Guilty expression. Yes…I know I said I would update quickly. This happens every single time. I have a genuine explanation this time though! My GCSEs start on Thursday (You English people out there know what they are…Americans…they're a bit like Finals I think…but BIGGER!)

Thanks for all the reviews – I DID reply to them all didn't I? If I didn't – apologies.

Anyway, this is the third in the series – enjoy.

Faerlain


A Brother's Love

Chapter 1: The First Leg

Lothriel had never before left her safe woodland home. She had always remained inside the borders, guarded at all times by her family and the patrolling scouts. The outside world seemed too big, too dangerous for her to venture out into. Mirkwood was her home and always had been. And so she had thought it would remain.

But tragedy had struck. Her older brother Hithaer, the youngest of the four sons of Thranduil, had been killed whilst out on patrol with Legolas and Ladrenîl. Everyone was in mourning, and though she too was grieving, she could not stand the sombre atmosphere that had taken a hold of Mirkwood. Everywhere she turned, she saw people with sorrowful faces, people crying or holding onto each other. It was suffocating, and she needed to get out.

So she had opted for Rivendell. She had written a secret letter to Lord Elrond, asking permission to go and stay for a while. In this letter, she had explained her reasons for leaving her home, and why she needed to escape. Elrond had agreed to let her stay, and awaited her in Rivendell. He would have quarters prepared for her and anyone who accompanied her.

To her great surprise, and utter relief, her older brother Legolas had offered to travel with her. He would have been the one she would have missed the most, being so close to him and loving him so dearly. He was the main part of her life, the person she looked up to and whose guidance she followed. Being without him for too long would have broken her heart.

And so now here they were, plodding along on their horses at a steady speed through Mirkwood Forest. They kept strictly to the path, and Legolas never let his youngest sister stray away from his side. She noticed he was keeping one hand firmly wrapped around his bow, and the quiver on his back was full of arrows. She could just see the hilts of his twin knives poking out from beneath his cloak. He was well-armed, as was she. She had a long knife strapped to her waist, as well as a bow and arrows. Legolas and Ladrenîl had been giving her a few lessons on defending herself, and Legolas had firmly told her that if she was ever to find herself in as situation where he was not there to help her, she had to look after herself. She had resolutely assured him that she was not like her other sisters, who preferred dresses to daggers and books to bows. She was perfectly willing to listen to all his instructions and was more than ready to fight if needs be.

Legolas was proud of his sister. She was trying to do what she thought was best, and this time, he definitely agreed with her decision. He had been thinking along the same lines when she had announced her departure. And it had looked as if she was going to go whether her family agreed or not.

"She is like you," Aurêl told her son as he readied to leave. She was sat on the end of his bed, watching as he stuffed a few clothes and necessary items into a saddle bag. "She has your stubbornness and strength. You both take after your father. Just like 'Ren." She paused, looking out the window. "But look after her Legolas. She is your little sister."

Legolas went and knelt at his mother's feet, clasping her slender hands in both of his. "She will never be out of my sight," he promised. "She means the world to me, and I would never let any harm come to her. I let Hithaer down; I will not let Lothriel down as well."

Aurêl shook her golden head. "You did not let your brother down," she told him. "You did everything in your power that you could do to save him. We keep telling you this Legolas; believe us when we say it. If that was the path you brother was to take, then he has walked it and come to the end. There is nothing more we can say or do about it."

The Prince glanced over at his sister. Lothriel was staring about her with pure wonder written over her fair features. They were travelling through an extremely beautiful part of the forest, as yet untouched or tainted by the evil that was slowly spreading through. Autumn was coming to an end, and winter was starting to grip the undergrowth. But even with its bare branches and colourless shrubs, Mirkwood was as wonderful as ever to the Elves that lived there. The fallen leaves that were strewn all over the ground were dark red and gold, just crinkling up and withering away into nothingness. They crackled as the horses stepped over them.

"It will always be Greenwood to us," Legolas whispered into her ear.

She turned and smiled at him. "Why of course. The leaves are green for many months. And it is a wood, so hence the name Greenwood. It makes perfect sense to me."

The travelled on. The days were shorter and the evenings longer, and whenever they stopped, Lothriel would huddle up to her brother, seeking warmth and protection in his embrace. If he had to stand on watch, she would stay awake until he returned, once again snuggling up to him and drifting off to sleep.

It took them nearly a week to travel through the entire forest. They had to go slowly to avoid making too much of a disruption, and therefore causing the Orcs to hear them. Once they were out of the forest however, the picked up their speed and galloped across the plains towards the Pass.

"How long will it take us to reach Rivendell from here?" Lothriel asked as they set up camp for the night on the banks of a small stream.

Legolas considered it for a moment. "To tell you the honest truth Loth, it depends on how much fighting we do or don't have to do in the Pass. The more fights we have, the longer it will take. The less, the quicker we get to Rivendell."

"And what is the probability of meeting Orcs in there?"

"High. Very high. In my life I have only travelled to Rivendell twice, much to my regret, but both times I have encountered Orcas all along the way through the Pass. It can take up to two weeks to get through."

"But that's longer than it took us to get through the forest! And that's much larger."

"I know. Like I said, we'll have to wait and see how much fighting we have to do. And if possible, we'll avoid the majority of it. If you see any Orcs, or find any signs of any kind of enemy lurking around, tell one of us and we'll get out of there as quickly as we can. I'd rather run than fight with you here."

She smiled gratefully, kissing his cheek. "Thanks Legs. I'm all ready to fight, but I'd rather not. If it's avoidable, let's avoid it."

"Yes Your Highness."

"Shut up!" She slapped his arm teasingly, and he laughed, returning the gesture with a ruffle of her golden hair. She squealed and hit him again.

This resulted in them running around the camp, using the other Elves as hiding places. Cullas laughed as Legolas grabbed him and used him as an Elven shield from his sister. "I am ready to do your bidding Sire," he said dryly.

Legolas glared at him, and being thus distracted, Lothriel hit him again and ran off.

"Sisters…" he growled, chasing after her.


I've put two chapters up to make up for the long wait. So onto Chapter 2!

Faerlain