Chapter 3

They rode all the way outside of Mirkwood, the horses running at a full gallop. Legolas halted at a field, and then slid off his horse. Laphaela jumped down, and so did Ethrin. There were many numerous animals in the field, and they were all swift and small, just the perfect targets.

"The rules are mine, since this is my idea. The person who shoots off the most animals with their five arrows wins. Also, you only have one minute to shoot all your targets," declared Laphaela. She pulled out her bow and tested the string.

Legolas also drew his bow, and pulled out an arrow. Ethrin pulled an arrow from her quiver and held up her bow. Laphaela announced the start and then crept out into the field. Legolas walked around the field and found a tree. He stepped behind it and drew his bow. Ethrin just stayed where she was. In a few seconds, arrows flew from three directions, and a number of rabbits were shot.

Suddenly, Ethrin saw a shadow fly behind Legolas, and she, thinking it was a rabbit, drew her bow and concentrated hard on it. Suddenly, she felt a searing pain inside of her and she saw a glow of red eyes. Legolas barely turned around in time to see the arrow shoot right past his face and onto something behind him. He turned just in time to see the arrow in the middle of a pile of ashes, before the ashes crumbled and was gone.

Ethrin fell to the ground, panting. The pain had gone just when she had broken her concentration. The whole world seemed to whirl around her and she got very dizzy. Finally, she got enough strength to stand up and saw that Legolas and Laphaela hovering over her. Ethrin could feel the sun on her neck, and knew that her hood had fallen off. They gave her a look of concern, and tried to help her up. She pushed them away and staggered a little. Then she whistled and the white stallion came. Ethrin mounted the horse and started riding full speed back into Mirkwood.

"I need to see the king. NOW! There is danger in these lands now, and your people won't be safe here. I need to warn Thranduil to have guards keep watch, or else all will perish in these forests." Ethrin shouted a command to the horse and he bound off, his muscles seemed to flow as he ran.

Seeing Ethrin leaving, Legolas and Laphaela both mounted and rode off quickly after her. The three of them flew through into the forest and found their way back to the town. Ethrin jumped off immediately and ran all the way to back to the king's room. She flew in and saw that the king was having a meeting. She walked right up to him and said, "I need to speak with you right now."

The king looked at her with fury, and said angrily, "I'm in a meeting right now. What you are going to tell me will have to wait."

"The lives of your people and all people depend on it!" Ethrin whispered. The king just looked at her.

"Nothing can be as important as what I have to talk about to the council right now. And I think that what you want to tell me will not be as important to the people as this is. And what you are going to say can wait until tomorrow, I'm sure. I'm discussing our relations with Lothlorien right now, so please excuse me."

Ethrin nearly cursed at him, but decided that she had to go to Rivendell. Thranduil had said that Elrond, the king of Rivendell, was very wise and always made good decisions. Maybe he could help her figure out what was going on. She left the room and then decided to write a note to Thranduil, a warning, and then ask Arlena to deliver it. Then she would escape tonight.

She crept back into her room and took out a piece of paper and a quill, and started to write very fast. When she was done, she found Arlena, and explained about the urgency of the note. Arlena agreed, and Ethrin ran back into her room to pack. She only took a bit of food, her clothes, and her weapons. She quickly folded up a blanket and then got in bed, keeping quiet and waiting until all of Northern Mirkwood was asleep.

The night crept by slowly, but Ethrin finally decided that it was safe for her to leave. She walked out of her room and into the stables without a sound. She quieted and untied the horse, then mounted. Riding the horse outside, she was just about to order the horse into a gallop when two figures appeared. Ethrin drew out her bow and aimed an arrow at them. When they came close, she saw that they were Legolas and Laphaela.

"Where are you going? We were talking and then saw you riding that horse out," said Legolas.

"Where I go is not your business," Ethrin replied.

"They why are you going so quietly, and without letting anybody know?"

"I don't want to tell you and I don't trust to tell you. If you really want to know, ask he king tomorrow."

"Is it about what happened in the field today? Lle quell? Are you well?

"I am fine."

"But is it about what happened in the field?"

"Do you have to know everything?"

"I only ask because from concern."

"Concern for me or concern for yourself?"

"Concern for all! Tell me, mani naa ta? What is it?"

"I'm going to leave for Rivendell. Now that you know where I am going, will you leave me alone?"

"To Rivendell! Then I am going with you." With that, Legolas called his horse. His stallion came and then he mounted.

"I am coming too!" said Lapheala, mounting her own horse.

Ethrin knew that she could do nothing about it. So she just said softly, "we do not stop to rest. We ride as long as the horses can take us before they need to rest, and we keep on going. Not until we reach Rivendell will I ever halt." She whispered a command to her stallion and he ran. Legolas and Laphaela rode after her, and the sound of hoof beats faded. Nobody woke up, or noticed they were gone, until the next day.

They rode for hours, never stopping. They could feel the heartbeats of the horses, and they could feel the wind flowing by them. Both Legolas and Laphaela's horses couldn't keep up with Ethrin's stallion. But when they finally reached her, they could see that she had stopped. Curious, they ordered their horses to get closer, and saw that Ethrin was concentrating hard, very hard. There was a light around her, and her arrow was pointed at a wolf-like animal. The wolf shot poison spikes from its mouth, and one of them nearly hit Ethrin. She stopped concentrating, and used the last of her strength to shoot the arrow at the animal. The arrow went straight into its heart. Without a cry, the thing died, and all that was left was a pile of ashes, and an arrow.

Legolas ran up and caught Ethrin just as she fainted and fell off her horse. She panted for breath, and the color ran out of her cheeks. Legolas pulled her onto his horse, and then urged it on. Ethrin's horse followed closely, always keeping an eye on his master. Legolas and Laphaela rode on and on.