A couple days had passed since Legolas started on his journey. He had gone
through the Brown Lands, passed the Battle Plains, and went around the edge
of the Dead Marshes. He was in North Ithilien now. "Irlinde, lets take a
short rest. Its been a long ride and we're both tired and weary." Irlinde
huffed as if in agreement then slowed down, eventually stopping. They were
by the Great River. A nice place for a rest Legolas thought. He then
dismounted the stallion and walked over to the bank of the river, which
rose a couple feet above the water. The sun beamed high in the sky, casting
a sparkling golden reflection on the river. It looked as though it were
liquid gold, Legolas thought. He sat down and pulled his boots off, one by
one. Then dipped his feet into the river. It was nice and cool. He smiled
and looked over at Irlinde, who was nibbling away at the long grass by the
side of the river.
Legolas took off his pack and reached in, pulling out some Lembas bread. It was the only food he thought suitable for this journey, extremely appetizing too. While munching on the bread his mind wandered and he fell into deep thought. Remembering the last time he was in Gondor. The battles that had been fought. The pain, the loss, and the victory that they tasted. That was a glorious time. And after the victory Aragorn claimed his birthright as the king of Gondor. What a wonderful king he made. Of course, he wasn't there to witness all that Aragorn accomplished, but he heard through the wind and the trees in Mirkwood all the passing news. He sat in thought, not noticing that time was slipping by him quickly and that it was already getting dark, until Irlinde came over and nudged Legolas' shoulders with his muzzle. Legolas jumped up, startled. "Irlinde, you startled me." He looked around, noticing how much time had passed. "I didn't realize how long I was sitting there.. it's getting dark. We'd better set up camp here."
Legolas examined his surroundings. "Well this is as good of a place as any other around here." He set out, gathering bits of wood he thought would be nice for a fire. Coming back he set up the wood and then sparked a fire with a piece of flint and a rock. He tried not to think about passing strangers and creatures that inhabited this area. He laid down on the grass and watched the fire dance about until he drifted off to sleep.
~*~
Aragorn cursed himself. "Why did I have to take her riding through Stonewain Valley?" The other day Aragorn had gotten restless and wanted to ride to Druadan Forest, hoping to relive a little adventure he'd been aching for. He was a ranger for most of his life, adventure was part of who he was. A hunt, just anything might succumb his need for a little while. He had gotten ready, and was about to head out when Arwen came by, all packed and ready to go also. "Aragorn, don't think for one minute that you'll be riding off somewhere without me." She had said sternly, lifting her chin up a little when she made up her mind, and couldn't be convinced otherwise. He had sighed and laughed allowing her to come with him. They then set off. When they reached the valley they were ambushed by a dozen orcs. Arwen was taken by a little less then half of them while Aragorn was left fighting the rest of them.
"Why was I not ready?? Why wasn't I more careful?" His shoulders slumped as if in defeat. He shook away the defeat and cursed himself again for feeling like that. Arwen was somewhere, needing his help. He couldn't give up. Earlier he sent several search parties, but they all came back later empty handed. They couldn't even find any clues. "How can that be?" He thought. "They should've left tracks. There's more to this, I fear." There were still enemies about, and after their defeat they were even more vengeful and wanted the death of all that is good more than anything. He needed help. He thought about Legolas, strange feelings surrounded his heart. He shook them away. "Arwen. Arwen's in danger." He began to prepare a trip to Mirkwood. "It would be nice to see Legolas again anyways. After that, I'll stop by Rohan. Maybe they can give any guidance or clues to help me find out where they might have taken her."
~*~
Don't worry, romance is on the verge. And Arwen's kidnapping will lead to many twists and turns. And for all those Arwen haters, she's not too big a part in this!
Legolas took off his pack and reached in, pulling out some Lembas bread. It was the only food he thought suitable for this journey, extremely appetizing too. While munching on the bread his mind wandered and he fell into deep thought. Remembering the last time he was in Gondor. The battles that had been fought. The pain, the loss, and the victory that they tasted. That was a glorious time. And after the victory Aragorn claimed his birthright as the king of Gondor. What a wonderful king he made. Of course, he wasn't there to witness all that Aragorn accomplished, but he heard through the wind and the trees in Mirkwood all the passing news. He sat in thought, not noticing that time was slipping by him quickly and that it was already getting dark, until Irlinde came over and nudged Legolas' shoulders with his muzzle. Legolas jumped up, startled. "Irlinde, you startled me." He looked around, noticing how much time had passed. "I didn't realize how long I was sitting there.. it's getting dark. We'd better set up camp here."
Legolas examined his surroundings. "Well this is as good of a place as any other around here." He set out, gathering bits of wood he thought would be nice for a fire. Coming back he set up the wood and then sparked a fire with a piece of flint and a rock. He tried not to think about passing strangers and creatures that inhabited this area. He laid down on the grass and watched the fire dance about until he drifted off to sleep.
~*~
Aragorn cursed himself. "Why did I have to take her riding through Stonewain Valley?" The other day Aragorn had gotten restless and wanted to ride to Druadan Forest, hoping to relive a little adventure he'd been aching for. He was a ranger for most of his life, adventure was part of who he was. A hunt, just anything might succumb his need for a little while. He had gotten ready, and was about to head out when Arwen came by, all packed and ready to go also. "Aragorn, don't think for one minute that you'll be riding off somewhere without me." She had said sternly, lifting her chin up a little when she made up her mind, and couldn't be convinced otherwise. He had sighed and laughed allowing her to come with him. They then set off. When they reached the valley they were ambushed by a dozen orcs. Arwen was taken by a little less then half of them while Aragorn was left fighting the rest of them.
"Why was I not ready?? Why wasn't I more careful?" His shoulders slumped as if in defeat. He shook away the defeat and cursed himself again for feeling like that. Arwen was somewhere, needing his help. He couldn't give up. Earlier he sent several search parties, but they all came back later empty handed. They couldn't even find any clues. "How can that be?" He thought. "They should've left tracks. There's more to this, I fear." There were still enemies about, and after their defeat they were even more vengeful and wanted the death of all that is good more than anything. He needed help. He thought about Legolas, strange feelings surrounded his heart. He shook them away. "Arwen. Arwen's in danger." He began to prepare a trip to Mirkwood. "It would be nice to see Legolas again anyways. After that, I'll stop by Rohan. Maybe they can give any guidance or clues to help me find out where they might have taken her."
~*~
Don't worry, romance is on the verge. And Arwen's kidnapping will lead to many twists and turns. And for all those Arwen haters, she's not too big a part in this!