Disclaimer : These characters, events and settings do not belong to us. Thalawen and Landailyn and the rest are either completely made up or belong to J.R.R Tolkien. Also please note that there is NO slash, harsh language or sexual content in this story! Though there is some mild violence, character angst, true friendships (means again that there is NO slash) and a little romance.

SHADOW IN THE TREES
By : mirkwood-elf-2931 & Thala


PROLOGUE



In the Second Age, the War of the Last Alliance, held in Mordor, resulted in the defeat of the Dark Lord Sauron and the race of Man obtained the One Ring.

Isildur, now the high King of Gondor, had been corrupted by the Ring's power over his weak soul and it betrayed him in the end. Orcs attacked his group of soldiers and in his attempt to escape he put on the Ring and fled into the Great River Anduin.

It was then that the Ring betrayed him, slipping off his finger, making him visible to the eyes of the enemy. He was then assassinated and the Ring was lost for over two thousand years, being forgotten.

Only the Elves from the Last Alliance know that the Ring has not been destroyed and that it is still among them ... somewhere ...


CHAPTER 1


The sun is filtered through the leaves in the trees and glows softly on the Elven city, Rivendell. The light gleams off the towers of the House of Elrond. At its base, a woman practices with her long sword. She holds her weapon in a tight grip with both hands as she jabs it at an imaginary target to her left, then swings it up and over her head to slash at the air to the right.

This woman is a skilled warrior, for being only a child of three hundred twenty-seven. Her long black hair flutters in the breeze, the ends a riot of curls. Her statuesque body is clothed in gray pants, covered by a brown tunic and leather straps about her chest to hold her bow and quiver. Her black boots knee high. The empty scabbard rested against a rock as she started the drill again.

A sheen of sweat covered Thalawen's face and made her clothes stick to her body. Being a tall woman, she moved as graceful as a dancer, as Elves were known to do. Her face is made of subtle angles, with soft cheekbones and a round chin. Having a baby face and full, pouted lips made her a beautiful sight to behold. Her dark green eyes slant ever so slightly in an inquisitive manner. The long, lithe body twisted and turned as she went through the motions of her routine. Next she would target shoot with her bow.

Thalawen sheathed her sword and strapped it back around her waist. As she was doing so she felt something hit the top of her head, and there was a giggle from above her. She looked up, ripe temper flashing in her eyes. She was just about ready to scold the person who did it, for she thought it had been some children playing in the house, when she saw the laughing blue eyes and the feminine lips curling with a grin.

A smile broke out across Thalawen's face. Arwen, Lord Elrond's daughter, looked down on Thalawen from her bedroom balcony.

"Ten and two hundred years we've been friends, Arwen, and you still pick on me. Why is that so?" Thalawen asked sweetly in her husky voice.

"Well, Thala, I'll tell you. It's because you're so much older and wiser and you never act like a child. When I pick on you, you forget that you need to practice your fighting skills and you laugh, much as you're doing now."

"I see. And how are you today, Princess Arwen," she asked sarcastically.

"Oh, very fine, thank you. Now bow peasant, remember your place," she said haughtily as she looked down her nose at Thalawen.

Thalawen picked up a fallen acorn and threw it at Arwen, hitting her in the forehead. Thalawen laughed so hard she thought she'd fall down.

"Get down here, Arwen. I need you for target practice," she said still laughing.

"You've already had your practice, Thala," she replied sorely, rubbing where the acorn had hit. But she couldn't hold back the bubble of laughter welling up in her throat.

She loved to see Thalawen laugh.

Thalawen, being so serious all the time and keeping to herself; never had time to play or just sit about with friends and laugh. She was too busy fighting and learning and getting better at her ability to wield a sword and shoot with a bow and arrow.

Sitting on a rock, Thalawen took the dagger from her right boot and whittled a stick. Waiting for Arwen, she cut out holes and shaved the bark, not trying to make anything, just passing the time.

Arwen came down the steps, her dress floating about her legs as she walked. Her willowy form clothed in a white flowing dress made of silk, the hem a pattern of rose petals, making her seem to be perpetually walking through a garden of flowers.

"Just how are you going to train with me wearing something like that?" asked Thalawen, pointing at Arwen's dress.

"I can fight in anything, you know that."

"Well, don't yell at me when it gets torn."

Thalawen pulled her sword from its sheath about her waist and stood in warrior stance. "Where's your blade?" She sighed heavily. "Arwen..." she said, annoyed.

She put her sword back and started walking towards the waterfalls. Expecting Arwen to follow, she didn't look back to make sure. She heard the steady beat of water hitting water and felt the spray on the air as she came closer. It was a stunning thing to see, the water rushing over the edge, falling and tumbling over rocks and cragged edges, gushing towards the bottom.

Thalawen skipped the rocks across the water and stood in front of the waterfall, in the middle of the stream. This was her favorite spot to be. The rocks were stacked as though it was specifically made for someone to sit and listen and feel what was going on around them. She sat on a rock and closed her eyes and listened. She felt Arwen sit beside her and the delicate lace of her gown touch her wrist.

"You should go back and change before you get that wet. Its very pretty, Arwen, I would not want for you to ruin it."

"I have many others like it, Thalawen, daughter of Thalthan, there is no need of you to worry," said Arwen almost absently as she stared into the ripples the crashing water made.

Thalawen turned her head to look upon the girl sitting next to her.

Her face was a pale oval with shining blue eyes, surrounded by a thick black fringe of eyelashes. Her nose small and upturned, her wide mobile mouth was the color of crushed strawberries and tended to pout when she wasn't paying attention to anything particular. Much like now. Her waist length brown hair was pulled back into a tight braid that trailed its way down her back. Wisps of hair flew in the breeze from the waterfall, and whipped around her face.

This was the first time Thalawen had noticed she was barefoot. "Where are your shoes, Arwen?" she asked, puzzled.

"I forgot them," she trailed off, still not paying attention. Obviously boredom had set in for both of them. With an evil thought in her mind Thalawen put her arm around Arwen's shoulders and pulled her into her arms, embracing her. They rocked silently from side to side. Thalawen stood and pulled Arwen to her feet, pretending it was time to go back home. Arwen turned to take the first step, but missed it entirely as she was pushed and fell into the water with a loud splash. She screeched as the icy cold water touched her skin. Thalawen bent over in laughter.

"You think that is funny, do you, Thala?" Arwen demanded.

Still laughing, Thalawen stood up straight and pretended to think about the question. "Yes," she said, and nodded for emphasis.

Arwen swam back towards the rocks and acted as if she were going to climb out. Thalawen bent down to lend her a hand. Grabbing it, Arwen pulled as hard as she could, sending Thalawen sprawling into the water.

Gasping, Thalawen came to the surface and shivered from the ice-cold water.

Teeth chattering, they both giggled and swam for the shore.


* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *


Many days East of Rivendell, in the mighty forest of Greenwood the Great, a graceful Elven maiden happily lives in the home of Andolan and Mylthar, both Silvan Elves of Greenwood and great friends of its king.

Landailyn Windsong is their only child's given name.

As of now, she is still very young among her race's standards, being only that of three hundred and fifteen and looking as though a mere mortal should in their early twenties.

But over this long period, she has trained hard and grown more skillful of the weapons that she carries, consisting of a long bow, arrows and two curved long-knives. Her father began training her early and for this she did very well. He had always known she was born to be a warrior, not like that of the other she-Elves of their woodland realm.

Most of them seemed fairer maidens, who would keep constantly busy tending to their surroundings and not much else did they do. The men were the hunters and fighters, not the women. Though it seemed in a few cases that was not so, like her own, she loved what skills she had developed.

Her tall, fair form rode fast and hard through the dim of a wood, atop a striking white horse. "Noro, Evalanir! Ellint!" [Ride, Evalanir! Swifter!] She pressed her steed.

She had seen them, Orcs, patrolling near the forest's edge at the mouth of a dank cave they called their home. They were everywhere, more than she could have taken out alone, if attacked. Not to mention, there were the giant spiders and wargs to beware of in these areas.

So she had run quickly and jumped upon her horse, riding deeper into the trees, back to her home. Looking back ever so often, to make sure no Orc or other fell being followed. She would not tell her mother or father of this run in, or that she had been near the southern parts.

She slowed down upon reaching Amon Lanc and dismounted. "Maer, Evala." [Good, Evala.] She stroked the mare softly and sighed. "That was close."

Leading her around the back of the structure that was her house, they went through the gate of a small fenced in area, where three stables stood for she and her parents horses to the right and there she bent down her head to eat the pile of hay given to her. With that done, the Elf turned to walk up to the back door of she and her parent's cozy little home.

"Oh Landailyn, I am glad you are home!" Said her mother Andolan, as she entered. "Where have you been?"

"Out riding in the wood." Her daughter simply replied. "Like I always do."

"And you returned that dirty?" She asked with a single raised brow.

Wanting not to lie, the younger Elf chose to stay silent with an innocent face, hoping she would let it go. Andolan shook her head and fortunately didn't question her daughter further. "Ah, well then come my dear, you must go wash up and change."

"Why? I was going to go back out to target prac..."

"No," Her mother interrupted. "We are attending a gathering tonight at the palace that Lord Thranduil is giving and you must be in something more suitable than your 'warrior' garments. We'll be leaving soon."

"Oh, well I was not informed of this in which we must attend." Her tone slightly sarcastic, but she smiled as she headed for her room. First, she washed the dirt from her hands and some smudges from her face. Then picked out what she was to wear. A long sleeved silken gown of natural colors, that's bottom lay gently on the floor. Over this, a belt of lighter colored material and a silver chained necklace with a shining green stone.

She came back into the main room.

"Are you ready, my daughter?" Asked Mylthar, dressed in medium gray formal robes.

"Yes, Father." She replied.

He smiled at how beautiful she looked and went to find his wife. He soon found that she was also ready and most beautiful as well in light blue. Then they set out on foot to the palace, for it was not far from their home.

Walking down a single long hallway, they could hear the music and voices of their people in the spacious throne room. They entered through its doors to find a joyous event of dancing, eating, drinking, laughing and talking about the large room. They spotted the king seated at a large table and strode over. "Creoso, melloneamin!" [Welcome, my friends!] The lord of Greenwood arose and greeted them happily.

"Maer aduial, hir nin." [Good evening, my lord.] Landailyn bowed before him.

He smiled at her. "Maer aduial, Landailyn. Make yourself at home! There is plenty to eat and much music to dance. Perhaps you can find my son to do this with." He teased.

Her pale cheeks turned a light rosy shade, as Thranduil and her parents laughed. The two were merely friends and nothing more, but their parents had always teased them of being more than just such with one another.

Then her mother and father began a long conversation with the High-Elf, so going unnoticed, she walked away and around the room. Not seeing Legolas around or anyone she could talk to, something caught her eye to the far left corner. A door, perfect, she thought, knowing just where it led and went toward it.

But a certain someone had also went unseen and upon the sight of her, they followed. She stepped lightly down the stone stairs leading to the palace's enchanting gardens.

Stopping to listen to the sounds of the night and gaze at the beautiful flowers and plants, she then found a seat on a stone bench, a few feet from the small clear ponds before her.

The other form watched as she moved down the walkway, wondering if they should follow farther. Soon though, they made their decision.

She tensed at the sound of someone approaching, even as quiet as their footfall was.

"Suil, mellon Landailyn." [Greetings, friend Landailyn.] An unmistakable voice said from behind. "I'm glad you could make it."

She spun around on the bench, recognizing it right away. "Oh, Prince Legolas, I wondered where you would be." She stood. "Many thanks, I'm glad we could come." She said with a smile and a small bowing of her head.

He returned the smile and walked toward her. Sitting down again, they began to converse on various matters. Legolas was basically her only friend, except a few other male warriors her age. Most of the other females had not the time or even wanted to become warriors, like she had. So they had nothing in common and she rarely ever saw any of them.

"So what must I ask, have you been doing since last I saw you, my friend?"

She shrugged. "Riding through the forest and practicing my warrior skills. Oh and today, I traveled far south." She decided to admit and said the latter part more quietly.

His brows shot up at her in alarm, for he knew what tended to lurk in the southern regions of the forest. "Alone?"

She nodded. "Aye, you know there is no one I ever go riding with, except you and you have not come with me in a long time and I do not..."

Legolas sighed loudly to interrupt. "I'm sorry, Landailyn..."

"I know, you're just too busy being a prince, or you're with your other friends or hunting with your team or something."

He glared at her, causing her to laugh. "Anyway," He continued. "What were you doing there?"

"Well, I just sort of ended up there. I guess I was not paying much attention to where Evalanir was taking me. Then when I realized where we were at, it was too late..."

"Why? What happened?" He grew even more awed at these choice of words and wasted no time in getting answers out of her.

"I saw many Orcs near the edge of the trees in front of a small cave, their weapons drawn, walking about. They did not see or hear me though, as I ran back to Evala, they never attempted to follow."

At this news, there was much relief that Legolas did not openly show.

"Please do not say anything of this ere my mother and father, they do not know and I much wish to keep it that way."

He nodded understandingly. "Only if you promise me, that you will not go riding so far again, alone much less."

"Alright, my lord, I promise. I will not disobey your request."

He grinned. "Well then, would a fair maiden care to make an entrance with her prince?" He stood, holding out a hand. "The rest of them would be quite jealous." A sly grin was forming about his own light handsome features.

"You much like teasing them, don't you?" She asked, liking it much herself, though this she did not admit to.

He laughed, but nodded. "Alright," She agreed and placed her hand into his. "Let us go."

They stood before the door. "Ready?" He asked, the wicked grin of cleverness still playing upon his face.

"If you are...my prince." She hooked her arm with his and they went inside his elegant home.

Meanwhile inside, Thranduil, Andolan and Mylthar talked of many different things. Including their children. They knew the two liked one another more than friend wise; they had to, by the determinations of their actions.

Mylthar and Andolan secretly wanted their daughter and Legolas to be happy one day and settled down together, as they were. And Legolas' father much agreed with them, though it had always stayed between the trio and had never been mentioned to the two young ones.

Also, they tried different little things now and then to tease them or hint around, but the maiden and the prince always changed the subject or dismissed such feelings completely. So all this time, they had remained only friends and their parents much anticipated the day they fell in love.

"Did you see Legolas followed her?" Andolan asked.

The king smiled. "Yes, I did."

"Do you think it will ever happen?" She continued.

"This is hard to say, they are still very young and love has not become one their main priorities yet. I suppose we just must give them more time. Oh, they join us once more." He pointed in the doors' direction.

It opened, to reveal them together, arm in arm.

"Oh, look at them! They make such a fine looking pair! Don't you think?" whispered Landailyn's mother with much delight. The two male Elves nodded, smiling.

They stepped over the threshold and began walking toward their parents. Some stared, a few whispered, some gave Landailyn unpleasant looks. And it was all she could do not to laugh. Legolas just smiled at her, knowing she had to be enjoying it as much as he was.

"Maer aduial." [Good evening.] He greeted Landailyn's mother and father upon reaching them. They returned it gladly, with a slight bowing of the head.

They were very fond of Legolas, as were Thranduil's feelings toward their daughter. So it would work out perfectly, if fate led them where their parents wanted. With only one question, was that what the two of them wanted?

"Good evening, young prince! And how do you fare?" Asked Mylthar.

"I am well, thank you." He replied. "How are you both?"

"We are fine as well, Legolas." Said Andolan.

"My, did you see the looks you were both receiving?" Asked Lord Thranduil. The two smiled and nodded. "Well, I think they think that you two are..." He let the last words hang, letting them think on it.

"That's what we wanted them to think." Legolas stated. "It's...fun to make them jealous."

The three elders chuckled and shook their heads.

Soon, the party was over and the time growing later, it was time to leave.

"Goodnight, Lady Landailyn." Said Legolas to his friend.

"Goodnight, Prince. I will see you later and perhaps then you can go riding with me?"

"Aye, and perhaps you can come hunting with my group and I in the near future." He smiled. She nodded. "Really? I would much enjoy that." Their parents exchanged unnoticed hopeful looks and goodnights as they departed.

The three walked through the trees back on the path they had come. "So, you asked Legolas to go riding with you?" Mylthar spoke up.

"Yes, he has not been riding with me for quite some time. Always busy, he is."

They smiled. "And he asked you to go hunting with him too. By the way, what did you two talk of, while you were outside?" Asked Andolan this time.

"Just the things we have been doing since we saw one another last. Did you have a nice talk with Lord Thranduil?"

"Yes, I would say we caught up on things as well. Anyway, we saw you two come in from the gardens, arm in arm." Teased her mother.

"I know, so did everyone else. Like Legolas said, we only did that to make the others jealous!" She tried to explain.

"Well, we think perhaps that one day you and Legolas will be...you know...like your mother and I are now."

"Father!" She exclaimed, barely a smile on her face.

"What?" He turned to his wife innocently, with a cunning grin.

"You know very well what!" Landailyn wailed.

"All that we are saying, my daughter, is that since you have known one another for so long, that maybe one day you two will grow to be...more, that is all." Finished Andolan.

She thought for a moment. "Hmmm, myself with a prince? I doubt this. We're just friends."

Her parents sighed. "Landailyn, you have many long years ahead of you yet." Continued her father. "Both of you do. You know not of what will come during this, or how you will change."

"If I change." She added quickly.

"Yes, or how Legolas will change."

"If, he changes. Can we please change the subject?"

Her parents laughed and with this, they looked up to find they had reached home once more.


TBC …