A Witch's Revenge

Chapter 3: Bedtime Stories and Plots

Meanwhile back in Mirkwood the king was sitting in his comfortable chair in the library enjoying the peace of evening. As he sat there and enjoyed a cup of hot tea he noticed the door crack open a bit as his son slipped through.

"What is it my pen tithen?" Thranduil asked concerned, hoping nothing was wrong.

Legolas shyly went up to his ada and asked "will you read me a story before bed?"

"Of course! what is you had in mind?"

No sooner had Thranduil said this Legolas ran off in his little night shirt to go fetch a book. Legolas studied the book shelves until he found what he was looking for. He grabbed the seemingly giant book in his arms and ran back to his ada.

"The Tales of Numura Elisis"

Legolas nodded his head as he climbed into Thranduil's lap and got comfortable.

"Alright then, Once in a strange part of the woods....."

About an hour Legolas started to get sleepy signaling it was time for bed. Thranduil sat the book down on his side table as he got up with a sleepy Legolas in his arms. He walked to Legolas's room set him on the tiny bed and tucked him in.

"I love you Legolas" Thranduil whispered.

"I love you too ada" Legolas sleepily, but sincerely whispered.

Thranduil kissed him on the forehead, and got up from the bed. He slowly closed the doors as to get one last sight of his son, and then officially closed them. Thranduil felt tired himself, and turned to his bedroom.

He prepared for bed in the usual manner, and once he was finally ready he got under his sheets. He felt the now usual and lonely cold of his bed thinking on how his wife use to be next to him. He had done well over the years raising Legolas alone and running a kingdom, but it always still felt lonely in his big bed without his wife. As he dwelt on these thoughts and memories Thranduil just felt too lonely that night, and did something a little selfish.

He quietly snuck off to Legolas's room, and opened the door. He then silently walked up next to the bed and gingerly picked up Legolas. Legolas's was luckily a very sound sleeper and didn't notice he was moved, but simply curled up in his Adas arms.

Thranduil carried him off to his room, and set his son next to him in bed. He drew him close and finally felt his warmth and company he so desperately needed. Without Legolas, Thranduil knew he would lose the rest of the light in his life, and would become an empty dark shell of an elf. He didn't know what he would do without him, but little did he know he would figure that out very soon.

Meanwhile back in Mordor, Radelia was drawing a magic circle in her private room as both the mercenaries watched. Once she was finished she headed to a bathing chamber in her room. The room was a large round one covered in big thick roots and one large circular misty pool in the middle surrounded by six root columns. It was lit by moonlight from the large hole in the center over the pool leading to the top of the mountain the bunker was in. Both the men got behind the walls in front of the bathing chamber as to not see what Radelia was doing.

Radelia went into the room and pulled the giant silk curtain that covered the doorway. She removed her cloak and peasant dress, and grabbed a few vials from a cabinet in there. She went into the warm mist pool, and submerged herself in it.

"So mistress exactly what are you doing?" Yorik asked.

"Performing a ritual necessary to our plan."

"Then what exactly is the plan?" Salazar asked suspicious of Radelia.

"The plan is to sneak into the castle in disguise you two as guards me as an elf maid....Essenes of moonstone as to catch the moonlight." Radelia began to explain only to stop and repeat the steps of the ritual she was performing.

The elf witch rubbed the substance into her skin and it started to slowly make her glow.

"Well go on." Yorik chimed in.

Radelia rose from the water and continued explaining her plan.

"I will tell the current maid watching the little brat that the king wishes to see her, and that I will take him until she returns....juice of the fruit of the tree of Gondor as to appear pure as the white tree."

She washed the juice into her hair causing it to regain its beautiful and former shine.

"Will you please finish telling us your plan before you go under water."

Radelia came back up and finished the plan.

"Alright alright then we'll take the little brat to a far off area I'll cast a spell to make him sleep, and we'll keep him here until I feel Thranduil's at his weakest. Then we'll send a nice little note listening out demands....Now to complete the ritual I pour a mixture of herbs and leaves from Mirkwood so that the spirit of Arda may re-enter my body"

Radelia went one more time into the water, and as soon as she did the water glowed brightly. She then exited the water, and put on the traditional blue elf maids dress.

"Wait why are we keeping him for three we-"

The mercenaries were stunned by what they saw as soon as Radelia came out of the bathing chamber. She was always beautiful, but she was glowing and shining as an elf should now.

"How are you glowing you said that you lost it after you were banished?"

"Do you remember when I went to the great wizard library to see what I could do to become more powerful."

"Yes" both responded simultaneously.

"You see as I was looking I found a book called Dark Spells of Disguise. In it I found a spell that could lift banishment for three days. You see I knew I would need it if I ever needed to return to Mirkwood so I stole the book. I figured it would be useful for future uses."

"You stole a book from the wizards, and got out alive!" Yoric yelled.

"Believe me it was not easy I was almost killed, but never mind that it's a story for another. Besides we have other things to prepare if we want to kidnap the king's son, but that can wait till tomorrow morning before we do it so good night."

Radelia waved goodbye as she walked away towards her bedroom. Both men took the hint, and went to their quarters as well having no doubt that tomorrow was going to take all their energy.