Well done, 6 reviews!

I've been on holiday this past week with my parents to Sussex. Nice place. The cottage I stayed in was lovely. I had 16 dogs, 4 horses, and a number of chickens to keep me company!

Then when I got back, I found out my cat had been put down. Great. What a lovely welcome home present. Tears all round. Again. So that's two pets in under a month. Aren't I doing well?

So, this chapter is dedicated to Scampi, the coolest cat in Parkstone. Rest in peace big brother.

(He was older than me!)

Faerlain.

Oh yes, for those of you who I didn't tell for whatever reason, my name is now Faerlain. Apparently, that's how you spell 'free spirit' in Sindarin.

Faerlain

Espel – Teehee, is it nice hanging on a thread? I'd like to go to Mirkwood………

Thanks for reviewing.

Lothliana – Dum de dum, off he goes! I've now got this perfect pic of Leggy with one of those spotty bags on a stick slung over his shoulder, walking away and skipping into MirkwoodForest! Doh!

Funderland! I wanna go to Funderland!

Yes, but Faerlain is the proper way! It's got to be right Loth! Duh! And yes, poor Leggy's mummy. Thanks for reviewing.

Mayrana – Good, good, I like the fact you feel its getting stronger. That's what I was hoping! And I'm glad you like the new story idea. It's going well btw!

Yay, earrings! Double wedding is great idea. Any time before 21st September I think. Cos that's my birthday, and then the wedding will be too close to Xmas. How about 9th September? That gives us a couple of weeks to get everything sorted! (The boys can take care of some; Elves are good at organising stuff I've found!)

Thanks for reviewing, and I can't WAIT to get married!

Mirkwood or Lothlórien?

DaydreamingTurtle/Inwe – Confusing person! Two names? Urgh! You like the sound of the new story? Good! That makes me happy! But I'm still confused…

Thanks for reviewing.

Rayame325 – Sounds sad? It is kinda. I'm steaming through it, and it is quite sad. Thanks for reviewing.

ShadowStar21 – Here you go then! Thanks for reviewing.

Chapter 6: Conditions.

"How is she Silma?"

"Tired, my Lord. Very tired and confused."

"Will she be ok?"

"I should think so. She is a strong lady, but the shock of Prince Legolas running away has shaken her badly. In her current condition, it doesn't help."

Thranduil sighed and rubbed his hands over his face in a tired fashion. He leant against the wall beside the door. "Thank you Silma. May I see her?"
"Of course my Lord." She opened the door for him, and let him go through.

Thranduil walked over to his wife who was lying on the bed. She was curled up on her side, facing the window. As he entered, all the other healers left.

"Brilmír?" he called softly to her. "Brilmír? Melethen?" He walked to her side and sat on the edge of the bed. "Echedi nin veren melethen. Tiro nin." He placed a caring hand on her shoulder. (Please my love. Look at me.)

She rolled over and looked at him. Her cheeks were still stained with tear trails. He kissed her forehead. "Do not worry my love. He will come back."

"But what if he doesn't?" she asked in a whisper. "What if he never comes back, and we never see him again?"

"We will see him again. He won't stay away for long."

"But you saw what he wrote! He said himself; he cannot bear this way of life."

"Shh, calm down. Think of yourself." He placed a hand over her stomach. "Do not worry. You must relax. I will do the worrying. Now, I suggest you get some sleep. You must rest in your condition…"

"Did he know?" she asked, oblivious to her husbands' recommendations. "Did he run away because of this?" She placed her hand over Thranduil's.

"There was no way he could have known," he assured her. "I promise you, he did not run away because of this. He just needs a break from royal life. I know; I went through it myself."

"You did?"

"Yes. When I was his age, I hated all the feasts and meetings I had to attend. I ran away, but I wasn't gone for more than two weeks. I soon came crawling back to my father, tired, hungry, and thirsty. He will do the same."

"You're sure?"

"Yes. Now get some sleep my dear. You're exhausting yourself." She nodded, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

"Please Legolas," Thranduil whispered, looking out the window and stroking his wife's' golden hair. "Please come back to us."

It's been a week and a half since I ran away. And life is good.

All the freedom! It is such an incredible feeling. I can do what I want, go where I want, (as long as I don't bump into any guards), and there are no royal appointments or banquets that I have to attend.

Being alone in the wild is rather daunting at first, but you soon become accustomed to the way of forest life. I fill up my water flask from a stream that runs through Mirkwood. It isn't enchanted. The main river is, but the small streams that branch off of it aren't. I have plenty of lembas to keep me going, as well as fruits. I have water for Rodmín also, and oats for him to eat.

Every day, I practise my archery and combat skills. When you're alone, without a teacher constantly watching and instructing you on how to fire an arrow properly, you pick things up more quickly. I make targets for myself, such as knots on trees, and aim for that particular mark.

I can gallop for hours on end, and Rodmín does not tire easily. Being a wild horse naturally, he is used to the woods, and knows the paths and boundaries. We have not left Mirkwood yet, as I have to find Celille.

I have been looking for days, but there have been no signs of her. The people of her village showed me the direction in which she ran, but I have found only a few horse prints. They ran alongside the river for a while, and then got mixed up with what looked like footprints. But they were too large and obvious to be Elves. They had to be Orc. Men never went that far into the forest unless going to see my father. And there had been no appointments made since Gaenry had visited us.

I just hoped she was still alive.

The tracks continued on into the darkening trees, then disappeared altogether. I looked in every direction to find them, but they were all over the place, and didn't seem to lead anywhere in particular.

My mood that night was as damp as the weather. It rained, for the first time since I had run away. I managed to shelter in a tree, and Rodmín stood beneath. I didn't get any sleep at all.

The next morning was cold and blustery. Rodmín and I trudged on, my cloak pulled tightly around my body. I had my hood up, and my head bent against the harsh wind.

As the day went on, the weather warmed a little. I put my hood down, as the wind died down to a cool breeze, quite nice after the harshness of the earlier climate.

I stopped at noon to refill my flask. As Rodmín grazed, and I rested, I heard an echo on the wind. Sitting bolt upright, I listened again. It may have just been my imagination, but I am sure the sound was that of a small girl.

"I tell you again Sir, there have been no Elves passing through my village."

"But Prince Legolas was spotted near your borders. Surely you must have seen him?"
"No. Any guards that had seen him would have reported it to me straight away. I have made sure they are all aware that they should."

"Master Gaenry, if you are hiding something from us…"

"I am not." Gaenry looked the patrol leader straight in the eye. "Prince Legolas has never visited Befret, and there is no reason for him to either. Why would he?"

"To stock up his supplies, to hide."

"Well I promise you Sir, he has not been here. But as soon as I see him, I shall report it immediately."

The Captain sighed. "Very well. And thank you for your co-operation. It's just…the King and Queen are very worried about their son. He is their only child after all."

"Of course." Gaenry smiled reassuringly. "I understand fully."

"And good luck in searching for Celille," he said as he remounted. "I am sure she could not have gone far." He turned and galloped away, closely followed by the rest of his scout.

Gaenry sighed. If they returned, he would have to say he had seen Legolas. He couldn't keep saying no. They would quickly get suspicious.

He turned, and went back into his house, mulling over how he would apologise to the Prince if he ever saw him again.

I'm getting soaked to the skin, but I have to carry on. The branches are scratching my skin and ripping my clothes, but I don't care.

I know that was Celille!

It had to be. There are no other small girls in this forest are there?

Rodmín is jumping over the fallen logs so gracefully; it's as almost if they are not even there. He can hear the screams too.

Yes, they are screams now. Not just yells of surprise, or calls for help. The girl, whoever she may be, is screaming. I have to reach her, before any of the patrols do.

I'm not even following any particular path. All I know is that I've got to get to this child. She is obviously in danger, or hurt. One of the forest creatures may have got her.

I urge Rodmín on, lying forward almost horizontally on his back to avoid getting scratched any more. The screams are getting louder…

I burst through the undergrowth to see Celille, cornered by a group of five Orcs. One Orc lies dead beside Celille. They grin at my appearance. I grin back, and load my bow.

Turning their attention to me instead, they grip their weapons tighter, ready to fight. I fire an arrow, striking one full in the chest. He slouches to the ground, mouth still open in the stupid grin.

I manage to kill two more, then the other two reach me, pulling me down off of Rodmín. I'm quickly on my feet, knives in hands. I slit one's throat, then parry against a blow the last one deals me. Ducking swiftly, I slice upwards, and he falls down, dead.

I stand and hurry over to Celille. She's crying; her knees hugged up to her chest. She was trapped against a large boulder, hence the reason why she could not escape.

"Celille," I whisper, crawling nearer. "Celille, look at me." I place two fingers under her chin, and make her look up at me. "It's ok, you're safe now."

"Legolas?"

"I'm here, don't worry." I take her into my arms, and hold her whilst she cries.

I look around. Her horse is nowhere to be seen. Her knife lies forgotten a small way away, as does her bag.

"Celille, where is your horse?" I ask.

"Bolted," she whispers.

"Is it Star-mane?" She nods. "Ok. Rodmín." He trots over. "Aphado Star-mane. Bado." He nods, and canters off into the trees. (Follow Star-mane. Go.)

I disentangle myself from Celille's grasp, and look at her full in the eye. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"Just a cut on my arm," she sniffs, wiping away the tears.

"Let me see." She holds out her arm, and I examine it. It's not too deep, but will need a bandage.

I wash it with water from my flask, and let it air-dry. "Once Rodmín gets back, I'll give you a bandage," I tell her. "He's got my bag." She just nods.

"Here." I take my cloak off and wrap it round her trembling shoulders.

"Thank you," she whispers.

"No problem." I lean back against the boulder and pull her into my lap. "We'll wait here until they return." I place my hand over the cut. "Just to stop you losing any more blood."

Not long after, the two horses return, Rodmín leading Star-mane. The mare immediately walks over to us, seeing if her mistress is ok.

I get up and open my bag. "Mae agorech Rodmín," I whisper, stroking his neck. (You did well Rodmín.)

Taking out a spare tunic, I rip it in half, and go back to Celille. Star-mane is standing guard beside her.

I gently wrap the makeshift bandage round her thin arm, and tie it. "We'll have to keep moving. The Orcs may return."

"Ok," she replies determinedly.

I smile at her, and hand her some lembas. "Here, eat this. Fills you up." As she does so, I fetch her bag and knife, which is about half the size of my own.

"Do you want to ride with me for a while?" I ask, helping her to her feet.

She nods again. "My arm hurts too much to hold the reins."

"That's what I thought. Come on." I lift her up onto Rodmín's' back, then mount nimbly behind her. "Aphado Star-mane." (Star-mane, follow.)

We set off at a gentle pace, keeping an ear out for any Orcs or other enemies.

"Thank you," she says, leaning back against me.

"What for?"

"Saving my life back there."

"I had to."

"How did you know I was there?"

"I heard you screaming."

"I couldn't do anything else. I told Star-mane to run, and an Orc knocked my knife out of my hand."

"You killed him?"
"Yes." I feel her shudder. "It was horrible."

"Trust me, your first one always is."

She laughs softly. "I know that now."

We carry on until the sun sets, and then we rest beneath a tree. She falls asleep in my arms. I however, do not sleep. I cannot rest until we are nearer her village.

Yay, he found her! At last. And he's got to take her back to the village. Will she go…?

Well, once I get 6 reviews, you'll find out! So review!

Ae ú-dhambeth tôl o len; ú-narn tôl o nin.

If no review comes from you; no story comes from me.

Faerlain.

Scampi