Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or Lord of the Rings. If I did… why would I be writing this?

A/N: Hello again. Yes, an update. Yes, in a reasonable amount of time. No, I have nothing to do. Yes, I'm ignoring the math in front of me- erm… I mean… Yes, mother, I'm doing that right now!

Chapter 12

Elladan woke early, jumping out of bed and throwing on a tunic and leggings. He woke Elrohir and told him where he was planning to go. He then walked out of the room, down the hallway, and into the gardens. Elladan found Legolas sitting just outside on a bench, his eyes closed and breathing deep.

"Good morning!" Elladan greeted with a wide smile.

Legolas's eyes flashed open and the Sinda offered a grin, "Morning, Elladan. How are you?"

"I'm well." Elladan answered, "And you?"

"I'm feeling rather well." Legolas said, leaning back against the bench.

"Good." Elladan responded, then tilted his head, "Is there a reason you're out here?"

"Erestor gave me something to think about yesterday, that's all." Legolas answered, looking thoughtful.

"What?"

"He asked me if I missed my father." Legolas murmured, "And the more I think about it, the more I realize I actually do miss him a lot."

Elladan nodded, a sympathetic look on his face, "So, what are you going to do about it?"

Legolas shrugged, looking lost, "I want to go back, but…"

"But?" Elladan inquired, suddenly feeling worry rush forth.

"But I don't know if he would accept me back after what I did. I ran away, Elladan, without thinking about anything. If he got angry with me for sleeping outdoors a single night, what would he think now that I've traveled all the way over the Misty Mountains alone?" Legolas bowed his head, tears swimming in his blue eyes.

Elladan sat down beside Legolas and wrapped an arm around him, "I'm not an expert on your father, and I've never met him, but I think he would be happy to have you back."

Legolas sighed sorrowfully, "Maybe, or maybe he would be even angrier with me for running off."

"Or maybe he would be relieved to see you." Elladan pointed out.

Legolas looked up with the slightest hint of a smile, and a faint touch of hope, "You really think so?"

"I do." Elladan confirmed, smiling at the blond, "I don't think he would be too angry."

Legolas smiled slightly, eyes clouded in thought, "I think I will go back after we return from Lothlorien."

Elladan nodded absently, "You might not have to."

"What do you mean?" Legolas asked, head shooting up.

"Well, I'm not sure, but the other night, before we came out here, I overheard part of a conversation between my father and Erestor. They were talking about Lorien, but I distinctly heard "Thranduil" in the middle of one of their sentences. It made me wonder."

"Why would they be talking about Lothlorien and my father together? Unless they somehow figured my adar would be in Lorien. But that wouldn't make sense."

"Why not?" Elladan asked, "It would fit together."

"It would, but my father's not on much better terms with Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn than your father."

"Then why would they be talking about them together? Unless Ada told your father that we'd be in Lorien, but that- for whatever reason- doesn't sound like something Erestor would be talking to him late at night about. If my Ada had told your father where to find you, Erestor wouldn't take special notice."

"Would he drop hints?" Legolas inquired, "He asked if I was going to go back."

"Then they're up to something, and it's not based on fact. Erestor's strange occasionally; he wants to make sure he's working toward what he deems right, which means they're probably trying to get the two of you to meet up!"

"If it works, it saves me from having to travel over the mountains again." Legolas pointed out, "And if it doesn't, I'm no worse off than I am now."

Elladan nodded, "Exactly! Come on, we leave in an hour!"

Thranduil stayed very still; glancing this way and that. He had been sure he had felt someone watching him in the night, but the lack of light had prevented him from locating the thing. The horses too had stirred, as if disturbed suddenly by someone or something. He had taken his sword, which had still lain in its sheath, and very nearly drawn it when it occurred to him that such actions would be a direct challenge, and if whatever-it-was was behind him, he could be dead in seconds. So, Thranduil had moved closer to one of the rocks and stayed still.

But even now that dawn's light spilled over the rocks; Thranduil could still not locate his observer. The whole matter was beginning to unsettle him greatly, as he could still occasionally feel someone's gaze on him. He felt as though he were the hunted prey, unaware exactly of what kind of predator laid in wait.

A few feet to the left of him, Faeron stirred slightly. The advisors eyes flashed into awareness and immediately saw his king, sitting with his back to a rock and looking nervous and worried. Concerned, Faeron sat up; Thranduil immediately crept over to him, motioning for him to speak quietly.

"What's wrong?" Faeron whispered.

"Someone, or something, has been watching us." Thranduil answered, continuing to look around.

"I thought I heard some rocks fall last night, as though someone where scrambling over them, but I listened for a long time after and I heard no more footsteps. I thought maybe I was just imagining things."

"I don't think you were." Thranduil muttered, then closed his eyes, "It feels like someone is hanging just out of my reach, as though they linger on the very edge of my being able to detect them."

"Whoever it is knows their way around these parts; I'm not sure I like that. It makes me feel as though we're being hunted."

Thranduil shuddered slightly, "That's not a pleasant thought. Do you really think that's what it is doing?"

"I think it's a possibility." Faeron answered, looking on edge, "Perhaps we should leave."

Thranduil nodded eagerly, "I agree, this is starting to honestly worry me."

"I as well," Faeron agreed, standing and clipping his sword to his belt, "Let's be off as quickly as possible."

Thranduil nodded, getting to his feet and making sure his own sword was securely strapped to his belt before walking over to his stallion and beginning to lead the way through the rocks. Faeron finished packing up their belongings and then followed.

"Which is the fastest way to Lorien: through or around the Gladden Fields?"

Faeron considered it, "Well, we're currently on course of the Gladden Fields, we shouldn't have too much trouble getting through them, and it won't slow us as long as we're careful. If we go around, it could waste time."

"Right, so through them, I suppose." Thranduil said, mounting.

"Be careful," Faeron warned, "Marshes are deadly."

"I know," Thranduil reminded his friend dryly.

Unknown to both of them, they had not escaped danger by leaving their campsite. In fact, they had left a very defendable place in the rocks behind for the great dangers and thick fog of the marshes. Eriden smirked, moving silently through the rocks before holding up a signal to the others, who began to move through the boulders. These elves thought they could escape through the swamps. Oh, how wrong they were.

Yes, I did do another cliff-hanger. Why? I'm bored. But anyway... please review! Please? *gives best puppy eyes*