These are the words of the prophecy, that was made on the day Legolas was born: "Someday far in the future prince Legolas will fall in eternal love with a mortal from the race of men. For this he will give up his immortality. His life will be long and lucky and he will be beloved from the depth of heart, but at the end will be dying at the same moment his mortal love will pass away. So it is written in the stars. Never forget these words, King Thranduil. And if you hope somehow to change the way it will be, be warned and remembered that it's very hard to change destiny and the most failed by trying. Even death could be the consequence."
Since Legolas' birth many years ago, Thranduil, despite the warning, never was going tire to prevent him from the destiny that the prophecy had promised. He had banished all mortals from Mirkwood, but no one, except two elves, who were very close to Thranduil, knew the true reason. To all who asked for the reasons was simply said that the weakness of men no longer was welcome in Mirkwood. Even passages were only allowed, if there were no single rest inside the borders of the kingdom. Thranduil was a mighty king and so nobody spoke against his orders. Legolas himself knew nothing from the dramatically words of the prophecy. But he knew, that his father loved him over all, every wish he made came true immediately. And he loved his father back with his whole heart. Legolas was also beloved by all elves in Mirkwood. His fairness and friendliness to all beings he came in contact with were known everywhere. And so everybody hoped that someday he would be the king and lead the land to a new golden age. King Thranduil was very proud about his youngest son, but in one thing he was teaching Legolas a lesson against his normal fairness. He always warned him of the race of men. They are not honest and true, they never say what they truly mean, their hearts and souls are lying, they are unworthy to be bound to the race of elves in every way. If you ever let them come to near, they only will cause pain. These were the facts Legolas learned above mortal men. And because his father was always telling the truth and did never anything to hurt him or treat him bad, Legolas believed him without any doubt. Besides this as time went on it became very easy to believe in the weakness of men, because a new darkness was rising and whispers were heard that the One Ring had returned, the ring, which Isildor, King of Gondor, many years ago had the chance to destroy. All lands of Middle-Earth would soon been covered in darkness, if there was found no way out.
One day a messenger from Rivendell arrived, to bring greetings from Lord Elrond and to transmit his wish, that some representatives from Mirkwood should be send to the coming council, where decisions about the One Ring would be made. A request that was very hard for Thranduil. Two days earlier he had send the two older brothers of Legolas on a diplomatic mission, from which they would not return before two or three weeks. Waiting so long was impossible. To send others behind to bring them back faster was impossible. Also Thranduil could not leave Mirkwood. Both for the same reason. No one, except Thranduil and two very good and old friends knew of the prophecy. If the ever wise king of Mirkwood would made the decision to brought the lives of some elven riders in danger for chasing blind after his sons or even the king himself left Mirkwood in a time of rising darkness, instead of sending Legolas as the representative of the royal family no one would understand this. Without any doubt endless questions would be the unwelcoming result.
Legolas was now 2900 years old, an excellent archer and talented with knifes at the same time. And no horse could reach his own when it was brought to full pace. Also he had very good abilities in diplomacy. His fairness, his soft voice and the gift of finding the right words in talks with others made him equal to any older or more experienced elf. He had Mirkwood never left before, but all elves were trusting him absolutely. He was able to go through this quest. And at least Legolas himself had uttered the wish to travel through the lands outside from Mirkwood. In the last two years more often than before.
Thranduil felt like been captive in a trap. And there were no way out, no rational reason for not sending Legolas and give him a chance. Of course there would be two or three other elves from honourable families to guide him and stand by his side in every situation. But would they be able to prevent Legolas from the special thing that Thranduil feared more than any other? No one of them would even know how great the danger was and to telling them the whole truth was out of every discussion. So the only thing possible was to gave order to the companions to never let Legolas alone, to stay by his side every minute from the morning until going to bed in the evening. Thranduil trusted his elves, they would fulfil the orders correct. But even this could not banished a last risk, and may it be only little. Thranduil was not sleeping this night. Restless he walked through the great open halls of his castle. By the first morning light he had to give the messenger his answer for Lord Elrond. The Rivendell-Elf had to ride back soon, so the preparations for the council could be done before the first guests arrived. It had been hard enough, to hold him here just for this one night. Nothing would make him stay any longer. And to refuse to the request? No, that was an absolute unthinkable choice. It was a sign of his tiredness that such a thought had only come to his mind. His two closest friends had tried anything to calm him down. "It will only be for two or three days. The council will not take any longer and Legolas will be right back." But these words could do nothing against his deepest fears. In Rivendell mortals were welcome at all times. Lord Elronds own daughter Arwen was involved with a mortal. Thranduil knew all to well that Elrond had not understand him banishing all mortals from Mirkwood, he had accepted it, but never understand. And Elrond would never do the same in Rivendell, and if it were only for the few days of the council, without a very good explanation. An explanation he could not give. In truth the king of Mirkwood felt no hostility against mortals, but to his eyes they were not worthy to give up an immortal life for one of them. Another point in which he had not the same opinion as Elrond. Thranduil sighed and walked over to a nearby window to look out in the darkness of night. Perhaps the stars above would give him a good thought. But to his shock he saw the first light of dawn in the distant. "No please", he prayed silently, "not so fast. Just give me a little bit more time." In this moment he saw a beautiful young elven lady walking by under the window. Lady Anarrima, he remembered. And suddenly the way out of his troubles lay clearly in front of him. He knew that Legolas and Lady Anarrima had sympathies for each other. Especially for Lady Anarrima it was more than only sympathy. She loved Legolas since the last summer. Thranduil knew this the whole time, but he had paid no attention to it. For Legolas it seemed to be only close friendship and Thranduil was not willing to force a marriage. Legolas should choose freely. But things had changed dramatically. And a bound between Legolas and Lady Anarrima would be the perfect answer for all problems. Of course there were not enough time now for a royal marriage, but for a betrothal. And that was enough for the first. Thranduil's heart was lighter now. Legolas would agree to his fathers wish without any doubt. He trusted him completely, and if he said, that this betrothal was the best choice Legolas would believe it.
Thranduil walked down the stairs with fast steps. In the court the messenger of Rivendell was already standing beside his horse. His body language clearly showed impatience. He bowed his head in respect "Good morning, royal highness. Have you made your decisions?" Thranduil smiled "Yes. Please take my greetings to Lord Elrond. I will be proud to send my youngest son, prince Legolas with two companions to the council. They will be on their way with the rising sun of tomorrow." The messenger mounted his horse "Thank you for these words and for your hospitality, King of Mirkwood. Far well" with this he bent down, whispered a secret word and the horse took him away. Thranduil, still smiling, looked after the rider until he was out of sight. Than he turned around and nearly ran into his son. "I'm sorry. I was unaware of you standing there." Legolas smiled back at his father. "I just came here to say good-bye to the messenger. But it looks like it was to late." Thranduil nodded "He was in hurry. I said him that you will come to the council. So choose two companions and be ready to ride away tomorrow morning." Legolas' smile grew brighter "I will really go to Rivendell? Thanks for your trust, dear father. I will never disappoint you." "I know. I have no doubt that you will make the best of it." replied the king, "But there was something else I must say to you. You have some time?" "Of course." "How you feel about Lady Anarrima?" Legolas looked slightly confused about the abrupt change of subject. "She is a very dear friend to me." He said, feeling at the same second that this was not the answer his father liked to hear. "You really feels nothing more for her? She is very beautiful, from noble blood, fair with a smooth character and she truly loves you. Has you never noticed this? In my opinion she would be the perfect bride for you." Thranduil felt his breath caught in the throat. What if it will not work? If he had his son pushed too much? Legolas had a strong will of his own and nothing ever before had been so meaningful. What if this would be the first time he would not agree to his father? But there was no way back now. Thranduil's fears soon faded away. "You are right with every word", Legolas said "I have only not thinking about marriage until now. Perhaps we should talk about this again when I'll be back from Rivendell." Thranduil took a deep breath. He had nearly succeeded. "I was just thinking that a betrothal would be nice. It will give safety to all. At least it would make me happy to know that you has found your beloved before we'll be apart for the first time. The thought of a marriage at your return should also give strength to you and bring you back sooner." Even if Legolas knew nothing about his father's true fears, he could felt how hard it was for him to let his son go on this travel. And he really liked Anarrima. To bind his future life to her was indeed no bad choice. In his entire life Legolas had never known the passion of a true love that came deep from the heart. He even could not imagine that such strong powers really existed. So why he should refuse to his fathers wish? He would miss nothing. For him love went only a little bit deeper than pure friendship, like it was for all elves, who had never shared the wild passion that was given only to a mortal heart. And only in union with such a heart elves could feel real passion. But most of elves feared these, because there were no way to hide anything of the own soul and heard in this. And for them it meant to show weakness. "If it makes you glad, so it may be. I will search for AnarrimaI to ask her, if she will marry me and be satisfied with a very soon betrothal without a great ceremony." Thranduil embraced his son. Lady Anarrima sure would be lucky to agree to this. He could not easily hide his tears. Everything was alright now. All his fears would come to an end. And so he was very happy as in the evening of the same day Legolas, prince of Mirkwood and Lady Anarrima were betrothed. Only a few close friends witnessed the ceremony.
But amongst the wind there was a whisper, to silent to be heard over the words of the ceremony. "Never forget these words, King Thranduil, and be warned ...."
Tbc.
This was the first "real" chapter. Chapter two will bring the first meeting of Legolas and Aragorn in Rivendell.
I hope these chapter was not too long to be interesting. And I beg for some more reviews this time, please!!!
Critics are welcome too. It will only help me to get better.