Legolas looked at Grace nervously. Grace swallowed hard and looked back at the door.
"Grace!" Her father came bursting through the door.
"Your mother is throwing a fit! Supposedly you were supposed to-" He paused, "Ay!! Legolas!!" he said, approaching Legolas with his hand out stretched. Legolas took Grace's fathers hand and shook it politely, yet with force.
"Good handshake, my friend, good handshake," he said, dropping Legolas's hand, "You know, one of the best ways to judge a person's character is by their handshake." He said, putting his feet together and standing tall.
"Say," his smile not so large anymore, "What are you doing in here anyway?" he asked.
"Uh.. umm.. I was-" Legolas started
"He was helping me replace Deasels bandage!" Grace jumped in, saving him, "You know how hard it is to put a new one on when he is flittering about!" She said with a smile.
"Ahh.. yess!" Her father said, walking over to Deasel's cage, "Good ole Deasel." He stuck his finger in the cage and Deasel gave him a "caw-caw." Her father chuckled.
"Oh! Anyway, Grace, your mother is throwing a fit and she wants you out washing the linens right now!" he told her.
"Okay, father, I'll go right now," she said, kissing him on the cheek and giving Legolas a descrete look that said "I Love You." She walked past them both, and Legolas started to leave as well.
"Wait, Legolas," Grace's father commanded, putting his hand on Legolas's shoulder. Legolas turned around to him.
"Legolas, you are wanted in a secret council today," he said softly.
"Why? What is wrong?" Legolas asked. He was concerned. Grace's father looked around as if to see if anyone was watching.
"No information can be disclosed at the moment.. it has something to do with a shadow, but your father strongly suggests that you be there," he said, whispering. Legolas nodded and said, "Okay, I'll be there."
"Good," Grace's father grunted, "Someone will send for you when they are ready."
Legolas politely bowed to Grace's father and left the room.
"Secret council?" Legolas pondered, walking towards the horse stables. "What shadow?" He thought about what Grace's father had said, even though he had not said much. He walked into the stables, looking in each one. He smiled when he came across an old mare. Grethal, his old horse before he had left Mirkwood. She was considerably older now, and she lay sleeping in the soft bed of hay.
"Hello?" Legolas whispered, knocking on the side of the wall. Grethal looked up at her old master. She obviously remembered him, and slowly brought herself to her feet. She whined as she walked towards Legolas. Legolas was overjoyed that she remembered him. He whispered in her ears and stroked her forehead. He had brought a few lumps of sugar for her, and he happily fed them to her.
"Such happy times, back then," he thought outload to himself, rather nostalgic. Grethal seemed to nod in agreement. Chuckling, Legolas ran his fingers through her once silken maine.
"Legolas," came a voice from behind him. He turned around to see a smaller elf looking up at him.
"Yes?" he answered.
"You are wanted at the council now," the elf said, bowing. Legolas fed Grethal one last lump of sugar and kissed her forehead.
"Until next time, hmm?" he whispered to her. Grethal whined and stomped her foor stubbornly. Legolas left her stable and followed the elf to the council. When he arrived, many of the elves had already taken their seats. Legolas found his chair next to his fathers throne. He watched expressionless as the rest of the elves arrvied. When every elf had found their seats, Legolas's father walked in, sitting in his throne. The elves went silent. Legolas waited for some type of explanation.
"King Greenleaf, what exaclty is happening?" an elf finally chirpped out. The wise elf sat silent for awhile, as if he was thinking hard about the question. Everyone waited.
"A shadow has begun to fall over Mirkwood. We are beginning to be consumed by darkness," the King finally said.
"Consumed?" a few elves said together, the others discussed amoung themselves.
"Yes, the Ent, Treebeard, has been singing songs of a shadow for the past few months. Many you may have noticed, that it has been getting dark quite early," the king explained. Again the elves burst into discussion. Legolas sat silent, thinking about what he was hearing. It had been gettin dark rather early.
"What does this mean exactly?" an elf called out amoung the others.
"We talked with Treebeard. He says he has heard rumors amoung the trees. Orcs have been pushed out of a mountain near by, we do not know which one yet. They are looking for revenge against whoever they come across. Which means they will destroy anything, and anyone, who crosses their path to their mountain," the king answered, solemnly. An uproar had started amoung the elves.
"Where does that leave Mirkwood?"
"Treebeard regretably informed us that we seem to be right in the middle of their path. As you know, Orcs follow a straight route, and they travel fast. We don't have much time-" the king was cut off, Legolas looked angrily at the elf who had rudly interrupted his father.
"What are we supposed to do then?" the elf yelled.
"We haven't figured out small details yet, what we definitely need to do is move Lady-elves and child elves to a safer region." The elves mumbled in agreement at this. Legolas immediatly thought of Grace when his father said this. He was having a hard time breathing.
"Do we plan on defending Mirkwood?" an elf cried out.
"Of course," the knoble king replied, "All of you elves will stay behind, after the others are transported to a safe place, and you will fight the Orcs." Legolas's heart beat fast. Orcs were not the nicest foe. They were hideous and ruthless.
"How many are there?"
"We don't know exactly. Treebeard says the trees have whispered numbers to him ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 of them."
"10,000!!" many of the elves exclaimed together.
"How are we expected to fight an army of 10,000 Orcs?" a few elves said loudly. Many elves were already shaking their heads, as if they had no hope.
"We have called upon the aid of Gandalf and some elves from Rivendale. We have asked Treebeard to rally up whatever or whoever he can. We you must understand that we can not let those Orcs reach that mountain. They have been driven off for a reason, and Treebeard says that terrible things had been happening while they stayed there. Who knows what those Orcs are planning, or who they are siding with these days. You have to agree that the only way to ensure less evil in middle-earth is to kill whatever Orc we can!" the King said, disappointed in the discouraged faces of his elves. The elves murmured amoung themselves. The elf next to Legolas muttered, "We might as well commit suicide.." Legolas's cheeks turned red in anger. He stood up, nostrils flaring. The elves fell silent.
"Have you all lost your dignity? We shall fight for what is ours and we shall protect our loved ones. I look upon these dreadful faces full of doubt and I feel a sadness in my heart. Do you not love Mirkwood? Are you not brave? Have we not defended ourselves before, despite what odds were against us?" Legolas walked around staring into the faces of the other elves, "Now if putting ourselves against 10,000 Orcs is what we need to do to help stop some type of evil doings in the mountains, then I am prepared to do it! I am prepared to fight!" He finished by slamming his fist down on a table next to him. The elves were silent, feeling somewhat ashamed of themselves, but still in disbelief.
"Legolas.." his father spoke, "I have decided to make you in charge of the armed forces." Legolas's heart jumped, pounding in his ears. The elves went into an uproar again.
"Legolas????!! Such an unexperienced elf! How can you put the fate of Mirkwood on such an elf!" Legolas was offended but it was true. He had only gone on one quest, to Regrage, and he had never lead an army into a battle of anytype.
"Father, are you sure you want it to be me?" Legolas asked.
"I am quite sure my son, You are the only elf in Mirkwood with a positive heart and a strong will," he stopped and gave the rest of the elves a look of disappointment, "It shall be you."
"OF COURSE it will be Legolas!" an elf angrily shouted out, "after all he is your son!" The elves all agreed at the rude statement and nodded their heads. Legolas's face went pink. He had always hated being the son of a king. He didn't like that he got special benefits, though he knew this was no gift that was to be given to him.
"Thats ENOUGH!" The king stood up. The elves fell silent. "Legolas shall be the leader, and that is final! We will start to move lady elves and child elves next week. We have a month before the Orcs will be here. The darkness will warn us of when the time draws nearer to fight." The kings brows were furrowed and his eyes flashed angrily.
"Father, will it be completely dark by the time they get here?" Legolas asked.
"Treebeard has heard that it will, son," the king replied, sighing. the elves began to murmur once again.
"Gandalf should arrive in a few days. Same for any other aide. I can say no more, for you know what to do in your hearts. I suggest you all open your minds, for the attitudes displayed in this meeting were NOT satisfactory at all." the king stepped off of his throne and looked over at Legolas. Legolas nodded at his father. He knew he had to do what he was asked. His knees felt weak. He grabbed the back of a chair until he gained his breath and strength again. Elves started leaving the council, giving Legolas angry looks. Legolas sat down in a chair after all had left. He didn't know what to do, he did not know where to start. he put his head in his hands. "what am I going to do?" he said outloud.

Un-Titled part 4