Chapter One:
The sky had darkened considerably since the early afternoon. Now late evening, the forest of Mirkwood was deserted, quiet, and slightly eerie to a person who did not live there.
But to one particular rider, the quiet was welcomed. Legolas urged his horse onward, as thunder rolled high above him. He wondered if his good friend Arréion had made it home safely and soundly.
He also wondered if Minya had as well. He thought of the lovely young elf, and smiled. She was only slightly shorter then him, and held the beauty of her mother, who was a Sylvan elf. Her father had died long before Legolas had been born. Her hair was long, and white blonde. Her skin was light porcelain. Her eyes were most usually bright blue, with green streaks here and there.
She and Legolas had been friends since birth, and neither of them had thought any different of each other since then. They still tricked each other, playing games, like seeing who could sneak up on the other faster, tree tag, and racing on their horses. Legolas, as a younger boy could not say Minyahawen, so instead he would call, "Minya! Minya? Where are you? Minya?" and then Minya would always scare Legolas from behind.
Legolas was slender, white blonde, tall, pale skinned and quite handsome. He was a prince of Mirkwood, son of King Thùnidain. Both Minya and Legolas resembled a Sylvan elf of the forest, not of some other elves that had darkly tanned skin and brown hair, like Arréion.
Thunder rolled louder. Legolas was jerked from his thoughts when a bright flash spooked his horse, and a violent clap of thunder hurt his sensitive elven ears. He heard a moan, and a small whinny. He spun his horse in a small, tight circle to keep it under control, then set off in the direction the sound came from.
He would have ridden by it if the figure had not then coughed loudly, and shook his head. Legolas turned his horse. He drew his bow, and knocked an arrow. He walked slowly up to the figure in the shadows. It groaned again. He got close enough to see his good friend, Arréion lying on the ground, propping himself on a tree. He had an ugly purple bruise forming on his forehead.
Legolas ran up to his friend, worried. Arréion looked at Legolas. "Riders.Orcs on Wargs.stupid things knocked me off my horse." Legolas frowned. Orcs. Wargs. In Mirkwood? How strange. Then he remembered Minya. She had ridden off shortly before Arréion. "And what of Minya? Did you by any chance glimpse her?"
Arréion frowned deeply. Legolas' heart quickened. "I caught up with her, and we were conversing when it happened. I blacked out to her calling my name, more in worry then distress. Then I heard hoof beats, snarls, and then it ceased. I think that was when the darkness truly overcame me."
Legolas leaped up. He rounded up Arréion's horse and helped his good friend onto it. "'Jenyad, Take him home the long way.'" The horse snuffed in approval, and galloped off, Arréion holding on the best he could. Legolas ran back to his horse, mounted quickly and kicked it, a little too hard in his worry. It whinnied in disapproval.
"Sorry.A lot of things on my mind." Then they took off.
~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#* Meanwhile, Minya was battling quite a few vicious and angry orcs. She had long since run out of arrows. She should have thought twice before wasting more then half of them on simple games with Arréion and Legolas.
She now had unsheathed two deadly ivory knives that cut through thick branches without a problem. She twirled them, trying her best to stay on her leaping and bucking horse. The last of the orcs sniffed slightly, then ran out of the clearing.
Legolas came galloping in, shooting them all before they entered the forest's thick foliage. "Legolas! What took you?" Minya exclaimed, moving her horse gingerly over many dead orcs lying on the ground. A warg was over to the edge of the clearing, devouring orc bodies. Legolas glanced at it nervously.
Minya took his forearm and pulled him out of the clearing and into the thicker woods. "Legolas, we have to warn your father. How is Arréion? I saw him fall and quickly distracted all the orcs away from him. Clumsy fool," she said, smiling.
She and Legolas set their horses into a quick yet silent gait, all four of them listening closely for any sign of orcs.
When they reached the elven city of Mirkwood, Legolas shouted for all elves to be aware, as there were orcs in the area. Elves nabbed their bows and arrows, and set off into the forest to clear it of all nasty beings.
Legolas dismounted, and headed off toward the castle. Normally, if there had been another female on the horse next to him, he would have helped her dismount. But in this case, the lively young elven female refused any help whatsoever. She handed her reins to an elf near the doorway, and followed Legolas.
She watched from the sidelines as Legolas burst into his father's throne room. "What is it my son? I have heard the news of the orcs, no doubt you already knew that, but what else is on your mind?" Legolas told his father quickly and to the point. "The orcs are on Wargs, father. They attacked Minya and Arréion."
Thuranduil looked quite surprised. "I see fair Minyahawen, yet I do not see." A guard rushed in, holding limp Arréion in his hands. A female healer ran up and took Arréion in her arms, and took him to a room of healing.
The king smiled. "I have been proved wrong. So they are both.safe? As you could say?"
Minya stepped forward. "The fool tried to protect me and was knocked off his horse, and he hit his head on a tree."
The king's smile broadened, yet faltered when he realized what the woman had been doing in the forest all this time. He sighed. "Have I not told you to stay out of trouble? You were supposed to be in the gardens, tending to your flowers."
"Yet I did before I left and."
"But you left. I am sorry Minyahawen, but I will not allow you to carry on like this. You have traces of royalty in your blood, and you cannot continue running around like a young boy elf. I should have quenched your thoughts in the beginning, but now it is too late. You must go to Lothlorién, where Lady Galadriel will teach you how to become a proper young elven lady."
Minya's eyes widened. "You.you must be joking my lord. You cannot say this is true." but her words were cut short by another panicked guard rushing into the throne room.
"My lord! Gollum has escaped!"
Thuranduil closed his eyes as one would do when their mind was becoming overwhelmed by thought and emotion. He opened them, mind resolved. "My son, would you like to ride out to Rivendell to take this message to Lord Elrond?"
Legolas nodded, but did not leave the room. "As for you, my stubborn young lady, you are going to Lothlorién, where you will stay until you have proper ladylike behavior. Leave me, both of you, and let me think in peace."
Minya turned and ran out of the throne room. Legolas followed her. She stopped in a small part of the forest and fell to her knees. Running up to her, Legolas saw her shoulders shaking. He knew she was crying.
He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him, smiled, tears running into her mouth. She suddenly tackled him, sending him to the ground. He flipped her so he was now on top. They both were laughing. He held her hands down till she stopped struggling. He rolled off her and lied on his back next to her.
She turned her head to look at him, biting her lip. "Legolas, will you visit me? Then I'll have an excuse to go 'walking' with you in the woods."
Legolas smiled at her reassuringly. "As soon as I have finished my errand, I shall meet you." She suddenly let out a gigantic sob, and pressed herself against Legolas.
"I do not want to go. I do not want to leave my home, my father. Arréion, you." Staring at the trees above his head, he turned to face her and held her in his arms for a few seconds. Then he released her, wiping her tears.
"You do know that Lothlorién is all woods, and the trees there are tall. You know that I will drag Arréion with me to visit my friend. I could not even think of doing less."
She lay still, eyes shut. Legolas felt a strange pain in his heart for this girl, who was being forced away from family and friends to become a lady, one of the things she loathed. A small sigh broke through his thoughts.
"Legolas?"
"Hmm?" he said, unaware of a feeling beginning to form beneath his features, beneath his skin, not even within his very grasp of what that feeling was. Minya pressed herself against Legolas, holding back more tears that threatened to come.
"Hold me." Legolas was surprised at this. She was the kind of person that did not enjoy physical contact beyond a small and reluctant hug as a greeting. He wrapped his arms around her. Where they were, lying in a small clearing, they saw a brilliant flash of light, then the clouds suddenly cleared.
The stars were bright that night, and Legolas turned his face up to the sky, partially because he wanted to see the stars, partially because he wanted no one to think he was doing anything more to Minya then comforting her.
She too, looked up at the sky. Legolas heard a rustling in the bushes next to them. He lessened his grip on Minya and looked behind him. He smiled. "Arréion. You may join us."
Arréion walked out, looking annoyed that he had been caught. His bruise was already disappearing. He sat on the ground on the other side of Minya. He suddenly dropped his torso heavily, and wrapped his arms around the other side of Minya, so she was completely submerged in her good friends' bodies.
"I've heard about your small predicament, Minya. You know, I don't think I've ever seen you in a dress." Minya giggled beneath them. She wiggled so her head popped up out of their embrace.
"I had a good reason not to wear one, Arréion. I always thought they'd slow me down, or get in my way. Or worse. Get dirty when one of you tackled me and then the blame would be placed upon me."
Legolas smiled guiltily. He knew she was right. He also smiled wider as he thought of something. "Arréion. Do you know what someone would think if they saw the three of us? Since Minya is completely covered up, someone would think we were embracing each other. That would be quite hard to explain. Then when they found a girl between us, what would they think then? That she was a dirty female that helped herself to two men at the same time?"
Minya laughed out loud. "You dare think that of me!"
"I do not think that of you." Minya laughed again, the sound of tinkling bells.
"Of course I know you would not think that of me. Did you think I of all people would mistrust my best friends?"
Legolas smiled. She was right. She was one of the most trusting people he knew. A shout for Legolas and Minya was sounded. Arréion let go, then Legolas stood, helping Minya to her feet. Again, both the elven men were surprised at her face. There were no tear streaked cheeks, nor were her eyes red. The only person who knew she actually cried had been Legolas.
Arréion had not been there when she had asked Legolas to hold her. All three of them headed toward the gates of Mirkwood. Both of them were cloaked in a light fabric that kept them surprisingly warm in the midnight air.
Legolas was not given any escorts, but Minya was given eight. Minya, suddenly taken by some sort of strange desire, ran to Legolas and hugged him hard. Before they broke apart, she kissed him softly on the cheek. She did the same for Arréion, but left the kiss for only Legolas.
All of them set off. Elven guards encircled Minya, so she had no chance to say goodbye to Legolas one last time. As they passed through the gates, Legolas suddenly yelled to Minya, "I shall see you soon, Minya!" then kicked his horse into quite a fast gallop.
He shot off, figure quickly disappearing into the horizon. Minya felt her heart melt. She was now with a group of men she only knew slightly, in the middle of nowhere. Although they were perfectly trustable, she refused to trust at least three of them.
The three were handsome, young, and arrogant. When Legolas had been younger, he was always scrawnier then the other elves, unable to lift a sword. He had been chased and teased, tormented. That was when he came to Minya, who was his savior.
Although she was younger then him, she had confronted the jealous bullies and actually kicked one in the groin. Those three elves were three of Legolas' greatest fears as a child. And as Minya had grown, those elves had taken to flirting with her, holding her, touching her and making her feel uncomfortable.
She knew she should trust them with the other five older guards there, but still she was not comforted by their existence.
~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#* Legolas had reached Rivendell, but only after five days of not eating and not sleeping. He flew through the gates, and dismounted before his horse stopped. He ran, elven legs carrying him far and fast in little time.
He burst into Elrond's conference chambers, breathless. Elrond looked up. "What does a young elven prince such as yourself, have to do with the goings-on in Rivendell?"
Legolas quickly explained his story. Elrond nodded, and turned to a man, sitting in the corner, who Legolas had sensed, more rather then seen.
"So you were correct. Gandalf has proved you right again." Legolas gasped.
"Mithrandir? In Rivendell? Oh, I must see him!"
"No need." Said a voice coming from the doorway. Legolas turned so see an old man, rather sweet looking in appearance. Legolas ran to him and hugged him. Mithrandir, or Gandalf the Grey, as the men called him more often, hugged the young prince back.
"I have not seen you in a long while my boy. My, you have grown. All I remember is a scrawny little elf that would run around with a beautiful little girl, playing games with her. And I believe that is still the case?" Legolas looked down in dismay.
"Nay, sir. She has been sent to the woods of Lorién to learn to be ladylike." His face contorted slightly, as though he hated the sound of the word ladylike.
Again, Gandalf laughed. "My dear boy! Do you not understand that she will only heed that information as long as it causes pleasure to her mind? She will discard it as soon as she returns to Mirkwood. Then the two of you may frolic in the forests once again. She is a good friend of yours, is she not?"
Legolas nodded, smiling. "Just friends?" Legolas nodded again, slightly confused at why the wizard would ask him this. ~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#* They had finally stopped to rest. It had been quite a few days now, enough for Legolas to reach Rivendell. Minya was lying on the ground, gazing up at the stars, when a voice sounded from behind her.
"You enjoy that?" She looked back to see Hastin, one of the 'three' approaching her from behind. She pretended to not notice that he was nearly stalking her, walking slowly, almost seductively toward her.
She turned away, hoping that if she turned away and ignored him, he might leave. Her hopes were not granted however. He crouched down next to her, then lie down, staring at her. "I enjoy looking at the stars as well," he whispered, lips close to her pointed ear. He kissed it, then leaned back on his elbows.
Minya could not believe this boy's bravery. The elves ears were their most sensitive, and most sensual part of their body. She closed her eyes, then opened them, looking at him. She had not noticed how much the boy glowed in the moonlight.
She knew all elves seemed to glow, and she knew she had gotten plenty of compliments on that, but this boy seemed to glow brightly enough to light the whole clearing. Whispering to him, sure he would hear, she said, "Why is it that you glow so? You nearly look heavenly."
He looked at her and laughed quietly. "Nearly heavenly? Then you must be an angel, as you glow with more light then I ever shall." He leaned over her, and kissed her softly and soundlessly. Minya closed her eyes. It was wonderful, the feeling of the kiss, but she knew if she loved this boy the kiss's delight would have been magnified quite largely.
She waited for a few seconds to see if he would stop, but he did not. She slowly pushed him away, smiling. "You can stop now, Hastin. I wonder what the elders would say if they walked into this clearing."
Hastin nodded and stepped away, but before he left, he had to say one more thing. "You would not have asked Legolas to stop." And he then walked out of the clearing, giving her no chance to argue. She lay back down, and pondered on that thought for a while. Would she have asked him to stop? ~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#* Legolas was informed later on in the evening that he was to attend a secret council concerning the movement of the Ring of Power into Mordor to be destroyed. He was going to represent the elven race, with a few others.
The meeting passed slowly. When the time came, he heard a small voice say, "I will take it! I will take the Ring to Mordor!" Everyone had stopped their bickering to look at the small hobbit, standing there, ready to risk his small life to save Middle Earth.
And to think they were fighting over which warrior was more fit to take it, when this little untrained halfling was offering his services, looking quite afraid yet resolved. Mithrandir sighed. He joined Frodo.
Legolas stood. "And you have my bow." To Legolas' dismay, 'the dwarf,' Gimli son of Gloin, the dwarf who had told the whole attendance to never trust an elf, offered his axe. Although Legolas knew Aragorn was going to join them, he did not anticipate Borimir, cocky, stubborn son of Denethor to come; after all of that constant nagging about why they should not go.
Later on in the next afternoon, they left Rivendell. Gandalf headed them towards the mountain path of Caradhras. They stopped to rest on a small rock formation in the middle of a large, rocky plain.
Borimir was teaching the hobbits to swordfight, Aragorn watching amused. Gandalf and Gimli were having a discussion on where they really should go. Sam was cooking dinner, Frodo sitting off to the side, not doing much at all. But Legolas was restless.
He ran up to a small overhang, and looked out onto the horizon. A black mass, looking almost like a large cloud was headed toward them.
"It is just a large cloud," said Gimli, smoking his pipe.
"But it is moving against the wind," said Borimir.
"CREBAIN FROM DUNLAND!" Legolas cried, frantic.
"Hide!" shouted Aragorn. They all hid. Sam was still stomping out the fire when Legolas grabbed him and put him into a hiding spot, then quickly moved to his. The crow-like birds flew above their heads, screeching and cawing.
When they had passed far enough away, Gandalf came out of hiding. "Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched. We must walk the mountains." Sam groaned.
~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#* Minya was now in Lothlorién. And she thought it was a city! It was all trees, and no elf lived on the ground. She dismounted wearily. A man walked up to her. "You are Minyahawen of Mirkwood?" She nodded, almost too weary for words. They had ridden many days without stopping.
The elf smiled. "I am Halidir. Follow me, and I will lead you to Lady Galadriel." She gladly followed. Lady Galadriel turned out to be the most beautiful woman Minya had ever seen. She welcomed Minya in, then told her to get bathed and dressed.
She did as she was told, and when dressed a silver dress. She could not complain however, as it was quite comfortable, and it was not covered in ruffles or designs. She was led out, and had an elegant feast. Even though she had felt hungrier before, she did not have to eat much, as elven food was quite filling.
But as she ate, she did not talk much, as her mind was always flitting to her old friends' faces, and what Hastin had said about Legolas.
Ok. I really need to work on this. I haven't put a disclaimer on!!!!!!!!! Argh!!!!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Tolkein's characters.*sniffles*..Legolas.Halidir.elfy twins.Frodo.Pippin.waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
Thank you to my many(not) reviewers.
FandomAvenger: I appreciate your concerns. I took heed to your warnings and have mended my faults. Oh, and by the way.wait.*bangs head on keyboard*.aaah! Your going to give me a bad review now! I had writers block, and I couldn't help it! I just wrote and wrote until I couldn't wrote no more!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok. Just had two too many Recees.
Chapter two: (imaginative, aren't I?)
The sky had darkened considerably since the early afternoon. Now late evening, the forest of Mirkwood was deserted, quiet, and slightly eerie to a person who did not live there.
But to one particular rider, the quiet was welcomed. Legolas urged his horse onward, as thunder rolled high above him. He wondered if his good friend Arréion had made it home safely and soundly.
He also wondered if Minya had as well. He thought of the lovely young elf, and smiled. She was only slightly shorter then him, and held the beauty of her mother, who was a Sylvan elf. Her father had died long before Legolas had been born. Her hair was long, and white blonde. Her skin was light porcelain. Her eyes were most usually bright blue, with green streaks here and there.
She and Legolas had been friends since birth, and neither of them had thought any different of each other since then. They still tricked each other, playing games, like seeing who could sneak up on the other faster, tree tag, and racing on their horses. Legolas, as a younger boy could not say Minyahawen, so instead he would call, "Minya! Minya? Where are you? Minya?" and then Minya would always scare Legolas from behind.
Legolas was slender, white blonde, tall, pale skinned and quite handsome. He was a prince of Mirkwood, son of King Thùnidain. Both Minya and Legolas resembled a Sylvan elf of the forest, not of some other elves that had darkly tanned skin and brown hair, like Arréion.
Thunder rolled louder. Legolas was jerked from his thoughts when a bright flash spooked his horse, and a violent clap of thunder hurt his sensitive elven ears. He heard a moan, and a small whinny. He spun his horse in a small, tight circle to keep it under control, then set off in the direction the sound came from.
He would have ridden by it if the figure had not then coughed loudly, and shook his head. Legolas turned his horse. He drew his bow, and knocked an arrow. He walked slowly up to the figure in the shadows. It groaned again. He got close enough to see his good friend, Arréion lying on the ground, propping himself on a tree. He had an ugly purple bruise forming on his forehead.
Legolas ran up to his friend, worried. Arréion looked at Legolas. "Riders.Orcs on Wargs.stupid things knocked me off my horse." Legolas frowned. Orcs. Wargs. In Mirkwood? How strange. Then he remembered Minya. She had ridden off shortly before Arréion. "And what of Minya? Did you by any chance glimpse her?"
Arréion frowned deeply. Legolas' heart quickened. "I caught up with her, and we were conversing when it happened. I blacked out to her calling my name, more in worry then distress. Then I heard hoof beats, snarls, and then it ceased. I think that was when the darkness truly overcame me."
Legolas leaped up. He rounded up Arréion's horse and helped his good friend onto it. "'Jenyad, Take him home the long way.'" The horse snuffed in approval, and galloped off, Arréion holding on the best he could. Legolas ran back to his horse, mounted quickly and kicked it, a little too hard in his worry. It whinnied in disapproval.
"Sorry.A lot of things on my mind." Then they took off.
~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#* Meanwhile, Minya was battling quite a few vicious and angry orcs. She had long since run out of arrows. She should have thought twice before wasting more then half of them on simple games with Arréion and Legolas.
She now had unsheathed two deadly ivory knives that cut through thick branches without a problem. She twirled them, trying her best to stay on her leaping and bucking horse. The last of the orcs sniffed slightly, then ran out of the clearing.
Legolas came galloping in, shooting them all before they entered the forest's thick foliage. "Legolas! What took you?" Minya exclaimed, moving her horse gingerly over many dead orcs lying on the ground. A warg was over to the edge of the clearing, devouring orc bodies. Legolas glanced at it nervously.
Minya took his forearm and pulled him out of the clearing and into the thicker woods. "Legolas, we have to warn your father. How is Arréion? I saw him fall and quickly distracted all the orcs away from him. Clumsy fool," she said, smiling.
She and Legolas set their horses into a quick yet silent gait, all four of them listening closely for any sign of orcs.
When they reached the elven city of Mirkwood, Legolas shouted for all elves to be aware, as there were orcs in the area. Elves nabbed their bows and arrows, and set off into the forest to clear it of all nasty beings.
Legolas dismounted, and headed off toward the castle. Normally, if there had been another female on the horse next to him, he would have helped her dismount. But in this case, the lively young elven female refused any help whatsoever. She handed her reins to an elf near the doorway, and followed Legolas.
She watched from the sidelines as Legolas burst into his father's throne room. "What is it my son? I have heard the news of the orcs, no doubt you already knew that, but what else is on your mind?" Legolas told his father quickly and to the point. "The orcs are on Wargs, father. They attacked Minya and Arréion."
Thuranduil looked quite surprised. "I see fair Minyahawen, yet I do not see." A guard rushed in, holding limp Arréion in his hands. A female healer ran up and took Arréion in her arms, and took him to a room of healing.
The king smiled. "I have been proved wrong. So they are both.safe? As you could say?"
Minya stepped forward. "The fool tried to protect me and was knocked off his horse, and he hit his head on a tree."
The king's smile broadened, yet faltered when he realized what the woman had been doing in the forest all this time. He sighed. "Have I not told you to stay out of trouble? You were supposed to be in the gardens, tending to your flowers."
"Yet I did before I left and."
"But you left. I am sorry Minyahawen, but I will not allow you to carry on like this. You have traces of royalty in your blood, and you cannot continue running around like a young boy elf. I should have quenched your thoughts in the beginning, but now it is too late. You must go to Lothlorién, where Lady Galadriel will teach you how to become a proper young elven lady."
Minya's eyes widened. "You.you must be joking my lord. You cannot say this is true." but her words were cut short by another panicked guard rushing into the throne room.
"My lord! Gollum has escaped!"
Thuranduil closed his eyes as one would do when their mind was becoming overwhelmed by thought and emotion. He opened them, mind resolved. "My son, would you like to ride out to Rivendell to take this message to Lord Elrond?"
Legolas nodded, but did not leave the room. "As for you, my stubborn young lady, you are going to Lothlorién, where you will stay until you have proper ladylike behavior. Leave me, both of you, and let me think in peace."
Minya turned and ran out of the throne room. Legolas followed her. She stopped in a small part of the forest and fell to her knees. Running up to her, Legolas saw her shoulders shaking. He knew she was crying.
He put a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him, smiled, tears running into her mouth. She suddenly tackled him, sending him to the ground. He flipped her so he was now on top. They both were laughing. He held her hands down till she stopped struggling. He rolled off her and lied on his back next to her.
She turned her head to look at him, biting her lip. "Legolas, will you visit me? Then I'll have an excuse to go 'walking' with you in the woods."
Legolas smiled at her reassuringly. "As soon as I have finished my errand, I shall meet you." She suddenly let out a gigantic sob, and pressed herself against Legolas.
"I do not want to go. I do not want to leave my home, my father. Arréion, you." Staring at the trees above his head, he turned to face her and held her in his arms for a few seconds. Then he released her, wiping her tears.
"You do know that Lothlorién is all woods, and the trees there are tall. You know that I will drag Arréion with me to visit my friend. I could not even think of doing less."
She lay still, eyes shut. Legolas felt a strange pain in his heart for this girl, who was being forced away from family and friends to become a lady, one of the things she loathed. A small sigh broke through his thoughts.
"Legolas?"
"Hmm?" he said, unaware of a feeling beginning to form beneath his features, beneath his skin, not even within his very grasp of what that feeling was. Minya pressed herself against Legolas, holding back more tears that threatened to come.
"Hold me." Legolas was surprised at this. She was the kind of person that did not enjoy physical contact beyond a small and reluctant hug as a greeting. He wrapped his arms around her. Where they were, lying in a small clearing, they saw a brilliant flash of light, then the clouds suddenly cleared.
The stars were bright that night, and Legolas turned his face up to the sky, partially because he wanted to see the stars, partially because he wanted no one to think he was doing anything more to Minya then comforting her.
She too, looked up at the sky. Legolas heard a rustling in the bushes next to them. He lessened his grip on Minya and looked behind him. He smiled. "Arréion. You may join us."
Arréion walked out, looking annoyed that he had been caught. His bruise was already disappearing. He sat on the ground on the other side of Minya. He suddenly dropped his torso heavily, and wrapped his arms around the other side of Minya, so she was completely submerged in her good friends' bodies.
"I've heard about your small predicament, Minya. You know, I don't think I've ever seen you in a dress." Minya giggled beneath them. She wiggled so her head popped up out of their embrace.
"I had a good reason not to wear one, Arréion. I always thought they'd slow me down, or get in my way. Or worse. Get dirty when one of you tackled me and then the blame would be placed upon me."
Legolas smiled guiltily. He knew she was right. He also smiled wider as he thought of something. "Arréion. Do you know what someone would think if they saw the three of us? Since Minya is completely covered up, someone would think we were embracing each other. That would be quite hard to explain. Then when they found a girl between us, what would they think then? That she was a dirty female that helped herself to two men at the same time?"
Minya laughed out loud. "You dare think that of me!"
"I do not think that of you." Minya laughed again, the sound of tinkling bells.
"Of course I know you would not think that of me. Did you think I of all people would mistrust my best friends?"
Legolas smiled. She was right. She was one of the most trusting people he knew. A shout for Legolas and Minya was sounded. Arréion let go, then Legolas stood, helping Minya to her feet. Again, both the elven men were surprised at her face. There were no tear streaked cheeks, nor were her eyes red. The only person who knew she actually cried had been Legolas.
Arréion had not been there when she had asked Legolas to hold her. All three of them headed toward the gates of Mirkwood. Both of them were cloaked in a light fabric that kept them surprisingly warm in the midnight air.
Legolas was not given any escorts, but Minya was given eight. Minya, suddenly taken by some sort of strange desire, ran to Legolas and hugged him hard. Before they broke apart, she kissed him softly on the cheek. She did the same for Arréion, but left the kiss for only Legolas.
All of them set off. Elven guards encircled Minya, so she had no chance to say goodbye to Legolas one last time. As they passed through the gates, Legolas suddenly yelled to Minya, "I shall see you soon, Minya!" then kicked his horse into quite a fast gallop.
He shot off, figure quickly disappearing into the horizon. Minya felt her heart melt. She was now with a group of men she only knew slightly, in the middle of nowhere. Although they were perfectly trustable, she refused to trust at least three of them.
The three were handsome, young, and arrogant. When Legolas had been younger, he was always scrawnier then the other elves, unable to lift a sword. He had been chased and teased, tormented. That was when he came to Minya, who was his savior.
Although she was younger then him, she had confronted the jealous bullies and actually kicked one in the groin. Those three elves were three of Legolas' greatest fears as a child. And as Minya had grown, those elves had taken to flirting with her, holding her, touching her and making her feel uncomfortable.
She knew she should trust them with the other five older guards there, but still she was not comforted by their existence.
~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#* Legolas had reached Rivendell, but only after five days of not eating and not sleeping. He flew through the gates, and dismounted before his horse stopped. He ran, elven legs carrying him far and fast in little time.
He burst into Elrond's conference chambers, breathless. Elrond looked up. "What does a young elven prince such as yourself, have to do with the goings-on in Rivendell?"
Legolas quickly explained his story. Elrond nodded, and turned to a man, sitting in the corner, who Legolas had sensed, more rather then seen.
"So you were correct. Gandalf has proved you right again." Legolas gasped.
"Mithrandir? In Rivendell? Oh, I must see him!"
"No need." Said a voice coming from the doorway. Legolas turned so see an old man, rather sweet looking in appearance. Legolas ran to him and hugged him. Mithrandir, or Gandalf the Grey, as the men called him more often, hugged the young prince back.
"I have not seen you in a long while my boy. My, you have grown. All I remember is a scrawny little elf that would run around with a beautiful little girl, playing games with her. And I believe that is still the case?" Legolas looked down in dismay.
"Nay, sir. She has been sent to the woods of Lorién to learn to be ladylike." His face contorted slightly, as though he hated the sound of the word ladylike.
Again, Gandalf laughed. "My dear boy! Do you not understand that she will only heed that information as long as it causes pleasure to her mind? She will discard it as soon as she returns to Mirkwood. Then the two of you may frolic in the forests once again. She is a good friend of yours, is she not?"
Legolas nodded, smiling. "Just friends?" Legolas nodded again, slightly confused at why the wizard would ask him this. ~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#* They had finally stopped to rest. It had been quite a few days now, enough for Legolas to reach Rivendell. Minya was lying on the ground, gazing up at the stars, when a voice sounded from behind her.
"You enjoy that?" She looked back to see Hastin, one of the 'three' approaching her from behind. She pretended to not notice that he was nearly stalking her, walking slowly, almost seductively toward her.
She turned away, hoping that if she turned away and ignored him, he might leave. Her hopes were not granted however. He crouched down next to her, then lie down, staring at her. "I enjoy looking at the stars as well," he whispered, lips close to her pointed ear. He kissed it, then leaned back on his elbows.
Minya could not believe this boy's bravery. The elves ears were their most sensitive, and most sensual part of their body. She closed her eyes, then opened them, looking at him. She had not noticed how much the boy glowed in the moonlight.
She knew all elves seemed to glow, and she knew she had gotten plenty of compliments on that, but this boy seemed to glow brightly enough to light the whole clearing. Whispering to him, sure he would hear, she said, "Why is it that you glow so? You nearly look heavenly."
He looked at her and laughed quietly. "Nearly heavenly? Then you must be an angel, as you glow with more light then I ever shall." He leaned over her, and kissed her softly and soundlessly. Minya closed her eyes. It was wonderful, the feeling of the kiss, but she knew if she loved this boy the kiss's delight would have been magnified quite largely.
She waited for a few seconds to see if he would stop, but he did not. She slowly pushed him away, smiling. "You can stop now, Hastin. I wonder what the elders would say if they walked into this clearing."
Hastin nodded and stepped away, but before he left, he had to say one more thing. "You would not have asked Legolas to stop." And he then walked out of the clearing, giving her no chance to argue. She lay back down, and pondered on that thought for a while. Would she have asked him to stop? ~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#* Legolas was informed later on in the evening that he was to attend a secret council concerning the movement of the Ring of Power into Mordor to be destroyed. He was going to represent the elven race, with a few others.
The meeting passed slowly. When the time came, he heard a small voice say, "I will take it! I will take the Ring to Mordor!" Everyone had stopped their bickering to look at the small hobbit, standing there, ready to risk his small life to save Middle Earth.
And to think they were fighting over which warrior was more fit to take it, when this little untrained halfling was offering his services, looking quite afraid yet resolved. Mithrandir sighed. He joined Frodo.
Legolas stood. "And you have my bow." To Legolas' dismay, 'the dwarf,' Gimli son of Gloin, the dwarf who had told the whole attendance to never trust an elf, offered his axe. Although Legolas knew Aragorn was going to join them, he did not anticipate Borimir, cocky, stubborn son of Denethor to come; after all of that constant nagging about why they should not go.
Later on in the next afternoon, they left Rivendell. Gandalf headed them towards the mountain path of Caradhras. They stopped to rest on a small rock formation in the middle of a large, rocky plain.
Borimir was teaching the hobbits to swordfight, Aragorn watching amused. Gandalf and Gimli were having a discussion on where they really should go. Sam was cooking dinner, Frodo sitting off to the side, not doing much at all. But Legolas was restless.
He ran up to a small overhang, and looked out onto the horizon. A black mass, looking almost like a large cloud was headed toward them.
"It is just a large cloud," said Gimli, smoking his pipe.
"But it is moving against the wind," said Borimir.
"CREBAIN FROM DUNLAND!" Legolas cried, frantic.
"Hide!" shouted Aragorn. They all hid. Sam was still stomping out the fire when Legolas grabbed him and put him into a hiding spot, then quickly moved to his. The crow-like birds flew above their heads, screeching and cawing.
When they had passed far enough away, Gandalf came out of hiding. "Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched. We must walk the mountains." Sam groaned.
~#*~#*~#*~#*~#*~#* Minya was now in Lothlorién. And she thought it was a city! It was all trees, and no elf lived on the ground. She dismounted wearily. A man walked up to her. "You are Minyahawen of Mirkwood?" She nodded, almost too weary for words. They had ridden many days without stopping.
The elf smiled. "I am Halidir. Follow me, and I will lead you to Lady Galadriel." She gladly followed. Lady Galadriel turned out to be the most beautiful woman Minya had ever seen. She welcomed Minya in, then told her to get bathed and dressed.
She did as she was told, and when dressed a silver dress. She could not complain however, as it was quite comfortable, and it was not covered in ruffles or designs. She was led out, and had an elegant feast. Even though she had felt hungrier before, she did not have to eat much, as elven food was quite filling.
But as she ate, she did not talk much, as her mind was always flitting to her old friends' faces, and what Hastin had said about Legolas.
Ok. I really need to work on this. I haven't put a disclaimer on!!!!!!!!! Argh!!!!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of Tolkein's characters.*sniffles*..Legolas.Halidir.elfy twins.Frodo.Pippin.waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
Thank you to my many(not) reviewers.
FandomAvenger: I appreciate your concerns. I took heed to your warnings and have mended my faults. Oh, and by the way.wait.*bangs head on keyboard*.aaah! Your going to give me a bad review now! I had writers block, and I couldn't help it! I just wrote and wrote until I couldn't wrote no more!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok. Just had two too many Recees.
Chapter two: (imaginative, aren't I?)