In the Shadows I Stay

Chapter One - An Adventure Begins

I sat on a grassy bank playing with a battered piece of parchment "Oh Valar" I groaned as the golden coat of my horse Laer disappeared into the darkness of Mirkwood.

"Tol ed Laer" (Come out Laer) I called, waiting a few seconds.

When he didn't come back out I scrambled up to follow him, I didn't want him to get lost in there, one, I could not afford another horse and two, well he had my sword and daggers strapped to his back.

I tore into the forest after him, managing to catch up. I turned him around and sent him out of the dark trees with a light slap on his rump. I glanced around to see if I had been seen only to find an arrow pointing at my face.

"Drego!" (Flee!) I yelled at Laer and rearing from the grabbing hands of the elves he fled. The owner of the bow came into focus, he was a tall blonde haired elf and wore a tight tunic and fitted vambraces, I gently pushed the arrow away from my face and smiled up at the strange elf.

"Mae govannen Legolas Thranduilion" (Well met) He looked down his nose at me from the branch he stood on.

"Bind her and take her to my father" He said putting a hand on my shoulder, "He will want to know that Edlennen had returned" (Banished)

He pushed me towards the elves behind me. A couple of elves tied my hands behind my back despite my struggles and began directing me to the castle of the woodland realm.

I shivered involuntarily, I had good reason not to return. The Elvenking, Thranduil would not be pleased that I was back in his kingdom. Perhaps he would carry through his threat from sixty years ago...

We settled down for the night. My daggers, made from deer antlers were confiscated. I sighed leaning against the tree I was bound to and trying to look to the stars through the dark canopy.

Frustrated I sagged down the ropes now the only thing holding me up and fell into a restless sleep

After a couple days of a 'lovely' walk in the dark forest we, the new two elf guards and I, were walking up the stairs to meet Thranduil.

At the top of the winding staircase I was pushed to the ground in front of the Elvenking, causing me to growl in defiance, before standing back on my leather clad feet, I bowed my head slightly in respect, but otherwise showed no courtesy to the king, I wasn't under his rule.

"Why have you returned to the Woodland Realm, you and your kin were banished when you failed-" He trailed off, I bowed my head in shame, His wife dead, because my mother, while protecting her, had been attacked and left for dead while his wife had been spirited away.

"I beg your forgiveness Aran nin, it was an accident for me to step upon your lands. I was merely trying to retrieve my horse..." (My king) I whispered before getting cut off by Thranduil.

"You knew the penalty of returning." He accused "You knew you could only return upon the pain of death, yet you still pursued your horse" I nodded solemnly. He frowned from his throne "Legolas, throw her in the prison" He ordered "I will deal with her later"

I was wrestled, none to gently might I add, to the first available prison cell, a couple daggers more daggers were drawn from my belt and confiscated, though I was not too fussed, there was a lot more where that came from.

I waited till my enhanced hearing could pick up only the faintest footsteps, quietly I took a necklace from around my neck and slid the small, dagger that hung on the end into my fingertips, for a few seconds I wrestled with the lock, until I heard the satisfying click that signalled my freedom.

I crept into the cellars, word of how Thorin Oakenshield's company escaped had reached me and I now had a chance to try it myself, not that I was planning on it but... My thoughts were interrupted by me hitting the water, I sucked in a breath as the cold water washed over me, before I got used to the freezing temperatures, as I neared the bridge I ducked underwater and let the current carry me past the ever watchful guards, around the bend I pulled myself out from the river, I huffed crossing my arms as my sodden clothing clung to my sides and began to move back to the far side of Mirkwood.

I whistled for Laer as I reached the side he should be grazing on, rolling my shoulders. I hadn't done that in forever. I waited a few minutes walking in the direction I last saw him, soon he appeared over the hill and I paused to watch him gallop back to me.

"Oh so now you listen" I murmured sarcastically as I swung onto his broad back. I clucked my tongue and we were off.

Laer and I stopped six days away from Rivendell, by one of the safe houses found inside a well-hidden cave, I howled a short note and dismounted Laer.

"Dar nu toba" (Stay under cover) I whispered to Laer as I pulled off my pack and unbuckled his bridle, he whinnied and tossed his head in agreement, I turned to be met face to face with a few rather large wolves, I smiled "Rafele, Nokra, Lanfe" I nodded at each wolf in turn then walked past them, beneath a low hanging branch into a cave.

Five more pairs of glowing eyes glanced up at my entrance and soon I was covered in saliva and nearly suffocating on wolf fur.

My laughter rang through the cave as I squirmed under the oversized wolves until I managed to get out from under them breathing heavily "alright, alright enough, I'm happy to see you to" I chuckled as Sash the youngest of my pack wiggled while she attempted to hold her flailing tail still. "How about we have some dinner?" I questioned to which I gained several yips in reply.

I sat outside the cave, a small fire flickered in front of my eyes, I looked up alarmed when hooves thundered past I quickly smothered the fire and crouched down, drawing my long knives and pulling my hood up to hide my yellow hair. I could hear footsteps not far off so I decided to leave the fire unlit. There was a pounding of footsteps and a voice reached my ears.

"Look a horse, perhaps we could borrow it to get to Rivendell" I shook my head holding back a laugh, the only reason I managed to obtain Laer was because he was unwilling to let anyone ride him, and still wouldn't unless he was asked to, usually by me. I lay back against a rock letting my hearing expand to the little gathering, I head Laer's hoof beats coming towards me, I stood to caress Laer's head, patting his nose before I turned to a small, rather terrified looking Hobbit sitting on his back, I pressed my forehead against Laer's.

"You silly horse" I told him.