Sorry for posting late but we have had no internet connection for just over a week so have had to wait till I could get to the grandparents to use theirs.

My thanks to Legolaslover2003,DaHybridQueen,Ninfea di luna,Teapot of transformation,bettsam0731 and Artista321 for the reviews and to all of those still reading.

ILVB -* Noming on coffee and pie* I'm glad youre still with me! Don't worry about reviewing less I am just happy when your name pops up in my inbox. You have given me so much support during this already. :)

Hope you like this one and don't forget to let me know (even if you dont!)

Chapter 42

Flinn watches the three individuals now clustered around the wounded elf through narrowed eyes. He has been bound hand and foot then tied to a tree before being left alone to ponder upon his fate. The terror that had gripped him so tightly before has somewhat abated and although the two dark elves still send shivers of fear down his spine when they glance his way he is beginning to hope that he may come out of this alive. He glances over to where Draegs body lies and feels the bile rise in his throat as he once more sees the flash of the blade descending and shuts his eyes tightly trying to block out the memory.

Looking back he notices the two elves and the young man seem to be in deep discussion but although words are too softly spoken to carry to his ears, their posture and gestures seem to indicate some sort of argument is taking place. He cannot understand why he is tied yet the other man is free and begins to wonder if another deal is being struck without him. Finally the young man points down towards the bound elf at their feet then over at himself and his stomach turns over as the dark elves nod in unison and begin to walk towards him.

"Well,well,'Dan" the one on the left kicks Flinns foot as he draws near "so this is a sample of the dark lords mighty forces," he sniggers and kick the foot again and Flinn wriggles to retreat back as far as he can. "How can he fail with such as this on his side." The mocking tone coupled with the sneer on the cold face brings a flash of anger to the mans eyes and the elf laughs to see it "Oh, so you do have some spirit then." He squats down and fixes Flinns eyes with a dark stare he finds impossible to break. "We need information" there is a pause whilst the elf removes a knife from his belt and begins to spin it nonchalantly between long, pale fingers "and you will give it to us." The predatory smile accompanying these words sends a shiver down the mans back and he begins to think Draeg may be the one better off.

"Stop playing with the edain 'Roh" the second elf now joins his brother and Flinn finds himself pinned to the spot by the intensity of their dual stares, somewhat like a small animal caught in a snakes thrall. "I'm sure he is only too eager to share what he knows with us," Flinn swallows and tries not to watch the silver knife as it moves fluidly in the other elfs hands, understanding the hidden threat and wishing he was somewhere as far away from these two dangerous beings as possible.

"I.." his voice cracks nervously as he tries to speak and he swallows again before continuing "I don' know nothing." He dares to look away from them, to seek out the other man who is still bent over the, now unwrapped form of the elf captured by the orcs. "Ask 'im" he nods towards Estel, "go on, you ask 'im, 'e knows more than me, thick as thieves 'im an' Draeg was, never tole me nothin' they didn't" he looks back at the twins nervously.

"Funny that" Flinn doesn't know which one has spoken this time. "He says exactly the same thing about you." The man flinches as the knife spins past his nose and is caught once more before resuming its continual movement through the pale fingers.

"I swear, I don't know nothin' 'bout anythin'" he knows he is trembling once more but can not stop himself thinking about the flashing blade, his mind keeps replaying his last image of Draeg over and over again and as the knife suddenly stops moving, its point resting against the tip of his nose he sags in his bonds as consciousness flees in terror once more. Elrohir stands letting out an orcish oath then kicks out once more in disgust and stalks away leaving his twin staring down at the man, lost in his own thoughts.

Estel feels his heart constrict with each new wound uncovered as he tenderly unwraps his friend, he inhales sharply at a particularly deep gash spanning the full width of the flat abdomen which is inflamed and blackened around the edges from infection. Hoping there has been no poison used he begins to search through his pack bringing out the small packages of dried herbs he habitually carries, sorting them into categories ready for use. Opening two he takes a pinch from each and sprinkles them into the small pan of water now heating on the fire beside him, the first step will be to cleanse the wounds as thoroughly as is possible out here in the wild and he is glad for the elfs unconscious state as he knows the process will be extremely painful.

With his eldest brothers stinging words still ringing in his ears he dips a piece of cloth into the heated water and begins gently to wipe away the dried blood from around the multitude of lesser wounds he has discovered first. How could his brothers think, even for a moment that he had known what was going on, never mind be complicit in it? Watching the water turn pink then red as he rinses the cloth he replays their rather heated conversation in his mind.

"When will you ever learn to keep out of trouble?" The vehemence in Elladans voice had shaken Estel and he had quickly risen to his feet to meet his brothers furious gaze. "You were supposed to be seeking out Doronor, but no. We find you consorting with thieves. And Orcs. Kidnapping elves. For Valars sake Estel. What were you thinking?" Looking into his brothers eyes he could see the worry behind the anger and thought to himself how much the older elf looked like Elrond in this moment.

"The opportunity arose to find out more and so I took it" his calm voice belied the ire he felt building inside. "I am not a child 'Dan, I can look after myself." He had matched his brothers intense stare with one of his own.

"But can you?" the cutting remark had been sharp , "you could both have been killed" the elf paused briefly as a flicker of pain crossed his eyes "you say you are no child but you are so impulsive, never do you think through the consequenses of your actions. Nay 'Roh I will not stay quiet this time." This last had been directed at the twin trying to come between the two and Elrohir held up his hands in mute surrender as two furious pairs of eyes were turned upon him.

"This is not helping Legolas" the younger twin had then glanced down at the immobile elf and immediately Estel had felt the anger shift. He knew his brother was speaking out of love and fear yet it still hurt to feel he was not trusted.

"Can we not continue this later?" Estels voice had sounded clipped and cold even to his own ears "If you had not come rushing in to the 'rescue' I could have found out exactly who was behind all this."

"And what would you have done with that knowledge?" the young man took a step backwards as his brother thrust his face forward into his own "How were you planning to get the news to us exactly?" The elfs eyes blazed now and Estel knew he was holding on to his temper by a thread. "Tell me Estel. Do you know where you were heading? Did you think what may happen if you were discovered? Did you think at all before throwing your lot in with them?" The young man could feel spittle spraying his face with each sentence now yet held his ground. "No! No you did not think!. Because you never do!"

Silence had descended then between them as each hugged their own anger tightly inwards before Elrohir once more had decided to intervene.

"This. Is not. Helping. Legolas" he repeated, stressing each word in an effort to get through to his warring siblings. "Estel, 'Dan, we need to work together here. Please." his voice tailed off as the two turned to him, "He needs your help Estel."

"I know!" steel lightning flashed from the mans eyes briefly as he turned to his youngest brother, then was gone as quickly as it came, "I'm sorry 'Roh. I .." He had lowered his eyes in contrition then and taken a deep breath. " I will see to Legolas." Refusing to back down before Elladan he had knelt down once more beside the prince, turning his head away from his brothers in an act of dismissal.

The anger and hurt he had felt have gradually dissipated as the clinical calm needed to assess his friends condition have taken over and as he begins to gently clean the largest wound he thinks he feels a flicker of movement, as if the elf flinches under his hand. Ceasing his administrations he watches the pale figure for a moment but no other sign of recovering consciousness become apparent.

Bending once more to the task he finishes swabbing away the crusts of blood and gore and decides that the wound is not as bad as he first thought. He picks up the needle and thread he has prepared and begins to close the wound with small neat stitches, easing the inflamed edges of the ugly gash together as his father has taught him. Once satisfied he leans in to bite the thread then sits back on his heels again to survey his handiwork. The thin line has a fresh beading of blood from the small puncture wounds but there is no excessive oozing and he wipes a hand across his forehead in relief before reaching for a pouch containing an antiseptic paste to smear over it all.

"Neatly done, tithen pen" Elrohir squats down beside the young man and gently squeezes his shoulder, his presence unheeded till now, "your stitches are greatly improved since first you used me for practice." They share a brief smile before he asks "shall I help you to turn him now?"

Pain once more jolts through my being and I scramble back in panic. Silver light flares and I can not find it. My body screams and my mind whirls. Where is it? Where is it? A drumming sound beats faster and faster and my panic rises, I twist and writhe, caught in the silver light, wriggling like a fish on a hook. No! Saes! I need it. Not this. The drum beat increases as I frantically fight the air around me. There! I see it, a glimpse behind the silver, a small shadow. Reaching out, fingerers scrabbling, saes, I need. Suddenly it is there and the drum stops. I sink in in blessed relief. My comfort, my quiet, my dark. A whispered voice brushes past.

"Hush...little leaf".

And peace fills me once more.

Their faces twist in expressions of horror as the bloodied mess that is the elfs back is revealed. The thin tatters of cloth that were his tunic are indistinguishable from the strips of torn skin flayed from his body by the cruel whip. The whole is a crimson mess shot through with snaking lines of black where infection is creeping through the multitude of lash lines. Bile rushes to Estels throat and he has to keep swallowing hard as the smell from the wounds threatens to overwhelm his senses.

"How is he still living?" his awed whisper leaves his mouth involuntarily. "Oh, Legolas, mellon nin, my friend, what have they done to you?" Tenderly he rests his hand on the elfs head then reaches for the wet cloth Elrohir holds out to his waiting hand. Taking a breath in he squeezes the cloth over the raw back and watches the water run over the raw skin in glistening, red rivulets. He repeats the action thrice more before attempting to gently pull away the strands of hair and cloth adherent to the now sticky mess. There is a slight tremble and moan from the body beneath his fingers and he stills again, hoping Legolas does not regain consciousness now, then resumes teasing at the wounds when the movement and sound is not repeated. Tears fill his eyes as he gradually cleans away the wounds revealing what he thought were patches of white skin is in reality where the whips have cut deep enough to expose the bone and wonders how this is ever going to heal. Even with the exceptional healing power of an elf.

Darkness.

Comforting darkness.

It saves me. It soothes me. I float and listen for the voice once more. Was it a dream? Was it there? I try to remember sound before but can not. My mind will not hold the past and memory slips away like sand through my fingers. I tremble as sibilant words caresses my skin. like a gentle, cool summers breeze.

"Yes."

My nerve endings tingle

"I am here."

My heart soars, I am not alone.

"You are not alone".