1 ❧ text; backdated a few days

[woodking]

[The penmanship is bold, but neat and without added flourishes. Well, he'd been told that this was a communication devise, and the previous pages did seem to back that up, so it seemed a good place to begin asking questions.]

Are there any here who have the tools needed in shaping a bow? At the moment I have nothing but a sword, and it is not suited for fine work.

A sword alone may do to an extent, but this forest is... unnatural, and I would wish for more than it

[Suddenly the writing stops, and Thranduil's voice picks up as he accidentally switches to dictating.]

Legolas?

[A squeaking sound greets him, and after a few seconds there's a sound of footsteps, and some background noise. Maybe a minute later he returns to the journal and sees the additions. Well, whatever.]

Is is it usual, here, to find animals wearing ribbons wandering without their mothers?

[action]

[Anyone out in the forest may find Thranduil with a small, very pale elk calf next to him. It has a bright red gold-trimmed ribbon tied around its neck and he is wondering where he's supposed to find milk for it.]

Comments

action

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

[Rather than answer his fathers journal entry, Legolas goes to find him in the forest. He's quick in joining him but just as quiet as ever, grinning at the sight as he draws close.]

We are going to keep him, right?

[Please please can we?]

[woodking]

[He's quiet, sure enough, but not utterly silent, and Thranduil looks up and over at him as he draws close, his hand going to the little animal's head and caressing an ear softly.]

I would not leave him here, alone without his mother, and as it appears he's been brought here as have the rest of us, I do not believe I have a choice.

Can you feel the difference?

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

[Legolas draws closer and seats himself close to them, reaching out to lightly pet the creature. It's almost impossible to hide the look of glee on his face that they're going to keep him.]

I can. He's not from this place, he doesn't feel at all like the animals here.

[woodking]

The trees and the animals here are silent. He is young, yet, but at least it's easy enough to hear that he wants his mother.

[He sighs, a little.]

I've been trying to explain that she is not here, and I do not know where she is. Another thing I do not know is how I'm to take care of him.

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

Poor thing. [He lightly pets the animal again, trying to sooth him.] We'll take care of you, not to worry.

The castle, I'm sure, would provide what we'll need should we wish for it.

[Legolas hasn't explain that part, has he?]

[woodking]

Should we wish...?

[There's a question and something of an implied command in that tone - habit as much as anything.]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

The castle, it seems, would grant us things that we wish for. I do not suggest it lightly, the castle already gives enough cause to distrust it, but for this I think it may be worth trying.

[woodking]

It appears to hold us already in its debt; I would not desire to increase that unless in great need.

[But the fawn must eat, and he did not know how else to go about it. The season was wrong to find a surrogate mother, even should he have desired it.]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

There is a town that I can check. And if they have nothing, I will go into further debt for it.

[Because he can't allow Thranduil to do so. He's more important than Legolas is. And Legolas has already experienced more of the castles mischief. Better he do so again than rush Thranduil's next one.]

[woodking]

The gift was mine, Legolas.

[It's a very gentle rebuke, but for all that they both understood that in the grand order of things Thranduil was more important than Legolas, he was here to protect. To guard his people from what he could was his job, just as it was theirs to protect him.]

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

It was. And I find that a better reason still for me to do it that way the castle does not leave you incapable of caring for him.

[Legolas won't easily back down from this. Not unless Thranduil makes it an order. In Mirkwood, Thranduil has plenty of guards who would do the same, who would protect him. Legolas would do the same. Even here. Especially here, where he's the only one that can.]

I may have chosen this icon for its keywords

[woodking]

What could the castle do to me which would do so? And why, if it would, should I not endeavor to protect you from the same circumstance?

[Perhaps, but in Mirkwood, Thranduil also had a greater need to be protected. Here there was very little that he actually needed to do, but he might still protect his son from that which he could.]

omg

[bow_of_the_galadhrim]

It could turn you into an animal yourself. Or a plant. And I have already experienced that castles mischief in such a manner, I will be better prepared.

[They're both not giving in so he quickly adds:]

Please. Let me do this for you.

Dictated

[wizard_redfive]

There is a shooting range with archery supplies. You might be able to find tools there.

dictated

[woodking]

Where?

Dictated - I'm lazy and don't know where to look for this info

[wizard_redfive]

It's not that far from here.

[Insert directions to an area on the castle grounds]

dictated forever unless something changes nah bro you're good

[woodking]

[He looks over the directions with some interest.]

What is it like, this range?

most of this is how I picture it shush

[wizard_redfive]

All right, I guess, though the fields are currently covered in snow. Most of it is open space with targets, though there is a building with supplies and additional target areas if the weather is bad. The space is open for practice with a variety of weapons, but mostly archery and guns. There's rarely more than one or two other people there at a time though, which is nice. [When you're just starting out at least.]

it workssss

[woodking]

Guns?

[It's not a familiar word to him, but ah well.]

They, then, have supplies to craft your own weapon? Or only ones already completed?

good :3

[wizard_redfive]

Modern firearms. Well... relatively modern. [By a few hundred years or so.]

Maybe, though you'd have to check. They might have tools to make weapons, but you'll probably need to collect the wood yourself.

[woodking]

They are not something I had encountered.

[He leaves it at that; there's enough here that he hasn't, after all. But from the sound of it they're ranged weapons, and might be worth looking into.]

That...

[He hesitates; normally it would not be a problem, but normally he'd be able to tell which trees were good, which were evil, which would not mind losing wood and which would attempt revenge for the act. To cut wood in a strange forest was not necessarily the wisest act - he could take a sapling, but that did not solve the problem of the other trees.]

I would not have expected otherwise.

[wizard_redfive]

It doesn't surprise me. They don't seem to have existed on Middle Earth.

[Dairine pauses. Odd to hear a royal like him hesitate. In cases like Roshaun, it usually indicates some uncomfortable uncertainty or fear. However, he wouldn't like her pointing out potential weakness, so she won't here.]

I figured as much. No doubt you've already noticed the forest near the castle.

[woodking]

I am currently living there - yes, I have noticed it.

[There's a little amusement in his voice, though kind enough.]

Though I do not know if I shall remain. The trees and creatures here are silent, but do not feel friendly. Take care, should you tread there.

Dairine, no, play nice

[wizard_redfive]

Wow, seriously? Is the forest royal enough for you?

[Eyebrow raised at Mister Kingship picking a forest over the castle for his haughty home. But Dairine drops the snark as his next words sink in. This is serious news.]

Really? They're silent?

dair no

[woodking]

A cave in a forest was my home before I was brought here, and had been for thousands of years. My halls are lovely, and the spaces are airy and vast, and they have been worked by extraordinary craftsman and laid with enchantments and therein are things of beauty, but it is still just a cave. I have not lived anywhere as lavish as the castle for many thousands of years.

[Or anywhere made of stone and mortar for a very, very long time. It was slightly uncomfortable, to be surrounded by it when he was so unused to it.]

The only thing I have encountered which will speak to me is the fawn which just arrived.