Of Mind and Shadow

Chapter 1

By: Banana Nut Muffin

Nope, don't own them.

This is a major AU, and that's ok, because I can. Ha!

I must tell you about the age thinger. So, for every one hundred years in an elf's life, is like 1 year for a human. It's just something I made up for the purpose of writing. EXAMPLE- 200 elf years = 2 human years… so basically, they are the equivalent of a 2 year old when they are 200 years old. I know it's kinda far fetched, but that's ok! So like, 1,600 is the equivalent of a 16-year-old in human years.

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Thranduil slipped his arm around his wife, Fea, as they walked through the gardens of Mirkwood. They both smiled as they watched their 600-year-old son, Legolas, running down the path, and then turning, waiting impatiently for them to catch up. A smile played on the elfling's lips, and all attempts to be serious were gone. Instead of waiting, he ran to his parents, and held out his arms for his father to pick him up. "Ada!" He said cheerfully, his golden-blond head bouncing up and down. His big blue eyes sparkled in the bright sunlight streaming through the trees above. Thranduil reached down and picked up his son in his arms and threw him up in the air, catching him as he came down. The little elf laughed, and Fea smiled, watching them. Thranduil set down his son, and looked at his wife. She had hair that matched Legolas's perfectly. She had green eyes, however. Thranduil gave Legolas his blue eyes, but not his raven black hair.

But suddenly, their happiness fled, for the sky darkened and all became still. Fea called out for Legolas to come back to them, but he did not return. The parents searched frantically for their son, but with no avail. Thranduil looked up at the sky. There seemed to be a rip in the sky, red light filtering out through the rip. He searched for his son everywhere, and Fea looked everywhere else, but he was gone. "Legolas!" he shouted, but strong winds carried his voice away, and he barely heard it himself. Then, black shadows came down from the rip in the sky, falling everywhere. They seemed to consume everything they touched. Finally, Thranduil spotted his son. He ran, not caring where the shadows were. He ran to his son, and saw a deep cut in his cheek. There were tears streaming down his cheeks as blood poured from the wound. "Legolas, where is your mother?" he asked. Legolas shook his head, and clutched to his father. Thranduil held him in his arms, and looked for Fea. There was no sign of her. "Fea!" He shouted, but once again, his voice was carried away. Thranduil started to run. He ran down the stone pathway and rounded a corner. There he saw it, the dark shadow looking over his wife, who was on the ground, her beautiful blond hair fallen over her face. The shadow cackled and then held up a long sword, and thrust it into his wife. Thranduil screamed, and felt a blow to his back. Legolas fell out of his arms. Thranduil watched helplessly as the shadow moved slowly to his son. "NOO!" He screamed.

Thranduil sat up with a start. He looked around when his eyes focused, and saw that he was in his own room. He was in his own bed, alone, as he had been for the last month. He reached up to his face and felt the tears. He quickly wiped them away and climbed out of his bed. He crossed the room, his feet making no noise on the wooden floor, and he leaned out the window. The sun wouldn't rise for a few more hours. Thranduil hung his head. Why did he continue to relive that moment when Fea was taken away from him, and when his little Greenleaf was almost taken as well? He shook his head, not wanting to think about it. Instead, he turned from the window and left his room, making his way down the hall to his little son's room.

When he reached there, he listened. No noise came from inside the room. He opened the door a little and saw his son sleeping peacefully on his bed. Thranduil crept in and sat down on the bed, brushing Legolas's hair aside. The scar was still there, and would remain for a long time. He dropped his hand to his side, and watched his son. Then, Legolas's eyes open. "Ada?" He whispered. Thranduil looked down at his son, his eyes sad. Legolas sat up in his head.

"I'm sorry I woke you." Thranduil said. Legolas shook his head.

"It's ok Ada." He said. Thranduil reached out to his son, and he climbed into Thranduil's lap. Thranduil held him close, rocking gently. "Ada, my cheek still hurts…" He said quietly.

"I know, little Greenleaf, and it might hurt for a while." He answered.

"Why did Naneth have to leave?" Legolas asked. By this time, tears had formed in Thranduil's eyes.

"I don't know for sure why she had to leave. But I do know that it must have been her time. Otherwise, the Valar would not have allowed it." Thranduil said. Legolas nodded, and was soon asleep in his father's arms. He laid him down and took one last look at him before he left the room. As he walked back to his room, his mind wandered to the part of his dream that he hadn't seen. The part that was omitted was the part when the Shadows were scared away by a light, a light so bright that even Thranduil shielded his eyes. A terrible screech was heard, and the shadows began to remove themselves. Thranduil pulled himself to his knees and looked to the direction of the light. He couldn't see the source. All the shadows were gone, and there was a faint whisper, too faint to be made out even by the best Elven ears. Then the light was gone. All was quiet again, except for the sobbing of his small son on the ground. Thranduil picked him up, and went to Fea's side. She was dead. Tears welled in his eyes, and he felt as if all was lost. His beautiful wife was gone from him forever. Then, he looked at his son. This was his last reminder of his wife. He would protect his little Greenleaf with his life, and would do everything he could to keep him safe, no matter what the cost. Thranduil was sitting beside the body of his wife, tears pouring down his cheeks, when Legolas finally realized what had happened.

"Ada, why is Naneth just lying there?" He asked. Thranduil looked at him sadly. He pulled his son into his arms.

"My little Greenleaf, though elves are blessed with immortality, they can still be killed by grief or by a weapon. Your mother has been killed." He said. Legolas stared at him, unable to comprehend what his father was telling him.

"She's dead?" Legolas asked. Thranduil nodded. Legolas's eyes filled with tears once more.

Thranduil's hand rested on the doorknob of his room. The last month had been hard on everyone. The family, the palace, and the entire Kingdom. All loved Fea very much, and when they were informed of her dead, they had a week of mourning for her. Thranduil still mourned for her, but he had to stay strong, for he still had a realm to rule and a son to raise. But when he was alone, he let the tears fall as long as they needed to.  

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End of Chapter 1. I like reviews. Lemme know how you live this story! Reviews are welcome! Haha. I'm planning on continuing, but right now, whatever pops into my head goes so… well… let's just say that's not always a good thing.

Banana Nut Muffin