Only recently have I thought of writing Lord of the Rings fanfiction. I have never written any fanfiction stories before.

I got this inspiration for writing stories from a multitude of fanfiction story writers on this site. I have tried to put some of my favorite styles of humor in this fic.

Since this is to be my first fanfiction ever, please bear with me through my clumsy elvish translations. I hope you enjoy it!

-A Single Light-

By: terrymcgrion

Rating: PG-13, for some violence and swear words. Could be PG, but PG-13 just in case.

Spoilers: Not that I know of...

Disclaimer: All Tolkien characters and locations belong to him. All the other characters and settings were made up by me.

Summary: Legolas and Aragorn, two long time friends, stumble across a mysterious town of men that has remained hidden for many years. The pair must find out the truth behind the strange things that are happening throughout the town. More easily said than done, they find out, as the town grows increasingly hostile to the two travelers and their lives are not the only ones in danger.

Note: I am not an expert on Middle Earth, so there may be some mistakes. Please pardon them and ignore any grammar or spelling mistakes that I may make.

Additional Disclaimers: The format of this fanfiction somewhat resembles other authors' pages. I do not own this story's format.

-A Single Light-

Chapter One

The autumn sunlight shone on the bird, briefly illuminating the round, glistening eye of the robin. Tilting its head back, it trilled a note of greeting to the sun. A small movement, invisible to the inexperienced eye, unnerved the bird, making it flutter away in alarm.

A dark-haired young man, appearing to be around the age of twenty, came into view. Hearing the bird's call, he turned toward the sound and smiled.

"You seem distracted of late," a melodic voice commented.

Aragorn didn't even turn around. Who else could sneak up on him that easily?

"Mirkwood sunsets are truly amazing, aren't they?" Aragorn casually commented.

Legolas narrowed his eyes. The ranger winced slightly, knowing how Legolas reacted when he tried to hide things from the elf.

"First he will start peppering me with questions. After he pounds me flat with his interrogation, he then will corner me with my own words and pounce on me like a cat on a mouse. What in all of Arda did I do to deserve this?" Aragorn groaned silently.

"Well, the time when I dumped blueberry juice in Celeborn's hair was pretty bad, but otherwise I'm fine. Really!" Aragorn thought desperately, trying to make his thoughts reach Mandos himself, which to say, is rather difficult.

He saw Legolas step a couple of paces closer to him. The ranger suddenly felt very sorry for all those poor creatures that crossed the elven prince.

Well, maybe not the spiders.

Aragorn closed his eyes, waiting for the evitable. To his surprise, nothing happened. Cracking open one eye, he peered outward. Still nothing. The ranger risked it and opened both eyes. Silver-blue eyes stared determinedly back at him.

Aragorn wished that something would happen. Anything! Yes, even a whole horde of bloodthirsty orcs coming to attack them! Where were those evil creatures when you needed them?

Fat chance, though. Like anything could get past the elven patrols. He knew this because he had tried it before. The elves had spotted him miles away and were busy laughing themselves silly over his attempt before he had even come into earshot.

A bucket of ice cold water mixed with mud had quickly wiped the smirks off their faces. Their expressions were priceless although he was forced to hide in Legolas's wardrobe while vengeful mud-bath victims were still roaming about. The memory almost brought a smile to his lips.

Then he remembered who he was with.

"Something troubles you," Legolas's eyes probed into Aragorn's seeking an answer, "Would you mind telling me what it is?"

Suddenly feeling overwhelmed by intense emotional wounds that still were raw, Aragorn snapped out, "It's none of your business! Why do you worry over me like a mother hen?"

Although he regretted his words as soon as they were out of his mouth, he felt no small satisfaction at seeing the pained expression on Legolas's face.

"Then do you not trust me anymore?" he quietly asked, "Does our friendship count for nothing, then, mellonamin?"

Aragorn felt his anger and frustration slowly ebb away.

"Sorry," he said with a guilty tone in his voice, "it's just that..."

He paused.

Legolas watched him intently, giving the ranger all of his attention.

"I've met Arwen Undomiel." he finally admitted, "Ada was not...happy."

Not happy was an understatement. Legolas could guess how 'unhappy' Lord Elrond really was.

"All that have met her have changed," Legolas said, "Your situation is like Beren and Luthien, bittersweet in a sense."

Aragorn looked up, surprise flittering across his face.

"I, for one, would not want to fall in love with a mortal if I could help it," Legolas commented dryly, "However, I am glad for you to have found such joy in your life. You have my congratulations."

Silver eyes met blue eyes, as if asking whether or not this statement was true. When they found that this was true, Estel relaxed.

"I am glad that you think so. Even Elladan and Elrohir have doubts about me placed in their hearts," the ranger said painfully, drifting off to distant thoughts.

Legolas nodded. The twins were so protective that they sometimes hurt the people who they cared for unintentionally.

"Nothing ever pokes through that stone-hard skull of yours," Legolas said, continuing in the same tone of voice.

"Yes, nothing ever does," Aragorn agreed absentmindedly.

It took five minutes before he finally realized what he had said.

"Hey!" Aragorn sputtered, "You sneaky little elf!"

"Nothing really does filter through your non-existent mind," Legolas grinned, starting to sprint back toward the palace.

"Come back here, you back-stabbing traitor!" Aragorn yelled at the retreating form of the elf, knowing that Legolas could hear him.

"But the dúnadan said so himself!" Legolas smirked back at the approaching form of the man.

One day, Aragorn decided, he would wring that prissy elf's neck. All the same, a smile started to form on his face as he quickly gave chase to the rapidly vanishing figure of the wood-elf.

The sky darkened, causing several thin beams of moonlight to shine into the shadowy depths of an old dusty underground dungeon. As if a silent signal flashed throughout the room, a thin white hand slowly raised itself and uncovered the lid of the shabby wooden coffin it was in, revealing a dead, yet not dead body of a man.

"They will pay," its voice hissed into the silent emptiness, "They will pay."

TBC...

Elvish translations:

mellonamin - (Sindarin) my friend

ada - (Sindarin) daddy

dúnadan - (Sindarin) man of the west, Númenórean