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)

~ XCVII: The Enchanted River of Mirkwood ~

Mirkwood, 3019 TA, May 29th

She was left alone in the dark, windowless dungeon, without her weapons and armour, wearing a long white robe until her fate was determined in court. She had taken a life, and thus, she was incarcerated. Even if Thranduil himself requested a favour in exchange for her life, killing the princess of the moonlight elves would not save her. After learning that an outsider had killed Amethyst, the majority of royals and courtiers demanded that the perpetrator be convicted and punished.

She did not regret her actions, but at least she knew that Legolas was no longer in danger. He was in longer in misery or sorrow, but at least he was safe. Elrond, Gandalf, Galadriel, the twins, and even Elessar and Arwen had arrived after many days of riding. It seems that Thranduil had considered the consequences of Legolas' attempt to retrieve his memories, and he had trained a raven to inform Gandalf. As the Elvenking of Mirkwood, he was able to converse with nature.

Elrond had no words to explain his astonishment; his younger daughter was imprisoned and awaiting her sentence, and Legolas was in the worse condition he had ever seen him in. Elrond asked Thranduil to find a way to save his daughter, and he pledged to help his son. The quest was approved, and Elrond, Gandalf, and Galadriel were all attempting to save Legolas. He could not be rescued, though.

"We could have him try the same charms as previously in an attempt to make him forget his memories, but it's conceivable that it might fail!" Gandalf informed Thranduil, who replied that he did not want his son to endure the same pain again. "If you can cure him, please do so! Otherwise, leave him be!" Thranduil's tone was icy and heartless, yet everyone understood how profoundly he was suffering.

For ten days, his mind has continually recalled the day he was so hungry and exhausted. Uagz appeared and offered Legolas a bowl of vile stew, but he still ate it. He was really given three opportunities to consume this stew, and later that day, Uagz told him that he was feeding on his mother's ashes. There was no border to draw and he lacked the strength to escape that realisation.

No words could restore his sanity, no prayers may offer him inner peace. He was feverish, weeping and sweating in anguish and desperation, and nearly pleading to be permitted to die. Every day and night, he was reminded that his mother had passed away, and he consumed her last remains. He was under such stress that his Fëa had begun to impact his Hröa. None of the elf lords could explain why Legolas had to pay such a heavy price.

Strangely, Xena retained the majority of these memories and emotions. She was uncertain as to how she came to have such a connection with Legolas, but she did not regret it despite the suffering it caused. She understood that this suffering had to stop. Why was her father unable to assist Legolas? It was believed that he was the greatest Healer in Middle-earth. However, he was unfortunately unable to rescue even his own wife.

Elrond took a brief break from treating Legolas to see his daughter after hearing Xena ask, "Why aren't you assisting him, father?" from the jail where she was being confined. "He is enduring so much suffering."

Elrond replied as he stood outside the jail with his palms resting on the silver bars, "It is almost impossible to cure him, Nin -iel [my daughter]; I feel Legolas is slowly slipping away."

Xena remained silent, evidently deep in contemplation; he could not and would not accept this. She had already reconciled herself to the notion that Elrond was her father. She even pleaded with him to help Legolas. In such hopeless circumstances, she would not waste time on trivial matters. She was aware that her father was the only one who could assist him. That day, they conversed for hours, and their relationship seemed to have been restored. Again, though, assisting Legolas was not possible.

As the days passed, there was no sign of hope. Arwen, Aragorn, the twins, and Gimli paid daily visits to Legolas and Xena. They were also attempting to find a solution to rescue Legolas and Xena. How did they get themselves into this mess? The wedding of Aragorn and Arwen was scheduled to take place in less than a month, but the pair ran away to help their friends.

Nothing made sense anymore. Nothing.

Xena found herself desiring to escape her cage and spend the last moment with Legolas. She had a novel concept and a potential solution, and if it did not work, they had nothing to lose. However, she was unable to flee without alerting the guards. Thranduil suddenly appeared in front of her as she sat down and plotted her escape while attempting to draw Legolas along.

The Elvenking was in obvious discomfort, with just a few facial scars evident. When her grandmother visited her in jail, she heard her grandmother recount his terrifying experiences. Xena spoke the first word as their eyes met and remained riveted. She pleaded, "Let me out of here, and I may find a way to save your son."

"I cannot," Thranduil replied as he observed her, "but I can let you flee. The rest is in your hands!"

She gave him a nod and a smile as she watched him unlock the jail gate for her. Then he motioned for her to accompany him. He closed but did not lock the gate, allowing her to return later. He led her via hidden passageways that led to Legolas' chamber. "If you follow the north tunnel, you will find your way out of my halls," Thranduil remarked and took her by the hands abruptly. She muttered, "Ni *'lassui [Thank you]" and bowed to her.

"Can Legolas swim?" she questioned him abruptly, and the Elvenking nodded despite not understanding her query. After that, she fled into Legolas's room, where he was gratefully alone. It took her some time to get used to the fractured picture of the elf she once knew. However, this was not the time to delay.

She bent over Legolas, placed her arms around him, and drew him gently to a sitting posture. Then she placed her hand under his arms and lifted him, allowing his weight to rest on her. Legolas was much lighter than she recalled. The previous time she dragged the elf, she had difficulty with his weight, but today he seemed to be much lighter. She muttered under her breath, her heart was throbbing, and she felt indescribable grief.

An hour later, she had successfully dragged Legolas out of the Elvenking's halls and over the bridge with him. As the morning became visible, she slipped out of the elven halls undetected. The stone bridge was a beauty. It was a couple of lanes long and ten yards broad, and it seemed to have been beamed down from outer space.

She stood at the edge of the bridge while listening to Legolas mutter "Bones and ashes!" over and over again. Initially, she questioned her actions, but Legolas's anguish and sorrow convinced her that she was doing the right thing. She threw her arms around Legolas and whispered in his ear, "You had better return in one piece, or I will beat your miserable behind!" Then she retreated and leaned in to give him a very gentle kiss on the lips.

The only response from Legolas was a tiny gasp once he felt her kiss him. Xena was now holding him by his hands; his body had arched and leaned near to the edge of the bridge, and she regarded the Enchanted River to determine which of its tales she understood. The Elves constructed the stone bridge centuries ago with expertise and accuracy. It was constructed by the Elves in order to facilitate their passage over the Enchanted River to the Elven Halls in Mirkwood.

Each block was square and properly aligned, the arches were mathematical semicircles, and the balustrade was comprised of stone pillars capped with domes. Anyone who crossed the bridge could not help but admire such inventiveness. No one had the ability to construct such a stone bridge. Even though the bridge was damaged and seemed to have been forgotten by humanity and time, it nonetheless exhibited its magnificence.

On the forest floor, the bridge lay fallen trees from long-forgotten storms. The hard seasons have stripped the bark and outer layers off the trees, enhancing their beauty. The woodland seemed to be rather alive, yet a peculiar mist and gloom pervaded it. The formerly vibrant woodland now exuded a gloom that could chill even the vilest of souls. The trees that protected so many with their expansive green canopies and offered so much were now frightening and gloomy. This was a harsh truth for the Elves since darkness could hurt them.

"The Enchanted River began in the Mountains of Mirkwood and flowed north in a large loop to meet the Forest River under the canopy of Mirkwood's trees." In the children's book handed to her by Legolas, she read, "Never before was the Forest River enchanted. Therefore, its waters are completely safe for drinking and bathing. However, the enchanted waters were inky and cursed (it gave the river its name). Everyone who comes in touch with it quickly goes into a deep, protracted slumber. No one should drink or bathe in this water since it is enchanted and causes considerable tiredness and forgetfulness."

Crack! Bam!

She saw as the dead corpse of Legolas fell into the Enchanted River, and the river carried him away to his next adventure. That was all she had to offer him. He could either escape and forget everything, even Xena, or he would meet his demise. That was all she was able to do for him. Shortly afterwards, she was apprehended for tossing the prince into the river and accused of trying to kill the prince. As the Elvenking forces proceeded in search of Legolas, she was incarcerated and left to her own misery and suffering.

((Upcoming Chapter Ninety-Eight))

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