Prologue

Summary: After missing their last chance of getting the boat to Valinor, Legolas and Haldir find themselves being punished in which they must walk in the shadows forever. As time wears on for them and the years pass, the shadows enshrouding them and hiding them from the ever-changing world of men suddenly lifts. After much seclusion of wandering without purpose in forests, and without ever leaving, they have a chance meeting with Albus Dumbledore who reminds them of Gandalf. He asks them to take on the task of protecting one Harry Potter in a future they know nothing about. They accept out of mere curiosity, finally leaving the forest and are fearful of the technology around them.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. Anything related to Lord of the Rings is J.R.R. Tolkien's, and Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.

oOoOo

The suffering was almost too much for them to bear. Missing the last boat to Valinor was unexpected and too horrifying for them to imagine. The Valar judged it fit to punish them for a reason they still knew nothing of. This punishment was for them to roam the world in shadow, watching it change around them until they were naught more than beings of mythology. Heroes of old fairy tale's mothers would tell their children when it was time for them to sleep.

The future looked rather bleak for them, and they even considered defying the Valar. Building a boat to cross the vast oceans to where their kin dwelled, in the Undying Lands in Aman. They opposed this scheme, however, as soon as the thought crossed their minds. They knew the consequences would be worse if they chose to do so.

Years turned into centuries, which turned to millennia, and they ultimately, but not willingly, resigned themselves to their fate. They wondered whether the Valar would ever ease off on their unforeseen judgement and allow them to fade away in peace. Instead of having to tolerate the pain of continuing their immortality in a world which was beginning to look so unlike what they once knew.

They clung to the trees and forests like they were their only saving grace. They never set foot beyond their borders while the world was becoming frightening to them. They never took it upon themselves to understand the unfamiliar ways of the world. From time to time, mortal men, women, or children would wander into their forest, and they would walk past them, never aware they were there, or of the unbearable suffering, they were going through. They would notice with fear how they would change, their clothes becoming more bizarre to them.

The date, year, and months became lost to them while time passed without a hitch. They were only able to tell the time of the day from the position of the sun or moon in the sky. They grew restless when the millenniums past because, for them, one-millennium passing was like a single day. They would have given anything in the world to lay down and die. It seemed clear the Valar had other ideas, forcing them to linger on in the darkness where not a soul knew they existed.

Then one day, without warning, the veil surrounding them lifted and, with curiosity and alarm, an old man chanced upon them in the forest they took to dwelling in. The two companions, oblivious of the fact they were no longer invisible to the world of men, became startled when a man spoke to them with an uneasy greeting.

'Your eyes can see us,' one said guardedly, glancing at his comrade.

'How is this possible?' the other asked, keeping his eyes trained on the man who reminded him of his old friend, Gandalf the White.

'Am I not meant to?' the old man replied with a question of his own.

The two lonely and wary creatures of the wood looked at each other, conferring on how to respond. The younger looking of the two turned back to the old man. 'Alas, we are cursed creatures, bound to spend eternity in shadow with only each other for company. Now, I have answered your question it would only be polite for you to answer ours,' he said in a silky, smooth voice which was sweet and soft like honey.

The old man smiled. 'I can see you both,' he answered, and the two companions raised their eyebrows, waiting for him to continue. 'I do not know why I can see you as I was unaware you were hidden to begin with. It would explain your abrupt appearance only a moment ago,' he answered them, gazing around the forest.

The two creatures glanced at each other before looking back at the old man. 'What is your name?' the older looking one asked.

The old man smiled. 'I will tell you mine if you tell me your own first,' he countered, glancing from one to the other.

The older looking creature stepped forward. 'I am Haldir of Lórien,' he replied and then gestured to his companion. 'This is Legolas, the Prince of Mirkwood,' he said, looking back at the old man. 'Now, your name?' he requested again.

'Albus Dumbledore, at your service,' the old man responded with a bow and a smile. When he peered back at them, he frowned as something Legolas said before came back to him. 'You mentioned you're cursed creatures? By "creatures", what do you mean? You look like two ordinary men to me,' he said with interest.

Haldir glanced at Legolas before looking back at Dumbledore. 'We are not mere men. We are creatures of the woodland realm. We are Elves,' he retorted curtly.

Dumbledore's eyebrows raised, his eyes widening. 'Elves!? How is that possible? The Elves were lost to history a long time ago. There are only some scrolls and scriptures left, which say the Elves sailed to the Undying Lands millions of years ago,' Dumbledore alleged in surprise.

The two Elves appeared distressed by these words, and a tense blanket of silence draped around them. After a short while, Legolas broke the silence, 'The boat sailed without us,' he whispered. Dumbledore's head snapped up, looking at him. Legolas gazed around at his surroundings before looking back at Dumbledore. 'They have punished us. The sentence is wandering for eternity, immortal, and concealed from the men of the world. It appears the Valar have relented on our sentence, and now we are finally free to fade if we wish. I, for one, do,' he told him, and Dumbledore frowned at his last words. Legolas shifted slightly, clarifying, 'I am weary, not physically, but emotionally and mentally. For too long have I roamed in torment, and I am amazed madness has not taken me. There is naught in this world now which could keep me here,' he concluded, and Haldir nodded in agreement.

Dumbledore sighed sadly, looking at them. 'You must be the last of your kind still living on earth,' he said softly, and at their nod, he continued, 'Allow me then, to put forward to you both a proposal.'

Haldir and Legolas eyed him guardedly. 'What proposal would that be?' Haldir asked, narrowing his eyes.

Dumbledore smiled, 'Well, I believe I should start from the beginning...'