Chapter Seven
"Yes?" Thranduil turned from the sight of his son laughing with Elrond's miscreants to the messenger.
"Gollum has escaped."
"WHAT?!?!?!"
"He escaped yester eve when being allowed his nightly climb. There were wolves and orcs."
"Any survivors?"
"One escaped, but he died on after reporting."
Thranduil's voice carried down into the gardens. Legolas looked up as his father began to rant.
"Oh dear."
Elladan turned his eyes from Umbothel who was chattering with Lorintal to look curiously at Legolas. "What's wrong?"
Legolas gestured to the king's study. "My father has lost his temper."
Elrohir glanced at Legolas then turned his attention to Lorintal. "I recall the last time you lost your temper. Don't you, Elladan?"
Elladan chortled "Of course, we had to cool him off with the lake in mid winter."
Legolas glared. "Yes, as I recall, you and my older brother had lots of fun with me as I was struggling to the shore."
"Which reminds me, how are you crown prince when your brother is older?"
Legolas smiled. "He gave up the right to the throne."
Elladan's eyes widened. "What?"
"He decided he wanted to decide whom he would marry. But it was too late. Thranduil had arranged for a bride with Galadriel. Callórë ran away a few weeks ago to avoid meeting her."
"When's she coming down?" asked Elrohir curiously.
"Right about now, along with your sister."
"What's going to happen to her?"
Legolas sighed. "I'll probably end up marrying her."
Elladan and Elrohir nearly choked.
"Excuse me?"
"You are going to marry her?"
"Quite probably."
"Legolas!!!!" called Thranduil.
"Yes sir?"
"We lost Gollum. He escaped last night." He held his hand up to stop Legolas before he could interrupt. "I've sent a message to the Rangers. They only left yesterday. They shouldn't be too far away yet. In the meantime, I want you to increase patrols throughout Mirkwood."
"Yes sir."
"Ask Elrohir and Elladan to help you. I've sent a message to their father that until you are able to go, they will stay with you."
"Does he know what it's about?"
"No, the message of an escapee must be delivered by royal lips, and, as neither you or I are able, it must wait."
Legolas nodded solemnly and went to share the news of a prolonged visit to his friends.
Wow! So things are coming together! I'll try to post at least one more chapter before I leave for college, but if I don't I want to encourage you to revisit this fic after December 13th. (The day I get out of college.) I will update! Have no fear! Now please review!
"Yes?" Thranduil turned from the sight of his son laughing with Elrond's miscreants to the messenger.
"Gollum has escaped."
"WHAT?!?!?!"
"He escaped yester eve when being allowed his nightly climb. There were wolves and orcs."
"Any survivors?"
"One escaped, but he died on after reporting."
Thranduil's voice carried down into the gardens. Legolas looked up as his father began to rant.
"Oh dear."
Elladan turned his eyes from Umbothel who was chattering with Lorintal to look curiously at Legolas. "What's wrong?"
Legolas gestured to the king's study. "My father has lost his temper."
Elrohir glanced at Legolas then turned his attention to Lorintal. "I recall the last time you lost your temper. Don't you, Elladan?"
Elladan chortled "Of course, we had to cool him off with the lake in mid winter."
Legolas glared. "Yes, as I recall, you and my older brother had lots of fun with me as I was struggling to the shore."
"Which reminds me, how are you crown prince when your brother is older?"
Legolas smiled. "He gave up the right to the throne."
Elladan's eyes widened. "What?"
"He decided he wanted to decide whom he would marry. But it was too late. Thranduil had arranged for a bride with Galadriel. Callórë ran away a few weeks ago to avoid meeting her."
"When's she coming down?" asked Elrohir curiously.
"Right about now, along with your sister."
"What's going to happen to her?"
Legolas sighed. "I'll probably end up marrying her."
Elladan and Elrohir nearly choked.
"Excuse me?"
"You are going to marry her?"
"Quite probably."
"Legolas!!!!" called Thranduil.
"Yes sir?"
"We lost Gollum. He escaped last night." He held his hand up to stop Legolas before he could interrupt. "I've sent a message to the Rangers. They only left yesterday. They shouldn't be too far away yet. In the meantime, I want you to increase patrols throughout Mirkwood."
"Yes sir."
"Ask Elrohir and Elladan to help you. I've sent a message to their father that until you are able to go, they will stay with you."
"Does he know what it's about?"
"No, the message of an escapee must be delivered by royal lips, and, as neither you or I are able, it must wait."
Legolas nodded solemnly and went to share the news of a prolonged visit to his friends.
Wow! So things are coming together! I'll try to post at least one more chapter before I leave for college, but if I don't I want to encourage you to revisit this fic after December 13th. (The day I get out of college.) I will update! Have no fear! Now please review!