Chapter 2.

Astride his horse, Legolas raced through the fields and forests of middle earth. His senses were heightened by the cool air, he felt alive. Yet he was much troubled, he had felt an ill presence on the winds as he approached the White Mountains.

"What lies ahead I wonder?" he thought.

He unsheathed his daggers and rode cautiously onwards up the mountain. He drew close to the summit before he found the labyrinth of caves, and as he neared the first entrance his ears heard something…

Growling.

So small and far away it was that had he been a man then he would have heard nothing but the wind.

And there… a smell…

He recognised it instantly, Orc blood. He galloped over to the next edge; here he could see the battle. Five monstrous wolves of Isenguard with Orc riders battling a lone figure.

It was an elf; that much Legolas was sure of. But they were of no kind of elf he had ever seen before. Their long hair was golden in colour, and not white like his own. Their stature was small yet it seemed well equipped to battle these creatures although they were outnumbered.

Legolas reached for his bow and instinctively shot down an Orc and its hound. The other elf, looked up confused and saw Legolas as he jumped from his viewpoint, daggers drawn, to help them. The second elf seemed wary of their new comrade yet still seemed to appreciate the help. Soon the Orc's were slain and Legolas withdrew his weapons.

The second elf had its back to him as Legolas spoke up in elvish.

"I am Legolas Greenleaf of the Woodland Realm. I search for the one known as The Elder."

The figure turned to face him and said, "And you have found her Master Elf."

Astonished Legolas stared at the she-elf that stood in front of him. She was small and slim with wild golden hair that flowed from her shoulders to her hips. She wore male elvish clothing, a grey tunic with light blue trousers and traditional elfish leather boots; however hers were the colour of stone not the light brown that was worn by the woodland elves.

But the most astonishing things about her were her eyes. They were as green as emeralds in the centre, with dark green and black rings inside. Her eyes made her look dangerous, as though she were a wild animal, trapped in a cage waiting for a moment to escape and attack.

"Who are you?" Legolas said.

"I am Raeya of Evatrel. Although you would call it the Mountain Realm."

Legolas gasped, "The mountain realm! But they are thought to be extinct. We were told that all of your kind was wiped out in the battle at Mordor."

"I am the last of my kin." She explained,

"And you are the one the Dwarfs call the Elder?"

"Apparently so. I have lived alone in these mountains for thousands of years, I have seen the dwarfs come and go, mining for jewels and gold and other precious things. But they never stay long, well, no more than a hundred years. They call me the Elder! That makes me feel old. But the mountains remind me of my youth as they were here thousands of years before I was." She smiled. "But come, Master Greenleaf tell me why you have searched for me."

"I was sent here to take you to Edoras in Rohan. There lies Gandalf the White who wishes to consort with you."

"Really. About what?"

"He wishes to know about the future. About a particular future. About the great battle which shall soon come to pass." Legolas explained.

"He wishes to know about the future. And why would I want to give such information about this battle to him?" Raeya enquired.

"The battle will decide the future of middle earth. Whether it should fall into shadow or light."

"I see." Raeya thought for a moment and then said, "I have seen the Eye in my dreams, it calls for the ring. What use is my information to you, when the dark lord finds the one ring there can only be one outcome."

"The ring is on its way to Mount Doom where it is to be destroyed." explained Legolas.

"Ahhh yes The Hobbits, they have it. I have seen them too in my dreams. The Eye does not know which one has the ring, and his anger grows with his impatience. But fear not they are all safe for now." She paused and studied him carefully. Finally she spoke. "Very well I shall come with you to meet with this Gandalf the White. But I must warn you, I can see the Eye, and therefore the Eye can see me. I may bring to you more peril on this journey. Already the Dark Lord has asked me to help him. He will be most displeased when he hears I have declined his offer." She nodded at the dead Orc's and smiled. "Let me gather some things" she said.