The History of Legolas - The Last Green Leaf

The History Of Legolas – Part III
The Last Green Leaf
By Vendie

Author’s Note: The Lord of the Rings and all associated characters belong to Tolkien and his estate. I am not making any profit off of this story, save the enjoyment I had making it.

"Amarth" means "fate"

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The Last Green Leaf
Chapter Nineteen – Amarth


Fifteen days. That’s how long Legolas had been on a horse, in the woods, searching for Gollum. Legolas vowed to himself that if they ever caught the foul beast, he would string him up from a tree by his toenails.

Luckily, when Legolas tore through the stables on the eve of the attack, a party of scouts had just returned from the night’s rounds and he was able to rally them to accompany him to Gollum’s tree, where there was a terrible sight to behold indeed. Nearly twice as many Orcs as there were Elves were at the base of Gollum’s tree attacking Gollum’s caretakers, all well the evil creature himself was up in the branches cackling and singing. In the confusion, Gollum slipped away nearly unnoticed, if it were not for one keen elf, who saw his departure. Legolas and a few others took off after him while the rest stayed behind and drove off the Orcs. After two days, the elves found trace of Gollum’s tracks, but much to their dismay, his tracks were soon surrounded by that of a group of Orcs’ footprints as well. Nonetheless, Legolas and his party pursued Gollum as far as they could, even when it started to rain.

At present, the prince and his compatriots galloped on southwards, feeling as though they may finally be hot on the heels of their escapee.

“Captain, I fear we may need to turn back soon, we are far south.” One of Legolas’ companions mentioned.

Legolas nodded. “Aye, but we must try to pursue him as far as we can,” he pulled the reins on his horse and halted the chase momentarily to get bearings. “Pray, how far south are we?” he asked.

“Sir,” said an elf who nudge his horse forward and took out a map. Legolas recognized him as Mardion. “We are far east of the Enchanted Stream, as it stands now, we are more than halfway to the Mountains of Mirkwood – deep in spider territory, Captain.” Mardion reported.

“We will pursue him a little longer. I do not think we can follow him as far as the Mountains.” Legolas said.

“Aye, sir.” His compainions murmured.

Legolas pushed his horse on and tried to keep his thoughts on the task at hand. Truly, his mind had not always been on the pursuit of Gollum, as it should have. He could not shake the last minutes he had with Anariel from his mind. When he remembered how close together they had been, he could feel his heart stop and restart itself. How cruelly was he ripped away from her!

More thoughts than Anariel occupied his mind from time to time, however. Often he troubled himself over Gollum’s knowledge of the Elvenking’s halls. Would he tell the Orcs of their location? What would happen if the elves in Mirkwood were to be under siege? Who would come to their aid? Who would know of their plight?

Of course, every once in a while, Legolas worried over what his father was going to say to him as well, but that was certainly not foremost on his mind.

Suddenly and most unwelcome, the rain began to come down harder than it had before. It occurred to Legolas that this could be a good sign for him and his party to turn back, but if they were fifteen days away from his father’s halls, which direction they were going in the rain probably wouldn’t matter. They would still be soaked. So, the young prince groaned but continued following Gollum’s tracks until, suddenly, they happened upon a clearing where the Orc tracks split up and spread out. Legolas pulled his horse to a halt, as did his companions.

Legolas surveyed the clearing, paying attention to the tracks, though his attention was diverted to a small pine tree that had vines spiraling up its trunk. The tree was ten feet tall, or so, but was very thin. Oddly enough though, it seemed to be the only growing thing in the clearing. Stranger still, was that the rest of the trees were not pine trees. The young prince knew not how such a different tree would come to grow in such a place.

It was also odd, he thought, that this place seemed so familiar to him. Legolas could certainly not recall ever being this far south in his life before. The prince dismounted his horse and walked over to the tree.

“Captain?” One in his party asked.

“This place seems strangely familiar,” Legolas said, not looking back as he reached out his hand and touched one of the leaves growing out of the vines. A warm sensation flooded his body, and for seemingly no reason, Legolas felt an odd sense of comfort. The trees around them whispered intently, but before the prince could understand their words, one of the elves in his party signaled that he heard noises. All of the elves descended their horses and crouched low to the ground, listening.

Legolas disregarded his itching sense of déjà vu and tuned his ears. His stomach turned when he distinguished the noises of spiders moving about in the forest. He made a hand signal to his companions declaring his thoughts, and they all seemed to agree on the foe that was nearby.

As quietly as he possibly could, the elven prince sneaked his way back to his horse and gave silent directions to ride back to the Halls. Despite his curiosity, Legolas knew that he and his friends were no longer safe this far south. It was with animosity that he made the decision to abandon pursuit of Gollum, and his inspection of the site from which they were departing. However, this was no romp through the forest.

When all of the elves were back on their horses, they sped away into the night as fast as they could. Legolas, however, could not disregard the sudden warmth he felt within himself after coming in contact with the pine in the clearing.

~

The party of elves found the return trip to be much faster than their chase through Mirkwood, as the path that the Orcs and Gollum had taken took turns to throw off the elves’ pursuit. The distance between their point of halt and the Elvenking’s halls was probably only about twenty-five miles, however the distance that Gollum had traveled to avoid them was certainly more than twice that, much to Legolas’ chagrin.

It took the prince and his companions about two days to reach the Elvenking’s halls. When they rode into the stables, many stopped to stare at their disheveled appearance. It also appeared that many seemed to notice their lack of a prisoner, and began to question them straight away. Once Legolas had dismounted his horse, Legolas gave orders.

“Ask these elves no questions, for our labors have been long and hard. Let them dry themselves and take rest, and I shall make a report to the King on this matter. You may question his advisors if you so wish,” he said. And with that, Legolas departed for his home to change his sopping wet clothes for dry ones.

When he opened the door to his family’s home, Legolas was rather taken by surprise see Arthion sitting in their common room reading a scroll.

“Brother!” Legolas exclaimed. “What keeps you here? Has Ada not sent you back to your battalion?”

“Nay, in your absence he thought it best I stay here,” Arthion said, dismayed at Legolas’ sudden appearance. “You’re soaking! What news? Have you found the foul creature?”

“Sadly my answer is no, but please let me tell the tale after I have exchanged my clothes and had a bit of rest, it has been at least fifteen days since I last have been still.” Legolas pleaded. Arthion nodded.

“Go, I will tell Ada that you have returned so he does not worry more than he needs to.”

“I have a feeling that he already has worried more than he needs to.” Legolas said sarcastically. Arthion chuckled a little as he waved to his brother and walked out the door.

~

Legolas was rather torn in two once he was dry and clean again. He desperately wanted to go see Anariel, but on the other hand he knew that if he did not go see to his father, his life would forever be miserable. Though he tried to come up with ways to meet Anariel for a short time on the way to his father’s study, he knew that it was useless. Any time he spent with her would not be short. Therefore, with much frustration, Legolas made up his mind to go see his father first.

He made his way down the corridors to his father’s study and ignored the cloud of advisors that regularly hovered by near the office. Many questions were directed at him, but he ignored them all as he knocked on his father’s door.

“Enter,” Came Thranduil’s voice.

Legolas pushed the door open to see, as he expected, the Elvenking sitting behind his desk reading something. Arthion was there also, reading the same paper that their father seemed to be. When Thranduil saw his youngest standing in the doorway he jumped up out of his chair and had Legolas in his arms within minutes.

“Ion-nin!” Thranduil exclaimed as he hugged his youngest prince. Legolas, who felt rather childish standing there – a grown elf being squeezed to death by his father – returned the embrace nonetheless.

“Hello, Adar.” He replied, trying to humor his father.

When his father finally saw fit to look upon his son again and withdrew his embrace, he stared into Legolas’ eyes.

“What news?” He asked his son as he motioned for Legolas to sit down and moved to do the same. The youngest prince of Mirkwood sighed as he rather ungracefully plopped himself down in a chair that faced his father’s desk and began to relay his story of Gollum’s escape, as best as he understood it. Thranduil listened to Legolas intently. Arthion also contributed to the tale, mentioning that two elves had perished in the fight against the Orcs that had assailed them. However, the elves that lived continued to fight the terrible creatures off and finally those Orcs that did not die themselves retreated south.

Legolas was rather upset at the news of two deaths, but continued on until he mentioned the place where their pursuit of Gollum stopped.

“Past the halfway point to the Mountains of Mirkwood, we came upon a clearing that was desolate but for one tree that had vines that curled up its trunk, we - ”

“You say a tree grows there?” Thranduil suddenly asked. Legolas tilted his head, but answered.

“Yes, though it was strange, there was no grass or any other plant for yards. It seemed very familiar to me, though I know that I have not been there before.” He replied.

“What kind of tree was it?” Thranduil asked.

Legolas glanced at Arthion, who had an equally confused look on his face. The youngest shrugged as he replied;

“It was a pine, if memory serves.”

Arthion’s head snapped down to meet his father’s gaze, but Thranduil only looked down at his desk and put his chin in his hand, covering his mouth as if in amazement. Long moments passed before anyone spoke. The Elvenking knew well the place that his son spoke of, though he had not seen it with his own eyes, not in many a year, anyway.

“Adar?” Legolas asked. “Is there significance to this?”

Thranduil looked up at his youngest son with glistening eyes. “Ion-nin, you must know this, for I would not dare keep it from you. That clearing is the place where you were born.” He said with certainty.

Legolas felt like someone had dropped ten heavy stones in his lap. Naturally, the place where he was born was one in the same with the place in which his mother died.

“Your mother always loved the pines in the Mountains, and forever smelled of them… it was how I first came to love her, I think.” Thranduil said softly and mournfully.

“A… Ada,” Legolas stuttered, feeling as if he should speak, but could not find words.

“It is good to know that the earth has honored her so well.” The Elvenking spoke again, smiling at his son. Legolas swallowed and promptly looked down at his hands folded in his lap, feeling inadequate before his father. More moments of silence passed between the three.

“Legolas,” Thranduil finally said. His youngest son looked up to show full attention to his father. “Just days prior to your return to my halls I received a letter from Lord Elrond of Imladris.” He said. Legolas looked confused, but his father held up a hand, silently saying that all would be explained.

“He has called a council that will meet in October concerning The One Ring, and he has asked for me to send an emissary to represent the Elves of Mirkwood. I think I shall send you.” Thranduil said.

“Me?” Legolas exclaimed in utter shock.

“Yes, I think it would do you good to travel some outside these halls. And considering I plan to withdraw Hérion and Arthion’s troops closer to home, I believe that the Interior Guard will see far less action, and you will be more inclined to pester me about it.” The Elvenking explained. Legolas looked like he might protest, but before he had the chance, his father continued.

“I will be sending two of my advisors with you, but make no mistake, I would like your voice to be heard at this Council, not theirs. They will only be there for what they are retained to do – advise.” Thranduil continued.

“But Ada, why send me?” Legolas asked, still uncomprehending.

Thranduil laughed. “Legolas, surely you do not revoke your desire to travel outside the halls of Mirkwood? It was not three weeks ago we stood in the same places and you chastised me for my tight rope on you! And besides, ion-nin, who better to explain what happened to Gollum than the one who allowed him, how did you put it? Ah, yes, ‘Liberties’. I would like you to depart by the end of the week. With things as dangerous as they are, the sooner you are out of Mirkwood, the better.”

“In two days?” Legolas asked.

“Yes.” His father replied.

Legolas was rather at a loss. After a lifetime of being kept away from dangerous tasks and risks, he did not know how to accept his assignment. Nor was he sure that he wanted it. He rather wanted to stay with Anariel, but now that his departure was set, Legolas would not want to initiate anything with her if he were to leave.

And then, suddenly, a thought occurred to the young prince.

“You’re sending me to Rivendell to protect me,” Legolas said.

Thranduil chuckled. “Yes, it would seem that way.”

Still at a loss for words, Legolas shook his head slightly and shifted his weight. He then looked at his father and sighed.

“Thank you, Adar. I believe I have some preparations to make.” Thranduil’s youngest son said. And with that, Legolas turned and left his father’s study.

Arthion looked at his father. “What are you doing?” He asked in curiosity.

“Something within me has been telling me that I have needed to let Legolas go for a long time, Arthion. I think it is the part of your mother within me... And your mother would not have Legolas trapped within these walls. Though, I do not know why I haven’t let myself see it before now.” Thranduil replied, not taking his eyes off the door through which Legolas had left.

~

The next afternoon, Legolas sought out Anariel in the library, for he had heard from her friends that she was there. A great weight was upon him, for he knew that he would not see Anariel after this for some time.

Indeed he found her in the library. It did not take him long, for he guessed that she would be where the two once sat together to meet long years ago. When he found her, Legolas stopped briefly to watch her as she read the scroll in her hands. His heart was pounding as he thought of the words to say. Unfortunately, Anariel looked up from her reading and saw him, cutting his chance to formulate words short.

“Legolas!” She cried as she dropped the scroll and ran to him. Before he had a chance to register what was happening, Anariel had collided with him and wrapped her arms around him. “I worried so when I heard the news, are you alright?” she asked, pulling away to look at him.

“Indeed I am unhurt.” Legolas confirmed, unable to hide the sadness in his voice. Anariel perceived this.

“Is there something wrong?” She asked. Legolas pulled away from her completely and motioned to two chairs nearby.

“Let us sit,” He said as he sat down. Anariel did as he asked, but she sat rather close to him.

“Legolas, what happened?” Anariel asked.

“I leave tomorrow.” Legolas replied.

“To where?”

“To Imladris, Lord Elrond has called a council concerning the Dark Lord and other things. I am to go and explain how Gollum came to escape our custody.” He said.

“When will you return?” Anariel pressed him.

“I know not. The Council does not meet until October, and even then I know not how long we will deliberate for, though I think it will be of some duration, for my father seems to be sending me there for protection of some kind.” Legolas explained.

“Then I will go with you.” Anariel said, taking Legolas’ hand. Immediately, Legolas withdrew his hand and gave her a reproachful look, though there was fear behind it. He had not anticipated this. He had anticipated having to tell Anariel to wait for him to return, not bar her from following him.

“You will do no such thing!” he cried. Anariel looked confused and hurt. “It is too dangerous.” Legolas said.

“But safe enough for you!” Anariel argued.

“It is a long and trying journey over the Misty Mountains, and I do not know what will befall us along the way, Anariel, if you were hurt…”

“I could certainly heal myself.” She snorted sarcastically. “Legolas, what happened all those nights ago, did it not mean anything to you?” she asked him.

“I will not allow you to accompany us, Anariel.” Legolas replied, disregarding her question.

“Legolas, you cannot tell me that you don’t feel the same as I do,”

“It was a mistake,” Legolas replied, averting his eyes from her. Though Legolas’ heart told him otherwise, he knew she would not just stay behind without justification.

“I don’t believe you.” Anariel said, making sure to stare at him just as he was staring at his shoes. “I am going with you, Legolas.”

“As your prince I forbid you, Anariel.” He said finally in a rigid voice.

Anariel’s pleas stopped and her face turned stony. Never before had Legolas given her an order as her superior. They had always regarded each other as equals. In some way, Legolas hoped that this action taken by him would push her away so the separation would be easier on her.

The elleth stood, her expression unfaltering as she moved. She looked down on Legolas as she spoke.

“You may run from your heart, Legolas, but you will never be able to hide from it.” She said. Then, Anariel turned on her heel and was gone before Legolas could say any more.

~

The next morning, Legolas stood in front of the great door of the halls of Mirkwood, bidding farewell to his family and friends before he and the emissary of advisors and guards that accompanied him was to leave for Imladris. Anariel was not there, as he didn’t expect her to be, however, her absence still made Legolas’ heart ache a little. But it was for the best, he told himself. He’d rather have Anariel safe and unaware of his feelings than in danger and by his side.

Though, at present, he was attending his niece and nephew who were fit to be tied at their uncle’s departure.

“But Ada does not tell as good bedtime stories as you!” Titheniel pouted. Arthion looked dismayed, and Legolas laughed as he knelt down before the elflings.

“And who will help me with archery?”

“Fear not, little ones. I will learn some new bedtime stories in Imladris and send them to your father so hey may read them to you. And Erynion, if you remember to keep both your eyes open you will no longer need my tutelage in archery.” He said, pulling both children into his arms.

“I will be glad of the help!” Arthion chuckled. Legolas rose again to his feet and embraced his eldest brother.

“Be safe, brother.” Arthion said.

“I will.” Legolas replied. “Tell Hérion I will look forward to seeing him when I return.”

“It will be done.” Arthion assured him.

Legolas then turned to his father, who had a somber smile on his face. He took a scroll out of his pocket and handed it to his youngest son.

“This I would like you to deliver to Lord Elrond. It is the account that we have collected of the activities in Dol Guldur.” He said matter-of-factly. Legolas took the scroll and nodded.

“I will do so, Adar.” He replied.

Thranduil smiled at Legolas and embraced him. “My son, I am most proud of you.” He said quietly. The Elvenking’s youngest son had a look of disbelief on his face, for he could not think of a reason for his father’s pride. Legolas pulled back and looked at his father with questions on his face. Thranduil laughed.

“Need I a reason, Legolas?” He asked. “Ion-nin, I have watched you grow, seen your struggles and heard your wisdom. You are my son. I love you, and I will always be proud of you.”

Legolas smiled and hugged his father again. “Hannon le, Ada.” He said, though he still felt his father had no reason for pride.

Thranduil motioned to those waiting behind Legolas to depart. “Go, ion-nin, with the blessings of your family and all of Mirkwood.”

The young prince nodded and walked over to his horse and mounted the steed. As he did, he cast a glance at some of the elves who had come to see them off, hoping to maybe catch a glimpse of Anariel. She was not there. Legolas sighed, but did not give away anymore sorrow than that. It is better this way, he told himself.

Signaling that he was ready to leave, the guards and advisors made ready to depart the halls. Thranduil held up his hand in farewell to his son. Legolas returned the gesture as he heard the doors behind him open. Turning his horse towards the doors, he urged the steed forward and out of the gates of his father’s halls.

As Legolas rode out into the forest with his advisors and guards, he pushed all thoughts of what he was leaving behind out of his mind and thought only of the path before him. The young prince of Mirkwood knew not what lay before him, but there was a foreboding in his mind telling him that something was about to happen that was beyond his wildest imagining.