Just want to say thanks for reading so far and big hugs to those of you who have added this story to your favourites. It means a lot to a first time author! Hopefully I will get better as I go on. Thanks also for the reviews so far. I am in the process of editing as suggested to allow easier reading.

ilovevolleyball - thank you, you are so sweet, keep the reviews coming it feeds the muse!

Heres the next one. Please let me know what you think.

Chapter 10

The trill of a blackbird perched high over head brings the trio at the edge of the clearing back to reality and breaks the air of despondency that has settled over them like a thick woollen blanket in the summer heat.

" He has been taken" Estel feels the need to articulate the obvious truth as if this will help them in some way reassure themselves that their friend is alive yet, just not present.

" But by whom?" Elrohir questions.

"And why?" Elladans face mirrors that of his twin, puzzlement and outrage blaze from two pairs of deep brown eyes, identical frowns crease across matching foreheads.

" Better yet, where have they taken him to?" Estel gazes intently from one brother to the other. " There must be some sign here for us to find, some track we can follow," his voice betrays his innermost emotions, the sense of urgency rising with his next words " there has to be."

He begins to scan the area around where they stand with increasing agitation his whole body shaking with pent up feelings of anger and fear, anger directed both within and without, fear overriding it in waves, threatening to pull him under and drown him in a maelstrom of tempestuous feelings.

" Estel! Estel!" he finally stands still and turns towards his brothers unaware of which one has called his name. " We must take care not to spoil any traces," Elrohir has taken a step towards the young man, concern written all over his features, "we cannot…"

" Damn care, and damn restraint!, we need to act, I need to act, not stand here being careful." This last word he spits out through clenched teeth then falls to his knees as a sob is wrenched from his body. " This….is….all….my….fault…" his words come in short gasps as tears stream from his storm filled eyes to run unheeded down high cheekbones and drip from his, usually stubborn chin to soak into the fabric of the cloak wrapped around his juddering shoulders.

" Oh, Estel, pen neth" Elladan is the first to reach him " this is not your fault, how could it possibly be your fault?" gently massaging the young mans shoulder with his long, elegant fingers he looks up at his twin with pain in his eyes.

" There is no blame here apart from to whoever has caused hurt to Legolas, you could have done no more to help him than you already have," with these soft words the youngest twin begins to massage the other shoulder, unconsciously copying his brothers movement exactly. " We will find him, I promise, we will find him and when we find the perpetrator of these foul deeds we will show them no mercy."

A fire glows deep in the usually gentle brown eyes as this statement is uttered, a brief blaze of deep hatred flares up, then is quenched as his human brother swiftly meets his eyes, he dare not let hatred consume his thoughts again. It is too easy a path to follow as he knows all too well.

The twins have walked this path before, for years after the capture of their mother hatred was all they lived for. Hatred and revenge and although conquered and many years in the past, it is still too near to the surface, waiting to be called and set free once more. He takes a deep breath and smiles down into the grey eyes of his adopted brother, willing away his dark thoughts with a conscious effort to soothe the ache he knows dwells in the constant heart that beats so steadfastly in the humans chest. The smile that Estel returns is designed to acknowledge and calm his brothers need.

" We will" simply uttered, a shared response between the three.

" Forgive me, I just cannot bear to think of what may befall him in the hands of one who so obviously wanted him dead, why the change of heart? This is what concerns me most." The young man looks troubled as he ponders the fact before them.

If someone wanted the archer dead they should have found his body with the broken bow. He can not fathom why this is not so, why there has been a change of mind, indeed if there has been a change of mind and what this may mean to the welfare of the fair prince of Mirkwood. Sharing a sorrowful look with his brothers the young man stands and squares his shoulders as if willing his bodys strength to overule his heart and emotional turmoil. His face becomes a blank mask, no feeling or sentiment shows on his handsome features, his grey eyes become liquid pools that reflect only what they see on the surface and not what is written beneath their turbulent depths.

" Come," a single word, softly spoken yet bearing a sense of authority greater than his years. " Let us continue the search, there is much yet we need to learn and time is slipping away from us as we tarry."

True to his word he quickly resumes the search, swiftly yet efficiently sweeping the immediate area with his eyes.

"An elf lay here" Estel squats and gently runs one hand over the slight depression shown by the bruised grass, " was dragged" his eyes lift to spy out the oh so slight traces his brothers have taught him to interpret, then moving, ever so carefully on, covers the ground thoroughly as the twins follow his lead.

.

Wrong, something feels wrong but I am unsure as to what exactly it is that makes me so sure of this.

I float, here in the darkness, pondering the change, attempting to decipher the difference in this, the place of refuge I have come to accept as my panacea against the hurts of the world. I cast my mind about, seeking familiarity and then it comes to me. The variance. Where usually there is silence now exists sound.

Faint though it may be, it none the less lingers at the edge of perception as if waiting to be noticed and brought to life. I do not like this. This break in the accustomed. It grates on my nerves and begins to bore into my awareness relentlessly, growing in intensity, drumming itself into my being. I can no longer ignore its relentless persuit as much as I wish it possible to do so. Then. Just as I begin to feel overwhelmed by the invading sound another new and strange sensation assaults my consciousness.

Suddenly this new phenomenon overwhelms everything else and it takes a moment for my fumbling mind to connect it with a name.

Pain. Yes, that is it. It is called pain, a sensation I recall only too well now I come to think of it. Pain. I have never felt pain here before.

I endeavor to conjure up the peace and serenity I have previously found here but grow increasingly more frustrated as it refuses to materialise. I try to call out, to beg this new sensation, this pain, to end, all I want is to be left in peace, here in my sweet, dark cocoon but my throat constricts. I can utter no sound, nor move an inch as both noise and pain continue to swell inside me, overwhelming all else, driving me to the very edge of reason until I can take no more.

I finally accept the inevitable, embrace the double assault on my senses, gain control of my reluctant body and, rushing upwards from the comforting black depths race towards the source of my torment. A new sensation rises within me. Anger. I feed it, encourage it to grow whilst I speed along unseen currents, then mind and body abruptly reconnect, daylight assaults my retinas as my eyes spring open to finally reveal the author of my distress.