A/N Again, many thanks to Celridel for taking the time to beta this chapter
Estella cursed herself for her stupidity. Five days passed since she fled Mirkwood after her encounter with the cruel ellith. In her haste to leave before the king returned, she had only grabbed a few apples from her room, and a partial loaf of bread and cheese from the kitchen. However, Estella had lost her bag of provisions the first night when she fled from the spiders. Now she was paying for it. The first two days without food had been tolerable, but now extreme hunger and dehydration were beginning to take their toll.
As she was nearing the High Pass, she noticed bright berries which appeared to be growing amongst dark, ragged rocks. Her eyes growing wide at the sight and hunger overtaking her, she urged Lúthril forward until they made their way to the nearest bush. When she was only a few feet from it, Estella shakily dismounted her mare and crawled the rest of the way. She was so weak from lack of food, water, and sleep she hardly had any strength left in her to hold herself up. It was a miracle she was even able to ride her horse, but she knew that as Lúthril was an Elven horse, she would not allow Estella to fall off.
Reaching the bush, Estella wasted no time in quickly plucking the plump red berries off and popping them into her mouth which by now was dry and sticky from lack of water. Upon the first bite she nearly gagged at the bitter taste; however, Estella was so hungry she did not care. But by the sixth berry, she was no longer able to tolerate the bitter taste and spitting the remains out; she unsteadily got to her feet. Estella was heartbroken; here she was starving and almost on the brink of despair and the only food she could find she was unable to eat. Wiping a lone tear from her eyes, she called for her horse.
Estella's despair only intensified as she tried to climb back onto Lúthril but found she had no strength left. Realizing just how weak she was, Estella began to weep. As if sensing her owner's dire condition, Lúthril sank to the ground, allowing Estella to be able to mount her back with more ease. With one leg slumped over, Estella was able to slide onto her back, patting her neck, when she was safely seated. "Thank you, Lúthril," Estella whispered, her eyes beginning to close from exhaustion. "Just a little further my friend, then we can rest for the night." Lúthril whinnied softly as if in agreement and as gently as she could, trotted higher up the road which would lead them to the High Pass and the unknown.
Estella woke with a jolt not knowing just how long she had been out of it. She had no idea why she was so sweaty and uneasy, but as seconds turned into minutes, she became aware something was not right. Her stomach began to toss and turn like a ship on the sea, and her head felt like a group of Dwarves were mining for jewels. To top it all off, horrid cramping began assaulting her whole body. As she held her hand up to rub her aching head, she saw through blurry vision her hand and arm were covered in a bright, angry rash. Looking at her other arm, she saw it too was covered in the same rash. It dawned on her the berries she ate must have been poisonous.
"Lúthril, we must find water and quick," Estella said feeling her nausea becoming more unbearable by the second. Estella knew she was not going to be able to fight the queasy feeling much longer. Fortunately, they were very close to a nearby stream, and Estella did not even wait for Lúthril to stop before dismounting and unsteadily made her way to the creek before collapsing. Feeling the bile rising in her throat and feeling everything beginning to spin in front of her she closed her eyes and splashed her face with the cold water in hopes it would all stop, but alas it was not to be. Mere seconds later Estella turned her head and began to retch the remaining berries up violently. She hoped it would be over soon, but her body seemed to have different thoughts, and soon her vomiting turned into dry heaving.
After several minutes her stomach calmed, and Estella shakily sipped the cold water from the stream. When she was sure she would not be ill again, she laid back against a nearby tree and closed her eyes.
"Well Lúthril," Estella said weakly, "it looks like we will be sleeping here for the night." Lúthril nudged her owner gently with her nose and stood protectively beside her to keep watch over her sleeping mistress. Lúthril might have only been a horse, but even she knew Estella was not doing well at all and she was in desperate need of help.
Thranduil paced back and forth in his chambers a worried look on his face. It had been five days since the disappearance of Estella, and no trace could be found of her anywhere. At first, Thranduil hoped the young elleth had just gone out for a ride to get her mind off his son's absence, but after the second day had come and gone and she still had not returned, Thranduil began to worry. Not only because he knew how dangerous the forest was, but also because he was aware that his son would be furious Estella left the safety of his borders after he had strictly warned her not to without an escort.
Now here Thranduil was trying to figure out the best way to inform his son Estella was missing. After he had come up with several half-formed useless plans, he heard the sound of his son's horn announcing his arrival from patrol. Sighing in despair, he tried his best to smile and act as if everything was all right. Minutes later, Legolas bounced through the doors to his father's room and hurriedly embraced him. Even well after his son had reached his majority, he still acted like an elfling when he returned from patrols or was in the healing ward recovering from an injury. Opening his arms, Thranduil welcomed his son happily. " Guren linna le, ion-nín."
"Glass nín le Adar," Legolas said smiling. Letting his father go he smiled. "I will see you at supper; I am going to see Estella." Thranduil bit his tongue as his son walked out of the room, a spring in his step, knowing it was only a matter of time before Legolas returned and he would have to break the news to him.
After what seemed like an age of useless brainstorming, Legolas returned, his face grim. "Father, where is Estella?"
Thranduil knew he had to tell him but still had no idea how. Legolas, sensing something was not right, asked his father again. "Father, what are you not telling me? Where is Estella" Fear was beginning to grip him tightly. "Did something happen while I was away?"
"Legolas, perhaps you should sit down," Thranduil said motioning for his son to take a seat. "While you were away, Estella relapsed in her sadness again. I called her into my office and asked her if everything was all right. She told me she missed you greatly." Taking a deep breath, he continued. "I then asked her if she was in love with you." Thranduil was watching his son's face and saw a half-surprised half horrified look on his face.
"You asked her if she was in love with me? Why would you ask that? We are just close friends, nothing more," Legolas stated, but when he finished, he noticed his father's expression was that of one who knew something more.
"I am no fool Legolas, I have eyes and have seen you becoming closer than mere friends." Thranduil looked his son in the eyes. "She told me she loved you." Thranduil saw his son stumble back to the chair at those words and he knew his reaction would be far worse when he told him she was missing.
Estella is in love with me?Legolas asked himself. He was in shock. Why did he not notice this before? He slumped in the chair, his mind whirring.
"I was soon called away to dispatch a group of Orcs that were too close to our borders. I told Estella to come back that night so that we could finish our conversation, but when I returned, I found her gone."
Legolas was brought back to the present and jumped from his seat upon hearing she was gone. "Gone?! What do you mean she is gone? Where did she go?" he asked frantically.
Thranduil shook his head frowning. "I do not know. At first, I thought perhaps she went for a ride to take her mind off you but after two days I had Feren lead a search party, but there is no sign of her at all."
Legolas became furious, just as Thranduil thought he would be. "I told her not to leave without an escort! What possessed her to do such a thing?"
Thranduil placed a hand on Legolas's shoulder and squeezed it. "I have already taken the liberty of investigating this matter, my son. We will find out what happened, I swear it." Legolas looked his father in the eye trying with all his strength to hide the fear building up inside of him. Thranduil knew how much she meant to his son and could not bear the thought of what would befall him if anything bad happened to her.
Just then a knock sounded on his door. "Enter," Thranduil said looking up as Feren entered.
Saluting his king and prince, Feren began his report. "My lord, I have found out some tidings on Lady Estella."
Thranduil hoped they had found her, but by the look in Feren's eyes, he had a feeling they had returned empty handed. Thranduil motioned for him to continue.
"After asking around the palace, I found out from Beririel and Cabrion, that Estella apparently asked for some food and took her horse to go riding. Since they were unaware she was not to leave without an escort, they allowed her to leave. Cabrion saw her head into the woods; he said she almost seemed scared, but she told him everything was well, so he let it go."
Thranduil and Legolas glanced at one another, and a feeling of deep uneasiness began to grow in the pits of their stomachs. Something was not right. Legolas knew Estella would not just outright disobey his orders to not leave without someone with her. "Father, something is wrong about this. Estella would not just leave like that. We must find her and fast before something evil happens to her if it is not already too late."
Thranduil knew his son was right; time was of the utmost importance. Thranduil turned towards Feren. "Feren, I want you to take a group of your best warriors and scour every inch of the northern borders. Leave no stone unturned. If you find anything report back to me immediately. Legolas and I will search the remainder of the borders. Estella must be found at all costs!"
Feren nodded. "Yes, my lord." Immediately, Feren left to carry out his king's orders.
Wasting no time, Legolas and Thranduil left at once to search the remainder of the woods. Legolas had to find her. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself, and he would not stop until he hunted down the thing that harmed her.
Estella ran through the dark woods with all the speed and strength she could muster. She did not dare look behind her for fear if she did, she would be overtaken and killed. Her horse and constant companion had been spooked and ran off before Estella had been able to mount her, so she had been forced to run on foot. Never before had she seen such vile and horrifying creatures. She thought the spiders were bad enough, but she would face them gladly again to escape these.
At first, she had been able to reach deep inside of herself and find the strength and endurance she needed to run for her life. But as she had not eaten or drunk anything for nearly six days and add the fact she was still suffering from the incident with the berries earlier she was quickly running out of stamina. Just when she thought things could not get any worse, she felt a sharp searing pain stab her in her upper right thigh. Screaming in pain and shock Estella stumbled hitting her head on a rock momentarily losing consciousness. As Estella quickly came to–her vision coming in and out of focus–she looked up to see a group of at least seven Orcs swiftly advancing toward her their weapons raised ready to strike her at any given moment. The head Orc had a nasty sneer curling his lips which revealed several yellowish, crooked sharp teeth.
So, this is how it is going to end?She thought to herself terrified; I am going to be carried off and brutally murdered by these creatures and Legolas will never know I loved him or what happened to me. I doubt anyone will find my body.
As Estella prepared herself for the striking blow she knew she could not avoid, her arms coming up to encase her head with a final attempt to protect herself, she curled up on the forest floor tears beginning to fall from her eyes. She waited, but the strike did not come. Through the cracks in her arms, she risked peeking; her blurry vision watched as the dark creatures slowed their advancement and lowered their weapons. They started to snarl and howl, cursing nonsense amongst themselves when suddenly they began to flee.
Disoriented and unable to make sense of her surroundings anymore–much less why the Orcs would suddenly abandon their quarry–she found much to her dismay relief would not come to her as soft steps sounded behind her making her refocus. All her dwindling attention was directed towards her back. Fear seized up once more in her core. Her shadowed vision held just enough light to see what appeared to be a large being moving towards her. Estella scrambled to find her footing to flee, but as soon as she attempted to get up, her leg gave out from under her. Estella collapsed again, panting in pain. The creature was approaching swiftly. However, as it drew closer, she could make out individuals. This was not one creature, but a large group of beings that moved as one entity.
Estella tried to call out for help but found her voice had failed her. No one could hear her anyway as she was out in the middle of nowhere. She attempted to scoot back in the dirt of the forest floor, but her attempts to flee were of no use due to her injured leg combined with her quickly fading vision. Unable to fight the darkness calling to her anymore, she succumbed to it just as the shadowy figures reach her. The last thing she could recall was the way a soft hand caught her head, keeping it from hitting the ground one last time.