Silhouettes

Chapter 14

The next morning, Elrond, Thranduil and Merilinor, carrying a little bundle of blankets, set off on horseback to the elven kingdom of Rivendell. It was a clear spring morning, and the flowers popping up through the grass beside the Old Forest Road were just starting to open, as if they were saying hello to the elves as they rode past.

"Keep up Merilinor, at this rate you'll arrive at Rivendell as I'm leaving!

Thranduil called back to his valet who was trotting along at a slow pace whilst the other two elves were almost galloping.

"May I remind you my lord, that I am carrying your son with me!"

"He's a tough lad! He takes after his father!"

Thranduil called back as he started riding full speed over a hill.

Legolas' blue eyes blinked up at Merilinor as they slowly went up the rise of the hill.

"Don't you worry my little prince. I won't let you fall."

Around noon the elves stopped under an oak tree to have some food and rest. Thranduil sat in the long grass with Legolas as the other two elves tied up the horses and gave them some water.

As he sat with his son he was again reminded of the days that he Sophia spent lying in the grass laughing and playing. He longed for her to be there with him. For the two of them to be sitting down with their son playing with him. He reached over to where a thin stick had fallen from the oak tree which he twisted into a crown. He placed little white flowers in it and added some small green leaves. It fitted Legolas perfectly.

"You look so handsome now Leggy!"

Thranduil leant over and tickled his little toes which made him squeal in delight.

"Let's eat something I'm starved, and we still have another couple of hours until sundown."

Elrond said this as he started to unwrap some bundles of lembas.

Merilinor came shortly after and sat down too.

"That looks very beautiful Legolas."

Merilinor touched His little crown which made him giggle. Merilinor pulled out his bottle to feed him.

"I'll do it."

Thranduil took the bottle from him and picked up Legolas.

As they sat in the green forest, the peace that the four elves felt suddenly shifted and a darkness fell over the sky. A cold wind picked up causing the little baby to cry and squirm restlessly.

"What's this? Bad weather was not expected."

Elrond spoke with an uneasy calm as he rose from his sitting position and looked down the path out over the hill across the land that lay before them.

"The clouds are moving fast with the wind, it should clear soon."

Thranduil reassured Elrond.

"If we ride now we will make it to the Misty Mountains before sundown and before these storm clouds grow larger."

Merilinor stood up awkwardly as he took Legolas from Thranduil and went to untie his horse.

"We will have to ride fast, Merilinor, be careful of the young prince." Elrond warned.

"Like I said, Elrond, Leggy's a tough one." Thranduil said with a smirk.

"Yaa!"

The three elves spurred their horses on as they rode down the hill through the tall trees.

As they left Mirkwood the rain started to drizzle over the soft earth, which quickly turned into a heavy rain which became a torrential downpour. The ground soon became mud beneath the galloping horses and the wind howled almost pushing the riding elves over.

"WE MUST FIND SHELTER MY LORD!"

Merilinor shouted towards Thranduil through the dreadful noise of the storm. He cradled Legolas in his arm and held him close into his chest so as not to get him wet.

"THERE IS NO PLACE FOR US TO REST OUT HERE, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GRASSLANDS!"

Elrond called back to Merilinor still composed and elegant despite his drenched dishevelled appearance.

"IF WE RIDE FAST MY LORD, WE CAN FIND SHELTER IN THE MISTY MOUNTAINS!"

"WITH ORCS CRAWLING THESE LANDS I WOULDN'T RISK IT!" Thranduil replied.

"WITH ALL RESPECT MY LORD, I'M WILLING TO TAKE THAT CHANCE CONSIDERING OUR CURRENT SITUATION!"

"HE'S RIGHT THRANDUIL, IT'S THE BEST CHANCE WE'VE GOT!"

They pushed forward west and headed towards the edge of the mountains, their tracks quickly covered by the rain that followed them and the shrieks and cries of the baby Legolas leaving their own trail behind them.

Once they reached the mountain they sat comfortably sheltered from the storm under the thick canopy provided by large oak and beach trees, however rain drops still made their way down through the thicket onto the elves once neat, silky hair, now water damaged and tangled by the wind.

Merilinor still sat with Legolas in his lap protecting him from the harsh weather, although it appeared that the young elf did not mind the wet or the cold as he still found amusement grabbing at Merilinor's hair getting his small fingers caught in the knots. Thranduil, the young king, tired from riding and still feeling a little ill from the party somehow found rest amongst the thrashing wind and rain, and was elegantly snoring against a damp tree trunk. Elrond, the eldest of the party, sat bolt upright shivering in the sharp air. Merilinor watched him as he stared straight ahead in what seemed like a vacant expression.

"My lord?"

No reply.

"My lord Elrond?" He spoke more forward this time.

Again, the elf did not reply.

Merilinor gave up and instead focused on rescuing Legolas who had crawled away from him to a small tree nearby which he was trying to climb. He scooped the baby up from the ground, much to Legolas's displeasure and brought him back to the other two elves.

"Mer, Mer, Meri! Ahhh!"

Legolas started crying and thrashing in Merilinor's arms.

Elrond finally spoke in a whisper.

"Hush. Keep him quiet!"

At this and Legolas crying Thranduil woke up rubbing his eyes.

"Ah, what've you done to my leggy?"

Thranduil took Legolas from him and stopped him crying.

"Quiet all of you!"

Elrond said this harshly with a tone of fear in his voice. He stood up and started to gather their things together.

"Untie your horses. We must ride through the high pass."

"Elrond what is happening?" Thranduil sounded panicked.

"They've been watching us."

"Sir?" Merilinor chimed in with no hint of confidence in his voice.

"If we move now, we'll lose them."

"Elrond. Tell us what is hunting us."

As Thranduil finished this demand a huge cry was heard deep within the forest.

"Orcs." Merilinor's voice cracked as he held back tears.

"Pull yourself together young one and ride!" Elrond ordered as he jumped onto his horse and rode off leading the party to safety.