Note: before you read this I would just like to apologise in advance for (well, lets be frank) the shiteness of this chapter. I know, I promised this one would be quicker than the last one… well, it wasn't was it? Sorry, my bad. I haven't really got an excuse either, except to say I kinda had writer's block. Well, it wasn't really writer's block, it was more like I knew what I wanted to write I just couldn't get the words down on the page if you know what I mean…

This chapter is basically all dialogue, and reading it back, completely confusing. Once again, profuse apologies on my part for it complete lack of fluidly and basic insipidness. I will try harder.L

I'll probably redo this chapter if I think it necessary, because to be honest, I don't like it at all, but you all were threatening me with death, so I had to post it… please don't yell at me :P

Chapter Five: A Change of Plan

He ran.

Quickly and quietly, but he ran.

Legolas loped quickly up a small grassy knoll and jumped the small stream on the other side, cursing silently as he heard a small splash, and felt the ends of his long cape leaden with water. Was everything going to go wrong tonight? Hearing muffled voices he stopped, and pressed back into the shadows of a glade of trees. Adrenaline pumped through Legolas' body, he tensed and ever so slowly reached down for his dagger… his fingers brushed the leather scabbard, but where there should have been that familiar hilt, there was only thin air. His heart almost stopped. Where was it? Had he dropped it? Had he left it with the body in his hurry to leave? Frantically, Legolas cast his mind back a few moments.. No, he distinctly remembered sheathing his dagger before running—curses! How he hated to run!—but where then, had it gone? It couldn't have just fallen out… then a more chilling thought struck him:what if someone found it? Would they recognise it as being his? It was a possibility, a very real possibility. Damn! Things were going from bad to worse! He could feel blood seeping through his shirt and tunic, ruining his clothes, and those voices were getting closer.Legolas froze, becoming as still as death, and invisible in his dark clothing to any watching eyes. He listened and relaxed a little-he'd been able to here the Elves for sometime, whoever they were, they obviously were making no effort to be quiet. Legolas did not think they were out searching for him…and a sudden giggle from one of them confirmed it: it seemed as though Legolas had stumbled upon a pair of courting lovers.

Closing his eyes briefly in relief, Legolas slipped out and quietly stole away into the night, the young couple did not notice the shadow that passed over them, fortunately for the Elven Prince, their minds were on other things.

Legolas slipped quietly back into his room, shutting the door silently and locking it. He yanked his hooded cape off, dropping it carelessly on the floor as he crossed to his bed. Sinking down onto the soft mattress, he quickly began stripping off his tunic and shirt, shivering as the cold night air touched his naked flesh- the fire was unlit in its grate, and the window was open, having been used as an exit earlier that night.

Legolas discarded both tunic and shirt in the same way as his cape; all three were covered in his blood, and needed to be disposed of quickly. New clothes were easy to come by, an alibi for that night was not.

The Elf hissed slightly as he raised his hand to feel his wound; it was not deep, nor particularly serious, but it still stung to the touch. Blood traced lacy patterns down his chest, already drying black in some places. Urgh. Unpleasant. Legolas wrinkled his nose in disgust.. it wasn't the sight of blood that bothered him, per se… it was the fact that it was his blood. How irksome. It needed cleaning and dressing quickly in case it got infected. It looked like the trip to Arwen's was off tonight, he couldn't go injured, it would look a little suspicious. Licking his lips, Legolas caught the metallic taste of blood on his tongue, he grimaced and touched his nose, it was a little sore, but at least it wasn't broken. That was a blessing at least.

Why oh why has everything gone so wrong tonight? Legolas mused as he began boiling some water and preparing a poultice to pack his wound. Could it be that he had just grown too complacent? Too confident in his own skills? He hated to admit it, but it was possible. However, something told Legolas this was not the entire reason… things had been going wrong for him since he had first started this mission: Mordúlin, the servant girl, almost getting caught by Aragorn… it was almost as if someone was toying with him, wanting him to be caught… and if that was the case, Legolas could bet he knew who it was, that bastard Wizard, if anyone was trying to sabotage him then it was him----

"Running from fights Legolas? How very unlike you."

Legolas jumped, spun round in shock, and came face to face with that 'bastard Wizard' himself: Crickhen Moringolemo

"How in the name of the Valar did you get in here?" the Elf spat in surprise. He narrowed his eyes in hatred. "although being the cowardly snake that you are, I'm not sure I'm surprised you've managed to wiggle your way in somewhere."

The Wizard tutted and waggled his finger. "Tsk, tsk, now there's no need for personal insults Elf… besides I'm not really here."

Legolas gave him a sceptical look. "Indeed? Well you could have fooled me… though now you come to mention it, I have noticed you haven't got your normal noisome aroma today." He said snidely. "Well if you're not here… what am I seeing?"

Crickhen ignored the insult. "This" he said waving a hand down himself "Is not my body. It is merely an projectorary personification of myself."

Legolas blinked. "What?"

"Never mind Elf, I doubt you have the mental capacity to understand such complex theoretical ideas as-"

"Oh cut the periphrastic shibbur." Said Legolas with a snicker. "You don't know do you?"

"Of course I know!" the Wizard spluttered drawing himself up to his full height, "Do you really think I'm going to reveal the most classified secrets of the Higher Council to a perfidious little Shahkar such as you!" Crickhen trembled with his conviction, Legolas however, looked less than impressed.

"A perfidious little… Shahkar?" he said with a grin. "Well really, there's no need to be rude about it." The boiling kettle whistled loudly in the corner, vying for his attention, and Legolas took it. He poured some water into a bowl, dipped a cloth in and began sedulously cleaning his wound. He heard the Wizard snicker, and snapped "I'm busy Crickhen. Go away."

"Oh no Elfling." Replied Crickhen airily. "This isn't a social call—"

"I never suspected that it was."

"—I've been sent to give you a message—"

"Still the little messenger boy are we?"

"—From the Higher Council—"

"Oh dear, sounds ominous"

"—There has been a change of plan—"

"Really?"

"—It seems the Higher do not trust you as much as they once did, in fact they seem to believe that you may be a threat to them rather than an asset—"

"And I wonder who put that idea in their heads?"

"and rather than trust you to take the Ruling Ring yourself they now want you to—if you interrupt me again Elf I will see to it that you eternally regret it—act as a… as spy, if you will. You will journey with this Fellowship" (Legolas briefly wondered how Crickhen knew about the Fellowship, after all it had only been announced that day; but he supposed the Wizard had his spies: ravens and whatnot.) "wherever they go, you are to go too. You are to keep up your act as the 'brave and noble Elf' and continue your little façade of camaraderie. Do nothing to try and take the ring or arouse suspicions. Even if the opportunity presents itself, DO NOT TOUCH IT! -That is a direct order from the Higher, do not disobey them- Instead you are to inform myself of the movements of the Ring through a device I'm about to give you, and then I will arrange for Orcs to ambush your company in a completely unsuspicious attack-- nothing will point to you, dear Elf if you keep your head down—and those same Orcs will be responsible of relieving our little Hobbit friend of the ring, and hopefully his life, as well as the life of the rest of the band, and delivering it to me. Safe and unharmed, without your rapacious paws all over it. I'm sure you will be rewarded for your loyalty… if not quite in the way you were hoping" Crickhen grinned "I hope I make myself understood?"

"WHAT?!" barked Legolas, so maddened was he that he flung out his arm, overturning the bowl and burning himself on the scalding water that splashed him ."Dah!" he cursed, throwing the bowl against a wall, smashing it. His eyes burned with utter hatred as he looked back at Crickhen "NEVER! I—I will not be some stupid little pawn in your damn game. I will—"

"You will do as you're told!" hissed the Wizard dangerously. "I have already shown you the punishment for insubordination, and that was just from me. Be warned: the Higher's wrath is much fiercer than mine own. They are not best pleased with you at the moment anyway, it would be unwise to anger them further."

Legolas' midnight blue eyes flashed with contempt. "Not best pleased? Ha. Why? What calumny have you been spreading now?"

"I have been 'spreading' nothing, Elf. Must I remind you that it is not-prudent- to go around killing people on a whim, it brings undue attention to yourself, and to the Higher. If you are discovered through some stupid mistake—as nearly happened tonight, then the whole security and secrecy of the Higher would be compromised. This though does not thrill them overmuch as you may have guessed… Speaking of tonight.." Crickhen's eyes lingered on Legolas' shoulders. "That's a rather unfortunate hole in your body. I can't see as it will be easy covering up how that happened, especially seeing as though there was a murder tonight. Awkward questions could be asked, Prince of Mirkwood you may be, but even you are not above suspicion."

"I will manage" said the Elf coolly

"You will not have to manage," said Crickhen simply "I will heal you"

Legolas snorted. "You will not touch me—"

"I do not need to touch you Elf…" Legolas gaped and stepped back, a wave of fiery heat ran through his body, and his shoulder itched almost unbearably. Crickhen dropped his hand and the heat stopped. Disbelievingly, Legolas raised his hand to his shoulder: where just seconds ago there had been an open wound now there was only flawless skin.. the injury was gone, as if it never were.

"Wha—"

"Don't even bother asking, Elf, because I'm not going to tell you. Just be grateful I was here"

"Hah!"

"You may mock, but one day, your overconfidence will be your undoing-"

"Says the master of modesty himself"

"—I really do wish you would stop interrupting me, Legolas, I find it most vexing—"

"And I really wish you'd go away and leave me in peace"

Crickhen sighed with impatience. "I will leave in a minute Elf, if only to get away form such infuriatingly snide remarks! However, before I depart there is something I need to give you" and from his pocket he produced a large blood red crystal on a heavy silver chain, it caught the light of one of the lamps and sent red shadows across the Wizard's haggard face. "This," he said "is a Latsync Trysanc the latest, and greatest invention of the Higher."

Legolas stared at it impassively. "A red crystal. Amazing."

"But not just any old red crystal! The Latsync Trysanc allows the bearer to communicate with another person holding a similar device from the over side of the Earth."

"So it's basically a plantir?"

"In a way, I suppose. But this is so much better; more discreet- just a pretty necklace to the untrained eye- lighter, easily portable and, best of all, only the one holding the Latsync Trysanc will be able to hear the other person. Ingenious don't you agree?"

"Hmm. And you're giving it to me why?"

"Should I even grace that with an answer? Why do you think, Elf? So you can contact me like I mentioned earlier, or had you forgotten already."

"I hadn't forgotten." Said Legolas with a sneer. "But there's just one problem" he added snidely

"And what is that, pray?"

"You're not really here. How, if I may be so bold as to ask, are you supposed to get it to me?"

Crickhen dropped the crystal. It fell in slow motion, turning gracefully and hit the wooden floor with a dead thunk.

"Magic."

Legolas crossed his arms and looked at the Wizard, his face expressionless. He was not going to give Crickhen the pleasure of knowing his surprise, and slight trepidation.

"If that is all" he said coldly the malice in his tone freezing like icicles. "You can leave now. Before you learn the strength of my ire."

"Sulking Legolas?" Crickhen clicked his tongue. "Why you always blame me for your own delinquency I know not, Elf. It is not my fault that there has been a change of plan. The Higher simply do not think you are …how shall I put it… efficacious in your present role as assassin-- can I help it if I happen to agree?" the Wizard gave Legolas a dangerous smile. "Oh Legolas, Legolas," he said sweetly "you could have done so well under my tutelage, but you had to go and reject me didn't you? Well, now you're paying the price, tsk, tsk. You could have been the best, the highest ranking under myself, but you ruined it all when you snubbed me. I bet you're regretting that now aren't you? Ah…. I hate to sound banal, but that's the way it goes I'm afraid... consider it a lesson in life."

Legolas narrowed his eyes. "You bastard, you instrumented all this didn't you? You convinced the Higher in some round-a-bout way to assign this mission to me, and then worked your lies to have it taken away from me, as if you knew how much this meant to me… Why? Is this a measure of revenge for you? Haven't you had enough 'revenge' over the years? Must you continually ruin everything for me? Damn you, Crickhen.. one day I'll get my revenge on you, and you'll rue the day you ever messed with me!"

"Oh Elf," Crickhen chuckled, "do you think you intimidate me? You really are full of yourself aren't you? Well, think what you will, but this had nothing to do with me. Despite what you seem to believe, I haven't even begun to exact my revenge on you yet…" And he was gone

Legolas stood where he was for a minute, staring at the Latsync Trysanc. Then, cursing his apprehension, quickly strode over and picked it up. The crystal was cold against his skin; unnaturally so. The blood red hue seemed to burn like scarlet fire; so bright it was the Legolas found himself shielding his eyes slightly. Odd. Very odd, how an inanimate object made him feel so ill at ease.

Sighing, he slipped the heavy chain around his neck. He would worry about the crystal another time. Damn that bloody Wizard! How he hated him! Sweet revenge would be when it was finally his, when he had that ring. And he would have that ring, whatever Crickhen and those fools of the Higher council thought.

If they believed that simple orders would put him off, they were very much mistaken. Indeed, he would play it their way for now, but only for now.

Yawning, Legolas rubbed his eyes, it was late and for some reason he was suddenly overcome with tiredness. What he really wanted was to climb into bed and sleep the rest of the twilight hours away (an extremely abnormal thing for him to want to do; Legolas was a creature of the night but he was past caring right then). He couldn't think straight, and this situation needed careful deliberation, best thought about with a clear mind.

Stifling another yawn, the Elf bend down and scooped up his bloodied cape and shirt, bundling them up and shoving them into an innocuous looking bag; he'd deal with them in the morning too.

Sleep was beckoning, and Legolas was succumbing to its charms when he heard a sharp rap on his door. With a sigh of vexation, and slight concern—who would be calling at this time of night? Legolas pulled on a long robe and yanked open the door.

"What?" he snapped to the nervous looking servant peering up at him.

"Begging your pardon, my Lord Legolas but the Lady Arwen wishes to speak with you immediately" said the servant, obviously amazed that Arwen would be wishing to speak to anyone at such an hour. "She said to come at once as it is a matter of utmost urgency."

"Arwen?" muttered Legolas to himself. He shook his head, confused. What did Arwen want with him….Ohhhh… and it all came back to him.: "You taste sweet, son of Thranduil, I wish to taste you more…. But not here, come to my quarters tonight, when the moon is at her apogee… I will be waiting." How had he forgotten? What was wrong with him? Something weird was going on here, and Legolas was determined to find out what.