Disclaimer: I own nothing recognisable.
Estel. Galad. Lalaith. 2938 of the Third Age
Prologue
Legolas picked up the banner, admiring Ladlaurë's handiwork. The seamstress had truly outdone all Legolas' expectations, and she had created a beautiful standard for Legolas' troops.
The field was white, and the banner was bordered with green vines, twining around the edges, brimming with tiny leaves. In the centre was a single green leaf, bright against the white background. Underneath, neatly lettered in embroidery, were three words. Estel. Galad. Lalaith.
Hope, light, and laughter. Yes, Legolas thought, I will fight for hope, light and laughter in this darkening forest.
Tathar and Aldanna met him at the bridge outside the fortress, dressed for a long journey, and fully armed. Brethilríl and Brethildíl soon joined them, and in ten minutes or so the company was complete.
Rílglín Rílmírion was a scout. The dark haired Sinda had been friends with Legolas since he came of age, when he had gotten Legolas and all his age-mates roaring drunk. Today, though, Rílglín was the very picture of tall, dark and handsome, with his bow on his back and a light sword at his hip. At least one elleth was eyeing the scout off, undressing him with her eyes as she watched him mount his horse, though Rílglín paid the elleth – Tauriel, the Captain of the Guard – no more than a friendly wave goodbye.
Aldanna flicked her blonde braids over her shoulder, readjusting her bow to ensure maximum mobility in the forest. Her twin knives, which matched Legolas' closely, rested on her back with her full quiver. Her green eyes assessed each member of this company as they arrived, and her full lips quirked into a smirk when she looked Legolas up and down.
Legolas was wearing a copy of his actual crown, made from silver, as he refused to risk losing the lovely mithril crown of his office, but his father insisted he wear a crown on this patrol, for reasons Legolas could not comprehend. As a compromise, Míruial the King's best jewelsmith, had crafted the delicate piece of metal to decorate Legolas' head while in the South.
Legolas hated it, but he would wear it if it kept his father happy. If Aldanna commented, he would simply make it her responsibility to keep the ridiculous piece of jewellery safe until they returned and Legolas would have to wear it again.
Brethilríl and his sister Brethildíl stood side by side, laughing at some private joke. The siblings shared a touching farewell with their parents, promising to take care of each other, and Brethildíl accepted the saddlebags full of healer's equipment and supplies from her mother, Ladlaurë.
Tathar, as ever, was by Legolas' side, taking his duty as bodyguard very seriously. He kept a hand on his sword hilt as he watched the crowd,, ensuring that no-one could touch the Crown Prince.
Aglarmoth, the Master of Spear, was preceded out of the keep by his long spear. The ellon's light brown hair and burly, muscular figure often made him look mannish, but he carried himself with all the grace of the Elf he was. His many knives were worn in his own style, on his belt in an array of sizes and styles. The elf's impressive frame was dwarfed, though, by Kalhíth, the huge, hulking warrior who crossed the bridge with his massive battle axe strapped to his back.
Kalhîth has once stumbled into Laketown, after being separated from his patrol during an altercation with wargs. Hugely muscular, covered in blood and gore, with his still dripping battle axe in hand, Kalhîth had been mistaken by the townspeople for a vengeful spirit, and ghost stories still occasionally circulated the town on cold autumn nights. The warrior was formidable in a fight, and Legolas had learned, long ago, to ever interfere in the ellon's fights, for when the big Elf went into battle mode, he operated on a 'kill anything that moves' basis, which made him a deadly ally as well as a deadly enemy. It was better to just let the Elf fight insurmountable odds, and Kalhîth always seemed to come out on top.
Tuilë, Agarmoth's sprightly little wife, bounced into the gathering of warriors, waving goodbye to her daughter Lauruial, and called orders to keep Princess Lothlomë safe. Lauruial needed no orders to look after her best friend, though, and was indeed the Princess's bodyguard for that very reason. Tuilë gave her husband a tight hug and a kiss before falling into line with the rest of the patrol as it formed on the bridge.
Tingallos and his son Encalion were the next to arrive, powerful bows strapped to their backs. Tingallos, as Master Archer, had placed himself on this mission to keep an eye on his impulsive son, who had not been on any serious or long missions before, having only come of age a dozen or so years earlier.
Celebglín and Galenmír were the sword-bearing equivalents of the two archers. Master of Sword Celebglín had likewise wished to supervise his young son's first long mission, and Galenmír flushed with embarrassment when he met Encalion's eyes, while his best friend glanced away, unable to hold the eye contact due to his own embarrassment.
Glínornmír, once the Training Master, had been out of a job since Galenmír and Encalion graduated, as there were no more young ones in the forest for him to train. Unwilling to let the chance go by to see so many of his most recent trainees in the field at once, the formidable warrior had volunteered to serve on Legolas' mission, looking forward to the opportunity to see how well his students were performing. Rílglín, Legolas, Aldanna, Tathar, both Brethils, Encalion and Galenmír had all protested at their teacher's inclusion, but Thranduil had, smirking, informed them all that Glínornmír was going, and that was final.
Aldanna snorted with amusement when Belegcû made his way onto the bridge, because Brethildíl blushed so brightly when the object of many late nights' gossip joined the team. Aldanna smirked with a positively evil mischief when the elf warrior glanced at her friend, only to look away quickly, blushing, and rearranging his sword and knives while he shifted his weight uncomfortably. Oh yes, Aldanna thought, this will be fun.
Mallaer and Nar-rhîw were brothers, and the last to arrive, rushing up onto the bridge, Nar-Rhîw with his boots in hand and Mallaer with his hair still loose. The brothers' apparent disorganisation was quickly explained when Eleni stormed up behind them, immediately berating Legolas for stealing so many of her warriors for his patrol. Eleni, the Captain of the Northern Excursions Patrol, was on a year-long hiatus, after her company spent three years flushing goblins out of the plains north of the Greenwood. Legolas shrugged, refusing to apologise for his warriors choices, for he was well aware that quite a few of his warriors were supposed to rejoin Eleni in the North next month, and this mission could well take years. Mallaer, Nar-rhîw and Tuilë had volunteered, and Legolas was glad to have the experienced warriors on the team.
The mission already boasted Legolas and Aldanna, who had bravely (and, perhaps, stupidly) infiltrated Dol Guldor on their first mission South, as well as a few members from the regular Southern Mirkwood Patrol. Tingallos had been Captain of that patrol for as long as there had been a threat in the South, and at his side bad been Neldororn and Malthon, though the King had interfered when they attempted to join this mission. Thranduil had allowed others to go in their place, though, warriors whom Neldororn and Malthon could trust to keep an eye on their sometimes impulsive children. Aglarmoth was one such, as were Tingallos, Celebglín and Belegcû.
Thaliondíl, the High Commander, stood beside the King as Thranduil reminded them of the situation in the South of Mirkwood. Thaliondíl reminded them of their duty, and Thranduil finished with an order, "Bring Hope and Light back to our beloved forest, my son."
That was when Legolas unfurled the standard. "And laughter," he declared in a strong voice.
Cheers rang across the water, and floated on the wind.
This is what we fight for, Legolas grinned as he truly realised it, we fight for hope, that we might have light and laughter in our woodland home.
With weapons of hope, light and laughter, we can defeat any shadow.