Right, not really in a god mood today and for that blame the F1. Kimi's crash was horrendous. Anyway, Thank you so much for the lovely reviews they make me smile.

Mornflower: I don't think Legolas hurts Estel much more...well; at least I don't think he does...

Anyway. This is a bit shorter than usual; basically because I simply had to leave this chapter at the point where I left it. So I am going t o now. Have fun!

Chapter 7

The cool breeze stirred the elf's golden hair as he sat keeping watch; Legolas glanced around, taking in the sleeping forms of the twins who were lying close to each other-each one ready to protect the other if the need arose, close by lay the mortal-Estel, he was not asleep, no- Legolas knew he was lay awake-possibly musing on why the Prince hated him. This caused the prince to frown briefly-he did not feel quite comfortable with the mortal this close. Closing his eyes he sighed.
"Legolas?" at the sound of his name the Prince turned to meet the searching eyes of the young mortal.
"Legolas, you seem tense about something. Do you wish to talk?"
"If I wished to talk to anyone I would wake one of your brothers. You would be the last person I would speak to." The tone of the Prince's voice cut through the air like a swinging sword hitting Estel with its full force. The mortal looked away from Legolas' glare and sighed. Long ago he had been told that some elves may not trust him despite him being a son of Elrond. He had always hoped however, that Legolas would not be one of those, he had heard much about the Prince and had long wanted to meet him. Some of the adventures the Prince and the twins had enjoyed had been related to him on many an occasion.
"Why do you hate me?" he asked, his hurt and confusion showing in his voice
"That," the elf replied "Is none of your business. I have my own reasons to mistrust mortals."
"I have a right to know why you hate me. If I did, then I could try to improve the situation between us" the mortal argued
"No" the elf replied simply "you couldn't", he rose and walked away from the mortal, to the edge of the clearing, showing that the conversation was over. Estel lay back, staring at the rapidly lightening sky. The sun was rising, its golden hue spreading across the sky, lighting everything it touched. It shone down on the elf Prince causing him to glow more than ever before. As the mortal stared, Legolas turned, meeting his eyes with a glare,
"Wake your brothers" he said coldly. "We shall have to leave shortly"

Furious hoof beats sounded throughout the woodland glade, they were accompanied by a male voice barking orders to all around him. Talider was angry. No furious was possibly the only word to describe him. He had awoken but two days ago to find both the elven prince and the sword gone. Not to mention his son, of course what he expected had happened was that an elven army had stolen the elf and the sword, and then in retaliation kidnapped his son too. He cared not that he sword actually belonged o he Elvenking, nor that the Mirkwood Elves had every right to rescue Legolas. In his mind the sword was now his property-not to mention the elf. He didn't much care that they had also taken his son-Sannyn could take care of himself. Besides- Legolas wouldn't harm him. The Prince was far too gentle for that. The Prince' Father however-he was a different story. Anyone who so much as harmed a hair on his precious son's head was likely to leave with some injury, usually a broken limb. That was if you left his sight at all. "Stupid elves" Talider muttered "That Prince will be Mirkwood's downfall someday"
"And he hasn't already been your downfall." A silky voice interrupted his thoughts. Talider started and looked around, before finally coming face to face with a beautiful blonde woman. All around him guards began to mutter.
"My...my Lady" he whispered swinging o his horse and dropping into a bow.
"Your son is more use to me than you" she said, her voice suddenly cold. "He has not been captured! He has taken the sword and left"
"And the elf?" Talider dared to question
"He has escaped and is following your son. Your son is leading him to me" she said
"He is. He learnt from a true master" Talider said with a smile.
"Your whole family is pathetic Talider. As are your ancestors" she replied silkily "They could not kidnap the Prince then-just as you cannot now. You know how important he is to my plan." "Aye, I do. He could ruin it if he lives, you have foreseen it. I am very Sorry My Lady. It shall not happen again"
"No it shall not" A dreadful scream filled the air and it took Talider a moment to realise it was his. He screamed in agony as flames seemed to rip through the inside of his body, burning away his insides one by one.
"My Lady, Stop please stop!" he cried crawling along the ground and clawing at the lady's robe as his eyes went black and he could see no more. "Stop, Let me live" he heard himself pleading. Then he heard no more as he fell to the earth-dead. The Lady looked up at the terrified guards who stood staring at the dead body.
"Go" she said. "Go home, you have survived. I have a meeting with young Sannyn" Then as soon as she had appeared, she had gone. Leaving only the body of Talider to show she had been there.

The four companions made their way to the edge of the wood, only to find that their quarry was nowhere in sight, instead they could see a range of mountains ahead of them. Elladan shielded his eyes with his arm "We have to cross this plain, and then I presume they went into the caves in those mountains." He said, mainly for Estel's benefit. He knew the elves could see the details of the mountains. He glanced over at Legolas, who as the elf had guessed looked slightly nervous. Legolas looked over at Elladan and smiled briefly before turning back to look at the far off horizon.
"We should go on. We have many miles ahead of us." The Prince said starting off again. The twins glanced at each other before following him, Estel close behind. They ran across the field, their green cloaks expertly blending in with the surroundings. Reaching the rock wall they stopped, and stared into the dark cave mouth warily, not knowing what lay behind the jagged mouth. Legolas closed his eyes briefly; it was not that he was afraid of caves. He just did not like venturing into them, they brought back many memories he would rather forget. Yet this time, entering a cave was much unavoidable. Glancing over at the twins he stepped inside the dark mouth of the cave and swallowed.
"Legolas are you alright. We could find a longer way if you wish" Legolas turned about to agree to that situation, then he realised that Estel was there, not wanting to seem a coward in front of the mortal he shook his head
"No," he said, "we shall go this way" then he led the others into the depths of the mountains.

They had travelled for a number of hours when they reached a large empty cavern from which branched two tunnels, Legolas stopped unsure of which way to go. "What now?" he said turning to the twins.
"Well," began Elrohir "It seems that we have been traveling a while now. We should rest" "I couldn't agree more" Elladan laughed as he watched Estel attempt to stifle a yawn.
"Very Well" Legolas agreed begrudgingly. He did not wish to stop, but ten again they had been traveling all day, besides they needed to decide which way to choose.
"I shall take first watch, with Elrohir" Elladan volunteered, flashing a smile at Elrohir who was about to protest. "It's safer to have two on watch"
"Then you shall have three on watch" Legolas laughed in reply "You know as well as I, that I shall find no rest here, and besides, do you remember what happened last time you two kept watch?" The twins grinned sheepishly at each other. Last time they had been on watch, they had fallen asleep due to unknown reasons and caused all three elves to be arrested an locked up and almost executed for a murder they had not committed.
"Very well" Elladan laughed, "However you Estel must rest" the young mortal did not argue and sat by the wall, and closed his eyes, lost to the world of dreams in a matter of seconds. Noticing this Elladan turned to Legolas "Legolas, I know you feel you cannot trust him. And I realise why you feel that way, but Estel is not Malkon. He will not harm you, not like all those other men in the past have done."
"How do you know that? I thought I could trust Talider. Look where that got me" Legolas replied harshly
"Estel will not betray you. Legolas please give him a chance" Elrohir put in "I cannot. I cannot and will not trust men again" "They are not all the same Legolas! Are you forever going to let others rule your life? Do you realise what we have been through at the hands of men too, we can still trust them." Elladan snapped,
"You have never been..." Legolas whispered "they have done worse to me than to you, those memories still haunt my darkest dreams" he turned away and rested a hand against the wall. "I'm sorry, I cannot trust him. I cannot trust any mortal again" he leant his head against the wall watching the stones on the ground move. Then the ground began to shake gently. "Valar..." Legolas whispered turning to face the twins who both had identical looks of horror on their faces.
"What's happening?" Estel said waking up and staggering to the centre of the room, "Earthquake!" yelled Legolas as the ground shook furiously and rocks began to fall from the roof of the cave, Legolas watched in horror stones fell from the ceiling, then he did something he could not quite believe, he darted forward, pulling the dazed mortal from the path of the falling rocks and pushing him against the rock wall shielding him with his body.

TBC...

Heehee bit of a cliffie. And no. I couldn't have made it longer and not needed it there.

Aranel

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