Author's Note: I am really, VERY sorry for the long delay in updating! The
stupid tornado prevented me from starting several weeks ago, and I
absolutely HATE those type of storms!! Of course, it didn't help that it
came pretty close to my house and I was home with my two brothers trying to
get 11 cats, 2 dogs, 1 rabbit and 1 cockatail downstairs... but on the
bright side, by boyfriend called from his college to make certain I was
okay! (He knows I hate storms-kind of discovered that the hard way-so his
call made me feel a lot better). And then after the tornado I had terrible
writer's block, and then I got sick and had to do a LONG two-day workshop
for work, then teach a class, and so I only now had the chance to sit down
and write. But at least my finals are long done! Wahoo!! (
I attempted to make this chapter longer than the last, so please tell me if I succeeded!!
Disclaimer: Don't own any of them, am very poor and need to pay tuition, so please don't sue me!!
Chapter Three:
Dawn was but a few minutes away when the Elves emerged from Mirkwood's edge, and Legolas frowned. That feeling of fear, of doom had not faded, but it was different somehow. Before it had lurked in the back of his mind, warning him of a disaster to come, but now.... *the disaster has already come.* The thought came, unbidden, and he forced it down. There were no signs of such a disaster; it was simply his nerves overreacting, brought on by the trepidation of marrying a complete and total stranger. But if that were true, why did the feeling still persist? He didn't know. He didn't know, and that thought frustrated him. He was an Elven prince- one that possessed powerful magic-yet he could not pinpoint the warnings.
"My prince! Look, over there!"
Following the path of the raised arm, Legolas felt his blood run cold; his suspicions were correct, but happened was yet to be determined. "A red sun rises," he murmured softly. "There has been blood spilt recently."
He shifted then, turning to gaze at the forest he had just left. Was his father safe? He wondered, for Mirkwood was no longer a place of great safety, and there were many orcs and spiders about. Should he return home to ease his fears or should he continue on to Rivendell? He didn't know. His duty was to both his king and his king's wishes; his father wished him to marry, but if Thranduil was injured Legolas would be needed.
But there was nothing to say Thranduil was harmed; several guards flanked the King and would protect him with their life. It was their duty to protect the King, and that duty was not taken lightly.....
"Please, my prince, let us continue our journey. We have already begun, and the King will not wish to see us so soon after our departure." The words were spoken with such respect and kindness that Legolas began to relax. Taurur, one of his most faithful and longest friends, understood his dilemma and would act accordingly.
"Very well," Legolas said. "If that is your council, then I will agree to it." He opened his mouth to ask if any news could be discovered about the king's health when Taurur spoke.
"I understand your concerns about informing the King of this latest development; I shall send Aelinwen to inform him if you so desire." Hidden in those words was a warning, one that told Legolas not to pursue the matter, and he stiffened. His friend was Captain of the Prince's Guard and had been for many centuries, and so he was trusted with many secrets. Indeed, he was the youngest Elf to have earned the title Aráto-or Champion in the common tongue- and he intended to be the oldest as well. But if he was keeping Legolas from inquiring about the King's health than something was certainly wrong; the only other time Taurur had silenced him in such a manner was when Thranduil had been gravely ill. Worry flared through Legolas once again, kept silent only by his duty to seem impassive, and he suppressed a sigh. Royalty certainly had its advantages, but in instances where duty overruled personal feelings it became tiresome.
But he kept silent, for announcing his fears would only serve to worry his soldiers. It wasn't until later, when the party stopped by a small river to replenish the horses, that Taurur approached him.
"I must apologize for cutting you off so rudely," the other murmured. "But I had no choice; before leaving I was given specific instructions from the King, and they must be followed. He gave me permission to inform you if the need arose, and seeing how it has done so I shall. That is, if you want me to?"
Legolas shook his head. "You need not ask, for you already know the answer. But before you tell me, I desire you to answer this simple question: why did my father not speak to me? And why did he not want me informed unless it was necessary?" The words came out harsher than he intended because of his worry and frustration, but he did not apologize. Taurur knew the anger was not directed toward him and would not be offended; even if the anger had been directed toward him, the Captain would not have cared.
"Your father did not wish to worry you. You are doing what is best for Mirkwood, despite your reluctance, and the King did not want to distract you with rumors and suspicions."
"Rumors and suspicions?" Legolas repeated. "If you are referring to Dol Guldur and Sauron, I am perfectly aware-"
"But I am not!" Taurur winced at the harshness of his words, and when he continued he was once again soft spoken. "I am sorry for speaking so abruptly, but you must understand! What you speak of are threats and they are terrifying, but Sauron has not returned yet. And while your father and some other people of importance- Lord Elrond and Mithrandir, for example- know of the danger others do not. The ring's power is well known and feared, but it is also envied. Many are there who wish it for themselves, and for this reason the warnings of Sauron are kept quiet."
"But it is not something you can simply cover over," Legolas protested. "What about the trees that whisper it? What about the increase of spider attacks and orc raids? Surely people suspect!"
"They do not. Not yet, anyway, and it is doubtful they will. Many believe Sauron to be destroyed, defeated over three thousand years ago, and this knowledge blinds them. But that is not important, for we do not have much more time." Glancing around cautiously, Taurur made certain no one was in earshot before continuing.
"The rumors are as follows: with the increased forces of darkness, Mirkwood is the evil's target. These orcs will attempt to invade our forest but they will not yet risk open war. Instead they will attempt to sneak, to be clever and capture both the King and Prince before either ransoming them or killing them. You and your father are the last of the Mirkwood bloodline; with both you gone, we wood elves would be divided, leaderless. It would be an easy victory for the orcs."
Legolas shook his head. "So Father is trying to get me to safety." "And create an alliance with both Rivendell and Gondor. Eventually he hopes to have more heirs, but for now the alliance is most important." The captain placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "Truly, he does what is best. He did not enjoy hiding this information from you, but it was vital that he did. You never would have left had you known the danger he is in."
"But now I know there is nothing to keep me from returning," Legolas said coldly. "I do not appreciate the steps you have taken for my sake, and I enjoy being manipulated even less. But if my father is injured I must know! I must go to him if he is, for he will need me!"
"What you do now is more important than anything else!" Taurur snapped. "Think, my prince, think! When have orcs been known to be so clever? When would they not simply attack, not caring about the odds when elves are in sight? There is something happening, here, something you and I cannot see; your father suspects but he dares not announce it, for panic would settle quickly. But these orcs are not leaderless, and that itself should be enough for you to complete this alliance!"
"They are being led?" Legolas whispered. The shock and horror was enough to make him want to return home, for if there was an attack he would be needed. But Taurur's logic was beginning to make sense, and while Legolas did not wish to marry it was truly for the best. His thoughts were interrupted with his captain's nod.
"By someone clever and devious. It is not simply for your safety that your father will not allow your return yet, but for Mirkwood's as well. We have no idea whom this new threat might be, nor do we know how many troops he may possess. All we know is that darkness is coming and we do not have the strength to fight it alone. We need help, no matter how we hate to admit it, but admit it we must."
"But these were just rumors! There is no proof, no evidence to back it up..." He trailed off with Taurur's sigh.
"There is much proof, though the King has kept it hidden. It is a matter known only to him, myself, the King's captain of the guard, and now you know it as well. But there has been much proof; scouts report orcs massing near the Lonely Mountain, near the Mines of Moria. There are also reports from the villages near our homes of orcs venturing quietly into barns and cellars! Not much is taken, but this is highly unusual behavior for these creatures, and though security is being tightened some still sneak by."
"Is it a training session?" Legolas whispered. "For if they do not harm anyone or take anything, than it must be practice!"
"That is what the King said, and both his captain and I agree. Someone must be controlling these orcs through fear or some other means, for never before have they been so clever. And for them to be roaming in villages and not harm a single animal or person? It is strange news indeed, news that bodes ill for everyone."
"But my father! If they are capable of infiltrating these villages, than what if they enter the palace? They will target my father! I must help him!"
Taurur grabbed Legolas arms and shook the prince gently. "Think, Legolas, think! What is it you are doing now, that does not help your father? What can you do better if you remain in Mirkwood? By leaving you will be obtaining allies, and the sooner you leave the sooner you shall return. If you act quickly, you can return before the evil attacks-with help! Now if that is not helping your father, than nothing will!"
He waited for the prince's nod before releasing the pinned arms. "I fear I must apologize once again, for I have treated you harshly. But your emotions were blinding your common sense, and I cannot risk you sneaking off to return. Do I have your promise that you will remain here, with your guard until we reach Rivendell?"
Legolas bit his lip and sighed. His friend knew him well, and while such closeness was comforting it was also frustrating. But he said none of it out loud, for that would only upset Taurur further. Instead, he said, "My promise you now have. I shall remain within sights of my guard at all time until we reach Rivendell."
The other elf studied his face for a few moments, searching for any signs of deceit or loopholes, but finally he nodded. "Very well. I accept your promise and expect you to hold to it. Now come; let us continue our journey before our watchfulness drives you insane."
************
Elrond shook his head. Three days had passed since receiving King Thranduil's letter and Estel was still adamant. Even now he was upstairs in his bedroom, refusing to talk with the twins about the situation, and Elrond sighed. If the twins couldn't convince Estel, no one could. But why was the human being so stubborn? War would result unless the future king of Gondor married, and such a petty blood shed would affect his image greatly.
A faint smile found its way on the Elf-lord's face as Elrohir's voice drifted to him. The younger elf was calling out suggestions to Aragorn on how to cancel the wedding, but they were... interesting at best.
"Estel, this will work! All you must do is tell the prince that you cannot! Say you had an accident, one that will no longer enable you to have children! But when you tell him you must raise your voice an octave; it shall be much more convincing that way."
Elrohir would have continued if not for Elladan's snort. "And what happens when Estel becomes King and needs heirs? Will he say, 'oh, I guess I could have children after all' in a high and squeaky voice? Dimwit!"
"Well, if you have any better ideas I'd certainly like to hear them! So far I've been the only one to offer any suggestions, and for all my attempts Estel still won't talk to me!"
"It's because of your suggestions that he won't talk to you! Honestly, sometimes I'm hesitant to talk with you as well- you can't blame Estel for feeling the same! After all, it is his problem we're talking about."
"Oh, like you can do any better! Honestly, as the older sibling it is *you* who should be helping Estel the most. As you constantly remind me, being younger has affected my brain, making it impossible for me to be as brilliant as you! So go ahead, Elladan, tell Estel your brilliant plan that will save Gondor and Mirkwood from disaster!"
"My dear brother," Elladan cried, and Elrond couldn't help but wince at the false innocence, "the solution is quite obvious! I cringe to think that you have not seen it."
"And I will certainly cringe once I have heard it! Now come, tell me your plan and Estel shall decide if he is saved."
"As soon as the words are uttered from my lips he shall thank me, just wait. So here it is: when Legolas arrives we shall tell him that Estel recently returned from an attack- an attack that resulted in great injury and causes him to fear unfamiliar Elves. If alone with these unfamiliar, Elves, Estel becomes violent and might hurt both himself and that elf! Certainly such a condition would prevent a marriage, for it might hurt both the husband and the unborn child! And Estel is certainly capable of acting the part- simply feed him some sugar, keep him awake for a couple of days, and he will be quite convincing! Why, I could even create some scars for him to make the story more plausible..."
Elladan's explanation was drowned out by a sudden yell from Estel, and it was so loud nearly every elf in Rivendell must have heard it: "I'm doomed!"
In the silence following the cry, Elrond couldn't help but laugh when Elladan's muttered words reached his ears. In a voice just short of prideful triumph, the older twin said, "See? I told you he could play the part."
********************
The sun had not risen red because of his father. His father was still in Mirkwood, probably safe, and the sun grieved for someone else. The thought kept repeating itself, over and over again, until Legolas was certain he would become insane. But he could not stop it, and he did not wish to, for it brought almost a sense of comfort to his mind.
His father was probably safe. The sun rose red for someone else.
But what little comfort he gained from the thought was not enough to block the sorrow- sorrow of seeing an entire village destroyed with no survivors.
"It has begun," whispered Taurur, and Legolas wished his friend would be silent. But he would not, for a second later another whisper reached him. "This tragedy backs up the king's fears but it is worse than we believed; so close to Mirkwood these orcs struck, and they struck without warning or mercy."
"When have they ever shown mercy?" Legolas snarled. "These people were farmers, gentle humans that acted more like elves than their true race; I shall miss them greatly, and all you can do is refer to them as proof? Many of them were my friends, and there was warning enough! A patrol or party should have dispatched to help them, for they were no warriors!"
"Legolas...."
"No! My father may look after the affairs of Mirkwood, but these people traded with us and were offered nothing in return. You spoke of allies to me earlier, but these people were our allies in every way but the official one, and now they have paid for it with their lives. Do not speak to me of allies or hope again when potential alliances outweigh the current ones!"
Unable to speak more because of his grief, Legolas dug his heels sharply into his horses' side. When they reached the center of the village he stopped, unable to flee because of his earlier promise, but unable to simply gaze at the ruined homes any longer.
His dilemma was solved mere seconds later with the sudden cry from a scout. The cry was sharp; something had surprised the elf, but it was quickly silenced. Warily the party of elves drew their weapons, glancing around in attempt to see either the scout or the attacker. Minutes passed, and nothing happened; no more sounds reached the sensitive ears, but they still dared not move. Was it possible? Was the enemy-the ones that had destroyed the village- still here?
"Call out," Taurur ordered, voice terse. "Remain where you are, but call out quietly. We must know who is here and who is missing."
"Malynia!" cried one of the elves.
"Gaerrim!" cried another. One by one, the elves of the patrol identified themselves until there was only one left.
"Ariené?" Taurur called. "Ariené! Can you hear me?"
Whether the female tracker could or not would never be revealed, for at that moment a screech sounded, then another, and another. It was the battle cry of orcs, but never before had they ventured so close to the sun's light! And then a door to a tattered barn burst open, allowing several creatures to pour through the doors. Legolas's eyes widened; the orcs had been hiding in the buildings, waiting for the elves to fall into a trap! Hurriedly he wheeled his horse around, desperate to reach the rest of the patrol, but it was too late.
He was surrounded.
A/N: See that little button down there to the left? Please click it and leave a review!! Also, let me know if I should be nice or evil to Legolas, and let me know if you guys want mpreg!
Response to reviewers:
*andy-77:* Sorry about the long wait, and I hope you like this chapter! Oh, and monkeys in space? That's a really weird mental picture right there... I love it!
*beautifulelf* So you see Aragorn as being feminine? Sorry, bad humor, bad joke. Hmmm... I don't see Legolas as being very feminine; I just see him as being an Elf, a creature that is more magical and resilient than humans. I think that's the reason Legolas is chosen so much to carry the child; at least, that's why I like that idea! But I'm not actually planning on going into any detail about the pregnancy unless it's greatly requested.
*Angel of Hope * Vala en' estel*: Thank you for your kind words, and I apologize about the lack of update. I hope you enjoy this chapter, but let me tell you this: when you become famous, you have to let me meet Orlando Bloom, too! (
*Angel of Death*: Aragorn in a pink wedding dress with yellow duckies? Okay, that nearly killed me! I haven't laughed so hard in.... I don't know how long! God, I love your reviews just because they always bring a smile to my face!! As to your question (don't worry, I wasn't offended). In this Middle-earth, marriage is marriage. The gender doesn't matter, so it's viewed in the same light as different-gender relationships. *sigh* If only people were so tolerant in this world, there would be a lot less problems. Oops. Sorry; didn't mean to sound bitter!
*Sly-chan*: Thanks for reassuring me! I really hope I don't disappoint you, and I hope you like the character development! (And there should be a lot of that). Oh, and one question: in your bio (which by the way, was hilarious!!) when Legolas said 'Merde', does that mean God? I only took one year of French, and that was two years ago (I really miss it, though), so I wasn't sure.
*Goldmund*: I tried to make the reasons for Thranduil's decision good, because I just can't see Thranduil as a 'bad guy.' I'm really glad you thought they were good, but not all of them have been revealed yet! (Poor Thranduil, he has such a tough time). They should all be revealed eventually, though, and I hope they all make sense.
* melissa greenleaf*: I'm glad you like the character portrayal! That is always one of my main problems because I tend to mold them my own way.. hopefully they'll stay in character throughout the fic! (with minor exceptions, of course).
* mydogisfudge*: Is this chapter a better length? Let me know!
* trustingfriendship *: You're right about Aragorn! He's not going to cooperate!
* Earendilstar*: I apologize for the untimely fashion and I hope to update sooner. I'm glad you liked the impending doom; I was worried that it would sound too cheesy or way too dramatic!
* Tindomerel*: I'm glad you like this despite the fact that it's slash! I agree completely with you-there are too many stories where Thranduil is drunk/abusive!
* Cheysuli*: How could anyone refuse Legolas? Well, other than Aragorn, I mean! Then again, they haven't met yet, so there's still hope!
Thanks, you guys! I loved all you reviews and I hope to hear from you again!!
I attempted to make this chapter longer than the last, so please tell me if I succeeded!!
Disclaimer: Don't own any of them, am very poor and need to pay tuition, so please don't sue me!!
Chapter Three:
Dawn was but a few minutes away when the Elves emerged from Mirkwood's edge, and Legolas frowned. That feeling of fear, of doom had not faded, but it was different somehow. Before it had lurked in the back of his mind, warning him of a disaster to come, but now.... *the disaster has already come.* The thought came, unbidden, and he forced it down. There were no signs of such a disaster; it was simply his nerves overreacting, brought on by the trepidation of marrying a complete and total stranger. But if that were true, why did the feeling still persist? He didn't know. He didn't know, and that thought frustrated him. He was an Elven prince- one that possessed powerful magic-yet he could not pinpoint the warnings.
"My prince! Look, over there!"
Following the path of the raised arm, Legolas felt his blood run cold; his suspicions were correct, but happened was yet to be determined. "A red sun rises," he murmured softly. "There has been blood spilt recently."
He shifted then, turning to gaze at the forest he had just left. Was his father safe? He wondered, for Mirkwood was no longer a place of great safety, and there were many orcs and spiders about. Should he return home to ease his fears or should he continue on to Rivendell? He didn't know. His duty was to both his king and his king's wishes; his father wished him to marry, but if Thranduil was injured Legolas would be needed.
But there was nothing to say Thranduil was harmed; several guards flanked the King and would protect him with their life. It was their duty to protect the King, and that duty was not taken lightly.....
"Please, my prince, let us continue our journey. We have already begun, and the King will not wish to see us so soon after our departure." The words were spoken with such respect and kindness that Legolas began to relax. Taurur, one of his most faithful and longest friends, understood his dilemma and would act accordingly.
"Very well," Legolas said. "If that is your council, then I will agree to it." He opened his mouth to ask if any news could be discovered about the king's health when Taurur spoke.
"I understand your concerns about informing the King of this latest development; I shall send Aelinwen to inform him if you so desire." Hidden in those words was a warning, one that told Legolas not to pursue the matter, and he stiffened. His friend was Captain of the Prince's Guard and had been for many centuries, and so he was trusted with many secrets. Indeed, he was the youngest Elf to have earned the title Aráto-or Champion in the common tongue- and he intended to be the oldest as well. But if he was keeping Legolas from inquiring about the King's health than something was certainly wrong; the only other time Taurur had silenced him in such a manner was when Thranduil had been gravely ill. Worry flared through Legolas once again, kept silent only by his duty to seem impassive, and he suppressed a sigh. Royalty certainly had its advantages, but in instances where duty overruled personal feelings it became tiresome.
But he kept silent, for announcing his fears would only serve to worry his soldiers. It wasn't until later, when the party stopped by a small river to replenish the horses, that Taurur approached him.
"I must apologize for cutting you off so rudely," the other murmured. "But I had no choice; before leaving I was given specific instructions from the King, and they must be followed. He gave me permission to inform you if the need arose, and seeing how it has done so I shall. That is, if you want me to?"
Legolas shook his head. "You need not ask, for you already know the answer. But before you tell me, I desire you to answer this simple question: why did my father not speak to me? And why did he not want me informed unless it was necessary?" The words came out harsher than he intended because of his worry and frustration, but he did not apologize. Taurur knew the anger was not directed toward him and would not be offended; even if the anger had been directed toward him, the Captain would not have cared.
"Your father did not wish to worry you. You are doing what is best for Mirkwood, despite your reluctance, and the King did not want to distract you with rumors and suspicions."
"Rumors and suspicions?" Legolas repeated. "If you are referring to Dol Guldur and Sauron, I am perfectly aware-"
"But I am not!" Taurur winced at the harshness of his words, and when he continued he was once again soft spoken. "I am sorry for speaking so abruptly, but you must understand! What you speak of are threats and they are terrifying, but Sauron has not returned yet. And while your father and some other people of importance- Lord Elrond and Mithrandir, for example- know of the danger others do not. The ring's power is well known and feared, but it is also envied. Many are there who wish it for themselves, and for this reason the warnings of Sauron are kept quiet."
"But it is not something you can simply cover over," Legolas protested. "What about the trees that whisper it? What about the increase of spider attacks and orc raids? Surely people suspect!"
"They do not. Not yet, anyway, and it is doubtful they will. Many believe Sauron to be destroyed, defeated over three thousand years ago, and this knowledge blinds them. But that is not important, for we do not have much more time." Glancing around cautiously, Taurur made certain no one was in earshot before continuing.
"The rumors are as follows: with the increased forces of darkness, Mirkwood is the evil's target. These orcs will attempt to invade our forest but they will not yet risk open war. Instead they will attempt to sneak, to be clever and capture both the King and Prince before either ransoming them or killing them. You and your father are the last of the Mirkwood bloodline; with both you gone, we wood elves would be divided, leaderless. It would be an easy victory for the orcs."
Legolas shook his head. "So Father is trying to get me to safety." "And create an alliance with both Rivendell and Gondor. Eventually he hopes to have more heirs, but for now the alliance is most important." The captain placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "Truly, he does what is best. He did not enjoy hiding this information from you, but it was vital that he did. You never would have left had you known the danger he is in."
"But now I know there is nothing to keep me from returning," Legolas said coldly. "I do not appreciate the steps you have taken for my sake, and I enjoy being manipulated even less. But if my father is injured I must know! I must go to him if he is, for he will need me!"
"What you do now is more important than anything else!" Taurur snapped. "Think, my prince, think! When have orcs been known to be so clever? When would they not simply attack, not caring about the odds when elves are in sight? There is something happening, here, something you and I cannot see; your father suspects but he dares not announce it, for panic would settle quickly. But these orcs are not leaderless, and that itself should be enough for you to complete this alliance!"
"They are being led?" Legolas whispered. The shock and horror was enough to make him want to return home, for if there was an attack he would be needed. But Taurur's logic was beginning to make sense, and while Legolas did not wish to marry it was truly for the best. His thoughts were interrupted with his captain's nod.
"By someone clever and devious. It is not simply for your safety that your father will not allow your return yet, but for Mirkwood's as well. We have no idea whom this new threat might be, nor do we know how many troops he may possess. All we know is that darkness is coming and we do not have the strength to fight it alone. We need help, no matter how we hate to admit it, but admit it we must."
"But these were just rumors! There is no proof, no evidence to back it up..." He trailed off with Taurur's sigh.
"There is much proof, though the King has kept it hidden. It is a matter known only to him, myself, the King's captain of the guard, and now you know it as well. But there has been much proof; scouts report orcs massing near the Lonely Mountain, near the Mines of Moria. There are also reports from the villages near our homes of orcs venturing quietly into barns and cellars! Not much is taken, but this is highly unusual behavior for these creatures, and though security is being tightened some still sneak by."
"Is it a training session?" Legolas whispered. "For if they do not harm anyone or take anything, than it must be practice!"
"That is what the King said, and both his captain and I agree. Someone must be controlling these orcs through fear or some other means, for never before have they been so clever. And for them to be roaming in villages and not harm a single animal or person? It is strange news indeed, news that bodes ill for everyone."
"But my father! If they are capable of infiltrating these villages, than what if they enter the palace? They will target my father! I must help him!"
Taurur grabbed Legolas arms and shook the prince gently. "Think, Legolas, think! What is it you are doing now, that does not help your father? What can you do better if you remain in Mirkwood? By leaving you will be obtaining allies, and the sooner you leave the sooner you shall return. If you act quickly, you can return before the evil attacks-with help! Now if that is not helping your father, than nothing will!"
He waited for the prince's nod before releasing the pinned arms. "I fear I must apologize once again, for I have treated you harshly. But your emotions were blinding your common sense, and I cannot risk you sneaking off to return. Do I have your promise that you will remain here, with your guard until we reach Rivendell?"
Legolas bit his lip and sighed. His friend knew him well, and while such closeness was comforting it was also frustrating. But he said none of it out loud, for that would only upset Taurur further. Instead, he said, "My promise you now have. I shall remain within sights of my guard at all time until we reach Rivendell."
The other elf studied his face for a few moments, searching for any signs of deceit or loopholes, but finally he nodded. "Very well. I accept your promise and expect you to hold to it. Now come; let us continue our journey before our watchfulness drives you insane."
************
Elrond shook his head. Three days had passed since receiving King Thranduil's letter and Estel was still adamant. Even now he was upstairs in his bedroom, refusing to talk with the twins about the situation, and Elrond sighed. If the twins couldn't convince Estel, no one could. But why was the human being so stubborn? War would result unless the future king of Gondor married, and such a petty blood shed would affect his image greatly.
A faint smile found its way on the Elf-lord's face as Elrohir's voice drifted to him. The younger elf was calling out suggestions to Aragorn on how to cancel the wedding, but they were... interesting at best.
"Estel, this will work! All you must do is tell the prince that you cannot! Say you had an accident, one that will no longer enable you to have children! But when you tell him you must raise your voice an octave; it shall be much more convincing that way."
Elrohir would have continued if not for Elladan's snort. "And what happens when Estel becomes King and needs heirs? Will he say, 'oh, I guess I could have children after all' in a high and squeaky voice? Dimwit!"
"Well, if you have any better ideas I'd certainly like to hear them! So far I've been the only one to offer any suggestions, and for all my attempts Estel still won't talk to me!"
"It's because of your suggestions that he won't talk to you! Honestly, sometimes I'm hesitant to talk with you as well- you can't blame Estel for feeling the same! After all, it is his problem we're talking about."
"Oh, like you can do any better! Honestly, as the older sibling it is *you* who should be helping Estel the most. As you constantly remind me, being younger has affected my brain, making it impossible for me to be as brilliant as you! So go ahead, Elladan, tell Estel your brilliant plan that will save Gondor and Mirkwood from disaster!"
"My dear brother," Elladan cried, and Elrond couldn't help but wince at the false innocence, "the solution is quite obvious! I cringe to think that you have not seen it."
"And I will certainly cringe once I have heard it! Now come, tell me your plan and Estel shall decide if he is saved."
"As soon as the words are uttered from my lips he shall thank me, just wait. So here it is: when Legolas arrives we shall tell him that Estel recently returned from an attack- an attack that resulted in great injury and causes him to fear unfamiliar Elves. If alone with these unfamiliar, Elves, Estel becomes violent and might hurt both himself and that elf! Certainly such a condition would prevent a marriage, for it might hurt both the husband and the unborn child! And Estel is certainly capable of acting the part- simply feed him some sugar, keep him awake for a couple of days, and he will be quite convincing! Why, I could even create some scars for him to make the story more plausible..."
Elladan's explanation was drowned out by a sudden yell from Estel, and it was so loud nearly every elf in Rivendell must have heard it: "I'm doomed!"
In the silence following the cry, Elrond couldn't help but laugh when Elladan's muttered words reached his ears. In a voice just short of prideful triumph, the older twin said, "See? I told you he could play the part."
********************
The sun had not risen red because of his father. His father was still in Mirkwood, probably safe, and the sun grieved for someone else. The thought kept repeating itself, over and over again, until Legolas was certain he would become insane. But he could not stop it, and he did not wish to, for it brought almost a sense of comfort to his mind.
His father was probably safe. The sun rose red for someone else.
But what little comfort he gained from the thought was not enough to block the sorrow- sorrow of seeing an entire village destroyed with no survivors.
"It has begun," whispered Taurur, and Legolas wished his friend would be silent. But he would not, for a second later another whisper reached him. "This tragedy backs up the king's fears but it is worse than we believed; so close to Mirkwood these orcs struck, and they struck without warning or mercy."
"When have they ever shown mercy?" Legolas snarled. "These people were farmers, gentle humans that acted more like elves than their true race; I shall miss them greatly, and all you can do is refer to them as proof? Many of them were my friends, and there was warning enough! A patrol or party should have dispatched to help them, for they were no warriors!"
"Legolas...."
"No! My father may look after the affairs of Mirkwood, but these people traded with us and were offered nothing in return. You spoke of allies to me earlier, but these people were our allies in every way but the official one, and now they have paid for it with their lives. Do not speak to me of allies or hope again when potential alliances outweigh the current ones!"
Unable to speak more because of his grief, Legolas dug his heels sharply into his horses' side. When they reached the center of the village he stopped, unable to flee because of his earlier promise, but unable to simply gaze at the ruined homes any longer.
His dilemma was solved mere seconds later with the sudden cry from a scout. The cry was sharp; something had surprised the elf, but it was quickly silenced. Warily the party of elves drew their weapons, glancing around in attempt to see either the scout or the attacker. Minutes passed, and nothing happened; no more sounds reached the sensitive ears, but they still dared not move. Was it possible? Was the enemy-the ones that had destroyed the village- still here?
"Call out," Taurur ordered, voice terse. "Remain where you are, but call out quietly. We must know who is here and who is missing."
"Malynia!" cried one of the elves.
"Gaerrim!" cried another. One by one, the elves of the patrol identified themselves until there was only one left.
"Ariené?" Taurur called. "Ariené! Can you hear me?"
Whether the female tracker could or not would never be revealed, for at that moment a screech sounded, then another, and another. It was the battle cry of orcs, but never before had they ventured so close to the sun's light! And then a door to a tattered barn burst open, allowing several creatures to pour through the doors. Legolas's eyes widened; the orcs had been hiding in the buildings, waiting for the elves to fall into a trap! Hurriedly he wheeled his horse around, desperate to reach the rest of the patrol, but it was too late.
He was surrounded.
A/N: See that little button down there to the left? Please click it and leave a review!! Also, let me know if I should be nice or evil to Legolas, and let me know if you guys want mpreg!
Response to reviewers:
*andy-77:* Sorry about the long wait, and I hope you like this chapter! Oh, and monkeys in space? That's a really weird mental picture right there... I love it!
*beautifulelf* So you see Aragorn as being feminine? Sorry, bad humor, bad joke. Hmmm... I don't see Legolas as being very feminine; I just see him as being an Elf, a creature that is more magical and resilient than humans. I think that's the reason Legolas is chosen so much to carry the child; at least, that's why I like that idea! But I'm not actually planning on going into any detail about the pregnancy unless it's greatly requested.
*Angel of Hope * Vala en' estel*: Thank you for your kind words, and I apologize about the lack of update. I hope you enjoy this chapter, but let me tell you this: when you become famous, you have to let me meet Orlando Bloom, too! (
*Angel of Death*: Aragorn in a pink wedding dress with yellow duckies? Okay, that nearly killed me! I haven't laughed so hard in.... I don't know how long! God, I love your reviews just because they always bring a smile to my face!! As to your question (don't worry, I wasn't offended). In this Middle-earth, marriage is marriage. The gender doesn't matter, so it's viewed in the same light as different-gender relationships. *sigh* If only people were so tolerant in this world, there would be a lot less problems. Oops. Sorry; didn't mean to sound bitter!
*Sly-chan*: Thanks for reassuring me! I really hope I don't disappoint you, and I hope you like the character development! (And there should be a lot of that). Oh, and one question: in your bio (which by the way, was hilarious!!) when Legolas said 'Merde', does that mean God? I only took one year of French, and that was two years ago (I really miss it, though), so I wasn't sure.
*Goldmund*: I tried to make the reasons for Thranduil's decision good, because I just can't see Thranduil as a 'bad guy.' I'm really glad you thought they were good, but not all of them have been revealed yet! (Poor Thranduil, he has such a tough time). They should all be revealed eventually, though, and I hope they all make sense.
* melissa greenleaf*: I'm glad you like the character portrayal! That is always one of my main problems because I tend to mold them my own way.. hopefully they'll stay in character throughout the fic! (with minor exceptions, of course).
* mydogisfudge*: Is this chapter a better length? Let me know!
* trustingfriendship *: You're right about Aragorn! He's not going to cooperate!
* Earendilstar*: I apologize for the untimely fashion and I hope to update sooner. I'm glad you liked the impending doom; I was worried that it would sound too cheesy or way too dramatic!
* Tindomerel*: I'm glad you like this despite the fact that it's slash! I agree completely with you-there are too many stories where Thranduil is drunk/abusive!
* Cheysuli*: How could anyone refuse Legolas? Well, other than Aragorn, I mean! Then again, they haven't met yet, so there's still hope!
Thanks, you guys! I loved all you reviews and I hope to hear from you again!!