Prolouge:
Goodbye to Happily Ever After
Muffled sobs were heard as she felt another wave of pain wash over her.
"It's almost time, my Queen." The head midwife informed Elowyn, Queen of Mirkwood. The queen nodded relieved the pain would soon end. She knew in only a few short moments her child would be in her arms.
The midwife's assistant dabbed a cool moist cloth on the queen's forehead. Sweat glistened her body; it had been a hard and long labor with hardly a moments rest. It wasn't hard to see she was tired.
"I need to push." Queen Elowyn told her midwives as the pressure of birth increased. The midwife nodded and quickly laid out a few blankets to clean off and warm the newborn prince or princess.
Outside the Queen's chambers King Thranduil waited. Many hours had passed since he learned his wife's labor had begun. He wasn't nervous like most fathers-to-be. He was anxious. His wife's chambers were quiet, too quiet. He allowed his thoughts to wander to the events that would proceed his son birth. A grand party, feast and dance would occur, then he would add fatherhood to his list of everyday duties. He slightly smiled at the thought of raising his son with this wife. He knew together he and Elowyn would be great parents.
Thranduil was brought out of his thoughts as a baby's cry emerged from his wife's chambers. A smirk formed on his lips. He was here, his son was here. A few moments passed before the head midwife opened the door.
"My King," she began, "You have a healthy son."
Thranduil smirked at her; he had known that before the child was even conceived.
"My wife?" he asked.
"The Queen is tired but is well. She is asking for you." She answered before Thranduil walked passed her and into the room.
Elowyn's chambers were elegantly decorated with soft green, silver and white. Thranduil's blue eyes met Elowyn's crystal colored ones. A small smile appeared on her pale face.
"Husband," she greeted, "come meet our son." Thranduil's eyes looked from her to the squirmy baby in her arms. He walked up to them and sat on the bed before Elowyn gently placed the child in his arms. "Perfection" that was the only word that could come close to describing his child.
"What shall we call him?" Elowyn inquired as she rested her head on her husband's shoulder.
"Legolas," he answered softly.
"Its perfect." She answered after a moment's silence.
Another moment passed before Thranduil looked up at Elowyn.
"I love you." She whispered softly before they shared a gentle kiss. Joy, happiness, contentment and love were the only things that could be felt in that room. This was their perfect life.
Little did either of them know their happiness would be short lived. Before the sun would rise the next morning, Queen Elowyn, would lose her life.
…..
2,000 years later
….
A high pitched gleeful laugh filled the warm afternoon air. A small brown haired girl continued to laugh as her mother chased her around their small camp. She hid behind her father, a black haired man for protection. The girl's mother looked up to her husband. He winked before he suddenly bent down, picked the girl up and tickled her. Another loud cluster of laughs filled the air.
After a moment, Beo, placed his daughter back on the ground.
"Mae, do you see those yellow flowers?" he loudly whispered to her. She nodded. "Go pick some for your mother."
"Can I pick some for me too?" the nearly five year old asked, seriously.
"Of course." Beo chuckled. "Go."
The little girl pranced her way over to the flower filled meadow as her parents watched with loving eyes.
"Lena," Beo motioned to his wife. The smile never left her face as she approached him. They shared a kiss before turning back to their daughter.
"Can you believe it's been five years since we left?" Lena asked as Mae twirled from flower to flower.
"Kidnapping you was the best decision I ever made." Beo teased.
"You didn't kidnap me, I left willingly." Lena said in a false serious tone. "Besides I would have left with or without you."
Beo looked down to the ground, smirked and pulled his wife closer to him. Their foreheads met before he said, "I'm so glad you came with me."
"Me too." She whispered before they met in a small kiss.
"Mommy, daddy, look at me!" Mae shouted bringing them out of the kiss. They both glanced towards her as she did a somersault in the long green grass.
They chuckled before Beo gently put his hand on his wife's stomach.
"And how is this little one?" he asked before looking back to his brown haired wife.
"Considering the constant morning sickness, I believe he is growing well. I can't wait until he's here." Lena smiled thinking of their growing family.
"Him?" Beo questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"That's my guess." She answered. "Do you have one?" Beo went to reply when a terrified shriek caught their attention.
"Daddy help!" Mae cried as she ran towards her family. What followed Mae made Lena's heart stop. Beo quickly grabbed his sword.
"Get Mae, get to the horse and go." He instructed his wife before running to his child's aide. Mae was a fast four year old but even as fast as she was, she had no hope of out running the large wolves.
Lena ran to Mae and Beo attacked the wolves that had threatened his family. Once Mae was securely in her arms, Lena ran towards the horses. They were a mere two feet away when they heard an angry snarl behind them. Lena managed to get Mae onto the horse when one of the wolves bit into her leg.
His fangs grew deeper as he pulled Lena to the ground. Teeth sank further and further into her leg before she felt some of the flesh being ripped from her.
"Beo!" Lena screamed, praying her husband would hear her cries and could help. She tried to reach for the dagger in her belt when she felt the wolf being pulled off of her. She looked up in time to see Beo stab the horrible monster with his sword.
"You must leave, there are more coming." Beo told Lena as he helped her up and onto the horse. His eyes glanced down to her leg. "You need a healer."
"We will go to Beorn. The skin changer has always helped us." Lena suggested. Beo and Beorn were constantly bargaining and through the last five years, they had managed a friendship. Beo wanted to agree but there a slightly sad look in his eyes.
"No," he said, "The wolves are coming from Beorn's direction. There's too many of them, you'll never get through."
"Then where?"
"Head to Mirkwood and find the Elven road. The wood elves are always guarding their boarders. It would not be long before you meet them."
"The Elves but…" Lena began.
"I have traded with them before, tell them you're my wife and they will protect you until I come for you." Beo instructed before giving her a kiss.
"Where are you going?" Lena asked as her husband mounted his horse.
"There are too many wolves, I will lead them away from you and Mae." He answered before turning back to her.
"You could be killed."
"I'm a fast rider." He replied. Lena nodded, that was true.
"Promise me two things." Beo suddenly said.
"What?" she asked.
"No matter what happens, don't come back for me." He started. "And if anything does happen to me, tell our children I love them."
Tears began to fill Lena's eyes. She was quiet but the wolves had begun to enclose the small family and the horses were becoming restless.
"Lena."
"I promise." She agreed.
"I love you." Beo whispered before pulling her into one last kiss. "Now go...Go!"
With that Beo smacked the horse causing the horse to flee.
"Mommy, where's daddy?" Mae asked when she realized her father wasn't with them.
"Don't worry," Lena tried to reassure the child as they fled what had been their home. "we'll be with him soon."
Lena turned behind her to see the wolves had completely enclosed her husband in their trap Their eyes met for a moment, unsure if they would ever see each other again. "Beo is a strong man," she reminded herself. Hopefully he was strong enough to fight them off.
Within ten minutes they saw the trees of Mirkwood. They were close to the Elven gates when their horse became spooked and threw his passengers off. Lena grabbed onto Mae determined to keep her safe. A thick crack was heard as the woman landed on top of her already injured leg.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Mae asked worriedly as her mother stayed on the ground. Lena looked to the girl and back at the forest in front of them.
"Mae dear, do you think you can find me a long strong stick to walk with?" she questioned the young girl.
"Sure!" Mae smiled before running off to the forest. Lena hated the idea of Mae being in the forest alone; still she wouldn't be able to walk without some kind of support.
A minute later Mae returned with a thin but long stick. Lena smiled and thanked her daughter before attempting to get up. She knew her leg was broken. She needed a brace and proper care but she also knew they could not stay there in the open. She could only hope they would find help they were seeking soon.
~Author's Note~
Hello everyone! Welcome to my new story. I haven't written a The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings story before but this has been in my head for a while so hopefully it will turn out alright.
Just a few things before the story continues: I am an amateur writer, I am still learning. I will make mistakes and I will fix them as I notice them. I don't mind constructive criticism. I try to update once a week if not sooner.
I hope you all will enjoy reading "The Widowed". Feel free to leave a review if you have a moment. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Thanks for checking out my story!—Lin ^_^
Disclaimer: I do NOT own any Thranduil, Legolas or any other Hobbit/Lord of the Rings characters that will appear in this story.