Chapter 10: Smuggling and a New Evil

Legolas had landed well into the water, splashing straight in and slightly gasping for air. He slowly stood up and shook his hair around. He took a few breaths to get enough oxygen in his lung when suddenly, there was a booming voice from above.

"CANNONBALL!"

Legolas quickly cursed as he jumped the other way as Elladan jumped in curling himself into a ball, with an equally excited Elrohir after him. He didn't want to get crushed by Elladan and Elrohir...at least not today. Okay...he never wanted to be crushed by them.

The rest of their time there, they had forced Legolas to dive so many times that he had actually liked diving. They spent their time splashing around and Legolas also found his revenge on the twin as he threw them across the rock.

However, after several rounds of laughter (mostly by the twins, Legolas just flashed a smile), they knew that they couldn't be late for lunch as they were for breakfast. They headed towards the shore of the pond to retrieve their clothing-to find it missing. Legolas was frantic and he dug into the sand, and thankfully, he found his bow and arrows there. Elladan and Elrohir also found their swords there but their clothes were gone. As in disappeared.

Legolas grabbed the knives that hung from his breeches and held them up menacingly. "It must have been a thief."

"Yes but he or she is probably beyond our reach right now," said Elladan reasonably. "And that's not our biggest problem."

"Then what is?" asked Legolas frowning at him.

"We can't just walk into Imladris like this!" exclaimed Elrohir pointing to him and Elladan. They were wearing their underpants and their shoes, but nothing else. "You got lucky Legolas, you tricky mindster but what about US?"

"You could use a leaf to cover yourselves I suppose," smirked Legolas. "Although you would need an incredibly huge leaf to do that and here in Imladris there are none."

"Oh, thank you for your help Legolas," Elladan said rolling his eyes. "It is most helpful. The maidens will have no problem with you running around bare-chested but again, we can't go into Imladris like this!"

"It is true," admitted Legolas. "However, there might be something else we could do."

"What?" they asked.

"We could smuggle into Imladris unseen," explained Legolas. "Inside Imladris, we'd just have to go into the towers, climb in and get whatever we need."

"It sounds so easy when you say it," said Elrohir rolling his eyes. "Our father has guards posted around every corner of Imladris, he has made every building either too tall for us or too difficult to climb. There are traps for intruders everywhere. We won't make it."

Legolas grinned, a smile so full of evil and cleverness the twins could hardly believe it. "Once, twenty of us smuggled inside into an orc fortress...this shouldn't be too hard for me, should it?"

O-O-O

His robes brushed against the dirt of the forest, rippling across the fallen leaves who were once bright orange and now a crumbling gray. His breath and hands brushed against his staff, which was now glowing a small light. Despite the afternoon being in plain broadlight, inside the forest of Mirkwood, it was dark and somber, like it was midnight. Only if you climbed high above the trees could you see light.

"G-Gandalf, I don't like this...my birds don't like this!"

Gandalf turned to look at Radagast, who was trailing behind him and following the pale light Gandalf's staff allowed. The birds were chirping uncomfortably under his hat and Gandalf frowned, "I told you Radagast, you could either wait for me outside of the forest or not bring any of your animals here."

"But I couldn't leave my birdies out there!" exclaimed Radagast petting a tiny bird which had slipped out. The bird shook it's feathers at Radagast's soft and soothing strokes. "Anything could have eaten them! And I had to be with you Gandalf...you can't face the king's temper by your own."

"Nobody can Radagast," said Gandalf gravely. "Not even his sons could calm him down completely. But we must do this, for he is part of this world and he must be equally warned. Greenwood may be dark, but it is important and we cannot lose it, Radagast."

"I know that Gandalf," said Radagast rolling his eyes fearfully, his hand shaking as he deposited his little bird back into his hat. "I've lived near Mirkwood for a long time but I've never liked being in it. Do you think Thranduil will believe us?"

"That, we are not certain," said Gandalf. "However, he must know of the darkness that is coming. His kingdom is probably one of the most affected by it. The shadow of the necromancer lies before these woods...which were once green and prosperous."

"He won't do it Gandalf," said Radagast trembling as they walked on, "you and I know it. He is the most stubborn of the elves, no-of all races! He will not work together with the others to fight this darkness off! This treacherous, evil and poisonous darkness! And especially not with men or dwarves!"

"At least he's got a reason," Gandalf whispered.

Suddenly, he was cut when he heard a scream from Radagast and saw that a spider was pulling him down the dirt. Radagast struck it with his own staff, making it hiss with danger and then moved back as more of it's kin came by. 'Curse Shelob and her children,' Gandalf cursed inwardly.

Gandalf and Radagast grabbed their staffs and pointed to the incoming mob of spiders that were surrounding them. That's exactly when an arrow whizzed past through Radagast's ear and shot the spider behind him. Arrows flew and the spiders hissed and crumbled as they fell lifeless. Soon, there were no spiders but a few Mirkwood warriors surrounding them, holding their weapons.

A figure jumped from a nearby branch and landed swiftly in front of him, pointing an arrow at Gandalf's chest. "What is your purpose in Mirkwood, Mithrandir?"

Gandalf smiled. "I merely want to talk to King Thranduil, that is all."

"King Thranduil does not have time these days to talk to rambling wizards like you," said the leader of the patrol. "And he has much less time with that friend you take over there, Radagast the Brown, aren't you?"

"However, you must at least give us a chance to go see him," said Gandalf, not intimidated by the weapons all aimed at him and Radagast. "We are willing to wait."

The leader snorted. "Fine, I will show you to King Thranduil but from there, he will do as he pleases with you."

He told half of the patrol to go back and escort Gandalf and Radagast while he and the remaining group stayed to do their patrol. As dark as Mirkwood seemed, Gandalf felt the energy of the soldiers to be calmed yet aware. He felt a small tinge of sympathy for them: they should be enjoying their immortality, not fighting darkness like this.

Soon, after a while of walking, they reached the fortress, the guards let them in and Gandalf along with Radagast who was murmuring some prayers, went in. Mirkwood was not elegantly beautiful and startling like Imladris or Lothlorien, however...it had a beauty of it's own. A dark, dangerous, smooth, carven beauty.

A nearby she-elf warrior looked at the servant. "Could you please tell King Thranduil and Prince Thalos that we have...some visitors here?"

The servant nodded and Gandalf frowned. "What about Prince Legolas? I was almost certain King Thranduil had two sons."

A warrior near the one who ordered the servant opened his mouth and closed it again. Another thing Gandalf admired: Mirkwood's secrecy and knowledge on how to keep it's information. The warriors were clearly loyal.

The she-elf glared at Gandalf and whispered harshly at him. "That is no issue of yours, Mithrandir."

Suddenly, the servant who had quickly scurried off before, came back with an elf who looked around. Gandalf recognized him clearly...this was the honorable Thalos Thranduilion, eldest son of Thranduil and crown prince of Mirkwood. They stood in the hall, facing each other.

He was tall and walked with an elegant grace...something that came exactly from Thranduil. However, he had broad shoulders a bit too big for him and made him look a bit uncomfortable. He was incredibly muscular, a sign that showed he was a remarkable swordsman. He had incredibly long pale yellow hair (not rich and golden like Legolas') and matching dark blue eyes like his father. "Mae govannen, Mithrandir. Mae govannen, Aiwendil."

"Mae govannen, Thalos Thranduilion," bowed Gandalf briefly before towering over him slightly although Thalos was still equally menacing. "Thank you for accepting us here."

"Indeed, mae govannen," nodded Radagast. "But wait...how do you know my name in Quenya? The language has been long lost throughout the ages!"

Thalos looked at Radagast. "However, it is still a language...all my family knows how to speak it and use it fluently. It is a gift from old times and it should not be forgotten."

"Leave us," he ordered the guards and the warriors who only frowned but nodded, going away from the hall. Thalos then looked at the wizards. "What business do you want with my Adar?"

"It is something we wish to talk to him privately about," said Gandalf. "It is important beyond measure."

"Your important and my important might be very different," said Thalos gravely. "My father is currently busy with too much work he can manage and I am here to determine the urgency and importance of your news. If not, then you will have to wait to talk to him."

Gandalf sighed and whispered, "It's about the shadow in your realm and who is causing it."

Thalos was silent. His words choked before they came out and that is why he stayed quiet. He looked gravely upon them. He had grown up under a strict regime and had become an equally serious elf...issues like this could not be avoided. "Please follow me."

After following Thalos through a maze of bridges and halls, they reached a beautiful carved wooden door with bronze hinges. Thalos knocked and a powerful voice commanded, "ENTER!"

Opening the door slightly open, Thalos went through first and closed the door slowly after the wizards entered. They walked down the stairs into the floor where Gandalf and Radagast could see a huge office, stacked messily with piles of papers, books and things as such.

Almost out of nowhere, his voice came out booming from the shadows. "Thalos, I told you to judge whether what they needed to talk to me about was important."

"And it is," insisted Thalos. "Mithrandir and Aiwendil want to talk to you about the shadow and the person who is causing it."

Thranduil turned around. His eyes extended fear in everybody's souls and so did every single thing about him. He was a brave warrior, an honorable elf yet he was also feared, bold and intimidating. Not many could resist questioning under his pressure. He gave Gandalf and Radagast an angry look that said, 'YOU-DID-NOT-JUST-MENTION-THAT-IN-FRONT-OF-HIM-DID-YOU?' He calmly looked at Thalos, although his face was tight and he said, "You're dismissed for today, Thalos."

"But-"

"DID YOU NOT HEAR ME?" said Thranduil pointing to the door, his anger cracking. "DO IT, NOW. GO! GO OUT! What words do you NOT UNDERSTAND?"

As the door closed and Thalos' shoulders had slumped in defeat, Thranduil turned to the two wizards. Gandalf looked at him amusedly, "Mae govannen, King Thranduil. I have always admired your style of parenting."

Thranduil glared as the wizards sat down in the chairs in front of his office. "Do not lecture me on parenting, Mithrandir. Is this why you have come here? To gloat? And if I were you, I would be more wise to be quiet and getting to the point. I have things to do."

He looked at Radagast, his piercing blue eyes pouring into Radagast simple brown ones. "And I see you've brought your animal Istari friend, and he has brought his foolish bird hat along."

"HEY!" started Radagast while Gandalf cut him off.

"King Thranduil, the Necromancer is back. He is the cause of your darkness. He has been invoking all of these creatures upon you and your kingdom. He is deteriorating everybody before he really attacks. You are one of his first targets," said Gandalf and Thranduil frowned at him, his mouth twitching.

"But if the Necromancer is back..." said Thranduil.

"Then He is back," said Radagast next to Gandalf. "I sense his dark presence everyday. His spirit frightens my animals. His dark stench dirties the forests everyday. He is not here yet but he is growing in power and when the time comes...he will attack us all! And we all know who he is. We will suffer in catastrophe! He will attack, you know."

"SILENCE!" said Thranduil. "Where is your proof?"

"Do we need any proof?" argued Radagast. "Your kingdom is the proof! Admit it King Thranduil, it is not Greenwood the Great anymore. It is dark, it is somber, the shadow has settled-!"

"Do not talk about my kingdom as if it were a piece of evil," snapped Thranduil, his slender face barely inches away from Radagast' ugly and pudgy one as he glared at him. "We have not fallen into the shadow and nor will we ever as long as I live. This darkness may ensue and it may fall, but in this kingdom, my kingdom, we will endure."

"Your choices are not ours, Thranduil," said Gandalf. "They are yours and we respect that. We are merely here to warn you. Dark forces are constantly moving...they're preparing themselves. And for what may I ask? They are preparing for war. For bloodshed. It will come, the war. And once it does...we must defeat the enemy. Radagast is right, He has arrived."

"And who makes you think I will fight with you?" asked Thranduil. He paced around. "My father, King Oropher was slain in those very battlefields, yet it seems as his loss is suffered in vain for there is no honor in his death. The other races doubt us, underestimate us...close themselves against us. We fought as allies with the rest of Middle-Earth against the darkness but what did we get in exchange? Nothing but more darkness. We received no rings anyways. And while the other races rejoice, here we are, engulfed in this void. If Isildur, that foolish human, had thrown the One Ring into the flames of Mt. Doom...none of this would have happened. I will never fight with one of them again. Nor will I with the other dwarves. This is not my war."

"To this day we grieve King Oropher's death and Mirkwood's loss," said Gandalf wisely, picking the words. "However...he died with a purpose and his sacrifice is a constant reminder. This is your war, this is everyone's war. For are you not part of this world? Hate or no hate we must unite all the races in Middle Earth against the forces of darkness that will come. We must endure together such atrocities and beat them down. We must fight together."

"And that is my choice to make," said Thranduil. "Not yours. You mind others too much, Mithrandir. One day...that will seek your death."

Gandalf laughed, the first sign of laughter after the somber talk. "And I will greet it with open hands and smile at it as a friend! I fear not death, King Thranduil, and nor will I ever will."

"In time, things change," said Thranduil. "So will you. I do not want to hear more of this evil talk in my kingdom anymore. You two are dismissed. And I promise you...you will never see Mirkwood fight in the war that does not involve us."

Gandalf and Radagast stood up. Gandalf nodded. "Very well then. Let us pray that your choice changes over time. Now, I must go to Imladris to speak of this to Elrond. Middle-Earth must be warned before time. Farewell, King Thranduil."

"Namarie, Mithrandir and yes, you...Aiwendil," grumbled Thranduil roughly. "Now leave."

Gandalf and Radagast walked out of the office and was guided by a guard outside of the wood-elves' fortress. However, as they walked out of the door and were greeted once again by the somber smell of death and darkness that hung in the air, they heard a voice, "Wait Mithrandir! Aiwendil!"

They turned to see Prince Thalos coming to them, striding quickly and was soon in front of them. "May I ask, are you going to another kingdom any time soon?"

"Indeed we are, we are going to Imladris," said Gandalf casually.

"Then...could you please deliver this?" asked Thalos handing him an envelope with the royal stamp of Mirkwood.

"And to whom, may I ask?" replied Gandalf.

He sighed, Thalos knew that Mithrandir was clever and the rumors did not lie. "To my little brother, Legolas...he is currently in Imladris as a representative. Could you please make sure it arrives to it's destination safely?"

"Of course I can," said Gandalf. He nodded in farewell at Thalos and Radagast did the same when suddenly, Thalos stopped them.

"Do I have your words?" he asked them.

"Our words of what?" frowned Radagast at him.

"That the letter goes privately and only to Legolas. And also that you two do not read the letter or let anybody else read it," said Thalos. "Now, do you give me your words?"

"You have my word, lad," nodded Radagast.

"And so you have mine," said Gandalf.

Thalos nodded in appreciation and he went back into the fortress. The doors sealed and closed, making Gandalf and Radagast exposed to the darkness again. With the dim light of his staff, Radagast followed him through the forest. Fortunately and miraculously, they found no troubles until they reached the exit of the forest. They found Gandalf's horse there, along with Radagast's rabbit sleigh and he sighed, as they prepared to go to Imladris.

"Jeez Gandalf, we have a lot of letters to deliver. Lady Galadriel's letters to her family and now, Prince Thalos'. It's best we reach there quickly."

"Yes," replied Gandalf as he tucked Thalos' letter carefully in the pouch he kept Lady Galadriel's. "That is good. But I bet we will reach there faster in my horse."

"Oh no, Gandalf! They may be rabbits but they're the fastest in Middle-Earth!" chuckled Radagast holding the reins of his sleigh. "They are rhosgobel rabbits after all."

Gandalf's brow curled up and he laughed,

"Are you challenging me to a race, Radagast the Brown?"

O-O-O

AN: What a chapter don't you think? Haha...it seems the twins are caught in a sneaky situation! :D And...GANDALF PEOPLE! Oh yeah! You never expected that coming, right? Who do you think is going to win the race? Radagast and his rhosgobel rabbits or Gandalf on some horse? (I'm secretly rooting for Radagast, sorry Gandalf) Also, Thranduil is here! Yes, he's not exactly very polite but…he's still awesome King Thranduil, isn't he? And Thalos! He wrote Legolas a letter, hm…don't you wonder what it says?

Oh, there's also a new evil out there. This is probably not good for Legolas...

But anyways, so many lovely reviews! :) And so many NEW REVIEWERS! Thanks for tuning in new readers...or well, thanks to everybody who's read my story so far! Thank you and keep reviewing! The reviews are what push me forward and they make me update quicker!

Black Minx 17: 9...well, it's something I guess! Good luck, I think you'll be able to do it! Don't worry! :) When do you return to school by the way? For me it's August 12. Anyways, I have to make a summer assignment too, but mine's actually fun! You have to read (not like I needed school to tell me to do that in summer), make a reading log and make two projects about two different books. So I'm doing an alternate ending for "Eleanor and Park" and a movie poster for "Paper Towns."

Eraman: Whoa! Six siblings?! That's a lot! Haha, you sure do have a lot of experience! :D And yes, little girls pranking their older brothers is something I saw in TV, so I suppose it is kind of realistic. Thanks for the reaffirmation! By the way, do you have any little sisters like Arwen?

Alesia: Thank you! I'm glad you're loving them! :) And be prepared to expect a lot of unexpected things in the future...

Luin: Hahaha! Yes! So true...I thought we all needed some rest after all the angst and family problems we've been having! And hahaha...your reviews always make me smile! They're so awesome! Anyways, you like their ideas? Haha, I can tell why... ;) And here is how Mirkwood and Thranduil are going! A pretty angst-interesting part, don't you think? By the way, don't be so hard on Thranduil...he might be all mean and asshole-like in the outside, but he's very broken in the inside.

Glitch-e-r-749: Thank you so much! :) And yeah, I wanted a story like that too! You know, a story with a lot of angst, a cold/broken Legolas and an equally cold but caring Thranduil...I never really found what I wanted, so I created my own! And thanks, I'm glad you actually like Thranduil! LOL, my other readers (from here and my other fanfic, "Brothers By Heart") thought he was 100% an asshole which was not entirely what I wanted but oh well. :D And yes, I will update it soon!

Horse girl 01: Thanks! I'll try to make sure I update!