Second Verse
~
Just a note, sorry this chapter is so depressing! I promise that there won't be more chapters like this for quite some time!
~
Nilhisie rode through the night not stopping for any breaks, his horse driven by his sense of fear from his rider. Nilhisie let his horse slow only when the morning let came peeking over the eastern sky.
Nilhisie peered into the distance to see if he could make out anything that might give him a clue in the distance. Nothing. Nilhisie once again urged his horse into a break-neck pace.
~
Legolas woke feeling more exhausted than he had when he went to bed. His head still filled with the horrible images of Nuquer dead or being held captive by orcs and other such unnamable creatures. Legolas reluctantly left Nuquer's room to head to his father's study for new orders. He wanted more than anything to take his fastest horse and race after his crazy love. But, he knew that if he wanted to win his father's blessing for a marriage, or even to continue their relationship he'd have to stay and show that he was mature and capable of taking charge.
"Legolas, I need you to take nine of your best men to watch the eastern border." Thranduil ordered as soon as Legolas entered the room, not even letting him say a word.
"Yes, sir." Legolas nodded and headed right back out. How was he supposed to keep a good watch for approaching danger when the real danger was his beloved out there without protection!?
~
Nilhisie traveled onward and lost track of time but knew that he was close to Dol Amroth now. Nilhisie could tell his horse was exhausted and he let his horse finally walk at his own pace, he didn't want to hurt the poor animal. He kept all his senses alert for the slightest sound or hint that the girls were near.
Soon enough he heard something in the distance. It wasn't what he wanted to hear though. It was a blood-curling scream or agony. Nilhisie recognized it in an instant, Flora. Nilhisie urged his poor beast on once again and headed towards the sound with fear in his heart.
Nilhisie reached Dol Amroth to find the place in a complete wreck. The once proud gates were destroyed and all the houses and beautiful buildings that once stood were in the same state. Nilhisie leaped off his horse and slowly walked through the ruins. After a few moments he noticed that amid the tumbled houses were also lifeless bodies. Nilhisie gasped to himself and looked up to see Flora lying on the ground, her body shaking with the tears that were falling from her eyes. Nuquer sat with Flora's head in her lap, she too was crying and trying to comfort Flora at the same time.
"WHY!?" Flora sobbed into Nuquer's dirty robe.
"Flora." Nilhisie ran towards his little mortal maiden and brought her into his lap she could cry.
"They're dead, all of them!" Flora cried out and the tears came anew.
"Flora, come back, back to Mirkwood. We can bring their bodies with us and give them a proper burial." Nilhisie whispered softly.
Nuquer stood and stared at her home. It had been the most beautiful place she had ever known, once. She left sick to her stomach that this was not affecting her more. Faunia, Sila, and Tybalt's deaths hurt her though she had seen death before. She was a young elf but still much older than any mortal. She had sisters and brothers come and go throughout her life. It was sad every time though each time seemed a little less heart wrenching. Could it be she was used to death now? She turned and looked at little Flora, so weak, so vulnerable. Flora's crying was beginning to slow. Nilhisie held her in his arms, not saying anything but instead just comforting her with his touch.
Nuquer looked at the dead bodies of her sister, her brother, and her brother-in-law. Their deaths must have been quick, hopefully not to painful and they had died next to each other.
"Flora, come on. Nilhisie is right. We have to return to Mirkwood now." Nuquer said after Flora had finally quieted and now just lie motionless in Nilhisie's arms.
Flora nodded and stood, trying not to look at the dead bodies.
~
Legolas stood at the edge of the woods, they had been on watch for a week now. Where was Nilhisie with the girls? Each passing day brought new dreads and fears into Legolas's heart.
"They will be back, remember it's more than a day's journey there alone." Losenov tried to comfort his solemn friend.
"I know, I just can't help thinking that something is wrong." Legolas frowned.
"If they aren't back in two days I'll go looking for them." Losenov smiled.
"All right. I'll give it another two days before I go completely crazy then." Legolas agreed.
~
Their journey back to Mirkwood was slower than they would have liked but, their horses were tired from their hard journey to Dol Amroth.
"Legolas is worried." Nuquer said quietly late into one afternoon.
"It is best we get back as soon as we can before Legolas sends out a search party for us." Nilhisie nodded, he knew Legolas would be loosing his mind with the wait and thought it incredibly mean to live him there waiting for their return.
"Tonight we will be at the border." Nuquer smiled as the forest loomed ever closer.
~
"Son, I know that you have lost Nuquer for a while but you have to focus on the problems here or when she comes back there won't be much to come back to!" Thranduil reprehended his son for his inconsistency to pay better attention to the guarding of the borders, "Do I have to replace you with someone else?" Thranduil threatened.
Legolas's pride flared, he was the most capable for the position and he wasn't about to let someone else take his place as captain, "I'm fine. I can handle this, you do not need to replace me." Legolas stared hard into his father's eyes.
"All right then." Thranduil nodded, "Prove it to me."
Legolas left with a bit of a temper and as if the gods were playing a cruel joke he ran into Bragolfin.
"Legolas!" Bragolfin called out to Legolas.
"I can't talk now." Legolas called curtly to her.
"We need to talk, now!" Bragolfin demanded.
"Hurry up then." Legolas sighed and waited for her to begin.
"What happened between us?"
"Nothing."
"Well, are we going to get together anytime?"
"No."
"I thought that we were going to start courting!?"
"No, I'm with Nuquer."
"You told me-"
"Things have changed."
"What?!"
"Look, I'm sorry I am with Nuquer right now and I am courting her. Okay?" Legolas sighed once again, it was a horrible idea in the first place, Nuquer was right. She was always right, he should have listened.
"Fine!" Bragolfin shouted and stormed off.
"Lovely." Legolas rolled his eyes, he had a feeling that wasn't the last of her.
~
"Halt!" A guard called out at Nuquer, Nilhisie and Flora approached the borders.
"It's Nilhisie, Lady Nuquer and Lady Flora." Nilhisie answered for them.
"About time you three returned, Legolas has been driving everyone mad!" The guard called and let them pass.
"I can only imagine." Nuquer shook her head and urged her horse into a quicker pace, she hadn't realized how long a week could be when you were away from the one you love.
"Nuquer!" Legolas saw her approaching, a pure picture of perfection upon her beautiful white horse, her hair was loose and her cheeks flushed slightly from the wind. Legolas had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life.
"Oh, I'm so glad to be home!" Nuquer called out to her prince and slid off her horse to meet his open arms.
"It's felt like so long!" Legolas wrapped his strong arms around Nuquer and held her close to him, "I don't want to let go."
"You shouldn't have let go before!" Nuquer whispered into his ear.
"Was it bad?" Legolas pulled back to look into her eyes.
"They are dead. The orcs ravaged the town and left no survivors." Nuquer recalled the horrible scene in her head.
"I'm so sorry." Legolas held her once again.
"Come, we need to clean up before dinner." Nilhisie called to Nuquer as he lead Flora towards the palace.
"Go, I'll be at dinner and we can talk." Legolas smiled at his beloved.
~
~
Just a note, sorry this chapter is so depressing! I promise that there won't be more chapters like this for quite some time!
~
Nilhisie rode through the night not stopping for any breaks, his horse driven by his sense of fear from his rider. Nilhisie let his horse slow only when the morning let came peeking over the eastern sky.
Nilhisie peered into the distance to see if he could make out anything that might give him a clue in the distance. Nothing. Nilhisie once again urged his horse into a break-neck pace.
~
Legolas woke feeling more exhausted than he had when he went to bed. His head still filled with the horrible images of Nuquer dead or being held captive by orcs and other such unnamable creatures. Legolas reluctantly left Nuquer's room to head to his father's study for new orders. He wanted more than anything to take his fastest horse and race after his crazy love. But, he knew that if he wanted to win his father's blessing for a marriage, or even to continue their relationship he'd have to stay and show that he was mature and capable of taking charge.
"Legolas, I need you to take nine of your best men to watch the eastern border." Thranduil ordered as soon as Legolas entered the room, not even letting him say a word.
"Yes, sir." Legolas nodded and headed right back out. How was he supposed to keep a good watch for approaching danger when the real danger was his beloved out there without protection!?
~
Nilhisie traveled onward and lost track of time but knew that he was close to Dol Amroth now. Nilhisie could tell his horse was exhausted and he let his horse finally walk at his own pace, he didn't want to hurt the poor animal. He kept all his senses alert for the slightest sound or hint that the girls were near.
Soon enough he heard something in the distance. It wasn't what he wanted to hear though. It was a blood-curling scream or agony. Nilhisie recognized it in an instant, Flora. Nilhisie urged his poor beast on once again and headed towards the sound with fear in his heart.
Nilhisie reached Dol Amroth to find the place in a complete wreck. The once proud gates were destroyed and all the houses and beautiful buildings that once stood were in the same state. Nilhisie leaped off his horse and slowly walked through the ruins. After a few moments he noticed that amid the tumbled houses were also lifeless bodies. Nilhisie gasped to himself and looked up to see Flora lying on the ground, her body shaking with the tears that were falling from her eyes. Nuquer sat with Flora's head in her lap, she too was crying and trying to comfort Flora at the same time.
"WHY!?" Flora sobbed into Nuquer's dirty robe.
"Flora." Nilhisie ran towards his little mortal maiden and brought her into his lap she could cry.
"They're dead, all of them!" Flora cried out and the tears came anew.
"Flora, come back, back to Mirkwood. We can bring their bodies with us and give them a proper burial." Nilhisie whispered softly.
Nuquer stood and stared at her home. It had been the most beautiful place she had ever known, once. She left sick to her stomach that this was not affecting her more. Faunia, Sila, and Tybalt's deaths hurt her though she had seen death before. She was a young elf but still much older than any mortal. She had sisters and brothers come and go throughout her life. It was sad every time though each time seemed a little less heart wrenching. Could it be she was used to death now? She turned and looked at little Flora, so weak, so vulnerable. Flora's crying was beginning to slow. Nilhisie held her in his arms, not saying anything but instead just comforting her with his touch.
Nuquer looked at the dead bodies of her sister, her brother, and her brother-in-law. Their deaths must have been quick, hopefully not to painful and they had died next to each other.
"Flora, come on. Nilhisie is right. We have to return to Mirkwood now." Nuquer said after Flora had finally quieted and now just lie motionless in Nilhisie's arms.
Flora nodded and stood, trying not to look at the dead bodies.
~
Legolas stood at the edge of the woods, they had been on watch for a week now. Where was Nilhisie with the girls? Each passing day brought new dreads and fears into Legolas's heart.
"They will be back, remember it's more than a day's journey there alone." Losenov tried to comfort his solemn friend.
"I know, I just can't help thinking that something is wrong." Legolas frowned.
"If they aren't back in two days I'll go looking for them." Losenov smiled.
"All right. I'll give it another two days before I go completely crazy then." Legolas agreed.
~
Their journey back to Mirkwood was slower than they would have liked but, their horses were tired from their hard journey to Dol Amroth.
"Legolas is worried." Nuquer said quietly late into one afternoon.
"It is best we get back as soon as we can before Legolas sends out a search party for us." Nilhisie nodded, he knew Legolas would be loosing his mind with the wait and thought it incredibly mean to live him there waiting for their return.
"Tonight we will be at the border." Nuquer smiled as the forest loomed ever closer.
~
"Son, I know that you have lost Nuquer for a while but you have to focus on the problems here or when she comes back there won't be much to come back to!" Thranduil reprehended his son for his inconsistency to pay better attention to the guarding of the borders, "Do I have to replace you with someone else?" Thranduil threatened.
Legolas's pride flared, he was the most capable for the position and he wasn't about to let someone else take his place as captain, "I'm fine. I can handle this, you do not need to replace me." Legolas stared hard into his father's eyes.
"All right then." Thranduil nodded, "Prove it to me."
Legolas left with a bit of a temper and as if the gods were playing a cruel joke he ran into Bragolfin.
"Legolas!" Bragolfin called out to Legolas.
"I can't talk now." Legolas called curtly to her.
"We need to talk, now!" Bragolfin demanded.
"Hurry up then." Legolas sighed and waited for her to begin.
"What happened between us?"
"Nothing."
"Well, are we going to get together anytime?"
"No."
"I thought that we were going to start courting!?"
"No, I'm with Nuquer."
"You told me-"
"Things have changed."
"What?!"
"Look, I'm sorry I am with Nuquer right now and I am courting her. Okay?" Legolas sighed once again, it was a horrible idea in the first place, Nuquer was right. She was always right, he should have listened.
"Fine!" Bragolfin shouted and stormed off.
"Lovely." Legolas rolled his eyes, he had a feeling that wasn't the last of her.
~
"Halt!" A guard called out at Nuquer, Nilhisie and Flora approached the borders.
"It's Nilhisie, Lady Nuquer and Lady Flora." Nilhisie answered for them.
"About time you three returned, Legolas has been driving everyone mad!" The guard called and let them pass.
"I can only imagine." Nuquer shook her head and urged her horse into a quicker pace, she hadn't realized how long a week could be when you were away from the one you love.
"Nuquer!" Legolas saw her approaching, a pure picture of perfection upon her beautiful white horse, her hair was loose and her cheeks flushed slightly from the wind. Legolas had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life.
"Oh, I'm so glad to be home!" Nuquer called out to her prince and slid off her horse to meet his open arms.
"It's felt like so long!" Legolas wrapped his strong arms around Nuquer and held her close to him, "I don't want to let go."
"You shouldn't have let go before!" Nuquer whispered into his ear.
"Was it bad?" Legolas pulled back to look into her eyes.
"They are dead. The orcs ravaged the town and left no survivors." Nuquer recalled the horrible scene in her head.
"I'm so sorry." Legolas held her once again.
"Come, we need to clean up before dinner." Nilhisie called to Nuquer as he lead Flora towards the palace.
"Go, I'll be at dinner and we can talk." Legolas smiled at his beloved.
~