*Author's Note*

If you haven't, read my oneshot Foxhunt before reading this. I had quite a few requests to continue this story, so I thought I'd throw out a chapter to test the waters and see how it is received. This story was inspired by my personal love of foxes, the fact that my college mascot was a vixen, and the song Black Fox by Heather Dale (I highly recommend listening to Heather Dale on youtube if you like folk music and/or Arthurian legend). I would really appreciate reviews.

"Legolas? What are you doing?"

"Packing," Legolas said shortly, continuing his frantic search through his desk without looking up. Finding the map he was hunting for, he strode quickly across the room and shoved it into a pocket of his traveling bag. He ignored his mother and went over to his wardrobe, pulling out several pairs of leggings and tunics and tossing them onto his bed.

"Whatever for?!" she asked, dodging out of his way as he returned to the bed, throwing his clothing haphazardly into the bag, muttering to himself. Queen Maeriel watched him with obvious concern, not sure what to make of her son's strange behavior.

"I have to find her," he said earnestly, still not looking up at her. "I am not going to let her get away that easily."

"The lady from last night?" Maeriel asked in surprise. "You did not catch her?" The queen had observed her son for much of the previous evening. As Legolas had suspected, she had hoped the masquerade would give him a chance to interact with the ladies of court without his title interfering. But she had been frustrated at his apparent lack of interest in doing anything but stand in the shadows watching others enjoy the festive atmosphere of the ballroom. It had gotten to the point where she was on the verge of scolding him for his lack of cooperation when she saw him eyeing a lady dressed all in white, a fox mask covering her delicate features.

Maeriel had watched with interest as Legolas let several elves dance with her before finally vacating his post on the edge of the dance floor. They had spoken briefly before the lady let him lead her in a dance, and the queen had watched with no small amount of surprise and delight as Legolas had stared at her with undivided attention through several songs, making no indication he wanted to let her go. In fact, when she had caught glimpses of his features beneath his hood, she had seen a glint in his eye that she could only describe as fascinated desire.

"No," Legolas said tartly, clearly irritated at his mother's inquiries. "I did not." The irony of the whole situation was not lost on the queen. Legolas, dressed as a dark hunter, had somehow managed to become ensnared by a lady dressed as a pure white fox. Their contrasts had been rather beautiful to watch, seeing the lady's face shining with light while his was concealed in shadows. The queen had startled her husband when she suddenly took his arm in a vice grip, eyes wide as she watched the vixen kissing her son. But when the king looked up, it was just in time to see Legolas rip off his hood and mask for no apparent reason, racing out of the ballroom into the snow-covered gardens without a second thought. She had assumed Legolas, a seasoned tracker, would be able to find his lady. But it appeared the fox had slipped through his grasp.

"Surely she did not get too far," the queen said, putting a reassuring hand on Legolas's arm with a smile. I am certain you will find her soon enough."

"I do not think it is going to be quite that easy," Legolas said harshly, pausing as he continued to avoid his mother's eye.

"What are you two doing?" King Thranduil asked, glancing in through the open door to see his wife and son with strange looks on their faces. "What is going on?"

"Legolas is going on a trip, it seems," Maeriel said, looking around at her husband with a worried expression on her face. "Though I am not entirely sure why."

"Legolas?" the king asked, coming into the room. His brow furrowed as he saw the frown on the prince's face. "Legolas, what is going on?"

"It is that lady I told you about last night," Maeriel said softly. "She apparently got away."

"Well that should not be a problem for you, then. Surely it will not take very long for you to find her again." Though the king had only briefly seen his son dancing with the lady in question, he was rather pleased to hear that his son had finally taken an interest in someone. He had not given much thought to her sudden disappearance and his son's exit after her, but now he wondered what exactly had happened. "Why did she run in the first place?"

"I do not know," Legolas sighed, eyes glazed over as he stared at the stitching on his bag. "But she would not give me even her name. She said that if I really wanted to know, I would have to seek out the answers myself. So I will. I am not going to let her get away from me."

"How did she escape anyway?" Thranduil asked, curious as to how a single maiden on foot could outrun a seasoned hunter like Legolas. "And how do you expect to find her if you do not even know her name?"

"I do not know," Legolas said carefully. "But I will find a way. As for her escape…" he trailed off, thinking back to how she had disappeared into the snow, leaving no trace for him to follow. "I think she is one of the Maiar."

Both the king and queen stared at Legolas, shocked at his declaration. The Maiar, the kin of the Valar that helped them shape the world. Rarely did one of the Maiar reveal themselves to the elves, in Middle Earth or in Valinor. It was true that some were sent to aid the fight against Sauron during the Third Age, becoming the Istari, commonly called wizards by the mortal races. But few others were known by name, even amongst the Firstborn.

Thranduil and Maeriel began speaking once more after the initial shock wore off, but Legolas was not listening. His declaration had caused him to enter a strange trance, his vision going dark as he remained still, images slowly returning to his eyes. But they were not of his room or his parents, but of a vast blue body of water, shimmering in starlight and bathing him in a sense of tranquility he had never felt before. As his eyes took in the beauty of the shores, he saw a tall figure upon a white horse that shone as if it was made of moonlight. A horn rested on his hip as he looked out over the shores, his face turned away. But there was a light about him that told Legolas exactly who it was his eyes were beholding.

As he watched the figure pause, his great horse stamping the ground with its golden hooves, new figures appeared from the trees behind him. Two foxes pranced around the horse's feet, unbridled joy in their playful chase. One red, one white. Though no words were spoken, the foxes ended their jovial dash, coming to stand beside the hooded rider. Reverence was on their faces as they looked up at the hunter on his horse, and in that moment, Legolas knew.

His eyes darkened once more and he came out of his trance abruptly, hearing his parents' anxious voices filling his ears and a hand on his arm as his mother sought to bring him back to the present.

"Legolas?! Are you alright?"

"I think so," Legolas said breathlessly, his eyes wide as he processed the vision he had just witnessed. "But I think she was there."

"Where? What do you mean?" Maeriel asked anxiously, her hand still gripping Legolas tightly as if she feared he would lose himself to his own mind if she did not maintain contact.

"I had a vision," Legolas said, staring up over his mother's head and meeting his father's concerned gaze. "Or a memory. But she was there, at the beginning. When Orome rode through the forests of Middle Earth and discovered the Eldar. She and another ran with him, fending off the darkness of Morgoth. And she witnessed the meeting at Cuivienen."

"How do you know?" Thranduil asked, his voice betraying his concern for Legolas's sanity. This was a serious claim. It was just not possible. Legolas recognized the gravity of his words, and took a deep breath.

"I saw Orome on the banks of the Sea of Helcar, the light of the stars reflected on the waters. He rode a white horse of moonlight with his horn, the Valaroma, on his hip. It could be no other. And beside him ran two foxes, one of red, one of white. I saw her eyes, Adar. They were the same golden amber I saw last night. The same orbs that disappeared into the snow before my eyes, leaving nothing but a dead end and fox prints on the riverbank."

"Tell me this," Thranduil said, worried at the certainty in the prince's voice. "What would a Maia of Orome be doing celebrating the winter solstice in our halls? What was her purpose in drawing you to her and then fleeing?"

"I do not know," Legolas admitted, feeling his resolve strengthen despite the growing list of questions he found piling up in his mind. "There is much I do not understand about this. But I will find the answers. They are out there, waiting for me to discover. She told me that I could find answers if I had a strong heart and will. I cannot let this go. I must know."

"Do not let your heart be ruled by this creature," Thranduil cautioned. "You do not yet know her purpose. It could destroy you, seeking that which cannot be found. So few of the Maiar are known to us, it will not be an easy task ahead of you."

"I am well aware of the mountains I will climb to reach the answers I seek. And though I appreciate your concern, it comes too late. She had my heart from the moment I looked into her eyes and heard her soft voice. I have given her mine, now I must face the challenges ahead of me to get her heart in return. I am not afraid."

"Then I shall fear for you, my son," Thranduil said, brow furrowed as he took in the resolute blue eyes that stared back at him. "But I can see that there is little I can do to sway you from your journey. You have always been a hunter, and now I think this just may be the greatest hunt of your life. Do be careful, and be wary on the road. I feel in my own heart that this will not be a simple task of finding a name. I feel uneasy in my soul as I contemplate this mystery. I do believe events have been set in motion that can sweep you away if you do not tread lightly."

"Thank you, Adar," Legolas said softly, bowing his head respectfully to the king. His eyes met his mothers, so full of worry and fear, and he felt his arms reach out to embrace her, giving her comfort while he still could before he departed on his mission into the unknown wilds of Aman. "Do not worry for me, Naneth," he whispered in her ear. "For I intend to return with a bride. It is what you have always wanted for me, is it not?"

"It is, my dear," Maeriel said, her voice gentle and trembling. "But I fear what it may cost you to find your lady. I only hope that it shall be worth the struggles you will face, and that you will return to me in one piece."

"I shall be back. Have strength, Naneth, for if I do die, it will be in the pursuit of love, and that is an honorable death. If I go to the Halls of Mandos, then so be it. My fate is what the Valar have determined, and so I go to it gladly."

"Be safe, my son," the queen whispered softly, unshed tears in her eyes as she watched her child collect his travel bags, bow, quiver, and knives, shouldering the lot of them. With one last nod, he disappeared out the door, on a quest that neither Thranduil nor Maeriel knew if he would return from in the end.

"I need speed and strength from you, my friend," Legolas whispered as he stroked his dapple grey stallion, his travel gear already situated on the horse's back. "I do not know what challenges are before us, but I hope you are with me, whatever may come."

The elf's blue eyes met dark brown ones, calm and steady. With one last glance at his home, not knowing when or if he would return to it, Legolas swung into the saddle and urged his mount to ride north. The hunter was off to find his elusive vixen, with the wind in his hair and strength in his heart.