The clearing looked deserted, ringed by shrubs and the towering oaks of Mirkwood. But in the bushes, a hidden menace waited.
He was almost there, in just a few minutes he would have her. He crouched down in the bushes, his hand going to his sword, On the other side of the clearing, he knew his companion crouched, he heard the signal, two nightingale calls to say that the target was coming in sight. He gave the signal back. They waited, he heard voices, was there two? No. There couldn't be, it would mess everything up, and then what would he tell Sinnoch? He crouched even lower in the bushes as the She-elf came into sight, she was alone, the voices he had heard must have been her singing, she was doing it now. Her clear, beautiful elven voice filling the air, it was almost a pity- but no, he wrested his thoughts back with a start, do the job, get the princess and get out of there, that was his task. Sinnoch had hired him for this and that was why he was here. The princess entered the clearing. She was tall, and her hair shone light polished wood. She looked unarmed, why should she be armed, she was not far from the Palace, he just had to wait until she reached the other side, when her back was turned he would strike. Sweat beaded on his brow, trailing down his young face. He silently drew his dagger from his belt, just a few seconds before he would give the signal. So much was riding on him now, he put his fingers to his lips...
Elwen stopped singing, something was wrong here, she should have felt it sooner. She had been singing and had not listened to the sense of danger that had assailed her as soon as she passed the trees. Where was it coming from, She listened, concentrated all her being on listening to the trees, it felt like the whole forest was holding its breath. For a second she could here rustling far off in the forest and then-she heard it, two nightingale calls that echoed in the silent forest, close to her, very close. Why did that feel wrong, it struck her, there were no nightingales in Mirkwood, had not been for a thousand years since the darkness had settled on it. Her hand went to her side, where her concealed dagger lay, Legolas had insisted she carry one always, and she had laughed and begrudgingly taken it. Legolas, that was it, she needed him now, here, he would protect her-but from what? These conflicting thoughts took seconds to bounce around in her head. Suddenly she heard Legolas' voice inside her head commanding her.
Turn Around.
Where are you?
NOW!
Elwen turned and screamed.
"LEGOLAS!"