The Passing

Hope

Sometimes when I'm lonely,

Don't know why,

Keep thinkin' I won't be lonely

By and by.

Langston Hughes

Years ago the wind had not been as harsh on the young prince. To even think about it now held the ache of sorrow. It had all happened quickly and painfully on a summer morning.

The Queen rode bareback as an army of Mirkwood elves encircled her. Her eyes caught a glance of the hooded figure in the background a she let out a gasp.

Legolas and Amroth rain around the palace grounds, and dashed in and out of the narrow corridors. Legolas had just seen his 500th year, and was already training in swordplay and archery on the practice fields. His golden hair was braided in a warrior fashion, and his fair skin had a hint of rosy ness from daily practices in the sun. This was a somewhat unfair advantage over his baby brother, who was looking forward to his 300th birthday in a few months. Legolas used his newly developed strength to easily overtake Amroth, who (bless his soul) just wanted to impress his older brother. The echoes of wooden swords pasted throughout the castle and the Princes pretended they were great warriors fighting the most intense battle.

"This way, Muindor!" Amroth called to Legolas. The two boys ran toward the far west wing of the castle as they continued to sword play. Legolas quickly pinned his brother and pushed his head sideways onto the planked ground.

"Firo, ulunn!" Legolas yelled as he pushed his wooden sword against Amroths neck. Amroth squealed as his face began to turn red in frustration.

"Orvelethron!" Amroth squeaked.

"You'll regret that!" Legolas grinned and put more pressure on his little brother. Amroth's face was turning purple and tears begun to run down his checks.

"Do you yield?" Legolas yelled. Amroth shook his head violently.

He was stubborn at first, but quickly nodded in defeat once he saw no escape.

Legolas ruffled Amroth's dark hair and jumped off his stomach. The Prince was about to rub in his victory even more when he noticed something odd.

The castle was silent.

"Where is everyone?" He asked out loud. Amroth noticed the sudden change in Legolas and quickly stood up beside his brother while still rubbing his neck.

"Man?"

"Come on!" Legolas began to run down the corridors toward the heart of the palace with his brother trying to keep up. The boys pushed their way through the crowd that gathered in the grand hall. In the center of the crowd was a terrifying sight.

The world seemed to be in slow motion as the boys saw their mother covered in a pool of blood as she lay in the center of the hall. The Queens blood mingled with the golden polish of the floor, and all that could be heard where the weeping of the Mirkwood people. The King stood above his Queen with his hands clenched as his sides as he gazed at his dead wife. His expressionless face turned sorrowful as his eyes met those of his sons.

Amroth ran to his mother's body, and rested his head on her belly and cried. His sobs filled the grand hall as Legolas stood nearby in his own world of sorrow. His piercing blue eyes gazed at the death on his mothers face, and the dried blood that mingled with her raven black hair. He knelt next to his sobbing brother- and while his right hand rested on Amroths back, his left palm reached for his mothers face and he ran it delicately across her cheek.

Legolas's eyes came up to reach those of his fathers- and there they stayed as the King feel to his knees before his dead wife and wept.

The Prince awoke with a cry. His heartbeat was thumping in his ears, and tears covered his face. Legolas pulled his blanket from around his legs were it had been tangled, and moved it to his bear chest which shivered as the chill of night crept in. He lay in his dark tent as the wind howled outside mixed with rain and thunder.

Many sleepless nights Legolas had tried to keep the memories from his childhood at bay. Little bits would ooze in like salt on a wound and make his emotions fester. This night had been the worst in a long time.

Legolas seemed to age hundreds of years after the murder of his mother. He held the tougher older brother facade as Amroth would creep into his chamber most nights and cling to him crying, months after their mother's passing. How Legolas wanted someone to hold him, too! His emotions only ran free in the solitude of his own chambers and in the wee hours of the night as he lay in his bed.

He clung to the scent of his mothers things, and tried to remember her voice. Every time he saw Amroth laugh he could see his mother's smile peering back at him.

To be so weak and yet pretend to be so strong was such a burden for the young prince.

Kohana stayed clear of the royals the rest of the trail through the mountain pass. By the time the party reached the edge of the mountains and entered the dense forest of Mirkwood, her wounds had fully healed, and her stamina had grown. Sadly- this meant nothing, because more elves with horses were waiting for them as they entered the Mirkwood realm.

Suddenly, Kohana found herself back on a random horse and into the creepy Mirkwood Forest.

'They didn't call it MIRKwood for nothin'.' She thought as the elves traveled two by two down the narrow pathway. To either side of her was dense black forest and eerie sounds of creatures she couldn't even imagine.

Legolas was comforted by the re-enforcements that joined their party toward the end of their journey. With the new troops were many of his cousins and childhood friends, which gave the Prince more reassurance.

"Mae tollen na mar!"

Legolas's cousin, Huor, quickly caught up with the prince, and the two grasped forearms in greeting.

"Glassen an achened le, Huor!" Legolas smiled as he looked around. "My heart has ached for my home."

Huor hushed his voice. "Hir, there have been reports from scouts that you are being followed."

Legolas thought for a moment. "Then we need to be extra cautious. Order a few elves to fall behind the party to watch the rear. We will send a few to ahead of us, as well." Legolas looked sternly at Huor and pointed to the hooded figure seating on one of the horses, "But above all else, we must watch our cargo."

The only elves that knew they were escorting a girl were the Princes and elven party that traveled to Rivendell two months ago.

All were sworn to secrecy.

Huor and his troops were expecting a chest, or a wagon of some sort, filled with jewels, or a magic stone.

Not a person!

"My Lord, I do not understand. We are escorting a PERSON?"

"Do not be fooled, cousin. This is no mere person, but a grave creature I have been forced to endure for the last month. I can not disclose any more information to you- but trust me, do not let your guard down."

Legolas nodded to his cousin, and quickly found Amroth with new orders.

"Brother, I need you to travel ahead with Huor to warn my father that we arrive in a week." Amroth nodded and started to gather his things while Legolas made more arrangements with the new elves under his command.

Unluckily, he missed one.

Aruin, one of the new elves to join the party was surprised to see a lone elf atop one of the Mirkwood horses with his head down. Trying to be cordial, Aruin walked over to the elf to say help.

Kohana was sitting on her horse and fiddling with her tunic. Suddenly, one of the elves patted her on the back saying, "Mae tollen na mar, maethron. Why don't you get off that horse and grab some stew. I'm sure your journey has been hard, but do not fret, we will be home soon."

Kohana snorted under her cloak. What the crap is going on! Now they are being nice to me? She flung off her hood as she jumped off her horse to stare the face of a very confused Aruin.

Before she new it, someone had grabbed her from behind and was hulling her off kicking and screaming into the woods. Kohana was furious! It wasn't HER fault some elf was misinformed!

"Who the HELL is caring me? Let me down!" She screamed, but to no avail her captor just kept on walking.

Are we near water?

Her ears perked up to a gurgling sound and the cool mist on her body.

Suddenly she was dumped on the ground with a thud. She looked up to the face of Legolas.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't talk to my men! Is that clear?"

"He talked to me!" She screamed.

Kohana bounded back up to continue screaming at him, but he quickly pushed her back down.

"Is that CLEAR!" He yelled again. Kohana's eyes got wide at his glare, and she nodded. She would rather agree with him, than be on his bad side. Legolas folded his arms and smirked.

"Now that we have that clear- I brought you to this river to bathe. Do not try to escape, for I know this terrain like the back of my hand. That would be a very foolish thing to do."

Kohana was excited about a bath, but the Prince standing there confused and scared her.

"Ummm, Legolas? Are you going to just stand there and watch, or could you give me a little privacy?"

Kohana was afraid, because the Prince's face got very red and she couldn't gauge what he was going to do.

Legolas was mortified.

'WATCH her!' His head screamed.

Witch or not, she was still a maiden, and the idea made his heart race and a huge heat spread around his face. He tried to mask his embarrassment with anger.

"How dare you suggest such a thing! I will be on the other side of that tree." He begun to walk away when he stopped and realized that he had missed something in the conversation due to his embarrassment.

The witch called me by my name! The Prince turned around.

"And you will address me as My Lord!"

Kohana begun to take bits of clothing off as she walked closer to the water.

"Your not MY Lord . . ." she muttered under her breathe.

Legolas heard it of course, but chose to ignore it. He was tired, and confrontations with her always gave him a headache.

Kohana realized this was the second time in middle earth that she had bathing in a river.

And it was only those two times.

Accept this time she didn't have soap.

Ewwwww.

Kohana thought about Legolas as she floated on the current of the river. She was sandwiched between two rocks, so she only felt a slight push of water on her back.

What a prick!

'Hummmm, he was handsome, though.' She thought. 'Not as wise looking as Glorfindel, but then, Glorfindel is much older.'

Kohana remembered his character in the Lord of the Rings movies.

Legolas's face was different than the film, obviously, and in the novels Tolkien got his personality all wrong. Well, from what she could remember from the books, his personality was never mentioned- really.

Plus- I'm sure his personality is much more agreeable when he doesn't hate you . . .

Kohana finished dressing and called for Legolas to come back out. He had been listening from behind his tree for a sign that she was trying to escape, but surprisingly she stayed right by the river the whole time.

'I must have really scared her.' He grinned to himself. The prince turned around to see a very wet girl standing on the other side of the tree looking annoyed.

"Come, she-witch." He ordered as he began to walk into the dark woods once again.

". . you could at least call me by my name." Kohana retorted under her breathe.

Legolas ignored her and continued walking. As the elf and girl traveled closer to camp, Legolas's noticed he wasn't hearing any elves at the campsite. The hairs on his arms pricked up.

'I have had this feeling before.'

The Prince quickly scooped Kohana over is shoulder and continued walking.

"Hey! What makes you . . ." She begun to flail about.

He shushed her with a pinch on her leg.

"There is something suspicious going on, and I don't need you trampling around to give us away to whomever is out there!" He whispered.

As they arrived in camp Legolas dropped Kohana to her feet. Only we the two looked around did both gasp.

All around the campsite lay the bodies of elves.

Kohana covered her mouth before she could scream. Never had she seen so much death.

Legolas quickly grabbed a quiver and bows from a fallen warrior, and pulled Kohana toward him. He threw her on her knees and pointed an arrow to her neck.

"DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS." He yelled.

His eyes could have killed her, if the arrow did not. Kohana knelt there sobbing, and shoke her head profusely while trying to form sentences.

"No! No! . . . .Oh God!"

Legolas notched his arrow, but then noticed the girl's wide eyes as they glanced behind him to the distance.

'What was she looking at?'

He had been taught to never loose eyesight with your enemy, so in one smooth motion, he pulled the girl in front of him, and held a dagger to her throat.

His eyes can up to met the most terrifying sight. This was his true enemy.

The Nazgul slowly, like ghosts, appeared from the shadows around them.

This is how I will die, the Prince thought. Surrounded by Nazgul, the two gazed at their fate.

Notes:

My brother- muindor

Die, hideous creature- firo, ulunn!

Man- what?

Welcome home- Mae tollen na mar!

It is my joy to see you again- glassen an achened le!

Hir- my lord

Maethron- warrior (solider)