Title: Tithen Dulin Author: Mystkyten (mystkyten@cox.net) Pairing: Legolas/OFC

Rating: R

WARNING: abuse of a child. Please do not read if this bothers you. I know that there are not many references to elves being evil, but the way I figure it, if there are good and bad human, then there are good and bad elves. If you do not agree, do not read this story. ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters you recognize, they belong to Tolkien, I am only borrowing them for a little while. I promise to bring them back in the same condition as I found them, maybe with a little wear and tear.

^means thought^ *means human speak* ***means flashback*** "means elven"

Please R/R

Chapter 8

Balendir made his way through the forest of Mirkwood. It had been a while since he had wandered these paths. He left his home centuries ago; he could not handle living in the place that reminded him of his departed family. However, when he returned everyone seemed to think of him as weak. Weak! They were the ones that were weak. He had done something that they should have done, and for that he was forced into exile from Mirkwood. They allowed the humans to flourish, when they should have been destroying them! He would show them. His return still burned in his soul. The king did not see him as a warrior, but as a servant. Working for the king forced him to see the bond that the king had with his family, a bond that he was denied! Every moment of seeing them together fed his hatred for the royal family. He would take care of them, starting with the child. He thought back to sweet treasure in the cave. He could not wait to taste her fear. But first he had to take care a minor inconvenience, Thranduil and his brat.

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Thranduil was the first to hear the noise. They had been trying to track the elf for the last few hours with little success. They stopped for a moment to try and reassess what they were going to do. Legolas and a couple of the guards were at the center of the camp discussing the trail. Thranduil walked to the outer edge trying to determine what he had heard. At the repeat of the faint sound, he held his hand up and everyone froze.

"SPIDERS!" Legolas leaped back from the tree he was standing under as a handful of spiders dropped down amongst the warriors.

The clearing was quickly filled with the sound of fighting as the warriors tried to keep the spiders from attacking. Legolas shot one spider as it dropped behind his father. Watching it fall; he noticed movement in the trees behind them. Balendir. He leapt into the nearest tree intending to follow the elf.

"Legolas, what are you doing?"

"I think it is Balendir, Father."

Thranduil watched as his son disappeared into the foliage. Before he could follow, another spider dropped down in front of him. Thranduil battled for a while longer, frustrated that he could not immediately follow Legolas. He was afraid that Balendir was setting a trap for the prince. Finally a path opened before him. After looking back to make sure the others were holding their own, Thranduil hurried to catch up to his son.

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It was only for a split second that Legolas saw what looked like an elf. No other elf should be out here. His gut instinct told him to follow the shadow that he saw; he had to make sure it was him. After calling down to his father Legolas quickly ran through the branches of the tree tops. This elf was not going to get away. He was going to pay for what he had done.

Unfortunately for Balendir, the young prince gained on him faster than he expected. He underestimated the young prince's skills. He watched as the prince dropped from the canopy of the forest, ready to attack. Balendir glared at him. This prince was not going to beat him.

"So young prince, I finally have you to myself!" Balendir smirked.

"Balendir, what do you think you are doing? Why are you acting like this?"

"I am only helping Middle Earth by ridding her of the scum that was taking over. There is no harm in that."

"No harm? Darkness has taken over you Balendir. You mind has been warped, and you no longer see the light and the goodness that the people of this world possess, including the humans. You are a murderer, a spawn of Mordor. I cannot believe that you were once an elf of my father's kingdom."

Balendir's anger quickly rose. "You think because you are a prince that you are above things like this? You need to come out of your ivory tower and join the real world. Humans have no place in the realm of elves." Balendir quick as lightening drew his bow and fired a shot, aimed for the prince's heart. Legolas spun away from the path of the arrow, easily dodging it. Before Balendir could notch another arrow, Legolas loosed his blades and charged his opponent; knocking the bow from his hand. Balendir swiftly unsheathed his long elven sword and countered the young elf's attack. The surprising move from Balendir caused one of Legolas's blades to fly from his hand. Legolas jumped back a step his remaining blade flashing.

After moving to the left to avoid Legolas's attack, Balendir quickly spun around and raised the hilt of his sword, slamming it into Legolas's shoulder. As a searing pain erupted from his shoulder, Legolas collided with the ground, his remaining blade flying from his grasp. Balendir raised his sword attempting to stab the downed elf.

Thinking fast, Legolas rolled to his left, bringing his right foot up and knocking Balendir's sword; sending it flying into the near by bushes. Legolas looked around trying to find his blades. They were too far away for him to reach. He turned his attention back to Balendir in time to flip him over his shoulder as the older elf attempted to leap onto him.

The two began to struggle on the floor of the forest locked in mortal combat. Legolas gave it his all. If he could just keep Balendir distracted, might be able to grab one of his blades and end this fight.

"You think you are winning young one?" Balendir hissed through clenched teeth. Slowly and with much trouble Balendir lifted his knees to his chest and kicked the young elf off of him. Legolas flew a few feet from where his blades rested.

Quickly the young prince made his way to retrieve his fallen blades. Turning back to confront his enemy, he was surprised to see no trace of him. "The coward ran." He growled. Glancing around the forest, Legolas could not see where his opponent went to. He knew Balendir had to be near; the forest was quiet; to quiet.

Balendir watched from his position in the trees above his foe as the young elf retrieved his blades. He waited patiently for the prince to turn his back to him. The malicious elf took his dagger from in his boot and silently dropped from his perch. Landing softly behind the prince, Balendir smiled wickedly in anticipation. Without further thought, he thrust his dagger into the soft flesh of Legolas side, just below the ribs. Legolas' eyes widen in horror as he felt the searing pain. With shaking hands Legolas looked down to see a long dagger implanted deeply in his body. He raised his head to look straight in the eyes of his assailant. Balendir jerked his dagger from the prince's side, the pain causing the prince to collapse at his feet. Balendir sneered at the fallen elf. "Have I proved myself now?" With a final kick to the fallen elf's side, Balendir set out to find the prince's sire. It was time to play.

tbc