Disclaimer : These characters and settings do not belong to me. Thalawen and Landailyn and the rest are either completely made up or belong to J.R.R Tolkien. Also please note that there is NO slash, harsh language or sexual content in this story! Though there is some character angst, true friendships (means again that there is NO slash) and a little romance as you all know from my other two fanfics: 'Shadow in the Trees' and 'An Unexpected Journey'! I personally suggest they be read first in order to know what is being talked about and referred to in this third sequel!

A CONSPIRACY UNMASKED
By : mirkwood-elf-2931


CHAPTER 1


Tall and proud stood a she-Elf, blonde haired and pale skinned with full pink lips, dark brows and blue eyes.

These oceanic orbs watched closely over the fifteen newest recruits in her army, as they practiced and trained for their new purpose in life, to protect and serve the rulers and residents of northern Eyrn Lasgalen, most commonly known as northern Mirkwood, the Elven-king's realm.

To those outside of the Elven race, they all seemed naturals with their newly distributed weapons, but a few tended to make mistakes, which was expected, but also the reason for their training and needing to be 'looked over'.

Landailyn Windsong was their superior and her very presence made some of them more nervous than they would ever admit to. Her appearance certainly didn't seem to help matters; her gaze was stern, her eyes squinted now and then and her jaw was set in concentration, as she paced from area to area.

Most of the fifteen knew there had never been a female in charge before and those who'd heard rumors wondered how well or strictly she had been running things over the last two years. Though one could not judge on first look and appearance, as they did know her abilities in fighting could match their prince's renowned skills any day and all immediately respected her for just that. But from now on they would see for themselves exactly what she was like.

A few minutes more and they were finally relieved as the attention was taken off of them; when Prince Legolas was suddenly standing next to her still, watchful form.

"How are things going?"

"Good. They're all doing very well. They remind me some of myself." She grinned at him.

Legolas returned the gesture, as they began moving casually along a stone walkway. "I know what you mean. All that training with our fathers when we were young..."

"You two are still very young."

They turned inward toward each other to find Thranduil walking directly behind them. Though he was not looking at either of them, but at the groups of trainers and trainees around them, as if he were only partially listening to them and speaking absently.

"Good morning, my lord." Landailyn greeted with a small bowing of her head.

Without meaning to, the new warriors' eyes all widened in visible sight for anyone to see. Now the prince and king were watching them?

"Good morning, captain. You speak true, they are doing quite well."

"Aye, they'll be ready for real battle in no time." She tried to keep this quieter, just between the two she walked with, so those not paying attention would not catch it.

But two young male Elves in the crowd of newcomers were straining to hear every word said. "Did you hear that? Real battle!" They cheered together, clasping each other's hands at head level, in much excitement.

"Yeah, Ny, Ech," One of their female companions, Alathyn, addressed them sarcastically. "Just what we need around here, more of this army brought to war. Do you not remember why we're even here? Because they have lost so many they fear they could not hold out if the palace or city was attacked again!"

"Alright, we're sorry!" Echorren apologized for he and his best friend, Nylaro, although, as soon as she turned away, they continued to cheer silently to one another.

Unaware of this conversation, Landailyn smiled over the young Elves in training, but the happiness of the sight soon left her, for her sense of heightened hearing picked up on a maturing sound. To her ears it sounded like thunder in the close distance of a coming storm, but today there was not a cloud in the bright blue sky, even as far as she could see.

"Landailyn...?" Legolas and his father were some yards away from her now, but the prince shortly spotted his friend in overlooking the grounds. She had stopped along the path they were walking, half facing the opposite direction, staring off into space as though fixed in a trance.

And very soon Legolas would see exactly why.

Bursting through a small gateway to the rear courtyard, twelve steeds all of gray and white, entered, heading for the stables. It was Deyinar, Landailyn's new second in command and his group, finally returning from a far hunt they had set out on a week before. However, some horses were not occupied and atop those that were, most of the riders did not sit alone; for they held the unconscious and wounded in front of them.

Landailyn stayed where she was only for a second and then she was running swiftly toward her men.

It was then Thranduil and Legolas and most everyone else, realized what was wrong. Landailyn had heard the pounding of hooves against the terrain beneath. "Help them. I will summon the healers." Thranduil told his son, making as fast as possible for the inside of their home.

"Deyinar!" Landailyn called, as he slid down from his horse. "What happened?!" Full alarm flooded her emotions at the frightening fact than yet more of her men could be lost. There had been twelve that had gone on the trip. Ten of the army's own and two younger male Elves brought along by their fathers, but thankfully they seemed not to be hurt, only afraid for the wounded men surrounding them. Only six could she count in total with so many other bodies now rushing and bustling by.

"Captain," Deyinar breathed deeply, putting a hand on her shoulder and hanging his head. He was actually quite a bit older than she, but nonetheless he admired her strength and abilities as their rightfully chosen commanding officer. "We...were ambushed...at least three leagues from here."

They had ridden nearly ten miles wounded as they were? Landailyn's mouth was left to gape at this information.

"We never even...heard..." But Deyinar didn't finish; his eyes closed and he went completely limp.

Landailyn had to step quickly forward to catch him. Letting him lean against her own body, an arm going around to his back and one upon his chest to keep him standing, but she could not do it for long and was glad when she heard thumping footfalls coming up behind her. She turned her head just enough to see whom it was. "Legolas, a little help..."

He took the weight of the taller man from her, moving him over to a wall's wide ledge and setting his body down. "Father is summoning the healers." He explained, searching the second in command for injury, when he looked to his right near his shoulder.

Landailyn was holding her hand out for him to see. It was blood.

Meanwhile, from the rest of the troops that had stayed behind that morning many came to aid their fellow soldiers, but the newer, younger ones tried to stay out of everyone's way.

Alathyn sighed sadly. "Our first day… See what battle brings us?" She glared at Echorren and Nylaro, before facing the other way to leave the scene, her friend Evanyne following.

They shrugged slightly at one another, continuing to watch with interest as the captain now ran here and there, helping with what she could, directing and ordering those caring for the injured Elves. It was obvious she cared very much for the numbers in the seemingly ever-abating host of man-at-arms that Mirkwood had.


~*~*~~*~~*~*~


"Hey,"

As Landailyn entered the Great Hall, she looked upward and over.

Legolas was visible to the right of her, sitting sideways on the stairs to the thrones, his legs dangling over the edge. With nothing else to do, he had come into the quiet, empty hall to think a while. "What have you been doing?"

"Helping in the stables." Wearily, she slumped down onto the flat top of a wooden chest, resting her back against the huge pillar it sat next to.

The prince made a distraught facial expression. If he had known that she was still working so hard, he would have helped her.

"We have been doing so well these past months. No adversity, no tragedy. No one dead...and now this."

With his hands behind him, Legolas slid off the stairs and landed lightly six feet below to the floor, walking over to stand in front of her. "Worry not; we have been told that all of them are faring far better than before."

"But there were ten of them, Legolas; four are gone. A boy lost his father right before his eyes."

Legolas looked away sorrily from her saddened visage, but he knew she would be all right after a while. He was just as hurt by this as she was, but still reminded himself what it had been like at the Battle of the Hornburg. It had pained his heart mortally to have walked about afterward and seen the torn and broken bodies of the dead and dying. For there had been more Elven than Human that day at sunrise, when the Uruks were driven away with the help of Gandalf and the Rohirrim.

He sighed, breaking from the memory to yet another pressing one. "I only remembered, I must go take care of a matter for Father. I'll see you before you leave?"

"Aye, I'm going to go see if Deyinar is awake." Landailyn rose from the chest. "I'll let you know what he says about what happened."

The Elven prince nodded and walked hastily from the room.


TBC ...

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mirkwood-elf-2931 :
Like it so far? It probably won't be as good as my other fics, cuz' Thala isn't adding her touches of writing to this! And cuz' I'm running out of ideas for writing here, being as I'm all by myself! (It's cool, Thala, I'm not blaming you for not helping me.) But if stuff starts not sounding good, I'm sorry…it's probably just me! LOL!
So, did you guys all have a good Christmas and New Years? I got Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean stuff for Christmas! And thank you, Thala, for what you got me! She got me a gold Austrian crystal tennis bracelet and earring set! It's pretty!
I also went to Beth's house after Christmas and I'm so happy, cuz' I got a boyfriend out of it! LOL! Beth's boyfriend's best friend, Tony, asked me out on the 28th! So he lives in Oklahoma near Beth (about 40 miles from me) so it sucks that it's a 'long distance relationship', but we're gonna give it a chance! ;)