The prologue is set in Mirkwood during the time of "the Hobbit". Sorry that it is such a short chapter but it is only an introduction to the story.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The prologue and the first four chapters are mainly just going over what happens in the beginning of the story of the Fellowship. If you know the plot very well, skip to Chapter 5. During this chapter, the Fellowship are at Amon Hen (by the River Anduin) and are under attack from Saruman's Urukhai.
Prologue
"Father." Legolas stepped into Thranduil's chamber. The room was large, with carved beams of silver wood. Glowing lamps were set in brackets on the walls, their gleam illuminating the whole room.
"Legolas, my son." His father greeted him warmly. "What is it?"
Thranduil's long fair hair cascaded past his shoulders but was contained about his forehead by a leafed circlet of silver. Sapphire eyes glowed in his face with radiance and though his face was wise and stern, it was astoundingly beautiful. He wore a leaf green robe embroidered with gold.
"How are the dwarves?" Legolas asked.
Thranduil laughed. "They still won't say a word of their mission, but they will come around. We just need time." Thranduil's light-hearted voice and expression concealed his anger. He disliked dwarves greatly and their silence infuriated him.
"What about the other one?" Legolas asked. There was a moment of silence. Thranduil frowned.
"What other one?"
"The small one. Did you not see him?" Legolas asked curiously.
"No, what did you see?" Thranduil was interested now. What could his son have possibly seen?
"Well, it was a little figure. He had dark hair and wore a waistcoat. He was hiding behind the tree while we were singing." Legolas was confused. Had they not taken the little one prisoner too?
"No one else saw anything of the kind. We must find him," Thranduil said, beginning to feel troubled. "What else did you see?"
"He had very large shaggy feet and cannot have been more than a few feet tall. And the strangest thing was the object in his hand. He held a ring."
"A ring?" Thranduil's curiosity deepened. "What kind of ring?"
"A gold one. But there was something strange about it. Something I couldn't quite distinguish. But there was definitely something mysterious about it. But I do not understand how no one else saw him. He was nearly as loud and obvious as a dwarf."
Thranduil chuckled. "We are not all gifted with your keen sight, Legolas."
Legolas' forehead creased for a moment, and then he laughed, his soft brown eyes shining as he did so. His laughter was beautiful; tinkling and melodious.
The faint sound of music drifted in from outside. The Wood Elves were singing.
"May I join them, Father?" Legolas asked, thinking of the melody that was now weaving through his head.
"Go, son. I must speak with my elves about this so-called 'small one' you speak of." Legolas bowed his head to his father and bounded gracefully from the room.
He hurried through the bright corridors, through the great white doors, out into the dark velvety night. The sound of singing was louder now and Legolas followed the music through the white stone courtyard, now cast in shadows, to the glade where a glimmering fire now shone. A group of nine elves were gathered around a great plume of fire. Their voices chimed through the night, like a hundred bells. Legolas smiled as he took a step into the circle and joined his voice with theirs. One of the nine, a beautiful dark haired girl looked up and smiled at him, her resonant voice sounding through in perfect harmony.
The sound of ten heavenly elven voices rang softly through the darkness, bringing a feeling of hope and gladness to a very small, very tired young hobbit.
I hope you liked the intro to the story. The link on my profile is Thranduil, Legolas' father.
