A/N: Sorry guys, I can't do review responses because the stupid computer won't let me see them. I really appreciate each and every one of them though! Be sure to give me more so I update faster! This may be rather strange, because at the moment I'm listening to a cassette of J.R.R. Tolkien reading an excerpt of the hobbit. The scary part is next up there is an excerpt of FotR being read and sung. Oh my. Enjoy chapter 5 anyways!
Chapter 5
Legolas was sitting in his chambers when the missive from Ilmadris arrived. He was watching some of the trainees fight from his bedroom window when a knock came on the door. A small youth was standing there looking rather nervous. "A-a letter for Prince Legolas, Sir. From Lord Elrond of Ilmadris." He stuttered, holding out the scroll with a shaking hand.
"Thank you." Replied Legolas, smiling kindly down at him before closing the door.
The Mirkwood Prince wondered why Elrond would be writing to him. The twins often did such, but for Elrond… Legolas quickly opened the letter with fumbling fingers, frightened as to what it held. He read it over quickly, eyes zipping back and forth across the parchment.
Legolas,
Please come quickly to Ilmadris. Elladan is badly wounded and has been unconscious for a while now. I wish you to be here when he wakes. I also want you to speak with Elrohir, as he blames himself. The two were arguing at dinner last night when he struck Elladan, who lost his temper and ran off into the woods with no weapons. He was attacked by wolves. I fear that if Elladan does not improve soon, his brother may begin to fade. Please, make haste!
Elrond
The letter was dated four days prior. It slid through Legolas's fingers and fell to the floor, but the elf took no notice. "Ada! Ada!" He tore out of his room and down the stairs, plowing into his father in his rush and knocked both of them flat.
"What is it my little Greenleaf?" Gasped the king, his son's panic not lost on him. "Are you alright, ion-nin?"
"Elladan is grievously injured and Elrohir may be fading!" He replied, on the edge of tears. "As of four days ago! I must ride to Ilmadris at once!"
"Yes, make haste!" Thranduil exclaimed, helping Legolas to his feet. He was quite fond of the twins. "But take Tracer, Kiern, and Marranorn with you, I don't want you to go alone."
Even in his panic frenzy, the younger elf realized his father's insistence was born out of concern for his son, whom he valued above his own life, and quickly agreed. The elves were summoned, preparations were made, and within the hour Legolas and his three companions set out for Ilmadris.
Tracer was very close to the young prince. He had been the king's guard and close friend when the two had been young, and was now Captain of the army (not-so-affectionately known as the 'Head Hunter', by students and soldiers) as well as teaching young elves to be warriors. He was very strict, uncaring and quite nasty to most everyone, but had a soft spot for Legolas because he reminded him of Thranduil in his youth. He pretended to dislike the prince very strongly around others, because he had a 'reputation to uphold', but when they were alone they were very good friends. He was tall, his entire body a thin and perfectly honed mass of muscle and sinew. His hair was a white-blond, bleached by the sun, and he was heavily tanned and slightly sunburned. He had hard, sharply angled eyes and features. But Tracer's most recognizable feature was the ugly, white scar under his left eye. No one knew how he had got it, save maybe the king himself.
Kiern had been Legolas's tutor when he was young, and the Lorien elf remained one of the prince's favourite people. As well as having slightly wavy silver hair, Kiern also possessed orange eyes, giving him a rather odd appearance. He was also the voice of reason, a pillar of strength, and in Legolas's eyes, knew everything worth knowing and more. He was also a very good person to talk to if you needed reassurance or comfort, and could usually tell you which choice was the right one to make. He was very gentle and compassionate, and did not believe in such things as lashings and beatings to make someone behave (as Tracer did).
Marranorn was a childhood friend of Legolas's, who had gone in training as a soldier long ago and was often far away from the palace on some dangerous assignment. Although they had little chance to talk anymore, Marranorn and Legolas remained good friends. Marranorn had long, coppery-blond hair and deep green eyes that were always sparkling with amusement. He had a never-give-up spirit, and umpteen times he had been carried back with less than half his original blood supply.
Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, and his three companions set out, hoping to reach Ilmadris in three days of hard riding.
