Disclaimer: Nothing is mine but the couple of characters that do not appear
in any of Tolkien's work.
Note: Much of the background story is Silmarillion-inspired.
Frightening images flooded Legolas' dreams. The pale light of Arwen's eyes faded into the Dark of Eshnerel's eyes. His fingers were weak and fingers clammy as he tried to grasp the one small knife he had left. Little strength was left in him when her appearance changed into a spectre of fear and deceit. "Come into the Unlight," a foul voice spoke. "Your time is over; my time is beginning. Choose your damnation or your doom. The curse of Mandos is all that is left for you, if you do not accept what I have in mind for you." "I will not live as your slave. Dearly bought will be your victory- if you live to know anything other than death at my hand." Legolas bold words were betrayed by the fear in his eyes. He could fight; bold and many were his deeds, but this was a new adversary. Deception was she- too intangible, almost, for him to strive to conquer. "Come, Legolas, son of Thranduil. It is no longer your choice. Death is upon you." The distorted being before Legolas breathe poison upon him as she spoke. Legolas screamed as Eshnerel's body distorted into the most vile of forms. Soft blue fibers in her dress became tangled webbing. Eight legs sprouted from her disgustingly gnarled frame. The soft lips that Legolas had kissed so many times were perverted into a slavering maw, dripping with the blood of a thousand kills. This creature, creature of blood, and fear, and of foul poisoned hate, brought forth a terror that Legolas had never before known. Even in his fear, his training and instinct served him well. He poised for battle. Terrified, yet strangely confident, he stood, prepared to strike. As his hand raised in battle, his body began to collapse from the poison of the creature's breath. "Elbereth, Elbereth." He called twice with his last remnant of strength. Blood poured down his body in a burning wash of pain. 'End my life quickly, that I may not suffer at the hands of the creature.' The thought sprang to Legolas' mind before he collapsed in burning darkness.
Legolas bolted upright from his sleep. That dream again! That memory of pain was still left unabated by all the good he could find left in the world. Slowly he raised his weary eyes to the heavens above, hoping to find the light of the sunrise. Only gray was there to meet his gaze. No solace could any of the elves find in dark skies or concealed lights, for peace was found in beauty, and beauty found in light. The evil creatures of black-hearted spirits were found in the dark nights. Legolas' torment was found in nights, and in dreams that never ceased.
He sat, shivering in the cold pale dawn. Suddenly a light flashed in his eyes and he leapt to his feet. Dressed only in thin breeches, he took off running through the trees. His long hair streamed behind him in a golden cloud. Past the edges of Lothlorien he ran until he reached a small hill outside the forest. Collapsing from exhaustion, the elf gasped for breath as he cried to the gray sky.
"No more! The light is also my right. I have fought for it, more than many brave elves and men. Would that I had died with them, that I might not live to be alone for the rest for my days."
Tears poured from Legolas eyes as he wept to the bleak dawn. As he turned to leave, Galadriel's voice echoed in his mind.
"Have patience, Legolas. Turn back, and see what you would not wait for."
Slowly he faced toward the east again, fearing to see what might be there. With tears marring his beauty he lifted his face toward the sky. The sun broke its brightest rays upon him with a warmth that brought a rare moment of peace to his heart.
Frightening images flooded Legolas' dreams. The pale light of Arwen's eyes faded into the Dark of Eshnerel's eyes. His fingers were weak and fingers clammy as he tried to grasp the one small knife he had left. Little strength was left in him when her appearance changed into a spectre of fear and deceit. "Come into the Unlight," a foul voice spoke. "Your time is over; my time is beginning. Choose your damnation or your doom. The curse of Mandos is all that is left for you, if you do not accept what I have in mind for you." "I will not live as your slave. Dearly bought will be your victory- if you live to know anything other than death at my hand." Legolas bold words were betrayed by the fear in his eyes. He could fight; bold and many were his deeds, but this was a new adversary. Deception was she- too intangible, almost, for him to strive to conquer. "Come, Legolas, son of Thranduil. It is no longer your choice. Death is upon you." The distorted being before Legolas breathe poison upon him as she spoke. Legolas screamed as Eshnerel's body distorted into the most vile of forms. Soft blue fibers in her dress became tangled webbing. Eight legs sprouted from her disgustingly gnarled frame. The soft lips that Legolas had kissed so many times were perverted into a slavering maw, dripping with the blood of a thousand kills. This creature, creature of blood, and fear, and of foul poisoned hate, brought forth a terror that Legolas had never before known. Even in his fear, his training and instinct served him well. He poised for battle. Terrified, yet strangely confident, he stood, prepared to strike. As his hand raised in battle, his body began to collapse from the poison of the creature's breath. "Elbereth, Elbereth." He called twice with his last remnant of strength. Blood poured down his body in a burning wash of pain. 'End my life quickly, that I may not suffer at the hands of the creature.' The thought sprang to Legolas' mind before he collapsed in burning darkness.
Legolas bolted upright from his sleep. That dream again! That memory of pain was still left unabated by all the good he could find left in the world. Slowly he raised his weary eyes to the heavens above, hoping to find the light of the sunrise. Only gray was there to meet his gaze. No solace could any of the elves find in dark skies or concealed lights, for peace was found in beauty, and beauty found in light. The evil creatures of black-hearted spirits were found in the dark nights. Legolas' torment was found in nights, and in dreams that never ceased.
He sat, shivering in the cold pale dawn. Suddenly a light flashed in his eyes and he leapt to his feet. Dressed only in thin breeches, he took off running through the trees. His long hair streamed behind him in a golden cloud. Past the edges of Lothlorien he ran until he reached a small hill outside the forest. Collapsing from exhaustion, the elf gasped for breath as he cried to the gray sky.
"No more! The light is also my right. I have fought for it, more than many brave elves and men. Would that I had died with them, that I might not live to be alone for the rest for my days."
Tears poured from Legolas eyes as he wept to the bleak dawn. As he turned to leave, Galadriel's voice echoed in his mind.
"Have patience, Legolas. Turn back, and see what you would not wait for."
Slowly he faced toward the east again, fearing to see what might be there. With tears marring his beauty he lifted his face toward the sky. The sun broke its brightest rays upon him with a warmth that brought a rare moment of peace to his heart.