Disclaimer: I don't own them, damn!

Warnings: A/L SLASH! (aka, male/male relationship, yaoi, shonen-ai) I don't write explicit stuff, not because I don't want to, but because I blush so bad when I try ^^;;;; oh, and this is

unbeta-ed as well (anyone want to be my beta reader?)



A/N #1: This is my first LOTR fic and so comes a series of confessions:

1) I haven't finished reading the books yet (in the middle of "Fellowship of the Rings"), thus 2) character portrayals will most likely be based on the movie, so 3) there will most likely be places where the characters are well.. out of character.

I hope u can bear w/ me through the story despite all the above mentioned so i think it'll be safer for me if I label this fic as an AU.



A/N #2: Thanks for the reviews!

to AJ Matthews: WOW! I can't believe you're the first one to review my fic! A total confidence booster since i am a big fan of your writing! Thank you!

to ferrari_finale: heehee, yes, A/L ROCKS! (::blinks:: I've never used that term before ^^;;....)Ganbatte w/ FotR! I hope you have more free time to read than i do :sniffles::

to Roselyne: Oh don't worry, even though I'm basing this fic more on the movie-verse (in the process of reading the books right now ^^), I know Legolas doesn't have any magical powers. But keep reading my fic, I will tell how Legolas came to get that power (hey, it is slightly AU ^^;). So, bear w/ me?

to xYuNa21x: Thankies! (for wishing me a happy birthday and for the praise ^__________^) Frankly, I don't quite know where to place my fic in the LotR timeline since i haven't finished the books ^^;;;;;;;;;;;;.... Currently, I'm putting it after they destroyed the ring, but there will most likely be inconsistency with the books since i haven't finished them. That's why I'm making this an AU... so just sortta go along with it, please?

to Sky Dreamer of Night: Thanks for your support!

to Crawler: awwwwwwwwwwwwww! don't scowl! don't scowl! albeit not a lot, here's more! ::giggles:: and what about "why?" I want more of "why?" NOW! ::throws a temper tantrum::

to ?????: Thanks for the praise, but I'm afraid i can't meet your request, since i personally LOVE slash and thinks that in regards to A/L: "The more the merrier!" Gomen ne! ::bows apologetically::

to Melanie: LOL! thanks for reading my fic then! I'm glad you like it even though I don't think it will have much hobbit action (though the hobbits will be in there, i assure you u.u). And about the slash, don't worry, I'll make sure to post warnings on the chapters if there will be anything graphic. But considering my writings in general, I don't get beyond kissing and cuddling (since i blush like crazy when writing a graphic scene ^^;). I'm experimenting my graphic scenes with Jrock fics, so don't worry and keep reading, ne?



A/N #3: I'm hoping to get 5-8 more reviews before I post chapter 2 ::hinthint:: ^_____^



Happy Reading!

Note: "common tongue"

'Elvish'

*tree speech* ............... O.o;



Child of Darkness and Death

Chapter I: The Beginning...





"Aragorn! Friends! Welcome to Mirkwood!" Came the friendly greeting from the trees above the company's heads.

"Crazy elf! Come down to where we can see you!" the Dwarf called with his gruff voice.

"Why don't you come up to find me? Stupid dwarf!" countered the merry voice still hidden within the branches of the trees.

"Legolas, Legolas! Come down!" Came Merry and Pippin's excited voices. "We want to see you!"

Frodo and Sam joined in, voicing their agreement, and soon the forest was filled with the sounds of the Elf/Dwarf banter, the excited voices of the Hobbits, and the low chuckle of a Human. Suddenly, the elf interrupted the dwarf's response with a startled cry, and a green and golden-silver blur fell from the tree and landed straight into the Human's arms.

A few loud coughs came from the company of dwarf and hobbits when the archer and ranger stayed in that position a tad bit longer than necessary. Legolas and Aragorn felt their faces heat up when the coughs were followed by barely contained hobbit giggles, and the two quickly separated.



"A wood-elf falling out of a tree," Gimli started, unable to resist the perfect opportunity to tease the Elven prince. "Will wonders never cease?"

Legolas scowled, face flushed from embarrassment.

"No creature," Legolas muttered, "can stay on a tree if the tree does not allow it." Then, Legolas turned to reprimand the tree in Elvish. 'That wasn't very nice of you, practically tossing me out of your branches like that.'

*I was enjoying the peace of these woods, young prince, before the banter amongst you and your friends disturbed me. Besides, I quite thought that I was doing you a favor: dropping you into the arms of the Man,* the ancient tree replied, but its soft laughter and lyrical voice passed over mortal ears as nothing more than the gentle rustle of leaves. Despite that, Hobbits, Dwarf, and Man all came to the conclusion that the tree had responded when the telltale blush on the archer's cheek spread tot he tips of his ears.

Behind him, Legolas could hear the barely contained laughter of his friends, which did not help the fair archers current predicament at all.

*Legolas,* the ancient tree started again. *Your people searches for you, for you have strayed far from the company of your patrol in your haste to greet your friends.*

At the reminder of his duty, The Elvan prince regain his composure almost instantaneously (to the awe of Dwarf and Hobbits, but not the Man, for Aragorn had seen it occur many times during their travels before the Quest).

"Come friends, we have dallied here too long," and as if to reinforce his point, a sharp, clear Elven whistle pierced the calm forest. Legolas returned the call, then turned back to his friends, his mirth returning to his Elven features. "Come my dear friends, my people awaits the guests of honor to start the feast and festivities!"

Gimli, Aragorn, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin all cheered as they followed Legolas deeper into the heart of the forest, and began to talk excitedly about the coming celebration, for Mirkwood, being the home of wood-elves, was famed for it's midsummer festivities.



tbc...



Next Chapt: Let the festivities begin!

And so the party starts... but where's Gandalf?