"Friendship is unnecessary as it has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival." ― C.S. Lewis

"And then of course I had to forgive him. I was the better after all."

"That's not how I remember it," grumbled Elrohir. "I bested you of three so that underhanded tactic does not count."

"Throwing dust to disorient your opponent is a fair tactic." Elladan declared folding his arms briefly then placing them back on his horse's reigns. "Besides father said it was a fair move, in battle no one asks you is this underhanded tactic legal?"

"Alright, Alright," Elrohir threw his hands up in mock defeat. Arrai sighed. While the twins were endearing their pointless arguments which usually ran in circles always irritated him somewhat. "Oi Arrai it's your turn, any adventures worth recounting?"

"Well," Arrai cleared his throat dramatically in a mock Elrond imitation. "Well this was quite a while back, in human years anyway, four to be exact, and although I gave my word to Lord Glorfindel he's not quite around as he was in Rivendell when I last saw you and I suppose it can't hurt… "After the dramatic opening Arrai's eyes lightened up in mischief causing wolfish grins to cross the faces of the twins as they shared a look. Glorfindel stories were always worth the wait.

"We were passing a small village down in Westfold, no don't ask me what we were doing their that's a story for another time."

"I don't believe it." Elrohir put in, "Either tell us what your business was in a human settlement or drop the tale." Elladan added in as an afterthought.

But Arrai had long learned how to handle the twin terrors from Glorfindel and only smiled slyly at their statements. "Well then I suppose this isn't interesting enough for you two it's your turn Elrohir."

The twins caught each other's eye and Elrohir sighed at length. "Fine just tell us the cursed story." The three of them had a good laugh at that and Arrai continued. "Well we-he needed to get information, no I am not saying why just keep listening, so we went to a tavern."

The two twins guffawed and muttered a few crude references to the woman's dresses in human settlements. "No I am above such things you two." Arrai muttered keeping his best bard voice. "Do you want to hear it or not?" The two twins muttered their apologies though the glints in their eyes claimed otherwise. Arrai sighed and then suddenly straightened up in his saddle eyes widened.

"You feel that too?" Elladan asked worriedly smirks instantly wiped of their faces all traces of the previous buffoons gone.

"What are orcs doing in Drimrill Dale?" Elladan asked horrified. What made things worse was that there were only plains and hardly any trees in the area.

Arrai blanched at the sheer number he was seeing. The distance and the orcs lack of unity and slight disorientation allowed them to go unnoticed. "Where are they going?"

Elrohir set his jaw. "Let us follow and see where they lead us."

The three warriors shared a look a deep bond only brothers in arms share. Arria's hand closed over the hilt of his sword as did Elrohir's while Elladan fingered his bow reverently.

"Nothing like a hunting season eh?" Elladan joked, eliciting chuckles from his companions. "Indeed," Elrohir put, "Perhaps this time when we smear them with our boots they'll realize their place and stay down." Faces set grimly and hands on their hilts the thro began trailing the horde at a safe distance .

Glorfindel met with the score of elves Lothlórien provided for him south of the forest.

"Mae govannen!" Orophin sub commander of the elven forces bowed respectfully at the Elder elf who rode up to the Silvan elf inclining his head briefly at the greeting.

"How are your brothers?"

"They are well. And your son?"

Glorfindel sighed deeply at that eliciting an amused look from his friend. "You needed worry yourself; at this age he is merely beginning to uncover the ways of the trees and music. Do not fear for his lack of interest in wielding a blade."

The frown on Glorfindel's face deepened. "I am worried not for it but for his lack of it. Already he sings far less than even Elrond's children after their mothers sailing. It is not he but I who am keeping him from this battle." Glorfindel unfurled a map tracing the path they would take his face still turned to the younger elf. "I cannot stand to watch him drench himself in their cursed blood."

Exhausted pained eyes met even ones full of pity. A comforting hand landed on Glorfindel's shoulder. "No one would. Valar knows he is far too young. Look to the riders. A number of them have just reached the lily mark and I cringe merely at seeing them waste away in skirmishes over the songs they should be singing and youth they should be celebrating. "

Both rode in silence the rest of the journey not hearing the jests of the other elves each thinking of things long past. At length, when they reached the north most peak of Fangorn, Glorfindel raised a hand stopping the small battalion. From the hill it was easy to see the dark shapes that were orc moving to and fro in a clearing hauling the now cut trees into a pile next to the Limelight, a branch of the great river of Anduin. Glorfindel motioned with his hand and swords were drawn. "It is time for these foul creatures to have a taste of our elven steel." His voice cut the silence and the elves charged with yells for Lothlórien beginning the massacre of darkness.

Note: Tauriel is still Captain her brother did not replace her though Thranduil is not too happy with our red haired elf. For those of you waiting for a battle scene there will be more of those in later chapters but I felt that the fight with the orcs in this chapter was self-explanatory.

Orophin- Is Haldir's brother, named by his parents after King Thranduil's father.

Rumil- Also Haldir's brother.

Lily Mark- When an elf reaches around 150 years

Haldir- It is unknown how old Haldir or his two brothers are so they could be just a few centuries younger than Glorfindel. Also according to the book Haldir never dies and it is believed he sailed to the undying lands. His death was added in the movie to show the increased sacrifice of the elves however according to the book Legolas was the only elf in Helms Deep.

I will try to get an update up soon. Read and Review!