Winter has settled itself upon the mountains. Snow covered the slope sides and bits and pieces of emergent grass cut throught the top layer. In the distance some ravens were feasting through the snow at a blood covered carcass of some poor woodland creature. The sky was a pale shade of gray stained with streaks of white.
A figure emerged through the woods; his long blond hair waved behind him. His slender arms hung at his sides and his crystal blue eyes beamed at the sky. He was an elf, and very beautiful. A soft smile came to his lips as he watched the black birds. For a moment he stood lost in a daydream but his mind quickly fell back into reality. The logs he was carrying had fallen into the snow.
"Those will not burn now." Another voice came behind him as he knelt down to pick them up.
"I'm sorry." He muttered.
"Can't do much right, can you?"
"I said I was sorry." He repeated as he looked up at the dark haired man that stared at him.
"Developing an attitude?" The older man sneered as he dug his fingers into the elf's chin.
"Please don't touch me." The blond elf shook away with fading finger prints on his chin. His blue eyes flashed with dislike.
"I can touch you whenever and however I want…" The dark haired man snapped and he struck the young elf so hard that he fell into the snow.
The blond elf straightened himself quickly and said nothing. He dusted the snow from from his clothing and began to head off to find more firewood.
"Remember, if you so much as take one step from these woods…"
The young elf swallowed as he felt his bruises burn. "Why though?" He said as worked up his strength again. For a while he had been waiting to say this.
"…Excuse me?"
"Why, Why can't I go off into the world?"
The man laughed, "Because, You… belong to me."
The blond elf stood up and sighed he walked off deeper into the woods. He could only remember bits and pieces of before he came to these lonely woods. He was only a tiny child but there was something about him that stood out. Something about him that people didn't like, that people were disgusted by.
That's definitely why he ended up in this hell hole. If only he knew what that something was. He had never felt like he done anything that terrible.
Shivering, he began to lift the dry logs from the frozen shed. There was often that he wished he was not so lonely and had someone around, someone he trusted. Rather than the man which he so feared. It was no way to live being afraid everyday that the next day you were going to be beaten to death or even worse…
"Are you from around here?" A voice came from behind him.
The blond elf quickly turned aroun and notice three figures standing behind him. "I am, yes. Who are you?"
"I am Aragorn, and my brothers, Elladan and Elrohir. We are wanderers. We came here on accident." He paused for a moment as if noticing how beautiful the creature before him was. Melted snow was glittering in the elf's golden hair like drops diamonds and his skin shone moon bright. "May I ask for your name?"
"…I'm Legolas… please, go on." The elf spoke gently. He had never seen visitors and eyed the man up and down. He was strong and tall with grim yet kind eyes.
"We were just wondering... how do we leave these woods?" Another continued. This was an elf as well with dark hair and bright eyes and a soft snile. They looked exactly alike, Aragorn's brothers, as twins.
"Oh." The blond elf answered a bit disappointed, "I could show you…" But he quickly remembered that he had to return before nightfall and if he doesn't…
"Is something wrong?" Aragorn said as he noticed the look of horror that suddenly came over the elf's face.
"I.. I have to go... now… I'm sorry, but it's just over those hills in the distance, you will come to a clearing after that."
"Are you alright?" Aragorn said with concern.
"Yes." The elf said as he lifted the wood into his arms. He felt as if he has never been asked such a flattering question before.
"You can't possibly carry all that, come, we'll help you."
"No, He wouldn't like that."
"Who?"
"…. No one, forget it." The blond elf said quickly.
Aragorn frowned. He could not believe how troubled the beautiful elf seemed.
Legolas began to rush away hurriedly, The snow was beginning to fall heavily down making it hard to see. His hands were growing cold and snow flakes were beginning to whelm up in his eyes. He stumbled over a root and fell against the cold hard ground. The wood spilled everywhere.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, I don't know what's wrong with me." Legolas answered, he was usually not this clumsy. Somehow this day has not been very smooth. One of the twins offered him a hand.
"We'll walk you." Aragorn said gently as he slipped an arm around the elf.
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