Sorry I took so long, but Elves speaking English is even harder to write
than them talking in Elvish! Here goes nothing-
Legolas slowed down as he approached a clump of trees. He narrowed his eyes. He had seen something, but even with the sight endowed to his people, he could hardly believe what he had seen. A man on a broomstick? He had gone into the trees, and Legolas followed him. Dismounting, he took his bow and set an arrow to it, in case of an attack. He went closer to the cluster of trees, as soundlessly as a hunter to his prey.
"One more then," a voice was saying, "But I don't want to risk it!"
"You don't have a choice," said another voice, "He wants it done. You know, just to let them know he means business."
The Prince of Mirkwood stepped closer, and two robed figures came into view. They were cloaked and hooded, and wore masks to hide their faces. The Elf knew that the two were wizards, just like the children he had met only a day ago, but he sensed that they used their powers for a much darker purpose.
"I don't know why he can't just kill them all." The first speaker continued, "The Unforgivable-"
"No magic, Lucius!" snapped the other, "We can't use any magic. It's like he's 'afraid' of something!"
"But we used the Dark Mark!"
"And you know the effect it had on people! They were frightened out of their minds! If it did that back home, things would be a lot easier, and more fun!" He roared with laughter at the thought. "I'll wait here for a little while. why don't you try going closer to that city this time 'round? I'm sure the Master will be pleased!"
"Yes," said the other man, his voice laced with sarcasm, "And I can't wait to please him, now!"
Legolas moved away from the trees when he heard a whooshing noise, and caught sight of the man- on the broomstick. This time, he didn't waste time to react, he drew his already nocked arrow and let fly. It was true to its mark, hitting the airborne man in the shoulder. The wound he had received produced the desired effect- the man lost his concentration and his control over the cleaning instrument, and after a plunge of a couple of feet, fell to the ground.
As he hurried to his target, who was still reasonably alive, Legolas caught sight of his companion flying away on a broomstick of his own. The Elf wondered briefly as to why they had chosen such strange modes of transport, but his mind instantly cleared of the matter when he reached the fallen man, who was now struggling to his feet.
Legolas set another arrow to his bow, and stretched before the man. "I suggest that you come without struggle," he said softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry found himself quite unable to move. He saw Ron and Hermione come out of the stables behind him, and then stand as still as him.
"I believe you are right, grandfather!" laughed Elladan, who was now eying the three closely. "Surely these are not of the Folk of Arda!"
By this time, Elladan's twin brother had also dismounted; as did the Elven lord they called their grandfather. "Are you not Harry Potter?" he asked. The name sounded strange when he said it, unfamiliar as it was to the Elves.
Harry finally found his tongue and acknowledged it, adding a small, rather clumsy bow.
"And these are the other two you arrived with?" asked the Lord.
Harry nodded. He was eternally thankful when Hermione stepped forward and introduced herself and Ron. Her curtsy was much more graceful than Ron's bow, which wasn't any better than Harry's had been.
"Well, they are well mannered Outsiders, at least!" exclaimed Elladan. "We come from Rivendell at the King's summons."
"Lord Celeborn of Lorien!" whispered Hermione. Harry could only wonder how she managed to remember the name.
"Yes," said the Lord, hearing her, "though it has been many a year since I last set foot in the land that was my home for nigh on several thousand years." There was a note of sadness in his voice as he spoke of his home, and the light of a memory awakened. "It is in Imladris that I dwell now, with my daughter's kinfolk."
"But here is not the place for speech, my lord!" said Elladan's twin, "We must take advantage of Estel's hospitality, after all!" He motioned to the other riders to stable their steeds.
"Hark, Elrohir!" said Elladan suddenly, "I believe I hear the footfalls of a horse approaching"
"And swiftly" replied Elrohir.
Harry, who couldn't hear anything but the sounds of the city, just waited. It was a good few minutes later that he heard the sounds of a horse, and that was only when the horse, and its rider came into view.
"Hail Thranduilion, Legolas Prince of Mirkwood!" cried Elrohir with a smile. "But who is your riding companion?" he asked, seeing a cloaked figure on the horse, who appeared to be tied up. His right shoulder looked as though it had bled, but the wound was wrapped in a piece of cloth.
Harry's eyes widened at the sight of the figure. He had no trouble recognizing the cloak and hood, much less the mask he was wearing. It was a Death Eater- one of Voldemort's followers, although he couldn't tell whom. He wondered if it was one of those who had been there last year, or maybe someone new. He needn't have wondered though, because the moment the man caught sight of him, he hissed, "Potter."
The voice was a little too familiar. Harry could have sworn it to be Lucius Malfoy, but he didn't say anything.
Legolas greeted the Elves as he alighted from Arod's back. He bowed his head reverentially to the Lord Celeborn and asked, "Only a day has past since Aragorn sent his messenger to Rivendell, how is it that you are here already?"
"I heard tell of growing danger in the South," replied Celeborn, "I need no messenger to know that it was not any ordinary peril that Gondor, and indeed all of Arda faces."
"Then you know of this. this Voldemort?" asked Legolas, glancing briefly at Harry and his friends, and then the stubborn person on his horse.
Celeborn shook his head. "I have many questions to be answered, and answers to questions you will want answered- that is why I have come."
He turned and made his way towards the gate, accompanied by several of the other Elves that had come with the company. Elladan and Elrohir remained behind with Legolas,
"You have not answered my question, Legolas," said Elrohir, "Who is your prisoner?"
In reply, Legolas turned to Harry. "Do you recognize him? He is surely of your kind"
"He's a Death Eater, isn't he, Harry?" asked Hermione. Not waiting for an answer, she said, "He's one of You- Know- Who's followers. A Dark wizard!"
"He has refused to speak a word since I brought him down, except when he just stated your last name," said Legolas, "And he carried this-" he held out a long, thin stick that Harry, Ron and Hermione knew to be a wand.
"A wand" said Hermione before anyone else, "We use it to perform spells!"
Ron groaned at the way Hermione seemed a little too eager to answer the Elves' every query, and Harry fought back the urge to smile, which was easy considering the Death Eater, possibly Lucius Malfoy, still on the horse.
"Well," said Elladan, "we might as well take your prize to Estel, I am sure he will be as interested in him as we are! Perhaps we will hear more from him then, for I hear the King is very persuasive!"
"Indeed" agreed Elrohir, "We shall see the one who is so cowardly he hides himself behind a mask!"
The Death Eater was made to get off the horse at arrow- points by the time the real stable boy arrived to attend to the mount, and they were soon headed for the Citadel Gate, the prisoner in front of the group. Harry could hardly keep his eyes from the man, half expecting him to pull out a wand and curse them all. Of course, this was not possible- Legolas had it. Still, Harry was uneasy about the whole matter.
It was when the party was making its way to the Citadel gate that the Hobbits returned, laden with baskets of food. They were surprised to see the company, as they hadn't noticed the arrival of the Elves. However, in pure Hobbit fashion, they were unperturbed, and greeted the newcomers and Legolas as though they had been expected all along.
"This is a welcome sight, that's for sure!" Sam remarked softly to the three wizards as the Halflings fell into step beside them, "If those two aren't Lord Elrond's sons, then my name isn't Samwise Gamgee!"
"You mean the Queen's brothers?" asked Ron, a little too loudly. One of the twins Harry assumed to be Elladan turned at the question, a smile on his fair Elven face.
"Yes, the Queen's brothers, young master, I am Elladan and my brother is called Elrohir."
Ron turned beet red and nodded, much to the Elf's delight. "Men always worry about the judgment of others, don't they?"
Legolas spoke up. "There was a time when they did not."
The other two nodded. "I wonder if such a time should ever come again," Elrohir said, "but Estel was never concerned with the opinions of others"
"That is because Estel had excellent role models!" laughed his brother. Harry wished he had a clue as to who they were talking about. Apparently, so did the Hobbits.
"Who do you suppose this 'Estel' is, then?" Pippin asked.
"From what old Mister Bilbo taught me of Elvish, the word means 'hope'" said Sam.
"That doesn't help much," said Merry, "Why would they name someone hope?"
"Elrohir said they were going to meet whoever this Estel person is," said Hermione knowingly, "I suppose we'll find out soon."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Isn't she a little overboard with all the pro- Elf rabble?"
Hermione glowered at him, and shot Harry a warning look that clearly meant- agree with him and die. Harry heeded the warning- he didn't really feel like dying just yet.
Well, another chapter done, and all I can say is YAY! I don't really know if I'll have loads of free time even now, but expect a more action-y chapter soon. I know this one's a little talk-y.
Legolas slowed down as he approached a clump of trees. He narrowed his eyes. He had seen something, but even with the sight endowed to his people, he could hardly believe what he had seen. A man on a broomstick? He had gone into the trees, and Legolas followed him. Dismounting, he took his bow and set an arrow to it, in case of an attack. He went closer to the cluster of trees, as soundlessly as a hunter to his prey.
"One more then," a voice was saying, "But I don't want to risk it!"
"You don't have a choice," said another voice, "He wants it done. You know, just to let them know he means business."
The Prince of Mirkwood stepped closer, and two robed figures came into view. They were cloaked and hooded, and wore masks to hide their faces. The Elf knew that the two were wizards, just like the children he had met only a day ago, but he sensed that they used their powers for a much darker purpose.
"I don't know why he can't just kill them all." The first speaker continued, "The Unforgivable-"
"No magic, Lucius!" snapped the other, "We can't use any magic. It's like he's 'afraid' of something!"
"But we used the Dark Mark!"
"And you know the effect it had on people! They were frightened out of their minds! If it did that back home, things would be a lot easier, and more fun!" He roared with laughter at the thought. "I'll wait here for a little while. why don't you try going closer to that city this time 'round? I'm sure the Master will be pleased!"
"Yes," said the other man, his voice laced with sarcasm, "And I can't wait to please him, now!"
Legolas moved away from the trees when he heard a whooshing noise, and caught sight of the man- on the broomstick. This time, he didn't waste time to react, he drew his already nocked arrow and let fly. It was true to its mark, hitting the airborne man in the shoulder. The wound he had received produced the desired effect- the man lost his concentration and his control over the cleaning instrument, and after a plunge of a couple of feet, fell to the ground.
As he hurried to his target, who was still reasonably alive, Legolas caught sight of his companion flying away on a broomstick of his own. The Elf wondered briefly as to why they had chosen such strange modes of transport, but his mind instantly cleared of the matter when he reached the fallen man, who was now struggling to his feet.
Legolas set another arrow to his bow, and stretched before the man. "I suggest that you come without struggle," he said softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry found himself quite unable to move. He saw Ron and Hermione come out of the stables behind him, and then stand as still as him.
"I believe you are right, grandfather!" laughed Elladan, who was now eying the three closely. "Surely these are not of the Folk of Arda!"
By this time, Elladan's twin brother had also dismounted; as did the Elven lord they called their grandfather. "Are you not Harry Potter?" he asked. The name sounded strange when he said it, unfamiliar as it was to the Elves.
Harry finally found his tongue and acknowledged it, adding a small, rather clumsy bow.
"And these are the other two you arrived with?" asked the Lord.
Harry nodded. He was eternally thankful when Hermione stepped forward and introduced herself and Ron. Her curtsy was much more graceful than Ron's bow, which wasn't any better than Harry's had been.
"Well, they are well mannered Outsiders, at least!" exclaimed Elladan. "We come from Rivendell at the King's summons."
"Lord Celeborn of Lorien!" whispered Hermione. Harry could only wonder how she managed to remember the name.
"Yes," said the Lord, hearing her, "though it has been many a year since I last set foot in the land that was my home for nigh on several thousand years." There was a note of sadness in his voice as he spoke of his home, and the light of a memory awakened. "It is in Imladris that I dwell now, with my daughter's kinfolk."
"But here is not the place for speech, my lord!" said Elladan's twin, "We must take advantage of Estel's hospitality, after all!" He motioned to the other riders to stable their steeds.
"Hark, Elrohir!" said Elladan suddenly, "I believe I hear the footfalls of a horse approaching"
"And swiftly" replied Elrohir.
Harry, who couldn't hear anything but the sounds of the city, just waited. It was a good few minutes later that he heard the sounds of a horse, and that was only when the horse, and its rider came into view.
"Hail Thranduilion, Legolas Prince of Mirkwood!" cried Elrohir with a smile. "But who is your riding companion?" he asked, seeing a cloaked figure on the horse, who appeared to be tied up. His right shoulder looked as though it had bled, but the wound was wrapped in a piece of cloth.
Harry's eyes widened at the sight of the figure. He had no trouble recognizing the cloak and hood, much less the mask he was wearing. It was a Death Eater- one of Voldemort's followers, although he couldn't tell whom. He wondered if it was one of those who had been there last year, or maybe someone new. He needn't have wondered though, because the moment the man caught sight of him, he hissed, "Potter."
The voice was a little too familiar. Harry could have sworn it to be Lucius Malfoy, but he didn't say anything.
Legolas greeted the Elves as he alighted from Arod's back. He bowed his head reverentially to the Lord Celeborn and asked, "Only a day has past since Aragorn sent his messenger to Rivendell, how is it that you are here already?"
"I heard tell of growing danger in the South," replied Celeborn, "I need no messenger to know that it was not any ordinary peril that Gondor, and indeed all of Arda faces."
"Then you know of this. this Voldemort?" asked Legolas, glancing briefly at Harry and his friends, and then the stubborn person on his horse.
Celeborn shook his head. "I have many questions to be answered, and answers to questions you will want answered- that is why I have come."
He turned and made his way towards the gate, accompanied by several of the other Elves that had come with the company. Elladan and Elrohir remained behind with Legolas,
"You have not answered my question, Legolas," said Elrohir, "Who is your prisoner?"
In reply, Legolas turned to Harry. "Do you recognize him? He is surely of your kind"
"He's a Death Eater, isn't he, Harry?" asked Hermione. Not waiting for an answer, she said, "He's one of You- Know- Who's followers. A Dark wizard!"
"He has refused to speak a word since I brought him down, except when he just stated your last name," said Legolas, "And he carried this-" he held out a long, thin stick that Harry, Ron and Hermione knew to be a wand.
"A wand" said Hermione before anyone else, "We use it to perform spells!"
Ron groaned at the way Hermione seemed a little too eager to answer the Elves' every query, and Harry fought back the urge to smile, which was easy considering the Death Eater, possibly Lucius Malfoy, still on the horse.
"Well," said Elladan, "we might as well take your prize to Estel, I am sure he will be as interested in him as we are! Perhaps we will hear more from him then, for I hear the King is very persuasive!"
"Indeed" agreed Elrohir, "We shall see the one who is so cowardly he hides himself behind a mask!"
The Death Eater was made to get off the horse at arrow- points by the time the real stable boy arrived to attend to the mount, and they were soon headed for the Citadel Gate, the prisoner in front of the group. Harry could hardly keep his eyes from the man, half expecting him to pull out a wand and curse them all. Of course, this was not possible- Legolas had it. Still, Harry was uneasy about the whole matter.
It was when the party was making its way to the Citadel gate that the Hobbits returned, laden with baskets of food. They were surprised to see the company, as they hadn't noticed the arrival of the Elves. However, in pure Hobbit fashion, they were unperturbed, and greeted the newcomers and Legolas as though they had been expected all along.
"This is a welcome sight, that's for sure!" Sam remarked softly to the three wizards as the Halflings fell into step beside them, "If those two aren't Lord Elrond's sons, then my name isn't Samwise Gamgee!"
"You mean the Queen's brothers?" asked Ron, a little too loudly. One of the twins Harry assumed to be Elladan turned at the question, a smile on his fair Elven face.
"Yes, the Queen's brothers, young master, I am Elladan and my brother is called Elrohir."
Ron turned beet red and nodded, much to the Elf's delight. "Men always worry about the judgment of others, don't they?"
Legolas spoke up. "There was a time when they did not."
The other two nodded. "I wonder if such a time should ever come again," Elrohir said, "but Estel was never concerned with the opinions of others"
"That is because Estel had excellent role models!" laughed his brother. Harry wished he had a clue as to who they were talking about. Apparently, so did the Hobbits.
"Who do you suppose this 'Estel' is, then?" Pippin asked.
"From what old Mister Bilbo taught me of Elvish, the word means 'hope'" said Sam.
"That doesn't help much," said Merry, "Why would they name someone hope?"
"Elrohir said they were going to meet whoever this Estel person is," said Hermione knowingly, "I suppose we'll find out soon."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Isn't she a little overboard with all the pro- Elf rabble?"
Hermione glowered at him, and shot Harry a warning look that clearly meant- agree with him and die. Harry heeded the warning- he didn't really feel like dying just yet.
Well, another chapter done, and all I can say is YAY! I don't really know if I'll have loads of free time even now, but expect a more action-y chapter soon. I know this one's a little talk-y.
