- 40 years later-

Legolas paced back and forth across the room. The air in the forest was filled with foreboding. Even the walls of the halls of his father, which had always taught him protection, gave him at this moment no sense of security. Whatever would happen, would be far more terrible than Legolas dared to think. Was it time? Would Lord Elrond's prediction come true? Everyone in the palace felt it. It was now much quieter in the halls of the woodland realm. The Elves knew that a disaster was coming. But none of them could name it. Legolas gazed over to his balcony and he walked over and closed the door. He could not bear the feeling which oppressed him no longer. Something wicked stirred in the north. Legolas turned around when his door opened abruptly. Miron and Mithrileth entered his chamber.

"Ada is in the council chamber with his advisors," said Míron.

"Even if he comes out, he will still not tell us what's going on," added Mithrileth with slight bitterness.

Legolas looked at his siblings, which now stood before him. Míron and Mithrileth were a little more than fifty years old. Like any other elf, they felt the oppressive energy and could not really understand what it meant and what dangers it brought. They lacked the experience and Legolas was grateful that they did. When he was at their age, he already knew the meaning of this energy. At least his siblings were at an age when they could deal with their emotions. Fear was something Legolas had learned early in his life. It had accompanied him for a long time. But there had also been a benefit. It had made him a gifted fighter.

Fear had impelled Legolas to train. He had had a natural interest, but the driving force to start to train in such a young age, had been fear. Legolas did not want that his siblings would be motivated for the same reasons. But he could not change anything about this situation. The time had come, Legolas was certain.

Mithrileth and Míron looked at Legolas and waited. It was clear that their older brother was lost in his thoughts. They weren't happy thoughts, but Míron and Mithrileth were not sure, if Legolas thought of the current situation, or about something else.

As none of them would be willing to sit down, Legolas did not even offer them a seat. "Ada advises about the situation. He is not sure what will happen, but he has a suspicion, as I do," Legolas said, his voice quiet but filled with concern.

"What are your suspicions," asked Míron.

"First of all, you shall not know that what we feel is an ill foreboding. We elves can feel it, other races in Middle-earth, however don't. The disaster is already in the atmosphere and reaches us first, in the form of this unpleasant feeling which we can not shake off. It depresses our fea, it feels as if it would suffocate us. It will not stop until it's over."

"Until what is over," Mithrileth asked impatiently.

"You have not answered my question, what your assumptions are," interjected Míron and looked expectantly at Legolas.

"One thing at a time," said Legolas. "First, it is important that you understand why you feel that way. If you learn to understand and follow your inner feeling, it shall later be very helpful. If I'm out on patrol, I sense the danger before I see it. Long before we see the danger, we can already perceive it with our senses. Someday you will be trained, to do so. The strength of the elves lies not only in their bows, or their talent to fight. We know in advance if a danger manifests itself and are therefore usually prepared when a danger ultimately occurs."

"This means that nobody but us knows that something bad will happen," said Míron.

Legolas looked through the window into the distance. "Yes, so it will be. The disaster will strike suddenly and claim many lives."

"Then we should warn them," said Mithrileth and took a step toward Legolas. "Why does Ada sit so long in his council chamber? He should be out there already," she said, gesturing with her hand toward the balcony.

Legolas gave his sister a little smile. "We have alliances with Dale and Esgaroth. Ada will help them. But he is the King and has a lot of responsibility. He can not just walk out of the gates and help others. He must leave his halls, knowing, that we will be prepared in any case. Precautions must be taken. When Ada will leave these halls, he will go with his army. Not to fight, but to warn them. But he will not hesitate to help them when necessary. Therefore he rides with the army, which is already gathered at the gates."

"Why didn't he sent a messenger," said Míron thoughtfully.

"Swift deeds never lead to something good," replied Legolas. "You can do great damage. Your father is very old and wise. He knows what he does and why he does it."

"Why are you not at the meeting," asked Mithrileth.

"I have taken part in countless such meetings. I know what they talk about. I'm glad that I don't have to be there. I belong in the forest, not at a council table," said the prince. Legolas fell silent, as he thought about how he could explain the situation to his siblings.

"You have already learned a lot about Middle-earth and its people. Where is the weakness of the dwarves," asked Legolas, as he directed his gaze toward Erebor.

"In gold," replied Míron and Mithrileth in unison.

Legoals nodded, "The dwarves have accumulated in their greed vast amounts of gold in Erebor. What harm can gold bring them?"

"Gold disease," replied Míron and frowned.

"And Dragons," added Mithrileth almost inaudibly.

Legolas nodded, "Now I ask you, what do you think, which of the two calamities can we sense?"

Mithrileth and Míron looked at each other in horror, unwilling to answer the question of their brother.

The lack of response confirmed Legolas' presumption that his siblings had understood. He turned to them. Both were pale and looked at him with concern. "Ada has repeatedly warned Thror that his greed for gold would destroy him and his race. I'm afraid," said Legoals and looked back toward Erebor, "That we are dealing with a dragon. Ada has the same presumption."

"What do we do now," asked Míron, who was now standing at Legolas' side.

Legolas put his hand on Míron's shoulder while he still kept looking to Erebor. "Once the meeting is over, we will ride to Dale. The army is ready. They're just waiting for Ada's command."

He now turned to Mithrileth which still looked deeply concerned. "I want that both of you care for your mother. Ada would want the same. Your Naneth will not only have to worry about you, but also about your father. I will take care of our Ada. Be strong. You will see that we will return."

Míron hugged Legolas and Mithreth joined their embrace. She clung onto her elder brother, as if she was drowning in the sea. When Legolas ended their embrace, he gently patted her silvery hair.

"I'm going to talk to your mother," said Legolas, before he left his chamber.

Mithrileth breathed deeply as Míron put his arm around her shoulder. "Dimaethor says Ada has once fought against dragons. He will certainly come back."

"I hope you are right," she said, before she turned her worried gaze toward her brother.

"Let's go to my chamber," said Míron. "We will stay there and wait for their return."

Mithrileth nodded and together they left Legolas' chamber.

Legolas checked whether the council meeting still took place. When he saw guards at the doors of the council chamber, he turned and walked quickly toward the chamber of his father.

Baineth startled when the door suddenly opened and Legolas walked in.

"Forgive me," said the prince, when he saw Baineth's frightened face. "I did not want to waste time with knocking," apologized Legolas his unannounced appearance.

Baineth stood up and approached him, while Legolas closed the door.

"Did something happen," Baineth asked anxiously, "You're excited."

Legolas nodded and walked with her to the settee, which stood next to the fireplace. They sat down and the prince looked around the chamber before he looked at Baineth. Like her children, Baineth had never experienced the oppressive time of fate.

"Ada is still in the meeting and I wanted to take this opportunity to talk to you," the prince explained his sudden appearance. "He is riding to Dale to warn the people. Do you remember that he went a few times to Erebor, to warn the Dwarves?"

Baineth nodded and looked at him with great concern. "Will he warn them of the danger which is sticking to the air that we breathe," she asked cautiously.

Legolas nodded, "I'm afraid that it is so. I can not think of anything else, but that the greed of the dwarves, will now bring their doom, and that of many other innocent souls."

She glanced fearfully over to the window, "What exactly are you talking about," she said. "Erebor is a fortress, which can impossibly be taken by an enemy."

"That's true," said Legolas. "But for a dragon, the stony walls of Erebor are no more than a wooden fence, through which he will break through without difficulty."

Baineth looked worried to the floor. "Why didn't they listen to Thranduil. He has repeatedly warned them," she said with audible bitterness. She thought of the many people in Dale and the Dwarves of which certainly many would find death. Thranduil had often talked to her about it and she always tried to calm him down. She had always hoped that the suspicions of her husband would be wrong. It was hard to accept that reality looked exactly like her husband had said. The fact that Thranduil had been right, did not bother her. Baineth feared the doom, that was to come.

She looked Legolas questioningly. "When," she asked softly.

Legolas, who could hear the deep concern in her voice, pitied Baineth. "I think it is going to happen today," said the prince.

Baineth shuddered. Thranduil had fought a long time ago dragons, in the north, from where now the unusually hot wind blew. He had shown her ..

Both were startled when the door opened abruptly. Thranduil came into the chamber and looked at Baineth and Legolas silently.

"I ride to Dale," he said in a flat voice as he looked at his son expressionless.

To Legolas surprise, his father was already dressed in his armor.

Baineth stood up and walked toward her husband. She hugged him and held him while anxiety slowly spread in her. Thranduil kissed the top of her head and his eyes fell on his son, who was busy, lacing his uniform tighter.

"Legolas, you stay here," he said with a tone that brooked no contradiction.

The prince looked at his father in disbelief and was initially speechless. Then walked toward him.

"You leave me here," he asked. "You do not know what awaits you there," said Legolas.

Thranduil looked Legolas blankly, "A dragon," he said flatly.

"I need you here more than in Dale," he said in a voice in which was now filled with concern. "You know the secret passages better than anyone else. If that beast should come here, you have to ensure that no one is left behind."

Legolas felt a lump in his throat and nodded silently. He had not expected for a moment so that his father would leave him behind. But then it made sense that he remained in the woodland halls.

Thranduil kissed Baineth once again and broke their embrace slowly.

"I'll come back," he said.

Baineth nodded silently, unable to respond. With a heavy heart she watched as her husband left the chamber. Long she stood there and did not dare to move.

"He will come back," said Legolas, breaking the eerie silence between them. "He will come back and he will be well."

"How do you know that," asked Baineth with audible concern, as she thought of the scars on Thranduil's face and body, which he had shown her not too long ago. "I saw the scars," she said softly.

"At that time my father was alone. At that time he has risked everything. He now knows what and whom he protects. He knows that he can only protect you if he lives. He will not risk anything that might cost you your husband, or Míron and Mithrileth their father."

"Nevertheless, he leaves you behind," she replied as she turned to him.

There was nothing that the prince could respond. She knew her husband too well.

A few hours after Thranduil had left the palace, the bells of Dale rang. Legolas, who had been sitting with Baineth on the settee, stood up and walked slowly to the window. There in the distance, he saw the beast in the air. Fire flared from its foul jaws and the prince knew that his father would not reach Dale in time. Baineth grabbed Legolas' arm and gasped when she saw the waves of fire which the dragon rained on Dale, which was hidden from their views by the treetops. Legolas pushed her aside and closed the curtains.

"You should not witness that," he said. "Go to the lowest level and find Miron and Mithrileth on the way. Wait there until you get other instructions."

Baineth nodded silently and was startled when someone knocked on the door. Galion entered the chamber, his pale face filled with concern.

"My prince, we have stationed guards in the highest chamber."

Legolas nodded, "I myself will go there. If the dragon should fly in our direction, I will give the signal to evacuate."

Galion nodded and Legolas left the chamber shortly before Baineth, which went down the hall to find her children.

The hours passed with agonizing slowness. Baineth spent the whole day in the lowest levels of the palace, along with other ellith and their children. She worried about Thranduil. Baineth felt his concern and it calmed her, she could feel her husband, that meant he was alive.

When Thranduil returned, Legolas knew already, that the dragon had entered Erebor.

"Close the gates," commanded Thranduil, when the last elf of his army hat entered his halls." No one will enter this kingdom and no one leaves it."

Legolas stopped abruptly and stared at his father desperately. 'So it has begun', thought Legoals as he watched his father, who approached him.

"To my council chamber," Thranduil told his son while he walked past him.

Legolas grabbed his father's arm and stopped him. "Ada, with such an enemy at your doorstep, you should not make more enemies," said the prince pleadingly.

Thranduil looked at Legolas, his jaw tense, "The serpent was already in Erebor when we arrived," Thranduil said. "There was nothing we could have done. Dale has been laid in ruins. There are few survivors. A part of my army stayed behind to help the wounded. They will be brought to Esagroth. More I can not do."

"What's with the dwarves," asked Baineth, which approached them. "Who will help them?"

Thranduil furrowed his brow and turned to Baineth which already stood beside him.

"What about them? Those who have survived will have to find a new home," he said coldly.

"There are injured among them, Dwarrow dams and their children. You want to let them go into the wilderness," Baineth asked incredulously as she put her hands on her hips.

Thranduil's nostrils flared and he glanced angrily at Baineth.

Legolas stepped back to observe the situation from a distance. He was relieved that Baineth had come. The prince did not particularly like the dwarves, but he would not close the doors to them, if they needed assistance in their time of need. But this was not up to him to decide. He hoped that the darkness would not find its way into his father's heart. Baineth spoke with Tranduil in a hushed voice and Legolas tried to understand, what direction their conversation was heading.

"My king."

Thranduil looked at the guard, who had approached him.

"Dwarfs, they will be here in less than an hour."

Legolas looked at his father gloomily and anticipated his decision.

The king stared his queen constantly and an eternity seemed to pass before he spoke.

Thranduil wanted no dwarves in his halls. Especially not those, which had again and again ignored and ridiculed his warnings. "Well," said Thranduil dryly while he looked at Baineth stubbornly. "Inform Galion that his presence is required immediately. Let them come," he said with a contemptuous voice before he turned and left.

Baineth looked her husband and was startled when she felt Legolas' hand on her shoulder.

"He will calm down," assured the prince.

Baineth nodded and sighed. Then she followed her husband slowly.

Smaug had come, but Legolas could not shake off the uneasy feeling that this was not the end. The darkness festered in Middle-earth and Smaug was only the beginning. A growing darkness had settled not only in Mirkwood, but threatened also other parts of Middle-earth. Legolas hoped that the arrival of the dwarves would be peaceful and that his father would hold back when it came to negotiate with them. He knew what his father wanted. The dwarves should not return to Erebor. But dwarves were stubborn and suffered from an insatiable greed for gold. Who could say whose fate might be affected by the visit of the dwarfs. It was in Legolas' interest that the dwarves would go far away. His father certainly shared Legolas' interest. Only the king had a different motivation than the prince. The question was, would his father be able to convince Thror, to give up his home with all the gold that lay deep within it?

Slowly Legolas walked further into the halls and thought of Tauriel and the fate which he tried to avert. He hoped that his father would be successful. Even if Thror would give in, that would not mean that the danger was finally averted. Tauriel was immortal and Legolas had no idea when the dwarf, of which Lord Elrond had spoken would appear in the woodland realm. Perhaps he had been born already. Was he one of the dwarfs, which would enter the halls of his father tonight? Or would he take birth in the future? Anyway, it was best that Tauriel would stay away as far as possible, thought Legolas, while he approached the chambers of his siblings. At least he could try to change her fate. What the Valar would allow to happen, would be no longer in his hands.

A/N:

I'm sorry that it took so long to publish this chapter. I have never abandoned a story and I am not going to do it. Unfortunately I have numerous personal problems, because of which, I have to concentrate on the basics in life.

I've changed my mind and the tags. You'll get Legolas/Tauriel stuff in this story as well ;)