Chap 10

Ok, I haven't done a disclaimer in a while so here goes. As much I would love to lay claim to the character and places of Middle-Earth, they belong to Tolkien and I make no money from them whatsoever.

Legolas yelled in pain. With one last ounce of desperation, he slashed at the spider and it jumped away from him, releasing his arm. Unfortunately for the spider, it jumped towards the bog and one of its legs got stuck. Legolas was bent over double, clutching his arm. Blood seeped through his sleeve and he felt the poison moving round his body. Gasping in pain he glanced at the spider and realised that it would be out soon. They didn't have much time. Straightening up as best he could he called to his friends, urgency in his voice.

"Asca, Kela!"

They didn't need telling twice, Earelen swung Elanor onto her back once more and took to the trees, Balar grabbed Eldanna and Galador's hands and ran with them through the underbrush and Aros ran to Legolas and began to help him run. Each group took a different direction. Aros and Legolas were the slowest. Legolas was trying desperately not to let the poison claim him; he had to remain conscious. As the two elves ran, they could hear the spider following them. Slowly, but surely, it was gaining.

"Aros go." Legolas begged, "I can't keep this up much longer. Leave me to deal with the spider."

"No." Aros replied firmly, "I'm not leaving you out here to die! You saved my life."

Legolas managed a small smile, he was finding it hard to get enough breath, but he would keep going. For the love of his friends, he kept running.

Finally, when Legolas had barely any strength left, they neared the palace. He could hear Earelen calling out bird signals, and the blowing of a horn. She had alerted them to the spider's presence. With one last burst of speed, Legolas and Aros charged for the palace.

Meanwhile, Thranduil, Aegnor, Gelion, Galathil and Gandalf were in counsel. They were discussing the trade between the Woodland Realm and Dale and their mutual dangers. After a while, they adjourned to the Royal family's private sitting room.

"Aegnor," Gelion spoke up, "what have you done to your hand?"

Aegnor showed him, There was a large gash running across the palm, It had been stitched up neatly and was healing well.

"How in Arda did you manage that!" Gelion said aghast.

"That stag I've been hunting put his antler to it." Aegnor replied with a wry smile. "Last night I was out hunting with my friends again, we brought down the beast, but I paid the price for being the best swordsman among us."

"I take it they sent you down to check the stag was dead then." Thranduil said, sounding amused.

Aegnor nodded.

"For my own peace of mind, I hope Galador does not grow up to be as adventurous as your sons Thranduil." Galathil said with a laugh. "I doubt I'd be able to cope."

Now it was Thranduil's turn to laugh,

"These two are nothing!" he said smiling fondly at them, "Legolas is much more of a handful than they ever were. I must say Aegnor came pretty close a few times though."

"Adar!" Aegnor moaned good-naturedly.

"It must go with the blond hair." Gandalf said with a grin, "As I recall, you were quite a handful yourself, if Oropher told true."

"Mithrandir!" Thranduil said in mock hurt, "I was never a difficult child. I always behaved perfectly."

"That'll be the day."

Galathil sighed happily, "I suppose I should be glad my son is not a blond then."

Aegnor gave him a look of mock reproach. His own blond hair fell half way down his back. Out of all of Thranduil's sons, he looked most like their father. His hair had slightly more red to it, but other than that, they were very much alike; the same broad shoulders, the same sharp features and the same deep blue eyes. The family traits from Oropher were strong. Gelion on the other hand, took after their mother, light brown hair and a paler complexion. His eyes were more of a crystalline blue that Ailiel had had and his build was also more similar to his mother's, slender with longer legs. His features too were softer than his father's, with a slightly smaller nose. Legolas was different again, his blond hair the same hue as his father's. His features too were similar to his father's, but toned down slightly. However, he had his mother's build and complexion and his eyes were like mirror's of Ailiel's.

They continued talking. Gandalf was just telling them one of the queerer tales about hobbits when there heard the sounding of a horn. All three elves head snapped towards the sound instantly.

"What is it Thranduil?" Galathil asked quickly.

"Stay here." Was all he got as a reply before Thranduil hurried from the room, his two oldest sons in tow.

Frowning, Galathil got up, and followed by Gandalf, hurried after the Elven King. The man was surprised at how fast the elves were going without actually running. Whatever was going on, it was serious. As the elves entered the entrance hall they saw several of the Home Guard warriors running out the great doors. Galathil and Gandalf arrived in the entrance hall just in time to see the king and his sons going out the doors themselves. They followed.

Thranduil stopped dead just outside the doors, his sons standing at either side of him. Galathil and Gandalf came to stand beside them just as Earelen came bursting out of the woods to their left. She ran towards the palace, little Elanor clutching onto her back, then Balar, Eldanna and Galador came into view from their right. Elanor was off Earelen's back and in her father's arms in an instant. Galathil's other two children were beside him a moment later, Eldanna clutched at her father, terrified. Thranduil's heart raced. Where was Legolas? What had happened? He had the answer a minute later, Aros burst out of the trees directly in front of him, Legolas following shortly after. Blood coated his sleeve, his face was pale and his breathing laboured. Right behind them, a spider came out from the trees. It was fully fifteen feet tall. Eldanna buried her face in her father's legs. Thranduil gasped as Legolas stumbled, then turning around, drew his knife to face the spider. Aros stopped too, also drawing his blade. The spider stopped hissing at Legolas and his friend.

"You shall not pass!" Legolas called to it, his voice shaking, but not with fear, he looked as if he would collapse any second. "You shall not harm any in my father's household while I draw breath."

The young prince spoke valiantly for one so young, but it was plain that it was a great effort.

The spider hissed again. It bore down upon the pair, but they stood firm. Neither would allow the spider to get any nearer to Thranduil's stronghold. Even if they were still young children, they understood how important it was to keep the Shadow at bay. This gave the archers the vital few seconds they needed to notch their arrows, draw, aim and then, they fired a volley into the spider's thick skin. It hissed in pain and leap towards the pair of elflings. They both leapt to the side as another volley struck the abhorrent beast. With a last hiss it slumped forward, and was dead. Legolas sighed, leaning heavily on Aros. His arm was numbing and the world was beginning to spin and go dark. All of a sudden, he fell sideways on the ground.

"Legolas!" Thranduil yelled and, all dignity forgotten, ran forward to his son.

Frozen in horror, he had watched the scene play before him. Aros was already kneeling beside Legolas, frantically trying to wake him up. Thranduil dropped to his knees beside the young child taking his son in his arms and checked his breathing and pulse. Legolas was still alive, but the spider venom was coursing through him. Dimrost ran over to where Thranduil and Aros knelt but the unconscious prince, he had been among the archers who took down the spider.

"Get him to the healers, hurry." Thranduil told the master archer, the strain of fear clear in the normally composed king's voice.

A/N - Yet another cliff hanger. I keep doing that. Well, what can I say, the more reviews I get, the quicker I'll update, or that's the theory anyway.

Translations

Asca - Hurry

Kela - Run

Replies to Review

Legolas-Gurl88: Thanks. It is quite cute, isn't it? I don't have a regular updating time yet but I'm going to try and get into updating once a fortnight. Right now it's a bit random. Hope you like this chapter.

Daw the Minstrel: Yes, I suppose it did have to happen. But I think Thranduil would have preferred it to happen to Galador. Well, hope this chapter's enjoyable!

Nellas: Yes, my elvish probably does sound a bit like a caveman, but I'm still learning. Glad you liked the cliff hanger, especially seeing as I've just written another one! Hope this chapter's as good.

Ok, these next reviews aren't actually for the last chapter but I got them at the same time as the three above.

Nilimade: Thanks. I'm still a bit of an amateur at elvish, but I've got some more stuff to learn from so hopefully it'll improve. I've looked up the stuff you told me but I couldn't find cundu. However, I did find a different word for price so I might use that. Thanks for the input!

TreeHugger: Yes, after all I've put her through, Arhival does deserve a reward. I'm sure Legolas looks just as nice as his adar too, maybe even better, after all, he's the cute one. Aegnor does have a sharp wit though, and yes, poor Thranduil. I think anyone would find it hard to be Legolas' father. Thanks for the compliment! I'm glad I made Thranduil a good adar as well, I would hate to right nasty Thranduil. Well, I hope this chapter's as good!