DISCLAIMER!! : I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THIS!! Just the ideas, but the characters, character names, their speech, their lands – everything belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien! Okay, we're good now.


Chapter One: The Things We Fear

Midmorning was rolling around the corner in Rivendell and yet the Last Homely House of Lord Elrond could be found in complete silence. And for how many elves and other guests that currently occupied the house of Elrond, it seemed for the first time in many years that no one dwelled in its halls any longer; yet it that was nowhere near the truth. Through the multiple halls and rooms of the house, a mortal dressed in a silver and black tunic with long curling black hair, was found sleeping in the quiet of one of the libraries. The mortal himself had not gotten much sleep the night before; actually he doubted he had even slept at all, save for the horrors and memories that swam freely in his head. He had recently returned home from a long journey far in the east, a journey that required more of his strength than he had originally calculated, and what he had seen and experienced during his travels left this man without any doubt that this journey too, would leave some kind of scar on his life – again. Just like all the others had. The mortal had clearly no intention of waking up from his much needed slumber, nor did he feel the need to be conversing with anyone anytime soon, no matter who it was. And seeing that when he had returned home on a night that his adoptive father's house was once again full of visitors, he quietly hid away in the last place anyone would ever think to look for him – Lord Elrond's private library. Turning in his sleep, the mortal suddenly felt a slight poke to his rib rage. He stirred for a moment, not taking any notice to the light touch to his ribs. He felt it again, and again. Now he was awakening and was quickly becoming annoyed. Once again he felt the jab to his ribs, and this time it came a lot harder.

"Ego!" Cried the mortal, turning on his side in an attempt to ignore whatever or whoever it was that was poking him. He wanted to sleep soundly for once since he had been deprived of that privilege throughout his travels. But now that he was once again home, the man intended to catch up on those missing hours of sleep without anyone bothering him.

"Maer aur Estel, lû an net am." It was at the soft voice that suddenly spoke to him that made the mortal decide to face his visitor with a glare.

"Legolas…" He growled. "Do you not understand your own tongue? Go away means exactly that! Go away!"

"Of course I understand, though one does not have share in the same attitude as a sleeping and unwelcoming ranger in the morning." Said the blonde haired elf named Legolas. He laughed as he helped his friend up out of the chair in which he was slumped in.

"What do you want?" Estel grumbled as he straightened out his clothes, not looking at the elf sitting across from him.

"I wanted to see how you were fairing." Legolas smiled at him. "It has been a year or more perhaps since we have last seen each other, and I am only here as a messenger for my father for he has news for Lord Elrond. Though, when I arrived early this morning Elrond told me you had just returned home yourself, so naturally I have been looking for you – rather than feasting in your father's halls with his as always glorious company." The elf smirked as he noticed the disconcerting look on his friends face.

Aragorn, though happy to see his friend again, frowned at the aspect of the elven prince being used as some sort of herald for his father. A herald Legolas certainly was not and should not be used as so, it was Aragorn's opinion on the over spoken matter between them and Legolas knew it all too well. "Then you are only here for a short while?" Estel said, frowning.

"Ay," Legolas nodded gravely. "Though, I do have a favor to ask of you. That is if you are well enough and are willing to, of course." Legolas said slowly, inclining his head to Aragorn. Aragorn's head snapped quickly to look suspiciously at the elf. Legolas' favors tended to be; well they usually turned into interesting adventurous to say the least. Adventures that had them crawling back to Imladris in search of some kind of medical aid in one of Elrond's large healing rooms. More than once did they return to Imladris from an adventure that had at least one of them in scrapes and the other nearly at death's door, but now that seemed so long ago to Aragorn. A year was nothing to an elf, but to a human's eyes it certainly left an impact on one's life and surroundings. Not having any other response than a suspicious look to the elf, Aragorn listened with a sigh. 'So much for resting' he thought.

"Where am I going and how long will it take this time?" Aragorn said, rubbing his hands along his neck and chin. "Need I remind you son of Thranduil, I am weary and my last adventure is still taking its toll on me. If we are to take any journey it will be slow for a day or two, for I do not fancy falling off my horse out of lack of strength and rest, nor do I want to suffer from your remarks in my doing so." The elf's light laughter filled the room, putting a grim smile on the young rangers face.

"I know naught of what a year does to mortals, but it has done nothing to you mellon-nin." Legolas laughed. "I return to Mirkwood in a month for the Mid Autumn's day celebration that my father demands I attend, since I have missed it for three years soundly. Once my business is done here, I was hoping you would accompany me to Lothlorien on the way home…" Legolas trailed off when Aragorn broke out into a fit of laughter. Legolas looked slightly startled and confused as he watched his human friend fight his laughter.

"Mellon-nin," Aragorn laughed, his eyes suddenly filled with amusement. "Please, please, do not tell me this has to do with your father's first general's daughter!" Aragorn pinned Legolas with a knowing look.

Legolas sank into the seat across from Aragorn without looking at him. "Not necessarily…" Aragorn gave him another sharp look and Legolas sunk further into his seat. "Alright, yes."

"Legolas!" The ranger's eyes weren't filled with amusement anymore. "Must you go and ask for trouble? It is bad enough it follows us wherever we go."

"I do not ask for trouble!" Legolas protested, "Elladan and Elrohir are going as well, they wish to visit Arwen!" he added quickly. "I never said you had to go with me, I have only suggested it as I would like your company since we have no traveled together for so long a time!"

"But you ask me knowing that I will agree to your proposal, as I always do." Aragorn answered, slightly annoyed at his friend now.

"So you will go then?" Legolas seemed only too eager for the ranger to respond. Aragorn could not keep himself from laughing. How, after two hundred years of age, the elf still managed to appear much like a child at times, still amused Aragorn.

"Someone needs to make sure you go back to Mirkwood in one piece. And with your habit of making a mess of things, I might as well come along. Besides, I have not seen the Lady Eleniel for quite some time, her or Arwen. Perhaps things might have changed as things often do, but I cannot help but wonder how much good will come from this trip from Lorien to Mirkwood." Aragorn answered thoughtfully and then was silent for a time. Aragorn looked up at Legolas again with amused eyes again. "When did say you planned to leave?"

It was then that Legolas' face fell and all traces of amusement left him from there. "In a few days I believe. I must attend a conference with Lord Elrond first before any decisions are truly made."

"What is this message you carry to Ada? I hope it is better news than what I have to report to him, for it is grave indeed." Aragorn said, his expressions too changed quickly. Legolas looked up at his friend with fear. It was the first time in his life that the young mortal had witnessed such a thing from Legolas or any elf for that matter, who was generally good at hiding his emotions when he did not wish for them to be seen. Now it seemed Legolas was losing the battle with himself.

"Orcs Aragorn, it is orcs I come to report. A message was sent to my father a year ago by Gandalf and Lord Elrond to send out a patrol in search of such creatures. At first we found this to be a joke, an unnecessary precaution and riddle that we did not understand, but soon strange things began to happen in our wood and so my father sent out a small patrol at last and with it, he sent me to lead them along with his general, Lord Teneth and his eldest son." Legolas said quietly. "We found that Elrond's request had not been in vain, for we found a small party of orcs at the edge of Mirkwood. We slaughtered them within the dead of the night." Legolas frowned. "Something suspicious is happening Estel, and I fear we will be caught in the middle of it. I fear the worst for middle earth, times are changing to quickly and I wonder what malaise is now arising from the lands of Mordor."

"Aye," Aragorn agreed solemnly. "Then you have seen what I was sent out to look for. Northern boarders are being patrolled by hundreds of orcs at a time. I was sent out seven months ago by Gandalf to the lands in the west, close to the land of the Shire, but that land thankfully remains untouched by orc filth and its people still remain undiscovered."

"We are grateful then." Legolas nodded in agreement.

"Come, Lord Elrond returns tonight with his guests, and we shall explain our plans to him after dinner." Aragorn stood up and walked to the door of the study with Legolas following him out. "But for now, I wish to rest. As I said, I do not wish to fall from my horse and have you make me part of your ridiculous jests."

"Not I Estel, but perhaps your brothers might." Legolas laughed and bid his friend farewell for the time being. He watched as Aragorn faded from his sight as he turned a corner and disappeared, leaving him to think and wander Imladris alone with nothing but his thoughts and curiosity to guide him. Legolas turned towards an open terrace door and smiled as he walked out into the breezy air. Leaning against the pillared railing in front of him, Legolas sighed. The breeze here was soft and calming, hardly even noticeable to one who wasn't paying it much attention. Still, Legolas felt its gentleness brush against his smooth face as he stood outside thinking; the wind seemed to be bringing him the answers to all his thoughts today.

"A year has changed you little mellon-nin, but I doubt your heart remains so unaffected by your travels." Legolas said quietly. "Whatever happened to the days where laughter was not held in chains, hanging so high above our heads so that we cannot reach them? I feel those bright days are bitterly leaving us, in place for darker and eviler times…"


Translations:

Ego: Be of

Mauer aur Estel, lû an net am: Good morning Estel, time to get up.

Mellon-nin: My friend

Ada: Father

A/N: This is newly updated so enjoy.