Author's Note: I do not own anything Lord of The Rings! This is my first story and any flames will be fed to my pet dragon. Also, let me know what you think as I am trying hard to make this happen.
Chapter 1
"I told you this was a stupid idea." Aragorn says as we race passed the trees of one of Rivendell's lesser-known side paths.
"I mean really, how stupid are you Legolas? Legolas? Are you even listening to me?!" He says with an annoyed tone. For a human of only nineteen summers, he has become quite a man, yet time and again I see a small hint of the impatient, small child that floats to the surface in an attempt at making a small appearance.
"Calm yourself Estel. We will make it in time." I say to him. He huffs at me in a surprisingly horse like manner before edging his stallion into a swift canter. The spring air is cool on my skin and I look up to the sky. I can tell that we have at least an hour to reach the home of Elrond before the festivities begin.
A breeze lifts my hair off of my shoulders and the leaves seem to whisper to each other, as though they are keeping a secret from us. There is something beautiful about the peace surrounding us. Almost too beautiful, as though time itself decided to stop for a moment to take it in.
As I exhale, I can hear the sound of a branch being ripped off of a tree up ahead. The scream of the old oak seems to overwhelm my mind and at that moment the silence of the forest is broken by an overwhelming cry of pain, one of the forest itself.
"Estel!" I say to the man a few paces in front of me. "We seem to have uninvited companions on our journey." And just as I finish those words, I hear the sound of an arrow being released from its bow. The twang of the bow string my only warning of the projectile coming my way.
"Legolas!" I hear Estel yell as I lean sharply to my right, just barely avoiding the arrow aimed at my back. I quickly fling my leg over my horse's back and pull mu weapons out of their sheathes on my back. On my left I can see Estel dismounting and drawing his sword.
"Go" I tell my mare, before she takes off into the surrounding trees. We couldn't be more than half an hour's ride from Rivendel. She leaves in her mists a sparkling, tan cloud of dust giving perfect cover to look to Estel. I can see his unease.
Another arrow is released; it lands right behind my left heel, just missing the back of my boot. Then another, this one scrapes my left bicept. Hissing in pain I look over to seen Estel not faring any better.
Invisible, unknown enemies surround us.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a patch of a brown tunic hiding near the trunk of the mutilated oak tree. Quickly I fire an arrow at it, hoping that I can at least scare them off. I hear a thud and look back to the fabric.
"It's a human. A young man." Estel says to me. We are being attacked by humans?
"Why would they attack us? What have we done to a group of humans so close to Rivendel?" I say outloud. The thought distracts me for a moment, yet that is all they seem to need.
"Legolas!" I hear Estel say, simultaneously I feel a dull thump hitting into my shoulder. As the momentum forces me back, I can see Elladan and Elrohir galloping up the path along with a group of five soldiers and my beautiful palamino mare leading the group. Another arrow pierces my thigh as I fall, and I can see the worried faces of my companions as they approach closer, yet too far away to do much.
"They are coming!" A voice in the trees shouts. The world is starting to tilt.
"But the Prince!" Another voice. The edges of my vision are starting to fade.
"…more opportunities…" A different voice. My eyelids are starting to droop.
"Legolas don't!" But it is too late. My head is too heavy and I am just so tired. The last thing I hear is the retreat of our unknown foes and the approach of one human and seven very elvin footsteps. As my eyes close I see the faces of my friends-my brothers- staring down at me with fear in their eyes.