Sigh. I don't own anything. Now that I'm completely depressed, are you
happy? Thanks again to all who reviewed the last chapter, I know you've
all got concerns about where this is heading, but please trust me. There
is a story to be told here, granted, not a story we wanna hear, but still a
story. Um, I guess I owe everybody an explanation as to why Dawn has
regressed into 'spoilt brat' status again. The way I see it, she reacts
much worse than Buffy at being brought back because she has no purpose in
Sunnydale. At least Buffy had slaying to cling on to, a reason for her to
be there, but, as Galadriel told Dawn in Ilfirin Meleth, she has nothing
left to use her power for. And Dawn has always been more than just a
little rash, and her moods are more often than not off the scale, so if I
went overboard conveying that, I'm sorry. But again I stress to please
trust me, I am doing my best to get the pain of this story across to you
and you never know what tomorrow, or the next chapter, will bring. Please
don't stop reviewing me with your concerns, I am flattered that you all put
so much thought into what I've written not only in this fic, but to
actually have such a strong knowledge of its prequel as well really amazes
me. Now, just as a warning Legolas will be departing for a while shortly
with only a few more brief appearances for now, but don't lose hope yet.
But here's a little Mirkwood action that I hope will tide you over..
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CHAPTER FOUR- FEAR AND FUTILITY
The Palace was a flurry of energy. Within an hour of Dawn's sudden disappearance, the whole Kingdom had been notified and the frantic search was on. Large groups of Mirkwood's finest warriors and trackers had been dispatched in every direction, and though none dared speak the words aloud, most suspected their search would be futile. Messages were immediately sent to Rivendell, where the three children of Elrond still resided, and to Estel's children in Gondor, pleading for assistance.
Legolas and Thranduil had not slept since the incident, they paced the Throne Room impatiently. Legolas had needed to be physically restrained on more than one occasion from fleeing the Kingdom to conduct his own wild search.
Gimli had arrived that morning, in the midst of all the confusion and the second he'd learned of Dawn's disappearance he'd rushed straight to his friend's side, swearing by the grace of the Lady Galadriel that if he found the culprits responsible, he's tear them limb from limb with Mr. Choppy, his favourite axe as named by Dawn.
Legolas smiled wanly at his friend, grateful for the show of support. "She just disappeared," he moaned, burying his head in his hands.
A heavy Dwarf hand settled on his shoulder. "She will be found, Elf. You have no cause to worry, she is tough as any Dwarf I ever knew. Dawn can take care of herself until she is brought home safely."
"I broke my promise, Gimli," Legolas admitted, his heart heavy with the burden of his failure. "I swore I would not let her go, would never abandon her, yet I just let her slip away. I did nothing." A crystal tear sild down his cheek.
Thranduil came again to comfort his son. "Nothing could be done, my son. She was pulled from Mirkwood by forces far stronger than any one living Elf."
Legolas' head snapped up. His eyes flashed as a new thought occurred to him. "Forces stronger than any one living Elf," he repeated. "Magics," he breathed. "Stronger than any one living Elf, and there are no Wizards left in Middle-Earth... someone from Middle-Earth is not behind this devilry."
"Sunnydale," Gimli's grumbling voice, which had only become rougher as his two hundred and fifty years progressed, boomed as he began to follow Legolas' line of thinking.
"The witch?" Thranduil asked, looking to Legolas for confirmation.
"Willow," he clarified. Both Legolas and Thranduil, over the years, had heard practically all of Dawn's life story in great detail, and by Dawn's animated descriptions of her Sunnydale family, they often felt as if they knew them personally.
Legolas shot up, his long legs stretching as he again began to pace the Throne Room. He whirled to face his father. "We must send to Rivendell to hurry them," he insisted.
Much as he wanted to give Legolas the positive action he so desparately needed, Thranduil had to hold up a hand to stay his son. It would only be a waste of valuable resources. "No, Legolas. There is no need. Our fastest messengers are already gone, and Elrond's children will know to bring whatever useful information is at their disposal. We can only wait now."
Legolas deflated. He knew his father was right. The next five days passed with agonising slowness, all thoughts of the trip to Valinor forgotten as the entire Kingdom waited, paying to the Valar for the safe return of their Princess. Occasionally, messengers would come from one of the scouting groups only to report that they had found no trace of the missing Princess.
Finally, three dark-haired Elves rode to the Palace, coming straight to the Throne Room without a moment's hesitation. Arwen ran to Legolas and embraced him warmly. She knew the pain of losing your love all too well, and if not for the support of her family, which very much included Dawn and Legolas, she would not have survived the loss of her husband. She was determined that Legolas not suffer through this ordeal alone.
Elladan and Elrohir wasted no time. The twins each laid a heavy book on the table before Thranduil and Gimli, who raised their eyebrows in question. As soon as Legolas was no longer detained by his friend so of many milennia that she was like a sister, he came to the table, ready to hear everything and anything his friends could tell him.
It was Elladan who began at once, knowing his friend would not wish to waste time with pleasantries. Time enough for such attentions when Dawn was home safe and sound. "These books our father warned us of, many years ago. They, and they alone contain the knowledge of portals and other worlds. The moment we heard of Dawn... we knew our only hope lies within these pages. We have not yet looked, we though it best not to waste the time before travelling here."
Thranduil nodded slowly. "We have had word from Eldarion," he informed them. Eldarion, Aragorn and Arwen's oldest son, was King of Gondor and he had written to Mirkwood, offering all of Gondor's support and swearing his best loremasters were pouring over all the books in Minas Tirith.
"What says my nephew?" Elrohir asked, looking up from the book he and Legolas were already studying.
"They have no good news to send, but they will do all they can to aid us," Thranduil responded.
The five Elves and the Dwarf did not rest until both the thick books had been studied cover to cover, in minute detail, for any information whatsoever that could lead them to Dawn. They came up empty.
Legolas threw himself into a chair gracelessly. Again despair overtook him. Dawn had now been gone a full week and nobody in Middle- Earth had any way of finding her.
"Maybe something will turn up in Gondor," Elrohir suggested, trying in vain to bouy the flagging spirits of the group. "Minas Tirith has the greatest Library known to Men, perhaps there is somthing there Father did not know of."
"It is possible," Elladan chimed in, picking up on his brother's intentions.
"Grandmother sent a great many texts to the city when the reign of Elessar began," Arwen remembered. "I am sure Father could not possibly know of every parchment and book in all of Lorien and Gondor. Something must turn up somewhere."
"And if it doesn't?" Legolas countered. None knew how to answer his question.
* * * * *
Well there it is, the Elven version of chaos. As always, feed me with reviews, good or bad, flames are welcome because it is winter in Aus and fire is warm, and I will be happy and be updating-girl. ~Anoron.
CHAPTER FOUR- FEAR AND FUTILITY
The Palace was a flurry of energy. Within an hour of Dawn's sudden disappearance, the whole Kingdom had been notified and the frantic search was on. Large groups of Mirkwood's finest warriors and trackers had been dispatched in every direction, and though none dared speak the words aloud, most suspected their search would be futile. Messages were immediately sent to Rivendell, where the three children of Elrond still resided, and to Estel's children in Gondor, pleading for assistance.
Legolas and Thranduil had not slept since the incident, they paced the Throne Room impatiently. Legolas had needed to be physically restrained on more than one occasion from fleeing the Kingdom to conduct his own wild search.
Gimli had arrived that morning, in the midst of all the confusion and the second he'd learned of Dawn's disappearance he'd rushed straight to his friend's side, swearing by the grace of the Lady Galadriel that if he found the culprits responsible, he's tear them limb from limb with Mr. Choppy, his favourite axe as named by Dawn.
Legolas smiled wanly at his friend, grateful for the show of support. "She just disappeared," he moaned, burying his head in his hands.
A heavy Dwarf hand settled on his shoulder. "She will be found, Elf. You have no cause to worry, she is tough as any Dwarf I ever knew. Dawn can take care of herself until she is brought home safely."
"I broke my promise, Gimli," Legolas admitted, his heart heavy with the burden of his failure. "I swore I would not let her go, would never abandon her, yet I just let her slip away. I did nothing." A crystal tear sild down his cheek.
Thranduil came again to comfort his son. "Nothing could be done, my son. She was pulled from Mirkwood by forces far stronger than any one living Elf."
Legolas' head snapped up. His eyes flashed as a new thought occurred to him. "Forces stronger than any one living Elf," he repeated. "Magics," he breathed. "Stronger than any one living Elf, and there are no Wizards left in Middle-Earth... someone from Middle-Earth is not behind this devilry."
"Sunnydale," Gimli's grumbling voice, which had only become rougher as his two hundred and fifty years progressed, boomed as he began to follow Legolas' line of thinking.
"The witch?" Thranduil asked, looking to Legolas for confirmation.
"Willow," he clarified. Both Legolas and Thranduil, over the years, had heard practically all of Dawn's life story in great detail, and by Dawn's animated descriptions of her Sunnydale family, they often felt as if they knew them personally.
Legolas shot up, his long legs stretching as he again began to pace the Throne Room. He whirled to face his father. "We must send to Rivendell to hurry them," he insisted.
Much as he wanted to give Legolas the positive action he so desparately needed, Thranduil had to hold up a hand to stay his son. It would only be a waste of valuable resources. "No, Legolas. There is no need. Our fastest messengers are already gone, and Elrond's children will know to bring whatever useful information is at their disposal. We can only wait now."
Legolas deflated. He knew his father was right. The next five days passed with agonising slowness, all thoughts of the trip to Valinor forgotten as the entire Kingdom waited, paying to the Valar for the safe return of their Princess. Occasionally, messengers would come from one of the scouting groups only to report that they had found no trace of the missing Princess.
Finally, three dark-haired Elves rode to the Palace, coming straight to the Throne Room without a moment's hesitation. Arwen ran to Legolas and embraced him warmly. She knew the pain of losing your love all too well, and if not for the support of her family, which very much included Dawn and Legolas, she would not have survived the loss of her husband. She was determined that Legolas not suffer through this ordeal alone.
Elladan and Elrohir wasted no time. The twins each laid a heavy book on the table before Thranduil and Gimli, who raised their eyebrows in question. As soon as Legolas was no longer detained by his friend so of many milennia that she was like a sister, he came to the table, ready to hear everything and anything his friends could tell him.
It was Elladan who began at once, knowing his friend would not wish to waste time with pleasantries. Time enough for such attentions when Dawn was home safe and sound. "These books our father warned us of, many years ago. They, and they alone contain the knowledge of portals and other worlds. The moment we heard of Dawn... we knew our only hope lies within these pages. We have not yet looked, we though it best not to waste the time before travelling here."
Thranduil nodded slowly. "We have had word from Eldarion," he informed them. Eldarion, Aragorn and Arwen's oldest son, was King of Gondor and he had written to Mirkwood, offering all of Gondor's support and swearing his best loremasters were pouring over all the books in Minas Tirith.
"What says my nephew?" Elrohir asked, looking up from the book he and Legolas were already studying.
"They have no good news to send, but they will do all they can to aid us," Thranduil responded.
The five Elves and the Dwarf did not rest until both the thick books had been studied cover to cover, in minute detail, for any information whatsoever that could lead them to Dawn. They came up empty.
Legolas threw himself into a chair gracelessly. Again despair overtook him. Dawn had now been gone a full week and nobody in Middle- Earth had any way of finding her.
"Maybe something will turn up in Gondor," Elrohir suggested, trying in vain to bouy the flagging spirits of the group. "Minas Tirith has the greatest Library known to Men, perhaps there is somthing there Father did not know of."
"It is possible," Elladan chimed in, picking up on his brother's intentions.
"Grandmother sent a great many texts to the city when the reign of Elessar began," Arwen remembered. "I am sure Father could not possibly know of every parchment and book in all of Lorien and Gondor. Something must turn up somewhere."
"And if it doesn't?" Legolas countered. None knew how to answer his question.
* * * * *
Well there it is, the Elven version of chaos. As always, feed me with reviews, good or bad, flames are welcome because it is winter in Aus and fire is warm, and I will be happy and be updating-girl. ~Anoron.