Chapter 5: Cold Nightmares and the Start of a Hunt
Legolas wanted to burst out and make all those bad orcs leave.
However, even as the trees clutched him tight under their branches and whispered soothing words into him, the words of nature could not relieve him of what he was seeing right now. He wanted to scream, but his voice choked on it's way out of his throat. It was he had frozen in place...and couldn't even speak.
It pained him. Everytime they'd do something to her, the pain increased in his chest, the tight choking feeling that urged him to take quick breaths. He didn't understand why they were doing this to her. He really didn't. He didn't even know what they were doing to her!
The ugly orcs had something in their hand and they were hitting her. His Nana's robes were gone and she lay there, still alive and breathing but with bruises all over her. The large stick they had in their hands kept slamming down at her, blood surging out. Her body was bloody, blood-red from all the injuries she had. Everytime they struck her, the band of orcs would laugh and cheer, encouraging more.
Suddenly, another one grabbed a knife and Legolas hissed softly. He caught his breath and watched horrified as they began to cut her. They weren't big, quick cuts but small ones that stretched all over her. More blood trickled down and Nana's face was torn, cut and bloody. Her eyes were teary and her face stretched in pain.
Legolas whispered his apologies to the tree but he couldn't stand idle. He slipped from the tree's branches and threw a rock. The rock struck an orc in it's foot, making it hiss in anger but it did not hurt him or stop him from hurting his Nana. His Nana shrieked as the orcs came and pulled him over roughly.
"So," said the leader orc in common tongue, "we have found you from your hiding place, little elf."
Everybody laughed and the leader orc paced, looking at him. At least their attention was away from Nana for a bit. "Do you like what you see?"
Legolas glared at him, despite his Nana's moans and groans as she stood there, the blood draining out of her. "No, and you'd better stop soon."
They laughed even louder, their hideous screeches echoing across the forest. "Oh, really? And what are you going to do?"
"Please," whispered his Nana frail at the orcs. "Don't hurt them...he's only a child. Look at me!"
"We're getting there, be patient," growled the leader at her. "Shut up, be quiet and you'll have your punishment soon."
"YOU BE QUIET BAD MONSTER!" snapped Legolas as loud as he could. "My Ada will find you, he'll hunt you down and he'll slash you into a million pieces. You'll see."
The orcs chuckle and looked amused. The leader fumed. "Hm...quite a fiery temper, don't you?"
"Definitely Thranduil's son," muttered another in plain disgust.
"Kneel down!" ordered the leader orc at Legolas. "We'll see what you get for disobedience and we'll see what your 'Nana' gets as well."
"No!" growled Legolas and suddenly, his face burned and he realized something: he had been slapped.
Sure, he'd been slapped by his father a few times. He'd been hit by Thalos a few times too although they were mostly accidents but the pain that spread around his face was excruciating. The leader grabbed the stick and swatted across his face again and again. His face had a bright red mark and Legolas felt a tooth loosen somewhere in his mouth by the huge impact.
"Legolas," whispered his Nana. "Penneth, do as he says...please."
Legolas, reluctantly and painfully knelt down in front of the pleased-looking orc. He laughed and then muttered some strange, dark words at the orcs next to him, who quickly ran. He looked sideways at his Nana and she smiled weakly at him. "Do not worry penneth, it will all be fine. It will all be fine..."
Legolas smiled back, because for a brief moment…he believed her.
The orcs came back with a barrel full of what seemed water. Legolas frowned...what were they trying to do? The leader growled something in the dark language and then suddenly, an orc brought a bag or something and poured it into the water. But what was that bag?
Then, they brought the barrel slowly and...dumped it on Nana.
Legolas' vision went blurry, but the last thing he heard were the high-pitched screams of Nana, shrieking through the forest and showing pain at it's worse. A pain so painful...that death seemed so much sweeter.
Pain. Blood. Death. Pain. Blood. Death. Pain. Blood. Death. Pain. Blood. Death. Nana...
At the first peak of light the next morning, Elrond was in his office stamping some new laws that he had been requested to read. It was tedious work and he found himself getting one of his occasional 'Elrond headaches.'
Suddenly, he heard the loudest roar he had ever heard and the sound of quick, hurried steps. His office door opened and then closed quickly, the padlocks being locked in a speed that seemed incredible for him. He frowned as he faced the twins with a ghostly look in their faces.
"Ada, ada! You have to save us!" exclaimed Elladan frantically.
"What happened, ion-nín?" asked Elrond, one of his eyebrows curled up.
"Okay," admitted Elrohir. "We did a prank on Legolas...we're sorry Ada! But we can't stop doing pranks, just admit it."
"It's true," said Elladan nodding. "And well...we didn't want him to get angry since everybody mostly thinks our pranks are funny and everything."
"What did you do?" asked Elrond immediately regretting it. Honestly, he didn't want to know but this was Legolas they were talking about. And knowing Thranduil, if something happened to his son, he would never forgive Elrond-or his sons.
"We put a spider in his shoe," they blurted out.
Elrond glared at them. "You two are the most foolish elflings I have heard of! You knew that he came from Mirkwood, a place who is plagued with spiders at least two hundred times bigger than the ones here! Don't you think he would be angry?"
"We weren't thinking Ada, we're really sorry," said Elrohir.
"It's true Ada," nodded Elladan. "But now he wants to kill us-literally. Okay, he doesn't really know it was us but he's creeping everybody out-including us!"
"Yes," said Elrohir. "He has his knives out and looks like he wants to murder somebody! It's truly terrifying Adar...please help us!"
Suddenly, they heard a few screams from above and Elrond sighed, standing up. With Elladan and Elrohir behind him, they opened the door and saw Legolas running down the stairs. He held two white glistening knives, with tiny specks of blood which Elrond guessed were from the spider's. He looked terrible, his hair still was mussed up from sleep, his eyes sagging but wide awake.
"Legolas-" he started and then Legolas turned to him, wide-eyed. Then he looked down at himself, looking quite horrified and put his knives on their sheaths.
"I-I am so sorry," he said, almost as if he couldn't believe what he just done. "My behavior was absolutely inappropriate. My apologies...I suppose I overreacted because there was a spider in my shoe. Frankly, I think I owe an apology to your kind staff. Perhaps the spider was just there by chance, it's just that in Mirkwood-"
"No Legolas," Elrond calmly stated. "I believe my sons owe you an apology. They thought it would be a funny prank to see your reaction. It is not your fault, penneth, calm down."
Legolas calmed down sighed and bowed down, "My apologies for disturbing you, Lord Elrond. Your sons need not to pay their apologies to me...it is entirely my fault. I was not thinking well. I think I need some fresh air."
And Legolas left to go outside.
Good tree of Imladris, I wish to hear your wisdom from beneath your knowing leaves.
Legolas was finally having some peace. He needed one moment of silence and especially after that spider prank. The twins had dragged him almost everywhere, chattering merrily but they had not noticed Legolas' discomfort. Legolas was grateful for their company and he swore that even Thalos could not talk half as much as those elves could. But Legolas was so used to being alone! The youngest prince but not yet old enough to do any of the important issues. He wasn't even allowed in his father's council, for god's sake! Despite the fact he had guided patrols into the rims of Dol Guldur! Despite the fact that he had fought in more than a hundred battles! Despite the injuries he had suffered from the orcs had almost killed him!
He was still not that important.
He sighed. Trees had always been a guide to his relief...not only could talking to them benefit him but they reminded them of her. Of Nana. Her name brought years of pain, fury and revenge in him, despite the fact that day, he had sworn he would never cry. He leaned back and remembered.
[BEGIN FLASHBACK]
"Look, Leggy-dear! Look at those trees!"
Her laughter was beautiful...the sound of blue jays. It rang through the sky and spread through the valleys like a pleasant lullaby, like silver bells ringing about peace. Like a song that went on forever, depicting love and eternal happiness. She guided Legolas' chubby arm and pointed it to the trees.
"They look very pretty, Nana," he giggled.
"Come on Legolas," she grinned carrying him closer towards the trees. She finally set him down in the shade of a cool willow and they sat down under its nice shade. Nana's eyes were shut close and leaned back against the bark of the tree. Greenwood was full of them and Legolas' curious eyes roamed around before he asked his Nana:
"Nana, why do you close your eyes?"
She smiled. "Because if you close your eyes...you disappear into another world. Your mind flows and if you truly concentrate, you will notice that this forest is alive, my Greenleaf. The trees speak and their wisdom passes on to us."
"I want to talk to them too!" he grinned. "Can you teach me, Nana?"
"I can help you," she said. "But if they will talk to you is another thing."
"Okay!" said Legolas smiling.
"It is very simple Legolas," she grinned; she made her son lean back against the cool bark of the willow. "Lean back, close your eyes and concentrate on your soul. Release yourself and relax, calm down. Let your worries fly and...you will hear them."
Legolas leaned back and did as she said. He let everything flow and his mind drifted to his endless imagination, future adventures he was planning to make. He waited for many minutes until he gave up. He opened his eyes and frowned at his mother. "Nana, the trees no speak to me…" he said. "They no love me?"
"Of course they love you, my little Greenleaf," explained his Nana as he crawled and sat in her lap. "To speak to them though, you'll need much more practice. They don't know you yet…as time goes and you spend time with them, they'll become your friends and will share their secrets with you; their wisdom, their stories…and also your most precious memories. Trees are the greatest love of the woodland elves and you'll learn that very soon."
"And do you love me, Nana?" asked the baby Legolas.
Queen Miluneth smiled. "Of course my little Greenleaf, I will always love you."
[END FLASHBACK]
If you are asking for our wisdom about how your beloved Mirkwood is, then here is your answer: the wind and trees tell me that your family is safe, yet they do not seem all calm. The trees tell me, your brother, the so-called Thalos Thranduilion, carries a huge burden; however it is something we cannot identify.
I see, I thank you for your knowledge, responded Legolas. Thalos was put in a lot of pressure and expectations as the crown prince of Mirkwood, so yes...he believed the trees. He was surprised on how quick he had befriended the trees here in Imladris...although yes, he still liked the ones in Mirkwood more. I would not like to bother you so, yet...has there been news of my father?
Your father...King Thranduil isn't he? I am being told he holds emotions that he cannot afford to show and he holds them inside his heart. Yet he is calm and seems not disturbed by such emotions.
And what may those emotions be?
Well, by the Valar! I am a tree, not a mind-reader, did you think we could read minds?
Legolas tried his best to hide a smile. Even trees had some sass. My apologies...I was simply concerned for their safety. Yet it seems that my father has reacted to my leave as I believed he would.
And how is that, little one? What do you fear? I have seen you in Imladris yet you do not seem to fully appreciate its beauty and you do not seem fully yourself. What troubles you?
Legolas sighed and poured it all. You see...Elladan and Elrohir, they are kind and I do not doubt they will be good leaders, yet despite they're older than me, it is as if they were children. They do not know what pain means or loss. It frustrates how they stand here, peacefully joking and playing when at home, we are fighting and losing battles against the dangers we encounter. There is no person in Mirkwood who has lost no kin to the darkness that roams our lands. We become strong yet here...it is as if everybody were childish here though. I fear that I may never fit with them and I may never truly become happy again...never laugh like I used to. I appreciate Imladris, and the hospitality Lord Elrond and his family give me. And I admire Imladris deeply, truly...yet I cannot bring myself to be able to blend in with all the elves here. How can I truly become friends with these elves, when we are so different?
He waited for the tree...wisdom took time and he had just blurted out a lot of things that he would never even have dreamt of telling his father, King Thranduil. Finally, the tree responded.
Legolas Thranduilion, prince of Mirkwood. You are wise for a child and I understand that despite you are young, your wisdom makes you as half old as any of us. Your strength brings you to incredible feats that would be unthinkable to most elves your age. I know what you have overcome and I know that in your heart...the pain stays. It will never be washed away yet if you close yourself from other people, you will find the pain harder to keep. It will increase and increase until you can do no more. It is not too late prince of Mirkwood, and despite the fact that the princes Elladan and Elrohir have not yet shred their childish innocent skins...they will soon. You have shed your own skin too young, so let them shed their own skin when their time comes. And yet, despite the statement that they don't have your wisdom, they possess something greater than that.
And what shall that be?
They possess the cure to your loneliness. Fate is not mine to weave, so I will tell you no further and let you write your own destiny. I wish you good luck.
Legolas sighed and got up. He loved trees but sometimes they were the most intriguingly frustrating creatures ever existing. They always talked in riddles, for god's sake! Why couldn't they be frank and straight with him? I don't know, like tell him to go how many miles east or something?
"We're really sorry for what we did, Legolas, really."
He heard their voice and turned around to see Elladan and Elrohir, looking slightly guilty and he looked at them. For a moment, everything was quiet, the forest echoing in its silent song when Elladan continued.
"I know you told Ada we didn't need to tell you an apology but we're really sorry. We truly are, we didn't think you would be so angry. We weren't thinking right. So...do you forgive us?" he asked.
Legolas looked at them. "Well, I can't say I'm terribly happy right now but I'm not known to hate anybody too long. I forgive you."
"Great!" exclaimed Elrohir."Because we were thinking of taking you out hunting today!"
"To hunt game?" said Legolas horrified. Since an early age, Legolas had taken a good love to nature which included animals. And especially when it happened, Legolas turned into a vegetarian with a healthy diet that didn't include meat.
"No, to hunt a small band of orcs nearby," said Elladan smiling. "Ada finally let us both out alone without any guards escorting us like spoiled children and so since you're here...why not? Just the three of us, hunting down orcs...well, we thought it would be fun. Since you told us you liked killing things. Of course, that's totally up to you, if you want to join us."
"Orcs," Legolas looked down and thought but it didn't take him a split second to look at the twins, with a spark in his eyes and a smile which flickered off as fast as it appeared. "When do we start?"
O-O-O
AN: Hey guys! I know this chapter wasn't that good…but it'll get better in the future. Besides, I kind of wrote this a year ago so my writing style is MUCH MORE different now. Sorry for not posting recently…my entire story got deleted! O_O Thankfully, I was able to find it again in my trash and 20 chapters of this story were saved, phew! Anyways, thanks for your support! Your reviews are awesome! I promise I'll try to post more these following days! Here are the responses to your reviews!
Luin: Haha! Thank you! Legolas is my boyfriend too! And sure, I'll make sure there's more angst in this story! I love putting angst in my fanfics! *evil laugh*
Iana: Well… *blushes* I kind of did forget their ages. I wrote this story a year ago and I kept it in storage for many months, so I'm not exactly sure. I have a terrible memory but I think that Arwen was about 12, Legolas around 16 and the twins around 20 (although the twins act more like they're 5). Haha! And yes, the twins know what diplomacy is…they just don't like it. And yes, Legolas might be annoyed but he'll always be a polite little cutie and he won't show it!
Eraman: They sure are, my friend. But they are only about 12 in human years, so yes…they're a bit childish. Although I'm about that age too and everybody says I'm as serious as a stone statue, so…it differs I guess.
Guest: Again, thank you! Initially I did want Legolas to win. However, I thought that a tie would be good enough since Legolas is still basically a kid…he couldn't exactly win against someone as experienced and skilled as Glorfindel (remember, this dude killed a balrog and died and came back! Give him a standing ovation!) And ha ha, I'll make sure Arwen doesn't get too close but who knows…? ;)
Luin: Indeed, Arwen has a crush on Legolas. It's a small kiddy crush though, so it's not serious. And about the injuries? *Sweats nervously* Ha ha, maybe Legolas will be injured and…erm, other people as well…
Masked Man 2: Legolas could get an army of fangirls if he wanted, man! Thanks! The tight bond between the twins is something very important in my story and it's so awesome that you think it's great! And you almost cried? Oh my…I don't know if I should be happy or sorry but thanks! There'll be much more emotional up ahead!
Iana: Ah…bueno, sí es un poco confuso, lo admito. Me disculpo por no ser tan clara pero la cosa es así: Glorfindel sí sabe lo de Legolas, ya que él y su madre eran viejos amigos. Sin embargo, Glorfindel tiene que mantener su existencia en secreto…ni siquiera se lo puede decir a Lord Elrond. Porqué? Ya lo verás… *evil laugh* I'm really sorry it got confusing; I do admit I phrased it wrong.
Blonde Fanatic: I will! :)