@tbiris : Yes. I like to leave Leggy and all of you in the dark. I just can't help it!
@Sparrow Greenleaf : So, there are two of you, huh? Which one is dominant?
@Legolas_gurl : Don't worry, gurl! I'll never leave you hanging on the cliff for long!
@Sundiata & ElvenEyes : I hope the both of you will quickly kiss and make up because I really want to hear more from you!
@Karina : No blood, I promise.
@Volcanic Plug : Confusing me, aren't you? Well, let's see what I have in store for you!
@Menthol : You are excused, mate!
@Fire Breathing Ferret : You're super high? What has caused it?
@Aranel of Mirkwood : Have you got your tissue supply yet?
@purplesmackers : Keldarion in tight Superman spandex?! LMAO!!!! (That makes me recall Superman's real name Kal El, the same sound as Kel!) Batman and Robin? Ha! Ha! Ha! A standing ovation for you, mellon! Err…which one is Batman and which one is Robin? No, don't tell me! I might die laughing!
@szhismine : Sorry to make Dior such a %@&#$#&@#!^%#@!!!! He! He! 'Trouble In Telcontar' will come up after 'Thranduil's Forgotten Oath'…I hope.
@namarie2legolas; 'ion' means 'the son of'…or something like that. Eldarion was Aragorn's first child, then came his sisters. Yeah, Tolkien had forgotten to name Aragorn's three daughters. Let's name them, shall we? How about May, April and June? (dodges quickly to avoid being hit by axes, swords and arrows thrown by Tolkien's Fanatic Fans!)
@Kayo : You locked your little sister in the closet too? Errr…no comment. He! He! Thank God she survived and didn't electrocute you in your sleep! (I tied up my younger brother once! Don't ask me the reason why. He was just too mean at that time that I exploded! Ha! Ha!)
@Sailor Elf : (Cut the rope with a scissors). Go at him, mate!
@twinlakesgrl : I have a big supply of 'T' here! Want some?
@Lucy : Big-Worm's name came from my nephew. Whenever he saw a snake on tv, he'd yell "Big Worm! Big Worm!"
@Wilwarin : No, it's not fun to be stuck in a closet. Once I got stuck in an elevator, and that was scary enough for me!
@bloodkittie : Oh, don't use your frying pan! Use Gimli's axe instead!
@Lisseyelen aka Lady V : THANK YOU for your support!! Right. Too much cute!ness! He! He! I'll keep it down in the coming future. On second thought, maybe NOT! So, you also have Leggy's blood on stock? What type? Low fat or low lactose?
@Lady Tigress : I know. The modern terms are bugging me too. But I just lost control of my fingers on the keyboard! Erk! Can't…stop… Help!!
@The Reviewer : Thank you so much for all those pointers. It's interesting to know that someone had gone to such great length to help me to be an excellent writer. I don't want to be a Tolkien though. The Professor's works are too great to imitate so I came out with lighter and 'feel-good' writing style for the younger readers. And yes, all the 15 stories in this Manyan Series are slightly AU, but I won't bother mentioning it because everyone reading them already knew this. For your knowledge, I know who Maeglin was. (To those who didn't know, Maeglin was the one who betrayed Gondolin into the hands of Morgoth). I took his name just for the fun of it, not to offend all the Tolkien Fans out there. But if some of you did get offended, then I'm sorry. (Just for the record, I would not name my future children after a bad person either. LOL!!). So, I will stick to it until the story ends. Besides, name is not distinctively exclusive. For example, there're even two Glorfindels and Aragorns in Tolkien, am I right? And I don't think Maeglin's name will affect much on the storyline because it's an AU after all. Anyway, I've learnt from it but might make the same mistakes again. (Like Legolas' character in my series, I'm very stubborn). Thank you again. I sincerely appreciate it. (P/S : Did you know that English is not my mother tongue? Please excuse all the mistakes I've made on 'Basic English'. I am an ignorant.) ;)
Okay, guys. If some of you had spent the time reading the reviews, you might realize that there seem to be some kind of a forum going on there. He! He! It involves The Reviewer, The Teacher and Lissyelen aka Lady V. Please feel free to read it and tell me what you think. Love to hear the responds! Thanks!
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"Legolas!" Thranduil roared. He stood at the opened doorway of his chamber, gripping at the neck of a twitching reptile as he waited for his youngest son to appear. The snake had slithered into his chamber and coiled itself on his bed right beside his pillow. The king had received a wild shock when he woke up that morning.
The youngest prince of Mirkwood came running not long after. He blanched when he saw the snake within his father's grasp. "Oh. You've found Big-Worm," Legolas said, approaching the king uncertainly.
"Big-Worm?" Thranduil glared. "You gave this….this creature a name?"
The prince bit his lip, a little afraid and anxious as he reached up for the snake. "I'll take him out, father."
"How did it get in here anyway?" Thranduil was instantly puzzled when he detected his son's strange mood. Legolas was not his usual cheerful self. The child looked pale and drawn. His eyes were quite red and swollen as if he had cried all night.
When Legolas was turning to leave with the snake, his head bowed low and looking so glum, his father knelt down and clutched the prince's shoulder. "Legolas? What is it, baby? What's wrong?"
The prince slowly looked up and Thranduil was flabbergasted to see the tears swimming in the child's big silver eyes. "Legolas, what's the matter?"
At his father's gentle and concern voice, Legolas almost told him about the whole incident with Dior. Almost.
"Nothing, father. Everything's fine."
Thranduil didn't buy it, though. "Are you sure?" he asked, frowning and staring at his son's face.
"Yes!" Legolas exclaimed in fake joy, pasting a bright smile on his face. "I'll take Big-Worm out and let him go free like Kel said." Before Thranduil could stop him, Legolas had whirled around and sped away.
The king stayed kneeling on the floor for the next long moment, surprised and disconcerted. What is that boy hiding from me?
"Father?" Came Keldarion's voice a while later. The crown prince was startled to see his father on his knee in the middle of the hallway. "Err…what are you doing?'
The king straightened up and faced his eldest son. "Kel, I understand that Legolas spent the night in your room. Is he all right?"
So, father has already seen the brat, thought Keldarion. "I don't know, father," the prince replied. "He is not telling."
Thranduil nodded thoughtfully. "This is not him at all. Why is he being so secretive?"
"Something is frightening him, father. If you had seen him last night…" Keldarion slowly shook his head. "Whatever it is, I'm going to find out."
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"Here you go, Big-Worm." Legolas put the snake on a low tree branch and watched it slither away. "Sorry for all the trouble," he added softly. Then the prince headed for another big tree and climbed up to the highest perch, and sat there with his back against the rough bark, his heart filled with misery.
Dior is not a nice person, he thought. He's a jerk!
He broke a twig nearby and snapped it in his fists into tiny splinters, imagining it as Dior's neck. I wish he'd leave soon! Stupid cowardly orc-hearted jerk! I'll kick his ass when I'm older!!
Time flew by. Legolas didn't know how long he stayed on that tree. It was noon when he suddenly caught the sound of an argument from the direction of the stream behind the Mirkwood garden. Always the curious child, the prince went to investigate.
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"What do you mean, you're going to marry him?!" Dior's voice was a loud agitated shout and the pretty elven maiden before him flinched in fear.
"That's what I said, Dior!" she responded. "I'm going to marry Laiél! We're already engaged. I love him!"
"But what about me? You know how much I love you, Luthwen!"
"It's over, Dior! We are completely over!"
"How can you say that? I've told you I'll come back for you!"
"Dior, I never expected you to return. I've waited for 500 years and it was not a short time! I can wait no longer."
Luthwen made a move to leave but Dior instantly grabbed her arms. "Please, Luthwen. We need to talk about this!"
"There's nothing more to talk about, Dior. Now let go of me!" She yanked at her arms but Dior still would not release her.
"You belong to me, Luthwen!" Dior yelled, his face angry and determined.
"It's all in the past, Dior. Please, just forget me and find someone else. My heart now belongs to another," she said brokenly, already in tears.
"Forget you?" Dior asked through gritted teeth. "But can you forget this?" His head suddenly came down to force his lips against hers. Luthwen struggled, pushing at his body with all her might. Then her hand came up and she struck her palm against his cheek with a loud smack.
Dior's face snapped to the side from the hit, and he instantly released his punishing hold on Luthwen. He glared through narrowed eyes at her fleeing form, shouting, "You are mine, Luthwen! MINE!!"
Growling, he spun and kicked at the nearest stone, sending it flying into the flowing stream nearby with a splash. He was so angry he could spit! Luthwen and Laiél were getting married, and where did that leave him?
A sudden rustling sound from the bushes behind him made the young elf swirled. Dior's fury mounted when he saw the face of Mirkwood's youngest prince, grinning back at him. "You!"
Legolas' smiled vanished when his cousin advanced on him menacingly. The elfling started to flee but Dior was faster. The elder elf snatched the back of Legolas' tunic and picked the prince off the ground. "So you think it's funny? You want to know what is even funnier, you little prick?!"
"Let me go! Blast you, let me go!" Legolas shouted, his fists flailing and his legs kicking in the air.
Dior sneered as he carried the prince into the stream. "Not a chance, you idiot! I'm not in the mood! You've caused all this, then you shall pay!!"
With that, Dior caught hold of Legolas' ankles, leaving the prince dangling upside down. Sneering, he then dunked the elfling's head into the water.
Legolas screamed for help, or tried to. He was instantly choking on a lungful of water as his breathing was cut of air. I'm drowning! the elfling thought in panic. He's going to kill me!
TBC…….