Yes, guys. I like Cash and Dash too, but their appearance in this fic is more a cameo.

@ Szhismine : Yep! Legolas needs a lawyer! LOL!!!

Note : In the following chapters, you might find most part are movie based.

Thranduil gathered his son close to his heart, hugging him like it was their final goodbye. Legolas was about to depart for Rivendell that morning. The prince had decided that he should inform Lord Elrond about Gollum being at large once again. He also hoped that Estel would already be there so that he could explain everything…all the while praying that the man would not blow up his rooftop.

Legolas returned his father's embrace, a little confused with his father's reluctance to let him go. He pulled away and looked deeply into Thranduil's eyes. "Father? What is it?"

Thranduil took a deep breath and stared at his son's beloved face, memorizing every detail. "Somehow, I have this feeling that I'm not going to see you for quite a long time after today."

Legolas's eyes widened in surprise. "Why did you say that?"

"I don't know. Father's intuition, I guess." Thranduil ran his hand through Legolas's golden locks. "Safe journey, my son. And remember, I'll always love you."

The prince gulped when he saw the tears in the king's eyes. "Father…"

"Whatever happens, whatever obstacle is in your way, don't ever give up until you return back to me. Promise me, Legolas."

"I'll be gone only for a few days…"

"Promise me!" Thranduil almost yelled, grabbing his son's shoulders in firm grasp.

Legolas was startled, but he could clearly hear the desperation in his father's voice. He nodded, taking Thranduil's right hand and kissing the palm. "I promise, father. I'll return to you."

The king leaned closer to kiss the prince's forehead and hugged him one more time. Then he let go and stepped back. "Send my regards to Lord Elrond and Gandalf," Thranduil said, his voice controlled once more, every inch the regal woodland elf king. "Tell them they have my full support to bring down the dark forces…when they decided to do so."

"I will." Legolas then bowed to his father. "Until next time, father."

Thranduil's eyes never moved from his son. He kept watching as Legolas mounted his ride, followed by his escorts, including Jaden, the newly appointed guard commander of Mirkwood. He kept on watching even when the troop had vanished from his sight.

"Until next long time…my son."

****************************

Legolas and his troop arrived in Rivendell two days later. As they dismounted, the twin sons of Elrond came forward to greet them. "Legolas! It's good to see you!" The three friends hugged one another exuberantly the way they usually did when they met.

"Good to see you too, Ell, Ro," said the Mirkwood prince as they pulled away. "I thought you guys were still in Lothlorien."

"We just returned last night," Elladan explained. "But what are you doing here? Not that we aren't glad to see you."

"And you left Gollum behind in Mirkwood?" Elrohir chuckled. "Well, I don't blame you! He stinks! And we had had hard times preventing Estel from killing that creature! Gollum is quite annoying! His stench just made things worse."

Legolas winced. "Err…Gollum is the reason that I am here."

"Oh? What about him?"

Fidgeting slightly, Legolas didn't answer but asked instead, "Where's Estel?"

"He hasn't arrived yet, maybe in the late afternoon, based on what Arwen had said."

"Arwen?"

Leaving the mounts and their packs to be looked after by the servants, the Mirkwood elves followed the twins into the palace foyer. Elladan and Elrohir began to tell Legolas about Arwen who just returned with a dying hobbit in her arms yesterday morning, while Gwaihir, the Lord of Eagles, had come landing several hours later bearing a wounded Gandalf on its back.

"There are three other hobbits with Estel. The dying one's condition was so grave that Arwen had to rush him here for father's treatment," Elladan explained. "Gandalf's injuries are not so serious though. But he brings with him a very terrible news."

"He had been prisoner to the wizard Saruman," Elrohir added.

"What?! Why? I thought Saruman is Gandalf's friend!" Legolas exclaimed in shock.

"Things have changed now that the Dark Forces is rising. Saruman has turned heart. He now supports Lord Sauron."

Legolas shook his head in disgust. Another traitor in our midst! First Cayel, now Saruman! What's going on with Middle Earth these days?!

Elrohir suddenly tapped his friend's shoulder. "Legolas? Aren't you going to say anything to your sweetheart?"

"What?" Legolas looked up…and gazed upon a pair of beautiful green eyes. His face lit up. "Nara."

Lady Narasene, Lord Glorfindel's niece who had just entered the foyer a while ago, smiled back at him. She curtsied gracefully. "Welcome back, my lord."

Legolas reached forward and offered his hand to her, this true love of his heart. How he had missed her so. "Are you well, my lady?"

"As well as can be expected."

"That's good."

The two lovebirds who had been apart for many months began to gaze lovingly into each other's eyes, already lost in their own world and forgetting completely about the others around them. Elladan rolled his eyes, while Elrohir cleared his throat meaningfully. "Err…okay, then. Go ahead, guys. Kiss. Oh. You're already at it!"

Elladan grabbed his twin's arm and dragged him away. "Come along, you oaf! Leave them be!" He also gestured the other Mirkwood elves to follow. "Legolas, we'll see you in the dining room later. Come have your refreshments after you have finished your…errr…welcome treat."

Commander Jaden and his warriors grinned to see a side of their prince that they had never seen before. King Thranduil is going to get his long-awaited daughter-in-law in the very near future. And what an enchanting maiden this one is! Sending an appreciative glance at the still smooching couple, Jaden proceeded to join the others.

Legolas and Narasene pulled apart, and broke into helpless laughter. "I bet they'll be talking about that for days!" he said, his eyes twinkling. But she was staring up at him deeply, looking a little sad. Legolas frowned. "What is it, Nara?"

"I heard that you were near death two months ago. No wonder my heart bled and beat rapidly for an unknown reason. You were in trouble," she said softly, her eyes tearing up.

Legolas pulled her back into his arms. "It's all right, Nara. Everything's fine now. I'm still here. You would not lose me that easily. I'll be yours forever."

Narasene sighed softly as she tucked her head under his chin. With her palm placed over his heart, she whispered, "Forever, my love."

They stayed that way for several minutes, then Legolas spoke, "Do you know that my father had had some discussions going on with your uncle about us?"

She chuckled. "Oh, yes I do. Uncle Glorfindel is very excited about it. He can't wait to have you as his surrogate son-in-law. He's telling everyone who would listen that his niece is going to marry the magnificent Mirkwood crown prince!"

He groaned. "My father is even worse. He has already ordered wedding attire for me! He even told me to ask you what you'd prefer to have for your wedding gift! Valar! I'm not even sure if I've already asked you to marry me or not!"

He looked down when he realized that Narasene had become silent. "I haven't, have I?" he asked, timidly. She shook her head.

"Ai! I'm so dense! I should've asked you to marry me long time ago! I'm not sure if you would accept, and I know I would not find any other maiden as wonderful as you but still I waited and waited…"

"Yes," she said shortly.

"What did you say?" Legolas was perplexed.

"I said, yes, I will marry you."

Legolas stared at her for several moments before letting out a loud whoop of joy. He picked her up and twirled around and around until they both felt dizzy. Narasene laughed breathlessly as her long raven hair flew around her like a curtain of shiny silk. "Legolas! Put me down before you collapse! I feel sick already!"

Still laughing, Legolas put Narasene back on her feet. She giggled as they both swayed unsteadily. "Wow, my lord! You sure made me fly!"

He grinned wickedly. "Want to fly some more?"

"No!" She shrieked when he reached for her again. Narasene skillfully dodged Legolas's advance and quickly sped away…and ran smacked into her uncle's broad form. She stopped short and looked up, and saw the frown on Lord Glorfindel's face. "O-oh."

"That's right, young lady. O-oh," said Glorfindel seriously.

Legolas cringed inwardly. Ai! What a good way to start a courtship; initiate your future father-in-law's disapproval by behaving like foolish children! He stepped forward and pulled Narasene protectively behind him. "Forgive our misbehavior just now, my lord. We didn't mean any disrespect to Lord Elrond's household."

Glorfindel was a little taken aback, then he smiled widely. Not only a great warrior of noble blood, this boy really loves my niece and is all ready to accept responsibility on her! Good for him! It's time she has someone fills up her empty heart after the death of her parents.

 "So, what is the good news both of you are celebrating?" Glorfindel asked, very well aware that the others from the dining hall had reentered the foyer when they had heard the couple's happy laughter. Even Lord Elrond and Arwen had come down from the upstairs guest chamber where they were tending to the wounded hobbit, so loud the noise was in such a serene place.

Legolas and Narasene looked at each other and exchanged blissful smiles.

Elrohir groaned. "They are doing it again! Hey, you two! You were asked a question!"

Turning to their audience then focusing on the two lords, Legolas began to speak, "My Lord Glorfindel, and Lord Elrond, it is with great honor that I ask for Lady Narasene's hand in marriage…with your blessings."

Silence ensued for quite a long moment, then Elladan yelled, "It's about time!! What took you so long?!"

The others laughed and applauded, congratulating the beaming couple. Arwen gasped with joy and ran to hug her best friend. "Oh Nara, I'm so happy for you!"

"Are you sure about this, Nara?" Elrohir interrupted. "He could be a real pain in the…"

Elladan quickly covered his twin's mouth. "Shut your trap, knucklehead, before you land into deep shi…err…trouble." He glanced meaningfully at their father who was congratulating Legolas.

Elrond turned to his sons. "Your friend here is a lot younger than you and he's already starting a family. What about the two of you?"

The twins looked at each other and prepared to escape. "Err…I have to go see if Gandalf needs anything," said Elladan as he headed for the stairs.

"And I have to go see if Ell needs me when he sees Gandalf," said Elrohir next as he also ran for the same stairs that his brother had taken.

The others laughed. Elrond shook his head. "Those two! Such a real pain in my…"

"Ehem!!" Arwen raised her eyebrows at the Rivendell lord. "There are ladies present, father."

"…my backside. That's what I was trying to say," Elrond said defensively.

"Really?" Arwen smiled before linking her arm through Elrond's. "Let's go see how our patient is doing." 

"The hobbit? What had happened to him?" Legolas asked, clutching Narasene's hands.

"He had been stabbed by a Nazgûl blade when he and his companions were chased by a group of ringwraiths," Elrond answered.

Legolas winced. "That must be painful. How is he doing? I bet you gave him your famous horrible draught of mixed athelas and gasbecum."

Elrond frowned at the prince. "Yes, I did. And he is recovering very well." After a beat, he added, "And it is not horrible!"

Glorfindel shook his head, his lips twitching in amusement. "I have to disagree. It is horrible. I have sampled it myself. Why can't you come out with a nice tasting healing medicine, I wonder?"

Even Elrond had trouble keeping a straight face. "What, you want me to fix something out of orange and apple juice?" With that, he and his daughter began to walk to the stairs.

"May I see him?" Legolas said.  Elrond and Arwen turned to look back at him. "The wounded hobbit. May I see how he's doing?" Legolas repeated.

Elrond smiled. The healer is still at work, I see. "Come along, then."

Legolas, along with Glorfindel and his niece, followed Elrond and Arwen upstairs. As they entered the chamber, they found the twins and Gandalf already there.

The gray wizard was sitting in a chair beside the bed, staring down at the small unmoving form lying under layers of blanket. He looked up and broke into a big smile when he saw the prince. "Legolas! What a nice surprise. Haven't seen you for quite a long time now."

"Nice to see you too, Gandalf." Legolas walked closer to the bed…and flinched when a bolt of unseen forces hit him squarely on his forehead.

The others in the room looked on in dismay when the Mirkwood prince staggered a step backward. Glorfindel who was just behind him instantly put a supporting hand on Legolas' back. "Legolas! What's wrong?"

With his eyes closed, Legolas was pinching the bridge of his nose. He could still feel the power of darkness inside the room, but not as intense as the first time it hit him.

"Legolas?"

He opened his eyes and saw the worried faces of the others in the room, staring back at him and waiting apprehensively for him to speak. Narasene was still clutching his hand, giving it a death grip in her effort to contain her anxiety.

"What is it, dear prince?" Gandalf had gotten out of his chair, walking closer to the former manyan. "What do you feel?"

Legolas stared at the wizard, then at Elrond and the others. "It's the ring," he replied softly, before turning to stare at a coat draped on the back of another chair; obviously it was the ailing hobbit's coat. Without looking, he knew what's inside the coat pocket. "It's here, isn't it? The ring is here?"

Almost every one inside the chamber was surprised. "How did you know? We never told you that," Elrohir exclaimed.

"He was once a manyan. Manyan blood still runs within him," Elrond answered, sharing a look with Gandalf. "That's how he knows. He can feel the power of the One Ring."

TBC…

Still no cliffie? Want cliffie? Mmm, I'll think of something…