The next morning saw the Royal Family riding from the palace gates and under the eaves of the forest. They were not going to go where darkness had struck the once peaceful Realm, but nor were they going to let every bit of beauty be taken from them.
As promised, Legolas rode in front of Calaen, and the elder Elf kept a protective arm firmly around the younger's waist. Not that there was any real need: the small Prince was an accomplished rider for his age, but still, Calaen only wanted to make sure that if anything should happen, his brother would be safe.
"Ada is frightening me again, Cal," whispered Legolas. "He still hasn't spoken to me, and he keeps giving me funny looks."
"Because you are a funny Elf," replied Calaen.
"Ling."
"Excuse me?"
Airëlus laughed quietly, and reigned in his horse to fall in step beside his brother's. "You said 'Elf', so I added 'ling' onto the end of it. Legolas is an Elfling."
"Aren't you a fountain of knowledge?" muttered Calaen, rolling his eyes.
"I was merely making an observation."
"I am glad you did, else I would not have noticed."
"Of course not, for your head is so far up your horse's-
Calaen promptly pulled his hands from the reins and clamped them instead over Legolas' ears as he hissed, "Airëlus, I will not be held responsible for anything that the Elfling learns. Can you not remember the last time he picked up a word not suitable for one his age? He went around for months, saying it over and over again."
"It provided good entertainment," Airëlus shrugged. "I found it funny. So did you, at the time."
"Lord Elrond did not find it funny," Thranduil called out, from where he was riding a little way ahead with his wife, "nor did Lady Celebrian. If my memory is correct, Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel were far from amused, and Mithrandir said that I should be quite ashamed of myself, teaching a baby such words."
"Please, try and curb your tongues around Legolas," said Findilan.
Airëlus and Calaen muttered quiet words of apology, whilst the Elfling in question just shook his head. Ada and Nana told him it was always good to learn new words, but the last time he had done so, he had gotten into trouble for it. The world was confusing to a child's eyes.
The family now rode through the trees and into a large clearing. They had always come to this spot, for its beauty was radiant, and the sun filtered down through the branches of all the trees, and dust particles fell lazily through the air. The evil of Dol Guldor had not yet reached it.
However...there was something else in that clearing. Something so innocent, but which had the power to tear a family apart...
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Legolas sat on the leafy forest floor, staring down at the ground. He was bored. Calaen and Airëlus had gone to hunt for rabbits in a clearing just a little way on, but of course, he was both too small and too young to accompany them. As usual.
He despised it when he got left behind. That he should be on his own with nothing to do just because of his age and size was far from fair. Sighing, the Elfling reached out and pulled an arrow from his father's quiver, which lay neglected on the ground.
Thranduil, however, had not forgotten that he had left it next to his young son. Without changing the tone in which he spoke to Findilan, who lay nestled up against him, the Elven-king stared at Legolas, willing him to look up. Eventually, he did so, and he immediately winced and dropped the arrow as he met cool blue eyes.
"Your brothers will be back soon, Greenleaf," said Findilan, raising her head to look across at the boy. "Then it will be time to head back to the palace."
Legolas nodded sadly, and turned so that he was facing away from his parents. The arrow went with his foot though, and he smiled as he leaned forwards to pick it up once more. Again, however, he felt someone watching him, so he looked over his shoulder and into his father's eyes once more.
Thranduil shook his head once, ever so briefly, though he felt a twinge of regret as Legolas dropped the arrow once more, and sighed dejectedly. Yes, maybe he had become tired, but real warrior's arrows were out of bounds for the time being, because of his age
'It is always about how old I am,' thought Legolas, rolling onto his stomach, and partially covering the arrow with his body. He ran his fingers up and down the feathers, laughing quietly as they tickled him.
"Leave, Legolas."
Narrowing his eyes, the Elfling picked up the arrow, meaning to throw it in frustration. It would get him nowhere, but still. He had grabbed it too quickly, though, and the sharp point dug into one of his tender fingers. It fell to the ground, and he stared in horror as a red bubble appeared.
His parents were over in an instant, and Findilan gathered him to her, whilst Thranduil examined the small wound. He silently cursed himself over and over again in every language he could think of, venturing for a moment even into Dwarven tongue. He should have known better that it would take more than the usual sharp look or word to calm their youngest when he was bored.
"It hurts," whispered Legolas.
"Well, arrows are not designed to do anything else," Thranduil replied. "You will live, ion-nin. You only broke the skin. Look, there is very little blood."
"What does this tell you?" asked Findilan.
"That...that I'm not going to die," replied Legolas.
The Queen laughed, but shook her head. "No. I mean, what lesson have you learnt?"
"Oh. Not to play with Ada's arrows," said Legolas, staring down at his finger. "And...and I know to listen to Ada when he tells me not to do something. But, he actually only told me once. The first time he only looked at me, and the second time he shook his head."
"Ah, I am to blame, then," said Thranduil.
Legolas shook his head, and moved from his mother's arms and across to his father's. "No Ada, we can blame the arrow. It is his fault."
"His?"
Findilan just shrugged her shoulders, and went back to sit against the large tree. Thranduil also went over and sat beside his wife, with little Legolas' arms around his neck. The Elfling wriggled around, trying to find a comfortable position. He ended up lying in his father's arms on his back, staring up at the leafy canopy above.
"When will Calaen and Airëlus be back?" asked Legolas.
"Soon, Greenleaf, very soon," replied Findilan.
"Why don't you tell us what you learned from Ameldir in your lesson yesterday?" Thranduil suggested.
Legolas nodded, and began absent-mindedly tugging on his father's hair, as he was apt to do. "Well, I was taught about trees. He told me how to recognize different plants, and he told me where to find them. But I knew most of it already."
"Tell us about the different types of trees and plants, then," said Findilan.
"Well, cedars are very big and you can see them in warm places," said Legolas slowly. "Beeches are also very tall, and they grow all over Middle-Earth. Ameldir told me that Lúthien was imprisoned in one."
"That is true," Thranduil nodded.
"Anyway, I learned that ashes are tall and grey, and they are used to make spears. Well, their wood is. Not the actual tree, because then you would have a very big spear, and it wouldn't be very useful," Legolas continued, smiling slightly at the image.
"What did you learn about plants?" asked Findilan, glancing sideways at her husband with twinkling eyes.
"Some plants can be used to make people better. Like Athelas. Ameldir said that it can also be called Kingsfoil, and the leaves are very..." Legolas trailed off, and his eyes grew wide. "Look up there!"
"Where?"
"There!"
The King and Queen looked up to where their son was pointing, and they smiled upon realising what had captured his attention. In the midst of all the green leaves on the large tree, there was a single red one, vibrant, unique.
"That is rare," murmured Findilan.
"Can I have it?" asked Legolas, already climbing up onto his father's shoulders, and making to jump and grab one of the branches.
"Stay," said Thranduil, reaching up and pulling the Elfling back down.
Legolas looked irritated for a moment, but then smiled winningly. "Yes, I will stay. I won't climb the tree. But Ada, will you get it for me? Can you see? It is the only red one. All the other ones are green."
"Yes, I see that," replied Thranduil. He paused for a moment, before shaking his head. "No, leave it. It is not our place to disturb nature."
"But-
"Ada, Naneth, see what we caught!"
The three in the clearing looked up to see Calaen and Airëlus running through the trees, both of them clutching two rabbits, and wearing triumphant smiles on their flushed faces. Legolas watched for a moment as his brothers explained how they had caught their prey, but then he turned back to his parents.
"They disturbed nature," he said petulantly.
"Ah, but there is a difference. Those rabbits can be cooked by the kitchen staff, and made into a lovely meal for us to eat later," said Findilan gently.
"Your leaf, however, cannot," said Thranduil dryly.
"What is this?" asked Calaen, as they began getting ready to leave.
The Elven-king shook his head slightly. "Your brother wishes for that leaf up there. Can you see the red one? Well, I said no. He is getting upset now."
"I'm not," muttered Legolas, though he blinked away tears, and fixed his gaze determinedly on the floor.
"Do not patronize him, Thranduil," said Findilan quietly. "He is merely tired, I think. Come, let us find the horses, and then we can return to the palace."
"Calaen and I can always get it for him," Airëlus offered.
"No! It is a damned leaf, nothing more and nothing less," snapped Thranduil. "Legolas, take one from the floor if you are so desperate for one. Look, there are plenty of them around."
The young Prince just shook his head mutely, and pulled his small cloak over his shoulders. Yes, he was upset, but not because of the leaf. His Ada was angry with him again. Actually, Thranduil was not, but of course, Legolas did not know that.
"Do not look so angry, Greenleaf," said Calaen softly, as they walked through the trees.
"I'm not," Legolas sighed.
Thranduil laughed derisively when he heard that. "You think so? The expression on your face could stop even an Orc in its path."
That was too much for Legolas. He pushed past Calaen and Airëlus, and darted through the trees on the left side of the past. Swearing violently, Thranduil reached out to grab him, but the Elfling was too fast. Findilan stepped in front of her husband, an unusual angry glint in her eyes.
"That was your fault. Do not go after him, you will only upset him even more," she hissed. "Valar, can you not learn to keep your comments to yourself? Your temper and sarcasm will be the death of someone one of these days."
With that, the Queen turned and followed the path that Legolas had taken, leaving two stunned Princes and a fuming King behind. Thranduil watched her go through narrowed eyes for a moment, before spinning on his heel and walking the other way. Calaen and Airëlus glanced at each other uneasily, before following their father.
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Ten minutes later, and Findilan was sitting under the same tree she had been a while back, with Legolas drawn close to her body. Upon entering the clearing, she had found him just about to climb up the tree on his own, and had pulled him down just in time.
"Why does Ada always get angry now?" asked the Elfling quietly. "He used to be happy, but now he shouts all the time."
Findilan sighed, and brushed some tears from her child's cheeks. "Yes, he is sometimes angry, and yes, he sometimes shouts. But he always loves you, Greenleaf. He is the King and has many important things to do. I fear that sometimes they prove to be too much for him. Ada has many things on his mind."
"Like what?"
"Oh, things that are much too complicated for children," replied Findilan. "Even your brothers do not know of them. Now, Ada did not help matters by making that comment a moment ago, but you should not have run off."
"I'm sorry," Legolas sighed.
Findilan smiled, and hugged her Elfling close. "I know. Now, I want to see no more tears from your eyes. If I do, I may have to re-consider climbing up that tree to get you that leaf."
"Really?" asked Legolas in amazement. "But, Ada said..."
"I know what Ada said, but Ada is not here," Findilan whispered conspiratorially. "What he does not know will not hurt him. However, you must stay down here, and under no circumstances do you follow me up."
Legolas nodded in earnest as he was set on the ground, and he stood back to watch as his mother began the climb up to the top of the tree...
............................................................................................................
"Leave the horses where they are," snapped Thranduil. "Your mother and Legolas have been gone for far too long. I should not have left them alone."
Calaen and Airëlus cast each other nervous glances, before following their father through the foliage. To say that they were worried for Findilan and Legolas would be an understatement. Neither of them actually expected anything bad to happen, but still...it was stupid to assume that everything was alright.
"Who does the insolent little brat think that he is?" Thranduil hissed, hitting a branch out of the way. The tree recoiled indignantly, though relaxed somewhat when the Princes muttered apologies. "What makes him think he has the right to behave like that?"
"Forgive me, Ada, but he was upset by what you said," Calaen offered somewhat nervously.
"I know he was upset by what I said, and I accept full responsibility for making him feel like that, but it still does not excuse his behaviour," Thranduil ground out. "By the Valar, when I'm finished with him..."
Airëlus narrowed his eyes as the furious Elven-king got more and more frustrated, and reeled of various threats and punishments. Calaen merely rolled his eyes in irritation and shut out all that was being said. When his father and brother began calling out for the Queen and Elfling, though, the dark haired Elf's heart thudded painfully against his chest.
"Legolas!" yelled Thranduil, and now the anger was absent from his voice, replaced by panic.
"Ada, listen," hissed Airëlus. Not too far away, was the sound of a female crying out. She was afraid. What came next, no-one expected. It chilled their blood. Their hearts skipped beats.
A scream. Then another. A snapping sound, like branches breaking. Then nothing. Nothing except the cries of startled birds, and the exclamations of the surrounding trees. A child's sobbing, begging, pleading. Then quiet.
"Valar," breathed Airëlus.
Calaen just stared straight ahead, and although he could hear and feel his father and elder brother pushing past him and rushing through the trees, he felt as though he was rooted to the spot with fear. Biting down hard on his lip, he forced himself to go into the next clearing.
What he saw when he got there, made his blood run cold...
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Legolas-gurl88: Don't worry, your sign did show up on the screen when I checked my reviews. Maybe its just something to do with if you submit a chapter, and you're not allowed it in there. I don't know. This site can go funny sometimes!
Rutu: I'll mention something about the alternate ending in my author's note at the end, just in case anyone else wants to know!
Lady Leeanne: I hope your play went alright! Wow, you are so lucky, seeing Orlando!
Deana: Hello, nice to see you back!
Kelsey: There was some Airëlus for you! Again, there wasn't very much of him, but there will be more.
kathysidle: I'm glad you liked the Elladan and Elrohir chapter. And don't worry: your wait is over, and they're in the forest!
Rachel13: Hey, its great to have your hilarious reviews again. I've really missed them! No, your saying is definitely famous. Every single review, its there!
eleanor rigbey: If you go to the Orlando Bloom Files, there's loads of pictures there of him, and they have some of when he was 3, 4, 12, and so on and so forth. He was sweet! Oh yeah, in answer to your Ned Kelly question...It didn't come out in cinemas out here, so it was a bit of a surprise when I walked into a shop and saw it there! The reviews were ok, but nothing special.
I know this was a bit of a long chapter, so I'm sorry about the length. Right, Rutu asked me about the alternate ending for 'Captured by the Past'. I will be doing it, possibly when I've finished this one. I have about three other stories planned, but I'll probably put them on hold so I can do the alternate ending, cos I don't wanna have a break from Calaen and that lot for a few months, and then go back to them. I just want to have the four stories with Calaen and Airëlus all right after the other. Does that make sense? I know what I meant!