Hi Guys! So, this is Hidden Ghosts, my new fanfic. I absolutely love LOTR, and I'm super excited about this fic. Just a note, this chapter takes place about 80 years before the LOTR series, and about 20 years before The Hobbit. This makes Estel (Aragorn) 6 for this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings series, as much as I would like to. This amazing and super awesome series belongs to the genius mind of J.R.R. Tolkein.

Mirkwood

Amras, captain of Mirkwood, walked down the walls of the elvenking's palace. His head was bowed, and his feet dragged. In his arms he carried a bundle of cloth, and occasionally the sound of clinking metal could be heard from the bundle. Grief and fear clouded his mind, as he tried to find the words he would have to utter in only a few moments. Amras would have given anything to be any other creature- even a dwarf- if it meant that he wouldn't have to face his king.

The captain was so caught up in his thoughts that he never realized that he had reached the large wooden doors of King Thranduil's study. A slight cough from one of the guards brought Amras out of his stupor. Startled, he looked at the doors, swallowed once, and knocked. A voice replied from inside. "Enter." Pale-faced, the captain opened the doors with shaky hands

Inside the office sat King Thranduil. As Amras entered, the King looked up and said "Captain, come in."

"Hir nin, I bring news from the southern patrol." Amras' voice trembled as he addressed his king.

"Really? What word does my son send?"

At this, Amras found that his voice refused to work. Instead, he simply brought forward the bundle in his arms and laid it on Thranduil's desk.

An agonized cry caused the doors to burst into the office. The scene before the Mirkwood soldiers caused them to stare in horror. King Thranduil, tears streaming down his face, payed them no attention as he continued to gaze at the two long, white knives that lay on his desk.

Rivendell

" 'Ro, 'Ro, Help me!"

Elrohir Elrondion barely had time to turn around before he was nearly knocked over by a small body. The elf steadied the young child in front of him and asked, "What exactly do you need help with Estel?"

" 'Dan's chasing me. He's trying to tickle me!"

"Tickle you? Well, don't worry tithen pen, I'll protect you!"

"Are you sure about that muindor?

Estel and Elrohir looked up to see Elladan, Elrohir's twin, walking towards them with a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eye. As his brother approached, Estel squealed and hid behind the younger twin. Elrohir grinned at Elladan, before turning to Estel and saying, "Run Estel, he's found us!" At this he scooped the human child into his arms and took off down the hall. Laughter filled the house of Elrond as the brothers chased each other.

The chase came to an abrupt halt as Elrohir nearly collided with Erestor. Lord Elrond's advisor simply raised an eyebrow as Elladan came skidding to a stop next to his brother. He then addressed the twins. "Your father requests your presence in his office", he said gravely.

Elrohir and Elladan glanced at each other, then back at Erestor. Although the elf was serious by nature, his face carried an unusual trace of solemnity.

Estel was oblivious to both Erestor's seriousness and his brothers' confusion. "Can I go talk to Ada too?"

Erestor looked at the young child with a small smile on his face. "Actually Estel, I believe it is time for your lessons. You can go see your father later."

"But-"

"Come, Estel. Your father needs to talk to your brothers alone." With that, Erestor took Estel's hand and led him off down the hall.

The twins watched them leave, then turned around and started in the opposite direction, towards Elrond's study.

"Erestor was serious today, don't you think?"

Elladan turned towards his brother. "He's always serious."

"I mean, more serious than usual. He seemed almost…grim."

"I wouldn't worry about it, 'Ro. Erestor always makes a big deal out of everything. He's probably just upset about Glorfindel ruining his filing system."

"We were the ones who ruined his filing system."

"Erestor doesn't need to know that."

Elrohir grinned at his brother as they reached Elrond's office. Elladan knocked once, and without waiting for a response, entered. "Ada, Erestor said you wan - Cylamas!"

The twins rushed in to greet the blond elf in the office. The second prince of Mirkwood was one of their closest friends. When together, the three, along with Cylamas' younger brother, often caused the inhabitants of both Rivendell and Mirkwood to hide safely in their rooms.

Cylamas, a tall elf with platinum-blonde hair and light grey eyes, was startled as the twin sons of Elrond Embraced him, but quickly relaxed and returned the hug as Elladan and Elrohir bombarded him with various statements and questions.

"We haven't seen you in ages!"

"What are you doing here? You never leave the forest!"

"Is Legolas with you?"

At this, Cylamas stiffened and pulled away from the twins, halting their rapid-fire questions. Elladan and Elrohir stared at their friend in confusion and worry. Although Cylamas was more studious and quiet than his brothers, he was never this solemn. As they looked at him, the twins saw Cylamas' pale face and the shadows in his eyes. "Cylamas, is something wrong?"

Lord Elrond, who was silent as his sons greeted their friend, decided to intervene. "Cylamas brands us news from Mirkwood", he stated quietly.

Elrohir glanced at his father. Lord Elrond's usually calm face was full of grief, something the twins had not seen since their mother had sailed to Valinor. "Ada, what is it?"

"My brother is dead."

Elladan and Elrohir whirled around to stare at Cylamas, who now had tears pouring down his face. They couldn't have heard him right, for it sounded like their friend had said-

When the twins showed no sign of coming out of their trance, Elrond sighed, and led his sons over to a set of chairs. At this, Elladan finally reacted and managed to croak out "Cylamas, please tell me I didn't just hear what I thought I heard…"

"Don't make me say it again", Cylamas whispered miserably, destroying the twins' small hope of a misunderstanding.

"Who?" Elrohir asked timidly. "Was it Aerandir, or…"

"Legolas", Cylamas said, his voice breaking. Elrohir gave a small cry and put his head in his hands.

"Hoy did this happen?" Elrond asked quietly as his heart sunk. The youngest prince of Mirkwood had been well loved in Imladris, and news of his death would cause great mourning.

"His patrol was attacked. We suspect orcs and wargs. There were no survivors. We found the…remains in the woods."

"Remains?" Elrohir gasped.

Cylamas nodded shakily. "None of the bodies were identifiable. All of them were in…pieces. The reason we know orcs were involved was that all of the heads were missing."

"All three of the Peredhils looked ill at this statement. Suddenly Elladan jumped up. "If none of the bodies could be identified, how do you know that Legolas is dead? He could have gotten away!"

Cylamas shook his head sadly. "I wish that was true, but we found Legolas' weapons, and one of the bodies was wearing his tunic."

This last piece of evidence caused tears to stream down the twins' faces as it sunk in that their friend was truly dead. They then rushed to embrace Cylamas, this time in agony, and all three elves sank to the ground in their grief.

Elrond stood by silently, watching as a few tears slipped down his own face. "Cylamas-" he started, then stopped, as if unsure on how to continue. "Cylamas, forgive me for asking, but why are you here? Surely Aerandir and your father need you now."

Cylamas shook his head, his face full of pain. "I could not stay there anymore, my lord. My home is full of memories of Legolas, and no matter where I go it is as if someone is stabbing a dagger through my heart. My father allowed me to bring you the news because he feared I would fade if I did not leave."

Elrond nodded in understanding. His own daughter, Arwen, lived in Lothlorien with her grandparents for the vey same reason. "You are welcome to stay here for as long as you like."

Cylamas nodded "Thank you, hir nin."

Elrond smiled sadly. "Now, come. You are weary and in need of rest."

The four elves rose and exited the office. Almost immediately they ran into Estel, who was waiting outside of his fathers office. The human child's face lit up when he saw the Mirkwood elf. "Cylamas!" He squealed, and then proceeded to wrap his arms around the elf's legs.

Cylamas smiled faintly at the young human. "Hello, Estel."

"I'm so glad you're here! I haven't seen you in ages!" The child stopped excitedly as a thought came to him. "Is Legolas here? Did he come with you?"

At the mention of his brother, all traces of a smile faded from Cylamas' face. "No Estel", he replied, controlling his face and voice so no emotions showed. "Legolas did not come with me."

"Oh", Estel said disappointedly. He then perked up again. "Did you bring a letter? Legolas always sends a letter if he can't come."

Elrond, seeing that Cylamas was fast loosing his composure, knelt down in front of his son. "Estel", he whispered, looking into the childs grey eyes, "Estel, Legolas wasn't able to send you a letter."

"That's okay, Erestor's been teaching me how to write, so I can write him a letter instead. Then he will have to write me back!" Estel's face was determined, and he was oblivious to the tears that were once more flowing down Cylamas' cheek.

Elrond shook his head. "No Estel, he won't. And he won't be able to visit you again, either."

Estel's eyes grew large at the thought of never seeing his friend again. "What? Why not?"

"He has journeyed to the Hall of Mandos, ion nin."

Estel's eyes filled up with tears. "N-no. You're l-lying to me. L-l-legolas promised to come back. He can't be gone! He can't!"

Cylamas embraced the child, his own body shaking with sobs. "I know Estel, I know. I wish he was here too."

Elrond and the twins could only watch quietly, their faces full of grief, as the human and the elf mourned the lost Mirkwood Prince.

Elvish:

Hir nin: My lord

Tithen pin: Little one

Muindor: Brother

Ada: Father

Ion nin: My son

So, that's the first chapter. I really hope you guys liked it. Please, please, please, review. If you liked it, if you hated it, or if I made a mistake somewhere, let me know. As for the next chapters, I'd like to promise that I'll update regularly, but I can't. I will continue to work on this story though, and won't abandon it. Hopefully, I'll be able to write more freely now that summer's almost here.

Also, thanks to the Melanarchist for beta-ing!