sighed. "If 'Dan and I accompany you and Lance to Autumn Wood, would you go?" Elrohir asked quickly as Alice stopped walking and turned to face him. The two younger twins were on their way to Elrond's study to discuss her return when they were suddenly hit on the back of the head-hard. Elrohir and Alice collapsed from the sudden and unexpected attack, their sight blacking out immediately as a rag was held over their noses as well, as if to ensure their attacker they stayed unconscious. In Elrond's study, Lance, Elladan, and Arwen cried out suddenly in pain, clutching their heads, Elrond, also feeling his head start to hurt, looked out the window with foreboding. Two horses were leaving Rivendell with four elves, two on each.

Looking closely Elrond could see an unconscious Elrohir and Alice on the horses with Arbellason and another elf he did not know "Rhaich! Glorfindel! Erestor! Ready the horses and alert the guards immediately!" Elrond yelled as he ran to the healing ward to gather herbs and other supplies. Elladan, Arwen, and Lance explained to the two older elves what had happened and they all but ran towards the training grounds, stables, and armory, calling the guards as they went and prepared to leave. Arwen stayed in Rivendell with Elrond to watch over the elven city and send reinforcements if needed. Elladan, Lance, Erestor, and Glorfindel rode as fast as they could after the four elves leaving Rivendell with Hérion and some of the guards. They were now three days from Rivendell before the group of elves finally caught up with the kidnappers, sighing in slight relief as Alice and Elrohir were now awake and struggling against their captors.

Arbellason had left them in the center of the camp and tied their hands and feet, making it impossible for them to escape. A group of men appeared from the side with a horse drawn cart that appeared to have weapons in it. The cart had a very large lock as well. One of the men dismounted and walked over to Arbellason and his cloaked friend, quietly observing the two bound elves. Recognition flashed in the man's eyes and he instead strode over to Alice, who looked emotionless when he walked up to her until recognition also flashed in her eyes ad well before she quickly hid it. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the elven ranger Dawn of Silver Autumn. It's nice to see you again." The man greeted "The feeling is mutual, Sheriff Trent. It's been, what, five years since we've last spoken? Are you still angry about-" "What do you think Dawn?" Trent hissed angrily. "Of course I'm still angry. In fact, my master would like to speak to you." He added with a fake smile, turning his attention Elrohir who stared back at him defiantly.

"I see you have brought a friend. Excellent! Perhaps you will cooperate better if he comes along. Oh, I have also brought someone who you would undoubtedly protect at this point." Trent continued as he waved his hand towards one of his men who opened the cart and dragged something-someone-out none to gently to the group. With a grunt of pain a boy was dropped roughly in front of Alice and Elrohir. Alice's eyes widened at the sight of the unconscious boy, already knowing who he was and looked angrily at Trent who was smiling evilly at her in return. "I'm sure you know him but let me reintroduce you. Dawn, meet Sam, son of John. Sam, meet Dawn of Silver Autumn. I'm sure you have an idea as to why he's here." Trent stated. "You are using him as leverage against Dawn." Elrohir stated, anger slowly showing in his eyes. Trent smiled again and turned his attention to the younger Elrondion.

"It's nice to meet you, Prince Elladan of Rivendell. I am Sheriff Trent." 'Prince Elladan?' Alice and Elrohir thought confusedly, not letting if show before they shared a discreet glance and figured out what was happening. 'They think Elrohir is Elladan.' The elves thought in shock, though not entirely surprised at how Elladan and Elrohir could be mistaken for each other. Though this new information secretly caused Alice more distress and panic, her panic still showed enough to make the elves worry as well and the man smile triumphantly. "Now then, would you be so kind as to step into the cart with your friends. Lord Arbellason, escort the elves hiding in the bushes to the cart as well." Trent stated as the cloaked being was suddenly behind Elladan, Lance, Glorfindel, and Erestor with their knives drawn, both blades held against the older twins' throats and forcing them to comply.

Trent ignored the elves and dragged Sam's unconscious form back to the cart, smiling at Alice as she began to look angry and panicked. Trent held his sword up to Sam's throat and waited for the elves to get into the cart before throwing Sam in, then locked the door and quickly rode towards his destination, Arbellason and the cloaked being ridig behind him. Elladan and Lance quickly untied their younger siblings and untied Sam, checking his vitals and looking for any serious injuries. "Alice, saes, calm down. Sam will be fine." Lance assured his sister who was now openly panicking. "What exactly did you do to make the Sheriff of a town of men angry?" Hérion asked worriedly and concerndly. "I might have revealed him to be a fraud to the townspeople. Other than that I'm not sure."

"Is that all?" Glorfindel pressed the issue. "I turned him down five years ago alright." Alice confessed quickly with a heavy sigh as she rubbed soothing circles on Sam's temples as he slept. Elladan, Elrohir, Lance, Heríon, Glorfindel, and Erestor gave Alice disbelieving looks of shock, their mouths hanging open as Erestor then voiced his thoughts "You now have an elf and a man obsessed with you. Competing for your affection where one will eventually stop and the other continues." "What about Legolas?" Elladan and Elrohir asked as Alice visibly paled at the thought. "Ai, Valar. Can you let me think of a plan first?" She asked, Alice and Lance's way of saying they had no idea what to do at the moment.

~Fellowship~

Gandalf paced the entire length of the room with his hands clasped behind his back. Merry and Pippin were sitting on one of the beds by the window, Boromir and Gimli sat at a table on one side of the room smoking their pipes, and Aragorn and Legolas stood against the wall lost in thought. "We need to negotiate with whoever is in charge to help Frodo and Sam." Gandalf started "I can't believe I'm saying this, but if Dawn were still in this town she could have helped us." Boromir added. Legolas and Aragorn shared an amused glance before they heard the townspeople outside begin to yell. Moving to the window they could understand why. The Sheriff, Trent, had returned with a cloaked stranger and dark haired elf they recognized as Arbellason and was unlocking the cart, letting seven elves and a boy to step out before leading one of the elves, who had red and blonde hair towards where they expected the towns mayor to be. The Fellowship stared in shock as the boy lead the remaining five elves to the inn, Legolas and Aragorn chasing after Merry and Pippin as the two hobbits ran out the door.