Again, not mine The Lord of the Rings folk.

The air was cold enough that Legolas' breath was visible. He stared at the only other rider, and only other person, on the snow-crusted plain who watched him warily. Kneeing his horse foreword, he called out in Common since the other looked human, "Stay, stranger… I wish to speak with you."

He got about two paces when the stranger, spurred his own horse into a run. Sighing, because he really didn't want to do this, Legolas drew an arrow from his quiver and notched it to his bow. Drawing the string back he sighted quickly and let the arrow fly.
The arrow flew to its target and hit the stranger's horse in the leg, the ankle joint to be exact. The horse reared up in pain and shock, causing its rider to cry out, before it fell over onto its side, crushing the rider underneath. As soon as the horse has started to fall, Legolas was riding towards them. He slid off his horse to check on the stranger.

A quick examination showed that he was unconscious. The horse got up, limping a little, but seemed to be fine. Continuing his examination, Legoas determined that nothing was broken, but the rider would probably have a rather large headache when he woke up, and may have trouble walking. The horse had stepped on his foot.

Carefully, he removed all the rider's weapons before tying the rider up. He then waited.
The rider, he noticed, was not as he originally thought, human. If only because no human that he ever saw had such pointed ears that stuck out from the side of their head. Elven ears were more leaf shaped and much smaller than these. His body on the other hand, seemed to be proportionate to a human. It was rather puzzling.

It was a good thing that Legolas wasn't bothered by the cold, because it permeated everything around. While he waited he checked over the horse, bandaging up the arrow wound. It would be fine, but shouldn't be ridden for a while. At first the horse was reluctant to let him near enough to check the wound, but Legolas eventually managed to calm it down, though he felt as if it were going to snap his arm off at any time. It was an unusual feeling, as he generally got along with animals.

Two hours past before the stranger stirred, or at least Legolas thought it was two hours. It was hard to tell time in this place. It had been dusk since he had gotten there, the stars just barely visible and the sun … where ever it was, almost but not, gone.

"You're awake, good." Legolas said, his eyes watching the other's movements like a hawk. "Perhaps now we can have a civil conversation."

The stranger glowered at him, and didn't speak.

"Or you could just sit here, tied up in the snow, while I go off and look for a way back."

This got a snort in answer.

"You find this amusing?"

"You won't find your way back," the stranger finally said. "That way is closed."

"Ah, you speak. Excellent," he said, "However, your response leaves much to be desired." The stranger glowered at him, but didn't respond. "I could just leave you here alone, in the snow, tied up, and go and search for a way back myself, but I think your help would be much more appreciated." The stranger studied him, as if trying to determine how truthful Legolas was being. Legolas let him get a good look before standing up and walking towards his horse.

He heard a struggling noise and then, "Only the Queen can find another way on purpose." The stranger called out.

Legolas turned and looked back at him. "Is that truth?"

"Yes, it is!" he said earnestly.

"Well then, it looks like you are going to take me to your Queen."

Not trusting the stranger, Legolas kept him bound and put him on his own horse. The stranger's horse he led himself, as it wasn't sound to ride. He walked next to his horse, occasionally patting it and talking to it in Sidarin. The way that the stranger pointed out seemed to be no different than any other place. All was a plain snowy white broken with the black of wet rocks and dead trees.

Walking lightly on the snow after a time, Legolas asked his captive. "How are you called?"

"Falinor." The other said after looking at him startled. "You?"

"Legolas. Is it always like this here?" he asked gesturing to the landscape and the sky.

"When the queen is in a mood, it is, yes," Falinor said softly, before shivering as he looked up into the sky.

"She can control the weather?" This time it was Legolas' turn to be startled. He knew that the woods of Mirkwood could respond to an elf's desires in a limited area, but over such a vast area! Inconceivable.

"This is her world, it responds to her."

"I see." This wasn't doing anything to comfort him at all. "And do you respond to her as well?"

"She is my Queen. I do as she wishes," Falinor said in a flat voice that sounded as if it were oft repeated, but not believed. This too, Legolas noted. He may have an ally if needed later.

"And how far to the Queen do we have to go?"

Falinor tilted his head, eyes fluttering shut for a moment, "She's pleased with me, so not long, just over that rise." He pointed to a hill that had just shown up from the flat landscape. There was an almost golden glow around it.

Pulling the horses into a run, Legolas trotted up the hill. What was below was nothing that he could have ever expected.

Next: the Queen.