Trees and Stone
Chapter 1
I don't own LOTR or anything. I own original characters though.
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The stars shone brightly in the velvet black sky. The constellations of legendary warriors shone brighter than all the stars. All was quiet in Rivendell, save for the wind whispering secrets to the trees. A lone elf stood on his balcony, looking up at the stars. He was very far away from his woodland home. And he didn't know when he would ever see it again. Lord Elrond had chosen him to represent the elves in the Fellowship of the Ring, a group bound for Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. He was pleased that Elrond had chosen him, but he knew he was going to miss his home.
The wind blew softly around him. His white nightshirt fluttered. He turned around and stepped through the filmy white curtain that separated his room in the House of Elrond from the rest of Rivendell. He sat down on his bed and swung his feet up. He had no desire to sleep at the moment. The events of the previous day were still fresh in his mind, and they would not let him sleep. He knew that he would be in Rivendell for about three weeks before they were finally able to leave. But what was he to do there for three weeks. The other three representatives of Mirkwood were returning home the following morning, for they missed the trees as much as he did.
Legolas knew that there was some talk about Elrond's decision about Legolas going with the Fellowship. Some believed he was not skilled enough, and that Glorfindel would be a better choice. But Lord Elrond stayed true to his decision. Legolas, son of Thranduil, Prince of Mirkwood, would travel as far as his heart desired to accompany Frodo, the Ring Bearer, to Mount Doom.
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A bird hopped down from the rail of the balcony and scratched at the floor, looking for any signs of food. A fallen seed perhaps. When he found nothing, he hopped up onto the rail once more and chirped loudly, letting the other birds know that there was nothing there. Legolas's elf ears picked up the chirp, and he sat up, rubbing his eyes. The bird saw him move from within the room, and hopped a little closer to get a better look. Legolas smiled at the little bird. "Good morning." He said. The bird chirped and flew away. Legolas pulled himself out of bed. He took a quick bath in the washroom and changed into a clean tunic and leggings. He fixed his hair and pulled on his boots.
When he left the room, he saw Lord Elrond. Legolas bowed. "Ah, good morning Legolas. I'm sorry to say your kin left at dawn this morning." He said.
"That's ok, Lord Elrond." Legolas replied. Elrond nodded.
"If you go to the dining hall, they are still serving breakfast." He said. Legolas thanked him and left. When he reached the dining hall, a group of dwarves came in another door. Apparently, Legolas wasn't the only one who slept in that morning. When the dwarves saw him, they stopped talking and just stared. One of them was Gimli, one chosen by Lord Elrond to join the Fellowship. There were three other dwarves with him, who looked a lot older than Gimli.
Legolas said nothing to the dwarves and sat down at one end of the table. His father had taught him to be silent if he were ever by himself with dwarves. Thranduil had said that they will take anything you say and use it against you. Legolas wondered at the truth of that, but he never questioned. Legolas ate quietly, and soon, he was out of the dining hall. When he left, he heard laughter from the dwarves. No doubt they had said something about him. Seeing as Legolas had nothing else to do, he decided to explore Rivendell. He walked along the many paths through beautiful gardens and tall, beautiful homes. It was a big contrast to the palace he lived in at home. Everything was so open and carefree. In Mirkwood, they were always scared of attacks from orcs or spiders.
"Lord Elrond, please forgive me, but please send me in place of Greenleaf. I'm much more qualified. I have been in your service all my life. I would follow Frodo to the Halls of Mandos if I had to." A voice said around a corner. Legolas stopped in his tracks. He did not recognize the voice.
"As would Legolas. I have known his family for a long time. They are good people." Elrond's voice floated through the trees blocking Legolas from their view.
"The wood elves care nothing of what goes on beyond their borders!" The other voice shouted.
"Then why would Legolas have come I wonder?" Elrond replied. The other voice was silent.
"Perhaps he only came to find out our plans and then report back to his Lord Sauron." The other voice spat.
"Kathios, you will leave now. I do not wish to speak with you any longer. I will not tolerate those words." Elrond said, his voice angry.
"But how do you know he doesn't work for Sauron?" Kathios asked.
"By continuing talking, you are showing me that you are not fit for any position with the Fellowship. I suggest you remove yourself from my sight." Elrond was very angry now. Legolas heard light footsteps come his way. He quickly hopped into a tree and pressed his back against the trunk. A dark haired elf dressed in a plain soldier's uniform stormed past, cursing in elvish. When he heard nothing else, he jumped down from the tree. Did all the elves of Rivendell think he worked for Sauron? Was he that hated? He started walking in the direction of the House of Elrond.
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As he walked, he heard laughter. He turned his head and saw a group of elves sitting around in a small courtyard. There were a few younger elves as well, about 7 in human years. As he passed, one of the elders called out to him. "Legolas of Mirkwood!" He said. Legolas turned. His heart was thumping against his chest. Were they going to say the same words as Kathios? "You are of the north! Come tell us a tale of your people!" He said. Legolas was surprised, but moved to the courtyard and sat down in an empty spot on a bench. He tried to think of a tale he knew. He thought of one.
"I shall tell you the tale of how Greenwood became Mirkwood." He said. "It is lengthy, however."
"Do not worry about that! We have all the time in the world!" The elder who had called him over said, and the other elves laughed at his dry joke. Legolas nodded and began his tale.
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By the time he finished, there was a group of elves around him listening to his tale. Some had tears in their eyes, for it was a sad tale. "And that's how it happened." He said. The elves clapped.
"Wonderful story, Legolas." The man who called him over said. Legolas smiled at the elves around him. He even saw that Elrond, Arwen and Aragorn, the hobbits and Mithrander had come as well. But he also saw Kathios, the elf who hates him. He was standing behind some other elves, frowning. Suddenly, he burst through the crowd to stand in the middle.
"I have a tale." He said, sneering at Legolas. "It's about a group of elves in the North who didn't answer the call to arms when their own kin needed help." Some elves began to whisper. Elrond pushed through the elves and grabbed Kathios's ear like he was a small elfling.
"You are coming with me." Elrond said through gritted teeth. The silence was akward, so Legolas jumped to his feet and left the courtyard. He quickly made his way to his room in the House of Elrond and shut the door.
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Elrond dragged Kathios through Rivendell, into him home and into his library. He quickly let go of his ear and slammed the door. "You would do well to hold your tongue." Elrond said to him, his eyes flashing. Kathios cringed inwardly, but did not show it on the outside.
"He does not deserve to go!" Kathios shouted. He instantly regretted shouting. Elrond grabbed his tunic and pushed him against the door.
"No one in Rivendell is prejudice, especially against their own kin. Why, Kathios, do you insist on acting like this?" Elrond asked him. Kathios turned his head away from Elrond and said nothing. "Answer me Kathios." He still said nothing. Elrond sighed. "Fine. But if you do anything like that again, I will have to take action." He let go of him, opened the door, and shoved him out, and thus slamming the door in his face.
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Right, I was just like, really bored the other night, and I started writing this. Sometimes I take too much time in trying to think of a title that I forget the story, so this time, I didn't worry about a title. I just started writing. Hope you like it! Review!
Peace Out~
Banana Nut Muffin
