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Scarred Fate	By : Massanie Category: +Third Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2051 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 38
- 39
- 40
CHAPTER 39: Eavesdropping

CHAPTER NOTES

SCRIPTS:

'Thoughts'; ~visions~; **mind speech**; -l-Letters-l-

Stealthily the twins crept through the darkening undergrowth, following the hoof prints of their former kidnappers' mares but staying beside the narrow path, not wanting to be seen by any of the Mirkwood elves.

But if he was honest with himself Elrohír had no idea if that precaution was necessary at all. The Mirkwood elves had managed to steadily increase their head start, as they were still on horseback and the chances of them finding Erestor in time would have been almost non-existent if not for Elladan's determination and the forced march with almost no rest.

Still, the twins had simply no idea how close they were to that secret hideout in this dark forest that never changed its hostile appearance and seemed to try and keep them away and off the path. A path that was far too overgrown and seemingly untouched considering that twenty horses had passed here mere hours ago. If not for the clear tracks in the muddy underground to follow, Elrohír was sure they would have gone astray.

At least his leg wound was finally closing with the help of the herbs Elladan had collected at the forest edge two days before and the pain had lessened considerably.

Straining his ears, Elrohír listened into the darkness. Mirkwood was disturbingly silent compared to the forest surrounding the Last Homely House. There were no birds and few other animals.

But in this silence, he could make out the faint echoes of voices.

** Elladan, listen! We must be close! **

In the fading light Elrohír could see his brother halting in his movements, intently listening. ** You are right. We need to be quiet and find out where they have taken Erestor. And we need weapons ... **

Elrohír looked to him sharply. Not only would stealing weapons prove to be a difficult endeavour but if they now raised weapons against their kidnappers they should better be prepared to kill and kill quickly and quietly or else the whole bunch of them would pounce on them.

While both of the twins had assassinated Orcs before, Elrohír was not sure if he could kill an unprepared elven being, without giving them a warning or the chance to lay down their weapons.

For a moment he remembered Elladan's cold, empty eyes while his brother had sneaked up on an orcish scout; his knife flashing in the moonlight as it cut his enemy's gut, ripped open his chest, his belly and severed the artery in the right femoral; a series of four quick, lethal, fluid movements ... performed with such calculating, shocking coldness that Elrohír had truly thought his real brother dead at that moment.

Ever since he had been dying 'every day a little death' until a week ago.

But he would not survive seeing his brother extract such vengeance on other elves.

And yet he remembered Erestor' words in his own letter.

-l-

If you find your brother changed, give him the chance and time to realise he has; give him the chance to prove himself.

-l-

Nodding hesitantly, he waited for Elladan to take the lead again.

Minutes later they saw pale elven lights shimmering through the dark leaves before them and more and more the distant voices they had heard formed into angry words coming from one of the large telain that were hidden in the tree tops.

"Calm down, Aereth." A male voice hissed.

"Calm down?" A female answered in between frantic sobs. "Calm down? Annael you bastard, he got my sons killed! How am I to calm down?"

"If anyone got them killed it was Magron." Another ellon answered angrily.

** Maybe they'll give us a hint as to where Erestor is. ** Elladan told his twin over their link as he pressed himself into the shadows, Elrohír following his example.

"How convenient of you to shift all the blame to the dead, Húrphen. You make me sick!"

"Aereth!" The one called Annael intervened. "I know you're hurting, and no one can relieve this pain. But you have to understand that no one wanted that. Your sons accompanied us of their own free will."

"Because Brandon is a devilish seducer!" Again the woman broke out into sobs and Elrohír looked to his brother uncomfortably.

"He took them from me! And all for kidnapping that boy. I told him to leave my sons in peace, told him that I didn't want them to be involved in such a thing."

There was a small pause before the woman continued somewhat calmer. "Don't you see? He is using us for his benefit."

"*He* has always been looking after our family! How many of us would have been killed if he had not prevented us from being transferred to the Orc and spider infested territories? How many of our family got promising employments at Thranduil's court because of him? With Elethael now here again, he will be able to continue this protection. None of us would have been harmed if Magron had stuck to the plan. And your sons were at the front line, trying to prove themselves!"

"Nay! They were so young, they did not know what they were doing! Annael, please ..."

"Húrphen is right, Aereth. They were not innocent in this."

After that there was nothing for a long time except the soft sounds of weeping. Shortly after the two male ellyn climbed down the ladder to the talan.

"What of the boy?"

"Brandon told Fiondil to establish that bond and drug him afterwards. With the peredhil still wandering about, we need his visions more than ever."

Aghast, the twins looked at each other. They had hoped that they would come in time to prevent the bonding; to learn that it was probably happening at that very moment filled them with dread. But they couldn't get away now with the two warriors standing so close lest they be found out and moreover they still did not know where the advisor was. Turning again to the two ellyn with pale faces the twins strained their ears to hear the hushed voices.

"Annael ... does Fiondil love him?"

The blonde bit his lip before answered hesitantly. "He always has."

Nodding, the other – Húrphen – looked to the ground. "Did he spur Magron on? So he could marry Elethael instead?"

Quickly stepping close to the other blond warrior, Annael hissed at him. "Don't you ever speak like this again ... ever! Fiondil loves his family, he loves us. It is true that he hates his father for giving Elethael to Magron but he would never have jeopardized any of us!"

Raising his hands placating Húrphen stepped back. "All right, forget it. But I must say that I almost feel sorry for the young seer. Damn it, Annael, did you see how obsessed Fiondil is?"

"That doesn't concern us. He will keep Elethael alive, something I'm not sure Magron would have been able to do; and he will keep him under control and inform us of his visions. You should go to bed now."

Frowning, Húrphen looked at his comrade. "Am I dismissed so easily?"

"Yes!" Annael growled and marched away. The other blonde remained some moments more, angrily staring after his friend before he, too, turned and walked away.

** Damn it, Elladan, they are all mad! **

Raising an eyebrow, the other twin replied somewhat matter of fact ** I thought that much was clear already. **

** And what do we do now? We still don't know where he is, only that we have to make haste! **

** Well then ... let us search for him. **

CHAPTER END NOTES

talan ~ wooden platform

telain ~ wooden platforms

ellon ~ male elf

ellyn ~ male elves

peredhil ~ half elves
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Scarred Fate