The Days of Old (LOTR- Book One)

Chapter 2: Scouting

Chapter 2: Scouting

My feet padded the ground softly, Noron trotted up beside me silently watching me carefully. I closed my eyes and felt the cool, fall wind blow through her piercing blonde hair, feeling the environment.

"Orcs have been spotted in this area," Noron whispered, I nodded and crept slow through the woods, narrowed my eyes I quickly pressed my back against a tree, peering around the side.

A small band of orcs fumbled through the forest, not being very quiet at that. Grumbling in Black Speech to one another and twitching as they heard any noise that echoed through the wood. I rolled her eyes and moved away from the tree heading back to Noron. "Anairë?" Noron said nervously, I shook my head, "There's too many," I breathed and moved past him, heading back to Rivendell, he groaned in annoyance but followed. Why are they here, so close to Rivendell?

"We could have taken them," Noron grumbled, speaking in our native tounge and waking me out of my thoughts, I stopped and shot a look over at him, "And we would both be dead," I spat, "It doesn't matter how good of a hunter you are, we didn't have the advantage." I continued walking, Noron whispered something under his breath which I ignored.

We walked over the stone bridge, "I'm heading to talk to Lord Elrond," I said quickly, Noron nodded and walked the other direction, towards the kitchens.

"Lord Elrond," I called out as I entered his study, he raised his eyes from his book, he was resting on a plush couch that sat at the edge of his balcony, "Orcs are patrolling our borders," I furrowed my eyebrows in annoyance, twisted creatures.

"I know this," Elrond said, placing his book on a wicker end table and rising. "I have another task for you," He moved towards me, I arched my eyebrows. "I need you to meet with the prince of the Greenwood and escort him here."

I shot him a quick look, "He.. Needs an escort?" I grumbled, crossing her arms and shifting my weight, "The prince I used to know would never ask for such a thing." I smiled at the corner of my mouth at the memories that flooded through my mind, "We need to make sure he stays safe on his journey, a great darkness is coming." He answered sternly after some silence. Darkness? Is he reffering to the orcs camping on our border? Or something worse..

 I sighed and nodded slowly and walked out of his study, up the ornately carved stairs to her room to gather my things.

Arwen walked elegantly in behind me, "What is it?" She cooed feeling my obvious annoyance with the situation. "Lord Elrond is sending me to escort the prince of Mirkwood here," I responded, throwing some extra clothing into my pack and fumbling through some other things.

"Legolas?" Arwen asked as she sat down smoothly into a wicker chair, her wavy black hair blowing in the soft wind, and billowing around her face. "That does seem strange, he could be different now though, it's been some time." She smiled slightly and stood back up, a wicked smile curled on my lips. "Only a hundred and fifty years!" I called, laughing slightly. That was only a blink in elf years. Arwen laughed slightly and then he features hardened, moving towards me slowly and looking around. "My father has been speaking of something, something... dark." She breathed, "Be careful. My brothers have been out scouting and they have sent word that orcs are traveling heavily past the Bruinin." She held my hand softly and squeezed reassuringly and walked out of the room.

I puffed out air and grabbed my bow walking quickly out of the room and down the stairs to the round stone center of Rivendell. "Ride quickly and silently," Elrond said calmly, frowning at the growing dark clouds that towered above us. 

I jumped on my horse, Arroch, spurring him hard and galloping out of the beautiful city; the Greenwood wasn't far, only a days trip and it was early yet, I could get there before nightfall. I didn't want to wander through Mirkwood in the dark, even after the force in Dol Guldur was destroyed.. The wood never went back to how it was years past. I rode quickly, moving through the rolling, beautiful lands with ease, only stopping a couple times to give Arroch a breather.