Hey guys been a while! I am a bit busy updating for other stories, this was suppose to be revealed later but as this was lying around all typed up I figured why wait might as well post it now.

Note: If it sais I updated I am sorry to my readers I replaced CH 15 for some reason it was a repeat and it wasn't suppose to be. Regardless I have been hitting writers block for this story lately but when I get my inspiration back I will try and update. Later!

The door to the healers ward in Rivendell was thrown open. He had been in council with Elrond when he had heard the news.

"Where is he?" His face froze in a mask of horror as he took in Elrohir's battered state and tear stricken face.

"They, they took him. We… I... miscalculated. There was a second patrol nearby. The orcs…They took us unawares. We fought long but Elladan was heavily wounded. He was dragged off I could do nothing. The choice was to trail him and lose both or bring one back."

"Where was he taken?" Glorfindel demanding jaw set in grim understanding his stomach churning sickly.

"Near the Gladden River. But my lord you should wait for an elven sortie to assemble." The plea however was not even heard. Glorfindel's fair hair whipped in the wind as he made a dash for the stables. Meadows fell before him as he urged his horse onward eyes not even seeing much of what he was passing. His mind occupied by what he might find. If he was too late, if something were to happen to Arrai. He would never forgive himself. Valar! The younger elf was barely of age bones not even done fully solidified!

The orc trail was as subtle as an oliphant. He didn't even bother counting the numbers. He cared little for them. He would either get him back or die trying. He killed the sentries without batting an eye or so much as breaking a sweat.

As he approached the camp he could hear orc chanting. Alighting from his horse he nimbly climbed a tree. Down below some sort of ritual was going on orcs danced wildly a high pile of bones his young ward nowhere in sight, were it his remains or those of some unfortunate victim subject to brutish cruelty. Eyes glazed over in a rage seeing only red as he descended upon the cursed creatures of darkness his swords aflame sparing none of himself as he cut orc after orc. A wild cry escaped his lips never had he felt so alive and so dead. At length he stopped nothing else in his path. Stopping to catch his breath his eyes widened as he saw what he had wrought. There were at least a sortie and a half at his feet mutilated beyond recognition black blood pooling at his knees. He would have wretched but his stomach was empty as he had yet to eat breakfast. He fell to his knees a cry escaping his lips as everything around him began to darken and glaze over in a grey sheen trees no longer seeming to give off joy the sky seemed to darken at his plight as well. Nothing mattered anymore. He would have been perfectly content to simply sit where he was not minding the now neutral blood which only a moment ago was foul to his senses. That was until he heard a soft moan. A moan so low only even elven ears could barely catch it.

His eyes widened body shuddering at the foulness of the earth. He flew toward the sound. Ai ion nin! The younger elf was tied to a tree covered in black blood and red angry welts from orcish blades crisscrossing his body. He dropped to his knees in front of him his hand touching Arrai's cheek. Arrai flinched back at the touch a heavy pit formed in Glorfindel's eyes as he cut the younger elf's bonds. A broken dark blue met his own as the ailing elf all but collapsed into his arms utterly spent.

The younger elf shuddered biting back hisses of pain as he cradled him in his arms. "Shhh ion nin shhh." Glorfindel whistled for his horse. "Shh..ion nin.. your safe."

He couldn't get far with Arrai who by the time they reached the river was running a high fever and shaking like a leaf in his arms. He alighted in the forest easing the younger elf off his horse and laid him under a tree.

Eyes rested on his face briefly before shutting in pain. "Ada" The whimper caused Glorfindel's heart to clench in pain. It had been decades since he had heard himself being referred to as such. He smoothed Arrai's hair back gently wiping of the black blood on his face with his thumb. "I'm here ion nin, I'm here." A hand suddenly gripped his shoulder. Fearful and disoriented eyes met his "Cut it off!"

"Ion nin?" Arrai grasped at a few strands of his waist long hair. "Cut it off!" He yelled struggling in Glorfindel's arms as if the hair drenched in orcish blood was somehow attacking him. The hand then closed around his hunting knife in a quick motion but Glorfindel was faster. His hand closed over the younger elves tears flowing freely down his cheeks as he eased Arrai's hand of the hilt. The request was incomprehensible but in Arrai's current state arguing would not help. "Are… are you certain?"

"Cut it OFF!... Ada sa…es" Cold sweat beaded his brow as he shuddered. Glorfindel gathered as much hair as he could and in a fluid motion shore it off at the nape of the neck. Arrai gasped in his arms as if a burden was lifted from him. Then suddenly he began to shake as his eyes glazed over again in pain and dark dream. "Eru have mercy!" Glorfindel dragged the younger elf to the river to wash of the dark stench. To his horror the welts where the black blood touched were darkening veins a dark violet like spider thread over his body. A curse from his heritage? It would seem so. The request to cut the hair struck him like a knife through his stomach Valar have mercy they were trying to turn him!

Arrai convulsed in his arms as he washed out the wounds. The water seemed to only cause more pain to the younger elf as he tried to cringe away from it. Valar what was going on? How far had they gone? "I'm so sorry." Glorfindel whispered as he grabbed Arrai and dragged them both in the deepest part of the river. Whatever darkness had entered it could only be cleansed in this way. He struggled with the younger elf who attempted to twist out of his hold his agonized please turned to snarls and then whimpers like a cornered animal. Eyes flew open a glowing grey. Arrai struggled in his arms until a racking coughed tore through his body black blood pouring out in rivers from his mouth. Glorfindel gasped in horror and dragged him out of the water forcing Arrai on his knees so allowing him to spit out the blood properly as the younger elves hands gripped at the dirt on the shore holding on as more black bile emerged from his stomach. At length the black blood turned a brown until all Arrai was coughing up was his own blood. Glorfindel held him full of fear as grey eyes dimmed and the dark blue retuned as did Arrai. "S..Sorry." Eyes full of pain and apology met his a trail of blood trickling down his mouth." Glorfindel cradled Arrai holding onto him like a life line his forehead pressed to the younger elf's." Don't be he whispered as he stroked the younger elves hair and cheek. Arrai passed out in his arms eyes shut exhausted, in a sleep of the dead.

He suddenly heard someone calling his name in the distance. He looked up to see Elrohir running toward him face blanching at the state of his friend. More elves followed behind with Valar be praised a healer among them.

"Will he live?"

The healer placed a hand over the prince's head. "Eru have mercy I will try my best."

Arrai had survived, it took a month and few near death encounters but he had made it. Glorfindel's relief knew no bounds when Arrai whalked out of the healers ward for the first time in weeks. Glorfindel was not Gil Galad nor Ecthelion not even Elrond or Thranduil but he prayed that he would be enough so that the only elf that managed to squeeze his way into his heart would survive. If he didn't Glorfindel doubted he would live on much longer as well.

"Ai ion nin. You've made me grow soft in my old age."

Note: I do hope its not too cheesy.

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