Child of Darkness and Death Chapter 2: Let the festivities begin!, a lord of the rings fanfic

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em: Never did, Never will ::cries::

Warnigns: SLASH!!! (A/L) Male/male relationship! (Don't like it? Don't read it!) Unbetaed (as usual) ::bangs head on the desk::

A/N #1: Re: Reviews

AJ Matthews: Ai Elbereth! You're still reading my story and you like it?? ::swoons from the double compliment::

Arri: Thanks! ^_^

Elvensong: I'm glad you liked the humor bit ::blush:: I was afraid nobody'll like it. THANKS!

Blood Thristy: Ewwww.. more typoes?? _ Thanks for catching those for me, I'll fix 'em ASAP. Oh, and don't worry, you're not being "nit picky" (as you put it ^_~); this is constructive criticism, it's what helps me improve as a writer. Hey, would you like to beta-read the parts to this fic? ^_~

Crawler: What I can say to you is: I wish I was as productive as you are....::grovels at thy feet:: oh! guess what? I've decided that I won't post the next chapt until I get 10 reviews, please forgive me?

Pris: LOL! well, the next part is the Council, the ball starts to get rolling from there, sorry, bear with me a lil' please?

Cruel Angel: THAAAAAAAAAAAAAANKYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!

A/N#2: still vague on where to plop this in the LotR timeline, so for your sake, and mine as well, take this as an AU

A/N #3: Elvish like 'so'

Common tongue like "so"

REVIEW!! No next part until I get AT LEAST 10 Reviews, so, at the end Reviewreviewreview! PLEASE??

Child of Darkness and Death

Chapter II: Let the festivities begin!

Joyous laughter and festive music filtered throughout the forest of Mirkwood. For the first time in many years, the Midsummer feast could be held in the open air, under the stars of Elbereth, without fear of being attacked by foul creatures of darkness; and indeed even the trees seem to gather nearer to the clearing to rejoice with the Wood Elves.

Food was more than abundant and wine flowed freely. All was merry, but the merriest of all those that are present has to be Prince Legolas. Every now and then, the Elven prince's clear, silvery laughter can be heard from the High Table, mingled with those of the Human, Dwarf, and Halflings, a sound the resident elves of Mirkwood have been missing since the Prince's return.

'My people!' the majestic voice of King Thranduil rang out clear and strong from the High Table. "My friends!" he added in the common tongue, looking specifically at the members of the Fellowship sitting by his son. 'Tonight,' he continued in Elvish, addressing his subjects, 'in addition to celebrating the passing of Midsummer, we celebrate the safe return of my son, Prince Legolas, and his friends Aragorn son of Arathorn, Gimli son of Gloin, and the Halfings Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took from the Quest!'

Promptly, cheering ensued the short pause before the Elven King resumed his speech.

"Hey Frodo!" Pippin whispered when Thranduil continued his speech in Elvish.

"Yes?" Frodo whispered back, if for no better reason than to keep from interrupting the Elf King's speech.

"What's he sayin'?" Pippin asked, his interest captured when he heard Thraduil mention their names one by one.

"Frodo was quiet for a moment, brows creased in concentration as he focused on the constant flow of Elvish.

"Well?" Pippin urged.

"Well," Frodo repeated, "From what I can make out, he seems to be saying..." and the older Hobbit went on to translate everything Thranduil said, nearly boring the poor young Took to tears.... "And so on and so forth," Frodo rambled on, causing poor Pippin to greatly regret feeling curious to the Elf King's speech.

Luckily for him though, he was spared from the seemingly endless translation when a series of Elven whistles suddenly echoed throughout the forest, interrupting Thranduil and, consequentially Frodo as well. The music stopped as a chorus of murmurs erupted from the Silvan Elves almost immediately.

"Legolas, what's wrong?" Aragorn asked the Prince of Mirkwood in hushed voice since he was unfamiliar with Mirkwood's patrol signals.

"Someone is riding through the woods at a great speed," Legolas paused for a second as another whistled pierced the air. "And the rider is heading straight in this direction!" the blond elf finished.

'Legolas! What do you make of this intruder?' King Thranduil asked his son in a tone that was both quiet and firm.

There was a tense silence as the Silvan Elves waited for their Prince's answer, which came soon enough.

"The trees do not fear, Father," Legolas answered (in the Common Tongue for the sake of his friends, whom at the moment are as tense, if not tenser, than the Elves), easing the tension of his people dramatically. Aragorn unconsciously quirked a brow at that, wondering how Legolas' words managed to comfort the other Elves. "The rider is drawing closer," Legolas spoke up again, interrupting the Human's train of thoughts. Without warning, Legolas rose from his seat and dashed down from the dais where the High Table was situated, and as if on cue, a grey cloaked rider emerged from the forest and into the clearing with a clatter of hooves from his silver-grey steed.

"Well, I see the feast has started without me," the cloaked figure stated rather amicably. "All that rush, all for nothing!" And the silver-grey horse snorted as if in agreement, while the stranger dismounted.

"Mithrandir!" Legolas exclaimed in joy and was at the Istari's side the moment he got off Shadowfax since he was the first to recognize the rider for who he was.

"Haha!" Gandalf laughed, hugging the Elf Prince. "It seems to have been long ago since we last saw each other!" he finally said, pulling away with a smile.

"Gandalf!"

"Gandalf!" came the excited voices of the Hobbits before they tackled the poor old wizard in a most Hobbit-like welcome. Following close behind the Hobbits were Gimli and Aragorn, each greeting the old wizard in their own way. Gimli clasped forearms with Gandalf, his Dwarvish pride restricting him from doing more, but his eyes expressed more than enough joy at seeing the Istari again. Once Gimli released Gandalf, Aragorn was next to greet his long time friend, first with a wide grin followed by a warm embrace.

"Well, Gandalf, making a notable entrance as usual, you gave our hosts quite a start," Aragorn said to the Wizard, guiding him to the High Table while Shadowfax was taken away by another Elf.

"Really now? I must say that wasn't my intention."

Music started again, and soon the Elves resumed their merrymaking, dancing and laughing, and had in general quite forgotten the disturbance caused by Mithrandir's arrival.

'Welcome, Mithrandir!' The Elven King greeted the travelworn wizard when he got to the Table. 'I had almost thought you weren't going to make it to the celebration.'

'King Thranduil,' Gandalf said, nodding his head at the greeting. 'Indeed I thought that I wouldn't make it either,' the wizard said, heaving a tired sigh.

Aragorn and Legolas exchanged a look before the latter spoke up, "Mithrandir, what news do you bring?"

"Ah, ever perceptive, nay, my Prince?" the old man questioned with a chuckle, but that was soon replaced by a gloomy expression. "Aye, I bear news that should greatly concern all of the Fellowship, yes, but I will not utter it here, for it is a very dark matter that will surely dampen the spirit of the Feast."

Both Elf and Human frowned at the Wizard's words.

Gandalf shook his head, "Nay, friends, do not let my words worry you. Nor should you be wondering what sort of ill news I brought. At least for tonight. Tonight, have fun and enjoy yourselves, for all will be revealed soon enough." To reinforce his point, he quickly pushed the two towards the direction of the dancing Elves (and Hobbits and Dwarf), and watched until he saw the two were swept away into the dancing Elves. Then, with a grim face, the Istari made it to the side of the Elf King.

'King Thranduil, I ask for your permission to hold a Council tomorrow in your palace grounds.'