The Fellowship of Three

Note: Okay, if you're a hardcore Tolkien fan, you might as well turn back now because this is different than what happens… ie. The fact that Legolas never had a wife or whatever… Just warning you J

            Legolas treaded softly through the forest. He and the rest of the elven hunting party were tracking down wysterins, big shaggy spider-like demons who'd wandered into their territory and settled. He knew he was near to the nesting grounds because he could smell their stench. It got stronger and he stopped. His senses told him that the nests were just ahead and he didn't want to stumble on a group of hungry baby wysterins. 

            A scout dropped down quietly beside him. "My lord, they've been spotted towards the east."

"Thank you, Myrith," replied Legolas, peering through the leaves at the empty nests. "Where are they?"

"I don't-" The other man's words were cut off as he was yanked off his feet from behind. He screamed as the wysterins dragged him back further into the underbrush.

"Myrith!" Legolas yelled, racing after them. He let out a piercing whistle to call the others to him.

When he burst into the next clearing, the wysterins were already at the other side. There was no way he could get to Myrith in time.

Two people burst from the trees in front of the wysterins, one human, the other, elven. The man slashed at the wysterin who was holding onto Myrith as the elf ran at the other wysterins. They roared at losing their meal and charged at the elf. The elf turned and he realized it was a she. Her blond hair whipped around her face as she lined up a shot at the first wysterin. The arrow flew and stuck fast into its forehead, felling it. The man killed the wysterin and dropped to his knees beside Myrith to check his wounds.

Legolas snapped out of his daze and sprinted forward. He shot five arrows before even getting to Myrith. The man gave him a quick nod then went after the rest of the wysterins.

As he pressed his hands to Myrith's wounds to quicken the healing process, Legolas watched the human and the elf methodically and coolly take out the rest of the wysterins. The girl wiped her blades on the grass, sheathed them in the sheaths on her back and started back towards them. The man also cleaned his sword and sheathed it before returning.

She came up to Legolas and touched him lightly on the arm. "I am a healer."

He stepped back in amazement when the girl dropped down beside Myrith. Out of her tunic, she produced many vials of different colours. "Aragorn, bring me witch hazel and learwood."

When the rest of the hunting party found them, it was dark. Aragorn had built a fire and Myrith was wrapped in his cloak, sleeping like a child and well on his way to healing. Legolas had gone off searching for wood. Aragorn greeted them then retreated to the shadows with the elf girl. "Loralei, we cannot stay here. We must leave this party and move west. Gandalf will be coming soon and I want to be in Rivendell when he arrives."

"I wish to come with you."

They both turned and saw Legolas standing in front of them with an armload of firewood. He looked stubborn as he dumped it by the fire. "I can make it…"

"There's no question of that, elf," the girl replied, going back to stir the contents of the pot over the fire.

It smelled wonderful but he mentally shook himself. Stay on the task… "Then what is it?"

"We travel alone," Aragorn broke in. He stood up from the fire and went to tend to the horses. "Loralei, we leave in an hour."

She gave Legolas a sad look and moved towards Aragorn. She touched his arm gently as he yanked the straps. "Aragorn," she said softly. "Calm. He isn't the problem."

"It doesn't matter."

She leaned against him. "I remember when you rescued me from the wolfhounds. I was fifteen of your years and I was stuck in the bog. They came from all directions and you just flew in. I thought I was going to marry you. I thought I was in love with you. But not anymore…you are in love with the one they call Arwen. You will marry her and leave me. We've been roving together for two years. I know you only took me in because I was injured and dying. And I know that you hate Elves. But this one is different. He is kinder and more lenient. He does not hate man as you hate the elves. Do not judge him before you know him."

He turned and stared at her. "Sometimes I wish I had never met Arwen…"

She smiled gently. "You wish to be a Ranger all your life? I think not. You love her. Do not regret that."

Loralei smiled as she lit the fire while she watched Legolas and Aragorn chat amiably. They were getting along wonderfully. She pulled bark off a branch and started shredding it into kindling. They'd been on the road for a fortnight and they were still talking. Aragorn looked up at her and smiled. She nodded and started to prepare food. The men were still talking as they cut the wood into smaller pieces and stacking them.

As Aragorn passed by Loralei, he brought his hand up to her cheek for a second. He held it there then let go.

"What?" she asked, mystified.

"Thank you…" he whispered. "You have helped me see the good once again. You are so pure. How do you do it?"

She leaned up and whispered into his ear. "Magic." She smiled and patted him lightly on the cheek. "I'll be back. I'm going to bathe. It is the night of the full moon, you know…"

"Elvish mumbo-jumbo…I was waiting for you to tell me. Go on." He took the spoon out of her hand and pushed her towards the woods. "I found a spring a few kilometres east of here you might like. Watch yourself though. Who knows what's out there? Take your knives."

She sheathed both knives to keep him happy and moved off into the woods. No one dared attack an elf maiden during the cleansing process. She found the spring bubbling quietly and skimmed out of her clothing before slipping in. The water was warm and wrapped around her like a blanket as she started the water dance. It was an old dance done partly underwater, partly half-out. Her arms and legs moved gracefully in the movements so long practiced.

Someone was clapping.

Her first thought was one of her travelling companions but both knew the ritual and didn't dare interrupt. Her eyes snapped open and she saw a man. He was tall with straggly long blond hair and piercing green eyes. She ducked down so that only her shoulders and head were visible.

He chuckled. "Caught you." Moving toward her things, he picked up the knives. "These are nice, elf. Why don't you come out and join me? I think we would have fun, you know."

She tried to stay calm as she thought of a plan. Aragorn was too far away and her thoughts were too muddled to try and figure out where Legolas was so it was up to her to save herself. "What do you wish, sir?"

"I ain't no knight, elf. Just come out and I won't hurt you. Much. The way I see it, you ain't got no choice." He lined up one of the knives at her. "Come out or I'll shoot."

She thought of trying an Elvish incantation but decided against it because he might grow angry and kill her.

"I don't got all night, elf." He threw the knife and she dove to get out of the way. She'd judged wrong or hadn't moved fast enough. Either way, the knife glanced off her shoulder and blood gushed from the cut.

She clamped a hand onto the wound, willing it to heal quickly.

"You want more elf?" he cackled.

"Her name is Loralei, human, and I suggest you drop the knives and move away before I kill you."

Both looked up and Loralei saw Legolas, his bow strung with two arrows.

The man growled and dove toward Loralei. The bow twanged and two arrows whistled through the air. They thudded sickeningly into his chest and he collapsed into the water.

Loralei paled and turned away.

"Lady, are you alright?" Legolas splashed through the water and pulled off his cloak to wrap around her, his eyes politely averted.

She laughed quietly. "No one has ever called me that." Then she collapsed.