I know not what drove me that night. Whatever I was thinking has been lost
upon the years of my growth. All I know is that something showed me the
paths that led to that evil spot. The hill of dark sorcery it was called.
In Elvish it was known as 'Dol Guldur' and evil lived there. It was long
before Sauron had made it his home, but it was still a place of evil and we
all knew it.
* * * * *
Legolas made his way through the moonlight and mist. The night surrounded him, but still he moved on. He could not explain why, but he was drawn by some outside force that he alone could not control. He was young and inexperienced, and no doubt his older brother would tell their father, but Legolas did not care. He thought that he was doing something good by coming here, whether it was a trap, as his brother had suggested, or not. He did not care. All he thought of now was getting to where he needed to go.
He had dismounted about a mile away. His horse would not carry him any farther into this wood. He walked precariously trying not to disturb any leaf or stone. After a few more steps he could see behind a weathered stone statue. And there, he stopped. He saw someone lying down. It was a girl. She was an elf no doubt, and from the look of her robes, though torn and tattered, very fine. Legolas did not know from when or where she came, but as he stepped closer, she shivered. A step closer, she shivered ever more violently. He quickened his pace, but noticed that she still shivered even more. He was right next to her now. He crouched and touched her, and caressed her long blonde hair, all the while thinking that if she did not stop shivering, she would burst. Legolas looked into his pouch and pulled out a rag. He wiped the girl's sweat soaked face. She seemed to calm slightly as his touch, and Legolas saw this as a good sign. He wiped the rest of her face and her neck. He put the rag back, not knowing what to do.
He decided what to do in a second. With out hesitation, Legolas picked the girl up. She clung to him. She was light as a feather which was somewhat unnerving to Legolas. He ran as fast as he could back to his mount. The horse took him as quick as ever back to his father.
It felt that it took forever to get back into Northern Mirkwood. When he reached the border, he was not paused; such was the speed that his steed came through. Legolas knew that messages were being sent as soon as he passed. With any luck he would reach the caves before them.
Within a half an hour, Legolas was at the opening of the main cave. He knew that moment that the messengers had not beaten him. No one was there to greet him. He opened the doors to his father's home and ran inside still carrying the girl. He found his father on his throne, no doubt brooding on when his son would return. He stood as soon as Legolas entered.
"My son," he said. "What is the meaning of this? Where have you been?"
"To places none can speak of," Legolas replied. "It is there where I have met this fallen angel. She needs food, water, rest, and treatment. I do not know what perils she has been through." He was now breathing heavy as the running had caught up to him. The king clapped his hands and two female elves entered, bowing.
"Take this girl to the treatment rooms. Do whatever you can for her," the Elvenking said. They exited, leading Legolas to the rooms.
* Later that night, Legolas was in his father's study. King Thranduil entered and Legolas stood where he had been sitting, reading a thick volume of Middle-Earth history. The page was turned to Mirkwood, which looked very well read.
"How is she?" Legolas asked without preamble. Thranduil hesitated.
"She will live, but we fear there is something there that we cannot mend. Perhaps even the Lord Elrond himself could not relieve it of her," he replied.
"Is she awake?" Legolas pursued. The king shook his head.
"Not until morning, we hope. She has no doubt been through a great deal. She needs her rest. She may wake sometime during the day tomorrow, but we highly doubt it." Legolas nodded. Thranduil looked at him kindly. "It was good that you had continued even when your brothers asked you not to."
"I couldn't understand it," replied Legolas. "Something was drawing me towards her. It was very unnerving." Thranduil smiled.
"It is well, though, that you listened to yourself. It has shown well, indeed," Thranduil embraced his son. "You have had a long day. Go and get some rest."
"I do not think I can fully rest until I know how the lady is doing," Legolas replied.
"But rest as much as you can," his father said. "We may need you for the hunt tomorrow." Legolas nodded and went to his chambers.
* * *
The next morning, Legolas looked in on the patient. Her eyes were closed, but her beauty was still evident. He looked upon her kindly, and he would call her fair, a beauty that could rival that of Arwen Undómiel, Legolas thought.
Legolas went hunting once that day, but stayed mostly in the vast library or in the treatment rooms, watching over the lady that he had saved from possible death. A message was sent out that day to Imladris, to contact the Lord Elrond for advice on how to treat this particular patient. For the meantime, she was kept in the rooms of healing, with scents of healing,
* * *
It was four days before the patient awoke. Legolas was there, watching her with apprehension. Her eyes opened to reveal kindly grey eyes. She blinked a few times to focus her surroundings. She looked very calmly around, for one who had just come out of dark places of her mind. She looked to Legolas.
"Where am I," she asked. She continued to look around her, but did not try to get up.
"You are in Northern Mirkwood," Legolas replied. "Under the protection of King Thranduil."
"Mirkwood? That is a glad name," she said softly. "I had been searching for that land on an errand of my own choosing. But tell me, how came I to be here? I do not remember much but dark and cold."
"I do not know much myself except that I found you in a very evil place. You were unconscious by the time I had found you, though you were shaking until I touched you," Legolas replied. "I did not know how you came to be there or why, but I took you from that place nigh on four days ago. You have been under our care since then."
"I am honored to be under such gracious hosts," the girl replied warmly, smiling slightly. "I hope I have not made too much of a disturbance in your land."
"You have not, and any that may have been will most certainly be forgotten. It is well that you are awake. I will be able to rest easier now," Legolas said. "I will go now to tell the healers that you have awoken." He rose and left her in silence.
He returned less than a minute later with two elf healers, clad in a deep green color. One of them held a clean mantle of white. The other held a basin of warm water. Legolas carried a weed, the girl knew at once as athelas. Legolas gave the woman the weed when she put the basin down on the chair Legolas had been sitting at. The healer crushed the plant and at once the pungent smell filled the room. The other left the mantle at the foot of the bed. The two healers left.
"If you need anything," he started his farewell, "do not be afraid to ask it of the healers. We have provided clothes for you, since you have lost your belongings. I, or one of my siblings, will come tomorrow in the morning. You are not to leave your bed for at least two more days when we will be sure that you are well. Good day then, lady."
"Wait," the girl called. "Might I have your name, sir, my rescuer?" Legolas nodded.
"You shall," he replied. "I am Legolas Greenleaf. And, might I have yours, miss?"
"I am Gilanna, daughter of Glorfindel of the house of Elrond," she said. Legolas nodded once again.
"Very well, Lady Gilanna. It has been my pleasure rescuing you." He bowed and walked out of the room.
A/N: So, what do you think? Review!
* * * * *
Legolas made his way through the moonlight and mist. The night surrounded him, but still he moved on. He could not explain why, but he was drawn by some outside force that he alone could not control. He was young and inexperienced, and no doubt his older brother would tell their father, but Legolas did not care. He thought that he was doing something good by coming here, whether it was a trap, as his brother had suggested, or not. He did not care. All he thought of now was getting to where he needed to go.
He had dismounted about a mile away. His horse would not carry him any farther into this wood. He walked precariously trying not to disturb any leaf or stone. After a few more steps he could see behind a weathered stone statue. And there, he stopped. He saw someone lying down. It was a girl. She was an elf no doubt, and from the look of her robes, though torn and tattered, very fine. Legolas did not know from when or where she came, but as he stepped closer, she shivered. A step closer, she shivered ever more violently. He quickened his pace, but noticed that she still shivered even more. He was right next to her now. He crouched and touched her, and caressed her long blonde hair, all the while thinking that if she did not stop shivering, she would burst. Legolas looked into his pouch and pulled out a rag. He wiped the girl's sweat soaked face. She seemed to calm slightly as his touch, and Legolas saw this as a good sign. He wiped the rest of her face and her neck. He put the rag back, not knowing what to do.
He decided what to do in a second. With out hesitation, Legolas picked the girl up. She clung to him. She was light as a feather which was somewhat unnerving to Legolas. He ran as fast as he could back to his mount. The horse took him as quick as ever back to his father.
It felt that it took forever to get back into Northern Mirkwood. When he reached the border, he was not paused; such was the speed that his steed came through. Legolas knew that messages were being sent as soon as he passed. With any luck he would reach the caves before them.
Within a half an hour, Legolas was at the opening of the main cave. He knew that moment that the messengers had not beaten him. No one was there to greet him. He opened the doors to his father's home and ran inside still carrying the girl. He found his father on his throne, no doubt brooding on when his son would return. He stood as soon as Legolas entered.
"My son," he said. "What is the meaning of this? Where have you been?"
"To places none can speak of," Legolas replied. "It is there where I have met this fallen angel. She needs food, water, rest, and treatment. I do not know what perils she has been through." He was now breathing heavy as the running had caught up to him. The king clapped his hands and two female elves entered, bowing.
"Take this girl to the treatment rooms. Do whatever you can for her," the Elvenking said. They exited, leading Legolas to the rooms.
* Later that night, Legolas was in his father's study. King Thranduil entered and Legolas stood where he had been sitting, reading a thick volume of Middle-Earth history. The page was turned to Mirkwood, which looked very well read.
"How is she?" Legolas asked without preamble. Thranduil hesitated.
"She will live, but we fear there is something there that we cannot mend. Perhaps even the Lord Elrond himself could not relieve it of her," he replied.
"Is she awake?" Legolas pursued. The king shook his head.
"Not until morning, we hope. She has no doubt been through a great deal. She needs her rest. She may wake sometime during the day tomorrow, but we highly doubt it." Legolas nodded. Thranduil looked at him kindly. "It was good that you had continued even when your brothers asked you not to."
"I couldn't understand it," replied Legolas. "Something was drawing me towards her. It was very unnerving." Thranduil smiled.
"It is well, though, that you listened to yourself. It has shown well, indeed," Thranduil embraced his son. "You have had a long day. Go and get some rest."
"I do not think I can fully rest until I know how the lady is doing," Legolas replied.
"But rest as much as you can," his father said. "We may need you for the hunt tomorrow." Legolas nodded and went to his chambers.
* * *
The next morning, Legolas looked in on the patient. Her eyes were closed, but her beauty was still evident. He looked upon her kindly, and he would call her fair, a beauty that could rival that of Arwen Undómiel, Legolas thought.
Legolas went hunting once that day, but stayed mostly in the vast library or in the treatment rooms, watching over the lady that he had saved from possible death. A message was sent out that day to Imladris, to contact the Lord Elrond for advice on how to treat this particular patient. For the meantime, she was kept in the rooms of healing, with scents of healing,
* * *
It was four days before the patient awoke. Legolas was there, watching her with apprehension. Her eyes opened to reveal kindly grey eyes. She blinked a few times to focus her surroundings. She looked very calmly around, for one who had just come out of dark places of her mind. She looked to Legolas.
"Where am I," she asked. She continued to look around her, but did not try to get up.
"You are in Northern Mirkwood," Legolas replied. "Under the protection of King Thranduil."
"Mirkwood? That is a glad name," she said softly. "I had been searching for that land on an errand of my own choosing. But tell me, how came I to be here? I do not remember much but dark and cold."
"I do not know much myself except that I found you in a very evil place. You were unconscious by the time I had found you, though you were shaking until I touched you," Legolas replied. "I did not know how you came to be there or why, but I took you from that place nigh on four days ago. You have been under our care since then."
"I am honored to be under such gracious hosts," the girl replied warmly, smiling slightly. "I hope I have not made too much of a disturbance in your land."
"You have not, and any that may have been will most certainly be forgotten. It is well that you are awake. I will be able to rest easier now," Legolas said. "I will go now to tell the healers that you have awoken." He rose and left her in silence.
He returned less than a minute later with two elf healers, clad in a deep green color. One of them held a clean mantle of white. The other held a basin of warm water. Legolas carried a weed, the girl knew at once as athelas. Legolas gave the woman the weed when she put the basin down on the chair Legolas had been sitting at. The healer crushed the plant and at once the pungent smell filled the room. The other left the mantle at the foot of the bed. The two healers left.
"If you need anything," he started his farewell, "do not be afraid to ask it of the healers. We have provided clothes for you, since you have lost your belongings. I, or one of my siblings, will come tomorrow in the morning. You are not to leave your bed for at least two more days when we will be sure that you are well. Good day then, lady."
"Wait," the girl called. "Might I have your name, sir, my rescuer?" Legolas nodded.
"You shall," he replied. "I am Legolas Greenleaf. And, might I have yours, miss?"
"I am Gilanna, daughter of Glorfindel of the house of Elrond," she said. Legolas nodded once again.
"Very well, Lady Gilanna. It has been my pleasure rescuing you." He bowed and walked out of the room.
A/N: So, what do you think? Review!
