Hello everyone,

it seems that the plotbunnies will not stop attacking me. That is what you get when you cage them in for several years. You open the door just a little and – woosh – they attempt to crush you

I don´t know how long this story will turn out to be – probably a few chapters. I promise NOT to leave it unfinished...

Enjoy, and please take the time to review.

Alinha

Note: This story can be considered AU

Warning: This chapter contains the rather gruesome death of an animal. Also, the text has not been read by a beta. All mistakes are my own, and I apologize for them

The Storm

Legolas halted his steed and glanced up at the sky. Dark clouds collected at the horizon, accompanied by strengthening gusts of wind. Before long they would grow into a full-fledged storm.

Soothingly he ran his hand along his black mare´s neck. "Do not worry, my friend. If we make haste we may reach Imladris before the weather strikes." The horse´s sensitive ears flicked backwards at his words, listening intently. Legolas smiled.

"Ah, I see that you recall Imladris. Our last visit is four years past, but I would not think you had forgotten the pampering you received there."

The mare shook her head, sending her mane flying, and eagerly pawed the ground. Truth be told, the elf shared her impatience. He could already sense the soothing protectiveness that emanated from the Last Homely House, even though they had not yet entrered the reach of Vilya´s power.

What a stark difference it formed to the growing tensions that darkened his own home. He felt his heart fill with regret but pushed the feeling aside. They had to be thankful for those elven realms that were protected by rings of power. The others, such as Mirkwood, needed to be fought for with bow and sword. He was ready to do so for as long as there was need-

Even though, he cherished the thought of a respite in Lord Elrond´s house.

Leaning forward, he whispered an often-repeated challenge to his steed. "Very well, Orndae, let us see how fast you can run." The mare gladly responded. Before long the ground flew past beneath her hammering hooves, her strength eating away the road as if it was nothing. Legolas laughed out loud even as the first drops of rain hit his face.

Safety was near and at this speed they would outrun any storm.

/

In Imladris, the mood was less carefree. Estel could sense it clearly when he made his way from the stables to his room. The growing storm had forced him inside far earlier than he had planned and the short ride had failed to rid him of the restlessness he felt of late. When he heard agitated voices drifting out of Lord Elrond´s study, he directed his steps into that direction.

The door stood slightly ajar. Estel slowed his steps and stopped once he was near enough to hear was was being said.

"How many did you find?" Lord Elrond´s voice was calm, yet beneath it boiled tightly controlled anger.

"A deer and four rabbits", another elf responded. Estel recognized him to be Celeg, one of the hunters who spent most of their time in the woods and meadows that surrounded the Last Homely House. The young human liked him, for he had been allowed to accompany him on more than one occasion.

"None came to claim the kills. Crows and wolves had been at the carcasses already when I reached them." There was a pause, and Estel heard footsteps pace back and forth.

"Were the traps laid properly, at least?" The boy thought that his adopted father already knew the answer to his own question. He could tell by his tone of voice.

"Nay, my lord. It must have taken the poor creatures a long time to die. I could see traces of their struggles in the soil. The leg traps seem to have been laced with poison, however it brought no quick end. Also, the traps were secured with more than one chain each, making it impossible to escape."

Estel´s eyes widened. He cherished hunting, especially because his talent at it had earned him the respect of many elves who otherwise saw nothing but a child in him. Few recognized that at thirteen years of age he was fast approaching maturity.

Even so, he did not enjoy bringing death. He always endeavoured to be as quick as possible. The elves likewise trained hard to deliver the killing blows efficiently. It was incomprehensible for the boy that anyone would lay cruel traps like that without even gathering their spoils.

For long moments, there was complete silence. "I see", Lord Elrond finally said. "I take it that you disabled the traps?"

"Of course, my Lord. I brought them with me to prevent further use. They are in the shack behind the stables."

"You did well, my friend. I thank you for your quick actions. We need to stop this needless slaying, even though it takes place outside our borders. Only yesterday Tirlavan brought similar news, only that he found the traps to the west."

"While mine were near the road to the mountain pass. Aye, it seems that poachers mean to surround us! If I may suggest so, my Lord, I would like to organize the hunters into patrols." Celeg was clearly agitated.

"I am not sure that this is the deed of poachers, for they would not leave their kills to the wolves", Elrond replied. "Even so, I commend your idea. Please, take with you as many as are willing. Go for the northern and southern borders first, as that is where no-one as looked yet."

Quick steps left the study, and Estel suddenly found himself at a loss how to cover up that he had been eavesdropping. All that he could do was walk foreward briskly, as if he was just now coming down this hallway.

"Greetings, Celeg." He nooded to the hunter. He burned to be going with him, to become a part of his patrols, yet he knew he could not ask without giving himself away. He received an absent-minded greeting in return. At least this meant that his presence had not been detected.

Estel turned to watch the hunter´s retreating back, then made his decision to talk to his father.

When he knocked at the open door, Lord Elrond was seated behind his desk with a quill in his hand, but he was not writing. The lines of worry that surrounded his eyes smoothed slightly when he saw the boy.

"Estel, you are back early. I thought you wanted to grant your horse a chance to stretch those fast legs of his." The boy could not help but smile proudly. His stallion was indeed one of the fastest in Imladris´ stables.

"The weather turned foul, father", he responded. "I did not want to risk us getting caught in a storm."

"That was a wise choice, my son." The elf put away his quill and looked at Estel expectantly. "I take it that you would like to ask me a question?"

The boy nodded cautiously. With a father that had the gift of foresight, there was no way to guess how much he knew in advance, but Estel had developed a rather sound instinct regarding this. At the moment, he sensed that the elf knew more than he let on.

"I would like to ask Celeb to take me tracking again" he said, deciding to be as straight forward as possible.

"To go after the ones who needlessly slay animals?" Lord Elrond raised an eyebrow. "I dare say that this is a brave request, my son. But I have to tell you no."

The boy did not even question how his father had guessed that he knew oft he traps. Maybe he had sensed him listening in the hallway. Maybe his foresight had told him. All that mattered was that Estel could not live with the answer.

"Please, father. I promise that I will stay out of the way. I will do whatever Celeb says."

Lord Elrond sighed. "Estel, I know that you are brave. I know that you are very capable of following orders, if you so wish. But I sense true malice at work here. Putting you in this sort of danger is out of the question."

"But ada..."

"No. This is my last word on the matter." The elf lord gave the boy a stern look.

Estel felt his anger boil to the surface. He knew it showed on his face when he continued to stare at his adopted father, refusing to back down. All Lord Erlond did was stare back. For what seemed like an eternity they stayed like this, eyes locked in mute confrontation.

At last Estel cast his eyes down. Tears of anger stung on his cheeks when he turned and briskly walked away, steps echoing in the empty hallway. Why did he have to be turned away whenever a task truly mattered?

Outside, the wind picked up even further. Branches rattled against rooves and windows. A tempest was brewing.

/

Legolas could sense the welcoming safety of Imladris drawing closer. By now daylight had almost completely fled the skies even though dusk should have been at least two hours away. Orndae had settled into a speedy gallop that she could maintain well into the night if need be.

Suddenly, a sound reached the elf´s ears. He could tell his mare had heard it too, because she slightly turned her head to the left, gazing sharply into the underbrush. After a brief pause the sound appeared again, and this time Legolas urged his horse to a stop.

The sound rose above the wind once more, louder this time. It was a scream filled with panic and pain.

Orndae nickered softly, pawing the path. Legols judged that they had almost reached the borders of Lord Elrond´s realm. He could feel Vilya´s power like a warm glow at the edge of his consciouness. Momentarily unsure, he looked up at the sky again, then turned to watch the trees whose branches were already creaking with the onslaught of the wind.

Mingled into the voice of the growing storm the mournful cry was heard yet again, lasting long before it turned into a fading whimper.

The mare shook her head with a snort, then stepped away from the path, into the direction of the sound. Legolas smiled softly. "You are quite correct. We have braved worse weather than this together. It is worth the risk. Someone seems to need our help."

Despite his decision Legolas was reluctant to delay their journey for longer than necessary. He urged Orndae into a gallop again and she readily complied, ears pricked forward and eyes never leaving the uneven terrain.

Before long they reached an overgrown glad. Legolas immediately made out the fallen form of a young deer at the far end of the meadow. Tremors ran through its form. Sensing someone approach it tried to rise but then collpased again, uttering a pitiful sound of pain.

Orndae picked up her speed, racing towards the wounded beast. They had barely cleared the trees when there was a sharp metallic snap. Abruptly, Legolas felt his mare´s momentum stop as her legs were ripped away from under her. He heard a second sound, the sickening crunch of broken bone, before he was thrown forcefully off the horse´s back.

Orndae´s dreadful screech burned in his ears before the impact of the ground momentarily took away all sight and sound. Rolling instinctively, Legolas managed to get his feet under him but just as he was about to righten himself, a bolt of pain shot through his left ankle.

With a scream of his own he fell back to the ground. He felt as if a heavy weight had crushed into his chest, taking away any chance to draw breath. The pain did not lessen, it only grew , a liquid darkness swallowing any other sensation.

Legolas could feel his consciousness slipping fast, but then his horse´s screams cut through the haze. With an effort he pushed back the blackness that threatened to drown him. He could not suppress another shout of pain when he forced himself onto his knees.

Several feet away, Orndae lay sprawled in the grass. Foam had formed at her mouth, her eyes wild and white with panic. Sides heaving, she tried to push herself up again and again but the elf immediately knew it was useless.

One of her forelegs was buried beneath her and by the angle he could tell it was crushed. The other was obviously broken, too, unnaturally twisted to the side. With sickening certainty Legolas knew that his mare would never rise again.

He drew a breath, then another, trying to calm his own panic and overwhelming sadness. This was no time to give in to emotions. Orndae had faithfully born him through sunshine and rain for more than a decade. He had to render her one last service.

"Sidh, mellon-nîn",/Peace, my friend/ he whispered and barely kept back a sob before he finally managed to control his feelings. "Lasto ni glîr."/Listen to the song./

He began to sing softly, trying to draw comfort from the song while he calmed the panicked horse. Orndae stopped struggling, her wide eyes focussing on his face with hopeful trust. Her sides heaved as she drew in breath after painful breath. He sang of peaceful days, of sunshine and blooming meadows. While he sang, he tried to unstrap his bow but quickly realized that it was no use. His fall had broken the sturdy weapon in two.

Making an effort to keep his voice even, he instead reached for his knives. Inwardly, he apologized to his trusted mare for the fate that had befallen her because of him, then he aimed a blade at one of her soulful eyes. His song never wavering, he allowed the weapon to fly.

It found its mark dutifully and the laboured breathing that had filled the stormswept evening stopped.

Legolas let the song fade away and sank back to the ground. The darkness around him was now complete.

To be continued...