Gloin and War Horses

//Flashbacks//

Legolas dropped down the railing of the stair case to the floor silently, and walked to where the last tapestry furled. Pressing a knot in the wall, a secret door was opened and Legolas knew he had found the alleged 'dungeons'.

Before the door closed behind the prince another Elf slipped into the dark hall, and so did the invisible Mr. Baggins, though no one else knew.

Novthôl hugged her daughter to her as she stepped into the dank lower halls that were only in legends. It was said that Oropher created the lower halls when the palace was built in case of emergency, and if Mirkwood was under war women and children who were not trained warriors would hide in the pitch black halls. Not even the smallest bit of sunlight was in the place.

There was a small choked wail, and Legolas stopped and pivoted. Legolas sighed.

"You're supposed to be in bed." He said.

Novthôl glared at him. "I'm not going to stay in bed forever, Legolas!"

"You gave birth two days ago! You need to recover your strength!"

Novthôl leaned foreword and kissed Legolas soundly. "Maybe this is how I recover strength. My husband staying with me and moving!"

"Go back to bed!"

Novthôl glared at Legolas again, before calmly asking, "Want me to punch you in the jaw?" She curled her hand into a fist.

"You wouldn't."

"I could."

"I didn't say that you couldn't. I said you won't, because even if you do break all etiquette for Elf maidens you wouldn't actually hurt me."

In one moment he was proven wrong.

Rubbing his sore jaw, Legolas gave up and walked over to the dwarf he was assigned to watch. He sat down and watched as, despite her earlier words, his wife left and went back upstairs and to bed.

A chuckle from the dwarf behind him roused him from his thoughts.

"Feisty woman, eh?"

"Well, you wouldn't survive a day with her, Master Dwarf." Legolas responded.

"Why are we being kept down here?" The dwarf asked.

Legolas shrugged.

"Why, that stupid King! Locking us down here for no apparent reason!" The dwarf would had gone n if he hadn't seen the Elf smile.

"My father isn't being cruel, nor stupid. He's being paranoid!" Legolas laughed.

"Paranoid?"

"How would you feel if you had a grandchild being born at the same time you're trying to deal with some political business? My father was scared you would kidnap my little one!"

Gloin still thought that the King was after the treasure, but didn't find a need to argue with his guard anymore, and the two never spoke again.

***

(A few years later)

Legolas looked up at the gigantic war horse with the tiniest flicker of fear in his mind. The war horse was about twice his size, and around fifty times the size of his barely walking daughter, who now stood behind him looking up at the black stallion in wonder.

Niltincoiel stomped on giant hoof on the ground and snorted, daring the new master to ride her. If Niltincoiel had had red eyes she would have been the largest horse of the Nazgul horses.

Legolas turned around and picked up his daughter, before heading back to the palace, dropping Alana off when he got there.

"Don't go anywhere near that horse until I say you can, alright little one." Alana nodded.

Now of course, like all curious and new on their feet toddlers, Alana was going to go right back to the stable with her Ada. Walking silently, even swallowing her giggles, Alana made it back to the stable, climbed up into the loft and laid down.

Legolas approached the horse gently. Speaking some well chosen Elven words he eventually got the horse to let him near her, and even to mount her. Then Legolas took the horse from the barn, and out into a field made for the purpose of breaking in new horses. Alana, determined to be good, stayed in the barn, but climbed up on the loft window, which was open.

Alana watched as her father rode the giant stallion around for a little while in glee, but soon grew tired of the sport. Leaning foreword to see the field better, Alana did the most predictable thing that any child would have ended up doing. She fell.

Into her father's lap. The newly broken in stallion had seen the child about ready to fall and had sped up, catching the child in her father's lap, and in safety, for a fall like that would had broken the child's neck. Alana clung to the mare's mane to steady herself, and then looked sheepishly up at her father.

Legolas was not happy. He was pretty angry that Alana had followed him back, and he was confused about what to do. The only thing he had to be glad for is the fact that the steed he was sitting on was smart enough to recognize his child and save her.

Slipping off the large horse, he caught Alana as she tried to alight from the horse. Leading the horse back to her stall, and then took his daughter up in his arms, walking back to the palace.

He didn't speak the whole way and Alana knew she was in trouble. Legolas always became quiet and thoughtful when she was in trouble.

That night was not going to be very pretty.

***

Alana was crying softly into her father's chest, and listening to the crooning voice. Legolas had come back to the palace and spoke with Novthôl, before going back to where he had left Alana. When he was finished with disciplining her he had kept her safe in his arms, and Alana could feel how much he loved her through the beating of his heart. It was slightly faster than normal, but it was gentle, just like Ada.

Alana knew from then on that she would always be safe as long as Ada was there with her.

//End of Flashbacks//

***

Legolas smiled sadly at the memory. Long since had Merry and Pippin left, and Legolas had been alone for quite a while. Nilcoire had shown up, back from running a message back to Mirkwood, and now lay spread out on Alana's bedside. He had given the healers such a shock!

A healer suddenly burst through the door and said, "Sir, sir! Oh do come quick! Something's happened!"

Legolas looked reluctantly down at his daughter, but got up anyway and left. Right outside he found out what the trouble was.

Niltincoiel had not lost any of her feistiness, nor any of her strength through the years, and someone must have thought she would make a good new riding horse. In the torch light that was lighting up the night, Legolas could make out that the message that had been sent to Rivendell had been received. Many unconscious men lay at her feet, and many warriors were trying to approach her, only to be smacked.

When the men saw the Elf they thought, at least he's light for when we have to drag his body to the Houses of Healing. Legolas shook his head, and ignoring the warning others were giving him he walked up to his war horse and began to stroke the long, black mane.

The men stood stupefied, as the Elf led the horse to the paddock with Arod in it.

Legolas walked back over to the Tents and walked to his daughter's, only to be terrified.

***

Where was Ada? Alana couldn't feel any warmth. Ada had left her to die. Ada had deserted her. She made her choice then, and began to walk towards Mandos.

***

Alana's breathing was shallow and labored. Loud gasps of air entered her suffering lungs. Legolas fought his way through all the healers to where his daughter lay. Just as he knelt down next to her there was silence.

Her rasps were over, and there was just choked silence. Putting out his hand over her mouth, tears filled and spilled over his eyes.

She wasn't breathing.

R/R I realize that you reviewers are now getting your swords and bows ready to go to war on me. There is more to this story! This is no where near the end! Don't kill me!