Disclaimer:Still out of songs. Ain't mine.
AN:(Edited 5 April, 2010) All right, a bit longer than I planned on it coming, sorry. DON'T WORRY I AM FINISHING IT! It's just taking me longer to churn them out.
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"What--?" Elrond was alarmed at the change that spread over the elf's features. "Penneth, calm down, slow down, and talk some sense… I can't understand you when you babble."
Legolas brought his hands to his mouth, stopping the flow of words short. Bringing his hands back to his lap, he let out a deep breath and began again, trying to keep some line of order.
"Let me tell you straight… I am almost positive whoever you sent is long dead. Evil has been growing at the southern reaches of Mirkwood of late, but this new wickedness is right at the heart of the kingdom. I have not gained all of my memories, but I will tell you what I know."
As one, the twins reached out and laid a hand on their friend's shoulders. "It does not matter," Elladan said softly.
"Whatever has happened, we are there for you and we'll fight to set things right." Elrohir finished.
Legolas gave them each a smile, and a hint of his fighting spirit appeared. His soft voice, as he began to speak, had a toughened edge to it, and Estel could tell as he watched the elf, that the prince was strong in body and spirit. This elf would not give in easily, and Estel pitied the creatures that got in his way.
The day I was taken, I remember quite well. It was normal for the most part, and toward early afternoon, I had decided I was going to sneak out for a ride on Kilios without my normal escort.
I slipped over the garden wall and made for the stables, deflecting any questions and passersby with smiles and claims that I was going to the training fields to see if there was anyone there to practice with.
One end of the stables was unguarded. A whisper in one of the horse's ears and he began to squeal and buck, dark mane rippling. The stable-elves went rushing to calm him, and out the other side I went, Kilios not making a sound.
The eastern border was quite silent, no signs of orcs, spiders, goblins or other-wise foul creatures. At least for a while.
I truly have no idea how they came up on me so fast. One moment Kilios is flicking his tail at me, the next the whole forest is alive with screaming orcs and a shrieking maiden. My bow was strapped across my back, and I quickly dealt with several of the dozen creatures before having to dismount and draw my knives. Kilios took off after one. It was the last I ever saw of him.
It was short and brutal, the orcs were completely taken by surprise. One moment they were the predators, the next they were the prey. Only three gave me any difficulty, and even that was short-lived.
Wiping my blades against the grass, I started for my bow, which, to my surprise had disappeared. A sweet voice rang out, informing me that the maiden had snatched the bow to defend herself should something had happened to me.
That sweet voice turned harsh as she continued, effectively saying that I was a fool to help. As I turned, she shot me in the back. It was not dangerously deep, but dangerously positioned. As I sank to my knees, it shifted deeper, and closer to my lung.
The last thing I heard was the maiden's chilling laugh. I remembered that laugh…
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Legolas paused and reached for a glass of water. He sniffed it suspiciously, then handed the glass to Elrohir, who poured a fresh glass. Elrond sighed inwardly.
"The rest is kind of sketchy. I remember bits and pieces, and one large part. Should I continue?"
"Of course!" The twins replied.
"One moment!" Estel cried. He raced from the room, taking an object from a table, but moving too quickly for the startled elves to see what.
Legolas listened to the footsteps recede, and then studied Elrond closely. "Elrond, may I ask why there is a trace of flour along your hairline?"
Elladan and Elrohir burst out laughing and quickly filled the wood-elf up-to-date on their latest prank. Soon the room sang with bell-like laughter. Elrond fought to look stern but failed miserably.
Estel reentered the room carefully holding a plate of chocolate cake. "What?" he asked defensively. "I'm starving, and it looks like this story isn't going to have a happy ending. I need cake."
Legolas grinned. The edanalways did have a fondness for sweets.
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The next thing that comes to mind is the face of a large ugly orc. My hands were bound, and I was on my back (very painful). It grinned and held up a fistful of dark hair. It told me that my horse was dead, and 'real tasty', if I were to quote.
Of course this only stiffened my resolve to get out of those bonds and kill the wretched thing. It laughed and dragged me up by my neck. Below, in a small valley, was an entire encampment of orcs. They were laughing, roaring, and fighting amongst themselves. I knew then that escape would not come easily.
My captor suddenly stiffened and let me fall back. I thought for an instant that it would be my kinsfolk, but then realized there was no way to tell where I was, how long I had been unconscious, and how far we had traveled.
Still, I thought there might be a slim chance. That hope was dashed when I heard the harsh voice. I knew it, it was permanently burned into my brain, though I had thought this particular elf dead long ago.
She stalked into my line of sight, auburn hair gently swinging. Circling, she demanded to know if I was pleased, to see her like this. She was skeletal, the hollows of her cheeks showing clearly. She was in desperate need of some nourishment, although I doubted that she would accept any thing from a creature such as an orc.
Taunting, wondering out loud if she should kill me, wondering if a long tortured death would be best, or if she should just wrench information out of me and then kill me.
She asked then, if I was happy with my action, the one that had caused her so much suffering. I replied that she was going mental. Maybe that response was not the best course of options.
She pointed at me, and suddenly I couldn't move. Not so much of a twitch. It brought back memories, bad ones. I would have flinched, but for the spell. I could not help but wonder if she was going to begin another, the one that had started so badly, out of control…
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Legolas drifted off, staring into space, obviously remembering some distant memory, one that pained. One above all that he would like to forget. But couldn't.
The room was silent now. No more laughs. Estel was sitting, fork halfway to his mouth. The piece of cake had fallen off quite awhile ago.
The twins were silent. They had never heard of this part of Legolas' past. The three had been friends since they were barely old enough to travel on long journeys. They had never heard of this.
Elrond watched his patient carefully. He was overjoyed that the elf he had come to regard as a son was alive. But it seemed to come at a terrible price. Trouble was brewing in Mirkwood. Unless they could get information soon, it seemed that an entire elven kingdom would come crashing down.
Maybe it had already happened.
His thoughts, which had caused his eyes to wander focused again. Legolas was still staring off into space. For a second, Elrond thought the prince had simply fallen asleep. But his eyes weren't unfocused in the bright way of sleep, they were glassy and dull.
Suddenly fearing for the young one's health, Elrond brought a hand to the elf's forehead and quickly jerked it away. The prince was burning up. His temperature was dangerously high. How had he missed this?
"Elladan! Quick, to the kitchens fetch some ice! Elrohir, cold water and sponges. Estel; stay here."
The twins bolted. They were fully out of the door and separating before they realized the implications. When Elrond snapped like that, youhad better snap to it. The realization quickened their steps, while they wondered what new illness had befallen their dearest friend.
Inside the room, Estel and Elrond wondered the same thing. Elrond did the best he could, taking off the blankets, opening windows. He had finished even before the twins had reached their respective destinations.
A thought occurred to the elven lord. Breath coming fast, he carefully unbuttoned the prince's light silver sleep tunic and began to cut through the bandages. The wound had begun to close over, although the skin around it was still blackened. A trickle of blood trailed down the elf's side. The being's natural red color was darkened by black. The poison.
Legolas was still in danger.
The wound had not been cleansed. One of the most stubborn elves of the millennium was still fighting the battle.