A/N: yes yes we all know what belongs to Tolkien. But Ahern is mine! Now, read on, royal slave!
****
The trip to Lothlorien was long and quiet; giving me plenty of time to think about what I wanted to do - nay, what I needed to do.
When I finally arrived, I didn't bother to look for anyone, so I headed to a group of trees I used to play amongst as a child-elf. My friend and I had made a talas in many of them; a platform with a hole in the middle for a rope to hang down so you could climb up or down.
I always used to go there when I wanted to be alone - which was not often - but right now, I felt like I could spend the next year hiding in the trees.
*
I ran as fast as I could, but it kept gaining on me. I ran faster; it pursued me faster.
Minutes passed as I dodged through trees and jumped over fallen logs to escape it. Shortly, I came to a cliff overlooking a swift-moving river. Quickly, I figured I'd have a better chance of surviving a fall then I did by being attacked by it - whatever 'it' was - so I leapt off the cliff...
And hit the ground.
Blinking my eyes, I came to the realization that it was just a dream. I slowly stood up and rubbed my sore back. 'I suppose I shall pay for that one later,' I thought, glancing around to make sure no one had seen my fall.
Unfortunately, someone had.
"Very nice, old friend," a voice mocked me. "What a lovely fall."
Turning around, I saw Ahern - my old friend with whom we spent many afternoons tying the branches to support us - leaning against a tree, and a smile on his face.
Ahern - who lives up to the meaning of his name; 'lord of the horses' folded his arms over his chest and smiled smugly, waiting for me to say something.
I asked innocently; "Is that your horse running away?"
*
The two of us sat on the ground, surrounded by the trees we had grown up with, and - after he had given me a good speech about how you shouldn't bluff to friends - he asked me how I was; what my latest tale of the world was.
"I heard Leis went to Rivendell to find you. Perhaps she still wants to marry you?" he laughed.
His mood brought a smile to my face, and for a short time I forgot all about Aragorn. "Yes, she probably still does. And it's still your fault!"
"Now, now, I'm her brother, not her keeper!"
We joked and teased until the sky turned from black and starry to gray, and I suggested we get some rest before the sun rose.
*
Weeks passed as I pondered this and that; wondering about small things and bigger things. I spent some of my time alone; some with Ahern; some with acquaintances.
I spent an entire day by myself, watching a group of Elf-children play; with no cares or worries in their minds to bring their spirits down. I couldn't help but smile as I recalled memories from my past.
In fact, I do recall the first time I ever met the Elf Princess Arwen. A group of elves from Rivendell had traveled to Lothlorien to see The Lady of the Wood; Elrond and his children among them.
I was not supposed to be anywhere near them, but Arwen - being a mischievous child - had wandered away from the rest and found me. She snuck up behind me and whistled in my ear.
I had been so startled I jumped, and almost hit her. Luckily, she just laughed, told me who she was, and ran back to her father before he began looking for her.
Later on - before they left - she came to once more and apologized, and also told me to come to Rivendell one day and see her.
I did, many years later, and that is when I met her lover - Aragorn. The man of her dreams, and of mine.
I never interfered, until we all returned from the quest to destroy the Ring.
Only then did I notice I had feelings for him, and hoped he might feel for me.
*
"Legolas! Legolas, my friend! Wake up!" A voice interrupted my sleep.
"Go away, Ahern..." I mumbled, still partially asleep.
"Wake up!" he pulled my hair, and startled me awake.
He laughed as I rubbed the sore spot on my head and stretched. "So what shall we do today, friend?"
I blinked in the sunlight a few times before I spoke. "I was hoping to just relax for some time..."
"But that is not much fun, now is it?" Ahern jumped down from the tree.
I have never understood how he could be so happy; so carefree. But I didn't truly mind, he always helped to brighten my day, no matter what the cause of my sadness.
"I was not planning on having fun, friend Ahern," I climbed down and stood beside him.
There was a silence that was beginning to grow awkward, but Ahern broke it; "Come, friend, let us race on foot and see who reaches that hill over there first!"
*
"Friend! Friend Legolas!" Ahern cried, running towards me as I lay stretched out under a tree, some time after the evening meal.
"What is it now, friend Ahern?" I mumbled, half-asleep. "Did your horse run off again?" I chuckled.
Ahern kicked my leg. "Har-har." Something I had never understood about Ahern was how he could always be so young. In times of war - while some of us were fighting to survive - he was the one always smiling at the fact the sun had risen, or laughing when someone had tripped over his own feet. I suppose he chose to be that way, and sometimes wished I could be so free of worries.
"Although you may hope that, it is not so. What we should discuss is why The Lady of the Forest has called for your presence!" He raised an eyebrow.
"Ga-Galadriel?" I was shocked, and jumped to my feet.
"None other," he smiled. But then he looked at me curiously. "Why are you sleeping so late in the afternoon? Did you not sleep last night?"
"I..." I cleared my throat, and stood at full height. "I was just thinking."
He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
*
"My Lady," I bowed as she stood in front of me.
"Legolas Greenleaf," she paused as I straightened up. "There was a message sent for you."
I looked questioningly at her, but did not speak.
" Arwen, daughter of Elrond of Rivendell has sent for you. She says you must leave by this night, and go straight to Rivendell. It is urgent."
"I..." I was not sure of what to say.
"You must leave, Legolas. I have sent someone to bring you a horse. Ride swift to your friend; it sounded serious. Be safe, and fare thee well!"
****
A/N: well, I hope that installment was all right. Oh, I know that Legolas is from the Misty Mountains, but I say he moved to Lothlorien simply because I like it there. I'm sorry if Galadriel is too out of character; she's hard to write (for me anyway; maybe some one out there finds it easy). w/e the case, I hope you have enjoyed it and will wait for the next chapter! peace!
****
The trip to Lothlorien was long and quiet; giving me plenty of time to think about what I wanted to do - nay, what I needed to do.
When I finally arrived, I didn't bother to look for anyone, so I headed to a group of trees I used to play amongst as a child-elf. My friend and I had made a talas in many of them; a platform with a hole in the middle for a rope to hang down so you could climb up or down.
I always used to go there when I wanted to be alone - which was not often - but right now, I felt like I could spend the next year hiding in the trees.
*
I ran as fast as I could, but it kept gaining on me. I ran faster; it pursued me faster.
Minutes passed as I dodged through trees and jumped over fallen logs to escape it. Shortly, I came to a cliff overlooking a swift-moving river. Quickly, I figured I'd have a better chance of surviving a fall then I did by being attacked by it - whatever 'it' was - so I leapt off the cliff...
And hit the ground.
Blinking my eyes, I came to the realization that it was just a dream. I slowly stood up and rubbed my sore back. 'I suppose I shall pay for that one later,' I thought, glancing around to make sure no one had seen my fall.
Unfortunately, someone had.
"Very nice, old friend," a voice mocked me. "What a lovely fall."
Turning around, I saw Ahern - my old friend with whom we spent many afternoons tying the branches to support us - leaning against a tree, and a smile on his face.
Ahern - who lives up to the meaning of his name; 'lord of the horses' folded his arms over his chest and smiled smugly, waiting for me to say something.
I asked innocently; "Is that your horse running away?"
*
The two of us sat on the ground, surrounded by the trees we had grown up with, and - after he had given me a good speech about how you shouldn't bluff to friends - he asked me how I was; what my latest tale of the world was.
"I heard Leis went to Rivendell to find you. Perhaps she still wants to marry you?" he laughed.
His mood brought a smile to my face, and for a short time I forgot all about Aragorn. "Yes, she probably still does. And it's still your fault!"
"Now, now, I'm her brother, not her keeper!"
We joked and teased until the sky turned from black and starry to gray, and I suggested we get some rest before the sun rose.
*
Weeks passed as I pondered this and that; wondering about small things and bigger things. I spent some of my time alone; some with Ahern; some with acquaintances.
I spent an entire day by myself, watching a group of Elf-children play; with no cares or worries in their minds to bring their spirits down. I couldn't help but smile as I recalled memories from my past.
In fact, I do recall the first time I ever met the Elf Princess Arwen. A group of elves from Rivendell had traveled to Lothlorien to see The Lady of the Wood; Elrond and his children among them.
I was not supposed to be anywhere near them, but Arwen - being a mischievous child - had wandered away from the rest and found me. She snuck up behind me and whistled in my ear.
I had been so startled I jumped, and almost hit her. Luckily, she just laughed, told me who she was, and ran back to her father before he began looking for her.
Later on - before they left - she came to once more and apologized, and also told me to come to Rivendell one day and see her.
I did, many years later, and that is when I met her lover - Aragorn. The man of her dreams, and of mine.
I never interfered, until we all returned from the quest to destroy the Ring.
Only then did I notice I had feelings for him, and hoped he might feel for me.
*
"Legolas! Legolas, my friend! Wake up!" A voice interrupted my sleep.
"Go away, Ahern..." I mumbled, still partially asleep.
"Wake up!" he pulled my hair, and startled me awake.
He laughed as I rubbed the sore spot on my head and stretched. "So what shall we do today, friend?"
I blinked in the sunlight a few times before I spoke. "I was hoping to just relax for some time..."
"But that is not much fun, now is it?" Ahern jumped down from the tree.
I have never understood how he could be so happy; so carefree. But I didn't truly mind, he always helped to brighten my day, no matter what the cause of my sadness.
"I was not planning on having fun, friend Ahern," I climbed down and stood beside him.
There was a silence that was beginning to grow awkward, but Ahern broke it; "Come, friend, let us race on foot and see who reaches that hill over there first!"
*
"Friend! Friend Legolas!" Ahern cried, running towards me as I lay stretched out under a tree, some time after the evening meal.
"What is it now, friend Ahern?" I mumbled, half-asleep. "Did your horse run off again?" I chuckled.
Ahern kicked my leg. "Har-har." Something I had never understood about Ahern was how he could always be so young. In times of war - while some of us were fighting to survive - he was the one always smiling at the fact the sun had risen, or laughing when someone had tripped over his own feet. I suppose he chose to be that way, and sometimes wished I could be so free of worries.
"Although you may hope that, it is not so. What we should discuss is why The Lady of the Forest has called for your presence!" He raised an eyebrow.
"Ga-Galadriel?" I was shocked, and jumped to my feet.
"None other," he smiled. But then he looked at me curiously. "Why are you sleeping so late in the afternoon? Did you not sleep last night?"
"I..." I cleared my throat, and stood at full height. "I was just thinking."
He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
*
"My Lady," I bowed as she stood in front of me.
"Legolas Greenleaf," she paused as I straightened up. "There was a message sent for you."
I looked questioningly at her, but did not speak.
" Arwen, daughter of Elrond of Rivendell has sent for you. She says you must leave by this night, and go straight to Rivendell. It is urgent."
"I..." I was not sure of what to say.
"You must leave, Legolas. I have sent someone to bring you a horse. Ride swift to your friend; it sounded serious. Be safe, and fare thee well!"
****
A/N: well, I hope that installment was all right. Oh, I know that Legolas is from the Misty Mountains, but I say he moved to Lothlorien simply because I like it there. I'm sorry if Galadriel is too out of character; she's hard to write (for me anyway; maybe some one out there finds it easy). w/e the case, I hope you have enjoyed it and will wait for the next chapter! peace!