Okay, this is my first story on here so I hope you like and review it! Just as some background information, this takes place after the events in the books.
The forest of Fangorn stood still on the warm summer's eve. It was as though time was stopped and watching the gentle beauty of Fangorn. Not even a breeze blew between the ancient trees. Golden leaves covered the forest floor and the sun shone through the treetops making it shine more brightly than any palace could. It was a circle of gold.
Loud laughter in the distance interrupted the silence of this golden hideaway in Fangorn. It came from a small dwarf with a large axe who was laughing heartily next to an elf. The two companions were walking through Fangorn, hoping to uncover some of its many mysteries. The elf came to a sudden halt and peered into the distance.
"What do you see, Legolas?" the dwarf, Gimli, asked.
Legolas hesitated a moment. "Gold." He finally answered, after he made sure his eyes had not deceived him. "Yes, a whole city of it."
Gimli's eyes widened. "A city of gold." He nudged his friend. "Legolas! It is as the legends have told us!"
"We shall soon find out." Legolas said and the two began running for the city of gold.
Legolas was first to break through to the golden heaven he had seen, but Gimli was not far behind. The two stared in awe of this mysterious hideaway.
"It is like nothing I have seen before." Gimli spoke first.
"I was thinking the same. Of all my years in the forests I have never uncovered such a legend." Legolas replied. A golden leaf fell from one of the trees above and landed on Gimli's shoulder. He picked up the leaf and immediately it turned brown and disappeared. Legolas picked up a leaf as well however nothing happened.
"That's interesting." Legolas spoke to himself. "I suppose one must be of the woods to be welcomed here."
"Most likely." Gimli answered.
Legolas looked around him, taking in this unnatural beauty. He looked around this circle of gold, gold and nothing else. Everything was gold. But suddenly his eyes caught on something. A pair of dark eyes peered into the gold city.
"Hello?" Legolas asked. But the eyes retreated. With a few quick strides Legolas crossed the circle to were the eyes had been, but they were gone. Legolas didn't know what to think. There was something in those eyes…
"Master Legolas!" Gimli interrupted his thoughts. Legolas whipped around to see Gimli with a sword at his throat. He had his bow loaded and in his hand within the second. But he looked at Gimli's captor in shock. It was a small human woman with fawn colored straight hair that swept all the way down her back. She was very short but very capable of what she wanted. She was the possessor of the strange eyes Legolas had seen before.
"Lay down your bow, elf, and I will remove my sword." She spoke with the most harmonious voice that had ever come to Legolas' ears. He did as he was told, and she did also.
"What is your name?" Legolas asked now that he had sorted through his thoughts.
"I shall like to know yours first." She quickly retorted.
"I am Legolas from Mirkwood, an elvish prince." He answered. He watched her expectantly, waiting to hear her name.
"What brings you to this hideaway of Fangorn?" she asked. "No one is to know of it."
"I apologize; we simply stumbled upon it while walking through the main part of Fangorn. I assure we had no intention of finding anything like this."
The girl looked him over. "You are being honest." She concluded.
"But you are not." Legolas answered. "You have failed to tell me your name." he took a few steps closer and the girl tensed. He saw her eyes go to her sword, and noticed a small bow well concealed behind her. "And now I see there are other things you have failed to be honest with."
She sighed. "My name is Arya, and I belong to no kingdom nor land."
"I knew that when I first saw your eyes." Legolas interrupted. "You are a woman of the sea."
Arya smirked. "Hardly a woman, but yes I suppose I am. But now I live here, no home, only the woods."
"I shall like to hear you story. We have time now, if you would tell us."
"Time you need for a story as long as mine. And time it will take before I trust you enough to tell you." She pulled her bow off her back and strung an arrow. "Why should I trust you at all?" she asked taking aim for Legolas. He tensed but did not move. "You could be here to destroy this place or take what is mine. I usually take anyone who dares come near this golden city that I am to protect. But I saw something different within you. I usually don't spot elves too easily. They travel quickly and silently, as you know. But the dwarf," she motioned to Gimli with her bow, "travels almost as loud as an orc, with his laughter and trampling. Each step made my ears cringe." She paused and was thoughtful for a moment, but never taking her bow off of Legolas. "Why I didn't take you then I still can't figure out. I let my curiosity get a hold of me I suppose. And I made one of the largest mistakes; I let you spot me. I should have taken you right then." She repeated. "But I suppose there will still be time."
"I can assure you we will be on our way soon. We mean you and your home no harm." He approached her, very cautiously, placed a hand on her bow and gently lowered it. He looked into her deep blue eyes. He had never seen any that could be compared to them before. "But, Daughter of the Sea and Watcher of the Woods, I would help you with anything you asked of me. Your wish is my command, and this is my apology." Legolas lowered to his knee to show his honesty, but could not tear his eyes from hers. He even thought he saw a light blush on her cheeks.
"That I will take an advantage of, elf." She said and she smiled for the first time to Legolas, captivating him.
