Disclaimer ; Tolkien is not mine. I just wish it were, though.  (I dream of Legolas everyday! Wow!)

Adromir is baaaaack!!!!!!!! To those of you who gave me wonderful reviews for The Evil Bride, THANK YOU ! I still can't stop smiling (I'm pathetic, I know!). Anyway, this is the sequel that you guys keep asking for. I hope it will be as good as my previous fiction. Enjoy!

He tugged at the binding chain around his wrists. It would not give, no matter how hard he pulled with all his might. He started to scream in rage then, cursing the lady witch in several languages. Blood poured like water from the welts all over his body and pooled at his feet. She sneered to his face, smiling that evil smile, her eyes glinting red in the dark. Taking out a dagger, she stabbed him in the throat, again and again. He can't breathe, he can't think. He can only screamed…

                Legolas instantly woke up, jackknifing in his bed. His trembling body was drenched with sweat. He hugged his knees, lowered down his head and told himself to breath deeply. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. After a few minutes, his rapidly beating heart had calmed down somewhat. "Not those nightmares again," he said softly. He felt himself started to shudder in uncontrollable fear and horror.

"Enough! I would not let you take control over me!" Legolas fumed, getting out of bed. He went to open the balcony door and stepped outside. The morning breeze cooled down his unnaturally fevered skin and brushed through his long golden hair. From there, he can see the whole view of the garden. That was where the disaster had started six months ago.

The Mirkwood kingdom nearly perished under the evil clutch of Arulin, a fostered elf from Garmadris, who was supposed to be his brother's intended bride. Legolas nearly lost his life, tortured and abused by the cruel witch. They had lost all hope until help came from Rivendell and Lothlorien. But still, the worse of it all, the stone of Manya had been dug out from behind his neck, snatching from him the ability to heal others. Touching the shining stone attached to a thin silver chain around his neck, Legolas sighed. He was once a manyan, but not anymore.

Remembering something, he looked up in puzzlement. Where are the ferrets? Usually, they would jump onto his bed at a time like this, waking him up by nuzzling his cheeks with their small furry noses and filling his ears with their cheerful chirps. He had not seen them since yesterday noon, which was unusual. They liked to keep near to him like guardian angels ever since that horrific tragedy…if they were not creating their own mischief somewhere else that is.

He turned around when a knock came at the door before his brother, Keldarion, entered. "What are you doing at the balcony? You are supposed to be downstairs hours ago."

Legolas frowned. "Should I?"

Keldarion shook his head. "You forgot, don't you?'

"Forget about what?" Then he slapped his head when he remembered his promise to his father, the king, to attend an early morning sword practice in the courtyard.  "Ai! I forgot! Is he mad at me?"

Keldarion chuckled. "Furious is more like it. Not because you didn't come down, but mostly because he had lost the bet. I knew you would miss the practice. Now I have acquired his favorite falcon!"

"What?! Don't tell me the Rivendell twins' betting sickness had rubbed onto the both of you!" Legolas cried out in shock, staring open mouthed at his brother. Still laughing, Keldarion lowered himself onto his brother's bed, folding his arms behind his head. "More or less. So, you just wake up, hmm?"

Legolas sat down on the bed beside his brother, staring at the open balcony door. "I missed my wake up call," he said. "Have you seen Foolish and Idiot?"

"Those two damn pets of yours? No, I haven't seen them. Where are they?"

Legolas glared at his brother. "I would not ask you if I know where they are, now would I?"

Grinning evilly, Keldarion kicked his brother off the bed. Legolas landed on the floor with a thud. He immediately got up and advanced towards his brother. "Why you…!!!" A round of wild wrestling erupted. The disappearance of the two ferrets was temporarily forgotten.

**************

Legolas was trying very hard to hold back his yawn. This has been going on too long! Ai! I'm bored senseless! He glanced at his father; the king was listening with full attention to an elf's report. Thranduil was not actually pleased to see his youngest child that morning. "You overslept? Is that a good trait of a prince? Abandoning your sword training is one thing, Legolas. Being sloth is another," he had scolded, and added in an afterthought, "And you cost me my falcon!"

They were now in the Mirkwood throne hall. The elves of Mirkwood were taking turns to see their king to report to him of their problems or complaints. It was a routine task for Thranduil for he held court council once in a week. Legolas found it utterly dull, though. He'd rather spend the time up in a tree, dozing. But as the king's son, he had no choice but to attend through the whole thing.

Legolas felt his eyes grew heavier-lidded than ever, nearly nodding off. Then his brother elbowed him in the ribs. He jerked upright and glared at Keldarion. Stay focus, the crown prince mouthed, grinning in amusement. Go throw yourself over the cliff! Legolas mouthed back. Keldarion laughed, attracting glances from the others.

Then, a commotion came from the hall entrance. Three woodland guards entered, one of them was cradling a bundle in his arms, heading straight for the throne. They bowed to the king, their faces solemn and grave. "My lord Thranduil, we brought you an ill news."

Legolas straightened, apprehension suddenly ran up and down his spine. Keldarion and Thranduil were already at attention, preparing to hear the worse. "What is it?" Thranduil asked impatiently when the guard hesitated, glancing nervously at Legolas. The younger prince knew that he was not going to like the news.

"On our patrol, we found several hunting traps in the woods. It was not there when we last checked last week." Murmurs of shock and disbelief erupted from everyone present. The Mirkwood elves never had the need to use hunting traps before. Thranduil frowned. "Whose traps were those? What are they doing in our realm?"

"We do not know, my lord. But some of the guards are still scouring the area, looking for clues and destroying the rest of any traps that we had overlooked." At this, the guard paused, glancing at Legolas once more. "I'm afraid, that's not the only reason we're here." The guard came forward towards Legolas, knelt down on one knee and held up the bundle to the prince. "I'm sorry, your highness. We found them already dead in the traps."

Legolas's swore he could feel his heart stopped. Even before he pulled away the cloak that covered the bundle, he knew what he would find. Sure it was; Foolish and Idiot lay lifeless against each other inside it, their bodies bloodied and cold.

Hugging the bundle to his chest, Legolas staggered backwards, stunned and speechless. He was subconsciously aware of Keldarion steadying him. He looked up to his father's dismayed face and Keldarion's sympathetic one. Then, without a word, he stumbled out of the hall.

TBC….

Before you guys say anything, let me tell you this…Please don't kill me! Please don't kill me! Please don't kill me! I know, I know, I shouldn't have killed those two ferrets! Some of you are attached to them already. But I know how it feels to lose a pet and this is a kind of a special dedication to him. (Bye Hitam, I love you!)