Chapter 2: Royal Identity
Disclaimer: I do not own the lord oft her rings,
Author's notes: Thanks to all of those who reviewed my other story, On the Paths of Snow, I can't believe I've got so many reviews! And welcome to this story. I hope that you enjoy it. And thanks so much for all the reviews I got for the last chapter!
"Ada, when do you think he will arrive?" Estel, Elrond's adoptive son asked his father with curiosity evident in his voice during breakfast.
"I do not know Estel, maybe in less than a week" Elrond replied to his six year old son.
"Do you think that we can go hunting along with 'Dan and 'Ro?" Estel asked hopefully.
"Most probably, yes" Elrond sighed at this. Every time his sons and the Prince of Mirkwood went in a hunting trip, it only led to disaster. In fact, the only attracted trouble to themselves since they were little elflings. He was sure they've got the record for rule-breaking and mischief making.
After Estel came to him, he was amazed to see that Estel joined well in that trio. Now they were four attracting trouble, which meant more work to do for him in the Houses of Healing tending to them after on of their adventures.
Elladan and Elrohir, his own twin sons, his resident pranksters, decided that moment to come in to breakfast.
"Good morning" they said in unison in a cheery way.
"Good morning" their father acknowledged them.
"'Dan, 'Ro! Ada says that Legolas will be here before a week! Can we go hunting with him?"
"I do not know Estel, first we need to give him time to rest after the trip" Elladan gently told his little brother.
"You mean, time to heal. I would bet anything that he will arrive injured saying that it is nothing as always!" Elrohir put in.
The twins started laughing, enjoying the joke. It was well known that Legolas always said that he was fine when he really was not, or was injured, and knowing him, this time would be no different.
The forest had fallen silent. The quietness was only interrupted by whisperings. Two men were doing the whisperings, and they seem rather nervous.
"Are you sure he is one of the twins?" the one called Nebegon asked his companion.
"Yes, he must be, he was close to where we think the hidden elven city is located" Salion told his companion.
"But if he is one of them, then where is his brother?" Nebegon asked, this time more nervously.
"Maybe he was alone, but I think this is the one, I tell ya' for his horse was good, and he looks lordly enough. We must make haste before he wakens"
And so now they sped off, in an unknown direction in the forest, searching for their master.
An evil being anxiously awaited their return. His burden was going to arrive at any moment, and he was glad that those two had finally had some use.
He was evil, full of hatred, and desire for revenge. What he was, well, upon further inspection, he looked like an Elf. His ears were pointed, though his right had a scar at the top part. His eyes held a strange glimmer.
Soon enough he heard hoofbeats. "Ah, finally, the twins sons of Elrond have come" he thought.
The humans Nebegon and Salion entered the big hut and bowed low to their lord.
"My lord, currently he is unconscious due to the little poison you gave us, he is tied, but he should wake up soon enough" Salion said.
"Well, what are you waiting, bring them in" Duirellon beckoned them. Then it struck him, Salion mention as if there was only one.
"Wait! Salion! How many did you bring in?" Duirellon shouted.
The humans before him paled considerably. He had asked them to bring in the twins, meaning two identical elves, not only one.
"Well …"Salion stammered.
"Well what?" Duirellon asked.
"There is only one, sir, the other wasn't in sight when we caught him" Nebegon said.
"What? I send you on a mission, and you failed me once again! You are useless, I know that I should have become ride of you two when I had the chance!" now he was angry, really angry. That could only bring trouble to his prisoners.
"No, please Lord, there is no need to get angry, at least you have one" Salion tried to reassure him.
"Very well then, bring him in" Duirellon said.
Nebegon went outside, and from the horses he took Legolas lifeless body and slung it across his back as a sack. He unceremoniously dumped the elf on the floor.
Duirellon gazed at him. He was not an elf son of Elrond. Those elves had dark brown hair, almost black, and this one was … blond?
"Who do you think this Elf is?" he asked in a dangerous way.
"A twin from Rivandal, or something like that" Nebegon answered.
"I think it was Rivendol" Salion whispered.
"Those have dark brown hair! And it is Rivendell, how many times do I have to tell you? This is a strange Elf that is no worth to Elrond. Once again you have failed me!" he was cut off abruptly as Legolas started moaning and turning on the floor.
Duirellon threw a kick at him, and Legolas opened his eyes in mild surprise. He gaze at the dark elf, and gasped. Duirellon just got closer, and saw his clothes. They were not alike to those of Rivendell by the colors, this were shades of green and brown only.
"He must be an Elf from another realm" he thought. Legolas still was a little dazed by the poison, and Duirellon knew this, so he asked "Salion! Do you know if he had a pack with him or something to identify him?"
"Yes, my lord, we tied his horse after shooting it with one of your arrows, maybe he had his pack there. I'll go and fetch it, the horse must be awake by now", and he sped of.
Meanwhile, Duirellon tied Legolas more securely around a column, and gagged him. Legolas struggled, but was still too weak to do anything better so he finally let Duirellon tie him.
Salion went to retrieve the pack, but only had a bad time bringing Rochmith in. The horse at first would not let him touch him, and would neigh and trust out his hooves to the human.
Luckily for Salion, Rochmith, as his master was, wasn't fully awake, and so he tired quickly. Salion tied a rope around his neck, and brought it to Duirellon.
By the time he returned, he handed the pack to his master. By now Legolas was fully awake, and was trying to get his bonds free, but to no avail, the knot was really tight. He had no clue where he was, or why he had been taken captive.
Duirellon received the pack, and seeing Legolas awake, asked "Who are you Elf?" then he went to remove the gag from Legolas mouth
Legolas didn't respond.
"Oh, look, little elfling is scared!" he mocked him.
"I will repeat this again, who are you?" but this time he got no result.
"Oh well then, you leave no choice but to search your pack" and putting words into actions, he took the pack and opened it. Legolas feared this, as he had his circlet, the sign of his royalty.
"I'm a traveler" he responded. He knew that this was no true, but if they discover who he really was, he would get really in trouble.
"Oh, really, why speaking so openly now that I have your pack?" he said. "Hiding a true identity are we?"
Then Legolas gazed with horror as he began taking out all his belongings from his pack. Now he was in for it, really in trouble. He took a shirt from Legolas' pack, and upon further inspection he saw that this elf was of a Royal house. "From Mirkwood", he thought upon gazing at the family crest and sign from the woodland realm. Then he continued searching, and came upon something he didn't expect to see in a bag of a traveler. He came across a circlet, and a letter signed with the royal sign of Mirkwood..
But this was not just a circlet. This was a mithril circlet, the circlet from the Prince of Mirkwood. It had a simple design, just as Legolas liked it, but it in its simple form was also magnificent.
Although Legolas hated to use the circlet sometimes, he had to take it to Rivendell, in case there was a formal ceremony. But Legolas also liked it, as his father gave it to him as a special gift, when Legolas had grown too much, and his small circlet, made of silver, would not fit him.
Duirellon gazed a long time at it, amazed by its simple, yet beautiful design. He knew that it was Mithril, it must be quite expensive, and nothing an ordinary traveler would buy, unless it was stolen. Then it struck him. He remembered long ago, that the prince of Mirkwood got along really well with the sons of Elrond; this must be him, since it was a circlet, not a crown, and therefore, he must be the Prince.
"You are the Prince of Mirkwood" he stated matter of factly. "Oh, yes indeed, you're not what I want, but we will see what use we can find you"
The poor Mirkwood prince didn't know of all the problems he had landed on, and the torture that was coming. Suddenly pain flared in his back as the whip made contact with his back, touching the area in his shoulder that was starting to heal from the arrow wound, and he bit his lip trying hard not to give in to the pain.
"Well, seems like you are strong. We will have much fun together" he said while lashing the whip at Legolas' back once again. Legolas just gritted his teeth, not knowing that not before long; he would be hoping to be set free again.
TBC…
They know who Legolas is! Poor elf, he has no idea what he has land in this time…
Author's notes: Once again thanks to all who took the time to read my other story On the Paths of Snow.
Response to reviewers:
On the Paths of Snow:
Inuyashaloverfan: Thank you!
Slayer 3: Good luck with your prank on the twins!
HarryEstel: Sorry for the cliffy preview. I'm glad that you liked it.
Anonymous: Thanks.
Redleef: Glad that you are now registered. On the Paths of Snow was also my first story:) Thanks for adding me to your favorites.
Kerowyn Greenleaf: Yes, Legolas had an extra dose of Elrond's tea, but he was released the next day. Thank you! I'm glad that you liked my story, it was my first.
Invisigoth3: Yes, I had to post this other story quickly, I didn't want to leave you waiting. Thanks, I'm glad that you liked it and enjoyed the pillow fight. Those four really know how to land in trouble before even the yare out of the bed.
On the Brink of Fading:
Inuyashaloverfan: Thanks, here is another update.
Slayer3: Yes, some angst is coming for Legolas, a little for the twins, and a final to Estel. You can save them later.
Mi Ana I Numen: Well, about roch meaning horse, I used a translator from English to Sindarin.
Wolenczak2004: Thanks, here is another update.
HarryEstel: He is in trouble since the first chapter, he really knows how to land in trouble. Here is another chapter.
A. NuEvil.: Thanks, here is another chapter.
Anonymous: Thanks!
Redleef: Poor Horse!
Ilaaris: Thanks! Here is another update.
Kerowyn Greenleaf: Thanks! Legolas got shot by an arrow, but and now he is held as a prisoner! Here is another update.