Now, for the rest of the story…………….

Legolas insisted to come along with the rest of the elven warriors. "I'm fine! See, I'm healed. And I have a score to settle with that beast. He's the main reason I got into all these troubles!"

"But you didn't even have your bow or your blades!" Keldarion was having a hard time forbidding his brother from following them to the village. Legolas than snatched a bow and quiver of arrows from a speechless elven warrior who stood nearby. "There! Happy?"

Keldarion threw his arms in the air in total exasperation. "Fine! But if you got hurt once more, I'll save the time by not healing you and feed you to the beast instead!" With that, the crown prince walked away to give last minute instructions to his warriors who had already mounted their horses.

Legolas smirked at his brother's back in return. He turned and saw Tiger sniffing at the dead body lying in the middle of Hasmon's driveway. It was Darco. The man had ridden all the away from the village, bleeding heavily from the many wounds caused by the mad tiger. Before he'd breathed his last breath, he managed to voice out several words, "…help…tiger…attack village…" Then he'd fallen off his horse, dead.

Tiger growled deep, staring back at Legolas. "You, my friend, are not coming along with us. Stay here with Hasmon and Gertha." Tiger roared in protest. Legolas sighed. "I mean it, Tiger. Stay here."

"Legolas." Gertha had come near, Hasmon beside her. She stared in awe at Legolas who was now dressed in his own green and brown tunics, his soft boots at his feet. He looked every inch the noble warrior from Mirkwood, the elf prince. Why can't I see it before? "Be careful out there."

Legolas smiled. "I will, Gertha. I promise." He glanced at Keldarion who was climbing up his mount. "My brother and the guards would not let anything happens to me, you'll see." He turned to Gandalf who had volunteered to stay behind with the couple, in case the mad tiger came that way. "See to their safety, my friend."

Gandalf nodded. "That I will, Legolas." Legolas mounted; it was the wizard's black stallion. But even before Keldarion was able to give the signal to depart, Tiger suddenly roared and sped away towards the village.

"Tiger! Come back!" Legolas cried out in alarm. Grumbling in annoyance, Keldarion then shouted, "To the village!"

************

The elves looked around them in horror. It was a total catastrophe in the village. The silence was overwhelming. Dead bodies were lying everywhere, badly gored and mutilated. Blood had been spilled mercilessly. Strangely though, there was no sign of the mad tiger.

Keldarion suddenly cursed. He dismounted and walked closer to a mangled body. Legolas saw that it was Bregus, the chief of the village. "The tiger had gotten to him first. Damn it!" Keldarion clenched his fists in frustration. He really wanted to smash the man's face for the cruelties he'd done to his brother.

"Well, it was not a good death for him anyway," Legolas said softly. The two brothers walked away, anxiously searching for the sign of the beast. Tiger didn't stray far from Legolas. The elves did not want to take him as the other tiger by mistake so Legolas had told Tiger to stay close to him.

Tiger went stiff all of a sudden, and growled deeply in his throat. He kept staring at a certain point through the darkness. "Tiger? What is it?" Legolas crouched down and squinted to see the object of his friend's attention.

Tiger's growls had become roars then. Legolas had never seen Tiger this fierce before. He looked up to his brother. "He'd sensed the beast's presence. It was not far. It's coming closer."

True to his words, the other tiger came into view, roaring angrily in return. Its body was covered with blood; it could be the humans' or his own. There were some wounds all over his body too. The villagers might have tried to take him down with their own weapons. But it looked as if the beast was even more powerful than they thought.

The elves nicked arrows to their bows, ready to shoot at Keldarion's order. But to Legolas's utter horror, Tiger stalked forward, moving closer to the mad beast. The prince rushed forward, but Keldarion held him back. "No, Legolas!"

"But Tiger…"

"I don't like it either. But I don't think Tiger wants you to interfere." Keldarion kept his arms around his brother who was still struggling to break free. "Legolas, listen to me! It will come to this eventually. It's Tiger's fight!"

"But Tiger never fight with another! He will get himself killed!"

"That's for him to decide. Keep your trust in him!"

Legolas stopped struggling. But he could not avert his eyes from the captivating yet terrifying sight in front of him. His pet, his best friend, was now staring eye to eye with the other animal. Tiger and the beast were exchanging roars and growls, assessing each other, searching for the other's weakness and strength…then the two tigers made their lunges, grabbing at each other's throat.

The sound of the fierce fight was frightening. But the sight of the battle itself was even more overwhelming. The two animals were evenly matched; the same physique, the same stamina, the same valor. The strange tiger was fighting for victory over unwanted challenge, venting all his fury for the reason that was only known to him. Tiger, in the other hand, was fighting for dignity and respect, as well as revenge after the other beast had hurt his master. This is the fight he wanted to win.

Legolas could look no more. He turned his head away, closing his eyes and prayed for Tiger's life. He gripped his bow, fighting over the urge to shoot at the mad beast, ending its life then and there. But that will be against his code of ethics. Killing the beast now would only show his lack of trust towards Tiger. And he knew he shouldn't interfere with another warrior's private battle. Somehow, Tiger had become a warrior. And this was his fight, do doubt about it. But if Tiger died, Legolas did not know how he'd cope.

After what seemed like hours, everything went silent. Legolas opened his eyes only to see the two tigers lay unmoving on the ground. Legolas felt like screaming. No, please no! Stumbling forward, the prince approached his fallen friend, tears glistening in his eyes. "Tiger?"

Legolas felt his brother's comforting hand on his shoulder. He started to shake his head in denial when Tiger lifted his head suddenly. Fluttering his eyes open, the animal rose to his feet, looked straight at his master, and growled. Legolas's eyes widened. He dropped to his knees, hugging his pet in relief. "You scared me! Valar, Tiger! I thought you were dead!"

Tiger roared in response. Legolas chuckled. "Oh, yes! You were great. You were magnificent!" Rubbing Tiger's velvety pelt, the prince couldn't stop blabbering. "Just don't do that again or you would be eating cabbages and pumpkin instead of meat!" Tiger stared back at the prince, as if saying, "Are you for real?"

Keldarion also knelt down to stroke Tiger's head. "You are grounded for life, Tiger. No more fight for you." He saw the cuts and bruises on the animal's body. Legolas would take care of it later by the help of the manyan stone.

The elves headed back to Hasmon's cottage, leaving the dead body of the beast that had created so much chaos in the last several months. It will not cause such deaths again.

***********

Gertha had tears in her eyes. Now it's time of farewell that she'd been dreading all day. She looked up to Legolas, memorizing every detail of his wonderful face. "Will I ever see you again?"

Legolas leaned down and kissed both her cheeks. "Definitely, Gertha. I'll come visit you from time to time." He asked for his brother's dagger. Keldarion handed it to him without a word, knowing instantly of his brother's intention.

With the dagger, Legolas hacked one of the thin braids of his hair that Gertha had helped plaited. The woman took the soft golden braid with trembling hands. "Oh, Legolas…"

"A little something to remember me by. A part of me will always be here with you, even when I'm far away." He leaned down and kissed her cheek again. "I'll forever be in your debt for your kindness…mother."

Gertha burst up crying then. She grabbed Legolas into her arms and repeatedly kissed his forehead. "Take care, my child. Take care."

Legolas then shook hands with Hasmon before the Mirkwood elves headed for home.

************

When Thranduil caught sight of his youngest son, he unconsciously rushed forward through the throne hall. Without a word, he gathered Legolas into his arms, nearly crushing the younger elf in his excitement and great relief. He released his son after a full minute before yelling, "Where on earth have you been?!!! Do you know how worried I was?"

Legolas winced when Thranduil's voice kept getting louder and louder. The king started to wave his arms in pure agitation, blistering his son's ears with a very intensive lecture. Legolas glanced helplessly at Keldarion who was having a hard time to hold back his smile. The crown prince took pity on his brother then. "Err…father?"

"What?!"

"You can skip the lecture, you know. I've already given him one."

"You did?'

"Yes. And it was not pretty. I think he has learn his lesson."

Thranduil stared hard at his youngest child. "Do you?"

"Wh…what?" Legolas asked, fully uncertain.

"Have you learn your lesson?"

Legolas was perplexed. "What lesson? What are you talking about?"

Keldarion sighed. "I'm right. You are slow!"

And so, with the return of Prince Legolas, the Mirkwood realm was once again back to normal…if not a little livelier by a certain tiger that could not stop striding arrogantly about the palace, roaring and playfully scaring away the Mirkwood elves. The king can still be heard grumbling and talking to himself, "The boys and that beast are turning my hair gray! Ai Elbereth! I'm getting old too fast!"

Normal? Err…well…not at all.

THE END

Phew! Finished already! Are you surprise to see it all end? You guys want more? Ok, I promise to return with another sequel entitled 'Trauma'. What it's all about? I give you a hint: a cute little ranger. Give me a week, ok?

Now, to answer the questions;

1. To some of you were very confused with my errors in grammar and tenses, sorry about that. English is not my mother tongue; I'm a Malaysian. Please help me point out the mistakes I've made so I can improve my writing. Your help are most welcome. Thanks!

2. Is Keldarion going steady with Arwen? Wait for the next stories to find out!

3. Am I going to keep giving you cliffies? Definitely!!!!!

4. Will the other characters (Elladan, Elrohir, Gimli) make appearances? Sure. In the coming story.

5. Where did I get my twisted ideas? In my dreams!!!!!!!!!

I would like to thank all of you who never tired giving me cool and wonderful reviews, especially to those who never miss reviewing every chapter. You are awesome, guys! A writer can't ask for more!!!!!! To those who read my story but not reviewing, you count too. Thank you.

These are the loyal reviewers in alphabetical order (drums please!!) : Ania; Aurienia; cestari; Charlie; emlegolas; Erhothwen; Fairylady; feanen; goblz; Goma-Ryu; jambaby1963; Kayo; Kirsten; Legolas-freak335; leggylover; Lomelinde; Midnight; MoonBolt; MoroThe WolfGod; mystical elf; sirithiliel; szhismine; The Wnaderer; tiger fan; X_X; Zerah Star; Zoya; J

I hope I don't left out anybody's name!

See ya!!