Flash backs are between ^^^^
Artemisa- don't shoot! don't shoot! Here is your chappie.
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Valandil looked down the hallway for what had to be the hundredth time. Nienna should have been back long before now and he was getting worried. He checked on Legolas at least every five minutes to make sure he was all right. Every time he checked, Legolas seemed to be more and more distressed. Valandil could tell that he was trying to hide it so he didn't say anything. Part of him was telling him to go find nienna and the other part strongly telling him to stay here with Legolas, after all that was why he was here wasn't it? To protect Legolas? If something had happened to nienna then it could mean that Legolas might be the next victim. If he left his post and something happened to his prince Valandil was sure that he could never forgive himself. Noone would forgive him. He could tell something was wrong and nienna being gone for this long only made him even more cautious. The fact that Legolas was so distressed with Nienna's absence only heightened his fears that there actually was something wrong and the royal family was the target.
Valandil looked down the hallway and saw someone walking towards him. It looked like a servant. As the elf drew closer to him he could tell that it was a male and looked to be around nienna's age. He was carrying a tray of food.
" State your business." Valandil said in a commanding tone when the new elf stopped in front of him.
" I bring prince Legolas's food," the other elf answered. He held up the tray.
Valandil looked over it carefully. He could see no signs of poison.
" May I enter?" the elf asked.
" No. The king wants no one with the prince unless he says they can be with him." Valandil said. " I'll give him his food."
The other elf's eyes flashed annoyance before turning into impassive gray.
" Fine. Here." the other elf said quickly. He handed the tray to Valandil and then he turned on his heels and left.
Something about him isn't right. Why would he be so upset about not going into the room? Valandil thought. He looked over the tray once more. He saw some kind of white powder on the edge of it. Poison he thought. Carefully he put a little on his finger and tasted it. The powder dissolved instantly in his mouth and he could clearly identify it as powdered sugar.
Valandil sighed in relief. He turned around and opened the door.
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* Is that them? Have they already got nienna and Valandil? Are they going to kill me? Right here? Did they get ada? Arwen? Beraid? This is all my fault. I'm the reason they are all going to die! *
Legolas's eyes were glued to the door. He heard some elf talking with Valandil but he couldn't recognize the other voice. Suddenly he remembered.
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" Turn him around. I want to talk to him." the one of the elves said. The elf that was holding Legolas jerked him around so that he faced the elf that had spoken.
" Now, I don't think that you completely understood what Vero said to you earlier. What he meant was, if you get close with anyone else they will die and then your ada and then you. If you make any more friends or if you start to tell anyone what happened tonight, guess what will happen." the elf had unsheathed his knife and was running the tip of it lightly down Legolas's face towards his throat. "I'll slit your throat."
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Legolas started to tremble. He was so lost in his memories that he didn't notice that it was Valandil who had entered and not one of the elves that had threatened him. He kept feeling the knife slide down his face and around his neck.
Legolas started to tremble.
Valandil saw Legolas shaking and quickly put the tray down and rushed over to his side. He knew better than to touch him so Valandil just sat on the side of the bed.
" Mani naa ta?" {What is it?} Valandil said.
Legolas turned his head to look at him.
" Did you have a nightmare?" Valandil asked.
Legolas nodded his head.
* Can't tell*
" Well… just remember that it isn't real," Valandil said. " Here, want to eat?"
Legolas nodded his head.
Valandil got up off the bed and walked to where he had set down the tray of food. He picked it up and walked back over to Legolas.
" Want help?" Valandil asked. Legolas was trying to pull himself into an upright position the sedating drug that he had this morning made his limbs pretty sluggish.
Legolas didn't answer.
Valandil waited until Legolas was sitting up. Once he was in a position that he could easily eat Valandil handed him the tray and stood by the foot of the bed. He had made up his mind that since nienna was still gone he wouldn't leave Legolas alone.
The next few hours passed uneventful. Legolas finished eating and then went back to sleep for about fifteen minutes. He colored and then looked at a bunch of picture books. His father came in just before dinner.
" 'Quel undome" {good evening} Thranduil said as he walked over to his son. " I have a present for you."
Legolas looked up at his father with bright eyes. All of his former problems briefly forgotten.
* A present! What is it? *
/ He looks so cute! If only he would look like this all the time/
Thranduil bent down and picked up a baby blue colored bag that he had somehow smuggled in with out Valandil or Legolas noticing. The bag had white tissue paper in it so that no one could see what the contents were. Thranduil handed Legolas the bag. When Legolas reached out to take it Thranduil quickly grabbed his hand and kissed his forehead and whispered, " surprise" in his ear.
Legolas gave a small smile at his father.
" Go on, open it!" Thranduil said. He gave Legolas a big smile. " Valandil, you don't have to stand there. Come sit next to me."
Legolas couldn't take his small smile off his face. He was too excited. His father had never gave him presents wrapped up like this unless it was Midwinters or his begetting day. Usually he just gave them to Legolas.
When Valandil was seated Legolas slowly and carefully took the delicate paper out of the bag. Some he could see a box about 5 inches wide and 5 inches tall. He took it out and pulled the silver ribbon off it. He opened it and saw about eight miniature horses. Each one was wrapped up in green paper so they wouldn't break. Legolas quickly, but carefully, unwrapped each and every one with tender loving care. He stared at them in awe. He had never seen toy horses before. He had rode real owns though. He looked up at his father. He didn't say anything but Thranduil could tell that Legolas loved his gift to death.
" There is more. Keep looking." Thranduil said as he gathered the paper that Legolas had spread out on the bed.
Legolas looked up at his father. His smile grew a little bigger. He picked up the bag once again and looked in it. He pulled out a few more handfuls of paper and then pulled out a light brown, fluffy, teddy bear. (A/n- I don't know if they have teddy bears in M.E. so just pretend they do)
Legolas gave the bear a tight hug. He looked up at his father and said " ta naa vanima, thank you."
"Your welcome my little greenleaf" Thranduil said as he pulled his son into a tight hug " amin mela lle" {I love you}
As usual Legolas didn't respond but Thranduil didn't care as much as he usually did. He made his son happy and that was the only thing that mattered at the moment.
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No cliffy! Yay! Are you still going to kill me?
Artemisa- don't shoot! don't shoot! Here is your chappie.
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Valandil looked down the hallway for what had to be the hundredth time. Nienna should have been back long before now and he was getting worried. He checked on Legolas at least every five minutes to make sure he was all right. Every time he checked, Legolas seemed to be more and more distressed. Valandil could tell that he was trying to hide it so he didn't say anything. Part of him was telling him to go find nienna and the other part strongly telling him to stay here with Legolas, after all that was why he was here wasn't it? To protect Legolas? If something had happened to nienna then it could mean that Legolas might be the next victim. If he left his post and something happened to his prince Valandil was sure that he could never forgive himself. Noone would forgive him. He could tell something was wrong and nienna being gone for this long only made him even more cautious. The fact that Legolas was so distressed with Nienna's absence only heightened his fears that there actually was something wrong and the royal family was the target.
Valandil looked down the hallway and saw someone walking towards him. It looked like a servant. As the elf drew closer to him he could tell that it was a male and looked to be around nienna's age. He was carrying a tray of food.
" State your business." Valandil said in a commanding tone when the new elf stopped in front of him.
" I bring prince Legolas's food," the other elf answered. He held up the tray.
Valandil looked over it carefully. He could see no signs of poison.
" May I enter?" the elf asked.
" No. The king wants no one with the prince unless he says they can be with him." Valandil said. " I'll give him his food."
The other elf's eyes flashed annoyance before turning into impassive gray.
" Fine. Here." the other elf said quickly. He handed the tray to Valandil and then he turned on his heels and left.
Something about him isn't right. Why would he be so upset about not going into the room? Valandil thought. He looked over the tray once more. He saw some kind of white powder on the edge of it. Poison he thought. Carefully he put a little on his finger and tasted it. The powder dissolved instantly in his mouth and he could clearly identify it as powdered sugar.
Valandil sighed in relief. He turned around and opened the door.
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* Is that them? Have they already got nienna and Valandil? Are they going to kill me? Right here? Did they get ada? Arwen? Beraid? This is all my fault. I'm the reason they are all going to die! *
Legolas's eyes were glued to the door. He heard some elf talking with Valandil but he couldn't recognize the other voice. Suddenly he remembered.
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" Turn him around. I want to talk to him." the one of the elves said. The elf that was holding Legolas jerked him around so that he faced the elf that had spoken.
" Now, I don't think that you completely understood what Vero said to you earlier. What he meant was, if you get close with anyone else they will die and then your ada and then you. If you make any more friends or if you start to tell anyone what happened tonight, guess what will happen." the elf had unsheathed his knife and was running the tip of it lightly down Legolas's face towards his throat. "I'll slit your throat."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Legolas started to tremble. He was so lost in his memories that he didn't notice that it was Valandil who had entered and not one of the elves that had threatened him. He kept feeling the knife slide down his face and around his neck.
Legolas started to tremble.
Valandil saw Legolas shaking and quickly put the tray down and rushed over to his side. He knew better than to touch him so Valandil just sat on the side of the bed.
" Mani naa ta?" {What is it?} Valandil said.
Legolas turned his head to look at him.
" Did you have a nightmare?" Valandil asked.
Legolas nodded his head.
* Can't tell*
" Well… just remember that it isn't real," Valandil said. " Here, want to eat?"
Legolas nodded his head.
Valandil got up off the bed and walked to where he had set down the tray of food. He picked it up and walked back over to Legolas.
" Want help?" Valandil asked. Legolas was trying to pull himself into an upright position the sedating drug that he had this morning made his limbs pretty sluggish.
Legolas didn't answer.
Valandil waited until Legolas was sitting up. Once he was in a position that he could easily eat Valandil handed him the tray and stood by the foot of the bed. He had made up his mind that since nienna was still gone he wouldn't leave Legolas alone.
The next few hours passed uneventful. Legolas finished eating and then went back to sleep for about fifteen minutes. He colored and then looked at a bunch of picture books. His father came in just before dinner.
" 'Quel undome" {good evening} Thranduil said as he walked over to his son. " I have a present for you."
Legolas looked up at his father with bright eyes. All of his former problems briefly forgotten.
* A present! What is it? *
/ He looks so cute! If only he would look like this all the time/
Thranduil bent down and picked up a baby blue colored bag that he had somehow smuggled in with out Valandil or Legolas noticing. The bag had white tissue paper in it so that no one could see what the contents were. Thranduil handed Legolas the bag. When Legolas reached out to take it Thranduil quickly grabbed his hand and kissed his forehead and whispered, " surprise" in his ear.
Legolas gave a small smile at his father.
" Go on, open it!" Thranduil said. He gave Legolas a big smile. " Valandil, you don't have to stand there. Come sit next to me."
Legolas couldn't take his small smile off his face. He was too excited. His father had never gave him presents wrapped up like this unless it was Midwinters or his begetting day. Usually he just gave them to Legolas.
When Valandil was seated Legolas slowly and carefully took the delicate paper out of the bag. Some he could see a box about 5 inches wide and 5 inches tall. He took it out and pulled the silver ribbon off it. He opened it and saw about eight miniature horses. Each one was wrapped up in green paper so they wouldn't break. Legolas quickly, but carefully, unwrapped each and every one with tender loving care. He stared at them in awe. He had never seen toy horses before. He had rode real owns though. He looked up at his father. He didn't say anything but Thranduil could tell that Legolas loved his gift to death.
" There is more. Keep looking." Thranduil said as he gathered the paper that Legolas had spread out on the bed.
Legolas looked up at his father. His smile grew a little bigger. He picked up the bag once again and looked in it. He pulled out a few more handfuls of paper and then pulled out a light brown, fluffy, teddy bear. (A/n- I don't know if they have teddy bears in M.E. so just pretend they do)
Legolas gave the bear a tight hug. He looked up at his father and said " ta naa vanima, thank you."
"Your welcome my little greenleaf" Thranduil said as he pulled his son into a tight hug " amin mela lle" {I love you}
As usual Legolas didn't respond but Thranduil didn't care as much as he usually did. He made his son happy and that was the only thing that mattered at the moment.
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No cliffy! Yay! Are you still going to kill me?