A/N: Greetings, and I hope you enjoy the new chapter, it is a little longer than the previous ones. Thank you very much to those who so faithfully review, I really appreciate it. New reviews and opinions are always welcomed with open arms.

Chapter 21: Returning Home

            The sight that expanded out before him was not what he remembered of his beautiful home.  He remembered playing in the trees, on the paths and chasing the streams of light that flowed through the trees.  What lay in front of him was not his home.

            The blackness seemed to reach out to him as he stood in front of the forest.  No light was able to get through the expansive overgrowth.  The paths were no more, having been completely overgrown by dark vines that were strangling the smaller trees. 

            None of the view were what was really disturbing the Elf, it was the words from the trees themselves.  Their voices were very quiet, almost completely muffled.  They were speaking of the lack of light, the lack of air and the lack of caring they once knew. 

            Now he had a new cause to fight for, one he had not considered before this very moment.  He needed to fight for the forest itself in addition to the Elves within. 

            He entered the forest, trying to ignore the cries and screams of the evil and dark beings that had set up residency in the wood. They had been given free reign upon the kingdom, and the magic and power inherit to an Elvish wood was no match against it without the Elves themselves joining in the fight.

            Legolas ran with all this strength and speed, knowing now he would be far ahead of his supporters, but none of that mattered now.  With every step he took into the heart of his birthplace his anger towards those who had destroyed it was growing by leaps and bounds.  He had never known such anger in his entire life, not even on that terrible night when his father was killed, not even when Jaden was killed, not even when Ranger had left him lost in the forest for 3 weeks as punishment when he was spotted by a forest hunter. 

            These evil ones were going to pay for all of this, he would not let them ever harm anyone else ever again.

            He covered a great deal of ground in what seemed to him like moments.  His heart raced and he knew no fatigue, for his anger and his own inherit magic were keeping him going.  The prince would not rest again until everything had been made right once more. 

            It seemed almost impossible, but the woods only seemed to be getting more and more black as he ventured towards the realm of the wood-elves.  He recognized some points that he had passed and knew that he was not very close.  Erie memories began to emerge in his mind.

            Legolas saw a stream and remembered when his brothers had thrown him in when they encouraged him to peer into the waters and see if he could see a mermaid.  A large tree was where he had hid from his nurse when he knew he was due to come for dinner.  A large rock was a great lookout for his father when he would return from journeys to far away lands. 

            All these and many more flashed in front of his eyes like pictures from the past.  He almost couldn't see what was actually in front of him the images were so intense.  All this was broken when he heard someone or something walking nearby.  Legolas stopped and crept forward, easily able to sneak up unnoticed from his years with Ranger.

            He blond Elf stayed quiet as the source of the noise came into view.

            A horse entered a clearing, stretching its legs and finding some sweet grass to eat.

            As the horse ran further, a feminine voice called out to it.

            "Silkel, do you wander too far lest the wolves pick you out."

            The beautiful chestnut horse heard the voice and returned to one side of the wood, where a figure appeared from out of the trees.

            The figure was wearing a cloak with the hood up.  Legolas could see the form was thin, like himself, and smaller than he was.

            Suddenly and without expectation, the voice called out in his direction.

            "My friend here says he sees a new Elf in these woods.  We have not had a new Elf around here in quite sometime and he would love to say hello, but fears to go over to you without invitation. Why don't you come out and greet us, for it is not polite to spy on others?"

            The Prince was unsure of what to do.  This Elf did not appear to be armed, but he was sure she had a weapon somewhere for the journey in these woods without protection would be folly. 

            "Come out, now. My friend and I are taking a quiet break here and would love company."

            Something about that voice intrigued Legolas, he trusted its words, and still on his guard he appeared the open field.  He came closer to the figure and was shocked at what he heard next.

            "Legolas?"

            His words seemed to catch in his throat, but he managed a weak, "Yes."

            "I was wondered when you would return." She lowered her hood. Her flowing dark air caught in the breeze.

            That face! It was so familiar to him, like someone out of a dream.

            "I know you, I know you from before. You were with me that night. You were with my nurse." He took time to remember moments he had not dared think of in all his life in the mortal realm.

            "Yes, my Prince, I am Faye, I was in the group that got you out that night. I aided Shierra." She smiled with great warmth that spoke of love.

            "I remember you. I remember." The child and the caregiver were reunited in a close embrace and for one moment Legolas was the carefree spirit he once was.  All that had happened to him, all the painful events in his life did not extinguish that from his soul.

            "Legolas, I am so glad to see you survived in the world of men. What a beautiful young Elf you have grown into, and wise in the ways of combat I see." She looked to the bow, arrows and knives he carried on his back.  They were very new and nice, going away presents from Ranger.

            "I'm so glad to see you, for I never got to thank you."

            "Thank me?"

            "For helping to save my life that night."

            She again smiled warmly at him.

            "So, Legolas, you have returned."

            "There is unfinished business. How have things been here? How are the Elves fairing?"

            "We are getting by. Our personal freedoms and liberties are not allowed in public, but we have places Kayrel and his army do not know of."

            Hearing that name again, Legolas breathed in deeply to clear his mind.

            "Shierra?"

            Faye looked down, "I have not seen her in quite some time, for she lead every resistance that was begun when he first took power. The last I heard she was chained in the rebuilt palace, never allowed to leave."

            Legolas took a deep breath, "I must face him."

            "Yes, for you are our hope, my Prince, and our future."

            "Am I?"

            She looked at him and held his shoulders, "Yes, for you are the last of the royal family, your brothers were also killed on that horrible day."

            "Kayrel will never see another dawn, I promise you that. Even if I must die trying." Legolas did not care about anything anymore, anything except dealing out death to those who had destroyed him.

            "That is guaranteed, for Mirkwood has not seen a dawn since the death of your family."