Hi. Here, chapter 7 just like I told you. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Legolas or any other LOTR characters.

THE ROYAL STABLES: CHAPTER 7

Dark gray clouds slowly veiled the golden rays of the morning sun and the bright, turquoise sky as the two rode through the forest. They no longer heard the elves behind them but were still watchful of the shadows around them.

"Are you sure we lost them?" Niki inquired.

Legolas could not answer even if he knew the answer, which he didn't.

It started raining, and Legolas was reminded of Lightning's naming. Thinking about the gray-spotted foal made him remember that Niki had not told anyone they were leaving. Hopefully his father would send someone to look after the horses.

The rain passed quickly, but it had been so strong that the horse and elf were left feeling miserable, wet and cold.

Legolas was nervous. He felt as if something had been following them. It was not an elf, for an elf would definitely travel through the trees rather than on foot, as this creature did.

Neither was it a warg, as this 'thing' was making much more noise than one of their kind. It was not very skilled in traveling silently, and often he could hear sounds that suggested clumsiness. An orc? He did not like the thought.

Niki had not heard nor felt anything amiss. She had ceased riding and was now walking beside him.

Legolas had decided that whatever had been following them had better be dealt with now, and stopped in his tracks. Behind him the far-of noises continued, another clue of their pursuer's inexperience.

He stepped aside into some bushed and waited. Niki questioned but leapt up into a tree and waited.

The sounds grew closer.

When they sounded as if the creature was only meters away from them, Legolas braced himself, to run or to attack. He heard Niki do the same up in the trees.

Something white flitted through the shadows a few meters away. Perhaps he had been wrong, and it was an elf?

Silence. Perhaps it was only sunlight.

A twig broke. An orc?

He saw a rough shape in the trees. It was small, perhaps a third his size. Attack.

He prepared to spring. Just then, their pursuer came into sight. Legolas staggered in surprise.

Lightning was standing on the narrow path, looking around nervously.

Niki dropped from the above branches and landed behind the foal. Lightning heard her and turned around and whinnied in relief when he saw her.

"You should not be here, Light of the Storm," she said gently, using his formal name. All royal horses in Mirkwood had two names, one used for ceremonies and other important purposes, and another one, which was usually a simplification of the formal one for everydays.

Legolas emerged from his hiding place. The foal whinnied happily at the sight of the dust-colored stallion and ran to him. Legolas nuzzled him but neighed firmly, supporting Niki.

"We should send him back," she said. "But if we do we may be caught, and will be loosing precious time. Certainly taking him with us is not an option, it is too dangerous."

Legolas looked at the spotted foal. Niki was right. None of the options suited them, but they had to come up with something. They could not possibly leave Lightning, as that would definitely be leaving him to his death. He shook his head.

Niki sighed and hung her head. Lightning nuzzled her, as if to comfort her. She reached out a hand to stroke his short mane.

Then Legolas heard the whistle.

It was a signal used by the elves of Mirkwood to communicate while hunting.

Bringing Lightning back was not an option anymore. The three crept through the foliage, away from the whistles. Listening to the signals, Legolas could tell that the direction they were moving towards was generally safe. Lightning was more excited than scared about this new adventure, and ran ahead. Niki had to call him back time to time, which Legolas found irritating as it might give their location away to the elves.

They stumbled upon a small clearing. Legolas stood still for ten minutes and listened but could not hear anything. He decided it safe to spend the night there. He might as well have, for Lightning was already asleep.

Legolas woke up a few hours after falling asleep and realized he was hungry. He sniffed Niki's bag but could not smell any food.

Lightning soon woke with the same problem too. But this little horse did not have to think twice about finding food. It was, in fact, all around him, Legolas noted as he watched the foal graze.

He nudged at the grass with his hoof, as if it was something weird that he didn't want to eat but had too.

Lightning was watching the strange horse curiously. Legolas felt stupid and nibbled the grass hastily.

It wasn't that bad, he thought, and joined in with Lightning.

END OF CHAPTER 7

Wheeeeeeeeee! Chapter 7! Thanx for reading!

-Chaveline