{Third Person}

Elrohir stepped out from his hiding place and walked back to the door into the mountain, scanning for any sign of Legolas and Aragorn's return. But like the previous times he had looked, there was nothing. The tunnel inside was dimly lit and not a sound came from within. Elrohir turned away knowing that soon he would have to head down to the others. What it they have been captured? He asked himself. Why didn't I insisted to go with them? He knew why. Someone had to stay in case they failed to return and most the warriors at the bottom of the path are under Elrohir's command, not Legolas'.

Waiting was torture. It reminded him of the last time he was in this position. His naneth had been captured and he and his brother had split up searching for her, one going right, the other, left. They went deep within the goblin tunnels with an agreement to meet back outside after six days. Elrohir hadn't found her. He looked until the time was up. Then, hoping Elladan had found her, he went where they had agreed to meet and waited two days. Every bone in his body screamed for him to run in and find his family. But he waited, knowing he would want his brother to do the same. As the sun sank on the second day, they appeared, bloodied and bruised.

This was the same thing all over. Expect for this time it was his sister. Anger and hatred towards the creatures of Morgoth filled him as he started to make his way down the mountain path. But something stopped him, and he turned around, listening for the noise to sound again. Then he heard it. It was coming from inside. Walking back to the door he looked inside again. This time he saw the outline of someone in the dim light and the elf recognized him at once. "Estel!" He cried and Aragorn looked up at him. Elrohir came closer and Aragorn stumbled. "Estel, what's wrong? Are you injured?"

"No, I'm fine." He said, but his voice was hoarse. Elrohir helped him out and they walked a little ways from the door before sitting down in the snow. Elrohir handed him what was left of his water skin.

"Estel what happened? Where is my sister and Legolas?" Elrohir asked.

"They have Legolas." He answered and guilt came across his face. "He shoved me behind a rock when Orcs came from behind us at least two days ago. I must have hit my head for when I woke, their was no sign of them."

They were both silent for a moment as they each reflected on what happened.

"Come, we need to back to camp." Elrohir said. Aragorn agreed and they started off down the mountain.

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Elrohir cursed at the sight before them. The camp was destroyed. Bodies of both elves and orcs lay on the ground.

"They must have been attacked sometime while we were away." Elrohir said, stating the obvious as he surveyed the sight before him.

"Look for any survivors." Aragorn said and began checking for the slightest beat of an elven heart.

They found several still alive. Elrohir continued to look while Aragorn cared for those they had found. The light slowly began to dwindle as evening would be upon them soon.

Climbing atop a large bolder, Elrohir surveyed the area just outside the camp. He spotted an elf laying on his side on the ground, clad in slightly different armor. It was the Silvan Captain Elrohir had only meet in the past two weeks. Leaping down and running over to him, Elrohir found he was still barely hanging on to consciousness --an arrow embedded in his back and a large gash in his side. Blood soaked the area around both wounds.

"Thaladir, can you hear me?" Elrohir called to the elf who looked up at Elrohir, his eyes unfocused and his skin had lost its color.

"....ambushed." He said, his words slow and slurred. "We fought... outnumbered."

"Okay, stay with me." Elrohir said, and as carefully as he could, he lifted Thaladir and brought him to where Aragorn was still doing his best to save the immortal life of the others.

"He is barely conscious." Elrohir told Aragorn as he laid the captain on the ground and began to remove his armor. Aragorn came over as Elrohir began to slow the bleeding around the arrow.

"I will to take over." Aragorn said, "Are there any more survivors?"

"I don't know." Elrohir answered, "Seven are dead and five are here which means that three are missing. Including Dolenel."

"Check once more." Aragorn said, "Whether you find them or not, be back here by nightfall." Elrohir nodded and left.

Night was coming quickly. Elrohir knew he would have to hurry if he wanted to circle the entire camp. Halfway around, he heard something. Stopping, Elrohir listened for the sound again. It was coming from behind one of the boulders that were scattered around the place. Drawing his sword, Elrohir advanced in the direction of the noise. Rounding the boulder he saw one of the missing soldiers and knelt down beside him, but he was too late. The ellon was already gone. 

The sun was almost spent when he returned to find Aragorn changing the bandages on one of the soldiers. "How are they?" Elrohir asked him.

Aragorn sighed. "We need to get them out of the weather. Some of them have devolved fevers. Are any of the tents salvageable?"

"I saw two earlier that still looked to be good." The elf answered. "But how do we know they won't attack again once they know there are survivors?"

"We don't, but we haven't much of a choice." Aragorn answered.