Prologue: His Greatest Desire

Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings books, characters, world, and plot belong to J. R. R. Tolkien. I'm writing this for fun, not money.

Author's Note: This story takes place after shortly after the War of the Ring.

A few weeks earlier:

Faramir sat in the library of Minas Tirith. The book he was reading had been brought back by the soldiers who had been sent to search the Tower of Orthanc(1) for any more of Saruman's dark magic. They had not found anything dangerous, but had discovered a library filled with ancient texts from long ago. Those texts included the one Faramir, always an avid learner, was currently studying, Laws and Customs Among the Eldar written by a scholar named J. R. R. Tolkien(2).

He was studying it intently enough that he didn't hear the soft footsteps behind him. Nor did he sense the other presence in the library until that presence spoke.

"What are you reading?" Legolas questioned, startling Faramir.

He whipped his head around and stood to address the fair elven prince.

"Nothing," he replied swiftly, uncomfortable in the presence of a member of the race which he had previously only known through stories.

"That is, it is just one of the books recovered at Orthanc," he quickly amended, realizing his previous reply had sounded exceedingly rude.

The prince's eyebrows rose as he caught a glimpse of the cover of the book held in Faramir's hand.

"Laws and Customs Among the Eldar," he read. "Surely you can think of a better source of such knowledge than this," he paused for a moment to glance at the cover again, "J.R.R. Tolkien?"

His voice was slightly teasing.

Faramir hesitated, unsure how to respond to the elf's teasing.

Mentally he cursed himself. Elessar had just announced a few days ago that he planned to grant both Prince Legolas and Faramir himself pieces of land in Ithilien. They were equals, Faramir reminded himself firmly. He would have to grow accustom to speaking to the Elven Prince.

Faramir smiled at him uncertainly. "I would not dream of bothering anyone over such trivial things. I have been curious about elves since I was a child and was simply entertaining myself."

He could immediately feel his face grow warm. It was true that he had always been fascinated by the elves. They were the tales he had loved best when his governess had told Boromir and him bedtime stories as children. He had particularly loved legends of the mysterious Mirkwood and the arcane Elvenking who ruled there. The libraries of Minas Tirith were extensive, but while they contain much knowledge of the Noldor and the folk of Lothlorien, there was very little information about the forest of Mirkwood. This was due to the seclusion and secretiveness of the elves who dwelt their. The forest's inhabitants rarely left it and few foreigners were permitted to enter the trees' boughs.

As a child, the elusiveness of the forest had captivated Faramir, and he wished to know more about it. That was what had inspired him to search the books found at Orthanc in hopes of learning more. Although, even those ancient texts contained little concerning the then green wood.

However, he was embarrassed to admit his curiosity now that the prince of that forest was before him.

"I see," Prince Legolas replied. "I can certainly understand that. In my youth I had been very curious about the race of men. Men were never permitted in the forest near the stronghold, so I had never even seen one until I was of age." He smiled slightly. "My Adar(3) could not comprehend it. He thought me mad to want anything to do with men."

Faramir was stunned. Indeed he quite agreed with the Prince's father. He could not see how the fair elf would find anything interesting about the race of men.

Legolas seemed to sense his thoughts. "Elves are unchanging." He explained. "The years pass us by and each is the same as the last. Men, on the other hand, are unpredictable. They have often surprised me by their strength in dark times and by their valour."

Faramir pondered that for a moment. He could understand why an elf who lived forever would long for change. He had never considered that before.

"Now tell me this," Legolas requested. "What reason have you for your curiosity of elves?"

"I had never met an elf before you." Faramir responded cautiously. "I had heard stories of elves as a child though, and those had always interested me. I was especially fascinated by the mysteriousness of the elves of Mir-Greenwood." Faramir quickly corrected himself. He had heard Gimli calling the forest that degrading name the previous day. He had also heard Prince Legolas' vehement response. "Not much seems to be known about them, and that intrigued me."

Legolas considered that reply. The shadow had plagued his home for many yen(4). As the forest grew dark the Elvenking had grown more suspicious of foreigners and leery of threats to his realm. Strangers had not been allowed into the stronghold, unless bound and blinded, since the beginning of the Third Age(5). He could see how the forest would be seen as mysterious and secretive by outsiders. (6)

"It has been a long time since strangers have been permitted to visit the Great Halls of the Elvenking." Legolas finally replied, reliving Faramir. The Prince had been contemplating long enough that Faramir had began to worry that he had offended him. "I see how that secrecy would rouse your curiosity. Perhaps now that the Shadow has been conquered that secrecy will no longer be necessary."

Faramir smiled. As the conversation continued he was beginning to feel more comfortable around the ethereal being. "I hope that it is so. To visit the Greenwood in person is my greatest desire."

A knock at the library's door captured the attention of both elf and man, as a young page entered the library. "Lord Faramir," he said tentatively, looking around. "The king has requested your presence in the Great Hall."

Faramir nodded his acquiescence to that request. He turned to the Prince. "It has been a pleasure speaking with you, Prince Legolas."

"It has been a pleasure for me as well. However, if we are going to be ruling Ithilien together as equals, then there is no need for titles between us." He responded.

Faramir's smile widened. He would have no problems working with this fair elf. In fact, he had a feeling that they would not just be equals. They would also be friends.

As Faramir left, the young page, Costron(7), remained. His eyes narrowed as he glared at the elf for a long moment. The boy's father was a captain in the king's guard, and was one of many soldiers who had fought valiantly against Sauron. Costron had often heard his father complain about the elves. He had heard how the unnatural beings craved power and longed to take control of all of Arda. This elf in particular had already ensorcelled King Elessar into giving him and his kin a large piece of land in Ithilien. It sickened the young boy to think that the land his father and other great men had fought for would be taken over by those sorcerers.

Legolas gazed calmly at the young one, unimpressed by his glare. He had met many men who feared and despised his kind. This misguided youth did not frighten him one bit.

Author's Notes

1. The Tower of Orthanc is in Isengard. It's the tower where Saruman lived.

2. Laws and Customs Among the Eldar are a collection of essays written by J.R.R. Tolkien that are included in the book Morgoth's Ring which was written by Christopher Tolkien after his father's death.

3. Adar is Sindarin for Father.

4. A yen is the equivalent to 144 years.

5. The Third Age begins after the Last Alliance.

6. My perception of the seclusion of Mirkwood is based more off the Hobbit movies than the books. I may have exaggerated it a bit by saying that foreigners weren't brought to Mirkwood except as prisoners, but it's important to the plot later on.

7. According to the website I used Cost is Sindarin, which most Gondorian names are, and means quarrel. The ending -ron is a masculine form of doer. So the name means quarreller.

I'm not very good with grammar so sorry about any errors. Also, I have read the books, but it was awhile ago so most of the story is based off of the movies and doesn't fit perfectly with what happens in the books. Please review and let me know what you think.