Here's the third, hope y'all like it…
R&R
Too much darkness in a day…
Another one
Legolas reread the disturbing note before hiding it somewhere safe and going downstairs. He was scooting through the hall when one of the servants asked him a question.
"Your highness, are you alright?"
Legolas was startled now and hesitated for a moment "Yes, why do you ask?"
The servant chuckled "You are limping my prince"
Legolas sighed in relief "Yes of course, you will have to excuse me now, I'm late for dinner." He explained. The servant nodded and Legolas found his way to the dining hall.
He knocked softly on the door and then entered his eyes falling on his father and brother who weren't eating yet. Thranduil looked up "You're still in time, our guest isn't here yet… sit down ion-nin."
Legolas quietly obeyed his mind still on the note he had found a few minutes earlier… He was so occupied in thoughts he didn't even hear Menenwen enter. She smiled broadly and strode to the long table. Thranduil was the first to address her:
"Ah, you are here, have a seat, did you have trouble finding the dining hall?" he questioned grinning like an elfling.
Menenwen's smile, if possible, got even bigger "Yes, this place is immense, I'll never find my way here." She nearly gulped when she saw Legolas sitting on the other side of the table. "So where do the servants normally eat, and how many are there in this palace."
Thranduil frowned "That's a strange question to ask Menenwen."
Eleiden almost couldn't hold his laughter. "But our servants, eat in another room, where they probably feel more comfortable…" Thranduil continued "I can't quite put a number…Eleiden is something wrong?" Thranduil asked when he saw his son shaking.
"F…ine adar!" Eleiden chuckled trying to regain himself.
"Good, so what I was trying to tell you is that I don't know how many servants work here… I know and trust every single one of them though." Thranduil ended his explanation still locking eyes with his youngest son.
"Ah" was Menenwen's only reaction.
"I want you to meet my two sons, they get into mischief and trouble… a lot, I can't quite remember an occasion where they came back in one piece… but I suppose that's not really an ideal subject to discuss."
"I'm Eleiden, pleased to meet you, and this is my brother Legolas" Eleiden stated accepting the handshake she offered. Legolas did the same only a bit more reluctant.
"They both look so…" She searched for the correct word "vivid"
Thranduil chuckled "Trust me, they are!! Ah, dinner's here" he announced when he saw a servant coming out of the kitchen with a big plate. "Let's eat then"
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Legolas went to bed early that night, he couldn't fall asleep. There were too many things on his mind 'Menenwen, is she seducing our father? Or isn't that the right way to put it, there's definitely something strange going on around here, and that letter I found earlier today, should I take it serious? Perhaps Eleiden's behind it? It could be possible if he tried to change his handwriting. But then again, I would probably still notice it.'
He dismissed all thoughts from his mind and after a while Legolas did doze off, only to find himself in a disturbing dream .
-------Dream-------
Darkness, not a single soul to be spotted, not that anyone would come here. No light only blackness surrounding him. Little Legolas called for his father "Adar!! Where are you!!" the young elf called out hoping for a response. But no reaction came. 'What happened?' He couldn't recall anything. "Ada!!" the elfling shouted again. Tears started forming and before Legolas knew it they started rolling down his cheeks. 'Where am I??' he sobbed. He continued walking when he suddenly stumbled, landing hard, breaking his right wrist in the process. "Where am I!!" Legolas yelled out loud this time. Legolas carefully supported his right wrist with his left hand. He kept it close to his body, so he wouldn't jostle it too much…
He didn't expect a response from anyone
"Far away from home"Legolas desperately looked around to see where the answer had come from. "Who are you? What do you mean?"
"Deep in the forest, far from home"
Legolas searched for an answer. Suddenly he knew it 'The trees! Forest!'
"A..re…you a…tree?" Legolas stuttered uncomfortably.
"Yes, home is the way you are facing, follow that path, and you will fare well my prince"
Legolas obeyed although he didn't believe the 'fare well' part. Determined, he kept walking and stumbling… He had to reach Mirkwood again and fast.
--------End Dream--------
Legolas woke abruptly. He hadn't had that dream for a long time. When he looked outside he noticed it was already morning. He quickly got up and was surprised to find another piece of paper. He swallowed before reading it:
Too bad you didn't tell anyone yet, I was so looking forward to have some fun. I'll have to find another way then. You must do something for me. See it as your first assignment.
I want you to use following sentences in the next public conversation with your father:
'I wish you weren't my father'
'I'd rather have an orc as my father.'
I'm personally looking forward to the last one
Remember, it'll be fun…just yell it out so everybody can hear it…
And you know the penalty of disobedience!
Unfortunately, Legolas did, but he couldn't bring himself to dishonour his father in front everyone either… He had to think of something. Lucky for him, he got an idea.
He found his father in the palace garden.
"Adar!" He called a little frustrated, but he didn't show it too much.
"Legolas, it's good to see you, what's the matter"
Legolas smiled "Nothing really, I was just thinking, do you remember the time when Arandur said to his father:I wish you weren't my father, I'd rather have an orc as my father. And his father started laughing, while Arandur himself meant every word he was saying?."
"How can I forget that, Arandur was really angry that day. I had never seen him like that." Thranduil chuckled. "Didn't he use the word warg?"
Legolas nodded "Aye, that's right, I'd rather have a warg as my father, how could I forget."
"Thank the Valar it all turned out nicely."
Legolas nodded in agreement "True."
The elves in the neighbourhood also seemed to agree…
'Did I succeed then? I did what he asked me.' Legolas' thoughts wandered off to the new message. 'Or could it be a she?'
"Oh and Legolas, before I forget, can you and Eleiden come to my study after archery?"
Legolas only nodded before leaving.
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Thanks for the review… See you all soon (I hope)