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Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.

A/N: Thanks for all the encouraging reviews! Do you think I'm rushing or what? R&R and tell me if I made a mistake, if I'm rushing, or anything else such as grammar or spelling. But please, don't kill me just because of a few typos!

danceingfae-Thank you so much for all the sweet compliments. AU means 'alternate universe'. Don't worry, it took me a while to understand what AU meant.

-Chapter Four-

Of Discoveries

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"Hush!" Estel hissed angrily. "You'll wake the whole Imladris with your yelling!" Legolas's glowing orbs narrowed at him and the prince stomped after him.

"What are you doing?" he asked angrily. "If you don't tell me, I shall go and inform Lord Elrond, my father, and--" He turned around as he spoke, walking towards the opening where he entered.

"Wait!" Estel whispered as he pulled Legolas's arm back. "Fine, I'll tell you." An unseen glare was on his face as he whispered to the Elf.

"A Silmaril? You are lying!" Legolas said loudly and received a smack from Estel. "Keep your voice down. You'll awaken foul creatures from their sleep and they will be angry with both of us if you keep on yelling about like this!"

"Mirkwood has worse creatures than any in this forest," Legolas said waving his hands. "And I have been inside worse forests and seen giant spiders and I killed one of them!" Estel rolled his eyes as the prince continued boasting and talking of how he killed a spider with one swift arrow.

"Why are you not listening?" Legolas asked as Estel walked deeper into the forest. "Come back!" he hissed and ran quickly after him.

"Do you really think a Silmaril is in here? In this forest?" the Elf asked unbelieving. "And even if it was in here, what makes you think you can find it?"

"I am blessed with gifts," Estel said smirking.

"The gift of stupidity?" Legolas chirped.

"Very funny," Estel said dryly. "I am dying of laughter." Legolas muttered something that sounded strangely like, "I wish."

Staring at the dark ground, he expected to see a glowing jewel but there was nothing. Legolas followed Estel, an annoyed look on his face. "Wait!" the Elf hissed but Estel walked on, ignoring him.

He stopped in his tracks when he heard a growl. Slowly, he turned his head to find himself staring at a bush. He blinked and shook his head. He was already imagining things like the faint glow amid the tangled leaves of the bush.

He blinked again, expecting the glow to leave from his sight but it didn't. Curiously, he dug into the bush, a thorn pricking his hand. He bit his lip from yelling and felt something hard beneath his fingers.

When his hand emerged from the bush, earning a few more pricks from thorns, he opened his fist, revealing a beautiful, glowing stone. "The Silmaril!" he said eyes widening to the size of plates. "I found it!"

"What?" Estel whispered as he heard Legolas. "You what?" He ran to the shadow of the Elf and stopped. "I do not see it anywhere..."

The figure turned around, revealing frightening red eyes, the color of blood. A soft growl was heard amid the silence and Estel stumbled backward in fear, falling on the ground. He tasted blood and the shadow moved forward, the red eyes on him.

A/N: A slight cliffhanger? Hmm, was the shape Legolas? Or was it something else? R&R!