This is the prequel to 'For the love of you' (I will finish that, I promise)
It takes place in an alternate world where men enslaved the elves and Aragorn is portrayed as this evil evil evil man.
Winter was slowly approaching the dead, bare kingdom. Snow slowly drifted upon the dry, dry grass. No happiness lingered around this palace, not ever since the great battle that occurred many years ago. The men still lived and lingered, as if they believed nothing was wrong, but the evil that lingered was growing by day…
There the sad few elves lived in their sorrow, being the slaves of these men.
Daylight pierced through the ruthless clouds as the sun reached the skies. A single figure stood from the doors of the cabins, leaning thoughtfully against the wall. His long silvery blond hair trailed down his shoulders and his shallow turquoise eyes gleamed in the morning light. His slender figure was decorated with plain and torn garments with a rusted belt buckle.
This elf's name was Haldir, easily the youngest of these elves. Beautiful was not quite the word to describe his features; they were not much different from those of any elf, yet so mesmerizing they were, placed upon this particular elf.
He smiled often, for that was what how he grew up before he came to this nightmare. Possessing a natural wit for survival, he earned the disapproval of many of the masters.
He chewed thoughtfully on the biscuit that he had just stolen from the breakfast kitchens as he went for his morning stroll. Soon he would be dragged to fetch water for the construction that was occurring on the east side of the palace. The enchanting elf could not see the point of building another section of this already huge castle but he kept that to himself.
He sang softly of a tune that was taught to him as a child, it comforted him of the happy days. At the corner of his eye, he caught another elf sleeping silently just outside the palace.
He felt his heart jump as the pale yet beautiful face of this elf came into view. There was no way to describe this creature except pure beauty. The sleeping elf's golden hair glistened in the wind and his sapphire eyes trailed away, out of thought. The exquisite figure was pressed against the wall, trying to keep warm from the cold. His clothes were badly torn and his gentle pointed ears stuck out slightly from the gold-laced light of his locks. He was by far the most gorgeous and angelic figure that has ever graced this place.
Haldir watched in admiration for a few seconds before kneeling down to shake the elf awake. He knew that they were not supposed to sleep on palace grounds and would be severely punished for doing so. He was not surprised to see the bruises and bloody whip lashes upon the elf's body.
'He must have been sold here….' Haldir frowned as the heavenly elf's eyes began to glitter with thoughts again. This elf seemed even younger than he was.
"… Come on… you should not be sleeping here," Haldir said softly, "You do not want them to find you."
"… Who are you?" The waking elf questioned as he stood up slowly.
"I am Haldir… … I work in these parts… and you?"
"… I am Legolas…" His long golden hair fell down to his waist as he stood up and he brushed the messy braids from his eyes.
"… Where did you come from?" Haldir said gently as he pulled his newly found companion towards the shadows of the trees.
"…I was sold from the south not long ago… it was not so cold there…" Legolas shivered slightly as he walked gracefully behind Haldir. He was looking longingly at the piece of pastry that the elf was bringing to his lips.
"Here…" Haldir said as he pulled out the slice of bread he was saving for his lunch. Legolas smiled thankfully as they walked.
"Do you get this sort of food often?" Legolas asked softly as if he were suddenly overcome with hope. But he frowned as he remembered how cruel the men were when he had been handed over to them.
"… I'm afraid never is the answer…" Haldir said with a sigh, "These men are the cruelest I have ever known…" Legolas nodded in understanding. Haldir was intrigued by this elf's innocence… he has never met anyone like that before.
Legolas bit into the bread slowly, he had never had anything that tasted so good before. He dreaded this place ever since he had heard he was going to be sold here. Stories of assaults and tortures of this kingdom reached far and wide, they were almost infamous for the way they treated their servants.
The pretty elf never had very much company or family. He had a brother who was sold not long after he was born. His beauty kept the others away from him, always whispering. But he had learned to survive alone, although sadly.
"… Who's there?" A voice came from behind them as Legolas swallowed the last of the bread. He looked out to see a bulky man walking towards them with a whip in hand. Haldir pulled Legolas to one side and responded.
"Well… get to work, elf! If you still want to keep that arm of yours." The rough man looked towards Haldir who would have spat back the minute he turned around, "And you…" His eyes trailed to Legolas; as if enchanted by the elf's beauty, he stood there motionless.
Haldir smiled as he bit his lip, this would be easy. "I could show him around and he could help me fetch the water…" The man merely nodded as still stared hungrily. Legolas frowned as he quickly followed Haldir out of sight.
"… I think he is still there… standing…" Haldir laughed quietly as he looked back when they were far from earshot. Legolas smiled and shook his head.
"… Where is the well?" Legolas asked as they approached the hill.
"Far… we have to carry it up a few hills every day…"
"… Well, at least it is better than having to work inside that dreaded place." Legolas said firmly. He liked how Haldir seemed so confident all the time and how his new friend would always seem to smile lightheartedly.
Haldir nodded in agreement. He remembered having to scrub the stairs of the palace and shuddered slightly to how many times he would be kicked a day. "Come… I want to show you something…" He said as he leapt lightly up the dirt rot stairs and onto the tip of the huge hill, "There…"
Towards the horizon, there was a beautiful and shining light that seemed visible thousands of miles away.
"The havens!" Legolas exclaimed in amazement.
"… They are a lot further than they seem…. Almost like the sun…"
"… I used to dream of them often… ever since my brother spoke of them…"
"…I will go there someday… Someday, that will be my home."
The two elves spoke of lighter matters as they fetched as much water as they could carry in the buckets. There were many hills they had to walk over and it was quite tiring to carry the heavy burdens so far. It was by noon that they had made enough trips to take a break.
Haldir was quite tired yet the new elf seemed unshaken. He was surprised at Legolas's strength, considering the thin elf looked quite frail. Legolas was not as strong, yet he has endured quite enough to be able work long hours and bear heavy exhaustions.
"Come… let us go fetch something to eat…" Haldir said as he walked towards the palace.
"Where are you going? Surely we cannot be eating in there…" Legolas said with slight confusion.
"We are not eating in there…. But unless you want to eat that rock bread and dirt roots they feed us… this is the right direction." Haldir said with a tiny smirk.
"… I don't understand…"
"… Enough food are made in those kitchens to feed twice the need, they never finish it…. We are only doing them a favor." Haldir said, trying to explain this to the younger elf.
"… What if we are caught?" Legolas said with a frown.
"… We will not get caught…" Haldir assured him, " Trust me."
Legolas only bit his lip with dislike.
"Besides… even if we are, you just do that thing you do with your hair and we will be out of there unscathed. I think the old bloke from this morning is still there stuttering." Haldir said jokingly. Legolas opened his mouth as both sides of his face burned red. He did not find that funny at all. But he was consented to go.
The two elves snuck into the kitchens and waited till all the house servants have cleared away. Haldir reached out to the bowl of pastries in the corner and started stuffing them into the pouch he carried. Legolas smiled in amusement as he helped his friend. But a part of his heart was still fluttering. They quickly stole away toward the halls when the doorknob on the kitchens turned.
"Where are you going?" A sharp voice came from behind, "Do you not want food?"
"… We…" Haldir was saying softly, "Legolas is a new servant here… I was only showing him to the yard…"
The man who looked like a vulture frowned but as he looked to Legolas he said nothing. He only glanced the blond beauty up and down and a strange smile came over his face and he reached out to touch the elf's tender cheek. Legolas did not back away, for he was afraid of the temper of these men.
The human withdrew his hand and turned to Haldir. He looked towards the elf and struck him hard. "Do not let me catch either of you here… ever again." Haldir placed a hand upon his face but did not respond. His silver lit blond hair fell into his eyes, as his expression grew unreadable.
"… It could have been worse… you are all right?" Legolas said in a soft voice.
"Yes… Come, let us go." Haldir nodded.