Hello everybody! I am in an exceedingly good mood. I have had one of the best days EVER, and so I thought I would spread my happiness and update for you all! If that makes you happy that is. Lol.
Faerlain
Kalayna – Tissues! I shall look out for that movie. I like adding cute bits such as that. Thanks for reviewing.
Elerrina – Hope you had fun in Chicago! So you like Gîlorn then yes? He is quite a lovable character really. Thanks for reviewing.
TheAmazingTecnocolorRingWraith – Your name is the dudiest. And yes, I do like hurting this family! I'm sorry Leggy and family. Thanks for reviewing.
Deana – Glad you liked it. Thanks for reviewing.
Tiara Shin – You want tissues too? Ewww, homework! I hate the stuff. And I expect Haldy is quite distracting. I know EXACTLY what you mean!
Legolas: Shocked/innocent expression.
Teehee! Thanks for reviewing.
Chapter 5: Rain.
Lothriel paused in her writing, the feather of her quill placed thoughtfully against her chin. She looked down at what she had already written for that day.
Missing all three of them dreadfully. Sîladiel says they're ok though. But I can see she's hurting some more. She seems to have recovered from the Eye incident, but something else pains her. And Naneth won't tell me what it is, even though she knows as well. It's sunny today.
That was it. She was writing her daily entry into her diary, but didn't know what else to put. Then she remembered what Nauralad had told her earlier.
Be happy while the Sun shines, for the rain may come and cause sadness and grief, even though we may not know the reason. Life changes just like the weather.
"Very wise words Nauralad," she said, smiling. She looked up at the sky. Was it her imagination, or was it clouding over? She frowned. It had better not rain while her brothers were out there. They'd get very wet.
She ran inside quickly, getting up the steps just as the first drops started to fall. She sighed as she watched the rain get faster. Gîlorn hated the rain.
"Doesn't like getting his hair wet," she murmured, grinning. That was what Legolas had told her a few months back, and whenever she remembered it, she got the perfect picture of Gîlorn in her head, sheltering under a tree whilst it poured down.
She ran upstairs to her room.
"It's raining."
Gîlorn looked up. "Crap."
Legolas laughed softly. "Put your hood up, then your hair won't get as wet."
Gîlorn scowled, but put it up all the same. Legolas did too. They slowed down from a trot to a walk. As the rain grew heavier, the path got muddier and more slippery.
Legolas had Gîlorn riding on his horse with him. Rofain walked alongside them. Gîlorn had only been unconscious for a few minutes, but Legolas refused to let him ride alone until he was completely healed.
There had been no other injuries during the Warg attack, apart from minor cuts and bruises. Gîlorn thought Legolas was going to tell him off for letting himself get hurt, but Legolas had done nothing of the sort. In fact, he had been extremely caring, and rather worried about his younger brother. The cuts in his side had not been very deep, but had bled quite profusely. He was now all bandaged up and sharing a horse with his big brother.
He leant back against Legolas slightly. The Prince increased his grip around Gîlorn's waist, being careful to avoid his injury. He had also become very much more protective of Gîlorn. He partly blamed himself for his getting hurt. He should have sent him back straight away. If he had, then he would never have got hurt.
/But then you would never have been able to fire all those arrows during the attack. Thanks to Gîlorn, your own life was saved. You never would have had time to drop your bow and draw those knives when that Warg attacked./
He knew his mind was talking sense, but still…
He squinted ahead into the gloom. "I can't see a bloody thing," he muttered.
Gîlorn chuckled lightly. "That's another reason I hate the rain," he told his brother. "Impairs your vision."
Legolas raised an eyebrow. "No, you just don't like getting your hair wet."
"And that as well of course."
Legolas laughed too, resting his chin on Gîlorn's shoulder. "You admit it then?"
"If it makes you shut up about it."
"Ok, deal."
They rode on silently for an hour or so. Still the rain refused to lift. Legolas hated going this slow. He would rather gallop, risking slipping and breaking his neck, so they would reach Ladrenîl quicker. But he knew that was out of the question. If he had a broken neck, he wouldn't be able to rescue his older brother.
He dug the compass out of his pocket, looking at it carefully. The Northern Arrow was pointing directly ahead of them, so they were heading the right way. Just much too slowly for Legolas' liking.
"What is that Legs?" Gîlorn asked.
"Compass, what does it look like?"
"Where you get it from?"
"Sîladiel gave it to me just before we left. Look at it, see if you see anything…different about it." He handed it to his brother.
"The Northern Arrow is pointing south."
"Exactly."
"Why?"
"It points to where Ladrenîl is. Don't ask me where she got it from."
"Are you sure its right?"
"She said it is. I trust her Gîlorn, don't you?"
"Of course I do, its just…"
"I know what you mean." He put it away again. "But if it helps us find Ladrenîl, then I'm willing to believe anything it tells us."
"I want to go outside."
"Well you can't, its raining."
Hithaer sighed. He was leant on the window frame, hand propping chin. His mother was sat behind him, sewing. "Hithaer, I will not let you go out and play in the rain."
"I won't be 'playing' naneth." Aurêl's lips curled at the tone of her youngest son's voice. "I just want to go for a ride."
"Tough. The paths are far too slippery."
Hithaer sighed again and watched the rain fall ever harder over the treetops. Legolas and Gîlorn were out there somewhere. There was no sign of the younger of the two coming back, so it was assumed that Legolas either still didn't know he was with them, or, the more likely answer, that he was letting his younger brother tag along.
It was so unfair! Hithaer was now the only male left, apart from his father, who didn't really count. He was stuck with 4 sisters. Nauralad was alright; she was a bit of a tomboy, but the others…
He admired Sîladiel for her strength. Everyone in the family knew of her 'gift' now, and at first, he had been slightly in awe of her. But now it was 'old news', and he was getting rather bored. Esgalloth was a pure girly-girl, and Hithaer steered clear of her and her friends. Lothriel was alright, but she was the youngest, and so still very child-like.
/Well that would make sense, seeing as she is only 10/
So he was stuck on his own. And now he was locked in with his mother, who was questioning him about his history lesson from earlier on. His very boring History lesson.
"Hithaer, you have a test in a few days," his mother reminded him. "I want you to pass, else you'll have to do all the work again."
"Yes naneth," he replied, not looking round. He let his mind wander.
Where were Legolas and Gîlorn now? How far had they got in their search for the Heir of Mirkwood? Had they been involved in any fighting yet? Were they both ok if they had been? How were they coping in the rain?
And whereabouts was Ladrenîl anyway? Along with Glînvara and Balamrûn. Are they still alive? Have they been hurt? Are they all together, or have they been separated?
Will Legolas and Gîlorn reach them on time?
They could only hope.
No one was really talking about the three missing Princes. It was as if everyone was trying to keep their minds occupied elsewhere, as if talking about them would cause something bad to happen. But Hithaer wanted to talk about his brothers. He felt lonely without them, and also thought Gîlorn was quite selfish for leaving him alone like this.
Sîladiel was the only one who would talk about them with him, but she was busy this afternoon. Esgalloth was with her friends as usual, Nauralad was working in the healing ward, and Lothriel was locked away in her room, writing. So he was all alone, with only his mother and the rain for company.
Mind you, being the only son in the palace was also quite rewarding. Thranduil had been entrusting him with more tasks than usual. Every child had jobs to run for the King, and Hithaer's list had been upped since the other three boys had gone. It was normally Legolas' duty to check the stock of weapons in the weaponry every week, and Hithaer had done that this morning. Gîlorn usually normally went and got the orders of food and drink from the kitchens that was needed and gave them to the Head Butler to sort out. Hithaer had done that last night. Ladrenîl was obviously in charge of the Army, but also helped his father with the accounts. Thranduil had requested Hithaer help him later that afternoon for a small while, to 'get a taste of real responsibility'.
And he was looking forward to it.
He peered through the falling rain, trying to see what the time was by looking at the Sun. Mid-afternoon he guessed. He had better go and see if his father wanted him yet.
"I have to go and see Adar now naneth," he said, walking over to the door. "He wanted me to help with something."
"Wait a minute Hithaer. Come here." She put down her sewing and held out her arms.
He walked back over to her. "Yes naneth?"
"Come here, I want a hug."
"Mother…"
She laughed and pulled him into a strong embrace, "My good boy," she whispered.
"Mum…" He tried to wriggle free.
"No, listen to me Hithaer. You've been very good these past few days. Your father is counting on you at the moment, really counting on you to help him with things. You're doing all your brothers jobs, and are doing so without a fuss. I'm very proud of you. You're going to grow up just lie them." She let him go and he smiled.
"Hannon lle naneth. I want to be like Legolas."
"Why?"
"Because he's so good at everything. But best of all, his archery…no one can beat it. I'd love to be able to do something like that. I really look up to him."
"And he knows that," she told him, taking his hands in hers. "He respects you. You mean a lot to him. You all do."
"And I want to rise to be something like Ladrenîl," he added. "Not in charge of the Army, nothing as important as that, but something like it. I'd like to have an important role in Mirkwood, helping Adar somehow."
She smiled. "I'm glad you have such high aims. Now, go and see your father." She pushed him towards the door, and he left with a smile and a wave.
She leant back in her chair, peering out the window at the steadily pouring rain. Hithaer was a good child. He was being very well behaved about all this. It must be hard, stuck with four girls and your parents. But he seemed to be handling it ok.
She picked up her sewing again, and carried on, humming a quiet tune to herself.
The rain was still pounding down when night fell. The Elves could just about see the Moon through the murkiness. They pulled their cloaks tighter round them, and lowered their faces against the wind.
As they had made such slow progress that day, the decision was made to carry on during the night. They could see the path in front of them, and did not need rest. Gîlorn kept drifting off in Legolas' arms, but that was to be expected.
Legolas himself was feeling rather…bouncy. Because they had done almost nothing all day, all his energy was stored up inside, bursting to be let out. He either needed a galloping session, or a fight. Preferably the first option. Fighting in this weather would be near on impossible.
He could hear the horse's hooves squelching in the thick mud beneath them as they walked, and once or twice, the Elven steeds would slip. They were wearing saddles, and it was a good job they were. By pulling the reins in sharply, the Elves managed to stop their horses losing their footing.
He managed to get the compass out, and study it. The needle was now pointing slightly to the left. But the path carried on straight ahead of them. They could not enter the dense trees until the rain had stopped and it was daylight. He pocketed it again, and leant forward a bit more over his horse, pulling Gîlorn back nearer to his body.
He prayed the rain would stop soon.
There you go. Hope you liked it, and see you all soon.
Faerlain