Chapter 4

In the evening, yesterday, I witnessed the most bizarre sight – again. I saw the weak, flickering shadow I had seen earlier in the morning in the Library. I am almost certain that it retreated as I approached.

"Legolas!" came Thranduil's call, "Come, are you ready?"

"A moment, Ada," answered Legolas.

I have not yet told anyone of this. I shall, however, when I found out more on this matter. With that, Legolas threw down his pen and closed the volume in which he kept his journal.

"Legolas!"

"Coming!"

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"Ready to catch a few rabbits, Tithen-las?" asked Thalion teasingly, riding behind Legolas. The brothers were accompanying their father on a hunting expedition.

"Don't call me that," answered Legolas. "And no, I'm not ready to catch a few rabbits. You are, though – it's not like you can catch anything else. I, on the other hand, am ready to hunt a few deer."

Thalion smiled. "Then, let us see who is the better hunter. Who ever catches the largest deer wins."

"And the stakes?"

"The loser shall tend to the dwarf prisoners for a month." The other twelve dwarves had been found sitting outside the palace and had been brought back to the Elvenking's Halls a few days ago.

"I'm sure the Noegyth will take a liking towards you."

"Another bet? Honestly, you two never learn." Adrahil came riding up from behind, "Besides, whichever one of you two wins still cannot beat me," he said confidently.

"And you cannot beat me," added Brethilorn.

Legolas scoffed. "And you two are doing nothing more than boasting. Empty lies."

"Oh, really?"

"Of course."

"Then let us join you're little game, then. Same stakes."

"It changes nothing, I'll still win," responded Legolas and Thalion at the same time.

"Lucky for all four of you that I am not playing," commented Thranduil over his shoulder to his sons. "You may be good hunters, but you are nothing compared to me."

The four princes exchanged slight smiles that resembled smirks.

"Will you not play, Ada?" asked Legolas innocently. "Since you are such an excellent hunter, you will have no problem winning." His brothers struggled to keep from laughing.

"No, ion-nin," answered Thranduil smiling, "I am afraid I will ruin you self-confidence with the wide margin I will defeat you by." With that, he urged his horse forward, riding into the heart of the forest. His sons followed, laughing.

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Legolas leapt off his horse's back lightly, barely making a sound as his feet touched the ground.

"Dartha sí, Daebrindal," Legolas murmured to his horse as he grabbed his bow.

Slinging his bow over his shoulder with this quiver, he grabbed onto a low, overhanging branch and swung himself up, into the tree. Legolas stepped off his branch onto another, moving to a different tree. He moved in this way sure-footedly through the boughs, from tree to tree, crouching low, into the heart of the forest. He stopped as he spotted a deer through the leaves of the oak he was perched in.

The young prince carefully drew out an arrow, fitting it to his bow. Crouching on the branch, he aimed at the young stag standing in the clearing below. The deer seemed unaware of the elf in the tree slightly above him, and continued grazing.

With practiced skill and precision, Legolas released the arrow from his bow. It flew through the air and plunged into the hunted animal.

Legolas smiled slightly as he leapt from the tree. Surely his brothers would not be able to beat that.

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"Legolas, Thalion, the Noegyth want feeding!"

"Daro," grumbled the younger prince, rising from his chair in the study.

"Fancy, getting beat at your own game. How shameful it must be," remarked Brethilorn, watching his twin and younger brother head out the door.

"I said, shut it," said Legolas again.

"What pitiful little deer you two caught," added Adrahil, reclining in his chair.

"Mine was the larger, but the scales malfunctioned," retorted Legolas.

Thalion scoffed. "Of course they malfunctioned. Yours weighed far too much for a fawn of that size."

"It wasn't a fawn. And yours, besides, was much smaller."

Arguing, they walked out the door, bickering all the way to the dungeons. Their voices echoed through the halls, back to their brothers' ears, leaving them paralyzed in laughter.

"Mine was a stag, not a fawn."

"That, a stag? If that was a stag, what was mine?"

"Now, that was a fawn."

"Please. If mine was a fawn, then what does that make me, a moose?"

"You look like one."

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Ada = Father

Tithen-las = Little Leaf

Noegyth = Dwarves

Ion-nin = My son

Dartha sí = Stay here

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Legolas4me – Thanx! I thought'd be sort of an interesting POV too

PrincessEvenstar – Thank you!

Kelsey – Yeah, I know. When I first read The Hobbit, I totally hated the elves. You're right, I noticed that too. There's a lot more happy singing, like in Rivendell, but in LotR, it's all sad and mournful. I guess that make sense, though, because their time in Middle Earth is ending. Thanks for the suggestions, I really like those ideas!

Amthramiel – …Probably not very happy…

spasticLeggyluver – Thanks!

leggylover – Thank you! I'm trying.

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Please review! Thank you!

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