Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess

Author's Note:

I think it is time to bring a little drama to our story or better to slowly build up what is happening to Mirkwood while Legolas is not there. Our regular story will continue in the next chapter.

This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)

~ XXVI: The Moonlight Eldar ~

Imladris, 3018 TA, November 13

The November mornings were bright and airy. Most of the dawns were beautiful and the mist was rising like a dragon's breath. It drifted up, circling the trees. In the forest, the leaves were still spring-green and lush. For now, the rivers ran joyfully as a group of men was conversing in the greater area of the gardens of Imladris.

"Lord Aragorn, pray tell me, how is the lass?" Gimli intervened; he followed Aragorn this morning to inquire about Xena's well-being, and they ended up having an extended debate with other lords about their little adventure. Gandalf forbade them from discussing Legolas and Xena's capture of the orcs, as well as their welfare. Whoever inquired of the prince and human was informed that they continued their trip to the next town.

"I believe Lord Elrond would know better," the ranger said, resting a hand on the dwarf's left shoulder. "Are you concerned about them?"

"Them?" Gimli said confused gazing up at the man dressed in black "You have heard me asking about the lass and not the pointy-eared pixie..."

"Aye, I heard," Aragorn admitted, "but I believed you were now on better terms with the elf."

"Elves and Dwarves have always been enemies. Mirkwood elves had already forsaken our kin, imprisoning my own father. Certainly not, my Lord Aragorn. I'm not worried about Thranduil's son; I just wanted to check in with my friend." While staring at the ranger, the dwarf said in a deeper tone.

"Friends? Are you acquainted with Xena?" The ranger inquired, perplexed, having missed the period when the dwarf and human would spend hours together vilifying Legolas.

"Whoever is opposed to that pointy-bastard is a friend of mine," Gimli proudly remarked. "In the same vein, we despise the elves, particularly Legolas."

Aragorn grinned as he gently tapped the dwarf's shoulder "Your friend came perilously close to death attempting to rescue Legolas. I'm not sure you're still on the same page, Master dwarf."

Gimli was confused because he needed to gain a greater perspective, on what had been presented to him. "Lord Aragorn, individuals see the truth differently; their accounts of the identical occurrences are sometimes diametrically opposed. Allow time, and I shall await the lass's interpretation. However, you did not address my concern about her well-being."

His simple, earnest response and the conviction on his face made Gimli feel at ease "They are no longer in danger, they should be able to join us shorty Master Gimli. Are you in need of another answer?" Aragorn asked.

"For you to answer only what is asked, Lord Aragorn," Gimli added only to outline that it took the ranger a few long moments to answer his question.

Aragorn nodded as the lords continued to debate the ways and routes they would follow on their impending journey. Indeed, their intentions would be affected by what had occurred to the elf and human, but they still needed to organise the quest to destroy the one ring.

Mirkwood, 3018 TA, November 15

The guards that had accompanied Legolas to Rivendell had now returned to Mirkwood, bearing the unfortunate news to the Elvenking. His son consented to pursue the mission, which may easily lead to his doom. Of course, his son was a competent warrior, the greatest archer in Mirkwood – if not all of Arda – but he was still his only child, and he was concerned. And, fortunately, he was unaware of his recent injuries. Because it would require him to ride to Imladris and retrieve his son.

However, things were not better in Mirkwood. The darkness was slowly rising along with Middle-Earth, it had drawn through Mirkwood for centuries nonetheless. A dreadful tragedy had unfolded earlier that day, far away in the North. The Elvenking was told that the enemy had risen in strength and that orc assaults had escalated. The majority of his troops were out battling all day and night, attempting to secure his halls. The Elvenking, proud and honourable, had not fought in years. However, the moment had come for him to ride out with a look of furious resolve in his eyes and a thirst for vengeance in his heart; the war had come to his territories, and he could no longer remain hidden behind his walls.

Ancient evil and a new one were infiltrating his domain, and the King of stone and wood felt it in his veins. The captain of his guard counselled him to meet him and fight to ensure that no outside evil reached their kin, Thranduil's perspective had shifted. He and his most loyal soldiers began riding out these days, prepared to confront any evil that could spread over his realm.

Until in one of his missions he met an old friend of his, Dínenion. Dínenion arrive to ask for shelter for the few families who managed to survive. And Thranduil for the first time after long opened his halls and agreed to let them stay. However, Dínenion had one more reason for seeking his old friend, a forgotten oath, that made the Elvenking fear for Legolas' return to Mirkwood. Perhaps his son was much safer in the dangerous quests.

Dínenion was the only son of Hastion, King of the Moonlight Realm. He, like Thranduil, was born during the First Age and lived in Doriath at some point prior to the Second Kinslaying. At the beginning of the Second Age, some Sindar travelled east, Oropher founded the Elven realm in Greenwood the Great and Dínenion founded Silverwood Realm. In the Battle of Dagorlad Oropher and Hastion were slain, Dínenion returned to Silverwood Realm and became the ruler, as Thranduil claimed his inheritance and became King of the Woodland Realm, reigning over the whole of Greenwood the Great.

Around T.A. 1050, when Sauron returned disguised as the Necromancer, northern Silverwood became more hazardous; evil creatures began to inhabit the forest, and the area became known as "Shadowood." Dínenion and his kin fled to the east of the forest, settling near the mountains. He became King of the last Moonlight elves by founding the Moonlight Realm with the sole aim of keeping his folk safe from the increasing darkness in Arda.

Around the same decade, Thranduil's folk relocated to the north of the forest, near the Forest River. Thranduil had his halls subterranean, partially in commemoration of Doriath's powerful, but long-lost, Menegroth. They were hidden behind large stone gates in north-eastern Mirkwood, near the Forest River.

Hastion and Oropher were of Sindarin descent with Hastion being the offspring of the last Moonlight elves. The Eldar were the fairest creatures in Arda, a far more beautiful race than Men and had keener senses than Men. They were slender, graceful yet strong, and resistant to extremes of nature, illness and disease. Among them, those who were moonlight elves were the fairest and had the greatest skill. The hair colour resembled the moon's colour a shade of Light silver, with Hastion being the only one who had a few shades of Pale Purple.

In the first age, when Hastion and Oropher resided in Doriath they became trustworthy friends. As the decades passed Hastion betrothal Saeleth, a moonlight Elleth, and they had two children: an only son Dínenion and an only daughter Maethriel. It did not take long and Oropher had found his Queen named Istien, a Sindar Elleth, and they had an only son Thranduil. Hastion and Oropher had determined that when their children grew of age, Thranduil should betrothal with Maethriel, it was a sensible marriage, one that would combine the two greatest houses in Doriath.

They gave a blood oath.

Though Oropher's son had a fondness for treasure and beauty, he was never interested in Maethriel, who was seen as an ordinary elleth despite her inheritance. Thranduil's attention had been captured by a Silvan maiden, who had captured his heart. Eleyewn had a keen heart and a warm smile. It was her warm smile that drew Thranduil's attention in the first place. He was raised in a loving home, but his heart was never warm. Until the day he met Eleyewn, she was his priceless treasure.

However, Oropher could never accept such a union since he had already committed his son to Hastion. Additionally, there was another issue: Eleyewn was Silvan; she was insignificant in comparison to Oropher's line. He would never let his son marry anybody except Maethrie. Thranduil made every effort to avoid being bound to a maiden he disliked. He was indifferent to how much pressure Oropher applied; he always found a way to avoid it.

Everything remained the same until the dawn of the Second Age. Hastion and Oropher were slain, and Dínenion eventually became rulers of Silverwood and Thranduil of Greenwood. When word came that Maethriel, Hastion's only daughter, had been murdered by orcs, the pledge was forgotten. Thranduil was wedded to Eleyewn, and the couple produced an only child, Legolas. Darkness began to creep into Greenwood. Centuries went by. Greenwood was renamed, Mirkwood. Eleyewn was assassinated by the adversary, and the Woodland realm was at war with the dark monsters who were progressively encroaching on Mirkwood.

Dínenion never forgot the oath that was given to them. But his sister was now dead and the Elven-king had a Queen. Darkness had captured the Silverwood and only a shadow was left of its previous glory. Dínenion had to reestablish the Moonlight Realm, for the sake of his kin. Along the way, he found his Queen, Mithrilil, who gave him a daughter late in the year 2080, and perished afterwards.

Amethyst was Dínenion's daughter and one of the moonlight elves that dwelt in the shadowoods. Her complexion was as pale as a summer full moon, and her shiny grey eyes could fascinate anybody who looked into their depths. As with her grandpa, her hair was one-of-a-kind; it mirrored the moon's colour, a shade of bright silver with a few tones of Pale Purple. She was a sight for sore eyes. She was, however, as chilly as the frozen ice on a winter night.

And she had every right to be. She grew up without a mother inside the shadows. Her first memory was escaping from their own realm before they were slain by orcs. She recalled her father and her kin, either fighting the dark creatures or trying to find shelter. She knew that her father cared about her, and he loved her in his own way.

Dínenion has lost the majority of his powerful men, and it was only a matter of time until their kin would perish. That could not happen. She was Dínenion's daughter and the legitimate princess of the Moonlight Realm, a Realm that no longer existed but whose inhabitants did.

Even in those dark times, it was time to aid their kin. At first, they found shelter inside the halls of the Elvenking. Thranduil could not decline that Dínenion's men were a great aid to his troops. However, things started to become complicated when Dínenion revealed that his return had one more purpose. He wanted to blood oath fulfilled. After Legolas would return, he had to wed his daughter Amethyst.

Troubles rose in Mirkwood, as Thranduil did not only have to protect his halls but find a way to save his son from an oath that his father had taken. An oath that he was supposed to meet, but didn't. And he was afraid although Legolas was no longer thinking of himself to act as the prince. That when he found out the truth, he would end up agreeing. Because at the end of the day his son was raised fully in Elvish culture from the day of his birth, and with that upbringing came a strict sense of traditionalism that his kin carried down throughout the ages.

Thranduil had brought one more misfortune on Legolas without realizing it. Thranduil was not naïve, nor was he friendly to those perceived to be his foes and traitors. Typically, he would not open his hallways and allow them to remain. At the very least, not without a compelling cause. The moonlight elves were not permitted to journey to the Undying Lands. They forfeited that trust when they chose to maintain a neutral attitude while the enemy's troops became stronger. They felt that if they refused to recognise the enemy, he would spare them. However, this was not the case; the moonlight kin was deemed traitors, and the enemy did not spare them.

Now here they were finding shelter inside his halls and bringing ill news with their arrival.

((Upcoming Chapter Twenty-Seven))

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