The Beginning of a Beautiful End

Chapter One—Unlikely Friendships

Disclaimer- I don't own anything of Tolkien's. There! I said it. Now let's just hope that covers all grounds.

Now, first of all, I believe I shall cover some of the main characters I have in plan for this story. A few of them are literal characters from the book that I have no right to take credit for, and I'm relatively certain ya'll will know who those are. But, at any rate, here they are:

Prince Legolas of Mirkwood (not mine)

Ireth of Dorthonion (mine!)

Alassë Mithrandír (mine!)

Elros Ciryatan (mine!)

King Thranduil of Mirkwood (not mine)

(Note: These are just the generals for right now. I might add a few more on here just to fully update it, because, seriously, I kind of make up this stuff as I go. Don't get me wrong; I know what I'm doing, just…not…entirely. 0o)

The story I'm about to share to you has never been told before. It is the story of five young elflings of varied stations, personalities, and upbringing who, though ridden with conflict and trial, held fast to a friendship that perhaps shall never be bested in the Third Age. Theirs' was a camaraderie that stood straight and tall as an example to all who wished to hold trust and judgment safely in their hands. But, unfortunately, as time has proved, all things are doomed with an end, even for the blessed children of the Valar. So, it is certain that this friendship had its closure, an unjust reward for such a companionship. Yet, a cursed tale is not necessarily a bad tale, but rather…the beginning of a beautiful end.

Ireth

The first time I met Legolas and the others was, oddly enough, at the Seasons Festival in the Great Hall of Greenwood. My mother, father, and I had been invited in as guests to sit at the royal table, for, you see, my father was the king's favorite carpenter. King Thranduil respected my father immensely, and despite the fact that we were not of royal blood, we were invited anyway. I found this remarkable, wonderful, and disconcerting all at the same time. I was very pleased that my family should be looked upon so deferentially, but I dare say I couldn't have felt more uncomfortable had you sewed a bee into the bottom of my dress. I sat there the entire time looking at my plate, hoping I wasn't offending anybody with rude manners and trying my best to look grand. However, as happens with all elflings, I eventually grew bored and tired, and I didn't care anymore what everyone was thinking about me because they obviously had absolutely no interest whatsoever in me. For over an hour I sat there in my too-big chair listening to idle chat of outside war and increasing orc numbers around Ered Mithrin. Finally, someone seemed to notice me in my state of numbness, and imagine my surprise when I realized it was none other than the king.

I'd but briefly lifted my head when he gave me a fond smile and looked towards my father. "Lord Amras," I saw my father start. It was an honor to be called "lord" by his king; "I do believe your daughter is drifting off into slumber from boredom. Indeed, every elfling at this table seems to be bored to tears. I wonder if we should allow them leave to play in the gardens? It would, no doubt, keep them from dropping-off into sleep like weary humans."

My father smiled, as well as several of the other parents at the table. King Thranduil turned to his left and looked down with love upon his heir, Legolas, who was watching this new change of events with interest. He nodded vigorously in answer to his father's unanswered question, and Legolas quickly pulled back his chair and bowed in formality before apparently waiting for the rest of the elflings at the table. The action was so formal and elegant that each of us felt it would be folly to have stayed. Not to mention, we were all dying to get away from that Hall. Mimicking Legolas' actions, myself and three other young elflings of about my age, quickly (but not rudely) left the Hall. None of us seemed to know where the gardens were, so we followed Legolas meekly. He smiled at all of us, and we at him before he set off in the direction he saw fit.

As we walked I examined my companions as inconspicuously as possible. There was one other girl. A small little blond-haired angel with deep blue eyes, appeared to be the youngest of all. She was roughly about two inches shorter than the rest of us and about as skinny as a twig. She looked over at me and gave me a warm smile. I instantly liked her.

The other boy with us was, what I thought to be, one of the tallest elflings in Greenwood. He was even taller than Legolas who, though slender in frame, was as long and lithe as a sapling branch. His eyes were a pale blue and his hair strikingly blonde, this, of which, he had pulled into a tail behind his head. His features were friendly and delicate, like as though the Valar had spent an extra long amount of time arranging every thing just so. He also gave me an encouraging smile that I returned.

Lastly, of course, there was Legolas. I'd already examined him a few times at the table earlier, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to look him over again. His hair was blonde just like the other boy's however it wasn't as light. His eyes I found to be the most intriguing out of all my new companions'. They were blue, but at times they seemed to switch colors to a most unearthly purple. It had me scratching at my eyes constantly, trying to figure out whether it was just a trick of the light or whether or not they literally switched between colors. You may know that I never actually solved this puzzle, for when I asked Legolas later on he told me something about mixed eye colors or some foolishness like that. I guess I shall never know.

When at last we arrived at the gardens, I was very nearly beaming with joy. Here I was, free of the Hall at last, with four other good company, with trees aplenty to climb to my heart's delight. Scarcely had we took a step into the garden than I scampered quickly into the tallest tree I saw, taking care to not snag my dress or reveal anything I didn't want to. I heard a small chuckle from down below, and I looked down to see the tall boy grinning at me, "Tell me, how do you manage to traverse trees at all in such garments as those?" He pointed to my dress questioningly.

I smiled and plopped myself down contentedly on a sturdy limb, "When you spend more time in trees than you do on solid ground then dresses become of little matter."

I instantly realized that I'd hit a jackpot with my new companions. "You too!" They all seemed to chorus in unison, and I was hard put to stop a giggle in my throat when they all looked at each other in surprise.

The little blonde girl spoke first, "My nana tells me that one day I will surely sprout wings and make a nest in a tree if I continue to reside in trees like I do."

The tall boy from earlier nodded, "Aye, I too have been nagged by my nana for "tree-carousing" as she puts it. One day she actually grabbed my ankle, and yanked me from my favorite elm in order to get me to come home. I landed flat on my head."

Legolas laughed, "May ada did something of the same nature. When I was younger he threatened to cut down all the trees in surrounding Greenwood if I didn't attend more attentively to my studies. I'd never worked harder on my studies in my life."

"That's horrible," I voiced, thinking upon the king's words, "He wasn't being serious, though…was he?"

Legolas shook his head energetically, "No, of course not. My ada is not cruel-hearted, however I was quite naïve at the time and did not think of this."

We all chuckled a little bit at his words. After a few seconds of silence, in which we all seemed to be thinking in, Legolas climbed up into my tree and sat down beside me. The other two followed suit. We all sat there for a while on that branch just watching as the golden sun began to lower into the horizon. "My name is Ireth." I suddenly said.

The others looked at me for a second and then smiled. The little blonde girl gave all of us a slight nod of recognition, "My name is Alassë."

The tall boy, who spoke of getting yanked down from the tree, introduced himself next, "My name is Elros."

Legolas shrugged, "I get the feeling you all know who I am already."

We smiled even wider and nodded to each other, "Aye, prince, we know who you are."

And so it was that our friendship began: sitting in the eaves of an old elm, our backs toward home, and our faces turned towards only one the few dusks that we would know together.