Summary : Another sequel to the Manyan Series! After attending a meeting in Minas Tirith, Legolas can't wait to get home. But in the middle of the way, a pack of marauders block his path and intend to rob him!

Well met, my friends! Here I am, returning once more to this board! I have a new story for you, and it's a post-LOTR. It takes place 10 years after the War of the Ring, and many things have happened during that time. This story is one of them.

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A series of lightning cracked over his head. Several seconds later, thunder boomed and shook the earth.

Biting down some curses, the lone rider worked to control his skittish mount. Leaning forward, he murmured soothing words to the black stallion in elvish, promising the handsome beast a warm stable and lots of feed as soon as they got home. Reassured, the horse calmed down and resumed to plod along the muddy trail.

The rain that started an hour ago was still falling heavily, and not showing any sign of lessening. The golden haired elf sighed heavily as he tugged his damp cloak closer to his body, more for protection against the harsh wind than for warmth. He had pulled the cowl of his cloak over his head to shield his eyes from the rain, but it was a small comfort for he was already soaked to the skin.

"I should have stayed in Minas Tirith one more day, like Estel told me to," Prince Legolas Thranduilion miserably muttered to himself, already regretting his impatience to return to Southern Ithilien, the keep and small realm under his governance. "Ai! If he caught me like this, that human will put me in his jail and throw away the key!"

It was actually not far from the truth. Aragorn had suggested—no, firmly commanded the prince to spend another night in the citadel. "Look at the sky. It's going to rain," the king of Gondor had said, his blue eyes sharp as he watched his elven friend prepared his mount. "You are only going to get trap in a rainstorm from the look of those big black clouds."

To the man's absolute exasperation, Legolas had refused. "Sorry. No can do. Besides, I love rainstorms," the elf responded with a grin.

"Oh, I'm sure you do," Aragorn said with a roll of his eyes. "Seriously, Legolas. Stay. Let the storm pass. Your home is not going anywhere."

"Yes, but Nara will fret if I linger here. She might think that I have found a Gondor maiden who is more beautiful than her," Legolas said with a shrug.

Aragorn was puzzled. "Why would she think that way? Your wife is incredibly lovely! No woman can surpass her beauty."

"Trust me, I've noticed that." Legolas gave his friend a droll look. "But have you seen the way she looks these days? She is literally glowing, pregnant with our first child, looking more radiant each day. But she keeps comparing herself to an oliphaunt, thinking that she is not beautiful anymore now that her swollen belly is blocking the view of her feet!"

Aragorn chuckled. "I understand what you mean. Arwen was not so different during her first pregnancy either. It is first-time mothers' nerves, most likely. Don't worry, it will pass."

With a wan smile, Legolas nodded. "You are right. But you know what? I like this new Narasene even better. She becomes more possessive and…Ehem!...More demanding, if you got my meaning. She just can't get enough of me."

At that, the two friends exchanged knowing grins before slapping each other's back with a guffaw.

"Obviously, the elixir I made for you works wonderfully, hmm?" Aragorn asked, his brows wiggling.

Blushing slightly, Legolas grinned wider. "Oh, yes."

Legolas smiled as he recalled the exchange he had had with his friend that morning. Yes, he just couldn't wait to get home to his wife. He knew Narasene was missing him greatly. She had been reluctant to let him go to Minas Tirith in the first place. He still remembered the distress on her face on the day of his departure several days ago.

"Why must you go?" she had said. "Somebody else can attend the meeting in your place. Beregund, your first in command, surely can."

"I know, love," Legolas had responded. "But I need to see Estel. It has been months since I last saw him. Besides, I miss Eldarion and his little sisters. I'll be back as soon as the meeting is over."

And so it was. He was returning home as promptly as possible, just like he had promised. Much to Aragorn's displeasure, though, he rode on ahead without his escorts.  He had left them behind in Minas Tirith, ordering the warriors to wait for the passing of the rainstorm. He didn't want them to suffer the discomfort of the journey just because he had a wild longing for his wife. Besides, his escorts would only drag his pace. He would rather blaze freely across the meadows and hills of Gondor all by himself, without worrying about the constricting presence of his entourage.

But now he was having a second thought. Perhaps I should have stayed, he told himself. I'm not going any faster in this weather. But what's done is done. There's no use turning back when I am already halfway home. Let's see if this rain will…Ai! What the blazes is this?!

Because of the heavy rain, Legolas was late to see several dark shapes standing in the middle of the trail. The prince quickly reined in his mount with a curse, a mere second before he could trample all over them. He wiped the rainwater off his lashes and squinted, trying to discern the figures.

Before he could speak though, one of the figures shouted, "Halt!"

Legolas blinked and tried not to laugh. "Isn't it obvious? I've already stopped."

There was a short silence, followed by a string of excited murmurings between those figures. Legolas looked closer, cocking his ears. He was surprised at what he discovered next. The figures were not tall or strong enough to be called a pack of marauders, even though they looked deadly enough with their crossbows and arrows, aiming straight at him.

"Why, you are just children!" Legolas exclaimed in shock.

The group froze and stared back at him. One of them, the tallest of the boys, walked forward, his face angry. "We are not children!" he growled. "And you, are trespassing!"

Legolas blinked. Trespassing? What the heck is this boy talking about?

"As far as I recall, this land belongs to the King of Gondor," Legolas said, sounding quite amused. "And this trail is free for his people and alliances to use. If you do not know that, than I believe it is you who are trespassing. So heed my advice. You shouldn't be out in this rain. You will only get sick. Go home, all of you."

The tallest boy grew angrier. "Don't patronize me!" he yelled. "You have ventured into our territory and you must pay us!"

The prince raised his eyebrows. "Pay you? Pay you what?"

"Taxes, you idiot! We know how rich you are just by looking at your great stallion. So hand us your money, your jewelry, and anything of value. Then we will let you go," the boy ordered, aiming his arrow at the prince.

Legolas stared at the boy in silence. He just couldn't believe what he was hearing.

The tallest boy had been the spokesman for the entire group, while his friends looked on with anticipation and nervousness. There were five boys in all, and the oldest didn't look more than sixteen summers. Legolas felt slightly uneasy at this situation. Not for himself, but for these young humans who obviously didn't know what they were doing.

"Boy, put that bow down," Legolas said in placating manner. "You don't know whom you are speaking to, and you certainly have never done this sort of thing before."

"But we have seen our fathers do this a hundred times! We know what we are doing so shut up! Now hand to us your valuables before we kill you!"

Legolas sighed. "Well, that might be a problem because, you see, I bring no valuables with me. I have no money, no jewelry—nothing of value to trade my life with."

One of the other boys anxiously turned to the leader. "Traius, you never said about killing him."

"Shut up, Gaius!" Traius glared at the younger boy before facing Legolas once more. "Fine, then. Your beautiful stallion will do."

Legolas held his chin and pretended to ponder. "Hmm. I think that will be a problem too. This horse is elven bred, and he will never let a human be his master."

Traius and the boys looked closely at the mysterious rider, trying to discern his features through the heavy cowl of his dark green cloak. Making it easier for them, Legolas pushed the hood off his head, exposing his fair face for the boys to see.

Simultaneously, they gasped in surprise and took a step back. "You are an elf!"

Only Traius remained where he stood, and he glared at his companions. "Stay where you are! Don't let him scare you!"

"But, Traius, he is an elf!"

"A lone elf, while there are five of us. He can do nothing, not as long as our bows are aimed at his heart!"

Legolas was frowning. "Look, kid. You are only making a fool out of yourself. See this?"

"What?" Traius asked, trying to comprehend.

One minute, Legolas was weaponless. But then, in a blink of an eye, Traius found himself staring at the tip of Legolas' arrow, pointing straight at his face. The boy didn't even see it when Legolas grabbed the long bow from his back and notched the arrow in one fluid move.

"You were saying?" Legolas said, his head tilted to one side. "Put down your weapons and let me pass. I would hate to harm you, but I can also make this arrow your new earring if you ask for it. So what say you?"

Gaping, the other boys quickly threw their bows to the ground. They looked terrified. Traius, meanwhile, looked like he was steaming through his ears. But the boy finally dropped his weapon.

"Good." Legolas nodded, lowering his bow. "Now step out of my way. That's it. Be a good young man, Traius, and gather your friends. Go home before either of you catch your death chill out here.  I can't believe your parents let you all out in this rain."

At that, Legolas nudged his mount forward as the boys parted to let him go through. They just stood there in the drizzling rain, gawking at him, completely awed to finally meet face to face with one of the most legendary creatures on Middle-earth.

But Legolas should have known that the matter would not end there.

The elf didn't see it when Traius silently reached down to pull a dagger out of his boot. Then, with a quick flick of his wrist, the boy hurled the blade, aiming for Legolas' back.

TBC…

Oops. Cliffie. He! He!

P/s : I won't be updating as often as usual due to my heavy workload in the office right now. But I'll try my best not to keep you all hanging for long, so stay tune!