Second Verse

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Summary: The fourth part in the running Song For None series and takes place right where Ballad For All left off.

Rating: 'R' just to be safe. There will be a bit more violence is this part and some sexuality though that will be mild!

Warnings: None at the moment, tense situations, violence, mild sexuality, no slash.

Genre: Action, adventure, mystery, love, drama.

Archive: Ask nicely and you shall receive.

Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR or any of the characters. Most of the plot and general themes in the story are mine.

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Elladan, Makathen, Eloden, and Nivrim all followed Erestor back to the guardhouse. They were tired and dirty and ready to bathe and sleep in their own beds.

As Elladan dismounted his stead and let the horse run off after unloaded his packs he noticed something strange, a horse he had never seen before was tied to the gate near the guardhouse and packs were still on the horse. It wasn't unusual to have visitors but most went to the front of the house.

Just then, Glorfindel came bursting out of the guardhouse and towards Elladan.

"Elladan!" Glorfindel called out.

"What is it?" Elladan ran towards Glorfindel.

"Come, you must see!" was all that Glorfindel said and he led Elladan back to the guardhouse.

In Elladan's bed a body lay, it was resting.

"What is it?" Elladan walked towards the body and stopped in his tracks as he say what lay before him, "Elrohir?"

~

Breakfast in Mirkwood was somber as usual. The few elves that did show up were usually quiet and stayed only long enough to eat and then left to go about their business.

Before long the peacefulness was broken by loud laughter coming through the hallways, Legolas and company had arrived.

"I can't believe you!" Losenov laughed at Nilhisie as the group walked into the hall.

"I'm serious!" Nilhisie defended himself against something that no one else but the group was quite sure of.

"You are to much." Flora added in between laughs of her own.

"Good morning, young ones. Disturbing the peace already?" An elf, one that Nuquer recognized to be Bragolfin's father stood smiling before them.

"Well, of course. We wouldn't want things to get to dull around here." Nuquer smiled.

"That's the spirit." The elf, whom Nuquer respectfully had found was named Saeros.

The group continued on to their usual table. They were all enjoying their breakfast when someone none of them wished to see came to ruin their fun, Bragolfin and her three new friends, also former dates of Legolas, Laithol and Tarfirith.

"Good morning." Bragolfin said in a very haughty voice as she stood in front of them.

"Or at least it was." Nuquer muttered.

"What was that? I don't think you were speaking clearly enough, but then again that is what must happen when you spend to much time with mortals." Bragolfin replied.

Flora gasped quietly and Nilhisie put a protective arm around her and was about to say something when Nuquer got there first.

"I said it was a good morning until you came along and had to ruin it for everyone else. I don't know why you didn't hear me the first time? Since you lived here all your life you should have exceptional hearing and speaking of hearing if I ever here you say something negative about mortals again it will be the last time you'll be able to speak for a very long time." Nuquer narrowed her eyes as she said this last part, letting them all know she was not kidding.

Bragolfin pursed her lips and stared back at Nuquer, though all could tell she had nothing to say back.

"Watch yourself." Bragolfin lamely threatened before she walked away closely followed by her two silent friends.

"Wicked mouth there." Nilhisie joked after Bragolfin left the hall to Nuquer.

"Well, you know how things go." Nuquer shrugged, back to her cheerful self.

"Legolas, you don't have to worry about ever being beaten up or picked on by anyone you can just send Nuquer to deal with them!" Celebfaug laughed.

"I have a protector." Legolas added and pulled Nuquer closer to him.

"Oh, shut it Legolas." Nuquer smiled and the group finished their meal.

~

Thranduil walked to the side of Saeros who he was going to discuss the matter of Mirkwood with in his study.

"That Nuquer is a very nice girl." Saeros commented.

"That she is. You aren't upset about Bragolfin?" Thranduil glanced at Saeros.

"Of course not, she's to much like her mother. I should not say of my own daughter, or anyone really but, unfortunate is the elf that marries my daughter." Saeros lowered his voice when he said this.

Thranduil raised his eyes but said nothing.

"And the mortal that came with Nuquer, what is that about?" Saeros asked after a few silent moments.

"Oh, that's Nuquer's sister, it's a long story. Nuquer's parents died and a family took her in and she's been with that family ever since." Thranduil briefly described the situation.

"Like young Estel in Rivendell, except opposite then." Saeros nodded, understanding, "It seems as if Nilhisie has calmed down for now then."

"Would seem so."

"It'll give the other elves a chance to court the maidens. Nilhisie was always quite the charmer." Saeros laughed.

"Now we must discuss more important issues." Thranduil held the door to his study open for Saeros to enter.

"Yes, the matters at hand." Saeros thanked Thranduil and entered the room.

~

"Bragolfin," Laithol called to Bragolfin as the three entered Bragolfin's house.

"What?" Bragolfin snapped, she was not in a good mood after being shown up by Nuquer.

"I was just wondering why you dislike Nuquer so much." Laithol replied quietly.

"Not dislike, hate, I hate Nuquer and everything about her." Bragolfin stared out the window seething with jealousy.

"But why? She really is very nice." Tarfirith frowned, she didn't understand.

"I am supposed to be with Legolas, not some country elf who grew up with mortals! Me! I'm supposed to be with the prince and become queen just like my mother always told me I should be!" Bragolfin burst out.

Both of the other elves were quiet. They didn't know what to say.

"Then why are going for Nilhisie?" Laithol weakly asked.

"Because-" Bragolfin thought for a few moments, "because, I will work my way to Legolas through his friends." Bragolfin finished.

"That's horr-" Tarfirith was cut off by Laithol when she grabbed onto her arm.

"I will be with Legolas and send Nuquer packing back to her mortal family where she belongs." Bragolfin confirmed to herself.

~