A/N: I do not own LOTR and never will. I do however own any character you do not know, in this chapter Verion, Faeron, Rimendis & Carnesîr. As always, ***** mean scene changes. And ^^^^^ mean flashback. I think that is it…ok enjoy! - Naur
Nenda Guardian
Chapter 2
Rising Waters & Swept Away
It has been one week since horrible rainstorms had started in Mirkwood. Rain had been pouring down in sheets with never a sign of letting up. The rivers of Mirkwood had begun to overflow and all elven men that were able had been called into action to build dams and fill sandbags to keep the waters at bay. Legolas had been no different and insisted to his father that he needed to go out and help their people, six had already been killed by the raising waters. That had been three days ago and since he had went out Thranduil had not heard from or seen anything from him except from other warriors that had been coming in to rest. They had sent word that Legolas had barely stopped to rest while filling bags and helping build dams, Thranduil had to smile when he heard that. Legolas always give his best for as long as he could usually until he collapsed from exhaustion.
Now Elladan and Elrohir the twin sons of Elrond and his adopted son Estel had come to visit Legolas. From the looks of them they had had a hard time getting to the palace. Each was covered in mud from head to toe and they were soaked. Thranduil had just got done explaining what had been happening when Lorion ran in also covered in mud and soaked. He was out of breath and looked about ready to drop from exhaustion but his eyes were wild in panic.
"My...lord!" He said trying to catch his breath
"What is it Lorion?" Thranduil asked jumping up.
"Tis Prince Legolas! He has been swept away in the waters!" He yelled.
"What?!" They all exclaimed.
"He was trying to save a elfling that was stuck in the mud below the dam but he was having some difficulty when the dam started cracking. He looked up at us but there was nothing we could do to stop it, it broke! He and the elfling were washed away!" Lorion explained
"Send out search parties now!" Thranduil yelled.
"Sire! We have no idea how far he may have been taken by now..." Lorion started.
"I do not care if I have to go all the way to Mordor to find him! Send out the search parties!" He yelled.
"King Thranduil! Send us out!" Strider and the twins exclaimed running through the halls with him.
"No my lads, you are weary from your journey. Have the cook prepare a meal for them, and see that they are taken care of Lorion. Once you are rested then you may go out and help with the search, until then I forbid it," Thranduil told them. Thranduil swept from the room barking orders to any that were in hearing range. The twins and Estel shared a look and then smiled between themselves when Lorion's back was turned.
"Well…we shouldn't disappoint King Thranduil let us go to the kitchens and get something to eat then retire to our rooms," Elladan said stretching. The other two nodded understanding what their brother was really saying, "We get something to eat, go to our rooms and stuff the pillows under the blankets to make it look like ourselves. Then we sneak out meeting at the back of the kitchens to get our food from Rimendis and then we go to search for Legolas." Rimendis was a elf maiden that worked in the kitchens of the palace, she had always packed food for them when the twins and Legolas had went on some of their famous adventures.
*****
Lorion led them to the kitchen and then left them to go to the healing rooms where he could get cleaned up and something hot to eat. Rimendis smiled at them as they entered the kitchen and quickly got them something hot to eat.
"Have you heard? The guards say that Legolas and Carnesîr were swept away in the waters after a dam broke. The king has sent search parties out to find them. I hope that he and Carnesîr are alright," She told them.
"Yes we were there when Lorion came in with the news. King Thranduil told us not to go out looking for him so after we eat we're going to go to our rooms and get some rest then go out tomorrow," Elladan explained giving her a wink. She smiled understanding and picked up their plates with a nod.
"So that will be three then?" She whispered as they walked out the door.
"Yes, we will return within the hour," Elladan replied and they went to their rooms that they always used when they came to visit. Changes of clothes had been set out on each of their beds and warm water had been placed on the dressers for them to wash up with. When all had washed and changed they each stuffed pillows under the blankets to make it seem as if they were there sleeping and then climbed out their windows and snuck around to the kitchens. Rimendis was waiting for them at the back door of the kitchens with three packs, all ready with lembas and water, along with some blankets and fresh cloaks.
"Don't let the king catch you or there shall be hell to pay. Good luck!" She told them and returned to the kitchens before they were caught.
^^^^^
The rain was pouring down, the same as it had for the past two days. Legolas had been out working since the first sign of the rising waters. Warriors and farmers alike had gathered to help each other, filling sandbags and build dams to hold the waters at bay. Many of the elven wives and children had moved closer to the palace staying with friends or family, but some had refused to leave. Legolas had begged them to evacuate but they would not, he had felt pity but it was only a little when the waters swept their homes away with them still in it…truthfully he did not blame them, he blamed himself for their deaths.
Some children thought it fun to play in the muddy areas around the dams and bagging areas. They were just putting the last touches onto a new dam when Legolas had seen two elflings playing near the bottom of the dam where the mud was thick.
"Hey! Carnesîr! Faeron! Get away from down there! It's to dangerous!" He yelled. Both elflings looked up and smiled at him before nodding and turning to run from their new play place. Legolas smiled as he watched them go, but it quickly turned to a frown as Carnesîr slipped and fell in the mud. Faeron came back to help him up but Carnesîr started to cry, saying he couldn't get up because his ankle hurt. With a sigh Legolas jumped down from his post on the dam to a only mildly soaked area before making his way slowly towards the elflings.
"I think he broke his ankle when he fell Prince Legolas," Faeron told him as he walked up. Legolas knelt beside the crying elfling and placed a hand on his ankle, indeed his ankle was broken.
"Thank you Faeron. Go on and get to higher ground, it isn't safe to play in these areas. Don't worry I shall take Carnesîr to the healing rooms and see that he is treated," Legolas replied. Faeron nodded and slowly but surely made his way to safer ground. Legolas had just gotten his arms around and under Carnesîr when a faint creaking sound hit his ears. He looked around as the sound started to get louder.
"Caun Legolas! The dam! She is breaking! Get out of there!" Verion cried as the beams started to break under the water pressure. Everything seemed to go in slow motion then. All the elves helping with the dam ran off of it, many cried out to him but all he could hear and see was the wood beams breaking and the roar of the water as it was freed. Unconsciously he tightened his hold on Carnesîr and closed his eyes for the impact. The wall of water hit his back from where he had turned in hopes of protecting Carnesîr from the impact of water and they were both pulled into the fast moving current. With the water moving as fast as it was it was hard to tell how far they had been taken over how far they would be took.
He knew he still had Carnesîr held tightly in his arms as they finally came up for air but were quickly forced back under. Once more his head was above water and he opened his eyes, everything was blurry with water but he could just faintly make out a large shape in the middle of the river. Again they were forced under and Legolas kicked as hard as he could to turn himself so Carnesîr would not be hurt anymore than he already was. Legolas knew what that shape had been…a rock, a very large rock and any moment now he would hit it. There was the ever present roar of the water and then…bam! He hit the rock full force in the back, he cried out only to swallow a mouthful of water. It only took a few spinning moments before he passed out and loosened his hold on Carnesîr.
^^^^^
TBC…
Next chapter: Soaking Searches
Elvish Translation
Caun Legolas! – Prince Legolas!
Review Thanks
Joee - *evil laughter* It's so good to be evil isn't it? At the moment I don't think you would need to read Healing Guardian to understand this but who knows. I would still love for you to read it! With only 2 more reviews I will have 100! Whoo, Yes I do mellon nin. School annoys the crap out of me. Thank you so much! I am/was thrilled. I am so going crusing with my friends this weekend! I hate driving yes but I still think it will be fun. Hope you had fun at that concert.
Deana – Yes Legolas! Yes he got swept away! Hope this was soon enough for ya.
Lady Aqawondel – So sorry…not really. You should know me well enough to know that if that is the beginning can you imagen the rest? ^_^. Would I kill our fave elf prince? Hmmm…who knows?
Tourniquetangel – Thank you so much! It's great to know I have a fave. At the moment I have the first three chapters written, working on the fourth. Hope you like them as much as this one.
Irish QT – So glad you liked the first chapter! Another 9 chapters to come mellon nin!
Cherryfaerie – That I did. I think you will want to kill me before this is over but hehe I'm having fun!
Gwyn - *glares back* Sorry but I thought I had told you, you did help me with the name after all. Really you did? Hmm…*makes note to work on that* I wanted to give people something to look forward to, don't worry this goes on for another two chapters or so. Thanks so much!
Eowyn – Thank you! It's nice to know I am gathering fans already! ^_^. Hope to hear from you again!