To Breathe Part One

A journey home

Author- Arisma

Disclaimer- The main character and setting herein are loosely based on the works of the marvelously talented JRR Tolkien. I don't own Legolas (*sob*) though I am borrowing him. When I am done I promise to put him back with as little damage as possible, and I promise also to use a clean cloth to remove the drool he'll undoubtedly accumulate in the process.

Rating- R (cause I know it will eventually be smutty... yay smut!)

Feedback- Feedback equals new chapters, so please press the review button.

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He urged the horse onward, urging with words and gentle nudging through the thick undergrowth. "We'll be there soon, old friend, and then you may rest." he said softly, the elvish phrases feeling good on his tongue. He'd barely rested the night before, stopping only long enough for his mount to sleep and eat before heading on. The air was familiar and urged him on, driving him as surely as anything had in recent years.

He is Legolas, son of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood. He has spent long years away form his home, traveling with a motley crew on a quest to rid the world of its greatest threat, the one ring. And having done so he remained near, watching Aragorn become King Elessar, witnessing his marriage to Arwen Undomiel and the birth of their first son, Eldarion.

He had spent the past few years traveling between the homes of his friends, relaxing with the hobbits, exploring the cool depths of the earth with Gimli, watching the deep contentment grow between the human he had grown to love and the elf he had known for centuries as their city flourished with each passing season.

And he had been content with his life, enjoying the company and the travel, feeling free and needed. And then he had woken, not a month past, and felt the sudden need to feel the cool depths of his fathers palace, to smell the deep green of his forest home. And now every fiber of his being was aware of the nearness of his destination, each step bringing him closer to the place his soul craved.

From the corner of his eye he saw movement and smiled, slowing his mounts pace, knowing he was surrounded. Within moments an arrow embedded itself near Arods feet, the fletching quivering with the force of its impact. He pulled gently on the reins, the horse needing little urging to heed his masters wishes. Together they waited calmly as a voice called out, the familiar accent of his homeland very nearly bringing tears to the wandering elfs eyes. "What business have you in Eryn Lasgalen? Speak now, and speak well."

With a smile Legolas raised his hands, letting the reins fall across the broad white neck of his mount, his palms flattened in supplication. "I seek merely the solace of friends and family after an eternity of wandering. Surely that is acceptable, Erwyddon, is it not?"

A blur of green and blonde dropped from a tree directly in from of him and within moments he was off his horse and wrapping his arms around his old friend. The other elf pulled back, searching his face. "It's good to see you again, Legolas."

With a grin he replied, "It is good to be seen." and they turned and walked further into the woods, towards the city proper, the rest of the patrol filtering away silently, ever vigilant and now deeply satisfied that their prince was returned to them.

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a/n-

Okay, let me clarify before there is any flaming. This fic is going to be AU, just so I don't break any brains. I'm going to pull whatever bits I want from canon and use them. If I want to change something completely, I'm going to. If I want to just turn it a bit or twist it subtly, I'm going to do that too. If you're a Tolkien purist that's all well and good, but this is fan fiction.

If I could write like Tolkien I'd be loaded, but alas, I can't and even more alas, I am not. Therefore I'm just going to write a nice story that hopefully people will enjoy and post it. If I really irk you, I'm sorry. It's not my intention to tarnish the golden tower that JRR built. I'm just taking his bits and twisting them to fit my own gnarly muse.

For those of you who read or have read "Diplomacy" my other fic, welcome to another view of our favorite elf through my tainted eyes.

~Arisma~

"Life is short and hard, like a body building elf"- S.R. Hubert