Chapter One: A Man Named Hood

He did not want to run anymore, but he had to. That or risk stopping and getting caught by Veassen Voronweion. Veassen was his cousin, the son of his favorite uncle and least favorite aunt, Vanna Alyaniel. All three of them had arrived in time for Yule and Legolas wasn't enjoying one bit of it. His father, brother, and uncle had all gone down to Esgaroth for three days to get some things, leaving six and a half year old Legolas in the care of his least favorite aunt and his abusive cousin. And now he was running like all hell was on his heels, and, technically, it was, through the trees as if his life depended on it, because, technically, it sort of did. He was breathing heavily now and the icy wind stung his cheeks as he continued to run. Legolas was utterly grateful that the last of the snow melted yesterday, because, if it hadn't, there would be no use in running, since his cousin would have been able to follow his tracks.

Without warning, his cousin dropped in front of him, grinning cruelly. Legolas quickly veered left and ran as fast as his little legs would allow.

"Get back here! I'm not finished with you yet!" The older screamed. Legolas swallowed hard. Of course his cousin wasn't finished with the abuse. When would he ever be? He quickly ducked under a low-hanging branch before suddenly tripping over a tree root, twisted his ankle, and tumbled down the hill. He hit the bottom in confusion. There was no hill there. Infact, Mirkwood had few hills, if any. He sat up and gasped. This was not Mirkwood. Mirkwood was in the middle of winter, this forest was in the middle of summer and it wasn't murky and dark like Mirkwood was.

If anything, it was like the woods of Rivendell. Legolas tried to stand but his sprained ankle wouldn't allow it. Sighing, he began to crawl up the hill as carefully as he could. The hill was covered with a few decaying leaves, branches, footprints, and the dirt was nice and soft. He kept sliding down the hill, grumbling as he did so, until he finally reached the top. He grabbed a hold of a protruding tree root and pulled himself up the rest of the way. The elfling knelt there for a while and looked around in awe. He saw no one, so he listened hard for voices, but heard nothing but birds chirping. A warm breeze tousled his short hair and he sighed contently. At least he was warm.

Then, he heard it. Voices. Legolas smiled and crawled in the direction the voices were coming from, his sprained ankle dragging slightly. The dirt didn't seem so soft here and he knew his Ada wouldn't be too happy when he saw his dirty clothes. As he got closer, the voices came to an abrupt halt.

"Wait a minute. Did you hear that?" The voice had an accent and was unmistakably female.

"Yeah. Sounded like shuffling. And it wasn't the wind." That voice was male. Legolas heard footsteps coming towards him, so he waited. A man suddenly jumped out from behind a tree, his bow strung and pointing directly at the elfling, shouting "Hands-" The man stopped and lowered his bow.

"Up." He finished. He looked over his shoulder. "Djaq, it's all right! Just a kid!" A dark skinned woman stepped out from the shadows.

"Shame on you Robin Hood. You almost shot an innocent child." Legolas thought he caught a hint of gentle teasing in her voice. Either way, he was sure he was safe with these two. The man called Hood walked over to Legolas and knelt down next to him.

"Are you all right?" He asked. Legolas regarded the man calmly as he rubbed dirt from his hands.

"Mentally or physically?" Robin Hood grinned.

"Both, I suppose."

"Mentally, yes. Physically, no until later." Robin frowned and Legolas looked at his ankle. Robin nodded in understanding and Djaq walked over to them.

"It's not that bad of a sprain. It should be better in a week or two if I can get the swelling down soon." She commented as she examined the slightly swollen ankle. Robin lifted Legolas up into his arms as he stood up.

"We'll take him back to the cave, then." He said. Despite his dislike of caves, it didn't sound so bad the way Robin put it.

****

His idea of the cave, however, changed when he saw how dark the entrance was.

"Um, just how dark is it in there?" Legolas asked softly. Robin smiled.

"Not too dark. There are a few torches and a fire in there. You scared of the dark?" He replied.

"Not really. Sort of. And I hate caves." Legolas replied. Djaq laughed softly.

"He sounds like Much." She commented.

"Much what?" Legolas asked.

"Oh. That's our friend. His name's Much." Robin Replied kindly as they entered the cave. Legolas sucked in a breath. Orc spawn, it was dark.

"What's this?" Legolas almost jumped at the gruffness of the voice.

"Bringing home strays, now, Robin?" The last voice was female, and carried a hint of teasing. Legolas decided he liked the other female all ready, even though he could barely see her. Djaq took Legolas from Robin as the man replied.

"We found him in the woods. He's got a sprained ankle." He said.

"It's not too bad, though, Should be all right in a week or two." Djaq added as she carried him farther into the cave. Had there not been a bit of light back there, Legolas would have panicked. As Djaq set him down on a bed-like slab of rock another female walked over to them.

"Need any help?" She asked. Djaq smiled.

"Sure." She replied. Legolas absentmindedly rubbed the tender bruise on his leg. It was one of the fresher ones.

"Your leg hurt?" The other female asked. Legolas nodded.

"A little." He replied softly.

"I'm Marian, by the way." The other female said as she extended her hand. Despite the fact that his hands were still a bit dirty, Legolas shook her hand.

"I'm Legolas." He replied.

****

His ankle was all bandaged up in a few minutes and Robin came to check on him once Djaq and Marian were done.

"How're you feeling?" He asked as he ruffled Legolas's hair somewhat affectionately.

"All right." Legolas replied with a smile. He carefully slid to the ground. "I should go." Djaq grabbed a hold of him and set him back on the slab.

"I don't think so." She admonished gently. Legolas looked at her in confusion and absentmindedly began to rub dirt off his hands.

"You'll need to stay here until your ankle heals properly." Robin added. Legolas felt a small pang of fear in the pit of his stomach as he looked up at Robin. He did not like the idea of staying in the cave much longer than a day or two.

"Or I can take him with me when I go home. I'm sure my father won't mind. Besides, I don't think Legolas likes the idea of staying in the cave much longer than he wants to." Marian suggested. Legolas nodded quickly and Robin nodded thoughtfully before turning to Legolas.

"Would you like that?" He asked. Legolas looked up at Marian.

"Are you sure you and your dad won't mind?" Marian smiled down at him.

"I'm positive." She replied.

****

Legolas rubbed his eyes as Marian set him in the front of the saddle.

"Tired?" She asked as she mounted the horse. Legolas nodded and let out a yawn.

"Yes." He whispered, exhaustion evident in his voice. Marian smiled.

"Go ahead and sleep. I'll wake you up when we get there." She told him. Legolas obliged gratefully and was asleep within the next minute. It gradually grew darker as they rode through the forest. The wind blew through the trees, creating a rustling sound that Marian was grateful for, and the crickets chirped loudly. Legolas stirred slightly and muttered something incomprehensible as Marian began to wonder what her father would think of the little boy staying for a while until his ankle healed properly. She was certain he wouldn't mind in the least, but she couldn't help but wonder. The wind ruffled Legolas's hair enough that one pointed ear was revealed, and Marian couldn't help but stare. Was it a birth defect? Or was he something other than a small boy? Legolas stirred again, this time muttering in a strange language Marian had never heard. Should she leave the boy, if he even was a boy, on the side of the forest path to prevent bringing her father and herself to harm? Or was he simply a harmless boy with a birth defect? She decided she couldn't just make assumptions and leave Legolas alone in the forest with a sprained ankle that wouldn't heal until a week or so.

It was completely dark by the time they reached Marian's house. Legolas was still asleep as Marian dismounted the horse and lifted the elfling into his arms. He would need a change of clothes. She carried him into the house and he stirred slightly, muttering in the language she didn't understand again. But it sounded beautiful. Her father suddenly came into view as she headed towards the stairs.

"What have you brought home?" He teased.

"Hello, father. Robin found him in the woods and I offered to take care of him. His name's Legolas." Marian replied, a cheerful smile on her face. Edward nodded.

"That's a good idea. He shouldn't be staying in the woods with those outlaws, even if they can be trusted. I'll get him some fresh clothes." He told her. Marian headed up the stairs after her father as Legolas woke, blinking groggily.

"Naneth? How'd I get here?" He asked.

"Legolas, it's Marian. We're at my house, okay. I'm going to get you a change of clothes, and then it is off to bed with you." Marian told him. Legolas nodded.

"Okay." He sighed. And with that, he lay his head back down on her shoulder and fell asleep. Marian laughed softly.

"Somebody's sleepy." She muttered.