Disclaimer: I own nothing, it all belongs to Mr. Tolkien!
AN: This story is the sequel to "The Song of the White Wood". You might want to read that one first or else you will become very confused. Also, although it will seem like it (a lot like it), it's not a Legomance!! Don't let this warning scare you! Just read!! REEEAAAAD!!!!! Ahem. Now, without further ado…
(((((((((((((((((Chapter 1)))))))))))))))))))
Prince Legolas Greenleaf rode hard and fast towards the twisted green mass he could see on the edge of the horizon. It was something he had not seen for a great deal of time—8 months, actually. It was Mirkwood, his home.
The War for Middle Earth was over, the side of good victorious. The Ring of Power destroyed. And Legolas could not have been more relieved to finally make his way home.
The trees were closer now. Leaning down to his horse's ear, Legolas whispered softly, urging it to run a little bit faster. The horse obeyed, and in seemingly no time at all Legolas found himself under the familiar company of trees.
As he rode forward, however, he discovered signs of battle. Entire tree's had been cut down, burnt, or damaged. His realm must have been attacked while he was away! Following the forest rode, Legolas trotted a bit faster and soon found himself gazing upon his father's gate. Legolas breathed a sigh of relief. Guards were posted outside the door. That meant his kind had been victorious. Even as he rode up the guards looked up in amazement and joy.
"Legolas!" Cried one, and Legolas recognized him as his great friend, Andavar.
"Mellon nin," Legolas greeted coolly as he dismounted his horse. One of the other guards took the reins and led the steed away as the Prince and his friend continued to greet each other.
"It has been many days and nights, my friend." Said Andavar. "I cannot wait to here your stories."
"I will tell you them." Legolas said. "But first you must tell me something: What battle took place here?"
Andavar's expression saddened. "We were attacked by orcs and many other evil things." He said softly. "Many lives were lost, but in the end we were victorious."
"I see." Legolas observed. "Is my father alright?"
"Yes. In fact he and Lord Celeborn of Lothlorien met this past month…they've renamed the forest." Andavar said rather proudly.
"Renamed it what?" Inquired the Prince.
"Eryn Lasgalen. The Wood of the Greenleaves." Grinned Andavar, as he and Legolas began to walk through the stone gates into the palace.
"Catchy. And certainly better than Mirkwood." Legolas said, smiling as well. "It feels good to be home. Did anything else happen that I should know about?"
"Oh, yes." Andavar suddenly remembered. "In late January a large colony of elves came to us, they said that you'd given them permission to live here."
Legolas blinked. True, he had almost entirely forgotten the events that had taken place 7 months ago…the Nimar…the white forest full of white trees…and the secrets that dwelled beneath their white limbs.
"That is true." He said. "My father did not turn them away, did he?"
Andavar shook his head. "No, my friend. Many of them are still here. They were a great help when it came to the battle under the trees. They are most skilled in ambushing the enemy."
Legolas grinned. "Yes, I know."
At this point the two elves had reached the grand hall of the palace, and immediately all who were in the room noticed that the Prince had returned home and reacted. The King himself nearly jumped off his throne and ran to greet his son.
"Legolas, my son!" He cried most joyfully.
"Father," Legolas replied, embracing him for a short moment. "How are you?"
"Perfectly fine, now that you are here with me." King Thranduil answered. "But how are you, my son? You have traveled far, and from the stories I've heard from our unexpected visitors, fought many long and fierce battles."
"The first part is true." Legolas said modestly. "But the latter part was hardly a long battle. Though it was fierce."
"Our visitors, Legolas…are our elf kindred, but they tell me that you invited them here, and I wouldn't quite believe it until I heard it from your mouth. Is this true?" Asked the elf King.
Legolas nodded. "Yes."
"And how is it that they were in need of a home? That is the excuse they told me." Thranduil asked.
"I…it's a long story, father." Legolas stuttered.
"So I've been told…and I've been told many different accounts and versions of it. But I have not heard yours." Replie the King.
"To make a long story short…there was a scandal in the royal house of their lord, causing a bastard child to be born, then slain. But he was saved by a deal he struck with Sauron, and for 3000 years he waited to get his revenge…and that happened to be when myself and my companions entered their home." Legolas explained.
"They call themselves the Nimar." Thranduil said. "White elves."
"Yes, and you must admit their name is suited to them." Legolas said.
His father laughed. "Yes, it is. But you still haven't told me yet how they came to be here."
"Well…you see father, the child that wanted revenge on those who had wronged him changed is plan when he found out I was there. He plotted against me also, and planned to kill me." Thranduil's eyes widened, and Legolas continued.
"There was a battle, and in the process a fire was started, burning the Nimar's home to the ground. They had lived in secrecy for thousands of years, father. They had nowhere else to go. And I felt responsible, so I offered that they travel and stay here, at least until they find another suitable home." Legolas finished with a sigh, remembering all the events of the past.
"That is complicated, then." The King concluded. "Where you hurt in this battle, or in the fire?"
"Yes, but not enough to threaten my life." Legolas said. "Father, where are the Nimar? I have not seen one since I returned home."
The King sighed heavily. "They would not take residence in the trees. So we accommodated them with the spare bedchambers inside the palace. There were many of these refugees, Legolas, and we were forced to use every available space."
Legolas raised an eyebrow. "Father, I suspect you are trying to tell me something, but I'm not sure what."
Thranduil rolled his eyes. "Legolas, we were forced to let some of them use your bedchamber. You will not be able to sleep there until we find another place for them."
"Why, are they female?" Legolas asked, a little stunned about the news.
"Yes…four of them…" The King said. "And all identical, except for their eyes. The claimed to know you."
Legolas's eyes blazed with the fires of memory. "The Daughters of Celebhen? They are here? In my room?"
Thranduil laughed at his son's reaction. "Yes, Legolas. Like I said, there was not enough space."
"I must go meet them!" Legolas said excitedly. "I must ask them how they are!"
"Off you go then," The King said, nodding his head in dismissal. Legolas smiled and hurriedly rushed off…only to rush back again and bow to his father, and then rush away again.
Legolas walked as fast as he could to his bedchamber…or what was his bedchamber. Now it was the bedchamber of four young maids…he winced at the thought of what they could have done to his things.
He rushed past the halls, stopping and turning here and there, until he reached his destination. He raised his hand to knock, hesitating at first. It felt rather foolish to be knocking on your own door, and he prayed that no one would see him doing this. Then he gently rapped on the door.
The elf Prince waited nervously for a moment before the door was opened by a familiar face…it was the face of Naurielle. Her stunning yellow eyes went wide at the sight of him.
"Why! Prince Legolas!" She cried, attracting the attention of her sisters, who were doing various chores around the room.
One by one they recognized him and stood up, genuinely shocked and surprised.
"Legolas!" It was Cefielle that had cried out, she, unlike her sisters, didn't hesitate in rushing up to the Prince and embracing him, much to his surprise.
"Hello, Cefielle…Naurielle…Nenielle…Gwelwielle." He greeted calmly.
A chorus of greetings answered him, followed by a group of stares Legolas couldn't help but blush at.
Naurielle raised an eyebrow. "Prince Legolas, did you come here to speak with us?"
Legolas smiled. "Actually, this is my bedchamber."
Again the girls reacted with genuine shock. "It is?" Asked Nenielle.
Legolas's eyebrows lowered. "You didn't know?"
Naurielle looked back over her shoulder at her sisters and they all shook their heads, then looked back up at the Prince with mixed expressions.
"It's quite alright, I assure you." He said. "You are welcome to stay in here, if you are comfortable. I will just have to move some of my things…"
"Your things?" Cefielle asked. "Wouldn't everything in the room be yours?"
"Yes, but what I meant was personal things." Legolas clarified, stepping past her and into the room. Naurielle closed the door.
"But wouldn't your father have removed those things from your room before he allowed us to stay here?" Nenielle inquired.
"He probably would have, but some of these things he doesn't know exist." Legolas said with a slight smile. He strode over to a bedside dresser that had once been his. It had been moved to the far corner of the room to make space for the four beds that now replaced his one.
Leaning down, Legolas opened the second drawer to the bottom, pulling it out completely. Then he reached inside dresser with his arm, feeling for what he was seeking.
"What is it that you must hide from your father?" Gwelwielle asked timidly.
"It's nothing worth hiding," Legolas explained. "I just prefer to keep it secret." He grinned as his hands closed around an object, and he pulled it out.
"What's that?" Nenielle asked. "A box?"
Legolas smiled as he held the wooden box in his hands. "Yes." Then he opened it.
"A journal?" Cefielle asked when she saw the contents of the box.
Legolas nodded but made no sound.
"What's so secretive about that?" Naurielle asked, an edge to her voice.
Legolas stood up and turned and looked at her. "Had you known I had this, wouldn't you be tempted to read it?"
Naurielle opened her mouth to say something smart, but she didn't expect Legolas's question to be so simple. She crossed her arms. "You've made your point and found your book. Now will you get out of our room please?"
"Naurielle!" Cefielle gasped at her sister's rudeness.
"It's alright. This is your chamber now, Cefielle." Legolas said, ignoring the comment by the other girl. "I will go now and see if I can room with one of my friends for the time being."
He began to walk towards the door, the box with the journal inside it in his hands. His hand closed around the door handle, and as he was just about to open it, he turned back again.
"Good day to you, ladies." He said smoothly, smirking a little at Naurielle, who just turned up her nose at him. Then he opened the door.
"Legolas! Wait!" Cried a voice. It was Cefielle again. "I mean…Prince Legolas…I'll come with you."
Legolas nodded in approval and held the door open for her as she walked out into the hall. He followed, pointing her in the direction he intended to go. Their first steps were silent, but then Cefielle spoke.
"It's a little ironic. You are now showing me around your palace, and 7 months ago I was trying to help you escape from mine." She said softly.
Legolas frowned. "I remember. You saved me that day, Cefielle. And I'm eternally grateful."
"Your welcome." Cefielle answered instinctively. "But you know I couldn't just let…just let Celidur kill you." The words came as if forced out.
Legolas stopped walking and turned to her. "You still grieve for him? Even knowing what he was?"
"I wouldn't call it grieving." Cefielle answered. "I don't know what to call it."
"His true name wasn't even Celidur, you know." Legolas told her. "That was the name he stole."
"Yes, but it was the name I knew him by." The girl answered. "I know, Legolas. My mother…I mean, Maegluin explained everything to us when I asked her. Just like you said to."
Legolas blinked. Cefielle was obviously still struggling to believe that the she-elf she had been raised by wasn't her birth mother. "How is Maegluin, by the way?" He asked.
Cefielle looked up sharply at him, her eyes sad. But she said nothing.
"She is alright, isn't she?" Legolas asked again, fearing the worst.
Cefielle slowly looked down and shook her head once. "She died two months after we arrived here. She just couldn't bare to live anymore."
Legolas watched in shock as the girl in front of him began to cry. "Cefielle…I didn't mean to upset you…I'm sorry for your loss." He said softly.
Cefielle nodded and wiped the tears away with the long sleeve of her dress. "I—I know." She stuttered emotionally. "I just haven't been able to grasp all of this happening around me yet, and it's been 7 months." She looked up sadly at Legolas again. "Do you think me weak?"
Legolas offered her a small smile and shook his head. "Even the very strong must cry sometimes."
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Somewhere, deep in the twisted forest of Eryn Lasgalen, a wounded Nazgul waited. The evil stronghold of Dol Guldor had been thrown down by that wretched elf-witch Galadriel, the evil things in the forest driven away by the elves. The Nazgul growled in rage. In it's armored, broken hand it clasped a small, clear vial, filled to the brim with a glowing, purplish tinted liquid.
"Veeery soon…" It whispered gently. "Very soon and the last of Master's powers will be released."
As it spoke the words, the glowing contents of the bottle pulsed, almost like a heartbeat. The Ringwraith understood it's message.
"Yesss….you will get your revenge, servant of Sauron." It hissed angerly. "And those who opposed us before will die!"
The last words were accompanied by the sound of a bird's wings fluttering close. Suddenly a lone crow landed on the ground in front of the Wraith.
"Take this to the house of Thranduil, King of this wood." It said, offering the glowing vial to the bird. "Deliver it into the hands of his son, Prince Legolas. Do not fail me."
The crow cocked it's head and croaked in it's throat. Then it hopped forward and took the vial in it beak.
"Go." The Nazgul ordered. The bird ruffled it's black feathers, cawed once more, and then flew away.
((((((((((((((Personal thingy))))))))))))))))))))))
There ya go. First chappy of the sequel. Hope you liked it!