Storm Warning

The storm has passed,
The clouds have gone.
Still another storm rages,
Beneath the clear blue sky.
Watch your step,
Watch your mouth.
Dear child of fate:
Your storm has just,
begun.

(*)

Bono woke to the wrong side of existence. Grabbing a thin stick he strode around the confines of the cellar hitting anyone, and anything that dare cross his path. Not even his boss, the swordsman dared to cross his path. Wanting to get away from this Sam opened the cellar door to reveal that the worse of the storm had gone. Also that her house no longer was around, destroyed in the last of the storm.

'It's clear.' Sam announced.

Before Bono could, the swordsman approached Elrond. Staring half amused at the child that huddled so close to this elf for comfort. It was as if this elf was the human true father. The swords man face contorted as he shook the elf, that was a sickening thought. At first Elrond didn't come around, but eventually he stirred. Instantly his sharp elven eyes lock on the swordsman.

'I haven't introduced myself, names Vic, now get moving before Bono give you a reason to move.' The swordsman introduced himself.

Elrond grunted, "Estel, young one, awake."

"Father, I don't want to." Estel complained in elvish.

Bono picked up on Estel speaking elvish, wasting no time he strode over.

"Estel shh, don't speak elvish remember, now wake b-"

Elrond was inturped when Estel was pulled from him by Bono. Estel screamed, reaching desperately for his father could not help him. Scanning the beams on the convex shaped room, Bono picked out one best suited for him. Tossing a rope over it, he tired one end around the screaming child's hands. Hoping that it would hold him long enough for a suitable punishment.

Knowing what was next, Vic took the line pulling the child up a few feet off the ground, then tied it off. Better Bono got this over with then delay them in moving on. Estel squirmed above the ground, his eyes showed pure terror. He didn't like pain, but he knew it was coming.

'Please don't!'

Bono slapped Elrond's shoulder with the stick he was holding. Elrond cringed as he felt the arrow drive in a little more into his skin. Glaring at the men, they knew what they had to do; Keep Elrond quiet while Bono did his thing. One looked coolly at Elrond.

'Elf, don't want the boy to be beat to death today you'll shut that mouth of yours.' One snapped.

Elrond shut his mouth, staring horrified at his son. Bono twirled the stick in his hand, then whipped Estel with it. The stick made a noise at it moved though the air, then a sickening noise as it connected with flesh. As hard as Estel tried to not cry he began to. Spurring Bono to whip him harder.

Thin trails of blood soon appeared on Estel's back. The skin was now broken by the force of the blows. Blows that fell were ever, as Estel's body swung on the rope helplessly. As the stick connected with Estel's face again, his hands slipped from the rope. With a loud thud Estel landed on the floor.

'I don't want to hear you speak that filthy language again you got it?'

Estel whimpered and cowered away as Bono grabbed his shirt. Bringing his fist down on Estel's face. Legs unable to hold him Estel collapsed. Fearfully he watches as Bono straddled his legs, nearly breaking them under his weight. Then the blows began to fall as if Estel was just a sack of flour.

'Bono enough your going to kill him.' Vic ordered. 'I said enough!'

Vic grabbed Bono forcibly pulling him off of Estel. Glancing over, Vic saw how broken the kids body was from the beating with a stick, and Bono's strong punches. If it wasn't for tiny breaths he would have figured the child for dead. Enough blood covered the kid, and splattered on the floor.

'Why did you stop me?' Bono yelled.

'Because it's not our place to execute the child.' Vic answered back his voice venomous. 'The child's death with come soon enough. If your lucky you might be able to hold the ax this time.'

'Promise.'

'Yes, now start packing up we move in a few.' Vic looked at the woman. 'Bree is a long distance off yet, we'll need a nurse to keep them alive for now. You ether come freely, or as a slave.'

'I'll come.' Sam says hurrying towards Estel. 'Besides the child barely lives.'

Sam looked over at the elf, who she noticed was crying. One thing she was always told elves were incapable of doing. Looking away ashamed of what she was doing, she picked up Estel gently, afraid of breaking his body anymore then it already was.

'There's a cart still out their, would make it easier to sneak these two into Bree.' Sam said suddenly. 'It only needs to be cleared of some debris.'

Vic nodded then quietly walked outside.

(*R*)

A large chunk of debris is pulled away from what was once the boys room. Below the elf was dark floating hair, tangling around two pale lifeless hands. The feeling of dread filled the elf, this couldn't be. Turning around he whistled loudly to get the other elves over by him. Together they began to bail out accumulated water, hoping by some frail chance that the elf still could be revived.

From the hall Elladan sat, immobile. His legs still refused to listen to him from the blow he took, still he did not want to just stay in bed while his brother was trapped. But it didn't' escape his eye as a group of elves converged on one spot they must have found him. At first his hope of his brother being alive was high, but as he saw watered being tossed aside his hopes sunk.

Minutes passed agonizingly before, they stopped and an elf climbed down. When the elves didn't move Elladan grew worried.

"I'm sorry." One of them said locking eyes with Elladan.

Back screaming, Elladan forced himself out of the chair. Falling unto the floor, his brother could not be dead. His back screamed in pain but he didn't care, he had to get to his twin. One elf broke from the group, picking up Elladan. Carrying him to the hole so he could see his brother.

Gently together they handed Elladan down into the hole. Elladan's hand brushed Elrohir's cold lifeless face. Helplessness rose up in Elladan.

"Elrohir!" Elladan shouted slapping him.

Nothing happened.

"Elrohir please."

Elladan forced open his brothers mouth forcing in a breathe, then rubbing his twins still chest.

"Come on Elrohir please."

The elves looked away respectively.

Elladan forced in another breath and punched his brothers chest. Cries began to over take him, so he hugged his lifeless brother. Wishing so much that he to could join his brother right now. Slowly the elves began to move away, they would come back for Elladan in a few hours.

Elrohir coughed loudly his body jerking. Elladan sat strait up and stared at his brother like he just was making this up. All the other elves froze as Elrohir coughed again louder, his body definitely shaking. Slowly his brothers eyes opened looking at Elladan's tear streaked face curiously.

"You never cry, baby." Elrohir croaked out.

Elladan slapped his brother then hugged him. "Don't you dare scare me like that again."

"Sorry." Elrohir whispered slipping back into unconsciousness.

"Come on get him out!" The elf down by Elladan called out.