Chapter??

(A.n. I hope all you guys had a great christmas. I did, we watched Pirates of the Caribbean, and I got a bow for Christmas! And I've the black and blue marks on my arm to prove it. Hopefully my aim will be getting better, but I'm not that bad. Oh yeah, Back to the story!)

***Lorien***

The two elves walked along the many paths and ways of the forest tree-city. They discussed old times, paths taken, and generally were enjoying each other's company. Neither of them spoke of the future, both knew that the prince would leave the next morning. It was perhaps like keeping a spell, neither wished to be reminded of the inevitable ending.

Eventually, they ended up walking into the city stables. The elven horses stood silently, eating their feed, and looking at the elves with watchful eyes.

"Oh my." Orian said, suddenly remembering something. "I had forgotten." She whispered. "I am supposed to see an old friend tonight. It's been my duty over the years now."

"Who?" Legolas asked, his blue eyes inquisitive.

Orian looked around. "I am not supposed to speak of her in the city." She looked up at him. "I am sure that after your journey so far, you are tired. If you wish, I could meet you early in the morning."

"I could accompany you if it is your wish." Legolas replied.

Orian smiled softly. Not the huge grin that Legolas remembered, but the silent pleasure of a elven lady. Once again, it reminded him that she had matured. And he had to ask himself, had he?

"That would be perfect." Orian said quietly. She walked over to a stall, which had a magnificent white stallion in it, and took a bridle from the wall. She handed the bridle to Legolas, and nodded to the stallion. "You can ride him."

Legolas glanced at the glorious steed. "Are you sure?"

Orian laughed. "Of course I'm sure. He's mine."

"Then what will you ride?" Legolas asked.

Orian moved to the stall immediately to the right. "I will ride Briano." She took the halter of a great black horse, which easily matched the white in his stature and beauty. Orian ran her hand down the horses's forehead, from Briano's main to his soft nose. The black stallion nuzzled his head against Orian's white neck, and the she-elf smiled. "Briano is truly my horse."She glanced at Legolas. "The one I'm letting you ride, Lazaro, does not accept me. He is behaved well enough, but does not accept me as his master."

Legolas slipped the bit easily into Lazaro's mouth, and the horse shook his white head, eyeing this newcomer. "Briano and Lazaro. I like the names."

Orian put her bridle into her horse's mouth, and then fastened the buckles on the fine wether work. "Briano is the name of a great king. And Lazaro means 'The Valar will help.'" She took a hold of Briano's black main, and swung herself up onto his back, taking the reins.

"We're going bareback?" Legolas asked.

Orian smiled at him. "If you think you CAN."

Legolas knew a challenge when he heard one, and grinned shrewdly. "You better get going."

Orian laughed, urging Briano forward. She shot out of the stable doors, her long brown hair flowing behind her.

Legolas leaped onto Lazaro's back, and the stallion reared with excitement, knowing that there was going to be a good run in the future. Legolas urged the silver stallion onward, and so began the chase.

Through stream, forest, and meadow they ran. Time after time Legolas thought for sure he had her, but she would spur Briano faster with merely a whisper. Then he would have to catch up all over again.

It was, putting it plainly, a simple game of tag. All Legolas had to do was touch her, and the game would be over. But it wasn't that simple, because when they were younger they would play this all day long. And Orian had not forgotten any of her tricks of dodging and scrambling away. However, neither had Legolas.

Legolas waited a moment and then reached up as he passed under a low tree, swinging himself up into the limbs. Lazaro charged forwards, without a rider.

Soon, Orian noticed that Legolas was no-longer in pursuit and doubled back. "Legolas?" She called softly. But it was something in the air that she suspected of mischief, and she went along cautiously through the blue woods. "Legolas Greenleaf, come out." She commanded, coming right below him through the tree. She paused, and Legolas half suspected that she would look straight up at him, but she didn't. "Legolas?"

In that moment, he jumped through from the tree-limb he had been perched on, and landed right behind her on Briano's black back. Briano bolted, but both elves were excellent riders and they stayed on. Orian didn't bother staying her stallion, and they took off through the forest once again. Legolas wrapped his arms around her waist. "I have caught you finally." Legolas whispered in her ear.

"Yes you have, my prince." Orian answered. "But I will not fight any longer since you outmatched me on the very first round. I suspect you have been practicing against orks."

Legolas smiled as the stallion carried them further. "I confess that I have. Is it cheating?"

"Oh," Orian sighed. "I don't think so. But a good idea."

Finally, they came to the edge of a very large meadow which was bathed in the moonlight. Orian pulled up on the reins, and Briano halted. "We have to walk from here. Or else she wont come anywhere near us." Orian whispered, glancing over her shoulder at him.

Legolas slid off the horse's back, and then helped Orian down. "Who is it, that you have to see every night, Orian?" Legolas asked, coming up beside her as they strolled out into the long grass of the meadow.

Orian looked at him, smiling. "You'll see. Just don't touch her, she might find it insulting."

There was a stirring in the long grass, and Legolas drew a knife, pulling Orian behind him.

"Now don't speak of me that way child." A low womanly voice said from the grass. "Do not frighten the lad."

"Who are you?" Legolas challenged.

There was more stirring in the grass, and from it, to Legolas's amazement, a horse stood up. However, this horse was different from any other. It was blacker than night, with feathered wings which sprang from it's shoulders and laid against it's back. In the center of it's forehead was a long, silver, horn. The unicorn's eyes flashed with infinent knowledge. Legolas, being the woodland creature he was, felt like she was reading him like a piece of parchment.

"I am Inessa." The unicorn said, looking at him with a sidelong glance. "Last unicorn in Middle-Earth. I am the only one keeping open the porthole to the undying lands, and thus the Lady Galadrial has welcomed me in her forest." She pawed at the grass with one of her powerful legs. "But who, may I ask are you? Riding up with my good friend Orian in such a fashion."

"I-" Legolas had never addressed an animal knowing that it would speak back, and it was a strange sensation. "I am Legolas Greenleaf, First Prince of the Woodland Realm. And one of the Fellowship of the Ring."

Inessa's black eyes flashed. "The One Ring?" She hissed, her nostrils flared, and her ears laid back. "The creature who created that weapon of evil, I used to know him. And I am ashamed I ever respected him remotely." She paused. "But you are one of the Fellowship?" She leaned in close to Legolas's face, her hot breath washing over him. "Be wary of it's powers Prince. It can tempt even those with the heart of an elf. Do not think you are beyond it's beaconing danger."

Orian put a hand on Legolas's shoulder, trying to give him some security. Legolas tried not to look alarmed that the horse was talking to him, but he couldn't help it.

Inessa took in a great breath, and blew it out through her nostrils, flicking her tail. "But, I must admit, I still question your motives, Prince." She said, her tone deep and untrusting. "How long have you known my little Orian?"

Legolas felt at that moment that he was being interrogated by Orian's mother rather than a unicorn. However, what was unnerving was that he knew that if he ever had met Orian's mother, she couldn't run him through the heart or trample him to death. This unicorn could do both of those things extremely easily. "I have known her since before the Dwarf Wars, Lady."

"He has saved my life many times, my friend." Orian said. "He is a protector of my life, and honor. And also Legolas is my dearest friend."

The unicorn paused, looking hard at Legolas. "It seems you have her trust, Legolas." She said, her voice deep and rumbling. "And I believe in her judgement." She turned to Orian, and Legolas took a deep breath, glad that her black eyes were no longer looking straight into his soul.

"Is there something you would like me to tell Lady Galadriel?" Orian asked Inessa quietly.

Inessa twitched her wings. "I am fine now. Tell her my thanks for banning her archers from my quarter of the forest, I have greatly enjoyed the privacy."

"I will tell her this." Orian answered calmly. "Is there anything else?" She asked.

"Yes." Inessa answered. "Tell Galadriel that the arrival of the Ring is not fortunate. Tell her to banish it from her city as soon as possible."

"We are leaving in the morning." Legolas answered.

Inessa's nose twitched, and she glanced at him. "This is well." She said, then turned to Orian. "I will leave you now, my friend. Farewell."

"Farewell My Lady." Orian replied.

With that, Inessa spread her great wings, and leaped up into the air- taking flight up toward the moon and vanishing over the trees. For a long while Legolas could hear her wings lifting her through the air. But eventually, the sound was gone, and they were alone in the meadow.

"So that is who you aren't allowed to speak of in the city." Legolas looked at Orian. "The last unicorn."

"She is an untrusting creature." Orian said.

"So I noticed." Legolas laughed, letting out the tension he had felt at the unicorn's presence.

"But she is our survival actually. When the last unicorn leaves Middle- Earth, the porthole to the Undying Lands will close, and it will really be the end of the time of the Elves." Orian sat down in the long grass and looked at him. "You might as well sit friend, the horses wont be back for a long time. Inessa and her kind puts the type of fear into them that is untamable."

Legolas sighed, setting down. "It's just that I know that once I slow down, I will sleep and not wake for a long time."

"I am sorry." Orian answered. "I should have insisted that you stay at the city."

Legolas yawned. "I will be fine. " He laid back against the soft long grass, looking up at the sky. "Stars." He whispered. "How I've missed the stars. I hated the caves of Moria, but the Bearer decided, and through the mine passage we went."

Orian shuddered. "You passed through the mines of Moria?"

Legolas didn't answer.

Looking down, she saw that he was asleep. His face was relaxed and smooth in the moonlight, he lay slightly to the side in the long grass.

Orian brushed some of his golden hair out of his face, and sighed. Leaning down, she gently brushed her lips over his. "May the Valar protect you." She whispered.

(To be continued. I'm going to submit two chapters at the same time, so just keep going.)