Close call, huh? Now who could have done it?
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Chapter 3--A Hidden Foe
Legolas was unusually silent as they returned to the village, but he had a lot to think about.
"Are you alright, my son?" Valinar asked. "I am sorry that someone was so stupidly careless."
"It is alright. No harm was done," Legolas said, but it wasn't all right. One of the hunters had tried to put an arrow in his back, but which one and why? It made no sense.
Jaisia was waiting for them when they arrived. She looked at the deer carcasses they were carrying and smiled warmly. "It looks like the hunt went very well," she said.
Legolas slid from Valinar's back. "It went very well," he said.
"Come on, let us go for a walk. It is still early," Jaisia said.
Legolas shrugged and followed her, deciding not to tell her what had happened. He had to think this all over first.
Unfortunately Jaisia had come to know Legolas quite well and she knew he was hiding something. She waited until they were out of hearing of the others then she stopped.
"What is the matter?" Legolas asked, stopping beside her.
"That is exactly what I want to know. I can tell you are hiding something from me, soul brother. Come on, tell me," Jaisia said, folding her arms and staring at him.
Legolas felt a reluctant smile form on his lips. "Very well, let us find a place to settle and I will tell you," he said.
Jaisia frowned thoughtfully when he was finished. "It could have been an accident," she said.
"I suppose, no harm done and I was not hurt," Legolas said.
They returned to the main part of the village. Jaisia hurried off to help her mother while Legolas headed for his shelter to put his weapons away. When he left the shelter he was startled to find Tyon waiting with two other Centaurs. "What do you want, Tyon?" Legolas asked.
"We came to get you," Tyon said.
"Why?" Legolas asked warily.
"A rite of initiation among us, you should take part now that you are back," Tyon said.
Something about this wasn't right. Legolas could feel it. "I think not. I have other things to tend to this day, so if you will excuse me," he said. He started to walk around them.
Tyon seized him by the arm, gripping so tightly that Legolas winced in pain. "You are coming with us, either on your own feet or slung over my shoulder. The choice is yours," he said.
Legolas's eyes narrowed dangerously as he prepared to fight Tyon off. "Let go of me," he said.
"Tyon laughed and twisted Legolas's arm. "You are weak like all two-leggers. You cannot harm me," he said.
Legolas winced in pain.
"Let him go, Tyon or I will protect him myself," a voice said from behind them.
They both looked and saw Kai standing behind them, glaring. "I said let him go, Tyon," he said.
Tyon looked at the two Centaurs that were with him and could see he would get no support from them. Snarling a curse, he shoved Legolas away and stormed off with the others following.
"Come, Legolas, I think we should go talk to my father," Kai said.
Legolas nodded, a little shaken and followed Kai towards the shelter his parents used.
Valinar was furious when Kai told him what Tyon had been doing. "this is unacceptable. Tyon cannot treat Legolas in such a way. I will shave his tail until it looks like a rat's tail!" he raged.
Isolanthe was upset too, but she tried to calm her mate down. "We must talk to Tyon and find out why he is acting like this before we decide what must be done," she said.
Tyon looked at Legolas, then Kai. Turning to his mate, he nodded in agreement….
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Sigh, three reviews, ah well, don't worry, I'll continue this….R/R? Please?