Ducks heavy flying objects.
Ok, ok, I'm sorry I haven't updated in like…AGES!!! But you will never believe how much h/w my teachers have been giving me! SO HARSH!
But I've updated now, ok? And I promise that the wait will not be so long next time!
Faerlain
Lindele – Yup, Leggy going crazy. Aww!!!! Shall we rescue him in our white coats? Teehee, just kidding. Thanks for reviewing.
Rayame325 – You're not the only one bogged down with school, I promise you that! Well, no one's going to die. Yet. So, er…save the knives and other weapons for later, yeah? Thanks for reviewing.
DaydreamingTurtle – Exactly. Bits wafting in the breeze are annoying! Don't you agree? At least it's all neat and tidied up now. I think the way the Elves say father depends on the language. Sindarin or Quenya. I looked up Quenya, and I was with a 'd'. And when I DID spell it with a 't', people had go at me1 So I'm gonna stick with 'd', cos that's how I've always known it to be!
Tiara Shin – No, not good at all. And please, do not kill me. Cos then the story won't be able to be finished, and Leggy will be without a mum, AND a wife! And that will be VERY bad!
Aww, I love your puppy-dog eyes! Al three of you at the same time1 Impossible to resist! Big huggle. Glad your headache has gone, and thanks for reviewing.
Dark Borg Drone – Yeah, kick some Orc ass! Go Leggy! Thanks for your review. It's the first one I've ever had to contain that much Elvish!
dracademented – Leggy kicks butt! You are begging shamelessly? Here you go then! Thanks for reviewing.
Deana – Sweet and sad, great combination! Glad you liked it, thanks for reviewing.
Chapter 2: I Promise.
"Your little Greenleaf has gone crazy Naneth. He's talking about getting revenge for your death."
Férar sighed and placed the small white flowers down on top of the newly dug grave. "I worry for him," he continued. "He thinks he can handle it, but I know he can't. He's too young; too inexperienced…" He sighed again. "What am I saying? He's been through more than any of us can ever imagine. I told him how proud you were of him. But that didn't help."
He went from crouching to sitting cross-legged on the grass. "It should have been me that went Naneth. You knew it, I knew it…everyone knew it. I would have been able to just about handle your death when I came back, but Legolas…he keeps telling me he's old enough to cope, 'almost three thousand Férar!' But I know he's not. He wasn't ready."
The wind blew through his hair, the leaves floating down beside him, red, gold, and brown. "Yes, I can hear you Naneth," he whispered to the wind. "You're saying he's going to do whatever it takes. Like I said, he's gone mad. Your death was so…unexpected. And he's seen so much of it in this past year…I can't even begin to visualise what horrors he saw when out on that quest."
The wind blew around him again, and he laughed. "Yes, he was very brave. And he's trying to be so now. But you must have seen him that night…in the forest. He completely broke down. And now he's talking about going out and finding whoever it was that killed you…I wish you were still here to comfort us all, and calm him down. Adar and I are trying our best, but nothing's the same without you Naneth. It never will be."
Legolas poured over the old maps of Mirkwood he had dug out of the library. They showed every path, every cave, every stream. He had been gathering information on how his mother had died, and had more or less worked out who had done it and whereabouts in the forest they were.
He placed a cross on a spot on the very edge of his father's kingdom. Right there. That was where his mother had been brutally murdered. He was going to go there, and follow any trail, any path that might lead him to the killers. He would then kill them, one by one, slowly and painfully.
It was not usually in his nature to feel this way, but this was family. It had to be done. Revenge was inevitable. He had not been there when the Queen had been brought back by the scout that had found her body. He had not had chance to say good bye. They had waited until, his return for the funeral, and for that he was grateful, but it was not the same. He would never again hear her voice soothing him, feel her touch as she held him, smell the delicate perfume of roses or lavender that always followed her around.
And it was all their fault.
The goblins and Orcs that still prowled the darkest corners of Mirkwood Forest. Dol Goldur had been destroyed, but the creatures still remained, few though there were. After everything he had been through, the battles he had fought, the amount of death he had seen…the enemy had still managed to get him one last time, right close to his heart. And that was unforgivable.
He drew a dotted line along the path he would take to reach the border. From there, he would turn south towards the Mountains of Mirkwood, where the goblins and Orcs still lurked. He would go alone; he would not take an escort or scout to accompany him. Not even Férar, his own brother would join him. This was a task for him and him alone.
He drew another cross on the Mountains, roughly where the beasts dwelled. The Elves had been clearing the Mountains since the end of the War, but there was still a lot of work to accomplish. There would be plenty there for him to wreak his anger on.
He placed the quill back in the inkpot, and sat back in his chair, satisfied. Férar knew he was going, but there was nothing the Crown Prince could do to stop him. He had his reasons, he was a good fighter…he would be fine. Nothing would get in his way of getting revenge for his mother's unjust murder.
"Please rethink this Legolas. You are not thinking straight…"
"I am thinking perfectly well thank you very much Férar. I know what I am doing."
"No, no you don't. You're just walking into unseen dangers."
"I've done it before, and I've survived. I've been to Mordor and back! I think I can endure the Mountains of my own home." He carried on packing his bag.
Férar shuddeed at the name of the Dark Land said so freely in his home. "I understand that you want revenge for Naneth's death, but this is not the way to do it. Just stop, and think for a moment will you!" Legolas made no move to cease his packing, so Férar strode over, knocked the bag to the floor, and gripped Legolas' arms so tightly it actually hurt the younger Prince.
"Let go of me," he growled sternly.
"Not until you listen and pay attention," Férar replied just as firmly. He pushed Legolas so he was sat on the end of his bed, and knelt so that he was at eye level with his younger brother. He loosened the grip on his arms a little. "I love you Legolas," he told him. "And I cannot just let you wander off like this on your own."
"I am not wandering; I know perfectly well where I am going…""You know what I mean. Goodness knows what is lurking out there, just waiting for you to fall into its trap. If you are going to go on this crazy expedition after everything Adar and I have said…then at least…let me come with you."
Legolas shook his head. "This is my duty Férar. It is up to me to get my own revenge. Do it your own way."
It was Férar's turn to shake his head. "No. I cannot do that. You're my younger brother; it's my job to keep you safe, away from harm."
"You can't watch me all your life," Legolas answered. His voice was softer now, more sympathetic. "I know why you wish to come with me, but there is something else you must understand. I need to go alone. I have to go alone."
"Alone is not the right way to be," Férar disagreed. "I thought we were a team. That's how it always was before…"
"Before I went trekking off to Mordor, right into the teeth of peril and almost certain death?"
"Exactly, couldn't have put it better myself." He smiled modestly. "Saes gwador. Dabo-nin tulo-na tece lecin?" (Please brother. Let me come with you.)
Legolas sighed. He was fighting a losing battle. He finally nodded in defeat. "Very well. We will go together." He looked sharply at his brother. "No one else. Just us two."
"Of course." He let go of Legolas' arms, and they embraced. "Enyala-faila," he whispered in Legolas' ear. "Go'tenel, an-uir. Mín afado-vín'hera rád, mal govanno-am in teleth. Avo etelehta-nin dad gwador, a avon etelehta-lecin dad." (Just remember. Together, forever, for eternity. We follow our own path, but meet up at the end. Don't let me down brother, and I won't let you down)."Never in a million years," Legolas promised. "You are one of the most important things in the world to me Férar. I am not going to lose you too."
They pulled apart and Férar kissed Legolas' forehead. "I'll go and pack," he murmured, and left.
Legolas lay back on his bed, and looked out the window. The Sun was just setting, and the treetops were dark. He could see the peaks of the Mountains in the distance, and started to question his allowing Férar to join him.
But it would be good to have his older brother along. He probably would have got quite lonely, and it's always useful to have someone watching your back during battle.
Always keep your eyes on your back…Yes Férar. I will, I promise. And yours too. I'll watch your back, you watch mine.
Another short chapter, I know! But at least I did finally update. Looking forward to all your next reviews.
Faerlain.