Enter Nilcoire

One would say that Mirkwood was infested with wolves and undomesticated cats, and more or less that the Elves there were in league with those evils. Truth of the matter was in most circumstances, that the animals there were in league with them.

In Mirkwood there are two stables without stalls next to the palace. The smaller stable was for the horses on wet or frozen days when it was unfit for the pack to run in the forest or meadow near the palace. In the hay within there also lay small animals and pets, kept mostly for amusement, like ferrets, squirrels, chipmunks, or rabbits. In the loft of the barn were birds that belonged for amusement, as well as falcons and eagles for delivering messages and hunting.

In the second barn, which was at least four times larger, were off duty guard dogs, foxes, and hunting wolves. There were about a hundred dogs that guarded the palace, and all others were at their master's homes. There were thousands upon thousands of foxes and wolves, each tagged by his or her owner.

You see, when a young male elf was born, they would be given a male wolf to look after them. These wolves were always assassinators* grey wolves. When the elfling turned eight, they were given a female assassinator grey wolf to be a mate for the leading wolf. When they turned twelve they got four white wolves*, which were caught and trained for them, not to mention immortalized, directly for the Mirkwood Mountains. Then they would turn fifteen they were given four black or silver body wolves*, who were the strongest and most dangerous of all the wolves. Ten wolves were given for hunting and war purposes, all other wolves had to be gotten by other means. Foxes were caught in traps, healed, and then bred and trained in captivity. These could be bought from markets. They were used for the same things as wolves, and sometimes in the same pack.

Legolas Greenleaf had quite a pack. Two thousand wolves and fifteen hundred foxes, of all types, ruled by Nilcoire. They slept on his floor in his bedroom, and Nilcoire slept on his bed, and ate in the dining hall. Yes, they were the ones with a real life. But they, like their master, were warriors, and so whenever their master went out to war, there was a chance that they would not all come back.

Nilcoire had just had a very hard week working to help one of his master's friends with his pack, since their leader was out with an injury. Today was his first day home, and so, of course, was not informed of the new blessing sleeping in his master's room.

***

Nilcoire was fast asleep over his master's feet when it happened. A scream of bloody murder filled his sensitive ears. Whimpering, the wolf sat up, and saw in amazement that most everyone else simply rolled over.

"Honey, go check on Alana." Novthô l said, twisting over to face the other direction.

Legolas yawned and sat up as another scream split the air. He took note of Nilcoire, whom he hadn't seem coming in. "Why don't we go see what Alana wants." He said as he gently rubbed the wolf's forehead.

Standing up, Legolas walked over the mounds of sleeping mammals to where a giant crib sat. "I don't remember making this much noise at her age." Legolas said to Nilcoire as he came up behind the crib.

Nilcoire put both front paws on the edge of the crib the look over into the crib as Legolas scooped up the little girl. He bounced the baby lightly in his arms, cooing down at her whilst trying to figure out why the baby cried out. A crack of thunder and a flash of lightning illuminated the baby, who began to howl while she grasped onto her father's hair.

Nilcoire noted this all sourly, not wanting his night to be interrupted by the baby howling in fright. Why couldn't his dense master figure out it was the storm that was frightening the child so much? Leaping lightly into the crib he curled up, his chin resting on his front paws, giving just enough space between his legs for the baby to be laid. Legolas seem to understand what his wolf friend was saying.

Laying Alana in space between Nilcoire's legs, and began to stroke her small face. She soon fell asleep, acquainting herself with the new heartbeat she heard.

"Thanks Nilcoire. 'Night Alana, meleth-nin." (My love) Legolas nodded at the wolf, remembering his own days with Nilcoire in his cradle asleep next to him. Then he went back to bed. He wasn't awoken again that night.

***

Not a day passed after that, that Nilcoire didn't sleep next to Alana. Though when she had nightmares, she would awaken her parents in fright, but otherwise she was snuggled against the warm wolf. Nilcoire easily grew to love the child that night, and forever did.

R/R I'm sorry this is so short! But if you would REVIEW I might be tempted to write things even longer. Don't suspect that someone else will review for you.

All things marked with an * are things you can learn more about reading 'Where Mirkwood Was.'