@adromir-yes, Thranduil is very evil in this fic until a little later when he learns his lesson! ^_^

@Silian-Don't worry Otrinity can never die at this young age! I won't let her. But there are many things worse then death... hee hee hee :)

@lishmi-Have no fear! Those men won't be bugging Legolas or Otrinity @ the end of the story! It'll be awhile before they're gone though.

By the way, I'm not crazy or anything, just obsessed with writing. Also, there's gonna be, like, 28 chapters to this story. You'll really want to read the next one to! Read this one anyway, even though it's a little dull.

Chapter 4

Otrinity's heart felt almost as if it was going to burst. Her chest blazed with pain as she ran through the stone streets. She ignored the shocked gazes at her as she bolted around the buildings and the shocked elves that stood around her.

Her head was filled with thoughts. She had understood the words of the older one. How, she was unsure. She also had a strange feeling as soon as he had entered the room. Something like a chill that fingered her spine.

Her heart felt heavy with sorrow as she ran, finally dashing through the gate that she had entered with Legolas before.

*

Legolas felt anger welling up inside him. He slammed the door behind him when he entered the room. He grabbed a small vial of water and threw it with all his might out the window. His elf ears barely caught the sound of it hitting the cobblestones below, shattering into pieces.

He had no right to say those things! he thought angrily. He could still feel his father's burning eyes. He was such a careless brute! To say that all horses would die in a time, he was so insensitive! It was unbelievable!

Legolas paced around his room, slowly willing himself to calm down. He felt his blood cooling from its raging boil. He sighed, glancing out the window where the vial had been thrown. The trees beyond the silver roofs swayed gently in the wind. Then, he knew where Otrinity had gone.

Gathering his bow and quiver, he carefully headed out to his chamber's balcony where there was nothing but air. He sat on his edge and tossed his feet onto the other side. He slowly worked his way down until he was just hanging. He reached around under the balcony, his long fingers fumbling in the shadows. His face remained a solid, concentrated frown as he pulled out a thick rope. Suddenly, the rest of it tumbled out from below the balcony. Legolas took a grip on his end and let go of the railing.

He swiftly swung on the rope downward, landing gracefully onto the grass. He glanced around, seeing nobody that could have seen him. Then, he took a dark alleyway towards the back gate of the Mirkwood Kingdom.

*

The woods were darker today then most. A heavy mist clung to the air as though it was its only chance of life. Despite his impeccable vision and grace, Legolas stumbled over unseen roots and hidden stones. He hurried, hardly ever eyeing his path. He found it hard to see his feet through the thick fog, let alone any tracks that would lead him to Otrinity. However, he wasn't hopeless, since there was a bright feeling that lay in his stomach. He still felt angry at his father, unable to fathom the idea that he hated the foal. He thought the feeling in his stomach and the thoughts of his father towards Otrinity were somehow linked, since every now and then the feeling changed from chilled, to cold, and then hot.

Legolas stumbled once more over a rut and gave a little cry as he stubbed his toe. He didn't pause, at least not until a different feeling entered him. Something like someone was touching him. Touching his back, but not on the skin, more like under it.

Somebody else was there.

He stopped immediately, gazing all around. His ears caught some talking between to people.

Men. he thought to himself. He turned behind him and squinted into the mist.

There, coming around the tree trunk, two tall dirty-looking men stepped. They couldn't see Legolas until they were upon him and an arrow was pointed at their chests.

"Who are you and why are you here?" asked Legolas, not faltering the least bit with his bow. One of the men put up both his hands.

"Easy now, mister elf." He said calmly. "I am Breraw and this is Helwar."

"What are you doing here?" Legolas repeated, now aiming his arrow slightly more towards the man talking. He had the darkest eyes Legolas had ever seen, and his gut told him that he brought mistrust and fear to the forest. The man hesitated before continuing.

"We are here because out men have tracked an evil being in your forest. She has threatened our villages with her evil sorcery. We have killed her, but now her offspring dwell in these woods. We are determined to find the newborn and punish it the same way we did it's mother."

"How many of you are there?" asked Legolas, still not lowering his weapon.

"Three hundred and six." Answered the man. Legolas's eyes opened wide in shock.

"Why so many?" he asked. The two men grinned. Helwar spoke.

"This creature has terrorized more villages then even you can count." He said. "We have many allies." There was a brief pause before Legolas lowered his bow.

"Do your business then leave Mirkwood." He replied. He shoved his arrow head-down into his quiver and turned his back to them. However, he couldn't shake the feeling the Breraw was grinning after him.