Thanks for following! I have all six chapters written and am working on uploading them, as well as adding new chapters. I think it shall be about eight chapters in total, though I hate to have things end...

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Gollum sat, howling most of the night. The nasty elves. They were going to torture something out of him, as everyone wanted to do. Gollum felt sure they wanted his precious. Everyone did. It was his birthday present, and the nasssty hobbit had already stolen it away.

Legolas left the hall, stopping by the armory to pick up a few extra arrows on his way out to some target practice. He was looking over a long shafted arrow when he heard a beseeching wail. It reminded the prince that Gollum was still in his cell. Legolas tossed the arrow into his quiver, and picking up his bow went down the corridor to where some of the nicer "cells" were.

Gollum saw the Elf coming. He decided it was time to play pitiful. Shaking the bars, Gollum wailed, "Please, please be nice to us. Take us out of here."

"I... can't," replied Legolas somewhat lamely, "Is... there anything else you want?"

"Nice elf will be good to us," said Gollum, rubbing his head against the door.

"You want to come outside, is that it?" The prince felt almost as if he was speaking to a small child, like Estel had been, though a very dangerous one at that. Much to his relief, Gandalf came down the flight of stairs, staff in hand. Legolas jogged to meet him there, so he would not be overheard by the strange creature.

"Gandalf, I know it sounds strange and unsafe, but can we at least take Gollum outside? You said he was not to be treated as a prisoner, so we must let him have a little freedom." Gandalf smiled one of his rare smiles, which was as good as a yes. Legolas fetched some of the other guards, not taking any chances of letting Gollum escape, which was undoubtedly what he would want to do.

Gollum sat clawing and biting at the ropes binding his wrists. A guard was sitting nearby, and every once in a while he'd yell for Gollum to quit it. Legolas was practicing not very far away, and every once in a while he'd stop and rebind Gollum's hands again.

Gollum had bitten through the rope for about the fifth time when Legolas was getting ready to aim for a mark a few yards away. The Elf turned, and walking up to Gollum with bow and arrow in hand, said, "You've been watching all morning how true this arrow will fly to its mark. One move of trying to get away and there will be a large target on the center of your heart." Gollum, not knowing what else to do, complied, but made a nasty face at the prince. The guard started to stand, knife in hand. Legolas, however, made an equally nasty face back, which surprised Gollum somewhat. What Legolas had not realized was his father was standing behind Gollum, and the prince only noticed that when he looked up.

"Legolas, I will not have you making faces and teasing the prisoners--guests," Thranduil quickly corrected himself, "You are not an elfling anymore and it is most impolite to taunt anyone." Gollum understood all this, and when Legolas looked back down, Gollum was smirking back up at him. The Elf resisted the urge to smirk right back, instead narrowing his eyes slightly at Gollum and turning back towards his father.

"I have come to watch you practice, my son," said Thranduil.

"Oh," replied Legolas, somewhat wanting for words, and picking up his arrow. This was a rare occasion, for his father to be interested in anything he was doing. Thranduil pointed to a target, one of the ones that was the farthest away. The prince notched the arrow, concentrating on it. Just as he was about to loose the arrow, something nudged his foot, nearly tripping him. Legolas fired the arrow but it went far amiss. Gollum had retreated back to his spot, and had avoided being seen by the king.

Thranduil sighed. "I had heard you were doing quite well. Maybe that target was a bit too hard for you." He turned to go back up to the palace. Legolas' face turned red with anger.

"No!" he shouted, "It wasn't my fault!"

Thranduil nodded, not turning around. "Perhaps another time, Legolas. I have some other things to attend to."

His one chance to show his father... he knew he could have easily hit the mark. The prince swiftly turned around, seizing Gollum around the neck. "Give me one good reason not to stick this arrow in your filthy heart," Legolas growled, trying to keep his voice low, "There won't be a next time for you, wretch."

He threw the wide-eyed Gollum to the ground, turning to go. Gandalf laid a hand on the Elf's shoulder, stopping him. Legolas turned to face him, still seething with anger over what had occurred.

"There was no need to get so angry." Gandalf's voice was calm and low.

"How could you know," said Legolas, turning to go once more. He then thought better of it. "You know my father, Gandalf. According to him, I have never lived up to his expectations," he choked on his words, "I always fail in his eyes."

The next day Legolas was sitting on the bank of the river, bow tossed to the side in the grass. Gandalf had wanted to meet him here, and the wizard hadn't showed up.

"Arrives precisely when he means to," mumbled the Elf. He jumped slightly as he felt a gentle thump on his back. It was Gandalf, who had knocked Legolas with his staff. The old wizard was chuckling to himself. The prince grinned. "I suppose you heard that, Gandalf," Legolas said.

"Oh yes, yes," the wizard said, absentmindedly. Legolas started to pick bits of grass and toss them into the water, waiting for what Gandalf had to say. Presently Gandalf started to speak.

"Now you know only a little bit of this council that Elrond is holding."

Legolas nodded. "So?"

"Well, my lad, I have been talking to Thranduil and he agrees to let you go, though I don't think his mind is made up yet, not entirely. What unfolds in time will tell."

Legolas sighed, though light enough so that Gandalf didn't hear. The old wizard drew out a pipe from the folds in his cloak, and proceeded to light it. Mumbling to himself and puffing on the pipe, Gandalf sent a small smoke cloud in the shape of a bird flying around the annoyed prince's head. Legolas coughed, and tried to ignore the smoke shape, but it got the best of him and he batted it away. Legolas tried to be patient. He was sure there was something else the wizard had to tell him. Finally he coughed on purpose to get Gandalf's attention.

"Ah yes," the wizard said, "I got to thinking about different matters. Have you ever seen a Halfling, Legolas?" The question startled the Elf. Weren't they supposed to be talking about the council? From experience Legolas knew it was usually no good questioning Gandalf, so he decided to answer.

"I only heard of them a long time ago... when I was an elfling. They were something like myths, in stories along with dragons, cyclops, and unicorns. Along with the dragons they were the more believable parts of the stories, though I have never actually seen one. There was a great battle, and elves were involved in it, against a dragon, and a hobbit was there, so it was said. Of course, I was off doing something else, and always seem to miss any exciting things that happen. But to answer your question directly, no," finished Legolas, watching the wizard's face.

"Hmm," was all the reply Gandalf gave, then; "Maybe you shall soon, my lad, soon. I take your leave tomorrow to ride to the land of this mystery to you."

"What mystery?" said Legolas.

"Hobbits," said Gandalf, nodding, and then stood up and walked away, leaving Legolas to wonder what the word hobbits meant.

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