Of Princes and Runaways

Rayne (rayne_a00@yahoo.com)

This is set on an Alternative Universe setting where there is no ring, and the different characters would be in positions that would benefit my story. Oh, and before I forget, YAOI a.k.a. m/m slash comes in a little later between…I haven't decided yet. ^O^

Enjoy!

Mental Image warning: (Tee-hee)

Picture this…Legolas on Aragorn's lap, kissing like breath was the least important factor that ever existed in the world, like it was only the dead that needed it.

Like that? Then go on…

Hate that? Then why the heck are you even reading this?!

Prologue: The Trouble Makers

Legolas growled, furrowing his brows and urging his foot to move forward. He bit his lower lip as he swayed lightly, a light blush creeping up his cheeks. It was enough that he hadn't eaten for days, and now things had turn for the worse as he heard voices from behind him, in an attempt to search for him. He exhaled slowly, grabbed unto a low branch, and swung himself up to the tree.

"Legolas."

He froze, afraid to turn around. But eventually, instincts trampled over fear and he looked back to see a smirking Haldir swinging his feet back and forth in the tree diagonally across his. He let out a breath and smiled, grateful for who it was, and greatly relieved. Haldir merely nodded, before directing his head a little backwards, the same time Legolas did, hearing voices and slight noises further back.

"There he is!"

The statement was followed by elven feet running, towards the direction opposite where Legolas was hiding. He breathe a sigh of relief, seeing that they had finally lost track of him. He almost completely forgot Haldir in his relief before he /felt/ a shadow covering him. He looked up, seeing Haldir leaning his back on the tree, standing on the same branch where Legolas was crouched over. He was looking away, as if searching, a lingering smirk on his face.

"Looks like Glorfindel did a pretty good job."

Legolas frowned at that, standing up as well, so that he was in level with the Lorien elf. He reached a hand up, brushing strands of golden hair away from his eyes as they kept obscuring his view. He was looking directly at Haldir, as he crossed his arms and threw a glare that could make even an iceberg melt.

"What /exactly/ does that mean?"

All he got was a playful smile that promised a good get away…and a lot of trouble.

"What did you just say?"

Thranduil rationally asked as he crossed the room, pacing back and forth, his fist clenching and unclenching. He was sweating, as impossible as it seemed, and his brown eyes were glaring through the blonde elven messenger. The messenger cringed, feeling the imaginary daggers go through his skull. He bit his lip and thought whether he'd be able to live long enough to have his own family. Before realising that was near impossible.

"Prince Legolas is missing…he managed to runaway."

His voice was a tiny squeak, face contorted as if expecting the heavens to come crashing down on him. Thranduil himself looked like the heaven /had/ crashed on him, with his eyes wide, his mouth set in a grim line.

"You LET my son go?! I thought you had him tracked down!"

"We did. But…," The messenger paused and took a deep breath, his eyes glued to the floor in fear. "He managed to get away with some conspirators."

"Conspirators?"

"Y-yes." The blonde elf swallowed heavily, his hand reaching up to tug the tunic away from him, it's presence seeming to suffocate him. "We were able to spot him with two blonde elves we assume to be his conspirators."

Thranduil bellowed, his hand fisting, a low, threatening growl coming from his throat. He knew that Legolas liked adventure, away from the elven palace of Mirkwood. He knew how much his son would give up to be able to roam the forests freely, and to get away from the constricting grasp of a crown prince. He knew how much his son liked mischief- like not showing up for his lessons- but never once would he have thought his son would risk a chance of running away.

"I'll be back father, you worry too much."

He could hear the voice of his son in his mind, even though he knew it was merely his imagination. He had a vague idea where his son would head to, had a vague idea who his son was with, and had a vague idea why his son had runaway. And all his brain could muster up were the three different ideas. One, that his son would dare go to Gondor and seek adventure in a foreign land with alienated beings residing there, two, his son had his two best friends with him- both sons of mischief since the dawning of time –Haldir and Glorfindel- and three, that the only reason his son would ever runaway was to seek fun, experience, and the challenge, logic not even coming close.

And he was not far from being perfectly correct.

Another low growl erupted from his throat, and he smacked a hand against his forehead, eyes lighting in frustration. Why did his son have to be /so/ disobedient? So out-going? So carefree! Just like his mother. That thought brought a choked sound that sounded like a groan of his patience running out and not needing to turn around, he /felt/ the elven messenger- still on his knees- cringe…

…in fear.

He loved his son more than anything in the world, true enough, but sometimes he was just too much to handle, and right about now, Legolas was going to be in big trouble the moment he arrived home.

"You were thinking of running away without telling us? How could you!"

Haldir sent a hand up to smack against the back of Legolas' head. Beside him, Glorfindel was laughing, his hands raised to the back of his head. Legolas was grinning, though a hand came up to fix his hair where Haldir had messed it up.

"I was going to tell you." He reasoned out, smiling sheepishly. If there was any, Haldir and Glorfindel would come closest to being his best friends. True, he didn't tell them that he was going to runaway to Gondor, but he figured that they would know anyway, sooner or later. Thrill ran up his spine at the thought of going to Gondor, a place inhabited by Men.

"When?! When you've reached Gondor and your father's already had our heads out for display?!"

Legolas laughed at that, ignoring Haldir's outburst. He felt good already. Not that he didn't feel good earlier, but his plans of escape was nearly ruined when his father found out he was missing before he wanted him too. He knew his father would be greatly upset, but knowing his father, he knew that Thranduil would come to terms with and of him enjoying being challenged. Shaking his head, he turned to Glorfindel when he heard the other blonde speak.

"You know Legolas, your father would probably lock you up when you get home."

Glorfindel told him, watching him from the corner of his eyes. The older blonde elf has a smile of mischief plastered to his face, his hands clasped behind his head. Legolas knew he had a point, but right now it didn't matter. He merely grinned in response, shrugging casually.

"And he'd have both your heads for helping me out."

"Exactly!"

He purposely ignored Haldir's sarcastic comment when his elven eyes picked up smoke from up ahead and he ran, grabbed a tree branch, heaved himself up to the top of the wide, tall tree, and called down his friends.

"Haldir! Glorfindel!"

He motioned with his hands for them to go up and both elves did, climbing their way to the tree's top. The tree was tall, and gave them the advantage of overlooking a vast landscape miles away. Said landscape was where the smoke was coming from, and from their vantage point, the three elves could half-clearly see some rustling movements, structures built up, horses drawn, and a big castle with Gondor's flag waving from it's tower. The Mirkwood prince let out his breath, a smile splitting on his face.

"So that's Gondor."

*****************************

Okay, this is quite mean, but if I don't get /at least/ some reviews for this, I'm not continuing it. There's no point continuing a story people hardly read.

Finished on April 20, 2002, 3:01 in the morning. Rayne ™

Unedited…I'm too busy for that right now. ^_^