Chapter 7! That's wild, I'm posting chapter 7 and I currently have 77
reviews! Uhm. . . yeah, have fun with this chapter. ::Gulp::
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Strider-
This letter will be short and more than likely contain nothing exciting. I wanted it to come quickly for you, since I am not sure when I'll next be able to write.
We leave on our hunt in the morning, too soon, as I am already writing this by candlelight. The evening has been rather quiet. I have not seen Telemnar or Aldarion at all. Of course, I know Dar is with my cousin. You would think he was leaving for his journey across the Sea by the way he's saying goodbye to her. I can only imagine that Tel is setting up a practical joke for us.
Be careful with the man you are searching. I have a bad feeling about him, especially with what you have told me.
I am not angry with you for not telling me about Fal. I'm angry, 'tis true, but certainly not at you. Honestly, he saved my life. Shouldn't that be a pardon for him, allowing him to re-enter Mirkwood?
I still have things to prepare for the morning, so I will close for now. Good luck with your mission, as I hope to have with mine.
-Legolas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
The prince folded the letter quickly and sent it on its way. He stood at his balcony, watching the stars shimmer and the trees rustle in the light breeze. He had a very good feeling about his journey tomorrow. With any luck, it would not last more than a few days, and he be back home in no time.
He turned from his balcony, grabbing his travel bag. He shoved a few things in it and set it next to his weapons.
"Legolas!"
"Good evening, Tel."
"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be rallying your contingent?"
Legolas smiled at his friend. "I already did that. I figured I'd get it done early so that they might spend the rest of the evening with their families. Or at least so I didn't have to deal with Dar and his in- attentiveness while he watched for his bride to be to walk by. Shouldn't you be rallying yours?"
"I already did. I figured I'd have most the evening to sabotage Minastir's office if I got done with my contingent early."
Unable to hide his smile and the mirth in his eyes, Legolas chuckled. "You will be in so much trouble, Tel. He'll know it was you."
"Yes, but we'll be a day's ride from him by the time he finds out, and then he'll have time to cool off before we come back." Telemnar threw himself on the prince's bed. "Looking forward to it?"
"Surprisingly," the prince replied. "It will be an amazingly nice change to endless days at home. Doing nothing."
"Dealing with idiots."
"Tel, behave yourself."
The elf laughed. "As always, my prince."
Legolas relaxed in a stuffed chair facing the bed. "I was thinking about Fal."
Telemnar rolled his eyes. "Legolas, just let go of it. He's not coming back. Do you realize that even if your father took back his punishment, Fal wouldn't want to come back? It would be too awkward. He's happy where he is."
"And how would you know?" Legolas spat the question with unintended venom.
His expression changed when Telemnar broke eye contact and did not answer. "Tel, how would you know?"
"I don't know, I was guessing."
"Damn it, Tel! You think I don't know you better than that by now? What do you know? You know his sentence, don't you? Telemnar?"
"Yes, okay? I do. I know his sentence, and I also know him. I've seen him a lot. Every time I leave this kingdom, I sneak out to Lorien to see how he's doing."
Legolas sat back, not angry with his friend, just at the injustice of the situation. "Does everyone in this kingdom know except for me?"
"No. Aldarion doesn't know. Most don't know. I only know because I am one of your father's main warriors. In case he came back, I was one of the ones to deal with it."
"And how were you to deal with it?"
Telemnar raised an eyebrow. "You should know what I am to say."
"You can't tell me. I knew, I just thought I'd give it a try." He started thinking aloud. "It can't be a sentence of death. I've seen people exiled on pain of death. Ada would not hide that from me. It can't be less than that, or he wouldn't make such a big deal out of it. So what's worse than death?"
His friend only nodded as if to say, "You're on the right track."
"I wish he had not come to see me in Lorien. I wouldn't have this to think about, and I'd be so much more content."
"You, my prince, must learn the difference between happiness and ignorance."
The prince decided not to retort. The wise words from his friend were so rare that they were often shocking. It wasn't to say that he was unintelligent, but that he more often found humour in a situation than the need to be wise.
"You should get to work on Minastir's office if you expect to get some sleep tonight. I at least would prefer that you do, seeing how grumpy you are without your beauty rest."
"Auta miqula orqu," Telemnar hissed, sliding off the prince's bead.
"I'll kiss an orc when it comes to visit you!" The prince yelled behind his friend, then closed the door.
He laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking about the following day.
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Thranduil watched approvingly the two chosen contingents were preparing their things, saying good-byes, and some, like his own son, impatiently waiting for others to be ready. His eyes finally fell on Aldarion. His horse was standing next to him, snorting in the cool morning air. In front of him was his nice, Aldarion's betrothed, Séreméla. She was crying.
"Legolas."
The prince turned and saw his father beckoning him. Urging his horse into a brisk walk, he approached the older elf. "Yes, Ada?"
"Will you go comfort your cousin? I would, but I fear I have quite forgotten what it feels like to be so deeply in love."
Legolas did as he was asked. "Méla," he said, startling her. (Though, how she did not hear him coming on horseback, he would never figure out. Love did strange things to people.) "He'll only be gone for a couple of weeks."
"But that is two weeks too many, Legolas!" She smiled sweetly, looking back to Aldarion's eyes. "I shall miss him so."
Legolas rolled his eyes, bearing a striking resemblance to Telemnar. "Please. I don't think I can take it. Come, Dar. It is time to leave. Goodbye, Séreméla."
The girl smiled at her cousin, kissed Aldarion goodbye, and then let him go. The elf deftly mounted his steed. With Legolas leading the way, the group of Mirkwood elves was gone.
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Legolas alone was awake, though by looking at the elves, no one would have been able to tell. He stared through the thick canopy of dark trees.
He was so deep within his own thoughts that he did not hear his friend stir. Aldarion rolled onto his stomach, resting his chin in his hands. He watched his prince, watched his thoughts move across his crystalline-blue eyes. Finally, he spoke.
"There is no need to keep watch this far North, my lord."
Legolas turned his head calmly. "I know. I find no weariness this night." He smiled. "What keeps you awake?"
"The ground is not so comfortable as the branches above."
Legolas nodded in agreement. In an effort to keep the company close together, Legolas and Telemnar had decided that the seasoned warriors would sleep on the ground, allowing the younger elves the boughs of the trees.
"I was also thinking that. Somehow, as a prince, I figured I deserved part of a tree."
Aldarion laughed at him. "Ai, 'tis true, but you also said not to treat you like a prince on these ventures."
"Did I?" Legolas mused in a joking tone. "Whatever possessed me to say that?"
Still smiling, Aldarion yawned.
"You should rest, Dar."
"As should you, Legolas."
The prince noted his friend's half-lidded eyes and his sleepy voice. "The morning shall come on swift wings, my friend. Take rest while you still can."
True to the prince's words, dawn arrived much too soon. The elves were packing their things when they heard a horse's hooves coming toward them.
Legolas was the first to stand, a sudden foreboding claiming his heart. Before long, a horse and rider came into view.
"Minastir?" Legolas breathed the name with loathing.
Telemnar leaned into him. "Give me the word and I'll kill him on the spot."
Legolas smiled. "Tel, behave. He may have come after you."
Minastir dismounted too quickly for grace, dropping into a sudden bow. "My lord," he was breathless. "I bring news of Mithfalas."
The forest itself seemed to grow silent. Legolas' heart pounded. "Rise, what news do you bring?"
"He sent word to Lord Elrond of a traitor in a human town."
The prince's breath hitched.
"He went to help, but he was too late. Minastir paused. "He found Strider there."
Fear gripped him. "And?"
Minastir swallowed. "Mithfalas is. . ."
"Minastir, deliver your news swiftly."
"The elf is dead."
Legolas' heart stopped. "And of Strider?"
After a meaningful look, Minastir sighed. "Lord Elrond says that he is fatally injured. He's not long to live."
Legolas sprung to action. "Aldarion, you shall lead my contingent. I ride to Rivendell. Minastir, do not tell my father. I would have your head for it."
He was mounted and urging his horse into a run before Aldarion's voice stopped him. "Legolas, come back."
He hesitated, wanting desperately to go to his friend. He could not even think of Mithfalas.
"Legolas."
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Reviewers: Uhm. . . I'm seeing lots of death threats in the very near future. And you know what really sucks. . . you have to wait TWO chapters before you find out what happens (The next chapter isn't going to tell you much of anything.) . . . all I can say is, the answer has already been given. The next chapter will be BEFORE this news that Legolas got. . . (I know, I suck!)
SPEoD: No worries! Berylla is only a distraction. . . mwahahaha! I do, well, I'm leasing a horse, but I don't have time to ride more than once a week. I'd go into WHY, but that would take longer than the chapter did. I played piano for a while. Still can, just don't enjoy. Guitar is so awesome. And uhm. . . I guess Fal isn't coming back, huh? ::Eek!::
Arayelle Lynn: Aw, thanks. Cute!
Lady Aqawondel: Lol, I even checked my room! And I'm the author! Lol. Thanks so much!
Gwyn: Ask and ye shall receive! Not quite what you were looking for, huh?
Jazi: You and your story endings! The playboy of middle-earth. . . I was cracking up! Lol.
Silvertoekee: I'll answer most questions, unless they give away too much. It's so funny, EVERYONE was excited to see Legolas, and bam! They got this.
Das Blume: I think we all just like Leggy better, lol. Hahahahaha! One of your comments made me crack up hysterically! I can't tell you what though. Yeah, I love Tel too. "Seriousness? What's that again?" Hahaha! NO! I am not taking the embroidery idea! Lol!
Deana: Can you see the beginning of the angst, lol? Uhm, this wasn't as bad of a cliffhanger as I originally had planned. Be thankful. That one was a doozy!
Coolio02: I love Tel and Dar. . . they were supposed to be just be filler characters too, but they took on a life of their own!
Wildfire2: Well, techinically, Fal didn't save him, he just told the others where to save him. (Coming from Thranduil's POV, not mine!) So still, he hasn't redeemed himself, but you are going down the right track :-D
Grumpy: Ah! Thank you! That makes me feel better, especially looking at "time for another Aragorn chapter."
Angel With No Wings: Thanks for the pains you go through to review for me! I appreciate it! And. . . you made me laugh too.
It's funny, even when it's Aragorn's chapter, Legolas gets all the reviews! Until next time (if you leave me leave to write it!)
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Strider-
This letter will be short and more than likely contain nothing exciting. I wanted it to come quickly for you, since I am not sure when I'll next be able to write.
We leave on our hunt in the morning, too soon, as I am already writing this by candlelight. The evening has been rather quiet. I have not seen Telemnar or Aldarion at all. Of course, I know Dar is with my cousin. You would think he was leaving for his journey across the Sea by the way he's saying goodbye to her. I can only imagine that Tel is setting up a practical joke for us.
Be careful with the man you are searching. I have a bad feeling about him, especially with what you have told me.
I am not angry with you for not telling me about Fal. I'm angry, 'tis true, but certainly not at you. Honestly, he saved my life. Shouldn't that be a pardon for him, allowing him to re-enter Mirkwood?
I still have things to prepare for the morning, so I will close for now. Good luck with your mission, as I hope to have with mine.
-Legolas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
The prince folded the letter quickly and sent it on its way. He stood at his balcony, watching the stars shimmer and the trees rustle in the light breeze. He had a very good feeling about his journey tomorrow. With any luck, it would not last more than a few days, and he be back home in no time.
He turned from his balcony, grabbing his travel bag. He shoved a few things in it and set it next to his weapons.
"Legolas!"
"Good evening, Tel."
"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be rallying your contingent?"
Legolas smiled at his friend. "I already did that. I figured I'd get it done early so that they might spend the rest of the evening with their families. Or at least so I didn't have to deal with Dar and his in- attentiveness while he watched for his bride to be to walk by. Shouldn't you be rallying yours?"
"I already did. I figured I'd have most the evening to sabotage Minastir's office if I got done with my contingent early."
Unable to hide his smile and the mirth in his eyes, Legolas chuckled. "You will be in so much trouble, Tel. He'll know it was you."
"Yes, but we'll be a day's ride from him by the time he finds out, and then he'll have time to cool off before we come back." Telemnar threw himself on the prince's bed. "Looking forward to it?"
"Surprisingly," the prince replied. "It will be an amazingly nice change to endless days at home. Doing nothing."
"Dealing with idiots."
"Tel, behave yourself."
The elf laughed. "As always, my prince."
Legolas relaxed in a stuffed chair facing the bed. "I was thinking about Fal."
Telemnar rolled his eyes. "Legolas, just let go of it. He's not coming back. Do you realize that even if your father took back his punishment, Fal wouldn't want to come back? It would be too awkward. He's happy where he is."
"And how would you know?" Legolas spat the question with unintended venom.
His expression changed when Telemnar broke eye contact and did not answer. "Tel, how would you know?"
"I don't know, I was guessing."
"Damn it, Tel! You think I don't know you better than that by now? What do you know? You know his sentence, don't you? Telemnar?"
"Yes, okay? I do. I know his sentence, and I also know him. I've seen him a lot. Every time I leave this kingdom, I sneak out to Lorien to see how he's doing."
Legolas sat back, not angry with his friend, just at the injustice of the situation. "Does everyone in this kingdom know except for me?"
"No. Aldarion doesn't know. Most don't know. I only know because I am one of your father's main warriors. In case he came back, I was one of the ones to deal with it."
"And how were you to deal with it?"
Telemnar raised an eyebrow. "You should know what I am to say."
"You can't tell me. I knew, I just thought I'd give it a try." He started thinking aloud. "It can't be a sentence of death. I've seen people exiled on pain of death. Ada would not hide that from me. It can't be less than that, or he wouldn't make such a big deal out of it. So what's worse than death?"
His friend only nodded as if to say, "You're on the right track."
"I wish he had not come to see me in Lorien. I wouldn't have this to think about, and I'd be so much more content."
"You, my prince, must learn the difference between happiness and ignorance."
The prince decided not to retort. The wise words from his friend were so rare that they were often shocking. It wasn't to say that he was unintelligent, but that he more often found humour in a situation than the need to be wise.
"You should get to work on Minastir's office if you expect to get some sleep tonight. I at least would prefer that you do, seeing how grumpy you are without your beauty rest."
"Auta miqula orqu," Telemnar hissed, sliding off the prince's bead.
"I'll kiss an orc when it comes to visit you!" The prince yelled behind his friend, then closed the door.
He laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking about the following day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Thranduil watched approvingly the two chosen contingents were preparing their things, saying good-byes, and some, like his own son, impatiently waiting for others to be ready. His eyes finally fell on Aldarion. His horse was standing next to him, snorting in the cool morning air. In front of him was his nice, Aldarion's betrothed, Séreméla. She was crying.
"Legolas."
The prince turned and saw his father beckoning him. Urging his horse into a brisk walk, he approached the older elf. "Yes, Ada?"
"Will you go comfort your cousin? I would, but I fear I have quite forgotten what it feels like to be so deeply in love."
Legolas did as he was asked. "Méla," he said, startling her. (Though, how she did not hear him coming on horseback, he would never figure out. Love did strange things to people.) "He'll only be gone for a couple of weeks."
"But that is two weeks too many, Legolas!" She smiled sweetly, looking back to Aldarion's eyes. "I shall miss him so."
Legolas rolled his eyes, bearing a striking resemblance to Telemnar. "Please. I don't think I can take it. Come, Dar. It is time to leave. Goodbye, Séreméla."
The girl smiled at her cousin, kissed Aldarion goodbye, and then let him go. The elf deftly mounted his steed. With Legolas leading the way, the group of Mirkwood elves was gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Legolas alone was awake, though by looking at the elves, no one would have been able to tell. He stared through the thick canopy of dark trees.
He was so deep within his own thoughts that he did not hear his friend stir. Aldarion rolled onto his stomach, resting his chin in his hands. He watched his prince, watched his thoughts move across his crystalline-blue eyes. Finally, he spoke.
"There is no need to keep watch this far North, my lord."
Legolas turned his head calmly. "I know. I find no weariness this night." He smiled. "What keeps you awake?"
"The ground is not so comfortable as the branches above."
Legolas nodded in agreement. In an effort to keep the company close together, Legolas and Telemnar had decided that the seasoned warriors would sleep on the ground, allowing the younger elves the boughs of the trees.
"I was also thinking that. Somehow, as a prince, I figured I deserved part of a tree."
Aldarion laughed at him. "Ai, 'tis true, but you also said not to treat you like a prince on these ventures."
"Did I?" Legolas mused in a joking tone. "Whatever possessed me to say that?"
Still smiling, Aldarion yawned.
"You should rest, Dar."
"As should you, Legolas."
The prince noted his friend's half-lidded eyes and his sleepy voice. "The morning shall come on swift wings, my friend. Take rest while you still can."
True to the prince's words, dawn arrived much too soon. The elves were packing their things when they heard a horse's hooves coming toward them.
Legolas was the first to stand, a sudden foreboding claiming his heart. Before long, a horse and rider came into view.
"Minastir?" Legolas breathed the name with loathing.
Telemnar leaned into him. "Give me the word and I'll kill him on the spot."
Legolas smiled. "Tel, behave. He may have come after you."
Minastir dismounted too quickly for grace, dropping into a sudden bow. "My lord," he was breathless. "I bring news of Mithfalas."
The forest itself seemed to grow silent. Legolas' heart pounded. "Rise, what news do you bring?"
"He sent word to Lord Elrond of a traitor in a human town."
The prince's breath hitched.
"He went to help, but he was too late. Minastir paused. "He found Strider there."
Fear gripped him. "And?"
Minastir swallowed. "Mithfalas is. . ."
"Minastir, deliver your news swiftly."
"The elf is dead."
Legolas' heart stopped. "And of Strider?"
After a meaningful look, Minastir sighed. "Lord Elrond says that he is fatally injured. He's not long to live."
Legolas sprung to action. "Aldarion, you shall lead my contingent. I ride to Rivendell. Minastir, do not tell my father. I would have your head for it."
He was mounted and urging his horse into a run before Aldarion's voice stopped him. "Legolas, come back."
He hesitated, wanting desperately to go to his friend. He could not even think of Mithfalas.
"Legolas."
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Reviewers: Uhm. . . I'm seeing lots of death threats in the very near future. And you know what really sucks. . . you have to wait TWO chapters before you find out what happens (The next chapter isn't going to tell you much of anything.) . . . all I can say is, the answer has already been given. The next chapter will be BEFORE this news that Legolas got. . . (I know, I suck!)
SPEoD: No worries! Berylla is only a distraction. . . mwahahaha! I do, well, I'm leasing a horse, but I don't have time to ride more than once a week. I'd go into WHY, but that would take longer than the chapter did. I played piano for a while. Still can, just don't enjoy. Guitar is so awesome. And uhm. . . I guess Fal isn't coming back, huh? ::Eek!::
Arayelle Lynn: Aw, thanks. Cute!
Lady Aqawondel: Lol, I even checked my room! And I'm the author! Lol. Thanks so much!
Gwyn: Ask and ye shall receive! Not quite what you were looking for, huh?
Jazi: You and your story endings! The playboy of middle-earth. . . I was cracking up! Lol.
Silvertoekee: I'll answer most questions, unless they give away too much. It's so funny, EVERYONE was excited to see Legolas, and bam! They got this.
Das Blume: I think we all just like Leggy better, lol. Hahahahaha! One of your comments made me crack up hysterically! I can't tell you what though. Yeah, I love Tel too. "Seriousness? What's that again?" Hahaha! NO! I am not taking the embroidery idea! Lol!
Deana: Can you see the beginning of the angst, lol? Uhm, this wasn't as bad of a cliffhanger as I originally had planned. Be thankful. That one was a doozy!
Coolio02: I love Tel and Dar. . . they were supposed to be just be filler characters too, but they took on a life of their own!
Wildfire2: Well, techinically, Fal didn't save him, he just told the others where to save him. (Coming from Thranduil's POV, not mine!) So still, he hasn't redeemed himself, but you are going down the right track :-D
Grumpy: Ah! Thank you! That makes me feel better, especially looking at "time for another Aragorn chapter."
Angel With No Wings: Thanks for the pains you go through to review for me! I appreciate it! And. . . you made me laugh too.
It's funny, even when it's Aragorn's chapter, Legolas gets all the reviews! Until next time (if you leave me leave to write it!)