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

Author's Note:

This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)

~ LXXVI: What once was... has returned ~

Falls of Rauros, 3019 TA, April 3rd - 6th

Legolas opened his eyes, and, out of habit, his gaze took in every aspect, ultimately settling on Xena, who was still sleeping across from him. They clothed and rested on their covers, with Xena falling asleep and Legolas merely shutting his eyes to relax his mind and senses. It was an uncommon occurrence for him to discover the human profoundly asleep since he had witnessed her sleeping many times. She was always a light sleeper, and her hearing was sensitive to a wide range of noises, even those that humans could not often detect. As she struggled in her sleep without recognising it, she seemed to be experiencing a nightmare once again today.

The falling snow touched Xena, causing her skin to crawl in horror. In this new dream of hers, everything was clothed in white, including herself. Heavy snow drifts encircled her feet, trapping and dragging her down. It seemed as if the elements themselves were collaborating with the gloom. In the distance, a wolf howled as if to corroborate her notion. She strained under the weight of the snow and began to tremble as she felt herself being drawn down into the snow.

She began to perspire. She detected the bitter aroma of burning in the air. She could almost taste it on her tongue, and in the whirling obscurity of falling snowflakes, she pictured the perplexity of her loved ones, who were lost in the raging blackness of flame and smoke. As soon as she realised she was stuck in a dream of darkness, she battled to escape this nightmare.

The instant she realised she was in a dream and attempted to flee, the snow and her surroundings turned to ash as a result of being forced away by another source. She was suddenly set free as she heard a familiar voice whispering. "Nai tiruvantel ar varyuvantel I Valar nu vilya... [So be it that you will be protected by the power of the Valar under the sky]" The nightmare became nothing more than broken images and she found herself at this moment connected to everything around them. "Xena, lasto beth nîn, tolo dan! [Xena listen to my voice and return!]"

Finally, she opened her eyes and saw Legolas kneeling next to her, his palm resting on her cheek while he spoke elven words she could not comprehend. Despite the intensity of his furious look, Xena was pulled into the moment as he regarded her with wide eyes. His severe frown was of little assistance. Her hand located his and grasped his in hers.

Legolas was visibly distressed, and what he had battled to prevent and desired would occur in an instant. Before the darkness, the Firstborn of the Children of Ilvatar could instantly discern if a person was married or unmarried by reading their eyes and hearing their speech. However, the darkness that descended over Arda altered the hearts of Middle-earth, and the phrase 'read at once in the eyes and voice' became a myth and was long forgotten by the new generations.

And they possessed what came from love itself and the independence of each fëa, which was a secret of the Children of Eru's nature. Elves married just once, with only a few recorded, very exceptional examples. Being married and being in love were interconnected since two Eldar in love would be joined together and each fëa would have a unique connection to the other.

Noldorin relics that they could transport with them. And they were fortunate to own it. In love, the union of two souls occurred mostly between elves and never between elves and other races. Legolas was born in Adra and belonged to a gentler and distinct generation, yet he was familiar with the conventions and traditions of his kin. And it was evident that a connection on such a profound level with the human was impossible.

Legolas abruptly ripped his arm away and rose in a single move, turning his back on Xena without uttering a word and proceeding towards the horses. His haughtiness and audacity may easily be used against him to backstab him. He wished to maintain an open mind and overlook the fact that he was an elf, something that could not be ignored or forgotten. He deceived himself into thinking there was nothing but the attraction between him and the human.

And, like the obstinate Mirkwood elf that he was, he persisted on this untruth. Fortunately, the link was severed, and the severity of the issue was disregarded but not forgotten. He took his time to ready the horse as the human awoke, gathered the blankets, and extinguished the fire. She was also confused about what had transpired. Was it her dream and the sound of the elven magic that led her to that ludicrous moment, or was it something else?

Today, none of them received a response to their queries, so they quickly mounted their horses and continued their trek to Rauros. From that point on, the path would become familiar, since they had traversed the Falls of Rauros on the day the Fellowship disbanded. Thankfully, their awkward moment was completely overlooked, since it made them both uncomfortable, and after hours of riding, they were once again on speaking terms.

They continued to ride briskly despite the fact that the mountains did not seem to be approaching and the river was becoming more turbulent. They travelled through Nindalf, a marshy, pathless wetland below Emyn Mui. And in the distance, the powerful waterfall of Rauros could be heard. Due to the season of spring, the weather was favourable, and they rode for hours. They would stop for a few hours around sunrise, eat Lembas bread, and then continue.

Legolas always had a story to tell Xena about Nindalf, Wetwang in Westron, and Rauros when they were not riding at a quick pace or when they were camping. Even more, he informed her about lembas or waybread, describing how it was very nutritious, remained fresh for months when wrapped in mallorn leaves, and was used as nourishment for lengthy trips.

Xena conversed with him about her culture and showed that capturing a fish and grilling it was a more delicious supper than lembas. The elf claimed that it was immoral to slaughter a sentient thing for one's own sustenance. Xena stopped the argument by shoving a huge portion of the cooked fish into the elf's mouth, forcing him to consume it.

After that, the elf ignored her for a day, since she had wounded his pride and maybe forced him to eat fish for the first time in his long life. At times, she observed the response of a noble elf prince, at other times, the reaction of a warrior, and at yet other moments, his knowledge and the many years he had spent in Middle-earth. Most of the time, though, he was just Legolas, the bothersome elf she originally met in Rivendell.

After three arduous days, they camped beside the Falls of Rauros, the vista mingling with their recollections to produce an unpleasant melancholy. They kindled a fire and decided to relax longer tonight. The sound of the cascade soothed their spirits, while the nighttime sky gently cast spells of tranquilly and beauty over them.

"We're going to follow the river through Emyn Muil until we reach the Field of Celebrant," Legolas informed her abruptly as he returned with a frightening quantity of pebbles and wood to build a fire. As he started the fire and sat close to the human, the rocks were utilised to secure the fire in the middle. "A couple hundred more miles and two additional days of furious riding."

Xena saw out of the corner of her eye as her riding companion watched the elf add more wood to the fire while informing her of the next path they would take. She had to confess that travelling with Legolas over the previous two days had taught her about unfamiliar locations and roads. Xena saw that the elf was displeased since they set up camp.

Do I confront him? She pondered before returning her focus to him. Or do I leave it be? In the end, everyone was entitled to have unpleasant moods. Eru was aware of her frequency, and Legolas had the good sense to let it be. Shouldn't I do the same? However, she was also troubled by something. It seemed as if something was patiently waiting in the darkness for its victim.

He sat calm and listened to the forest surrounding them, but nothing was heard. As did all of his kind, he felt sadness but lacked the ability to condemn the perpetrator. He could still sense and feel the remnants of the darkness, war, and death in the trees, the river, and the air. Even though the war had been won, the light of the Firstborn had already begun to wane, and the bulk of his race had already left Middle-earth. The damage was done, and Middle Earth was undergoing transformation.

As they reached the Falls of Rauros, Legolas seemed to have entered a nightmare. Despite being surrounded by beautiful rivers and a nice symphony, the land was desolate and filled with horrors. A few localities were fortunate to avoid the atrocities, while the remainder attempted to rebuild what had been destroyed. But who would be responsible for giving calm to the withering trees?

He firmly shut his eyes, the memory refusing to let go and enticing him into a new darkness. The fight was concluded, but had they truly won? No, for his kind; they were still paying for the darkness, and he could still feel it around them. In addition to confusing the human capacity to comprehend it.

His kin hearing detected a stomping sound near the woods and underbrush that covered the northern flanks. He leapt to a neighbouring tree, cocking an arrow in his bow, and the emerging human followed. It was not long before a large group of orcs entered his field of vision. They were bickering amongst themselves, oblivious to the fact that they had just entered a camp.

Before the orcs could react, he shot his arrow, and the first shot struck one orc behind the skull, killing it. As Xena threw her Chakram, two other orcs were instantly eliminated. Their cover was shattered, and they both fell from the tree, with the elf firing two more arrows and her Chakram killing two more orcs.

Arrows and Chakram worked in tandem, and orc after orc met their demise more quickly and easily than they had anticipated. He groaned, knowing that he would soon run out of arrows, and he and his companion fought the nasty beasts with their swords. And the majority of them fell easy to both of them.

Even though it had not been long, the army was notified and orcs and goblins marched in their direction. These goblins conducted themselves in a more threatening manner, and they were both deadlier and more intelligent than the previous orcs. As they were caught in a circle produced by the army, Legolas grabbed her hand and pulled her back a few paces.

And it wasn't long before their commander made his appearance. The leader of the goblins reminded Legolas of Azog and Bolg, thus Legolas's attention was riveted on him. However, this particular goblin was older and stronger. It strangely alerted him, since they were soldiers often seen in the vicinity of Mirkwood. The chances of both of them beating them were unfathomable.

Legolas managed to murmur, "We cannot win," as Xena saw a momentary flash of a dread pass across his eyes. "We must withdraw."

She scrutinised the leader with narrowed eyes, as though unsure of what he was. Then, her eyes expanded, and she surmised that he was the commander of the army. She agreed with the elf and said in a whisper, "Find us a way out of here, and I'll follow!"

The leader smelt the air surrounding the two, and the familiarity made him grin; he had met the Prince of Mirkwood before when Legolas was still an elfing. However, he saw a likeness to his father in him. He ordered his soldiers not to assault them just yet. He just took his time observing them.

The chief of the goblins recognised Legolas for some reason, although he did not seem to be familiar. Legolas had battled several orcs, goblins, and spiders during his existence; it was possible that they had met before and he had forgotten. The hissing noises caused Legolas to jerk his head and return his gaze to the source.

"Prince of Mirkwood, have you surrendered and fled your home?" The goblin questioned while glancing at Legolas as though he want a nice delicacy. "Has your intelligence degraded recently to the point that you assume you can leave your caverns because the ring was undone?"

"Do you know me?" As Legolas plotted their escape, he yielded to his curiosity and initiated a discussion with the commander. He gave the human a stern look, and she knew that he was attempting to buy them some time.

"I'm Uagz," he hissed, his eyes scrutinising the elf's skin texture. "The last time I saw you, you were in a worse state."

Legolas muttered as his fingers clenched around the hilts of his blades, preparing to assault Uagz. Legolas's concern grew as he realised he did not know Uagz's name or when they had met before. He had never been afraid of anybody or anything, but Uagz seemed to be causing him to experience an uneasiness.

"Have you already forgotten?" he questioned incredulously, having just discovered that his life's labour had been ruined in front of him. "If you must know, I am Azog's father and Bolg's grandfather."

"Both Azog and Bolg were tainted, one by my hand, and you will soon suffer the same fate," Legolas said as he remembered both goblins and their skills. As similar to his father as possible, Bolg was a deadly, cynical, idealistic, ruthless, and brutal warrior. He was exceedingly cruel and showed no remorse. Speculating based on Uagz's response, he would not be much better.

"You remember," Uagz continued, laughing and flashing his yellow teeth, "I was horrified when I learned that you had murdered my grandson; I had hoped you would perish or at least hide in the darkest caverns of your father's halls."

Legolas' eyes expanded and his demeanour became threatening, but he had not yet attacked the offensive beast. Xena, on the other hand, had had enough and raised her sword to strike, but Legolas stopped her and ordered her to wait. She grimaced but decided to observe the reason Legolas had not yet attacked him.

Uagz was enraged by Legolas's silence; he now faced a formidable Legolas who could hold his ground, but his scheme failed. "How might that be possible?" The Goblin yelled in rage, "How dare you neglect and forget me!" as he signalled his men to prepare for an assault.

"There was no need to remember you," Legolas said as he and Xena retreated and readied their swords in preparation for battle. There was no reason for Legolas to recall him or at least no memory of him. Why did that goblin have such a fixation on him?

The light shone off of Uagz's sword, causing Legolas to lose his concentration. "No reason," he chuckled. "This is the sword that ultimately murdered the Queen of Mirkwood, wasn't she... your mother? Have you forgotten?"

Legolas might quickly get enraged, yet he was always able to manage his emotions. But not today, when he heard Uagz admit that he was the one responsible for the murder of his mother. A portion of him wanted to rush up and execute him. He had never felt such intense hatred for another evil beast. However, another part of him wanted to capture him and discover what had transpired.

It did not take long for Uagz to be granted the order, and his unit assaulted both of them simultaneously. As they were outnumbered, there was no time to overthink the issue; they had to find a way out quickly. They both pushed forward to a firm assault, intending to stay on the ground until they could discover an escape route.

((Upcoming Chapter Seventy-Seven))

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