Strongbow

Chapter 1, The favor of the Lady

Legolas cursed fluently as the giant spiders surrounded him, there were at least ten, and he was running low on arrows, he fitted another to the string, shooting the closest in the eye. Then, he felt an excruciating pain in is back, he felt the spider's poison paralyze his body, and he lost consciousness as the spider began to wrap him in its silk. He thought he saw a silver blur taking out the other spiders, but as his vision faded, he knew he was going to die.

Legolas felt like he was trying to swim in a fast moving current, then he slowly regained his senses and a dull, throbbing pain filled his body. He moaned and light, musical laughter reached his ears. "Good morning tithen pen, you woke just in time for some broth!" a soft, tenor voice told him. Legolas groaned again, and blinked at the bright light before his eyes settled on a green eyed ellon. His hair was like molten mithril, flowing in a straight silver waterfall to the middle of the ellon's back, restrained only by two warrior braids, in a style Legolas did not recognize. The ellon wore all grey and his cloak was fastened by a brooch in the likeness of a silver leaf. The ellon's face was beautiful and pale, a warm smile gracing his lips. "Who are you?" Legolas croaked. "I am Cuthalion of nowhere, it is a pleasure to meet one who has found favor with the Lady, Prince Legolas." he proclaimed in his soft voice. "Would you like water?" Legolas nodded, licking his parched lips. "You are very fortunate that I heard your cursing, else wise you would be very dead." Cuthalion commented as he helped the prince to sit up. "For that I thank you, and also for your healing." Legolas croaked. The silver haired elf simply smiled as he uncorked his water skin and Legolas drank his fill before being laid gently back down. "Where are you from Cuthalion?" asked Legolas, he knew only two other elves with silver hair, his father and Celeborn. Cuthalion's eyes darkened and he was silent for a few moments. "Where I come from is no concern of yours tithen pen. Ask me naught about myself, and I am your friend, ask, and you will find me a most unpleasant enemy." he growled, his fair voice deadly. Legolas was rather taken aback, but he was silent. "I am not that young!" Silver laughter filled the air, "To me you are no more than a child." was the mirthful answer. Cuthalion rose and Legolas saw he carried a longbow of black yew, girthed at his waist was a sword in a non-descript sheath, but the handle showed extremely good craft, ancient craft. Legolas looked around him and saw that he was in a small cabin of sorts, save that it was perched high in one of Mirkwood's trees. The nimble ellon was climbing up a ladder in the middle of the cabin. "My rooms are up the ladder, if you should have need of me simply call." Cuthalion said cheerfully. He disappeared. Legolas drifted back into the realm of Lorien. Legolas awoke but did not move nor open his eyes, for a sound reached his ears and he was unsure as to what it was. Then it came again, a whimpering, wet, sad, sound, like someone in pain. He opened one eye a crack. Cuthalion's face was tearstained, he was sobbing, but what disturbed Legolas even more was the long knife that was clutched in a white knuckled hand. There was blood upon the blade, and Cuthalion's wrist was bleeding freely. Legolas shut his eyes and tried to fall back to sleep, but Cuthalion's beautiful, tearstained face flashed behind his eyelids.

A/N: Who is a Silmarillion character who A. has silver hair. B. is an archer with a yew bow. And C. Knows Galadriel?