When the Snow Falls Red

Chapter 12: Confusion in the Dark

Don't own.

A/N: Oh. The names of the characters in this story have nothing to do with any other elves who may have the same name. All the names I choose are random. Haha.

A/N2: I love it when ideas just suddenly come to me, especially when they're... EVIL!!! MUAHAHAHAHAH! You're all gonna hate me for this...

The night was dark and overcast. The moon struggled to shine it's rays through the dense clouds, but to no avail.

In the deep, dark of Mirkwood, four elves were standing around the glowing fire. The smirks on their faces were enough to show that they were pleased with how easily they had killed the elves in the stables.

There was a sudden crunch of leaves, and they turned to see a fifth figure slink through the trees, a dark hood casting shadows over his face. The four ex-soldiers grinned. "Excellent work. I will be back in due time for your next assignment. Farewell for now." The elf disappeared into the trees.

The four elves looked at each other, grinning.

Legolas was aware of the pressing darkness, and also of the warning the trees were giving him, but he disregarded them. He was determined to find the four guards who had escaped. They were the ones who were doing the horrible things all over Mirkwood. He would find them, and kill them. Nothing was going to stop him, not even the trees.

Too bad he should have listened to the trees...

Thranduil was pacing once more. Finwë was watching him, and Órelindë was still a nervous wreak. Uruviel and Lólindir were watching them. Finally, Lólindir looked to Uruviel, and she nodded.

"Pardon the intrusion, My Lord, but shouldn't we get Valandil to Lord Elrond?" She asked. Thranduil looked up at the young elf, and he sighed. He knew it was true, but with Órelindë in the state she was in, and the terrible event that took place in the stables, everything was up in the air, and he no longer knew what to say about anything.

The door to the Hall of Healing opened and a slim figure slipped in. All heads turned. "Lady Náessë!" Uruviel cried, running to the princess's aide. She slipped one arm around her waist and held onto Náessë's arm.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Thranduil asked, taking in his daughter's pale face and pained look.

"Where is Legolas?" She asked quietly as Uruviel helped her into one of the beds. Thranduil and Finwë looked at each other.

"I don't know." Thranduil whispered. He had no seen him since he had talked to him earlier in the day.

The door to the Hall opened wider, and Aranel appeared. He was dressed in his hunting clothes. "Aranel, why are you dressed in that manner?" Thranduil asked.

"I was out at the stables, trying to find any clues as to what happened." Aranel replied.

"Did you find anything?" Finwë asked. The prince shook his head. "Oh..." He said, disappointed.

"Did you happen to see Legolas?" Thranduil asked. Aranel shook his head no.

The room silenced. There was a soft moaning coming from Valandil. Órelindë, despite the mess she was, jumped up and ran to his side. His condition was worsening.

"Thranduil, Valandil must get to Lord Elrond." She said. Thranduil nodded. He knew it was true, but there was so much going on at once that he couldn't keep his thoughts straight.

"Finwë, go get a carriage ready. Find some guards who will go with him." Thranduil ordered the captain. Finwë bowed and left the room. Órelindë turned to Lólindir.

"You know the most about his condition. I want you to ride with him. Stay in Rivendell with Lord Elrond." She told him. Lólindir nodded in acknowledgement. She thus turned to Uruviel. "I want you to stay with Náessë at all times. Keep her supplied with her pain killing tea. From the looks of it, she needs it now." Uruviel looked to her charge, and bit her lower lip in embarrassment. Náessë's face was showing much pain. The young elf hurried to the herb table to prepare the tea.

"And what of my brother?" Náessë asked quietly. There was no way she was going to let them forget about him.

"Aranel, will you go search for him?" Thranduil asked his son. Aranel nodded. After that, Aranel, Finwë, and Órelindë all left the room. Thranduil waited for Uruviel to finish the tea before picking his daughter up in his arms and carrying her back to her room, the novice healer following in his footsteps.

Aranel made his way down to the stables which had been cleared of the dead elves. There was only one other elf in the stables. "Prince Aranel! Are you going out again?" He asked. Aranel nodded. The elf readied Aranel's horse. Then, the crowned Prince mounted his horse and rode away into the forest, searching for his brother. He hoped he could find him before...

An unusual silence had fallen over the forest. Legolas looked about him, but he sensed nothing. It seemed as though the trees had too fallen silent. But there was a crunch behind him. He turned in the saddle of his horse, squinting through the darkness, trying to make out where the sound came from.

In a flash, red eyes appeared in the dark, and they lunged forward at Legolas. He let out a cry as he was knocked off his horse and onto the ground. A large wolf was standing over him, baring it's sharp teeth, and a white foam forming at it's mouth. Legolas reached for his elven knife, but the wolf trapped his hand with a heavy gray paw. Legolas struggled against the wolf, but it held firm. Finally, Legolas was able to kick his leg out, hitting one of the back legs of the wolf. The wolf was taken by surprise and it fell back, and Legolas was able to stand. He pulled out an arrow and his bow, and he aimed it at the wolf. He fired. It struck the wolf in the right shoulder, but it advanced on the elf. Legolas's shoulder became sore, and he realized that he hadn't used it since he was shot in the shoulder by the foolish guards.

The wolf lunged for Legolas, and he hit the elf, knocking him back to the ground. Dark blood was falling from the wound on the wolf's shoulder, and it soaked into the fur. Legolas could smell it, and he wrinkled his nose. It smelled foul, like that of the spiders and orcs that used to roam the forest.

Legolas rolled, trying to get out from under the wolf, but this time, it reached down with it's huge, foaming teeth and grabbed his arm. Blood immediately began to rush to the teeth marks, soaking his tunic. His bit his lower lip a little too hard in pain, causing blood to come to his lip too. His tongue tasted the blood.

To Legolas's horror, the wolf let out a long howl, and it looked back down at him with red eyes. He knew that in minutes, the wolf's friends would soon join him. Legolas struggled against the wolf, but it bit his other arm.

Suddenly, an arrow flew from nowhere, and struck the wolf in the head. It stared out for a moment before it's body went rigid and fell down on top of Legolas. The air escaped from Legolas's lungs, and he could no longer breath. Blood from the wolf was spilling out all over him, and it was getting onto his face and into his hair. Legolas tried to push away, but the pain in both his arms prevented him from doing so.

"I see you got yourself in more trouble, Legolas." A voice came from behind him. Legolas, trying to catch his breath, tried to see who was talking. The wolf was too heavy for him to figure it out. The wolf was then removed from the young prince's body and air came rushing back into his lungs. He breathed in relief.

Aranel's face appeared in the darkness, and he held out a hand to his brother. Legolas took it, and was hoisted to his feet. "You smell of blood." Aranel commented, wrinkling his nose. Legolas sighed and nodded. "What are you doing out here?"

"You remember the guards who were demoted?" Legolas asked.

"Yes..."

"They are the ones who have been causing all the trouble in Mirkwood! I know it!" Legolas burst out. Aranel raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?" He asked. Legolas looked at him in disbelief.

"What do you mean? Of course it's them!" Legolas cried out. Aranel shook his head.

"You are wrong, little brother. Why would they have enough reason to kill elves, just because they were demoted?" Aranel asked. Legolas could not believe what he was hearing.

"I know I'm right!" Legolas shouted. Aranel rolled his eyes.

"Shut up, Legolas." He said. In the blink of an eye, he drew a dagger and held it to Legolas's throat. Legolas's eyes widened in terror. He was suddenly aware once again of the pain in his arms.

What occurred next was the worst sort of thing. Older brother Aranel, took his dagger, and held it tight. He slammed his fist down into Legolas's shoulder, the one that had already been injured. The blade of the dagger entered Legolas's flesh. Little Brother Legoals screamed in pain. Aranel let out a laugh, then removed the dagger from his shoulder. Legolas slumped to the ground, and watched helplessly as Aranel slaughtered Legolas's childhood horse.

"You... how could you... Aranel!" Legolas cried out. Aranel turned to him.

"If you tell anyone, Náessë will be next!" He shouted at him, then disappeared into the forest.

Legolas's breath quickened, and he fell to the ground, his eyes sliding closed.

MUAHAHHA! You thought you had it figured out didn't you? Haha... but you didn't! At least... I thought you didn't! I don't know. Wee! So was this a surprise to you? Let me know. –grins evilly-

Reviewers:

Deana: Indeed it was nasty. Poor Legolas!

Aroswein: How was that for Legolas torture? –snicker- So is this what you thought might happen?

Kelsey: -cackles evilly- All in due time, mellon-nin, all in due time.

Later all-

Blue September Rain

-contemplates weather she should update before camp or not-