/I don't own anything you recognize in this story. /

Chapter One

The afternoon sun trickled down through the trees of the woods, sprinkling the ground like dust. The elf, leading his horse through the thick of it, watched the shifting light with a certain amount of elation running through him. It had been a while since he had been adequately relaxed, though at the back of his mind there was always an alertness that reminded him that he was never completely safe, much as he wanted to be.

Finding a spot along the river, he allowed the horse to rest and get something to drink. Stretching slightly, he walked off a ways, confident that his horse wouldn't leave him stranded. He was a tall sort of fellow, rather thin with blond hair that reached just below his shoulders and gray-blue eyes that spoke wisdom beyond his years. Everyone who looked at him knew he had the agility and the grace of a cat. Nobody even had to ask him if he was skilled as a warrior.

Legolas sighed and leaned up against a nearby tree, pressing one foot against the bark. He was a long way from Mirkwood, but he still had a long way to go, wherever the road may lead him. A shift in the woods suddenly caught Legolas' attention. Something was out there.

Drawing his bow silently, he fitted an arrow into it, ready for whatever was out there. Stealing through the trees, Legolas followed his quarry by sense only until he finally caught up with it. Stopping short, he realized that what he was hunting wasn't a rogue of any sort. It was a human.

Legolas lowered his bow and observed the human from a distance. This one seemed to be quite talented for his race and the elf never saw anything like it. Looking more closely, he realized that the human was hurt, a deep cut along the edge of his calf.

Suddenly, the human looked up, staring straight into the elf's eyes. Legolas gasped and stumbled backward a few steps in surprise. He hadn't expected for the human to see him and he certainly didn't want the man tailing him, either. Turning, Legolas dashed through the woods back to Arod as fast as he could.

"Wait! Please, I need help!" the man called out desperately.

Legolas sighed and closed his eyes, before turning around. This always happened to him. Whenever someone pleaded with him for help, Legolas felt obliged to help the person in need. It was common courtesy. But today he didn't need that obligation. Struggling for several moments, his morals won out and he made his way towards the human's side.

The man sighed with relief. He had been here for several days and the wound that he tried desperately to doctor with the limited supplies that he had wasn't healing right. He needed to get back home before he lost his leg altogether.

"Thank the One above that you came along, sir. I nearly thought I was lost," the man told the elf.

Legolas said nothing, just studied the wound intensely. It was pretty bad, but if he could get him to Arod and to his supplies, the wound might suffice until they got to the nearest city. Legolas looked up into the man's face.

"Do you think you could walk?" he asked, his eyebrows lifting inquisitively.

"With a little help, I might," the man exclaimed, laughing at the funny look on the elf's face. He wondered why an elf was alone so far alone. Elves never traveled alone if they could help it. Unless some trouble had befallen and this elf was out to get help, which was highly unlikely.

Legolas stood and helped the man up. The man groaned slightly, but didn't show any signs of pain as he limped beside Legolas as they made their way to the elf's horse. Reaching Arod, Legolas sat the human down beside a tree and went over to the horse, digging through his supplies.

The man watched the elf silently for several moments. "I'm Estel, by the way. I was on my way back to Rivendell before I was attacked by Orcs and hurt my leg. I told the others in my party to go on and I'd catch of them when I was better. Apparently not." Elessar chuckled softly as the elf began on the wound.

"Rivendell's not too far from here. A day's ride or so if you don't meet any trouble. What brings you to Rivendell?" Legolas asked Estel as he bound the leg up.

Estel smiled softly. "I live there—lived there since I was a young child, when my parents died."

Legolas' face clouded over, but didn't say anything as he finished up the bandaging. Standing up with some help, Estel leaned against the tree, studying the elf closely.

"And what brings you to this part of Middle Earth, Master Elf?" he asked. "I rarely see an elf out on his own, unless he's in grave trouble or running away from ghosts."

Legolas shook his head as he put his supplies back into his pack. "My business is my own. I have matters that only I can settle." How could this Estel know me and not even know who I am beforehand?

Estel sensed that there was something different about this elf, but didn't press the matter. He knew how tricky elves could be in the best of times, let alone when they were troubled by something beyond his control.

"Say, do you want to come to Rivendell with me? My father would be glad to have you while you sort your business out," Estel said, his eyes brightening with hope.

"I thought you said your parents died," Legolas said.

"That I did." Estel gave a small smile. "This one I'm talking about is my adoptive father, yet I regard him as my own."

Legolas shook his head. "I cannot be a burden to Rivendell. They wouldn't want an elf like me."

Estel could hear the bitterness in the elf's voice but refused to be defeated. "You wouldn't know that. Elves take care of their own, wouldn't you say?"

Legolas hesitated for a moment. Did he dare trust this man and tell him what had happened. Legolas mentally shook his head. No, not yet. Not until he knew Elessar better, then he would act upon it.

"For the most part. Even the best of us get on the down side of life," Legolas said, choosing his words carefully.

"Wise words, friend," Estel said, smiling slightly.

Legolas said nothing, just swung up on Arod and then offering Estel a hand up. "Whatever you do, don't fall off."

"You underestimate me, elf, I'm quite a horseman," Estel stated.

"If you're such a fine rider, where is your mount?" Legolas asked.

"I told my party to take it home with them. Horses can't stay in one spot for long, Master Elf," Estel answered. "By the way, what is your name? I can't keep going on without a name for long, you know."

The elf sat thoughtfully for a while. Too long, it seemed, but Estel didn't press the matter. Finally the elf answered.

"Legolas," he said, adding no more.

Touching the horse's flanks, Legolas surged foreword, only guiding Arod by the slight touch of the reins. As they disappeared through the trees, Estel was left wondering what kind of elf this Legolas was and why the name of such a desperate one seemed so familiar.

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Author's Note: My first Lord of the Rings story in a long time—a couple years, perhaps. But no matter, this story was sort of forming in my head for the past couple of days and decided to write it, though I know the plotline's going to end up looking like a few hundred others and if it does, I'm sorry in advance. I can't go through each story on the site and make sure it hasn't been done before. But anyways, I hope you enjoy it so far and I'll update when I can. Don't forget to review, thanks!