Hello peeps! Chapter 4 is now up! I am SO SORRY for the late update, but school's been really like, SCHOOL like and I picked up my best friend's fever and flu. Am back now though, and I hope you enjoy!

Legolas: WHAT did you make me do this time?
Aragorn: And why drag US into it?
Elrohir: Elrond won't be happy when he finds out...
Legolas: Are you kidding? My father will KILL ME!
Elladan: Unless the orcs kill you first.
Legolas: No, my father will bring me back to life THEN kill me.
Thranduil: *fuming, draws sword*
Legolas: Told you!

(I STILL don't know how to spell Elrond's last name, and I can't find it on the net, sorry!)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the orcs - which I'm not OVERLY proud of having- Tolkien is the genious behind it all.

Thank you for your reviews again! keep on coming ;-)

Fathers unite!

Thranduil rode as if the nine wraiths were on his heels. He had received Elrond's reply at dawn, the day after it was sent. A few of Mirkwood's finest warriors had accompanied their king and the company was now past the boundaries of Mirkwood - heading towards the Misty Mountains with all haste. After they reached the Mountain pass, it would only be a few more days until they met up with Elrond and Glorfindel on the borders of Imladris valley.
The sun had climbed to it's best view point of Middle Earth - the noon position - when Thranduil called for a break.
"Rest for a while! You have all ridden hard and fast." The other warriors nodded and dismounted, while Thranduil told his captain - Ilian, "I'm going to scout ahead, I won't be long."
"Aye, my king." Ilian said as Thranduil began to canter away.

"Where are you, my son?" Thranduil whispered to himself, absently stroking his horse's mane. "Where are you?" A tear ran down his cheek, leaving a glistening path.
At that moment, a whiz caught Thranduil's ears - he turned to have an arrow embed itself in his right shoulder. The woodland king cried out, making his horse panic and rear up, causing it's rider to fall. When The arrow in his shoulder connected with the ground, Thranduil cried out again, but still started to get up. Once standing again, the King drew his sword and prepared himself for the battle with the oncoming orcs - for there were orcs all around him - and screamed before plunging into the fray "FOR GREENLEAF!".

Ilian had a bad feeling. He had had it since his King had left on the scout alone. Something wrong had, is or will happen. "Ilian, what is the matter? You've been all jumpy since King Thranduil left." Ilian looked at the elf who had spoken - Lidian - and said "Yes, well, I have a very bad feeling about the King. I feel that something has happened, or is happenning." Lidian immediately put down the blade he was sharpening. Anything wrong with the King and he had to help. "What? Do you suppose we look for him?" Ilian shrugged "I don't know. Maybe we should- "The whole group of elves stood at the cry they heard in the distance "For Greenleaf? But that is King Thranduil's war cry..." Lidian trailed off and leapt upon his horse, Ilian and the other warriors closely following him. "Quickly! The King needs us!" With that, he galloped towards the sounds of battle, the others on his heels.

As the orcs came into sight, Ilian thought the worst. Thranduil couldn't be seen. But it was then he heard a cry, then an orc's head fall from it's shoulders. Thranduil was in the middle of the fight, hacking and slashing away. Ilian watched in awe; his King did his father - Oropher - proud. Just then, Tharnduil gave a shout and Lidian pushed his mount into the battle, sword in hand. The warriors followed him. Soon, only a few orcs were left; but Thranduil was still trapped in the middle. As Ilian stared at his King surrounded by orcs, he noticed two things - An arrow sticking out of The woodland king's right shoulder and a sword wound on his stomach, and an orc raising a scimitar behind the King. "THRANDUIL!" He cried, pointing behind his leader, eyes wide. The elvenking saw where Ilian was pointing, but too late. As he turned, the orc brought the scimitar down, lodging it firmly in Thranduil's stomach. The Mirkwood warriors gave a collective gasp. Thranduil screamed and lifted his sword to the orc's throat - slitting it. As the dead beast fell to the ground, so did the King. Lidian was the first to dismount and rush to Thranduil's side. Ilian was right behind him, and a warrior who knew of healing behind him. The others took up the task of clearing and burning the orc corpses (as no elves had been killed, though some had been injured). Lidian rolled Thranduil onto his back and gently tapped his cheek. "My king?" He asked. No answer. Ilian softly shook his shoulder. "My king Thranduil?" Ilian said, attempting to help Lidian. No use. The king wouldn't wake. Ilian looked exasperatedly at Lidian, who looked back. "We could send a messenger to Lord Elrond and Glorfindel," Lidian suggested, taking a cloth off of the other warrior and put it on the scimitar wound. "He is already at the border. If we keep moving once we send a note for him to ride to meet us, we could travel towards him, instead of him just coming to us. It would be quicker." Ilian thought for a moment, cringing when Thranduil cried out as the warrioir that could heal pulled out the arrow in the king's shoulder. "Yes, but can our king survive the ride? It was one very bad blow he took." Lidian sighed at the logic and nodded. "Aye, that would have to be taken on, mellon nin. But-" "I can make the trip over the mountains." A soft, raspy voice cut in, silencing the two other elves in mid-sentence. "My king! Are you sure? You took an awful injury!" The healer warrior nodded warily "Yes, tis true though. He will be able to make it over the mountains - if he is laid down. Or at least not moving much." Thranduil looked over at the warrior and back to Lidian and Ilian. It was times like this when he felt weak and useless - injured and immobile. "See? If someone rides behind me I shall ride with you all to meet Elrond." Ilian started to speak "So, we should send a messenger to him?" Thranduil sighed "If you must. But I really don't see the point. It IS only a scratch." Lidian laughed with Ilian and the other warrior. "Now we all now where Legolas gets it from!" Lidian chuckled. Thranduil smiled mischievously and didn't look like a king at all. "Go on then, send that message and let us be off!" "There we go! Legolas really DOES get his stubbornness and selflessness from his father! Let us bind your wounds, then we can leave." Ilian stood and walked over to a passing elf and told him to send a message to Lord Elrond that King Thranduil had been injured and is in need of his skills. We shall be travelling over the mountains, so try and head that way. The messenger nodded and ran to mount his horse, and was off. Lidian helped the healer to wrap the King's wounds, then they both helped the elvenking to mount Lidian's horse - Lidian mounted behind him. "Hurry! Pack up camp and mount! I'm afraid we must ride hard again!" Thranduil said, though Lidian and Ilian wished he didn't - his throat was quite sore from his battle. The warriors did as they were asked and followed their king (and Lidian) towards the Misty Mountains.

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Elladan's ears caught a snapping twig to the group's right and turned his head to try and see what the cause was. It was only an orc, trying to scout to the side. Like these orcs could sneak up on something. The oldest son of Elrond shook his head. He, Elrohir and Aragorn had been made to march non-stop for two days now, and it was getting tiring - even for an elf. Looking over at his twin, who looked over at Aragorn, the three brothers wondered when they would escape. They knew if they escaped and the orcs found out earlier than preferred, their new friend - Legolas - would come to get the blame and punishment. They had seen how the orcs liked to *play* with the poor young prince, and you could easily see the results of their *playing*. His right arm was still healing from a broken bone, his face was covered in scratches, his torso and legs covered in various wounds. Elladan really felt sorry for him. Being captured and made to work and fight to these beasts must be torture, and for three months... He's licky to be alive, The older son thought. Glancing to the front of the prossesion, Elladan could see Legolas, black bow in hand, sharp, blue eyes scanning the area around them. An hour ago the orcs had entered the forest of Imladris, and were following the river around. Ever since the battle and capture of the sons of Elrond, the orcs had stuck to the river. No-one but the orc leader knew why. Suddenly, Legolas ran forward into a tree with astonishing speed. Even the orc leader was impressed. "Wat is it elf? Wat 'av ya seen?" Legolas narrowed his eyes and knocked an arrow to his bow, calling back over his shoulder to the orcs (and elves and human) "Wargs!" The orcs began to mutter and draw weapons. They didn't ride wargs, so they didn't ally with shared a confused look with his brothers - wargs can't be this close to Rivendell! But Legolas was right, because when he let his arrow fly, a thump and a growl and another thump was heard as the arrow found its mark. Legolas made quick work of the first few wargs with his arrows before the orcs went in with their scimitars. Jumping down from the tree, Legolas ran to where Elladan, Elrohir and Aragorn were standing. Whipping out a knife in place of his bow, he cut the ropes of the brothers' and said to them "Quickly, if you want to escape, now is your chance!" Elrohir looked around - all the orcs were busy with the wargs. "He's right, now is our chance." Aragorn nodded and began to run away from the orcs, before stopping. "Our weapons," He stated. They needed to get them back! Legolas sighed and cursed himself for not thinking of this before. This was going to cost them valuable time. His brain working at a hundred miles per hour, he handed his bow and arrows to Elladan and knife to Elrohir, both of whom just looked at them and back at him. "But won't you need something?" They asked, frowning. Legolas smirked and drew his double bladed staff from its holster on his back. Twirling it around his hands impressively (But he didn't think it was impressive) he said "I have this. Defend yourself, I'll be right ba-" "The captives are free!" An orc shouted, pointing with a scimitar. The orc leader glanced over and saw Legolas and three untied captives. He grew angry. "ELF!" He screamed, throwing a dagger at the young prince. "Why are the prisoners free!" The dagger met flesh in Legolas' shoulder. The blonde elf hissed as he shouted back "I was cutting their bonds so they can defend themselves. You wouldn't want three dead captives, would you?" The orc leader grunted and continued fighting. He called over his shoulder "If they escape, Your throat'll be for forfeit!" Legolas yanked the dagger out of his shoulder and handed it to Aragorn, placing his free hand on the wound to staunch the bleeding. "Please, just defend yourselves. I'll be back in a moment." With that, he sped off. A warg chose Aragorn as a target but found death to the man's dagger. Elrohir slit the throat of a warg that came too close and Elladan felled two with arrows to the neck.

Legolas returned a little while after Aragorn had killed his third warg, carrying a bundle of weapons.
"Here," He said placing the weaponry on the ground and stepping back. "I think I found all of them." Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir stared at the pile in disbelief. Legolas smiled bashfully. "Well?" He teased, "Are you going to take them or should I take them back?" Aragorn shook his head vigorously "No, no," He replied bending down and scooping up his sword "Don't worry, these will be looked after especialy well from now on!" Elrhir laughed and said "Humans!" before swinging his own bow and quiver (which was miraculously still full of arrows) on his back. He then sheathed his sword. Elladan did the same (His quiver was still full, too). Aragorn turned to Legolas and hesitated a moment, as if trying to decide on something. He seemed to have settled on whatever he was thinking about and swung his arms around the blonde archer in a heartfelt embrace. Legolas looked stunned for a moment, but returned the embrace with the same vigour as the man had. When Aragorn drew back he whispered "Thank-you, Legolas. For everything." The Prince of Mirkwood cocked his head and shrugged his shoulders. "It is the least I can do," He stated. "But you speak as if this is goodbye. Or the end." Elladan sighed and glanced to his twin. He had caught on, then. "Aye, Legolas." Elrohir said quietly, staring around for any danger, but luckily the orcs were still too pre-occupied with the wargs and themselves. He continued "We are going to make our escape while the orcs can't notice." Legolas visibly sagged at this. "So, your going to leave then?" The twins nodded. "That doesn't mean that we won't meet again, Legolas." Aragorn cut in. Legolas looked at him hopefully. "You can come with us. We will take you back to Rivendell, where your father can come and take your home to Mirkwood. You won't ever see these orcs again. Elrond and Glorfindel will make sure that the beasts don't see another dawn." The archer's mouth opened in slight shock "You mean, you will take me with you? Honestly? Really?" The three brothers nodded and Elladan took Legolas' hand. "Come, mellon nin. We must leave now lest the orcs realize what is occurring." With that, he ran into the bushes pulling Legolas with him. Elrohir and Aragorn followed them.

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There! Lego, Aragorn, El and El have escaped! (For now, anyway!). I wonder what will happen to e, Glorfindel and Thranduil? Oh well. Will just have to wait, won't we? ;-)

Thank-you for your reviews! They are BRILLIANT! Keep it up, pleeeese!

Namarie 'til next time,

Hunter of Valar.
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