Disclaimer: I own the Sauron's Son (SS, lol), and the Ums. I don't own the word Um (it's elvish) I just own the creature creations. And I don't own anything else, including characters, places, personalities, objects, ect. Why am I naming this stuff? You know what Tolkien created. Oh, but I also own Dadroc, I have a tendency to use it in all of my LotR stories, but I'm not sure exactly why. Oh, well…

Legolas watched the evil army journey closer and closer to Gondor. What do you want? he wondered silently. What?

Still the haunting voice was with him. You cannot defeat me. You will come to me and die.

"Leave me," he begged.

You cannot. Cannot. You will come to me and die. You will die.

"Focus!" he ordered himself. The army was heading to Gondor using the commonly used route, but he knew a quicker way. It was a small trail, so even if they saw him they wouldn't be able to follow him in their numbers. He would be able to beat the trolls and other creatures if he hurried. If…

"Noro lim, Homir," Legolas whispered to his horse in elvish. Homir was the Elvish version of the name Gandalf, in memory of the only wizard that he had ever known, and certainly came to respect. Because he was immortal, Legolas had owned many horses in his lifetime thus far, but Homir was possibly his favorite.

The horse was much like Gandalf, so the name was quite fitting. He was wise, at least for a horse, and his long gray mane reminded Legolas of Gandalf's beard. Homir was a large, yet thin horse, though he was strong beyond imagination, much like how Gandalf's old man appearance would make someone think he was weak, but was in fact quite powerful. Yes, Homir was much like Gandalf in many ways, but the best quality was that he was loyal, yet had his own mind, which was unusual for a horse.

Legolas steered his horse onto the beginning of the path he knew, and Homir took off quickly without hesitation. Within minutes they were in the woods, but Legolas took no comfort in this home-like place, knowing that sooner or later he would have to cross the path of the army.

MINE!

A sudden roar from the silence boomed inside both Legolas and Homir's heads. Homir jumped up on his back two legs and threw off his master, then ran down the path, faster and faster until he could no longer be seen.

Legolas looked at the suddenly gentle forest. It was peaceful, yet angry, somehow. Like a young child trying to look innocent when you knew he'd done something wrong.

"What do you want?" he asked again.

Bring to me the Evenstar.

Evenstar.

"Arwen!" he cried in alarm. He quickly darted down the path, hoping to beat the army on foot. They would not get Arwen. They would not.

You cannot defeat me. You must bring to me the Evenstar.

~*~

"My Lord and Lady, an elf is here who wishes to speak with you," Seobryn told Arwen and Aragorn humbly. "He is Lord Legolas of Mirkwood, and says he has urgent news."

Both Aragorn and Arwen's moods lifted as they heard Legolas's name be said. Neither had seen him since the War of the Ring, which was so long ago that it was now almost an ancient legend.

"Bring him in," Aragorn said smiling. "Quickly."

Seobryn nodded. "Yes, my Lord." He bowed and left the throne room, and moments later came in with Legolas, who also bowed.

"What a great honor to see you again," Legolas said, his head low.

Arwen smiled fondly. "Arise, Legolas. We have much to talk about."

When Legolas looked up, he also had a smile on his face. "Lady Arwen," he said. "You have surely aged, but you have kept your radiant beauty."

She laughed. "While you look quite the same. Tell us, why are you here?"

Legolas's smile lessened somewhat. "I have seen an army of trolls coming this way. Why, I don't know, but they are swift and will be here in no time. I came a mile on my horse, but after that I continued on foot. I have felt something… something I have not felt since the War of the Ring."

The joy in the room disappeared as everyone's faces were covered with concern, interest, and slight fear.

"Trolls?" Aragorn asked.

"Some, yes. Others…" Legolas shook his head. "I have never seen such creatures, nor had any of my army."

Aragorn nodded. "They are Ums, Legolas. Discovered by the elves, hence the elvish name. I'm surprised that you had not heard. We had discovered a scattered few on our ways to battle and out, but never bunched together as an army. They seemed too stupid and mindless to gather together. How many were there?"

"I don't know. The lines seemed endless. 5,000 at least."

Aragorn looked down. Arwen placed her soft hand on his arm hoping to comfort him. "Gondor has a fine army," she said.

"A small army. Each of my men are great, but they are few." He stood. "I must go meet with battle authorities and see what we can do. Legolas, I leave you in good hands." He gave Arwen a quick kiss and Legolas a small smile as he exited the room.

Arwen looked to Legolas. "You have never met my children, have you?"

"No, my lady."

She smiled. "Dear Legolas, you always were a charmer. We have fought a war together, you may call me by my name."

"Evenstar," he said quietly. "I have not told you all I have to report."

"What is it?"

"I don't know, but whatever it is, it wants you."

Arwen looked alarmed. "Me?"

"I heard a voice… I saw…" He shook his head, trying to straighten it all out. "I don't know what I saw. But I do know what I heard, and it told me that it wanted you."

"I… I don't know what to say. Did it tell you why?"

"No, my lady. But this presence deeply concerns me. I didn't merely feel darkness. I felt… Mordor. Sauron."

"Sauron was destroyed with the Ring," Arwen said gently. "You know he was. Legolas, are you all right?"

He shook his head. "I know. I'm fine. But… I did feel him. You must believe me. Anyone else would question my sanity, but you, Arwen, must believe me. I know that I felt him. He is drawing near with his army to take you."

Arwen paused, wondering what she could say. "We will tell Aragorn later tonight. I must introduce you to our children, you'll like them."

Legolas stared at Arwen's hair as she led him out of the throne room and down the hall. It was not as black as he remembered it, but not yet gray. However, there were streaks of gray every here and there to make her look older. She was aging so quickly, it seemed to him. He was used to elves who would go for 1,000 years and look only days older, but Arwen… it had only been a few years in his eyes and she looked near death.

Though gray-haired and a little more wrinkled, she still had a beauty and gracefulness to her that was all her own. She'd always had that, ever since she was an infant. People saw her and were able to tell right away that she was going to be a beauty once she was older. Loveliness had always seemed to radiate off of her.

"Ah, the youngest," Arwen said as she opened the door to the library. "She is the smart one in the family. Her name is Laesien." Arwen looked to the young girl sitting on a large chair reading an old book.

It was easy to tell that she was born of Aragorn and Arwen. She had Arwen's once pitch-black hair, but Aragorn's slight wavy-ness to it. Arwen's cute nose, but Aragorn's darker eyes. And pale, soft skin that looked almost like it belonged to an elf. Surely Arwen's as well.

"Laesien, this is Legolas. You do remember him, don't you?" Arwen asked her daughter.

She looked up from her book, then smiled. "Oh, yes. I was unaware that he was coming to visit."

"As was I," Legolas replied. "You look as lovely as your mother."

Laesien smiled and stood. "Thank you. What a great honor to meet you." Then she received a glance from her mother and added, "I have heard about you, of course. From both of my parents."

"I hope your mother hasn't been telling childhood stories of me," Legolas joked, looking to Arwen. "Strictly war stories, I pray."

Laesien laughed. "Yes, of course. War stories."

Arwen smiled. "I just wanted you two to meet. Laesien, do you know where Zerameth is?"

"Oh, you know her, mother. She's probably outside practicing."

"Practicing?" Legolas asked.

"Honestly, you'd think she wants to grow up to be a war lord herself, with all the fighting she does," Arwen explained. "Sometimes I wonder if Zerameth was meant to be a boy. She certainly acts like one. Takes after her father, you know."

Legolas laughed. "Maybe she'll be a Ranger."

"Oh, no. There are very few Rangers left nowadays. Even if there were more, I wouldn't allow her to."

"Why not? Strider was a Ranger, and he was a fine man. Wouldn't you say?" Legolas gave Arwen a wink.

"Who is Strider?" Laesien asked.

"Why, your father never told you?" Legolas asked. "What a pity. Well, I'd be happy to tell you the tale sometime. Maybe later tonight." He turned to Arwen. "Now, are you going to introduce me to Zerameth?"

"Of course," Arwen said, still smiling at his mention of Strider. "Come this way."