Whoa! Death threats! Love it! Yeah, I know I'm crazy! Thanks for the nice reviews, like always. Oh, and to be kind, I'll tell you that, no, Keldarion won't die…not in this story at least. He! He!

Tadriendra : No, this is a non-slash.

Kirsten : I'm sorry. It will happen.

grim reaper : I feel for you. I'm sorry about your China.

Ok, I'll continue.


It was afternoon the next day when their small troop reached the woods near the Mirkwood border.

"You know, Kel, I think it's time you ask Arwen to be your wife," Legolas said, grinning.

Keldarion frowned at his brother. "What made you say that?"

Legolas rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on! As if we all can't see what's happening. There's something between you both. Admit it!"

"We are just friends."

"Just friends? Do friends smooch around all the time?"

Keldarion glared at his brother. "We are just taking it easy for the time being, trying to see if we're perfect for each other."

Legolas burst up laughing. "Kel, you have had over a millennium to find that out!"

"How about that pretty Rivendell maiden that couldn't keep her eyes off you? What's her name? Narisa?"

Unbelievable, but Legolas actually blushed! "Narasene. And we are not talking about me, we are talking about you."

Legolas suddenly reined in his horse. Keldarion also halted. The two brothers glanced at each other.

We are not alone. Something is out there.

Giving signals to their escorts, the two princes focused their keen eyes and ears, searching for clues of the other presence.

"It's coming from our front, about twenty yards or more," Legolas whispered to his brother. Keldarion nodded.

"It's hard to tell what or how many they are for they limited their movements. We should not risk a fight with them if we could. We better go another way around," the crown prince suggested.

They changed direction, steering away from the normal route. The troop went around the woods and entered through a glen instead, keeping their senses on maximum alert. The route was rarely used due to the wild grown copse and shrubs that were despised by the horses. Still the elves trudged on with full caution, as the strange presence still lingered.

Legolas started to feel uneasy and couldn't help the shudders that ran through him. He caught the same look from Keldarion who was already drawing his sword. Legolas notched an arrow to his bow, preparing to shoot at any sudden attackers.

So intent they were on the strange presence ahead, the elves were not aware of a line of rope strung taut across the narrow glen beneath the brambles. As Keldarion's horse step on it, a huge net fell on top of the elves with a loud whoosh.

"It's a trap!" Legolas yelled, trying hard to free himself.

The horses panicked. They neighed and bucked in terror, kicking about before stumbling down to the ground, dragging along their riders.

Keldarion was pinned underneath his horse, hindering all movements of escape and defense. The other elves used their blades and swords to hack their way out as Legolas dodged a flying hoof. It nearly hit him on the head. With some difficulties, the prince crawled under the enveloping net towards his brother, his bow and arrow already got thrown away in the whole chaos.

"Kel!"

His older brother was grimacing in his effort to push the horse off him. "I can't get free!"

Legolas bent down and lifted the upper body of the stallion. Keldarion scrambled away under the small opening. That's when the attack came.

It was a large group of human marauders, about thirty men in all. They emerged from behind the boulders overhead, rushing down on their mounts while yelling a war cry. Brandishing their swords, the men hit the elves warriors that had managed to escape from under the net. The elves were not fast enough to draw their own sword or bow. Unarmed and unprepared, the elves were killed instantly.

Still struggling under the net, the two brothers stared in apprehension at those men circling them. They had evil intention on their faces. Obviously they had their own reason for the traps. Legolas and Keldarion did not like the situation at all.

"I want these two alive." One of them spoke from atop his mount, "Bind them! And kill all their horses!"


"Legolas."

The voice came as if from far away. He stirred awake then, and immediately gasped in pain. He grabbed his head, wincing.

"Legolas?" That familiar voice came again.

He blinked in confusion. "Kel?"

Keldarion released a sigh of relief. He was starting to get worried when Legolas did not respond earlier. His brother had been unconscious for quite a long time. The crown prince helped his brother as he struggled to sit up.

"What happened?" Legolas asked, touching the bump at the back of his head. He looked around at the small prison they were in with distaste. It was made of solid wood, with only a small barred-window up high in the wall.

Keldarion examined his brother's injury and found it not too severe. "They knocked you out when you fought back at the men binding you up. Not a good move, brother."

Legolas glared at Keldarion. "So, being caught as prisoner is a good move then?"

Keldarion's face grew hardened. "Of course not! You are always so testy when you wake up."

"Are we having a fight right now?"

The elder elf sighed. "Will that make you feel better?"

Legolas's shoulders slumped. "It will only make me feel worse. Sorry for snapping at you like that. Being held captive does not sit well with me."

Keldarion chuckled. "Same here."

He stared down at the abrasions on his wrists. The men had cut off their bonds before throwing them into the prison. Prior to this, they had led him and his brother through the woods to a hunting cottage at the foot of Misty Mountain. It was a long ride for Keldarion, with his hands tied behind his back and his brother's limp body slumped over in front of him. Their mount belonged to their captors and it was not as graceful as the elven horses. More than once, Keldarion found himself nearly falling off from the hard jars and stumbles. Miraculously, Legolas managed to stay put.

"Where are we, do you know?" Legolas asked.

"Somewhere near the mountain, not far from the dwarves' territory."

"What do you think they want from us?"

At that exact moment, the door to their prison was unlocked and swung open. Several men entered, holding swords and daggers, their faces gruff. One of them, obviously the leader, stepped forward.

"If I guess correctly, both of you are the two Mirkwood royal brats. Prince Keldarion and Prince Legolas, I presume?"

Legolas snarled and jumped to his feet, but Keldarion's hands detained him.

"What do you want, human? Who are you?" Keldarion asked in a calm voice, at the same time warning his brother to stay cool through his sharp stare. Legolas glared back.

The man guffawed. "Of course, you elves were always the gracious people, always polite, even when asking introduction from your own captors."

"Just answer the question, damn it!" Legolas snapped angrily. Keldarion tightened his grip on his brother's tense shoulder.

Staring appreciatively at Legolas, the man said, "Such a beautiful creature you are, even for a male. But such a fiery temper you have. You are full of passion, I can see that."

Legolas felt a little uneasy when the man kept staring at him that way. The man continued then, "I'm called Jongos, the leader of this group. And yes, there's something we want from you. Information."

The brothers exchanged glances.

"What information do you seek?" Keldarion asked, knowing he'll not like the answer.

Jongos smiled evilly, almost a sneer. "We want to know the location of a child."

"What child?" Legolas clenched his fists, as he already knew the exact person that the man was searching for.

"Isildur's only heir, Aragorn son of Arathorn. I know you elves were hiding him!"

TBC…