Round Robin
Chapter 12
By Gilgaladiell

Not long after Elladan left, Elrohir heard a wailing sound through the trees. He glanced over at Aragorn and Legolas, who were sleeping, and the slavers, who were tightly bound, before running toward the sound.

He was out of breath by the time he reached the source of the sound. A young elven maiden in black sat on the ground, wailing disconsolately. Elrohir walked up to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "Wh-what's wrong?" he panted. "Can I h-help you?"

She looked up at him through her tears. "Here," she said, handing him a wine skin from her belt. "You're out of breath. Drink this while I explain."

Elrohir sipped at the wine as she proceeded. "I lived about twenty rangar west of here..."

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The maiden walked into view of the slavers. Quietly, she untied them. "Quickly, take those two and be gone," she whispered, pointing to the sleeping elf and ranger. "The other will trouble you no more." So saying, she pinned a note to a tree and left the same way she had come.

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Elrond and Elladan arrived where the others had been left some time later. There was no one there. On one side of the road were signs of a struggle. It was Elrond who found the note:

"So, peredhil, you thought I was dead and you were safe from me. How unfortunate for you that you were wrong. The adan and his friend are on their way to Umbar, and your son is even now my prisoner. I advise you to come and claim him from me now if you ever want to see him alive again. Moririme."

TBC...