A/N: This is not a chapter that's very important to the plotline, nor is the next chapter, but I am quite proud for writing this because this chapter features the first discussion in all of my fanfics that sounds a bit intelligent at all. I hope I don't bore you all to death with this (quite unimportant) chapter.
The next few updates might take a while, I have a test week next week and I don't exactly know how much time and inspiration I'll have left after two boring tests each day. But I hope you like this chapter!
Reviews are welcome!
Translations:
Ellith-female elves
Legolas woke up the next morning with a stiff neck, courtesy of his awkward position in the bough of a branch in the oak tree. With a sudden shock he realised that he would be in serious trouble if someone – meaning his ada – found out that he hadn't been in his room since yesterday. He quickly looked around from his hidden position, only to find that it was still very early in the morn. The sun had only risen into the sky a few minutes ago, he estimated, and most elves wouldn't leave the palace until after breakfast.
But despite the very early time, there were two elves outside. Elvarion and Elparion, two brothers that were usually in Legolas' patrol, were standing directly underneath the large branch Legolas was sitting on. They were fine warriors, strong and noble, and while they had acted a bit indifferent to Legolas during the patrols, they hadn't been unfriendly. Legolas peered over the edge of the branch to listen in on what they were saying, having nothing better to do since they blocked his way of escape.
"Par, do you also think it strange that we get sent out on patrol far more often since the Prince has joined our patrol group?" Elvarion asked his brother.
"Yes, we have had far more patrols with fewer resting days in between since the prince has joined us. I personally think it is a bit annoying that we get sent out so often, but he is a prince."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, a prince will one day become a king, and a king must know his lands inside out. King Thranduil knows every path and every clearing in Mirkwood, so it is only logical that Legolas has to know the land too." Elparion said.
"But ada served on the king's patrol a long time ago, and I can't ever hear him telling stories that he was sent out every week, can you?"
"No, but I can't recall ada ever complaining about anything at all. Can you?" Elparion said.
"No, ada never complains about anything other than our mates." Elvarion said with a chuckle. "But I can't help but finding it a bit annoying that we rarely see our home. We are constantly on patrol or in the palace, resting. I mean, Legolas is a hard worker and he never complains, but it is still hard to ignore that we are sent out so much because of him."
"Yeah, I agree with you but I think we should be a bit more lenient towards him. I mean, we complain that we rarely see ada, but he only sees his in council meetings. If he is not on patrol, he is at the council meetings. And I don't think he does that for pleasure somehow."
"Yeah, neither do I. Have you heard already what he did yesterday?"
"No, I don't gossip like you do." Elparion said.
"I don't gossip! Never mind. I heard he vented all his anger out on Aerolas, and that King Thranduil had to send him to his room like an indignant child!"
"Hmm. That's unusual for him. He rarely ever shows emotion. Maybe he was bitten by the spiders and poisoned? We know that he hadn't been in that cocoon for a really long time, but there was plenty enough of it to spread the poison quite far."
"Do you still believe in that nonsensical story that spider's poison makes you mad? It's not true! Ada just made that up to scare you." Elvarion said.
"How do you know it is not true? We haven't exactly seen many elves getting bit by spiders bad enough for the poison to have serious effect, and many of the elders besides ada say that spider's poison makes you mad. Besides, I would be quite cranky if I had spent an hour upside down in a cocoon, not to mention the shame."
"Yes, I would be ashamed too. But I still do not think that a prince should vent his anger in public, and especially not on his younger brother."
"I agree with that. But I can at least understand that he wouldn't be exactly the epitome of calm after all the patrols and council meetings. In fact, I am a bit surprised that he didn't snap earlier. I know I would have, if I spent all my time either in council meetings or on patrol. I would have gone mad after a few weeks." Elparion said.
"Yes, I agree with you on that point. I would have gone crazy too if I couldn't go to the dances anymore."
"Hmpf. You and your dances! You only go for the ellith, just like prince Aerolas. Both of you are only interested in getting as many ellith as possible, it seems."
"Hey, at least I'm not boring like you." Elvarion said with a grin. "But I am not an elfling like Aerolas."
"Yes, true. You're an elfling much smaller than Aerolas." Elparion chuckled.
"Am not!"
"Well you act like one for sure. But we must go to the armoury now if we want to make it there before nightfall."
"Well hurry then. I think somebody will have our heads if we show up too late." Elvarion said.
"I'm coming."
And with that the two elven brothers left. Legolas had followed their conversation with much interest. He had always thought that everyone in the palace either didn't care for him or didn't like him, but apparently Elparion and Elvarion could understand his actions, up to a certain level. Most of the palace staff didn't understand the thoughts of the crown prince, he knew that for sure, but he hadn't thought that Aerolas was viewed as an elfing by the members of his patrol.
With a shock Legolas realised that he was really taking a risk by staying in the tree. He climbed down smoothly with years of practised agility and broke out into a run. He made sure that he wasn't spotted by prying eyes from the castle by taking a route partially through a few bushes. He climbed up to the roof of the cavern palace with ease, his elven agility serving him well.
With a smooth, soundless movement Legolas opened the window as far as he could and slid through the opening. He removed his tunic and legging, for they were showing the marks of the oak tree and would give him away immediately if someone saw him wearing them. He took a pair of fresh leggings out of his wardrobe and put them on. It was one of the few leggings that came close to fitting him, so it didn't require a belt like most others would. He grabbed an small tunic and pulled it on. It was too large for him, but a too-large tunic was better than oversized leggings.
Legolas forced himself to calm down. He grabbed one of the many books that filled the shelves in his room and started reading. Reading was, besides practising archery, his favourite thing to do, for it was best done alone. And the crown prince of Mirkwood was always alone.
Legolas had been taught by the best of instructors that Mirkwood had. Since a very young age he had learned how to read and write, and he had fallen in love with books as soon as he could read without help. At first he had spent days and days in the library, devouring book after book. But his father did not think it necessary for his son to read works of fiction, so he had limited Legolas' reading time to two hours every day. In a way that had been a good thing, since the small elfling came outside and played like elflings his age ought to do, but it had made Legolas unhappy. There was no one around to play with besides the trees, and trees were not exactly much fun when playing tag. So after a while, Legolas had sneaked into the library at night to carry some books off to his room. Over the years Legolas had built up a sizeable collection of them in a previously unused wardrobe, and the book had become more of a safe haven to him than they had been initially.
Legolas quickly lost himself in the comforting world of fiction, far away from all the problems he faced in the real world.
