The constant and uneven beat of feet hitting the ground were heard in the silent woods. From time to time, the huff of breath from the foul creatures would emerge. Grunts from ground and orc alike mixed in the evening air. The stars that elves loved more than anything were blocked from view as if the Valar themselves wished not to witness the acts that would be done. The only pause on the trek through the quiet woods was made to secure the elfling. Arms, legs and eyes were blocked of their intended usage. The sweet voice of the elfling was blocked by a cloth roughly shoved into his mouth and another wrapped around his head to secure the gag. The elves were closer than the orcs had anticipated them to be. Unfortunately for the beings of light, the land was not willing to speak to the Rivendell elves for the elves would not listen. The orcs found a cave. Not just any cave full of darkness and bats and critters of the night. No, this was an old  troll cave and troll caves meant pain and traps. The orcs, of which 23 remained, forced their way to the back of the cave. Lo and behold, a whole system of tunnels were hidden. As Dul Guldor orcs, they were smarter than all others of their kind. The orc party split into three parts. A group of eight headed southeast, creating a path many would not resist. Another eight trampled and left their mark in the cave, hiding the tracked of the other seven took the elfling with them and departed to the cave system below. Unnoticed by the orcs was a trickle of elvish blood that came from the elfling and some pebbles that continued to slip unbidden from the elfling's pocket. The orcs in the cave started a fire and waited for the elves. Of course, an argument broke out between two of the orcs. Resulting in the death of the weaker one.
The patrols in the eastern border of Rivendell had gotten assistance from the northern and southern patrols to watch the whole of the eastern border. One such patrol had taken cover only moments before eight orcs broke through the undergrowth. Arrows notched and swords drawn, the orcs were surrounded. Seven orcs fell to the forest floor before they even knew of the presence of the elves.
"Tell us where the elfling is!" A demand from one of the warriors only made the orc laugh. You will never find the tree rat. 'He's dead or at the Master's feet by now, elf!" The orc scowled before he glanced down to his chest, feeling a sharp pain. The tip of an elvish blade greeted his questioning gaze. The commander who had pierced the orc roughly freed his blade.
"We must tell the others that the orcs will not cross the border. Qalume and I will follow the path the orcs left with our men. Urdu and his men will stay here." The elves moved to obey their commander.
At the time of the encounter on the border, Glorfindel and his group reached an area by the cave. The trail leading to the border was tempting for his mind, yet the glow of the fire was more welcoming. The cry of the dying orc altered the elves that the orcs were, without a shadow of a doubt, in the cave. Two scouts carefully approached the entrance, taking note of how many of the orcs were held within. The fire cast its light to the back of the cave, illuminating one of the pebbles and a little bit of the elven blood. One scout noticed the strange sparkling thing but did not pay it too much head. The body of the beheaded orc had been set upon by his companions. The scouts reported all to Glorfindel. Glorfindel had with him only six elves, none battle tested. He decided to wait for some reinforcements. He did not have to wait for longer than ten minutes.
Two of the border patrol commanders, Qalume and Nûrnen, along with their men announced their presence with a slight ruffle of bushes, unnoticed to those without elven hearing.
"Qalume, Nûrnen, it is good to see you once more. In the cave are eight orcs. They are on alert. The three of us will lead the attack. We must kill these orcs and find out how many are left." Glorfindel informed. Nûrnen huffed slightly.
"We slew eight at the border, hîr nin. Twenty five were killed by the western patrols. We found tracks that suggest there were fifty total." Nûrnen passed this bit of information to the legendary Balrog Slayer. The silence was broken by the thundering hoof beats of the elven horses, drawing all attention, both orc and elf alike, to the approaching Riders. All the elves took cover, aware of the orcs coming out of the cave. Nûrnen pushed Glorfindel and Qalume to the ground, out of the way of multiple arrows from the orc bow. Glorfindel gently pulled Nûrnen behind a rock as Qalume and the others started to get into a formation. Nûrnen was unresponsive, his eyes glossy in the way only dead eyes were. Glorfindel closed the ellon's eyes before rejoining the battle. Due to the orcs attacking in surprise, ten elves had been fatally wounded. Qalume had also passed to Mandos' halls. The final orc had taken twenty arrows to the chest before he had died. Glorfindel and seven others, including the two scouts were about to enter the cave when the Riders came into view. Elrond dismounted, the others following his lead. Glorfindel explained everything that had happened before Elrond, the twins, Glorfindel, and the seven elves entered the cave. The fire was still burning, causing the pebble in the back to sparkle like a star. Elladan raced over to the shiny thing.
"Ada. Look! It's a pebble. Legolas showed this one to you yesterday. And there's..." Elladan paired at the sight of the blood. Elrond had come over to Dan's side and studied the pebble, then the darkness where the rock of the cave was supposed to be at.
"We need torches." Elrond ordered. A torch was held above the Lord, who was still knelt on the cave floor. The outline of a tunnel could be seen, going down and splitting into more. Also visible was another pebble. The dribbles of blood created a path from one pebble to the next. Elrond grabbed the torch from Glorfindel's hands and followed the path that the Valar had given him. His only thought as he raced through the tunnels and caverns, looking everywhere for his child was a simple one.
'Blessed Erü, please let Legolas be alive. Please let Legolas be safe.'