Diclaimer: Of course I own "The Lord of the Rings"!! I got my own paperback copy on my shelf!!

Sorry for this horrifically late update!! School, health, crazy computers… everything seemed ready to stop me from uploading this chapter… so along with my most heartfelt excuses, I give you… Chapter 4.

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4. Disappearance

Melchoir lead his men onwards. Trade had been profitable, and he had enjoyed the stay in Mirkwood, but he was looking forward to seeing his family again, especially his little Mina. Soon they would reach the borders of Mirkwood; the elves who had accompanied him had assured him that they would reach it before nightfall.

 "Halt! In the name of King Thranduil you are ordered to stop!"

Melchoir started and turned to see a group of elves lead by Prince Derwen riding furiously towards him and his men. He frowned. What could have happened for the prince to look so agitated? Melchoir rode towards the elves while his men stopped to gaze and wonder at what had happened.

The trader bowed his head at Derwen. "Greetings my lord," he said courteously, "I hope that all is well?"

"Forget the formalities!" snapped back the prince, glaring at the mystified human. "Were have you taken him?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"We found the tracks, edan. One of your followers has taken him, and we demand him back!"

Melchoir started to doubt their sanity. "I must ask you to explain yourself sir, for I still do not understand who or what you are talking about."

"Are you trying to say that you did not take Prince Legolas?" sneered a dark-haired elf.

The man's mouth fell open. Prince Legolas? What would they want with the quiet elfling? He shook his head. "None of us has touched the young elf. Perhaps he has simply got lost…" His voice faltered before the furious glare of the elves. They clearly did not believe a single word. Melchoir drew himself stiffly on his saddle. "I suggest you search our belongings and carts then, prince. For it seems to be the only way I can convince you of my innocence."

The elves did not answer but slipped off their horses and started searching the bundles and the carts. Melchoir motioned his men to stand to the side. He could not understand why they were accusing him of stealing a child… but they would soon find out that it was only a mistake on their part.

~.~.~.~.

"We have misjudged you." The prince was pale, but his voice was steady. "I must ask your pardon, but as you were the only humans who had entered our grounds, you must forgive me if I immediately suspected your men."

Melchoir bowed stiffly. "I am glad that it is all over. And now If you will allow us to leave…"

"Master?" Melchoir and Derwen turned to see one of the men, looking uneasily from one to the other. "Master, there is one of us missing…" The trader looked at the men eyes wide, as he heard a sharp intake of breath from the prince's side.

"It…it's Hurdien master… the one who joined us before we came here." The man wiped his forehead. "His bundle… everything is gone… he's just left."

Melchoir face had lost any colour. Then… then the elves were right. It was… one of his men. His responsibility. He faced Derwen. The elf stood motionless, eyes expressionless.. "I…" The prince lifted his hand and the trader stopped speaking.

"I believe that you have nothing to do with this," Derwen said quietly, "I must ask you to see if any of your men have seen this… Hurdien, leave the camp." Melchoir turned to his men, but they shook their heads. None of them had seen him leave.

"I am sorry…" Melchoir licked his lips nervously. He could only imagine what the young elf was feeling at the kidnapping of his brother… the child was so young and defenceless. What would he feel if it were his Mina in Legolas's place?… "I offer my help and my men to help you search for the child, my lord. It is the least I can do."

Derwen shook his head. He smiled bitterly at the trader. "You will understand that I do not feel very friendly towards the human race at the moment." He called to the other elves and they all mounted their horses. "Continue riding onwards, and you should soon be out of Mirkwood. We leave to search for my brother. Farewell." With that, the elves rode back into the forest, as fast as the horses could go.

"Farewell, prince…" murmured Melchoir. He turned away, heart sinking at the thought of the golden haired elfling who had smiled at him so sweetly. He closed his eyes and prayed that no evil would befall the child.

~.~.~.~.~.

Faster, faster… Hurdien was panting heavily. He longed to get away from the stifling atmosphere of the woods. He felt as though something was glaring at him, full of anger and hatred. He tried to shake off the uneasy feeling… Faster, faster… soon he'd sell the brat and get lots of gold…. He was an expert in kidnapping creatures and selling them as slaves, and he knew that this was one of his best catches ever. He chuckled to himself. An elfling of royal blood. Lady luck had been smiling down on him. It had been easy so far. Hurdien paused and opened a map he'd bought at one of the stalls in the market place. It was purely by luck that he'd come across this old map of Mirkwood…

A slight moan came out of the bundle he had slung over the shoulder. The man cursed. The elfling had started to wake up. He dropped the bundle on the ground and opened it slightly.

~.~.~.~.~.

His head ached, and he felt groggy. Where was he? There was darkness…

The elfling gasped as he realized that he had his eyes closed. He had slept with his eyes closed only once, and that was many years ago, when he had almost died… Legolas opened his eyes, and blinked. He half shrieked when he saw the face in front of him, but a hand clamped over his mouth. The man he had met the night before glared at him as he lifted the elfing out of the sack. "Shut yer trap! D'ya want all the creatures in the woods to come running after us?" Legolas shook his head slowly, while taking in his surroundings. He noticed that they were in a part of Mirkwood he did not know. There was no way he could escape, for he was bound hand and foot. The edan took a cloth out of one of his pockets and gagged the child, who tried in vain to wriggle out of his grasp. He was afraid, for he could feel an aura of danger around him, and knew that the trees were trying to tell him something. But without getting close, he could not speak to them directly…

"Hurdien."

Both the man and the elfing jumped at the sound of the low sinister voice, almost a growl. Hurdien urned round to see a hooded figure standing by one of the trees. The elfing too stared at the newcomer, heart filled with unexplainable dread. He had not even been able to hear him coming. Legolas wondered what knew horror the day was bringing along…

The figure removed the hood to reveal his identity. It was a man. His face was thin and clean shaven, with a scar running down his right cheek. The human's lips were thin and his beaked nose made him look like a predatory bird. But it was his dark eyes which filled the child with fear. They pierced through him, cold and cruel. The elfling could feel that this man was evil.

"You gave me the scare of me life! What were ya thinkin' of\?" Hurdien laughed uneasily, welcoming the stranger. Hurdien knew Kieldún, but did not trust him although he had many dealings with him in the past. The slave trader had often commissioned Hurdien to capture new slaves for him, and had paid him a fair price. "I got him," he told him triumphantly as he pointed to the elfling, who was staring wide eyed at the two humans. Kieldún nodded briefly and approached Legolas. He bent down and grabbed the elfling's chin jerking his face up. Legolas started to struggle and tried to move away, but the man's grasp on his jaw tightened until the elfling cringed and stopped moving. "He's a good one ain't he?" said Hurdien proudly. Kieldún nodded, as his sharp eyes took in all the details. The captive was in good health, and would be good for work. Being an elf, he would take longer to age, and that would make him worth even more on the market.

"I'll take him," he replied, as he loosened his grasp on the elfling. Legolas tried to back away as far as he could, wishing that he could disappear. He longed for Derwen or his father, but no one was in sight.

"Thousand golden pieces."

"What?"

"You heard me," replied Hurdien stubbornly. "I'm not going to let him out of my hands for less. An' if you don't want him, I'll take him to someone else who'll pay me what he's worth."

"I'll pay no more than a hundred golden pieces."

Hurdien shook his head and grabbed Legolas by the shoulder. The elfing could barely understand what was happening… they spoke fast, and he was still dizzy. They were talking about buying and selling… but surely they couldn't mean him? Elves weren't bought and sold… he was sure of it…

"So you'd double cross me?" The scarred man's words were soft and menacing. The other looked slightly afraid, but he continued to insist. 

"I know his worth, and I won't be cheated." He started to walk away, dragging Legolas with him. Suddenly, the elfling felt the man let go of his shoulder, and looked up to see his eyes wide with horror and pain. Hurdien slumped to the ground. "You were too greedy my friend," whispered Kieldún, as he drew his bloodied knife from the man's back.

The elfing screamed with terror, but the sounds were muffled by the gag. He could not believe that this was happening. It had to be a nightmare. It had to be. Suddenly he felt a sharp pain at the side of his head, and he gasped as he was thrown to the ground.

"Shut up you rat. One sound out of you and I throw you down the ravine." Legolas stood still, trying hard to stop himself from whimpering, as he felt his head throbbing. Kieldún gave a twisted smile as he gapped Hurdien's bundle and Legolas's cloak, which both had blood on them, and threw them over the ravine. He looked at Hirdien's body, but decided that there was no need to send it after the rest of his belongings… the creatures which haunted the wood would soon take care of his remains.

The man turned to the young elfling, who was pale and trembling, eyes bright with tears. A dark bruise was already forming where he had hit him. The man was satisfied by the look of undisguised fear on the elfling's face. He knew that he would have no trouble with the child… it was so easy to control the young….

Kieldún lifted the elfling and thrust him under his arm. He had got what he had come for, and could now leave the forest with both his money, and his prize.

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THANK YOU TO ALL REVIEWERS!!!     I'm amazed and very happy at the response this fic is getting, and I'm really, really sorry for the time you had to wait! Any comments / suggestions? You know where to click!!  ;-)   (Yes, I admit it…. I'm addicted to reviews!)

Chelle: Thanks for reviewing, and for lending me the LOTR cds!! Gollum's song is really fantastic!!! ^_^ I'm listening to it now… again…

Elven dacer: Thanks for your suggestion! I was thinking about it in fact…. ^_^

elfchic02: Do I still qualify for the Legolas clone?? :p

Sorry for not replying to everyone, but I just want you to know that I appreciated every review!