VII

Enraged as he was, and much as he wanted to shout at them, Glorfindel knew it was not the time to give the young ones a good piece of his mind. He controlled his anger and summoned for Galaesslin, the healer from Imladris to attend to Elrohir, while he took charge of Legolas's bloody face, silencing the protests with a black glower.

"I believe you in enough trouble already, pen-neth," he said through gritted teeth, and was mollified to see Legolas shrink under his fury.

Seeing that Legolas was suffering from superficial injuries, he slathered on a salve to the gash on his eyebrow, admittedly being rougher than he would have been under normal circumstances.

"You cost us precious time, and disobeyed a direct order from me!" Glorfindel said, just as Galaesslin returned, followed by a wide-eyed Esendri.

"What is it?" Glorfindel snarled.

"Master Elrohir suffered two broken ribs and a fractured femur," she said. "Even with the accelerated healing powers of our kind, it will be a fortnight at the least before he will be fit to walk."

"A fortnight?" Glorfindel spluttered Of all the stupid things the younglings could do!

Esendri, who had been listening behind Galaesslin, said, "Master Glorfindel, perhaps I might add that Legolas was not entirely to blame."

"Are you suggesting I send you back?"

"Mayhap that will be a good idea," Eilwar said, joining them. "That they bring nothing but trouble and more inconvenience is a rather strong argument in favour of that."

"Why does your opinion surprise me not?" Esendri said.

"Do not make the idea any more tempting!"

Galaesslin laid a warning hand on Esendri, calming him down.

Eilwar shot a triumphant glance at Esendri, whose face turned a shade of red to match the colour of his hair, but he settled for an irritated hissing.

"I accept full responsibility for the mishap, Lord Glorfindel," Legolas said. "Esendri and the twins tried to talk me out of it, but I would not listen."

An unpleasant smile appeared on Eilwar's face.

"Do not forget that while you might be a prince in your father's kingdom, your somewhat-questionable authority does not extent to those of us who are not your subjects."

Legolas had to leap up and restrain Esendri as he howled with rage and rushed forward to attack Eilwar.

"Esendri, control yourself!" Legolas said, dragging Esendri away.

"Come, Eilwar, what did you wish to speak to me about?" Glorfindel said once he saw that Legolas had Esendri under control.

"I will kill him!" Esendri was shouting as both Legolas and Galaesslin tried their best to remove him from Eilwar. In his agitation he hit Legolas hard across the face, causing his nose to start bleeding again.

"Lass, I am sorry!" His rage evaporated when he saw the blood, before he snatched for the cloth Galaesslin was holding in her hands.

"Honestly, Sen, I would rather you not stand up for me if this were to be the outcome every time you did so!" Legolas said, pushing him away.

"What is going on?" Elladan demanded, approaching them. "This ruckus is enough to rouse the dead!"

"Lord Eilwar was simply voicing a piece of his mind," Legolas said.

"He insulted you, your father, and our people!" Esendri said.

"Leave it alone, Esendri," Legolas said, still wiping at his face.

"How dare he accuse you of princely tantrums! If there ever would be one to not have wanted to be born in your position!"

"Leave it! Do you think I enjoy being insulted at every turn? Yet you risk driving a wedge in the group by reacting in turn!"

"Sorry," Esendri said, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Roh has awoken and has been asking for you!" Elladan said.

"Surely he has only been asking after one of us!" Esendri said, but stopped when Legolas frowned at him.

"How is he?" Legolas said. "Come, Esendri, let it be. Save your fury for more constructive things!"

"He is still in some pain, but is doing well."

"Hullo, Roh, how feel you now?" Legolas said when they came across the unfortunate Elrohir.

"Your face!" Elrohir cried.

"Just a nosebleed," Legolas said, noticing that his hands were stained with blood.

Esendri decided it was a good time to attack him, whereupon he held his face in an armlock and wiped the blood off it, complete with much vehement protesting.

Elrohir let out a sharp bark of laughter, then winced as his ribs protested.

"Rest, Roh, you need to regain your strength for the journey ahead," Legolas said, having wormed free of Esendri.

"It is times like this when I am glad the blood of the Eldar flows within me," Elrohir said. "A mortal would have taken weeks to recover."

"In all honesty, I somehow doubt a human could have gotten himself into half as many situations as you, Roh!" Elladan said.

"Would you deny responsibility for any part in them?" Elrohir said, drawing a grin.

"If having Elven blood is to be any measure, then two full-blooded Elves somewhere in the vicinity would have gotten into a lot more trouble in their short lives!" Elladan said, sneaking a sly look at Legolas and Esendri.

"Well, Dan, I do believe it a well-known fact that twins are twice the amount to feed and four times as much trouble!" Legolas said.

"Not if you are any measure to go by, Legolas Thranduilion," Elrohir said.

Legolas and Esendri were still sniggering when Glorfindel walked over and cut short their mirth with a black look.

"Glorfindel, I am sorry --" Elrohir struggled to rise and apologise, only to be pushed back by Elladan.

"There is no point in apologising, pen-neth, after the damage has been done. The four of you deliberately disobeyed my instructions and supplanted my authority. Should it happen again, I shall not hesitate to send you home. We have lost precious time, time we cannot spare. As such, I am afraid we shall have to leave tomorrow -- without you, Elrohir."

The stricken looks on their faces caused Glorfindel to suck in his breath. "I do not wish for this any more than you. Once you have recovered, you will be able to catch up with us if you march through the night. Legolas, I would like you to stay with him."

Elladan's eyes widened in the briefest of moments before he said, "Glorfindel, are you saying that Esendri and I are to leave too?"

"Yes."

"I would wish to be with Roh!"

Before Esendri too could protest, Glorfindel cut him off. "This is my final decision!"

He allowed some time to pass before saying, "Esendri, a little more respect for Lord Eilwar, please."

The look Esendri gave him was so mutinous that he almost laughed out loud, but he settled it with a strangled cough.

"In the meantime, I trust that a good rest is in order after last night's exertions. We leave at dawn tomorrow. Legolas, I will appreciate a word."

Legolas had been silent, his face expressionless, although his eyes wee glittering. He seemed startled by being addressed, but composed himself and allowed Glorfindel to lead him away.

"There is a cave two miles south of us. Take Elrohir there until he has recovered. Marnor is just five days behind. There are the two of you, thus detection is unlikely. Once Elrohir is well enough, you can then catch up with us."

"But how would we know the way?"

"Esendri will leave instructions along the way. Listen to the trees and the rocks," Glorfindel said.

The colour drained from Legolas's face. "But I cannot --"

"I am not asking you to use it, Legolas. I am simply asking you to listen."

"Why can Elladan not stay behind? Roh will feel better with him around!"

"We cannot risk any more than two!" Glorfindel said, something in his eyes telling Legolas there was more to the matter than he was willing to let on.

"Very well, if that is your wish. Elrohir's life will be safe in my hands," Legolas said, not hiding the resentment he felt at the concealment. He turned to leave, but Glorfindel stopped him.

"One more thing, Legolas. What did you find?"

Legolas deliberated for a while.

"Tunnels."

Glorfindel did not reply, and raised an eyebrow.

"I am sorry, Glorfindel," Legolas said when he saw he had overstepped his boundaries. "I do not mean to be rude but the story might be Elrohir's to tell."

"So, you are keeping him with Elrohir." Eilwar appeared once Legolas left, his face unreadable.

"Indeed I am."

"The ones referred to can easily be the other of the pair."

"Indeed, Eilwar, but I would take my chances here."

"It is your decision, my Lord."

*****
A/N: It has been pointed out to me that a fractured femur is a tricky injury that will take ages to heal. Yet, I am no medical expert, so bear with any inaccuracies that might arise from this. Also, would it help to attribute the possibly unrealistic pace of recovery to accelerated Elven healing powers? =)