Disclaimer: I do not own Lord Of The Rings, Tolkien does. I only own my own characters. (The poem at the beginning of this story does not belong to me either, it belongs to Emily Smith, a dear friend of mine.) 

Chapter Two: Accusations & Strangers

When the knight has fallen,

And the fire ceases to burn.

Who would guide you through the dark?

Who would find the forgotten killer?

Accused of what I'm not,

I've only one choice left…

To flee from here,

But somehow I' m staying 'coz

I know you'll come through for me.

"Just Being There" – Emily Smith

Legolas sat in his room, staring off into space and not sure what was going on, he had just been told that he might pass on, but what was the chances of fortune telling? He was sitting there at his desk trying to read his book, but the more he concentrated the more he lost interest. Finally he slammed the book shut and stood up looking around the room angrily then he went over to the shelf and pulled out a substantial volume. Blowing the dust off the cover he flipped it open, it was a bequest from an old friend of his that had died in the rivers when trying to rescue a kid and his sister from drowning, but his leg got caught and he was unable to get back to the surface, drowning in the water.

The only thing was, they never found his cadaver, people thought he had just flowed down with the current and disappeared in the big millpond, but others had different ideas. Legolas flipped through the pages until he landed on a certain page, it was brown and the paper creased. It was an old book with strange symbols on it, but Legolas understood it and he sat down looking it over. Various pictures were drawn on the crinkly brown page, but they were of no real significance. The only thing that matter was the character. His finger stopped and tapped at the beginning of one paragraph that read:

"When one focuses all of their might in their center, then they can beckon a power beyond imagining. The power allows its caster a glimpse of the near future, but it only shows what is of importance and what they must be prepared for. The magic is not to be used freely for it contains a nasty side affects of corrupted evil."

Legolas tapped his long finger on the paragraph and then closed the book nonchalantly and then smiled. "Your little hocus pocus won't get to me Glarawen and I highly doubt you can lucratively do what you claim to do," he said quickly and then placed his feet on the bed and leaned back on his chair looking upwards at the ceiling. He was about to drift off to sleep when there was a sudden scrambling of feet outside his door and he jumped up, curious at what was going on beyond that door of his. Pushing it open he caught two servants running down the hallway in hurry. He followed them, making sure to keep at a distant as to not be caught. He was about to turn the corner when there came this loud shriek and the sound of something heavy falling down.

Without thinking he rounded the corner and looked down the corridor, a silhouette was disappearing on the other side and the two servants were on the ground comatose and their faces blanked. He dashed after the retreating stranger; he could feel the others footsteps hammering on the ground. He raced down the corridor unleashing a burst of speed almost unbelievable and he could see a dark figure ahead, stopping in front of a door. Bursting it opened the stranger went inside and the bolted the door behind him causing Legolas to run into the door and slam his jaw against it. He cursed and sat down rubbing his injured cheek. He quickly remembered what he was after and then started to stand up and then move backwards banging on the door.

- & -

 Glarawen was still gazing out of her window when she heard the scrambling of footsteps out of her room and she stood up gracefully then walked over there the moment she turned her door knob it flung open and threw her off her guard knocking her over and falling down, landing on her back. She lay there on the floor as the door bang shut and she rubbed her head, trying to sit back up, but a pair of hands gripped her shoulders. She opened her eyes and looked at the stranger that sat in front of her.

"You!" She gasped out and then kicked the stranger off of her and then backed up into the corner her eyes scorching with anger, her hands groped around table until she found something she could defend herself with. Picking up the scissors she glared and then asked in a silent voice, "What are you attempting? Do you really thing you could get away with it?" The stranger chortled and then gazed at her with glowing burgundy eyes.

"Glarawen, you and I both know that the future cannot be changed and no matter what you do, the stars have already determined your destiny. Why don't you give up?" The voice was muffled, but Glarawen heard it. Just as the stranger said that there was a bang on the door and a groan on the other side. The stranger smiled and then bowed, in the stranger's hands was a necklace and with that the masked interloper jumped out of the open window, laughing all the way. Glarawen raced over and looked down the window, but there was nobody there, she sighed and then sat down, one hand supporting it up.

The banging continued, but it was distant and remote to her finally the door burst opened and cracked, as it broke off its hinges. Legolas stood there looking around furiously and only spotting Glarawen; he walked over to her in long strides then slammed his fists on the table. "Exactly what did you wanted to prove?" He hissed, his blue eyes were blazing with anger, but Glarawen ignored him and continued to think. "I said, what were you thinking?"

Finally she opened her eyes, revealing the hazel brown eyes again this time her tone was solemn and sharp, "Your Highness, I was attempting nothing. Surely you believe me. Sire."

"Yeah, I saw someone running into this room, you could have easily changed out of that black coat and outfit when you locked the door! I'm catching up to you…"

Just then guards came running into the room, their spears lowered and aimed at Glarawen, one of them shouted to Legolas, "Sire! Step back she is an illicit woman, a murder!!!" The guard said and the news stunned Legolas he backed up quickly, but eyed both the guard and Glarawen charily. "Criminal stand up and raise your hands!"

Glarawen looked at him, her eyes blank and an ominous look filled her face. "Why do you say what you say? You accuse with no evidence," Her voice was eerily quiet and her face darkened with each word she said. The guard hesitated for a moment before replying, seemingly afraid of Glarawen.

"Don't hide! We have evidence, you thought you covered your tracks well, but you didn't! We found this…" From behind him he pulled out a dagger, a sharp silver blade with a golden hilt and a ruby embedded in it, but that was not the entire thing that was most unique about this blade, there was the name "Glarawen" engraved on the blade. Glarawen stood up, rising to her full height and towering over all the other guards, a light seemed to come from behind and glow behind her giving off a strange effect.

"You dare accuse me of murder? What have I to hold a grudge upon? Incongruous as you are, you are even more blinded than I thought!" Her voice boomed and thunder among the guards, some jumped a bit and then backed off, but Legolas stood there looking at her and then he took the blade and pointed it at her throat.

"Don't try anything, you Elven Witch."

The light disappeared and Glarawen became silent, but she hissed out, "So Your Highness, you are going to execute me?" Her voice was a bit amused by the scene, but her eyes glinted dangerously and Legolas lowered his eyes and then coughed a bit.

"I may, if I am forced to. You'll come quietly to the dungeons with us…"

"Actually, Sire, His Majesty has ordered us to bring her to the trial rooms before we do much of anything else." Legolas nodded and then bounded Glarawen's hand with leather cords, tying them tightly and then leaving a strip of rope for him to pull and guide her along, but he didn't really need it because Glarawen followed willing and silently, but her eyes were cold and hurt. As they came into the trial room the guard bowed down and then announced in a loud clear voice," We bring before you the murder, Glarawen."

There was a hush silence as this was announced and the elves that were seated looked at her with condescension, but she said not a word and took her seat quietly; she looked up at the king waiting for him to acknowledge her presence in the courtroom. The king nodded and then the guards took their places, Legolas went up to sit next to his father. "Glarawen, you have been accused of murder, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"It is not what I wish to say, but what you would say. You wish me dead for doing you no wrong; I find it hard to believe. The true murder you seek lies within the woods, if you place me in the dungeons you are sadly mistaken, but I will not defend my innocence when clearly you would not believe me. I only await your judgement," her voice was as cool as steel and her eyes fading in color, they were going a pale blank brown as her face was going the same blank expression.

"Even at courtroom you have the courage to speak like you were doing nothing wrong?" The King thundered, his eyes bulging from his sockets, his hands clenched into two tights fists. Glarawen looked up at him, her eyes meeting his and locking, she didn't blink and continued to bore her eyes into him until he turned away in utter disgust. "I shall allow the court to decide whether you are innocent or are you guilty." With a wave of his hands there was a low murmur among the people, some raised their hands, but Glarawen stood up her hand hung loosely by her side.

"There is no need to continue this folly, you would not believe me, what chances are there of these people do? I highly doubt they would, so you can save you breath and just lead me to the dungeons." Her voice was stern and caused a few to shiver. She went to the door and waited for the two guards to lead her out. The king shook with anger, but waved everyone away his son remained by his side and then walked up to his father.

"Father, Glarawen was evil. You cannot deny that, she had planned it all out. Do not blame yourself…"

"I don't blame myself! She made a fool of me in court and I'll teach her a lesson for doing so." He stood up and stormed out of the room followed by 2 other guards Legolas behind. He sat in the room, alone.  Legolas looked around the room until he saw it again, the same blue glittering light at the corner of the room; he stood up and quietly walked over. The room was a round room, with torches lighting it up, so that long thin shadows stretched across the stonewalls. There was the sound of a fluttering cape and he rushed over, the light disappeared, but he could see someone running through the chairs.

"Who's there?" He called out, his voice soft, but commanding. Then the footsteps stopped moving and the stranger stood up. He had short black hair with streaks of brown in it. His red eyes glinted in the dimly lit light. His blue cape fluttered even when there was no breeze and his features seem somewhat twisted by hatred and disgust. "Who are you?"

"Feh, you haven't changed much. I shouldn't really have gotten my hopes up, you're just as rude as ever!" The stranger spat and his eyes gleaming with hatred now, "I've always thought you were better, you'd listen and hear people out, but no. All of the royal family is just a bunch of talk and act. None of their so called justice is real."

Legolas was angry and he felt his face growing red, "What gives you the right to speak of me like this?"

"I have every right to do so. Now I'm going to leave." The stranger in blue placed one foot on the top of the chair and pushed up into the air, and then landing in front of the door he turned around to sent a glare before leaving through the oak doors. Legolas stood there, a bit angered by the boy's word, but he was pressed with curiosity and he raced towards the door pushing it open only to see the cloaked stranger turning the corner.

Legolas began to race down the corridors, trying to follow the boy, but the stranger was quick and agile, he moved swiftly from passageway to passageway. Legolas was having trouble trying to keep up, but his determination kept him running and chasing the foreigner. Finally his azure blue eyes observed the scene around him; he had arrived at the dungeons. "Stranger, what would he want from here?" Legolas wondered, but the light tapping of Elven footsteps echoed through the cold dungeon floors and the pace slowed down with each step. He breathed a sigh of relief and followed silently behind the boy.

Then the footsteps stopped and Legolas' heart pounded against his chest, it seemed to want to break out of his ribcage and bounce against the cold stonewalls. "Lady Glarawen, why didn't you defend yourself?" The voice stopped his heart from beating it was soothing and calm. Legolas edged forward a bit peering from behind the statue he hid behind. He could see the young man kneeling down in front of the iron bars, his black hair glowing and shimmering in the torch lit hallways. His red eyes filled with hurt. "Glarawen?"

"Shhh, Elrol, you must listen carefully. Go and protect him, make sure the real murder is never let back inside and know this, if they invite the killer in, you must be on your guards and protect the royal family at all cost. Do you understand?"

"B-b-but, look at what they did to you! They've locked you up behind bars!" He hissed angrily, using the back of his hands to wipe away some tears.

"Elrol, be strong and remember even elves make mistakes, so do not hold it against them. Not everyone is blessed with the gift of foresight. Now go!" Legolas stood behind the statue listening in on their conversation.   

Legolas sat there thinking quietly to himself, the name "Elrol" was familiar to him and it ran a bell in his mind, but whom it was he could not really tell. He sat there, his eyes closed, thinking hard about who it was. "Who do I know, who is called Elrol…" Then it came to him, his eyes widened and he let out a small gasp, turning around to peer out of the little gap he saw that Elrol was leaving the dungeons. He rose up and quickly tried to follow, but he moved stealthily through the twisted corridors and passageways. Finally Legolas couldn't stand it anymore and he shouted, "Elrol! Wait up for me!" The elf turned around, his eyes going a light red and fear dawning upon him. Quickly he dashed through the passageways with Legolas close behind him.