Legolas stared out past the outer edges of Mirkwood. He sighed deeply as he gazed at the sun setting into night. It had been three years since the journey of the Fellowship to Mordor. Of course, they hadn't split their ways- they'd kept in touch, seeing each other regularly. But the Prince of Mirkwood had felt he'd had always been missing something, especially lately........
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"Mi'lord, King Thranduil is looking for you. Please come with me," one of the king's faithful assistants announced to Legolas. Legolas, surprised at the interruption, scowled. iNow what? Has he found yet another mindless journey for me to travel or miserable woman to try and marry me?/i Legolas sighed deeply. It would prove to be a tiring night.
"Ah, Legolas, there you are, my son. How are you doing on this eve?" King Thranduil greeted. "I have called upon you to inquire of something, something that could be dangerous."
"Father, please, spare me everything and just get to your point," Legolas answered coldly. iI'm sick of all these games. Can't he just ever be abrupt?/i "If you plan to send me half-way around Middle-Earth again, I will not comply. And if this involves yet another idiotic, brainless elven girl," he spat, "you've got Orcs pushing the blood about in your brain."
Thranduil stared at Legolas. "Do not speak to your elders in such a manner as you just spoke to me. The favor that I ask upon you is to travel to a small place named Hobbiton and stay with two companions named Aragorn and Gimli. Does this brush off any Orcs in iyour/i head?"
"I am sorry, Father, for my pertiness. But I must ask something of you before I accept such a journey. No evil has come upon Middle-Earth since the war with Sauron and Saruman. Has this anything to do with a new enemy?" Legolas asked meekly. "I would do anything for my friends, but I'm not sure I'm ready for yet another bout of mortal peril."
Thranduil sighed. He saw this coming on. "Son, there's something strange about in the place called The Shire. Something unknown to us has been stirring about, and Frodo and Gandalf have called us in for help. Samwise, Meriadoc, and Peregrin are oblivious to this as of yet, since Gandalf the Grey is somewhat against their knowing. I am wishing that you will accept this journey with another companion of Mirkwood, and hold and honor the name of Mirkwood."
Legolas pondered deeply about this for a few silent moments. "Alright, father, I shall accept. I am doing this to keep the name of Mirkwood upheld and to save my friends from any mortal peril they may be facing," he answered after the seconds of silence. "May I ask you a question?"
"You already asked a question, but yes, go on," Thranduil chuckled.
Legolas smiled weakly. "Do you know if Aragorn and Gimli have accepted their invitations into the death trap?"
"Why are you calling such a travel a 'death trap'? You have yet to find out if you will be in peril. Do not worry, we in your heart will guide you. And to answer your question, yes, both Aragorn and Gimli the dwarf have accepted." Thranduil answered boldly. "You are also to leave from Mirkwood on the 17 of Astron. Do you wish to know who your companion will be?"
"Yes, Father, I would be grateful if you would tell me who my travelling partner is," Legolas answered.
"Well, Legolas, your partner is to be Zedantha," the king told him, acting strangely preoccupied. "Zedantha is to go with you to console the wives of Peregrin and Samwise after their families realize the strange happenings in The Shire. She will also be of great help to you, as she has a good head on her shoulders and a strong sense of mind."
Legolas had been trying to interrupt the whole time that Thranduil was telling him this. "But Father, this is impossible! She's... her! Zedantha is not going to be my companion. We have been forever arguing, since we were children. She's stubborn, annoying, independent, and too bossy. I refuse to be told where and when I can bathe," Legolas snorted.
"Son, you bare/b going to be travelling with Zedantha- and that's the end of that. Unless you want her to go by herself, in which you can stay in a solitary room, sulking. And what's this about her being independent? I thought you disliked others who always depended on you to do things, babbling along the way?"
"Fine, Father, I'll take Zedantha with me on the journey. But if she starts to grow tiresome to me on the first step of the path, it is back to her home she goes." Legolas grumbled. He was certainly not content having to take a female, and especially not Zedantha.
"Ah, son, but what if it is different? What if she takes iyou/i on the journey? She's quite tougher than she looks." Thranduil spoke sharply to his son. It would prove to him that his son wasn't always on top of things. iIf Legolas is sent back here in shreds by the first ten minutes of the journey, I shall know why../i Thranduil thought to himself. "Do you have anything else to ask of me? If not, you are dismissed."
"Nothing more, Father," Legolas answered crisply, bowing low. To himself, he scowled. Just what he needed. A tag-a-long to get in the way.
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"Mi'lord, King Thranduil is looking for you. Please come with me," one of the king's faithful assistants announced to Legolas. Legolas, surprised at the interruption, scowled. iNow what? Has he found yet another mindless journey for me to travel or miserable woman to try and marry me?/i Legolas sighed deeply. It would prove to be a tiring night.
"Ah, Legolas, there you are, my son. How are you doing on this eve?" King Thranduil greeted. "I have called upon you to inquire of something, something that could be dangerous."
"Father, please, spare me everything and just get to your point," Legolas answered coldly. iI'm sick of all these games. Can't he just ever be abrupt?/i "If you plan to send me half-way around Middle-Earth again, I will not comply. And if this involves yet another idiotic, brainless elven girl," he spat, "you've got Orcs pushing the blood about in your brain."
Thranduil stared at Legolas. "Do not speak to your elders in such a manner as you just spoke to me. The favor that I ask upon you is to travel to a small place named Hobbiton and stay with two companions named Aragorn and Gimli. Does this brush off any Orcs in iyour/i head?"
"I am sorry, Father, for my pertiness. But I must ask something of you before I accept such a journey. No evil has come upon Middle-Earth since the war with Sauron and Saruman. Has this anything to do with a new enemy?" Legolas asked meekly. "I would do anything for my friends, but I'm not sure I'm ready for yet another bout of mortal peril."
Thranduil sighed. He saw this coming on. "Son, there's something strange about in the place called The Shire. Something unknown to us has been stirring about, and Frodo and Gandalf have called us in for help. Samwise, Meriadoc, and Peregrin are oblivious to this as of yet, since Gandalf the Grey is somewhat against their knowing. I am wishing that you will accept this journey with another companion of Mirkwood, and hold and honor the name of Mirkwood."
Legolas pondered deeply about this for a few silent moments. "Alright, father, I shall accept. I am doing this to keep the name of Mirkwood upheld and to save my friends from any mortal peril they may be facing," he answered after the seconds of silence. "May I ask you a question?"
"You already asked a question, but yes, go on," Thranduil chuckled.
Legolas smiled weakly. "Do you know if Aragorn and Gimli have accepted their invitations into the death trap?"
"Why are you calling such a travel a 'death trap'? You have yet to find out if you will be in peril. Do not worry, we in your heart will guide you. And to answer your question, yes, both Aragorn and Gimli the dwarf have accepted." Thranduil answered boldly. "You are also to leave from Mirkwood on the 17 of Astron. Do you wish to know who your companion will be?"
"Yes, Father, I would be grateful if you would tell me who my travelling partner is," Legolas answered.
"Well, Legolas, your partner is to be Zedantha," the king told him, acting strangely preoccupied. "Zedantha is to go with you to console the wives of Peregrin and Samwise after their families realize the strange happenings in The Shire. She will also be of great help to you, as she has a good head on her shoulders and a strong sense of mind."
Legolas had been trying to interrupt the whole time that Thranduil was telling him this. "But Father, this is impossible! She's... her! Zedantha is not going to be my companion. We have been forever arguing, since we were children. She's stubborn, annoying, independent, and too bossy. I refuse to be told where and when I can bathe," Legolas snorted.
"Son, you bare/b going to be travelling with Zedantha- and that's the end of that. Unless you want her to go by herself, in which you can stay in a solitary room, sulking. And what's this about her being independent? I thought you disliked others who always depended on you to do things, babbling along the way?"
"Fine, Father, I'll take Zedantha with me on the journey. But if she starts to grow tiresome to me on the first step of the path, it is back to her home she goes." Legolas grumbled. He was certainly not content having to take a female, and especially not Zedantha.
"Ah, son, but what if it is different? What if she takes iyou/i on the journey? She's quite tougher than she looks." Thranduil spoke sharply to his son. It would prove to him that his son wasn't always on top of things. iIf Legolas is sent back here in shreds by the first ten minutes of the journey, I shall know why../i Thranduil thought to himself. "Do you have anything else to ask of me? If not, you are dismissed."
"Nothing more, Father," Legolas answered crisply, bowing low. To himself, he scowled. Just what he needed. A tag-a-long to get in the way.