Darkness' Claim, Shattered Heart

A/N Dating 13-02-2013 I started rewriting my other LOTR fic "Facing the Shadows - Loss of the Light" and came to see that this fic was nearly as popular. I can't divide my attention between both fics at the same time and rewrite (and continue this). So I decided for easier reading to at least throw a spellchecker over the fic as it is (I know, I was hasty and didn't have an english spellchecker in those days, I sucked xD). Rewrite of his and continuation probably coming after I finish on the other one.

A/N Well, I have seen ROTK two times within the release week now and I must say it has greatly inspired me once more. Immediately after the first time I picked up reading the fics at ffnet and well, think I got enough writer's spirit now. Just have one problem, without reviews this spirit will easily be robbed from myself :s. And I could not decide whether to continue my old stories or to write a complete new one. I started on both ones, or rather I will start on the new one in a minute and I will see where it takes me. As I say once more, reviews fuel me and that will actually make the difference in which I am going to continue, so review please!

~Disclaimer~ Any idiot who actually thinks I could make my dream come true of owning Lotr and who actually needs this disclaimer so they will not sue me, is an idiot who makes me cry, 'cause remembering me my dreams of Leggie and Aragorn are only dreams, makes me sad beyond.

~Summary~ Legolas and Aragorn go on the journey to destroy the ring, but things happen and both realize they are more than just friends. But what will it take to let Aragorn realize it in time? A/L Slash.

Chapter One, Prologue

~Legolas POV~

Rays of sun entered my room, trickling softly through the open balcony doors. When they reached my sleeping eyes, I returned from the world of dreams. I inhaled deeply, getting in the scent of the forest. It smelled different than any other forest, it smelled like... I could not describe it, it was home and that was the scent that I inhaled. The unique scent of the tree's of Mirkwood, my home.

I sat up slowly and I clad myself in my silver colored tunic. I sighed as I saw my crown lay beside me on the table. I wondered briefly why I did that, I never hated the life of a prince, yet it was not what I longed for. I closed my eyes again and I wondered what it was that I was missing, what it could be that could complete me. For this is how I felt, incomplete...

For 3000 years I had not felt like this, but since a few seasons I did, the feeling grew within myself and I did not know what it was. A sigh escaped my lips, why, why did I not know what made me feel so depressed sometimes? I wished I knew so I could do something about it, but of course answers would not be flying towards me every time I needed one. I would have to be patient, someday the answer would reach me, but being patience about such things was not easy, even for me. Normally I had incredible patience, but this was different, I felt the feeling growing each day, only a little bit yes, but I could feel it and it made me anxious.

I sat upon my bed and in the corner I saw my green tunic laying upon a chair, a smile formed upon my lips. that tunic had brought me so many happy memories. It was the tunic I wore when I needed to escape the life of being a prince, the life of a royal. When I wore that I was just another elf in the woods. Not one to attend to boring duties, when I wore that tunic I was one of Mirkwood's warriors, doing whatever I liked as long as I kept an eye on the surroundings, protecting Mirkwood when I would see an enemy. But such things rarely happened, these days the enemies had gathered elsewhere. As I heard they were now gathering in Mordor, under the command of the great eye...

I felt my enlightened soul darken a bit, as well as my features. I decided I had to think today, I decided I could not stay at the palace today.

I quickly undressed myself, folding the silver tunic carefully and laying it upon the table. I knew when the servants of the palace would find it, they would bring it to my father and he, not being able to do anything about it anymore, would have peace with it. He had warned me so many times, telling I could not do such things whenever I felt like it, but in time he learned he could not stop me when I felt the woods calling for me. In his heart he was beginning to understand I was not fit for life at court, not all the time that is. Of course I would still have to claim my birthright as the rightful king one day, but that day would not come for a long time and perhaps then I was ready for life without adventure, a royal life.

I silently slipped out the window into a tree and from the branches of this tree I climbed upon another and another and another, until I reached Mirkwood's gates. I knew from experience I could not just jump to the tree nearest. I smiled to myself, remembering how many fruitless attempts to crossing here it had taken me before I knew how to cross the right way, the way of not getting caught. The gates of Mirkwood were well protected and it was a good thing actually, if they could spot an agile elf like me, orcs and other fiends would not be a problem to them.

I climbed to the top of the tree in front of the gates and took out a self-made horn and through it I called the guards as if I were my father. Of course the guards responded to it, as always, not wanting to defy my father's orders. I knew though, the thought that it was I again, made them hesitate, but they knew if it was my fathers... well, they just did not want to defy him.

It hurt me a bit I had to deceive them like this every time, but they saw the humor of it as well afterwards. It was a good thing I sounded so much like my father when I wanted too, the guards new his voice well and the only one who could ever defy them, was I and I took advantage of it. This was the only thing I regretted sometimes, the fact I did take advantage of it, in my thoughts taking advantage of things was not right, but some things had to be done and all knew and no one held it against me.

When the guards disappeared out of my sight, I headed into the woods, smirking to myself I had freedom once more. I jumped from tree to tree, my bow and quiver strapped upon my back, my two elven daggers by my side. I was a skilled elf and if I would encounter any enemy, I would be able to slay it with great ease. When they would be in large numbers were the times when I could be in danger all alone.

Soon I had reached my destination, the one tree in Mirkwood that had been my friend for so many seasons. No, he was no Ent, but he was one to be able to speak more than the others and he had been a great support in dark times for me. This tree had seen my mother die, actually, my mother had died against its bark.. I was lost after I had lost her, though I was no more than an elfling then, no one knew exactly how she died, if she had been alone or in great pain, if she died suffering or in peace. No one knew, for all elves which had escorted her back to the palace were slain as well by the hideous orcs. When I ran away from the palace one day, overcome by grief, I had stumbled upon this tree. I had stumbled of its roots and I fell. I had naught the strength nor the reason to get back up and I started crying, calling my mother's name in agony. It was then that the tree spoke to me of knowing her, knowing her last minutes. He had given her comfort and the will to accept her fate, because of this very tree she was able to die in peace and to pass on to the Halls of Mandos to be greeted by her loved ones there.

I sat upon his branches, no longer was he the young tree he once was, nowadays he was not the one to chatter as much as he had done once. These days he only spoke to me when it was needed the most, but just being near him gave me great comfort. I would just talk to him, knowing somewhere he would be able to hear me, knowing when I needed him, he would respond and lend me some of his wisdom. He had no name, not like the Ents in Fangorn Forest, but I had named him Estel when I was so young. Not only had he given my mother hope and peace, but he had given those exact same things to me. He reminded me to have peace with things, to still hold hope in dark times. "Estel..." I heard the words flow from my mouth. He was not the only Estel I knew, when I was an elfling yes, but now I have known another Estel, for over 60 years now...

A/N Chapter's supposed to end here, forgot to delete a small bit, I'll update when I have 5 reviewers, alright? Already have three, so just need two more. Have two other chapters already lined up y'know.

So Review! Luv Jane owh and a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a most WONDERFULL 2004