Chapter 7

-o0o-

It had taken them most of the small hours of the night and numerous extensions of the search radius in all directions, but when the sky had finally cleared and the light of the moon had come forth to aid them, they had finally found some traces of Estel. It was Glorfindel who discovered the faint imprints of a pony's hooves. They followed the trail for twenty minutes, their worry mounting as it became more and more obvious - and erratic. Clearly Estel had traveled at speed and had not been entirely sure which way to go. Maybe something had spooked him, Elrond mused as he followed the trail. It was almost as if Estel had been running from something instead of searching for someone.

A few minutes and several yards later, Elrond suddenly stopped: Estel's trail diverged into two different directions; continuing both onward and turning to the side. It appeared that the trail they had been following had been walked twice - and one of those times in the opposite direction.

"He turned back at some point down this path and retraced his steps to this point, before he went in a different direction." Glorfindel, who had stopped beside his lord, summed up what they saw before them.

"Aye," Elrond agreed: "but what caused him to turn back and why did he ride in this direction to begin with. It is nowhere near the battle. Did he look for it here?"

"On the contrary, I think Estel had already found the battle scene before coming here. We must have missed his earlier trail when we were searching there and only came upon his trail when he was heading away from the site of the battle."

Elrond looked back at the trail they had followed, comparing it to the direction and location of the place where Glorfindel and his sons had fought off the orcs the night before last. "He must have a better sense of direction than I gave him credit for," Elrond agreed. "Do you think he found something and left there trying to find his brothers?"

"I think not. His trail is erratic and he was riding too fast. If he came upon the dead orcs, never having seen them or the aftermath of deadly combat before..."

"... he would have gotten scared and run away." Elrond finished for Glorfindel.

"That would explain the tracks we have found," Glorfindel added.

"So he ran away and got lost."

"Eventually he must have noticed that he was lost and, remembering his lessons, he turned around and tried to follow his trail back. But he was still scared and it was dark, so he lost the trail..."

"That is a likely explanation," Elrond agreed, "but we need to be sure." He turned around to address his fellow elves: "We will split up and follow both trails. Nelledir, you and two others will follow the first trail and the rest of us will follow the new one."

"Yes, my lord." Nelledir replied. He quickly selected two others and rode off along the original twice-trodden trail, while the rest followed behind Glorfindel and Elrond.

They rode along the trail for what seemed like an eternity for the worried elven lord, but in reality it was only half an hour until the trail suddenly changed. Unfortunately for Elrond, what he discovered in the wet ground did nothing to lighten his worries.

From what he read in the trail, Estel's pony had been galloping through the clearing and jumped over a fallen log, which must be the reason that Estel had been thrown off. A deep imprint marked where he had fallen. Deep and clear enough that the impact must have been severe. Hoping that Estel, at least, had not been injured when he fell, Elrond got off his horse to take a closer look.

However, he was soon distracted by other marks on the ground: Marks that although clearly human in origin, had not been made by Estel alone.

"Humans were here," he voiced his findings out loud.

"Four humans from the looks of it," Glorfindel, who had silently circled around the clearing, confirmed. "They came from the southeast through this clearing heading northwest some hours ago - after the rain stopped falling. They stopped here for quite a bit and trampled all over the clearing, so it is difficult to say, but I do not see any signs that Estel left here on his own two feet. They took him."

"Because Estel was hurt and they wanted to help or because they thought to take him for ransom?" Elrond questioned. He finally took a closer look at the ground Estel had landed on and spotted blood. He closed his eyes for a moment, fighting for composure. It was not a lot of blood, not enough to say where or how much his son had been hurt, but Estel was only a small child and any kind of blood loss increased the worry in Elrond.

"The humans were walking at a normal pace, mules with them that were carrying heavy loads. I would guess they are going west to trade and just came upon Estel by chance," Glrofindel explained. "They would have no reason to hurt Estel."

"I hope you are right, my friend." Elrond said. "Let us hope they took him with the intention to help." Elrond walked back over to his horse and mounted his fair steed. "Either way, we will find them and get Estel back." With that he turned his horse to the newest trail, following the humans.

'And woe betide them, if they harmed our Estel in any way,' Glorfindel thought to himself as he turned to follow his lord.

-o0o-

It took all of Elladan's control not to rush into the camp and reclaim his brother, by force if he had to. But the man was still bending over Estel and no matter how effectively Elladan used the element of surprise there was no way that he would reach his adopted brother ere the man reacted. And he would not risk Estel.

For the moment the boy seemed to be safe enough anyway. Despite the small whimpers he had heard earlier, Elladan saw that the man was caring for Estel rather than harming him. It seemed that Estel was only suffering from a nightmare, probably brought on by a fever, if the man's mutterings were anything to go by. The few snippets of their conversation that reached his ears seemed to indicate the men were trying to care for his brother, but obviously lacked the expertise and the supplies. They spoke the Rohirric tongue and a good half of their medical opinion seemed to be grounded in myths and superstition. Luckily they at least knew their shortcomings - It seemed they were planning to take Estel to a healer in Bree, but that was a week's march away. Ella Dan balled his hands into fists. Estel needed help a lot sooner.

Still, at the moment, the men did not pose a threat to his baby brother. With considerable reluctance Elladan turned his back on the camp and stealthily made his way back into the forest. He would have to think about what to do, and Elrohir would need to know what he had found. Chances were his twin was already wondering what had kept him from a swift return.

As Elladan approached the place he had left his brother, he found that he had been correct in his assumption. Elrohir was still leaning against a tree for support, only it was not the one that Elladan had left him at. Clearly, despite the pain from his injuries, Elrohir had tried to follow his twin to the camp. Judging by the pallor of his face and the depth of the breaths he still took, it had not been a smart choice.

A sheepish smile crossed the younger twin's face, both relieved to see Elladan return and aware of the thoughts running through his brother's head. "You are back."

"They are human," Elladan lost no time to get to the point, ignoring all else. Only one thing mattered now. "And they have Estel."

"Estel? Are you sure? How is that possible?"

Elladan looked grim. "I do not know. But from what I saw he needs medical attention and the humans are not equipped to give it to him."

The change that came over Elrohir was as instantaneous as it was frightening. In the blink of an eye the wariness seemed to leave his body only to be replaced by a cold determination. A dark promise that, injured or not, nothing would prevent him from saving his baby brother and from delivering bitter vengeance to whoever had hurt him.

"Peace brother." Elladan placed a gentle hand on his twin's shoulder. "I do not think they mean him harm, nor that they are to blame for his condition. They are trying to care for him, but they lack medicine and healers." He hesitated a moment seeing that little of the tension had left Elrohir's body despite his reassurances. It made him remember his own reaction to seeing Estel in the camp of the men, his own desire to draw his sword and demand his brother back to give him the care he needed. He squeezed Elrohir's shoulder again; What came next would not be easy to say.

"If the men break camp ..." Elladan started.

" ... they will take Estel with them," Elrohir finished his brother's sentence. The younger twin drew a shaky breath. "And his injuries?"

"I could not get a good look at him, but he was at the very least running a fever. He needs adar's care."

"Then we have to take him back." Elrohir reached the same conclusion that Elladan had come to earlier. "Do you think they will return him to us if we explain the circumstances?"

"No." Elladan answered immediately, remembering some of the men's conversation that he had heard. "They are superstitious folk, hailing from Rohan. From what I heard they already consider his fever to be the result of an unnatural aura in this 'elven forest'."

Elrohir sighed in exasperation. That was the last thing they needed. "Do you already have a plan for infiltrating their camp?"

Elladan hesitated. He did not look forward to an argument, and he was not sure whether Elrohir would accept the need for him to stay behind. But his twin could not possibly infiltrate a human encampment in his present state.

"They had no sentry and it is late and dark, so I think a direct approach will be best. If you keep watch at the perimeter of the camp, I will try to get Estel out without anyone noticing."

He looked at Elrohir for confirmation of the plan and to his great relief found his twin nodding. Elrohir held out a hand for him to take, but he leaned less heavily now on Elladan. The thought of their younger brother alone and sick among strangers seemed to give him new strength as they set out towards the humans' camp.

-o0o-

When Estel next regained consciousness, his mind was still sluggish and his head hurt terribly, but for the first time since he had fallen off Rochdithen, he didn't feel cold. On the contrary, he rather felt too hot. In fact, he was burning up. If he had been able to think clearly, he would have realized that he was running a fever and that infection must have set in from his head wound.

"Ada?" Estel called out. There was no answer. Why wasn't his father there to help him? And where were his brothers? Normally, they would be looking after him, when he felt this bad.

"Ada, where are you?" he tried again, but again he got no reply. Slowly turning his head, he tried to look for his father. He had to force his heavy eye lids to open and when he did he saw a dark form leaning over him. It took him a few moments to realize that it was neither his father nor his brothers leaning over him, but a stranger.

Suddenly he remembered the humans that had taken him with them and that he had no idea where he was or where they were taking him. All at once he got terribly frightened and tried to move away from the strange man, but it was to no avail as Estel could barely move.

He heard the man speak to him, but could not make sense of the words. However, the tone of the man was calm, reassuring, and a moment later he felt a cool cloth on his forehead. The refreshing coolness of the damp cloth took some of the sting of his headache and the tension in his body away and Estel closed his eyes again and laid back down. He was not strong enough to get away right now anyway, so it would be better to save his energy. 'I will rest and get away later,' Estel told himself and remained very still, hoping that the human might move away again.

'Try not to draw any attention to yourself,' he heard a voice in his head that sounded suspiciously like his brother Elladan and that was exactly what he did.

A few minutes later it seemed to work and Estel felt the man move away. However, Estel still couldn't move very much. He needed more rest, more time to gather his strength and for the time being he had no choice but to remain where he was. 'Tomorrow, he thought hazily as tiredness dragged at him, tomorrow I will get away and go home.'

He wasn't sure if he lost consciousness again or how much time had passed, when he felt a presence leaning over him again. Before he knew what was happening, he felt the person lift him up from the ground.

He was suddenly wide awake. 'They're taking me farther and farther away from home,' he realized as he felt himself being carried away with long strides. That realization was followed by a new thought: 'Ada, will never find me!' And that scared him more than anything ever had before. He gathered up all his courage and strength and struggled against the person holding him and he screamed as loud as he possibly could.

-o0o-

The coming dawn was lifting the blackness of the night, replacing it with a dull blue. Not long now and this night would come to an end - and Elladan's cover would disappear. Elrohir was leaning heavily against a tree, trying to take as much weight off his injured leg as he possibly could. The earlier rage that had given him an extra burst of energy was abating, no longer dulling the pain of his injuries that now made themselves known with renewed enthusiasm. He fervently hoped that Elladan would get their baby brother back without incident, because bitter though it was to accept, he would be more hindrance than help if it came to a fight.

Already, Elladan was halfway across the camp, slowly but steadily approaching the fire in the middle where Estel lay still, wrapped in coarse woolen blankets. He could not see his younger brother from where he stood and at least for the moment Estel made no sounds that he could hear, but he knew Elladan would not have been mistaken. Intense worry coursed through him once more. If Estel truly had a fever, they would need to get him home and safe as soon as possible.

Elrohir shifted his weight once more as a particular sharp pain ran through his leg, fighting to remain upright. He could feel his strength dwindling away with each passing moment and took a moment to curse the orcs, the Eru-forsaken cave they had been trapped in and the bad luck that had stranded them in not one but three cave-ins.

If only Elladan would hurry.

Looking back at the camp, after a quick check to make sure the perimeter remained secure and the tents undisturbed, he was glad to see that his twin had reached the center of the camp where the fire was burning low in the last hour of the night. Carefully, Elladan lifted the young boy lying there into his arms and turned back towards the edge of the clearing and the safety of the forest. But Elrohir's hopes for a quick return were shattered when the bundle in his twin's arms started to move and Estel's scream rend the air. The sound of distress from his baby brother tore at his heart at the same time as fresh worry for his twin assailed him. Already he could hear the movement of men in the tents, coarse shouts in questions of what was going on. Calls to take up arms and fight off invaders.

Elladan for his part did not hesitate. Abandoning stealth for speed, he increased his pace, running through the camp like a shadow fleeing before the coming dawn. Elrohir moved away from the tree trunk that had supported him and steeled his muscles for the run that he knew would come. Their only chance in getting Estel to safety now, depended on outrunning the humans.

"He took the bairn!" One of the men shouted and his voice was followed by the unmistakable ringing of steel as swords were drawn from their scabbards.

Elladan reached his side. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Elrohir fell in step beside him, pushing his injured leg as fast as it would go. Still he was slowing his brother down, he knew. The sound of pursuit was clear to hear over the stepping of their own running feet and it was only getting closer. The precious head start they had had was shrinking with every painful step he took. As Elladan and he rounded a sharp turn, the muscles in his leg seized up and refused to move. It was only by the grace of a young beech tree that he kept from falling.

"Elrohir?" Elladan came to a stop immediately, concern overruling the urgency in his voice. But the sounds of their pursuers were still closing in and Elrohir knew that they had no time to waste. Again Estel struggled weakly against Elladan's hold, the grip of the fever too strong to recognise the care with which he was being held or the beloved presence of his oldest brother. They needed to get Estel out of here, that had to be their priority. They could take no chances.

"GO!" Elrohir pressed through gritted teeth.

"No!" The answer was instantaneous and non-debatable, just like Elrohir had known it would be, but he also knew that his leg would not carry him any further.

"Go." he repeated: "I will hide in the trees. They will never find me." He tried to sound convincing, but Elladan still refused to move. Seconds ticked by. Their precious lead kept dwindling and Estel moaned softly. Such a small sound amid the noise the humans made in their headlong chase through the forest, but it made all the difference.

"I will come back for you!" Elladan promised. Then he gripped Estel a bit tighter, spun around and disappeared into the trees. He did not look back.

"I know you will," Elrohir breathed after him.

As his twin's form disappeared from view, he released his grip on the young beech tree and let himself sink to the ground. He looked around, the snapping of branches now awfully loud in his ears, and eventually scooted a few feet to the side. Exhausted from even the small move, he leaned back against another tree, facing away from the road, hoping the thick trunk would be enough to shield him from view. He had lied to Elladan. He could barely stand, there was no way he could climb a tree. Dragging his injured leg behind him, he could do nothing else but wait as the humans crashed into view, rushing blindly, destructively forward in their effort to catch up to his brothers.

-o0o-

Elladan barely avoided colliding with another tree. Above the forest canopy the coming dawn was coloring the sky a paler blue, but the weak light did not penetrate the densely entwined branches yet. Elladan would not have noticed anyway. As it was he was barely paying heed to the forest floor before his feet, his mind too occupied with his turmoil.

Worry for both his brothers clouded his thoughts and he picked his path by instinct alone, avoiding collisions with low hanging branches or slim tree trunks more by luck than conscious thought. Estel's shallow breaths were the only sound he heard, effortlessly drowning out the furious falling of his own feet or the ever softer sounds of pursuit. Had the human's stopped following him?

He yearned for the chance to double back, to somehow circle around their pursuers and to return to his foolhardy twin. But doing so would risk running into the men. It would jeopardize Estel's safety and that was a risk he could not take. Elrohir would never forgive him for making the choice, for willfully ignoring his sacrifice.

So Elladan ran on. The sounds of pursuit died away but he kept running through the forest, hoping for a miracle.

With the first light of the new dawn it came.

tbc...