- - LEGOLAS - -

At long last, he arrived at the western most wall of Mirkwood. For a moment, he stared up at the colossal tangled boughs, 'To think the jewel has been here all this time. I wonder if father knew of its presence.' Legolas dismounted his horse, giving her an affectionate stroke on the neck, "I'll be back Muineth." She whined at him in response, wandering off a ways before beginning to nibble on some grass.

Legolas adjusted his bow and pack, and then set off into the shade of the woods. With the resilience and agility his race was known for, he made his way through the forest with ease. He traveled due east, heading straight for the center of the Heart of Mirkwood. While he could have taken the Old Forest Road and then headed south, he was set on taking the most direct path towards his goal.

.

A number of days had passed when Legolas finally began to sense the evil presence Galadriel had warned him of. While the entire forest had been washed with Saruon's dark sickness for quite some time already, he found that the air was somehow becoming even heavier the further he traveled. It was as if it was trying to seep into his pores, which caused his skin to crawl. Regardless of the apparent maliciousness, Legolas pushed through the unease and ventured on until nightfall. At that point, he perched himself high up in a tree to rest, quickly falling into a light sleep.

.

"Legolas."

His eyes snapped open at the call of his name. It had been so close by. He searched for the source, but saw nothing. The forest was still dim in the early morning light and he leapt down to the ground, landing silently on the soft earth, eyes still searching the dark woods around him.

"Legolas."

He craned his neck around searching for the voice. Then, off in the distance, he saw a shadow move from among the trees. The form was undeniably familiar. He couldn't stop his feet as they pulled him towards it. But upon his arrival, again, he saw nothing.

"Legolas. Where are you?" The voice reached out, its tone becoming painfully recognizable. His heart began to pound against his chest, suddenly overcome with an invasive sense of desperation.

It was Calina's voice. "I'm here!" He called back. Another shadow shifted off in the distance. He bolted towards it, for he found himself unable to deny the voice as it cried out to him. The weight of the air had caused him to pant, searching frantically. She had vanished again.

"Legolas, please, come back!" She cried from afar.

His heart was aching. "I'm here!" He yelled. The shadows danced once more, and again he gave chase.

Back and forth their call and answer went until her voice eventually faded entirely. The sun was now high in the sky, and it was then he realized what had happened. 'It pulled me back to the west.' He swore before turning back around and sprinting from the direction he had come. 'Lady Galadriel had warned the curse would test me. I will not be so easily fooled again.'

.

He was not surprised when the voice returned the further eastward he traveled. It called out to him endlessly and the shadows of her lithe form danced around him in torment. Yet this time he ignored the inner distress the curse was pressuring on him, and he refused to chase after it this time.

That was until a complete image of her stepped from the shadows not far off in front of him, which caused him to halt in his tracks. The Prince couldn't help but take a step back. 'What is this sorcery…' He stared, now even more on edge than before. While the previous glimpses of her image had been a flutter of hair or the rustle of a dress, this full blown imitation of her was a flawless copy. His throat constricted when she looked at him. Though her eyes were the same as ever, they looked back at him in an agonizing stare.

"Why did you not come back when I called?" She asked brokenly.

His mouth ran dry. The pressure in his chest was becoming overwhelming again. "What could I have done differently?" She asked. He could see the tears well up in her eyes. She grabbed at her upper arms, curling in on herself, "Was I not enough?"

Legolas gave in, "Never!" He flew towards her, but she dipped into the shade of the nearest tree and vanished again. For a moment he was alone, the silence heavy around him. In the moment of her absence, he carried on despite the pounding in his chest. Sweat was also now trickling down his brow.

She appeared again some ways off, but he forced himself to stay where he was. 'I must not give in. This shadow has only been sent to torment me.' The Prince took a calming breath and turned away from her image, continuing to run to the east.

He hadn't gone far when she revealed herself again, this time manifesting mere paces in front of him. Once again, the Prince halted. Tears were falling from her eyes. They shimmered. His heart ached at the sight.

"Why did you do it?" Her voice was a whisper.

He grit his teeth, saying nothing.

She dug further, "Why did you betray me?"

Something within him was threatening to split in two. The Prince dared reach for her, "Calina, I never–"

"I trusted you."

His hand stopped mid air. Her words had rendered him mute.

"I loved you."

He turned tail and ran.

.

His chest burned at the strain of having sprinted away so feverishly, and the thickness of the air was clinging to the walls. He eventually stopped, gasping. He yelled and rammed his fist into a nearby tree. 'It is toying with me.' He stayed put for a moment, doing his damndest to collect himself. At last, he turned and stared back to the east. The uneasy presence continued to lick across his skin and rattle his insides. He could still hear her voice call out to him in its wounded tone from afar.

Legolas breathed deeply, shakily. 'I must endure this.' Once again, he pushed his feet to carry him eastward.

.

It did not take him long before he found himself standing before her image again. She looked just as shattered as before, threatening to cave in on herself with tears pouring down her cheeks. But he willed himself to push past the mimic of her this time and continue on, snaking his way around while trying his best to ignore the taunts.

That did not, however, stop her words from continuing to grate against him. "Was all of it a lie?" She pressed.

Though he refused to speak he argued internally, sprinting away, 'No.'

Her words continued to call out from around him, "Your kindness was never genuine."

'But it always was.' He ran ever eastward.

"Why didn't you trust us? Trust me?"

'I always did.'

This went on and on until once again, she appeared just ahead of him, staring at him with haunting eyes. "I'll never forgive you." She declared.

This gave him pause. His mind wandered back to his last encounter with Calina in Lothlórien. "Please. I forgive you." Those were her exact words. 'She had already forgiven me. Even back then.'

He knocked an arrow in his bow, "That is a lie." He proclaimed firmly. Without a second thought, he let loose the arrow straight into the projection of her that stood before him.

Upon contact, the imitation of her disintegrated and collapsed into a writhing snake like shadow. It squirmed on the ground before sinking away into the dark earth. He walked over to where it had stood and looked down where it had disappeared. The ground was now a putrid black, and the earth baren. He then took back the arrow and returned his bow to his shoulder before continuing on, the air still thick in his chest.

.

He was nearly there. He could feel it. Though he had vanquished Calina's mimic, his skin wouldn't cease in its endless crawling, and the air was like mud in his lungs. He leaned against a tree, closing his eyes and taking a short moment to catch his breath. The heaviness of the curse was still incredibly profound. He then felt something pulsate through the forest.

'What is it you wish for?'

His eyes snapped open at the new presence in his mind. It was nothing like Galadriel. Her voice was calm and cool. This was a foul thing. Sick and twisted as the air around him. While he chose not to acknowledge it, the voice persisted.

'Certainly there is something you desire?'

'Desire?' He dared reply, now walking slowly along, for the presence of the curse was so heavy he found himself unable to run. The thrumming grew more pronounced. It was emanating from nearby. He trudged after it, now realizing the trees that surrounded him looked like those he had seen in the mirror. He pressed on. He was close.

'There must be something you yearn for. Whatever it is, let us grant it to you.'

'How is that possible?' He stumbled, but caught himself, his chest pounding. But he continued, for he could feel it. He was nearly on top of it now.

'That is our purpose. Make a wish, and it shall be granted.'

'A wish, you say…' His thoughts trailed off. He peeled around to the other side of the tree he was leaning on, finally seeing the familiar knot in its side. Nestled within it was the blackened jewel. It was what was speaking to him, emanating malevolence.

He stepped around to the other side of the tree and reached up to the jewel with a careful hand, 'I would have wished for her forgiveness,' he then removed it from the knot, 'but I already have it.'

Upon falling into his palm, the gem pulsated and he watched the blackness recede until it was entirely replaced with a soft pink glow. It was now shimmering softly in his open palm. With the vanquishing of the darkness in the gem, the aura of the forest began to shift. The shadows mellowed and though it took a moment, smooth air eventually filled his lungs.

The Prince wrapped his fingers protectively around the jewel, beaming in both the joy of his success and the aura of the curse, gone. 'I've done it.' With the sickening presence vanquished, he pocketed the little pink gem and began in a head back to the west.

.

From Isengard, Sarumon cursed. From Lothlórien, Galadriel smiled.