~~~The Tales Untold~~~

-Chains of Blood-

Written By: Jazi

Rated: PG-13, mostly for some language

Disclaimer: I do not own Middle Earth or any recognizable characters, places, etc… I am not making any money, this is all just for fun. No, I don't have permission to use these characters, but as I said before, I'm not getting paid. However, the following characters, do belong to me, so do not use them without permission: Luinithil, Rada, Míriel, Lûtharas, Daemîr, Araraug, Eluross, Amélith, Echil, Rammas, Niphred, the seer, Tori, Alarim, Bren, Siric, Abel, and the Striker (Elei) all belong to me. Whoa, that's a LONG list.

Summary: Chains of iron can be broken. Chains of blood cannot. Family ties are often more dangerous than an enemy's bonds.

Note: This story is going to make A LOT more sense if you read the other stories in this series first. Especially Adventures Here and There. I also have followed the popular lead that Aragorn was kind of adopted by Elrond. K?

Author's Ramblings:

Yeah, woo hoo! Okay, that was a little uncalled for, but I needed to yell that out. I'm back! I've been writing like a maniac FYI, this is kind of my Christmas present to all of my readers—I'm starting to post before I've finished the story, even though I swore never again, never again. But I trust I'll be done soon… since I write every night for about an hour. After homework.

So here's the new story! I'm hoping to see my old reviewers returning… you know who you are! *smiles cheerfully* Maybe a few new ones, too! This is a new story! A new clean slate. I'm in a good mood tonight, if you can't tell. ^-^ So, I'll let you read the first chapter in the coolest story yet!

Chapter One

Ash Blows Into Mirkwood

Amélith gently ran his hand over the rough tree back. Memories rushed back, but he lightly pushed them aside. He had no time to wander in the past—the present demanded he stay there. A butterfly fluttered out of the tree's leaves and landed on a bush, waving its wings softly. Amélith let his eyes linger on the beautiful sight for only a moment. Somehow this butterfly had managed to survive the light snow of the winter so far. But he had no time to wonder at this. He had other business in these woods tonight.

"Silver, it's time we continued," Echil glided out from behind a tree. "Are you ready? Rammas says we will get there by midnight if we make haste."

Amélith closed his eyes for a moment. "No, Echil. I want to arrive in the morning. We will sleep in the trees tonight, here. I don't want to go any farther south tonight. Is that understood?" The elf's face had hardened as the memory of his task returned to him.

"Yes, Lord Silver," Echil murmured. "I will have Rammas and Niphred build a flet to sleep in tonight." With a silent nod Amélith dismissed him. The servant turned on his heel and stalked back into the lengthening shadows.

Echil found Rammas and Niphred peering at a map, using their own elven glow to illuminate the piece of paper in the growing darkness. "What did Silver say?" Rammas asked, looking up. "Are we going to continue?"

"No, we are to build a flet. We will not go farther south tonight." Echil began to hunt for branches to weave together. "I agree with Silver. This wood has far too much evil in it and more to the south. It's safer here, in the northern regions."

Niphred said nothing.

"Let us get to work, then," Rammas replied. He rolled up the map and tossed it by his flask. Reaching up a slender arm, he lifted himself up into a large tree.

In only a few minutes, the four elves were comfortably resting in the treetops, far away from the ground. The moonless night had completely settled upon the forest. Squirrels headed for their homes as the insects of the night scurried out of their hives. Twigs cracked beneath the toes of deer as they cautiously looked for a safe place to relax.

What a wretched place, Amélith thought. Why would anyone want to live here?

He pulled his heavy cloak more tightly around himself, letting his guard down a little. Resting his head against the tree trunk he allowed his body to take some reprieve from the tenseness that had gripped it. Now it was time to rest. Tomorrow he would proceed. Yes, tomorrow he would proceed.

"Legolas, hey!"

Thranduil, king of Mirkwood and son of Oropher, was having a hard time of it. He was getting badly beaten in a snowball fight. Even with Eluross on his side, that elf was no help—he kept dashing up to the trees and accidentally knocking more snow down on top of Thranduil. It had been a long while since he had played in the snow, but finally he seemed to get the knack of ducking behind a tree before a snowball hit him in the head. However, Legolas was a formidable adversary and he was the more experienced in this type of warfare. When the king had cried out, a snowball had hit the king directly in the face.

However, Eluross avenged him when he successfully dropped the largest snowball yet from a tree and it shattered on Legolas' back. "Eluross!" Legolas titled his head up and scanned the trees for any sign of Eluross. However that elf was smart—he had dressed himself in a white tunic today, to blend in. However, he wore gray shoes… ah ha! Legolas grabbed a handful of snow and launched in Eluross' direction.

Eluross' yelled back down, cursing in several languages. "That went down my shirt!"

"Tsk, tsk, Eluross, such improper language," Legolas chuckled. He flung another snowball up into the trees and got the same result.

However, attention had been drawn away from Thranduil. He snuck up behind Legolas while gathering all the snow he could. The next thing Legolas knew was that he was picking snow out of his hair. He whirled to see his father, grinning.

Eluross dropped out of the tree, landing silently next to Legolas, who was furiously shaking the snow out of his hair. The soldier smirked. "You should never have challenged both of us, Legolas. It will be your undoing."

"It has been a long time since I have played in the snow," Thranduil remarked. "I had forgotten how amusing it could be."

"The snow is light, the winter is warmer this year than usual." Taking his arrows out of the quiver strapped to his back, Eluross turned it upside down. Snow fell out of it. "And only a few more months until spring."

"The insects are still around, even with the snow," Legolas agreed. He shook the snow out of his cloak. "Hey, a butterfly!"

"Rare to see one of them at this time of year," Eluross said, admiring the insect's colorful wings. It fluttered away quickly.

Thranduil smiled at the peaceful wood around him, drinking in the beauty of winter. "It's been so quiet, strangely quiet."

"I thought you liked quiet," Eluross replied. He brushed the snow off of a large rock and sat down, absentmindedly shaping another snowball in his hands.

"I do, but Legolas is long overdue to get into trouble," Thranduil answered with a smile. "I believe the last bit was in Angmar… two years ago. Since then he has only fallen out of two trees, attacked by spiders once, accidentally locked himself out of his room and had a run in with those orcs on the eastern front." The elf king ticked off each one on his fingers while Eluross snickered at Legolas, who had turned an interesting shade of red.

"You've known all this time about the orcs?" he asked.

"Legolas, you limped for a week. And I've got Eluross here to fill me in on everything that goes on in Mirkwood." Thranduil clapped Eluross on the back. The former captain smiled to himself. He was well known for having several 'spies' all throughout Mirkwood. He could always be counted on to know what was happening.

Legolas rolled his eyes. "I've got everyone working against me." But his sarcastic tone was lightened by the fact his father was in such good spirits. It was a rare thing.

"Perhaps it is because a few of Mirkwood's more… foolish citizens have taken up temporary residence in Lorien," Eluross suggested. "Míriel and Lûtharas are there—Daemîr returned to Mithlond. Even Rada has taken a small journey to the Misty Mountains, to visit some of her spots, I think. So it's been me and you around, that's it. And I keep you out of trouble, I don't get you into it," Eluross couldn't help but add.

Legolas wasn't listening. "Shh! Do you hear something?"

"No… wait, yes." Eluross cocked his head. "Horses." He jumped to his feet and dropped the snowball he had been forming. "There are no hunting parties coming back today, or border guards. Legolas, Your Highness, I would appreciate it if you got into that tree there and kept silent." Eluross notched an arrow.

Thranduil shrugged and leapt into the tree easily. "Nothing could get into this place without the border guard allowing it."

Legolas frowned and drew back his own bow, refusing to climb the tree. "Legolas…" Eluross said warningly. The prince just raised an eyebrow as if to say, Did you really expect me to hide?

A white horse trotted into view, along with three gray ones. Astride it was an elf. Eluross relaxed slightly. "Mae govannen," he called.

"Mae govannen," the elf slid off of his white horse and held out a hand in greeting.

This elf was tall, with light gold hair and silver eyes. His clothes were well kept and although humbly sewn, they were made of expensive cloth. A long grey cloak hung over his shoulders.

"Amélith i eneth nín," he said quietly. My name is Amélith.

"What business do you have in these woods?" Legolas asked, politely but firmly. His bow was lowered but he held himself ready.

"My business is my own, I would take it up with the king," Amélith said. "Calm yourself, prince. I'm not an enemy. Is the hospitality of Mirkwood diminished? My companions and I have traveled a long way, I wish to rest."

Legolas hid his surprise that this stranger knew his identity. He was dressed as plainly as Eluross—he wasn't exactly recognizable as prince of Mirkwood. The former captain shrugged and put away his bow. "I apologize, these are suspicious times we live in. I'll escort you to the palace. Legolas, wait for the rest of the hunting party to return."

"Yes, I will," Legolas answered quickly. He knew what the older elf meant.

"Come, friends. I'll lead you swiftly." Eluross turned and started off in the direction of the palace. The elf called Amélith mounted his horse and followed. His three silent companions went along behind him.

Legolas made sure they were out of earshot before saying anything. "Father, do you know who they were?"

Thranduil swung down from the tree and brushed a few frozen leaves off of his robes. "No, I have never seen them before in my life. However that Amélith does have a familiar sounding voice." He nodded in the direction the strangers had gone. "They said they had business with me. I wonder what that could be about?"

"Ambassadors from Lorien, complaining about Míriel and Lûtharas?" Legolas suggested, only half joking.

"No, if the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn were going to kick those two out, they would have done it a long time ago."

"Ambassadors from Mithlond, then, begging for us to take Daemîr."

"No, he's lived there for a thousand years. Unless he has suddenly decided to steal Cirdan's favorite ship, he's fine there." Thranduil started to walk back towards the palace, making no imprint on the light snow. Legolas followed, wondering exactly what those mysterious elves wanted.

Okay, that's it for now. Be back later!