To Mirkwood

Chapter 4: Snorting

Don't own.

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Legolas sat up in his bed, a cold sweat forming on his forehead. His breath was ragged and unsteady. The dream had disturbed his more than any other dream he'd ever had. The dream terrified him. He was worried that his dream was an insight into the future. Would he be killed by his own people from orders by his own brother? Perhaps he would talk to Gandolf later.

After claming down a bit from the shock of the dream, Legolas realized that the sun would rise soon. He stood and went to his window. There was a line of purple on the horizon, giving the sun it's cue to rise.

As Legolas watched the sun's first rays peak out over the lands, a thought entered his head. A thought that no elf, or any living creature, should think about. He cursed himself for ever thinking such a thought. Legolas dropped his head and he stared at the cold, stone floor. One part of his mind told him to go on with it, and the other told him no, stay back… don't do it. The contradicting voices in his head were driving him crazy. Finally, he lay back down and was asleep within minutes.

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Aragorn knocked on the large wooden door. There was no sound from inside the room. He grabbed the handle and pushed the door open a little. He saw Legolas, still asleep on the bed. He was lying on his stomach; the blanket had long since fallen on the floor. Aragorn pushed the door open a little more and went inside the room. He tried to walk lightly, like an elf, but Legolas's ears were too sensitive for that. He shook his head and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Aragorn?" Legolas asked in a groggy voice.

"Mellon-nin, do you know that it is now Midday?" Aragorn asked the elf. Legolas sat up and stretched. Then what Aragorn had said sunk in.

"Midday? Already?" He asked. He leapt out of bed and ran to the window. True enough, the sun was high up in the sky. Aragorn moved into the room and stood behind his friend.

"Did you have a fitful night, mellon-nin?" He asked. Legolas nodded. Of course, it was the dream that was bothering him, but he didn't want to bother the King with it. Aragorn had enough to worry about.  "Well, come with me. The midday meal is being served." Aragorn said. Legolas nodded and dressed quickly. He followed the king to the dining room and saw that the rest of the fellowship had already been seated at the table.

"Sleep in a bit, eh elf?" Gimli asked from behind his bushy red beard. Legolas smiled sheepishly. He sat down beside Sam at the table, and the food was served.

While the group ate, Gandolf, from beside Legolas, leaned over to him. "Is something bothering you, neth caun-." He asked. Legolas snorted very un-elf-like into his soup. The whole table heard this and looked up.

"Is something wrong, Legolas?" Arwen asked in her graceful voice. Legolas shook his head.

"No, Lady Arwen." He answered. His friends exchanged glances. Arwen was bothered by this behavior that a fellow elf had just displayed. She was worried. There just wasn't something right about him. That's when she remembered what had happened a few days ago. Thranduil had taken away Legolas's right to the throne, and given it to his brother, E'thane. He was still upset about it. She looked upon him with sad eyes.

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Legolas finally worked up the courage to Gandolf later in the day. After lunch he had apologized to everyone for his horrible behavior. Horrible for humans, no, but for a royal elf, yes.

Legolas found Gandolf sitting out in the courtyard, much as he had the previous day. Legolas sat down quietly beside the wise, old wizard. "Greetings Legolas." He said.

"Greetings, Mithrander." He said respectfully.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" Gandolf asked. Legolas smiled inwardly. He probably didn't even have to tell Gandolf anything, but he did. He related the whole dream to Gandolf, along with what had happened with his father and his brother.

"I see. So that is why you have been acting strangely." Gandolf said when Legolas was finished.

"Yes."

"Well, there are several meanings that your dream can hold, but I think you should figure it out for yourself. You see, you know more about this situation than any of us, and only you can figure out the true meaning of the dream. I know you will figure it out." Gandolf said. He didn't have any idea that this seemingly simple task would put a load of stress on the elf.

"Thank you Gandolf." He said, and stood.

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"Mirkwood is in sight!" An elf shouted from the group. E'thane smiled grimly. He had hoped the next time he saw the forest, his brother would be beside him, planning the next time they would make trouble, or go to the archery fields. E'thane had been practicing and was eager to match his skills against Legolas's. However, things had turned out differently. He felt like the weight of the realm was already on his shoulders, when in truth, it wasn't, yet.

"As soon as we get back, E'thane, I think we will get you a mentor to try to teach you everything that… he… already learned. You will also begin to attend the meetings with me, so you can get a feel for them before you will be expected to have input into the issues being addressed." Thranduil told his son.

"Ada, I don't think I can do it. I think I have not experienced enough in life to be a good ruler. Legolas would be a good ruler. He knows what the realm needs, and he understands all the things that go on here. He talks to the other elves often and knows their thoughts on issues going on in Mirkwood, and around Middle Earth. Please! Let Legolas come home!" E'thane pleaded. Thranduil pulled back on the reins of his horse. Startled, the rider behind him tugged the reins of his horses, trying to keep from knocking into the Elf King's horse.

"E'thane, I implore you to stop speaking about your brother. He did not want to return home. That's that. Nothing more to say." Thranduil said, his teeth gritted, his face turning red in anger.

"You're being unreasonable!" E'thane shouted. "You don't know what you're doing. You're keeping your own son from the realm he grew up in and loves! How can you do that to him? He would be a better ruler than I. I have every bit of faith in him as I do you, well, as I used to have in you. Now, I don't know what to think about you." Thranduil stared unblinking at his younger son. Never had such words been spoke to him by his own family member. Had he been unreasonable? NO!

"You would do well to hold your tongue neiben ellon--." Thranduil said. E'thane was taken aback by his father's words. It truly hurt an elf to have those words spoken to them when they knew that they were not as such---. E'thane closed  his mouth and turned his attention to the trees. He realized then that the whole party of elves with them had heard the whole conversation. E'thane dropped his head a little. Thranduil took a deep breath and pulled himself together, then called for the party to move forward into the trees.

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Interesting chapter, eh? Hehe. Well, I thought it was. :-D Sorry about mistakes in elvish. I'm trying, I really am! I have two different dictionaries for Sindarin on my computer. Bare with me! Thanks.

I used the dashes because for some reasons the asterisks don't show up any more. Grrr….

- young prince

-- small elf

--- This is something I made up. If you were almost an adult, and someone called you small human, you wouldn't like it either, right? Well, elves don't like being called small either, because I said so. E'thane is kinda supposed to be about 16 in human years. So, his father calling him small elf hurts him. I think you get it now, right? "Of course right." –Yente from Fiddler on the Roof

Reviewers-

Galadryal- that's ok, I'm no good at them either. Thanks!

Me- hmm… ok.

Starlit Hope- Indeed it does seem that way. Just wait for the chapter after this one. –winkwink-

Haldir's Heart and Soul- that's a good idea of what might happen. But not quite! Legolas would never give in! Hehe.

Thanks reviewers!!!

Peace In-

Banana Nut Muffin