Thank you, guys! You really made up my day with your wonderful reviews! Now carry on with the story….
A couple of days later, Legolas found out that the tainted hue of the fountain water started to fade and was slowly returning to its translucent glow once more. He pondered over this. The person that had been tampering with the spring has definitely stopped. But the big question now is who? Legolas was sure that it was an inside job, even though Linden had told him that new tracks were found again yesterday.
The Redwood elves would never manage to get through the wall that surrounded the palace. After an evil witch, along with her army of orcs, had seized the Mirkwood palace over a hundred years ago, Thranduil had ordered the great wall to be built.
Made of beautiful marble and clay, the wall was tall and sturdy. There were only two entrances; the big wrought iron gate facing the front courtyard, and the smaller gate behind the palace garden that led to a stream, Legolas's favorite idle place. Both the gates were highly guarded. No outsiders could come and go as they pleased without supervision. No way could the Redwood elves entered and sabotaged their water supply because the spring was right there in the palace itself.
No. This is definitely an inside job, I'm sure of it! Legolas had already had his suspicion of the person responsible, but he needed to be sure before he informed the king. Accusations must come along with proofs, not just theories and intuition.
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From afar, he stared at the Mirkwood crown prince who stood alone by the fountain. His eyes narrowed. I guess you win this first round, my prince. I never thought you'd be so clever. But beware. I've not planned all this for nothing. I favor slower pace much better for I've waited a long time for this opportunity. But now you've pushed me to play the hard way. The Thrandulion line of the Sindarin folks will fall. And Mirkwood will be mine, in the hands of the true Silvan blood…where it truly belongs.
Lord Cayel, the noble elf from Redwood, several rungs in line to the throne of the small realm, smiled mischievously. The next step in his plan was about to be in motion. He will have his 5,000 years of revenge.
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"I'll just love to see Legolas's reaction when he receives this letter from Nara!" Elrohir exclaimed, as he waved the said parchment for his brothers to see.
"Put it back inside your bag, you idiot!" Elladan admonished. "Do you really want to see his reaction if you lost the letter from his sweetheart?"
"Don't be a wuss!" Elrohir smirked back at his twin. Then he began to peel away the outer layer of the parchment. "I wonder what she says to him in here…"
"Elrohir, no!!!!" Aragorn cried out, snatching the letter from his elven brother. "You are such a moron! The content is for Legolas's eyes only!"
Clutching his stomach, Elrohir laughed wildly amid his brothers' threatening glare. "You guys should see your face! I was just kidding! No way would I read mushy-mushy stuffs like that! I'm still sane!"
Aragorn stuffed the letter inside his saddlebag. He and Elladan gave each other a knowing look, before they advanced towards their brother who was still laughing like a damn hyena. Elrohir stopped laughing instantly when they grabbed his hands and legs then carried him to the stream that was close to their makeshift camp.
"Hey, let me go! Don't throw me in there or I'll…" Elrohir struggled to get away from their firm grasp. His brothers ignored him, smiling wickedly at each other. "On two," said Elladan to Aragorn as they swung Elrohir's body between them. "One. Two!"
Elrohir hit the water in a big splash. Aragorn slapped Elladan's right hand, congratulating each other as they both exploded into crazy mirth. Elrohir broke the surface, sputtering and cursing. He glared at his laughing brothers. "The water is cold!"
"Yeah. We know," Elladan replied, already turning away to unroll his sleeping cloak. Chuckling, Aragorn called out, "I hope you bring extra clothes with you, Ro. You should get changed now before you catch cold or something."
"Elves do not catch cold, human," Elrohir growled, clambering up the bank. "I did bring extra clothes with me, and a pair of boots. But need I remind you that you should've asked me that before you throw me into the water!" Elladan and Aragorn laughed again and proceeded to start a fire.
The three Rivendell brothers were on an errand for their father, or rather, for Gandalf The Gray. The wizard had asked the brothers' help through Lord Elrond to search for the creature Gollum that he believed had been released from Sauron's captivity. Gandalf also believed that Gollum was the key to a lot of questions concerning the rising forces of the Dark Lord.
The brothers had planned a brief detour to Mirkwood to see their best friend, Prince Legolas, before moving on their way towards their mission. Lady Narasene, a niece to Lord Glorfindel and Legolas's sweetheart for many years, had asked them to bring her letter to the prince.
"I just want to tell him I'm fine," Narasene had said as she gave the letter to them that morning, a few moments before their departure.
"There must be quite a lot of words in here for you to simply tell him that you're fine," Elrohir teased. "Look at this! It's so thick!!"
Narasene blushed deep red. Elladan smacked the back of Elrohir's head. "You are incorrigible!"
"But I spoke the truth!" Elrohir cried out in defense. "I know she sends a message to him every week via Hawkeye, Legolas's ever faithful 'servant'!"
"I don't think Hawkeye would appreciate to hear you calling him a 'servant', Ro. He's the royal eagle pet of Mirkwood!" Aragorn had laughed as Elladan dragged his twin away before Elrohir could embarrass Narasene even further. They had been traveling for the whole day. When the sun began to set, the small troop decided to make camp here deep in the woods, close to the stream.
"Yeah, laugh all you want. I'll get you both for that," Elrohir was grumbling as he took off his wet tunics. Then his eyes gleamed mischievously. Elladan and Aragorn were still bending over the fire, putting in some twigs and dried leaves for fuel.
All of a sudden, Elrohir's wet tunic hit Elladan in his face, while his under tunic landed on top of Aragorn's head. They both sprang to their feet and grabbed Elrohir once more. Elrohir's smiling face turned to horror as his brothers work together to hold him down.
Elladan pulled his twin's arms and gripped them firmly above Elrohir's head. Aragorn sat on top Elrohir's stomach, smiling wickedly as he plucked a blade of long grass and held it in front of the helpless elf.
Elrohir's eyes widened. "No! Don't you dare! Aie!!! Ha! Ha! Ha! Stop! I beg you, stop!! Ha! Ha! Come on, guys! That tickles!!! Have mercy on me! Aieeeee!!!!"
But Aragorn kept brushing the grass under Elrohir's armpits, his strongest ticklish spot, while Elladan chuckled in amusement. Only when Elrohir began to grow tired from laughing did they let go of him. "That was cruel, you know," Elrohir wheezed, lying down on his back with his eyes closed.
"Serve you right. Now are you going to throw your dirty clothes in our face again?" Elladan asked as he pulled Elrohir into sitting position and helped him put on dry tunic.
The other twin raised his eyebrows. "If I promise not to do it again, would you believe me?"
Elladan laughed, ruffling Elrohir's hair. "You definitely are incorrigible! Now go to sleep! I'll take the first watch."
TBC…
P/s : I know someone out there would be VERY happy to see the return of these Rivendell brothers, especially the twins!! He! He!
Oh, not a cliffie this time also, because I'm saving loads of them for coming chapters!
Cliffhangers : Look out, everyone! Here I come!!!