Legolas walked along the river, contemplating the journey that lay
ahead of him. He must track Frodo and Sam to Mordor. He must then take the
ring and bring it to his Lord Saruman. He will kill Frodo and Sam, as well
as any other being who crosses his path and gets in his way.
He could hear the birds chirping. He remembered the days when he enjoyed that sound, when he would sing along with them in a harmonious tune. Now he only wished for them to die, to die a horrible death so that their pitiful songs are locked away in an eternity of death.
He stooped down to get a drink of water from the flowing river. This is the first time he actually saw his reflection- saw his face- since the transformation. He was almost shocked with what he saw. What had once been smooth and porcelain-like skin was now charred, with weaving cuts and scrapes almost making a design on his face. His hair remained long, but matted and black. His eyes of blue of were now a fiery red, depicting his angered and evil soul.
He had to look away, to reassure himself that this is what he truly was and truly wanted to be- but he couldn't. He couldn't tell himself that he wanted to be this monster, this creature who only wished for evil. He couldn't be this monster who would destroy his friends lives in order to serve his masters wishes. He couldn't be a person... he couldn't only be a thing. A thing that could never love nor be loved.
He again looked into the crystal waters. He saw his ears; their shape had not changed. He began to think of what he used to be. Of the loving and caring Elf that he was. He had joined to Fellowship to abolish evil, to set aright matters. He was so gallant and brave, and now he was...
He had to stop thinking like this. He had to keep in mind the task at hand. Get the ring and kill Frodo and his companion. Kill innocent Frodo who was brought into this mess by accident. Kill Sam who only wanted to fulfill a promise. And in the process, kill your old soul. Kill any inclination you might have as to being merciful, or being what you used to be. You are not Legolas of Mirkwood anymore, you are an Orc... you must think and act like an Orc, not as a Prince.
He began to walk eastward, bow in hand. He didn't know what to expect. When with the Fellowship Orcs were chasing them. But he now was an Orc, so who would be chasing him? Certainly not the Fellowship, for Elsa told him their fate. Death. They had all died except him and the two he was searching for. Merry and Pippin had been captured, and even if they escaped, what could two half-lings do to him? He was Legolas the great archer... no, he wasn't. I cannot think like that. I am no longer Legolas. I am... He looked at himself. I am this.
And with that he began his journey to Mordor, as well as a journey to a new self.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Elrond," began the Elf, "I know it is hard to believe."
"All of Mirkwood? Everyone?" he asked.
"All except the demented Dairu (Day- roo)."
"Have you spoken to her?"
"Yes..." he said hesitantly.
"And what did she say?"
"She told us that... Legolas..."
"Legolas!" Elrond exclaimed. "He had to have escaped. He is okay, is he not?"
"Dairu claims that he is the culprit."
Elrond was in dismay. "How so? Legolas is the finest Elven warrior. He would never betray us."
"That is exactly what we've been telling her. But she assures us that it was indeed Legolas. She also claims that he was in the form of an... Orc. She said that after he had slaughtered the village he stood by a stream and stared at his reflection. After that he changed into... 'Legolas' and headed towards the east."
"The east? Have you sent men to follow?"
"Not yet. But we have seen his footprints."
"Though I hate to come to the conclusion that Legolas did commit this carnage, I have no choice but to track him down. The least he could do, if not the culprit, is help us find the real murderer."
"I will send a band of Elves to follow him." The Elf then exited the structure.
Not Legolas...
_______________________________________________________________________
Legolas knew that other Elves must have found out about Mirkwood already. Soon he would hear and see Elves surrounding him. He heard a few twigs snap from behind him. They wouldn't already be following him? Not this soon.
He was extra cautious as he made his way through the forested region. Once he saw the shapes of trees he knew exactly where he was: in the land of The Foresters. He had heard many a fables about this people in his childhood. His mother herself used to tell him bedtime stories of The Foresters.
It had began as a friendly gesture. A great Sorcerer by the name of Caldren was in distress. His daughter had been in a deadly situation, and a neighborly man had saved her. As a reward the Sorcerer granted the man and his entire family abilities to use for good. Some had the power of invisibility, others extraordinary strength, some even could walk up walls and onto ceilings. The mans wife had become barren after her second child, so the sorcerer also blessed them with many sons and daughters. Soon their family grew so large that they moved into the Black Forest.
But over time these people used their abilities to bring calamity upon all tribes and tongues. So the great Sorcerer put a curse on them; letting them keep their abilities but die at the ripe young age of twenty.
Legolas was still unsure if the people existed, but if they did, then this must be who was following him. Had he invaded their territory? Did they feel threatened by him? He could now sense that there were at least seven beings following him. He knew he would kill them all, and that he could dispose of them with one swift movement. But he wanted to play with these.
So he pretended to be in trouble and distress, pretending to not know what to do. The only way for him to run without encountering them with be to the left, so he ran in that direction. He could see the various trees that were hollowed out and used as houses. Soon he saw people cooking and children playing. These had to The Foresters.
But before he knew it, more than seven were pursuing him. And as he ran further and further he realized that he was getting deeper and deeper into their region. He heard something whiz by, gently grazing his shoulder. Black blood slowly seeped onto his garment. He saw a small spear hit the ground in front of him.
No more games. I have to finish them now.
He took an arrow out and quickly turned around, aiming and then shooting one of the men. It was a young man, perhaps fifteen. But he couldn't feel sorry for the boy. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't show emotion, because... he had none.
He took another and shot an arrow straight into a mans heart. A little bit of crimson blood trickled from the mans chest. A young woman attacked him from behind, jumping into his back. He couldn't help but laugh. A little girl? Does she actually think she could hurt me? He grabbed a hold of her leg with one hand and pulled her from his back. She tried to stay on, digging her nails into his back so that she wouldn't budge. But he still managed to bring her from his back to before him. And then he shocked himself and bit into her arm. She screamed in pain as he chewed off her flesh. And then he remembered: Orcs are cannibals.
He felt somebody else jump to his back, but as he reached his hand to grab the perpetrator, he couldn't find anyone. He let the girl go, and she dropped to the floor with a loud thump. Somebody was on him but he couldn't get a grasp. This must be someone using their abilities. He had to think quick. More and more Foresters were charging at him. He began to run, and eventually caught sight of a man sitting on a wooden throne with various carvings of flowers and trees etched into it.
This must be their head. The man looked nervously in each direction as he noticed that the Orcs gaze was fixed on him. But the mans face kept turning in one direction: towards a young woman tied to a tree. She seemed to be of obvious importance. Perhaps she was a prize that the head of The Foresters had won, or a captive from a neighboring tribe. Whatever she may be, she could be of useful leverage.
Without a moments hesitation he ran up to the woman, ripped her ties, and hauled her over his shoulder. He took a dagger from a small holster next to his boot, and stationed it to her throat. "If you touch me... she will die!" he shouted. As The Foresters heard this they slowly etched away from him.
"Please..." they pleaded. "Put her back. We won't harm you."
The promise was obviously fake. He could still hear disdain in their voice. He knew that the moment he gave her back they'd attack him and mostly likely wound him. The only thing he could think of doing would be to take her with him. She might be of use later on in his journey. Especially if he grew hungry...
He quickly darted away, woman in tow, and made his way out of their forest with only a few scratches from the branches he passed.
He could hear the birds chirping. He remembered the days when he enjoyed that sound, when he would sing along with them in a harmonious tune. Now he only wished for them to die, to die a horrible death so that their pitiful songs are locked away in an eternity of death.
He stooped down to get a drink of water from the flowing river. This is the first time he actually saw his reflection- saw his face- since the transformation. He was almost shocked with what he saw. What had once been smooth and porcelain-like skin was now charred, with weaving cuts and scrapes almost making a design on his face. His hair remained long, but matted and black. His eyes of blue of were now a fiery red, depicting his angered and evil soul.
He had to look away, to reassure himself that this is what he truly was and truly wanted to be- but he couldn't. He couldn't tell himself that he wanted to be this monster, this creature who only wished for evil. He couldn't be this monster who would destroy his friends lives in order to serve his masters wishes. He couldn't be a person... he couldn't only be a thing. A thing that could never love nor be loved.
He again looked into the crystal waters. He saw his ears; their shape had not changed. He began to think of what he used to be. Of the loving and caring Elf that he was. He had joined to Fellowship to abolish evil, to set aright matters. He was so gallant and brave, and now he was...
He had to stop thinking like this. He had to keep in mind the task at hand. Get the ring and kill Frodo and his companion. Kill innocent Frodo who was brought into this mess by accident. Kill Sam who only wanted to fulfill a promise. And in the process, kill your old soul. Kill any inclination you might have as to being merciful, or being what you used to be. You are not Legolas of Mirkwood anymore, you are an Orc... you must think and act like an Orc, not as a Prince.
He began to walk eastward, bow in hand. He didn't know what to expect. When with the Fellowship Orcs were chasing them. But he now was an Orc, so who would be chasing him? Certainly not the Fellowship, for Elsa told him their fate. Death. They had all died except him and the two he was searching for. Merry and Pippin had been captured, and even if they escaped, what could two half-lings do to him? He was Legolas the great archer... no, he wasn't. I cannot think like that. I am no longer Legolas. I am... He looked at himself. I am this.
And with that he began his journey to Mordor, as well as a journey to a new self.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Elrond," began the Elf, "I know it is hard to believe."
"All of Mirkwood? Everyone?" he asked.
"All except the demented Dairu (Day- roo)."
"Have you spoken to her?"
"Yes..." he said hesitantly.
"And what did she say?"
"She told us that... Legolas..."
"Legolas!" Elrond exclaimed. "He had to have escaped. He is okay, is he not?"
"Dairu claims that he is the culprit."
Elrond was in dismay. "How so? Legolas is the finest Elven warrior. He would never betray us."
"That is exactly what we've been telling her. But she assures us that it was indeed Legolas. She also claims that he was in the form of an... Orc. She said that after he had slaughtered the village he stood by a stream and stared at his reflection. After that he changed into... 'Legolas' and headed towards the east."
"The east? Have you sent men to follow?"
"Not yet. But we have seen his footprints."
"Though I hate to come to the conclusion that Legolas did commit this carnage, I have no choice but to track him down. The least he could do, if not the culprit, is help us find the real murderer."
"I will send a band of Elves to follow him." The Elf then exited the structure.
Not Legolas...
_______________________________________________________________________
Legolas knew that other Elves must have found out about Mirkwood already. Soon he would hear and see Elves surrounding him. He heard a few twigs snap from behind him. They wouldn't already be following him? Not this soon.
He was extra cautious as he made his way through the forested region. Once he saw the shapes of trees he knew exactly where he was: in the land of The Foresters. He had heard many a fables about this people in his childhood. His mother herself used to tell him bedtime stories of The Foresters.
It had began as a friendly gesture. A great Sorcerer by the name of Caldren was in distress. His daughter had been in a deadly situation, and a neighborly man had saved her. As a reward the Sorcerer granted the man and his entire family abilities to use for good. Some had the power of invisibility, others extraordinary strength, some even could walk up walls and onto ceilings. The mans wife had become barren after her second child, so the sorcerer also blessed them with many sons and daughters. Soon their family grew so large that they moved into the Black Forest.
But over time these people used their abilities to bring calamity upon all tribes and tongues. So the great Sorcerer put a curse on them; letting them keep their abilities but die at the ripe young age of twenty.
Legolas was still unsure if the people existed, but if they did, then this must be who was following him. Had he invaded their territory? Did they feel threatened by him? He could now sense that there were at least seven beings following him. He knew he would kill them all, and that he could dispose of them with one swift movement. But he wanted to play with these.
So he pretended to be in trouble and distress, pretending to not know what to do. The only way for him to run without encountering them with be to the left, so he ran in that direction. He could see the various trees that were hollowed out and used as houses. Soon he saw people cooking and children playing. These had to The Foresters.
But before he knew it, more than seven were pursuing him. And as he ran further and further he realized that he was getting deeper and deeper into their region. He heard something whiz by, gently grazing his shoulder. Black blood slowly seeped onto his garment. He saw a small spear hit the ground in front of him.
No more games. I have to finish them now.
He took an arrow out and quickly turned around, aiming and then shooting one of the men. It was a young man, perhaps fifteen. But he couldn't feel sorry for the boy. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't show emotion, because... he had none.
He took another and shot an arrow straight into a mans heart. A little bit of crimson blood trickled from the mans chest. A young woman attacked him from behind, jumping into his back. He couldn't help but laugh. A little girl? Does she actually think she could hurt me? He grabbed a hold of her leg with one hand and pulled her from his back. She tried to stay on, digging her nails into his back so that she wouldn't budge. But he still managed to bring her from his back to before him. And then he shocked himself and bit into her arm. She screamed in pain as he chewed off her flesh. And then he remembered: Orcs are cannibals.
He felt somebody else jump to his back, but as he reached his hand to grab the perpetrator, he couldn't find anyone. He let the girl go, and she dropped to the floor with a loud thump. Somebody was on him but he couldn't get a grasp. This must be someone using their abilities. He had to think quick. More and more Foresters were charging at him. He began to run, and eventually caught sight of a man sitting on a wooden throne with various carvings of flowers and trees etched into it.
This must be their head. The man looked nervously in each direction as he noticed that the Orcs gaze was fixed on him. But the mans face kept turning in one direction: towards a young woman tied to a tree. She seemed to be of obvious importance. Perhaps she was a prize that the head of The Foresters had won, or a captive from a neighboring tribe. Whatever she may be, she could be of useful leverage.
Without a moments hesitation he ran up to the woman, ripped her ties, and hauled her over his shoulder. He took a dagger from a small holster next to his boot, and stationed it to her throat. "If you touch me... she will die!" he shouted. As The Foresters heard this they slowly etched away from him.
"Please..." they pleaded. "Put her back. We won't harm you."
The promise was obviously fake. He could still hear disdain in their voice. He knew that the moment he gave her back they'd attack him and mostly likely wound him. The only thing he could think of doing would be to take her with him. She might be of use later on in his journey. Especially if he grew hungry...
He quickly darted away, woman in tow, and made his way out of their forest with only a few scratches from the branches he passed.
