Voronwe rode back to them. "Hir nin, Legolas. We came upon an injured wolf cub." He explained. "The poor little fellow's fore-paw was snagged by a hunter's trap!"
"Oh, that's awful!" Alasse shuddered.
"What have you done for him?" Legolas asked.
"We managed to get him out of the trap, but he needs help." Voronwe answered. The three elves rode faster until they came upon a circle of Woodland elves hovering over a small, furry, gray-haired canine, lying on the ground. Lindethiel was wrapping a splint around his paw. The gray pup whimpered pitifully.
"Ohh!" Alasse burst into tears when she heard him. She couldn't stand his helpless crying. Legolas dismounted his horse and carried his sister over to Lindethiel.
"How is he, Lindethiel?" He asked, setting Alasse down.
"A nasty gash, and a hairline fracture, I think." Lindethiel said sadly. "He'll mend, if we can get him to a healer quickly." Legolas frowned at the hurt cub.
"Who would dare set a trap, so close to our borders?" He growled.
"Can we take him home, Leggi? We can't leave him out here alone!" Alasse begged, tugging on Legolas's tunic, looking up at him pleadingly.
"Of course, Tithen Muinthel." Legolas patted her head. Alasse threw her arms around his long legs.
"Thank you, Leggi!" She smiled. She cautiously approached the animal. She knelt down near him. "Here, boy. Have some of this! It will make you feel better." She crooned, reaching into her small satchel. She pulled out a whole cake of Lembas bread and slowly handed it to the wolf. The cub scarfed it down. "He likes it!" She announced. Everyone smiled.
"Come, Alasse. We must get him back home quickly, so his injury does not become worse." Legolas said. Legolas tenderly lifted the cub in his arms and held him fast in his lap as his horse gently made the walk back through the Wood. Alasse sat behind Legolas, her small arms wrapped around his waist.
"Don't worry, boy. Our healers will help you, and you'll feel better," Alasse told the wild dog. He, in response, tilted his head to look back at her, as if he understood and hoping she was right. "Legolas, what are we going to name him?" Alasse asked.
Legolas chuckled. "One thing at a time, sister." He grinned. "First, let's help him get well. After that, he will most likely be set free back in the wild."
"Oh no!" Alasse argued. "But he has to have a name, in case he ever comes back."
"Indeed." Legolas smiled warmly. "What do you think we should call him?"
"Fluffy. He's so soft, like one of Ada's rugs."
"Fluffy? Alright then. Fluffy it is, if that's what you like."
Legolas carried Fluffy to the healers so he could be treated right away. Alasse followed him. She kissed the wolf cub on the head before they left to report to Thranduil. "Malfortion and Maerwen will make you better, Fluffy. Then you'll be able to play." Alasse told him, rubbing the top of his head. Fluffy licked her face, making her giggle. "That tickles!"
"Alright. Let's let the healers do their work. We'll come back later, I promise." Legolas said, taking her hand.
"Goodbye, Fluffy. You do what the healers say," She warned him sternly, "or you'll have to be in bed longer." Legolas and everyone else beamed. "Do you think he'll really be okay, Leggi?" She asked worriedly.
"Yes." Legolas nodded. "Wait until Ada hears about this. He will be..."
"So surprised!" Alasse finished.
"Uhh...yes." Legolas quipped. "Though surprised wasn't the word I was thinking of."
Thranduil was in council, so neither of his children saw him for hours. Alasse kept trying to go back to the healing rooms to check on Fluffy. Legolas had to drag her away several times, until he finally just told her to wait by sitting outside the healing ward. Alasse was content with that, and read books while she waited and Legolas headed for the training fields.
"What are you doing here, Iell nin?" Thranduil asked in surprise when he suddenly appeared. Alasse looked up and smiled.
"Ada!" She exclaimed and ran to him. He smiled and picked her up.
"I take it you enjoyed your visit to Laketown then?"
"Yes. I did. You'll never guess what we found!"
"Hmm. I shall have to think on that." Thranduil mused, pretending to concentrate very hard. "Ahh. I know. You learned that humans keep pet frogs to do the floor scrubbing for them."
"What?" Alasse frowned seriously. "No!"
"No?" Thranduil cocked his head.
"No! You're wrong, Ada. Humans don't keep pet frogs. And they don't scrub their floors. That would be silly."
"My bad." Thranduil shrugged.
"Ada, guess what! Guess what we found!"
"I can't imagine." Thranduil put on a pasted smile. Don't say dwarves! Don't let her say dwarves!
"We found a wolf!" Alasse announced.
"Sorry. A wolf?" Thranduil creased his brows.
"Yes, Ada. He's just a baby, and he was hurt!" Alasse told him sadly. "His name is Fluffy, and..."
"Wait. You named him?" Thranduil interrupted.
"Of course. We have to know who he is, and he should know too."
"I suppose."
"Ada, it was terrible. He was crying, and his leg was bloody. And..."
"Did any of our people tend him?"
"Lindethiel treated his leg, but I brought him to Malfortion just the same." Legolas answered from behind them. "I see she told you."
"Yes." Thranduil nodded.
"I hope he's alright." Alasse moaned, looking longingly at the doors to the healing room.
"I am sure he is." Thranduil said, setting her back on the floor.
"He was caught in a hunter's trap." Legolas explained. "That is what Voronwe reported to me."
"A hunter's trap? In our forest?" Thranduil straightened up.
"Very close." Legolas said.
"I want the scene investigated." Thranduil said firmly.
"Our men are already on the job." Legolas said.
"Good. I want to know who dares to think they can just place such lethal causes for destruction on our soil."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Alasse huddled back against the wall. She'd noticed the change in her father's demeanor, and suddenly the hallway felt very small. She didn't like it when Thranduil was angry or stern. He could appear very scary!
At that moment, Maerwen stepped out of the healing ward. Alasse eagerly stood in front of her. "Maerwen! Is Fluffy okay? He isn't crying, is he? Is he going to get well? Does he need some more Lembas? I have more! I didn't eat it all. Does he need some company? Do you think he'd like to hear a story..." Alasse anxiously rambled non-stop. Legolas shook his head, chuckling at his little sister's prattle. Had he ever been that chatty at her age?
"Slow down, Your Highness." Maerwen laughed.
"Is he still alive, is he-" Alasse started off again but was cut off by a huge hand covering her mouth. Thranduil looked down at her, smirking darkly.
"That will be enough out of you, child." He said in amusement. "Maerwen, how is our...guest?"
Maerwen grinned. "Fine, Your Majesty." She said. "His leg has been set and stitched and he is resting comfortably. He may not romp around for six weeks. I do feel so bad for the little creature."
"Naturally." Thranduil grunted.
"Six weeks?! That means he can stay here for a while, right, Ada?" Alasse asked excitedly. Thranduil offered no comment. "Right, Legolas?" Alasse looked up pleadingly at her big brother. He fought so hard not to laugh.
"He'll have to. He can hardly take care of himself alone in the forest at this time." He said, with as much kingly indifference as he could muster. Legolas eyed Thranduil who gave him a pitiful look.
You too? Thranduil said silently.
"Yippee! Can I see him? I promise I'll be very quiet." Alasse told the female healer.
"If your father gives your permission, you may." Maerwen nodded. Alasse looked up at Thranduil expectantly.
"Go ahead." He sighed. Alasse followed Maerwen inside.
"Why do I get the distinct notion that we are not going to come out of this one?" Thranduil huffed dramatically.
"We don't have much choice, Ada." Legolas tried to 'console' him. "There were no other wolves around. And he needs to heal. He cannot do that if he is forced to be out in the wild, trying to survive."
"I am highly aware of the pup's dire fate." Thranduil said, raising his head as he dared to peek inside the healing rooms.
Alasse was sitting cross-legged on the floor in a corner where the healers had made up a bed of towels for Fluffy and a pillow for him to rest his paw on. The cub looked dazed but Alasse was patting his head and speaking to him kindly, telling him all about the Woodland Realm, and the servants, and where he wasn't allowed to go, and who to avoid if they weren't in the best of moods. The pup did seem to relax at the sound of her voice. And he responded well to Malfortion's kind touch when he came by and rubbed his fur.
"Alas, I have been ensnared." Thranduil said woefully as he observed the warm scene.
"Ai, yes. Now you shall have two little ones to worry about." Legolas teased him.
I have a Part 3 coming up!