Disclaimer- I own nothing!!!
The elven sisters in law/ Petra- Hi, it is kind of a let down isn't it- you can spend hours writing only to find that nobody reviews can't you. We' re all confused with explanations- I don't think it matters. Thanks- I try to give them as much emotion as possible- although sometimes I give them a little too much.
Uh- Hey! - I'm not abandoning Thalia- the thing is I've just started a new job and I haven't had time to write anything that was worthy of posting- as for 'into the fire'- you're right, I'm putting that on hold until I finished this- cos at the moment it's rubbish. I know I'm evil- it's what I do!
ElvenEssence- Thanks- I know- but then again, she's a woman and lets face it- we can't follow orders, we have to do things when we want and how we want
The Devil's Juliet- nice name! Thanks for reviewing 'Salvation' and 'Awakening', err- am I gonna kill her? I might...I might not. - You'll just have to wait and see
Authors note!!! I've edited and re-written 'Salvation' and in my opinion it's better than before! Just thought I'd let you know.
"Get up you lazy wench"
A particularly brutish orc spat at her feet as Eleni fell over once again.
That day they had been marched none stop, making their feet sore and they stomachs painful. Eleni was pale, with large black rings around her eyes that worried Thalia greatly.
"Nana..."
Thalia looked upon the tiny girl as she sat in the mud, her eyes pleading and her arms reaching up for her.
Repressing a heavy sigh Thalia reached down and took her daughter up into her comforting arms. Thalia was tired, dehydrated, beaten and weary and although she loved her daughter more than anything in the world, she could feel her mind slipping away and was fighting hard to try and keep it.
Eleni had been quiet. She had spoken no more than what was necessary. Her body was crying out, she was in pain and she ached all over. But she never said a word. The elflings feet were bloody from the blisters that had developed and her hands were scratched from falling over. But most of all, her mind was in tatters. She didn't understand what was going on, where her adar was and where Niall was and why her nana was tied up and why the monsters had taken them away.
She wanted to cry, she wanted her adar, but she knew that he wasn't coming. He had left them. She had though that he loved her nana but he didn't, and he didn't love her.
She felt her nana lean down and kiss her head lightly, trying to comfort her. Feeling tired she leaned back in her mothers arms and drifted off to sleep.
---
I couldn't believe that my daughter was having to go through this hell. I could control my feelings and my pain, but she was too young and she couldn't
Last night when we had stopped to rest I had taken off her shoes, I wish I hadn't. As her shoes had slid off so had half of her skin. The bottom of her feet had become irritated and hot through all the walking and she had developed sores that had bled and bled.
It hurt me so much to see her in pain and knowing that there was nothing that I could do was worse.
Neither of us had eaten and her stomach was hurting her.
I tore my mind from the depths of my thoughts as I felt her slip into a much needed sleep.
Instead I focused on the floor in front of me. The mud squelched beneath my satin slippers and the bottom of my dress was frayed and filthy.
The smell of death and decay was really starting to nauseate me and I had nearly retched a few times today when a breeze had blown past.
Their weapons and their armour were frightening enough but to see them upon one of these monsters was chilling me to the very depths of my bones. I have never been more frightened in my life.
I have been whipped, beaten and I have seen the very bottom of everything, where there is nothing but despair and depression and everything is cold and unfeeling, but never have I felt as I do now.
Last night as I sat with Eleni in my arms I felt Legolas try to reach me once again. But this time he was angry. He was so angry, never have I felt anything close to how he felt at that moment.
Quickly, before he could read any of my thoughts and emotions I threw up my defences. And though I felt a little guilty I couldn't help but shift through his. He was planning something: Haldir had arrived and the two of them were assembling troops...and...oh Valar...Legolas. My husband was in such a state though she knew by his stubbornness that he would talk to no one about it. It would eat him from the inside out and he would only put himself in danger.
My only hope is that Haldir and Thranduil will keep him in check and make sure that Niall is all right.
My life is a happy one, and damned if I'm going to give that up now! I've worked too bloody hard and come through too bloody much to be shoved aside now!
If any one of them lays a hand on my daughter I'll kill them, I have no qualms when it comes to protecting my daughter.
The only thing that had really scaring me now, is where they're taking us and who they're taking us too. From all accounts this...guy, isn't exactly someone you'd invite round for a cup of tea.
---
Where is nana?"
Niall asked quietly as his father tucked the covers around his small shoulders. Legolas sighed heavily as he sat down on the bed.
"Nana...has gone away for a little while with Eleni. But do not worry, they will be back soon, I promise"
Niall shrugged and narrowed his eyes at his adar before throwing the covers off and sitting up, his stuffed wolf tightly in his arms.
"Do not lie adar! They will not come back, you'll see, you lost them!"
Niall didn't wait to see the tears that gathered in his father eyes before crawling off of the bed and running out of the door to his grandmother's room, she would make everything better.
Legolas slumped onto the bed, breathing in his wife and child's smell as the sheets moulded to his body. He felt his heart constrict as the image of his sons hate filled eyes dominated his vision.
Never before had he felt so confused. There was a deep fire that was scalding him from the inside but there was also an unexplainable calm that was keeping his emotions in check and allowing him to focus on planning their return.
A sharp knock on the door brought him from his thoughts and he sat up quickly, a mask of serenity falling over his features, but it soon fell.
"Naneth, what are you doing here?"
His mother smiled at him wearily,
"Legolas, I have just had to sit with your distraught son as he told me how much his adar hates him and how it was his fault that is mother and sister are missing. I do not think that you have the need to ask me what I am doing here"
Legolas let his smile slip and allowed his mother to see what he was feeling. Eloria watched with great sadness as her son's eyes betrayed him. Legolas had always been a hard elf to read, but she knew him more than he knew himself.
She shifted her skirts around her legs and sat beside him as she had done so many times before. Without words and needing somebody to just hold him and tell him that everything would be all right, he shifted his body and placed his head in her lap.
"There is nothing in the world that could separate you from your family my son"
Eloria began as she ran her fingers through his loose hair.
"I know that you are hurting and I know that if are anything like the elfling that used to wake me up before dawn in the morning just to show me your new battle plans for your toys, then I already know that you are thinking of a plan to go after her"
Legolas couldn't help but grin at his mother with a guilty look in his eyes. He nodded and sat up, wincing at the sharp pain that spread down his back as he did so.
"Nana, there is something that I must ask you about"
Eloria frowned at his tone but waited for him to continue.
Legolas on the other hand, did not wish to continue and at that moment berated himself for even thinking of it, but still, something bade him to tell her.
"When Thalia carried Niall and Eleni, we did not know it until three months in, therefore we did not know what it felt like to discover that she was with child. I have had the feeling that our bond is once again being shared"
Eloria nodded, carefully considering her words and trying to ignore the curiously hopeful look in her son's eyes.
"Legolas, there could be many reasons for the shift between you. Perhaps...perhaps Eleni needs to feel her Adar's presence a little more strongly.
He shook his head, feeling nauseous,
"I have to find them nana, I can't leave them. You know what orcs do their prisoners. Thalia won't survive something like that and I doubt that Eleni would either"
"You are in no condition to go strolling off into the forest with nothing but an anger filled heart and a bow. You will wait for Haldir and the troops, and then, you may go. Although you feel their loss the strongest, you are not alone my son. And despite what you may think, you cannot do this alone either"
Her words trailed off as she watched her sons face become overwhelmed with fatigue. With a small smile she embraced her son.
He stood there for a while, just enjoying the safe embrace of his mother. In her arms he didn't have to live up to anybody's expectations and he didn't have to think about anything.
Taking a deep breath he stepped back and looked at his mother.
"Thank you naneth, I should go and meet with adar before breakfast"
She cupped his cheek in her hand and kissed him before gently pushing him out of the door.
Stopping in his stride Legolas turned back to look at her,
"Do not worry, I will stay with Niall today"
Nodding his thanks he left for his father's chambers.
---
Haldir stood hovering over a large map of Mirkwood trying to make sense of the position of the tracks that they had found.
The majority of the tracks had been discovered beside the river and were venturing off toward the southern boarders. But that would make no sense. The attacks had been coming from the northern boarders not from the south.
Reports had piled in from all around the boarders and it seemed that nowhere would escape the orcs. Patrols had been doubled and shifts changed to ensure that everybody was alert and ready for battle should an attack take place.
The marchwarden was weary; he had sat at his desk for hours the night before and still, he continued to stare at the seemed like gigantic map.
And he was no closer to the answers that he had hoped would come to him.
He shifted his body and walked over to the fire that still burned steadily in the huge fireplace.
Feeling uncomfortable he unhooked his tunic and rolled up his sleeves. Basking in the hot warmth that flowed over his tired muscles.
There was a knock at the door and a maid entered the room carrying a tray of bread and fruits and a pitcher of juice.
He smiled warmly at her and bowed his head,
"My thanks, it seems as if I haven't eaten for ages"
She laughed lightly and placed the tray on a chair as she went about clearing a few maps from the table.
"You will not be able to work my lord, with an empty stomach. Eat and then continue"
Her brown eyes sparkled with laughter and concern, there was something familiar about those eyes. Haldir cocked his head and swept his eyes over her form. She was shorter than most elves and her body curvier than any he had seen, except Thalia.
"I am only half elven my lord"
She said, answering the question that was most obvious in his eyes. Haldir smiled and shook his head as he approached the tray that she had laid on the desk.
"Have we met before?"
She nodded,
"Yes, we have. My brother is one of your wardens and I journey to Lorien every fifty years or so to see him. Most likely you have seen me then"
"Perhaps. What is your name?"
"Ardana"
He smiled, vaguely recollecting her. As he did so his smile turned into a frown.
"If I remember correctly, your brother is the son of Lord Olanis. He disappeared over a hundred years ago did he not?"
He watched as the maiden before him bit her lip as if anxious, but with courage she raised her eyes to meet his and nodded.
"He did. It is said that after a feud with King Thranduil my father was banished from ever entering Mirkwood again. Neither I or my brother were involved in the feud and so were simply left with my mother, who faded after my father disappeared"
Haldir's features remained neutral while his mind became instantly alert as his suspicions rose.
Thranduil had many enemies, but there were few who were as foolish as they were arrogant. Haldir had once had the pleasure of meeting Lord Olanis, but it was a meeting that he would never forget.
He had watched as the Lord had carefully scrutinized his sons every movement as he had gone through the moves that the marchwarden had taught him in order to earn a place in the guard of Lorien.
In Haldir opinion the young elf was good, his movement were a little stilted but with a little confidence that could be remedied. His skills were there, they too needed a little work but it was clear that he would become a fine member of the guards.
But it was not good enough for Lord Olanis. After the demonstration he had berated his son with a vicious tongue for failing him, when in fact the young elf had been better than most.
But from that one meeting Haldir had been appalled at the elder elf's actions and his opinion had only lessened as the years had gone by and rumour about the Lord had been heard.
"My father is not a bad man my Lord, his is merely...a jealous man. He cannot help it"
He watched as she fiddled with her dress and she stumbled over her words as she tried to defend her father, though Haldir had said naught about him.
He held up his hands and cut her off,
"You shall not be held accountable for the deeds of your father my lady. But tell me, I am curious as to why the daughter of a Lord is acting as a maid"
She grinned and laughed,
"In all honesty. I am bored of leading the life of a court lady and with the Kings permission I help the maids with their daily tasks. And with the attack I feel that I am at least able to do something of use"
He couldn't help but return her smile. Taking her hand he kissed it and watched as she swiftly left the room.
As she did so Haldir face took on a sinister look and he began to place the pieces of the puzzle together.
Quickly moving the tray of fruit onto the floor he took out a large and detailed map of Mirkwood and the surrounding area, tucked it underneath his arm and left for Thranduil' s council chambers where no doubt both the King and Prince were.