When Legolas' hand first went through what was supposed to be the firm truck of the oak, his heart seemed to skip a beat. An evil, one that he had never felt before, rushed into his mind and spread throughout his entire body. It was like no Orc, warg or spider. This was an ancient evil, one that had been asleep for many ages.

He sought to pull his hand hastily from the inside of the tree. However something was preventing him from doing so and was in fact pulling him further inside. A searing pain shot through his wrist as his trapped hand was twisted around and he had no choice but to turn so that his back was towards the oak. As soon as it touched the truck, rough thin branches began to coil around his legs and free arm. He thrashed about attempting to free himself but the tree was too strong and had him firmly ensnared. Looking out he suddenly noticed Gimli, followed by the rest of the fellowship, appear from the forest. As they approached the oak harden its grip upon him and pain sprouted throughout his body. He clenched his teeth, trying not to cry out and show the fear and pain that was slowly consuming him.


Aragon's eyes grew wide as he took in the scene before him. An ancient Elder oak stood alone within the clearing surrounded by a forest of younger trees. Its limbs were twisted and bent. Its bark was dark and moss covered. Seeing his Elvish friend, he at first thought that he as leaning against the Elder oak. However he quickly realised, to his horror that Legolas was imprisoned inside the tree. The elf's right leg from ankle to mid-thigh was covered by the dark bark. While only his foot and knee could be seen on the left. Both arms were encased, with his right arm down by his side and his left twisted up next to his head. His left hand was still tightly clasping his bow. The elf's head was locked in place by the bark that surrounded his neck and reached up towards his ears. A look of distress and fright was upon the elf's face.

With sudden apprehension the ranger began to slowly approach the trapped elf. "Legolas" the man whispered softly looking up into the elf's eyes seeking to reassure his frighten friend. Suddenly, however, the blue-grey eyes filled with pain and Aragon watched in both surprise and dismay as the oak's black bark tightened around his friends' limbs. Drawing away from the tree, he was relieved to see the bark loosen and his friends' breathing, which had stopped during the attack, returned to a more normal, if rapid, pace.

"What is this evil?" he asked, looking towards the wizard, who now stood at his side surveying the tree with obvious disgust.

"It is an ancient evil, one that feeds off the lives of immortals" answered the wizard grimly "It has survived much longer than any others of its kind. They died out many ages ago."

"We must do something" declared Gimli angrily as he stood at the wizards' side. He may not get along with the elf but seeing him trapped inside the tree was something that filled him with repulsion. He stepped forward determined to do what he could, when he was startled to see the bark of the oak begin to move. It looked as if something was pressing outwards trying to break free. He stepped back in revulsion as a face appeared in the moss covered bark. At first he thought that the face was part of the trunk, but then realised that the face was made up of skin, so winkled and grey, that it only seemed as if it was part of the tree itself.

The eyes were the first feature that he noted as they were filled with an unimagined terror, one that caused the dwarfs' heart to seize for a brief moment. What had they seen that could have caused such terror? Gimli thought in disbelief, unable to comprehend such horror. Directing his attention to the rest of the face he realised that something about the face looked familiar. The ears, they were pointed. This was once an elf, he thought in astonishment, an ancient elf from long ago. Had he been trapped in this tree for all this time? Just as Legolas is now. It was a thing that he would not wish on his worst enemy, let alone an elf who loved the woods, as much as the dwarf loved the deep caverns of his home.


Legolas had felt a stirring in the wood beside him and from the corner of his eye he watched as something pressed its way out from the bark. He saw his companions step back in horror as they took in what they had seen. After a brief moment of silence a sudden voice harshly rang out from the bark beside him, a voice that filled him with dread. "The elf is mine" it said. The voice spoke in several different tongues, each at the same time. Legolas was able to make out Quenya, Sindarin, as well as the common western tongue of men. "We will become one. I will be renewed and become strong once more" the tree continued.

The Elvish Prince unexpectedly felt a tingling sensation on the back of his head as if several small vines were slowly wrapping themselves around his hair. He tried to pull his head away from the tree but found that it was firmly held in place. Sensing movement below him, he looked down to see a vine creeping its way up his chest and towards his neck. An abrupt feeling made him shiver and he clamped his teeth together. He knew what the Elder oak was planning to do.

"Open up, Elf" the tree demanded as the vine reached his chin and crept towards his mouth. He pressed his lips together, knowing that in the end it would be useless.

"I will make you" said the tree angrily.

Legolas felt an intense pain radiate up from his lower left arm as it was squeezed by the oak. With a sickening crack Legolas, along with the rest of fellowship, heard the snapping of bones. His bow fell from his hand and a cry was torn from his lips.

As soon as his mouth opened, the vine shot into his mouth and down his throat. He immediately gagged as his throat tried to expel the foreign object. He coughed and spluttered. His breathing became rapid as he tried to gain more air into his lungs. The rough bark of the vine tore at his throat and the pain was unbearable. His body shook in agony and panic, as his mind screamed out for help. He tried to call out to his friends, to anyone, but he could make no sound with the vine down his throat. He could was unable to see where the other members of the fellowship were for his eyes were tightly shut and try as he might he could not get them to open.

Suddenly there was a commotion of noise all about him. He could feel wind against his skin and the entire oak began to move and twist, its bark tightening and loosening constantly around his body. Abruptly he felt hands seize his wrists and voices called out to him. He had no idea what was happening around him, all he could do was concentrate on trying to breath.