THE SPACE BETWEEN

Good evening ladies andgentlemen... Welcome to The Space Between, sequel to Sleepy Willow

After a bit of a wait, it has finally arrived! Well here is the prologue. Just to let you know, this story shall be more angsty, will hopefully have a bit more action and a little less mushy stuff. I hope. Sometimes I can't control what I write and the story ends up taking a life of its own and writes itself... Somedays, on other days I hit my head on the screen to try to get the ideas to come out.. Well the usual disclaimer follows, if you want to read it, go to Sleepy Willow, its the same one, so there!

Ok I think that this story can stand alone, but it would probably be best (and much more interesting!) if you read Sleepy Willow first, I mean, after all, it would be much easier to understand, don't you think? I mean it is the sequel…

Now let the story commence, I hope you like it. And of course don't forget to drop me a line or 2 to let me know what you think, (if its good, or if it needs improving...) So thank you all and ENJOY! J

Prologue

Oceans of Time

Nearly one thousand years have passed. Over the course of time the Elves of Lothlórien continued to live, but a sadness was cast upon them. All of the Elves felt it, but not one of them could explain it. They all felt the whisper of a nameless sorrow. However it was not unknown to all.

This great sorrow came from Laiella Tatharwen of Lórien. Once there was a time where she knew happiness, where she knew love, but that time had gone long ago, leaving nothing but emptiness and sorrow. Once upon a time, Laiella, know to her forbidden love as Willow, was a charming Elf, full of life, light and joy.

Not anymore, her spirit grew weary, there no longer was that charming spark of life in her eyes that all had come to love. Her eyes were now covered with a dark shadow of sorrow. She seldom smiled and never laughed. As the years dragged on, her heart sank deeper and deeper in the depths of despair. No one could help Willow, not Arwen, her dearest friend, nor Haldir who always enjoyed her company. Even with their great strength and wisdom, Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, her guardians, could do nothing but watch helplessly as Willow faded away from the reality in which they lived.

No longer did she ever spend any time near The Garden of Earthly Delight, her once favourite pond. Every time Willow came close to it, she could clearly see in her mind all those evenings she sat there talking with him, It was so real in her mind she felt as though she could almost hear his voice nearby. Many a time she would look up hopefully searching for the owner of that velvety soft voice, that radiant smile and those mystical blue eyes. Every time she was deceived. The only answer she receive was the cold wind laughing at her. Willow avoided that part of Lórien.

Her lost love's name? None other that Prince Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood, son of King Thranduil of the Northern Realm of Mirkwood, once known as the beautiful and great forest of Eryn Lasgalen.

Eventually Arwen left Lórien to return to Rivendell to live with her father, Lord Elrond. The impact of her friend's departure was heavy. Often Willow would travel to Rivendell to visit her dear friend. In was in that time that Arwen was introduced to Aragorn, son of Arathorn and heir to the great Man Kingdom of Gondor. He was a mortal, raised by Elrond after his father's death. Arwen was mesmerized by him, she had spent so little time with mortals before. Willow was there when their love blossomed.

It was then Arwen began to understand what Legolas had meant to Willow. Legolas that name was never spoken by Willow, the feel of his name escaping from her lips brought much pain. Arwen and Aragorn knew of this and tried their very best to avoid discussing Mirkwood and its inhabitants. They also knew they would drown Willow in her despair if they were too affectionate towards each other. Arwen wanted to help her friend recover from this great pain. She would have attempted anything to do so. But Willow refused to allow Arwen to sacrifice her happiness for her. Once miserable Elf was enough she had told them on many occasions. Willow was very grateful for their support, but nothing could rid her of the emptiness in her life. Seeing Arwen and Aragorn's love crushed Willow, but not once did she ever speak of it. Her taste for life became bitter, she no longer had any desire to live, she simply slithered through life watching the days go by, hoping to see the end of time.

In Mirkwood, life was no easier for the Prince. As promised his father, the great King, showed him the price of disobedience. But that was nothing compared to the grief Legolas felt in his heart. Every day he yearned more and more for his darling Willow, hoping for signs of salvation, hoping to find any small glimpses of hope. Anything. The more the days passed the more he realized that all hope of salvage was now devoid. He lifelessly continued to perform his royal duties, always carrying that everlasting grudge against his father. One day, he thought, some day you shall be mine. This thought was the only thing that kept him going, even though it was growing fainter and fainter with each passing year. He continued to fight off the Orcs in their surroundings. However, the other Elves had noticed Legolas was fighting carelessly, he no longer fought with the determination he once had. All seemed lost and helpless.

Being in Mirkwood only twisted the blade in his wound. Every time he passed the great entrance, he thought of that day where he brought his love to this place. He would clearly see her face, amazed by the beauty the woods kept. He could still feel the touch of her small figure against his when he raced back to Lórien to save her. His fingers yearned for her face, her hair, his lips called on to hers.

Often Legolas would travel to Rivendell to escape his home life. There he had met Aragorn and the two became fast friends. Much time they would spend together, hunting, and Legolas teaching Aragorn the art of archery. Not once was Lórien ever mentioned between the two and Willow's name was not spoken. According to Legolas, Aragorn did not know of his great pain.

However Legolas ignored that Willow would also visit Rivendell. Often they would miss each other by a very short period of time. Legolas would be leaving Rivendell, and one hour later would arrive Willow, completely unknowing that her love had just been there. Aragorn and Arwen were very careful not to slip any information of the other's visit. Elrond had warned them of Thranduil's orders. The King of Mirkwood had warned Elrond as well as Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel of Lórien of his wrath against them for allowing such a love to exist. The three respected Thranduil's wished, even though they did not agree. They too hoped and waited for the day the two lovers shall be reunited.

Time passed on endlessly. One day a darkness was awakened, a darkness feared by many. In Lórien, Galadriel and Celeborn felt its reimmersion into Middle-Earth. They knew the time had come. Time for all to be revealed and all questions to be answered. The great ring of power had been awakened. Willow had felt its presence long before Galadriel and Celeborn, she could feel evil stirring up in Mordor. She was also feeling something else. Something she did not reveal to anyone. Willow felt as though the ring was calling to her. As if it wanted her to find it. It was so far away, yet she could feel inside her that the ring held a special bond with her, one that she could not explain.

"The great ring has been awakened" She said to Galadriel.

"Yes, it has." Answered the Elf queen, surprised that Willow knew of it before she did.

"I feel there is a great evil awakening. It is strange I can see that a hobbit shall be the one who carries it as we speak. I hope that he will encounter Aragorn. He will take them to Rivendell."

"Them?" Inquired Celeborn who was standing next to Galadriel. "There are more than one?"

"Yes, there are four of them, four hobbits, racing for their lives. They are much afraid. I can feel their fear."

A few days later while peering into her mirror, Galadriel saw a flight from the Shire. She felt the ring was in motion, heading towards Rivendell. The Lord and the Lady found it necessary to discuss the past events.

"Willow knew the ring's awakening long before I have." Spoke out Galadriel. "Her powers must be getting stronger. She is more knowing than I."

"And I. That is very strange, even I could not tell who is carrying the ring at the time. And she knew how many of them? She is almost as knowing as the Palantír, the great seeing-stone and your mirror." Replied Celeborn.

"Aye. So I fear. I only hope she does not become an instrument of evil."

"Let us hope. Surely Mithrandir shall know what to do. He shall come to Lórien as promised to fulfil the destiny he spoke of."

He awoke suddenly started from a dream, sweat covering his brow. His breath was hectic as he reacquainted himself with his surroundings. It took a while for him to realize where he was. He was in the middle of the wild, somewhere between Weathertop and the Bruinen, his three friends asleep and this new stranger they had just met and that claimed to be their friend. His name was Strider. He was sitting impassively staring at the flames dance in the fire before him, his deep soulful eyes forever keeping watch for an unspoken evil to tear at them. So many things had occurred to him in the last few days, so many unpleasant things.

"Is something troubling, Master Frodo?" Asked the Ranger taking his eyes away from the waltzing flames flickering in his grey eyes to glare at the obviously troubled hobbit.

"No, nothing is wrong, just a strange dream." Strider returned his watchful gaze to the fire, leaving the young hobbit to himself.

Frodo laid back down on the ground, thinking of his dream. In it, he saw someone, an Elf he was certain of it. A strange looking Elf with dark violet eyes and golden hair. Her could hear her voice, it was soft and sweet, she spoke urgently, warning him. She was saying something to him, in Elvish. He knew what she said although it made not much sense to him. "You are coming to us Frodo, in time we shall meet. With you, you bring a great curse. Do not be afraid, Estel is with you. You shall be the one to bring order to chaos. Remember what you carry, a great evil is upon you." Then the fair voice began to sing softly, the wind carrying her voice from far beyond his presence.

"And on the walls

Shadows play

Twilight souls

Anguished ways.

Lost adrift

Severed Seas

I await you

Come to me..."

What this meant the hobbit knew not. He was overcome with fatigue as the cold crawled over his body once more and fell back asleep, hoping to meet the fair Elf of his dreams

In Imladris, Elrond summoned a council to discuss this great evil. Representatives from all corners of Middle-Earth were invited. Even Mirkwood. Thranduil would not attend this council and his son Minolas was away. Therefore, he sent Legolas in his place, who better to deliver ill tidings to the Lord of Imladris? Certainly not he, the King of Mirkwood! So he sent his son.

The situation was discussed and in fact it was a hobbit who brought the ring to Rivendell, a hobbit that had shown much courage. A fellowship was formed, nine walkers were chosen to carry the ring to Mount Doom to have it destroyed. Legolas was chosen by Lord Elrond to represent the Elves, along with eight other members of the council.

After the council, Elrond and Gandalf, who was known to the elves as Mithrandir, a member of the Istari, felt the need to discuss a different matter.

"After the Fellowship shall pass over the Misty Mountains, we shall head to Lothlórien, in order to seek the one who carries the strength of Sauron, the one instrument we need as much as the ring to play a key element in his destruction." Spoke Gandalf.

"Yes, be cautious on your journey. The ring must not be seen by the Heir, if it does, Sauron shall immediately take physical form and all shall be lost." Elrond gazed upon the eight other members of the fellowship. "Speak of this to no one. The knowledge of the Heir shall reveal itself to be far too dangerous."

And so the Fellowship of nine set out for Mount Doom, to see the destruction the one ring.

Tada! An there you have it! Stay tuned for Chapter One to drop by sometime soon (I hope..)