Thanks for the reviws, glad you like it so far! sorry this part took so long, i've had quite a bit of homework! enjoy!
The sun shone through Legolas's window, it's golden rays spilling over his own golden hair.
"Arise Prince Legolas!", a servant of his fathers banged on the door."It is the day!"
Legolas rolled over and grunted, the noise of the elf making him wish he was still asleep.."The day?"
The elf shouted louder."Yes! The opening day of the tournament! You must get ready, for Elrond wishes to meet with you!"
Legolas shot out of bed."The Tournament! Why, i had forgotten about it! Where are my clothes!?"
Legolas ran speedily down the stairs, pulling his tunic over his head, trying to get to Elrond's chamber before the rest of the competitors. He still could not believe that he had entered a tournament to win Arwen's love, after all, such a thing was rather below his status, but he knew himself why he had done it. He had to protect arwen from his uncle, even if that ment risking his honor, he would protect her.
To his dismay, and annoyance, he found he was the last one to reach the chamber of the master of Rivendell.
"Now that we have all finally arrived", Elrond said pointedly, glancing sharpely at Legolas, who in turn gave an embarassed frown,"I shall tell you of the first task. As you all know, you are here to win the love of my daughter. You shall compete in the tournament until two contenders remain, then, my daughter shall judge who is most worthy of her love. I did not say this would be an easy task. You have entered this tournament of your own free will, and must be prepared for the risks that lie ahead. Your first task is to venture deep into the woods behind this dwelling. I, and several of my hand elves shall accompany you. There, we have gathered creatures, the most fearsome that have ever been known to elves and men alike. You must pass through the wood unscathed, and having used no more than 10 of your 30 arrows. Those who arrive meeting these requirments at the opposite end are fit to move on to the second challenge. So should it be that all of you arrive meeting these requirements, then the last to arrive shall be disqualified. Is that clear to all who stnad before me?"
The competitors nodded, Legolas held his breath, he could not fall at the first hurdle, but then, he knew that this may not prove to be a test to him, as much as it was to some of the others. Sir Drastyn looked terrified, as if he had never held an arrow in his life.
"Let us proceed to the forest!", Elrond declared, ushering the candidates out into the open air.
Legolas stepped out of the warm chamber, the cold air felt fresh on his face. He reached to his back, to check that his reliable bow was still there, for it had not failed him yet. He walked slowly behind one of Elrond's hand elves, trying to stay as hidden as was possible. It was not easy, for almost the entire population of Rivendell had come out to watch the start of the event. Suddenly, Legolas felt his nerves, which he had tryed so hard to hide showing. The other competitors were so much older than him, surely he could not win.
"No", he breathed slowly,"I cannot think about winning, i must concentrate on the first event."
He moved into his starting position, beside Sir Drastyn. The elf next to him quivered like a clockwork toy, he seemed terrified as he held his bow in his hand.
Arwen had remained in the house for now, she planned to attend the tournament later. She glanced at the elves who were fighting for her love. She saw Legolas's blond hair wave in the wind as he gazed anxiously into the woods.
"Good luck Legolas", she whispered softly, knowing that her voice would not carry down to the grounds.
"Now!", Elrond roared,"Enter the woods, we shall await you on the other side. May speed and health go with you."
Suddenly, Legolas felt a rush of emotions the he sprung into the woods. Almost as soon as he entered the forest, a feeling of darkness sprang upon him, as if there was some sort of weight he was carrying, and could not shrug it off. Sir Drastyn wimpered next to him.
"I guess it is time that we go our separate ways", Thandiul said coldly, moving swiftly toward the left.
"You are right", Prince Ruyston, an elf from the Grey Havens sighed uncomfortably."Good luck to you all."
Legolas found himself warming to the elf's happy nature."And to you too", he found himself saying, not realising the words had left his mouth until he had wished the elf good fortune.
The elves went their separate ways, and Legolas was alone once more. He walked uneasily forward, pulling out an arrow, and fitting it to his quiver, expecting danger. Even his own slender hand was unually shaky. To his surprise, he walked for a long time, unable to here, or even to see anything.
"What trickery is this?", he breathed softly, adjusting his vision, for he knew that there was something there, he could feel it.
He continued his treck, trudging along the forest floor, along the soft carpet of leaves and twigs. There was a loud snap, and Legolas lept in to the air, firing one of his arrows by accident.
Cursing himself for his stupidity, he looked down. His eyes fell upon a broken twig, it's newly broken branches twinkling in the tiny amount of sunlight that was escaping from the huge tress.
Legolas turned a corner, and to his surprise, the vail he had just entered errupted with light.
Legolas edged toward one of the tall trees, who, only moments before had been covered in darkness, it's beautiful green moss now spilling over the forest floor.
Legolas stood peacfully for several seconds, letting the tranquility of the vale brush over him. He had not felt the true beauty of the forest for many days.
Suddenly, the peace in the vale was shattered by the pertrifying scream of Sir Drastyn several metres away.
Legolas spun round, and without any hesitation, began to run to the scream. Drastyn needed help.
The worry pounded in his head as he ran along the forest floor, ignoring any possible distractions. He had to get to Drastyn. He lept over a clump of bushes, and landed straight in the centre of a ring of trees. He glanced around nervously, eying the trees suspiciously, watching for a hidden assailant.
It wasn't until his second glance that he realised what was lying motionless in the corner, feebly sprawled next to a bush covered in red berries.
"Drastyn!", he cried, almost dropping his bow in shock."What happened? Are you alright?!"
The elf accknwoledged the voice, and tryed in vain to lift his weary head, the pain was just to much for him, and it fell to earth again with a resounding crack.
Legolas hurried to his competitor, forgetting all laws of the contest, for he cared only to help this elf in need.
"Tell me what happened to you Drastyn!", Legolas commanded, his voice broken with shock and sadness.
Drastyn blinked slowly, and coughed rasply."I have not much time Legolas. It got me........it got me....."
"Who is 'it'", Legolas tryed to keep the elf awake, shaking him so that he would not fall into inconsiciousness.
"He......it.......he......", Drastyn muttered, his voice slipping away,"They are the same.......he...it......"
Drastyn's voice failed him, Legolas knew no more of his elven companion. He stood up, and drew another arrow from his quiver. He would slay the beast that had killed Drastyn.
There was a rumble in the bushes.
Legolas pulled his bow back, ready to release his arrow. He had never been so scared, for even when he had been at war against Mordor.....even when they had travelled with the ring.........he had never been alone........not like he was now...........
A huge hoof was expelled from the bushes, followed by large purtrding horns. Legolas froze in shock, staring at the huge blood smeared creature.
An armoured body crept from the bushes, and soon, the entire creature stood solely in front of Legolas.
Legolas couldn't move, his eyes just bore into the massive creatures own.
"It's an armoured bull.......", he breathed softly, as the bull began stomping it's heel against the ground, the rising dust catching in Legolas's throat. Legolas panicked, and gave immediat reaction. He just fired. One arrow after another. After he had fired eight arrows, he realised how stupid he had just been.
"What am i going to do?", he cried,"I'm only allowed to shoot 10, and, if i count the one earlier, i have fired 9! i have only one arrow left!I must aim for the heart!"
The bull charged at Legolas, steam pouring from it's nostrils. Legolas lept into the air, and pulled back his bow.
"Please", he whispered,"Let my aim be true!"
He fired.
The bull fell to the ground, a tiny trickle of blood spilling from it's body.
Legolas moved against a tree, and sighed."I am safe....."
There was a crack. The bull rose once more, and began a take down attack on Legolas.
Legolas was horrifed.
"What am i going to do now!", he cried, as he did the only option that was left to him. He ran.
He ran as fast as he was able, the blood pounding in his head as he belted down the woodland path.
He ran straight into a tree, and fell to the ground. He turned, gasping for breath, and snapped his eyes shut, praying for his life.
The bull ran straight at him, the fire in it's eyes burning passionately for the kill.
There was a snap. The bull fell to the ground, dead, the passionate light in it's eyes flickered slowly.....and then he was gone.
Legolas eased open his eyes, and glanced around. He noticed the dead bull, and shot up at once. He stared into the trees, and saw the tip of the Rivendell bow.
Thandiul stepped out of the clump of trees, holding his bow at his breast. He turned to Legolas, a cold smile pressed upon his lips, the thrill of the kill still fresh upon his mind.
Legolas sharank backward.
"Why?", he finally whispered,"Why did you save me?"
Thandiul was silent for several seconds before answering. Eventually, he approached Legolas and knelt down beside him. He touched his nephews face, feeling at once the pain and the suffering that his reappearence had caused. He stood once more, and walked away, calling softly behind him.
"It is not yet your time Legolas.......you still have a part to play........."
Legolas lay silently on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
"What did he mean?", he chocked quietly, as he touched his own face..
He stood once more. After the battle with the bull, he could hear the crowd roaring.
"I must be near the finish", he thought, walking slowly toward the end, staring silently back at Drastyn's dead body.
He entered the crowd, and was greeted by a warm applause.
"Congartulations, Prince Legolas of Mirkwood", Elrond smiled as he placed his arms on Legolas's shoulders."You have earned a place in the next round of the tournament."
Legolas forced a smile onto his face, but he could not stop looking suspiciously at his uncle, who was now chatting aimicably with Arwen.
"Part to play........", he whispered, trying to stop the hurt welling inside of him from seeping out,"What does he want with me?!"
What did you think? Part 5 should be out soon! Thanks for reading!
The sun shone through Legolas's window, it's golden rays spilling over his own golden hair.
"Arise Prince Legolas!", a servant of his fathers banged on the door."It is the day!"
Legolas rolled over and grunted, the noise of the elf making him wish he was still asleep.."The day?"
The elf shouted louder."Yes! The opening day of the tournament! You must get ready, for Elrond wishes to meet with you!"
Legolas shot out of bed."The Tournament! Why, i had forgotten about it! Where are my clothes!?"
Legolas ran speedily down the stairs, pulling his tunic over his head, trying to get to Elrond's chamber before the rest of the competitors. He still could not believe that he had entered a tournament to win Arwen's love, after all, such a thing was rather below his status, but he knew himself why he had done it. He had to protect arwen from his uncle, even if that ment risking his honor, he would protect her.
To his dismay, and annoyance, he found he was the last one to reach the chamber of the master of Rivendell.
"Now that we have all finally arrived", Elrond said pointedly, glancing sharpely at Legolas, who in turn gave an embarassed frown,"I shall tell you of the first task. As you all know, you are here to win the love of my daughter. You shall compete in the tournament until two contenders remain, then, my daughter shall judge who is most worthy of her love. I did not say this would be an easy task. You have entered this tournament of your own free will, and must be prepared for the risks that lie ahead. Your first task is to venture deep into the woods behind this dwelling. I, and several of my hand elves shall accompany you. There, we have gathered creatures, the most fearsome that have ever been known to elves and men alike. You must pass through the wood unscathed, and having used no more than 10 of your 30 arrows. Those who arrive meeting these requirments at the opposite end are fit to move on to the second challenge. So should it be that all of you arrive meeting these requirements, then the last to arrive shall be disqualified. Is that clear to all who stnad before me?"
The competitors nodded, Legolas held his breath, he could not fall at the first hurdle, but then, he knew that this may not prove to be a test to him, as much as it was to some of the others. Sir Drastyn looked terrified, as if he had never held an arrow in his life.
"Let us proceed to the forest!", Elrond declared, ushering the candidates out into the open air.
Legolas stepped out of the warm chamber, the cold air felt fresh on his face. He reached to his back, to check that his reliable bow was still there, for it had not failed him yet. He walked slowly behind one of Elrond's hand elves, trying to stay as hidden as was possible. It was not easy, for almost the entire population of Rivendell had come out to watch the start of the event. Suddenly, Legolas felt his nerves, which he had tryed so hard to hide showing. The other competitors were so much older than him, surely he could not win.
"No", he breathed slowly,"I cannot think about winning, i must concentrate on the first event."
He moved into his starting position, beside Sir Drastyn. The elf next to him quivered like a clockwork toy, he seemed terrified as he held his bow in his hand.
Arwen had remained in the house for now, she planned to attend the tournament later. She glanced at the elves who were fighting for her love. She saw Legolas's blond hair wave in the wind as he gazed anxiously into the woods.
"Good luck Legolas", she whispered softly, knowing that her voice would not carry down to the grounds.
"Now!", Elrond roared,"Enter the woods, we shall await you on the other side. May speed and health go with you."
Suddenly, Legolas felt a rush of emotions the he sprung into the woods. Almost as soon as he entered the forest, a feeling of darkness sprang upon him, as if there was some sort of weight he was carrying, and could not shrug it off. Sir Drastyn wimpered next to him.
"I guess it is time that we go our separate ways", Thandiul said coldly, moving swiftly toward the left.
"You are right", Prince Ruyston, an elf from the Grey Havens sighed uncomfortably."Good luck to you all."
Legolas found himself warming to the elf's happy nature."And to you too", he found himself saying, not realising the words had left his mouth until he had wished the elf good fortune.
The elves went their separate ways, and Legolas was alone once more. He walked uneasily forward, pulling out an arrow, and fitting it to his quiver, expecting danger. Even his own slender hand was unually shaky. To his surprise, he walked for a long time, unable to here, or even to see anything.
"What trickery is this?", he breathed softly, adjusting his vision, for he knew that there was something there, he could feel it.
He continued his treck, trudging along the forest floor, along the soft carpet of leaves and twigs. There was a loud snap, and Legolas lept in to the air, firing one of his arrows by accident.
Cursing himself for his stupidity, he looked down. His eyes fell upon a broken twig, it's newly broken branches twinkling in the tiny amount of sunlight that was escaping from the huge tress.
Legolas turned a corner, and to his surprise, the vail he had just entered errupted with light.
Legolas edged toward one of the tall trees, who, only moments before had been covered in darkness, it's beautiful green moss now spilling over the forest floor.
Legolas stood peacfully for several seconds, letting the tranquility of the vale brush over him. He had not felt the true beauty of the forest for many days.
Suddenly, the peace in the vale was shattered by the pertrifying scream of Sir Drastyn several metres away.
Legolas spun round, and without any hesitation, began to run to the scream. Drastyn needed help.
The worry pounded in his head as he ran along the forest floor, ignoring any possible distractions. He had to get to Drastyn. He lept over a clump of bushes, and landed straight in the centre of a ring of trees. He glanced around nervously, eying the trees suspiciously, watching for a hidden assailant.
It wasn't until his second glance that he realised what was lying motionless in the corner, feebly sprawled next to a bush covered in red berries.
"Drastyn!", he cried, almost dropping his bow in shock."What happened? Are you alright?!"
The elf accknwoledged the voice, and tryed in vain to lift his weary head, the pain was just to much for him, and it fell to earth again with a resounding crack.
Legolas hurried to his competitor, forgetting all laws of the contest, for he cared only to help this elf in need.
"Tell me what happened to you Drastyn!", Legolas commanded, his voice broken with shock and sadness.
Drastyn blinked slowly, and coughed rasply."I have not much time Legolas. It got me........it got me....."
"Who is 'it'", Legolas tryed to keep the elf awake, shaking him so that he would not fall into inconsiciousness.
"He......it.......he......", Drastyn muttered, his voice slipping away,"They are the same.......he...it......"
Drastyn's voice failed him, Legolas knew no more of his elven companion. He stood up, and drew another arrow from his quiver. He would slay the beast that had killed Drastyn.
There was a rumble in the bushes.
Legolas pulled his bow back, ready to release his arrow. He had never been so scared, for even when he had been at war against Mordor.....even when they had travelled with the ring.........he had never been alone........not like he was now...........
A huge hoof was expelled from the bushes, followed by large purtrding horns. Legolas froze in shock, staring at the huge blood smeared creature.
An armoured body crept from the bushes, and soon, the entire creature stood solely in front of Legolas.
Legolas couldn't move, his eyes just bore into the massive creatures own.
"It's an armoured bull.......", he breathed softly, as the bull began stomping it's heel against the ground, the rising dust catching in Legolas's throat. Legolas panicked, and gave immediat reaction. He just fired. One arrow after another. After he had fired eight arrows, he realised how stupid he had just been.
"What am i going to do?", he cried,"I'm only allowed to shoot 10, and, if i count the one earlier, i have fired 9! i have only one arrow left!I must aim for the heart!"
The bull charged at Legolas, steam pouring from it's nostrils. Legolas lept into the air, and pulled back his bow.
"Please", he whispered,"Let my aim be true!"
He fired.
The bull fell to the ground, a tiny trickle of blood spilling from it's body.
Legolas moved against a tree, and sighed."I am safe....."
There was a crack. The bull rose once more, and began a take down attack on Legolas.
Legolas was horrifed.
"What am i going to do now!", he cried, as he did the only option that was left to him. He ran.
He ran as fast as he was able, the blood pounding in his head as he belted down the woodland path.
He ran straight into a tree, and fell to the ground. He turned, gasping for breath, and snapped his eyes shut, praying for his life.
The bull ran straight at him, the fire in it's eyes burning passionately for the kill.
There was a snap. The bull fell to the ground, dead, the passionate light in it's eyes flickered slowly.....and then he was gone.
Legolas eased open his eyes, and glanced around. He noticed the dead bull, and shot up at once. He stared into the trees, and saw the tip of the Rivendell bow.
Thandiul stepped out of the clump of trees, holding his bow at his breast. He turned to Legolas, a cold smile pressed upon his lips, the thrill of the kill still fresh upon his mind.
Legolas sharank backward.
"Why?", he finally whispered,"Why did you save me?"
Thandiul was silent for several seconds before answering. Eventually, he approached Legolas and knelt down beside him. He touched his nephews face, feeling at once the pain and the suffering that his reappearence had caused. He stood once more, and walked away, calling softly behind him.
"It is not yet your time Legolas.......you still have a part to play........."
Legolas lay silently on the ground, tears streaming down his face.
"What did he mean?", he chocked quietly, as he touched his own face..
He stood once more. After the battle with the bull, he could hear the crowd roaring.
"I must be near the finish", he thought, walking slowly toward the end, staring silently back at Drastyn's dead body.
He entered the crowd, and was greeted by a warm applause.
"Congartulations, Prince Legolas of Mirkwood", Elrond smiled as he placed his arms on Legolas's shoulders."You have earned a place in the next round of the tournament."
Legolas forced a smile onto his face, but he could not stop looking suspiciously at his uncle, who was now chatting aimicably with Arwen.
"Part to play........", he whispered, trying to stop the hurt welling inside of him from seeping out,"What does he want with me?!"
What did you think? Part 5 should be out soon! Thanks for reading!