Disclamior: This is AU. Yes, I know Arwen is older than Legolas. I've
changed that for my purposes. My places and timelines may not be correct,
but I try. I do not claim to be an expert on Tolkien. Arwen will not be in
the story primarily, but she is vital to this first story in my upcoming
series. I own nothing. My thanks to Tolkien for creating the characters.
Also, I've noticed that some of my events are similar to events in Cassia
and Sio's stories. This was not done intentionally, and if they are really
bad, let me know, and I will change them. I have the greatest respect for
their work and would never try to plagiarize their work. (Or anyone else's
for that matter.) With that said, enjoy.
Nearly inaudible curses floated to the top of the trees, where a young elf remained perfectly still. There was no need for him to run, for he would not be found if he could remain silent. He watched through the foliage as his hunter passed by, their eyes ever watchful.
"This is not funny, Master Greenleaf!" An exasperated call of frustration came from below. The young elf began laughing lightly, hinting at his singing abilities. The elf below stopped and looked towards the treetops.
"When your father hears of this, young sir-"
A second later, Legolas Greenleaf dropped gracefully from the tree. "Lovely day, isn't it? Oh, and Father would be so upset if heard the things you said."
With that greeting, the elf began walking towards the castle, leaving his father's servant very irritated. The prince just smiled with mild satisfaction.
That's how it was when he was young. His father's servants would tell the king how "impossible" his son was, and how he had no regard for his caretakers. It was true, in some way. He respected his father immensely, but other than the king, only one had the prince's respect. Legolas looked now across the treetops to his betrothed. He was a century her senior, but he held her in the highest regard.
She caught his gaze, her emerald eyes clouded with fear. He nodded to her, his own eyes telling her to stay quiet. This was simply another game of cat and mouse to him; a game he so loved as a child. Only today, it was no game. His predator was not one of the castle servants, but instead a soldier of a human domain. Being quiet and staying out of sight was no longer amusing, but his life depended on it.
Her life depended on it. He decided long ago, when the wild chase first started, that if either of them made an obvious noise, he would sacrifice himself for her. She knew naught of his decision, but that was for the better, for she would never consent to it.
Their predator apparently did not know that he was chasing more than one elf, for he had only seen her, from behind, and even that was only a brief glimpse. He was thankful that he had not seen that she was, in fact, female, and had probably paid no attention to details such as her hair color. The race of men often figured that if they had seen one elf, they had seen them all.
"Come out from your hiding spot, elf. I won't hurt you." The voice sent shivers down the girl's spine. Legolas noticed this, giving her a warning with his gaze.
'Stay still, Arwen.'
She understood the message his face portrayed quite well.
"Not much, anyway." A second voice added to the first. The prince's shoulders fell a little; he had only known of one man on their trail. Now, there was no telling how many men were in the forest. He hid his disappointed look from Arwen.
"Honestly, Captain. The elf won't come down if we call to him." It was the second man's voice. Legolas' theory had been proved. they had no idea they had actually seen a female. There was a pause before the captain responded.
"Come down," he repeated softly. "Mithnien, I do believe you are more intelligent than I thought."
Legolas waited tensely to hear what was becoming of this conversation, though he had his suspicions.
"Men!" The loud cry from the captain echoed through the forest. "Search the trees!"
Arwen gave a panicked look to Legolas, who held a hand out to keep her still. He would wait for the perfect moment, then they would escape.
Directly beneath him, a man started to rustle the leaves of the tree he was in. As soon as the soldier's head appeared, Legolas made his move. He jumped, landing gracefully on the forest floor. He called out to his betrothed in elvish, words the men could not understand. He hoped they would think he was yelling at them rather than another elf. They all cried out with rage, running towards the prince. He dodged every one of their blows while fleeing from them. He hated fleeing from his enemies, but he had no choice. He dared not look back to see if they had all abandoned the trees that surrounded his own. He only prayed that Arwen was still safe in her hiding spot.
The chase lasted for a long while. The men grew weary, swearing at the elf. The elf prince gracefully evaded all of them, one long knife ready in his hand. Legolas made a sharp turn to avoid being hit by one man's blade, but unknowingly ended up in the path of the Captain.
The prince was knocked to the ground by the man's brutal strength, and though he fought hard, other men soon arrived. As he struggled against them, the captain pinned Legolas' hand to the ground, grinding his heel into the elf's wrist. Legolas kept from crying out, but his hand opened, and the blade fell from his fingertips. Another man ripped his bow from his back and snapped it in two.
Legolas cringed just then, not because of his bow, but because of the heavy boot that collided with his stomach. The force was met by another in his back. Legolas bit his lip to keep from screaming in pain.
"The king better appreciate this. Boy's more trouble than he's worth," one of the men mumbled as they tied the prince's hands behind his back.
"Get up, boy," the captain hissed, yanking the elf to his feet. "The king is awaiting your arrival."
Legolas was thrown into the human king's great hall. His hands were now released, but three men heavily guarded him. The king looked him over, seemingly ignorant the blood on his tunic.
"Who are you?"
Legolas said nothing, but his mind was spinning. He certainly could not give his true name. If this king knew he had royalty in his possession, he could use that against Thranduil. if they had any knowledge of the elven king.
"Answer me, boy!"
The prince felt a sharp pain in his back as he was hit again. The blow forced him to his knees.
"I am Cemendur of Mirkwood." Legolas had chosen his false identity with care. In elvish, it meant "a servant of the earth." It was a name he had often been called by as a child, since he answered to the calls of the earth more than those of his advisors.
The king nodded. "Very well. And the girl with whom you travel?"
"I travel with no one."
"Indeed. Says her name is Arwen."
"A servant of the king's house, as I myself am."
The king chuckled. "So there was another." Legolas scowled. If he didn't have her, how did he know? "Funny, though, how Arwen is the name of your prince's betrothed. Or so I hear from messengers of Mirkwood."
It was so simple a statement that Legolas was thrown mentally off balance. He quickly devised a new alibi.
"Yes. She is the princess of Rivendell. She was on her way to Mirkwood, to prepare for her wedding. I am, was, her escort." Legolas silently prayed that Arwen had managed to find a way back to her father.
"Where is she?" Legolas asked.
The king avoided his question. "She is quite pretty, isn't she?"
Legolas told himself to keep his temper. The king was goading him; he needn't give into him. From what he had gathered, the king didn't even have Arwen in his grasp. how should he know of her beauty?
"She will make a pretty trophy to show."
Legolas tried to fight the tensing of his body. 'Arwen is not here,' he told himself.
The king smiled a little. "Perhaps she will sleep in my chambers tonight."
Legolas had heard enough of the king's mocking tone. He sprang forward, out of the reach of his guards.
The king had been purposefully taunting the elf, but he was taken off guard by the coming attack. Several men were leaping out from the shadows, all fighting to beat the elf to the ground before he could reach the king. Legolas fought with all his might, but there were simply too many men. He fought the urge to scream as the Captain kicked his side. He would not let them have the satisfaction of his pain.
"Leave him," The king said after a few minutes of horrible pain for the elf. He looked at the creature, whose shoulders had not yet slumped in pain. 'He holds his pride well,' "You seem to care a lot about this girl."
"I swore to protect her," Legolas said through gritted teeth. "I care not so deeply for her, but for my king and my loyalty to his family." There was some truth in the statement. His father was his king, and he was loyal to his king. But he did care deeply for Arwen.
"It is out of your hands now. Her life, as well as yours, are in my hands."
Legolas fought to stand up and face the king. He would not let them see him beaten. "My life belongs to no one, and neither does hers."
"You are a stubborn one, indeed. It is no matter, we will soon break you of that."
Legolas made no response.
"Oh, and worry not. I have men at every border of my land. They will find her." "So you admit you do not have her captive?"
"We have both let important information slip this meeting. I wouldn't worry about it. Either way, you will probably never see her again. Take him to the dungeons."
"Wait, at least let me know of my captor's name."
The king smiled. "Not that you will ever speak it, but I am King Tarduain. Master, to you."
"No one is my master." "We will yet see."
Nearly inaudible curses floated to the top of the trees, where a young elf remained perfectly still. There was no need for him to run, for he would not be found if he could remain silent. He watched through the foliage as his hunter passed by, their eyes ever watchful.
"This is not funny, Master Greenleaf!" An exasperated call of frustration came from below. The young elf began laughing lightly, hinting at his singing abilities. The elf below stopped and looked towards the treetops.
"When your father hears of this, young sir-"
A second later, Legolas Greenleaf dropped gracefully from the tree. "Lovely day, isn't it? Oh, and Father would be so upset if heard the things you said."
With that greeting, the elf began walking towards the castle, leaving his father's servant very irritated. The prince just smiled with mild satisfaction.
That's how it was when he was young. His father's servants would tell the king how "impossible" his son was, and how he had no regard for his caretakers. It was true, in some way. He respected his father immensely, but other than the king, only one had the prince's respect. Legolas looked now across the treetops to his betrothed. He was a century her senior, but he held her in the highest regard.
She caught his gaze, her emerald eyes clouded with fear. He nodded to her, his own eyes telling her to stay quiet. This was simply another game of cat and mouse to him; a game he so loved as a child. Only today, it was no game. His predator was not one of the castle servants, but instead a soldier of a human domain. Being quiet and staying out of sight was no longer amusing, but his life depended on it.
Her life depended on it. He decided long ago, when the wild chase first started, that if either of them made an obvious noise, he would sacrifice himself for her. She knew naught of his decision, but that was for the better, for she would never consent to it.
Their predator apparently did not know that he was chasing more than one elf, for he had only seen her, from behind, and even that was only a brief glimpse. He was thankful that he had not seen that she was, in fact, female, and had probably paid no attention to details such as her hair color. The race of men often figured that if they had seen one elf, they had seen them all.
"Come out from your hiding spot, elf. I won't hurt you." The voice sent shivers down the girl's spine. Legolas noticed this, giving her a warning with his gaze.
'Stay still, Arwen.'
She understood the message his face portrayed quite well.
"Not much, anyway." A second voice added to the first. The prince's shoulders fell a little; he had only known of one man on their trail. Now, there was no telling how many men were in the forest. He hid his disappointed look from Arwen.
"Honestly, Captain. The elf won't come down if we call to him." It was the second man's voice. Legolas' theory had been proved. they had no idea they had actually seen a female. There was a pause before the captain responded.
"Come down," he repeated softly. "Mithnien, I do believe you are more intelligent than I thought."
Legolas waited tensely to hear what was becoming of this conversation, though he had his suspicions.
"Men!" The loud cry from the captain echoed through the forest. "Search the trees!"
Arwen gave a panicked look to Legolas, who held a hand out to keep her still. He would wait for the perfect moment, then they would escape.
Directly beneath him, a man started to rustle the leaves of the tree he was in. As soon as the soldier's head appeared, Legolas made his move. He jumped, landing gracefully on the forest floor. He called out to his betrothed in elvish, words the men could not understand. He hoped they would think he was yelling at them rather than another elf. They all cried out with rage, running towards the prince. He dodged every one of their blows while fleeing from them. He hated fleeing from his enemies, but he had no choice. He dared not look back to see if they had all abandoned the trees that surrounded his own. He only prayed that Arwen was still safe in her hiding spot.
The chase lasted for a long while. The men grew weary, swearing at the elf. The elf prince gracefully evaded all of them, one long knife ready in his hand. Legolas made a sharp turn to avoid being hit by one man's blade, but unknowingly ended up in the path of the Captain.
The prince was knocked to the ground by the man's brutal strength, and though he fought hard, other men soon arrived. As he struggled against them, the captain pinned Legolas' hand to the ground, grinding his heel into the elf's wrist. Legolas kept from crying out, but his hand opened, and the blade fell from his fingertips. Another man ripped his bow from his back and snapped it in two.
Legolas cringed just then, not because of his bow, but because of the heavy boot that collided with his stomach. The force was met by another in his back. Legolas bit his lip to keep from screaming in pain.
"The king better appreciate this. Boy's more trouble than he's worth," one of the men mumbled as they tied the prince's hands behind his back.
"Get up, boy," the captain hissed, yanking the elf to his feet. "The king is awaiting your arrival."
Legolas was thrown into the human king's great hall. His hands were now released, but three men heavily guarded him. The king looked him over, seemingly ignorant the blood on his tunic.
"Who are you?"
Legolas said nothing, but his mind was spinning. He certainly could not give his true name. If this king knew he had royalty in his possession, he could use that against Thranduil. if they had any knowledge of the elven king.
"Answer me, boy!"
The prince felt a sharp pain in his back as he was hit again. The blow forced him to his knees.
"I am Cemendur of Mirkwood." Legolas had chosen his false identity with care. In elvish, it meant "a servant of the earth." It was a name he had often been called by as a child, since he answered to the calls of the earth more than those of his advisors.
The king nodded. "Very well. And the girl with whom you travel?"
"I travel with no one."
"Indeed. Says her name is Arwen."
"A servant of the king's house, as I myself am."
The king chuckled. "So there was another." Legolas scowled. If he didn't have her, how did he know? "Funny, though, how Arwen is the name of your prince's betrothed. Or so I hear from messengers of Mirkwood."
It was so simple a statement that Legolas was thrown mentally off balance. He quickly devised a new alibi.
"Yes. She is the princess of Rivendell. She was on her way to Mirkwood, to prepare for her wedding. I am, was, her escort." Legolas silently prayed that Arwen had managed to find a way back to her father.
"Where is she?" Legolas asked.
The king avoided his question. "She is quite pretty, isn't she?"
Legolas told himself to keep his temper. The king was goading him; he needn't give into him. From what he had gathered, the king didn't even have Arwen in his grasp. how should he know of her beauty?
"She will make a pretty trophy to show."
Legolas tried to fight the tensing of his body. 'Arwen is not here,' he told himself.
The king smiled a little. "Perhaps she will sleep in my chambers tonight."
Legolas had heard enough of the king's mocking tone. He sprang forward, out of the reach of his guards.
The king had been purposefully taunting the elf, but he was taken off guard by the coming attack. Several men were leaping out from the shadows, all fighting to beat the elf to the ground before he could reach the king. Legolas fought with all his might, but there were simply too many men. He fought the urge to scream as the Captain kicked his side. He would not let them have the satisfaction of his pain.
"Leave him," The king said after a few minutes of horrible pain for the elf. He looked at the creature, whose shoulders had not yet slumped in pain. 'He holds his pride well,' "You seem to care a lot about this girl."
"I swore to protect her," Legolas said through gritted teeth. "I care not so deeply for her, but for my king and my loyalty to his family." There was some truth in the statement. His father was his king, and he was loyal to his king. But he did care deeply for Arwen.
"It is out of your hands now. Her life, as well as yours, are in my hands."
Legolas fought to stand up and face the king. He would not let them see him beaten. "My life belongs to no one, and neither does hers."
"You are a stubborn one, indeed. It is no matter, we will soon break you of that."
Legolas made no response.
"Oh, and worry not. I have men at every border of my land. They will find her." "So you admit you do not have her captive?"
"We have both let important information slip this meeting. I wouldn't worry about it. Either way, you will probably never see her again. Take him to the dungeons."
"Wait, at least let me know of my captor's name."
The king smiled. "Not that you will ever speak it, but I am King Tarduain. Master, to you."
"No one is my master." "We will yet see."