Posted: August 2003
Author: Iamme

*********

Elladan yawned and woke up in a strange but comfortable room. He could smell cinnamon apples and honey biscuits. He sat up slowly, yawning and looked around, trying to remember how he had gotten here. The last thing he remembered, he had been at home in his room. He looked over to see Elrohir sleeping next to him, helping him to ease his fears a little. His brother was here so nothing bad could have happened. Ada must have had them moved, but where was Glorfindel?

Elladan finally stood up, resting his feet on the cold stone floor for a moment before moving for the door. He tried pulling on it to find it locked, and suddenly, he realized that he was not wearing the same jammies as when they had gone to bed last night. He ran over to Elrohir, shaking him and whispering as loudly as one could possibly whisper.

“Wake up Elrohir!”

Elrohir groaned and rolled over. “Amme, I do not want to go to do studies today. I am tired.”

Elladan frowned, seeing that his brother was going to be hard to wake up. He slapped his brother on the arm hard. Whack!!

“Ow!” Elrohir screamed jumping up. “I am going to tell Ada on you !”

Elladan groaned, “I am sorry, brother, but we are in trouble. We are not at home and not in our jammies and the door is locked."

**

Elrond rode towards Morgur, a worried expression on his face as they passed through the forest that normally offered him so much comfort. He could only imagine what was happening with his sons.

Celeborn rode up next to Elrond, trying to hide his own fear to help strengthen his son in law. “They will be fine, Elrond, we will make it in time.”

Elrond looked at Celeborn. “What happens should the twins decide to take matters into their own hands and try to escape?”

“They are smart elflings, Elrond. They will wait for you, I am sure,” noted Thranduil.

Elrond looked at Celeborn and then Golradir. Realization hitting all of them at the same time, all three of them spurred their horses onward at a frantic pace, leaving the rest of the party staring after them.

**

Elladan was pacing the small room, taking notes on what was there. A bed a table with two chairs, their breakfast, and a wash basin with some soap and water and a pair of washcloths and towels.

Elrohir watched his brother as he sat eating his breakfast. “Elladan, your apples are getting cold and your milk is getting warm, and I am still hungry. If you do not come and eat it, I am going to. “

“Are you not just a little curious as to what is happening?” Questioned Elladan as he pulled one of the cases off of the pillows.

“Yes, but I am hungry too..." grumbled Elladan.

“Well, hurry up because I need the cups and bowls when you are done.”

Elrohir looked at Elladan and realized his brother was planning something and his eyes lit up. The elfling quickly devoured his brother's food before he rushed over. Elladan thrust a pillowcase in to his hands as he began to whisper in Elrohir’s ear.

“That is a great plan Elladan. But what is it is not who you think? We would hurt Ada.”

Elladan shook his head “Ada would not lock us in.”

Elrohir nodded in agreement before hurrying off to set things in motion.

**

Morcorban stood at the window of his office watching the approaching elves. They seemed to be riding as if a balrog were after them. He would let the elflings go either way. He would do a lot of things, but hurting a child was not one of them.

“Hopefully, this war will be over before Arien sets tonight," he stated to no one in particular as he motioned to one of his advisors. “Go check on the elflings. Do not let them escape but do not harm them. If either happens, you will not like the outcome.”

The advisor nodded and quickly hurried out to do his lord’s bidding.

The dark lord’s brow rose, seeing a party of elves trailing behind the first, wondering why they were not all together?

“How very odd.” Suddenly a thought occurred to him. He turned to his captain who was standing and watching the approaching party. "Carchthoron, I want you to go and make sure all is well. I have a strange feeling that he is going to underestimate the elflings."

"Not to question you, Lord Morcorban, but they are children. How much damage can they do?"

"Anyone you underestimate can be dangerous, no matter how small or docile."

His captain turned with out another word and headed out the door towards the guest quarters.

The advisor made the way towards the room holding the twins. What could possibly go wrong? They were just children. He opened the door, stepping inside without looking and before he realized it, a soapy cloth hit him in the eyes, blinding him. With a scream, he tried to move to close the door when he was pushed from behind as he was tripped over a sheet. The last thing he remembered was the sound of shattering glass as he was hit over the head.

Elladan looked at the unconscious elf lying on the floor. “That worked better than I thought it would.” Elrohir nodded as they ran for the door.

________________________________________________
Glorfindel woke up with pain radiating through out his body.

“I did not know Erestor could fight like that.”

Suddenly, at the thought of Erestor, Glorfindel jumped up.

“Erestor!! The Twins!! I have to tell Elrond!”

A healer came over, trying to calm the wounded elf. “M’lord Glorfindel, you need to rest.”

“But I need to speak to Elrond!”

“Lord Elrond is not here. He has gone to try to work on a truce with the Moriquendi. The twins were taken and you were injured. Counselor Erestor is in a cell till Lord Elrond can return to try to help him. Now you should try to lay down to rest.”

He looked at the healer like he had lost his mind. “I will not, I am needed.”

He pushed past the elf trying to block the doorway and ran out into the halls,ignoring his pain. The healer simply shook his head and went to work on something to help get the Elf Lord back into bed where he belonged. Glorfindel made his way to his rooms and changed into more appropriate clothing before heading down to the prison.

Erestor sat against his pillow, half-heartedly flipping through his book. He hated being locked away. It reminded him too much of his ordeal, but he hated the fact even more that he had caused so much pain to those around him. He looked over at the plate of food and sighed. It looked delicious but he did not want to eat. He simply wanted to sleep, but that seemed to be a thing of the past. The potions they had forced upon him were still affecting him and he began to wonder if he would ever be free of their effects. He let the book drop on to the table next to him, before turning over as far as the chain around his ankle would allow.

“Erestor?”

Erestor looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. “Glorfindel! You are well?” He sat up, looking towards the door.

“I will be fine, but I have to know? Why did you do what you did?”

Erestor looked down. It was finally time for him to speak up about what had happened. Since he had hurt Glorfindel, he felt he deserved an explanation.

"I did not mean it, Glorfindel. It was not me. It was as if someone else had control over my body and all I could do was watch. It was so much like the rest of my life since the day they dragged me into Mor-gur; a nightmare I cannot wake up from. He made me do it, it was his plan all along."

Glorfindel tilted his head while studying his friend. "Who made you do it, Erestor?"

"Morcorban, the elf who tortured me." Erestor felt his fist clench at the name, the very sound of it causing his stomach to knot in fear.

Glorfindel nodded, watching him, head resting against the bars. “Are you going to be ok?”

Erestor nodded, knowing it was far from the truth but what was he to say? ‘Yes Glorfindel I am fine. I was tortured. I stabbed my best friend and helped my worst enemy kidnap my Lord’s sons and my pupils but I am perfectly chipper.’

“I am sorry, Erestor. That was not what I meant to say. I meant to say that I forgive you and I know it is not your fault. Do you need anything?”

Erestor looked up at Glorfindel, thinking for a moment. “Someone to talk to would be nice, I think.”

Glorfindel nodded and walked to the desk where the logbook was kept and pulled the chair over. He sat down and leaned against the bars. “I am listening ."

Erestor licked his lips fumbling with the blanket trying to think of how to began as Glorfindel waited patiently.

"I am afraid, Glorfindel. I feel ... lost. I am not the elf I use to be. The things they did. I am not sure if I can continue on like this; I will never be the same. I relive it almost every moment. It does not matter if I am asleep or awake."

"You could sail to the Undying Lands."

Erestor shook his head. "I will have to deal with it before then. I would not survive at this moment to make it to the Undying Lands; It is destroying me, Glorfindel. I cannot fade, I cannot die with out actually harming myself. I will go insane if I am unable to find a way to cope with it."

"Then when Elrond returns, if you wish, I will go with you and talk to him. All will be well in time, Erestor."

"I do not know if I can say what they did to me, Glorfindel. I am afraid of someone actually knowing what happened. I know that sounds insane but I cannot help it. I do not wish for them to think of me in the situation I was in."

"But that is what you need Erestor. You need to share what happened. We will think no less of you; I cannot begin to imagine what happened there; you had to be strong to survive and not be insane now."

"Damn it, Glorfindel; I am insane. Do you not see it? I cracked! I told them everything they wanted to know! I failed!" Erestor fell back against the pillows and closed his eyes, tears running down his face.

"I do not consider you a failure. No one could have gone through what you did and not have eventually given in. Do you not see that we respect you just as much as we ever did? You need time, my friend, to heal. Take sometime off and rest. Do not push yourself or it will end up killing you. We all need you, Erestor, even those of us who do not always show it."

Erestor nodded, looking towards Glorfindel. "I will try; but it will take sometime."

"I will be here to help you. Now I hear the healers guild heading down here to drag me back to the healing wing so I must go; but, you are not rid of me and I will return."

"Thank you Glorfindel." Glorfindel nodded and stood before heading up the stairs.

---

Part 6

Morcorban walked out to meet the approaching party of elves; his black robes flowing around him as he descended the steps. This was going to be a long long day. The other group had finally caught up with the first three and all were just entering the gate as he made it to the bottom, waiting patiently as they rode forward. Finally they made it past the line of evergreens that lined the entrance to the courtyard and dismounted.

Morcorban waited till the party of elves were before him before speaking . “Mae govannen, King Thranduil, Lord Elrond, and Lord Celeborn.”

It was Elrond that spoke up for them. “I am afraid this day does not find us well at all; I would like to see my sons.”

Morcorban nodded. “Of course, I apologize. I assure you, Lord Elrond, that your sons are here and we have treated them well and no harm has befallen them. Regardless of what you think of us, we would never hurt a child. Now, come we have much to discuss.”

When Morcorban turned, Elrond and Thranduil exchanged a rather doubtful look knowing what had befallen Thranduil’s Queen, but they had no choice but to trust the elf.

Carchthoron turned the corner just as two elflings ran into him. Quickly, he placed a large hand on each shoulder firmly. “Hello, sons of Elrond, I am Carchthoron and I have been sent to return you to your Ada. He is waiting for you with your Attar and King Thranduil.”

Elladan looked at Elrohir with wide eyes, not trusting this elf but knowing they did not have much choice. They nodded in unison.

“Good, but first let us go find you some clothing that will be more acceptable. May I ask where Brilion, the elf that was sent to retrieve you, is?” Elladan bit his lip as they were led down the hall.

“There was an accident, and he hit his head. He is now unconscious on the floor.”

“We were coming to look for help,” quickly added Elrohir.

Carchthoron smiled knowingly, “I see?Once I take you to get dressed and return you to your Ada, then I will send someone to check on Brilion.”

Morcorban led the party of elves down the hall to a room where comfortable chairs lined a large black table. Silver wine goblets sat before each along with dinner settings.

“We felt you would not want to wait to begin these negotiations so we made every effort to expedite this, despite the tensions between our people. We wanted you to feel as comfortable as possible, despite all that has transpired.”

Celeborn nodded, “It is most appreciated. We would like to see Elladan and Elrohir as soon as possible.”

“Of course, I have already sent someone to fetch them. They will be here unharmed, I assure you, though I am not sure of my advisor that I sent to fetch them. Now let us get down to business shall we? ” Motioning for the other elves to sit.

Celeborn motioned for everyone to take a seat and then slid in to one of the comfortable chairs.

Morcorban waited for everyone to be served and the servants to leave before beginning to speak.

“My King has given me authority to use what ever means I feel is necessary to end this war. There is a new danger approaching and we will need a truce between our peoples to overcome it.”

Thranduil frowned, gripping the edge of the table. “You kill my wife, kidnap Elrond’s sons, and torture our people, and then ask for a truce where you take our lands and ask for the return of those you have driven to the point of insanity?!”

Morcorban looked genuinely confused as he replied calmly, “You are correct that I was behind the kidnapping of Lord Elrond’s sons and I was forced to extract certain information from the Chief Counselor, but I am afraid, King Thranduil, that I do not know anything of your wife. We did nothing to her.”

Elrond frowned, “Tell us of this new evil.”

Morcorban folded his hands, watching the elves before him, seeing that they truly did not know. “Melkor is free.”

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