Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story other than Raven and Ravenhooves. All are the work of the fantastic J.R.R. Tolkien who wrote LOTR and gave us the chance to experience different things and for me to write fan fics. Please no one sue me!
The remaining eight travellers settle down to rest in the safety of Lothlórien, exhausted from both fighting and with grief. Gandalf the grey, a great and powerful wizard had just been defeated in the mines of Moria, falling as he sent the Balrog down into the abyss. It had come as a great shock to the rest of the fellowship as they had laid much of their hope on Gandalf. But there was not only the loss of Gandalf that had the company in shock. Legolas, the quiet elven Prince of the woodland realm elves had become almost a monster when the orcs approached. He completely changed from his quiet, calm self into a being filled with rage and anger. The malice with which he had attacked the orcs was almost too horrible to witness. The others had watched in horror, as Legolas would hack up any orc body he set eyes on, sparing none. Whilst the others knew that their quest would be bloody and filled with death, they also knew when to stop when any being had been killed. From the moment they left the mines, no one had said a word to Legolas, as if fearing he may turn on them if they stepped out of line. Since the loss of Gandalf, Legolas had been left to his own thoughts and his own pains, no one seeming to care why he had become such a tyrant, when he, just like the rest of his kind enjoyed peace and only killed if they had to yet when faced with those orcs, it was if a completely different being had taken him over, causing him to be brutal, not defensive.
Once in Lothlórien, the eight travellers had been treated with grace and honour for Galadriel, the head of the elves of Lothlórien knew what the reason behind their journey was, and she also knew that they were grieving from their loss. Galadriel had known Legolas for a very long time, she had first met him when he was a much younger elf, when he used to journey between elven countries, exploring the lands around him and when nothing threatened the quiet of middle earth. As soon as she saw him enter her courtyard, her heart dropped and she sighed deeply. Placing her hand on his cheek, she said softly.
'Legolas? What have you done?' Legolas did not answer, for he knew that Galadriel already knew the answer to her question. Instead he asked to be allowed to leave the group for a while, so he could be alone. Galadriel granted his wish, not questioning his motives, just watching him as he walked away. Legolas let his feet lead him, not caring where they lead him, as long as it was away from the rest of the fellowship. He sat down on an old fallen tree and looked about him. The place he had stopped was all too familiar to him. He had sat here on many an occasion, listening to the song fill the air around him. The moment he heard the song, he knew it would mean something, and it did, it had meant he found something he had never dreamed of finding. His dreams had been filled with victorious battles of the past and of trees and animals he had not yet seen. Then he came to Lothlórien and his whole view on the life he would lead changed. His heart had become settled and he lived a life filled with happiness and content. As he thought about events of the past, he could feel the sadness flowing through every pore in his body. As he sat thinking, he thought he heard the song in the wind, a distant memory re-emerging when he had needed it the most. The happiness he felt at hearing this song was soon destroyed at the sound of feet not far behind him. Legolas turned to see Aragorn standing before him, concern in his eyes. Legolas had known Aragorn for a very long while too, but Aragorn did not know the truth behind his past. Aragorn did not understand why Legolas had become so quiet and so withdrawn, when before he had been filled with such hope and joy. Aragorn could not see how an elf so full of life and a need to see all that was meant by peaceful could turn into the near monster he did when they had been set upon by the orcs.
'Why did you follow me Aragorn?'
'Legolas, I am worried about you. I have never seen you like this before.'
'Then you do not know me.'
'It is because I know you that is the reason why I worry for you.'
'Do not worry for me, I do not deserve the time.'
'You are a dear friend and to me that is worth my time.'
'I became a monster in the mines. It should not matter how orcs are killed, but it does.'
'It is a side of you I have never seen and it is a side that scares me. It has scared the rest of the fellowship as well. They are worried that you may turn on them if there are no orcs near.'
'I will harm none on this fellowship, or any that live freely under the sun.'
'Yet the brutality you showed today was enough for people to doubt the elf you used to be.'
'I will never be the elf I used to be, not since the only thing I cared about was taken away from me.'
'Are you going to tell us what has happened? We deserve that much at least. We will be by each other's sides through everything. We, I, at least should know what has happened, so we can understand you better and help you through whatever it is that has happened.'
'I will never get through this and I am not ready to talk.'
'Well, when you are, we shall be waiting to hear your story.' Aragorn rose and left Legolas alone again and there he stayed, for three days and nights Legolas did not move from the very spot he had come to rest. He did not feel hungry and he did not feel the need to socialise. Instead he found himself thinking about all that Aragorn had said and wondering if he really had changed enough for people to worry so much about him. On the morning of the fourth day since their arrival, Legolas decided it was time he talked about his past, so that he could at least move on, even if he would never forget. As he approached the others, they seemed scared at first, but once they saw his eyes, they knew Legolas no longer had the anger in him that they had witnessed in the mines.
'You are rejoining us Legolas?'
'Yes Gimli, please forgive me for my absence, I have had much to think about, but now I think I am ready to tell you the story behind what you saw in the mines. It is a long tales, so please make sure you are comfortable and there may be times when I do not speak for a while, but understand, this is difficult for me.'
'We understand. Take as long as you need Legolas, we shall not go anywhere until you have finished.'
'I thank you Aragorn, for both your patience and your understanding.'
'We all have things that are difficult to face my dear friend and we all deserve the chance to beat those demons, once and for all.' Legolas nodded softly before taking a deep breath, and then, almost too easily, the words began to flow from his mouth.
Flashback
When Legolas was younger, he could be seen wondering the many different realms that middle earth had to offer. He travelled from his home in Mirkwood and explored lands such as Rohan, Gondor and Lothlórien. Legolas enjoyed these journeys as he enjoyed discovering new lands and meeting new people, men, wizards and others of his kin. Legolas most enjoyed exploring the vast forests that inhabited middle earth, for he had grown up in a forest and was after all a prince of the woodland realm. This would explain why he enjoyed visiting Lothlórien so much. The golden leaves of the trees in autumn, and the soft green of spring and summer were just some of the things Legolas loved about this sacred and magical elf kingdom. Ever since he was born, Legolas often heard about the wonders of Lothlórien, so he made sure it was the first place he would journey to as soon as he was old enough. Ever since that day, Legolas felt he had been enchanted by the elven kingdom and there was never a place in middle earth where he felt so at peace with himself and with others. When he was in Lothlórien, Legolas forgot that there was a whole different world just outside of its boundaries.
It was on one such journey to Lothlórien where Legolas first met her. Raven was her name, for she had pitch-black hair and the darkest eyes ever seen in the elven worlds. She could also control the birds in the sky with the softest whisper and they succumbed to her every need. She was one of the last to be born of the elves, signalling an end to the line of elves and an end to a whole story that if it disappeared, would change middle earth forever. She descended from Galadriel's line of elves and had many powers that were not frequent in the world of elves. Legolas had often heard stories about an elven maiden so beautiful that there was no being in middle earth who could ever justify being by her side and many thought that she would live her life alone, for no one would have the courage to try and love her, for her beauty and her wisdom were too great.
Legolas remembered the first time she entered his life. He had been sitting on an old fallen tree, listening to the water of the river flow passed, whilst watching the leaves dance in the wind. It was then he heard a soft voice, singing a song of hope in elvish. The sound was so light, Legolas wondered if it was just the wind playing tricks on his ears. It was only when the song became suddenly louder that he knew he was not hearing things. Legolas listened to the song, shocked at how his heart had filled with joy at the sound of this soft voice as it sang of all the hopes and dreams one could have. Legolas found himself following the voice, wanting to know who could enchant the air in such a way. It was not long before he was lead to a clearing in the forest. There sat two elves, one whom he recognised as Arwen, daughter of Elrond and descendant from Rivendell, as well as Galadriel's line of elves. The other wore a dark blue dress and her head was covered with a veil. Through it he could see her black hair shining in the sunlight piercing through the trees. He continued to listen and realised that it was from the faceless elf that the soft music came. He stood there silently, listening to her sing and watching her as she carefully fed a pure white horse that stood in the clearing with the two-elven maidens. Legolas felt like he was in a trance, unable to break from the spell her voice had cast upon him. He continued to stand there, unaware of anything else around him. It was only when he caught Arwen's eyes that he broke from the stare he was in. Arwen looked at the other elf and smiled cheekily. Legolas watched to see what the faceless elf's reaction would be, but he saw none. She did not falter from what she was doing and not once did it even appear like she was tempted to look at Legolas. Instead Arwen was the one who kept looking over and as she did, she laughed softly, singing back to the other elf. Legolas understood every word of what they sung and knew that Arwen was describing his appearance to the other. Legolas' hopes for a chance to speak to the faceless elf were dashed when she began to gather up her horse's reins and began to walk from the clearing. Arwen followed slowly, as if expecting Legolas to approach her with questions about her company. Legolas somehow seemed to live up to Arwen's expectations and he ran after them.
'Please, Lady Arwen, I wish to know the name of the maiden you are with.'
'At last you speak Prince Legolas, for you have stood there for a long while. You wish to know my cousin's name? I am not sure if I should tell you, for I do not know what you would do with her name once you have it in your mind.'
'Once I know her name, I will treasure it and remember it until your cousin decides that she may like to speak with me.'
'My cousin does not speak with any male Legolas; he must prove that he is worth the words she uses.'
'Then what can I do to prove that I am worth her words?'
'Tell me why you stood there watching myself and Arwen.' Legolas looked at the faceless elf and realised that she had stopped and that she was facing him now, but her head hung low so he could not see her face.
'Very well. I heard a song whilst I was sitting by the river. At first I thought it was my mind playing tricks, or that the wind was softly brushing against something that made a sound like a song. Then I realised that the song was coming from a real voice and I had to follow it, for I have never heard such a beautiful song or voice ever before. I followed you to the clearing and found that I could not speak, that I could only watch you as you went about your business.'
'But why did you wait for so long? You have not seen my face, for all you know, I could be ugly.'
'I do not believe that such a voice could come from something that is ugly, and if it did, then I would be shocked but I am sure I would like you just as much.'
'Then you may say that you are right, for I have been called many things, but ugly is not one of them. Now, I have spoken all I will and I must retire to my room before our meal.' Legolas watched the faceless elf continued to walk off into the distance and found he stared after her again. He watched as Arwen began to follow and ran after her.
'Please, tell me your cousin's name?'
'I feel that if you like her as you say you do, you will persist in your questions until you get your answers. Until I see proof of this, my cousin shall remain nameless and faceless to you Legolas.' Arwen began to walk quickly to catch up with her cousin whilst Legolas stood still, thinking over what Arwen had just said.
End of flashback
Back in Lothlórien
'So, did you find out her name?' Everyone stopped looking at Legolas and turned to Merry, who was sitting on the edge of his seat, having obviously been listening to Legolas as intently as the others had.
'Keep quiet Merry, let Legolas continue.'
'Sorry Aragorn.'
'Do not trouble the hobbit Aragorn, he is eager, that is all.' Legolas smiled softly as Merry stuck his tongue out at Aragorn.
