Story Info

Title: Loyalty to Blood

Author: Del Rion

Fandom: The Lord of the Rings

Era: Third Age of the Sun

Genre: Action/Adventure, AU

Rating: M / FRM

Characters: Legolas, Thranduil (, OCs)

Summary: In the shadows of Mirkwood wander many things, and the closer to Dol Guldur you go, the more evil things get. But even in darkness other things may bloom – things such as loyalty and friendship. This is a story of a surprising camaraderie between two entirely different creatures. A story never again told in words by those who live: how did Legolas and Thaíly meet.
Part of the history of "The Last Journey". Takes place right after "Prince of Dol Guldur". Complete.

Warnings: Death, violence, darkness, evil etc.

Beta: Kitt of Lindon

Disclaimer: This story is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's stories about Middle-earth (mostly on the Lord of the Rings). The characters are not mine - except for those whom I have created. The story is alternative universe, but written to honour Tolkien's creations.

Have a good time and enjoy the ride (at least I hope you do!)

Feedback: Yes, please, be so kind! Please review, I would love to know your opinion.

Author's Notes: English is not my mother tongue, so it isn't perfect. Please inform me of spelling and grammar errors, so I can correct them!

About Loyalty to Blood: Takes place right after "Prince of Dol Guldur", like I have mentioned before. Similar kind of fic, in many ways. This storyline also hold a great importance for the future stories, "The Last Journey" among them.

As is said in the summary, this is the fic where Legolas and Thaíly meet. The reasons of their befriending and alliance are a bit different from those of usual friendships, but then again, Thaíly is not a common person, anyway. And when you watch this story and "Prince of Dol Guldur" as a unit, you easily understand the hard feeling between Rafél and Thaíly.

I do not know if Tolkien really had this sort of vampires in Middle-earth, but as Thaíly is my character… I wish his background and the character itself are believable.

Hopefully you like this fic, as dark and traumatic it may be (not much sunshine in here, I promise).

Chapters and their status: Here below you see the writing process of the story's chapters. If there is no text after the chapter's name, then it is finished and checked (until someone of my dear readers points me out some mistake, or I will do some updating…) so, check this page, because here I will mark the dates of the updates…

01 Escape
02 Tracking
03 Hidden Path
04 Dark Stranger
05 Blood-sucker
06 Led by a Shadow
07 Valley of Evil
08 Interrupted Journey
09 Chance Meeting
10 Mutual Understanding

OC's Introductions:

The Three Cousins of Hithsîr
Dínnor's father and Thalión's and Asthaldo's mothers were from the same family. Those three young Elves lived in the highlands of Taur-en-Faroth during the years of their youth. In the place called Hithsîr (Mistriver) that ran in the Taur-en-Faroth, south from Nargothrond, was fought a battle long before the destruction of Beleriand and the northern lands. Of that battle only few Elven stories tell, because it wasn't a great one, but the ones who fought in it (The Three Cousins) were named by it for years to come. Nearly hundred of Orcs that were heading to Nargothrond were waylaid there by those three and were slew during that night by them alone. The Cousins were barely adults, but they fought none the less, and the enemy was destroyed before they reached their destination. This battle is known among all the Elves, and the Three who fought in it have gained a great name in the years after, even if this first battle wasn't even near the greatest of all those they later fought.
They were among those few Sindarin Elves who came to the Greenwood the Great with Oropher on the Second Age. They also fought with Oropher on Dagorlad, and were among those few who were led back home by Thranduil, who was made King after his return, for Oropher never returned.
(See my story Hithsîr)

Dínnor
Race: Sindar Elf
Age: Born in the beginning of the First Age
Cousin of Thalión and Asthaldo: oldest of the three Cousins of Hithsîr. Golden long hair that is all braided to small braids. Dun eyes. Good archer and excellent swordsman. Excellent tracker. Also a patient observer, when needed, though quite rush at times.

Thalión
Race: Sindar Elf
Age: Born in the beginning of the First Age
Cousin of Dínnor and Asthaldo, one of the famous Cousins of Hithsîr. Long, silver hair, which upper layer is braided to small braids, blue bands braided among the hair. Powder blue eyes. Excellent archer and good with sword and knives. Strong contact to nature, and can approach his destination without waking any suspicions of his presence. Even more patient observer than Dínnor.

Asthaldo
Race: Sindar Elf
Age: Born in the beginning of the First Age
Cousin of Dínnor and Thalión: youngest of the three Cousins of Hithsîr. Pale golden hair long from the back, short front hair reaches just behind ears. Fallow eyes. Good swordsman and archer. Skilled in swift, close battles with knives or swords. Also a good scout, for he is able to silence any enemy quickly and without a sound.

Rafél
Race: Sindar Elf of Eryn Lasgalen
Age: Born during the Age of the Stars
One of those few Sindarin Elves who came with Oropher to the Greenwood the Great, and fought in the Battle of Dagorlad. Legolas' bodyguard. Also a captain and a remarkable soldier in Woodland Realm's forces, though mostly his time is occupied with his duties to protect Legolas. Unlike (usually) to Sindar Elves, he has deep brown eyes. Long, very light, nearly white, brownish hair.

Thrénandu
Race: Silvan Elf of Eryn Lasgalen
Age: Born on the Second Age
Captain in Woodland Realm's forces. Has been Legolas' tutor since the Prince started to practice as a Novice. Long golden hair and light blue eyes. Uses both bow and sword with years of experience.

Shannai
Race: Silvan Elf of Eryn Lasgalen
Age: Born in the beginning of the Third Age
Long bronze hair, light green eyes. Prefers to fight with a sword or knives, not very good archer by Elven standards. Few centuries older that Legolas, and has befriended the Prince since his childhood. Possesses a very unusual nature for an Elf: loves to befriend other races and is interested about them and their culture. Remembers the heard stories well and likes to tell them anew. Excellent sense of humour.

Thaíly
Race: Half-elf, vampire ("ranger")
Age: Over 7000 years, maybe more
Called a "Blood-sucker". Nearly black wavy hair that reaches to the shoulders, very dark eyes. Uses anything imaginable as a weapon if needed. Was bitten by a vampire as a child. When his parents noticed that this bite had an effect on their son, yet unable to kill their child, they abandoned him to the wild. During the years Thaíly changed, and wandered across the lands, named as a ranger, though he actually wasn't one.
(This character was inspired by Michael Wincott's role as Rochefort in the movie "The Three Musketeers")