Disclaimer: Full disclaimer on first page.
Okay, I wanted to see what response I would get for the spider, and I got nearly five reviews on how people felt sorry for it. I liked it, and will allow the spider to live. Lol, enjoy the chapter.
Chapter Eighteen
Tylendal blinked wide-eyed at the warriors charging him. Behind him the spider shifted, and prepared to flee.
Suddenly realizing there intent, Tylendal backed up until he was pressed up against the spider's first pair of legs. Legolas and the twins knew the spider had helped them and probably saved Tylendal's life, or at least stopped him from being overly hurt, so they cried their protest too.
"Nay! Hurt him not, saved my life he did!" Tylendal said, as the spider clicked nervously above him. The warriors halted, blinking in confusion and suspicion.
Thranduil walked forwards from behind the warriors. "Are you sure? It is a spider, Tylendal." Legolas pushed past one warrior to see his father.
"It did, ada. We were here talking, and we saw it. It was hurt and Tylendal helped it. We followed it to its nest, which had a lot of orcs in it." Legolas would have continued, but half the warriors suddenly fanned out, sliding through the forest to check for aforementioned orcs. The spider shuffled slightly as they passed close by it.
Thranduil and Elrond were looking angry. "Orcs? You follow a spider, into its nest, and into a group of orcs? You could have been hurt! Why did you go?"
"Father! We weren't planning on doing anything. We thought that if orcs were so near as to chase a spider away from its nest, we must find their camp to lead the warriors there. But they discovered us, and Tylendal would have been seriously hurt if it was not for the spider!" Legolas protested, moving closer to Tylendal, who still stood in front the spider.
Elrond's expression softened. "Calm, Thranduil. It was logical for them to want to check and see how great a threat was. And it would have been helpful to know where the orcs were before we sent warriors after them. They are alive, and unharmed. They know how dangerous it was. The spider did, in truth, help them, so it would be wrong to slay the creature." Thranduil sighed, and looked at his son with a more gentle expression on his fair features.
"Very well. Back to the festivities. Tylendal, you can leave the spider now. We will not harm it." The Elven King looked at the spider. "If you do not harm an Elf, we will leave you in peace."
Tylendal blinked again, before stepping away from the spider. The arachnid clicked its mandibles softly, before melting into the forest in a way that was surprising for such a large creature.
~*~*~*
Back at the festivities, the Elves were keeping a wary eye out even as they relaxed. Night was approaching, the sun was nearly set and the moon and stars were out in full splendor.
Their fathers released Legolas and Elrohir from kitchen duty, who had decided they had been punished enough.
The four went off to the various contests and activities. Tylendal employed his formidable skill with knife throwing, winning prizes which he split among his friends.
Legolas proved his talent during the youths' archery contest, and Elladan and Elrohir both excelled in the foot races. Horses were brought onto the cleared out archery fields, and shots were fired at targets that were at various distances. Tylendal and Legolas competed.
Legolas grinned as his arrow pierced the second ring just outside the bull's eye, and Tylendal shrugged as he hit a few inches from Legolas' mark. Better with his swords than with the bow, and better with his knives than with his swords, Tylendal ultimately preferred knife work to his swords or the bow.
Next they went to an interesting kind of obstacle course set up by WeaponsMaster Sigurd. The WeaponsMaster had set up a kind of track through the gardens. Bells were strung throughout the trees and bushes, and sacks were set up and also strung with a certain amount of bells in the immediate area around them.
Legolas and the others were the first to test this intriguing course. Quite a few Elves had gathered to watch.
"Alright. Your task is to get through the gardens without alerting the 'enemy' you are there. The bells are to be avoided. Prince, you can start." Sigurd stepped back as Legolas slipped through the arch that marked the entrance to the gardens. The thick trees that ringed the gardens were probably his best bet, so in one quick move he was up the tree and surrounded by bells.
As he went, he was lost by sight in the trees. Suddenly, a bell rang out, its musical tones ringing in the cold air.
Legolas was near the end when he stepped too near a bell and set it ringing. He made it through, and made his way around to the front. Sigurd nodded in approval, for he had hit only one bell and it was near the end.
Elladan went, then Elrohir, each hitting a few bells but coming out. Finally Tylendal went, and he did the best by far. Not a single bell was hit. But then, as he was not as skilled in combat as his friends, stealth was one of his main advantages in battle. He was naturally adept at it.
As the festival neared its end, the events of earlier that day were put aside.
And at the near end of the time the Elflings could stay out, Thranduil called them forth. He held the small box Elrohir had found in that abandoned cellar. Some of the smiths had managed to open it.
Inside, cushioned in the slightly modeled fabric, was a small pendant. Nestled next to the pendant was an old piece of parchment. Opening it, Thranduil read its blurred contents.
"For whoever reads this.
Within this box is contained a bracelet of some value. I have no descendants to give it too, and with the war on our heads, I probably will have no need of it. King Oropher will lead us, and if all goes well I shall return for it. But if not, whoever gets it enjoy it in good health."
Thranduil looked up. The four Elflings blinked back at him.
"That's it? A bracelet from a warrior who was in the army when my grandfather went to war?" Legolas said, looking at the ancient artifact within the old box.
"What does it do?" Elrohir asked curiously, marveling at the play of the torches on the bracelet's silver chain. The chain was actually three, all intertwined within the others.
"If it does anything." Elladan added. Tylendal reached forwards, drawing the bracelet out. They noticed a small charm hanging at the bottom of the chain. The charm was shaped into a small dragon, intricately detailed.
He held it, and they could see the appreciation in his eyes.
Elladan and Elrohir had many trinkets at home, back in Rivendell, and Legolas, being the Prince of Mirkwood, had many jewels and treasures if he so desired. What need have they of one more? Silently agreeing with the three Elflings' feelings, Thranduil handed the box to Tylendal, who accepted it with a glowing look of thanks. Smiling broadly, he fitted it to his wrist.
Soon after, they were within their respective beds and asleep.
~*~*~*
Thanks to all reviewers! Epilogue will come next! Sorry for the short chapter!
Itarilde-elenastar: yes, it was a compliment when I said you were enthusiastic. I look forward to your reviews, because you seem so cheerful when reviewing. I hope you don't take offense at me being so bold as to say that.
Kitsune: Lol, one good spider in a forest of bad spiders, who'd have thought? I decided to let the spider live since people seemed to like it so much. *g *
Silverknight7: Thanks for your review. Yes, the poor spider.
Alida Fruit: Yay! Go you! Lol, thanks for your review and hope you like this chapter too.
Feanen: Thanks for your review.
Drowdancer: lol, thanks a lot! Glad you liked it.
Wynjara: Don't worry! The spider is alright! See? See? I don't cause all my characters pain and suffering! Lol, thanks for your review.
Okay, I wanted to see what response I would get for the spider, and I got nearly five reviews on how people felt sorry for it. I liked it, and will allow the spider to live. Lol, enjoy the chapter.
Chapter Eighteen
Tylendal blinked wide-eyed at the warriors charging him. Behind him the spider shifted, and prepared to flee.
Suddenly realizing there intent, Tylendal backed up until he was pressed up against the spider's first pair of legs. Legolas and the twins knew the spider had helped them and probably saved Tylendal's life, or at least stopped him from being overly hurt, so they cried their protest too.
"Nay! Hurt him not, saved my life he did!" Tylendal said, as the spider clicked nervously above him. The warriors halted, blinking in confusion and suspicion.
Thranduil walked forwards from behind the warriors. "Are you sure? It is a spider, Tylendal." Legolas pushed past one warrior to see his father.
"It did, ada. We were here talking, and we saw it. It was hurt and Tylendal helped it. We followed it to its nest, which had a lot of orcs in it." Legolas would have continued, but half the warriors suddenly fanned out, sliding through the forest to check for aforementioned orcs. The spider shuffled slightly as they passed close by it.
Thranduil and Elrond were looking angry. "Orcs? You follow a spider, into its nest, and into a group of orcs? You could have been hurt! Why did you go?"
"Father! We weren't planning on doing anything. We thought that if orcs were so near as to chase a spider away from its nest, we must find their camp to lead the warriors there. But they discovered us, and Tylendal would have been seriously hurt if it was not for the spider!" Legolas protested, moving closer to Tylendal, who still stood in front the spider.
Elrond's expression softened. "Calm, Thranduil. It was logical for them to want to check and see how great a threat was. And it would have been helpful to know where the orcs were before we sent warriors after them. They are alive, and unharmed. They know how dangerous it was. The spider did, in truth, help them, so it would be wrong to slay the creature." Thranduil sighed, and looked at his son with a more gentle expression on his fair features.
"Very well. Back to the festivities. Tylendal, you can leave the spider now. We will not harm it." The Elven King looked at the spider. "If you do not harm an Elf, we will leave you in peace."
Tylendal blinked again, before stepping away from the spider. The arachnid clicked its mandibles softly, before melting into the forest in a way that was surprising for such a large creature.
~*~*~*
Back at the festivities, the Elves were keeping a wary eye out even as they relaxed. Night was approaching, the sun was nearly set and the moon and stars were out in full splendor.
Their fathers released Legolas and Elrohir from kitchen duty, who had decided they had been punished enough.
The four went off to the various contests and activities. Tylendal employed his formidable skill with knife throwing, winning prizes which he split among his friends.
Legolas proved his talent during the youths' archery contest, and Elladan and Elrohir both excelled in the foot races. Horses were brought onto the cleared out archery fields, and shots were fired at targets that were at various distances. Tylendal and Legolas competed.
Legolas grinned as his arrow pierced the second ring just outside the bull's eye, and Tylendal shrugged as he hit a few inches from Legolas' mark. Better with his swords than with the bow, and better with his knives than with his swords, Tylendal ultimately preferred knife work to his swords or the bow.
Next they went to an interesting kind of obstacle course set up by WeaponsMaster Sigurd. The WeaponsMaster had set up a kind of track through the gardens. Bells were strung throughout the trees and bushes, and sacks were set up and also strung with a certain amount of bells in the immediate area around them.
Legolas and the others were the first to test this intriguing course. Quite a few Elves had gathered to watch.
"Alright. Your task is to get through the gardens without alerting the 'enemy' you are there. The bells are to be avoided. Prince, you can start." Sigurd stepped back as Legolas slipped through the arch that marked the entrance to the gardens. The thick trees that ringed the gardens were probably his best bet, so in one quick move he was up the tree and surrounded by bells.
As he went, he was lost by sight in the trees. Suddenly, a bell rang out, its musical tones ringing in the cold air.
Legolas was near the end when he stepped too near a bell and set it ringing. He made it through, and made his way around to the front. Sigurd nodded in approval, for he had hit only one bell and it was near the end.
Elladan went, then Elrohir, each hitting a few bells but coming out. Finally Tylendal went, and he did the best by far. Not a single bell was hit. But then, as he was not as skilled in combat as his friends, stealth was one of his main advantages in battle. He was naturally adept at it.
As the festival neared its end, the events of earlier that day were put aside.
And at the near end of the time the Elflings could stay out, Thranduil called them forth. He held the small box Elrohir had found in that abandoned cellar. Some of the smiths had managed to open it.
Inside, cushioned in the slightly modeled fabric, was a small pendant. Nestled next to the pendant was an old piece of parchment. Opening it, Thranduil read its blurred contents.
"For whoever reads this.
Within this box is contained a bracelet of some value. I have no descendants to give it too, and with the war on our heads, I probably will have no need of it. King Oropher will lead us, and if all goes well I shall return for it. But if not, whoever gets it enjoy it in good health."
Thranduil looked up. The four Elflings blinked back at him.
"That's it? A bracelet from a warrior who was in the army when my grandfather went to war?" Legolas said, looking at the ancient artifact within the old box.
"What does it do?" Elrohir asked curiously, marveling at the play of the torches on the bracelet's silver chain. The chain was actually three, all intertwined within the others.
"If it does anything." Elladan added. Tylendal reached forwards, drawing the bracelet out. They noticed a small charm hanging at the bottom of the chain. The charm was shaped into a small dragon, intricately detailed.
He held it, and they could see the appreciation in his eyes.
Elladan and Elrohir had many trinkets at home, back in Rivendell, and Legolas, being the Prince of Mirkwood, had many jewels and treasures if he so desired. What need have they of one more? Silently agreeing with the three Elflings' feelings, Thranduil handed the box to Tylendal, who accepted it with a glowing look of thanks. Smiling broadly, he fitted it to his wrist.
Soon after, they were within their respective beds and asleep.
~*~*~*
Thanks to all reviewers! Epilogue will come next! Sorry for the short chapter!
Itarilde-elenastar: yes, it was a compliment when I said you were enthusiastic. I look forward to your reviews, because you seem so cheerful when reviewing. I hope you don't take offense at me being so bold as to say that.
Kitsune: Lol, one good spider in a forest of bad spiders, who'd have thought? I decided to let the spider live since people seemed to like it so much. *g *
Silverknight7: Thanks for your review. Yes, the poor spider.
Alida Fruit: Yay! Go you! Lol, thanks for your review and hope you like this chapter too.
Feanen: Thanks for your review.
Drowdancer: lol, thanks a lot! Glad you liked it.
Wynjara: Don't worry! The spider is alright! See? See? I don't cause all my characters pain and suffering! Lol, thanks for your review.