This one may come out a bit slower than the last one--but I'll try not to make the waits to long between chapters!! Onward!!!

Chapter 3--Lullabies

Legolas pushed the nursery door open then pushed it shut behind them. He got Sandi into a clean nightdress than tucked her in. "Good night, little princess," he said.

Sandi clutched her doll to her and smiled. "Lee, sing?" she asked.

Legolas smiled at that. Sandi couldn't pronounce his Elven name so she called him Lee instead. The child's first words had been a mixture of Westrin and Elvish. "Aye, little one," he said and began to sing. Sandi was asleep by the third verse. Legolas kissed the little girl's forehead than left the nursery.

Legolas returned to his room and closed the door. He got out of his damp clothes then went into the next room to bathe. He soaked for a good hour before getting out and drying off. He returned to the other room and pulled on a robe then laid down on the bed to get some sleep.

A solid weigh landing on his stomach woke him. He found himself looking into Sandi's gray eyes. "Done with your nap, minx?" he said.

"Lee, take nap?" Sandi asked. "Wake now?"

"Aye, awake now," Legolas said. He sat up then felt a draft. Frowning, he looked around and saw a window was open. A tap on the door distracted him. "Come!!" he called.

Lila, Sandi's nanny, peered into the room. "Master Legolas, have you-- oh, there you are, Sandi, come along now and have your supper," she said.

"Bye-bye, Lee," Sandi said. She kissed Legolas' cheek then obediently left with her nanny and the door was closed behind them.

Legolas went to the window and closed it. He didn't remember opening that window that day. I must have then forgot about it, he thought with a shrug. He got dressed and left the room to find Jaisia or Aragorn, but couldn't find either of them.

Eventually the Elf wandered back into the garden and sat down on a bench next to the pond. He felt restless and edgy, but he wasn't sure why. Maybe it's because of that ball tonight, I never did like formalities very much and every unwed and even some wedded ladies will start flirting with me right off no doubt, he mused.

There was a rustling in the bushes to the left. Legolas' hand went to where his dagger should be and wasn't. He didn't wear then on the castle grounds!! He stood and moved slowly away, watching the bushes warily then suddenly a cloth was clamped over his mouth and nose. The noise had been meant as a distraction!! Legolas had never heard the other coming!!

A strange scent filled his lungs as he fought to break free and he began to feel light headed. He fought with all his strength, but the attacker was too strong. The other intruder emerged from the bushes, but everything went black before Legolas was able to see his face.

The Elf went limp in his attacker's grasp who quickly tossed him over one shoulder. "Come, we have what we came for," he said. He carried Legolas off with his associate following close behind.

Legolas woke up in total darkness. He was bound spread-eagled on what felt like a bed and gagged. He tried to get loose, but whoever had bound him had known what they were doing. He couldn't get free. He closed his eyes and hoped his head would stop throbbing. All he could do was wait for his abductors to show themselves.

Ahh!! Ambushed!! You like? Then R/R!!!