Wah hey, new story! I've been waiting ages to put this one up, but though I had better wait until I was near the end of 'Love Conquers All'.

I won't say much, just that this first chapter is set in the present, whereas the ones after this are set in the past. Does that make any sense? Basically, we go back in time after this chapter!

If you want to know what happens, read the summary! I know it isn't that good, but it'll do. Basically, (I like that word!), Legolas Aragorn, and Gimli are out travelling together after the War of the Ring, and stay for a few nights in a human village. Then…lots of stuff happens! Hint, hint, there are girls and Orcs involved! That sounded dodgy…

So, enjoy, and all reviews are welcome. But please, no flames. Chickens are all right roasted, but I would prefer it if the ones in my garden stayed alive and clucking! Thank you.

Lainfaer

Farewells may not be forever.

Chapter 1: Prologue.

Legolas stared down at the lifeless form in his arms. Tears rolled down his cheeks, leaving wet trails on his fair face. His golden hair cascaded down over his shoulders, the tips brushing the cheeks of the girl he held. His bow and knives lay discarded to one side, forgotten for the moment. He bowed his head down over the figure, and wept silent tears. He was knelt on the ground, no longer able to stand.

Aragorn and Gimli looked on helplessly. "We tried," Aragorn said softly. He laid a hand on Gimli's shoulder.

"I thought it was all over," the Dwarf replied sadly.

"Not quite," Aragorn answered. He looked at his friend. "I have never seen him reduced to tears before, and now that I do…it scares me. But I do not know why."

"Let's leave him be for a few moments," Gimli suggested. Aragorn nodded in agreement, and as they turned around to walk away, rain started to fall, lightly at first, and gradually getting harder.

The ground muddied up, creating puddles and pools. But the Elf did not move from his spot on the ground. He held the body closer to him, willing it to live. "Why?" he asked softly. "Why did this have to happen?" His hair clung in clumps to his face and neck, and drops trickled down his neck and through his tunic. But he paid no heed to them. It did not affect him; he could not feel the cold. Well, not the cold of water. But he could feel the cold of death, its bitter bite snatching his most precious things away from him. The harsh wind that blew through his sodden hair was icy cold too, and he shivered, even though he could not feel it. It cruelly reminded him of times long gone by; times he would rather forget. But it was all happening again, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

The rain fell harder, and a flash of lightening streaked across the sky. Not long after, a roll of thunder followed. The storm was growing, and they were stuck in the very centre of it.

Aragorn ran out from his shelter in a doorway to Legolas in the middle of the square. "Legolas come; we must shelter from this storm." He held out a hand to his friend. But Legolas did not reply.

"Legolas! Please, come with me!" He crouched down beside the Elf and placed a hand on his soaked shoulder. Another bolt of lightening lit up the sky, and as Legolas turned his head to look at Aragorn, it lit up his eyes. "Bring her with you," Aragorn told him. "Let's just get out of this rain." He collected Legolas' weapons, and they ran to the doorway under which Gimli cowered, shivering to the bone.

Legolas lay the girl down on the ground, and knelt beside her, hands clasped in his lap and his head bowed. Aragorn and Gimli exchanged a worried glance. They had never seen Legolas like this before, and it frightened them both. Gimli laid a reassuring hand on Legolas' shoulder, and squeezed it gently, trying to help him. But the Elf paid no attention to it. He just stared at her, tears still streaming down his face.

Her black hair fanned out beneath her face, and her blue eyes were shut. One arm lay across her abdomen, and the other above her head. Her lips were slightly parted, and she looked completely at peace. But there wasn't one sign of life on her face, and her once beautiful, happy smile was gone forever. She was dressed in a simple maroon skirt and dark blue top. The skirt came to just above her ankles, and round one was a silver anklet. Her feet were bare, and she wore a plain silver amulet round her right wrist. Her sleeves were short, and ruffled at the ends. She also wore a small ring round her second finger on her left hand. It had a tiny opal set in it, and she wore a matching necklace.

"What happened Legolas?" Aragorn asked softly.

"I failed. I failed to protect her," Legolas replied quietly. "I should have made her go down into the cellar." His hands clenched into fists. More thunder rolled through the stormy night air. "It's all my fault."

"No Legolas, it's not your fault. You are not to be blamed," Aragorn said softly but sternly, crouching down beside him.

"Of course it was. I swore to protect her when all of this started. I broke my promise Aragorn! I have never done that before, and look what happened. If I had kept my promise, she may still be alive now."

"One promise Legolas…"

"No Aragorn!" shouted Legolas, scrambling to his feet. "Not just one promise! I am nearly 3,000 years old. To not have broken a single promise in that amount of time, and to break one now with these consequences…it feels awful! You don't understand, and I doubt that you ever will." His voice grew softer, and he knelt back down next to the girl. "How did it come to this Aragorn? I thought all the fighting was over. But I was wrong. So wrong."

So, what do you think? Nice reviews please? And I'll update in roughly a week, depending on what feedback I get!

Lainfaer