Second Chances
By Sinful Starlet
Chapter One - In the beginning
Disclaimer: Obviously anything you recognise doesn't belong to me. Characters and locations all part of the Tolkien estate, even if some of the characters are acting a little OOC - not majorly! Really!
Rating: Gonna say PG-13 for the whole thing - might change the rating for a few chapters, but that should be about the average.
Author's note: This is the first Lord of the Rings fic I've posted so I hope you like it. It's going to be a fairly Legolas-centric story, plus one of the other female characters in the book (who will become fairly obvious early on). I just thought this would be kind of an interesting situation. Also, this is going to be a mixture of book-verse and movie-verse, so a little AU but not horrendously I hope! Feedback is always appreciated - I always take note of constructive criticism, but I hope you like it anyway! *SS*
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Chapter One - In the beginning
Summary: Story begins. Legolas travels to a distant elf realm and makes an interesting discovery. (Okay, kinda crap summary, but the story gets better! *SS*)
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"We're almost there now, my lord", the servant announced to the prince who rode beside him. The day's journey had not been all that long, but this visiting prince had himself been journeying for many days, and by the look of it was about ready for a break. Not that he openly showed it of course, the servant noted with a little humour. The prince was relatively young by elven standards when compared to the servant, and he was clearly trying a little too hard to maintain an air of nobility.
"Thank you Melinor", the young prince replied, with the first smile he had managed all day, "I apologise for my silence during our journey, but this is the longest journey I have ever undertaken, and I am unused to spending so many days on the road".
"Not to worry sire", Melinor replied, not looking at the elven prince, but instead gazing at the horizon. "Ah", he said, as they passed through a particularly thickly wooded area, "we are here sire - welcome to Imladris".
*
The prince looked around him in amazement as they entered the inner confines of the elven sanctuary of Rivendel. It was even fairer than he heard it described, from the perfect blue of the sky, to the crystal clear water flowing in streams around them, and even the trees seemed more alive - their leaves greener and more bright than much of the surrounding woodland.
"My lord, I would ask that we make a little more haste", Melinor called kindly, as the young prince had stopped dead in his tracks to admire the surrounding beauty, "Lord Elrond has been expecting us already for several hours".
"Of course", the prince replied, urging his horse forward gently, "forgive me, for there is so much to take in by one who has never seen the beauty of Lord Elrond's home before".
"Ay, it is a fair sight", Melinor agreed as they continued riding, "but surely Mirkwood holds an attraction of equal beauty".
The prince smiled at the servant's gracious mention of his home, "Perhaps", he replied, again allowing a smile to cross his face.
*
At length, they reached the house itself, and the two riders dismounted to greet the rapidly growing welcoming committee. The prince smiled even wider when he saw who was at the head of the crowd. "Lord Elrond!", he exclaimed in delight, as the older elf came forward to greet him, embracing him as a long-lost friend, "It has been too long since you were last at my father's house, and I am glad to see you again".
"Thank you Legolas", Elrond smiled, "it has indeed been many years, but now here you are, looking quite the young gentlemen - a little different from the child with tears in his clothes and twigs in his hair!".
Legolas laughed in remembrance of his childhood adventures, "I fear there is little that can keep a wood elf from trees, my lord", he replied, laughing softly.
"Indeed", Elrond replied, "but we have much time to become reacquainted, I sense that you are weary now, and in need of some refreshment after your long journey".
Legolas laughed inwardly, the elder knew him too well, "Melinor was excellent company", he offered generously, "but I fear you are right - the road proved longer than expected".
"Well we shall talk more later then", Elrond concluded, motioning for several other servants to come forward and shows Legolas to his rooms, "I shall call for you for dinner, but until then feel free to take your ease". Legolas bowed a little to the Lord, more out of habit than actual need, and followed the servants gladly to his own, quiet room.
*
After a long, hot bath, Legolas emerged both clean and refreshed, dressing in the clean robes left for him on the bed. Just as he had finished, there was a knock at the door, and he called for the visitor to enter. "Elladan!", Legolas said, happy to see his old friend again.
"It is good to see you too, friend", Elladan replied, he and his brother had accompanied their father to Mirkwood more than once, and he and Legolas had become great friends.
"I came to see if you were ready for dinner", Elladan continued.
"Almost", Legolas replied, gesturing at his still wet and unbrushed hair.
"Allow me to assist you", Elladan offered, motioning for the younger elf to take a seat by the window. Legolas obligingly sat patiently while the older elf restored the thin braids in his hair, brushing the rest out until it was quite dry. He could of course, have performed the task himself, but it did save a little time this way. They were interrupted by a second knock at the door and Elrohir immediately followed the sound.
"Come along you two", he called, a wide smile across his face, "surely our guest does not want to keep the lord of the house waiting for his evening meal?" Legolas smiled warmly and he and Elladan chased after Elrohir as he disappeared off down the corridor to the dining hall.
*
Legolas again gasped in wonder as he entered the great hall. The room was far larger than he expected, filled with tables stacked high with more food than he thought even his hungry body would ever manage. About the same time, the remainder of the guests filed in - other people of Rivendell, mostly those of Elrond's house, took their places around the smaller tables while they waited for the lord of the house to enter.
At last, Elrond arrived, dressed in more formal robes, taking his place at the head of the main table, and beckoning for Legolas to come and sit beside him.
Legolas found his legs propelling him forwards to take his seat, but his eyes were distracted, caught by another figure entering the room. She was an elven maiden, (by the look of it, somewhat younger than he), but her beauty seemed to fill the room like a candle's light. She had raven hair that tumbled down around her shoulders, cascading over an emerald green gown. Legolas found himself struggling to breathe as he took in the beauty before him, appearing even more startled as the angel seemed to walk towards him.
"Ah Legolas", Elrond said as Legolas took his seat, with Elladan and Elrohir beside him, "I believe you have never met my youngest child". Legolas blinked, as he realised the lord was addressing him. "Legolas this is my daughter, Arwen Undomiel". At last recovering the ability to speak, he realised he should probably introduce himself.
"I know who you are, Prince Legolas", she said, cutting him off with a smile before he could speak, "my father and brothers have told me much about you and your home in Mirkwood".
Legolas eventually managed to formulate a polite response, and the meal began. Legolas spent most of this time in conversation with Elrond, who was keen to know all that had happened to his young friend since their last meeting. Legolas however, could not tear his thoughts from the lady sitting next to his host. In all his visits to Mirkwood, Elrond had never brought his daughter with him. In fact, as he later learned, she had never before left Rivendell, except to spend some time in Lothlórien, after the departure of her mother from Middle Earth.
He could not blame the lord for taking such close care of his daughter though. She looked much like her mother, a cause of both joy and pain in Elrond's heart, and she was clearly his most precious jewel. The Evenstar. Even that name did not seem fair enough to describe her beauty, which increased even more every time she shared a smile with the young prince.
He had little opportunity to speak to her during the meal, as Elrond commanded most of his attention, but after the meal was over, everyone began to move to the Hall of Fire, for the remainder of the evening. All except Arwen, Legolas noted, and he discretely followed her outside into the small private courtyard at the back of the house.
*
"Hello again, Prince Legolas", she said, without turning as he walked into the courtyard. He laughed quietly in amusement, he had moved in virtual silence, but not only had she noticed that she was followed, but she also knew who her follower was.
"Hello, my lady", he greeted, "but please, just call me 'Legolas' - when I am with Lord Elrond and your brothers, it is one of the few times I can forget my title and its obligations".
"I understand", she said, smiling, "it is quite a burden for such...young shoulders".
Legolas almost gasped in protest, "These shoulders are not as young as you might think, my lady!", he started, but then he saw the smile on her face, and conceded the joke. "You obviously share Elrohir's sense of humour", he said after a while.
"And that is a bad thing?", she questioned innocently.
"Not at all", Legolas laughed gently, "as long as you are careful where you choose to dispense that wit of yours!" They began to pace around each other as this verbal exchange continued for several minutes, neither quite ready to concede victory to the other.
Before long though, the laughter increased, and Legolas sank down onto one of the benches in the courtyard, holding his side. "Peace, lady - no more", he said, weakly, trying not to laugh again, "you win, this time".
"Well, in that case, I think it only right for you to suggest a rematch......to defend your honour", Arwen said, smiling slyly.
"I have business with Lord Elrond to attend to on my father's behalf", Legolas said, "but once that it is concluded, I shall look forward to it". For a second neither of them moved, their eyes caught in one another's gaze, then a voice rang out from the hall, calling for Arwen.
"I must go", she said, starting to move towards the house again, "it is probably merely my father wishing to say goodnight, but I must reply to his summons in any case".
"Indeed", Legolas replied, catching her hand before she could leave and planting a delicate kiss on its surface, "until our rematch my lady", he said mischievously, before releasing her hand and bowing as she started back towards the house.
*
A.N. - okay, that was the first part. I know it may be a little slow at the beginning, but it's called character development okay? I'm trying to set the scene here! Anyway, if you liked it, more will be up soon, and if you didn't, at least you didn't have to read too much before you could give up! Hope ya liked it anyway! *SS*