Chapter 7 reviews:
solo23: thanks for the review. Yup, poor Legolas, but I couldn't resist! Glad to know that I' m not the only one behind in school.
Jo: yeah, well, I didn't know that and besides, this is my story. I didn't want estel to be too young in this story.
Kel: oh don't worry, he'll find out!
KeshieShimmer: true, that's one of the reason why it took me so long to update. And that is one reason why I hate school. Glad to know that you like m story.
MoroTheWolfGod: no cause pretty much all the elves were at the party. And the lake that Legolas was at is deep in the woods. The patrols don't really go that deep into the woods and Legolas would have heard if they were coming cause he is a light sleeper.
Elven Kitten: here you go! The next chapter!
Jc: updating just as you asked!
Chapter 8
The following morning was calm. Most of the elves were still in bed sleeping in. Servants ran around cleaning up the Last Homely Home and rearranging everything until it was as it was before the feast.
The soldiers were getting into groups so that they could go continue their patrol and keep the area safe. The warrior-in-training were up or just getting up to prepare for their day.
Yes, the whole area was pretty peaceful, with the sky clear and the early birds chirping.
Every place in the Homely Home was peaceful, every place but one.
Elrond's study.
Inside the study, it was everything but peaceful. The lord of Rivendell still had to solve a problem and the Mirkwood advisor was still looking for an explanation. So much still had to be done.
Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel stood against the wall closes to the door. Glorfindel and Erestor stood next to Elrond, Glorfindel on the left and Erestor on the right.
Talan and Raindul stood on the other side of a desk the Elrond used. Actually, they were sitting down across from Elrond.
On the desk, the objects the whole discussion was about lied. The two arrows, one for Rivendell and the other for the Golden Woods.
"Lord Glorfindel," Raindul cleared his throat. "are you sure that you didn't send anyone to our borders?" Raindul picked up the arrow with the Rivendell designs on it. "These arrows can only be found here and I know that none of my elves would steal for you."
Glorfindel shook his head. "I know I didn't send anyone. I take a roll call every other day and we all know that it takes more that two days to reach Mirkwood no matter how fast you run. They only way we can reach you that quickly would be if we fly." He shook his head again. "No, it can not be from us, it is impossible."
Raindul slowly let out a sigh. So much for that idea. He put the arrow back on the table and relaxed further into the chair.
Talan put a hand to his head. He could fell the beginning of a headache coming. "I don't get it. I just don't get it! Were can these arrows come form if not from you?"
Meanwhile, leaning against the wall, the three brothers each shared a short look between each other. They knew where the arrows came from of course, but they promised not to tell.
Erestor, with his eyes-that-see-all didn't miss the quiet exchange between the three. Just as I thought, those three have another secret. And they made a simple mistake too. I told Elrond that sooner or later one of them would make a careless mistake. Erestor mentally smiled to himself.
Erond, who had remained silent during the whole exchange, felt like smacking his head against the table really, really hard. Of course he couldn't do that, it would make a bad picture and he did have an image to keep.
Sometimes he wished that life could be much more simpler. That would make his life much better. But unfortunately, not everyone can get his or her wish.
Just what is going on around here? First the arrows, then the shadow that was following Glorfindel that disappeared...
Elrond sat up straight and practically shouted. "Wait a minute!"
The whole room became quiet and all eyes turned to Elrond.
"Talan," Elrond got the advisors attention. "Do you recall a shadow following you or something similar to that?"
Talan closed his eyes as he thought back to the day that they arrived. He remembered talking to Raindul, who was next to him, but only for a moment. They were riding through the woods, he remembered that. Then what? Ah! He felt as if he was being watched!
His eyes shaped open. "Yes, no, not really. I remember feeling as if I was being watched and when I turned in the direction I thought the look was coming from, I think I saw the branches move. I can be sure because the wind was blowing and it could have been the wind that made the tree move."
Elrohir made a choking sound.
"Glorfindel," Elrond turned his attention to him and then to Raindul. "would you and Captain Raindul take a few of the scouts and search the area?"
Both Glorfindel and Raindul nodded.
"When would you like us to begin?" Glorfindel asked.
"As soon as you can. I don't want some unknown creature lurking around the nearby woods." Elrond didn't want to take to many chances. Hopefully the thing in the woods would still be asleep and the scouts would be able to sneak up on it.
"Ada?" Elladan called out. He didn't like the idea of what would happen to Legolas if the scouts found him. When he got his fathers attention, he continued. "Can we go?" He pointed to himself, Elrohir , and Estel. "We could use this time to learn more about tracking."
Before Elrond could say anything, Erestor put one hand on his shoulder and spoke. "Yes, go and learn. You three can learn something new that way."
Elrond was about to protest then felt Erestor squeeze his shoulder. He gave his a questioning look out of the corner of his eye before replying. "Yes, that is a good idea. Hurry now." Before he finished his little sentence, the three brothers were already out the room and running down the hall.
That only left three people in the study room: Elrond, Erestor, and Talan.
When the door closed behind the three youngsters, Talan sank into his chair. This was when Elrond got a good look at the advisor. He had seen the advisor, but now he actually looked at him.
Talan looked tired, as if he didn't get that much rest. It put the impression that he might as well had the whole land on his shoulders. That or he had so much that took his time that he couldn't get a good amount of rest for even a night.
"Talan?" Elrond called out softly, with worry in his voice.
Talan turned his attention to Elrond, and sat up straighter. "Yes my lord?"
Elrond waved his hand. "Please, no titles." Talan looked a bit startled, but nodded anyway. "Are you well? You look as if you don't get enough rest."
Talan rubbed his temples. "Yes, I'm fine, just a little tired."
Erestor walked from behind Elrond and sat in the chair that Raindul has occupied. He took a good look at his fellow advisor before nodding to himself. "You are right my lord, he is tired-looking."
Talan shook his head. "It is nothing, really. Do not bother yourselves with me." He thought he head Erestor mumble under his breath something about 'stubborn elves'.
Elrond stood up and walked towards Talan. "Now Talan, I am a healer, and as such I want you to tell me what you have been doing to make yourself so."
"And don't say "nothing" cause we all know that's not true." Erestor added.
Talan sighed. "Things in Mirkwood have not been...easy."
Elrond nodded. "They have never been easy before."
"No, they haven't." Talan sat up in his chair. Might as well get this over with. He took a breath before continuing. "Do you remember Legolas?"
This was not something Elrond thought Talan was going to ask and it caught his off guard. He blinked a bit before answering. "Yes."
Erestor smiled. "Ah yes, the little blond-haired blue-eyed elfling. Adorable child."
Elrond chuckled a little. "Yes he was. Good spirit complete with a kind soul."
Talan gave a sad smile. "Mm. I was there the day he was born." He got lost in his memories until a soft cough brought his back from his daydreaming. "Sorry about that. Now, you know King Thranduil, correct?" When the other two elves nodded, he continued. "Well, Thranduil has been having dreams about his wife and child, and they are beginning to mess with his concentration."
Elrond frowned. "I had thought that he had finished grieving for the death of his wife and child."
Erestor spoke softly, almost to softly to be heard. "One never stops grieving for those that one loses."
Elrond just nodded. He didn't know what else to do.
Talan gave Erestor a sympathetic look before continuing. "Anyways, he would tell me some things that he sees. He told me that he always has the same dream with something new happening at the end. After his wife and kid fall into the darkness, he told me that he feels as if there is someone behind him. At first when he would turn around he wouldn't find anyone."
Elrond looked a bit confused. "All this is in his dream, right?"
Talan nodded. "Yes. Before we can here, he told me that he saw some of the features of the one that was behind him." He closed his eyes for a moment before reopening them. "He said that the figure was lean and on the tall side. He couldn't see much of the face only that he had bright blue eyes and blond hair, like his only lighter. The figure was that of a young adult and even though he couldn't see, he told me that he knew that the figure was smiling at him."
Erestor tilted his head to the side a little. "That description reminds me of Legolas."
Talan nodded his head so much that Elrond was afraid it might fall off. "Exactly! This affected Thranduil quite badly. His concentration wasn't on his work as much and he would get these blank looks on his face."
Elrond shook his head sadly. "That is not good. Then who has been running things in Mirkwood?" He looked at Talan, who slowly nodded his head. "You? Ah, now I understand why you look so tired!" Elrond shook his head again before walking straight to Talan. "Well, that can easily be taken cared of. All that you need is a good rest. If you want, I can make a drink to help you get to sleep faster and let you sleep deeply."
Talan gave a small smile. "That actually sounds good to me. I will retire to my room. Lor- uh, Elrond, I would appreciate the drink." He gave a small bow and left the study. Now that he told someone else about what has been happening in Mirkwood, he felt free of one of his burdens.
When Talan left the room, Elrond turned on Erestor. "What was that all about!"
Erestor had a startled look on his face, which quickly turned to one of confusion. "What was all what about my lord."
"What was that whole thing about letting my children go out into the woods looking for some creature!" Elrond was so close to being in a rage, so close!
"Oh, that," Erestor relaxed some muscles that tensed up unknowingly. "you mean that you did not notice?"
Now it was Elrond's turn to be confuse. "Notice what?"
"Your children know something."
Elrond was taken aback a bit. "About what?" Was it one of those secrets?
Erestor shrugged. "I do not know." He made his way towards the door. Just as he was about to leave, he looked back to Elrond. "But I intend to find out." With that, he left.
Well, there you go, the next chapter. I finally caught up with my work. Sorry if it took so long to update, but I had to study for four test. FOUR test! Then the stupid computer caught a virus and my friend came over. So much happened, but I managed to update! Hurray to meeeee!