*yaré-carmë : means ancient art. These are the tattoos of the Wood-elves. Legolas' yaré-carmë is described in more detail, how he got it, what it is like, in the chapter in Black Arrow called The Listener. Explict slash so be warned.

This chapter is especially for those readers who have asked for more of Anglach. He has such a brief life

OCs

Laersul- Thranduil's oldest son. Has led the warriors of Mirkwood for centuries, fighting the Shadow. Just sent news that the White Council has driven out the Necromancer

Thalos- middle son who has been asked to go to the dragon to renew the peace between Smaug and the Wood.

Damroch – one of the cooks

Malchir- also a cook

Miriel – a silvan maid

Theliel –another maid. Both friends of Tauriel.

Anglach- Legolas' best friend and ward of the King.

Úroch- chief cook

Alagos – the self-styled King's messenger

Chapter 12: Anglach

When Bilbo crept silently into the kitchen for his midday meal, it was astir and excited. There was a rather frenetic rushing around in the kitchen. Damroch, who was Úroch's son perhaps, thought Bilbo, was in charge and directing the cooks. He was kneading dough on the great wooden table in the centre of the kitchen and there were other cooks beating eggs into bowls, whipping cream into stiff peaks, the kitchen maids were clattering about cleaning the silver platters and dishes. The excitement was because in a chair before the fire was a strange elf that Bilbo did not know. He was the King's messenger and had brought tidings that the King was returning and would be home by nightfall. The messenger's name was Alagos and he was a rather pompous sort, thought Bilbo.

'The King has brought to us the bounty of the Wood,' Alagos was declaring. He had a pewter goblet beside him and a flagon of wine that bore the mark of the Iron Hills. Galion would say it was a decent enough wine for he never stocked anything less, thought Bilbo, who was becoming an expert. 'He himself brought down a mighty boar and Thalos a stag. Although the stag was already weak and had he not brought it down, then the wolves would have had it instead.' Alagos inclined his head at the busy kitchen as though he were intoning an important message from the King himself.

'Plenty of meat to see us through the winter then,' said Damroch, kneading dough with an enthusiasm that was perhaps unnecessary, thought Bilbo. But it seemed that Alagos had been here for some time and Bilbo already found him irritating. Damroch cut a look at Lirewyn, the maid that Anglach was desperately in lust with and had asked Legolas to talk him up. Bilbo had been hiding when Legolas did this and Bilbo thought Anglach really had no chance with her after Legolas' best efforts. She smiled back shyly at Damroch, who was very tall and rather dashing, and Bilbo thought that Anglach had a rival there.

'Of course the King said to me,' Alagos opened his hand in a gesture that was an exact copy of Thranduil's own idiom, 'that the hare I flushed was particularly fine.'

'Oh? You were there as a beater?' Malchir asked innocently, winking at the girls who shook their heads.

'No! Of course not,' Alagos said indignantly. 'I am the emissary of the King, the King's own messenger. Of course I do not beat.'

There was the faintest ripple of amusement from the kitchen-elves that was only interrupted by the sound of merry voices from the cellars. Alagos stiffened visibly and Galion entered with two other elves, both dressed in serviceable tunics and breeches and long waterproof boots that were folded over but could clearly by pulled up to the thigh if need be. Bilbo knew these two were raft-elves who took the empty barrels down to Esgaroth.

'…At least the barrels are low enough in the water that they must be full this time,' Galion was saying loudly and irritably. 'The last time the Master tried to cheat me and frankly, I have had enough. I am quite sure…' He stopped dead when he saw Alagos and Bilbo was reminded of two cats that disliked each other and walked stiff-legged past each other, pretending not to see the other.

'Mind yourselves,' said Malchir who had lifted a batch of hot golden-cursted pies from the big oven in the hearth. He turned and slid them onto cooling racks and Bilbo stared at them hungrily.

Alagos had pointedly turned away and poured himself another cup of wine with a sniff and Galion gave an amused Damroch a mutinous look and carried on his conversation with the raft-elves, for that is who they were, as if he had not noticed. But his voice was smoother, and had a studied calm.

'I hope you checked this time that it IS wine in there, Landaer, not like the last barrel that is being used to flush out the latrines?' he said turning to the foremost raft-elf. 'That stuff from the Iron Hills. I am sure the dwarves have pissed in it. It completely rotted the insides of the barrel.' Galion hid a nasty grin as Alagos paused and looked anxiously into his own cup.

Landaer looked offended. 'Really? I am sure the Men of the Iron Hills do let dwarves anywhere near their wine! And I certainly would not bring inferior products to you.' He huffed and his lean companion looked as offended as Landaer.

But Damroch looked up with a big grin on his face and cast a quick look towards Alagos, who had lifted the flagon and was scrutisining the insignia of the Iron Hills upon it with distaste. 'How would you know it has dwarf piss in it?'

'It turns your own piss green, 'said Galion wickedly and with a dead straight face. 'Oh, pardon me ladies,' he bowed with completely false concern to the kitchen maids, who we well used to Galion and took no notice. But Lirewyn stared aghast, first at Galion and then at Alagos. Who stared back at her, then at his goblet. Then he slowly put it down and his face was a little sickly.

Damroch, right on cue said innocently, 'Lirewyn, did you get rid of all of that last batch? In the Iron Hills barrel?'

'Damn you, Galion, you son of Bauglir!' Alagos said coldly. 'You think your little trick will fool me. It is a good thing that I know when I have had enough. Unlike some I could mention.' With great dignity, he rose to his feet and carefully left amidst quiet laughter that was not entirely kind. Bilbo used the general merriment to cover the theft of one of the venison pies that Malchir had just laid on the cooling racks. It burned his fingers a little and he juggled it from one hand to another until he could scuttle back to his place behind the empty flour barrel and hoped that Alagos would be blamed if they discovered it was missing.

'You had better make sure there is enough wine for the feast, Galion,' warned Malchir when the laughter had died down. 'If you make a mistake, Alagos will use it to get back at you.'

'Oh, Alagos has no power or influence.' Galion waved the very idea away like an irritating fly. 'He says he is the King's messenger but in truth he is just a messenger and has been to Imladris once or twice. Hardly enough to assail me.'

'Even so…' But they never found out what Malchir's warning was going to be because at that moment, Úroch himself hurried in, his hair hastily braided out of his way and his face flushed and harried. 'The King is already here!' he declared. 'Alagos must have tarried and the King caught up. You know how impatient he is. Quickly! Those pies, Damroch. Lirewyn, hurry up with the carrots and greens. Malchir, start the soup! Galion, he will want wine so you had better choose something that is not too strong for the day. He will want something stronger for this evening I am sure. They will be bringing the game through in a moment.'

Sure enough, the elves who had been on the hunt were heard calling to each other, some singing, some laughing and shouting to each other. Bilbo heard Anglach's light voice calling to Legolas and he finished his pie, wiped his mouth and went cheerfully to greet his elves, as he had come to think of them.

He found Galion there before him, fussing around Legolas and insisting he eat something and then go and rest. Legolas endured Galion's fussing and spoke over his head to Anglach.

'You've heard the news?' he asked Anglach excitedly. 'The White Council have driven off the Necromancer! Laersul was there. He had to lead them through the Wood and defend them while they did whatever it was they did. He will be home soon and can tell us all about it!'

'Oh it will not have ended anything,' Galion muttered darkly but Legolas just flashed him a dazzling smile and threw his arm around Anglach's shoulders.

'I am going to bathe Galion, then I promise I will go to bed. Come on, Anglach. I am dying to bathe. I feel like my clothes are stuck to me.'

'You make it sound such an attractive proposition,' Anglach replied wryly. 'Come then, I have finished with the dwarves for the evening although I am on duty every day and night forever if Galadhon has his way,' he added gloomily.

'Go! I have to check that Thranduil has not done anything stupid,' Galion said disrespectfully and waved them away. Legolas pulled Anglach after him, laughing.

'Perhaps we can persuade the King to postpone the Feast of Starlight until Laersul is here?' Anglach looked hopeful, but Legolas shook his head.

'Thalos already tried but Adar wouldn't budge. Thalos told me to try and wheedle him into it. He says I whine Adar into submission!' Legolas exclaimed as if this were hugely unfair. 'But I couldn't persuade him. To be honest, I don't think even you could, Anglach.' They looked glumly at each other.

'Still. That means there will be another feast,' Legolas said brightly.

But Anglach sighed heavily and scuffed his feet. 'Yes. That is true. But unless Laersul arrives in the next few days, I'll get no chance for a feast. Galadhon has put me on eternal Dwarf Duty!'

Legolas laughed as they wound their way through the stronghold towards the Springs. Bilbo had been once before but could not find his way back there since and followed them happily. He was hoping he could learn the way so he could go to the Springs himself when it was empty and bathe. He was tired of just using up left over water that had gone cold and the Springs had looked so inviting. A series of smaller chambers where the heat from the rocks was relaxing and the elves sat and talked and lounged naked on wide shelves carved from the rock, and there were pools too where the water steamed. Bilbo hurried after his two elves.

'Surely you can go when Laersul returns? Even Galdhon is not so hard as to make you miss two feasts?' Legolas took a breath and then turned to Anglach with immense self-sacrifice. 'If he does, I will do your guard duty so you can go to Laersul's feast.'

Anglach gave him a wide smile that was full of the sweetness Bilbo liked so much in Anglach. 'Would you?' But quickly his face fell and he said more seriously,' Actually Legolas, I may not even have a chance for that. It depends how quickly Laersul arrives.'

They turned into a wide passageway that Bilbo knew well – it took them to an chamber that opened out into the cliff face above the Wood. This formed a sort of natural balcony almost and the elves walked along it in bright daylight. Birds were singing in the trees below and the sound of the river rushing over grey granite boulders reached them. Bilbo liked it here and often came to sit quietly and think.

'Galadhon says that he has had letters from Laersul,' Anglach continued quietly and Bilbo had to strain to hear him without getting too close. 'Laersul is anxious about any repercussions from the Necromancer being driven from his fortress. He is worried that the Necromancer will simply decamp somewhere else and Laersul , and Thalos too, want to make sure it is not the East Bight. Or anywhere else in the Wood. Ceredir is going too. And Naurion this time. To be fair, we have had a good long leave. I am surprised you are not coming with me.' He looked at Legolas.

Legolas looked ahead and walked a little more quickly, his fingers worried at the cuff of his tunic. Bilbo had noticed that Legolas had a habit of this and always wanted to stop him when he saw those long, elegant fingers twitch. 'No…The King has asked me to do something else.'

Anglach caught his sleeve and pulled him round. 'Is it…Is it Smaug?' he asked suddenly. 'It is ten years, as good as. Has the King asked Thalos then? Is that why he is staying when we return to the Bight?'

Legolas rubbed his face tiredly as though he had been worrying about the same thing. 'Yes. That is really why Laersul is returning.'

'So all three of you are going this time?' Anglach said quietly. They had stopped and their voices were hushed. Legolas nodded but did not look at Anglach. 'You and Thalos? And only Laersul with the sense he was born with?' Anglach laughed softly. 'You must do as he says, Legolas. Last time you were lost.'

'Aye, and you brought me out. I know.' Legolas put his hand on Anglach's shoulder affectionately. 'I owe you for that.'

'You owe me for much more,' Anglach said brightly. 'If it were not for me, no girl would ever look at your ugly goblin face. I have said before, we should leave you in the mountains for surely you will be welcomed back by your true people and reunited with your true father, the Goblin-King. It's uncanny, the likeness!'

'Legolas! Anglach!'

Bilbo pressed himself silently against the rock wall for there were two elves walking towards them, clearly coming from the Springs for their long hair was damp and one had his shirt slung over his shoulder and only wore loose breeches. 'Well met!' he cried and clapped Legolas on the shoulder. 'It is nice and hot in there.' He smiled suggestively and Legolas looked hopeful. Then he turned to Anglach more sobrely. 'I hear you are going to the Bight as well, Anglach. Let us hope it is an unncesssary precaution.' His companion murmured in agreement and Legolas nodded.

'At least you get to go the Feast of Starlight, Naurion,' Anglach said miserably.

'I heard you had fallen foul of Galadhon,' the other elf said laughing. 'He is a terror when he's crossed.'

'But you could not ask for a better captain. I like serving under him,' Naurion interjected. He gave Anglach a sympathetic look. 'We will see you, Legolas, at the feast.'

'Only if his Nana will let him!' Legolas grinned at Anglach for Nauriel was over-protective and had even, on one occasion, told Laersul he was taking too many risks with her child. Laersul had shrugged it off as his wont, she is just anxious for her only son, he had said to an outraged Legolas. But he heard later that Galion had had an awful row with her and the two were hanraguing each other like fish wives. 'Come on, you're like a Noldor the way you drag your feet to the baths!'

'Goblin-Prince!'

Anglach turned and sprinted lightly along the rest of the passage and burst suddenly into a wide chamber filled with sunlight. It opened out onto the cliff face, high, high above the forest with a wide ledge that jutted conveniently out over the forest canopy. The beeches had turned red and gold and copper in the Autumn and the oaks rattled dry brown leaves heralding the cold of Winter that was almost here. A high waterfall rorared past the cavern opening and plunged into the river below and the elves had to raise their voices to be heard if they stood on the ledge. But within the chamber itself, the roar was dimmed and all was the brightness of the sunlight that poured in through the cavern mouth and split into rainbows from the waterfall's mist. Bilbo gasped; it was beautiful here. He had not been into this chamber before on his last visit to the Springs.

Legolas and Anglach whooped and ran forwards like children, throwing off their clothes as they did. More slowly, Bilbo followed, looking around him. This chamber was a smooth limestone bowl filled with water many shades of bright aquamarine and turquoise. The sunlight shimmered on it and threw shimmering reflections onto the pale stone walls and roof. In the pool sides there were wide shelves or benches that had been carved into the limestone. There were a number of elves already here, some bobbing about in the centre of the pool, which was clearly deep enough to swim in and others lying stretched and sprawled on the wide shelves and talking.

There was a cheerful welcome to Anglach and Legolas who had stripped naked now. There was a shout of protest as they headed straight for the pool and they swerved off to duck beneath a thin waterfall that streamed from a higher ledge.

In the water that streamed over their strong, athletic bodies, the bright colours of their yaré-carmë* was iridescent and swirling, snaked over them as they stood beneath the fall. Bilbo already knew that some of these were the markings of their House and family, and the battles they had fought in, and their own personal history. But they also bore the yaré-carmë that marked them both as Danedh-Amlung, the dragon's ransom. Each was different but had a similar shape, Bilbo saw. But the Ring made him look again, more lustfully and perceived that the colour inked upon their skin showed the dragon in different ways. Anglach's was densely inked, solid colours, iridescent, coiled about his arm and shoulder and trailing around his chest on down the other arm like he wore the dragon over his arms and shoulders. Legolas wore the dragon's outstretched wings over his shoulders and arms, and the dragon's sinuous body coiling around Legolas' waist, his lean hips, thigh, trailed down his long legs. The dragon leaned over his shoulder as if watching everything with an amused and knowing eye. It was sensual on both elves and Bilbo, who had seen them both naked of course, could not help but stare at the sight of them together.

Suddenly they burst from the waterfall and leapt into the water like two happy dogs, splashing and playing. They shouted to each other and to other elves as they splashed and cavorted, regardless of the peace that had shattered on their arrival. One or two elves looked annoyed at having the quiet tranquility disturbed and a couple left, but most welcomed them. Bilbo saw there were as many women as men and all were quite naked. All had markings on their bodies, the women less than the men and some of the men less than others. He wondered what the markings meant on each of them. Gradually he realised he was staring at a number of women's breasts and felt his ears grow hot and a blush spread from his neck and back to his cheeks even though he could not be seen.

He found a quiet ledge where the water was very shallow, at the every edges of the pool and dipped his toes into the water. It was very warm and it smelt of stone, minerals. There was something deeply cleansing about it and he flet some of the tension leave his feet, his shoulders dropped and he let his chin drop a little onto his chest. There must be hot springs here somewhere that heated the pools, he supposed. The dwarves might like it here, he thought. He was sure that Thorin would. He glanced up for it had become very quiet once again.

Legolas was lying back against the far side of the pool where the water was turquoise and light reflected from the water shimmered on the limestone walls. A very beautiful woman was lying nearby him and they were smiling at each other, barely speaking. Suddenly Legolas gasped and twitched and looked at her in a quite different way. His leg moved under the water and Bilbo, to his horror, saw that the woman was pressing her foot against his thigh in a quite provocative way that Legolas did not seem to object to at all. In fact, he was pushing himself into the pressure all the more and had a very lustful expression on his face.

Anglach was in the deeper part of the pool and treading water. Bilbo could see that every now and again he had to stop speaking to move his hands and feet to stay afloat. It was amusing to see his attempt at charming two girls who were drifting nearby. He turned onto his back and floated then, elaborately put his hands behind is head as if he were lying on his own bed and gave them a bright smile. Bilbo recognized one of the girls as one of the bakers and the other was a gardener. So perhaps it would not matter that Lirewyn was being courted by Damroch after all, Bilbo thought. He had seen the baker once find a mouse drowning in a bucket. It must have fallen into the bucket or been in the bucket when someone had filled it with water. The baker though had quietly rescued it and surreptitiously taken it in her pocket out to the small herb garden in the kitchen courtyard. Now she was laughing at Anglach who kept dipping under the water and spluttering, and Bilbo decided she and Anglach would be very nicely suited. He thought the other girl should go and let the two have a chance to get to know each other better.

The ring was warm on his finger and hummed against his skin. Suggestive.

Well why not, Bilbo thought. It can't do any harm. He silently woke the Ring and bent his will towards the other girl.

The Ring thrummed on his finger and Bilbo felt a soft implosion of Power; there was a shrill ringing in his ears and suddenly the other girl leapt up with a scream, she clapped her hands over her ears and heaved herself out of the water. She almost ran from the chamber, leaving the others staring after her astonished.

The shrill ringing stopped. Bilbo blinked and took his hands away from his ears. He shuddered and slipped the Ring halfway off his finger and then stopped. He could not be discovered now; Thorin needed him. Slowly he pushed the Ring back onto his finger.

The other elves were exclaiming and questioning each other in astonishment. It seemed that no one else had heard the shrill ringing but Bilbo and the giril.

'What did you do?' one elf asked Anglach accusingly.

'I did nothing,'Anglach replied indignantly. 'Rhossa, tell them!' He appealed to the baker he had been flirting with.

But Rhossa too was getting out of the pool and would not look at him. Anglach stood up, reached out to her but she glanced once at him and shrank away from his hand. Anglach stared around him, bewildered. 'I didn't do anything,' he said loudly. 'She just suddenly jumped up as if something had bitten her. You saw!'

But some elves muttered disapprovingly and others looked at Anglach as if surprised. Quickly there was a space around him and Legolas, with a regretful look at the woman he was flirting with, pushed off from the ledge upon which he had been sitting and swam quickly to where Anglach was pulling himself out of the water.

Anglach sat on the edge of the pool looking dejected. 'Honestly Legolas, I really did nothing. We were all having a nice time and suddenly she…well, you saw.' He kicked the water with his foot. 'She is Galadhon's cousin and Thalos will hear of this as well. I will be in even more trouble. At this rate, I will never go to another feast. Ever, and end my days a lonely old bachelor with only you for company.'

Legolas pulled himself a little out of the water to lean his elbows on the edge of the pool and stared at Anglach thoughtfully. 'There is something odd,' he said slowly. 'You remember I felt something in my rooms?' He looked round carefully and lowered his voice as if he thought there might be an eavesdropper. 'Thalos felt something too. He said it was like being in the South, near Dol Guldur.'

Anglach shuddered. 'But the Necromancer had been vanquished according to the White Council. Surely it cannot be that his reach is long enough to be here when he has been driven out?'

Legolas shrugged. 'Don't forget, Adar says that driven out is not the same as vanquished.' Anglach nodded slowly. 'Be on your guard when you go back to the Bight,' Legolas said earnestly. He reached out and clasped Anglach's arm. 'Listen to me,' he said suddenly. 'Be careful. I do not want orcs to cut off your pretty ears just because I am not there!' He reached up and tweaked Anglach's ears for emphasis.

Suddenly the world tilted for Bilbo and he shut his eyes tightly, squeezed his hands together over the Ring for he was plunged Somewhere Else.

He was running. Running, running harder, faster than he had ever done before, shouting, arrows firing! Firing! Firing! Chasing orcs off, not caring if they fought, just wanting to fight his way through! And the stink. Stumbling into the clearing, tripping on his own feet at the sight of…

Anglach.

No.

Tied to a tree, head bowed. Blood. Blood everywhere, down his neck, his chest. His head lolled to one side and he saw the flat edge where his ear should be. An empty, bloody mess where his eye should be. Blood everywhere. His belly spilled out a ribbon of entrails.

No.

There were voices. Shouting. Other elves.

'Naurion? Where's Naurion? They have taken Naurion?'

And someone knelt beside Legolas where he cut blindly at the tight bonds that held Anglach to the tree. He heard someone cursing and sobbing and realized it was Galadhon beside him, hacking at the bonds with him. Anglach's still warm body collapsed into his arms and he clasped him to his chest, moaning, No! No, no.

Bilbo fell back and almost cried out.

'Who's there?' Legolas had leapt from the pool and strode towards Bilbo, his long green eyes scanning the chamber which was well lit and light and airy. No place to hide, thought Bilbo and he clutched at his hand, holding onto the Ring. But he was even more afraid of the Ring taking him to where the Presence lurked, aware of him and waiting, so he kept his eyes wide open and fixed upon Legolas. Even though he had no knives or weapons, a stark naked and dripping wet Legolas Thranduillion was enough to root Bilbo to the spot. He thought to himself that this was the second time he had been confronted by a naked Legolas. He knew there were some in the stronghold who could think of nothing better but they were not a hobbit hiding in the King's stronghold about to bust the dwarves out.

Anglach looked around at Legolas, puzzled and some of the other elves murmured and looked askance at Legolas now. But no others seem to have sensed what Legolas did and Bilbo held still. Legolas took a couple more steps towards Bilbo and then stood still, frowning and scanning the chamber for movement.

At last Legolas visibly relaxed and shaking his head, he returned to Anglach.

Anglach, thought Bilbo. What happened? He had seen Anglach dead, tied to a tree, his ears cut off and his eyes empty, gouged out, a great gash in his belly…

Legolas had turned back to Anglach and fell to his knees beside his friend. 'Anglach! Be careful!' he said urgently, as if he too had foreseen what Bilbo had and Bilbo wondered if that too was in the Ring's gift. 'When you go back to the Bight, I will not be there to watch your back,' he said urgently.

'Of course I will be careful,' Anglach said mildly. 'And you too? You are going into far greater danger than me. I have Galadhon to watch my back,' he grinned. 'And Naurion. And I will not be there to drag you out and Laersul cannot carry both you and Thalos.'

The two friends paused, looking at each other and then Anglach laughed softly. 'You're going to kiss me now, aren't you?'

He leaned forward as if that was exactly his intention and Legolas pulled back a little at first. But instead Anglach launched himself onto Legolas and shoved him underwater until Legolas wriggled out, spluttering and shaking himself.

But Bilbo was shaken. He found he could not bear it and ran from the place, stumbling and blinded by tears. He found himself in a small empty chamber where no one ever had reason to come and pulled the Ring from his finger in distress. He stared at it in bewilderment; he knew it brought insight to him into the motivations and thoughts of others but now he had foreseen Anglach's death! And he thought Legolas might have too. Or did Legolas just imagine what could happen and the Ring had amplified that and let Bilbo see what Legolas imagined?

Perhaps Anglach will not die, he thought. Perhaps he will not, he hoped.

He will die as you saw.

Bilbo put a fist to his mouth to stop the cry that was forcing its way out of his belly.

You could stop it.

'How could I stop it, a Hobbit from the Shire? I am nobody.'

Thorin could. With the Ring, Thorin could be the greatest King Middle Earth has ever seen. He could outshine the Kings of Numenor. He could outshine those elven Kings of Old, Fingon the Valiant, Gil-Galad. He could bring peace and the merry elves of the Wood need never lift bow or knife again...Anglach will live.

Bilbo found himself staring at the Ring. Yes. That could be the way. If Thorin was King, he could have an army to keep the peace between all the folk of the Wilds. The elves could live in peace in the Wood, and the dwarves in the Mountain. And the Orcs?

There will be no need for Orcs if Thorin has a Ring of Power. He will be unassailable...

Bilbo stared at the Ring. It was so smooth. Such purity. Such gold…so precious.

Thorin is more powerful than you. He would know how to use the Ring…He could make it stronger.

But it was beautiful, the Ring. Bilbo loved it. He stroked his finger over the gold and lost himself in the purity and loveliness so that he forgot all about Anglach and thought only of the Ring.

0o0oo0

Next Chapter: The Feast of Starlight

I know I said that last time but Anglach really wanted a bit more of the spotlight.