Note: I know it's shameless self promotion but I now have a account where all of my original fiction are currently stored. If people could read what is there and let me know what they think I would be incredibly grateful. The most recent update to this account is 'Go to the ball' and can be found here. .com/s/2934067/4/

There has been a lot of discussion over how old Legolas is. For ease and to fit in with the story I have assumed that he is of a similar age to the twins.

Now on with the story.

PT

Athrana (Wandering Shadow)

Chapter 49- Isengard

TA3019, March 6th

It was still dark when the tower of Orthanc finally came into view. Lord Elrond had predicted that they would find Estel and his companions here. In this time of uncertainty his sight did not extend very far, but it had been enough. Soon they would be reunited with the mortal and be able to take their place in this war. "Can you feel anything?" Elrohir asked. Athriel shook her head. "There are no orcs down there." He was on one side of her while Elladan stood on the other. "That makes a change" he muttered. She snorted. "I'm sure our luck won't hold out for long. The darkness is getting stronger and closer everyday" The other two nodded. That was why they were here afterall.

Soon they were on their way heading towards Isengard and the tower of Orthanc. By the time they slowed to a halt outside the gates a crowd had gathered at the head of which was the smiling figure of Estel. Elladan and Elrohir leapt from their horses and embraced their brother. Athriel smiled and dismounted at a slower pace. She had hoped to fade into the background with the help of their reunion, but it wasn't to be. She could feel someone watching her as Estel greeted his family. She looked around until she spotted the prince of Mirkwood eyeing her with confusion. She had hoped her awkward revelations to those she had known were over, but they weren't. She had counted Legolas as a friend once upon a time. Anytime he had travelled to the valley he had spent with her and the twins and anytime their travels had brought them to the woodland realm they had been welcomed warmly.

Meanwhile the prince was becoming more and more convinced that this, as he had suspected as the party approached, really was Athriel Erynsaeliel. The way she moved and the way she kept the twins constantly in her line of sight even with her cloak pulled tightly around her to hide her face. It had to be, there was no other explanation. No one else would have dared to ride between them, even their sister knew whose place that was. Gone or not they wouldn't let anyone replace her.

TA 146

Legolas walked beside and slightly behind his father as they entered the hall full of people. He was only 10 and on his first trip out of the woodland realm, his father's realm. This place was full of strangers, the only one he knew here was his father. The only problem was that they hadn't even been here a day and already he was tired of his father's company. The journey had been too long and he wanted to talk to someone else, anyone else.

Then the crowd moved slightly and he caught site of something interesting. In one corner on a pile of cushions sat two elflings of about his age. Suddenly feeling braver than he had felt all day Legolas crept past his father and made his way towards the elflings. Two identical faces turned towards him and stopped talking. "Hello" he said trying not to sound nervous.

"Hello"

"Who are you?"

"I'm Elladan"

"And I'm Elrohir"

Feeling much more at home Legolas sat down in the space between them. "I'm Legolas" Two heads looked over his head at one another and grinned. This confused him until he heard the voice. "That's my seat" He looked up to see a female elfling standing with her arms crossed looking down at him. "Well, I'm sitting here now" He replied smugly, ut he didn't have much time to gloat. Faster than he thought possible Legolas was pushed roughly out of the way and the Elleth sat down in his place. "This is Athriel" One of the twins handed him a cushion. "And she sits there"

TA 2933

Legolas was exhausted. He had been out helping the border patrol and what he really needed was to bathe and then sleep for a long time, but he had been told that his father wanted to see him. Hoping that the meeting would be quick he pushed open the door to his father's study. King Thranduil was standing by the window looking out towards the distance. "A letter came for you" He said without turning around. Legolas noticed the scrolls sitting on the table. One open and another still rolled. He grabbed the unopened one and sat down wondering why his father was acting so strangely. Then he realised. The letter was from the twins. The other scroll was probably from their father and no doubt carried the same message. Athriel was Dead.

He didn't know how she could be back from the dead, and really he didn't care. He knew it was her and there was only one way to prove it.

Athriel caught the movement as Legolas bent down to pick up a rock. Faster than any mortal could move, the prince threw the rock towards Elladan who was standing the closest. Before she knew what she was doing Athriel moved so that she was between the elder twin and the projectile. Without thinking she caught it and let it drop to the floor.

"So it is you" Legolas said. The brethren had stopped talking to their brother now and Elrohir quickly realised what had happened. He took a deep breath, they had to explain. It was going to be hard enough to explain this to 'Las, but most of those present didn't know who Athriel was at all and the most important of those was Estel.

Elrohir turned to his mortal brother and tried to mentally prepare himself. "Just say it" Elladan sent to him. "Get it over with." Taking a deep breath and wondering why it was always him that had to explain, Elrohir grabbed Athriel's arm. "Estel, there's someone we want you to meet..." But he didn't get very far before he was interrupted. "We've already met" the mortal said quietly. He had been hoping this wouldn't come up but there was no way around it. How was he supposed to tell his brothers that he had known about their friend's return before they had?

""What?""