Your responses to chapter 17 were first-class! I knew you would react that way to the kiss! I soooo enjoyed reading them. Yeah, I know, it was mushy, but it was funny! Cos now you don't want know what their friendship is going to be like. I have told you a billion times, and I will tell you again…THIS IS NOT A LEGOMANCE!!!! Promise, promise, promise. I'm getting a bit bored of those. (Yet I've just started another one…doesn't make sense to me!)

So, please read on to see what they think of each other, and if Dolenmíl went with the dawn patrol. And what's Legolas' reaction to that…?

~Lainfaer~

Gywn- Yeah, yeah, I know…too mushy! But that's all passed now, just about. No more kissing, ok! Their romance is…wrong, I have to agree. But that's the thing about a story…anything can happen! I've updated, ok! ^_^

Deana- I know, she's missing out BIG TIME!!! But hey, her choice, not ours1 (Unfortunately…) ^_^

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Chapter 18: Laughter and Tears.

Legolas was up just after dawn the next day. The meeting the night before had been long, and he had slept soundly throughout the night. He was all ready to go. His bag was packed, everyone else was just about ready, and he felt better than the previous day.

He got changed, and walked slowly over to Elladans' tent. It was dark, and he had already strapped his quiver to his back, and his knives to his waist. He carried his bow in his hand.

"Are you up yet?" he called softly through the closed flap.

"Yes come on in," came the slightly groggy answer. He grinned and went in.

Elladan was sat up on his bed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He looked blearily at Legolas. "How can you be so…awake at this hour?" he asked between yawns.

Legolas laughed. "I'm used to it. I go on the dawn patrols at home sometimes." Elladan pulled a face. "I hate those things."

He too got changed, and they wandered over to where the horses were being kept. Legolas went straight over to Nifredil. He felt guilty, as he had hardly seen her during the week.

"Hello darling," he whispered, stroking her fondly. She snorted and turned away, clearly annoyed with him for not seeing her.

"I know, I know, sorry," he apologised, stroking her back. He made his way up to her ears, where he knew she loved being petted. She flicked them, still annoyed with him, but once he reached her favourite stroking spot, she gave in. She faced him again, and nuzzled him affectionately.

"Was she annoyed with you?" Elladan asked, coming over.

"Yes. I haven't seen her for almost three days. But I think she's forgiven me." She snorted and nuzzled him again. Elladan laughed. "Yes, I think she has."

She started nosing around in Legolas pockets, looking for some sort of treat. He laughed. "Hang on." He reached into his tunic, and pulled out an apple. "This do?" He held it out, and she eagerly accepted it.

"I think I'm completely forgiven now," he called over to Elladan, who was seeing to Wilwarin. He looked back over, and laughed at Nifredil munching the apple Legolas had just given her.

"Yes, it certainly looks that way!"

Legolas groomed her, and whilst he was waiting for Elladan, started braiding her mane. Nifredil loved all the attention she was receiving, and nodded to show her approval.

"You spoil that horse you know," Elladan called over as he groomed Wilwarin.

"I know, but she's worth it." Nifredil snorted, her breath coming out as a mist in the cold morning air. She turned her head, and started nibbling Legolas' hair.

"No, I do the braiding round here thank you very much!" he told her, pulling his head out the way. He could hear Elladan laughing.

"Shut up!"

They took the horses out for a warm-up ride, as the journey was to be long. They were saddled, but normally Elves rode bareback. They went for a gallop round the camp, then slowed down to a trot.

"Have you seen Dolenmíl since yesterdays 'events'?" Elladan asked, a small smirk on his face.

Legolas shook his head. "No, and I think it is better if we stay away from each other for a while. I don't know what I'll do if I see her so soon."

The two Princes did not realise she had left with the dawn patrol just a couple of hours before.

****

"What?!" Legolas shouted. "When was this decision made, and how come I was not informed of it?"

"Peace Legolas, she is in no real danger," Gandalf tried to assure him.

But Legolas did not agree. "The dawn patrol? The scout going on ahead…who decided that she should join them?"

"We did," Elrond told him firmly. "Mithrandir and I talked about it long and hard yesterday with Captain Balaremel, and he recommended her. We asked her about it, and she agreed to go."

"But she is under my command. I should have been told!"

"Yes, well you weren't," Gandalf said sternly, standing up and walking over to the fuming Prince. "We are sorry Legolas, but that is the way it has happened. She left at dawn this morning with the rest of the patrol."

Legolas looked at Elladan in despair, his blue eyes still blazing. Elladan just shrugged. She was gone, what could they do.

Legolas sighed in defeat. "Very well. Are we leaving soon?"

"Yes, half an hour. Go and make sure everything is ready."

"Yes my Lord." Legolas bowed and swiftly left, Elladan running after him. 

"Legolas, for Eru's sake, slow down!" Elladan called after his retreating figure. Legolas stopped and waited for his friend to catch up.

"Sorry, I'm just annoyed. Why didn't they tell me?"

"I don't know. Come on, your tent needs packing away."

****

Half an hour later, the group set off for Rivendell once again. Elrond rode at the front with his son, and Legolas at the back with Mithrandir. The carriages were in the middle, securely surrounded by Elves. No one was going to get them this time.

"You still have the sword Legolas?" Gandalf asked, trying to start a conversation with the still angry Prince. Legolas just nodded in answer.

"Look Legolas, I know you are annoyed with Lord Elrond and I, but it was for the best. You would have tried to stop her going."

"I wouldn't!" he protested, looking at the wizard finally.

"Yes you would Legolas, I know you too well. You care about her, that is clear, and do not want any harm to come to her. She wanted to go, and we were not going to stop her. But you would, and it would have damaged your friendship somewhat."
"I think I've already achieved that," Legolas murmured more to himself than Gandalf. 

"What was that?" Gandalf asked, hearing just quiet mumbling.

"Nothing Mithrandir," Legolas replied, looking at him.

Gandalf frowned. He knew something was troubling the Mirkwood Prince, and he wanted to know what it was. Although he was on a dangerous mission, he would still be a bit more cheerful than this.

"Legolas? What's bothering you?" he asked gently.

"Nothing Mithrandir, honestly," he replied, smiling, trying to reassure the old wizard.

But Gandalf was not fooled. "Legolas, you really need to work on disguising your feelings a bit better. People just take one look at you, and know exactly what you're thinking. Something is wrong, and I wish to know what."

"Its Dolenmíl."

"I guessed that."

Legolas smiled. "Well, I did something…stupid…yesterday." He bit his lip and looked at the floor.

"What did you do?" Gandalf asked calmly.

I don't even know why I did it…it was silly really…I don't know what came over me."

"Legolas, stop babbling, and just tell me what you did that seems so terrible to you."

He looked back at the wizard, whose face was calm, showing no expression.

"I kissed her," he replied softly, shutting his eyes in remembered pain.

"And…" Gandalf continued, urging the Prince on. He knew now that Legolas had told him, he had to tell him everything; else it would be bottled up inside and never released.

"It just felt so wrong. It was meant to feel right, nice, but it didn't! I felt sick straight away. Mithrandir, what am I going to do? That's why I was so angry earlier, about her leaving without me being told. Because I hadn't had chance to talk to her again properly. If something happens to her, and we left our friendship like that…" he trailed off, not wanting to think about what could happen to her on the remainder of the journey.

"Legolas, do not worry. Nothing will happen to her, I'm sure of it. Why did you kiss her?"

"Because it felt right before I did it, but afterwards it felt awful. How can something feel great one minute and horrible the next?"

"That's just the way things are Legolas, it cannot be helped. Have you talked to her since?"

"Only when we were walking back to our tents, and that was limited conversation. It felt like there was so much I had to tell her, so much I had to do, and a kiss was the right way to do it. But clearly it wasn't."

"No, not always. Things never seem to go the way you wanted them to. How did she react at first?"

"She didn't mind. She was the one who continued the kiss. It was just meant to be a small, quick kiss, but it turned into something more deep and…passionate?" he questioned, more to himself than Gandalf.

"You admitted yourself to me, not long ago, that you had deeper feelings than friendship for her," Gandalf reminded him.

"I know, but I never meant to take any further steps than just friendship. It was a mistake. A mistake I'm deeply regretting." He hung his head in shame.

"Legolas, it's in the past, forget about it. Yes, maybe it was a mistake, but not one you need regret. It was a kiss, nothing more."

"But then why do I feel this way?" Legolas asked, not looking at him.

"Sorry Legolas, I cannot answer that," Gandalf replied sadly.

They continued on in silence, Legolas watching the ground disappear beneath Nifredils' hooves, and Gandalf staring straight ahead, glancing now and then at Legolas. He hoped the Mirkwood Prince would feel better very soon.

****

"Straight ahead!" Balaremel shouted back to his following company. They speeded up, right into the oncoming pack of Orcs, and Wargs, Balaremel and Dolenmíl leading…

****

"Is Legolas alright Adar?" Elladan asked Elrond once they had set off.

"I am sure he will be fine. He's just a little upset, that's all."

"Can't I ride with him?"

"No, I think Mithrandir has a few words to say to him, and a few questions to ask him." Elladan nodded. He knew what his father meant by that. Gandalf was going to question Legolas about his earlier behaviour in Lord Elronds' tent.

They covered a good few miles that afternoon. The Elves were in relatively good moods after the much-needed rest they had had. The carriages were being guarded attentively, but there were no signs of any attackers, or possible assailants.

The afternoon dragged by. The sun was high overhead, her rays shining into every crack and crevice. Elladan welcomed her warmth after the coldness of the Pass. He did not wish to endure anything like that again.

"Hang on a minute…" he heard his father murmur beside him. Elladan stopped daydreaming, and followed his fathers' gaze.

Elronds was looking the way they were heading, and Elladan could see a rider heading towards them. He instinctively reached for his sword.

"Wait," his father told him. "It's one of ours. Go forward and meet them."

Elladan dug his heels into Wilwarins' flanks, and the horse galloped forward, glad to be finally going at a faster speed. She needed to stretch her legs.

But Elladan almost stopped immediately when he saw whom it was.

Dolenmíl was galloping towards him as fast as her exhausted mare could carry her. She was covered in blood, not all of it Orc. She looked absolutely shattered.

"My Lord…" she gasped as she reached him. "We were…ambushed…" Her eyes rolled aback into her head, and she started to fall off her horse.

Elladan hurried round, and caught her just as she fell. "Dolenmíl," he called, slapping her cheek gently. "Wake up Dolenmíl!"

But there was no reply. "Damn it!" he cursed. He turned Wilwarin back round, and galloped back to his waiting father. Dolenmíls' horse stayed where she was.

"Adar!" Elladan called, but there was no need. Elrond was ready and waiting. "Lay her down, gently now," he told his distraught son. Elladan carefully dismounted, and lay the motionless maiden on the ground.

Elrond crouched over her, whispering Elvish charms, trying to bring her back into the world.

"Adar, what about Legolas?" Elladan asked softly.

"What about me?" a voice asked. "Dolenmíl!" Legolas cantered forward, leapt off his horse, and knelt beside her. "Oh Eru, what happened?"
"We are not totally sure," Elrond answered, still trying to wake her.

"She told me she was ambushed, then she collapsed," Elladan informed him friend.

Legolas took Dolenmíls' blood-covered hand, rubbing it, trying to bring warmth back into them. "I knew this would happen. I knew something like this would happen," he whispered, tears forming as he spoke.

The other Elves all waited patiently around, some peering over to see what had happened. All they could see were Legolas, Elrond, and Elladan crouching round something on the floor. Some could actually see Dolenmíl, and they were worried. 

By now, Legolas was cradling Dolenmíl in his arms, tears streaming silently down him face. "Dolenmíl, please, wake up," he begged in a whisper. 

But she gave no reply.

"Legolas please, I have to see to her," Elrond told him calmly.

Legolas reluctantly took his arms away, and let the Master of Healing take over.

Elladan came beside him, slipped his arms round Legolas' shoulders, and tried his best to comfort his friend. "Do not worry meldirnin, she will be fine," he tried to assure him.  

"But what if she isn't?" Legolas asked in a whisper, watching fearfully as Elrond rubbed some herbs into her various wounds. There was one particularly nasty gash on her left arm. "What if she never wakes up? What if she stays like that forever? What if…"

"No, don't think like Legolas!" Elladan commanded him, looking him in the eyes. "She will wake up, she will be alright."

"You can't promise that," Legolas replied, echoing Elladans' words from not long ago. "Don't make promises you cannot keep."

Elladan winced at the sadness, yet sharpness in Legolas' tone. He knew how the Mirkwood Prince felt, yet did not know what to say to comfort him.

Legolas wriggled out of Elladans' grasp, and back over to Dolenmíl. "She's still unconscious, but I think she will heal," Elrond said, but his voice had a hint of uncertainty to it. Legolas could hear this, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from Dolenmíls' limp form.

Her eyes were shut, yet her chest rose and fell with each breath. He felt a bit of relief at this. He took her hand again, and sat cross-legged beside her.

"Legolas, keep her with you. Make sure she stays warm, and clean her up a bit. Wipe the blood away, and don't let her wounds get infected. Elladan, organise a group to go ahead, and check out the area. Orcs have obviously been fighting our Elves."

 "Yes Adar," Elladan replied, and went around collecting people to join him.

Legolas carefully lifted Dolenmíl up off the floor, and mounted Nifredil. She knew the urgency of the situation, as her master felt tense, and so she walked slowly and carefully back to her position.

"Be careful," Legolas whispered to Elladan as he rode by. Elladan smiled and winked.

"I will be fine."

The scout galloped off ahead, keeping a sharp eye out for any intruders. Legolas washed Dolenmíls' face, and tried again, unsuccessfully, to wake her up.

The party trotted slowly off. Dolenmíls' horse had rejoined them, and was fed and watered. She walked alongside Legolas, not wanting to leave her mistress again.

"Legolas, do not worry, I am sure Dolenmíl will recover," Gandalf assured him.

Legolas nodded, but did not reply. He did not know whom to believe.

****

Elladans' group soon found the scene of the fight. Dead Orcs littered the ground, among them, a few dead Elves.

"Search everywhere!" Elladan commanded. "Not all the missing Elves are accounted for, Captain Balaremel among them. But be aware, these Orcs could return."

The group spread out, looking everywhere for their lost companions. A few more bodies were recovered further away, yet after an hour, Balaremel, and one other were still missing.

"They must be around here somewhere," Elladan mused, scanning the surrounding trees. A rustle to his right caught him off guard, and he swerved Wilwarin around, sword unsheathed.

But it was not an Orc that came cantering out. It was a chestnut-brown stallion, with deep red blood staining its beautiful coat. It went straight to Elladan, and pulled at his reins, urging him to follow.

Wilwarin started following of her own accord, as she could understand what this stallion was trying to tell them. Elladan just let her continue, but he kept his sword at the ready.

The stallion led them to a clearing, quite a way away from the fight scene. The trees here were dark firs, looming in around them. Elladan shivered, but not of the cold.

They were led deeper and deeper into the forest, and the voices of Elladans' companions faded with the wind.

"Ya-ier me;emme? (Where are we?)" he asked the horse. The horse just looked at him, but continued walking.

Elladan soon got his answer. The evening sun suddenly poured in through the trees, lighting every square inch of the forest floor. He shielded his eyes, and when he had grown used to the brightness, he looked around.

"Balaremel!" he cried, seeing the Captain across the other side of the clearing.

He was leant up against a tree, hands covering his abdomen, which was bleeding profusely. A cut ran down his right cheek, and his eyes were shut.

Elladan rushed over and checked for a pulse.

He hung his head.

He was too late.   

See, NOT MUSHY! Murder instead. I feel quite bad about killing Balaremel off now. He was my own character, and I was starting to kinda like him! :-( Oh well, not all stories have happy parts! (As you'll soon see…) ^_-

~Lainfaer~