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Disclaimer: I do not own the character or places associated with the Lord of the Rings or Middle Earth. They are the creations of J. R. R. Tolkien and the property of Tolkien Enterprises.
“It is better to die on your feet
than to live on your knees.”
-Emiliano Zapata
**********
Elrohir knew before he even got back to the place he was supposed to meet everyone that something was wrong and he was regretting not listening to Elladan right now. He stilled his nerves and decided to wait awhile before he wandered away from the meeting place, after all no one was late until after the agreed time had come and passed. Elrohir waited until close to dusk. Now he knew something was definitely wrong. Elladan should have been back by now.
Elrohir mounted his horse and prepared to go find his brother when he heard someone moving towards him. His momentary relief was short lived for the movement was too loud to be an elf’s movements, but too quiet to be any normal human’s. Surely it could not be Estel, he was not due back until the dawn. Elrohir decided to wait where he was for the person approaching.
A blonde pale-featured human in dark clothing pushed his way past some brush and smiled when he saw the elf. Elrohir was a bit taken back by that reaction. Who was this person anyway?
“Ah, there you are Master Elf, I was hoping you would come back to the same place you split.”
Elrohir narrowed his eyes at the human in a stare that only an elf could accomplish.
Vocyn rested the urge to take a step backwards.
“Who are you and what is your business in this valley?” Elrohir asked.
The human seemed to ignore the elf’s question and just looked at him for a moment.
“Well, you two do look a lot alike don’t you?” the human mumbled to himself.
Elrohir’s keen ears caught the phrase and his heart shipped a beat. He forced his features to remain neutral looking on the outside, though.
“To whom do you refer human?” Elrohir asked calmly.
Vocyn’s eyes widened briefly.
“Elves do have such good hearing,” he remarked casually.
“I will ask you once more, to whom do you refer?”
“Why your brother of course.”
Elrohir’s gaze intensified and the human was glad he did not have to fight this one. ‘The other one was annoying enough,’ he thought with his nose still aching.
“What do you know of such things?” the elf asked coldly.
“Well, we have him of course and if you do not want him to be harmed I suggest you follow me, oh, and by now the other two are probably captive as well.”
Elrohir’s eyes widen this time before he regained his composure. Surely this human was lying. How could it be possible that his two brothers and Legolas had been caught? And by whom? Elrohir was indecisive. If this human was alone, which he guessed he was, than he could easily overpower him, but what of his brothers and his friend? Could he take the chance that this human was lying? What of his father? They really did not have time for such things. Gandalf was expecting them back tomorrow shortly after dawn. This simply could not be happening! What should he do? Although Elrohir wanted to head back to Rivendell he knew that what his father cared for the most was his children and were he here now he would want them all to be safe. With a resigned sigh the elf knew what he had to do.
“Very well human, what do you wish for me to do?”
********
Blood from the gash covered Legolas’ forehead, seeped into his hair, and dripped on the ground. It was slowly spreading everywhere and Aragorn had to swallow back his panic. He had to remind himself that head wounds bled profusely and what really matter was how deep it was and not the amount of blood.
Aragorn tentatively inspected the wound. The ranger sighed in relief when he found the arrow did not cut deep enough to slice into Legolas’ skull. Even for an elf, though, his friend was going to have one bad headache when he woke up. The ranger looked up at the swarthy man standing over him.
“I am going to need my bag and some water,” Aragorn demanded more than asked.
At the suspicious look he received Aragorn sighed.
“You may go through the bag if you wish, but I need the bandages and herbs out of it.”
Glullyn did let the ranger have his bag, but he did indeed go through it first. Aragorn really did not care as long as he got what he needed to clean the wound and bandage it. He feared that the wound was deep enough to warrant being sewn up, but he did not have those type of supplies with him. Had he not been raised traveling with his brothers he probably would not be carrying such a wide range of herbs with him now. As Aragorn cleaned the blood he wondered about his brothers now. Where they attacked as well? If so, were they well? And what of his father, how was he?
Aragorn cared for the cut as best as he was able to and securely wrapped the elf’s head. He knew Legolas was going to be annoyed with such restraints when he woke, but there was nothing else that could be done. The ranger looked up again at the other human when he was finished.
“Well boy?” Glullyn asked.
“I believe he will be fine, no thanks to you,” Aragorn spat.
Glullyn smirked at the ranger.
“He dodged my arrow boy,” the man chuckled, “that was Tynnon’s shot that got him. Probably by luck I admit. You two were just lucky my other companion wasn’t here.”
Before Aragorn could comment a shrill wine broke through their conversation, two of the men where trying to restrain the elf’s horse and he was protesting wildly and rearing.
“Calm it down boy, and I’ll let you use the horse to carry the elf,” Glullyn said to the ranger.
Aragorn was not quite prepared for the compassion this brigand seemed to keep showing him. The ranger could sense this one’s heart was not totally evil. He nodded to the other human and rose. Aragorn walked over to the horse and after much coaxing got the animal to settle down. Had it been anyone but Aragorn, someone the horse was used to, it probably would not have responded, but Legolas’ horse trusted this human.
********
Sometime before Elrohir meet the procurer Elladan’s horse ran back into Rivendell. A young male elf ran through the halls of the Last Homely Home to his lord’s chamber and knocked on the door. Glorfindel opened the door and the young elf gave a small bow.
“Sorry to disturb you lord, but I just thought you should know that Lord Elladan’s horse has just returned rider less.”
“Hantale, young one. Would you please go inform Mithrander?” Glorfindel responded.
The young elf nodded and left. Once the young one was out of earshot the older elf cursed under his breath. This was something they did not need. It was not unexpected though. Someone was obviously out for Elrond’s life, so they should have expected whoever it was to hamper their attempts to save him.
Shortly after Glorfindel was informed of the news Gandalf entered the room.
“Now what?” Glorfindel asked simply.
“We do not know the circumstances that Elladan’s horse has returned. We cannot afford to jump to conclusions.”
Glorfindel looked at the istari a little skeptically.
“We are to wait here then?”
The wizard looked thoughtful for a while before he spoke.
“Something tells me that the young ones are being hindered, but we know not by who. I have prepared all I can and I would like to go to them, but I could spend all of our time simply looking for them and that would do no good. We will have to rely on their resourcefulness my friend. I shouldn’t worry too much, though, they are all as stubborn as their respective fathers.”
The comment made the fair-haired elf chuckle.
“I do believe you are right, be it Elrond or Thranduil.”
**********
Elrohir left his horse behind at the human’s insistence, but what the human did not know was that the loyal horse would secretly follow her master anywhere and the elf saw no need to tell that to the human. Elrohir was suspicious that the human did not demand him to leave his weapons behind. The human took them of course, but he held them as they walked. He had to be aware that the much faster elf could get them back if he wished. It came to Elrohir then that the human really did not have to worry about it for as long as he held his brothers and friend there was nothing he could do.
As night settled over the valley of Rivendell Elrohir followed Vocyn into a clearing that held a small camp. His eyes immediately came to rest on an unconscious form on the other side. Elladan was lying on the ground with his eyes closed apparently with his hands bound behind his back. Elrohir instinctively tried to rush to his brother’s side, but the human stepped in front of him.
“Calm down Master Elf, he is fine.”
Elrohir simply narrowed his eyes at the human. The procurer shrugged and stepped out of the way. Elrohir rushed over and knelt down beside his brother’s side. He quickly found the lump on the back of Elladan’s head and also noticed that it had been treated. This fact confused him a bit. Why would someone go through the trouble? A female voice called out to him from the shadows and Elrohir looked up in the direction it came.
“Wondering why I took the time?”
Elrohir had not heard her approach and knew it was an elf before he even heard the voice.
Emlin stepped out into the starlight with her hair shinning a soft silver-gold.
Elrohir’s jaw dropped open and Emlin chuckled.
“You know that is the same look Elladan gave me?” she asked merrily.
Elrohir looked up at her, betrayal written all over his face.
“How could you?” Elrohir asked.
“How could I?” she laughed bitterly, “just ask your father.”
Before Elrohir could respond the she elf turned away from him and spoke as she was leaving.
“I must get back now, I will not let that wizard spoil our plans.”
“Wait,” Elrohir called, “do you even realize what you are doing? You are putting this whole valley at risk, have you not felt it?”
Emlin snorted at Elrohir without turning around.
“My concern is not this place or its inhabitants,” and with that she left.
*******
The first thing Elladan became aware of was that his head was throbbing. An unconscious groan escaped his lips.
A voice floated down from somewhere telling him to get up. His first response was why he should listen to them. The voice wouldn’t go way, though and the annoyance of it brought his mind farther awake. He recognized it as Elrohir’s voice. What did he want now?
The dark-haired elf opened his eyes to find the blurry image of Elrohir hovering over him. Elladan blinked a few times until his brother’s image cleared up.
“Elladan can you hear me? Elladan?”
“Yes, Elrohir,” Elladan responded somewhat irritably, “now would you stop shouting at me?”
Elrohir smirked at his brother. He saw his brother’s confused look become panicked when he realized he could not move.
“You are tied up Elladan,” Elrohir told him.
Elladan looked around finally taking in his surroundings. He saw that they were in a camp of some sort and his eyes came to rest on a familiar blonde human. He seemed to remember something and looked up at Elrohir sharply.
“How long have I been here?”
“I do not know, but do not worry, we only split up this morning. Ada still has time.”
“What of Estel and Legolas?” Elladan asked.
“I do not know that either, but apparently they were to be captured also. I prey they escaped.”
Elladan nodded and Elrohir helped his brother sit up. Elladan noticed his brother was not bound and looked at him curiously.
“I had this privilege only until you woke up brother,” Elrohir answered sadly.
After Elladan sat up he noticed the blonde human coming towards them and he glared at the human. The procurer then bound Elrohir like his brother.
“Where did your companion go?” Elladan asked coldly.
“The lady went back to your home to keep her cover. I see you don’t approve of her actions?”
Elladan simply huffed at the human and turned to his brother. Elrohir read his brother’s question before he asked it.
“Yes Elladan, I saw who it was,” Elrohir said.
Movement to the right caught the two elves attention and they looked on in curiosity while the riders approached. They both knew who it would be, but they both wished it would turn out not to be.
Both of the twins’ heart sank when their anxiety was realized and Estel came
walking into the camp followed by two horses and several more humans. Their
anxiety only grew when they noticed Legolas slung over one of the horses.
“Estel, Legolas,” Elladan called as he rose to his feet.
The sudden movement sent a wave of nausea through him and he dropped back down to his knees.
The movement was not lost of Aragorn and he rushed foreword to his brother.
“Elladan,” he called and knelt down by the elf.
Elladan looked up at his younger brother and spoke before Aragorn could.
“Estel, are you alright? What happened to Legolas?”
“I am fine,” the ranger said to the matching stares of the twins, “Legolas was grazed on the head by an arrow,” Aragorn finished through gritted teeth.
“What of you? Are you two well?” asked Estel.
“We are fine,” Elladan answered.
Aragorn looked at him questioningly, but said no more. Legolas was lifted from the horse by Glullyn and placed near the twins and Aragorn. Aragorn and Legolas’ hand were bound as well.
“I see you were successful?” Vocyn teased Glullyn.
Glullyn snorted at the procurer.
“Well, at least mine are all conscious,” Vocyn, teased at the sound.
“You had help no doubt?”
“Of course,” Vocyn confirmed, “our beautiful employer helped to capture those two.”
Aragorn looked questioningly at the twins.
“We know who the traitor is Estel,” Elrohir said bitterly.
**********
Shortly later, with a little prodding by Aragorn, Legolas woke up. Aragorn was right, Legolas had a splitting headache and the fair-haired elf’s vision was blurred and would it not go away. Legolas tried to sit up, but as soon as he moved a stab of pain went through his head making him nauseous. Legolas collapsed back to the ground with a groan.
Vocyn smiled over at Glullyn.
“My, my, a bit rough on the elf weren’t we?”
Glullyn just gave his companion an annoyed looked and said nothing.
As soon as Legolas hit the ground the twins and Aragorn assaulted him with questions of “how did he feel” or “are you alright?” To Legolas the questions were excruciatingly loud and annoying.
“I would be a lot better if everyone stopped shouting at me,” Legolas answered.
“See if we are concerned over him anymore,” Elrohir mumbled dryly.
“I heard that,” Legolas answered.
“I am fine if you would just give me a moment,” Legolas continued.
Aragorn scooted a little closer to the elf.
“Legolas,” he said keeping his voice soft, “how do you feel?”
Legolas closed his eyes and tried to calm his spinning head. Once the sickness began to slack off he opened his eyes back up.
“I am alright Estel, my vision is just a little blurry.”
Aragorn frowned at the news. Why should the elf’s vision remain blurry?
Do you feel well enough to run? Elrohir’s voice sounded in Legolas’ head.
Legolas was unsure if his legs would support him right now, but they had to try. Elrond did not have time for this.
I believe so, he answered.
Are you sure? Elladan asked.
Do we have a choice? I will be fine, Legolas answered.
Elrohir conveyed to Legolas who the traitor was and that she might have an antidote for their father.
Elrohir caught Legolas’ eye and nodded to the elf. Legolas looked up and caught the ranger’s attention. He knew Aragorn had not caught any of their conversation.
“Aragorn,” Legolas whispered, “be prepared.”
Aragorn looked down at Legolas questioningly. Before he could ask, Elladan called out to the blonde human.
“Vocyn, I do believe that is what you call yourself?”
“Yes, elf, what do you want?” asked the human coming to stand in front of Elladan.
“I can tell that when you said we are the first elves you have ever dealt with it is true.”
“Oh yes, and why is that?” asked the human.
Elladan smirked and looked over to his brother who nodded.
“Because, if you knew any better you would have made the bonds sturdier,” Elladan answered as Elrohir shot up and hit the human in the nose with his unbound hands.
Before the thief fell backwards Elrohir grabbed him, pulled one of Vocyn’s daggers out with the other hand, and smacked the procurer on the head with it. The human slumped to the ground and Elrohir tossed the dagger to Elladan, who quickly cut his bonds as Elrohir met the first charge of men.
Elladan then tossed the dagger to Legolas.
Take Estel and run, he pleaded.
“But…” Legolas began out loud.
“Remember your promise to keep him safe,” Elladan called as he hit one of the humans in the nose, “now get out of here!”
Reluctantly Legolas grabbed the ranger by the collar and pulled him away from the camp. Legolas cut his bonds and Aragorn’s as they ran. As soon as Estel was free he stopped near one of the riverbanks.
“Where are we going? We left Elladan and Elrohir!”
“I know that Estel,” Legolas gritted his teeth through the overwhelming pain in his head.
“But your brothers told me who is responsible for this. I believe Elladan and Elrohir wanted us to help Elrond now, for there is no longer time to ride to gather the herbs, do you understand that? We must find the traitor and see if they have the remedy. You must make a choice of whether to go back after your brothers or hunt down the traitor and save your father. I think as resourceful as your brothers are, I do not doubt that they will be fine, but Elrond’s time is running out.”
Aragorn looked torn between going back after Elladan and Elrohir or going to help his foster father.
“I think you are right Legolas,” Aragorn said slowly, “Elladan and Elrohir were trying to distract them so we could get away and help our father. We will simply have to trust them for now and go after this traitor.”
*******
Elladan and Elrohir held the group of humans off as long as they could and almost half of them where stunned in a very short time. Elladan was just about to tell Elrohir to flee when all of a sudden a strong burst of wind knocked him, Elrohir, and the others down. The winds this time were much fiercer than before, actually cracking one of the smaller trees.
One of the humans happened to land on Elladan causing his head to snap back into a tree. The impact was not hard, but the injury already there protested to the treatment and the elf’s head swim. As Elladan started to lose consciousness Glullyn, fighting against the wind, grabbed the elf’s hair pulling his head back. He placed a dagger to the elf’s throat as Elrohir regained his footing.
“Hold it elf, I’m to stop you anyway I have to. Don’t make me do it,” the swarthy human threatened.
Elrohir saw that his little brother and Legolas had escaped as planned and he did not want to press his luck with his brother’s life. With the second reluctant sigh that day Elrohir relented. As the wind wiped forcefully through his hair almost knocking him over again he stopped his struggles and looked to the sky.
Stupid maid, he had warned her about what was happening.
******
Legolas and Aragorn were caught off guard by the sudden wind. One of the smaller trees near the two snapped crashing into the ground.
The tree set off a chain reaction.
It crashed into one of the boulders sending it rolling, the boulder tumbled towards the two and even though they managed to jump out of the way it crashed into another tree, that much larger tree uprooted making the ground give way beneath the friend’s feet. Legolas could have normally scrambled out of the way, but with his head and vision still fuzzy he could not react fast enough. As the ground gave way the elf lost his footing and was carried over the edge of the bank with the falling rock.
Legolas painfully tumbled down the side to hit the cold river water sputtering. He surfaced and forced his deadened limbs to work trying to get his head above the water long enough to draw breath. The sickening careen down the bank and the jolt into the water had seriously pressed the elf’s injury and Legolas fought to keep from passing out.
He knew if he did not stay awake he would drown, but even as he fought against the impeding blackness he knew he was losing the battle, as he could not stop the blackness from spreading.