Chapter 4

Nothing much happened when you were a guard in the dungeons of Mirkwood. Rarely were there any prisoners to look after for Thranduil was a kind and generous leader to his people. His punishments were most often helping out others in tough manual labor or working in the fields. Nothing so terrible as imprisonment was ever given out until recently.

The monotony of his shift was quickly broken when Legolas entered the guardroom and smiled at the elf within.

"Greetings! I know your shift has been long and wondered if you would like to go to the kitchens for something to eat. The cooks have created some marvelous pastries tonight and I would hate to see you miss out for they are going fast."

This was not an uncommon gesture because Legolas, as his father, was thoughtful of his people and wished to see to their well-being. The guard rose, "That is most thoughtful, My Prince. I would love to be able to sample some." The guard smiled and left, surely to return quickly. Especially when he found no such treat was waiting for him in the halls above.

Legolas stepped around the back of the door and grabbed his hidden weapons. Reaching up to the peg on the walls, the keys to Elrohir's cell were in his grasp. Down the halls he ran for time was brief.

The other elf was already prepared; Elrohir had stretched and was ready for the run of his life and eagerly awaited his friend's return.

Legolas quickly stood in front of him with a ring of keys.

"One moment, Elrohir, I'll have you out of here." Legolas tried key after key when they heard the guard's quick footsteps having discovered the Prince's deception.

"Hurry!" Elrohir stressed. Finally, the correct key was found, the door swung open and Elrohir was free.

"This way." Legolas said, not wasting one moment for celebration at this accomplishment. The pair traveled down a long corridor leading to an old door out to the back woods. The Prince took off the cloak he wore, "Put this on and follow me."

"Wait!" Elrohir grabbed Legolas' arm, "I cannot ask you to guide me from here on. If you father found out I would fear for you."

"I promised to free you. You are not free until I have returned you to the arms of your kin. You will not make it far for these woods are filled with guards and are tough to navigate." The tone of Legolas' voice was the final sound in their conversation. "Come."

Glancing at the green cloak in his arms, Elrohir pulled it on over his head disguising his dark locks of hair.

******

The forest was a place that would not reveal any of its secrets. The Elf of Imladris would never have known that a path was here if not for his guide. The forest almost seemed to part for Legolas allowing them to make good their escape.

"Stay quiet. According to the last scouting report your kin hide in the woods up ahead biding their time until a plan is reached." Elrohir nodded. Excitement flowed in his veins at seeing his father and brother again.

Their success was soon shattered when a voice came from above.

"Prince Legolas, may I ask where you are going? There are Noldor elves in these woods."

Legolas stopped and turned towards their position. "My friend and I are merely tracking a group of spiders rumored to be in this part of the wood. Even elves of Imladris should not have to face those evil creatures."

Elrohir, ensuring to keep his face down and hidden, thought it a very clever remark seeing that Legolas was armed. His own lack of weapons, hopefully, would go unnoticed. However, the guard was not impressed and came down to speak to Legolas face to face.

"I have not heard such a report, Your Majesty." The guard stated. "Please," he addressed Elrohir, "state your name and allow me to see you face."

They were trapped.

Knowing that their ploy was now over, Elrohir resigned to his fate and pulled off the hood of the cloak revealing his identity. When the dark hair fell about his shoulders, four more elves appeared each with an arrow aimed at Elrohir's heart.

"Please do not move, Son of Elrond." The guard spoke, "I am not surprised by this, Legolas. You have a good heart, but defying your father is not the answer. He must be returned."

A flash was all the evidence that Legolas had trained his own bow and arrow at his own warrior.

"I have made a promise. I will not dishonor it."

The guard knew his Prince was stern in his convictions, but did not expect this.

"Please, do not put me into this position I cannot," his words were cut short when an arrow came from the woods striking the guard in the back. An arrow of Elladan's make Elrohir instantly recognized.

He fell forward, leaving Legolas' arrow trained into the woods where the Noldor were coming to ambush them. Slowly Legolas brought down his bow, but the other Mirkwood guards were preparing to fire at whatever moved.

More arrows rained down upon the guards behind the pair and Elrohir ran forward to the edge of the clearing and then stopped.

The full gravity of the situation suddenly became clear.

Elrohir turned to look to Legolas. The Prince stood there as a sudden look of comprehension of his fate came upon his face.

"Elrohir?" He questioned in a light whisper.

"NO!" Elrohir screamed, hoping to stop his people from making a mistake only imagined in a nightmare, but it was too late to stop the terrible events now.

An arrow came piercing through the woods before Elrohir could speak another word and struck Legolas straight in the middle of his chest. In that moment, the Prince's weapons fell and a look of pain came over his face.

Legolas fell limply to the ground landing on his back.

The shot had been true.

Legolas was dead before he had hit the ground.

Elrohir ran to his friend in complete terror.

Elrond, bow in hand, came rushing forward. The threat to his son's life was now over, but the scene in front of him made no sense to the Lord.

"My son?" He asked.

Elrohir looked to his friend. He still wore Legolas' cloak and it billowed out around him. Elrond watched his son pick up the limp body so the stranger's head rested on his son's lap. All the Lord saw was a member of the people who had held his son captive, who only moments ago had his bow raised against their position in the forest.

Legolas' face was strangely peaceful. His eyes were closed and one could not tell of his passing if not for a small trickle of blood coming from his slightly cracked mouth.

Elrohir looked up to his father with an expression of shock and disbelief.