Alright, sorry I have updated in a while again, things are so crazy
right now. I would first like to thank everyone who has reviewed so far,
you guys are the best! Ok, I can't remember if I put when this story takes
place in the first chapter or not, but it takes place a long time before
the fellowship of the rings, probably around a thousand years or so before.
Now to the story.
Chapter 9: Revelations
Legolas tossed and turned in his warm feather bed, a foul dream playing in his head. He awoke with a start, a cold sweat on his brow, and looked about his room, noticing it was still late in the night. He lied back down and was about to attempt to fall asleep again when loud voices from a room down the hall met his sharp elvish ears.
"What do you mean you can't find them?!" shouted a loud, angry voice. "I don't care if it's late, don't come back until you find my daughters!!" A door slammed and Legolas heard soft footsteps run past his closed door.
"Lord Maikatasaire," came a deep, solemn voice, and Legolas quickly recognized it as his father's, "I am terribly sorry that your daughters have gone missing, but please try to remain calm. The guards are doing everything within their power to find them and I'm sure they will be found soon." Legolas bolted upright, now wide awake. He quickly leaped out of bed and ran to his door, pressing his ear against so he could hear better.
"Yes, but will they be found alive?!" the angry voice that belonged to Lord Maikatasaire questioned. "You have seen what those horrible creatures did to your son!" Legolas listened intently for more, but all he heard was his father's unmistakable sigh. He silently wondered what was going on before he quietly opened his door and ran to Encirthion's room for answers he was sure to have.
When he reached his brother's room he quickly opened the door and rushed inside. "Encirthion!" he whispered urgently in the darkness. "Encirthion wake up! Something's happening!" Encirthion groaned and Legolas at first thought he had only just woke up but then noticed the strange way his brother lay on his bed. "Encirthion, what is wrong?" Legolas asked, running to his brother's side but stopping before he got there in horror. Legolas gasped involuntarily as he looked over his brother's bruised, swollen face and bloody, bandaged body. He stood in silence, gazing at his mangled brother in the dark when Encirthion's warm but soft voice got his attention.
"It was dwarves," he said quietly, grimacing as he spoke. "They attacked me from behind, Legolas, they took Aralondwen." his voice trailed off into silence for a moment before he spoke again. "You must go save her," he said, a pleading look in his brown eyes, "You must save her for me. The guards will not find her in time, you know the forest better than any of them, please find her, Legolas.I love her." Legolas stared down at his older brother, tears burning in his own eyes. He couldn't stand to see his brother this way, his older brother, the same Encirthion who had saved him from a spider's web when he was young. Encirthion reached up and took hold of Legolas's hand. "Please, little brother," he said softly, "Please do this for me." Legolas squeezed Encirthion's hand gently, still staring down at him.
"Of course, brother," he replied quietly. "I promise I will bring her back alive."
"Taraancaiel has gone missing also," Encirthion said. "I don't know what is going on completely, but I believe those dwarves have her too." Legolas froze when his brother mentioned Taraancaiel and images of earlier that day came rushing back to him. 'Taraancaiel.I think. I love you.' 'Ai, Legolas, I'm engaged to Cuephel!' 'You belong to my brother, I have nothing to say to you.' Legolas took in a deep, ragged breath and Encirthion shot him a concerned look through his pain.
"She is to be wed to Cuephel," Legolas said quietly. "She cares not for me."
"She cares not for you?" Encirthion repeated, his voice filled with disbelief. "How can you say that? I have seen her with you, my brother, and there is nothing but love in her eyes when you are near." Legolas was silent and thought painfully of how he had left Taraancaiel in the forest, and he closed his eyes.
"What is there for me to do?" he asked softly, "Father and Lord Maikatasaire have agreed upon Cuephel and Taraancaiel's marriage. There is nothing I can do."
"What is wrong with you, brother?" Encirthion asked, staring into Legolas's eyes. "You are not the Legolas I know. I have never known you to give up on anything, especially something you love. Why are you now so willing to give up?" Legolas looked down at Encirthion who was staring up at him, fire burning in his brown eyes. "Legolas you must go and find her, along with Aralondwen. I will speak to Father while you are gone, I will make him understand."
Legolas stood for a moment, still in silence, then suddenly smiled at Encirthion. "You are right, Encirthion," he said. "I promise I will not let you down. I will return with the daughters of Maikatasaire and all will be well once again." With those words Legolas dashed out of his brother's bedroom and quickly ran to his room to change and grab his bow, then left the palace in search of Taraancaiel and Aralondwen.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Legolas had been searching all night in the deep, dark, woods of Mirkwood, but had been having no luck in finding the lost maidens. He had decided not to ride Silithien for fear of being heard and had thus been searching on foot. It was nearly dawn when he reached a small clearing and immediately saw the glowing embers of a fire that was slowly dying. He ran to it but soon something else caught his eye.
"Cuephel!" he shouted, running to the limp body that lay in a pool of crimson blood. He kneeled next to his brother's body and gently touched his cold face, and much to his surprise, Cuephel's eyes flickered open. "Cuephel!" he shouted again, this time in joy. "Cuephel, what has happened to you?"
Cuephel's blue lips trembled as he looked up at his youngest brother and a weak smile forced itself upon them. "Legolas," he mumbled, his voice so quiet that Legolas had to strain to hear him. "Ai, I begged the Valar I could see you before I died, and here you are.even though I do not deserve to be granted my wish."
"Sh, do not speak, my brother, save your strength," Legolas said softly, taking one of his ice cold hands in his own. Legolas now noticed the dwarvish dagger protruding from Cuephel's chest and he quickly made a move to pull it out, but Cuephel stopped him.
"Stop," Cuephel gasped, clutching Legolas's hand. "Leave it.I must tell you something, I haven't much time left." Legolas reluctantly let go of the dagger handle and looked down at Cuephel, his blue eyes filled with sympathy. "Legolas, I am so sorry.this is all.my fault." Cuephel stopped here and coughed, blood running down his lips, "Taraancaiel.she has been taken by dwarves.dwarves that I had paid to capture her.and to kill you."
Legolas stared at his brother in disbelief. "But.why Cuephel? Why would you do such a thing?"
"I was.jealous of you." was his reply. "I overheard Father talking..he is going to make you his heir."
Legolas was silent. All this time he had thought Cuephel was his father's favorite and Cuephel would be King someday, but now he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But Father always favors you, Cuephel, he always has," Legolas said softly. "Why would he choose to make me, his youngest, the heir of Mirkwood?"
Cuephel smiled. "You may be the youngest, Legolas," he said, going still quieter, "But you are the one with the purest heart.Father knows this." Cuephel stopped to catch his breath then continued. "I was jealous.Taranncaiel loved you and not me...but it is not too late.You will be King some day, Legolas.and if you hurry.she will still be your Queen." Cuephel fell silent and his eyes slowly closed for the last time. Legolas knew his brother was dead, but he held him to him anyway, tears flowing from his eyes. Moments later he stood up, his cheeks wet with tears but a determined look burning in his eyes. He would find the dwarves who did this to his brother, and he would make them pay dearly.
Well, that was a long chapter. Yay, things are finally getting good. Please review or email me at demoness33@hotmail.com and tell me how you liked it or give me suggestions. I'll try to update soon, but once again, I promise nothing, so please don't hate me!
Chapter 9: Revelations
Legolas tossed and turned in his warm feather bed, a foul dream playing in his head. He awoke with a start, a cold sweat on his brow, and looked about his room, noticing it was still late in the night. He lied back down and was about to attempt to fall asleep again when loud voices from a room down the hall met his sharp elvish ears.
"What do you mean you can't find them?!" shouted a loud, angry voice. "I don't care if it's late, don't come back until you find my daughters!!" A door slammed and Legolas heard soft footsteps run past his closed door.
"Lord Maikatasaire," came a deep, solemn voice, and Legolas quickly recognized it as his father's, "I am terribly sorry that your daughters have gone missing, but please try to remain calm. The guards are doing everything within their power to find them and I'm sure they will be found soon." Legolas bolted upright, now wide awake. He quickly leaped out of bed and ran to his door, pressing his ear against so he could hear better.
"Yes, but will they be found alive?!" the angry voice that belonged to Lord Maikatasaire questioned. "You have seen what those horrible creatures did to your son!" Legolas listened intently for more, but all he heard was his father's unmistakable sigh. He silently wondered what was going on before he quietly opened his door and ran to Encirthion's room for answers he was sure to have.
When he reached his brother's room he quickly opened the door and rushed inside. "Encirthion!" he whispered urgently in the darkness. "Encirthion wake up! Something's happening!" Encirthion groaned and Legolas at first thought he had only just woke up but then noticed the strange way his brother lay on his bed. "Encirthion, what is wrong?" Legolas asked, running to his brother's side but stopping before he got there in horror. Legolas gasped involuntarily as he looked over his brother's bruised, swollen face and bloody, bandaged body. He stood in silence, gazing at his mangled brother in the dark when Encirthion's warm but soft voice got his attention.
"It was dwarves," he said quietly, grimacing as he spoke. "They attacked me from behind, Legolas, they took Aralondwen." his voice trailed off into silence for a moment before he spoke again. "You must go save her," he said, a pleading look in his brown eyes, "You must save her for me. The guards will not find her in time, you know the forest better than any of them, please find her, Legolas.I love her." Legolas stared down at his older brother, tears burning in his own eyes. He couldn't stand to see his brother this way, his older brother, the same Encirthion who had saved him from a spider's web when he was young. Encirthion reached up and took hold of Legolas's hand. "Please, little brother," he said softly, "Please do this for me." Legolas squeezed Encirthion's hand gently, still staring down at him.
"Of course, brother," he replied quietly. "I promise I will bring her back alive."
"Taraancaiel has gone missing also," Encirthion said. "I don't know what is going on completely, but I believe those dwarves have her too." Legolas froze when his brother mentioned Taraancaiel and images of earlier that day came rushing back to him. 'Taraancaiel.I think. I love you.' 'Ai, Legolas, I'm engaged to Cuephel!' 'You belong to my brother, I have nothing to say to you.' Legolas took in a deep, ragged breath and Encirthion shot him a concerned look through his pain.
"She is to be wed to Cuephel," Legolas said quietly. "She cares not for me."
"She cares not for you?" Encirthion repeated, his voice filled with disbelief. "How can you say that? I have seen her with you, my brother, and there is nothing but love in her eyes when you are near." Legolas was silent and thought painfully of how he had left Taraancaiel in the forest, and he closed his eyes.
"What is there for me to do?" he asked softly, "Father and Lord Maikatasaire have agreed upon Cuephel and Taraancaiel's marriage. There is nothing I can do."
"What is wrong with you, brother?" Encirthion asked, staring into Legolas's eyes. "You are not the Legolas I know. I have never known you to give up on anything, especially something you love. Why are you now so willing to give up?" Legolas looked down at Encirthion who was staring up at him, fire burning in his brown eyes. "Legolas you must go and find her, along with Aralondwen. I will speak to Father while you are gone, I will make him understand."
Legolas stood for a moment, still in silence, then suddenly smiled at Encirthion. "You are right, Encirthion," he said. "I promise I will not let you down. I will return with the daughters of Maikatasaire and all will be well once again." With those words Legolas dashed out of his brother's bedroom and quickly ran to his room to change and grab his bow, then left the palace in search of Taraancaiel and Aralondwen.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Legolas had been searching all night in the deep, dark, woods of Mirkwood, but had been having no luck in finding the lost maidens. He had decided not to ride Silithien for fear of being heard and had thus been searching on foot. It was nearly dawn when he reached a small clearing and immediately saw the glowing embers of a fire that was slowly dying. He ran to it but soon something else caught his eye.
"Cuephel!" he shouted, running to the limp body that lay in a pool of crimson blood. He kneeled next to his brother's body and gently touched his cold face, and much to his surprise, Cuephel's eyes flickered open. "Cuephel!" he shouted again, this time in joy. "Cuephel, what has happened to you?"
Cuephel's blue lips trembled as he looked up at his youngest brother and a weak smile forced itself upon them. "Legolas," he mumbled, his voice so quiet that Legolas had to strain to hear him. "Ai, I begged the Valar I could see you before I died, and here you are.even though I do not deserve to be granted my wish."
"Sh, do not speak, my brother, save your strength," Legolas said softly, taking one of his ice cold hands in his own. Legolas now noticed the dwarvish dagger protruding from Cuephel's chest and he quickly made a move to pull it out, but Cuephel stopped him.
"Stop," Cuephel gasped, clutching Legolas's hand. "Leave it.I must tell you something, I haven't much time left." Legolas reluctantly let go of the dagger handle and looked down at Cuephel, his blue eyes filled with sympathy. "Legolas, I am so sorry.this is all.my fault." Cuephel stopped here and coughed, blood running down his lips, "Taraancaiel.she has been taken by dwarves.dwarves that I had paid to capture her.and to kill you."
Legolas stared at his brother in disbelief. "But.why Cuephel? Why would you do such a thing?"
"I was.jealous of you." was his reply. "I overheard Father talking..he is going to make you his heir."
Legolas was silent. All this time he had thought Cuephel was his father's favorite and Cuephel would be King someday, but now he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But Father always favors you, Cuephel, he always has," Legolas said softly. "Why would he choose to make me, his youngest, the heir of Mirkwood?"
Cuephel smiled. "You may be the youngest, Legolas," he said, going still quieter, "But you are the one with the purest heart.Father knows this." Cuephel stopped to catch his breath then continued. "I was jealous.Taranncaiel loved you and not me...but it is not too late.You will be King some day, Legolas.and if you hurry.she will still be your Queen." Cuephel fell silent and his eyes slowly closed for the last time. Legolas knew his brother was dead, but he held him to him anyway, tears flowing from his eyes. Moments later he stood up, his cheeks wet with tears but a determined look burning in his eyes. He would find the dwarves who did this to his brother, and he would make them pay dearly.
Well, that was a long chapter. Yay, things are finally getting good. Please review or email me at demoness33@hotmail.com and tell me how you liked it or give me suggestions. I'll try to update soon, but once again, I promise nothing, so please don't hate me!