Chapter 34

As they were walking, the forest seemed to press together, branches leaned into other branches forming barriers, almost making it impossible to move between them, as if they were trying to force the elves to stay on the path.

But Legolas had had enough. He had to know what happened to his father, and he had to know it now. So he ignored the branches that tugged at his clothes. He ignored the roots that tried to trip him. He needed to get home and he was almost there. He just had to hold on. They were almost there, and nothing would stop him now.

He had enough of these constant interruptions; he wanted to be home.

Behind him, Legolas could hear his brother trip on another root.
"Legolas?" he could hear Limloeth ask. "Maybe we should turn back and follow the roads. These trees are forcing us there for a reason!"
Legolas didn't even look back, but continued on. "We are not taking any more detours. I will reach home today. If you want to take a detour, fine. Take a detour. I'm going this way."

He moved along. Behind him he could hear Limloeth mumble something about "stubborness" to Lanthir, but he paid no attention to it. They were still following him, and that was what mattered.

They were so close to home. He started to recognize trees; their voices were familiar even though their shapes had changed. It pained Legolas to see what had happend to them in the time they had been away.

A branch stretched out and wrapped itself around Legolas wrist. Annoyed he shook it off again. These were the trees he knew best. They were supposed to help him. Had their hearts changed color as well as their leaves?
"What is up with these stupid trees!" Lanthir said in frustration behind Legolas, as he wresteld with a willow that had wrapped a root around his ankle.

"There trying to prevent us from going home." Legolas growled.
But Lainfea, still safely in his arms, shook her head. "No they're not," she said. "They are trying to prevent us from going that way." She pointed at the way they were currently heading.
"Home is that way," Legolas said, frustrated.
"Are you sure we shouldn't just turn around?" Limloeth asked again.
"I WILL NOT TURN AROUND!" Legolas snapped. "I will reach home, TODAY."
"Alright, alright," Limloeth said. "I was just checking... Valar! What is up with you today?"
Legolas sighed. "I'm sorry Lim, I just...I just want to be home."
She placed a hand on his arm. "It's alright. I understand. Just...you don't have to snap at me, alright?"
Legolas nodded.
"Do you want me to carry Lainfea for a while?" she asked.
"No, it's alright. I can manage," he said, his voice sounded very tired.
She rubbed his arm a little.
"Hold on, muidor nin, we're are almost there. Just hold on."

They trudged silently on.

"Lanthir, come on!" Legolas called back to his brother, who had fallen behind quite a bit.
"I can't!" Lanthir shouted back. "I'm stuck!"
"Just ask the trees to release you! Or threaten to hurt them if you must!"
Legolas answered.
"It's not a tree that holds me!" Lanthir called back.
"Not a tree?" Legolas asked confused.

"No!" Lanthir's voice sounded very frustrated. "It's something else. It's white, and sticky, and GROSS!"
Legolas turned around. His brother was right; it was certainly not a tree that held him.

"Legolas?" Limloeth said, her voice shivering. "That looks like a giant spiderweb..."
"No it doesn't," Legolas answered. He really had no time for giant spiders.
"Yes it does," Limloeth's voice sounded very resonable.
"NO IT DOES NOT!" Legolas snapped at her again.
"I don't care what it looks like," Lanthir said. "Get me out of it!"
Legolas put Lainfea on the floor and pulled his knives.

Getting Lanthir out proved much more trouble than Legolas assumed. The threads that had caught his brother were very thick, and the knives Legolas had weren't elven. Limloeth was helping, but she wasn't as strong as her brother, so it took her even longer. They were losing precious time.

"Legolas?" Limloeth asked, hesitating.
"Not now, Lim," he said grumpily while working on one of last strands.
Almost there.
"Legolas, we have to move. Fast!" she told him urgently.
"I'm not finished yet!" Legolas replied.
This time Limloeth didn't react in a patient, nor understanding, way. She glared at him, her voice low and threatening.
"Well, you'd better work fast, because danger is approching. And it's moving fast."
Legolas didn't answer but channelled his frustration into his work.

"Elves," a voice above them said, delighted. "There are elves in my web."
Legolas looked up and swallowed. "Lim..." he whispered, trying to alert her.
But his sister continued working on the threads that held Lanthir.

"I told you, didn't I? I told you it looked like a giant spiderweb. I told you we should have moved. I asked you if we shouldn't stay on the road. But did you listen? Did you pay any attention to any word I said? NO!" she said, still working quickly. "But now you finally notice them. Now they are a real threat? What did you think? Limloeth made everything up? Limloeth, oh she is crazy, don't listen to her?"
"Lim..." Legolas interrupted her, as he watched the spiders slowly move closer.
"NO DON'T YOU 'LIM' ME!" Limloeth snapped as she hacked furiously at the last strand holding Lanthir. "This entire journey I've been understanding. I have supported you. I have warned you, and I even killed for you, but did you appriciate it? Did you even listen to a WORD I SAID?"
"Lim, I..."
"NO YOU DIDN'T! You just went on your royal way! AND YES, THERE IS A SPIDER ABOVE ME, AND IT IS HUGE! BUT I'M NOT LEAVING LANTHIR!"

She gave a last hack and the thread broke. Lanthir was free, and not a moment too soon. The spider had jumped and now occupied the place Lanthir had been a few moment before.

Legolas shot an arrow at the spider's head. The creature skrieked as the arrow hit its head, but it didn't drop down. Instead it called out to other spiders: "Prey hurt me; revenge! REVENGE!"

The elflings shivered as they heard leaves rustle all around them. They moved closer, back to back. Legolas held the bow, and the others had their knives drawn.

A spider dropped out of the tree, close to the siblings. Legolas took more time to aim this time, and the creature fell as the arrow hit it in one of its eyes.

"One down," Legolas said.
"A million to go," Lanthir added as three other spiders dropped. The leaves above them were still rustling. More spiders were still coming their way.
"Yes," Limloeth said, "and where is Lainfea?"

TBC

well as it is very late were I live.. I don't have time to asnwer any reviews today.. SORRY.. But it is eigther that or no second chappy..

I will answer them tomorrow, don't worry.

Liek