Author's notes: I apologise if my elvish is wrong and if you wish to correct me I truly would thank you for it! The nickname Little Greenleaf come from the great writer Treehugger and she has said I can use her name for him.
Disclaimer: On first chapter, if needed.
Childish adventures, Chapter Two.
Legolas stared as the spider made it's way into the clearing. It was huge, it's black hair glistening in the sun.
"Anyone got a weapon on them?" Legolas whispered, not daring to take his eyes of the creature in front of him.
"No."
"Thought not."
Legolas gulped and glanced around, why had they run from Elerossë? And why had they gone through the area that he couldn't fit? He knew the answer, because spiders didn't usually come this close to the palace.
"Scream for Elerossë then run after three." Lólindir whispered.
"One."
The spider took yet another step towards them.
"Two."
It paused and Legolas swore if it could smile it was doing so now.
"Three."
Legolas opened his mouth and bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"Elerossë help!"
They turned and ran, the spider paused for a second in shock then darted after it's prey.
~*~
At the palace steps the captain of Mirkwood looked up from his conversation with Golradir. The youngsters were trying to escape him. Why would they call for him? He didn't want to think of the answer to that. He turned and bolted into the forest.
~*~
Legolas jumped his hands latching onto the branch in front of him. He swung himself up and glanced down, the spider ran beneath him and went strait for his friends. The three threw themselves in different directions, dodging the thread that had been about to catch them. Tanya wriggled around freeing his clothes from the branches that had got hold of his clothes when he had landed in a bush. The boy crawled through the undergrowth and quickly climbed the tree. He looked up to see Legolas had leapt to the branch above him and was preparing to get to a tree next to Lólindir and Ranawen. Tanya followed the blonde, the pair leaping from branch to branch to where their friends were. Lólindir meanwhile had found himself on his back facing five pairs of eyes, he gulped and decided that he would prefer to face the wrath of King Thranduil and Elerossë than face this spider.
"Get off him you stupid creature!"
Thunk!
The spider screeched and turning jumped towards Ranawen who had thrown a log at it. She picked up a stick and brandishing it like a sword backed up slightly. Tanya had extended a hand towards Lólindir and had pulled him up. She smiled in relief, but the smile faded when her back brushed against the trunk of tree. The spider hissed and Ranawen hit it with her stick, she pulled it back and brought it down. The spider grabbed hold of the end of the stick with it's mouth and pulled it away. Ranawen found herself screaming as the spider launched itself at her. A pair of hands encircled her waist and pulled her into the branches. The spider crashed head long into the tree. Ranawen flashed the blonde a smile as if to say thank you and Legolas nodded in reply as if to say it's nothing. They both suddenly cried out when the tree started to shack as the black brute began to climb the tree.
"Climb Rana climb!"
Legolas cried out as he turned and brought his foot down on the spiders head. He then turned and scrambled after the she-elf. A sticky thread attached itself to Legolas's foot. The young elf cried out in surprise as the spider tugged on it bringing him down a few branches. The blonde turned and smacked the creature round the head, it's reply was to pick him up kicking and screaming and jumped down. Biting Legolas on the leg, it hissed at the remaining three and turned and scuttled off into the forest.
"No! Legolas!"
Elerossë burst through the trees to see the three elfling standing in front of him. Ranawen sobbed then threw herself into the Captain's arms. What surprised him more was that the other two did the same.
"It . . it's got Legolas."
Elerossë knelt down and pushed Ranawen's chin up, "Who's got Legolas?"
Though the captain asked the question, he wasn't sure he wanted an answer. Fear gripped his heart as the small child mumbled spider. He pulled a dagger out of his shoe and handed it to Tanya.
"Get back to the castle, use that against any creature you may come across. Go and inform the king what has happened!"
And with that the elf ran off into the forest desperately hoping that he would find the young prince.
~*~
Legolas sniffed fighting back tears. He could feel the venom started to work through his leg, he was going to be paralyzed soon. If he was going to escape it had to be now, reaching down Legolas ran his fingers over the stones on the floor before picking one up. The spider who had been carrying him with his front two legs didn't seem to notice. Legolas twisted himself slightly so that he could see the creature's neck. He slammed his stone into it's neck, the spider dropped him and Legolas pulled himself to his feet and leapt into the trees. After a few seconds he could hear the spider coming after him, it had gotten over it's shock. Legolas quickened his pace, he leapt from one tree and landed on a branch only to stumble as he lost all feeling in his leg, and fell off. The blonde pushed himself up on shaky arms and glanced around, there was a hallow in the trunk of a tree a foot away. The blonde half stumbled half dragged himself into the hollow and lay there. He could hear the rustle of leaves in the tree above him as the spider ran on still thinking he was ahead of it. He sighed and lay there staring at the trees around him, then he started to hear the trees whisper again. They never talked when evil creatures got too close, they hardly did talk unless someone was in trouble or they were talking to an elf.
Come on little Prince. Get up! Get up! It has gone young one Go home and go fast.
"I will, I will." He whispered quietly and he pulled himself out of the hollow and onto his feet. He stumbled forward slightly gripping onto the trees as he wandered in what he hoped was the right direction. He walked for what seemed like hours but it was only minutes as the venom had made it's way through his body, his eyes began to close on their accord. And the youngest child of King Thranduil fell forward and collapsed on the forest floor.
~*~
Thranduil sighed his head in his hands. It had been three days since his son had been taken by a spider and he was beginning to fear the worst. His friend Ranawen had not stopped crying for she had blamed herself for his kidnap and his family . . . . . .
Well his family were going to fall apart if he left them. Legolas may have played tricks on them but they all loved him. Everyone did. From the childish way he played with his hair when he was in trouble, or the way his eyes sparkled when he was happy. Legolas was the light of Mirkwood, just like Máraran had been before she had passed. He did not know what would happen if he was . . . . . if he had . . . . .
King Thranduil shuddered at the thought and he found tears were sliding down his face. His Little Greenleaf, his small adorable little son. Ai, he didn't know what he would do if he lost him. There was a timid knocking on his door and Thranduil wiped the tears off his face, if it was one thing he prided himself on, it was being able to control his feelings. The only emotion he usually showed was anger or love to his children and people . . . on occasions.
"Come in." His voice came closing to breaking at that point and he silently cursed himself. Lúthien stepped inside, she had brown wavy hair that pooled around her shoulders and honey/light brown coloured eyes that were like her mothers, Máraran. Lúthien glanced at her father before quietly shutting the door then turning and running towards him. He pulled his daughter into his arms and the girl huddled against him, tears creeping out of her eyes. A moment later Beren step inside and sat next to his father, Thranduil wrapped an arm around him and pulled him into the hug. They sat together, tears spilling down their faces as they shared their grief. For surely Legolas was dead by now?
~*~
Legolas moaned, and slowly opened his eyes. He wasn't used to waking up with his eyes shut and fear had gripped him, but now they were open the fear didn't leave him. He looked up into the face of a wolf. Her black eyes staring down at him. He cried out and back away, to find himself in a cave. He shuddered slightly as she came closer. The wolf bent down and . . . licked him. She lay down beside him, tugging on his sleeve with her mouth. Legolas edged closer and she nuzzled him down beside her. He curled up gently stroking her coat. A small smile graced his face as he saw a small cub trot over to him with enquiring eyes. It pushed him with his nose and Legolas slowly reached out towards him. The cub back away slightly, scared of the creature before him.
"I'm not going to hurt you."
Maybe the cub understood him maybe he didn't, he didn't know what to think then. But the cub moved towards him and the elf gently began to stroke the tiny creature. He then noticed the other cubs in the room, there were five in total and they were all coming up now prodding him with their nosing and nuzzling against him. He smiled, he was feeling so tired, maybe the venom in the bite the spider had given him hadn't quite worn off yet. It probably hadn't as he was finding it hard to move and his eyes were begging to be closed. Which wasn't a good thing seeing as elves sleep with their eyes open. But he couldn't fight it, so slowly Legolas drifted off.
Legolas opened his eyes once again to find himself still up against the she-wolf. He smiled as she bent down and licked him across the face. Legolas giggled and the wolf looked very much like she was smiling, he slowly sat up, his eyes twinkling. A cub ran towards and stopped a second before he hit Legolas and placed his front paws on his knee. Legolas smiled down at the cub and gently stroked him.
"So how are you little one?"
The cub yapped, but Legolas felt like he had understood what he had said. I'm fine. He couldn't have though because well, he just couldn't!
"What's your name?"
Yap!
Fluffy.
Legolas blinked, "Can you understand me?"
Yap! Yap! Yap!
Of course I can!
"Sorry It's just I've never talked to animal before."
The cub made a noise which sounded very much like a giggle to Legolas.
The she-wolf stood up and started barking to Legolas, but the elf understood every word.
You can talk to us because you inherited some of your mother's powers.
Legolas sat there staring at the wolf. He had been told that his mother had had special powers. Herself and other elves who possessed them were called Templa er* they had been said to have abilities to heal, talk to animals and other things. Legolas's mouth opened slightly, he had some of these things?
Young one I knew your mother when I was a cub, she knew you had these powers but had not the chance to teach them to you. If you accept them she will be very pleased.
Legolas sniffed, rubbing his eyes, "How can she be please if she is gone?" The pain in his voice was evident he had lost his mother only five years ago and was still deeply hurt by it. The she-wolf gently nuzzled him, She will know, I'm sure she can see you right now.
"Really?"
Yes, I am sure of it.
Legolas smiled and wrapped his arms around the she-wolfs neck, burying his head in her fur.
A muffled, "What's your name?" reached her ears.
Your mother named me Lantaraana* but most call me Lanta.
"Setting moon, why that?"
"Because that was when we met, at the setting of the moon."
Legolas nodded into her fur, gently stroking her head.
Hungry?
"Yes. Very hungry!"
Lanta laughed and he watched as Fluffy pulled forward a leaf that had a pile of berries on it. Legolas smiled and slowly began to eat the food.
It had been a week and four days since he had talked to Lanta. He had been staying with the wolf family and working on his powers. He could now talk to them by telepathy instead of him talking to himself as it would look to most people. Legolas stared at his reflection in the spring, his face was covered in grime and his hair had leaves and twigs sticking out of it. He sighed and dipped his hands in the water and brought them to his face. The cool water trickled down his throat, he heard a noise behind him but didn't turn. It was Lanta coming from the den which was a little way away.
Legolas it might be a good idea to go back now.
I know Lanta, I just do not want to leave you. Tears brimmed in the elflings eyes as he turned to face the wolf.
Why don't you come and visit? Or we shall have to break in and see you!
Legolas laughed and nodded into her coat, he slowly stood up and hugging her again he turned and stared into the forest.
Listen to the trees they will lead you home.
Nodded Legolas sprinted off into the forest, his mane of golden hair flying out behind him.
~*~
Thranduil desperately tried to calm himself. After two weeks, two long painful weeks of not knowing it had been presumed that Legolas was dead. They had not found any traces of his remainders but nor had they found him alive. The king of Mirkwood took a deep breath and pushed open a pair of double doors, he walked into he main banquet hall. Hundreds of elves were in there, and there was a single golden candle in the middle of the table. He nearly stopped walking for the last time the place had looked like this was on the deaths of Máraran and Orophin, his second oldest child. And here we go again, Thranduil said to himself, I have lost another to the cruel fates. Everyone noticed the paleness of Thranduil's face, and the frail look as if someone were to tap he would break. He was started to die of a broken heart.
"We are here to remember the fallen. In name, my son Legolas er " Thranduil's voice hitched and an overwhelming pain overtook him. He had lost his ray of sun, his little Greenleaf in this dark forest.
"Remember him now. His laughter and his joy, his love for everything. His –"
The doors were thrown open with a loud clang, the noise vibrating off the walls.
"Ada!"*
Thranduil's head snapped up and his eyes landed on his youngest son. His clothes were torn and he was covered in grime, but it was him.
"Legolas!" Thranduil chocked out and he ran across the room, Legolas launched himself into his father's arms.
"My little Greenleaf, my sweet little child." Thranduil whispered, relief evident on his face as he buried his face in his son's untied hair. Tears pricked Thranduil's eyes as he stroked his son's head. Beren and Lúthien ran over, their happy shrieks of Legolas heard throughout Mirkwood.
"I'm sorry I was away so long I - "
"It matters not, the fact that you are here is enough for me."
Thranduil whispered, as he handed his youngest to Lúthien. She smiled pulling Legolas to her and rocking him back and forth. Beren laughed rubbing Legolas's head affectionately
"Careful Lú or you'll make him throw up." Beren teased, wagging a finger at his younger sister.
"Pwincess Lúthien can we please say hello to Legolas." Lúthien looked down to see Ranawen tugging at the hem of her dress, wiping tears from her eyes. Setting Legolas down the blonde ran over to his friends, hugging them tightly. Thranduil watched with a content smile on his face as his son bounced around chattering madly. Elerossë walked over his hands clasped behind his back, "Glad to have him back?"
Thranduil shot the captain a dark glare which caused the archer to smile.
"I think he needs a bath."
"No!" Legolas declared turning round and glaring at the Eldar, "Leave me alone!"
He backed away slightly glaring at the four people in front of him. Elerossë took a step forward and Legolas ran out the door.
"You'll have to catch me!"
"Legolas!" Thranduil roared running after his son, Elerossë hot on his heels. Lúthien and Beren smiled at each other before following their father out the door. There was there sound of crashing and "LITTLE GREENLEAF!"
To be continued . . . .
Elvish translations.
Templa er = magic one
Ada= Daddy or dad, shortening of Adar which means father.
Characters guide.
King Thranduil: Legolas's father.
Queen Máraran: Legolas's mother, deceased.
Crown prince Beren: Legolas's brother. First born.
Princess Lúthien: Legolas's sister. Third born.
Prince Orophin: Legolas's brother. Second born, deceased.
Ranawen: Friend of Legolas. (Female.)
Lólindir: Name had to be changed from Caranthir. Friend of Legolas. (Male.)
Tanya: Friend of Legolas. (Male.)
Elerossë: Captain of Mirkwood. Good friend of Thranduil.
Lanta: She-wolf, saved Legolas.