LEGOLAS FAN FICTION

TITLE: Where Love May Lead

AUTHOR: Emily Kinsman

RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily Kinsman (emi_kins@yahoo.com)

SUMMARY: Prequel to Elenath. Legolas travels to Rivendell to meet his betrothed, but things do not work out as smoothly as his father and Lord Elrond had wished

37.

Dawn spread her fiery fingers across the sky as the four trapped Elves picked their way cautiously among the branches of the fallen trees. It was most difficult for Merethiel in her fine silken gown, but before the sun had fully risen, they had reached the top and, one by one, squeezed themselves through the gap.

Elenath was the first to reach it and gaze upon the devastation that the storm and the dragon had left. She almost lost her grip and fell, so great was her distress. Trees had toppled, perhaps one for every four that still remained standing. Their roots reached gnarled limbs high into the air, giving the forest a forlorn, haunted look. Broken branches littered the muddy earth among melting chunks of ice, and even the leaves of trees that still lived drooped cheerlessly.

None of the four could bear to speak to one another as they lowered themselves back down the other side and began their journey to the palace through the desolate Wood.

***

"I am sorry, my Lord," said Thorondil. "The storm has erased any trace of them. They cannot be tracked, and we've no idea even in which direction they went."

Elrond squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. Seeing his kingdom so devastated was heartbreaking, but he strove to remain optimistic, to keep his subjects' spirits high. Still, how could anyone survive such a tempest? Chunks of ice still melted in the shadows. They were as big as apples. How large must they have been when they first fell?

"Take the guards and spread out," he said. "They must be found."

Thorondil bowed. "As you wish, my lord."

"And let some of the healers join you. They may be wounded."

Galadriel approached them, her silken white skirts somehow unaffected by the mud. "Wherever they are, it must be quite a distance away. For I cannot sense them." Elrond's countenance fell for a moment before she took his hands to comfort him. "Neither do I sense that they have left these shores, Elrond. Be of stout heart, for I sent Haldir to look after the young ones. He will have protected them with his life were it necessary."

"Alas, Galadriel. I know not whether I should stay and wait for their return or join in the search. I am restless to my very bones."

"Go then," she said gently. "I shall be here to greet the young ones when they return."

Elrond allowed the hint of a smile to touch his features. When they return. Not if. She had said "when."

***

"Go cautiously, Your Highnesses; Lady…" Haldir spoke in a hushed voice, his bow in hand. "The dragon may still be about."

"Calmakil signals no danger, Haldir. Yet too much caution is always better than not enough." Elenath rested her hand upon the hilt of her Sword, but did not draw it.

"In this Thorondil taught you well," said the warrior.

They went on a ways in silence, watching the sun to assure they were traveling in the correct direction, for the forest had lost its familiarity to the storm.

Merethiel suddenly stopped, regarded her three escorts, and placed her hands upon her hips. "I feel sorely outnumbered and pitifully useless among you three warriors. When we return to the palace, I should like to learn the art of archery."

Haldir cast such a serious look upon Merethiel that Elenath feared he might refuse and perhaps even scold her, but he did not.

"It would be a great honor to teach you, Lady, if your grandfather has no objections," he said with a nod.

The sun traveled swiftly to its peak as they journeyed on, stopping only to refresh themselves with a drink of water and some lembas that Haldir had brought with him.

"If only I had been rational, I never would have run this far." Elenath sighed.

"I for one was surprised by how swiftly you ran, Aier," said Haldir. We came in only a few hours what would take most half a day or more." Suddenly he stopped, relief flooding over his face.

"What is it?" asked Legolas.

"My Lady is well. She speaks to me even now." He sighed. "Thank the Valar."

"Does she know where we are? That we are well?"

"Yes and yes," he replied, "And she requests that we make haste, for the entire kingdom seeks to find us."

Elenath smiled. "We are nearly halfway. If there are search parties about, we should come upon them shortly."

They had not gone much further when they heard fair Elven voices in the Wood and were found by Thorondil and a small group of guards.

Elenath's uncle glowered at her. "My heart sings to see you alive, young one, but you have gotten into far too much mischief lately. There will be extra work for you at our next practice."

Elenath sighed. "Yes, Captain. I am truly sorry."

His only response was an unsympathetic glare that pierced the princess to her very heart.

"And as for you," he turned toward Merethiel, his daughter, and swept her into his arms. "I love you more than my very life, and if you ever run away like that again, I shall feed you to the giant spiders of Mirkwood!"

The Lady grew quite pale, much to the delight of her father and the amusement of Legolas.

Elenath watched the display with deep sorrow in her heart. She must have really messed up this time for Thorondil to treat her so harshly. Though she knew she deserved it, it hurt nonetheless.

They had not walked very far before the Captain sighed and turned toward Haldir. "I beg your pardon, sir. But you must understand that while Princess Elenath is under my command, she is also my neice."

The slightest hint of a smile played on the Lothlorien Elf's face. "Master Thorondil, I knew that you had not grown so coldhearted as it seemed a moment ago. Please." He motioned toward Elenath who had stubbornly fought back tears since she had been so harshly rebuked.

She gazed at her uncle with trepidation until he swept her into his arms at last. He held her close for a long moment, whispering as he stroked her hair, "You do not understand how much you are loved in this kingdom. If you did, you would not frighten us so."

She lay her head on his strong shoulder for a brief moment. "Please forgive me. I was not thinking."

"Reflect upon it, Niece, that you might remember this next time you seek to do something rash. Yet I do forgive you. Thank the Valar you are well."

"Is Grandfather terribly angry?" she asked timidly.

"Yes."

Thorondil said nothing else as they trekked toward the palace, and the Princess grew more apprehensive with each step she took. Perhaps she had gone too far this time.

***

The company arrived at the House of Elrond at mid afternoon to find only Galadriel and a small number of Lothlorien guards waiting for them. The great Queen was overjoyed to see them coming through the gates and up the path.

She smiled kindly at them. "Ah, the young flowers of Rivendell. Lord Elrond has kept you all to himself these long years." She looked from Elenath to Legolas, and then from Merethiel to Haldir with an amused gleam in her eyes. "I see that that shall no longer be the case, for your hearts rebel against his plans for you. Come, Granddaughters. Will you walk with me?"

The two she-Elves followed her, and Legolas and Haldir watched them go, each of them deep in their own thoughts.