Estel wandered around. It was midday, yet he had seen none of his family except his Adar. Where was everyone? He wandered into the courtyard. There was the path that led to Luna and Elrohir's cottage, and Kerowyn's and Lindir’s cottage. Over there was Elladan's and Meahan’s, and then Searyn and Samarium’s. he sometimes went to Searyn’s because the general had elflings who didn't make fun of him, same as Kerowyn's. But Luna and Elrohir had no elflings, but they loved his company just the same. That cinched it, he was going to Luna's and Elrohir's.

He knocked on the door and Luna answered it. She smiled at the boy and within minutes, he found himself settled at the kitchen table. He watched his sister move around the kitchen, her presence comforting and warming at the same time. But he also knew, from the stories that everyone had told, that she was a fearsome foe. Her skill in daggers matched the skill of Glorfindel. The two could fight for hours. But now, with her hair braided, and some curls wisping loose from the braid, Estel couldn't see that side of her, he could only see Luna. Like him, Luna held a secret from most. She was the last of her race, and part of that royalty. She doesn't like people to know, so she holds it as a secret. Estel was the "hope of the humans". She smiled at him. "Mes paer syl, Jhori oli, thys mai aesia ail si tysol*" She said to him, as she sat down, a mug of tea in her hands. She had offered one to him, but he refused.

(Such deep thoughts, little one, for so early in the morning==MoonTong)

"Ai cali tes sai sol eirdyr, Luna*" Estel responded back. (I have much to think about, Luna)

"Eil shar air air o eisi solol eirdyr, Jhori oli?"(And what is it you are thinking about little one?) Luna asked him.

"Ai eis solol eirdyr cyrn o eil Ai shyr vaedaerael cydi sai poraesael sol." He responded in all seriousness. (I am thinking about how you and I represent hope to different things.)

"Shar shyl sar syl iadyl os tol, jhori oli?" Luna asked him, startled. She didn’t think he would bridge the ideas together. Estel was bright, but she didn’t even think that she herself would have grasped that concept. But then again, there they were sitting in her kitchen speaking in Moontong, which he insisted she teach him. She had almost refused, but Elrond agreed with the boy, saying the more languages the better. Luna had reluctantly agreed, but now she was glad. (what brought that thought about little one?)

"Mystaeroli tharaes mar sai Glorfindel jhar bol." He answered. Luna's brow furrowed. ("Something father said to Glorfindel last night.")

"Rai shar pai Ai vaedaerael cydi, Jhori oli? Si saer? Si sharaes? Saesi air bai oli jhaes thys ti sai vaedaerael cydi thys." Luna asked, bitterness in her voice. Estel was taken aback. He didn't think she would respond in such a way.("To what do I represent hope, Little one? The trees? The water? There is no one left for me to represent hope for.")

"Rnaer pai o tael?" He asked. (What do you mean?)

"Jhori oli, Ai eis si jhar os tia vaedi. Saesi air bai tyl aer jhaes ol sor Balas kolael aes. Ai pai byr ialaesal cyrn Ai tal oraes cydi sai vaedi shai bai jhylaes jholi ol si masti shys eir o os Ai. Saesi air bai oli jhaes caesi thys ti. Eil shael Ai pai, saesi mar shi bai tysi os tia col jhaes."Luna said, trying not to get bitter toward the boy. He was still very young; he wouldn’t know the mysteries of the world. She, who had lived long and in cruel times, knew more than many.

("Little one, I am the last of my people. There is no moon elf left on this Valar given earth. I do not understand how I can offer hope to people who no longer live on the same world as you or I. There is no one left here for me. And when I die, there shall be no more of my kind left.") Just before Estel could answer, Elrohir came into the room.

"Good morning, tithen pen. How did you sleep?" Elrohir asked. Luna turned away and walked toward the window, and laughed.

"Elrond is coming this way, looking for Estel, it appears. Why don't you take little one out to his father."

"Alright." Elrohir took Estel outside, but before handing him over to Elrond, he looked at Estel seriously.

"I am not going to pretend that I understood your and Luna's conversation, tithen pen, I understood a little bit, and her tone. She doesn't talk about her life, home, race, or land; to anyone...not even Ada. Be careful what you talk to her about. It's taken her years to overcome the pain of being the last left, don't make her relive it. She just found people she can call family in the Drow, but memories still haunt her. Be careful. There's Ada. Not a word." Elrohir said, and then pushed the boy gently to Elrond. Estel was deep in thought for a long time.

__________________________________________________________

The orcs hauled them some where the rest of the night, before dropping them onto the hard ground, miles away from the safe borders of Imladris.

_________________________________________________________

Everyone was searching. Ever since the guards had mentioned that Luna and Estel had not come back through the borders, panic had gripped the valley. No one knew where the two were. Searyn, Elrohir, and Lindir went riding out to the river, and looked around. Searyn saw the tracks first. “They were ambushed here. It looks like Estel ran, and Luna defended…here’s one of her daggers. She fell here, look at the imprint, and the way she fell suggests she twisted to keep an injury from becoming worse. The orcs then dragged Estel here. The tracks lead away from here.” Searyn said, voice cold and calculated. He had learned long ago to not let his emotions get the better of him when he was tracking, one of his best friends or not. Elrohir looked upon the ground in dismay.

“The rain will have covered the rest of the tracks.” Lindir said, having just tried to find some more. He was annoyed, and he didn’t like the feeling of fear from the trees.

“there is nothing we can do now, it is about to rain. But we know what happened, so that much we can put at ease.” Searyn said calmly. He listened intently to the trees. “We must go now. Trees warn of danger.” Elrohir nodded, disheartened.

____________________________________________________________

The orcs carried Estel far, but he only watch Luna. She rarely was alert, and he knew there had to be poison on that arrow. Nothing else would effect her this way. One of the orcs noticed, and laughed a cruel laugh.

“Worried about your elf friend? Well, let’s wake her up!” The orc grabbed a black water skin, and opened Luna’s mouth, and poured some orcish liquer into her mouth. She coughed and sputtered, instantly wakening. She choked a minute more, then finally coughed the liquid out of her lungs. The orcs sneered at Estel. “That’s what happens to the little princess. She can’t handle this one!” Estel’s eyes widened and Luna looked at him.

__________________________________________________________

Hours passed, and Estel was careful to keep from watching Luna too closely. But it was obvious she wasn’t doing to well. The orcs threw the two into their den, and laughed. Estel took the chance to look at Luna. Her breathing was ragged, and her tunic torn. A fever mounted, and Estel became worried. He thought for a while, and a plan came to him. But he would have to tread carefully. He dug through the herb pouch he had long since noticed Luna kept with her at all times. There was the herb he needed. It would allow her to feign death, and she could escape. The orcs would not bother with a dead elf, they would take her away, and she could get help. He gently woke her. She moaned, and did not open her eyes.

"Rnaer air os val, Jhori oli?" She asked him.

"Risi air eil caes ail os vys sar shor eilyrn o sai thael paer shael o saji air. Si os val ol jhaelol systysyrn, sai si bys, ei jhori varaer Tosyr air saes jhas. Si shor jhaeli o caesi, eil o tal kaer caer. Eisi o sholol?" He explained. He saw her think about it, and she moved her head toward him. (("There is an herb in your pouch that will allow you to feign death when you take it. The orcs plan on leaving tomorrow, to the north, a little passed Mirkwood is their lair. They will leave you here, and you can get help. Are you willing?"))

"Riar shar eirdyr o, Jhori oli? Ai tal's ber jhaeli o caesi..." She said determination in her voice. She made a promise by the valar!