Title: The Hunt Author: CJ (missyjames@hotmail.com) Rating: R Pairings: None yet, but will eventually be Haldir/Legolas/Rumil/Orophin. Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.R.R. Tolkien, except for the unknown ones. Inspirations: Three deliciously devilish brothers, one illegally hot prince and Tricia's wonderful stories "Unbecoming An Elf" and "Of Elves And Aphrodisiacs". Summary: Haldir and his brothers decide to have a nice little hunt, with Legolas as their prey. The Hunt Chapter One: Preparing For The Hunt How Lorien differed from the Mirkwood. Legolas sat between the roots of a massive mallorn tree beside the water, looking around him with wide eyes. Until they had arrived at Lothlorien, there had not been a moment he had not wished himself to be home. Home, where he knew the dangers that awaited him when he went out into the forest. Home, with his father and brothers and the annoying and boring duties of a prince. How he had longed every night to wake up in his own bed the next morning, to be scowled upon by his father for arriving late at breakfast, again. Yet here, in the fairest home of his people, he had no worries. Even his grief over the loss of dear Mithrandir had been subdued. And it seemed the magic of the Golden Wood had the same effect on the other members of the Fellowship, for all save Boromir walked around with an aura of happiness and peace around them. Ah, yes... Boromir. Legolas pitied the Man. Upon entering the Wood, Boromir had not had a moment's rest, his mind troubled and his thoughts whirling. Even Gimli the Dwarf had found some solace in the sanctuary of the Elves, or mayhap that was because of the Lady Galadriel. Legolas smiled knowingly and stretched full length. He turned his face, so that his left cheek rested against the bark of the tree. The tree whispered to him softly, soothingly. Legolas sighed and rolled onto his side. The tree spoke of ancient realms, even fairer than Lothlorien. So old... Legolas placed a hand against the bole of the tree and gently stroked the smooth surface with his thumb. Legolas rolled onto his back and stared at the branches above. For the briefest of moments, there was a movement between the branches. But when Legolas tried to focus on whatever was moving, the movement stopped. It mattered not; he had nothing to fear in the Golden Wood. He smiled lazily. The whispering of the tree and the splashing of the water was making him tired. He stifled a yawn and sat against the root of the mallorn more comfortably. A few minutes later he was asleep. From the branches above him, three Elves watched as the prince slept. One of them was eating nuts from a small pouch, the other two scowling as he occasionally dropped a nutshell on the talan they were sitting on. "Rumil, you swine!" one with silvery hair said. He picked up a nutshell and threw it at the other. The one called Rumil dodged the nutshell and stuck out his tongue at the other two. Then he turned his attention back to the sleeping prince beneath. "Oh, how I long to run my tongue along one of those endless legs," he sighed. The two others snickered. "Wait for your turn, brother dearest," said the silvery haired one. "I saw him first, after all." "You mean you would not share him with us? How selfish of you, Haldir," said Rumil. "You know what he is like, Rumil," said the third. "But would the princeling belong to me I must admit that I would not share him with anyone either." Rumil ate another nut. "Why Orophin, you surprise me," he said. "I thought Haldir was the most selfish of us three, but it seems I thought wrong. I'll have you know, would the prince belong to me I would gladly share him with anyone." "Whore," muttered Haldir. Rumil smacked him with the pouch, nuts flying everywhere. Orophin looked down at the still sleeping prince. Legolas had his slender hands folded together on his chest, heaving slightly with every breath. Orophin licked his lips. "He makes me burn merely by breathing," he sighed. "He must be mine!" "I am with you, brother!" said Rumil. "Have neither of you listened to what I've said?" said Haldir angrily. "I saw him first. He belongs to me alone!" His brothers grinned wickedly. "You are sloppy with your possesions, brother," said Orophin, "for you have not properly marked them. Anyone could take them from you." "Anyone foolish enough to dare try it," growled Haldir. "And it might happen that the fool who tried to steal my possessions would face a certain unexpected, unnatural death." Rumil's eyes began to sparkle. "Is that... a challenge?" he asked breathlessly. "Do you accept?" asked Haldir defiantly. Rumil looked down at Legolas, eyes burning with primal hunger. "Oh yes, I accept," he whispered. "Good. Orophin?" Haldir regarded his other brother. "What say you, Orophin? Do you accept the challenge?" "Think you I will let you and Rumil have all the fun?" said Orophin with a smirk. "I accept, but this time we must make rules of how we may achieve our victory, so that there be no 'misunderstandings', like last time." "Very well," said Haldir. "Here are the rules: whoever can prove he has claimed the prince, by bite marks or so, is the victor and may claim whatever spoils he chooses. It is at all times forbidden to use the help of others to claim the prince. The use of aphrodisiacs is also forbidden," he shot Rumil a basilisk glare. "Also, the prince may not be hurt or traumatized in any way, not even if the victor claims it as one of his spoils." "You said the victor could claim what spoils he would like," protested Orophin. "Yes, but the fate of Middle-earth depends upon the Fellowship. If one of them fails, it will be to the ruin of us all. I will not have you bring death upon us, in trade for a night of bondage, Orophin." Orophin sulked. "And we will only pursue the prince when we are off duty. Our people rely on us to protect them, and we must not fail them," continued Haldir. "How long do you estimate the Fellowship will stay in Lothlorien?" asked Rumil. "I overheard a conversation between the Lady Galadriel and the mortal called Aragorn," said Haldir. "They plan to stay here for three more days." Rumil sighed disappointedly. "Only three days? I wish we could persuade Legolas to stay in Lothlorien forever." "Don't even think of it, Rumil!" said Haldir sternly. "Legolas has a duty to fulfill as a member of the Fellowship." Rumil pouted. "Why do you complain, Rumil?" asked Orophin. "We will hunt down the prince, claim him as our own and then we will have three long days to 'claim our spoils'." "Ah, but you underestimate our little prince," said Haldir. "He will not be so easy to catch. Do you not remember he was the only one of the Fellowship who was able to draw his weapon before we were upon them? It was not just because he is an Elf, but because he has sharp senses. Even the Dwarf could have drawn his axe if he had sensed us when Legolas did." "So then it is indeed a challenge," said Orophin excitedly. Rumil grinned wickedly. "A challenge I will win, my dear brothers," he said. "We may only pursue the prince when we are off duty, you say? Well, then I shall go pursue the prince now. If I am correct, my turn of duty ended," he looked up at the sun shining between the branches, "about fifteen minutes ago." He laughed when his brothers groaned. "I will see you tonight then, my brothers, when I will claim my spoils. But first, let me awaken our sleeping beauty." Rumil took another nut from his pouch and held it between his thumb and index finger. He leaned over the edge of the talan they were sitting on and dropped the nut right above Legolas' head. The three brothers watched as the nut fell. When the nut was only a few inches away from his face, Legolas' eyes suddenly focused. The prince snatched the nut out of the air, before it hit his face. Legolas blinked and stared in surprise at the nut he held in his hand. The trees of Lothlorien had no such fruits, especially not the mellyrn. He looked up at the mallorn, but he could see nothing. Frowning, Legolas placed the nut on one of the mallorn's great roots and stood up. He dusted off the silvery under tunic he now wore and walked away from the mallorn, glancing suspiciously at the nut over his shoulder. Up in the mallorn, Rumil grinned and straightened out his tunic. "Well, I suppose I should go now," he said smugly. "Yes, begone, please!" said Orophin urgently. Rumil raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me gone, brother?" he asked sweetly. "I am in no hurry." "You were when I said Legolas would only be staying here for three days." "Ai! I forgot, so enchanting is his beauty!" Rumil swung his bow and quiver over his shoulder. "Farewell, my dear brothers! I am off to hunt a delicate deer." He grabbed onto a branch and leaped off the talan. Haldir and Orophin watched as Rumil climbed to the ground and disappeared in the same direction Legolas had gone. A/N: So how was that? Not too bad for a first time, I hope. Please review! Next chapter will be up asap.