Author's notes: IMPORTANT. I want to say thank you to Eruvanye for pointing out that Caranthir wasn't the best name for a wood-elf. So you will have seen that I have changed his name in the last two chapters and in the rest to come to Lólindir.
Disclaimer: One first chapter if needed.
Childish adventures. Chapter Three.
Legolas walked down the corridor, scuffing his shoes on the floor as he went. His father had promised to spend the whole day with him, but that had been cancelled seeing as spiders had attacked a village. He sighed, his father wasn't a bad father it was just that he didn't have that much time to spend with his children. Legolas ran over to the tree overlooking the pond, which had recently been dubbed The Four's tree.
"What are you doing here Legolas?"
"My day was cancelled due to an attack."
The three pulled a face and Legolas sat down leaning against the trunk of the tree.
"What are we going to do then?"
"We're planning to play a trick on Amras again, but seeing as Elerossë has forgotten to punish us as you went missing we're going to leave it for a while so hopefully he'll forgot." Lólindir called from above him.
Legolas snorted, "I doubt it, he never forgets anything!"
Ranawen giggled as she lay down on her front beside Legolas, "You're probably right."
Ranawen frowned slightly staring into the bushes on the other side of the pond, "What's that?"
Legolas pushed himself and started to make his way across the pond, using the stepping stones. Tanya jumped down from the tree, pulling a knife out of his boots. He had started to carry the knife around with him after the spider incident. A furry face poked itself out of the bushes, "Fluffy!"
Hi again! It was boring without you, so I came for a visit.
"Who's Fluffy?"
Legolas turned back to his friends and began to explain all that had happened to him since he was taken.
"Well, I say he stays for a while, as a guest of the royals of course."
Legolas's eyes practically shone with happiness as he turned back to the wolf cub. Who had understood the other elf and nodded his consent. This was going to be fun, a wolf living in the palace would go down in history!
Legolas pushed the door to the kitchen open and his eyes scanned the room. He saw what he wanted and ran over to her. He stopped just before he hit her a smile on his face, his blonde hair a mess.
"Hello Marya."
A she-elf looked down on him, she had black hair tied in a bun, and had warm brown eyes. She was head of the kitchen and had often helped in Legolas's upbringing. She was a sort of second mother, someone he came to when scraped his knee and it needed being seen to.
"What can I do for you my little scamp?"
"Can I have some meat?"
"Sure it will take a while to cook but - "
"No, not cooked."
Marya raised an eyebrow at him, but wrapped a chunk of meat up and handed it to him.
"What are you up to?"
"Nothing. Can you get some more meat for me tomorrow morning?"
"I'll leave it by your room."
He nodded and turned tail running back through the kitchen and up to his room. Marya sighed, shaking her head.
"That one's trouble." Enelya a rather stuck up she-elf commented.
"You only think he's trouble because he soaked you with water."
Legolas smiled as he watched Fluffy chew on his meat. The blonde elfling was in great spirits even if he and his friends had been called in and sent to their own rooms to stop them from playing tricks. His father probably ordered that, he was a bit fed up with his tricks. His smile faded and a frown replaced it as his thoughts turned to his family. He sometimes wondered if his father loved him as much as he did his other siblings. He knew he loved him but . . . . . . Beren was the first one, an excellent fighter then there was Lúthien, his only daughter a smart one who could work just about anything out. And then there was him who . . . . . what was special about him? Nothing! He was the annoying little brother that played tricks on his father's people. His friends all had families who loved them to bits, in fact Ranawen even had a little sister but they didn't have just a dad. They had mothers as well. And their dad's weren't the king of Mirkwood and their parents knew of their child's dreams and fears, his father didn't know all of Legolas's.
What's the matter?
Legolas looked up into his friend's furry face, and he realised he was crying. He hurriedly brushed the tears away.
Nothing.
Do you not trust me?
I trust you it's just . . . . .
They're bad thoughts, my dad spends lots of time working. He doesn't have a choice, how could he, he was born into being a royal. Like I was born into being a nuisance. The elf smacked his hands over his ears, hoping to block out the annoying nagging voice at the back of his mind.
Fluffy, where's your father?
He was killed by a group of spider's.
Legolas pulled the cub into his arms, hugging both their pains away . . . nearly.
Elerossë may have captured The Four many times and send them to their 'doom' as they called Thranduil's throne room. But he grown attached to the blonde elfling that was Mirkwood's youngest prince. He had noticed the unshed tears in the child's eyes when he had turned away from his father after their day had been cancelled. He hadn't had the time to go after him then but today he was determined to seek the prince out and see if something could be done. Lúthien had given him a kiss good night and had said he was alright, but the older elf somehow doubted it. The prince hadn't been there for breakfast or lunch and he had told the king he would find him. The elf walked through the trees making his way to a big oak tree, it had been Queen Máraran's favourite place. The she-elf had gone there whenever she was upset or angry, and had taken Legolas there as a child when he had cried or wanted to talk to her. It had been their place, nobody else's. A place where the two had shared many a childish secret. That was where he was going to find him. And sure enough as Elerossë got closer, he could make out a slivery blonde head in-between the leaves. The elf pulled himself onto one of the branches and proceeded to climb up to Legolas.
The child was rather startled when Elerossë appeared in front of him. Legolas glared at the elf in front of him.
"Go away Elerossë."
He whispered before leaning back against the trunk of the tree and staring into the canopy of leaves above him. This made Elerossë pause, Legolas had calm temper. For unlike his siblings who had inherited their father's short temper, Legolas had inherited his mother's.
"Hey" He gently tugged on Legolas's braid which the elfling had been fiddling with, "I just want to talk."
"Don't want to talk."
Legolas mumbled and pulled his braid away from the eldar and jumping up into the braches above. Elerossë sighed and went after him, easily overtaking the younger elf and stopping him from climbing any higher.
"Is a simple conversation to hard for you young one? Or do I need to make you have more lessons then you already do?"
The teasing question had a completely different reaction that what he had expected. Tears appeared in the child's eyes and turning he leapt off the branch. The elfling was a couple of feet above what would have been a safe jump and upon landing he presently fell over, hurting himself. Elerossë made his way down the tree quickly, to find the child had ran off into the forest. Shaking his head the elf darted after Legolas.
The elf in question had dropped to his hands and knees after running for about two minutes. Sobs shook his small frame as his tears dropped to the forest floor. He had been about to call Fluffy and go in and get some food for the cub when Elerossë had appeared. Why did he have to come? And it proved that his father thought he was stupid, him and Elerossë agreed on everything. He cried out when he felt a hand on his shoulder and spun round and kicked the someone behind him. A hand flew to his mouth when he realised he had just winded the Captain of Mirkwood. He didn't flee this time, for grief was filling him at having kicked one of his elders. The captain looked up and Legolas was surprised to find amusement shining in his eyes.
"You have excellent reflexes little one."
Legolas gaped at the Captain, that was not what he had expected. Surely he was going to tell him off? He had hurt him why was he smiling? Elerossë had spotted Legolas's confusion and sat up properly pulling the elfling towards him.
"I may be the big bad Captain that punishes you but I have heart as well you know. And I don't mind being winded as you didn't mean to."
Legolas didn't reply, just simply leaned against the elf, nodding his head slightly.
"Care to tell me the problem?"
Legolas shook his head whispering a "No." And Elerossë was struck about how much Legolas was like his father when it came to being stubborn.
"Do I have to strangle it out of you or do you just wish to tell me?"
"Father doesn't love me as much as he does Beren and Lúthien does he?"
The elf turned to stare at the Captain, "I can understand if he doesn't. Because I'm not that special apart from my powers like mother and - "
"Shhhhhh I . . he . . . . ah."
Elerossë was at a loss for words, he thought that the child was upset but to think that his father loved him less than the others was absurd. He looked back at the elfling who was staring at him his hand locked onto his tunic.
"Your father loves you as much as he loves Beren and Lúthien. What made you think that?"
Legolas didn't reply and by the look in his eyes he obviously didn't believe the older elf. He had to hear it from his father. Sighing Elerossë picked him up and began walking back to the palace, the child leaning against the elf's shoulder as he went. Living in his own dream world. Elerossë didn't notice the elfling tense nor the way he shut his eyes as he talked to something in the shadows.
Elerossë gently put Legolas on the bed, and knelt beside him. A small sob made it's way out of Legolas's throat.
"Let me check your ankle okay?"
The child nodded and allowed the Captain to check his ankle.
"You've twisted it and" He said taking the small hands in his own, "You have cut your hands. Shall we clean you up?"
Legolas nodded, but didn't seem to notice the older elf cleaning his cuts or wrapping his ankle up. Nor did he notice when he took his shoes off and lay him down in his bed and covered him up. Legolas just rolled over, his back facing Elerossë and started to enter the world of elven dreams. Elerossë turned and walked out the door, he was going to have to tell the king Legolas was upset. But how do you tell a father their son doesn't think you love him as much as his siblings? As soon as Elerossë's footsteps faded, Legolas sat up flinging the covers to the side. Standing up he made his way over to his balcony and climbing onto the branch, made his way down. Dropping to the forest floor, Legolas called out quietly. Fluffy ran over and scoping him up in his arms proceeded to make his way back up the tree. Once inside Legolas climbed back into bed, laying Fluffy next to him. The cub gave him the feeling of warmth, that maybe all was not so bad. And holding onto that thought he drifted off.
"Alright up you get my little scamp!"
Legolas pulled himself out of his memories and his eyes focused on the face above him. Marya was standing above him a smile on her face. She was head of the kitchen, but was the one given the task of getting Legolas up and getting his breakfast ready. Most mornings he had breakfast on his balcony with Marya, on occasion, like yesterday he had breakfast with his family. Legolas's eyes darted around the room, looking for Fluffy, who he noticed was hiding under his desk. Pulling himself out of bed, Legolas happily eat his breakfast chatting with the she-elf.
"Oh, I have the meat you wanted."
A bright smile lit Legolas's face as Marya pulled a chunk of meat from one of her apron pockets and handed it to him.
"Thank you!"
"That's alright, just don't get into too much mischief."
She said affectionately as she ruffled his hair and walked out the door, shutting it behind her. Legolas sighed and placing the meat on the floor for Fluffy, he made his way over to his cupboard and began to get dressed. The child debated what he was going to do today, he could go see his friends or he could do something by himself. The second felt more appealing, he didn't feel in the mood to be laughing and having fun. After deciding this, he picked Fluffy up and made his way out of his window.
Elerossë shifted from one foot to another, he hadn't done had this kind of nervous reaction in a long time. He had faced armies of orcs and other foul creatures, he had fought battle after battle and had never ever been as nervous as he was now. He was standing outside the throne room, trying to decide on what he was going to say to the king. He shook his head, why oh why did this kind of thing happen? And why did he have to be the one to tell him? Taking a deep breath Elerossë pushed the doors open and strode into the room. Elves were milling around Thranduil, all talking at the same time. It didn't appear to be a good day, Elerossë mused. Thranduil looked like he wanted to pull his hair out.
"Ah Elerossë" Thranduil turned to face the elf, "We are having a bit of a problem. There have been a few attacks."
Elerossë sighed mentally, that was the King's way of telling him that there was a big problem and there had been more than just a few attacks. It didn't look like he was going to be able to tell him about Legolas just yet.
Legolas ran along the path, Fluffy running just behind him. They were playing a game of chase and Fluffy was it. He glanced behind him, a smile on his face, his hair whipping out behind him. But Fluffy had stopped and was staring ahead of him. A wave of cold swept through Legolas's being, encasing him in a cage. The child slowly turned his gaze forward and his whole being froze. In the shadows in up ahead was . . . . something. He couldn't move, he was frozen inside. Gleaming yellow eyes stared at him, and he could make a set of white fangs. Drool slid off the fangs, hitting the floor.
I'm coming for you little one, just you wait.
The words rang through Legolas's head, and the elfling cried out clamping his hands over his ears. Drowning in the words, darkness, evil that was what it was. The creature took a step forward, it's mangled black paw landing on the path. And Legolas found his feet. He turned and ran. Fear gave his feet wings and he ran faster than he ever had.
Run little one. But I will find you!
Elerossë sighed, he had spent an hour and a half in thrown room, with Thranduil trying to work out the problems. It seemed that the darkness that surrounded Mirkwood had grown stronger. As if something had united the evil and was leading it against the elves. Every time he had that thought (which was a lot recently) he had shaken his head and told himself to stop being stupid. He watched the King massage his temple, he felt sorry for the elves that were going to be on the receiving end of his wrath.
"Ada!"
The doors flung open to see Legolas scampering across the floor. He bolted across the floor, knocking a few elves over and practically throwing himself at his father's legs.
"Ada, it was awful! I - "
"Legolas I'm a bit busy here. And unless you have gone past the Palace boundaries then nothing can happen to you."
"But Ada I saw a great big - "
"Legolas I don't want to hear about you childish adventures! I'm not in the mood for you to be telling me about the giant invisible spider you Ranawen, Lólindir and Tanya killed! Now kindly leave us in peace!"
Legolas looked down, releasing his father's legs. His father had just yelled at him, not in the 'I'm yelling at you because you've played a trick even though it's quite funny' way. No his father was angry at him, he had only ever seen his father like this a few times. That meant he was bad, no that meant his father didn't care. Elerossë watched the child walk out the room his shoulders slumped. Surely Legolas didn't think? But yesterday he was . . . . . . and . . . the child had hardly ever seen Thranduil angry! For the King often did get angry with his subjects, when they wanted things and where all yelling at once and at him and at each other. And Legolas had come in just as his father was about to yell at them. Perfect timing.
Legolas ran through the halls, unshed tears shining in his eyes. He ran past his room, not bothering to tell Fluffy what was going on. He ran and ran until he reached it, the oak tree. He climbed as fast as he could, as high as he could go and stopped. Leaning against the trunk he curled up, allowing the tears to finally come. The prince's sobs shook his body, and the trees started to cry as well. For their prince, their carer, the one that made sure that they had enough water and were talked to and understood them more than any other elf here was hurting. And so they hurt as well, and their cries were all that could be heard through out Mirkwood.
And in the shadow the creature smiled, it would get him. The little child, it would kill him. That was for sure.
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.
Marya: Head cook. Second mother to Legolas.
Fluffy: Cub of Lanta, friend of Legolas.
Lanta: She-wolf, saved Legolas