Chapter 15

            Legolas let two arrows fly from his bowstring.  Below the tree he was perched in, the last two orcs dropped dead.  The prince and his siblings had chased the orcs that had run from the Battle of Five Armies into Mirkwood.  The elf dropped back down onto the forest floor, landing silently.  Suddenly, he heard a slight rustling sound from the brush to his right.  Instinctively, he strung his bow, spinning around.

            Thalion emerged from the brush, his knife dripping black orc blood.  He looked at his younger brother with a raised eyebrow as he wiped his knife.

            "Going to shoot me, then, Tithen-las?" he asked.

            "You'd be dead right now if I were going to shoot you," Legolas replied, replacing the arrow in his quiver.  "And, don't call me that," he added.

            "Call you what, Tithen-las?"

            "Call me 'Tithen-las'!"

            "Alright then, Tithen-las."

            "No!  Don't!"

            "Don't what?"

            "Don't call me 'Tithen-las'!"

            "Don't don't call you 'Tithen-las'?  A double negative makes a positive, gwador-nin."

            Legolas growled in frustration and launched himself at Thalion, who stood laughing.  He felt himself caught and pulled back by his cloak.  Turning, he found Brethilorn pulling him back.

            "Peace, Tithen – er, I mean, Legolas," he said smiling.

            Legolas growled again and sat down, cross-legged on the forest floor, thoroughly disgruntled. 

            Suddenly, an orc body crashed through the overhead boughs, landing next to Legolas, who immediately leap up, stringing his bow.

            "A fine job you hunters have done," came a voice from above.  Ithilwen jumped down from a tree, bow in hand.

            "Oh," said Brethilorn, dropping his hand that was holding his knife.

            "It's you," finished Thalion.

            "Some thanks I get for saving your ungrateful skins," said their sister in a mock-angry tone.

            "Apologies, then," said Legolas, bowing down at Ithilwen's feet.

            "Hail our saviour!" added Brethilorn, also bowing.

            "Ithilwen Mírcuriel the great!" added Thalion, bowing.

            "Good, good," said Ithilwen, looking at her three brothers.  "Now some groveling…"

            Brethilron, Thalion, and Legolas immediately leapt up.

            "Never!" said Legolas

            "You are dreaming!" said Thalion

            "Out of your mind!" added Brethilorn.

            Ithilwen shrugged slightly.  "It was worth the try."  She looked over at the orc body on the ground, her arrow still embedded in its back.  Her brothers joined her.

            "Was that the last of them?" asked Thalion.

            "If he wasn't, the Spiders will certainly get the rest," answered his sister.

            "Then we should be getting back to the camp," suggested Legolas.  "Before it gets dark."

            "Why?  Is little Tithen-las scared of the dark?" asked Brethilorn.

            "No, rather, I was worried for your sake," answered the younger elf.

            "Quiet!" commanded Ithilwen.  Her brothers shut up.  "Right, we should get going."

            "It will be dark by the time we get back," said Thalion.  "We need a faster mode of transportation," he added before either of his brothers could comment about the dark.

            "Horses?" suggested Ithilwen.

            "But where?" asked Brethilorn.

            "We're close to home aren't we?" answered Legolas.

            "Of course," said Ithilwen.  "Pay Adrahil a visit then?"

            "Without his knowing of course," said Legolas, a slight glint in his eyes.

            Brethilorn smiled.  "You always were the brilliant one."

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            "Na sîdh," Thalion whispered comfortingly to a horse as he lead it from its stall.  He walked the horse outside, joining his twin brother and sister, who also stood with horses.

            "Where's Tithen-las?" asked Brethilorn in a low voice to maintain secrecy.

            "Still inside," answered Thalion, also in a whisper.

            The three siblings tethered the horses to a tree and walked back to the stables.

            Legolas was leading out a beautiful white stallion from its stall.

            "What are you doing?" hissed Ithilwen at her brother.  "That's Daebrindal, Adrahil's –"

            "Favourite and most beloved steed," finished Legolas.  "Yes, I know.  I fancy a ride on him though.  Besides, the poor creature looks lonely," he added, stroking the horse.

            "Adrahil will have your head," said Ithilwen, but couldn't help smiling.

            "I'd like to see him try," answered Legolas as he started grabbing saddles and blankets.

            "You're right," said Brethilorn, laughing.

            "Adrahil wouldn't be able to behead you," added Thalion.

            "You're too short for his blade," finished Brethilorn, as Legolas threw a saddle at him.  He and his twin each grabbed a saddle and saddle blanket and headed out the door.

            Ithilwen grabbed Legolas by the shoulder as he moved to attack the twins.  "Don't kill them yet.  You'll need amusement after the battle mess is cleaned up."

            Her brother paused, thinking, then nodded.  "You're right," he said.  "But I'd have the perfect excuse here.  I could say that the orcs got them."

            Ithilwen laughed and grabbed a saddle and blanket and went to saddle her own horse, as Legolas did the same, and followed her with Daebrindal out the stables.

             A few moments later, all four elves were in the saddles of their horses.  They pulled up the hoods of their cloaks over their fair hair.  Together, with a nod, they urged their horses forward, and rode into the stables.

            Elven guards heard the sound of the horses' hooves and rushed toward the stables.  Suddenly the stable doors burst open, and four horses bearing cloaked riders rushed forth.  They leapt over the guards and charged towards the dense trees of the forest.

            "Stop!" yelled one guard.

            "That is Prince Adrahil's horse!" exclaimed another guard to his companion.

            "Thieves!" they called, rushing after the four so-called bandits.

            Brethilorn, Thalion, Legolas, and Ithilwen laughed to themselves as they disappeared into the forest.

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Tithen-las = Little Leaf – Legolas's childhood nickname

Gwador-nin = My Brother

Na sîdh = At peace

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spastikLeggyluver – Yes, the two young dwarves were Fili and Kili.  Thnx for the compliments – am flattered. .

Kelsey – Ooh yaay.  long review. Thnx! Excellent idea with the epilogue – i'll see if i can work it in.  Hmm… good point though.  But, I think Glóin would sort of realize who Legolas is by name and by face.  He wouldn't necessarily have to tell Gimli the prince of Mirkwood is nice, but maybe just an elf by the name of 'Legolas' is.  I think Glóin would have to be a little miffed, but not too much, and he will find out.  Sorry! tries to shield self from death glare I didn't realize what a good character Ithilwen apparently is when I wrote ALLALS.  But I put her in there cuz girls have to kick some butt in battle.  Apologies that she appears in this chapter too?

anticipationnation – Thnx!

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Sorry about the short chappie.  I'll try to get the next one up ASAP.  Also, apologies for the fact that it took a while to update.  (Went to the movies over the weekend – "Spider-man 2."  Very awesome movie :P)  

Please review!  Thank you!

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