Yo, peoples! Manwathiel is here to supply another chapter! I hope the last chapter wasn't too confusing.
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Chapter 10- Espenshade
"So, what is it like being a prince?" Wilyawing asked Legolas excitedly.
"Fine." He replied, quite bored.
"Do you like being a prince?" She asked again.
"It has it's ups and downs." He answered unenthusiastically. Legolas was still perched on the window sill, staring out the window still. He had given in to the women and was being arded with questions. One of them, called Tolandiel, grabbed a lock of his golden hair and took a whiff of it. Her eyes fluttered and she sighed.
"How do you get your hair to smell so good? Do you put something in it?" She asked.
"No." He responded dully.
"You mean it smells like that naturally?" He shrugged.
"Yes, I guess." With a squeal, she continued to sniff his hair and the others joined in as well. Jaimea chuckled, but received a hard glare from Legolas, shutting her up.
Legolas rested his chin on his fist. 'I must remember never to come here.' He thought. 'I bet Norui is sitting right outside the door listening and laughing at me. Just listening to my .' His thoughts were broken when there was a crash, followed by a series of screeches. He nearly laughed when he saw the sight on the floor. Jaimea was crouched on the ground with a bird twisted up in her hair.
"Stupid creature!" She shouted. With many tugs and pulls, she freed the bird from her hair and threw it across the room. Legolas broke from the group surrounding him and jumped in the air to catch the bird before it crashed into the wall. Once the bird had regained it's balance, it hopped on to Legolas's shoulder and gave a pleased cry. Legolas chuckled.
"Ah, Espenshade. My friend." He stroked it's chest. It was a female Peregrin Falcon with glowing, sapphire eyes. A piece of parchment was tired around her leg. Legolas untied it and sat down to read it. He laughed as Espenshade nibbled on the point of his ear. The others in the room looked in with interest. Jaimea had just finished straightening out her hair. As he read the letter, his smile faded and was replaced with a stern glare. Espenshade seemed to share the same look. He folded up the paper and shoved it in his pocket. "I must go." He stood and made his down the rope ladder. Jaimea crawled over to the edge of the fort.
"Legolas, where are you going?" She called down to him.
"Personal business." He said simply.
"Will you come back?" He didn't respond. His fleeting form had already disappeared behind the bushes and trees. Jaimea leaned back and started out into the woods. Espenshade circled above the woman's head and dropped something into her lap and then perched herself onto Jaimea's leg. "What is this?" She picked it up and read it then furrowed her brow. It was the letter Legolas had received. "But I thought he took it..." The falcon locked eyes with her. Just then, Jaimea could have sworn she heard a voice that was not her own in her head. Espenshade then flew away up into the sky, crying as she went, until Jaimea could no longer see her.
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Norui lay next to Glithiel in her bed in the Healing Wing. He caressed her cheek lovingly. It had been at least an hour since Espenshade had been sent to find Legolas.
"Fight him, Glithiel. You are strong. Much stronger then that creature." He gave her a small kiss on the lips.
Norui's wounds had been treated to and were already healing, thanks to his elven healing abilities. The healers had given him approval to wander freely once more. Just then, the doors burst open.
"Norui!" Legolas ran in through the doors and knelt down beside his brother. "Are you alright?" Norui sat up and smiled at him.
"Yes, I am now. I just need to heal up."
"Good, I was worried sick." He moved to check on his father. "Ada?" He shook him, but got no response. He called him once more, but still received nothing. "What is happening to them?" He thought aloud.
"I am not sure." Norui answered him. Legolas turned to face him.
"You don't know either?"
"I think I know what it is that is causing it, but I do not know why it is happening." Legolas bit his lip. "Maybe Mithrandir would know." The elder prince wondered.
"I have not met him before." Legolas commented.
"He is very kind. You would like him." He assured him.
"Where is he?"
"Rivendell, I believe." Legolas nodded.
"Alright, are you well enough to go?" Norui looked from his beloved to his father, then nodded.
"I would do anything for the ones I love."
"Alright," He tossed him his tunic, "Get ready." He left the room in search of his older sisters to tell them of the plan.
Espenshade had returned from moseying around the forest, but was soon off again with another message, this time to the mortal man residing in Rivendell under the care of Lord Elrond, Estel. It said this:
Estel,
Leave as soon as possible and meet us at the Gladden Fields.
Legolas
Within an hour, all in Mirkwood were aware of Legolas's plan to seek out Mithrandir. The four children of the King were prepared to set off west and south to the Gladden Fields.
"Legolas, do you think Estel will come?" Lothron asked him, curious. He nodded.
"Most likely, why?"
"Oh, no reason really." She and Melyanna giggled femininely. Norui rolled his eyes.
"Oh please." He scoffed. The two glared at him.
"Shut up, Norui!" Melyanna shouted.
"Make me!" He challenged to her. Melyanna stuck her tongue out at him, and he did the same. Legolas and Lothron chuckled.
"Dimwits." They said in unison. A guard brought them their horses and then brought Norui aside.
"My lord," he said, "You must hurry back. Six more elves have fallen under this mysterious sleep."
"We will." He assured the guard. Legolas interrupted their conversation.
"Norui, come on! We are racing Melyanna and Lothron!" He told him, then sped off at a full gallop on his mare.
"Good bye, Norui." He smiled.
"Namarie." He put his hand to his heart, then swept it out in the air in farewell. The guard returned the gesture. "Take care of Glithiel and Ada."
"They will be just fine." Norui could still hear Legolas calling him in the distance. He leapt up onto his stallion and sped off after his brother and sisters. The guard stood there and watched them disappear over the horizon.
"Farewell." He whispered and then slowly began to make his way back to the palace.
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There you go! Another chapter! Just to let you know, the twins and Estel will be making their appearance shortly! Maybe next chapter. Maybe not. Stay tuned to find out!
Moriarwen- Thanks for reading! Yes, the beast is icky. ::hisses at beast:: Review again please!
Until Next Time,
Manwathiel
