Chapter 5 - The Mud Monster
Thranduil was watching as three rather bedraggled-looking young Elves rode over the stone bridge a few days later. Tanglinna stood at his side, arms crossed over his chest, a satisfied smirk on his lips. When the King started to move from the window to go and meet them, the Master Archer touched his arm.
"Nay, Your Majesty, not yet. It will all come out if they are left to their own devices, as you know quite well."
Thranduil raised one brow, but knew that Tanglinna was right. He moved to stand at the open window once more as the muddied horses trotted toward the stables. Several bottles were slung over the animals' shoulders, bumping against their sides.
"I am glad that you found out that they were well and alive. I was rather worried about them." Thranduil said quietly, his eyes on his youngest son. "What have they got in those bottles, I wonder?"
"Do you really want to know?"
The Wood Elf King snorted slightly.
"No, I suppose I do not," He glanced back at his Master Archer and smiled. "You really are very wicked, you know," he said with a laugh. "They will not be happy when they find out about this."
"I do know," Tanglinna said, bending over to glance out the window once more, a feral grin on his lean face. "Revenge is quite a marvelous thing. Let them try and miss their lessons again!"
Unaware of the scrutiny, the three young Elves slipped from their mounts. Legolas, Tavor, and Brethil unloaded their bottles of Morn Nen water, then set about attending to their horses' needs. The animals were grateful to have the dried mud brushed from their skin and the snarls worked from their manes and tails.
"I am never, ever going there again," Tavor declared later, as they hoisted the bottles slung on short ropes about their own shoulders and trudged toward Car an Neled, leaving their relieved horses munching happily, and talking quietly to one another about the misadventures they had just lived through. "There is nothing that would entice me to go there again. If we went we would only get into trouble . . . again! That was a bad idea, Legolas. Very bad."
Legolas scowled deeply, his back bent beneath the load of bottles. Mud smeared the young prince's hair, face, and clothing. The other two looked a little better than he, but not much. How many times had Tavor repeated just those sentiments on the return trip? He had lost count somewhere back at number four hundred and sixty-three.
"I didn't hear you come up with anything better," he growled, turning slightly to glare at his friend. "Or were you going to adopt Bastryn and keep him at your house?"
Brethil heaved a sigh as he hitched his heavy load to a more comfortable position.
"We should never have left the path," he said with a shake of his head, a strand of mud-encrusted hair brushing his cheek. "That is one of the first Rules they tell us! Don't leave the path. . .Oh, Valar. Master Tanglinna is going to be so angry with us for missing archery practice."
"Tanglinna?" Legolas said with a snort. "Is that all you are worried about?"
"Well, no, but he will not be happy with us at all. You know how he feels about us missing archery practice. My parents must be worried, too. Tavor's as well. I have never been gone that long on my own. Not that I was really alone. No, you were both there, but I have not been away from home like that. Then there is your father as well, Legolas. I wonder why he didn't send someone after us. . .We were gone rather longer than we should have been-"
"You think so?" Tavor asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. " 'We'll be back in no time at all. What are you worried about? What could go wrong? All we have to do is get some water and go back home.' Hmph. That was such a bad idea, Legolas-"
"Shut up, Tavor," Mirkwood's youngest prince snarled. He was not ready to admit that things had not turned out as he had planned; indeed they had gone from bad to worse. He could still hear Master Tanglinna's voice in his head as he had for some time now: "Never, ever leave the path, or you will regret it, younglings. The path affords you a measure of protection from the evil in this wood, but if you step off it-" The old Elf would then draw his finger across his throat with a grimace that was truly terrifying. "You may not return alive."
"I told you not to leave the path," Brethil said with a sideways glance at his prince. "I knew there would be trouble if we did. And well. . . there was, wasn't there! We are lucky to be alive! When your father finds out what happened, he will -"
"No one is going to tell him, Brethil!" Legolas said pointedly. "No one! You are to stay as far away from my father as possible or. . .or. . .or you will end up drinking this water!"
"That is not a bad idea, Legolas," Tavor said with a wicked grin, and a glance at Brethil. "It might be the only known cure for Brethilitis."
"You were the one that almost fell in," Brethil said sharply.
"It wasn't my fault. If you and Legolas had just -"
"Shut up, Tavor," Legolas muttered. He was feeling exhausted, something that he was quite unacquainted with, and not in the mood for Tavor's constant complaints. None of them had slept since they had left for Morn Nen -oh, so many days ago- and they were all irritable and somewhat put out with one another.
Finally they arrived at their 'House for Three', and stood at the bottom of the towering beech looking up into the branches overhead as if fearing that Bastryn would some how have wreaked havoc on it in their absence. All looked as it had, and they moved to hide the extra water in a nearby bush to conceal it from prying eyes. Taking one bottle of Morn Nen water with them, they climbed into the tree.
"I am not going in first," Tavor said, fingers moving to his nose, and then to his ear, remembering his last encounter with Bastryn.
Legolas turned smoldering blue eyes to him and shook his head.
"Afraid of a little spider, Tavor?" he asked, raising one brow.
"If you are so brave, then you go first," Tavor challenged, his cheeks reddening. He was feeling a little bit wary of the arachnid, but he wasn't 'afraid' of it. No, not afraid at all. . .He just didn't feel like being bitten again. That was all. . .He wasn't Prince Aralith. . .No. He was not afraid. Not. . .not really. He frowned. Well, perhaps only the tiniest bit.
When Legolas hesitated, grimacing as he flexed the fingers of his free hand as he remembered his own bout with the spider's sharp little fangs, Brethil sighed and moved agilely past him.
"After what we have been through, I would have thought that Bastryn would seem of no consequence," he said, sticking his head in the hole of the tree house's floor and looking inside. "Well," he said with a sigh. "He is still in his cage at least." He pushed himself inside, and stood looking at the web-strewn interior of their house.
Tavor entered next, trying to prove that he was not afraid - as much to himself as to his friends. He stood gaping in dismay at the glistening strings that covered everything within reach of Bastryn's web spinning. It looked entirely too much like the forest had, and he backed slowly toward a clean corner.
"I am not cleaning this," he said, crossing his arms over his chest as Legolas pulled himself in. He put on his 'fierce feral warrior' face to hide his distress as he stared at the prince.
"At least he is still in his cage," Brethil repeated, swiping at the webs with his slim hands. He seemed totally unaware of Tavor's fear, and Tavor knew that he had fooled them. He managed a grin, his eyes sliding to the spider as he moved slightly closer.
Bastryn was indeed in his cage of branches; his crimson eyes fastened on the three, and he shrieked at them in fury.
"Wicked, Wicked Greenie! Wicked, Wicked Elves!" He spit webs at them, hitting only Tavor who gasped in disgust, gave a strangled cry, and stumbled backwards.
"You are the wicked one, you evil spider! How dare you! Look at me! Look at this mess! Ugh! I hate spiders! I hate them!!"
"You were already a mess, Tavor," Legolas said with a tired smile. "Sounds like you have a slight case of Aralithus."
Tavor sneered at him and said, "I do not have Aralithus! And I am not as much of a mess as you are, O Prince of the Mud Monsters."
At the mention of the Mud Monsters, Brethil and Legolas glanced uneasily at one another.
"You don't think that it . . . followed us here?" Brethil asked in a subdued voice, his grey eyes growing huge with dismay.
"Of course not," Thranduil's son assured him, wishing he were as certain of that as he sounded. "How could it have followed us?"
"We left a clear enough trail for it to follow," Brethil said, looking quite worried. "Master Tanglinna says we should never, ever leave a trail -"
"Brethil! It didn't follow us. Don't think about it any more! Now," Legolas turned to study the angry little spider that had puffed itself up, and was shrieking at them once more. Had it followed them? They had been rather careless in their flight through the woods. They had left a trail. If Master Tanglinna ever found out about that. . .He shuddered and shook his head. "How do we do this?" He looked at the little spider. He would rather face Bastryn's wrath any day over the Master Archer's.
Tavor made a strange noise.
"I am not doing it! It is your spider, gwaur caun (dirty prince), not mine. Besides you just insulted me, and I am rather upset with you. Do it yourself."
Legolas glowered at him, but said nothing.
"Maybe you should just throw the water at him," Brethil said, studying the arachnid from a safe distance. "I don't think we should try to make him drink it. I don't think he would cooperate. Would you, Bastryn?"
The spider leapt at Brethil, moving the cage slightly. The young Elf leapt back in surprise, nearly bowling over Tavor who gasped and shrank into the corner. He was not cowering. . .No. He was not cowering at all, it just looked that way.
Legolas didn't think that it would be wise to try to force the water down the small throat either, past those needle sharp fangs, as he stared at the little black body in surprise. He unstoppered the bottle, holding it uncertainly in his hands. Then he drew the bottle back, and prepared to splash the Enchanted Waters on Bastryn when Tavor spoke in a tremulous voice.
"Where are we going to take him after you splash him?"
"What do you mean? We'll take him back into the forest and leave him."
"I am not going into the forest again!" Tavor stated, with an unwavering glance at his friend.
"I don't want to either, Legolas. Not until we know that the 'Mesgwauruan' is not anywhere near here," Brethil agreed quickly, his eyes still filled with fear. "We really should tell your father about that. He will need to know if a great monster is prowling in his woods!"
"No! We can't tell anyone! If we did, they would want to know what we were doing-"
"They will already want to know. We were gone for days, and they must be wondering what happened to us," Brethil continued, cocking his head to one side. "Really, Legolas, why didn't your father send someone after us? We could have been killed!"
"I don't know, Brethil. Now please! Both of you be quiet while I take care of Bastryn, since the two of you aren't being much help." He moved a little closer to the spider, but jumped back slightly when it lunged at him, moving the cage forward a few more inches. Did the spider look a little bigger than it had? Mirkwood's prince frowned, took a deep breath, then moved toward the cage quickly and upended the bottle. Water splashed onto Bastryn who shrieked in violent opposition to what was being done to him. The water splashed onto Legolas muddied boots and he danced backwards, not certain of just how much contact with Morn Nen water one could have before being affected by it.
Bastryn's screams grew quieter, and finally died away as he swayed slightly. Then the small black body stilled and the spider lay down, falling asleep with a contented look on his face.
Legolas let out a sigh, and grinned triumphantly at his friends.
"I will take him out into the forest soon," he said, not willing to admit his own fear. "I am going to change first. Then I am going to eat. . . And then-"
An earsplitting, unearthly howl filled the air. The three jumped, their hearts pounding wildly in their chests, eyes wide and filled with terror.
"Mesgwauruan!" Brethil gasped. "It followed us!"
Author's Notes: Mesgwauruan is a combination word that I made up. It uses "mesg" meaning "wet", and "gwaur" meaning "dirty". That is the closet I could come to mud or muddy. The "uan" means "monster".
Aralithus is merely another word for "arachnophobia", though taken to extremes in some cases. I made it up as well. There are many sufferers of this malady..all of you who sympathize with and understand poor Prince Aralith probably have a touch of this yourself! Having suffered from this once, I know it can be quite a serious problem. :-)
Many thanks to al, my beta reader! "PUT A COMMA IN" *shakes head* One of these days I WILL learn! Looks like they won by a landslide this time.
Response to Reviewers
AloriaMoonbeam: The Last Fae - I am glad you think this is a cool story! Thanx!
shirebound - I am thrilled to pieces that you like my stories about young Elves so much! You know I love your Hobbit stories!
Mercredi - I would have stuck my tongue out at Tanglinna, too! That old Elf does enjoy the youngling's discomfort too much!
D45 - My goodness! You certainly seem to know where I am going! LOL I hope to have a few surprises in store! More Tanglinna and More Tavor??!! Sure! I love them too! I finally know a little more of Tanglinna's history! He is one cool dude, let me tell you!
IRENA - Stubborn silent muses are an irritation, even to a prom queen! :) Glad you like the visions of kings and spiders, and archers fetching the bread! Silent muses will speak again when they are ready.
None - Why do you have the feeling that things will not go why Legolas wants? I haven't a clue! ~_^
JastaElf - I suppose that at times the "brilliant idea" look is worse than the Thranduil Look (c. JastaElf) You are welcome to as many spiders as you can handle! *smirk*
sarridy - I have children too, and they do afford much inspiration. . . not to mention having been a child once myself as well!
PuterPatty - No, I don't think Bastryn is a very nice spider. Not at all like my beloved Gwibess! Don't feel TOO sorry for Tanglinna. *wicked grin*
gershwin - Sorry, I didn't quite make one of them fall in, though I did think about it. But the story isn't over yet. Who knows! Maybe one will before the story is done.^0^ Elrond's reaction?? *hehehehe*
HobbitsRFun - Thanks so much! I love the word "hilarious"! SpidersRFun!
Jessica - I cannot wait to see what happens next either! *glares at her uncooperative muse that looks like a fat green spider for some reason*
Artanis - You want me to send the King Spider to Elrond? *grin* Why ever would Legolas do that??!! ~_^
al - Guess when I typed that mistake I hadn't changed in Chap. 3 I was in my impatient mode. Well, that has passed! Or perhaps it was my "gloating" mode. . . . . .That has passed too! *grin* So strawberry scented shampoo and a tub to Elrond?? What is it with you and bubbly tubs filled with Elves?? 0-0 *heh heh*
Skye - Bastryn could very easily be related to Remmith, Cablas, and Hiwdil! He certainly has a similar personality! And yes, I spare no one! I am very fair! Tanglinna looking for another job? LOL Brethil usually does know what he is saying. . .I think.. .Um. . . you are afraid of. . . Bunnies??!! Okay. . . .
Seaweed - I can be very patient, never fear. I am sure it will be great. I am glad that you like Bastryn, though he is quite a handful.
annakas - Hilarious and funny! ~_~ Love it!
The Sadistic Cow - Send the spider to Rivendell?? What would they do with it?? Love the "Jaws" theme. Now I will hear it as the gift arrives!
ccg - You do have a very interesting point! If Bastryn were sent to Imladris he probably would find his way "home" to the throne room in Mirkwood! LOL I honestly had not thought of that! Love it! I see you are yet another sufferer of Aralithus! Poor Aralith was copyrighted to me so I will give it to you! Poor Aralith (c. ccg) I am really going to have to write all these copyrights down! I like Celebrian, too!
Sake - Bastryn in a black robe, tap shoes, and a tope hat with black squirrels as backup dancers?? ROFL When is Thranduil's birthday?? Hmm . . . We shall see!
shimmerangel 1488 - I am glad you luv the funny chaps. that I write! :)
Earendil - Everyone seems to know what I am going to do! LOL Glad you think it is a good idea! LOTR RULES!
Lakergurl13 - You want Elrohir to send Aralith one of his little wooden spiders?? What a wonderful idea! ~_^ And Charlie - Orcs do get drunk! But really, Lakergurl! Why did you have to tell me that in the course of our lives we will eat 8 spiders when we are asleep??!! EEK!
trinity - Glad that you like the little eight-legged fellows!
Anya - Ring of Sarcasm - Another sufferer of Aralithus! What would you do with a spider?? LITTLE GRE ENLEAF! Sorry I had to mention it too!
Nancing Elf - Would you just want to kiss Legolas' fingers to make him better?? ~_^ Nothing is ever as easy as it should be for Little Greenleaf! BTW - Bastryn is rather intrigued by your Gwibess Jr!
Karina - What is wrong with the name Leslie?? It is the perfect name for an astrophysics officer! G You are quite right! Brethilitis does exist for a good reason! Comes in handy on occasion! As to the age of the Tricksy Trio boys, I see them as about 11-13 years (human years that is!)
Ithilien - A gift certificate to Haldir's House of Pancakes sounds really nice! So does the shopping spree at Elfstrom's! What!? You don't think Legolas will come up with something good??!! Legolas is between the ages of 11 - 13 (Human years) in this one. So your vote is for the Dorwinion?? Thranduil might consider THAT a declaration of war! G I see you did a turn around on Bastryn. . .Spiders do that to you!
calenedhel - Poor poor everybody in Mirkwood. Don't worry, in later chapters I will pick on the Imladris crowd! G
Princess ArWen of sMirkwood - What??!! You don't think a Morn Nen-ed Bastryn would make a good present for Elrond?? ^_^
littlesaiyangirl - Love the little face! ^o^ Priceless and preciousssss! Erk! I didn't say that! G
Hannah - I am so happy that you like my sense of humor! Thank you bunches!!
Anonymous - Yep, another Orc story. G Big brothers (and sisters!) do like it when the younger sibs get in trouble! I know this, being a big sis! G Brethil does think he is helping. . .or something . . . I know I always get a jolt when I run across the forest of Brethil in the Master's books, too! Sauron has planted a flower garden at Barad-Dur?? LOL You are right. That will be the day Tanglinna will have more patience with Little Greenleaf. G
Katharine the Great - Are you awake yet?? Or should I send Tanglinna after YOU??!! ~_^ You know what he is capable of better than anyone!
Reviewer with no name or symbol - Am I sending the spider?? Wait and see! *wicked laugh*
Nadra - I am glad that you live even if you are a creepy Ringwraith kind of person! Go read my "Bells of Silver". In my author's notes or somewhere I explain my take on the glorious Glorfindel! He lives I say! And hey! Leave Bastryn alone! Not leg pulling or squishing allowed! So how many Elves do you have at Angband?? I am afraid to ask. . .almost!
wellduh . . . - Don't you think that the Morn Nen water will do its job??
addicted - Sorry I was so slow. This little green spider muse has been ignoring my pleas for quite a while now!
anna - Ah, you like Bastryn the throne sitter! Thanx! Chuckling at work can be embarrassing! So you think sending the spider would strain the relationship between Mirkwood and Imladris even more?? :-)
Daphne - Arwen does like giving kisses! :) Sorry I was such a slug with this chapter!
CassandraAIarwen - Apologies to you too! I was slow and I HAD finished Hollin! I do not know what my problem is! I hope - I hope- I hope that the next chapter isn't so long in coming!
None - Hi! Apologies to you too! I am wicked slow, aren't I!!
Thranduil was watching as three rather bedraggled-looking young Elves rode over the stone bridge a few days later. Tanglinna stood at his side, arms crossed over his chest, a satisfied smirk on his lips. When the King started to move from the window to go and meet them, the Master Archer touched his arm.
"Nay, Your Majesty, not yet. It will all come out if they are left to their own devices, as you know quite well."
Thranduil raised one brow, but knew that Tanglinna was right. He moved to stand at the open window once more as the muddied horses trotted toward the stables. Several bottles were slung over the animals' shoulders, bumping against their sides.
"I am glad that you found out that they were well and alive. I was rather worried about them." Thranduil said quietly, his eyes on his youngest son. "What have they got in those bottles, I wonder?"
"Do you really want to know?"
The Wood Elf King snorted slightly.
"No, I suppose I do not," He glanced back at his Master Archer and smiled. "You really are very wicked, you know," he said with a laugh. "They will not be happy when they find out about this."
"I do know," Tanglinna said, bending over to glance out the window once more, a feral grin on his lean face. "Revenge is quite a marvelous thing. Let them try and miss their lessons again!"
Unaware of the scrutiny, the three young Elves slipped from their mounts. Legolas, Tavor, and Brethil unloaded their bottles of Morn Nen water, then set about attending to their horses' needs. The animals were grateful to have the dried mud brushed from their skin and the snarls worked from their manes and tails.
"I am never, ever going there again," Tavor declared later, as they hoisted the bottles slung on short ropes about their own shoulders and trudged toward Car an Neled, leaving their relieved horses munching happily, and talking quietly to one another about the misadventures they had just lived through. "There is nothing that would entice me to go there again. If we went we would only get into trouble . . . again! That was a bad idea, Legolas. Very bad."
Legolas scowled deeply, his back bent beneath the load of bottles. Mud smeared the young prince's hair, face, and clothing. The other two looked a little better than he, but not much. How many times had Tavor repeated just those sentiments on the return trip? He had lost count somewhere back at number four hundred and sixty-three.
"I didn't hear you come up with anything better," he growled, turning slightly to glare at his friend. "Or were you going to adopt Bastryn and keep him at your house?"
Brethil heaved a sigh as he hitched his heavy load to a more comfortable position.
"We should never have left the path," he said with a shake of his head, a strand of mud-encrusted hair brushing his cheek. "That is one of the first Rules they tell us! Don't leave the path. . .Oh, Valar. Master Tanglinna is going to be so angry with us for missing archery practice."
"Tanglinna?" Legolas said with a snort. "Is that all you are worried about?"
"Well, no, but he will not be happy with us at all. You know how he feels about us missing archery practice. My parents must be worried, too. Tavor's as well. I have never been gone that long on my own. Not that I was really alone. No, you were both there, but I have not been away from home like that. Then there is your father as well, Legolas. I wonder why he didn't send someone after us. . .We were gone rather longer than we should have been-"
"You think so?" Tavor asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. " 'We'll be back in no time at all. What are you worried about? What could go wrong? All we have to do is get some water and go back home.' Hmph. That was such a bad idea, Legolas-"
"Shut up, Tavor," Mirkwood's youngest prince snarled. He was not ready to admit that things had not turned out as he had planned; indeed they had gone from bad to worse. He could still hear Master Tanglinna's voice in his head as he had for some time now: "Never, ever leave the path, or you will regret it, younglings. The path affords you a measure of protection from the evil in this wood, but if you step off it-" The old Elf would then draw his finger across his throat with a grimace that was truly terrifying. "You may not return alive."
"I told you not to leave the path," Brethil said with a sideways glance at his prince. "I knew there would be trouble if we did. And well. . . there was, wasn't there! We are lucky to be alive! When your father finds out what happened, he will -"
"No one is going to tell him, Brethil!" Legolas said pointedly. "No one! You are to stay as far away from my father as possible or. . .or. . .or you will end up drinking this water!"
"That is not a bad idea, Legolas," Tavor said with a wicked grin, and a glance at Brethil. "It might be the only known cure for Brethilitis."
"You were the one that almost fell in," Brethil said sharply.
"It wasn't my fault. If you and Legolas had just -"
"Shut up, Tavor," Legolas muttered. He was feeling exhausted, something that he was quite unacquainted with, and not in the mood for Tavor's constant complaints. None of them had slept since they had left for Morn Nen -oh, so many days ago- and they were all irritable and somewhat put out with one another.
Finally they arrived at their 'House for Three', and stood at the bottom of the towering beech looking up into the branches overhead as if fearing that Bastryn would some how have wreaked havoc on it in their absence. All looked as it had, and they moved to hide the extra water in a nearby bush to conceal it from prying eyes. Taking one bottle of Morn Nen water with them, they climbed into the tree.
"I am not going in first," Tavor said, fingers moving to his nose, and then to his ear, remembering his last encounter with Bastryn.
Legolas turned smoldering blue eyes to him and shook his head.
"Afraid of a little spider, Tavor?" he asked, raising one brow.
"If you are so brave, then you go first," Tavor challenged, his cheeks reddening. He was feeling a little bit wary of the arachnid, but he wasn't 'afraid' of it. No, not afraid at all. . .He just didn't feel like being bitten again. That was all. . .He wasn't Prince Aralith. . .No. He was not afraid. Not. . .not really. He frowned. Well, perhaps only the tiniest bit.
When Legolas hesitated, grimacing as he flexed the fingers of his free hand as he remembered his own bout with the spider's sharp little fangs, Brethil sighed and moved agilely past him.
"After what we have been through, I would have thought that Bastryn would seem of no consequence," he said, sticking his head in the hole of the tree house's floor and looking inside. "Well," he said with a sigh. "He is still in his cage at least." He pushed himself inside, and stood looking at the web-strewn interior of their house.
Tavor entered next, trying to prove that he was not afraid - as much to himself as to his friends. He stood gaping in dismay at the glistening strings that covered everything within reach of Bastryn's web spinning. It looked entirely too much like the forest had, and he backed slowly toward a clean corner.
"I am not cleaning this," he said, crossing his arms over his chest as Legolas pulled himself in. He put on his 'fierce feral warrior' face to hide his distress as he stared at the prince.
"At least he is still in his cage," Brethil repeated, swiping at the webs with his slim hands. He seemed totally unaware of Tavor's fear, and Tavor knew that he had fooled them. He managed a grin, his eyes sliding to the spider as he moved slightly closer.
Bastryn was indeed in his cage of branches; his crimson eyes fastened on the three, and he shrieked at them in fury.
"Wicked, Wicked Greenie! Wicked, Wicked Elves!" He spit webs at them, hitting only Tavor who gasped in disgust, gave a strangled cry, and stumbled backwards.
"You are the wicked one, you evil spider! How dare you! Look at me! Look at this mess! Ugh! I hate spiders! I hate them!!"
"You were already a mess, Tavor," Legolas said with a tired smile. "Sounds like you have a slight case of Aralithus."
Tavor sneered at him and said, "I do not have Aralithus! And I am not as much of a mess as you are, O Prince of the Mud Monsters."
At the mention of the Mud Monsters, Brethil and Legolas glanced uneasily at one another.
"You don't think that it . . . followed us here?" Brethil asked in a subdued voice, his grey eyes growing huge with dismay.
"Of course not," Thranduil's son assured him, wishing he were as certain of that as he sounded. "How could it have followed us?"
"We left a clear enough trail for it to follow," Brethil said, looking quite worried. "Master Tanglinna says we should never, ever leave a trail -"
"Brethil! It didn't follow us. Don't think about it any more! Now," Legolas turned to study the angry little spider that had puffed itself up, and was shrieking at them once more. Had it followed them? They had been rather careless in their flight through the woods. They had left a trail. If Master Tanglinna ever found out about that. . .He shuddered and shook his head. "How do we do this?" He looked at the little spider. He would rather face Bastryn's wrath any day over the Master Archer's.
Tavor made a strange noise.
"I am not doing it! It is your spider, gwaur caun (dirty prince), not mine. Besides you just insulted me, and I am rather upset with you. Do it yourself."
Legolas glowered at him, but said nothing.
"Maybe you should just throw the water at him," Brethil said, studying the arachnid from a safe distance. "I don't think we should try to make him drink it. I don't think he would cooperate. Would you, Bastryn?"
The spider leapt at Brethil, moving the cage slightly. The young Elf leapt back in surprise, nearly bowling over Tavor who gasped and shrank into the corner. He was not cowering. . .No. He was not cowering at all, it just looked that way.
Legolas didn't think that it would be wise to try to force the water down the small throat either, past those needle sharp fangs, as he stared at the little black body in surprise. He unstoppered the bottle, holding it uncertainly in his hands. Then he drew the bottle back, and prepared to splash the Enchanted Waters on Bastryn when Tavor spoke in a tremulous voice.
"Where are we going to take him after you splash him?"
"What do you mean? We'll take him back into the forest and leave him."
"I am not going into the forest again!" Tavor stated, with an unwavering glance at his friend.
"I don't want to either, Legolas. Not until we know that the 'Mesgwauruan' is not anywhere near here," Brethil agreed quickly, his eyes still filled with fear. "We really should tell your father about that. He will need to know if a great monster is prowling in his woods!"
"No! We can't tell anyone! If we did, they would want to know what we were doing-"
"They will already want to know. We were gone for days, and they must be wondering what happened to us," Brethil continued, cocking his head to one side. "Really, Legolas, why didn't your father send someone after us? We could have been killed!"
"I don't know, Brethil. Now please! Both of you be quiet while I take care of Bastryn, since the two of you aren't being much help." He moved a little closer to the spider, but jumped back slightly when it lunged at him, moving the cage forward a few more inches. Did the spider look a little bigger than it had? Mirkwood's prince frowned, took a deep breath, then moved toward the cage quickly and upended the bottle. Water splashed onto Bastryn who shrieked in violent opposition to what was being done to him. The water splashed onto Legolas muddied boots and he danced backwards, not certain of just how much contact with Morn Nen water one could have before being affected by it.
Bastryn's screams grew quieter, and finally died away as he swayed slightly. Then the small black body stilled and the spider lay down, falling asleep with a contented look on his face.
Legolas let out a sigh, and grinned triumphantly at his friends.
"I will take him out into the forest soon," he said, not willing to admit his own fear. "I am going to change first. Then I am going to eat. . . And then-"
An earsplitting, unearthly howl filled the air. The three jumped, their hearts pounding wildly in their chests, eyes wide and filled with terror.
"Mesgwauruan!" Brethil gasped. "It followed us!"
Author's Notes: Mesgwauruan is a combination word that I made up. It uses "mesg" meaning "wet", and "gwaur" meaning "dirty". That is the closet I could come to mud or muddy. The "uan" means "monster".
Aralithus is merely another word for "arachnophobia", though taken to extremes in some cases. I made it up as well. There are many sufferers of this malady..all of you who sympathize with and understand poor Prince Aralith probably have a touch of this yourself! Having suffered from this once, I know it can be quite a serious problem. :-)
Many thanks to al, my beta reader! "PUT A COMMA IN" *shakes head* One of these days I WILL learn! Looks like they won by a landslide this time.
Response to Reviewers
AloriaMoonbeam: The Last Fae - I am glad you think this is a cool story! Thanx!
shirebound - I am thrilled to pieces that you like my stories about young Elves so much! You know I love your Hobbit stories!
Mercredi - I would have stuck my tongue out at Tanglinna, too! That old Elf does enjoy the youngling's discomfort too much!
D45 - My goodness! You certainly seem to know where I am going! LOL I hope to have a few surprises in store! More Tanglinna and More Tavor??!! Sure! I love them too! I finally know a little more of Tanglinna's history! He is one cool dude, let me tell you!
IRENA - Stubborn silent muses are an irritation, even to a prom queen! :) Glad you like the visions of kings and spiders, and archers fetching the bread! Silent muses will speak again when they are ready.
None - Why do you have the feeling that things will not go why Legolas wants? I haven't a clue! ~_^
JastaElf - I suppose that at times the "brilliant idea" look is worse than the Thranduil Look (c. JastaElf) You are welcome to as many spiders as you can handle! *smirk*
sarridy - I have children too, and they do afford much inspiration. . . not to mention having been a child once myself as well!
PuterPatty - No, I don't think Bastryn is a very nice spider. Not at all like my beloved Gwibess! Don't feel TOO sorry for Tanglinna. *wicked grin*
gershwin - Sorry, I didn't quite make one of them fall in, though I did think about it. But the story isn't over yet. Who knows! Maybe one will before the story is done.^0^ Elrond's reaction?? *hehehehe*
HobbitsRFun - Thanks so much! I love the word "hilarious"! SpidersRFun!
Jessica - I cannot wait to see what happens next either! *glares at her uncooperative muse that looks like a fat green spider for some reason*
Artanis - You want me to send the King Spider to Elrond? *grin* Why ever would Legolas do that??!! ~_^
al - Guess when I typed that mistake I hadn't changed in Chap. 3 I was in my impatient mode. Well, that has passed! Or perhaps it was my "gloating" mode. . . . . .That has passed too! *grin* So strawberry scented shampoo and a tub to Elrond?? What is it with you and bubbly tubs filled with Elves?? 0-0 *heh heh*
Skye - Bastryn could very easily be related to Remmith, Cablas, and Hiwdil! He certainly has a similar personality! And yes, I spare no one! I am very fair! Tanglinna looking for another job? LOL Brethil usually does know what he is saying. . .I think.. .Um. . . you are afraid of. . . Bunnies??!! Okay. . . .
Seaweed - I can be very patient, never fear. I am sure it will be great. I am glad that you like Bastryn, though he is quite a handful.
annakas - Hilarious and funny! ~_~ Love it!
The Sadistic Cow - Send the spider to Rivendell?? What would they do with it?? Love the "Jaws" theme. Now I will hear it as the gift arrives!
ccg - You do have a very interesting point! If Bastryn were sent to Imladris he probably would find his way "home" to the throne room in Mirkwood! LOL I honestly had not thought of that! Love it! I see you are yet another sufferer of Aralithus! Poor Aralith was copyrighted to me so I will give it to you! Poor Aralith (c. ccg) I am really going to have to write all these copyrights down! I like Celebrian, too!
Sake - Bastryn in a black robe, tap shoes, and a tope hat with black squirrels as backup dancers?? ROFL When is Thranduil's birthday?? Hmm . . . We shall see!
shimmerangel 1488 - I am glad you luv the funny chaps. that I write! :)
Earendil - Everyone seems to know what I am going to do! LOL Glad you think it is a good idea! LOTR RULES!
Lakergurl13 - You want Elrohir to send Aralith one of his little wooden spiders?? What a wonderful idea! ~_^ And Charlie - Orcs do get drunk! But really, Lakergurl! Why did you have to tell me that in the course of our lives we will eat 8 spiders when we are asleep??!! EEK!
trinity - Glad that you like the little eight-legged fellows!
Anya - Ring of Sarcasm - Another sufferer of Aralithus! What would you do with a spider?? LITTLE GRE ENLEAF! Sorry I had to mention it too!
Nancing Elf - Would you just want to kiss Legolas' fingers to make him better?? ~_^ Nothing is ever as easy as it should be for Little Greenleaf! BTW - Bastryn is rather intrigued by your Gwibess Jr!
Karina - What is wrong with the name Leslie?? It is the perfect name for an astrophysics officer! G You are quite right! Brethilitis does exist for a good reason! Comes in handy on occasion! As to the age of the Tricksy Trio boys, I see them as about 11-13 years (human years that is!)
Ithilien - A gift certificate to Haldir's House of Pancakes sounds really nice! So does the shopping spree at Elfstrom's! What!? You don't think Legolas will come up with something good??!! Legolas is between the ages of 11 - 13 (Human years) in this one. So your vote is for the Dorwinion?? Thranduil might consider THAT a declaration of war! G I see you did a turn around on Bastryn. . .Spiders do that to you!
calenedhel - Poor poor everybody in Mirkwood. Don't worry, in later chapters I will pick on the Imladris crowd! G
Princess ArWen of sMirkwood - What??!! You don't think a Morn Nen-ed Bastryn would make a good present for Elrond?? ^_^
littlesaiyangirl - Love the little face! ^o^ Priceless and preciousssss! Erk! I didn't say that! G
Hannah - I am so happy that you like my sense of humor! Thank you bunches!!
Anonymous - Yep, another Orc story. G Big brothers (and sisters!) do like it when the younger sibs get in trouble! I know this, being a big sis! G Brethil does think he is helping. . .or something . . . I know I always get a jolt when I run across the forest of Brethil in the Master's books, too! Sauron has planted a flower garden at Barad-Dur?? LOL You are right. That will be the day Tanglinna will have more patience with Little Greenleaf. G
Katharine the Great - Are you awake yet?? Or should I send Tanglinna after YOU??!! ~_^ You know what he is capable of better than anyone!
Reviewer with no name or symbol - Am I sending the spider?? Wait and see! *wicked laugh*
Nadra - I am glad that you live even if you are a creepy Ringwraith kind of person! Go read my "Bells of Silver". In my author's notes or somewhere I explain my take on the glorious Glorfindel! He lives I say! And hey! Leave Bastryn alone! Not leg pulling or squishing allowed! So how many Elves do you have at Angband?? I am afraid to ask. . .almost!
wellduh . . . - Don't you think that the Morn Nen water will do its job??
addicted - Sorry I was so slow. This little green spider muse has been ignoring my pleas for quite a while now!
anna - Ah, you like Bastryn the throne sitter! Thanx! Chuckling at work can be embarrassing! So you think sending the spider would strain the relationship between Mirkwood and Imladris even more?? :-)
Daphne - Arwen does like giving kisses! :) Sorry I was such a slug with this chapter!
CassandraAIarwen - Apologies to you too! I was slow and I HAD finished Hollin! I do not know what my problem is! I hope - I hope- I hope that the next chapter isn't so long in coming!
None - Hi! Apologies to you too! I am wicked slow, aren't I!!