Black Moon

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Feinereg sighed as he knocked on the door to Legolas' room for the second time. Finally deciding that he had waited long enough, he just opened it.

"Legolas?"

When there was no answer, Feinereg shook his head and went to find his father.

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"All I'm asking is that you speak with him, Adar," Rhiernil pleaded. "The twins will be here soon enough, and then all of this nonsense can be over with."

Before Thranduil could reply, Feinereg interupted. "It is not so simple. He's gone, again."

There was a silence and Thranduil sighed. "We need a leash for that boy."

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Draugaran was slightly taken back when Legolas came to him. He had just been checking in on the young Elf and was more than surprised to find Legolas in front of him. Everything about the young Elf seemed sad and for a moment, Draugaran wondered if another member of his family had died. Not asking what was wrong, the WolfKing simply drew Legolas to him, enfolding the smaller creature in his arms.

"What's happened, Little One?"

"I want to go with you...please?"

Not knowing what to say, Draugaran nodded. "Of course."

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It was a few days later when any news of the Elves reached Draugaran's den. Two identical Elves, rumoured to be the sons of Elrond, had entered the forest, and Thranduil had recalled the search parties that had been sent out, reasoning that Legolas would return on his own. As for Legolas, the young Elf had told Draugaran everything about his father's seeming rejection and his brothers' anger.

The WolfKing was having a difficult time accepting that Thranduil would be so cold to his own son. Draugaran walked across the wide main hall and followed the familiar passages to where Legolas was sleeping. He smiled and crouched by the mass of fur blankets, pulling them up enough to see the childish Elf beneath.

"Wake up, Lykoi*," Draugaran said, using the nickname he had started calling Legolas by. "I have something to show you."

There was a muffled 'mmph' and the figure shifted to turn. Sighing, Draugaran pulled the blankets off. "Up."

Legolas muttered something and slowly started to sit up. "What is it?"

"You'll see. I want to test your senses."

The Elf grumbled but followed Draugaran out of the room. Legolas had taken to sleeping fully clothed, sneaking into his old room the night after he left to gather some clothes.

Legolas' mind woke completely when the cold night air struck him, he followed Draugaran through the paths he hadn't known existed until he met the Wolves. After a few minutes, Legolas realized he was at the main path leading to the palace.

"What do you see?" Draugaran asked quietly, indicating the path.

Legolas frowned, "A camp, nothing more."

"Use all of your senses, Lykoi."

Sighing, Legolas closed his eyes. His hearing intensified and he could hear the soft breathing of the figures in the camp, one steady and event while the other wasn't.

"One's asleep. There are only two."

Draugaran nodded, "And?"

The scents of what remained of the travellers' dinner reached him, but he discarded the information. Then there was something that made his eyes flutter open.

"They smell almost the same."

"Twins."

Legolas smiled, "Elladan and Elrohir."

The WolfKing shifted slightly, "You know them?"

"They are friends of my brothers, I was too young to hang around them when they last visited."

Legolas looked long at the twins, startled when he saw the one who was awake stand and look in his direction. Draugaran stilled him, "Be careful and do not move. They are hunters."

Settling back, Legolas watched curiously. The other twin got up at the proddin his his brother and Legolas tried to see any differences between them. There was a deep chuckle, soft enough not to attract the attention of the pair.

"The hair is different, as are the eyes. But look to how they carry themselves. Both are confident, but one looks more determined to leade ote other is content to follow."

Legolas' eyes picked out the differences, seeing what Draugaran had said. His nose picked up the faint differences between the two as well.

"I don't like this, Elrohir. Something's watching us, and has been for a few minutes now."

Legolas was interested now. The one that had been sleeping was Elrohir, meaning the one that had been on guard was Elladan.

Elrohir sighed, the sound carrying to Legolas and Draugaran. "Fine, we can start off now. Who needs sleep anyway?"

A hand on his shoulder brought Legolas' attention back to Draugaran. A small motion had Legolas following the WolfKing back the way they had come.

"Now," Draugaran said softly; "what would they be doing here?"

Legolas looked down, "Ada called for them, to find you."

"And to find you, I suppose now."

"I'm not going back," Legolas said, though his voice was soft, he spoke the words strongly enough.

Draugaran sighed, a low rumble in his chest accompanied it. As much as he enjoyed having Legolas around, the curious little pup that he was, the WolfKing couldn't feel like it was right knowing that there was a rift in the Elven family.

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"Prince Rhiernil, Prince Feinereg, the Lords Elladan and Elrohir have arrived," a servant informed the two Princes.

Rhiernil nodded, "Send them in, and have rooms readied for them."

The servant nodded, bowed, and left. A few minutes later, the twin sons entered the dining hall. Feinereg indicated two empty seats and the twins put their gear that had not been taken to the rooms they would be given by the door.

"On behalf of our father, welcome to Mirkwood," Rhiernil greeted once the twins had taken seats.

Elladan smiled, "Thank you. But I believe it was your father that sent the query for help?"

Feinereg nodded, "Yes. I suppose Nimelen has chosen to stay in Imladris for a while longer?"

Elrohir nodded, "He's welcome there, of course. But it may be best we speak with King Thranduil to learn of what we are supposed to do."

Feinereg looked to his brother and Rhiernil steepled his hands in front of him. "I'm afraid Adar isn't up to his usual self. Until he is feeling better, I'm the acting steward."

"So we report to you then, Rhi?" Elladan asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rhiernil smiled, "Right. Unless it is really important, all news is to come to me."

The twins nodded and Elladan spoke up again. "So what is it that we're supposed to do?"

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*Lykoi-Greek for 'wolf' Yeah, I'm really original in picking names eh?