Going West

by DemigodfromMirkwood

Hi! This is my first story and it's on Lord of the Rings set in Mirkwood after the defeat of Sauron and after Legolas and Gimli have left Middle Earth. The main character is Thranduil as he struggles to maintain authority as orcs and spiders slowly begin to conquer the elves of Mirkwood with a little bit of help from has a good ending though! Promise!

3. Preparations

" I'm coming," said an over eager Tauriel.

"No your not," said Thranduil as soon as he left his study.

" You might as well let me because, you know I'll be there anyway."

Thranduil let out a big sigh. He knew she was right. Tauriel loved to fight as long as it was for a good cause no matter how big or far away it was.

"Fine," Thranduil said exasperated. He was not going to stand here all night and argue with her. "Ready the army and then report back to me. We leave at first light."

Tauriel just dipped her head and ran through the the halls. Thranduil suddenly realized that she didn't take him to seriously anymore. What is the world coming to, when your own captain runs through the halls of your castle smiling?

Thranduil began walking to the stables to prepare his elk. Well, technically, his elk had died in the Battle of the Lonely Mountain. This was Legolas's elk, or it would have been if he had stayed in Middle Earth. But instead he had left with a dwarf, and had not returned since the destruction of the ring. What kind of elf, not to mention the heir to the Mirkwood throne, would travel with a dwarf?!

As Thranduil readied the elk for the battle tomorrow, the elk stamped its hooves a few times impatiently as a proud horse was dragged into the room. An exhausted elf made a slight bow to Thranduil while still trying to hold the horse which did not go well. The horse felt the rope around its neck slacken as the elf bowed and used all its might to try and break free. Thranduil jumped out of the way as the elf flew across the room and landed in a stack of hay barely holding onto the reins. Thranduil immediately grabbed the reins from the elf who looked pretty dazed. The elf managed to say," Shadowfax," just before he drifted into unconsciousness. "Great," Thranduil said. This horse was Gandalf's horse, the wildest horse that not even elves could control. Thranduil carefully led Shadowfax to an empty stable which did not please the horse at all. Thranduil returned to the elf and had another elf take him to the Chambers of Healing. Thranduil's elk was all ready to go a few minutes later and Thranduil walked with his elk to the gates of his castle where many elves had already gathered. The preparations were complete and it was time to go.