When the Snow Falls Red
Chapter 4: Gone
Don't own.
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His room was destroyed. The blankets and pillows from his bed were strewn all over the floor; the clothes from his wardrobe were ripped apart; his desk was over turned and his chair was broken; books with pages tore out lay on the floor, fluttering in the wind of the open window. No, the window wasn't open. The glass had been broken out of the frame. There was broken shards all over the floor of the room, showing an obvious break in. Worst of all was the sight in the corner of his room, where he kept his weapons. His very first bow was broken in two, as was all his other bows he had through the years. The arrows he had left in Mirkwood were gone. There was no sign of them anywhere.
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As he stared at the mess before him, he heard a gasp. He turned to find his father and his siblings standing behind him, gazing at the disaster. "What happened?" Aranel asked in complete surprise. Legolas stood. He said something. After the initial shock of the room wore off, it occurred to Aranel just what had happened. Someone had broken into his room.
"I can't believe someone would do this." Náessë said, moving into the room a little. "Where they looking for something?" She asked, turning to face her family.
"My arrows are gone." Legolas mumbled. Thranduil looked at his youngest son with sad eyes, and put an arm around his shoulder.
"I'm sorry this had to happen, ion-nin." He said quietly. Legolas nodded. He was disheartened. It occurred to him that he hadn't even seen his room since he got home; his once place where he truly felt safe and had since he was an elfling. Now it was destroyed.
Legolas left his family standing in the doorway, looking at the mess. He wandered down the halls, searching for nothing, his destination unknown. It felt as if his whole life had been destroyed. He had lived many, many years in that room, and now, in just one instant, it was gone.
As he wandered, he found himself at the front doors of the palace. Though he was in only a pair of loose leggings, a white shirt that was too big, and barefoot, he motioned for the guard at the door to open them for him. The guard did so without question, and Legolas stepped outside.
He looked up. The sky was overcast. Middle Earth had been thrown into the winter season. As he watched the slow-moving clouds in the sky, white flakes began to fall. The wind picked up slightly, and more and more snow fell to the ground. Legolas sat down on the steps leading up to the door and just watched the falling snow.
His mind started to wander as he watched the falling snow. What did happen to his room? Why was it completely destroyed? Why would they want to take the arrows? The questions poured through his mind. He knew that he'd better start being careful. Something in Mirkwood wasn't right.
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Náessë wandered through the halls of the palace, watching the fires being lit in the fireplaces. Though the cold did not affect the elves, it was still a comfort to have the fires roaring during the winter season.
She eventually wandered down to the kitchens and saw the cooks getting the morning meal ready. It then occurred to her how early she had gotten up because of the fallen guards. One of the cooks spotted her, and approached. "Good morning, Lady Náessë." He said. She smiled.
"Good morning."
"I have something new. I was wondering if you might test it to see if it is alright." The cook said. She looked into his eyes and saw the wonder and excitement of a young elf who had probably just joined the palace staff.
"It would be my pleasure to try it." She said with a smile. The cook shook with excitement and hurried back to a table. He picked up something on a plate, and brought it to Náessë. It was some sort of bread, roughly the size of an apple, with strawberries piled high on top, draped in frosting. She picked it up with her long fingers and looked it over. She brought it to her mouth and took a bite. "This is wonderful." She said. The cook clapped his hands.
"Oh! I'm so glad. I heard about the Prince Legoals's love for strawberries, so I thought I'd try to make something special for him, especially after what happened to him as soon as he arrived home." The cook said. Náessë nodded. She hadn't really noticed how fast news traveled among the palace staff.
"He will appreciate it. However, there is something I must tend to. Please excuse me." She said politely, and she turned and walked away. She had forgotten about Legolas momentarily. She didn't know where he was!
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Finally, Náessë saw the guards at the front door, and asked them if they had seen her brother. No one else had. "Yes, your highness. We let him out about a half hour ago. We check on him every few minutes to make sure he is alright." One of the guards said. Náessë nodded, satisfied. As they opened the doors for her, she noted how they were being extra careful. They didn't want to be demoted like those four unfortunate soldiers.
Náessë stepped outside and saw Legolas sitting on the steps. There were little mounds of snow forming on his head and shoulders. Náessë smirked and went up behind him. She gently brushed off the little mounds of snow. "Legolas." She said quietly. Legolas looked up at her.
"Hi Náessë." he said. She smiled.
"Come inside, Legolas. The morning meal will be ready soon." She coaxed. Legolas sighed, and nodded. Náessë held her hand out to him. He took it and stood, then cast one last glance out at the falling snow, then allowed his sister to take him inside.
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During the morning meal, it was silent at the table. Legolas was still upset over the loss of his room, and no one really knew what to say. Finally, the silence was broken, but not by what any of them had hoped. Órelindë came rushing into the room.
"Pardon my intrusion, your highnesses, but I have something important I'd like to share with you." She said. Thranduil nodded, giving her the sign to go on. Órelindë approached the table. "I don't know why I was so blind to it before! Elves do not just get sick! The only way Finwë could have gotten sick was if someone gave it to him on purpose." Órelindë explained.
"Are you saying he was poisoned?" Aranel asked. Órelindë nodded grimly.
"Indeed I am." Órelindë said. The royal family glanced around at each other, each trying to find something to say, but nothing came. "I must get back to my patient, however. Legolas, I want to see you later to replace those bandages." She told him, then turned and left. She was a very abrupt elf.
'Poisoned?' Aranel though as he stared down at his food. 'Poisoned. Someone is having a problem with Finwë... and perhaps... Legolas? Yes! The elves who shot him! Surely they would he upset. But would they really sink that low? Well, perhaps. Shooting without thinking might be a sign that something is wrong... but wouldn't Finwë notice something? He does his daily inspections... doesn't he? Would he know if there was something that was making those four unqualified to be guards? I must find them!' Aranel jumped up from the table. "Please excuse me." He said quickly, and ran from the dining hall.
His family watched him leave, confused.
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Aranel ran through the front doors of the palace, down the steps through the new snow, and across the space between the palace and the soldier quarters. His feet left barely a print in the fallen snow.
He reached the stables and burst inside. Suddenly, there was a flash of brown, and he kept the wind leave his lungs. Aranel fell backwards and landed on his back. His eyes were blurry, and he could see little silver specks in his vision. His head ached.
"Oh! Your Highness!" A voice stumbled. Aranel lay on his back a few moments before recovering his breath and his balance. He sat up. There was a dark haired elf sitting in front of him. They had collided. "Please forgive me!" The elf cried, scrambling to his feet. He offered a hand to the Crowned Prince. Aranel took it and was hoisted to his feet. "I was running to come find you, but I guess you are already here." The elf said sheepishly. Aranel nodded, a slight smile on his face. No harm done.
"What is it that you wanted to see me for?" Aranel asked.
"Well, I have bad news." The elf said, looking down at his feet and digging a small hole on in the ground with his boot.
"Well?" Aranel demanded. The elf looked up.
"Those four guards... the ones who hurt Legolas..." The elf started. Aranel nodded impatiently. "Well... they are gone."
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A/N: Sorry about the slowness of updating. I've been having a busy weekend, and I've been having writer's block. I'm determined to make this story crazy, so that you don't know WHAT going to happen next. Hehe.
Reviewers:
Kelsey: You're right, elves don't get sick. –wink- Anyway, the arrows thing... I'm just assuming that Legolas left Mirkwood for the council not thinking he would be chosen as part of the group to take the ring to Mordor. Naturally, he would take the arrows he needed, then leave the rest behind. Then, because AU is my favorite kind of writing, he comes home, and they should have still been there. Of course.. well... hehe... you'll have to read on.
Meisalliam: Well, that's understandable. I was just wondering, since you only mentioned those two out of all the characters you have. I hope you don't fall out of your chair!!
Later all-
Blue September Rain