Prologue
Summary: What was it the ring tempted Legolas with during the Council?
This is the tale of his losses, his loyalty, his part in the Battle of
Five Armies. The tale of what he wanted to have the most, that not
even the ring could give him.
A/N: I'm sort of kind of rewriting this story by giving it a prologue.
I think the first summary and stuff scared people away because they thought
this was a Mary Sue. *shudders* No. NononononononononononoNO!
Okay. Well, this is the tale of Legolas, when things in his life
start to pick up to include: Orcs, Goblins, Elves, a party of a hobbit
and thirteen dwarves, Mithrandir, Estel (Aragorn) of Imladris, the Battle
of Five Armies, and even love.
~~
When leaves were long and grass was green
then Dairon with his fingers lean
as daylight melted into shade,
a wandering music sweetly made
enchanted fluting, warbling wild,
for love of Thingol's elven child.
There bow was bent and shaft was sped
the fallow deer as phantoms fled,
and horses proud with braided mane,
with shining bit and silver rein
went fleeting by on moonlight night.
Excerpt from The Lay of Leithian
(The History of Middle-Earth, Volume III: The Lays of Beleriand)
~~
The Prince of Mirkwood's steed galloped steadily
beneath him, it's hooves rhythmically hitting the ground. Two other
Elves rode behind him on their horses, lost in their own thoughts.
One was a young Elf, Maran, who had come along for
experience. The other was Silne, an old, bitter friend of Legolas's.
It was a strange relationship that they had, it fluctuated between friendship
and hate. Silne was older than Legolas by about four hundred years.
On top of that was the fact that Silne was a member of Thranduil's court,
arrogant and pompous. Legolas had lost much by the hand of Silne,
but still, the Elf was the only connection left to the many things the
Prince had lost a little more than half a century before.
His mount snorted, and began to slow down, trotting
under an archway, which lead into a courtyard covered with gold and orange
leaves.
Maran and Silne kept riding, as to announce his
arrival to the Lord of Rivendell. Legolas lightly slid off his horse,
making no sound as his feet touched the ground. He looked around,
to see a dwarf and a human residing in the courtyard also.
Anger welled up in his stomach at the sight of the
dwarf, but the Elf kept his facial expression calm, and merely nodded to
the other visitors.
Patting his horse on the nose and sending him off
with a whisper of Elvish words, Legolas climbed up the steps into the closest
building. He walked down a hallway, and then peered around the corner,
looking past the exquisite paintings and carvings in the pillars.
A small grin touched his lips as he took in the
sight of the room.
A tall, rugged man was sprawled out on a bench,
reading a book. Across the room, a dark haired elven woman
was sitting primly on another bench. She was also reading a book.
The man's harp blue eyes left the pages almost as
soon as Legolas stepped in the room. He stood up, closing his book
and setting it on the bench. Quickly, he crossed the room, and dipped
his head to the blonde elf.
"Estel! Mae govannen," The elf greeted in
Sindarin. Estel smiled.
"Well met, Prince, well met," the human agreed.
"Legolas! It is good to see you again," came
a softer, less harsh voice. The Elven woman had abandoned her perch,
coming to speak to the visitor also.
"Arwen," Legolas acknowledged her presence
with a friendly smile. Arwen stepped up to him and kissed him on
the cheek in a friendly greeting.
"Did you come for the council?" she inquired,
and Legolas nodded.
"Come, I'll show you to your room," she whispered
a soft goodbye to Estel, then motioned for Legolas to follow her down one
of the many hallways. Legolas let his eyes rest on the shards of
the sword Narsil, silently giving it respect for the evil it destroyed,
before hurrying after the Princess of Rivendell.
Arwen began to speak to him as she lead him through
winding hallways.
"When was the last time you were in Imladris?" she
was trying to keep conversation light. Legolas frowned slightly.
She knew the last time he'd been to Rivendell, to a short council a couple
of months before. He didn't even spend the night at the Last Homely
House.
In truth, Legolas did not wish to stay in Rivendell.
It held too many memories of times before, of people long gone. He
didn't answer Arwen's question.
Arwen was not surprised at the younger Elf's silence.
She stayed silent as they passed through one of the many open hallways.
A soft breeze blew through the open space, leaving a scent of fall and
of flowers. Night was beginning to fall, the horizon was darkening.
Arwen turned one last corner, then opened the a
door on the left side of the hallway, showing the room to Legolas.
"Is it well suited for you, Prince?" Arwen
asked, turning to look the taller Elf in the eye. Confusion lightly
creased his brow. Why wouldn't it be?
"It is on the other side of the house from the room
you stayed in last time. May the memories and nightmares be less
here, Legolas." she explained to him, then turned and disappeared
around the corner, presumably back to her book...and Estel.
Legolas stepped in the room. Night clothes
had already been laid out on the bed for him. He sighed in
relief when he saw that the room was completely different than the one
he had stayed in the last time he'd spent the night there. Maybe
he'd be free of memories.
Weary from a day of travelling, Legolas changed
into his night clothes and watched the sun set completely. Then he
slipped into the bed, hoping for a night of pieceful dreams.
~~
He was able to pass the three hours before the council began easily enough; Rivendell had many libraries and other places worthy to visit.
Legolas was the first to be seated for council; Silne joined him soon after he arrived. Elrond and his assistants were the next to arrive; then Maran, the dwarves, and the humans.
Lastly, the grey wizard Gandalf, also called Mithrandir, joined the council with two small, almost child-like creatures.
Hobbits. Legolas immediately recognized the older of the two; Bilbo Baggins. He'd met the couragous little hobbit during the conflict for the dragon Smaug's treasure. The other was much younger; thinner, with big blue eyes and a head full of dark curls.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-Earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate--this one doom." Elrond addressed the council, turning his stony gaze on each of them. Suddenly, his features softened some-what and he turned to the dark haired hobbit.
"Bring forth the ring, Frodo." the Elven lord instructed, gestering a small column resting in the center of the Council. The hobbit slipped out of his seat, and walked forward, placing the ring on the stone surface.
Ash nazg gimbatul... A voice echoed in Legolas's head. He blinked, then looked around at the rest of the Council. They seemed enthralled with the ring; their eyes were lit up with a greedy fire. Legolas eyed the rest of the Council strangely. It was a simple gold ring, why were they...
Legolas...I can give you the Havens.
Legolas jerked slightly. No, it couldn't be. He glared at the golden band, and suddenly, he knew what it was. But it's voice echoed in his head, distracting him.
I can give them to you. She's there. I can bring her back to you. She'll never die, just put me on...
At Elrond's voice, Legolas snapped back to the real world. But the words of the ring still echoed in his heart. He realized he'd been listening to the human Boromir. He was insulting Estel.
Legolas leapt to his feet.
"This is no mere ranger; He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your alliegience." he stated to the naive and foolish human man. Boromir replied with another scathing remark.
The rest of the council passed as somewhat of a blurr. The ring was still chanting it's promises in his heart. Legolas leapt up several more times, he had to keep Maran from attacking the dwarf.
The Council was full of yelling and insults. Who would take the ring? Legolas dared not to volunteer himself; it's lure was too personal to him. He wasn't sure that he could hold up against it's darkness, especially since it was promising him the chance to see her. To take away her mortality, bring her back from the Havens.
"I will take it!" The younger hobbit, Frodo, shouted through the arguements. Legolas turned to look at him.
"I will take it," he repeated. His eyes flickered with nervousness for an instant, then they were set with resolve. "Though, I do not know the way." Legolas's eyebrows rose. Mithrandir stepped forward.
"I will help you bear this burden, as long as it is yours to bear, Frodo Baggins." Gandalf said, placing his hand on the Hobbit's shoulder. Aragorn strode forward, pledging his sword and life to protect Frodo. Gandalf gave Legolas a meaningful look. Immediately he knew what the wizard wanted.
"You have my bow," Legolas stepped forward, smiling slightly at the hobbit.
Legolas knew now why Galadriel and Gandalf had banned him from going with her, from seeing the sea. They'd told him he had an important part to play. Finally, his time had come. He would protect Frodo, destroy the ring, and then be finished with the quest. Then nothing would hold him here in Middle-earth. He'd be able to go where he longed to go, not because of the calling of the sea, but of the person who waited for him there.
Memories flooded the Elven Prince, and he didn't try to stop them this time.
~~
A/N: There we go! The story starts next chapter. It's all a memory sort of story. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading,
SabayeLeyr