Hey Everyone! I'm baaaaaack!

So this is the long promised prequel series to my Lord of the Rings OC Trilogy. Expect lots of background for our OC and also an introduction to her relationship with Legolas! If you've already read my first trilogy, awesome! but expect to read it again bc after i'm done uploading The Hobbit series, I will be going back through that one and uploading my edits! and there have been A LOT of edits, from grammar to entire story changes!

If you haven't already read my first trilogy, DON'T. As i said earlier, I WILL be editing it A LOT.

Enjoy loves!

"You must move your feet, Caladwen!" Legolas barked, bringing his practice sword down against Caladwen's own blade. Caladwen grunted, parrying him, and shoving him away from her, before beginning an assault of her own.

"I know how to sword fight, Legolas!" She huffed in elvish, her sword clanging against his. Again she parried, twirling in an attempt to hit his trunk with her sword. The sound echoed off the cave around them as the pair sparred.

During their formative years, at the advice of Tauriel, Legolas and Caladwen grew closer over their shared interest; combat. They'd found a place that they could spar for most of the day, undisturbed by both their parents and Maester Pycël, down in the caves below the King's Cellar. The caves were a great place for practice, made up mostly of flat terrain, with several levels around the edges. In the middle was a small pool, where the Forest River slowed only for a moment, before raging off again towards Esgaroth.

"She's right you know, she's gotten much better over the years." A third voice, Tauriel, said matter of factly, from her perch beside them. Legolas grabbed Caladwen from behind, wrapping his arms around her chest and squeezing.

"Thank you, Tauriel." Caladwen grunted, pushing her feet off of a nearby rock, her head colliding with Legolas' face painfully. Legolas growled, dropping his weapon and clutching at his face as Caladwen and Tauriel shared smirks. "Lle Llava? (Do you yield?)" Caladwen snorted, holding her sword in front of him. Legolas pulled his hand away from his nose and Caladwen and Tauriel both gasped, Caladwen dropping her sword.

"You made his nose bleed…" Tauriel guffawed, covering her mouth. Caladwen glared at her, shut up, the look said as Legolas' look of annoyance turned into a wry smirk.

"Why are you smiling?" Caladwen asked, her voice wavering in fear. Suddenly Legolas jumped for her, wrapping his arms around her midsection, throwing them both into the pool which Caladwen had unknowingly stood in front of.

The water was cold as Caladwen's body met it and in surprise she'd managed to swallow a bit before coming up for air. As she broke the surface, Caladwen flailed to the edge of the water, coughing and sputtering as she did. Behind her, Legolas laughed, kicking around in the water as he did.

"You look like a wet dog!" He howled. Caladwen turned, glaring at him. His insult wasn't funny the first hundred times she'd heard it, it wasn't funny today.

"You entitled princely prat! Couldn't lose to a girl?!" She shouted, splashing at him viciously, but that didn't cease his laughter. "Auta miquola Orch! (Go kiss an Orc!)" She hissed.

"It's better than kissing you!" Legolas teased.

"Oh! You're nearly a century old, Legolas, act like it!" Caladwen shouted.

"Big talk for a forty year old." Legolas smirked at her, swimming over to Caladwen mischievously. Caladwen began to panic, pulling herself out of the pool as fast as she could. She had been here before, several times. Attempting to drown her was his go to move.

Caladwen was not fast enough, however, and Legolas grabbed her by her midsection, again pulling her under the water. As the pair tussled beneath the surface, Caladwen fought to get free, pushing and shoving Legolas away from her, but he was much stronger than she. In her struggle to get away, she reared back from him, but Legolas held her firm, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. As his lips touched hers, Caladwen could feel her face growing hot, an electricity racing through her body, and she made to return the kiss.

Haldir! She thought suddenly, her breath escaping her. With wide eyes, Caladwen pushed him away, racing off towards the edge of the pool.

She gasped, breaking the edge of the water, glaring back at Legolas spitefully. He touched his lips with his finger, smiling at her, almost astonished. Caladwen watched Legolas with wide eyes, so incredibly confused by what had just happened. Quickly, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, drying her eyes as well.

"Are you alright?!" Tauriel asked, running to her side, helping her to the edge of the wader.

"I'm fine." Caladwen coughed, pushing away Tauriel's helping hands.

"Legolas! What were you thinking?!" Tauriel berated him, but Caladwen was not listening to their banter. Silently she crossed the cavern, leaving her sword where she'd dropped it.

"Wait! Caladwen!" Legolas called from behind. Caladwen turned to look at him and he stared after her his face just as confused as she felt. He seemed to be asking, no, begging her for something, anything, some kind of sign that what he did was okay. I'm sorry. His face said, but that only made Caladwen more confused and she sobbed, taking off down the cave.

Why is he sorry? Am I really worse than an orc?! She thought miserably, ignoring her friends calls for her to come back.

"Leave me alone!" Caladwen shouted, her voice echoing off the wall. She turned, frustrated, only to find that Legolas was still looking at her but had reached out for Tauriel's hand. Tauriel, who's face had not dropped it's concerned, squeezed his hand tightly, causing Caladwen's heart to clench as well. She wanted to shout at the Prince, to scream, but Caladwen said nothing, growling again as she took off down the cave way in a sprint.

"... Caladwen…!"

"Poor dears' not breathin'!"

"... issa Dead elf…"

"Caladwen!" The voices, which had seemed so far away before, were now brought to the forefront, being made clearer with every second she fell into consciousness. Caladwen sputtered, gagging as she threw up what seemed like an ocean of water. Somebody turned her to her side, though she was not sure who at the moment, and she made a mental note to thank them after she was done dying. Her throat and chest burned, and as she took a deep breath to fill her lungs, Caladwen threw up again, groaning as she did. Slowly, she rolled onto her back, blinking heavily, looking towards the sky. There, above her face, sat Legolas, his eyes red and his face concerned. He smiled at her, a relieved smile. Has he been crying?

"You look like a wet dog." He whispered finally, brushing a stray strand of blonde hair from her face. Caladwen groaned, coughing as she did. Here he goes.

"Auta miquiola Orch… (Go kiss an Orc…)" Caladwen rasped her coughing beginning a new. She expected Legolas to return with a sassy remark, as he had done countless time before, but the Prince did not, and instead he gently cradled the back of her head. He had been crying, Caladwen realized, reaching up to touch his cheek, brushing at his temple with her thumb.

"Legolas! Caladwen!" Someone suddenly shouted from behind them. Legolas turned, groaning as he did, and Caladwen followed his gaze. Running towards them were several of her dwarves, led by Tauriel. Worried, Tauriel dropped to her knees beside Caladwen, running a hand across her cheek.

"Ume lle quorina he` au'?! (Did you drown her again?!)" Tauriel scolded Legolas. Caladwen bit back a frown as Legolas withdrew his hand, and himself, from the situation.

"Radathon trî i thraw hen ned i postol. Posto hi. (I will decide our next move while you rest. Wait here.)" Legolas told her, walking off towards the crowd.

"By God's, Wenny, you are terrible at this rescue business." Kíli teased her. "What happened to your neck?" He asked, pointing at the purple bruises. Caladwen, reached up to her neck, rubbing gently.

"You should see the other guy." Caladwen lied, sitting up at she did. Her head throbbed and she grimaced clutching at it tightly.

"Don't move so fast! You will hurt yourself!" Fíli told her, moving to lie her back down.

"I am fine." Caladwen groaned, turning to look off in the direction that Legolas had left. From several feet down the beach, Oin began to wave at the group, pointing to a boat he'd somehow acquired.

"Let's go! We haven't got all day!" He called. Fíli grinned at Caladwen, ruffling her hair and gesturing to the boat. Caladwen stood to join them, but immediately fell back to the beach.

"Whoa! Where do you think you're going?" Bofur asked, grabbing Caladwen's shoulder.

"To Erebor." Caladwen breathed. Bofur shook his head.

"You are not well, rest here for a while. We will tell Thôrin that you will be joining us soon." Caladwen made to argue but Bofur shook his head. "That's an order, missy." He told her heading down the shore line. Kíli frowned, turning to look at Tauriel, who's face was equally as serious. Had Caladwen not been recovering from death, there may have been a few jests in store for them.

"They are your people, you must go." Tauriel told him.

"Come with me. I know how I feel; I'm not afraid." Kíli told her, grabbing her hands. "You make me feel alive!" He admitted, causing Caladwen to gasp. Tauriel gave her a look and Caladwen quickly concealed her gasp with a cough, staggering to her feet and walking off several paces to give them some privacy. It was only then that she realized the destruction that had been wrought upon these people. The shoreline was filled with injured and scared people, all staggering to hold on to their belonging, their dead. Caladwen frowned, turning to look away from them, across the bay. There she saw what remained Esgaroth flaming and smoking.

"I can't…" She barely heard Tauriel murmur over the sounds of women, men, and children crying.

"Tauriel, amralime!" He shouted at her in Khazad. Caladwen turned to watch them, a faint smile on her face. They were the only thing that could make her smile at the moment, or so she thought, until Legolas flitted through her mind.

"I don't know what that means…" she sputtered.

"I think you do." Kíli grinned at her. Tauriel smiled at the young dwarve, but it was short lived as Legolas rejoined the women and their dwarf companions. Caladwen turned, looking up at him unsure, he seemed angry, jealous even, and Caladwen took a sharp breath. Why did this upset her so much?

"Maewado I naug. (Take your leave of the dwarf.)" Legolas told Tauriel stone faced. Caladwen frowned up at him, as she made sad eye contact with Tauriel. "Boe i nadh egeno. (You are needed elsewhere.)" Tauriel looked at Kíli, obviously hurt, and began to turn away from him. Caladwen scoffed, glaring up at Legolas cooly. Legolas looked to Caladwen, torn between his duty to her and his duty to his King.

"You've learned nothing." Caladwen began, turning to storm away. Legolas grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to him. His face was a mixture of anger and confusion, but Caladwen did not care.

"Wait! Tauriel!" Kíli shouted, interrupting Caladwen and Legolas, Both of them watched as Kíli gave to Tauriel a small round stone of green malachite. Caladwen recognized that stone, there were two of them in her dreams and she shuddered as Fíli called his brother's name from the dwarve's boat.

The brother's… Caladwen thought, unable to swallow the pit in her stomach. They were the stones in my dream. Caladwen gasped for air, feeling unable to breath. Beside her Legolas turned, concerned, holding his arm out steady her as she reached for it. She had to stop them. She had to tell them.

"No wait!" Caladwen croaked, turning to find that the dwarves had already pushed off.

"I will see you in Erebor!" Kíli told Caladwen as she began to run after them. Tauriel stopped her, catching Caladwen as she staggered. In Tauriel's hands, Caladwen saw the stone that Kíli had given her, and she ran her fingers over it's smooth surface.

"What is this?"

"A promise," Tauriel smiled at her. "That he will return to me." Caladwen stared at the stone in horror, opening her mouth to speak when Legolas interrupted her.

"I have found Bard, he wishes to meet you and expects your presence as they move their people." Legolas told Caladwen.

"What?! No! I have to go to Erebor!" She argued. Legolas watched her stonily, his mood from earlier gone. "Please! I've told you why!"

"They are just dreams, Caladwen!" Legolas scolded her. "Nightmares! Everyone has them!" Caladwen stared up at him in anger and confusion. She shook her head.

"No! I know what I saw! It was the same as as when my parents died!" She cried. Angry, Caladwen lashed out at him, shoving him and beating his chest. Legolas, tired of her hitting him, grabbed her wrists, pulling them to his chest.

"You will get yourself killed! Listen to me!" Legolas shouted, emotional. He stared at Caladwen with hard, sad eyes, and she sobbed. Caladwen couldn't believe him, as she struggled to recover from the emotional whiplash he was causing her. One second they were enemies, then they were kissing, and now he was being so cold to her. Tauriel stepped between them, her eyes watered. She could not stand to see them fight like this, this desperation between them was too much.

"No dhínen! Len iallon! (Stop it! Please!)" She shouted, looking between them. Tauriel and Caladwen exchanged meaningful looks, she begged Tauriel to understand, but it didn't seem like she would.

"You will go with Bard, you will be more help to them and in far less danger. You can rest and regain your strength. They need you." He pleaded with Caladwen. "Tauriel and I have business and then we will return for you." Legolas told her. His face faltered, but any semblance of emotion was gone as soon as it came.

"I'm just being left behind?" Caladwen whispered.

"Is this the elf you told me about, My Lord?" An unfamiliar voice asked from behind Legolas, breaking up their conversation. Legolas lowered his head, stepping to the side, as a brunette man joined their conversation. Caladwen studied him as he held his hand out for her to take, which she did, eventually. "I am Bard, I will help get you to safety and a warm cot, but you must do something for me."

"And what is that." Caladwen returned cooly.

"You must take me to Erebor when you are strong enough. I've struck a deal with the King Under the Mountain and the future of my people depends on our gold being returned to us." Caladwen narrowed her eyes at Bard, turning to Legolas who fought off a growl. Caladwen raised her chin defiantly, clearly her returning to Erebor was not in Legolas' plan; oh how she loved when he lost.

"Aye," Caladwen agreed to his terms. Bard gave her a dashing smile, turning to Legolas who watched him unpleasantly.

"Where will you go?" Legolas asked him. Bard turned, looking out over the lake.

"We make for Old Dale." Bard told him, turning back towards his people. Legolas stopped him.

"News of the death of Smaug will have spread through the lands." Legolas warned him.

"Aye." Bard raised a questioning glance at Legolas. Legolas glanced at Caladwen quickly before returning his attention to Bard. Bard smirked, he saw the quick glance.

"Do not worry, she will be safe with me. By life or limb, I swear." Bard told Legolas, attempting to dissuade his fears. Legolas did not lighten up.

"Others will now look to the mountain- for it's wealth… or it's position…" Legolas trailed off. Bard narrowed his eyes at him, stepping towards the elf.

"What is it you know?"

"Nothing for certain. It's what I fear may come" Bard paused, looking contemplative as he took in what he elf had told him. With a nod and a glance at Caladwen, he began to walk off to his people.

"We will leave shortly, I want to make sure that all of the women, children and elderly are ready to leave." He shouted back. Caladwen watched him walk away, ignoring Legolas who stood beside her, frowning.

"You should go with him." He said finally.

"You are going after the pale orc, aren't you?" Caladwen asked, turning to look at him with hurt eyes. "What did you see?" Legolas sighed, both women staring at him.

"The orc I pursued out of Lake town, I know who he is.." He told them finally. Caladwen and Tauriel both waited, eyes wide, for his explanation. "His name is Bolg, a spawn of Azog the Defiler."

"Azog?!" Caladwen gasped, another wave of worry washing over her.

"Those orcs were different from the others, they wore a mark I had not seen for a long time. The Mark of Gundabad." He finished. Caladwen scoffed.

"And when did you plan on telling me this?"

"I didn't." He told her calmly.

"My party is at risk and you… You weren't going to tell me?" She gasped. She waited for an explanation, but she did not receive one. "I don't even know you anymore…" She told him, disgusted, as she walked off in the direction that Bard went. Caladwen looked once more past her shoulder, surprised to find that Legolas was watching her sadly. Swallowing the hurt she felt, Caladwen continued on.

"My Lady!" Bard called, beckoning for her to come to him. Caladwen sighed, making her way to him, looking to find her friends were already leaving.

"Please, Caladwen." She told Bard, breathless. Bard nodded, smiling at her.

"These are our injured." He told her, gesturing to a wagon of people behind him. Caladwen frowned at them, seeing burns, cuts, broken bones. Sadly, she crossed to the nearest injured person, an elderly woman whose face was suffering from dragon fire.

"What can I do?" She asked, kneeling next to the poor woman.

"We've managed to save some elven herbs, they were trade goods to the King of Mirkwood in exchange for medicine refined from them." A young woman joined them at the wagon, carrying with her a basket of herbs. Gently, she laid them down next to Caladwen, who looked at them quietly. "It is not much, but…"

"No, it will work." Caladwen told him with a smile. "I need water, have you any?" The girl who brought the herbs scurried away, returning momentarily with a single flask. Caladwen nodded, pouring the flask over a large, green leaf. She reached out to the touch woman's face, and the older lady flinched away from her. "It will not hurt." Caladwen explained with a smile, gently laying the wet leaf against the woman's face. "It is not as potent as a salve, but wet it will still ease the pain." Caladwen told him with a smile.

"I trust you, My Lady." Bard nodded, clapping her shoulder, calling out for the rest of the caravan to start heading out.