Author's Note: Just so no one will be confused, thoughts are in apostrophes and dialogue is in quotation marks.

Chapter 8

"May I go? Please? Please? Please?"

Elrond had to smile at the prince. He had never seen Legolas beg before. Then again, it wasn't Legolas' face, and he had seen that expression on Aragorn plenty of times. "I'm not sure it is a good idea. You have just begun to heal, and what if something were to happen to you? Or Estel? You two would never be able to be righted. I think it is best for you to stay here until Gandalf switches you back."

"But...."

"No buts!" Elrond interrupted. "Now go back to your room."

"But it's the middle of the afternoon."

"Well, that is how much you have bothered me!" Elrond was exasperated. He had been harassed nonstop since the twins had put the idea of a hunting trip into their heads. Every five minutes either Legolas or Aragorn would disrupt the elf lord and ask permission, hoping it would be the one time he said yes. Elrond wondered if they thought they could annoy him so much he would give in. The more he thought about it, the more he thought their plan would work. He watched the prince leave and started counting. Exactly on time, he saw Aragorn walk into the room. "I have already said no. Now leave me alone."

Aragorn had tried everything he could think of to gain his father's approval for the trip. Tomorrow morning he and Legolas were going to leave anyway, no matter what Elrond said. He decided to switch tactics in order to receive his father's consent. "Father, Legolas had been stuck in Rivendell for so long. I think it would be good for him to get back into the woods again. You know how much he loves it there." Elrond looked like he was buying it, giving the youth the courage to continue. "He needs to practice his archery. It's killing him to think he is losing the skill." Aragorn was worried that his father would see through his argument, but it looked like the elf lord was seriously considering letting them go. "Please let us go. Legolas needs to be free in the woods again. After all, he is from Mirkwood." Aragorn was disgusted with himself for making up that syrupy story. He looked to see if his efforts were in vain.

"Estel, you know my reasons for not letting you go, so I am not going to bother to explain them to you again. Your arguments are noted, but I feel the risk is too great. Therefore, I regret to inform you that my answer is still no." Aragorn's face fell. "You're dismissed. I don't want to hear you ask me again for at least another two days." As Aragorn started to leave he was called back. "Estel, tell Legolas he can come out of his room, but he is not to set foot in my study unless I request his presence. I fear I may have acted a little....irrationally earlier." He returned his son's smile and went back to work.

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"Shh, you'll wake up the whole house."

"No, you will if you won't be quiet."

"Haven't we heard this before?" Legolas and Aragorn looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "If you two don't stop Ada will catch us." The four crept quietly through the hallways. Aragorn gave his bag to Legolas and headed toward the kitchen. The other three went in the direction of the stables.

As he neared the kitchen he heard someone whistling. 'No! Father's servants are already up.' He turned the corner to see Echuirdur, Elrond's most trusted servant. Nothing could ever get past him. 'It had to be Echuirdur. Couldn't be anyone except Echuirdur. My luck wouldn't let it be anyone except Echuirdur.' He waited for the other to leave. As his eyes scanned the room he saw a small pack already filled. It was on the corner of the counter, just out of eyesight of Echuirdur. 'I wonder who left that?' He snatched it, opening it up to look inside. It was brimming with the group's favorite foods. He hoped it wouldn't inconvenience anyone too much for him to take it. He tiptoed to the end of the hallway until he was sure he was out of Echuirdur's hearing.

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"I wonder what is taking him so long."

"Do you think Ada caught him?"

"More likely Echuirdur. He never misses anything."

"Care to make a wager?" Elladan asked Elrohir.

"Your new knife if I win. My cloak from Lothlorien if you win."

"Deal." They quieted as they heard the stable doors being opened.

"Elladan? Elrohir? Legolas? Are you in here?"

"Estel!" they called him over.

"Did you get the provisions?"

"Yes, Elladan, I got them."

"What took you so long?" Elrohir eagerly asked.

"Echuirdur was standing near the kitchen." Elladan sullenly passed his knife to a gleeful Elrohir as Legolas rolled his eyes at the two. "Am I missing something?"

"You don't want to know," Legolas groaned. He looked at how full the pack was. "I thought this was a hunting trip?" Legolas was confused. Usually you didn't pack that much food when going hunting.

"Obviously you don't hunt often with these two. It's impossible to catch anything." Aragorn remembered all the times the game had been scared off by the twins' loud antics. There were many times when they came home empty-handed.

They each fastened their pack on their horse and quietly led the steeds out of the stables. The horses seemed to know that their masters were sneaking out, so they did not utter a single sound until the elves and human were safely out of hearing range of Rivendell.

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"My lord?"

Elrond looked up from his book. He expected to see Legolas asking for consent to go on the hunting trip. Instead, he saw a servant standing in the doorway.

"Come in."

The servant glanced around the room nervously. In his thousands of years he had never seen the elf lord become angry, and he did not want today to be the first. "Lord Elrond, I am here to inform you that Lords Mithrandir and Saruman are ready to leave. They are going back to Isengard later this afternoon."

Elrond looked up expectantly. "Did Mithrandir say anything about finding something for Legolas and Estel?"

"No, my lord." The servant saw Elrond's face fall. 'Please don't let him shoot the messenger.' "My lord, concerning you sons and Prince Legolas...."

"Yes?"

"They cannot be found. No one has seen them since last night."

"Do you know where they went?"

"No, Lord Elrond." His fear increased as he saw Elrond's face darken. his voice was harsh as he spoke his next words.

"Tell Mithrandir that I wish to speak with him immediately. You're dismissed."

"Please, Lord Elrond, I beg you, please do not fire me over a matter such as this that I had no control over." The servant's skin was paler than usual and his voice shook a little.

"You're dismissed from this room. Please give Mithrandir my message."

The elf gave a huge sigh of relief. He turned on his heels and briskly walked out of the room.

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Legolas and Aragorn quietly talked as they walked through the forrest. The twins were not far behind them, but their excessive loudness was driving Legolas insane. "I came on this trip so I could hunt."

As they continued the noise from the twins grew less and less. "Do you think we should go back and see if they are still following us?" Aragorn asked.

"Must we?" Legolas groaned.

Aragorn smiled. "Now, Legolas, you know that we wouldn't want to lose them."

"Speak for yourself."

As they backtracked the woods became quiet. "Estel, I do not like this. Something is amiss." Without his elven senses Legolas felt vulnerable.

Aragorn was extremely cautious too. He pulled out his bow and notched an arrow. Legolas followed suit.

"What do you sense?"

Aragorn peered around them, looking at every detail the woods could provide. He looked up into the trees when he heard a soft snicker.

"What is it?" Legolas asked as he followed his friends glance. His moment of inattention was enough for him to take a wrong step. He heard the crack of a twig breaking beneath his foot; then he felt the sensation of himself being flipped upside down. He hung from a rope tied around his ankle, thrashing to free himself. "Estel, help!" the prince cried.

To Be Continued....

Author's Note: Another evil cliffie. hehe I appreciate all reviews, comments, etc. A big thank you goes out to everyone who has reviewed any of the previous chapters.

Elfmage: Yes, there will be more Legolas angst. Thank you so much for your review. Reading your reviews are the highlight of my day.

Deana: Thank you for your review. Your reviews are what gives me the will to continue when I get a writers block.

Bratprincess: Thanks for reviewing.

Shauna: Thank you so much for reviewing. I hope this chapter was long enough for you.

Elven Kitten: I was unsure as to which side I was supposed to address this too. lol. Tell all three sides thank you for their reviews.

Marbienl: Don't feel so bad for laughing. (You're not the only one.) I look forward to your reviews each week. They mean a lot to me. Thank you for reviewing my story.

Evenstar: How come everyone always asks me what's going to happen next? I can't tell you; it would ruin the story. lol. Thank you for your review.