A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Sorry for the really, really late postage. I'm in summer school right now and an entire semesters worth of Biology and few others have to be crammed into my head in about 5 weeks. (Oh, the headache.) That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. To make up for it this one is really long.
Please excuse anything that does not seem like it belongs with the time period. I try, but as those who write know, a good story takes on a life of its own.
"A good story creates itself. The storytellers put tales to words; it's the writers who put them to paper. We are the ones who see the worlds beyond reality."
"Imagination is to see a world without boundaries. Remember this and all will fall together."Review Replies:
Deep Sorrow: I try to keep my bunnies fed (the muse fends for himself.) I don't mind, it's good to hear from you. Glad you liked them. I try to keep it a little interesting, but I might go back to the last few chapters. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks again for the review. I know what you mean about a busy life.
lindahoyland: (evil grin) Maaaaayyybe, maybe not. Depends on what my muse things or if I feel really evil. Thanks for the review.
Elven Kitten: Thanks for the review, Glad U like.
viggomanic: good to hear from you again. Glad you approve, in all honesty I wasn't sure with that one it gave me a little trouble. But this one should be better. Hope you like.
Ithil-valon: (Ch.1 reply.) (Blush) Glad you liked it so much. That's how I like to do my stories, a good beginning to get people attached. The hard part is holding their interest afterwards. (Ch.6 reply) Sorry bout those, I tried to make them a little interesting, but I had trouble making it sound right. I'm working on there improvements, which may not come until near the end. I'll let you know when they've been fixed. Hope you like this one.
IwishChan: Glad U liked it.
Deana: Glad U like here's your update; hope you like.
Chapter 7: Killer Strikes Twice
It was a few hours before dawn when the head chef, Magalor finally rolled out of bed. The cook rubbed his tired eyes, ridding them of the remaining sleep. He lit a nearby candle and prepared himself for the tasks that awaited him in the kitchens. Magalor was happy with his work despite waking at the early hours. A kind elf and wonderful chef he was well known for his cooking.
Slipping into his slipper-like shoes he left for the kitchen. Traveling down the hall he silently watched others of the household staff start to prepare for their daily duties. Most of the maids were already starting on their morning chores, while others were silently waiting for that first pot of steaming tea. It was a specialty of his. It was a mix of different herbs and spices made special for the household morning staff to help them wake up and get started. Despite what some may have thought not all elves were morning people.
He smiled friendly to all he saw as he made his way to the kitchen. Many smiled back while at the same time tried to stifle the early morning yawns. (A/N: That's hard to do.)
Finally he entered the vast kitchen. The room was still dark giving it an almost eerie and sinister look to it. He waited a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dark, it was then he saw almost as clear as day. Heading towards one of the stove that lined the wall near one of the windows he lit a fire on the cold fire logs inside. A flame soon started to consume the dry wood and steadily the room started to light up.
There were other sources of lamps and globe lights, but he was hesitant to light those. By the time they were lit and cooking had started for the day the large kitchen would start to warm up and it would get hot quickly. The lights would have to be put out once the sun rose anyway. That was only a few hours away it would be a pointless waste of oil and candles. It was just easier to let the stove and oven fires serve for light. Elf eyes were equipped with night vision anyway.
Setting a water filled kettle on the stove to warm up he started to combine the ingredients. Reaching into the herb and spice rack he felt around and grabbed the spices he needed for his morning wake-up tea. Looking at the clear glass bottles he found one to be empty.
'Hmm, out already. I thought these were supposed to be filled before clean up last night.' Thought Magalor
Exhaling heavily through his nose he headed to the cellars in the back of the kitchen. There he came to three doors. This is where the supplies were kept. Through the first door laid food supplies that were perishable. It was the smallest of the three but that was because those were the vegetables, meat, and various fruits that would be used for the next day or two. The second, a little larger than the first, held extra utensils: pots, pans, wooden spoons. Lots of wooden spoons. Magalor couldn't begin to list how many spoons they lost in fires, broken from not being careful, and once they had even lost it in the Queen's cake batter. He wasn't even sure how that had happened. At last he came to the third door. This is where the long lasting food was stored along with most of the spices.
He opened the door to revel a short stairway leading into a cold pit. In the cold ground was the perfect place to store dried ingredients. Not only would they last longer down here but they were kept away from others sneaking private midnight snacks. Barrels of dried salted pork and other meat lined the floor along the high walls. Shelves stretched all around; filled with container after container of preserves, dried fruits, vegetables, and a few things that were at one time leftovers that were to be used in soups and stews in winter. Then at last he saw what he needed. Near the doorway sat another set of shelves that was kept separate form the rest. This was where the spices were kept.
Finding the one he wanted he took out a few leaves and went back upstairs closing the cellar door behind him.
A metal sink sat under a large open-air window that provided not the view of the vegetable garden, but rather one of the public gardens. Through the window one could see the cross roads to other parts of the palace grounds. In the spring it was truly one of the more beautiful places to look. The leaves would be lush and green from the early spring rains, flowers seeking the sun with open petals. Words could not describe the beauty they brought every year. Magalor considered it a great pleasure to witness those flowers opening up at every dawn. He loved it.
As he washed the leaves and prepared them for the cutting bored he looked out onto the well worn path. He saw movement. Shrugging it off as a passing guard or one of the house staff the cook went back to work. The sun would be rising soon and he hadn't even started breakfast. It was then he remembered the trip to the Lake Town for a few supplies he had to pick up.
Shaking his head he went back to work, he could worry about the trip later. Movement outside caught his attention again. Something wasn't right here. He could feel it. Watching closely the two shadowed figures he saw something.
One of the two was fight with the other. It was hard fight and Magalor couldn't help but stare in shock as the one who initiated the fight won out over the other. As the victor walked out of the shadows and into the moon lit yard he gasped at who he saw.
Hearing the startled gasp come from nearby the Elf turned to see the Chef watching him. It was then he knew what had to be done. There can be no witnesses. Not that killing the other would bother him. The murderer was actually happy to have something else to play with.
Legolas awoke with the morning sun just starting to come above the horizon. Though it could hardly be seen through the morning fog that wrapped itself around the trees and dew soaked ground.
Stretching his arms over his head he gave a mighty yawn before he got a good look at his surroundings. He was in his room.'How did I get here? I could have sworn I slept in Aragon's room like always when he gets hurt.' Thought Legolas. It was then he remembered Elrond bringing him a lukewarm cup of tea. The Elf scowled, 'He must have slipped something into my drink and then had me put in my own room.' It was doubtful it had been the twins because he didn't wake up covered in anything or changed into any unnatural colors. They would not have let the opportunity to pull a prank on him pass no matter that their brother was injured.
Thought Legolas. It was then he remembered Elrond bringing him a lukewarm cup of tea. The Elf scowled, It was doubtful it had been the twins because he didn't wake up covered in anything or changed into any unnatural colors. They would not have let the opportunity to pull a prank on him pass no matter that their brother was injured.The more he thought about the more Legolas came to realize what had happened. There was no laughter, no pranks, no play fighting. Nothing but silence and the feel of sorrow, anger, and grief that seemed to consume the lighthearted air that came with the peredhil siblings.
Deciding that lying around in bed all day wouldn't do anyone any good he rolled out and prepared for breakfast. Opening his bedroom window he discovered that it was no where near dawn, but a few hours from it.
'Well I'm up now.' He sighed. 'Might as well do something. Maybe I'll go for a ride.'
He sighed.Heading out he noticed how only a few others were up. The morning staff was always light since not many liked being up before the sun and most things were already prepared from the pervious night.
Heading out he went to the stables to get his horse, who was more than happy to be taken out for a morning run.
"Good morning my friend." said Legolas in a calming tone.
The brown stallion snorted softly and butted against his master's hand in hopes for a morning treat.
Legolas smiled and produced an apple he had picked on his way from the house. Taking a small knife from his pocket he cut the juicy apple into slices and fed his friend. Once the apple was gone the Elf prince slipped a rope bridal onto the animal's nose.
"Shall we go out?" he asked.
The horse snorted a response and Legolas opened the gate and the walked out heading through one of the paths. As he walked down, not too far from the stables something in the wind stirred his senses.
Legolas stopped dead in his tracks look around for the cause of his sudden unease. A short ways down he spotted a big lump of something lying in the middle of the pathway. He let go of his horses reigns and slowly approached. He gasped when he came close enough to see what the shadowed figured was.
"No." the Elf whispered in horror. No it can't be."
Legolas looked at the body of one he had known since he was born. Curudae an old teacher and friend. Tears came to the blonde elf's eyes. This killer had taken another life, another friend of his. What did this person want with him? Why did he target his friends and not him?
He looked desperately around for someone to come by. However, it was still early enough that no one would be up and about for a least another hour, but he couldn't stay there staring at a dead body like a fool. He had to do something. Suddenly a rustling of leaves from the nearby trees brought him away from his thoughts. Looking around he saw it. A shimmer of golden hair slipped away from the bushes. It had to be the killer and he was trying to run away.
Calling his horse, Quinn, he jumped onto the animals back and rode after whoever was running away. It must have been the killer, the one who was terrorizing Mirkwood, he who had killed two elves already and was responsible for Aragorn's current state. At that thought Legolas's fury increased. Without a doubt this was the killer. 'But why didn't the other stay and fight him?' Asked a small voice. If it was the killer he would have challenged him to a fight of some sort. After all why risk the chance of being exposed, murder was a high charge.
'Because he doesn't want to be caught, and if you follow it will give him the chance he needs to get you.' Said one voice.
'Yes, that's it. Be alert young prince he may very well be leading you to your own demise.' Said another
Legolas rode for hours in pursuit of what he thought was the killer, but as time went on and great distance covered he had to stop his search. Now slightly disappointed in his failure he now brought his horse from the swift run to a steady walk. Looking around he noticed how he had never seen the woods he was in now. Not very surprising considering how big an area Mirkwood covered, but still being over two thousand (almost three) years old he liked to think that he knew every inch of his home.
When he was younger the prince of Mirkwood would spend his time outside the city gates exploring the woods, or jungle as it sometimes seemed. Times had been better then. Back then only a few were needed to patrol and tend to evil beings. That's not saying King Thranduil left his doors open for anyone to come and go as they pleased on the contrary his borders were, even then, well guarded. Legolas may not have known it then, but he was closely guarded by those hidden in the trees. They would stop any beings who wished to harm their prince, before the enemy had a chance to pounce, but would never hinder their lords chance of exploration after all curiosity was common amongst youngsters be they elf, man, dwarf, or hobbit. And sometimes experience was the better teacher as far as consequences, good and bad. Legolas had eventually grown out of a need for guards. And after many long persuasive arguments with his father had finally earned his freedom, as he called it. After all if he didn't win he would be forced to do what he always did, lead the guards to believe they were following him before he would quickly give them slip and go off on his own.
As Legolas's eyes wondered around him he could feel the old feeling he had when he was allowed outside in his younger days. The need to search every path, to know every tree and rock, the urge to pick a random direction and follow it till he tired, returned with renewed strength. It was quite refreshing since he had ceased his explorations.
But he stopped himself from giving into these desires remembering what it was he had come out here to do and what was waiting his return home. He was torn between returning home to more important matters and following this new path.
It was a silly thing to him, he had learned long ago to put certain things aside to do later when he had time and tend to the more important matters of the two first.
'But it is so tempting.' He thought. 'No, I can come back later. Estel is back home in bed, he may not make it, and Father will want to hear word from me. I must go back.' He turned his horse around to head back to the palace. 'On the other hand, the murderer did head this way and may very well be hidden a little ways down. In which case he would be left out here, on the loose, free to kill again.' He looked back over his shoulder at the path he was leaving behind. 'I'm the only one who has seen him. Should he come back to Mirkwood no one would know it.' Looking up at the sky he gauged the time. 'Shortly after noon still plenty of daylight left. I can follow the trail for a few more hours before I return. It wouldn't hurt to look.' He thought turning his horse back around following the new path.
He though. He turned his horse around to head back to the palace. He looked back over his shoulder at the path he was leaving behind. Looking up at the sky he gauged the time. He thought turning his horse back around following the new path.Legolas tried with all his might to stay focused on what he had to do, which mostly consisted of looking for anything that was out of place, a concealed trap of some sort, or tracks of something or someone that had passed through. So far he had found nothing the only tracks in the soft dirt he had seen were those of a large wolf and a set of small foot prints. He figured those did not belong to the killer he pursued. The killer had been an elf and elves leave almost no tracks on the ground when they normally walked and could erase them almost entirely if he tried. These tracks were deeper, heavier; human most likely. He wasn't sure he would come back later and look at them. If they were still there that was. After seeing these he continued on his way.
The more he became relaxed by his surroundings and the less he saw of the one he followed his mind started to wonder out to his surroundings trying to see everything within his minds eye. Trees here stood tall and strong against the elements their lush green leaves offered shade from the sun, wind, and rain. All manners of plant life creped onto the path, birds sung on braches, squirrels storing food for the winter months ahead. The area was teeming with life, but what caught his attention was how the darkness that consumed his woods seemed to have never touched this area. Things felt different here like they had when he was young. No, wait this was different from even then. Back then the darkness had been gray; it had touched lightly and grown worse as the years past. But this place had no sort of dark aura to it almost like the darkness had not so much as glanced this way much less touched it.
'It feels better here then in Rivendell I will have to remember this place.' He smiled to himself.
A loud noise, almost like an angry cat yowl brought him from his musings.
His horse, startled by the sound, reared up on his back legs as he prepared to take off. Taking the lead with him Legolas jumped off when he felt himself sliding off the back end. Running to the side in his horses' line of sight he spoke calmly reassuring the animal that everything was alright, that he would protect him. At last Quinn calmed down.
Listening to his surroundings he tried to find the source of the noise, when suddenly.
A large brown and black dog lept from the nearby bushes. The large wolf-like animal barked and snarled scaring Quinn. But the horse had plenty of experience with things much worse than overgrown mutts. Breaking away from his master the horse charged and kicked at the dog.
Legolas stood in momentary shock recovered and drew the white knives he always carried with him. He hadn't even heard the wild animal before he attacked.
"Wait stop it!" came a feminine voice from nearby.
Legolas turned to see a young woman trying to catch up with her dog. Realizing this the Elf ran to keep his horse from pummeling the woman's pet.
"I'm sorry." he quickly said tacking the horses reigns and pulling Quinn a short ways back to keep the animals separate, and since the dog was still growling it seemed best.
"No, no. It's my fault he got away." she said looking up.
It was then Legolas saw her eyes. They were a milky white, she was blind.
A/N: Sorry if any character(s) were off, I ran out of ideas in some spots. Any promblems with anything please tell me, but only constructive criticism will be except all others will be pleasently ignored and later laughed at.
Well I finally figured it out this is going to be a 13 chapter series. The layout for the others has already been set up and all I need to do is write. Be warned I'm still in school, and will be for another 5 wks, but don't worry my schedule is no where near as hectic as my last one. Thanks for your patience.