*After reading your reviews I've decided to make my story into 3 parts. At the end of this book I will write the title of another. Wait a minute, I actually can tell you. It will be "Shadows Of The Past" with The Two Towers content. ;)

Katzenlotte (hope I wrote it correctly) thank you for your another nice words, I appreciate it :) Don't worry, (spoiler) in my second story there will be some flashbacks of Legolas past and his first meeting with Aragorn, so you have to wait haha ;DI'm very very glad you still like my story. I was afraid that it will become boring because Aragorn and Legolas usually, if not only, talk about the same subject, but now I'm less worried :D And I totally get that english make this story better, I have the same with polish, really. That's why I've decided to write in English. ;)

So once again thank you for all your detailed reviews because I know what is good and what still need more working on. ;)

Oof, I think that's all what I wanted to tell you :)) Now, everyone, the chapter is waiting for you! :D

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

~~~ Chapter 13 ~~~

After they had come back to Lothlórien, everyone sat in the middle of their 'camp', smiling widely. They all felt peace, even Frodo, who was worried about their fate very much recently.

"Everyone, listen to me now." said Aragorn.

The Fellowship turned his attention to him.

"We are going tomorrow, we used too much kindness of Lady Galadriel, and the quest must move on."

"Why? We've been here only for three days!" asked disappointed Pippin.

"Yes, I know. But we need to move on. The Enemy knows about our presence here. We cannot risk the lives of elves of Lórien. Orcs may attack this realm as well as any other."

"But tomorrow? Can't we stay here even one day more?"

"I'm sorry, Pippin. But don't worry, if you enjoy your time here, we can come back when The Quest is completed."

"We can?"

"If you'd like to, of course." he smiled to the hobbit and continued. "We will go through Anduin. We'll take boats from the elves."

"Anduin? You mean.. a river? With water?" asked nervously Sam. He does not trust rivers, nor any water which is deeper than 10 centimetres.

"Don't be afraid Sam, you will not drown." smiled Frodo a little amused.

Sam looked at him and nodded not very sure.

"It's a long journey, so let's pack as much food as you can. I'm sure Lady Galadriel will help us with it."

Everyone agreed silently, listening to the ranger.

"Excuse me, may I interrupt?" asked the voice behind them.

They all turned away and saw Haldir with two other elves.

"Haldir! How are you?" asked Aragorn.

"Fine, thank you for asking. Anyway, I'm bringing a word from our Lady."

"We're listening."

"She wish you to join her in the evening. She has got some gifts for you." he smiled, his voice was very calm, so was the expression on his fair face.

"We will fulfill her wish then." he bowed with his head.

Haldir smiled and looked at the others.

"Rest until you can, here in our realm you are allowed to relax. Enjoy the rest of your day, and last hours of your stay." he bowed and looked at Gimli.

He was standing quietly, thinking of Lady Galadriel. She is such a beautiful, light and wise woman, how could he even think of her as of a witch?

Frodo sat under a bright tree and looked around for the last time before the evening. Will he ever come back here and see the beauty of elves? He couldn't tell, nor could Sam, amazed by the view so far.

"Estel, I think I will go speak to Haldir." said Legolas quietly and saw the ranger giving him a nod. "Want to go with me?"

"No, thank you my friend. I'd rather stay here and look after the others."

Legolas nodded lightly and walked away, wanting to catch up to Haldir.

"Haldir! Wait up!" he shouted but not so loudly.

The blonde, older elf turned around and smiled at the sight of the prince.

"Legolas, I knew you will come."

"Am I that predictable?" he smiled.

"Uh, sometimes. What brings you to me?" he smiled back.

They stopped, and the elf looked around quickly.

"I wanted to talk. You know, I want to say goodbye and.. everything." he whispered quietly.

Haldir agreed and saw a relief in his friend's eyes. He felt the archer hides something from him, but it was natural of his way of being, especially if they aren't very close friends like he is with Aragorn.

"You know? I've never thanked you for saving me that day." said Haldir smiling.

"Oh, no need to. I did what I should."

They smiled to each other. Some time ago, Haldir got into trouble, foolish men wanted to capture him and took into slavery.

~~o*o~~

He walked in the forest alone chasing the sound of shouting, Aragorn left behind with Elladan and Elrohir. He felt safe here, Woods Of Lórien are beautiful in every season.

He was admiring the view when his ears caught another shout for help. He looked around but didn't see anyone. The voice was soft but desperate. He knew it belongs to an elf. But what elf, he couldn't tell. He went after the voice, passing trees and bushes. When he came close enough to see who's the owner of the voice, he gasped in fear. He saw the blonde elf, tied up to a tree, and a group of people surrounding him, laughing at helpless being. He recognised Haldir in the fair elf. He hid behind a tree, and even his breath hasn't been heard.

"It's an important elf, I think." said one of men.

"Well, let's see how loud he can shout." another one laughed with contempt.

Saying this, he took a knife, and came up to the scared, but emotionless elf. Legolas quickly prepared himself to shoot. He released an arrow which landed precisely in the head of the human. And he fell dead.

"What the-"

Another arrow fired. And another precise shot. Other men started searching for the source, but he quickly climbed on the tree, where they had no chance to find him.

Haldir looked up and saw him, jumping from branch to branch quietly.

"Foolish people." he cursed under his nose in anger.

He jumped on the ground and drew out his daggers. People immediately noticed him and rushed at him with their knives. He was quicker, and without a word, he killed all of them as soon as they attacked him. He wasn't even tired at the end of the battle.

"What an irony, people considered themselves as this strong race, but when it comes to an end, they cannot even fight with honour." he said still angry at them.

He crouched next to Haldir and released him from tight ropes.

"Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion."

"Legolas vaer far, Haldir." he smiled and bowed. "Are you alright?" he looked at his bruise on the cheek.

"I'm fine. I thought a help will never come."

"What has happened?"

"I was walking on my patrol, and I heard odd sounds. Sounds of evil intruders. So I went check what is it, and then, one of them attacked me. They took me by surprise. I had no chance. Are you alone?"

"Aragorn, Elrohir and Elladan are with me. I would not risk to go for a walk at this time alone. But I heard you and rushed to help leaving them behind."

And now, they both heard leaves and steps, getting closer to them. They were ready for an attack, but he caught familiar voices.

"Legolas, where are you?" he heard Aragorn's shout.

"Over here! Come." he waved hand when he saw his friends.

"Legolas, please, never do that again. You know it may be dangerous." said Elladan. "Oh, good evening Haldir. What are you doing here now?"

"Welcome, my friends. I got into some trouble..." he admitted embarrassed.

"Trouble? You? Huh, you see now Legolas? Even a strong one as Haldir can get into trouble. Never. Do That. Again." said Aragorn.

"I'm sorry. But I had to. I would not be myself if I didn't check on what was worrying me, surely you know that."

"We know. You are lucky enough and nothing happened to you. But on th-"

"Legolas saved me." interrupted Haldir helping his kin to explain himself. He felt gazes of theirs upon him but ignoring them, he smiled, so does Legolas. "But you are here because..?"

"Oh, we wanted to relax, so we've decided to go to Lothlórien. It's always so peaceful here and we needed it." explained Elrohir.

"I assume that your father knows about it."

"Uh, yeah. I guess I told him... or did I forget?" asked Elladan, wondering if he really told Lord Elrond about their small journey.

Haldir only rolled his eyes and sighed quietly.

"Never mind. I will take you to our realm. Follow me until it is too dark to see anything."

Friends nodded and smiled lightly. Then, they all went to Lothlórien to take a rest.

~~o*o~~

"I still think I should do something for you. If not you, I would probably be now somewhere far away from here, serving as a slave of some foolish, hideous man." he smiled, but Legolas flinched as if he knew something about it.

Haldir didn't miss it but also didn't ask. Legolas wasn't a type of elf who talks about his past or even his feelings.

"I know you're hiding something from me." he whispered after a minute.

The elf looked at him with shock expression on his face.

"What? Why do you think so?"

"Because you act a little strange. And I can sense you, remember I'm an elf as well." he said but Legolas didn't respond, he was staring at him silently. "But that's okay, I won't be convincing you to tell me what it is. Just know you can trust me." he spoke breaking this silence.

"I know Haldir. I know..." his voice turned low and there was a hidden pain in it. But as Haldir said, he didn't try to let it out from him.

"How are Elladan and Elrohir, by the way?"

"They're good. At least, when we were in Rivendell, they were good. Although worried, but it's not something odd, actually."

"Right. I shall talk to them when I'm in Rivendell. I'll tell them that you and Aragorn greet them." he smiled and looked at the prince.

He smiled back and he saw in the corner of his eyes hobbits who were playing hide and seek in the distance. He sighed but smiled lightly, being happy they can use their, maybe, last peaceful days to relax themselves. He wished he could do that like them.

"Your small companions are very happy. Shouldn't they be rather terrified?"

"They should. But you know a lifestyle of hobbits. They are happy almost at all times. Especially Pippin and Merry. It's not like I criticise them, I'm pleased they can find some fun nowadays." he looked over his shoulder at laughing halflings. So did Haldir and they both chuckled.

"I should go back to them. I wouldn't want to keep you here, you surely have some duties, don't you?"

"I do have some. Well, it doesn't mean we cannot talk a little. But you're probably right. I should go back to my job, I believe I have to do patrol now with some guards. Remember about your meeting with Lady Galadriel tonight."

"Of course. Bye Haldir. Until next time, if it is next time." he bowed but not very low.

Haldir answered him and walked away as soon as Legolas closed his eyes. Then, he turned to his friends and came back to them.

He looked around to see Boromir and Aragorn talking, and Gimli looking in the distance, thinking about something, probably about Lady Galadriel who seemed to take away his heart and mind. Sam and Frodo were walking, and Merry was playing with Pippin. He smiled at the happy laugh of halflings, and came up to them, sitting opposite. When they noticed him, they stopped to talk.

"Legolas, do you want to leave Lothlórien and go risk your life?" asked Merry.

"What do you mean?" he looked at him questionably.

"You know, leave peaceful lands to go straight into Mordor where we can all die."

"If we don't go there, a peace will be disturbed also here. There will be no place to hide. No life. No memory." he whispered with low voice.

Merry looked at him, eyes widely open. Legolas turned his head away.

'Stupid elf, don't tell hobbits about death and loss.' he criticised himself in his mind.

"Merry, are you playing or not?" Pippin asked.

"N-No Pip. This game is boring. Let's go eat something."

"You know I can't say no." he smiled and Legolas chuckled quietly.

He looked around again, an evening was coming slowly. And when it came, everyone regrouped. Aragorn lead them to the coast of the river, where other elves were preparing boats for their tomorrow leaving. On the other side, there was standing Lady Galadriel. She smiled to them, and her bright light was almost white. Legolas heard Gimli's and hobbits' breathing faster than normal. But Boromir and Aragorn, although they looked terrified, seemed to take it easy.

"Come closer my friends." she spoke softly when they stopped. "I have something for you."

They glanced at each other but came a little closer. They stood in front of her when she spoke again. Elven maids behind her back.

"My gift for you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim. Worthy of the skill of our woodland kin." she said and gave him his new weapon which he admired in amazement.

His old bow from Mirkwood was also good, but not good enough any longer. Their quest requires more strength and skills. And better weapons.

She now came up to Merry and Pippin who got two daggers.

"These are the daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen service in war." she looked at Pippin. "Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage." she whispered and approached Sam "And for you, Samwise Gamgee, Elven rope made of hithlain."

"Thank you, my lady. Have you run out of those nice, shiny daggers?"

Galadriel only smiled and turned to Gimli but Legolas didn't listen anymore. He was admiring his bow, and happy faces of hobbits. Only Sam seemed to be not fully satisfied with his rope, but it is a very good rope. And it may help capture even much bigger beings than the hobbits are themselves.

He saw Aragorn talking with the Lady and turned his attention to boats. He wasn't sure if he wants to leave, but he knew he must protect Frodo and lands of Middle-Earth. It's a burden which lays on each of them. Without Gandalf, all is going to change. There will be no more wise as much as him people.

It was dark now. The full moon was shining, and stars were seeming to move like a waves of a stormy sea. Nobody dared to speak or even smile. The silence was torturing his elvish ears. He saw Haldir, doing his job, and Aragorn, looking at his sword. He approached him silently and sat next to him, under a tree, looking into distance. Crickets were doing concerts without a break, what made the atmosphere even more peaceful and mysterious. Legolas felt terrible, he was focused only on himself, and didn't even ask his best friend how he is feeling after the loss of Gandalf who was his friend as well.

T.B.C

Dictionary:

Mae govannen Legolas Thranduilion - Well met Legolas son of Thranduil

Legolas vaer far - Legolas is good enough