A/N: This Chapter will move extremely fast and seem almost as if I wrote it
in five minutes. The other chapters are much more detailed than the first
though. I promise you it gets much better. I'm sorry, I may change it later
if need be.
ALSO-Please note that Halin (Appears in 2nd chapter) is my own character. Not Tolkein's. Please do not use him assuming he's his. I've had people do so mistaking him as Haldir. So please, do not do so.
It was well past nightfall in the land of Mirkwood. The night was peaceful and quiet as the people among it lay deep in slumber. All except one.
Legolas lay awake as he's done many nights. It's been a long time since he's had a good night's sleep. Twenty years to be exact. For it had been twenty years since the Great Battle between man and elf.
The battle, known as the Battle of the Wilderlands, marked both a great victory and at the same time a great loss. For even though the elves were victorious in the end, they also suffered the loss of a prized warrior and princess, the fair Lorelein. Legolas remembered it like it was yesterday:
"Legolas! Come! Lorelein needs you and your men!" a fellow elf called after him. Turning in pursuit, he followed as fast as his horses hooves would carry.
"There, up ahead!"
With his sword held high, he led his troops straight toward the crowd of mortal warriors surrounding the fair lady. As they rushed forward, the circle that had imprisoned Lorelein moments before was broken and while many were distracted by the sudden elven intrusion, Legolas managed to yell a short order to the Princess.
"Flee! Now, while you have the chance!"
But she ignored his command and continued her battle. She was a brave and courageous warrior and refused to run like a coward and force her people to fight on their own.
Aside Arwen of Rivendell and Legolas of Mirkwood, she led her people onward toward victory. But the men knew she was a threat and acted quickly. They crowded her from all sides, cornering her. With a swing of a sword, the leader of the human army sent Lorelein's horse rearing upward, throwing her violently down onto the rocky mountain ground below. Just as Legolas made his way toward them, the enemy swiftly pulled up the now limp princess and carried her off toward their homeland. Legolas followed quickly in pursuit but the men separated into two groups making it impossible to determine which way her true captives went.
Still, Legolas was determined. He randomly chose a direction and galloped onward to catch up with the enemy.
But a rising suspicion grew in one of the men's mind. As nonchalantly as possible, he dropped back until he was behind the last rider of his group. Carefully and slowly he turned his head back just enough to peer behind him. It was then that he heard the faint sound of horses hooves in the underbrush.
Stopping, he waited paitently for their follower to give himself away.
Legolas, knowing the man would have no intention of moving on without seeing him, sighed before stepping out of his hiding place.
"So you show yourself? You aren't as cowardly as I assumed."
Legolas just glared.
"You may be a warrior but you don't use your head. While you sit on your horse and stare fiercely at me your lady friend is on her way to our kind. I would not be surprised if they kill her with the way things are between our people and your own."
"Fool!" Legolas yelled. "Surely you are aware that our people number greater than yours. A murder of a princess will enrage the Elven race. If you feel the need to take a life of Elven Royalty, your people will suffer the loss of your king! That's a promise!"
And with that he turned and went in search of Arwen. Lorelein was one of their greatest allies and even though her homeland was unknown, she was undoubtedly of Elven Royalty. And one of such cannot be abandoned.
"Legolas!" a voice rang out, echoing loudly off the stone walls.
"What is it that is so important you must run and yell like a madman to my room for?" Legolas asked the messenger, annoyed by the sudden outburst.
"I have word from your father. He has spoken to the people of the Valleys. They seek help from our warriors to free their Princess."
"And what part do I have in such business? I am no 'Knight in Shining Armor'. My job is not to rescue strange princesses from other lands. I have enough work to do with my own people."
"But sir, you owe them at least enough to consider helping." protested the messenger.
"And why is that?"
"They fought beside you and the Elves of Rivendell in the Battle of the Wilderlands. Surely you remember. If it wasn't for Lorelein, we might not have one such a fight. She and her troops defeated many."
"Lorelein was of the Valleys?" Legolas sat up.
"Yessir. And she still is. I bring word that she lives."
"How do they know she's still alive? We sent our best spies out not long after her capture. They returned with word of her death. Are you saying that our people were mistaken?" his voice rose slightly.
"No sir. Not necessarily. Maybe fooled?"
Legolas fell silent. That battle had haunted him for years. He had always thought of himself as partially responsible for her death And now he is told that she lives?
"How?"
"Well sir, when the enemy spoke of her death, it could have been to fool-"
"No, no. How are they positive she is alive?"
"They have seen her in the courtyard of the Mortal's castle."
"Are they sure it's her? What use is an elf to the men if they are not using her as a hostage?"
"I don't know, sir. But they are sure it's Lady Lorelein."
Legolas, still taking all of this in, sat quietly on his bed.
"Prince?"
He looked up at the messenger without speaking.
"I need a decision."
"Can I not have time to decide?"
"I'm afraid not, sir."
There was a long pause between the two while Legolas struggled with a decision. The messenger was correct. He did owe the Valley his service. But to face a lost warrior? Surely she would find him at fault. After all, his attempt to aid her was short. There was never an Elven warrior known in the Wilderland Battle to have returned after capture.
Yet eventually his conscience took over. Looking up at the young elf in front of him, he made his reply.
"Send word out immediately. I'll begin my journey at sunrise. If all goes well then I will return in two months. Now go! I must rest, daybreak seems all too near and I have a long journey ahead of me."
And with that, Legolas layed back down and fell into a short, but peaceful, sleep.
ALSO-Please note that Halin (Appears in 2nd chapter) is my own character. Not Tolkein's. Please do not use him assuming he's his. I've had people do so mistaking him as Haldir. So please, do not do so.
It was well past nightfall in the land of Mirkwood. The night was peaceful and quiet as the people among it lay deep in slumber. All except one.
Legolas lay awake as he's done many nights. It's been a long time since he's had a good night's sleep. Twenty years to be exact. For it had been twenty years since the Great Battle between man and elf.
The battle, known as the Battle of the Wilderlands, marked both a great victory and at the same time a great loss. For even though the elves were victorious in the end, they also suffered the loss of a prized warrior and princess, the fair Lorelein. Legolas remembered it like it was yesterday:
"Legolas! Come! Lorelein needs you and your men!" a fellow elf called after him. Turning in pursuit, he followed as fast as his horses hooves would carry.
"There, up ahead!"
With his sword held high, he led his troops straight toward the crowd of mortal warriors surrounding the fair lady. As they rushed forward, the circle that had imprisoned Lorelein moments before was broken and while many were distracted by the sudden elven intrusion, Legolas managed to yell a short order to the Princess.
"Flee! Now, while you have the chance!"
But she ignored his command and continued her battle. She was a brave and courageous warrior and refused to run like a coward and force her people to fight on their own.
Aside Arwen of Rivendell and Legolas of Mirkwood, she led her people onward toward victory. But the men knew she was a threat and acted quickly. They crowded her from all sides, cornering her. With a swing of a sword, the leader of the human army sent Lorelein's horse rearing upward, throwing her violently down onto the rocky mountain ground below. Just as Legolas made his way toward them, the enemy swiftly pulled up the now limp princess and carried her off toward their homeland. Legolas followed quickly in pursuit but the men separated into two groups making it impossible to determine which way her true captives went.
Still, Legolas was determined. He randomly chose a direction and galloped onward to catch up with the enemy.
But a rising suspicion grew in one of the men's mind. As nonchalantly as possible, he dropped back until he was behind the last rider of his group. Carefully and slowly he turned his head back just enough to peer behind him. It was then that he heard the faint sound of horses hooves in the underbrush.
Stopping, he waited paitently for their follower to give himself away.
Legolas, knowing the man would have no intention of moving on without seeing him, sighed before stepping out of his hiding place.
"So you show yourself? You aren't as cowardly as I assumed."
Legolas just glared.
"You may be a warrior but you don't use your head. While you sit on your horse and stare fiercely at me your lady friend is on her way to our kind. I would not be surprised if they kill her with the way things are between our people and your own."
"Fool!" Legolas yelled. "Surely you are aware that our people number greater than yours. A murder of a princess will enrage the Elven race. If you feel the need to take a life of Elven Royalty, your people will suffer the loss of your king! That's a promise!"
And with that he turned and went in search of Arwen. Lorelein was one of their greatest allies and even though her homeland was unknown, she was undoubtedly of Elven Royalty. And one of such cannot be abandoned.
"Legolas!" a voice rang out, echoing loudly off the stone walls.
"What is it that is so important you must run and yell like a madman to my room for?" Legolas asked the messenger, annoyed by the sudden outburst.
"I have word from your father. He has spoken to the people of the Valleys. They seek help from our warriors to free their Princess."
"And what part do I have in such business? I am no 'Knight in Shining Armor'. My job is not to rescue strange princesses from other lands. I have enough work to do with my own people."
"But sir, you owe them at least enough to consider helping." protested the messenger.
"And why is that?"
"They fought beside you and the Elves of Rivendell in the Battle of the Wilderlands. Surely you remember. If it wasn't for Lorelein, we might not have one such a fight. She and her troops defeated many."
"Lorelein was of the Valleys?" Legolas sat up.
"Yessir. And she still is. I bring word that she lives."
"How do they know she's still alive? We sent our best spies out not long after her capture. They returned with word of her death. Are you saying that our people were mistaken?" his voice rose slightly.
"No sir. Not necessarily. Maybe fooled?"
Legolas fell silent. That battle had haunted him for years. He had always thought of himself as partially responsible for her death And now he is told that she lives?
"How?"
"Well sir, when the enemy spoke of her death, it could have been to fool-"
"No, no. How are they positive she is alive?"
"They have seen her in the courtyard of the Mortal's castle."
"Are they sure it's her? What use is an elf to the men if they are not using her as a hostage?"
"I don't know, sir. But they are sure it's Lady Lorelein."
Legolas, still taking all of this in, sat quietly on his bed.
"Prince?"
He looked up at the messenger without speaking.
"I need a decision."
"Can I not have time to decide?"
"I'm afraid not, sir."
There was a long pause between the two while Legolas struggled with a decision. The messenger was correct. He did owe the Valley his service. But to face a lost warrior? Surely she would find him at fault. After all, his attempt to aid her was short. There was never an Elven warrior known in the Wilderland Battle to have returned after capture.
Yet eventually his conscience took over. Looking up at the young elf in front of him, he made his reply.
"Send word out immediately. I'll begin my journey at sunrise. If all goes well then I will return in two months. Now go! I must rest, daybreak seems all too near and I have a long journey ahead of me."
And with that, Legolas layed back down and fell into a short, but peaceful, sleep.