Storm Warning

Drunken fools,
Dancing in circles.
Doing things for another,
Deeds that will mean their end.
Do not believe for a second;
Devil won't save you either.

(*)

The group of men stopped, bogged down by the storm. Horses kicked up, wishing to run from the storm all around them. One man approached wiping his soggy bangs out of his face futilely, his face held genuine concern. The leader, the swordsman, looked at him waiting for any good news. Though he knew truthfully that in this weather there would be no good news.

'We can't go much further in thi-" Thunder drowned out his words. '-wirling winds.'

The swordsman cursed, 'We press on.'

Any man in the unit knew that any cave around here was still Rivendell territory. Rule one of kidnapping anyone is, you get out of the territory as fast as possible. Twirling winds, tornados, were just means of covering their tracks. As it was behind them, Rivendell was devastated. More trees had fallen, even roofs have been torn off in the unforgiving winds. No one would dare pursue them in this weather.

So the group pressed on, forcing themselves to against the winds, watching carefully for tornados. Even at times following the path of destruction. The hours before they made it to a human house they had lost of forth of the group to the elements. Mainly deaths from hail, some from falling debris. Anyone who gotten stuck was given a quick death, they would leave no witnesses behind.

A woman hurried them into a dug out cellar, that looked kind of like a hobbit hole. Here they were on the borders of Rivendell, but not in enemy territory.

(*R*)

The storm over Rivendell had reached it's calm center. Several elves took this time to migrate to the caves surrounding the city. Seeing Elrond house in near ruin the guardsman hurry to see if everyone was all right. Knowing their window of opportunity was growing shorter. Armed with torches they rushed on to the royal house.

In the hallway they discovered Elladan still on the floor unmoving. Under torch light they could see blood on the floor, and a discarded arrow with even more blood. Cautiously they approached Elladan, wondering if the people who did this were still around. Much to their surprise Elladan began to speak.

"Father was taken." Elladan said in a pain filled voice. "I think Estel to, Elrohir..."

Elladan broke out in tears thinking about his brother still in the debris. How much pain could his brother be in right now. No one right now was in the right position to help him either. Gently a guardsman placed a cloak over Elladan.

"Check the debris for survivors."

"Sir, we can't the storms coming back."

"I'm sorry Elladan, we can look later."

The twin would have lost it right there, but he felt strong arms pick him up. His back ached painfully, but none more then the ache in his heart. Today had to be the worst day of all his years alive, how could it possibly have gotten worse. Elladan closed his eyes as they descended from the broken house.

(*D*)

Elrohir heard elven voices, he tried to move but his legs were trapped under part of the roof. Around him trapped water was building up and it already was up to his waist with more water pouring in at every second. Frustrated he slapped the beam and pulled air into his aching body.

"Help! In here!"

It was no use, for soon he heard them headed away. Slapping the water, Elrohir thought this was a dandy way to die. Drowning in the debris of his house. At least Estel was pulled out even if it was by the enemy. Rain began to pour down again, causing Elrohir to moan in disbelief that this still was not over.

(*H*)

The bowman approached the unconscious elf with a pair of hastily made shackles. That years before held a prisoner here. If there was anything a human learned most over the centuries, was to never leave an elf tied with a rope for long. They would either break it, or slip out of it. Just like a pig out of an oily mans arms. Rolling over Elrond he cut free his arms, and placed on the shackles, cringing at how much blood already accumulated on the floor.

The woman of the house walked over to them with a bowl and a lot of bandages. Gently she laid them beside Elrond, returning to get the hot water of the fire.

'Sam why bother he's just an elf.' The bowman growled.

'He's still a living being Bono." The woman snapped back.

Bono growled again and moved to the corner of the dug out. Satisfied no one would bug her she began to clean out the wounds. First was removing his shirt, which she only could do by cutting it off. This woke the elf from his unconscious state.

'You are badly hurt do not move.' She ordered Elrond.

Eyes barely cracked open by the pain in his body, Elrond stared at her while she wiped out the most severe of his wounds. Were the sword had pierced trough him when he was trying to save his son. Lifting up her skirts she slipped out a bottle, most obviously alcohol of some sort.

'I'm sorry this will hurt.' She warned Elrond.

Sam poured the liquid, a strong whisky, unto Elrond's wounds. The elf tensed, sucking in a breathe trying not to scream. Calmly she sewed it up with great skill. She then packed gauze around the wound and began to wrap it. Cleaning and sewing the exit wound just the same. When it seemed Elrond's waist grew four inches with wrappings she tied it off.

'Why do you associate with these people?' Elrond asked in her tongue.

She looked at him momentarily startled before checking out his shoulder wound, ignoring the first arrow wound.

'Matter of survival.' She answered.

'Let me get free with my son and you can come live with us elves.' Elrond offered.

'Life is not like that dear elf. Humans and elfs are two different beings. I could never be happy living in a world were I'll be isolated from anyone else like me. But I cannot just abandon human society for what they do wrong cause it will mean my death.' Sam said her voice heavy. 'With orcs, wargs, and other fowl creatures scouring middle earth, all races must stick together. I wish not to die, so I help these fowl creatures.'

Elrond stared at the woman, then his head collapsed back. He didn't have much energy to stay awake, if he wasn't so ured to these types of injures he would have been dead by now. Opening his eyes he looks at the woman again as she wrapped up his shoulder to.

'The arrow is to stuck in the bone, and they broke off the shaft so I'm sorry it'll have to stay in. Here take a swig of this it'll help with your pain.'

Without asking Elrond took a swig of the whiskey, his face contorting as it burned its way down his throat.

'My son they brought him with, he's human like you.' Elrond's voice sounded raspy.

'I'll ask, you get some rest.'

Sam watched as the elf slumped back, he had passed out. She picked up the bowl of blood soaked water and bloody rags walking to the corner to dispose of later. Looking at the men she noticed a young child among them, human. This had to be the elf's son. Sympathy overwhelmed her as she heard the boy cry for his dad. It was like as if he didn't know his father was not to far away.