When the Snow Falls Red

Chapter 5: Messages in Blood

Don't own.

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Four hooded figures moved silently through the forest, leaving no footprints behind. The lightness of their elven bodies made it easy for them to make an easy getaway. As they trudged along, they didn't speak. Each were thinking their own thoughts. Different thoughts, though the same. Before, the plans they had would come into affect.

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Naesse was running. Running down the hallway in the palace. Her dark, braided hair was flying out behind her, her skirt continually getting caught under her feet, and she stumbled a few times. The sounds she heard were getting louder. She winced as she heard a rather loud crash.

Finally, she reached her destination. She slowed her pace, and stopped herself completely by putting her hands against the door. She reached to the handle and pushed the door open, throwing her weight against it, as it was a heavy door. Inside, she sighed at seeing what she hoped she wouldn't see. Her father was standing over his desk, Aranel was standing on the other side, and both were glaring at each other. There was a broken pitcher in the corner, and the water was traveling over the stone floor, getting a few papers wet that were carelessly placed on the floor.

When Naesse entered the room, both brother and father turned and looked to her. She gave them one of her worst looks: the 'I'm-very-disappointed-in-you-both' look. They cringed under her glare. Thranduil usually considered him a strong leader and king, but when his daughter was angry, he felt like an elfling once more.

Naesse crossed the room, her anger filling it to bursting level. "What happened in here?" She asked, standing at the end of the desk. The King and Crowned Prince looked down at the desk, light blushes forming on their cheeks.

"Well, when I told Ada that-"

"Aranel told me that the-" They both started talking at the same time, so their voices were overlapping.

"One at a time." She commanded. Aranel went first.

"You don't understand, Naesse!" He cried. Hands to the hips. Not a good sign. "The four guards who shot Legolas escaped!" He cried. Eyebrows raised. Still not good.

"And that gives you leave to shout, throw and break things, and wake Legolas up?" She asked, the lines in her forehead deepening. Thranduil and Aranel tried to shrink themselves.

"Well... no..." They said together. Aranel was praying to the Valar that Naesse wouldn't find the broken bowl he threw. Thranduil threw the pitcher.

Naesse moved away from the desk and started to pick up the broken pieces of glass. That's when her eye caught something else on the other side of the room. She rose, and started to make her way to it. Aranel moved in front of her. "There's nothing over there." He said.

"I just want to look." She said, humor dancing secretly in her eyes.

"I'll clean it up!" Aranel shouted, and he turned and threw himself on the floor and started to pick up the broken pieces of the bowl. Naesse shook her head. She went to the door.

"I'll send a servant. However..." She stared. Both Thranduil and Aranel were paying full attention to her. "Any more outbursts like that and you will be sorry you're immortal. Now, I expect you to talk about this like civilized elves." She warned. They nodded, and she left the room.

She had found a servant and sent her to go to the study, and Naesse began her walk back to her charge Orelinde had given him the drink again, and he was tired, so he went to sleep in one of the extra rooms. Naesse was staying with him to make sure he was okay. However, as he was walking, what her brother told her sunk in. The guards who attacked Legolas escaped. That wasn't good. They could be anywhere. And there they were, the king and crowned prince, throwing things, instead of trying to find them. Naesse shook her head. She would have a guard stand at the door to the room Legolas was in, just in case.

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Naesse was dozing in a chair beside Legolas when he woke up. Not wanting to wake his sister, he slipped out of the bed quietly, and went to the window. The sight surprised him. The snow was blowing hard. If he didn't know better, he's say it was a blizzard.

As he watched out the window, he heard the door open behind him. He turned, but it was only Lolindir. The shy elf moved into the room, holding a cup. He held it out to Legolas, and the prince took it from his hands. "Thank you Lolindir." He said, smiling. Naesse stirred. Her eyes unclouded and she blinked, her eyes focusing. She looked at Legolas.

"Another cup of that dreadful tea? Here." She took it from his hands and left the room. Lolindir was standing in the corner of the room when there was a scream. They looked at each other, then ran towards the sound of the scream. The origin led them to the Halls of Healing. The door was wide open, but Orelinde's form blocked their view.

"What is it Orelinde?" Legolas asked. She turned, and Legolas could see the tears brimming in her eyes. She moved out of the way, and Legolas peered inside the door.

If he had thought his room was destroyed, this room made it look clean. Everything was thrown from the shelves, dishes and cups were broken, perfectly good herbs were crushed, and strewn all across the floor. The beds were overturned, and the sheets were torn and the pillows ripped open so there were feathers everywhere. However, this time, there was something else. Something more. In red letters that looked much like blood on the wall, it said, "When the snow falls red will we be happy."

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Hey. Sorry about the short chapter. I'm leaving tomorrow for vacation, so uploading and chapters will be on hold until next Monday evening or Tuesday morning. It depends. I'll try to write more, but I've been having writers block and the reviewers are the only ones keeping me going. Thanks guys.

Reviewers:

Celebrian: Thanks! I'm glad you like it. Is this soon enough for you? Hehe.

KissTheRainGirl12489: Blue September Rain doesn't really have meaning. I like the color blue, blue is also the color of sapphires, I was born in September, and um, rain is cool. Hehe. You may be right... hehe.

Later all-

Blue September Rain