* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Eruan was lost, deep inside a dream. It was the night of his capture, and he could see his father escaping through the back door, trying in vain to carry his mother. He watched them as they escaped, floating through the air after them like a wraith. His father stumbled, once, twice, then fell. Eruan turned to see spiders encircling the two of them, when suddenly his proud father distorted into King Thranduil, who began laughing manically. Eruan had no time to react as the king swiftly withdrew a dagger and plunged it into his mother's heart. He woke up in a cold sweat. Running a hand across his forehead, he slowly untwisted the bed sheets and stood up. This was the second night he had had this dream. He also knew now for certain that there was more to his background than his parents had told him. Stepping out onto the balcony, Eruan tried to slow his breath and calm his heart. He didn't travel onto the balcony much, for it was of course an elvish balcony and therefore had no rails or guards with which to prevent you from falling. Eruan gazed up at the stars, trying to slow his breathing. The night was young. Dimly he wondered what was to come next. He didn't have much time to think though as a cloaked figure popped down from above, pouncing on Eruan and knocking him to the ground. The stranger's hood was off, and Eruan could see that it was Prince Legolas.

"Get off of me!" Eruan hissed. The prince let him up. Eruan bushed himself off, then turned to face Legolas. "What are you doing here?"

The Prince smirked. "Haven't I already chastised you about your vociferous mouth?"

Eruan gritted his teeth. "Listen you."

"Ah now, we wouldn't be threatening the Prince of Mirkwood now, would we.etteseldo?"

His short temper flaring once again, Eruan threw himself at the Prince. He missed Legolas, but the action of dodging had thrown the Prince off balance, and he was wobbling on the edge of the balcony, flailing his arms wildly, trying to regain his balance. Reacting quickly, Eruan crawled across the balcony and in a flash had grabbed Legolas' arm just as he had fallen. The Prince was dangling over the edge, fifty feet above the ground, which was covered in brambles and rocks beneath him. His only lifeline was Eruan, whose face was red with the exertion of holding onto Legolas.

"Please don't let me go!" The Prince cried, looking beneath him.

Eruan didn't answer, but merely concentrated on not sliding off the edge of the balcony himself. He quickly glanced down at Legolas, and for a brief second identical eyes met. Drawing from deep inside him, Eruan gritted his teeth and slowly hauled Legolas back up over the balcony. Both lay there on their backs, panting. Legolas turned his head.

"What did you do that for?" He gasped. "You could have let me die."

Eruan was relieved of any further conversation however, when someone came up from behind and knocked him unconscious. Four hooded elves stood there on the balcony, two lifting Legolas up off the ground, the other two quickly binding Eruan.

"Would you wish for us to assist you?" One elf asked in a low voice.

"No." Legolas whispered, lowering his eyes at the site of Eruan, bound and unconscious. "I do not require assistance."

The elf nodded. "Your horse awaits you, along with provisions if you decide to spend the night in the woods."