PART 14

~250 years later~

"Roses or orchids?" Arwen asked.

"You pick since you're so excited about it," Erestor said drolly.  From behind his desk, Elrond smirked.  Arwen put her hands on her hips.

"You can't tell me you're not excited."

"Not as excited as you are," Erestor said, making notes in a ledger. 

"Father?" Arwen turned to the elder half-elf, who watched them with amusement.

"Leave me out of this.  I won't believe it until I see it," he said, setting one scroll down and reaching for another.  Erestor snickered and Arwen rolled her eyes.  She returned her gaze to the dark advisor, pinning him with her stare.  It was rather less effective on him than she had hoped.

"Erestor, you're getting married.  How can you not be excited?"

"I'll be excited on my wedding day.  Is that better?" he asked.  Growling, Arwen threw down the bouquet in her hand and walked to the door.

"You're both hopeless," she muttered, slamming the door behind her.  Erestor frowned at that, having often told all of Elrond's children not to slam doors.  Elrond shook his head.

"She's trying her best."

"She should try a little less hard.  Elrohir and I don't want anything fancy.  Honestly, why is everyone making such a fuss?"

"Considering how long it's taken for you two to get engaged, should it be any wonder that the people want to rejoice?  Most had given up hope long ago.  I know I had," Elrond said, setting his quill aside and stretching.

"Beside your obvious interest as a father, I don't see what business it is of anyone else," Erestor responded.  Elrond smiled.

"You're in a particularly foul mood today.  Could it be that you miss your fiancé already?  He's barely been gone a day," Elrond teased.  Erestor glared at his lord, which made the half-elf laugh.

"I'm so glad my personal affairs amuse you so.  But I'll have you know that my ire stems from all of these nosy elves insisting on helping with the wedding, not from the separation from my betrothed," Erestor hissed.  Elrond laughed again.

"You're right, I was wrong.  You don't miss your beloved, you're insanely jealous that he was able to escape, and annoyed that he left you behind to suffer."

Erestor glared at his lord but as he didn't refute the argument, Elrond knew there was some truth to it.  That made him laugh all the harder. 

Standing up abruptly, Erestor moved to the door.  "Erestor," Elrond called, stopping the irate elf.  "Forgive me.  I'll stop teasing you.  Come back."

Erestor huffed in annoyance, but returned to his desk.  The half-elf smiled fondly at him, reaching for another scroll.  "You really have brought this all on yourself, you know," he said.  His statement earned him a grunt of acknowledgement.  Elrond's smile grew.

"In a month, this will all be over," he said.  "And you will finally have Elrohir all to yourself."

Erestor grunted again, but the small smile that tugged at his lips did not go unnoticed by his lord. 

~~~

"I owe you one, brother."

"You owe me for more than one, brother."

"Do you think he'll be mad?"

"You're his fiancé.  What do you think?"  Elrohir did not reply, but looked uneasily at the surrounding foliage.  They had just crossed the Bruinen and would travel for another three hours out before swinging to the north.  It was the longest tour Glorfindel assigned his guards and it called for them to travel further from Imladris than any other patrol. 

Normally such a dangerous patrol would call for a party of at least five elves, but the twins had traveled through worse conditions and returned unscathed.  And Elrohir really needed to get away from everyone.  Elladan understood that, and so had arranged this retreat for him. 

Seeing his twin's expression, the elder half-elf leaned over to clasp Elrohir's shoulder.  "He loves you, brother.  Valar know why.  Any annoyance he has is but a temporary thing."  Elrohir sighed.

"I know, but he's been so agitated by all the attention.  It's hardy fair that I should leave him to deal with all that alone."  Elladan snorted.

"Don't worry, brother.  I'm sure our dear former teacher will think of an adequate way to punish you for not attending class.  As I remember, he's quite good with punishments."  The elder twin gave his brother a suggestive wink, which caused Elrohir to go scarlet.  Seeing his reaction, Elladan was sure he didn't want to know what image his words had brought to his twin's mind.

Gently kicking his stallion's flanks, he urged the horse to go a little faster.  He knew Elrohir wanted to get as far away from Imladris as possible.  Ever since he and Erestor had announced their engagement, they had gotten no peace.  For one thing, they had managed to keep their relationship a secret for over two centuries, which was practically impossible among the gossipy maids in the kitchen.  Of course, they had never paid much attention to Erestor before, finding him dull.  The unfortunate thing, as far as Elladan could see, was that when Elrohir announced his engagement, the maids began to wonder about Elladan's love life.  He thought he'd escaped that centuries ago.

"If Arwen has any say, it'll be a lovely wedding," Elladan said, trying to change topics.  Elrohir snorted.

"If Arwen has any say?  She's practically organized the whole thing.  And she doesn't listen to a word we say.  We said we wanted to keep the wedding private, she sent invitations to all three realms.  We said we wanted a small wedding, the invitations were for a hundred people each.  We said we wanted a winter wedding, she convinced spring would be so much better.  Honestly, we may as well call it her wedding."

Elladan laughed.  "Father said that weddings were for women."

"Erestor told me about his wedding to Tauron.  He told me that there were exactly six people there, three guests, father, Tauron and Ulmo.  It was at dusk and took all of fifteen minutes.  That's the kind of wedding I want.  Short and simple.  I suppose that's the price we pay for having the most beautiful sister of all the elven realms."  He sighed while Elladan smirked.

Suddenly the elder twin stiffened.  Alert, Elrohir scanned the area.  He didn't see or hear anything, but he felt it.  The two of them had too often been in dangerous situations not to have developed a sixth sense.  At the moment it was blaring like their step-father's horn.  Elrohir drew his bow and notched an arrow.  Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Elladan draw his sword.  Beneath them, the horses pawed the ground nervously.

Even with their nerves on edge, the attack came as a surprise.  Perhaps the twins had taken for granted that orcs usually made enough noise to wake the dead because these were silent until they appeared.  If the twins had had time to study their opponent closely, they would have noticed these were not ordinary orcs.  As it was, they acted sufficiently intelligent that it soon became obvious to the twins.

"They're driving us, brother," Elladan grunted, swinging his sword out to catch the shoulder of the nearest orc.  Elrohir gritted his teeth.

"They mean to un-horse us."  He had long ago run out of arrows and was having trouble defending his horse.  It unnerved him that there were so many orcs so near to Imladris.  He knew they were too far away from the Bruinen for their father to sense them.  They were on their own.

Of course, the twins had tried to return home.  Being so close to Imladris and the border guards, it was the only sensible course of action.  But the orcs blocked their every move, pushing them in a direction of their choosing.  It soon became horrifyingly apparent that the orcs wished to take them alive. 

The twins redoubled their efforts, urging their horses to slam bodily into the oncoming orcs, hoping to clear a path.  For a moment, despite the passing blows to their legs, the knife wounds to their mounts, it appeared that they might be able to make it.  The horses beneath them understood their urgency and fought for freedom. 

Too late.

An unexpected body slammed into Elrohir, knocking him from his horse and momentarily stunning him.  Elladan quickly turned his horse around, moving to get near his twin.  Immediately, the path was closed behind him by dozens of snarling, spitting orcs.  The elder half-elf did not wish to lose the advantage of being on horseback, and so did not dismount.  He leaned over, trying to grab Elrohir and pull him up.  The moment of inattention to his enemy cost him.  A thick black arrow hit true in the horse's flank, cutting the saddle strap in half, causing Elladan to slip under his falling horse.  Thankfully, the great beast landed on his legs and not his spine. 

The sudden fall disoriented the elder half-elf.  He barely had time to refocus when a menacing, slime-covered boot appeared in his view.  That was the last sight he had before being struck over the head.

~~~

The symbol was that of a bleeding tooth set against a black field.  It was a simply design, gray in color.  The fabric felt rough in his shaking hands, possibly made from warg hair.  He was speechless, a feeling of cold dread wrapping around his spine and holding him immobile.  A cool hand wrapping over his and a cooler voice broke through his horrified trance.

"Elrond, what is it?" Erestor's voice asked, the trace of his own worry buried deep.  Other elves stopped to look at their lord, who was paler than any could remember seeing him. 

"I know this symbol," the half-elf said shakily, feeling like his legs would give out.  Glorfindel was instantly beside him, wrapping his soldier's arm around the lord's trim waist.  Discreetly, both advisor and captain led their lord away from the carnage surrounding them.

"Where?" Erestor asked calmly, trying to fight down his own panic.  It did not help that his beloved's father looked about ready to faint.

"It w-was the emblem of my own c-captors two and a half centuries ago," Elrond said quietly.  He heard the sharp intake of breath from Glorfindel, and Erestor's grip on his hand tightened painfully.  His captain growled.

"It is more than a coincidence.  We should not have let the matter rest.  They were too well organized then and too well organized now if they could take the twins.  There had to be someone behind it!"

Elrond could only nod wearily in agreement.  "I need to sit down," he said, feeling the world was spinning.  The memory of his torture at the hands of the orcs assaulted him with new force.  It had never bothered him much, but now that he thought his little boys could suffer the same fate . . . it was too horrible to contemplate. 

Erestor and Glorfindel helped the half-elf lean against an old tree, both kneeling beside him.

"Perhaps they were taken the same place you were, my lord?" the advisor said.  Elrond had thought of that but slowly shook his head.

"The enemy has shown a degree of cleverness in his tactics that I haven't seen since the War of Wrath.  No, he wouldn't take them someplace obvious like that.  And even if he wanted too, well, my husband destroyed much of the mountain valley.  It would not be very habitable anymore."  A shiver ripped through Elrond, remembering that place.

Sensing that his lord was uncomfortable with this topic, Glorfindel sought action.  "Huandil," he called, beckoning his second to him.  "Have you organized the patrols?"

"Yes, my lord," the younger elf says, looking with concern at his lord.  "Findin's scouts should return soon.  I've selected a small group to head into the mountains while the other patrols fan out for any signs of the twins."

"I'm going with," Erestor suddenly said.  Both Glorfindel and Huandil were surprised.  They opened their mouths to protest, but Elrond beat them to it.  The advisor had risen, looking so severe that the two soldiers were nervous to say anything to him.  It was that look Glorfindel had often seen in the council chambers and he knew it boded no good.  But Elrond's hand quickly snatched Erestor's wrist, tugging him back.

"No, you must stay with me," the half-elf insisted.  The dark advisor pursed his lips, not willing to outright refuse his lord.

"Elrond, I cannot sit here.  I must go out.  It may have been awhile, but I'm a trained warrior."  He could tell his argument had been met with deaf ears as his lord shook his head.

"No," Elrond said so sternly that the three listening felt shivers go up their spines.  It was a tone Elrond used only in the gravest of circumstances when he would not have his authority questioned.  And those listening at the moment wondered how anyone could fight with their lord when he used that tone.  But Erestor tried anyway.

"My lord," he began, but Elrond cut him off.

"No, Erestor.  We are needed here.  I know what you're feeling, believe me.  I want nothing more than to go after them, but I can't.  Our duty is to our people.  They cannot have their lord in danger and I cannot be without my Chief Advisor in such a crisis.  My guard are well trained and they are every bit as determined as I am to get my sons back.  Their chances of success are hardly any better whether you or I are with them or not.  The two of us are more useful here."

Elrond could see his advisor grinding his teeth.  If there was one thing Erestor could appreciate, it was logic, but at the moment he hated that his lord was so sensible.  Every nerve in his body screamed at him to do something, to go out and find his fiancé and kill a few orcs in the process.

While Erestor worked on calming down, Elrond stood up.  He looked seriously at them.  "If the initial patrols cannot find them, or at least their tracks, they should return to Imladris immediately.  I will summon my husband.  He should be able to find them as he did me."

"But how?  He shared a marriage bond with you.  Surely he has no such bond with the twins," Glorfindel asked, though the thought of the Vala's help reassured him a bit. 

"I am very close to my sons," Elrond said, his tone stating that he would say no more about it.  Slowly, still emotionally shaken, the half-elf walked back to his horse.  Unhappily, Erestor followed after.

~~~

"Wake up, pretties."

Elrohir released a groan, his entire body throbbing in pain.  At first he thought there was something wrong with his eyes.  They were open, weren't they?  The young half-elf blinked a few times, but the darkness remained.

He was hanging barely an inch from the ground, and if he stretched, his toes touched.  It was terribly painful to have all of his weight held by only his wrists.  He could feel the heavy metal biting into his skin.  There was metal around his ankles too, ensuring he couldn't kick out at his abductors. 

The soreness in his shoulders told him he had been here for a while.  He was also aware of cool air on his bare skin, indicating he was naked.  The air itself was thick and smoky, and smelled of rotting flesh.  It was hard to draw breath in a hanging position, which made every inhale sound very loud to his ears.  Because of this, he almost missed the comforting wheezing coming from beside him.

Leaning slightly on their bond, Elrohir knew his twin was alive though not conscious yet.  He didn't know if he should be glad or not.  Of course, he wanted his twin with him, but he would have gladly been separated if it meant Elladan was not a captive.  Well, there was nothing to be done now about that.  They would simply have to find a way out of here. 

Elrohir almost snorted at that thought.  It was obvious to him that their captors were taking no chances with them. 

"I said wake!" a raspy voice bellowed suddenly, shaking the chains that held the half-elf aloft and completely startling him.  Elrohir heard his twin moan in response, slowly waking up.  The younger twin tensed, now that he was faced with his captor.  He wished he could have some private time with his brother, so that he could know if Elladan was all right and then they could form some kind of plan. 

After a very tense moment, Elrohir heard his brother's chains rattle and knew Elladan was testing their strength.  At least his mind was still clear.

"Good, I see you've finally decided to join me," the deep voice growled. 

"Who are you?  What do you want?" Elladan demanded.  His voice sounded strong, but to Elrohir, who knew every nuance of his twin, he knew his brother was hurting badly.

The elder half-elf's demand was met with an eerie chuckle that made both half-elves shudder.  They had never heard anything so evil in their lives.

"So brave, young one.  I see you inherited much from your grandfather.  Pity."  Instinctively, though he could see nothing, Elrohir sought to look in his brother's eyes.  What had their grandfather to do with anything?  Was this an enemy of Celeborn and had nothing to do with them directly?

"You did not answer my question," Elladan persisted stubbornly.  Elrohir held his breath.  A sharp crack reverberated through the chamber, followed instantly by Elladan's pained gasp.  The younger half-elf bit his lip to keep from protesting.  He knew it would do them no good to antagonize their captor.

"You have his insolence too, I see.  I suppose I should have expected nothing less," the voice now hissed.  Elrohir began to shiver.  A grating sound echoed throughout the chamber before everything was still again.

"I will indulge you, half-elf."  Their captor said the last word with an obvious sneer.  Elrohir bristled, but kept his tongue.  "You are merely bait for a much grander prize.  I'm sure your father would make a nice addition to our party, don't you think."

Elrohir heard the sharp intake of breath from his brother.  But for once, Elladan remained silent and that worried the younger twin.  There was something wrong with his brother.  Elrohir wished desperately to be able to see him.  Without thinking, he twisted his body in the direction of his brother's voice.  But of course, he could see nothing.  He growled in frustration.

"Does the darkness bother you, half-elf?  Perhaps I can remedy that."  Something in that tone made Elrohir tense.  He was sure he wanted nothing that their captor had to offer.

Suddenly, two great lamps shone forth bathing the room in an eerie green light.  The sudden change in brightness was painful and Elrohir forced his eyes shut.  The lamps lay right in front of them, and neither twin could twist away from the intense light.  It felt like they were burning.

"Yes, so pretty.  I could eat you up." That eerie chuckle was back, freezing the blood in Elrohir's veins.  "But it would be a shame to mare that perfection before your father arrives to witness it.  I'm sure he'll come for you very soon."

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