Fan Fiction ❯ Relaen ❯ 1 ( Chapter 1 )

~Prologue~

After the one ring was destroyed by Frodo Baggins, all of Sauron's orcs ran loose and all of his slaves had no master. Many of the slaves remained in Mordor, because they had no place else to go. One family imparticular stayed around Baradur (sp??) and rummaged through many of their former master's things. Among these things, a small slave-boy found a small golden ring.

~1~

As the sun peeked over the dark outline of the Misty Mountains, horses galloping echoed off of the listless trees that Mirkwood was known for. The prince and princess rode through the rising mists in the home they knew so well. They spoke softly of things only the brave still spoke of, Sauron and the Ring of Power.

"Legolas, I dread something, but I don't know what." Relaen, the princess, whispered. "I know that Frodo and Sam destroyed the Ring, but I shudder at even the thought of it."

"We all do," Legolas, her brother, said, "everyone in Middle Earth, and many beyond the sea. You should not put so much thought on a simple feeling that all feel." He was trying to put her mind to ease. She had to give him that, he was trying.

"I don't know." she replied, dismounting from her horse Shadow Mane, the sister of Shadow Fax. "Maybe you're right, but what if you're not? What if there was another ring, one of equal or greater power than that which was destroyed? What then?"

"If one exists that holds power still, then we should all fear, for that would be the end of us all, even the West…" he quietly stated. He too had dismounted his horse, Aron, a gift from the king of Rohan. They continued their daily ride in silence, but the words still laid heavily on their hearts.

* * * *

Two weeks later after the depressing conversation between Legolas and Relaen, a herald came thundering through the woods. "Thranduil!" he cried. "I must speak with the King! Thranduil!" Upon hearing his cry and seeing the white horse on his shield, the Elvin guards let him pass without hindrance. He quickly reached the palace and his presence was already known to all there.

He ran to the line of thrones that the royal family sat on. Bending to a knee a few yards before the King and shouted, "Praise be that I have finally reached you, O great Lord of the Dark Wood! My lord, King Eomer of Rohan bids me bring you word. In the south, many children have disappeared!"

The shock was evident on the king's face. First because never had he received greetings of other lands except through the travels of his children. Secondly, why would children disappear? Legolas and Relaen glanced at each other as their words and fears were remembered.

"What children are missing and how many?" the king asked the herald a few seconds later, the shock still thick on his voice.

"Too many to count sire! From everywhere! The ones that worry most are the losses of Exor, Reysh and his twin Ryesh, and Samech-the youngest sons of King Elessar, Liera and Nanet- the daughter and granddaughter of Elrond, Niphredil- The daughter of Elrohir, Lllyana- The granddaughter of Galadriel, and Zayin and Tzadik- the daughters of Prince Faramir and Lady Eowyn." the herald finished with a sob in his throat.

King Thranduil quickly jumped up and started shouting orders. "Call all of the elves here! Count every head! I wish to know of any missing! Give the herald of our friend Eomer food, drink, and bed!" All of Mirkwood was running around madly doing the King's business.

* * * *

When Legolas and Relaen heard the herald's words, their hearts grew heavy. They remembered the words that they said those few weeks ago.

"What if what we said was true? No, there couldn't possibly be another…" Legolas thought. "But why would they take children? They can't do anything. They're just two or three. It just doesn't make any sense!" Legolas threw a look of fear and dread at Relaen. "What if one of us is next?"

He was brought out of his thoughts by his father's shouting. Quickly he ran to Relaen and grabbed her arm. "We have to talk now!" he whispered in her ear. She looked at him with the same look of dread that he knew he too must have.

They received their father's leave to "discuss the events at hand" and retreated to Relaen's room. There, Relaen and Legolas had built a hidden room many years ago. It was unknown to all but them. Relaen lifted the rug that the door was under. They quickly hurried down the stairs and pulled the string that put the rug back in place. Both walked the short paths that lead to the underground garden where they had spent much of their spare time, together or apart. Not a word was spoken until they searched the entire area and were satisfied that none were there.

"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" Relaen asked with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

"I don't know. What are you thinking?" Legolas replied, purposely dodging the question. Neither of them wanted to bring up the theories swimming in their minds.

"Do you think…it is…what we talked about before?" Relaen reluctantly replied, being very vague. Legolas and Relaen sat in silence. What if it was true? Finally, Legolas broke the veil of silence. "Should we tell Father?"

"I don't know," Relaen replied, "what do you think he would do?"

"Maybe he would send word to someone. You know, ask for help." Legolas replied after thinking a moment.

Relaen stood and started to pace. "Send word to who? Gandor sent word to us, as if we could do something."

"Maybe…no." Legolas started, but quickly changed his mind. "Maybe what?" Relaen demanded. "We are out of options Legolas. What were you going to say?"

Just then, as he was about to answer, they heard their names from somewhere above ground. Quickly and quietly they stole through one of the numerous tunnels that lead through the kingdom. They chose to exit by the river. Just as the door closed, one of the guards, Rivendone, came running up. "Majesties! The Lord Thranduil has been searching for you for many hours!" Relaen and Legolas looked at each other with confused expressions on their faces. "Were we really gone that long?" Relaen asked. Legolas looked at the sun. "Yes. Look." The sun that was high in the sky when they last looked was now sinking behind the trees.

* * * *

"Father," Legolas started, a quiver in his voice, "what do you mean `gone'?"

"I mean gone. They are not here. They are not anywhere!" Thranduil said, his volume rising from the raspy whisper it was a second ago.

"Father," Relaen said, cutting in to try to calm him, "nobody can just disappear. We will find them."

"No!" Thranduil said, yelling loud enough to make his children jump, "no, I want no one leaving the area. Not a soul, especially not you two."

"But fath-"Legolas began to protest, but was cut off by his father's look.

"I do not want you two to leave. I also want full guards on you. If King Elessar's children could disappear, then you can too." Thranduil was suddenly very calm. He stood from his throne and informed the guards of his new decree. When he came back, he spoke with Relaen and Legolas. "Now," he started, laying a hand on each of their shoulders, "I want your promise. You cannot leave the palace. Please. It is for your good and my health. If you are gone, then I fear that someone, whoever is behind this, will attempt to take you from me."

"Alright father, we will not leave the palace, but must we have guards. I mean, our guards are fine elves and could protect us from anything, but we could also protect ourselves. How do you think we get along when we go through our walks in the forest? Please, can't we be each others guards? We are always together anyways. You could use our guards for someone else. They will be of better use elsewhere. Besides, you know we won't let them take any form of harm on our account. We would end up protecting them." Relaen pleaded. If he will just approve Legolas and I guarding each other, then we could go through the tunnel under my room. It is technically not leaving the palace, it is part of it. We just cannot, under any circumstances let him give us a guard.

Relaen looked to Legolas for help. Knowing that she would explain herself later, he nodded. "Father, we are fit to be each others protectors. Even when we went to war we stood back to back with each other and fought and destroyed twenty orcs each. If we cannot protect each other, then something is very wrong."

"Something is very wrong my dear son, that is why I wish for you to have a guard. But I also know both of you. I saw you destroy those orcs, and I know that none would protect you better than yourselves, and you wouldn't let anyone else protect you." Thranduil said with the first smile he had had in many hours.

"Oh, father, I had one more question, if I may…" Relaen said.

"Of course dear one, what can I do for you today?" he replied with a contented sigh. He was very proud that his children were dedicated enough to each other to protect the other.

"Well, it is about the whole idea of not leaving the palace." Relaen said. Her father started to say something, but she quickly cut in. "Now, I know why you said it and I will respect your decision because you are my father and my king, but could we not just travel around the palace, within sight of the outer guards?" She looked at her father with pleading eyes, the ones he could never turn down.

"Very well. But you must stay within sight at all times. I will be informed if your not and you will be in a lot of trouble." Thranduil said, putting a hand up in defeat to his daughter's eyes.