I own Nothing from the Lord of the Rings, (Sighs sadly) just the OC's Elhíni and Elkal. Takes place after Return of the King.

Antan len sina nyárë vanyó az nírion az laliewa az melmëo az lendó az estelo

I present to you this tale of a beauty and tears and laughter and love and a journey and hope.

A/N: This is 10 years after Elhíni set out from Mirkwood. The trio is about to enter Mirkwood, which Elkal has never seen...what lurks in the darkness? Let's find out!

Chapter 14

Spinners and Swords

It had been a long journey to find Elhíni and Legolas and Elkal was weary. It was a stroke of luck that he had found the elves when he did.

A dark wall of trees rose up suddenly, like tall menacing sentinels keeping immortal guard over the forest and elves within their dark arms. Elkal had never seen something like this in all of his life. He had been in the sparse forests that dotted the vales between Minas Tirith and Edoras, even walked alongside the boughs of Fangorn, but never had he seen something as massive as the guardian border trees of Mirkwood forest.

"Welcome, Elkal," Legolas said, "To Mirkwood the Great."

Elkal looked at Elhíni.

The elven maid seemed to straighten noticeably, a brilliant white smile graced her pale, rosy lips.

Elkal felt unease rise in him.

Since when had he started noticing her smile?

Or her lips?

A sudden beam of sunlight pierced through the leaves, an unusual sight if the stories he was told were right.

The black-green leaves turned a stunning emerald.

The Man looked up at the beautiful green eaves of the forest. He turned towards Elhíni.

"You left this for a life wandering across Middle-Earth?" he asked her as she patted Celeblin's neck.

"I left it the same way you left Gondor to give chase after me," She said, smiling at him, "There was nothing but the road ahead for me,"

The road.

A traveler's heart could never rest.

A Hunter's heart was even more restless, especially if they had a vendetta.

But Elhíni looked…happy, like the memory of the Night all those years ago was washed away. Elkal could see the happy elven maid that she had once been, when her parents were still alive.

As soon as the ray came, the sunlight winked out, throwing them all into the half-light. Elkal eased Mordae closer to Elhíni and Celeblin. Mordae snorted, tossing his head.

Elhíni frowned as Celeblin pawed the ground nervously.

"Legolas," Elhíni said, "Why are we going this route? Why are we not taking the normal road?"

"Shortcut," her cousin replied tersely, nudging his horse into a trot.

Celeblin and Mordae snorted and whinnied nervously.

"Something is not right," Elkal said, stroking Mordae's neck.

The black warhorse shuddered and suddenly reared, causing his rider to fall off his back.

"Agh!" Elkal groaned as he lay on the ground, "That hurt."

Elhíni gave a soft laugh as she dismounted and helped him up.

"I suppose it did," she chuckled.

Mordae nickered apologetically and butted his head against Elkal's chest. Elkal reached up and stroked his friend's ears.

"Apology accepted," he crooned, "But what frightened you so badly?"

"Perhaps it was a rabbit or squirrel?" Elhíni asked.

Elkal frowned, "Mordae does not frighten easily, he is the calmest horse I know."

"Legolas?" Elhíni asked, "What is your opinion?"

"They most likely smell the remnants of the spiders that once lived here, over sixty years ago," the Walker said, "But they have been eradicated,"

"Something is obviously upsetting them," Elkal said as Mordae pranced in place, tossing his head.

"Come," Legolas said, "There is nothing to fear here, let us continue on."

Elkal mounted again, his black cloak fluttering down like the wing of some great black bird. His ears picked up a soft clicking sound.

He looked around, hand on his sword's hilt.

A pale, light winked at the edge of the path. Elkal unsheathed his sword.

"What is wrong?" Elhíni asked, slowing down.

"Something is here at the edge of the path," Elkal said, getting closer, "I would almost say that it is…"

He let out a scream and fell backwards as whatever lurked in wait pounced out of the trees.

A tiny, baby rabbit with big brown eyes hopped onto Elkal's chest.

Elhíni grinned and began to laugh uncontrollably. Elkal scowled.

"That…was not funny," He growled.

"Oh but it was!" Elhíni howled, struggling for breath, "But it was!"

Elkal brushed himself off and stood.

"To be frightened by a little baby rabbit!" Elhíni said, leaning into Celeblin's mane, shoulders heaving with mirth.

Legolas let out a few laughs of his own, his dark green eyes twinkling.

Suddenly, the laughter died, both elves stared into the darkness behind Elkal. The Man glared at them both.

"What?" he growled, "What are you both staring at!?"

Elhíni and Legolas raised their bows.

"Elkal," Legolas said softly, "Do not move. There is something behind you."

The Man laughed, his brother always played this trick with him.

"I am not as stupid as that," he chuckled, as he started to turn around, "There is nothing behind me and when I turn, all that will be there will be dark trees and…"

He finished his turn and froze in fear.

The biggest spider the son of Faramir had ever seen raised its ugly head naught but five feet from him.

Elkal heard a high pitched sound, a scream, and in horror he realized that it came from him.

"Run Elkal!" Legolas cried, "Run now!"

But Elkal couldn't move.

The man had a fear of the eight legged monsters. It did not matter how big it was, he always felt the same paralyzing fear that now gripped him in its icy hands. He collapsed to the ground in mortal terror.

Mordae whinnied and struck out at the spider, driving it back a few steps. The horse's bravery gave Elhíni and Legolas the opportunity to drag the unresponsive Captain of the Guard to a safe distance.

"Elhíni, tend to him," Legolas said, "I have unfinished business with this child of Ungoliant."

And with that, the Lord of Mirkwood unsheathed his knives and attacked the spider alongside Mordae.

Elhíni stroked Elkal's head, brushing his black curls from his head.

"Oh, Elkal," she whispered, "I am dearly sorry that this was the first impression of Mirkwood in your life."

Legolas gave a great shout, and the spider gave a screech as it fell dead.

Mordae proceeded to trample the corpse long after his comrade had sheathed his knives.

Elhíni looked up at her cousin, "He will not wake!"

Mordae snorted, satisfied with his work and trotted over to his master, butting his head against Elkal's.

The mortal's eyes blinked open and he stroked Mordae's nose.

"Good horse," he muttered.

"Are you well?" Legolas said to the Man.

Elkal narrowed his eyes at the elf.

He gave a low huff, as his cheeks ruddied, "I thought you said the spiders were dead!"

A/N Again, sorry its been so long, finals are this week and my mom got back from the hospital today! YAY! I've gotta help her get back up on her feet, so if my stories are a little long in coming, that's the reason. So in case I don't get to later...MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)

Máriessë ar mára tecië

Farewell and fair writing

Elhini Prime signing off.