Author's note: I luv music. =D

Chapter 5: Kidnapped

Legolas sat in his bed. He felt the desire to leave the palace, but this time the yearning was more compelling than before. He listened carefully and could hear the guards stationed outside of this door. He pulled on his cloak and sprang out of his open window and into the large tree nearby. He jumped down and left the palace grounds as well as the kingdom into the wilderness. His bow and arrow stayed in his room, forgotten.

Legolas sprang about the joyously. He felt as though he had been born again, breathing such fresh air again after such a long time of confinement. As he ran about the woods, he noticed a small child crying by a tree. He approached the child whose back was turned so Legolas could not see his face.

"Young one," Legolas called softly so as not to frighten the adolescent. "Why are you not at home? 'Tis late to be wandering around outside." The child continued crying. Legolas walked by the child and knelt beside it. He let out a gasp as the child turned to him, revealing that it was not an Elven child but in fact an Orc. Legolas cried out in alarm and leaped back. The end of a spear came crashing down his back and he fell to the ground as darkness surrounded him.

***

"You must make your journey immediately." Gandalf said. "Tomorrow, if possible. Though I wish I knew more of the dangers awaiting you, I know not if I have the time to learn more for you to wait."

"Have you gone to the Lady Galadriel, Gandalf?" Aragorn asked.

"No, I have not, though I mean to visit Lothlorien soon after you leave tomorrow."

"Oh," Aragorn said, frowning as he concentrated on a memory he had long ago.

I*Flashback*

"You are destined to wed Arwen Undomiel," Lady Galadriel said softly but resolutely.

Aragorn looked up at the fair Elven lady standing before him. "Lady—"

"Elessar, you are a great man." Galadriel continued. "But you are just one man. A man destined to rule Gondor. Arwen will surely make you greater in such fate. You will need Arwen to make Gondor grand again."

"I would rather become powerless and become a slave if your words are true." Aragorn said sorrowfully. "I do not love Arwen, Lady Galadriel, not anymore. I do not wish to hurt her."

"Elessar, does Arwen not know of your decision?" Galadriel asked. "She released you of your vows, Aragorn. You misunderstand my words. Being bound by marriage does not bind you to love her."

"Why can I not stand by Legolas?" Aragorn pleaded. He could not bear losing the Elf, who had finally come to trust him.

"Legolas is destined for greatness just as you are." Galadriel answered. Aragorn sensed a tremble in her voice. "Lothlorien is fading. Lord Celeborn and I will diminish and eventually go back to the West. In its place, Mirkwood will arise. Elessar, I do not make it a habit to look into the future but I see a dark path paved for Legolas. He has a great power of which he knows naught. This power will in time be pursued by the the Dark Hand."

/I

"Aragorn?" Gandalf stared at Aragorn. Aragorn shook his head and faced the wizard. "Do you know something I do not?"

"During the Fellowship," Aragorn began, "when we were in Lothlorien, Lady Galadriel—"

Aragorn was interrupted as Rowen barged into the hall.

"King Thranduil!" Rowen cried. "There is a troop of Orcs marching this way and the prince is missing!"

Thranduil stood up suddenly and stared, panicked, at Rowen. "What do you mean, the prince is missing?"

"The guards looked into his room when they heard no noise and discovered the room empty. At the same time, the battle cries of Orcs were heard just outside the kingdom. They are marching rapidly this way."

Aragorn unsheathed Anduril and stood up. "I will come to help you fight the Orcs."

"Me too!" Pippin piped up.

"You're not going anywhere without us!" Gimli agreed. The Fellowship ran out of the dining hall with Rowen.

"Thranduil, please stay in the palace." Gandalf said. "We cannot put you in danger as well."

"As you wish, Gandalf." Thranduil agreed reluctantly. As Gandalf, too, ran out of the hall with his staff, Thranduil stayed inside, pacing around anxiously.

***

Aragorn ran out of the boundaries of Mirkwood with a roar. He ran beside the Elven warriors already outside who were fighting the bands of Orcs. He rushed into the battle, slashing viciously at any Orcs that came his way. He saw out of the corner of his eye that his companions were doing the same thing. They continued to fight until a boom of thunder sounded.

"Cease your fighting!" a deep voice bellowed. They turned and saw Gandalf. His face was wrathful as he pointed his staff threateningly at the Orcs. "Be off! You shall not enter Mirkwood!"

The Orcs just laughed deeply. Aragorn cringed at the cacophonous sound.

"So be it!" one large Orc shouted back. He was clearly the leader of the armies. "We will leave but one day we shall return and overpower the Elves once and for all!" He hissed at the other Orcs and they began making their exit as arrows sang through the air from the bows of the Elven archers who continued to shoot as the Orcs disappeared into the horizon. Aragorn and the rest of the Fellowship ran to Gandalf.

"How come they surrendered so easily?" Pippin asked Gandalf while he struggled to keep up with the wizard's long stride.

"They were not planning on entering Mirkwood at all." Gandalf replied darkly. "They were merely playing a game with us. They have already captured their treasure." He led them into Legolas' bedroom.

The room was empty but seemed regular other than that. There was no sign of a struggle. Suddenly, Frodo let out a distressed cry. He walked slowly to Legolas' bedside and with trembling hands, he picked up Legolas' weapons.

Legolas was defenseless.

Author's note: once again, I apologize for the short chapter but I'll try to post chapter 6 asap. *^^*