Ok, here is chapter three. Hope you guys like it. More action to come. Please leave me reviews. Thanks.
An Unexpected Visitor
"Father!"
"My son, my heart is gladdened by your arrival!"
King Thranduil grabbed his son and held him close. Legolas laughed and was welcomed by the other four elves surrounding his father. The others hugged him, greeted him, and congratulated him. There was laughing, kissing, and interrupted conversation. Legolas and his father never successfully completed a whole sentence. They kept interrupting themselves, and interrupting each other, with laughs, hugs, and, "I can't believe you're back!"
"It's wonderful to be home."
"Come, let us get back into Mirkwood. Then you must share with us the tales of your journey. Ellisdin, ride ahead and tell the others to prepare a feast in honor of my son. We shall have a very excellent night indeed."
The elf called Ellisdin smiled and nodded at Legolas before jumping lightly on his horse. His jet-black hair cascaded around his shoulders. He was very fair skinned, like most all elves, and notably known as handsome. Yet, his most treasured attribute was his kindness, his gentleness, his uncanny ability to soothe emotional wounds that others may not have noticed they had. Legolas had grown up with him. Ellisdin was only 3 years older than him. They had always gotten along wonderfully, and as Legolas watched him wave and ride off, he wondered why they had not been closer. As he looked around at the others, he wondered that about all of them.
Later that night, after a grand feast in Legolas's honor he was anxious to go to his room. He had been overwhelmed by seeing so many old friends. They had begged him to share his stories, and he delighted them by his narration of adventures he had been on. He told them of riding through the passes of the dead, of taking the Corsair ships at Pelergir. The women elves flocked around him smiling and laughing. He enjoyed being home, but was not one who was accustomed to so much attention. He was already anxious for everyone to become enthralled with other stories and tales. He was glad for the company, but more than anything he wished to walk alone through the woods, for everything to be normal again. He had not let himself imagine the day would come when he would return home. He had been prepared to give his life for Aragorn and the War of the Ring. But now here he was, back where he had started.
He finally excused himself and worked his way through a throng of people to get to the outside. He walked to his room, a room he hadn't seen in such a long time and he stood. He closed his eyes to take in the scent and the sound of being home.
"'Quel undome (Good evening) Legolas."
A slender woman walked into Legolas' room with a handful of sheets and fresh clothes. He recognized seeing her here from before he had left. She cared for his father and his guests. He remembered that she had also worked as a healer.
"Hello," he greeted back. "May I assist you my Lady?"
She smiled softly at him and slid her hair that fell like water around her shoulders back behind her ears. She set the sheets down onto his bed and walked over to him. "It is I who have come to assist you, my Prince." She bowed ever so slightly to him and walked back over to his bed to prepare it for him.
"My lady," he walked over to her. "I thank you for your help, but I think I can manage to make my own bed. I did not see you just now at the feast. Have you eaten yet?"
"Please call me Leilia. Thank you for your concern. I am not hungry. I do apologize for not being able to welcome you, my Prince, I was trying to prepare your room for you."
"Do not apologize Leilia. It is I who should apologize. My father should know I am capable of preparing my own room and bed."
Legolas walked over and took the sheets from in front of her.
"You have had a long journey. I shall leave you to rest. Saesa omentien lle. (It has been a pleasure meeting you.)"
"Diola lle (Thank you)." He replied.
And with that Leilia was gone. He could still hear her quiet footsteps slowly work their way between the trees and farther, farther away from him. Legolas now wished that she had stayed. He would have enjoyed the company of another who would not prod him with questions about his trip. He would have enjoyed one more look into her deep, brown eyes that held a look of innocence and a vast wealth of knowledge.
Leilia. He was glad she had reminded him of her name. He had recognized her, and remembered times before when she had made his bed, brought him food, or extra clothes. Yet her name did not sound familiar. Perhaps he had never known it before. Perhaps he had never asked.
He had finished making his bed and sat on the edge. He was not entirely as tired as he had first thought. He took the clean clothes Leilia had brought and went to clean himself. He was looking forward to his first night in clean elven clothing in a warm elven bed.
Legolas couldn't sleep. He got up and looked at the mass of trees surrounding his room. He walked out among them. He could hear the rustle of leaves above him. Behind him a few lights remained lit. The large room where the banquet in his honor had been held only hours before was now clean and empty, save for a few. He could see Leilia's gentle frame move around the room, along with two or three other elves. He had to resist the urge to walk over to her. She glanced up and caught him looking at her. She smiled and looked away. Now he felt like a fool. He walked away from his spot and back to his room.
When Leilia looked up, he was gone.
Legolas once again laid on the soft, warm bed in his father's house. Possible the only place in the world he had always felt safe and at home in. He had made it back to a place he never thought he would see again. Yet a thought in the back of his mind kept him from being at peace.
"You are restless here?" His father asked.
This was the second time in one day his father had snuck up on him. Legolas smiled slightly, he still had much to learn. He pondered his father's question. He had said it more as a statement and Legolas could tell his father had sensed his very thoughts.
"I do not know why." Legolas remarked truthfully.
"You have changed a great deal, my son. You have fought long and hard."
Legolas remained facing ahead; he had not yet looked at his father. He stared at the wall of his room; its color was a tender light green, though it looked silver when hit directly with the moonlight. A long silence spread between them. Legolas did not know what to say to his father.
"You are no longer able to remain a prince. Your heart calls for more. You wish to be a king."
Legolas looked at his father now. Hurt in his eyes. "You think I have come to take your place?"
"Nay, my son, I do not think that. I can sense that you will become a great leader one day. It has been seen that you will lead a great colony of woodland elves, Legolas."
Legolas turned away from his father again. "Perhaps. Yes, this thought has entered my mind, father."
"You will be a great leader my son. When you are ready, I will assist you however I may. I am proud of you my son."
Legolas pondered his father's remarks and looked to where his father had been. He knew he would already be gone. He was right. He smiled to himself. His father was just as agile and swift as always.
Legolas could finally feel the drowsiness of sleep overcoming him. With one last look at the stars and the moon and the trees, he lied down and closed his eyes. He knew that night he would have no dreams or worries. So he relaxed his body and let himself drift into sleep.
His eyes flung open after only what seemed like five minutes of sleep.
"My prince! You must come quick, your father has summoned you!"
Legolas could detect the urgency in Leilia's voice. Something was wrong. He could sense that someone had entered Mirkwood who had not been there when he had fallen asleep. There was an unknown presence. And fear.
"My lady, what is wrong?"
"There is a woman! It is being said she was attacked by orcs. Your father has summoned a meeting of all the warriors. Please, you must hurry!"
Orcs? How could this be? Still, he could not be surprised. While Sauron had been defeated there still remained some Orcs who had not been destroyed. They were bound to show themselves sooner or later and continue with their quest of evil.
Legolas grabbed his bow from the side of his room and, having already adjusted his eyes to the darkness, rushed through the trees to the spot his father would be waiting.