Disclaimer: Not mine!! :(
Title: To New Mutiny
Rating: R
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Note: Sorry once again that this is so late!! Thank you to Kit Cloudkicker for giving me the wonderful idea for part of this chapter, it kept me amused for ages! ;) Cheers babes!
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Chapter 18
The conversation had just given way to an awkward silence when a soft sound came from the direction of Legolas' bedroom, followed by another. All eyes turned to the door, but the Elf did not appear.
"Should we go and check on him?" Aragorn asked softly.
"No," Elladan shook his head, "What if he is still sleeping? If we go in there, we will only disturb him and he needs to rest."
"You are right," Aragorn reluctantly agreed, "He has gone quiet again. Perhaps he yet sleeps."
Elrohir shook his head, rising from his seat and padding on silent feet towards Legolas' door. "Something does not feel right. I shall only look in the door, I will not wake him."
Elladan and Aragorn watched the younger twin as he made his way silently to the door and peered in. They all jumped to their feet in alarm at his yelp of surprise as he flung the door wide and darted into the room.
They started towards the rooms, but before they could enter, Elrohir reappeared in the doorway, looking troubled. He met Aragorn's eyes squarely.
"He is gone," He said softly, "He is not in there!"
"What?!" Gimli, Aragorn and Narso all exploded, pushing past Elrohir to see the empty room.
"How did that crazy Elf get out?" Gimli asked in confusion, "We would have seen him, had he tried to get past us!"
"The window," Aragorn muttered, pointing to where the curtains billowed from the strong breeze coming in the open window. "Those memories must have greatly disturbed him…"
"He is running," Elladan said sadly.
Betha looked confused. "What memories?" She looked around each of them, before her eyes settled on her husband, "What memories, Nar?"
He hesitated. "He had some…unpleasant memories of his home that he was not expecting."
"We can tell you more later, but right now we need to find him!" Elladan insisted, "He is still not at full strength, what if something happens?"
Seeing Elladan's point, Betha nodded reluctantly.
"Alright," Narso quickly took on his natural role as the leader, "We need to split up. How well do you all know this area?"
"We have all been here many times before, save Gimli." Aragorn mused, "He can search with me."
Narso nodded, satisfied. "Good. Alright, if you do not find anything, we meet back here in two hours. Betha, you stay here in case he comes back."
Betha's eyes followed them as they rushed out the door, each heading off in a different direction, Gimli sticking close by Strider's side.
Man and Dwarf headed for the lake, noticing it no longer reflected the stars, for the sky had clouded over threateningly once more. The air was heavy with the promise of impending rain.
"We must make haste," Aragorn frowned at the sky, "It will rain soon."
Gimli nodded. "Let us hope we are safely indoors by then. With the crazy Elf."
* * * * * * * * * *
Narso broke off into the trees behind the house, knowing that Legolas had often enjoyed spending time among those same trees, saying they soothed him.
Looking closely at the ground, which was soft from the recent rain, but still unmarked, he sighed, knowing from previous experience that when Elves walked, they left no mark behind.
"Of all the people we could take in, he had to be an Elf…" He grumbled affectionately.
He trudged further into the trees, muttering to himself about Elves not having the courtesy to leave a trail.
* * * * * * * * * *
Elladan bent low to the ground, searching the springy grass in vain for any sign of the younger Elf's passing. He knew in himself it was hopeless. He had not the natural bond with nature that Legolas had, and so could not listen to the trees to try and determine Legolas' location.
He growled in frustration. After knowing Legolas for the years that he had, he knew well that when the prince did not want to be found, he would not be found.
* * * * * * * * * *
Elrohir, outside the window from which Legolas had fled, had come to the same conclusion. He frowned, unwilling to give up when his friend was so obviously in need of comfort and support.
He closed his eyes and concentrated his hearing, trying to get a sense of where Legolas might have gone. His sharp hearing caught the sound of running water in the distance and his eyes snapped open.
"The stream!" He murmured, smiling to himself.
Without pausing to alert the others, he took off swiftly in the direction of the distant sound. Seeing how closely the tree branches grew together here, he suddenly understood how Legolas had managed to slip away without leaving even a slight mark.
"Trust a wood Elf," He muttered to himself as he swung into the nearest tree, leaping nimbly from branch to branch.
He slowed down when the stream was only a few yards ahead. Taking a few silent steps closer, he sighed sadly as he caught sight of Legolas, who sat leaning against the bole of the largest tree at the water's edge. The look on the archer's face was nothing short of miserable.
The younger twin dropped out of the tree and took a few hesitant steps closer to his friend, uncertain of how to approach him.
"Legolas?"
The prince started slightly, but did not look up at the intrusion. "I do not want to talk right now, Ro."
Elrohir ignored the plea in Legolas' voice and sat down beside him. "Come on, Las. There is a storm coming, we should get back inside before it breaks."
Legolas did not move. "Please, Ro, I just want to be left alone."
Elrohir frowned. "I would leave you alone, if that was truly what you needed right now."
Legolas finally raised his head with a snort of frustration. "What are you talking about? Do not act as if you know me better than I do— " He broke off suddenly, staring at Elrohir with wide eyes, "But you do, do you not?"
"Do not say that, Las!" The son of Elrond cried vehemently, "Tis not true! This is— "
"But it is true!" He dropped his eyes sadly, "Do you not see? My own friends know me better than I know myself. How did it come to this?" he paused then, "I presume you already know of what my father…"
Elrohir nodded. "Aye,"
"I do not wish to set foot back there again, but I must find out for certain…" He raised his head again to look at Elrohir and the dark haired Elf was taken aback by the turmoil of emotions that darkened the grey eyes. "Dolen i vad o nìn," [My path is hidden from me,]* Legolas whispered brokenly.
"No, Legolas," Elrohir stretched out his arm and pulled the younger Elf to him as he began to sob, "You have known it all along, my friend. When the time comes, you will know what to do."
They sat in silence then, Elrohir holding Legolas tightly as he cried himself out. The archer pulled back as the first big drops of rain began to fall.
"Hannon lle, mellon nìn." He flashed Elrohir a warm smile.
"What for, Las?"
"For coming after me. For refusing to be driven away and being here when I needed someone." Legolas replied sincerely.
The Imladris Elf shook his head. "Think not of it, meldir. That is what friends are for." His gaze then fell over Legolas' shoulder and his eyes widened slightly, "Um, Legolas?"
As Legolas turned to follow his gaze, Elrohir tackled him to the ground and began tickling him mercilessly until Legolas was writhing and giggling uncontrollably, begging him to stop.
"Ai! Stop, stop, you are killing me!" He gasped breathlessly.
"Aha, I told you I would get you back for that 'bad aim' remark, little leaf!" Elrohir teased.
"I am sorry!" Legolas cried desperately as the older Elf began to tickle him again, "I meant it not!" He collapsed into another fit of giggles halfway through his intended apology. "Ai, please, Elrohir! I cannot breathe!"
The older Elf sat back, still holding Legolas pinned firmly to the ground beneath his weight, and surveyed the dishevelled and thoroughly soaked Elf prince. The rain had been coming down hard and they had barely noticed it.
"Legolas?"
"Yes, Elrohir?"
"You are soaked through,"
Legolas smiled, the dreaded mischievous glint returning to his eyes seconds before he hurled a fistful of watery mud at Elrohir, hitting him square in the face.
"You are no better than I, my friend," The younger Elf retorted cheekily, before somehow managing to wriggle out from under his friend, taking off rapidly in the direction of the house with Elrohir on his tail.
* * * * * * * * * *
Betha jumped when the door of the house flew open. She was overjoyed to see a soaked, mud covered and thoroughly dishevelled Legolas come running in, before he ran up to her kissed her on the cheek and hid behind her, peering over her shoulder at the still open door.
Before she had time to open her mouth and question his actions, one of the dark haired Elf twins burst through the door, looking around for a moment before his playful gaze lighted on Legolas. He held up a dripping handful of mud, raising a thoroughly mud-coated eyebrow at the younger Elf and advancing towards them.
"Now, Elrohir…" Legolas said slowly, his eyes glinting with feigned innocence, "Mother will have your head if you get that stuff all over her dress…not to mention her good rug."
Elrohir was slightly thrown off by the mention of Legolas' mother, but as he looked at the two, realisation dawned that he was talking about Betha. He smiled, glad that Legolas had found happiness here.
"Then move away from her, Las, and it will not touch her." Elrohir growled playfully.
Betha threw her hands up. "Alright," She said in her best no-nonsense tone, but her eyes glittered with amusement, "Either you put that mud down, Master Elf, or you will not have a bed tonight."
Legolas smirked triumphantly as Elrohir turned and dumped the mud outside the door.
"Legolas,"
He turned and looked up at Betha, who was trying not to smile.
"Hello mother," He said innocently.
"Legolas, you are dripping all over my floor. Go and get cleaned up, little one."
"Alright," Legolas said, pouting pitifully at her.
She smiled fondly at him. "I will have some hot soup ready for you when you are finished. You must be frozen,"
Legolas smiled at her and headed for the washroom as Elrohir watched, amused. He had always suspected that Legolas would be one of those children, the ones who could get away with murder.
Betha sighed, taking one of Narso's leather overcoats and covering a chair with it. "You may as well sit down, Master Elrohir, and await your turn in the washroom.
Elrohir groaned. "Do I really have to— "
"Yes," She said firmly, "You are almost unrecognisable for the muck on you."
Just then, Aragorn and Gimli came through the door, followed closely by Elladan and Narso.
"Elrohir," Aragorn's shoulders slumped in defeat, "You did not find him?"
"I most certainly did, tithen gwador," [little brother] Elrohir retorted, "Who do you think gave me this marvellous mud mask? We have been back here for quite a while."
Aragorn's jaw fell as he looked around the room. "What? Well, where is he?"
Legolas chose that moment to join them, dressed in fresh clothes and absently combing his fingers through his damp hair. He stopped abruptly upon seeing everyone gathered in the living room and smiled.
"I wondered where you had all got to,"
*Yes, this line was shamelessly stolen from the film TTT…I didn't come up with it; it belongs to those rich people with all the money!!
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In case you were wondering, the tickling idea belongs solely to Kit Cloudkicker!! I just borrowed it for a while!
P.S. Wish me luck!! I'm starting a new job in the morning, and seeing as it's three o'clock in the morning now and I've to be in at nine, I'd better go to bed now… ;)
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Review replies::
Cheysuli: Don't worry about it! I do that all the time as well. I'm always looking at things and saying wait a second… We all have bad memories sometimes, blame it on the sun!! I blame it on my blondness more often than not… ;) I'm sorry! *cringe* I delayed the overprotective maternal instincts for another chapter! But they are coming! I just had to get a bit of flaff in there (Flaff=angst+fluff! Ivory Novelist's word! Isn't it great??)! More soon!! :)
MoroTheWolfGod: Well…he woke up!! Sorry about the lack of action, I'm pretty sure this fic is getting boring by now…But there's a lot more action coming up I swear!! I love that quote! *But why is the rum gone?* Poor Jack… ;) Will have more up soon! :)
DXPrincess: Beauty of the unexpected huh? Bet you weren't expecting yet another fluff chapter huh? *cringe* I love Betha too, she's so…mothery! Is that a word?? *blush* There you go again making me go all red! I don't deserve applause!! But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate it! :) ARGH I have to be in work in six hours and I'm so nervous… Anyway, I'll have more up soon and hopefully some interesting angst and stuff! Yay! =)
Shandrial: Aw poor ikkle gnat! I hope you feed him! You do feed him…right?? Bubble wrap and Legolas in the same sentence gives me a very interesting image…You should try it! It's amazing what a bored and nervous imagination can do! I had to give the Dwarf his beer, he hasn't had much to do the last few chapters, so I thought I'd let him drown his sorrows (and beard) in alcohol. And why not? ;) I know this chapter wasn't great, but more will come soon! Hope ya liked! =)
Ivory Novelist: FLAFF!!!!!!! You've truly converted me…Did you see the flaff??! :) I read your fic and I tried to email you, but it wouldn't send!! Grr…hotmail sux! But you used my name!! Hehehehe! I'm only messing. I was like aw… ;) I knew you could do that chapter well whatever way you decided to go about it and I thought it was fabulous! MORE!! Anyway, hope you liked the immense flaff and lack of plot! Email you as soon as my account starts working! :)
Sirith: It does hurt, doesn't it? Stupid stairs going up and down…why can't we all just walk on the same level?? ;) Okay that was a little strange… Wow you're really busy this summer! Germany eh? Sounds nice! You should go to Greece, it rocks! Have fun on your five week holiday and hope to hear from you when you get back! Meanwhile, back to the old grindstone… :)
Lefty: I wasn't sure where to put him, somewhere in the 16-19 bracket anyway!! Oh I just added more suspense didn't I? I'm sorry! I'll have it all confronted next chapter I promise! No more stalling for me…This chapter must have left you wondering even more! Sorry!! *cringe* Don't hurt me?! Glad you're enjoying though! More soon!! :)
Alice: Hey they put a little 7 on your name!! Grr… Individual pen names… Anyways!! You're afraid of nurses?? You're not afraid of me now are you?? I'm a nice nurse! Beat him with a chicken leg huh?? Hahahaha! That's a new one! I used to say 'beat them to death with their own shoes' cos I used to work in a shoe store…You'll get loads of reviews!! Your new story is already really compelling and there's only one chapter! Oh about that? UPDATE!! I'm just kidding. More soon! ;)
Lady Lenna: You're welcome! :) I'm glad you liked and sorry about the whole dragging-it-out-ness of this chapter! I'll get to the real stuff soon! Sorry this was so late and hope ya liked!! :)
Kit Cloudkicker: I used your idea!! Thank you so much for that! It was a club with which to beat off writers block! (Die you demon die!) I had a lot of fun with that idea actually. Kept me very amused!! And thanks for the warning, I'll remember to check the previous story whenever I'm relating something to it! Mysterious gender-shifting girl?? Hmmm… ;) Hope you liked this one! :)
tamara: I suppose he has to remember eventually…laws of physics…or chemistry…or something to that effect… ;) I love Elrohir too! I put him everywhere don't I? Hmmm…well at least he's liked! Sorry this took so long to update! I am horrible!! But I hope you liked anyway!! :)
Shaan Lien: Oh good! I'm glad! You're prequel plot bunny keeps biting me when I'm trying to work on this and I keep getting confused! But nevertheless, I love the little beggar!! It's growing… Hope you liked this one too and more soon!! ;)