Argh, it always takes me so damn long to write these chapters. I've really been slacking off in several areas of my life lately, and I hope to get back in the swing of things soon. As soon as that has been accomplished, expect more updates.
To Brin: Thanks for pointing out my goof. Now, to back that up: Legolas has lived away from the few surviving elves in the world for so long, that he has been completely accustomed to mortal ways, and forgotten a couple elvish things. ^_^
Also, The map I'm using doesn't have a scale on it, so I had to estimate how long it would take to travel from the Elven Kings Hall to the Mountains of Mirkwood.
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Surrounded by the Misty Mountains, the Grey Mountains, and the River Running, Mirkwood is one of the most wild, opaque forests of Middle Earth. The central woodlands of Mirkwood are perplexing mazes, thick with danger and overgrown trees and shrubs. Foul, dank waters drip off of the leaves. Perilous dangers lie in the shadows, awaiting prey that they can lure into the darkness, killing them when it's least expected.
However, Mirkwood was not always the feared place it is known as now. Approximately 1050 of the Third Age, Mirkwood was called Greenwood the Great. Elegantly green leaves lined the branches, dancing when the wind past them, a radiant emerald color when the sun shone through them. The undergrowth wasn't clustered, and animals as fair as the elves dwelled in the woods. The land was beautiful, and there was very little to despair about.
Then there came the time when the Dark Lord Sauron, disguised as Necromancer, brought great evil to Greenwood the Great by building his stronghold Dul Guldor on the southern periphery of the forest. Because of his evil aura, darkness began to creep under the trees. Orcs and Wargs tainted the woods with their repugnant presence, and giant, vile, spiders inhabited every corner of the area. Only then did Greenwood the Great become Mirkwood….
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I had been in training for well over 3 years, and I was yet to master even a tenth of all the skills I was yet to learn. One day, during the time of year when the new leaves turn, Celeblach took me out into the depths of the forest to observe my progression. The Elven Kings Hall is on the lip of the eastern edge of forest, and my training was to take place deep within the heart of the forest, near the foot of the Mountains of Mirkwood.
It took us most of two days to travel from the Elven Kings Hall to the Mountains of Mirkwood, seldomly resting. Celeblach would not allow us to rest at night, for he feared the things that dwelled in the depths of the woods. It amazed me to know this. If he was afraid, should I have been? Either way, I wasn't.
In the late evening on the second day, we arrived in a small clearing near the foot of the mountains. The area was cleared of tree trunks, but there were branches reaching out, scattering the canopy. I had never ventured this far into the woods, and had only heard stories of some of the things one would find there. In my minds eye, I had never fully imagined the vastness of the intricate spider webs, stretching from tree to tree, open to any victims that would get trapped in them.
The scarce light in the clearing was quickly fading as the sun set. The strands of web seemed to become illuminated in the darkness. My keen elf sense warned me something was approaching, but I could only guess what it was.
Celeblach readied his bow with an arrow. "Legolas! Be on your guard. They're coming."
"Who are 'they'?" I asked, preparing myself as he had told me to.
He shot an arrow out into the dark bushes. I heard an awful screech of agony from whatever he had hit. "Those who built these webs," he answered, fitting his bow with another arrow. "The spiders."
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Yes, I realize it's short. I wanted to update now so you people would have something to read.
Yes, and as my life is boring, and I'm going nowhere over spring break (and the fact that I have nothing else to do), I'll update *very* soon to make up for the huge delay. and shortness of this chapter.
Well, it would be much appreciated if you reviewed, so please do! ^_~
