Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
A/N: Hey there people! OMG,
thank you all for your lovely reviews! I never expected that many for
the first chapter! Don't worry, it starts out fluffy but there will be
angst! Many, many thanks to my beta enb2004! As promised, here is
Chapter Two! Enjoy!
Legolas Thranduilion, the youngest Prince of Mirkwood was riding hard and fast for Imladris.
When
he and his siblings had read the letter from Lord Elrond to their
father, they had all been beyond horrified. They could not begin to
imagine how Elrond and Elladan felt. Had it been someone in their
family who had been attacked, blood would have been shed for sure.
As Legolas rode with all haste for Imladris, a million questions and thoughts were running through his mind.
Why
had Gorothdil attacked Elrohir? What was the motive behind the attack?
What had made a once loyal elf turn against the family he had served
loyally for many years?
All of these thoughts and questions ran
through his mind like a constant whirlwind. He knew that the same
questions were plaguing his father and siblings.
He could recall all to clearly the morning they had received Lord Elrond's letter not even four days ago.
Flashback:
Legolas was barely awake as he made his way down to the breakfast table for the morning meal.
The
previous night Delelen and Thilloth had dragged him with them to set up
their eldest brother with a she-elf that Iaurdil had been fancying
forever.
"Ion nin, what happened to you? You look like something
the warg dragged in," Thranduil said, eyeing his youngest son whit
concern.
Legolas merely grunted in response to his father and
glared blearily at Delelen and Thilloth who were smiling as innocently
as elflings.
"Ah, Delelen, Thilloth, what adventure did you drag
your little brother on this time?" Thranduil asked, having seen the
glare that Legolas had directed at the two.
"Oh nothing at all Ada, nothing at all," Delelen said innocently, a bit too innocently it seemed.
"Why don't you ask Iaurdil? Thilloth said while snickering.
Legolas
groaned and kicked both his brothers in the shins. Honestly, were they
trying to get everybody into trouble? Knowing those two, probably.
He wasn't sure who was worse sometimes. Elladan and Elrohir, or Delelen and Thilloth.
Elladan
and Elrohir were identical twins who had a great propensity for getting
into trouble as well as out of it. Delelen and Thilloth, while not
twins, had been born very close together, for elves that was. They were
only about 20 years apart, and as such, they often acted as though they
were twins.
Thankfully, Iaurdil had not heard a word that anyone
had said so far that morning, and it was a good thing too. If he ever
found out that Delelen and Thilloth had set him up with the she-elf,
there would be bloodshed.
"Delelen, Thilloth, stop tormenting Iaurdil and Legolas," Aruviel, the eldest princess said.
Delelen and Thilloth rolled their eyes at their oldest sister, but stopped their teasing nonetheless.
"Thank you Aruviel. Iaurdil are you..." Thranduil started to say but was interrupted by one of his advisors entering the room.
"My
King, I am sorry to interrupt your breakfast but a message had just
arrived from Imladris," the advisor said, giving the message to
Thranduil.
Thranduil smiled at the advisor. "Tis no bother at all Merethdol, go and enjoy your breakfast," he said.
Merethdol smiled and left the royal family to their breakfast.
Legolas
watched with interest as his father took out the message and began to
read it. He hoped that Lord Elrond was inviting them over. It had been
quite some time since had seen the twins and he hoped to see them soon.
Legolas was brought out of his musings when the message suddenly hit the table with an audible rustling of paper.
As one, everyone at the table ceased their conversations and turned to their Adar.
Legolas
did not like his father's expression at all. His father's face had
become very pale and his hands were shaking, whether from fury, or
fear, Legolas could not tell.
Even Iaurdil had noticed their father's unusual behavior.
"Ada?" Iaudril asked cautiously, obviously uncertain about their fathers mood as well.
When Thranduil didn't acknowledge his eldest son, Legolas and his siblings exchanged concerned glances.
Obviously,
the letter from Imladris was bad news. Very bad if it made Thranduil
react as he was. It took a lot to shake the King of Mirkwood, and only
twice in Legolas's life had he seen his father so shaken. This did not
bode well at all.
"Ada, what is it? What had happened?" Iaurdil asked once more.
Thranduil said nothing, instead, he motioned towards the letter.
Seeing this, Legolas grabbed the letter easily, seeing as that he was sitting right next to his father.
All of his siblings saw this and immediately crowded around their youngest brother and began to read over his shoulder.
King Thranduil,
Mirkwood Thranduil,
Mellon
nin, it pains me to write this letter to you but I am afraid that I
must. Less than a day ago, my youngest son was attacked by a traitor
from within my own personal warriors. Thankfully, the injury was not
severe and he is well on his way to being well again. Needless to say
though, I was shocked, horrified, and immensely disturbed by the
attack. The traitors name is Gorothdil and I'm afraid that he escaped
our custody, much to everyone's dismay. I'm afraid that I must ask you
if you see a dark blonde elf with deep brown eyes seeking refuge, that
you detain him until I can arrive. I am incredibly sorry to
inconvenience you mellon nin but he must be caught before he can do any
more damage than he has already done. Give my greeting and love to your
family and once again, my apologies for inconveniencing you mellon nin.
Farewell for now! Lord Elrond
Imladris
By the time that Legolas, and his siblings, had finished reading the letter, he was shaking as well.
"Ada, we must go to Imladris. Lord Elrond needs our help!" Iaurdil said before any of the others could even speak.
"I
know ion nin, and I would love nothing more than to be able to drop
everything and run to Elrond's aid, but I can not, nor can you,"
Thranduil said heavily.
"Ada!" Delelen and Thilloth said at the same time.
"I
know that you wish to go but you must stay and help me and Iaudril.
However, Legolas, I do believe that you are free from any duties at
present. Would you be willing to go in our stead?" Thranduil asked
already knowing what his youngest reply would by.
He wasn't disappointed.
"Ada!
Of course I'll go. How could I not?" Legolas said, sounding
scandalized. Elladan and Elrohir were his best friends, how could ne
not go?
Thranduil smiled slightly at Legolas. "I know ion nin, I
know. Finish eating and then go and get your supplies ready. You will
leave at first light tomorrow morning," he said.
"Ada, can we go with him?" Aruviel asked along with her younger sister.
Legolas
watched as his father eyes his two daughters pityingly. "I'm afraid
that I can not spare either one of you at present either. With Legolas
gone, you two will have to take up some of his duties. I know you wish
to go, but, alas, only Legolas has the time," Thranduil said sadly.
Aruviel and Fuina exchanged looks before they nodded their understanding. They weren't happy about it, but they understood it.
"Don't worry my sisters, I promise to write as soon as I find out everything that has happened," Legolas said.
"You had better Greenleaf! If you don't, you will have me to deal with!" Fuina said fiercely.
Legolas
winced at that. Though Fuina was the second youngest, and the youngest
female in the family, she was not an elf to mess around with. All of
his siblings were scared of her temper and rightfully so. When she was
mad, you stayed far, far, away from her.
"I promise Fuina," Legolas said reassuringly.
And that had been that. Legolas had packed and had actually departed that same day, despite his father's wishes.
End Flashback
Legolas
was brought out of his musings when he began to see familiar scenery.
Legolas breathed a sigh of relief at this. At last, he was within the
boundaries of Imladris. Knowing that he was so close, he urged his
horse to go even faster despite the setting sun. The sooner he reached
Imladris, the sooner he could put his mind at ease.
Translations:
Ada: Dad/Daddy
Adar: Father
Mellon nin: My friend
Ion nin: My son
