Chapter 19. Deepening shadows

It was a rare occurrence when lord Elrond of Imladris showed open distress and was noticeably inattentive in a council meeting. The elves around him were, of course, polite enough not to mention it, but the simple fact that their lord's mind was so troubled was never a good sign. It wasn't hard to put two-and-two together too if one remembered that all three sons of lord Elrond were out in the wild with no one, but the young Mirkwood prince to keep them company. Him, and an uncountable number of various dangerous creatures, if to be precise.

An atmosphere of a doomed expectance hung over the last homely house like a thick dark cloud. The singing was not as cheerful as before and laughter was less often heard inside or outside the stronghold's halls. Despite his preoccupied mood lord Elrond was aware enough to notice this changes, had even recognized the cause of it, but there was nothing he could do. His heart was heavy with a distant ache he couldn't explain. As if some part of him was screaming for his attention, trying to tell him something…

"I wish I knew what ails you, my friend", - soft sincere voice said from behind and Elrond had actually flinched with surprise.

"And I wish you stop sneaking on me", - he retorted, turning around to meet his friend and advisor.

Even despite the deliberately half-hearted tone they used, it was clear that they both were troubled. Elrond tried to push his still unformed fears aside, but one look into his friend's worried eyes was enough to show that it was already too late for that.

"Honestly, Elrond, do you really think no one noticed your state of mind? You replied to Erestor with 'How thoughtful of them' this morning, for Elbereth' sake!"

"And what's wrong with that answer?" – Elrond frowned, finding that it was completely normal to say such a phrase.

"He was talking about orcs increasing their attacks on the rangers' villages, - Glorfindel replied, dryly, eyeing his friend with concerned disapproval. Elrond had the grace to look slightly ashamed. – It is obvious that you are worried about something, why can't you at least share your concerns?"

Elrond sighed, turning to see the beautiful gardens, visible through the spacious window. For a few very long moments he was completely silent, not knowing how to phrase his feelings, for he wasn't sure how to interpret them himself.

"I do not really know what to say, Glorfindel. I'm confused. I'm troubled, yes, but I can't explain what's wrong. I just feel that there's something wrong, very wrong perhaps, but I do not know what".

"Yet", - Glorfindel prodded softly, sensing that there was more to this.

"I think I recognize this feeling, - Elrond closed his eyes and clenched his fists tightly. – Last time I had it was… - he took a deep breath, forcefully calming himself down. – It was when Celebrian was taken".

Glorfindel paled, understanding now the full force of his friend's anxiety. The time when lady Celebrian was brought back home, broken and dying, was the worst in his entire second life. The words that would describe the mass that Elrond and his children presented were not even invented yet and he doubted that anyone can live through such a nightmare twice.

"You think your sons and young prince are in trouble?" – he asked instead, trying to concentrate on the problem at hand, not on the horrific memories or equally unpleasant possibilities.

"Yes, or they would soon be, - Elrond replied shortly. – I do not know what it is, who is it that needs help, only that soon it would be too late to prevent the disaster, whatever it may be. Too late again…"

Last words were whispered so grief-taken and broken, that Glorfindel had to actually battle with a sudden urge to hug the younger elf and comfort him.

"Do you wish me to track them?" – he simply asked, his brain already working, deciding whom to take on such a mission.

"Yes, thank you, my friend, - Elrond turned to face him and Glorfindel was shocked to see unspilled tears in the other's eyes. – My heart would be more at ease, knowing that you are there to save them once again".

"Worry not, my friend, all would end up well, - Glorfindel reached out to place a reassuring hand onto his friend's shoulder, sincerely hoping that he was speaking the truth. – We will find them and bring them home".

"Thank you, I have faith in you and your man".

As the golden-haired warrior disappeared in the corridor, Elrond turned his gaze back to the peaceful view of the gardens. The feeling of growing dread did not disappear, but something else sparkled in it's shadows – a small light of hope. And for that the elf-lord was eternally grateful.

XXX

It was getting dark, but the horse did not stop. Adlin winced, feeling that her body was stiff from such a long period of being bond to one position. Besides, the area just below her back had turned into what felt like one large blister. How could people spend their lives riding the horses?

The animal in question was tired, yet surprisingly not exhausted. The horse's moves were weary, but steady and it shoved little care for the thick forest or close to complete darkness. Adlin pressed herself even tighter against the animal's neck, willing herself to hold on. It wasn't only her life that depended on it, but four others' and that wasn't something to play with.

Suddenly the horse slowed down, panting heavily and shook it's head. Adlin risked a look, but saw nothing in the darkness of the night. She just clang to the animal as the horse took few more steps and stopped, turning to it's rider as if asking to get down.

Even though it was her wish for the past hours, the girl hesitated, not wishing to rid herself of a small comfort the animal's presence gave her. Yet she did, jumping onto the rough ground and almost falling down. Her muscles were stiff and aching.

The horse moved few steps to the left, bending to drink some water from a thin stream that was barely visible between long grass. Adlin had never liked to take other's things without permission, but this situation was far from ordinary and so she took the saddlebag. It was hard to orientate herself in the darkness, but the unmistaken smell of bred and dried meat was so reassuring that her stomach growled happily. The horse had drank it's fill and was busy tasting the long juicy grass, looking up from her meal from time to time to make sure the human girl was close by.

Exhaustion won over the worry and Adlin felt her eyes closing on their own. She suddenly understood that she won't be able to make another move any time soon and so the girl curled up onto herself under the bark of enormous oak and gave in to the sleep.

XXX

"That blasted horse is good, - a harsh voice commented as the five riders came into the clearing. – I doubt we will catch up with it today".

"You 'doubt' it? It's already too dark to travel, man, - another exclaimed. – How would we look for it's tracks?"

"With torches, - a third man said in an ice cold voice. – Or snffing the damn ground, if needed. The girl has a good head-start on us as it is, we won't give her even more chances to get away".

The four others murmured in disapproval and anger, but none was brave enough to stand up to the leader. Or stupid enough, for he was one of the best assassins in their master's service.

"Lit up the torches and let's move out!" – he ordered and the others could do little, but obey.

Soon the light of five torches cut into the night's darkness, enabling the small group to make some, if only very slow, progress in catching up on their prey.

XXX

Aragorn stirred a bit, trying to shift slightly stretching stiff muscles as unnoticeably as possible. He was tired and in quite some pain, sleepy, uncomfortable and irritated. The fact that he was chained to the wall, ready to be sold into slavery was probably the main cause for that. And threats to his brothers' and friend's lives spiced the situation too.

Few of their captors were left awake, no more than four or five. The rest were sleeping soundly, trying to be as close to the slowly burning fire as possible. Soft growling drew his attention to his own empty stomach and Aragorn sighed inaudibly. He was human, after all, and therefore not alien to hunger, or thirst, or…

"Do not sulk", - soft, close to completely soundless retort to his right caused Aragorn to jerk. To his luck the two man, assigned to guard them through the first half of the night, were not paying them much attention. And they, most fortunately, were not trained among elves to have their senses sharp enough to identify the wood-elf's soft whispering.

"I do not. I'm hungry", - growled Aragorn, or he did the next close thing, for his voice too was no more than a wind's blow.

"How human-like, - the prince snorted, his eyes still closed and his head resting against the wall".

"You have a headache", - it wasn't a question, but more like a statement.

"Do you not?"

"I was not beaten up by the whole human village!"

"Weren't you now?"

"Stop it!" – this time it was Elladan. Even whispering he managed to sound threatening and more than just a bit angry.

"And do what?" – Elrohir sounded tired and moody, which by any definition was a bad sign.

"Attract as little attention to us as possible, for example", - the elder twin hissed.

The two humans looked at them suspiciously, only to find the cute picture of four completely uninterested beings, sitting side by side with various expressions of deep boredom on their faces.

"Since when do you follow bad guys' orders?" – Aragorn asked when their two guards turned away once more.

"Since they hurt others in my stead".

"Calm down, brother, it was nothing".

"Nothing? – Elladan sounded scandalized. – He…"

"Shut up, all of you! – Legolas was close to screaming aloud, causing the guards to cast another highly suspicious look. His headache was worsening and the heating atmosphere around did little to help ease his worries. – Stop bickering like a bunch of infants".

The three brothers did indeed grow silent.

"Sorry", - Elladan suggested.

"Me too", - Elrohir agreed.

"And me".

The four beings exchanged looks and couldn't actually stop smiling. Even despite the gravity of their situation they were able to find something amusing in it. Another hidden talent, perhaps?

"Be still, you four! – one of the guards came closer, visibly irritated. He felt that there was something going on right under his nose, but he couldn't understand what exactly it was and that obviously angered him. – Or do you want another reminder of why you should be quiet and obedient? I can arrange that."

He touched the hilt of a whip threateningly, eyeing the captives with burning gaze. Four indifferent and mildly disapproving stares met his, as if he had just with no reason interrupted their highly important pastime. The man growled, but his companion placed an arm on his shoulder.

"Come on, Prad, your heard Roft. We haven't seen them do anything they shouldn't. I don't want to be in trouble for this in the morning".

For a few moments nothing changed and it seemed that the one called Prad would not calm down, but then he finally relaxed.

"One word, - he threatened with a deep growl. – Just one damn word".

He once more eyed the prisoners before reluctantly returning to his place few feet away. It took some time for him to stop checking on the four chained beings every now and then, resuming his conversation with the second guard, who was more interested in a game of dice than in their prisoners.

"See, - Elladan pointed. – That's what I meant".

"We understood, oh wise one, - Legolas sounded weary. – Can we try and get some rest now? I doubt we would be allowed plenty of that in the days to come".

"As unhappy as I am to do so, I agree, - Elrohir sighed. – Lets get some sleep".

"Sleep in here?" – Aragorn made a face, inwardly happy to have his brothers and best friend here with him. He, of course, meant them no harm or pain, but it was much easier to bare the terrifying possibilities of the closest future when you was not alone.

"Do you want a lullaby?" – Elladan asked sarcasticly.

"I doubt our friendly guards would like it, - Elrohir chuckled. – Now sleep".

"As you wish, my lord", - Legolas smiled.

They fell silent, enveloped in their own thoughts, before reluctantly, one by one, they were lulled into sleep by the crackling of the fire and songs of the night forest, even despite the stiffness of their muscles and quite unpleasant cacophony of snorting. None of them knew what the new day would bring, but all four were determined to live through it.

…TBC