Chapter 8

"There is to be a contest between the two of you" Thranduil announced, "and the winner will be able to marry Manquárë"

"And I'm going to win father" Legolas declared.

"Actually I think I'll win" Lhundol declared.

The other elves snickered knowing that Lhundol was sadly mistaken if he thought he could defeat Legolas.

Both Legolas and Lhundol strode from the room each in his own thoughts.

"Legolas you will win won't you?" Manquárë asked.

"I expect I will. As if he could beat me. Pah I know his kind all talk and not much action"

Over the next few days Legolas and Lhundol trained hard for the contest. Thranduil had informed them it would be a test of riding, archery, stealth and of course strength. Manquárë was always with Legolas when he trained encouraging him and criticising his technique so he knew where to improve. She also trained so her abilities would improve making her more formidable in battle should the need arise to defend herself. One afternoon after the two of them ended archery training for the day, Legolas suggested they bathe in a nearby stream. Manquárë agreed so they strolled to the stream and stripped down, Manquárë to her slip and Legolas to his breeches. Then they dived in letting the cool water relax them. After having a bit of fun splashing each other the two of them leaned against the bank and relaxed. Legolas slipped his arm around Manquárë's shoulders.

"You know Manquárë, you look beautiful today" Legolas said.

"And you look very handsome my prince" Manquárë said.

"I'm so glad my friends set me straight, my princess. I would have hated myself if I hadn't married you after all" Legolas said.

Manquárë smiled at him and he returned the smile then guided her lips to his and kissed her softly. At that exact moment Lhundol appeared. Seeing what was going on he picked up a stone and tossed it into the water. Legolas and Manquárë separated and looked to see what had caused the splash that had startled them.

"Oh it's you" Legolas said, "Can't you ever leave us in peace?"

"May I join you?" Lhundol asked.

Legolas looked at Manquárë. She shook her head not wanting him around.

"Sorry but the lady wants us to be left alone so no thanks" Legolas said.

"I don't care I'm coming in anyway" Lhundol said removing all but his breeches and diving in making a big splash.

"I said kela! (go away)" Legolas said.

"Why don't you just shut up ugly," Lhundol said.

"Atua miqula orqu" (Go kiss an Orc) Legolas hissed between clenched teeth.

Lhundol gave him a dirty look and settled down on the other side of Manquárë.

"Buzz off Lhundol" she said.

"Who's going to stop me eh Manquárë? Him? I don't think so"

Legolas leant across Manquárë and grabbed a clump of Lhundol's long dark hair.

"Listen dickhead we want to be left alone so why don't you just get lost eh"

Lhundol angrily knocked Legolas' hand off his hair.

"This is a free stream isn't it? Therefore I can bathe here if I want"

Legolas looked at Manquárë.

"Shall we leave a'maelamin (my beloved)?"

"Yes lets. I don't care for his company" Manquárë said turning her back on Lhundol and facing Legolas.

The two of them climbed out of the stream. Legolas positioned himself between Lhundol and Manquárë so Lhundol couldn't see anything.

"Get out of the way Legolas" Lhundol snarled.

"Atua miqula orqu (Go kiss an Orc) Legolas said.

He and Manquárë began walking away when all of a sudden something struck him from behind. It felt cold and wet.

"Manquárë, melamin, (my love) could you tell me what just hit me?" he asked.

Manquárë turned her head.

"You were hit by a handful of mud and it's all through part of your hair and some has run down onto your breeches," she told him.

"Charming. Now I'll have to have a bath drat it," Legolas snapped irritated at Lhundol's childish behaviour.

A few days later the contest finally arrived. The first event was archery and for this Legolas and Lhundol had to shoot at a distant branch. Lhundol went first and hit the branch with his first try. Legolas then took careful aim and released his arrow, which flew straight and true splitting Lhundol's down the middle.

"Curse you" Lhundol snarled.

"I'm really sorry" Legolas said sarcastically.

Lhundol turned his back on Legolas and angrily prepared for his next shot. Their next target was another branch further back than the last one. Lhundol again hit the branch with his first shot. Legolas coolly loaded his bow and prepared to fire but as he released the bowstring something knocked into him spoiling his aim and his shot went wild. He spun around wanting to know who had bumped him.

"It was Lhundol" Manquárë burst out.

"Nandor! (Coward) Legolas snarled.

"My I fire again father?" he asked.

"Yes you may. I saw him deliberately knock into you" Thranduil said.

This time Legolas' shot was straight and true and his arrow again split Lhundol's.

The riding event took place that afternoon and for this the two elves had to ride over a course involving various obstacles. They would leave at the same time and the first one back was the winner. As soon as Thranduil gave the word the two elves were off. Legolas quickly put a large gap between him and Lhundol. The course took them through much of Mirkwood and it soon became clear that Legolas was the superior horsemen. Lhundol found himself left alone and quickly decided to take a short cut. Legolas who was well ahead of him had no idea of his treachery and carried on. He was flying and was quite certain he would win. All the obstacles so far had proved no problem to him and he whistled a gay tune as he thought of his beloved Manquárë who would soon be his for eternity.

Lhundol once certain no elf was watching him swung off the trail and began riding through the bush. He planned to re-enter the course ahead of Legolas and hopefully no one would be aware of his shortcut. As he rode through the bush he thought about Manquárë and what he would do with her after they were married. He felt sure that she would come to love him as he loved her. Quite suddenly he re-entered the course and spurred his horse onwards. He encountered various obstacles and none seemed to give him any bother until he had to clear a high wall. Unbeknownst to him there was a pool of mud on the other side that he had to clear as well. Aiming his horse at the wall he rode hard at it and soared upwards. Unfortunately for him he had miscalculated his jump and the horse's back legs caught on the wall unseating him sending him headfirst into the mud.

Spluttering and cursing he scrambled to his feet and looked wildly round for his mount. It wasn't far away so he quickly mounted and spurred the horse into action. However there suddenly came a clip clop of hooves then Legolas soared effortlessly over the jump and cleared the mud easily. Seeing Lhundol covered in mud he guessed what had happened and burst out laughing.

"Hey Lhundol, you tried to cheat didn't you. Well your ducking serves you right. See you at the finish" Legolas called out over his shoulder, as he overtook Lhundol.

Lhundol clenched his teeth and sped up. The two elves were neck and neck and Lhundol tried to force Legolas from the track. He snarled and held his ground resulting in Lhundol falling back. Again Lhundol tried to force Legolas from the track and this time Legolas flew from his horse striking his head on a tree. Lhundol smirked in triumph and sped towards the finish.

Manquárë was conversing with Thranduil when she heard the sound of hooves approaching the finish. She swung round expecting to see Legolas riding towards her but instead saw Lhundol riding towards the finish. She was dismayed but hid it and instead put a smile on her face.

"Well done Lhundol," she said.

He galloped past then dismounted. Everyone waited for Legolas but he never arrived so a search party was dispatched and not long after returned an unconscious Legolas in their midst. Manquárë paled and let out a small scream. Rushing to his side she could see that he was still breathing but had an awful lump on his head. What on earth had happened to him? Manquárë followed the elves as Legolas was carried inside and laid down on a bed. A cold compress was held against his head to reduce the swelling. Finally half an hour later his eyelids began to flicker and then he woke up.

"Where's that scumbag" he snarled sitting up.

"Lhundol?" Manquárë asked.

"Yes Lhundol, he forced me off the track and I came off my horse and belted my head on a tree. Where is he? I'm going to murder the swine"

"Are you ok Legolas? I mean that's an awful lump you've got there on your head"

"Apart from a damn sore head I'm fine. I've got a hard head," Legolas said.

Legolas stood up but everything seemed to spin around him so he had to lie down again.

"I don't think you are ok are you?" Manquárë said

"Perhaps not" Legolas conceded.

It turned out that Legolas had concussion so he would have to stay in bed for a day or two to recover. During that time Thranduil conversed with him and asked him what had happened. Upon hearing what Lhundol had done, Thranduil became very angry and disqualified him from the contest leaving Legolas free to marry Manquárë. Manquárë was delighted but Lhundol was livid.

"Curse him and his father," he ranted.

Striding to Manquárë's quarters he caught her by surprise and dragged her down to his horse.

"Let me go Lhundol" she growled.

"I don't think so. You are going to marry me whether you want to or not," he snapped.

"LEGOLAS!" Manquárë screamed.

Lhundol slapped his hand over her mouth. She angrily bit it and he hissed and yanked it away. Angrily he flung her over his horse and tied her wrists and ankles together.

"LEGOLAS HELP!!" Manquárë screamed.

Legolas had heard her screams and tried to go to her assistance but his concussion caused him to fall back unable to stand. He called to his friends but by the time they had gotten down to the stables Lhundol was long gone.

Lhundol rode deep into the forest where some of his friends were hiding waiting for him to arrive with Manquárë. One of them was the head of the village that was next door to their former village and he had agreed to marry them. Lhundol yanked Manquárë off the horse and told her to stay quiet and to co-operate or else.

"Atua miqula orqu" (Go kiss an Orc) Manquárë snapped.

"You can't escape me," Lhundol said, yanking Legolas' ring off her finger and flinging it away.

"Please no" Manquárë begged.

However Lhundol's friend began the ceremony. Manquárë frantically tried to break the ropes that bound her but to no avail. However just as Lhundol's friend was about to pronounce them to be husband and wife a hail of arrows rained down upon the clearing.

Lhundol and his friends immediately replied with a hail of arrows of their own and suddenly there were arrows everywhere. Manquárë screamed and closed her eyes terrified of being hit. After what seemed like an eternity the arrows stopped flying and Manquárë opened her eyes to find Lhundol and his friends dead, arrows sticking out of their chests. She didn't know if the attackers were elves or Orcs so she kept quiet and played dead. Hearing footsteps and voices she willed herself to stay still and not to scream. As the voices got closer she recognised them as elvish voices. Sitting up she saw 6 of Legolas' friends emerge from the bush surrounding the clearing.

"Oh thank goodness you're ok" one of them said, "we couldn't see you very well and we weren't sure if you were alright. It was quite a battle those four put up"

"I'm just glad you elves showed up as if you hadn't I'd be Lhundol's wife by now" Manquárë said relieved.

Chapter 9