Fan Fiction ❯ Lord of the Rings: Stargaze ❯ AItDBT Part 2 ( Chapter 4 )

And In the Darkness Bind Them

Part 2

"This thing all things devours:

Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;

Gnaws iron, bites steel;

Grinds hard stones to meal;

Slays king, ruins town,

And beats high mountain down."

Legolas bounded along the cool grass of the forest floor. Birds sang in the trees around him, unaffected by his silent and undisturbing presence. Dayflowers sprouted in carpets around the emerald trees. Golden sunlight streamed down in patches through the canopy, bringing glittering sparkles dancing down along the sunbeams.

How green it was here! And how peaceful! Not like the eerie silence and the darkness of Mirkwood forest. There you must be always on your guard, for the giant spiders were ever-watchful for their next meal. They generally left the Wood Elves alone, for most were too quick to catch, and pointy and sharp with weapons. The only Elves the spiders could ever manage were children. However, the murder of children meant, sooner or later, the arrival of angry Wood Elf warriors with arrows and swords. The Elves of Mirkwood were generally quiet and peaceful, and they treated life with the respect of their race. But if their fury was stirred, it became clear that they were different from the High Wood Elves, such that resided in Lothlórien, and were more dangerous and less wise.

Many nights, Lauranna had warned her youngest son about straying beyond the magic firelight after the shadows of Mirkwood grew deepest, for the hungry spiders sometimes forget that it is in their best interests that they not kill children of the Wood Elves. Legolas the child would puff himself up and insist that he wasn't afraid of any big old spider, he could shoot them down with his arrows and then they'd see that they were messing around with not just any Wood Elf, but the prince himself. Lauranna would merely laugh lightly and plant a loving kiss on his forehead, and set guards to keep an eye on her adventurous son.

But there were no spiders here. There were no predators of any kind here in Lemahna-hai. And there were so many places to explore! Little Legolas thought that he might burst in his excitement.

Soon the trees in front of him parted, and he found himself staring down a hill that broke off suddenly, into the clear blue waters of the wide lake below. So there was a lake in Lemahna-hai, just as his brother had so politely informed him of. And look! That tree at the edge of the hill had a rope hanging from its branch. How strange.

Legolas went over to the tree. He took hold of the rope and examined it curiously. What purpose could it serve? There was nothing at the end of it, save a rather large knot. What a curious bunch these Night Elves were, to tie rope to trees for no reason.

"You're meant to swing on that, you know."

Legolas whipped his head around to see who was talking, just in time to see a small Elven girl emerge from the trees. She appeared to be about his age, although she was a little smaller, and definitely a Night Elf, judging by her black hair and dark blue eyes.

"Swing on it?" he repeated blankly, not understanding.

The Night Elf girl nodded. "You grab onto it and swing, and when you're over the water you let go and drop in. It's fun."

Legolas blinked at her for a minute. Then he reached down and took hold of the knot of rope. He stared at it, and out at the water below, trying to figure out how to do it without getting dragged to the ground.

The girl sighed and rolled her eyes. "Like this," she said, as if she were speaking to an idiot. She walked over, clutched the rope high in her hands, straddled the knot, walked backwards a little, then jumped and swung forward. Legolas watched in surprise and delight as she let go as soon as she had cleared the cliffed edge. She sailed into the air and then tumbled down to hit the water with a splash.

She popped back up again to hear the jubilant cries of the boy on the hill above her.

"Wow! That's amazing! What a great way to play! I'm trying!"

The new girl giggled as she watched Legolas copy her actions, fly skyward for a few seconds, then drench her again as he fell beneath the water.

They played in this manner for some time, laughing and water wrestling until they were tired out. Then they crawled out of the lake and climbed into the trees to rest in the branches, still giggling.

"So, who are you, anyway?" the girl asked lightly, twirling her hair around one finger. "What are you doing here?"

"I am Prince Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood, son of King Thranduil and Queen Lauranna," Legolas said proudly, sitting up straight on the branch and trying to look noble. "I am here with my father on special business with Master Kallendros."

The girl burst into a fit of giggles and nearly fell off her branch. Legolas felt his cheeks and the tips of his pointed ears turning red. His good posture evaporated a little.

"What's so funny?"

The young Night Elf controlled herself and managed to reply, "You seem awfully proud for someone who isn't even at Papa's meeting right now."

Legolas blinked. "P…Papa…?"

"I," the girl sat up straight and said in a voice mocking Legolas, "am Arorilaia Dragonstar of Lemahna-hai, the second daughter and youngest child of Master Kallendros and Lady Lorialae." She giggled again. "But you can call me Arora."

Legolas smiled.

They played together for the rest of the day, Arora showed Legolas all of her favorite places to play, and he made some new ones interesting himself. By the time the council should have been over, they knew so much about each other it was like they had lived in the same house.

They were catching fireflies in the falling dusk when suddenly Arora's brother strode out of the trees. Arian was a fully-grown Elf warrior by then and Arora shouted happily when she saw him. She ran over to him quickly and he swung her up into his arms. Legolas watched with interest.

"How has your day been, Arora? I trust it was especially interesting," Arian said in a smooth voice.

"Yeah!" Arora said excitedly. "Look, Arian! That's my new friend Legolas!"

Arian turned his attention to Legolas, who made a bow of respect. The Night Elf prince smiled. "Greetings, Woodkin. King Thranduil asked me to find you," he said. "He and your brother are preparing to leave. They're waiting for you."

"Thank you," Legolas said politely. He looked around, feeling a bit lost.

Arian smiled again. "Come. I will return you to your family."

Legolas nodded and followed Arian, still carrying his sister, back to the small palace.

~*~

Legolas soon said goodbye to his new friend and was soon on his way home, thinking of all the fun he had had that day. He couldn't wait to go back.

"Father?"

"Yes, Legolas."

"Can I come with you every time you visit Master Kallendros?"

"I do not `visit' Kayin, Legolas. We are partners in the Trinity Alliance. It is business."

"Well, I know, but…"

"Legolas just wants to keep in touch with his one true love," Khisanth put in with an evil smirk on his face.

"I do not!" Legolas huffed indignantly.

"You don't have to lie, little brother, I can see it in your eyes."

"I just want to play with my new friend! OW! Father, Khisanth pulled my ear!"

"Just trying to add some point to them. You look like a human."

"Oh yeah? Well you look like a dwarf!"

"You little brat! HEY! Don't touch my hair!"

This would have continued for much longer and gotten more violent of Thranduil had not maneuvered his horse between his two sons, grabbed them both by their collars and told them to knock it off. The journey home was uneventful as both boys sulked on either side of their father.

~*~

It was the start of a relationship between the two young Elves that soon blossomed into a lifelong friendship of trust and happiness. Legolas and Arora grew so attached to each other that they couldn't wait a month to play again. Every few days they would visit each other, sometimes staying for many nights. More often it was Legolas who made the trip, and there were several reasons why. For one thing, Mirkwood made Arora shiver, because it was so dark and hard to see the stars. Also, Arian was rather protective of his sisters. He did not like Arora in the woods with so many threats, and he never let her make the uncommon trip alone. But it was just as well. Legolas remained adventurous, and loved riding back and forth between Mirkwood and Lemahna-hai.

Arora and Legolas were very close indeed. After hearing of this, Elrond would bring Arwen with him to the councils so that the children could play. Arwen became good friends with the other two, but they did not see as much of her as of each other.

And then, many years later, Aragorn came into the picture. Arwen's attention became devoted to him. She did not visit her friends at all anymore. Legolas understood and gave it little thought, but Arora did not follow his example. She was hurt by the seeming loss of her friend, and the Night Elves' disgust of Men grew black in her heart.

~*~

Arorilaia Dragonstar had agreed to follow the Fellowship, even if she had done so for her own person. She would soon find that this quest was more than one to find her father, and destroy the Ring of Power.

It was a quest to untangle the web inside of her. It would take her strength and her will, and she would need Legolas's help, to break the bonds of hatred and prejudice, and the bond that kept her from understanding who she was, and what she was supposed to be.