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ILVB - speechless! Wow, don't know if that is a good or bad thing. I'm hoping its good!

Sorry for the wait but here's the next chapter. Sorry it's a little short. Hope you enjoy but hey. Please let me know either way, you know it feeds the muse!

Chapter 37

Estel gasps and flies upright, right hand automatically bringing up his sword in a defensive swing as pain laces through his body. Eyes stare at him from across the campfire in shocked surprise.

"What the?!" the exclamation comes from Flinn who's turn it is on watch and who, truth be told, has been dozing gently until the rangers sudden explosive return to wakefulness.

"Sorry" Estel lowers the sword and grimaces, "Bad dream" he hopes the man will accept the explanation without further questions and is relieved when he sees, from the glow of the firelight, the slight smile and nod returned at his words as Flinn takes up the watch once more.

Lying himself back down again the young man gently probes his mind, examining the feeling that has called him out of sleep so abruptly. The initial raw agony he had felt has given was to an urgent throb that pulses like a heartbeat behind his eyes insistently and he knows he will find no further rest tonight.
Eventually, pushing away his blanket he rises from his bedroll and walks over to Flinn on silent feet.

"You may as well take some rest now I am awake" the man flinches as Estel speaks, he has obviously been dozing again and missed his approach, then nods briefly in thanks, lays down upon his bedroll and is immediately asleep and snoring gently. Wishing he could find peace so easily the young man begins to pace, his body is thrumming with nervous energy and he has to fight an urge to run away that threatens to overwhelm him. Something is wrong, a shadow and a threat keep growing in his mind but all he can do is stay alert and hope that he is able to meet whatever challenge is coming his way.

.

Identical shadows run between the trees threading their way silently like tendrils of fog on a crisp autumn morning. Shortly after finding the patch of congealing blood their elven hearing picked up the sound of heavy feet marching ahead of them and since then they have increased the pace and drawn nearer and nearer to their quarries. A flick of the fingers from one to the other and they separate, each taking a flank in order to spy out the numbers they face, certain the noise produced by the foul horde will cover even the slightest rustle they may make in the process.

Elladan heads away to the right, his twin to the left and they each take to the trees, passing swiftly from one to the other until they are travelling along with the band between and beneath them, as they have done many times before with the elves of Mirkwood, when joining the prince on his patrols through the forest. Using his vantage point the older twin takes a head count then indraws a hissing breath as he spies a cascade of dirty fair hair falling from what he had taken to be a bundle of rags slung over a particularly large orcs shoulder but now realises is a slender body tightly wrapped in a torn and filthy blanket. Fighting the bloodlust beginning to well up within he resists the urge to leap down into the midst of the creatures and allows them to pass on then makes his way back to ground level once more to join up with his brother.

"I count only fifty" Elrohir whispers as he drops down from a tree silently behind his twin, secretly hoping to startle the other but knowing he never can.

"As do I" Elladan smiles complacently as he turns to face his brother before his feet hit the ground "and one captive" His smile fades to be replaced by a worried frown.

"A Captive? Alive ?" the youngest asks hopefully "I only saw orcs, I could not see any other amidst the throng." he shakes his head as if in apology.

"I only noticed at the last moment" Elladan says softly "Carried by the largest orc, over his shoulder, bound tightly within a tattered blanket. If it were not for a glint of gold hair in the moonlight I too would have missed it." he pauses briefly to consider the sight, "alive, I think, else they would have abandoned the body before now." They both nod in agreement over this statement.

"So," a feral smile creeps over Elrohirs face, "how do we effect the rescue, gwador nin, my brother?" His heart is already racing at the thought of the battle to come and he knows his brother feels just the same as they swiftly lay their plans, then set off once more in pursuit.

.

The night darkens and still Estel paces. His feet restlessly moving with no clear guidance from a mind in turmoil. Every few steps he pauses, as if coming to a decision then shakes his head and starts moving again. The only sounds he hears are the snores emanating from his two sleeping companions and these barely register as he has consigned them to the back of his mind. His heart feels leaden and his body shivers with an unnatural cold, a weakness is spreading through his body and if he did not know better he would swear the life force was bleeding out of him from some untended wound. He shakes slightly and bends to pick up his blanket to wrap around his shoulders in an attempt to stave off the cold.

A faint nose catches his attention and he stops still, leaning forward slightly, listening intently for any repeat of the sound. Yes. A faint thumping, rustling sound in the distance. Wishing, not for the first time, for the elven hearing of his brothers, he strains to make sense of the sounds as they gradually get louder until finally his tired brain connects with his ears.

"Orcs!" he shouts, running over to wake the two sleeping men. "Orcs are coming!" he grabs up his waterskin then rushes towards the fire to douse it. Draeg wakens to the young mans shouts and leaps from his bed roll with a speed not previously shown, just in time to catch Estels hand before he pours water over the leaping flames.

"Leave it" he snarls gruffly "we need that."

Estel looks at him in confusion, "but" he pulls his hand from the older mans grip "the orcs."

"I said leave it!" The two men lock eyes and for a second neither will back down as Draeg explains "they will be the ones we's expectin'."

The young mans eyes widen in disbelief at his companions words. "What!" he exclaims. "We have been waiting here for Orcs!" He shakes his head as if to clear it from a dream.

"Aye," Flinns voice holds a hint of self satisfaction as he joins them. "Thems fearsome beasts unless you knows 'ow ta deal wiv 'em." He smiles smugly before continuing, "an' we does. Don't we Draeg?" he looks to his companion for confirmation noting the young mans look of amazement and misreading it as awe for their cleverness.

"Thought ya might get a bit scared, lad," Draeg pats Estel on the shoulder as he notices the colour drain from his face, "that's why I never tole ya exactly who it was we was waitin' fer," he smiles gently, "don't worry, they's only gonna drop off the prisoner wiv us, they won't stay long enough fer the smell ta get to yer, Not much anyways,".he chuckles, "then they'll be back off towards that Elf Kings hall ready fer the next part of the boss' plan."

Estels world begins to reel and his legs turn to jelly as the realisation hits him that he is just about to come face to face with a horde of orcs and he has to pretend to be on their side. How has he got himself into this he wonders. He can almost hear his foster fathers voice telling him, yet again, that he is too impulsive and should think things through before jumping in with both feet, then feel the comforting arms pulling him into a close hug before whispering gently 'I don't want to lose you ion nin, my son'. He takes a deep breath and steels himself. He has trusted his instincts so far and they have not let him down, he will just have to do so again and see what happens.