I just have 1 thing to say... It's about damn time!!!

*walks away grinning like an idiot as if she had won the Oscars too*

' Leaves of Glass '

Chapter 14 - Set In Motion

Legolas gripped the reins of the mare's bridle, the leather twisted and breaking after 3 weeks of torment at his hands. His body shook with apprehension and despair. They were now on the palace grounds, not 1 days ride to the palace carved into the mountains. Jesteph had left their group the day before yesterday, returning to his patrol; taking with him any chance Legolas had of warning his father. The Arandant king had made certain that he had never had a moment alone with the young warrior.

And now they were so close to the palace that Legolas could see the barracks of the outlying guard houses.

As Legolas brooded a sweet, clear horn blast sounded, drawing the prince's attention to the road in front of him. At the end of the path, where it split into 3 directions, there appeared a group of warriors, dressed in the garb of the palace guards. Banners were held, fluttering in the strong wind that had started that morning, proudly showing the colors of Mirkwood.

The king hissed for Legolas to move and the prince automatically nudged his horse on. Another horn sounded as they drew near. The guards parted, stepping into two straight rows, the banners held high. And as Legolas continued on, drawing closer and praying with each step that he could turn and run. One elf rode into the path created by the guards, a wide smile adorning his face. He rode a dappled mare and wore long robes of flowing green that shimmered to yellow in the wind; a small silver circlet made of tiny leaves circled his golden head.

Thranduil urged his horse into a gallop as he raced towards his son.

**

Strider watched the meeting between father and son. Saw the joy on Thranduil's face. And the forced joy on Legolas'.

The prince's body quivered as his father embraced him, whispered words into his ear, kissed his cheek. Legolas laughed happily, his smile glowing. He turned and introduced the Men at his back. The two kings bowed formally atop their steeds. Then the entire party moved off to the palace.

Strider turned and crept through the trees, taking a different path.

**

A young doe watched as two identical elves, as dark as night, road into the clearing where she grazed. Their eyes ever watchful for the abounding evils that besieged the woods, they held their weapons tightly, their bodies tense, waiting.

She lowered her head to the ground, pulling up another mouthful of dark grass, watching the ethereal creatures atop their mounts.

After a moment two more figures on horseback, these as golden as the sun, stepped into the clearing. They walked quickly to the others, their eyes watching as well. Soft words were passed and then the four left together. The deer returned to her meal, forgetting the brief disruption.

**

Legolas could hear the bustle of the banquet preparations from his chambers. Could hear joy in the songs that were being sung. Laughter filled the halls as the festivities were organized. Music rang out, echoing on the stone walls and the trees whispered their gladness at his return home.

But Legolas could feel none of this happiness. There had been such joy on his father's face. Such bliss in his eyes as Legolas had not seen since had had come home after his first imprisonment with the Arandant. His father had so lovingly brought his killer back into his home.

Tears stung the prince's eyes, sliding down his porcelain skin, seeping into the pillow his head lay on. His body had not stopped shaking since he first laid eyes on the palace grounds. His fate was sealed. His path chosen irreversibly the moment his father naively drew him into his arms.

Footsteps echoed outside his door. Shouts could be heard ringing out from the courtyard below his window. Happy voices, shouting their joy for the safe return of their prince.

Legolas turned to his side, away from the window. He saw the glint of his dagger, reflecting the golden light of the candles beside his bed. He longed to reach for the knife. To feel it's sharp blade pierce his breast. The weapon sat untouched on the table.

Not so long ago he had seen hope in death. But he had been selfish then, he knew. He had sought an end that would have caused other's great pain, only so that he could ease his own. But now... now his thoughts were only for those he loved.

A sob escaped the prince's throat and he did not try to suppress it. Memories of his childhood, spent so lovingly in his father's arm, came back to him and his body began to shake with sobs. Great wrenching cries, like he had not cried in centuries, were stifled in his pillow. Tears soaked through the fabric and wet his face.

His body ached, but not with a physical pain, and his heart felt at if it had torn. After a time his body lay still, his eyes closed as he was pulled mercifully into the realm of elven dreams.

But these dreams were not dreams at all. They were nightmares.

The air was cold. So bitter cold that even the elven prince could feel it. Icy fog lay in a blanket throughout the forest, casting everything in silver-gray shadows. He stepped forward; felt something crunch beneath his feet. He looked down but could not see through the fog.

He heard a vice call out, deep in the trees. A soft, seductive voice that drew him on. The voice whispered to him, beckoning him, sending exotic promises as he wove through the tangle of tree boughs. He came to a steam in the middle of the path he was walking. As he stepped on to it it cracked, thin tendrils like spider webs spreading out beneath his feet. He took another step, heard another crack.

With each stride the stream cracked further, and as he pushed off onto the opposite shore it shattered and rushed away in a tumult of black water. He looked across the stream, but as he watched it swelled, the water flowing out over the far bank, turning the woods into a lake of tossing black foam.

The voice beckoned to him again, and he turned, forgetting the lake, following the promises. His hands brushed cold trees as he walked, snapped the brittle twigs of bushes, letting them fall to the earth with an odd click. He stopped once to examine the noise but the voice called out louder and he forgot that as well.

As he stepped between two closely grown trees, their cold, smooth sides sliding against his clothes, the fog cleared ahead of him and he stopped with a painful jerk. The voice stopped calling.

The cold silver of the fog had been replaced with horrifying crimson red. All over, splattered across the bushes, spreading over the ground in pools, smeared across the smooth trees in terrible fingerprints, was dark red blood.

In the center of the clearing lay a body, so twisted that the prince first thought it to be an orc. But orcs do not have red blood. Legolas stepped closer to the distorted form, bent to turn it onto its back with the heel of his palm. Familiar blue eyes stared up at him, surrounded by a halo of golden hair encircled with a silver crown made of tiny leaves.

Legolas screamed as he woke. His breath caught in his throat and he gagged. He clutched at his heart; he could feel it pounding against his chest. Visions of red swam through his eyes and he felt as if he was falling.

Suddenly there was a soft knock that rang in his ears. He turned slowly, his eyes focusing on the familiar carved wood of his door. He took a few deep breaths, urged his heart to slow. "Enter." He said, his voice strained, harsh. He rose slowly from his bed, wiping the last remains of tears from his face as the door opened.

One of the palace messengers walked in and bowed. "The banquet is ready, my lord." He said, smiling broadly.

Legolas nodded and dismissed him. 'This is the end.' He thought as he walked from the room.

**

Strider stooped beside a thick cluster of dark trees, dropping his pack to the ground, pulling a dark cloak from the top. He wrapped the stolen cloak around his shoulders, pulling the hood over his head. He hid his pack inside a thicket of bushes, covering it with dead leaves to hide the slightly off color, then quickly walked out into the clearing he had spotted earlier.

As expected a guard stopped him immediately. "What are you doing in this area, stranger?" The guard demanded.

'Pretense.' Strider said to himself, squaring his shoulders and facing the guard. "I went for a walk and got lost." Strider said, his hands finding his hips, his chin held high, daring the elf to ridicule in the haughty manner of the Men he was trying to impersonate.

"The palace is back that way." The elf said, pointing down a path on his right, his voice barely hiding the contempt for this Man. Strider nodded in thanks and quickly walked down the path. He passed a group of cloaked men, nodded at their greeting as he walked by. He followed another man into an entrance he remembered from his youth.

Once inside the palace, he walked slowly, mimicking the proud posture of the other cloaked men. He walked through the expansive halls, searching for the rooms he remembered. He took several wrong turns, had to backtrack to familiar ground before starting again.

As he rounded a corner, certain he had gotten lost again, he heard the thing he had feared most since he entered the stone fortress. "You!" A voice called out from behind him. He stopped quickly, but turned slowly, almost bored, in the arrogant manner of the Arandant. He immediately came to attention when he recognized one of the higher ranking officers of the Men. This man would know him not to be an equal. Strider just hoped he wouldn't know him. His hands started to shake and he clenched them tightly. He could not be found out yet.

"Sir." The young Ranger said, bowing in courtesy. Sweat started to bead on his forehead.

"The elves have asked that we not wear our hoods while in their palace." The officer spat, his voice clearly showing his contempt at being given orders from the elves. "Our king has demanded we pay them this courtesy." Until we have taken control, his eyes said.

"Yes, sir." Strider nodded. He lifted his hands, gripping the edges of his hood. He swallowed hard as he pushed the dark material from his head. Sweat trickled down his back, and his heart quickened. The officer watched as he pulled the hood away, then after a brief glance at Strider's face spun on his heels and walked away from the shaking Ranger.

Strider let out a shaky breath and laughed, though the sound held no mirth. After a moment he resumed his search, backtracking down the hall he was in and taking a different turn. What seemed an eternity later he finally found what he was searching for. The wing of the palace that held the younger prince's bed chambers. He had followed his nanny to these quarters many times as a child.

Strider stepped into the lee of a tall pillar, concealing himself in the shadows. His dark eyes were fixed on the door that led to the prince's room. His heart beat harder in his chest, and sweat slid down the side if his face. His hands began to shake.

'I long for the trees.'

The prince's words whispered through his head. Was he looking at the trees now? Had he felt the touch of the sun on his journey? Did he sing to the stars?

Strider took a deep breath and pulled away from the pillar. He nearly jumped when he heard a loud shout come from the prince's room. But before he could move, a slim figure rounded the corner and he quickly slid back into the shadows. The elf walked slowly, a beaming smile on his beautiful face. He stopped beside the prince's door, knocked. The door opened and Strider could see Legolas inside.  Soft words were spoken, then the messenger left, Legolas following behind him.

Strider cursed and backed down the hall.

**

"Those are the men, my lord." Avarilas informed the crown prince. The four elves were crouched in the thicket, some distance from the palace entrance. "The ones that told me they had no information on Legolas." Lindelen watched the cloaked men move about the palace grounds. They stood in small clusters, talking in soft voices, watching the elven guards warily.

"Perhaps they rescued him from some danger and are simply seeing him safely home." Elrohir suggested.

Elladan shook his head stiffly. "No. You know as well as I, brother, that Legolas would have no dealings with humans were he well enough to avoid it. Which clearly he is."

"Ai." Lindelen said, sinking further back into the shadowed bushes. "Something is indeed wrong with this."

"We can-"

"No." The prince said softly, cutting off his brother's guard. "They will do nothing yet, and neither will we."

"But if they-"

"The palace is too well guarded, and their forces are too far away to be of any help, they will not risk it. No. We will wait. I have an ill feeling about this." Lindelen stood and turned, heading back into the dark forest. "Come. I know of a more secret place we can watch."

**

Strider drew in a deep breath, willing his heart to stop beating so fast. He closed his eyes, nodding in silent answer when the man beside him asked if he was alright. Thankfully his hands had stopped shaking.

'How did I get myself into this mess?' He thought. His eyes opened slowly, turning to look over the room once more. He sat at the table of the king of Mirkwood, surrounded by cloaked men, trying not to show that his nerves were crumbling with each passing moment. He had been caught on his way back out of the palace and drug to the banquet in honor of Legolas' safe return. All the Men were to be present, he had been told.

'Any moment someone will realize they do not know me, and then my cover will be blown.' He did not fear for himself, for Thranduil was always been kind to him and he knew he was in no danger as long as the king was there. But should he be found out his plan would fail, and the elves would be turned into slaves.

The din in the large banquet hall died down and Strider looked up cautiously to see the king rise. The elf's lips started to move, but the young Ranger could hear nothing over the roaring in his ears.

**

Thranduil stood, tapping his wine glass with the tip of his knife. The hall fell to silence, all eyes turning towards him. "This banquet is not only for my son, though I am ever joyful at his safe, if increasingly late, return." He looked down and winked mischievously at Legolas who was seated on his right. Legolas returned the look with a stiff smile. "But it is also in thanks to these brave men, who have battled the dangers of my kingdom to bring him back to me. You are forever in my debt. Feast and be merry!"

He raised his glass in a toast and the cloaked men all cheered, doing the same. Thranduil sat down as the racket if the banquet returned.

"You make a spectacle of yourself, father." Legolas said, shaking his head, a loving smile pulling at his lips.

"Ai, my boy. And I love every minute of it." The king gave his son an impetuous grin. "Come, do as I have commanded and be merry. The night is young yet and you are far too somber!" Legolas rolled his eyes and raised his glass to his lips in a mock toast.

For many hours the night wore on, the men growing ever more 'merry' while Legolas watched anxiously from the sidelines. A small band was formed once the meal was consumed and dancing begun. Many elf maidens allowed themselves to be courted by the men, but always they found their way back to the arms of their kindred. Drinking games were played, the elves always the winners. And many, elves and men, made fools of themselves as the night turned to early morning. No one could throw a banquet quite like the elves.

When the sun had just barely begun rising over the forest, turning the dark leaves into brilliant shades of orange and red, finally people began to make their way to their beds. Time and again over the night Legolas had convinced his father to remain at the festivities, begging in his most innocent and undeniable way; he feared what would happen once the elder elf was alone.

But finally Thranduil would listen no more and he removed himself from his son's presence with a firm glare, retiring to his room. The moment he had disappeared into the vast halls Legolas tried to flee, stealing through the thinning crowd until he reached the other side of the room.

A hand grasped his arm and he heard a soft hiss in his ear. "Your father is to be dead before this hour is through." Then the hand slid from his arm and the cloaked king retreated into the crowd, watching with a dark smile as Legolas walked slowly from the room.

**

Strider saw the prince leave the banquet and he slipped out a side door. His hands started to shake again.

To Be Continued...

*is still floating on cloud nine* Wow. Another long chapter. I'm impressed with myself.

Until next time!

Adrienne

To my wonderful reviewers -

tmelange - Yes, yes he has. But alas, you must wait even longer to figure out what it is. So sorry. *snickers and whispers to muses* No not. What? She can still hear me? Oh crap.

Gwyn - I do indeed understand such pet peeves. My mother has spent the last 3 years calling Viggo 'Viggo Morgenson'. It drives me up the wall. And yes, angst is a given.

silvetoekee - Yes he has. No he won't. Yes he is and I promise he will. Not soon, but eventually. Ummm... yeah, that.

Templa Otmena - Yes, cruel, evil. That's me to a tee. And you were right. The king had ordered him not to go anywhere. Poor thing. But at least he got to take out some of his frustrations. Thorn bushes and all that.

Seelenspiel - Always glad to hear.

Viresse0 - Yes, I saw your story. I'll get to it ASAP. Been busy and what not. I actually feel really bad, cuz you always reply right away and it takes me days to get to your new chapters. I'm sorry.

Vicki Turner - Guess you'll just have to wait one more chapter. I'm so mean, no? :)

Chilamala - Yes, poor Jesteph had no idea what he was getting himself into when he wandered into my brain. I thought it was cute in a bittersweet sorta way though. At least Legolas knows his people still love him. Don't know of that's a good thing.

Kept-Secret - Guess you'll just have to wait. Sorry. ;)

Ruby Foxburr of Loamsdown - Wow. Just... wow. That kept me quite entertained for a while, thank you. Most people just put a 'loved everything' in their review. I've never had anyone go back and review every single chapter. Especially since there were so many to review. You really made my week with all of your wonderful praises. Thank you so much.

candidus-lupus-full Moon - Yes, Stanley is a good one. I'm just glad they've never seen the Boobah's. I don't think I could handle that. They're even worse than the Telletubbies. I didn't even think that was possible.

cherryfaerie - It was the 'killing' one. And yeah, the king would never lower himself so much as to do grunt labor like clearing paths. Good try though. I guess you'll just have to wait to see how he does it. *grins evilly*

MelayneBaggins - Guess you're gonna have to wait longer. Sorry. Sorta. :)

MG87 - Angst. Yes, angst. Always. And by the way, in case you didn't notice, I used your title suggestion. So obvious a title. I felt kinda stupid that I didn't think of it myself. Thanks for pointing it out to me.

Tsuki no Lomelinde - Thank you and... if by soon you mean once every week, yes, yes I will.

Kit Cloudkicker - Sorry babe, but no. I've actually gotten this prediction several times, I even toyed with the idea for a while, but what I have in store is so much more... cruel. *laughs maniacally*

tay-yy - Yes it is. And a good day to you.

LalaithoftheBruinen - Thank you. And bunnies back to you too. *shrugs*

AlmatarioofMirkwood - Yes, cliffies. How I love them.

Estel Elven Enchantress - Eh. Not so much main. I just love them so they're there. They will be helping though.

Shinigami061 - Well thank you very much.

Cosmic Castaway - *rubs butt* *kicks you* Brat. I should make you wait. But I'm afraid of you, so I didn't. *runs and hides*

Elven Kitten - Thank you very much.