Disclaimer: I do not own any of The Lord of the Ring's characters.

The Wounds of the Past
by: firewingz

Chapter 3: Mother


Legolas couldn't tear his eyes off of the corpse. Her hair was just like that of his mother's. But it couldn't be…his mother disappeared in an orc attack…supposedly arranged by…

Flashback (50 years ago):

"Father?" Prince Legolas asked, turning to face the King of Mirkwood. Legolas had just returned home from a short patrol this morning. "When will Mother be home?"

"Anytime. She just needed to go see Lord Elrond for a couple days. She should be back anytime now." King Thranduil tried to reassure his son…and himself. Legolas merely smiled and accepted what his father said. "Now rest," the King continued, "You need to regain your energy." Legolas knew when to not argue with father and quickly settled himself down in his bed, his father setting on the side of his bed.

King Thranduil smiled at his beloved son, glad that he didn't ask any more questions. But the King was beside himself with worry. The Queen should have been here by now. In fact, she should have already arrived this morning. The King had told some of his best soldiers to protect the Queen on her journey to and from Imladris. According to what his patrols that guard the forest's edge, they'd seen the Queen enter yesterday and have reported that even Imladris' soldiers were with her.

The King had smiled at that. He felt that his beloved was even more protected now, with his ally's soldiers also guarding the Queen on a safe return home. The King was about to say goodnight when a soldier stormed into the room.

"Your Majesty!" The soldier shouted.

"What is it?" The King rose, worry clearly evident on his face. The prince immediately got up, sleep and rest erased from his mind.

"It's the Queen. Her entire escort attacked…"

"Come. We must hurray then," The King said so in a commanding voice and left the room in his haste to call upon soldiers. But inside, he was uneasy with worry. Legolas quickly followed his father. The Prince was one of the best warriors in the land, though he was still quite young.

The King gathered his soldiers in no time and rushed out, with his son right in back of him, though the King protested. It was some miles into the woods when they suddenly saw the company. They were too late. There were orcs everywhere, piled around elven bodies. Their arrows were all imbedded in the orcs and some had their heads a couple feet from them. The King and his company jumped off their horse and went to look for survivors and the queen.

The King and the Prince found a piece of cloth that the Queen had on with elven blood and orc blood soaking it. Around the cloth was a pile of dead orcs. King Thranduil dropped to his knees, tears spilling down his face without shame. Legolas' eyes filled with tears. The young prince could almost hear her soft melodious voice comforting him when he was in despair, he could almost see his mother's warm brown eyes shining with love and hope.

"Your Majesty! One lives!" A soldier cried out, interrupting his thoughts.

King Thranduil and Legolas ran to the fallen soldier who was trying to gasp out words. "Beware…Mirk…wood…Elrond…knows…he planned…it…be…ware…" Then the Imladris soldier fell limp, his eyes going dull, his spirit leaving this Earth.

Legolas was still in shock with what the soldier had said. "No…" Legolas whispered. "It can't be. Lord Elrond would never…he didn't." Legolas said, knowing in his heart that somehow something went amiss.

"Elrond will pay," the King of Mirkwood swore. "Elrond will…"

Legolas turned away from his father. His feelings said that Elrond did not, yet Elrond's own soldier said it was he. The King of Mirkwood quickly got up with anger and sorrow raging in his eyes.

Legolas' eyes filled with tears again, hoping that his mother found peace, and hoping that Lord Elrond was not responsible for this attack.

End Flashback

Legolas looked at the corpse before him at the edge of the spider nest, Legolas' keen hearing could pick up the sound of spiders gaining on him. But he had to know. Shaking, Legolas reached up to brush the corpse's hair away. The Prince nearly tripped back at the revelation of the maiden's face. Legolas suddenly sprinted out of the nests. He ran on and on, pumping his legs to go faster, ever more faster.

He didn't look back once. He didn't need to. The corpse's face, still not deteriorated yet, her brown eyes were wide open, her torture and misery forever exposed in her hollow eyes were already burned into Legolas' memories...his nightmares. His heart cried for her, his thoughts a confusing blur. Her face...her eyes...her hollow orbs...were his mother's.


To be continued:

Thank you to everyone who reviewed it. Thank you for all of your advices. Please read and tell me anymore advices on this story. Thank you!