I thought this would take extra time but it came out so easily--thanks Dreamingfifi for the ideas!! It reved up the plot bunnies!!
Chapter 6--Broken Wings
The hawk soared gracefully through the air as it came close to Mirkwood it began angling down. Suddenly there was a hiss of displaced air and an arrow pierced the hawk's wing. It fluttered awkwardly to the ground and laid still.
Two guards wearing the uniform of Gondor walked over to the hawk. "I got it, pay up, the bet was two gold," one said.
The other grumbled a bit, but handed over the coins then knelt. "Never seen a hawk like this before," he remarked. "Hey, what is this?" He pulled a small scroll case on a silver chain from around the hawk's neck. Opening it, he looked inside. "Looks like a message, I better take this and the hawk back to the King. This could be important." He put the struggling hawk in a sack then got on his horse and headed for Minas Tirith.
Arathorn sat on his throne, drumming his fingers on its arm and watching Galen work. "Well, mage? I have been waiting for you to find spells that will help with the attack," he grumbled.
"And I have found ones that will be useful, but I must now memorize them so I can use them. It takes time, my Liege," Galen said.
"Do not fail me, I saved you from being burned at the stake, but I can always remedy that if you displease me," Arathorn warned.
"Mirkwood will be yours, my Liege," Galen said.
A guard entered the audience chamber and bowed. "My Liege, I believe this is important. It was found around the neck of a gold hawk that was shot down. He offered the scroll case.
Arathorn took it and opened it. He pulled out the message and looked at it. "Hmm, I can not read this. Can you mage?" he asked and handed over the scroll.
"I can with the proper spell," Galen said. He chanted and waved a hand over the scroll then began to read. "It is a message from Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien to King Thranduil of Mirkwood. It asks if all is well and says that Prince Legolas is eager to return home. She says he is ready and asks if it is all right for him to come now," Galen said.
Arathorn frowned and rubbed his jaw. "So the youngest Prince of Mirkwood is in Lothlorien. He would make a valuable bargaining tool. If only I could get him back into my hands," he muttered. Suddenly he smiled. "Can your spell copy handwriting perfectly and get control of the hawk?"
"I have spells that can do those things, it will take a couple days," Galen agreed.
"Good, it is time for Legolas to come home though he will fall into my hands first. Here is what I want you to have the message say," Arathorn said and began to talk.
**Meanwhile In Lothlorien**
Legolas and Aragorn were enjoying themselves on the archery range so much that they were late to breakfast. After apologizing to Galadriel and Celeborn they sat down.
"Where have you two been?" Syri asked.
"Learning and coming to a few conclusions," Legolas smirked.
"Like what?" Boromir asked.
"We learned Aragorn is a lousy shot with a bow and concluded that the safest place to stand if he is using one is the spot he is aiming at," Legolas said.
"I only missed twice!!" Aragorn protested.
"Four, but whose counting," Legolas laughed.
"Shut up unless you would like to be dragged out for a sparring session with swords," Aragorn warned then laughed. The other four party members laughed with them.
At that moment they were without a care in the world. They didn't realize what the future held and the trouble that lurked there…….
**Dramatic Music** How's that? I love it! Ha! The plot bunnies are hiding under my bed--I got them!! R/R please!!