3/?: Interlude

            'Estel?'

            The voice of Haldir startled Aragorn from his quiet reverie; eyes fixated on the Elf prince darted now to the firm, cobalt blue eyes of the marchwarden of Lothlorien.

            'Legolas, son of Thranduil,' announced Haldir, bowing slightly in formal recognition of the prince. 'My lord told me you were here, but I did not see you at the ceremony. Your party was growing concerned.'

            Legolas avoided the other elf's gaze, but nodded, replying with the slightest movement of his lips, 'Yes, I sought some peace in the woods. Estel and I are searching for the twins. Do you know where we may find them?'

            Haldir nodded, not liking Legolas' distant behavior, but seeming to accept it anyway. 'Follow me; they are in counsel with the lady of the wood. I will take you to them.'

            Slowly, guests began to take their leave or otherwise retreat to sleep. The road was clear to Lady Galadriel's chambers when the four of them took it. Upon reaching their destination they came across a figure, standing in the dark.

[Rivendell, years ago]

            'Elrohir?'

            A heavy cloak was dropped onto his shoulders, wrapping him in sudden warmth. The youngest twin turned and embraced the Elven lord, allowing his body to collapse onto his for support.

            'I'm sorry, father,' he murmured into the soft material of the Lord of Rivendell's tunic.

            'There is nothing to be sorry for, my son.'

[Lothlorien, present]

'Estel.' Elrohir said, embracing his brother tightly.

'Why do you stay out here, Elrohir?' Aragorn asked concern etched in his handsome face.

'It is nothing; I just…had the sudden desire to be out with the stars. Lothlorien is even more beautiful at night,' the last words he directed to Haldir, who nodded and smiled in acknowledgement.

'You lie poorly,' said Legolas, emerging from the shadows like a parting of the heavens. He shone that brightly among them.

'My apologies, prince.'

For a moment, Elrohir wondered why the golden son of Thranduil was here, but he soon laughed at his stupidity. Of course he was here, Elrohir thought bitterly. Of course.

'Of what did Lady Galadriel speak to you of?' Haldir asked in a strained, polite manner.

            'She spoke of my mother.'

[Rivendell, years ago]

            'I failed her father. I.'

            Elrond pressed a long finger to the lips of his youngest son and held him all the more tightly.

            'If anyone failed, 'tis I who failed you and your brother. For I could not save you from this pain.'

            'Father.'

            'My sons, you and Elladan are my light, when all other lights go out. (4) And today, on this blackest of nights, the light of Rivendell burns brighter and fairer than ever.'

            'What will we do without her, father?'

            'We will live, my son. We shall rise in the morning and greet the sun. We shall descend to our chambers at night, full of the moon. Till the day we are called back to the Valor, we shall live.'

[Lothlorien, present]

            'What did she say of her?' Aragorn asked, trying to read the blank expression on Elrohir's face.

            Elrohir laughed. It made Aragorn happy to see the younger twin of Elrond laugh. His laughter erupted from his entire body as if he cared not what anyone thought of him. It was a splendid thing really.

            'Galadriel said that mother saw father and me in the gardens, crying. She said we looked like trees, clinging to each other against the wind.'

            Aragorn nodded, not understanding the deep meaning these words held for Elrohir, but glad to see his brother happy, as he had not been since they began their journey to Lothlorien.

            Uncharacteristically, Elrohir reached out and cupped his palm over Aragorn's cheek. 'Never forget the purpose for which you live, Estel. You are a light of Rivendell.'

            Aragorn nodded, slowly at first, before gaining strength in his resolve. Although he did not get his brother's meaning, he felt the love in his touch and was gladdened by it. The hand was removed and Elrohir stepped aside.

            'Elladan awaits,' he told a slightly confused Aragorn. Turning to Legolas, their eyes met. 'You should go.'

            The room was full of light and air as they stepped in. Elladan saw them first and came to embrace Aragorn as the lady Galadriel came to stand beside the elder of the twins.

            'It has been too long since I beheld your face, young one. What a fine young man you have become,' the sound of Galadriel's voice seemed to reverberate through the human male's head.

            Smiling, Aragorn took the lady's hand and kissed it lightly on the palm before bowing slightly. Galadriel nodded in acknowledgment to Haldir and then turned to Legolas, where her gaze lingered for a few short moments.

            'Ai, bright young star of Greenwood, what brings you here to me?'

            'I came with Estel, Lady Galadriel,' Legolas responded formally, bowing gracefully to the lady of the golden wood.

            To the younger elf's surprise, Galadriel placed a long, pale hand onto his head as he kneeled and stroked his hair.

            'Light of Greenwood, rise,' she commanded softly, offering Legolas her hand. He took it and rose. Without another word, she led the young prince away from her chambers and out into the open court.

            'My lady,' Legolas started, before Galadriel placed a jeweled finger onto his lips for silence. The two walked for some time till they reached a clearing in the palace where only a small, circular fountain rose from the ground.

            'You must see what once was, before you cast judgment on what is to be.'

            'I do not understand what is it you say.'

            Galadriel held a spouted jug in her hand and slowly poured water into the fountain. 'Look into my mirror and tell me what you see. Then we will speak of it.'

            Legolas closed the distance between him and the lady with three long strides and gazed into the reflection in the water.

4/?: Chiaroscuro

***

            Legolas opened his eyes, even though he did not remember closing them. He was surprised to find himself to be not only not in Galadriel's chamber, but not even in Lothlorien. No, he realized, he was in Greenwood. He remembered these trees, for they were older than he and were friends to him. He remembered the feel of the earth under his feet and the sound of the leaves as he crushed them. He was home.

            'Thranduil!'

            Legolas started. 'Father?' He asked no one, for he was alone. But how then, did he hear someone call for his king?

            The voice called out his father's name again. This time, however, a figure appeared behind him in the attire of an elfin warrior.

            'You should not be here, beloved.'

            Legolas spun around and there, before him, stood King Thranduil.

            'Father,' he cried out, but the king could neither see nor hear his would be son.

            'I heard of the uprising. It is true then? You will ride to war?' The other mysterious figure spoke.

            'Elrond and I do not agree on much. But to this I will assure you, Rivendell will not stand alone against this evil.'

The other figure turned away as if the words had caused her physical harm. 'I will not stand for it. I. I will go with you.'

'Nay,' Thranduil replied hastily, pulling the other elf closer to him. 'I go so that you may stay and bring hope to those here. I am sorry. I had hoped.' Thranduil, now, turned away. The smaller elf placed a pale hand atop the king's larger one. A small burst of wind then threw the hood off of the creature's cloak and Legolas's azure stare met an identical peaceful, blue gaze.

            'You had hoped to start our family long before such trials.'

            'I will return to you. I promise. Valor permit, I will return.'

            Legolas recoiled from the sight, a shiver racking his limbs. 'She was not there for your return, father.'

            The ground beneath the young prince crumbled and darkness consumed him.

[Lothlorien, present]

            'Where is Lady Galadriel taking Legolas?' Aragorn asked, looking from the faces of his brother and then back to Haldir.

            'Do not worry yourself, Estel. She will do him no harm.' Haldir reassured the human gently before politely making it known it was time for him to take his leave. Elrohir thanked him and soon the regal being had vanished into the night.

            'She will take him to see his future.' Elrohir told Aragorn, figuring the truth would appease the youth's fear and curiosity.

            'Is that what she showed you?' Aragorn asked, directing his questions to Elladan, who had not spoken a word to him since Legolas left.

            'She showed me many things, Estel. I do not pretend to know what all of it means. The future is always very unclear.'

***

            Legolas began to stir. His limbs protested his current position and slowly, he began to rise.

            'Mother? Father?' he called out weakly, but no one replied. Ignoring the agony in his legs, he rose to his feet and made his first steps away from where he had laid on the floor.

            'My lady! You should not be up!'

            Open your eyes, Legolas, the voice of Lady Galadriel filled his head.

            'It is too horrible,' he whispered. 'I will lose her…like I will lose them all. The future is too terrible. Send me home.'

            Again the voice commanded him to open his eyes.

            So he did.

            'My son grows anxious. Has the messenger left for Rivendell?'

            'Mother.'

            None heard him.

'This morning, my lady.'

            Nodding, the queen of Mirkwood impatiently waved off their attention and returned to her chambers, a bundle still in her arms. Whispers filled the empty hall.

            'Word has been sent to the king about the child.'

            'What will he say of it? Surely the child could not be his; the king rode into war long before the queen exhibited signs of pregnancy.'

            'What child is this?'

            'Legolas. The child is called Legolas. Now be gone, all of you, the queen will not be as lenient as I should she hear you speak such foolish words of the prince.'

[Rivendell, years ago]

            'Father, surely we cannot let the child stay here.' Elrohir told the lord of Rivendell, waving the guards away and following Elrond into his private chambers where, as Glorfindel had said, the human child laid asleep on the bed.

            The two were startled slightly to hear the door click shut yet again. Turning, Elrohir spotted the dark figure of his elder brother standing by the door, as poised and regal as ever, a serious expression on his face.

            'She has delivered to us the Dark Lord's son,' spoke Elladan softly. Elrohir was startled by the older twin's quiet statement.

            'She was the queen of the great kingdom of man?' Elrohir asked. Elladan nodded in affirmation. The younger twin was speechless as Elladan walked up and kneeled beside the human infant, stroking his father's arm soothingly.

            'He will be a handsome man.' Elrond spoke with the slight movement of his lips.

            Elladan inspected the scrunched up, red and round face of the infant, his gaze stopped as dark grey eyes sprung open.

            'You have seen it?'

            'Yes.'

            Elladan turned to his father, not concealing the concern he was feeling.

            'What else have you foreseen?'

            Elrond did not answer immediately; he said nothing for a while. Elves were far more comfortable with silence than men. To humans silence was equivalent to death, painful and intolerable. Elves, however, often went hours or even days without speaking, letting their actions speak for them. The twins merely waited in silence till their father was ready to speak.

            When he did, his words filled the small chamber with his gentle assertion and sent shivers through the twins. 'We shall call him 'Estel(5)' and put all sorrow and anger beside us. For there may still be hope.'

***

            'Estel! Elladan! Elrohir!' Legolas cried into the darkness. He was cold. Very cold. He could not remember ever feeling such cold. It was an unearthly chill.  He walked on, uncertain of where he was.

            'To judge what must be, you must first see what once was,' Legolas repeated Galadriel's words. 'I am. I am in Rivendell,' he realized and as soon as he spoke his words, he was.

            'My lord!'

            Glorfindel, the beautiful, ancient elf that served as the loyal servant of Elrond's, turned to face the young messenger.

            'What is it Adelar?' asked him, patiently.

            'There is a human woman at the gates demanding entrance. She says she must see Lord Elrond. What shall I do?'

            'Turn her away,' Glorfindel replied, no malice in his voice, merely plain resolve. 'Humans are not allowed in Rivendell, you know this.'

            The messenger did not leave, seemingly grappling with the lord's orders. Glorfindel raised a curious eyebrow that wordlessly asked the elf to explain himself.

            'My lord, the woman…she is…heavy with child.'

            'I see,' Glorfindel spoke quietly, trying to assess the situation. 'Go to Lord Elrond, tell him of the situation and,' he paused a moment before continuing with a wary tone, 'make haste to bring the lady to one of the empty guest chambers.'

            The younger elf nodded and nimbly sped off to do as he was told.

            Legolas stood from afar, seeing and hearing all, but took no part in what was happening.

            'That is you, Estel? Your mother was pretty. You have her face. She was very pretty. I see what was. Tell me now, what is to be?'

            In answer to his question, the scene shifted yet again.

[Lothlorien, present]

            'Speak to me of your mother,' Aragorn asked his brothers, holding Elladan's hand apprehensively as Elrohir walked beside him. It was silly of him, he knew, but he felt better when he held Elladan and right now he was fearful for Legolas, though he did not know entirely why.

            'She was strong and brave. I don't think she ever had any fear for herself, only for father and us and our people.'

            'Very much like your own mother, Estel,' Elrohir said quietly, not even looking at Aragorn's direction. 'Perhaps in another time, they could have been close friends.'

He smiled at that. 'Perhaps so.'

***

            The earth smelled of blood and toil and tears. But mostly, Legolas smelled the musty stench of death. There was a terrible scream, the sound carrying through the thick forest trees of his ancestors. It was his own.

            Around him strange, dark creatures rose from the earth. Legolas watched in morbid fascination and was appalled when he realized how much the strange creatures resembled Elves with their pointed ears and large stature. But that was where the comparisons ended, for the faces of these beings were twisted with hatred and menace. Where the light and hope of Middle Earth shone from Legolas, these beings exuded darkness and emptiness. Legolas forced his eyes away and ran in the direction from which he had heard the cry.

            It grew dark around him and his legs were heavy.

            'The future is very unclear,' Elladan had told the others.

            Blood. He could smell it on him, on his hands and body.

            'Estel?' He roared into the dark. No reply. He hadn't really expected one.

            There was silence.

Silence before-

Images flooded his head. Men wearing dark hoods riding beasts, such hatred and greed in their hearts. Parts of Rivendell in ruins, trampled by the dark creatures he had seen before. Estel, smears of blood on his cheek and an unreadable expression on his wary, handsome face. Elladan and Elrohir joining hands and singing songs of sorrow. His father and the elves of Mirkwood sailing to the Valinor.

Legolas opened his eyes once more. He stood before Galadriel's mirror, looking down into his depths. This time all he could see was his own reflection, seemingly mocking him in the still waters.

            Blinking rapidly, as if he had just awoken from some damnable dream, Legolas immediately recoiled. The two figures stood in the dark and in silence for what slipped by like hours.

            'Estel will destroy me and bring darkness to all of Middle Earth.' The words hurt him, deeply, even though they were his own, for he loved Estel in ways he had yet to fully comprehend. But he could not win out against the darkness that daily grew inside him.

            To Legolas's surprise, Galadriel did not respond to his words. She seemed to almost not to have heard them.

            'Is that what you saw?' she asked after a moment, her features betraying no emotion whatsoever.

            'I do not know what I saw,' Legolas admitted. 'I know now for certain my fate and Estel's are entwined. But I do not know why. Tell me, my lady, tell me that is not how it all ends for me, for our people,' Legolas cried desperately, his strength of will waning slightly.

            Galadriel looked upon him kindly. Her golden hair hanging limply around her shoulders made her appear almost young and childlike, but her eyes shined with the wisdom of one who has seen great civilizations build up and crumble.

            'I cannot, dear one. The fate of Middle Earth rests with you now. Do not let your will waver, Legolas son of Thranduil, prince of Greenwood the Great, the light of Middle Earth. You must be strong now, for the sake of us all, your will must hold out.'

5/?: Evenstar

            'It has been far too long, I want to see him,' Aragorn told his brothers and before either could reply, he was gone.

            He maneuvered around the large edifice constructed around trees easily enough, but without knowing where exactly Legolas was, he had to settle for entering chamber upon chamber.

            In one an illustrious light shone through the windows, quietly, Aragorn entered.

            'Legolas?'

            'There is no one here by that name,' a female voice answered. A small, dark haired figure rose from a chair. Her face was sweet, although a little plain, but still very beautiful. Her figure was small and slim, yet she exuded inner strength and grace.

            'I. I am sorry to disturb you, my lady,' Aragorn said as he moved to depart.

            'Wait. Tell me your name,' she asked kindly with small smile.

            'I am Estel. Foster son of Lord Elrond of Rivendell.'

             'It is as I thought,' whispered she in reply.

            'I do not understand,' Aragorn told her, confusion in his dark grey eyes.

            Again, she looked kindly upon him and smiled marvelously. 'Lord Elrond of Rivendell is my father. I am Arwen.'

***

            'What did you see, light of Greenwood, within the depths of Galadriel's mirror?' Elrohir pressed kindly, he simply wanted to know.

            Legolas shook his head to clear it. 'I saw many things, sons of Elrond. I saw hope and light, but also death, terror and evil.'

            'It is not a contest between you and him.' Elladan spoke in an uncharacteristically shaky voice, 'You and Estel each have your own destiny and where they meet…that is your love for him and his love for you.'

            Somehow, Legolas knew it would have been pointless for him to deny anything Elladan said, so he chose to remain silent, watchful eyes turned towards the stars and the clear night.

***

            'I have heard that in times of danger, men often hide their treasures, but long as I have lived in Rivendell neither your brothers nor your father have ever spoken of you. (6)' Aragorn whispered in awe.

            'I have spent many years in Lothlorien, the birthplace of my mother. When I return with you to, it will be the first time in very long since I have walked the streets of Rivendell.'

            'You will return to Rivendell with us,' Aragorn asked.

            'Those are the words I spoke, you need not repeat them to me,' Arwen came to him then, touching his cheek gently with her fingers. 'You are a strange creature, Estel. Perhaps in time I will grow to understand you.'

            Aragorn nodded, not knowing why he had the sudden feeling that those times were soon to come.

            They rode to Rivendell at daybreak.