A/N: Well this took me long enough. I'm sorry everyone, what, it's been 2 months now? *frowns* That's not good. Anyway, I promise I won't do that again. O well, it's a bit short but, enjoy!
Laurwen Silverbark: Thanks! I'm sorry for not updating in so long.
ZonyBone: Oh, you'll find out soon enough.
Callisto Firestarter: Yeah, sorry for all the confusion but I had to get the plot moving along. Anyway, sorry for not updating sooner!
Alynna: Yes, a deeper meaning. What kind of deeper meaning? I dunno… haven't though of it yet. Heh.
nut_job: I'm glad your com got fixed! And Happy New Year to you too… though it's a bit late now.
Klose: *looks around* Anyone know where I can get a copy of the Silmarillion? How come I can never find that book… My local library doesn't have it either, it has most of Tolkien's works, just not this one. Darn! Thanks for telling me. I'll be sure to change it sometime.
Huntress of the Night: Odd? Yes indeed, odd folk write odd stories; it's the circle of life. *African chorus from The Lion King plays in background* Ermm… ok. *laughs* Yeah, he's in the Hogwarts Dungeon, you guessed it! And the Legolas thing will be explained, but you also have to take into account that Voldemort does have the Nazgul, the Dementors, his DeathEaters, and other foul creatures… but Legolas is important to him because- wait… I'm giving away top secret stuff. *gasps* K. I won't freak you out anymore with my peculiar ways.
Arayuldiel: Yah! Someone else who watches Angry Beavers… or used to; it was a good show wasn't it? Weird… but fairly good. And Mrs. Norris? Hmm… I have this theory that she was someone dear to him and was also a professor or tutor and one day when he was trying to perform magic he accidentally turned her into a cat. *shrugs* It is a bit weird that it's "Mrs." isn't it? Heh, I don't think my explanation clears anything up either.
Evil-Mollusc: I was waiting for you to review. But you've probably also been waiting on tenderhooks for this chapter. It's been like a month, far overdue. O! Happy Birthday! Or late birthday anyway, it has probably passed already hasn't it? Hmm, either way Happy Late Birthday! *hands her a cookie* Sorry, I'm bad at picking out presents.
Tar-Palantir: Hey cool! Woody, never would've thought of that. Wow, what an array of names for me to pick from. Hee hee. This is going to be hard to choose. *smiles evilly* I've got an idea…
Cyblade Silver: Thanks! I thrive for originality.
Chris: This wasn't very soon was it? I'm sorry to keep you waiting!
Europa: Bob the log! Neato! It rhymes! *giggles* Hard decisions… very difficult so many to choose from.
Chibi-Cola: Yes… Snape is a bit scary. He practically goes insane in end of the third book which sorta got me thinking he was a lunatic, but then he went back to himself soon after. :P Yeah… Haldir's going with the Wraith's for nothing; someone's gonna be pissed when they find out Legolas isn' t there.
Cheysuli: SETH, not a bad idea. And Snape's leg? I dunno yet… it'll come to me though. Hmmm… *looks at Ron* Ron: You can't possibly think that I'm a traitor? Coco: You have been acting weird. Ron: Um… it's… erm.. because of a… a… phase! Everyone goes through one some time. Coco: O really… I'll be watching you.
Disclaimer: Ditto from chpt 1.
~*~**~*~
'In Flanders Fields' Line 13:
If ye break faith with us who die…
~*~**~*~
It was not long before The Lord of the Nazgúl returned from the darkened caves before him; yet he was not alone as he had been when he entered, following him was a short, stout, little man whom did not wield an average hand, instead he possessed a silver one. Haldir noticed that he trembled with fear as he stood among the Wraiths; he did not blame him for it. But The Elf, also, did not feel at ease, no, the cause was not the Wraiths; it was the man.
'Let us go.' The Lord announced; again, mounting his fell beast. Obediently, they all followed.
As the company progressed through the woods, Haldir made sure to stay a fair distance away from the little man whose name, he soon noted, was Peter Pettigrew.
Peter was nervous, scared, terrified, his emotions were so strong that Haldir could not only see them, he could feel them. He felt that if he dared to near him, he would be trapped within the grasping tentacles of Peter's emotions. Even as he walked through the forest and gazed upon him, he felt sickened by the view. Peter had done things, horrible things, letting regret and guilt linger throughout his body, his whole essence was sickening; Haldir felt that if he were to be caught by those dark, lashing arms that emitted from Peter, he would somehow also catch onto his malady and forever be trapped within a world of fear and cowardice.
He had not noticed that he was staring and he quickly looked away when Peter raised his bowed head and looked at him in the eye. A wave of pity swept through him during that brief moment and he felt the need to help him; but the feeling did not last any longer and soon disgust replaced pity and for a long while Haldir walked without thinking of Peter at all. His thoughts had drifted back to old reveries of his childhood.
*
'Legolas?' A young Haldir called throughout the palace. 'Where have you taken my bow? I need it, I must go to the archery field to practice.'
Haldir practiced archery everyday in hopes of one day being one of Lórien or Mirkwood's top guards. At the present he resided within Mirkwood, for whatever reason he will not say.
'Legolas?!' He rushed through the halls in search of his young friend. 'This is not a game!'
Just as he finished his last word he heard a giggle not far from where he stood. 'Legolas…' he sighed, shaking his head.
'You must catch me if you can!' Legolas laughed as he scampered away towards the archery fields.
Haldir massaged his temples. 'Legolas, I've not the strength.'
'Then you must not have the strength to practice your archery.' Legolas smirked from afar. 'Yet, I do, so you must let me use your bow.'
But before Haldir could respond, the young Elf was already a great distance away from where he stood.
'Oh no. Not again!' Haldir beseeched, running to catch up with him.
*
Clump!
It was as a wake-up call; a distant clatter of metal was heard from the direction he was headed. The Elf looked around, the Wraiths did not seemed to have heard the sound, nor did the little man. Right, it was because of his Elven senses. Perhaps it came from the camp they were headed, where Legolas was. Could a battle have arisen between the Wraiths that were not present and Legolas? Or was The Elf at the camp alone? But why would they leave him there by himself, would he not escape? 'Haldir! Do not be stupid! Of course he is not there alone, the other Wraiths are guarding him!' He scolded himself for expecting too much. Yet, other conclusions of the sound sauntered to his awareness. 'A fight! Could they be fighting?' His ears stressed to hear any more noise coming from that direction. Nothing. There was no fight.
Not long had passed since he heard the noise, and The Lord of the Nazgúl was such a far way ahead that he was barely visible. But soon there came long shrill cries from those ahead of him.
'Gone!'
'Gone?'
'Where is he?'
'Idiots! Imbeciles!' The Lord cried.
Haldir and those behind and around him ran up just in time to see a few startled beasts and some broken cords. 'Where is he?! Who tied those knots! Where have the others gone!?'
'We do not know.'
'We thought-'
'The others – stayed - they-'
'Quite fools!' The Lord infuriated. 'Those other Wraiths! did they not have the knowledge to leave one behind to keep sight of the Elf?! And you four?! Why did one of you not stay?!'
'Because the others were here, we told them to stay while we went to look into the source of the smell of smoke, when we met you.'
'You know nothing of why it is that they left?!' The Lord shrieked.
'W-we don't know.'
'Perhaps- '
'A message-'
'Yes, yes… a message-'
'From Voldemort-'
The Lord put a hand up to silence them. 'Perhaps… perhaps… Yet if he did do so, why would he not have informed me of it? Wizard! Did you know of this?'
All eyes were on Peter as he shook wildly, stuttering with his words, he opened his mouth to reply…
