Woah, how long has it been since I updated! A good few weeks at any rate.
Merry Christmas everybody! Grin. Hope you all have a cool one and a dudey New Year too.
Now, last time I posted, I also asked people to go check out my bio and click on the link for Evenstar Dreams. Come on, you know you wanna! Is pleading. True, there isn't an awful lot on there at the moment, but the more people we get up there the more it will develop! PLEASE at least go have a look!
Thanks, and see you in the New Year probably.
Faerlain
Rayame325 – I love my two Princes! I'm really glad at how Ladrenîl has turned out. Feels proud. Lol. He's definitely back to normal now! Thanks for reviewing, and have a good Xmas.
KerowynGreenleaf – Yeah, bless him! He was feeling just a tad bit lonely. He just had to get out of there. Thanks for reviewing, and have a good Xmas.
Tiara Shin – Hey! Both wave. We haven't talked for aaagggeeesss. Hope everything's going cool with you and uni etc. I always take ages to update now! I'm terrible. Homework sucks. Especially when you've got coursework at the same time AND are revising for mock exams. Sigh. Ah well, life goes on I suppose.
Helps beat up Orcs cos more have appeared. Er…Legolas help Haldy… Runs away with Tiara and hides behind trees.
Anyway…thanks for the puppy-dog eyes as always, and also thanks for reviewing! Have a great Xmas and speak sometime in New Year!
Chapter 8: Its Brotherly Protection.
And so the weeks passed. Legolas grew stronger every day, and was soon back out on his usual duties. Life returned pretty much to normal in the Royal household, for which everyone was pleased.
Lothriel showed her older brother her beloved garden, and he adored it, telling her so by showering her with kisses. The two eldest carried on giving Hithaer and Gîlorn fighting lessons in their spare time, for which the younger Princes were extremely grateful. Legolas particularly, felt even more protective of his siblings since his own accident, and was giving them all the advice he could think of. Even the four girls started receiving a few lessons.
Though life was as it had been before, the threat of more kidnappings and attacks hung over their heads all day, every day. This affected both the family and the public. Orc attacks grew in numbers, especially around the area where Legolas had been injured. Scouts were upped in numbers, and the patrolling became ever more vigilant and sharp.
Now young Hithaer was at the age of 500, and wanted to be included more. He greatly admired Legolas, even more so for recovering so quickly and getting over his injuries. He listened attentively in all his lessons, and tried his hardest to keep up with Legolas' standards. The older Prince knew this, and couldn't help smiling when his younger brother tried so hard. He praised him highly for his efforts, which made Hithaer feel much better and more proud of himself.
"When can I come out on border with you and 'Ren?" he asked one day after a very successful lesson.
Legolas thought carefully before answering. "I'm not exactly sure Hithaer," he told him. "You'll have to speak with adar really about that."
"But do you think I'm ready?"
"In some respects most definitely. But you need more tracking skills, and more practice spent just sitting in a tree for hours in silence." He winked. "It can get very boring."
Hithaer shrugged. "But I'd realty like to come. Can't you take me out to a quiet area, where there aren't many attacks?"
"Unfortunately, that is just not the case at the moment Hithaer. There are no 'quiet areas' in Mirkwood. Everywhere we turn, there are Orcs waiting to pounce on us. A bit longer yet, and then you can accompany us."
Hithaer pouted. "Fine."
Legolas laughed. "Hithaer, its not that I don't want you to come. I just don't want you going out there without enough experience. Anyone can get hurt, and all it takes is a split seconds glance away from your enemy. You saw that when it happened to me. You want to end up like that at your age?"
"But you're ok now."
"Yes, I was lucky, extremely lucky. But you're still young, half 'Ren's age. You'll just have to be patient."
"Legolas, I take after you in that respect. I have no patience whatsoever."
"Then we must work on it together. Come on, dinner'll be ready soon."
----
"I'm getting worried about him 'Ren."
"Why?"
Legolas shrugged. "He's getting too brash, too keen to go out on border."
"He's merely trying to show how grown-up he is. He wants to prove to us that he is a mature adult."
"I do not doubt him in that respect, but still, it bothers me." He paused. "And he should know that he shouldn't have to prove anything to me."
"A brother's intuition," Ladrenîl winked.
Legolas chuckled, sipping his wine. "You may call it whatever you wish, but I'm being serious 'Ren. Haven't you noticed?"
"Hithaer takes after you little brother. Especially when you were younger, you would jump headfirst into things without considering the consequences. That is what he is doing now. He thinks he is ready for border patrol, and is willing to go straight on out there. But we know he isn't, and so do a lot of others. But he'll do it anyway. Just like you did."
"I went out on border without permission?"
Ladrenîl paused as he drank, going over the memory. "It wasn't so much that you didn't have permission…" he mused. "You were fully trained, or so your tutor said." He raised an eyebrow at his brother over his goblet. "But you went on out there with me and some others and we got attacked as you might expect. Let's just say you weren't best prepared for it."
"How come I can't remember any of this?"
"Why do you think?"
Legolas shrugged. "I don't know."
"You got hit round the head with the hilt of an Orcish blade. Forgot a lot of stuff."
"Oh."
Ladrenîl laughed at his brother's expression. "But you were soon back out there with us, and better than ever. You never got hit again until the other week. So you knew about it in some way, but you just couldn't remember the actual incident. As if your body knew, but your mind didn't, if you get what I mean."
"Right…" He downed his wine. "Well, that is precisely what I am trying to prevent from happening to Hithaer. He's younger than I was when I first went down to the border…" He faltered as Ladrenîl began to shake his head. "What?"
"You were roundabout the 475 mark. You had progressed so well in your lessons that we let you start patrolling earlier than is usually recommended."
Legolas grinned. "I'm a special case."
Ladrenîl laughed, also finishing his wine. "Indeed you are little brother. Just don't tell Hithaer that you went down when you were under 500 years. He'd slaughter you."
"And you. And father and the other Captains…"
"I get the picture Legs. Look, we could take him to a reasonably quiet area, just to give him a taste of what border is like."
"Just as I said to him 'Ren, the border has no 'quiet areas'."
"Depends."
"On what?"
"The weather."
"The weather? Ladrenîl, what the fu…?"
"Language Legs." He refilled their goblets. "The attacks are nearly always at night. If it is hotter, then the Orcs tend to stay away from the river."
"Why?"
"So then us Elves can't refresh ourselves or get to water easily if they mange to get a fire started on the dry undergrowth. Those Orcs do have some good ideas."
Legolas nodded agreeably. "That is an annoyingly good strategy against us," he pondered. He thought for a while. "Well, it's nearly September now, getting into autumn. Where will they attack?"
"Nearer the evergreen trees and shrubs. More coverage then."
Legolas raised his goblet to his older brother. "You're an expert on this now 'Ren. I salute you Sir."
"Oh shut up."
----
To say that Hithaer was excited was a slight understatement. Later that week, the two eldest had gone to him with their plan. They promised to talk to Thranduil about it to see what the King said. Meanwhile, the youngest Prince waited impatiently to see what he said.
Thranduil was as sceptical about it as Legolas. After much deliberation, he agreed to let his three sons go out to the border sometime during the following week. But he gave them strict warnings and rules.
"Never let Hithaer out of your sight. He must always stay with one of you two. It is not that I don't trust any of the other guards, but I know I can rely on you two to protect your brother to the best of your ability."
"Adar, we would defend him with out lives," Legolas told him seriously.
Thranduil smiled pensively. "I know," he replied softly. "I have seen you two working together on numerous occasions. I believe that you are the perfect guardians for his teaching. Over the next couple of weeks, let your deputies take over your command on the main scouts. Take Hithaer out with a few other guards to quiet areas and show him what it is like. After sitting around for others watching for things that never appear, he may get bored and change his mind. Then again, he may just be as resolute and stubborn as you two and be determined to sit it out. We'll see what he's like after a few days."
The two Princes left their father's study a little apprehensive. It was natural brotherly protection – Hithaer was the youngest son, third youngest child, and it was part of their duty to ensure his safety. Patrolling the borders was a highly dangerous job, and he was still very young.
They strode down the corridor to his room together, faces grim and shadowed by slight worry. Legolas had this bad feeling coiling in the pit of his stomach, and Ladrenîl felt that taking Hithaer out on border was probably not the best idea in the world. People they passed noticed the stern looks on their faces, and knew it was better to just bow their heads and keep walking.
Outside Hithaer's door, Legolas paused with his hand on the handle. "I think we should speak to mother first," he whispered.
Ladrenîl paused. "I'm not so sure," he whispered back. "She hates us going out on border, and would never let Hithaer go. This may be his only chance, and he would hate us if we messed it up now."
Legolas sighed. "Very well. But if she starts screaming at me…"
Ladrenîl clapped a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I'll be waiting outside with Nauralad and some healing potion to restore your hearing," he promised.
Hithaer was laid out on his bed reading a book. When the two eldest entered, he chucked it aside and stood up, looking between the pair hopefully. The silence endured, and Legolas found it hard to hold back his laughter. Hithaer looked so expectant, so desperate to hear the news he wanted to hear. Ladrenîl was completely deadpan, dragging it for as long as possible.
Eventually, Hithaer could take it no more. "Well?" he asked softly.
"Tomorrow, meet us after breakfast in the stables," Ladrenîl told him. "Make sure you have your best bow and a good supply of arrows. I would sharpen your knives tonight if I were you." He turned and left. Legolas followed, but not before giving his little brother a sly wink and a smile.
Hithaer beamed after them as they closed the door. He was going on border. Ladrenîl and Legolas were letting him accompany them on patrol. He was going to patrol the border!
He started getting ready immediately.
----
"You must stay constantly alert," Legolas told him as they set out the following day. "Keep your wits about you. The forest is an extremely dangerous place. Stay near us, don't wander off by yourself. Understand?"
Hithaer nodded. He was too excited to talk.
"You make sure you listen to what your brother is telling you," Ladrenîl said without looking over. "If you don't do as he says, then we will be forced to take you home. And he isn't as harsh as I am with my guards, so be aware." He dug his heels into his horse's flanks and trotted off ahead.
Hithaer felt slightly crestfallen. Seeing this, Legolas leant across and placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "Don't mind old One Eye over there," he whispered so that Ladrenîl wouldn't hear. "He's just worried about you. So am I, but it seems I am better at hiding it. But do make sure you behave yourself, else things could get messy."
Hithaer nodded again. "I promise Legs. This means a lot to me."
"Yes, well, prove it." They picked up speed to keep up with their older brother.
It was a lovely day. The 5th September, and leaves were already falling from the branches and drifting slowly to the ground. The horse's hooves made soft crunchy sounds as they walked over them. Otherwise, the forest was eerily silent.
They rode on for over an hour without exchanging a word. With the three brothers were their closest friends and some of the best warriors of Mirkwood Army – Cullas, Glînvara, Brethiliaur and Cellin. There were a few others, but these four were the ones that Hithaer already knew quite well and trusted. They had often helped Legolas when he was teaching Hithaer. Those four along with Ladrenîl and Legolas were a fearsome team to go against. They were well-known for being some of Mirkwood's finest warriors.
Both Ladrenîl and Legolas trusted them. They knew they were brilliant in combat, and had asked them specifically to come along and help keep a close eye on Hithaer.
Hithaer felt very well-protected, but knew that his brothers would never be content that he was fine. He may not have been as old as them with their amount of experience, but he was perfectly able to take care of himself. He was the son of Thranduil, and no son of the King was weak and pathetic.
Soon they came across the scout which they were to replace. After a few gracious words, they said their farewells and set off for home. The new group kept their horses together at the foot of the same tree, and Ladrenîl started organising them into places.
"Cullas and Glînvara, you two go up into the branches of that huge beech. If my memory serves me correctly, you should be able to see the road from there."
A word of confirmation from Cullas established that they could indeed see the road, and so those two were set. Ladrenîl then sent Brethiliaur and Cellin with two others to scout silently around the perimeter of their small encampment to keep an eye out in all directions.
"Legolas take Hithaer up into that tree there," Ladrenîl told him, pointing to an old oak. Legolas nodded and led his brother away. Ladrenîl was left with the remaining two members of their group.
"Isn't Ladrenîl coming with us?" Hithaer asked as they settled down.
Legolas hook his head. "We tend to stay apart when we work together. Avoids arguments then."
"What do you mean?"
"We're brothers, we're bound to argue. And we're both used to being in charge, so…" He looked around. "Now keep quiet and keep your eyes and ears peeled. It should be relatively quiet around here today, but the Orcs like to spring surprises."
Hithaer nodded and looked around as well. He could hear the stream bubbling along somewhere to his left. The path was further north to his right, where Cullas and Glînvara were keeping watch. When he looked down, he saw Ladrenîl and the other two Elves mount their horses and start to walk around, straying further away than Brethiliaur and Cullas were going around the area.
Time ticked on. Hithaer wondered how Legolas managed to stay so still and so silent for so long. He was trying his best, but it was proving difficult. Every now and then, he caught glimpses of movement through the trees, but quickly realised it was only one of the other Elves of their group.
For three hours, they sat there. Nothing happened. Not even the wind changed direction. Hithaer was getting bored. Something was digging into his back, a branch or something, and it was starting to really irritate him. If he could just move to get it out of his way…
"Ambush!" came a yell through the trees. "Orcs, to the North!"
Legolas and Hithaer looked at each other. Legolas grinned. "You ready little brother?"
Hithaer swallowed. "As ready as I'll ever be I guess."
Exciting stuff guys. Lol. So, what's gonna happen now? Was it a good idea for Hithaer to go out there…?
Ahhh, you'll have to wait and see. Cheeky grin. Perhaps if people join Evenstar Dreams I'll update…
Faerlain