Disclaimer: I own nothing of Lord of the Rings. But original characters I do own! So you can't steal them. hugs Ithildor Mine!
(((((((((((((((((o Chapter 2 o)))))))))))))))))))
October 23, 3018Ada's going to leaving for Rivendell tomorrow. I wish I could go. I like Rivendell, and besides, going there is my only chance to get out of this place. I would ask him again if I could accompany him, but he would probably just get cross with me for questioning him.
I suppose Grandfather wasn't wrong about we woodelves living in dangerous times, however. A few days ago an elfling was nearly caught and killed by a spider, just outside the boundaries of the city. The spiders have never been that daring before, at least not since I remember. Still, I have a lot more experience than an elfling, so I don't understand why I'm kept a prisoner in my own household. Yesterday the only time I was outside was for archery lessons. If this continues, I'm afraid that I'll actually begin to enjoy archery lessons! I have to get out of here.
Ithildor
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SCHWOOM!Ithildor's arrow flew cleanly threw the air, howling towards it's target. The shaft struck the outside circle and stuck. Ithildor threw down his bow in disgust.
"I'll never hit the center!" He muttered under his breath. "Never!"
His father stood beside him and smiled. "Never say never, Ithildor. Learning to properly and accurately shoot a bow is hard work."
The younger elf shot his father an icy look. "Easy for you to say." He spat, clearly not comforted.
Legolas sighed and shook his head. Ithildor had been reluctant and cold to him ever since he'd learned that his father would be leaving. He didn't know how to get through to the boy. Just because he was leaving for a few days didn't mean he intended on disappearing forever.
"Ithildor…" Legolas pleaded, turning to face his fuming son. "…can't you give me a smile for once? I haven't seen one all day."
The frown that seemed permanently etched on Ithildor's face faded a little, giving way to a thoughtful, sad expression. But he didn't smile.
Legolas stepped forward and took his son into his arms, gently embracing him. The younger elf didn't respond at first, but then crept his arms around his father, and Ithildor rested his head on Legolas's shoulder. Legolas smiled, comforted by the fact that at least his son would still bare his touch, but then pulled away, playfully grinning.
"You may hug me, but I what I asked for was a smile." He jested lightly.
Ithildor's eyebrows lowered in a dangerous glare, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
"There it is!" Legolas shouted, watching with gleeful laughter as his son struggled against the smile forming on his face. Finally the youth gave up and laughed along, even though he was feeling rather irritated.
"Stop laughing at me!" He said, trying once more to cover up his obvious smile with another cold frown. It didn't work, and the boy only laughed harder. "Ada—HEY!"
Legolas grabbed Ithildor by the arm and embraced him once more, perhaps pulling his son a little to hard. The two elves bounced off each other and practically fell into the dirt together.
"You're strange, Ada." Ithildor giggled as he reached down to grasp his bow.
Legolas nodded. "All elven princes say that about their fathers, I'm sure."
"Whatever you say." Ithildor said, turning halfway round. He looked about them, bored. "Can we go to dinner now, Ada?" He asked.
Legolas thought about his son's request and then raised an eyebrow. "Are you forgetting something, son?"
The youth whipped around his head, confused. "What?" He asked.
Legolas chuckled once more and cocked his head in the direction of the target. Ithildor's last arrow still protruding from it's outmost circle. Ithildor stared at the arrow for a moment, and that icy frown appeared again, a reminder to the young elf of his failures.
Legolas immediately realized his mistake. He quickly and quietly slipped a reassuring arm around Ithildor's shoulders.
"It's alright, Ithildor." He offered the silent youth. "You know, perhaps if you do not find your calling in archery, you will find it something else."
The young elf snorted and shook his head. "Like what? Every single elf in Mirkwood is an expert archer. Every elf knows how to hit the bullseye except me." He fumed.
Legolas sighed. "That isn't true, and you know it, Ithildor. Why, you may not be the very best at arching, but you excel in hand-to-hand combat. And your abilities with animals are seemingly endless!"
"Stop…" Ithildor said softly, a smile creeping up his face again, embarrassed by his father's gushing.
But Legolas continued. "It's true…you trained your hawk, Gilandor, all by yourself, didn't you?"
"Yes…" Ithildor answered reluctantly, but still smiling.
"And your horse?" Legolas added.
The youth sighed, exasperated. "I trained Athenos…I understand your point, Father. I do. Thank you."
"You truly understand?" Legolas asked. "You now know that you have no need to pressure yourself? You have all your life to perfect such skills as this." The elder elf gestured to the bow in his sons's hands.
"I understand." Ithildor said very firmly.
Legolas nodded, pleased. He pointed to the arrow still stuck in the target many meters away. "Now, fetch that arrow and we'll retire."
"Yes, Ada." Ithildor said, and jogged over to target, pulling out the arrow. When he returned he offered his father a half-smile.
"Alright," The eldest prince said. "Let's be off."
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The evening quickly progressed into night, which in turn transformed to morning. It was all too soon that Legolas had awaken and found himself preparing to leave for Rivendell.
The Prince shuffled to and fro, bunching whatever he could into his bag. He did not know how long he would be staying in Rivendell, so he wasn't quite sure on how to prepare for it. He went back to his dresser and pulled out another tunic, stuffing it into his sack. He then decided he wouldn't suffer much if he brought another jerkin as well, and turned back.
Legolas paused as his eyes rested on something glittering lightly on top of the polished wood. It was his precious set of white knives. Legolas approached and carefully slipped his hand around the hilt of one, his skin barely grazing the smooth ivory. But he couldn't seem to pick it up.
Then again, if I'm to bring another jerkin, I might as well suffer the weight of these as well…He thought.
With that, the elf slipped the knifes into their sheaths and fastened them to his quiver, so that they would be close at hand whenever he might need them.
Legolas looked up once more, into the bright sunlight shining through his bedroom window. He could hear the Mirkwood birds singing. Slowly he walked towards the outside, leaning his head out into the cooling breeze.
Suddenly there was a squawk. For a moment Legolas's sharp sense of hearing failed him, and he looked around, unsure of where the sound came from. He only had a few instants before he saw a mess of feathers flying rapidly towards him.
There was another shriek in the air as the brown feather ball rocketed past the surprised Prince, almost causing him to throw himself to the floor. The large bird circled the room once and, unable to find a way out, finally landed with another squawk on Legolas's sack, on top of his bed.
Legolas rolled his eyes. "Gilandor, you naughty bird!" He scolded playfully. "Where is your young master?"
The bird offered no reply but began to preen it's feathers. Legolas frowned and stepped forward.
"Now, now." He said. "Get off of my things. I have to pack to leave."
The elf reached his hand toward the bag the hawk was sitting on, but Gilandor sprang up at once and fiercely snapped at it. Fortunately, Legolas's reflexes were quick, and he whipped his hand away.
"Gilandor!" He said firmly, now not so happy with the bird's intrusion. "You must let me get my things packed!"
Legolas tried one more time to slip the sack out from under the bird, but Gilandor was terribly touchy, and whenever the Prince so much as lifted his hand, he shrieked and tried to bite him. Finally Legolas was fed up. He threw open the door to his room and stuck his blond head out into the hall.
"ITHILDOR!" He bellowed in a fatherly fashion. "COME AT ONCE AND REMOVE YOUR PET FROM MY BEDROOM!"
It didn't take long for there to be a distant reply. "Father?" Came a voice, and Ithildor appeared down the hall. He hurried towards where his father stood, fidgeting impatiently.
"What is it?" He asked.
The elder elf stomped his foot and pointed into the room. "Your pet hawk is harassing me when I should be hurrying to pack." He explained.
A look of confusion crossed Ithildor's face and he looked into the chamber. Gilandor was now tearing at the fabric of the bag with his beak. Ithildor gasped and rushed in.
"Gilandor, no!" He cried, and stuck his hand out for the bird to perch on.
Legolas watched with awe as the bird didn't fuss a bit and hopped onto his son's arm. "Goodness…" He said, retrieving his bag and closing it. "Thank you, my son."
Ithildor looked at his pet and stroked the hawks soft feathers. He then glanced at his father. "Ada…" He began. "Are you going to be gone very long?"
Legolas sighed and opened his mouth to answer, but before any sound could come out, a royal guard poked his head into the open door.
"My Lord Legolas?" He said politely. "Your escort to Rivendell is ready."
Legolas blinked and scrambled to grab all his things. "So soon? I must be getting old." He said, suddenly hurrying off.
"Hey—ADA!" Came Ithildor's shout, and Legolas turned.
"What is it, Ithildor?" He asked.
Ithildor offered him a grumpy look. "You are just going to leave without saying goodbye?"
Legolas sighed. "Oh…" He approached his son to embrace him, but once again Gilandor snapped at him once he was close.
"Hey, Gilandor, be nice." Ithildor ordered the bird, and the animal slowly moved up the younger Prince's arm to his shoulder.
Legolas reached for Ithildor very carefully, keeping a sharp eye on the hawk, but Gilandor didn't make a move this time. The two elves embraced for a moment.
"Goodbye, Ithildor." He said with a smile. "I hope you will fair well while I'm gone." He pulled away and slung his bag onto his shoulder. "Do tell your Grandfather goodbye for me, will you?"
Ithildor blinked. "You haven't said goodbye to him yet? Shouldn't you do that yourself?"
Legolas chuckled. "My dear son, your Grandfather will not be hurt if you do it for me. Trust me. I must be on my way."
Ithildor frowned, the same frown that Legolas had seen too much. He shook his head in disapproval.
"Oh, Ithildor…" He said, leaning down once more, lightly kissing his son's forehead. "…I will not be gone forever. That I promise. Goodbye, my son."
The young elf nodded slowly and watched as his father stepped further away. "Goodbye." He muttered softly.
The eldest Prince nodded, smiled, and hurriedly left the room, escorted by his guard. Ithildor looked to the marble flooring. He waited until the footsteps of the other elves disappeared down the stone halls and then followed his father's path out of the room, and then turned and promptly went to his chambers.
((((((((((((((((((o Personal thing o))))))))))))))))))))))
Sorry for the wait! I had a district singing competition and I was practicing like crazy! But it paid off—I'm progressing to the state level for 5 things! My auditions for college are this Saturday, and my choir concert is on the 15th, and then I'll have nothing to do (nothing except work on this story—of course!) for like, a month! Hallelujah! Anyway, hope you all enjoyed!
A note to Tanja: I realize that I haven't finished The Well of Souls yet. I delayed it because I couldn't figure out a good ending to it. I have one in mind now, I just need the time to get it all typed up. I'll have hopefully finished the story by April! Thanks for mentioning it!