Hey everyone:-) Back again I be...

Thanks to everyone who reviewed 'Is This Goodbye?'; I really enjoyed reading all of your lovely comments:-)

For anyone new to the series; WELCOME:-) I'm very glad to have you here! You can start by reading this instalment if you want, or you can go back to the very beginning. Here are the previous stories in order in case you want to go back:

.: Hope and Greenleaf :.

.: An Inseparable Duo :.

.: Fight Your Fears :.

Woes of the World :.

.: Red Sun Rising :.

.: Through Hell and High Water :.

.: Is This Goodbye? :.

Just so you all know, I'm currently making an Aragorn & Legolas calendar for 2006 which you can get from my site Elf and Ranger (once it's done of course). Anyone who'd like a copy, simply go to the site (I'll write a Shout Out when it's done) and save it. ;-)

SO! Now on to the story I know many of you have been dying to read... What Spirit Governs... this is Legolas-centric, so anyone looking for Aragorn here will be disappointed. Fear not though! The next story will be completely devoted to our wonderful Ranger!

This story will also provide some detective work for you to do. Keep an eye out for clues; this first chapter is FULL of them...

.: Chapter One :.

The forest was silent. He could see but a few metres in front of him before the trees became too thick to see through, whilst somewhere above his head in the dense canopy a crow screeched loudly.

Something cracked in the undergrowth behind him. Legolas swallowed involuntarily.

"Hello?"

No answer. Still staring over his shoulder, his heart hammering, Legolas slowly withdrew an arrow from his quiver. Notching it to his bowstring, he pulled back and turned fully, now facing where the noise had come from.

"Show yourself!" he ordered loudly.

Still no answer.

Suddenly, something barrelled into him from behind, knocking him off his feet...

----

Sólia cleared her throat, attempting to catch her husband's attention. He ignored her, continuing to pour over the paperwork that lay on the table in front of him.

"Thranduil..."

"Mmmm?" He carried on reading, turning an old yellowing piece of parchment. Sólia rolled her eyes.

"Thranduil!"

Thranduil's head snapped up. "What? What!"

She tapped her foot impatiently on the floor. "Noticed something dear? Something, or should I say, two things which ought to be here but are not?" She then proceeded to stare, glowering.

Thranduil shifted uneasily in his seat. "Erm..." He looked about the breakfast table, wondering what on earth was missing... "The salt and pepper?"

Something sounding suspiciously like a growl came from Sólia's throat. "No..." she said through gritted teeth. "A bit more important than the salt and pepper..."

Thranduil looked about again. 'Valar,' he thought desperately. 'What IS it! She'll kill me if I can't-'

"I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU ARE SO OBLIVIOUS!"

Thranduil sighed. 'Too late,' he thought miserably.

"Do you recall how many people are in this family!" she shrieked.

"Well, there's you, me and-"

"Exactly!" Sólia interrupted. "AND! Where are they!"

"Who?" asked Thranduil innocently. It was simply too early in the morning for the Elven King – but he was suffering for it now.

"The boys, Thranduil!" hissed Sólia. "Where are our sons!"

It finally dawned on him; 'Ah, so THAT'S what's missing!' He thought for a moment. "My apologies melath-nin, but I have no idea."

Sólia blanched. "Oh Valar! If you don't know... and I don't know...! They could be anywhere! They could be lying, hurt somewhere, with nobody there to help them! Thranduil! We have to go now, we have to find them and-!"

The door swung open and the Royal Couple's eldest child, Hallataulë, wandered in.

"Morning," he said simply, helping himself to a piece of toast from his father's plate.

Sólia fell silent. Thranduil simply shook his head and returned to his paperwork.

"Hal, dearest, where is Legolas this morning?" enquired Sólia politely.

"Of course..." grumbled Thranduil under his breath. "Be polite to the boy. Never mind biting the head off of your husband..."

Hallataulë shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know; he was already gone when I woke up. I assumed he was here having breakfa-"

"I KNEW IT!"

Hallataulë jumped out of his skin as his mother yelled again. His piece of toast dropped from his hand, landing butter side down on the floor. "Knew what?"

Thranduil spoke softly, still not looking up from his papers. "Your mother is convinced that your brother is out in the wilds and getting into trouble again."

Hallataulë rolled his eyes. "Well, that wouldn't be surprising, would it?"

"She also said the same about you..."

"Me!"

Sólia interrupted the exchange. "Hal, get out there now and find him!"

"But my breakfast-"

"Never mind that!" she scolded. "What's more important? Your brother or your stomach!"

"Well actually, now that you mention it-" He cut off as soon as he saw the look Sólia was giving him. It was the look a cat gave a mouse before pouncing. He laughed nervously. "I-I'm kidding... I-I'll go... now..." He gave an awkward grin and rose from his seat quickly, leaving the dining hall at speed.

As soon as he got out of the door, Hallataulë scowled. 'I swear Legolas,' he thought to himself. 'If you've gone out looking for that blasted wolf of yours again, I swear...'

----

Legolas struggled under the weight of the creature now on top of him. He raised his hands, trying to push the animal's face away from his own.

"L-Louvel! Down boy! Off!" He laughed as Louvel licked his face again. "LOUVEL!"

The wolf backed off a little, allowing the young Elf enough room to sit up. Legolas ruffled Louvel's fur and grinned.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to run off in the middle of the night?" he asked, still stroking his adopted pet.

"I could say the same thing to you!" said a frustrated voice directly behind him. Legolas looked upwards and back to see his older brother standing over him, scowling.

"Oh. Morning Hal."

"Don't 'Morning' me, Legolas Greenleaf!" snapped Hallataulë. "I hope you realise Ama was worried sick about you!"

Legolas smirked. "It wouldn't surprise me. Why? Did you get it in the neck again because of little old me?"

Hallataulë suddenly hefted his brother up off the floor. "YES."

Legolas' grin faded. "... oh..."

"Yes, 'oh'! Legolas, in all seriousness; you've got to stop sneaking out at night! This is the third time this month!"

Legolas stared at his feet. "Louvel keeps running away-" he began.

"Then stop him from running away!" said Hallataulë. "Tie him up or something!"

"You can't do that!" protested Legolas. "Louvel is a wolf - a free spirit! You can't tie him up!"

Hallataulë sneered. "You can if that free spirit insists on running away constantly." He sighed. "Well, it's up to you I guess. After all, he is your dog-"

"Wolf," said Legolas quickly.

Hallataulë paused. "Pardon?"

"You said 'dog'. Louvel is a wolf." explained Legolas.

"Wolf, dog; they're both the same thing! Furry with sharp teeth and tails!"

"So are cats."

Hallataulë shook his head. "No, cats don't have sharp teeth."

"They do!" said Legolas.

Hallataulë suddenly fell silent. Legolas smiled knowingly; this meant his brother couldn't think of a decent comeback.

"I'm sure you owe me a sparring match by the way."

Legolas' face fell. Hallataulë had suddenly remembered.

It was true; Legolas had gotten out of a meeting by saying he was going out on a pre-arranged outing with friends. Their parents had believed it, even though Hallataulë knew for certain it wasn't true. Legolas didn't have many friends in Mirkwood, and the very few he did have had been away that day on an army training course. However, the pair had struck a deal that Hallataulë would keep his mouth shut, purely for his younger brother's sake. If Thranduil and Sólia knew about the way many of the other young Elves treated their youngest... well, let's say that heads would certainly roll. The sparring match was Legolas' part of the agreement; one mock fight in return for Hal's unbroken silence over the secret.

"O-ok... sparring match then!" Legolas tried to grin.

Hallataulë laughed and winked. "Hey... don't look so nervous!"

----

Hallataulë made a stabbing motion with his sword, barely stopping the sharp blade mere inches from his younger brother's abdomen.

"Got you," he said simply. "Now don't move and told me what you did wrong."

Legolas looked about him, at his own twin daggers in his hands and at his brother's stance. "I don't know," he confessed.

Hallataulë rolled his eyes and grabbed Legolas' wrist, pulling his hand and knife across into a defensive position. "You left your middle open... again." The older Elf scowled. "You've got to stop that!"

"I can't help it!" protested Legolas indignantly. His brother scoffed.

"Legolas, you have to help it! Your enemy is going to take every opportunity to hurt and kill you. If you're out in a battle situation and leave your midsection unguarded like that, it's like handing them your death on a silver platter; they will take it. Unlike me, an Orc won't stop it's sword before it runs you through."

Legolas fell silent, but Hallataulë noticed the slight reddening of his cheeks. Softening his tone, he added; "You've got to trust me on this one Legolas. Believe me, I know... from painful personal experience."

"Don't give me that!" scoffed Legolas. "Honestly Hal; you're so dramatic..."

Hallataulë raised an eyebrow. "Oh, getting cocky now are we!" He quickly swung his sword upwards and round, stopping it exactly next to Legolas' neck. A tiny trickle of red blood ran down the blade.

"Now, aren't you lucky I practice every day?" smirked the older prince.

Legolas didn't make a sound. The only movement he made was as he swallowed and his throat moved ever so slightly.

Hallataulë smirked and put his blade away, pausing only to wipe the small droplet of red away with a cloth. Throwing the rag at his younger sibling, he turned and began to walk away. "You can keep that as a memento to keep your mouth closed next time."

Legolas looked at the red on the fabric. "You're mad, aren't you?"

Hallataulë didn't look back. "Last time I looked, I was sane as I could be, what with living in this family-"

"You know what I mean." interrupted Legolas flatly. Hallataulë stopped and looked back over his shoulder. Legolas still hadn't moved. The older Elf sighed and retraced his steps, returning to the younger one's side.

"Look..." he began softly. "Sorry if I scared you."

Legolas sneered. "Scared me? I wasn't scared, I was-" He stopped as he caught the look Hallataulë gave him. "I wasn't!"

Hallataulë laughed. "Right, of course you weren't..." He clapped his brother on the back and they started walking.

"But seriously," he said after they'd strolled a short way. "You have to stop brushing people off like that when they're giving you advice. You're so stubborn, Legolas – one of these days, you'll regret it!"

Legolas grinned. "And when that day comes, I'll marry a Dwarf..."

Hallataulë pulled a face as though considering the comment seriously. "You realise you'd probably give Ada a heart attack?"

Legolas shrugged. "It could be interesting." He grinned again as his older brother hit his arm, laughing.

"I'll tell him you said that!"

A voice from up the hill on their right interrupted their conversation. "Legolas!"

Legolas stopped in his tracks. He knew who that was. Looking up, he saw exactly whom he expected to see; a tall pale Elf with a thin face and dark brown hair. This Elf stood atop the hill, waving slowly.

"Ah... hello Miarthan." Legolas smiled as Miarthan quickly descended to meet him.

Miarthan was actually the same age as Hallataulë but always talked to Legolas. Hallataulë was quite glad that at least someone who wasn't an inhabitant of Rivendell had befriended his brother, although Miarthan was really his friend over Legolas.

"Are you coming to the archery field today?" asked Miarthan. He waited for a moment for a reply, but before Legolas could reply, Miarthan frowned. "What happened to your neck?"

Legolas fingers flew to the small cut on his throat. "Oh, t-this?" he said quickly. "Just an accident while sparring." He smiled quickly. Miarthan seemed to accept the excuse, so Legolas continued. "I'll come now if you want. Hal, you don't mind, do you?"

Hallataulë shook his head. "I don't mind... don't know about Ama though..."

Legolas stood thoughtfully for a moment. "Hey Hal, what do you think she'd do if you said I died choking on some beautiful young maiden's kiss?"

"She'd gag at the soppiness then proceed to throttle me and blame me for the entire sordid episode," replied Hallataulë. "Though I must admit, it's certainly one of your more... imaginative stories."

Legolas laughed. "Thanks!" He waved as he walked off. "I'll see you at dinner!"

"If I'm still alive..." grumbled Hallataulë...

----

"So, you were cut in sparring, am I correct?" asked Miarthan quizzically. He leaned on his bow casually as he watched Legolas take aim.

"Mmmm-hmm," was the only answer Legolas gave as he focused on the target. He drew back the string until it was taught.

"I see..."

The arrow flew straight and true, smacking the target with a dull thud. Legolas grinned. "Beat that."

Miarthan shrugged. "I'll try..." Pulling an arrow from his quiver, he notched it to his bow. "I think he's much too rough with you sometimes."

Legolas looked at his feet. "Don't treat me like a child, Miarthan."

"I'm not," replied Miarthan. "I'm only saying..."

Legolas happened to look up and saw the arrow that the other Elf had strung. "Hey! What kind of arrow is that?" He was referring to the strange tip, ridged on the edges, and with brown and blue fletchings at the end.

"Oh, this? It's a new type." Miarthan removed it from the string and handed it to Legolas. The younger Elf looked at it carefully.

"My cousin makes weapons," said Miarthan matter-of-factly. "He made this one for me specially. The only one in the entire kingdom!"

Legolas was spell-bound. Running his finger along the fletchings, he then inspected the unusual and exotic-looking tip. He touched it lightly with his finger... and hissed as the razor sharp metal cut his finger.

"Ah..." said Miarthan knowingly. "Two cuts now. Not having much luck today, are we Legolas?" He gave Legolas a lingering look which made the Elven prince slightly nervous; even though he'd know Miarthan for so long, some things the Elf did still made him wonder...

"No. I guess I'm not."

----

"I'm ba-aack..." said Hallataulë, smiling as he came through the door. Sólia was on him in an instant.

"Where is he!" she asked quickly.

"I believe his words were; 'he choked on a maiden' or something to that effect-"

"ON A WHAT!"

Thranduil was still staring at his papers. "You'd better answer her properly ion-nin; Umbar hath no fury like a female scorned, as they say."

Hallataulë sighed. "Alright! I'll come clean... he's practising archery with Miarthan. Alright?"

The Queen nodded. "Well, at least I know he's safe."

Meanwhile, Thranduil had taken an especial interest in one of the reports. His brow furrowed as he read it more closely.

Sólia huffed. "What a father you are! There's our youngest son, out at this time of day, before breakfast, and all you can do is sit there and read your morning reports!"

"Well melath-nin," replied Thranduil, suddenly sounding tired. "I'm afraid this is quite an issue."

Hallataulë looked puzzled as he pulled his chair out from under the table. "What does that mean?"

Thranduil looked up from the paper and sighed. Sólia sat down next to him.

"What's wrong?"

Thranduil sat back on his chair and took a moment to begin, wondering where he should start. "This report here. My advisors have told me they have reason to believe that someone within the palace is plotting something against me, and they think they might do it through the people closest to me. The problem is, they can't think who it might be."

The rest of the Royal Family tried to take in the news, shock evident upon their faces.

"What are we supposed to do? Are we just going to sit here!" said Hallataulë angrily.

Thranduil shushed him with a quick raise of his hand. "I hope not. It's one thing to threaten me; it's another to threaten my family."

"We'd better let Legolas know right away," said Sólia, concerned.

"I agree," said Thranduil. "From now on, I want everyone on their guard..."

----

"I cannot believe you've got me drinking at midday..." said Legolas, laughing. He sipped at the wine in his glass again as Miarthan inspected a new barrel.

"Well, the early bird catches the worm," replied the older Elf. "And what a worm... this stuff is new!"

"Really?" said Legolas, sitting up straight. "Let's try a bit..."

"Won't your father be slightly annoyed if you firstly drink his new wine and secondly come home drunk?"

Legolas shrugged. To be perfectly honest, he was already slightly gone now, so one more glass wouldn't hurt. "Ah well..."

Miarthan laughed and turned his back to Legolas as he filled the glasses up with the new dark red wine.

Legolas put his feet up onto another barrel. "You know Miarthan, I've been thinking..."

"That's rare for you..."

Legolas scowled. "As I was saying... I've been thinking; maybe I should spend more time in Mirkwood. At home. Here."

"Yes Legolas, I know here is home, you don't need to tell me," quipped Miarthan.

"I don't need to go to Rivendell..."

Miarthan frowned as he handed Legolas the glass. "I thought your friend lived their? You know... the human."

Legolas' hand stopped abruptly just as he was about to touch the glass to his lips. He glared at the brown haired Elf and sat up straight, pulling his feet down from the barrel with a loud clunk.

"Don't talk to me about him."

Miarthan raised his hand in defence. "I apologise..." He pondered on this new turn of events as Legolas relaxed again. "A touchy subject then?"

Legolas shook his head. "I..." He paused, thinking sadly. "I just can't believe he just up and left. He left Arwen; poor thing. She was distraught. The twins were shocked, and as for me... well, he didn't even say goodbye to me, his 'best friend'. That shows just how much he cared about us all."

Miarthan shifted closer, staring Legolas in the eyes. "Sounds to me like you're a little bitter..."

"Bitter!" exclaimed Legolas. "Bah! I... I hate him! I hate him in the way you can only hate someone you once cared about."

Miarthan exhaled slowly. "Well..." He took Legolas' wrist and raised the Elf's hand up a little. "You sound like you need a drink. Go on..."

Legolas looked at the wine apprehensively. "It's very dark. Very dark..."

Miarthan shrugged his shoulders. "Well, it's a new make, isn't it? Go on..." He stared into Legolas' eyes again. "Just try it."

Legolas looked at the wine doubtfully for a moment, before raising the glass. "Well, here's to him, whatever he might be doing. If this wine is sickening... well, that's all the more fitting then, isn't it?"

Miarthan watched closely as Legolas drank the dark liquid.

"Well? What is it like?"

Legolas shuddered. "I knew it; it's disgusting!" He pulled a face. "I wouldn't even give that to an Orc!"

Miarthan laughed. "That bad, eh? Then I hope you won't mind it I miss this opportunity?" He poured the wine down the small drain in the stone floor.

Legolas laughed. "I think you have the right idea..."

----

It was late evening before Legolas went back to the Inner Palace, the area of Mirkwood's Royal House where only the Royal Family, Chief Advisors and special guests could enter.

He was wandering down the Hall of Memories, a grand corridor where large tapestries hung depicting Mirkwood's history. Many of the Advisor's chambers were along here. As he walked, a door opened. Recognising the Advisor, Legolas smiled.

"Good Evening, Oersen," he said politely. Oersen was a wise She-Elf, about ages with his mother, and used to tutor him when he was very young. Therefore, she commanded the utmost respect.

"Good Evening Prince," she said warmly. The air of an idea suddenly appeared on her face, and she cleared her throat. "Could I ask of your assistance with something?"

Legolas nodded. "Of course."

He followed her into the chamber. On the writing desk, parchment was scattered in various piles of untidiness.

"I trust you remember that substance your father had one of the healers look into?" Oersen asked matter-of-factly.

"I think so... I'm not sure," he replied truthfully.

She smiled. "It matters not. I simply need some help in using it. Apparently it's wonderfully sticky and is an excellent substitute for wax when sealing letters."

"Oh." Legolas tried to look interested, but he truly wasn't. In fact, he was feeling strangely tired, but he simply put it down to being awake so early looking for Louvel.

"I was wondering if you could take this one to your father. I would deliver it myself but I simply must see the other Advisors on an important matter." She handed him the letter, sealed with the new substance. A little got on his fingers, but he wiped it discreetly on his tunic. He'd forgotten however about the cut on his finger, not realising when a little seeped into the tiny wound.

'Thank goodness!' thought Legolas. 'I thought she'd have me here for ages-'

"And then if you could find the evening report in that pile over there."

Legolas sighed inside. 'I knew it was too good to be true...'

----

"Well, look who's back from his wanderings! Welcome to dinner little brother! Well, what was dinner, only you're about an hour late..."

Legolas slumped down into his chair. "Shut up Hal..."

Sólia passed her youngest a plate. "Don't worry dear; I saved you some. Hal tried to take it, but mothers always know..." Legolas stared at the food on the plate, poking it with his fork.

"What's wrong Legolas?" asked Thranduil.

Legolas pushed the plate away. "I guess I'm just not very hungry..."

Sólia frowned. "Is everything alright?"

Legolas nodded. "I think... I think I'll turn in for the night." He rose from his seat. As he began to walk, he noticed how light-headed he felt.

"See you in the morning, alright?" said Thranduil. Legolas only nodded, before leaving for the sanctuary of his bedroom.

"Goodnight..."

Little did any of them know that this was merely the beginning of a very frightful next few days...

Tee hee hee... :-) Well, at least I'LL know what happens next... please R&R! It'd make my day if you do:-) And don't forget your detective work... what do you think is happening? ;-)

Until next time...