Diphylla the Malevolent – Chapter 5

Disclaimer: Same as before.

Warning: Same as before.

A/N: In this chapter, we get to meet Legolas' brothers and sister (who have made up [for I only know that he is the youngest]).

Another A/N: '' is Elvish, "" is Common, / / is thought.

- - - - -

'He is waking up!'

Legolas' eyes fluttered open as he slowly came back to consciousness. He had a pounding headache, and his body was sore all over. Ever so slowly, he sat himself up, noticing the many bandages wrapped tightly around his arms, wrist, and torso, and he could also feel some on his legs that were hidden under a white bed sheet.

'Welcome, brother.'

The prince looked up to see his eldest brother, looking down at him, green eyes twinkling. 'Elémir! It is so good to see you!'

'And you, Legolas. It has been too long!'

'I am delighted you made it here alive,' stated a new, soft voice. He looked over his sister, noticing that her wavy, long, blonde hair had not changed at all, and her amethyst eyes still danced.

'Anodien and I have been anxious,' Elémir said. 'When we heard of your arrival we were very pleased, but when we heard about the condition you arrived in, we became worried.'

'I am sorry to have troubled you,' the young prince apologized, casting his eyes downward. 'I was ambushed, and I did not fight hard enough.'

'That is not true, Legolas, for I saw you fighting off the dragon,' Anodien said. 'No elf can take on a dragon without the proper weapons... but I sense this one was different somehow.'

'It was... The dragon is an Undead, and under Diphylla's power. She is the reason for why I have come.'

'I shall go fetch Fówyn,' Elémir suggested. 'I imagine that he would like to know why as well.' With that, he left, leaving the two to talk.

'How have things been at Rivendell? How is Haldir?' At this, the prince looked away, his heart and stomach lurching. 'Legolas? Legolas, have I said something that I should not have?'

For a few moments, the young elf could not bring himself to say anything, but he reasoned that his sister deserved to know. 'H-Haldir... he has joined Diphylla,' he whispered, barely audible.

'How did this happen?' Anodien asked, taken aback, trying to keep the sadness from of her voice.

'She seduced him.'

She pondered this for a minute, before saying the thing she hated to say the most, 'But I thought he loved you?'

'I did too.'

Before Anodien could say anything, Elémir came back in, followed closely by Fówyn. His brothers sat down in the two vacant chairs next to the bed, 'Legolas! My heart rejoices to see you!'

'And mine you, Fówyn.'

'Elémir has told me that you arrived with a message, all the way from Rivendell.'

'I have.' There was silence for a few moments while Legolas' siblings waited for him to continue. The prince did not want to explain his message because he did not want his brothers to go to war. Legolas started to feel a sinking feeling, regretting that he had volunteered to come to his home.

'Legolas, what is this urgent message?'

'A vampire mage has learned dark magic and can bring animals, men, elves, dwarves, and others back from the dead. She has made an Undead army and is planning on destroying Middle Earth. Her army is worse than orcs and goblins. It does not need sleep or food, it only needs to kill and the vampires feed on the blood from the slaughters.'

Legolas noticed his brothers cringe, but his sister sat patiently. 'Elrond has decided to compile an army of the best fighters in each town. Some soldiers will stay behind in each, and if attacked by overwhelming odds, the residents will flee to the next town so their forces will be greater.'

After a few minutes of silence, Fówyn asked, 'How are we supposed to fight against an army that is almost invincible?'

'Gandalf and some other mages are searching ancient documents to find a spell that will stop the Undead of the army. Diphylla has all the dark creatures on her side.'

'That does not answer my question, Legolas. How are we supposed to fight the Undead? From what I have gathered, this Diphylla can just raise them up again!'

'Like any spell, this one costs her energy. I am assuming that she can only use it so many times before she cannot cast again,' Elémir said.

'Assuming will get us killed,' Fówyn stated darkly. There was a tense quiet before Fówyn said, 'I will go inform father.'

'I will go with you. Thank you, Legolas. We shall see you at dinner if you feel up to it,' Elémir suggested hopefully.

'We shall see. Thank you, and send my regards to father,' and with that the two brothers left. 'Anodien?'

'Yes, Legolas?'

'I was wondering if I could go to the library soon.'

'Of course! How are you feeling now?'

'A little better.'

'What is it that you wish to look up? Maybe I could bring the book to you?'

'No thank you, Anodien. I am just going to wander...'

'Well, if you need anything, you know where to find me. I hope to see you at dinner, Legolas.'

'I too.'

- - -

Legolas roamed the halls of his old abode, running his hand of the intricate designs of the railings, and admiring the familiar rooms. The young prince had decided to take the long way to the library, and enjoy the little time he could spend at Mirkwood.

When he finally came to the library, a familiar voice called his name. The young prince looked around and found his oldest friend.

'Larthwain!'

'Legolas! It has been too long!'

The two embraced briefly and Legolas replied, 'Yes, it has, my friend.'

'What is Elbereth's name are you doing here? I thought you were residing at Lord Elrond's house in Rivendell?'

'I was, but I have come with urgent news. I suspect I will be forced to inform everyone at dinner.'

'Well, it is a tough life to be a prince,' Larthwain said airily, eyes sparkling.

'But some of us are forced to live it,' the prince replied, holding his head up high while flicking his golden hair over his shoulder. The two laughed and then Larthwain asked, 'Well, what are you doing here? Do you want me to find a book for you?'

'That would be very nice, if you could.'

The older elf nodded and walked briskly off. This gave Legolas a moment to gaze around the library that he had spent a great time of his childhood walking around and reading in. The young prince wandered over to the window and put his hand to the glass, letting his fingers absorb the cool. Slowly he leant his head against the window, and the dark thoughts that had been haunting him in his dreamwalking returned.

Legolas felt like a whirlpool of sorrow had engulfed him ever since Diphylla had seduced Haldir. The prince could not stop thinking about him and wondering if Haldir had ever loved him. The young elf longed to be in Haldir's arms again, but had a sinking feeling that he could never even see him again.

'Legolas? Are you all right?'

The prince was jerked from his murky thoughts and he whirled to face Larthwain. 'I-I am fine.'

'Are you sure? Your bright spirit seems to be dim. Very dim... it is almost like you are not the same Legolas that left here.'

'I am not the same Legolas you knew before... but the darkness you sense is not what caused it. Sauron did.'

Legolas looked away, shoulders drooping. Larthwain was becoming very worried. At first he had thought that Legolas' sad demeanor was because he blamed himself for being ambushed on his way to Mirkwood. He had a growing fear that it was something more complex that was slowly engulfing his friend.

'Would you like to dreamwalk with me?'

'I do not want to burden you with my sorrows, Larthwain.'

'I am your friend; it is the least I can do.' The older elf held out his hand and was slightly surprised when the prince walked over and clasped it. Larthwain led them over to some soft chairs and put the book down on a nearby table.

Once the two of them were seated they prepared for their dreamwalk. They kept their hands clasped together as they lost themselves. They appeared on a green path. Legolas looked up at Larthwain, wanting confirmation to continue the walk. The librarian nodded and Legolas led the way.

Larthwain kept his eyes open, trying to absorb all the details he saw. At first the scenery looked exactly like that in his dreamwalks, but less than a minute of walking he noticed some major changes.

Legolas' friend was pained to see dying trees littering the fields. Dark clouds blocked out the sun and a chilly wind picked up. Larthwain shivered and was startled as a Ringwraith drake flew by inches above his head, screeching. He hurried next to his friend, scared of what he would see next.

Spider webs were starting to cover everything, and there was less and less green to be seen. Someone sitting on a rock a few feet away, looking in the distance. Larthwain had not noticed him before, but froze as he realized who it was, and screamed.

- - -

Larthwain jerked back into his own body and sat there shaking, looking at the prince with a mixture of fear and pity. 'H-how can you st-stand dreamwalking? I-it must be h-hard,' he said cautiously.

'At least I can see him there.'

'What happened?'

The prince looked away and slouched. 'Diphylla.'

Larthwain gasped, for he had heard the news of Diphylla going around. She was the cause of the recent attacks. 'But... But how is he in your dreamwalk? He cannot visit the paths if he is Undead!'

'The Haldir in my dreamwalk is just a shadow.'

'You should talk to someone, Legolas. It is not healthy to be plagued by this pain!'

'I do not need to talk to someone, Larthwain.'

'Yes you do! It is tearing you apart! If you do not-'

'Do not presume to tell me what I must or must not do, Larthwain!' Legolas stated angrily as he stood up.

His friend mimicked him and stood also, 'I cannot order you to, but I am merely suggesting that you let go of your pride and talk to someone! Your dreams are haunting you. You lack the beauty that should be there! If you do not do something soon, you will be forever engulfed by this darkness!'

'I cannot.' Legolas looked away, knowing Larthwain was right. 'I am sorry, Larthwain.' There was a tender pause before the prince said, 'I should go now. I want to be alone before dinner.'

As the prince walked away, Larthwain remembered the book. 'Legolas, here! I remembered it used to be one of your favorites.'

'Thank you, Larthwain. Elbereth bless.'

'And you, Legolas.'

- - -

Legolas went back to his room, for lack of another place to go, and because he wanted some privacy. He quietly closed the door and flopped ungracefully onto his extremely comfortable bed. The prince's golden hair flowed around him and he stretched and laid on his side, with his head on his pillow.

The prince then remembered the book that Larthwain had selected for him. He felt bad about raising his voice at his old friend, knowing that he was just trying to help him. Larthwain was right about everything; Legolas should talk to someone, and his dreamwalks were scary. It did not matter to him as long as he could see Haldir.

He jerked himself from his thoughts before they could consume him again. Legolas grabbed the book and opened to his favorite poem. It was about a young boy who tried many foolish things to impress a young maiden. After he had a few chuckles, remembering a few times he had done something foolish to impress a female, he opened to a random page. He recognized the poem as one that he had never really understood the meaning of.

"There is a stone of night,

Will make vampires feed,

But the beautiful stone of light,

Will cure all those in need."

And then it all clicked.

- - -

Since I'm a sadistic lil bitch, I will make you and Legolas suffer. :D You will find out more at the next chapter!

Special thanks to those who have encouraged me to continue the story! ^___^ I hope this chapter was decent and sorry I took so long to put it out! (damn you, writer's block!!)

Oh yes! Announcement! If you would like me to sendja an e-mail next time I add a chapter, include it in your review (since my new chapters are infrequent). ^__^

Cya next time!