Chapter 8

-o0o-

Bill was pulled from his sleep by the terrified screams of a child. It took him a few moments to figure out what the screams meant and who they could belong to, but seconds later he was out of his tent, sword in hand and reached the fire only to realize that nothing was there. The bairn was gone.

He turned to look around the campsite, but couldn't see anything until he spotted Paul at the site of the clearing: "What happened?"

"I heard a scream and when I looked where it'ad came from, I saw a dark shadow running away over that a way." Paul pointed.

"Then why didn't you follow?" Bill asked. "Someone took the bairn right from under ye nose. We have to follow 'em," he demanded of his companion, just as the others joined them.

Before anyone could object, he dashed into the forest with his sword drawn. His friends followed him, although Paul seemed reluctant. Despite the dark before dawn, it was easy for the humans to follow the kidnapper, because he had left a clear trail. Since they were not weighed down by a child, they might yet catch up with their quarry. Sounds in the distance seemed to indicate where the kidnapper had gone and Bill followed it as fast as he could force his legs to move through the dense forest.

It took them a while and a lot of effort, but eventually he thought he could make out the big shadow that Paul had seen. A tall person, moving fast despite clearly carrying something heavy. Bill increased his speed even more, closing the distance further. He noticed that despite the heavy weight it carried and despite its speed the figure was moving gracefully, long flowing hair trailing behind it. Bill almost stopped in shock. An elf! The stories were true, they did snatch children out of their cribs at night.

"Come on!" he shouted over to his companions, more determined than ever to safe the boy. Yet when he turned around again the figure was gone. Bill kept running, but his lungs were burning and his legs were weak and eventually he had to admit that the elf had gotten away. When the trail just disappeared in front of him, Bill stopped and waited for the others to catch up to him. They did eventually, all heaving and clearly on their last leg.

"What happened?" Ed asked out of breath.

"I saw Paul's 'shadow', but then suddenly it were gone." Bill explained.

"What exactly did ya see?" chimed in John.

"I saw a black figure carrying the bairn in its arms, running away from us. I think from the way he moved, it might of been an elf."

"An elf?" the others exclaimed surprised and Ed asked doubtfully: "Why would an elf break into our camp to kidnap the bairn?"

"I dunno." Bill said and then added: "However, I willn't rest till I find answers to that questions. And some more."

"But if it was an elf, we'll never find them or any trail," Paul objected.

"We 'ad a trail earlier, so let's go back to that and start from there." The other men agreed and they made their way back towards the area where they had come from.

They found the trail again easily enough and from long experience they spread out to look for further clues. Hunting kept them alive on their long treks, it was no different to look for elf tracks than for deer, though they were certainly harder to spot.

Again the quiet night was disrupted by shouting, though this time of a different kind: "Oi, mates, over here." They heard Paul shout and following his voice, they stumbled across an unusual sight: It was an elf, clearly injured, leaning heavily against a tree at his back, resting one of his hands on the hilt of his sword.

John, taking the lead, raised his arms palms up and stepped closer even as Bill and Paul lifted their own weapons a bit higher, just in case: "We mean ye no harm. We just want the bairn back, is all," John said.

"He needs a healer," Bill added, hoping that the elf would see reason and return the injured child. "Where is he?"

The elf drew a deep breath as if to answer, but before he could, and before John could hold him back Paul suddenly sprang forward catching the elf by his shoulder.

"Where is the boy!?" he demanded, shouting now and Bill could practically see where this was headed. He imagined he could already hear the metal of the elf's sword slide from its sheath and impale Paul before the elf would turn on them all.

They should never have come to this forest.

-o0o-

The first light of dawn reflected on a shape beyond the trees, an apparition from the stories of old, a sign of hope. As he came closer, Elladan could make out the shape. It was a horse, a white elven horse and his heart leapt with joy when he recognised the rider.

"Legolas!"

The blond elf's head whipped around, clearly startled by the sudden appearance of his friend from the forest. Judging by the look on his face, the woodland elf needed a moment to recognize Elladan and he could see when surprise was replaced by puzzlement and worry. The older twin could not really blame him; He must look pitiable. He had lost count of how many twigs he had run into during his headlong flight through the woods, but he was sure that most of them were stuck in his disheveled hair. Not to mention the fact that at some point this night a cave had collapsed on him, twice.

"Elladan?" If the situation would not have been so desperate the older twin might have laughed at the incredulous tone in his friend's voice. "What happened? I was on my way to Rivendell to see you and Elrohir…" Legolas broke off as he scanned the line of trees behind Elladan. "Where is he?"

Elladan did not answer immediately, not quite sure about how to answer. He had left Elrohir behind, had abandoned his twin to the mercy of superstitious men from Rohan in exchange for the chance to get Estel to safety. He looked down at his youngest brother, now peacefully asleep in his arms; all energy in the young body spent.

"Elladan?"

But now he had been given the chance to save both his brothers. His gaze snapped up to Legolas'. "Legolas, I need your help."

"Anything." The woodland prince answered without hesitation, dismounting even as he spoke. Still he drew up in surprise when the older elf held out his arms, gently placing the child he had held into his friend's arms.

"Can you take care of him?"

"I..." Legolas started, uncertainty swinging in his voice for a moment, but then he looked up and met Elladan's eyes. "Yes." The prince took the child into his arms, gently resting the boy's head against his shoulder. He looked up at Elladan again: "What are you..."

"I need your horse as well!"

"Of course." Legolas stepped aside and Elladan hurried past him and swung himself on his friend's horse's back.

"I will explain when I return," he promised but Legolas waved him off.

"Go. The child will be safe."

With a short nod to convey his thanks, Elladan rode off, back to where he had come from.

-o0o-

"Where is the bairn?" The question repeated for the third time was accompanied by a shove that made his head collide painfully with the unyielding tree behind him. Fresh pain exploded between his temples and the world tilted dangerously out of focus.

The men were from Rohan, Elrohir's hazy thoughts were racing. Elladan had said as much and their heavily accented Westron and the color of their hair confirmed it. As did the lingering smell of horse… A rough shake of his shoulder brought a new wave of pain, but it helped clear his straying thoughts. How would he convince them that he and Elladan meant Estel no harm? How would he convince them to let him go? These were ultimately good men, superstitious and dangerously afraid of elves, but good men nonetheless. They had followed two elves through the forest at night to protect a stranger's child. But while they might want to protect his little brother he feared that their charity did not include an injured elf who had stolen the very child they had sought to protect.

"Hey." The man shook him again and as the new wave of dizziness swept over him, Elrohir hissed through clenched teeth. Some of the men jumped back in fear at the sound, raising their swords higher, clearly fearing what he might do, or when he might strike back.

"Stop that Paul," one of the men was saying, "he won't talk better if ya shake 'im to pieces."

"Perhaps he will," Paul replied, "ain't no doubt that he'd a shaken us and the little boy if he could."

The men were starting to argue amongst themselves now, switching to their own Rohirric tongue, trying to make sense of the situation and determine their next step.

"What would they even want with a bairn?"

"Nothing good is fa' sure."

"Ain't matter none. We can't just let 'em have the boy, ain't noone deserve a fate like that."

Elrohir shook his head slowly trying to dispel the latest wave of dizziness and order his thoughts. He would have to try reasoning with them: "The boy's name is Estel. He is safe with my brother."

His voice, spoken in their own Rohirric tongue, froze the men. They looked at him, some disbelieving, some terrified of the implication that he could understand their every word.

"He is sick," their apparent leader replied. "He needs medicine. Return 'im to us, so we can take 'im to a healer. He does not belong with you."

"Yes," another of the humans agreed: "We will not leave him to your witchcraft!"

"Yes," the man still holding him demanded, "Return him!" He yanked Elrohir forward forcing him away from the tree and onto his unsteady feet until they were at eye level. "Where is the bairn?" he asked again, raising his sword next to Elrohir's face, using a tone that made it clear there would be no further questions.

Elrohir's thoughts were racing, yet before he could answer a white shape burst through the trees at their side. The light of the rising sun glistened off cold steel in the hand of the rider of the white horse and the humans stumbled back, terrified. Elladan was like an image from their nightmares: An instant confirmation of all their tales and superstitions about the Eldar.

Rage marred his fair features and he might have done actual harm to the Rohan traders, if Elrohir had not faltered at that moment. The man who had held him upright had stumbled away from Elladan in terror. It was only Elladan's quick reflexes, jumping off the horse to catch his twin, that kept Elrohir from falling over when the support of the human failed.

Slinging his arm around his twin's shoulders, Elladan more lifted than assisted his twin onto the horse and without sparing the startled humans another glance, rode back into the forest. Elrohir leaned heavily against his back, keeping a tight grip in his brother's midsection to stay on the horse.

His voice was steady, when he asked the only question that mattered: "Estel?"

"He is safe."

-o0o-

The early morning was accompanied by the noisy chirping of a multitude of birds. The first shimmering light of the day brightened the horizon, chasing the stars across the heavens. Legolas turned his gaze away from the fading stars and looked instead at the small boy in his arms. Although Elladan had left him without an explanation, Legolas could feel that the child was important. That he was special.

Unfortunately, he was also running a high fever and Legolas hoped that Elladan would return soon so they could make for Rivendell to get some proper help. Legolas had done what he could for the child but healing sick humans was far from his expertise and there was not that much that the woodland prince could do for the sick boy. Instead he focused on keeping him warm and safe. Studying the young and innocent face he could not help the feeling of familiarity that overcame him. Somehow the boy looked familiar, but the elf could not fathom how that was possible, since the child was clearly human.

However, Legolas could ponder the mystery no longer; at that precise moment the boy began to stir in his arms. His elven ears heard a painful whimper before, slowly, the boy's eyes began to flutter. A moment later Legolas looked into pools of silver which after a moment of confusion locked onto him, filling with wonder - and with fear.

"Hush, little one, you are safe," Legolas said in his most calming voice. "My name is Legolas Greenleaf. I am a friend of Elladan. He asked me to look after you. And so I will."

Legolas did not know if it was his voice or what he said, but the words seemed to sooth the boy. The elven prince thought he even saw a glimmer of recognition in the silver eyes, but he did not know how the boy could possibly know him.

Undeterred, he continued: "Do not worry. Elladan will return soon and then we will all ride to Rivendell and get you some help."

The small boy studied him intently. He seemed to accept and trust Legolas' words and the elf saw a touch of a smile cross the human's face. "I trust you, Legolas," the boy answered barely above a whisper, but full of conviction and belief, before his eyes fluttered closed again. With a sigh, the boy returned to the lands of dreams, not knowing that he had just touched the heart of the elven prince.

-o0o-

The rising sun brought no respite. Elrond was exhausted. Not physically perhaps, but he was emotionally and mentally drained. In truth they had only been searching for Estel for little more than half a night, and his older sons had been missing for little more than a day, but to Elrond it felt so much longer. The hours seemed uncountable that he had spent without hearing news of any of his three missing sons. He noticed that the elves around him appeared to fare no better. Everyone in his search party seemed unusually on edge and a tense atmosphere enveloped the elves.

He was still pondering the sudden gloom when some of his scouts were stopping in front of him. "My lord, there is a group of men traveling west. They look like traders from Rohan," the first scout reported, before the second one added: "If we continue on this path, we will come upon them in a few minutes."

"Good, let us go and speak to them." Elrond responded: "Perhaps they are the ones we seek and have Estel with them."

"My lord, I suggest that I ride to meet these men with a smaller portion of our party," Glorfindel spoke up. "Given the fickleness and superstition of humans, they might run or attack us, if they see so many of us riding in full armor."

"I am not afraid of some Rohan traders, my friend." Elrond replied. "They have no reason to attack us, if we approach them openly and with friendship."

"I will not risk your safety, Lord Elrond," Glorfindel persisted. "I will meet with the men - I promise to be courteous," he added drily.

Elrond snorted at his friend's words and though he did not see why he would need protection from some humans, the elven lord relented. At his nod, Glorfindel ordered some of their elves into formation and urged their horses forward. Elrond followed with the rest at a safe distance, silently amused by his seneschal's overprotectiveness.

A few minutes later as they approached the humans it looked like Glorfindel's warning had been wise indeed...

tbc...