**** Chapter 5! Finally! I'm really sorry I haven't written in a long, long
time, but I had writer's depression. . . No one ever reviews! And I was
busy learning better English to make the story better, also, so maybe you
could be happy. Please help me with any elvish mistakes or English
mistakes. ***** Also, for all you Merry Springer fans, I'll be writing that
next. Don't get impatient, though you sure have a right to! ***
Arwen rode rather nervously back to the palace. She was not afraid, but deep down she knew that she should be. Rarely did spiders come near the palace, which she was nearing, but once in a while a nomad arachnid would break off from its fellows and explore the woods.
Arwen twitched as a tree creaked next to her. She cautiously looked up, and then turned to her horse. "Noro lim, Haelin," She whispered, and the horse quickened its pace from a light trot to a slow gallop. Hurry up, Haelin—I think, don't eat me, I taste bad
Still, although she felt safer, Arwen pulled out an inch of her sword, gazing intently on the path in front of her, watching for any sign of the palace or for spiders.
Nothing lay ahead of her, and when she looked behind, nothing lay behind her. Why was she so frightened? Arwen presumed it was because of Legolas.
*****************************************************
Legolas glared, annoyed now. How many times had he heard of the evil antagonist resorting to kidnapping or stealing to get his wanting? Really, it was getting very cliché.
"And you think it will work, uncle?" Legolas said, deliberately saying "uncle" in mock interest.
Taurnil laughed a short, blunt, laugh, more like a cough than anything, and smiled a crooked, disturbed smile. "Yes, nephew, it will. For your sentimental father is weak. Always was, always will be, and you will follow in his footsteps. You already are."
Legolas was severely agitated now. With this damn cage, with his damned uncle, with his gem-obsessed father who just happened to be a king of an entire country, with this damn predicament.
He knew his agitation was abnormal; shouldn't he be scared that Mirkwood was going to be in the hands of a Valar-forsaken creature that passed for an elf? No, he was just being stubborn, being proud, defiant of the fact he was in an iron cage sitting in the middle of a city, miles away from his home among the trees.
Elven pride, most likely. His father's stubborn pride. "Fine, Taurnil, fine, but alas, if it does not work, which it will not, what would you do with me?"
Taurnil smiled at his last words. "That is for me to decide. But, alas- he said this mocking Legolas's words- , it will not be kind, and I can assure you of that."
A/N: I might make this a little angsty, please tell me if that's okay. No slash, though. This is the wrong fic if you want slash. I can't do it, sorry, I'm just bad at writing it in the first place. ****
Arwen was frantic. She knew that something was following her, but whenever she turned around, nothing made an appearance. "Noro Lim!" She yelled at her tiring horse, without a sign of her usual merciful attitude. She wanted out of this forsaken area. Hurry Up—I think! I am learning three different languages, Elvish, Spanish, and French so don't kill me if I don't get elvish right! I'm kinda busy.
A few minutes passed. Arwen sighed. The palace was coming in to view, a cave in the distance. The court outside was near, and Arwen could spy a few lone elves strolling beyond the gate.
Suddenly, as odd as it may seem, Arwen found herself, in one split second, sprawling over the ground. She blinked.
Her horse was neighing in terror, and Arwen gasped when she saw what he was so frightened of.
Luck had not been in her presence. A spider had latched itself onto the neck of her horse and was biting hard. Arwen screamed for the aid of the elves in the courtyard, groping for her sword.
Where was it? It had been on her belt! She cursed under her breath in a quick stream of elvish and jumped to her feet.
Her horse took a few steps before falling due to poison now flowing in the beast's blood.
Three elves were rushing toward Arwen, and all seemed slow as the spider turned toward its new victim.
*******************************************
Legolas suddenly found his pride being swallowed beneath fear as Taurnil walked back in to the hall. What if Thranduil really did not accept the offer? What would become of him?
He knew in the pit of his heart that Taurnil would not make an exception for family members. Was this a child's joke? Legolas felt that he would wake, and that all of this was some setup perhaps to teach him some lesson.
Legolas leaned his head on the bars, rubbing his temples slowly. He ignored the slight cold of the iron, taking it as some comfort to his burning anger.
*~*~*~*~
Later that day, Nevweneh came. She held only a plate of stale bread and some impossibly old juice of some sour fruit. She looked at the distaste on Legolas's face with guilt. "I could not give you more, it was my orders."
Legolas shook his head, "Never mind. Nevweneh, you said you were taken here from Lothlorien. Will you tell me of it?"
"To be sincere, there is not much to tell a tale of," She sighed, brushing a lone strand of hair from her face. "My father and I were close. So, you see, it was no challenging question to see that when he was missing I went after him."
"What came of it?" Legolas asked, wanting to know more.
"I found him," She said shortly, then took a deep breath. "He was dead."
"What illness betook him?"
"He was killed. An arrow pierced his heart. He had perished instantly," Nevweneh sighed, reliving horrid memories. "I have yet to find who murdered him. But I will find them."
"Where did he die?"
"Here," She said, simply, "When I found his body, they found me. I had lost my quiver in the forest, blind with my grief, and they took me without a fight, for I could not."
"Did your mother not try to find you?" Legolas said, hoping that Nevweneh would have a chance of freedom yet.
"Nay, Legolas, my mother cares not for me," She said sadly. "For what reason would she come for a child she wishes gone?"
Legolas stared, not knowing what else to speak of. Nevweneh stared back; a glazed over trance, and all seemed quiet for a moment as her skirt rippled in the wind.
"I will leave now, and I wish you good tidings, may the night not hurt you," She said, and without another word pulled up her skirt and walked slowly into the hall, feeling Legolas's stare on her back.
*************************************************************
Arwen backed up. Could she evade the creature? Was she fast enough? She cursed at her long dress that piled on the ground, making her legs nearly immobile and making it seem like she was dragging boulders on her ankles.
The spider leaped off the horse in one fluid moment. One of the elves rushing to help screamed as it landed inches before Arwen.
She looked frantically around her; what could be used as a weapon against this beast? She spied nothing but Mirkwood's dark trees, and those would serve as no help, as spiders can climb and she was wearing a dress, so she was unable to climb anyways.
Arwen backed up further, into a tree. She watched the spider warily. She bent down, searching the ground for a twig or some branch.
At last, after what seemed like an eternity but was actually no more than a moment, her hand found a branch. The spider eyed it as Arwen stood back up and swung it in a threatening manner.
The spider advanced slowly, still eyeing the branch and its prey with its multiple eyes. Arwen's hands started to clam. She was scared, frightened for herself, and frightened that no one would find out about her vision, that when she was dead she could tell no one where Legolas was.
The spider let out a chattering noise, almost a hiss. Arwen held the branch high as the spider came closer and closer. Then it leaped, surprising everyone. The elves yelped, and Arwen screamed.
The spider landed on her chest, forcing her backwards, and as her head made contact with the hard tree, all she could think about was Legolas. Then, after one last thought of agony, she slipped into darkness.
**********************************************************
Legolas sat, leaning backwards on the iron bars. This experience was not only frightening and also quite agitating, but it was also very boring. The only way he could entertain himself was by sleeping, and that served as no real help either.
Once in a while a child would walk by, skipping at her mother's feet. Legolas stare at them with a heavy heart, thinking of Nevweneh. What mother did not love her child? It was a deepening thought. His mother had loved him; her last words stated that. Legolas felt ashamed that he was given a loving mother but not her.
~*~*~*
Taurnil came once again at sunset. Legolas sighed. What did he want now?
"We are sending a messenger tonight..." Taurnil said with a smirk. Ah, so that is what he wanted. To know what Legolas wanted to say to his father. Perhaps a cry for help? Words asking for mercy and safety?
"Tell him not to come," Legolas said.
Taurnil looked surprised, almost. But then he nodded mockingly and walked back to the hall without another word. It was Legolas's turn to be surprised. He had left so suddenly. Usually his uncle stayed longer.
************************************************************
Arwen awoke, suddenly. Her head snapped up. Where was she? Dead? Most likely. In the Halls?
But alas, nay, she was nowhere but in a healing room, as she soon found out. She jumped when a voice spoke to her. "Arwen, we were frightened for your life," Said a deep yet harmonic tone.
Arwen turned her head to see Thranduil sitting in a leather chair fastened with gold buttons, a stern look on his fair, ageless face.
"Thranduil, thank Valar, Legolas..." Arwen sputtered. Thranduil silenced her, interrupting her.
"Rest!" He said. "I will speak, for now. Why did you come back?"
"I saw a vision," She replied, lamely. "Legolas, he's..."
"Legolas?" Thranduil glared. His runaway son had to do something with this?
"Yes, he has not run away, sire, he has been taken, I know of it with the depths of my heart. He has been taken to a city, he is in a cage, like a beast, in the middle of that city."
Thranduil stared for a moment. Then he sighed. "Arwen, you are not thinking right. That vision was from the poison..."
"The spider! How did I survive?"
"Well, Ithlen shot an arrow after you were bitten. His aim was true and the spider perished. But if it were not for Releth then you would be dead and in the Halls. She removed the poison from your veins. You owe her thanks."
"Yes, but what of Legolas. I had the vision-"She cried desperately. Again, she was curtailed, as an elf burst through the healing room's door and ran to Thranduil in what seemed less than it took to blink.
Arwen indeed blinked in confusion as the elf panted a message to Thranduil. "King- Legolas- Taurnil-"
Thranduil tensed at the sound of Taurnil's name. "Calm, Orthnein, tell me what has befallen us."
"Legolas. He isn't- he hasn't run away. Taurnil has him, sire," The elf panted out.
Thranduil stood. "Tell me!" He was getting impatient. He wasn't angry at Orthnein, but he wanted to know what his brother had to do with all of this.
"Yes, sire, excuse me, sire," He panted. "He sends this message." He pulled out a crumpled note, and read from it. "It goes henceforth.
Thranduil,
It is good to speak to you again; little brother, and I must say that your son resembles you closely.
"My son, he has my son, that Valar forsaken fool," Thranduil muttered, clenching his fists, trying not to scream.
"There is more—"Orthhnein said.
"Go on."
As you know, our dear, dear father gave you the throne, and I suppose you do not forget that I have seniority over thee. The throne is no longer yours. For if you do not pass the throne back to me, your son will experience pain beyond all that could be imagined in the deepest pits of Mordor. Your son sends you one message, "Do not come."
A brave fool, that is what he is. But he will not be so brave for much longer. Will you not come? That is for you to decide. But I will not wait longer than a while. Make a decision quickly...
Taurnil, Envindurrn.
"My Eru," Arwen breathed.
**********************************************************
Okay, is that long enough? Probably not, but I love to make you guys mad. * giggles * Just kidding. I'm really sorry for the wait. I'm going to make this an angst fic if you guys don't mind, please, please tell me. REVIEW for Pete's * whoever Pete is * sake!
Oh, ya, REVIEW! And did I mention, REVIEW! I don't think I did. REVIEW! Ah, I think that's clear.
Arwen rode rather nervously back to the palace. She was not afraid, but deep down she knew that she should be. Rarely did spiders come near the palace, which she was nearing, but once in a while a nomad arachnid would break off from its fellows and explore the woods.
Arwen twitched as a tree creaked next to her. She cautiously looked up, and then turned to her horse. "Noro lim, Haelin," She whispered, and the horse quickened its pace from a light trot to a slow gallop. Hurry up, Haelin—I think, don't eat me, I taste bad
Still, although she felt safer, Arwen pulled out an inch of her sword, gazing intently on the path in front of her, watching for any sign of the palace or for spiders.
Nothing lay ahead of her, and when she looked behind, nothing lay behind her. Why was she so frightened? Arwen presumed it was because of Legolas.
*****************************************************
Legolas glared, annoyed now. How many times had he heard of the evil antagonist resorting to kidnapping or stealing to get his wanting? Really, it was getting very cliché.
"And you think it will work, uncle?" Legolas said, deliberately saying "uncle" in mock interest.
Taurnil laughed a short, blunt, laugh, more like a cough than anything, and smiled a crooked, disturbed smile. "Yes, nephew, it will. For your sentimental father is weak. Always was, always will be, and you will follow in his footsteps. You already are."
Legolas was severely agitated now. With this damn cage, with his damned uncle, with his gem-obsessed father who just happened to be a king of an entire country, with this damn predicament.
He knew his agitation was abnormal; shouldn't he be scared that Mirkwood was going to be in the hands of a Valar-forsaken creature that passed for an elf? No, he was just being stubborn, being proud, defiant of the fact he was in an iron cage sitting in the middle of a city, miles away from his home among the trees.
Elven pride, most likely. His father's stubborn pride. "Fine, Taurnil, fine, but alas, if it does not work, which it will not, what would you do with me?"
Taurnil smiled at his last words. "That is for me to decide. But, alas- he said this mocking Legolas's words- , it will not be kind, and I can assure you of that."
A/N: I might make this a little angsty, please tell me if that's okay. No slash, though. This is the wrong fic if you want slash. I can't do it, sorry, I'm just bad at writing it in the first place. ****
Arwen was frantic. She knew that something was following her, but whenever she turned around, nothing made an appearance. "Noro Lim!" She yelled at her tiring horse, without a sign of her usual merciful attitude. She wanted out of this forsaken area. Hurry Up—I think! I am learning three different languages, Elvish, Spanish, and French so don't kill me if I don't get elvish right! I'm kinda busy.
A few minutes passed. Arwen sighed. The palace was coming in to view, a cave in the distance. The court outside was near, and Arwen could spy a few lone elves strolling beyond the gate.
Suddenly, as odd as it may seem, Arwen found herself, in one split second, sprawling over the ground. She blinked.
Her horse was neighing in terror, and Arwen gasped when she saw what he was so frightened of.
Luck had not been in her presence. A spider had latched itself onto the neck of her horse and was biting hard. Arwen screamed for the aid of the elves in the courtyard, groping for her sword.
Where was it? It had been on her belt! She cursed under her breath in a quick stream of elvish and jumped to her feet.
Her horse took a few steps before falling due to poison now flowing in the beast's blood.
Three elves were rushing toward Arwen, and all seemed slow as the spider turned toward its new victim.
*******************************************
Legolas suddenly found his pride being swallowed beneath fear as Taurnil walked back in to the hall. What if Thranduil really did not accept the offer? What would become of him?
He knew in the pit of his heart that Taurnil would not make an exception for family members. Was this a child's joke? Legolas felt that he would wake, and that all of this was some setup perhaps to teach him some lesson.
Legolas leaned his head on the bars, rubbing his temples slowly. He ignored the slight cold of the iron, taking it as some comfort to his burning anger.
*~*~*~*~
Later that day, Nevweneh came. She held only a plate of stale bread and some impossibly old juice of some sour fruit. She looked at the distaste on Legolas's face with guilt. "I could not give you more, it was my orders."
Legolas shook his head, "Never mind. Nevweneh, you said you were taken here from Lothlorien. Will you tell me of it?"
"To be sincere, there is not much to tell a tale of," She sighed, brushing a lone strand of hair from her face. "My father and I were close. So, you see, it was no challenging question to see that when he was missing I went after him."
"What came of it?" Legolas asked, wanting to know more.
"I found him," She said shortly, then took a deep breath. "He was dead."
"What illness betook him?"
"He was killed. An arrow pierced his heart. He had perished instantly," Nevweneh sighed, reliving horrid memories. "I have yet to find who murdered him. But I will find them."
"Where did he die?"
"Here," She said, simply, "When I found his body, they found me. I had lost my quiver in the forest, blind with my grief, and they took me without a fight, for I could not."
"Did your mother not try to find you?" Legolas said, hoping that Nevweneh would have a chance of freedom yet.
"Nay, Legolas, my mother cares not for me," She said sadly. "For what reason would she come for a child she wishes gone?"
Legolas stared, not knowing what else to speak of. Nevweneh stared back; a glazed over trance, and all seemed quiet for a moment as her skirt rippled in the wind.
"I will leave now, and I wish you good tidings, may the night not hurt you," She said, and without another word pulled up her skirt and walked slowly into the hall, feeling Legolas's stare on her back.
*************************************************************
Arwen backed up. Could she evade the creature? Was she fast enough? She cursed at her long dress that piled on the ground, making her legs nearly immobile and making it seem like she was dragging boulders on her ankles.
The spider leaped off the horse in one fluid moment. One of the elves rushing to help screamed as it landed inches before Arwen.
She looked frantically around her; what could be used as a weapon against this beast? She spied nothing but Mirkwood's dark trees, and those would serve as no help, as spiders can climb and she was wearing a dress, so she was unable to climb anyways.
Arwen backed up further, into a tree. She watched the spider warily. She bent down, searching the ground for a twig or some branch.
At last, after what seemed like an eternity but was actually no more than a moment, her hand found a branch. The spider eyed it as Arwen stood back up and swung it in a threatening manner.
The spider advanced slowly, still eyeing the branch and its prey with its multiple eyes. Arwen's hands started to clam. She was scared, frightened for herself, and frightened that no one would find out about her vision, that when she was dead she could tell no one where Legolas was.
The spider let out a chattering noise, almost a hiss. Arwen held the branch high as the spider came closer and closer. Then it leaped, surprising everyone. The elves yelped, and Arwen screamed.
The spider landed on her chest, forcing her backwards, and as her head made contact with the hard tree, all she could think about was Legolas. Then, after one last thought of agony, she slipped into darkness.
**********************************************************
Legolas sat, leaning backwards on the iron bars. This experience was not only frightening and also quite agitating, but it was also very boring. The only way he could entertain himself was by sleeping, and that served as no real help either.
Once in a while a child would walk by, skipping at her mother's feet. Legolas stare at them with a heavy heart, thinking of Nevweneh. What mother did not love her child? It was a deepening thought. His mother had loved him; her last words stated that. Legolas felt ashamed that he was given a loving mother but not her.
~*~*~*
Taurnil came once again at sunset. Legolas sighed. What did he want now?
"We are sending a messenger tonight..." Taurnil said with a smirk. Ah, so that is what he wanted. To know what Legolas wanted to say to his father. Perhaps a cry for help? Words asking for mercy and safety?
"Tell him not to come," Legolas said.
Taurnil looked surprised, almost. But then he nodded mockingly and walked back to the hall without another word. It was Legolas's turn to be surprised. He had left so suddenly. Usually his uncle stayed longer.
************************************************************
Arwen awoke, suddenly. Her head snapped up. Where was she? Dead? Most likely. In the Halls?
But alas, nay, she was nowhere but in a healing room, as she soon found out. She jumped when a voice spoke to her. "Arwen, we were frightened for your life," Said a deep yet harmonic tone.
Arwen turned her head to see Thranduil sitting in a leather chair fastened with gold buttons, a stern look on his fair, ageless face.
"Thranduil, thank Valar, Legolas..." Arwen sputtered. Thranduil silenced her, interrupting her.
"Rest!" He said. "I will speak, for now. Why did you come back?"
"I saw a vision," She replied, lamely. "Legolas, he's..."
"Legolas?" Thranduil glared. His runaway son had to do something with this?
"Yes, he has not run away, sire, he has been taken, I know of it with the depths of my heart. He has been taken to a city, he is in a cage, like a beast, in the middle of that city."
Thranduil stared for a moment. Then he sighed. "Arwen, you are not thinking right. That vision was from the poison..."
"The spider! How did I survive?"
"Well, Ithlen shot an arrow after you were bitten. His aim was true and the spider perished. But if it were not for Releth then you would be dead and in the Halls. She removed the poison from your veins. You owe her thanks."
"Yes, but what of Legolas. I had the vision-"She cried desperately. Again, she was curtailed, as an elf burst through the healing room's door and ran to Thranduil in what seemed less than it took to blink.
Arwen indeed blinked in confusion as the elf panted a message to Thranduil. "King- Legolas- Taurnil-"
Thranduil tensed at the sound of Taurnil's name. "Calm, Orthnein, tell me what has befallen us."
"Legolas. He isn't- he hasn't run away. Taurnil has him, sire," The elf panted out.
Thranduil stood. "Tell me!" He was getting impatient. He wasn't angry at Orthnein, but he wanted to know what his brother had to do with all of this.
"Yes, sire, excuse me, sire," He panted. "He sends this message." He pulled out a crumpled note, and read from it. "It goes henceforth.
Thranduil,
It is good to speak to you again; little brother, and I must say that your son resembles you closely.
"My son, he has my son, that Valar forsaken fool," Thranduil muttered, clenching his fists, trying not to scream.
"There is more—"Orthhnein said.
"Go on."
As you know, our dear, dear father gave you the throne, and I suppose you do not forget that I have seniority over thee. The throne is no longer yours. For if you do not pass the throne back to me, your son will experience pain beyond all that could be imagined in the deepest pits of Mordor. Your son sends you one message, "Do not come."
A brave fool, that is what he is. But he will not be so brave for much longer. Will you not come? That is for you to decide. But I will not wait longer than a while. Make a decision quickly...
Taurnil, Envindurrn.
"My Eru," Arwen breathed.
**********************************************************
Okay, is that long enough? Probably not, but I love to make you guys mad. * giggles * Just kidding. I'm really sorry for the wait. I'm going to make this an angst fic if you guys don't mind, please, please tell me. REVIEW for Pete's * whoever Pete is * sake!
Oh, ya, REVIEW! And did I mention, REVIEW! I don't think I did. REVIEW! Ah, I think that's clear.