He! He! He! I know you're gonna go nuts about Kel coming back!!! Thanks to those of you who had been asking me to put up this story.
And great reviews, guys!! Thank you!!
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Legolas was frustrated. He couldn't find Mousey anywhere after a half hour of searching and calling.
Grumbling under his breath at the creature's obvious lack of gratitude, the prince turned around to head for the dungeon exit. He stopped short when he encountered three tunnels.
Scratching his head thoughtfully, Legolas tried to remember the exact tunnel that he'd come from. Is it the left, or the right? Or could it be the middle one?
He stepped through the farthest tunnel on the left. After taking several steps, he changed his mind and went back right out and entered the tunnel in the middle.
Several yards ahead, Legolas met another set of tunnels. This time, he got truly confused. Which is the right way? Frowning in concentration, he tried to look for any sign that might indicate the correct way out to the exit but found none.
Based fully on instinct now, he stepped through the middle tunnel. Unfortunately, that decision would only lead him deeper and deeper into the twisted maze of the dungeon…
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It was early evening. The servants were serving dinner in the dining hall. The king and his sons were yet to make their appearance.
Keldarion looked into his brother's chamber on his way downstairs. "Where in the world is he?" he asked out loud, a little bewildered.
Usually, at a time like this, Legolas would be arousing from his afternoon nap. But the bed was empty and undisturbed. The chamber was tidy, which was extremely unusual for a little elven 'tornado' like Legolas. Either he had learned to be neat at last, or he never entered the chamber after the servants had tidied it up.
Closing the door, Keldarion proceeded to the dining hall. Father might know where the brat is, he thought hopefully.
After finishing his sword practice that afternoon, Keldarion had gone straight to his own chamber. Due to exhaustion from the excessive workout that day, he had dozed off while taking a long bath in the marble tub. When he woke up, his skin had wrinkled and shriveled for being in the water too long. He was lucky he didn't drown in the tub.
The prince found the king already seated at the dining table. "Father, have you seen Legolas?"
Thranduil looked up and frowned. "I thought he is with you."
Standing near his father, Keldarion bit his lower lip, a sure sign that he was worried. "He was, during my training. But after that, I haven't seen him. Linden told me he had seen Legolas returning here from the field."
"He is not in his chamber?"
"No. I've checked. He's not there."
Thranduil held the stem of his wine glass as he pondered. "Have you looked all over the palace?"
"Actually, not yet," Keldarion said. "I want to check with you first."
"That little one can be anywhere. This place is huge!" Already losing his appetite, the king rose from his seat. "Come, let's go find him together. He might be busy playing somewhere and forgot about the time."
The first place they went looking was the royal study. Legolas loved to climb the tall bookcases, much to the king's horror. But the little prince was not there.
Then they looked into the kitchen, the place where Legolas spent most of his time hanging around, begging for biscuits and juice from the cook. He was not there either.
Next, Thranduil and Keldarion went directly to the attic. Legolas liked to sleep there when he felt like it. The sleeping pallets he usually used was still there, untouched. But there was no sign of him.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Keldarion muttered.
Thranduil walked to the opened window. "I can't sense him. Maybe he's outside in the garden or near the stream. I'll tell the servants to look for him there."
About two hours later, they were ready to panic. Night had already fallen but Legolas was nowhere to be seen.
The entire household of Thranduil had been turned upside down as they searched for the missing elfling. They looked in every chamber and all the halls of the palace, from the cellar to the roof. They checked inside all closets and even under the beds. They combed through the shrubs and bushes in the garden, and searched all the trees in the surrounding area.
It was a vain effort. It was as if Legolas had disappeared from the face of the earth.
"Where exactly can he be?" Keldarion cried out in rising anxiety, walking to and fro by the great door. He wanted so badly to go out into the woods and join the band of woodland patrol that Thranduil had just sent out to look for Legolas.
"Knowing your brother, he can be anywhere!" the king replied. He was experiencing the worst fear of his life. Never had he been so helpless like this. His child was missing and he didn't even know where or when or how it happened!
Then, Commander Linden and a group of Mirkwood guards entered the receiving hall.
"My lord, we've already searched every dwelling in this realm. We are sorry to tell you that we can not find Prince Legolas," said Linden, looking slightly guilty. I shouldn't have let him walk home all alone, he kept repeating those words in his mind.
Thranduil closed his eyes in anguish. Keldarion moved closer to his father and gripped the king's shoulder. "We'll find him, father. I swear. We will find him."
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Under the earth deep in the dungeon, Legolas was nearly hysterical with panic and fear. He couldn't find his way out after walking for hours.
He was tired and thirsty. His body was splattered with dirt, and his leggings were torn at the knees after he'd stumbled onto them repeatedly. The darkness and cramped space was so oppressive he wanted to scream.
And so he did.
"Father!! Kel!! Anybody!! HELP ME!!" He kept screaming, over and over, until his voice grew hoarse.
But nobody came; there was no response.
Sliding slowly to the ground with tears streaming down his dirty cheeks, Legolas whispered between broken sobs, "Please…help me…"
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Keldarion could not sleep. Not when Legolas was still out there somewhere, all alone and with fate unknown.
It was already past midnight. The woodland guards that had been sent earlier had yet to return, which meant, they still had not found Legolas.
His worry increased in tenfold. Legolas, how do you fare, little brother? Where are you?
As horrifying images of his brother lying injured or dead somewhere in the dark played in his mind, Keldarion rushed out of his chamber towards his father's, hoping that the king could offer him some assurance of Legolas' safety.
He found his father fully awake, standing at the balcony and staring at the full moon above.
"Father?"
Thranduil turned at his son's timid voice. The lad was looking so miserable and near to tears. Without a word, Thranduil opened his arms invitingly.
The prince ran straight into the king's embrace, seeking solace. "I hope we find him soon."
The father stroked his son's head. "I hope so too, Kel."
"I hope he's all right."
"Let's pray he is."
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Legolas woke up to a stifling darkness. He blinked repeatedly and forced himself to glow brighter. The little light showed him that he was still lying at the same spot he had collapsed earlier.
He had lost all track of time, not knowing whether it was day or night. He didn't even realize he had fallen into long exhausted sleep.
Slowly, he raised himself to his feet. Every inch of his body ached, especially his scraped knees. His eyes felt puffy from crying so much, and his throat hurt from all the screaming. But the biggest challenge was the thirst and hunger that consumed him all over.
When tears started to well in his eyes, Legolas scolded himself, "No more crying! Stop wasting time! Find your way out! Now!"
Sniffling, the little elf prince moved forward with full determination to find his way to freedom.
TBC…