Prologue and Chapter One submitted 10-11-07.
Alright, I got it out a week late. I'm sorry about that, but I had a bit of trouble writing and finding the ending again. I've been writing out of a notebook of late (since school restarted), and it's been a bit tough trying to get this thing written and published between my schoolwork and projects. But without further ado, here are the prologue and chapter one of The Red Hunters!
Summary: A shadow stirs in Greenwood. When someone close to Legolas is direly wounded, Lord Elrond's help seems to be the only thing that offers salvation. Will they make it to Rivendell in time to save a life? Rated PG-13 for violence, blood, and language.
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, the Silmarillion, or any related characters or works. They belong to Mister J.R.R. Tolkien.
THE RED HUNTERS.
Book Two in the IAUR MIN Series.
By GundamWingFanatic90.
PROLOGUE.
"Wow, that was quite a story, old one!" A deep chuckle resounds through the wooded hall.
"Aye, it was indeed," a lilting tenor voice says. "And there are many more where it came from."
"Really?! Tell us another story, old one!" Another chuckle.
"Alright. Valar, for someone who is over one hundred years old, you act very young at times." An embarrassed huff, and then the deeper chuckles of another male resound.
"So what happened after you met Maedhros and discovered his true identity?" The hall echoes with a mirthless laugh.
"You truly want to know? It was a dim time in my life; not as dark as those to come, but grim nonetheless. You are certain?"
"Yes! Why would we not desire to learn about our predecessors?"
"Then so be it. This tale takes place several weeks after the story that I just finished. I had just turned the fine young age of seventy-eight, and the winter that followed still holds a place in my heart of both darkness and joy…"
CHAPTER 1.
Legolas Thranduilion pinched himself firmly underneath the table. How, exactly, had he managed to get into this mess, again?
"And, Hîr-nin, the men of Laketown again desire to meet with you to discuss the trading problems…" He bit back a yawn with half a will. The elf that was speaking had a droning voice that stated that he wanted nothing more than to be doing something else than what he currently was. Legolas secretly concurred with him.
It had started that morning when Thranduil had said to Legolas that he should, to increase his knowledge of the goings-on of Mirkwood, sit in on the meeting that would take place later that day. Legolas had reluctantly agreed, and when the meeting had come around, he found himself seated at his father's side. Currently he was forcing himself to stay awake.
"Sire, what should we do about the food stores?" another counselor was asking. It was something about the elves' food for the coming winter. Legolas sighed inwardly. Would this meeting never end? He heard his father give a reply, and then Thranduil was adjourning the meeting. Legolas stood when his father did, bowed to those that were assembled, and then the two of them took their leave of the hall. Once they were out of sight and earshot, Legolas turned respectfully amazed eyes on Thranduil.
"How do you manage to stay awake at these meetings, Ada?!" the prince exclaimed incredulously. Thranduil chuckled and winked at Legolas.
"That, my son, is my secret," he replied jovially. Legolas scowled at his father, but sighed at length.
"I am going to find Naneth," he said. Thranduil nodded with a small smile.
"Have fun," he recommended. Legolas smiled wryly before walking off, leaving a chuckling Thranduil in his wake.
He found his mother in the back gardens, singing softly with her hands resting on her heavily swollen belly.
"Naneth!" called Legolas in greeting. "Mae govannen, Hîril-nin!" Andiach's lips quirked into a radiant smile, and she looked over to her son as he approached.
"Mae govannen, ion-nin," she said. "I see you've finally escaped that torturous political death-trap of a meeting, then." They shared a hearty laugh and Legolas sat down before her on the ground beneath the willow tree. He dipped his hand in the small, clear creek that ran around the border of the garden, playing in the water. Andiach's smile grew.
"Ai!" she exclaimed, nudging her son a bit. "I've not seen you play in the water like that since you were but an elfling!" She giggled some. "And such a long time ago it was!" Andiach fell silent, toying tenderly with a lock of her son's golden hair. Finally she patted the spot next to her.
"Come here, tithen-las-nin," she commanded gently. Legolas did as he was told, and she put an arm around his shoulders.
"Please forgive me for sounding as though I am a wistful old woman," Andiach said, "but I can still recall sitting here in this very spot with you in my arms as you nursed." She paused, her eyes somewhat glazed in bittersweet remembrance. "Ai, those times are long past that you could sit in my lap and practice your braiding on my hair. How big you have become!" Suddenly she stopped and then laughed. "Truly! Few are the times when I feel my age, and fewer are the moments that I truly realize that you are no longer simply my baby anymore." Legolas offered Andiach a reassuring smile, and returned her half-embrace.
"Mother, I shall always be your baby, if you wish it," he told her, and then his voice was teasing. "A very overgrown baby, perhaps, but a baby nonetheless." And they laughed again. Suddenly a thought hit the Prince of Mirkwood, and he leapt to his feet.
"Nana, would you care to go for a ride through the forest?" he asked. "I know naught of you, but I have been cooped up inside a stuffy meeting room all day long, and the trees are calling my name! Care to join me?" Andiach's face lit up, and then she frowned slightly. Legolas noticed this. "I am sure that we can avoid Ada for a few hours. He keeps you in too much, even for your pregnancy. I am sure that you shall be alright." He smirked, deciding to play it up a bit. "Besides, you shall be in my company. I shall protect you, Nana!" And he said it so like he used to that Andiach had to laugh and agree.
"Alright, alright!" she exclaimed. "I concede defeat. Simply allow me to put some different clothes on, and I shall be with you shortly." Legolas helped her to her feet and held onto her arm as she steadied herself. She glanced at him, and then a mischievous glint alit in her silver eyes. "Mayhap you should invite your friend Abriel along?" Legolas shook his head ruefully.
"Nay, Abriel is on patrol this evening," he said. "She is traveling the western borders for a few weeks." Andiach sighed mournfully, but nodded nonetheless, and they headed inside. There they parted ways, Legolas heading to the stables for their horses and Andiach heading to her and Thranduil's chambers to change her clothes.
Within moments they had met back in the courtyard. Legolas had his mare, Himring, and his mother's mare, Sirion, standing near him. They were prancing in anticipation of the pending ride. Sirion was tossing her head slightly. Obviously the elves were moving too slowly for her tastes. Andiach laughed and reached out to pet the mare on the head.
"Aye, mellon-nin, you shall have your ride soon," said the queen. "Be patient a little longer, and allow me to mount up. I am sorry that you shall not be able to run as quickly as you like, but it will not be long, now, before you are able to once more." Sirion whickered a bit, but calmed and even knelt so that the heavily pregnant queen could mount side-saddle. Legolas smiled at the sight of his mother's nearly glowing face, rosy from Legolas' brother or sister growing in her womb. But he shook it off and mounted his own horse. Then they were off.
Legolas laughed gaily as Himring ran along the forest trails. She was obviously ecstatic to be going out, having been cooped up inside all day long as he had been. Not far behind him, Andiach was following, Sirion taking a somewhat slower pace to accommodate the need for a gentler ride. Andiach smiled at her son's merriment, grateful for this chance for them to cut loose and be themselves away from the court for a little while. Also laughing, she watched as Legolas checked his mount, turning her so that he could double back to his mother.
"Nana!" Legolas called. "Are you having fun, yet?" Andiach grinned at him, their toothy smiles identical.
"Aye!" she replied. "Just seeing you laugh and smile so much is enough for me." There has been far too little of it of late, she added silently. Unheeding her unspoken words, the prince of Greenwood turned around again and kicked Himring into a trot once more.
Andiach laughed as her son raced his horse ahead a few meters before slowing. The sun shone down through the leaves of the trees in shafts, and a green glow bathed them in its gentle light. Everything about this ride was perfect.
Then her senses began to prickle in warning, and shock was her only emotion as an arrow whizzed by her head, clipping her cheek.
"Legolas!"
She screamed as the projectile buried itself in the trunk of a tree, where her son's head had been just an instant before. Andiach turned pale, seeing the black, dirty shaft quivering there. Orcs!
"Naneth!" shouted Legolas. She gritted her teeth and urged Sirion into a full gallop, darting forward and ducking as another arrow flew over her head.
"Legolas!" she called. "Run!" He frowned and did as she told him, beginning his run as she passed him. Together they galloped through the trees, the orcs hot on their heels. Andiach could hear the growls and snarls of wargs behind them, and knew that, in the forest, they would not be able to outrun the fell beings.
"Ion-nin!" She glanced up into the trees, searching for one with branches low enough to grab onto. "Nan yrne!" She saw him nod, and when they came to a suitable spot, Andiach extended her hand and swung up into the tree as best she could. Sirion kept running as her mistress left her back, Himring following her when Legolas launched into his mother's tree straight from the horse's back. The prince helped the queen to clamber into the boughs of the sturdy oak, and together they scrambled up into the highest branches, where Andiach promptly sat down with her back against the trunk, clutching her abdomen and panting. Legolas looked worriedly at his mother, praying that she would be alright. Then he took his bow from his quiver and nocked an arrow to it.
He fired.
The death scream of an orc answered his shot, and in one motion he drew another arrow, nocked it, and shot once more. Another scream. The process repeated itself. And all the while, Andiach struggled behind him, her labored breaths telling her son that she was both alive and in serious physical trouble. Things were not looking good.
I seem to have a habit of making my first chapters end in cliff-hangers... Lots of vocab!
Hîr-nin – Literally 'my lord'. Used as a sign of great respect.
Ada – Dad/Daddy. Affectionate term.
Naneth – Mother. Affectionate term, but bestowing more respect.
Mae govannen! – 'Well met!' A traditional Sindarin greeting.
Hîril-nin – Literally 'my lady'. Used as a sign of great respect.
Ion-nin – Literally 'my son'.
Ai! – The equivalent of 'Ah!'. All-purpose expressive word.
Tithen-las-nin – Rough translation is 'My Little Leaf'. Andiach's affectionate nickname for her eldest son, Legolas. Legolas is derived from 'las', meaning 'leaf'.
Nana – Mom/Mommy. Affectionate term.
Himring – Roughly 'Ever-cool'. The name of Maedhros' stronghold in Beleriand in the Silmarillion. Used here as the name of Legolas' mare.
Sirion – 'The Great River'. River that divided East and West Beleriand in the Silmarillion. Used here as the name of Andiach's mare.
Mellon-nin – 'my friend'.
Nan yrne! – Roughly meaning 'To the trees!'
So much to do, so little time! I've taken time out of writing a speech for English to post this. I have to go, but as always, feedback is much appreciated. Thank you!
Next chapter will be posted 10-18-07.
-Fanatic