A/N Thank you all for waiting so patiently. This story is not yet finished but I thought I would give you all a treat for waiting so long. Thanks, Rev for pressuring me to post this. And thanks to slayer9649 for beta-ing. Hannon le, mellyn nin! Please R and R

Chapter 11

When Aragorn next woke, the first thing he was aware of was his wounded side. It had been wrapped and taken care of. A camp had been set up where he had collapsed and the warmth of a campfire heated his trembling body. His vision was blurry but eventually he was able to make out the sleeping form of Legolas not even two feet away from him. The elf had saved his life!

The flickering of the flames was dying down a bit and Aragorn suspected that Legolas did not have the intention of falling asleep. Aragorn tried his hardest to pull himself up enough to put out the fire, knowing that if it wasn’t contained or properly diminished it could spread. He was able to pour the water from the water bucket onto the fire before he collapsed from exertion. Legolas was up immediately to help his friend.

“I didn’t want to wake you,” Aragorn whispered softly. It was the first time he had used his voice and it kind of hurt to talk.

“Mellon nín, I’m sorry. I should not have fallen asleep,” Legolas replied clearly upset with himself.

Legolas helped Aragorn back to his bed roll and went on to tell him all that was going on while he was unconscious. Legolas had followed Aragorn’s tracks into the night and the next morning. At noon that day he came upon a form curled into himself. He had picked Aragorn up as gently as he could and went searching for suitable shelter.

“Legolas, where are we now?” Estel asked.

“We are in a glade. I tried to clear the snow as best I could for your bed. The cold I could do nothing about except to cover you up. It’s not working very well, apparently.”

Indeed, Estel was shivering horribly. The cold seemed to not only have an effect on his body; it seeped into his bones, muscles, into his heart. In that way, the cold affect his soul. The blanket used to keep him warm was a simple throw; it would not do too much to aide in warming him. Legolas, noticing this, started to create a new fire.

Estel closed his eyes, thinking back on what had happened in the past few days. He had found out that he was the hope of all of Middle-earth and that he would one day be king. He had fallen in love with an easy-to-anger Elf lord’s daughter. He had run away from his best friend. He had not even said good-bye to his brothers.

“Legolas, how are my brothers faring?” Estel asked his voice wavering from exertion and chill.

“Honestly, Estel, I don’t know. When I last saw them they were trying to remain strong for your father. They were keeping their fear and guilt inside them. I suppose now they are sending out search parties again,” Legolas said.

Estel asked for Legolas to continue the story, and Legolas complied immediately. After he had placed Estel on the ground, he went to work on his wounds. Legolas told Estel that he was not great at the healing arts, but he had done the best he could.

“I would prefer to have them looked at later by someone who actually knows what they are doing.”

“Legolas, you aren’t going to take me back to Rivendell are you? Please don’t.”

“No, Estel. If that’s what you want I won’t take you back, but your father deserves at least to know that you’re alive.” Estel didn’t reply because he had fallen asleep. Legolas pulled him against his shoulder and watched over him.

Gabriel had stopped traveling up the Hoarwell a while ago. Now he wanted to head towards another Ranger settlement. He was doing well for himself, he thought. He was able to get food easily, something to be proud of during the winter months. As he walked on a bit, he stumbled into a glade, where two figures were huddling together.

“H-Hello?” Gabe asked while making his way to the fire.

~*~*~

Elrond and company had had no luck, none whatsoever. They now were in the Trollshaws making camp. The sun was setting and they knew that they would have to find shelter. Most of the caves, though, were inhabited by trolls. They decided to sleep in the trees for the night. Hopefully, no trolls would smell them, and with any luck, they would be safe.

Elladan and Elrohir were on watch when it came. They had second watch and most of the camp was sleeping. They smelled rather than saw the troll as it approached. For a moment they were paralyzed in fear as the troll came closer to the stand of trees that held the elves.

The twins both knew that it would be dangerous to let out a warning. The sound would attract the troll to them. They could just throw a stick at their father, but he was a heavy sleeper, and even if he did wake up, he would have to alert the rest of the camp. The brothers both nodded in agreement.

“TROLL!” screamed Elladan, while Elrohir prepared to fight the troll.

Elladan’s scream had woken the camp and most of the elves were waking up groggily. It was Glorfindel who first saw the danger the twins had put themselves in to save them. He made his way towards Elrond who now also saw the twins.

The troll, at the moment, was shaking the tree with Elladan and Elrohir in it. Elladan was holding on for dear life. Elrohir was trying to fend off the troll. It was at that moment that the troll slammed all his body weight into the tree and the twins’ holds released and they fell to the ground. The tree now was supported by another tree: Elrond and Glorfindel’s tree. They noticed that the twins were both not moving. Glorfindel used the fallen tree to make his way to the ground where the twins had fallen. Elrond did the same.

The troll had now moved towards the rest of the camp. He was being struck with elven arrows and some elves were on the ground trying to slash his legs. It was going to be a long night.

Elladan and Elrohir were unresponsive as Elrond examined their injuries. Elrohir had slammed his head into a rock, he probably had a concussion, and it was better that he was not awake. Elladan had a broken leg and some cracked ribs from the fall. Elrond knew that with help his sons would be perfectly fine, but in order for them to get proper care, they would have to be taken home, and Elrond was not willing to let anyone else care for his sons.

The elves had defeated the troll and it now lay lifeless on the ground. A few elves had been injured, though, besides Elladan and Elrohir.

“Glorfindel,” Elrond cried, “I’m going to take the twins home, and we need to split the party up. Some can return to Imladris with me, others can stay with you and continue looking for Legolas and Estel. Do you mind running the search?”

“I will be fine it as long as you send word to me about the twins. I care for them just as much as you.”

“I know you do, Glor, and I promise word will be sent. Besides, Erestor needs to get out some.” Elrond smiled. It was true; Erestor was always in the library. Glorfindel said all the time that he needed to go outside at least once in his life.

Glorfindel and Faelon set up new search parties, smaller in size. Elrond took half of the original search party and they helped him with the injured. The new search party was split into three groups. Glorfindel was with one, Faelon with another, and one of Imladris’ Captains took the other group. Elrond’s party, returning to Imladris, consisted of healers, the injured, and family of the injured.

~*~*~*~

Gabriel hesitantly made his way towards the elf and human. He was unsure if they were his friends or enemies. They didn’t seem evil, but then again, his Uncle Hal told him that appearances can be deceiving. The elf made a motion for Gabe to come closer. He stepped towards the elf and stopped when he reached him.

“Hello young one. I am Legolas. May I ask your name?” the blond elf said.

”Gabriel,” he whispered to his feet. The elf nodded and led him towards the warm fire.

“You seem cold, Gabriel. Here, warm up next to Estel.” Estel nodded towards the child and closed his eyes in either pain or exhaustion. Gabe held out his hand for the man to shake and Estel grabbed it. It hurt him to raise his hand though and Gabe knew it.

“Legolas,” Gabe asked a little bit reserved as a result of the wonder of the elf, “What happened to him?”

Legolas just shook his head; it was Estel who answered.

“That, my friend, is a long story and one that I am both ashamed and pained to tell.”

Gabe nodded, clearly a little bit disappointed. Legolas told him to get some rest and recuperate. Gabe didn’t need telling twice. He drifted off into his pleasant dreams. Estel glanced at Legolas who was deep in thought.

“What are you thinking about Legolas?”

”I was wondering if our little friend knows a place where you can get proper healing.”

“ItÂ’s definitely a possibility. But please Legolas, you need to rest as well. You’ve tired yourself by watching over me.”

“Perhaps you’re right, Estel. I will get some rest as soon as I feel that the camp is secure. I promise. Now, it’s your turn. Go to sleep.”

Eventually the small group of campers was asleep. With the moon shining down on them, Legolas was able to go to the Path of Dreams and Estel was able toÂ… well… have nightmares. He dreamed that he was alone in a big forest. Whenever he called for his family, they wouldn’t answer or they would say he was a disgrace and not worthy of being in their family. Estel screamed in the middle of the night as a result of the nightmare, waking both Legolas and Gabe. Gabe stayed in his bed roll, not sure what he could do while Legolas went to calm Estel. He spoke in Sindarin for Estel to wake up and that everything was alright. Gabe knew only a little bit of the language because Uncle Hal had just begun to teach him. When Legolas asked him to fetch some water, Gabe did immediately. Eventually, Estel was calmed and able to return to sleep. The two others were also asleep within a few minutes after that.

In the morning, the two friends found out that Gabriel did know where the closest settlement was. He even volunteered to take them there. At about noon the whole camp was cleaned up. If someone were to pass, they would never know that there had recently been campers there. Gabe was trying to figure out where Elerias, the settlement, was from where they currently were. He figured that they should head southwest and they would be there by tomorrow evening. Estel was fighting with Legolas whether he could walk or not.

Later they were all ready to go. Legolas and Aragorn had compromised. Estel was going to be carried for awhile so not to re-open his injury again. After awhile, he would help Aragorn walk. When that got too tiring for the human, Legolas would carry him again. Gabe had taken to the friends very quickly. He liked the elfÂ’s sense of humor and Estel made him feel safe, even though Estel himself was obviously not in a state to make anyone safer. Gabe was also observant to the fact that both of his companions seemed wise and experienced.

It was going well. Estel had been let down about an hour ago. He was sweating heavily, and Legolas was supporting his body weight. It was about this time when they figured they should probably take a small break and eat something. Legolas went off to shoot a rabbit or two for them to eat. During this time, Gabriel and Estel were able to talk.

“So, Gabriel, do your parents know that you are out in the wilds all alone?” Estel asked.

Gabriel’s face fell and he seemed reluctant to reply. “My parents are dead. T-They died a few years ago. They were having a picnic and they went sailing on the Hoarwell. It was night time and orcs attacked them. I was devastated. My Uncle Hal took me in. He was my Dad’s brother. When I came to live with him he became very protective and I am not allowed to be outside after hours. I ran away awhile ago, but he’s a ranger so I am surprised he hasn’t tracked me down yet.” A small tear ran down Gabe’s cheek as he spoke about his parents. When he spoke about his uncle he began to show guilt in his eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Gabriel. If it helps, I lost my Dad when I was two years old. My mom died 3 years later. Say, Gabriel, what does your name mean?”

“Strong man of Eru, actually. I haven’t really grown into it yet.” Estel smiled.

“Gabriel, I think, in fact, you have. You saved my life. If you hadn’t run into Legolas and myself, I wouldn’t be on my way for proper care. That’s really very interesting.”

“What?”

“This wound,” he pointed to his side, “was poisoned when I received it. It was a terrible poison. Even now I am feeling the effects, but don’t tell Legolas that. My family was unable to save me. They didn’t know the antidote. Luckily, one of Legolas’ friends found the antidote and was able to bring me back from death. His name is Thalioneru. This is translated into Gabriel in the common tongue.” Estel smiled wider.

“I’ve been saved by two Gabriels in the past month. How ironic is that?” Estel said with a grin. Gabriel laughed with Estel but he was unsure how to answer to such praise. He was saved from answering, luckily, by a loud voice yelling his name.

“And that would be my Uncle,” Gabe said to Estel. Halbarad the ranger came into the clearing, a disapproving glint in his eyes, and stared Gabe down.

“Hi, Uncle.” Gabe said confidently as he offered his uncle a spot to sit down.

TBC…