Legolas woke with a start.
He glanced at his alarm clock. It was 5 in the morning.
He changed into his day clothes, crept silently out of the window and leapt from the roof to a tree outside his room.
It was near the break of dawn and the birds started singing their sweet songs in the branches.
The elf smiled. He had always liked it when it was early in the day. He let a thrush perch on his shoulder and watched the sun make her way out from the east.
The bird left his shoulder, letting out a soft cheep as it flew off.
Legolas climbed down and went back into the house, to find his father sitting at the table.
"Aur ion," Thranduil said.
"Aur adar."
"Better get going now, you still have an hour." Thranduil smiled.
"Yes father."
Leoglas grabbed his bag, a piece of lembas and shut the door behind him.
Meanwhile at the House of Theoden, Eowyn's head jerked at the slightest noise to be ever heard through the empty house.
She shook her brother awake.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"Be quiet."
The sound came again.
"Come on, we're checking." Eowyn pulled her brother up and went quietly down the stairs.
A figure clad in black was standing in the hallway.
Eowyn pounced.
"What the hell do you want and why are you here?!" She snarled, slamming on the back of the person.
"Eowyn, calm down!" Eomer yanked her back with one arm, but keeping a foot on the stranger's body. A medicine bottle fell out with a dull "clunk".
"Trying to kill us next, aren't you?" Eowyn spat.
Eomer flipped the stranger over with his foot none too gently.
"What the-?"
"Wormtongue..." Eowyn breathed. "We trusted you!" She shrieked in pure anger.
Wormtongue stood up, brushing himself. "A misunderstanding really... What are you talking about-?"
Eowyn punched him hard and true in the nose.
"Let's go Eomer, we're gonna be late." She said coldly and left.