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The day in Mirkwood was Legolas's Birthday but, he was not there to celebrate it. He hadn't been there for his birthday for 100 years since he left with the Fellowship to destroy the ring until now........
"Gimli do you think anyone will recognize me in Mirkwood?" Legolas asked his friend.
"I dunno. All I'm worrying is if they'll let me enter in the first place."
"Why's that?"
"Well your father was the one that captured and held prisoner my father and his companions."
"OH, right"
Walking in silence the two friends pondered the possibilities. After the ring was destroyed and they had seen what they wanted to, Legolas had taken Gimli with him to the sea. They had seen many a wonder but, but the blue horizon was empty, no land. So the bored and sea sick dwarf had pursueded Legolas to return home and leave the sea alone.
Now they were returning home. To Legolas's home anyways. As they neared the clearing that usualy held big celebrations, Legolas's face brightened for he heard many elven voices rising above the quite stillness of the wood.
Legolas picked up his pace and began to run towards the opening in the woods. Gimli picked up his feet best he could and caught up with his excited friend.
"Legolas slow down you don't even know if anyone will recognize you, I mean what if they shoot..........." Gimli cut off his sentence as an arrow flew past his ear.
"Stop!!!!!!!!!!" Legolas cried out, "It is I Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, I have returned."
The gaurd who had shot the arrow threw down his weaponry to bow at Legolas.
"Legolas you have returned, I don't know what to say, your father will be overjoyed to know that you have returned to Mirkwood."
"Tell him I've come home," said Legolas beginning to walk towards the fires in the clearing.
"I'm sorry but, your dwarf prisoner, where would you like me to put him?" asked the gaurd.
"PRISONER?" Legolas spun around, " he is a guest and a great friend. Let him pass, I order you."
" I'm sorry my prince."
"Harumph! You should be...prisoner of the elves...should of used my axe on that one teach him a lesson........dares to make me a prisoner...Hmph!" grumbled Gimli under his breathe.
Entering the clearing Legolas and Gimli shaded their eyes to the unexpected brightness of the fires and glowing white globes nearby. At the sight of them all the elves in the clearing stopped in utter amazement. All eyes turned to the two friends. Legolas blushed under the stares. When a voice rang out.
"Legolas, could it be my son Legolas?"
Looking up Legolas watched as a proud yet aged elf walked slowly towards him. "My son it is you," Legolas's father opened his arms to hug his son.
"We thought you'd never come back. But you have. Instead of a day of mourning it will be a day of celebration." The crowd of elves cheered.
Suddenly looking down Legolas's father pointed to Gimli. "A dwarf? What makes you think you can take a dwarf into Mirkwood?"
"Father you should be ashamed Gimli is a very good friend of mine and has saved my life to boot. You should welcome him with equal enthusiasm."
"I am sorry Gimli, times have changed I guess."
With that Legolas and Gimli were led to the feast. Gimli found his way to the ale table and Legolas searched for old friends. His face changed as he saw his old pal Hendel coming towards him.
"Legolas my good friend you are alive."
"Yes and glad to see you again."
"It has been so long, you must tell me of you adventures." Taking a seat at one of the tables Legolas told of the journey with the fellowhip and then of the sea.
"Your so lucky," whined Hendel, "But, I'm glad your back."
"What of you?"
"Nothing much but I have finally found an elf to call my own."
"Why you lucky son of a bow! Who? How?"
"Her name is Elayah, we met in Rivendell."
"That is great, wish I could call someone my own as well."
"I almost forgot!"
"What?" asked Legolas in surprise.
"You haven't seen Aphylia yet. I can't believe you would have forgotten to ask about her!"
Aphylia, Legolas tried to remember. All he could see was a young elven maiden with long raven black hair. Her piercing blue eyes. He caught his breathe, how could he have forgotten her? They had been like best friends.
"Where is she?"
"Not here is all I can tell you. Shes changed Legolas, because of you."
"How?"
"Well when you left on that errand to Elron we all thought you would come back in about two months. Those two months rolled by, then they turned into a year then two years. No word from Elron came. Aphylia sort of wasted away waiting for you. She would sit by the path and look far into the distance waiting for you. As the time grew your father began to get more worried and depressed. Your place in his gaurd was empty, there was know one to talk to like father to son, no more practicing arrow shooting in the woods, no more Legolas. Aphylia realised what your father was going through. To help herself get her mind off missing you
she started talking to father soon she learned to shoot with bow and arrow and she joined your father practicing in the woods, she learned to ride horseback well, she soon joined the gaurd and technically is the best, She isn't a soft little girlie elf we used to play with anymore Legolas. Her hands aren't soft they have callouses from the bow. She barely talks to anyone but your father. She loved you Legolas."
Legolas was stunned. Aphylia, how could she have changed so in a hundred years. She was always the piece maker when Hendel and he got into fights. She'd would make picnics and they'd all stroll around by the lake. She was the sweetest elf he had known. Her doing all of this other stuff was kinda inbelievable. Most elven girls would worry that their rosy complexion would be ruined. Anyways female elves weren't supposed to join the gaurd or anything like that. They just stay lovely and all that stuff that girls did. Or so Legolas had thought. And her liking him was weird, he never really thought of her as anything but, friends.
"You okay Legolas?"
"Yeah, just remembering thats all. Why isn't she at this party anyway?"
"Its too much for her I guess."
"Could you show her to me?"
"Of course, it would be my pleasure."
Leading Legolas away from the party Hendel walked towards the city.
Legolas wandered after Hendel. Looking around at the cities, Legolas sighed to himself. He was glad to e home, he had been away too long.
Hendel stopped at a tall tree with steps winding around the trunk. Hendel pointed to a small house at the top of the tree.
"This is where Aphylia lives. I'll leave you two alone. Hurry back afterwards. Ever since you made that appearance in the clearing a bazillion elf maidens have been eying you the entire time. I'm not surprised they've followed us. I bet they're dieing to hear about your adventure and you," Hendel finished with a wink. Turning around Hendel returned the way they had come back to the clearing.
Legolas took a deep breathe and looked up at the house. A shadowed, slender figure was sitting on the roof. Her face was turned to the sky.
"Aphylia," Legolas murmured.
Quietly, Legolas tiptoed up the winding stairs. When he reached her home he paused. What was he going to say? It had been a hundred years since both had seen or talked to each other. She thought he was dead. Anyways, he barely even remembered her.
Collecting his courage Legolas swung up onto the roof. The thump of his feet startled the lady elf. She toppled forward losing her balance.
Quickly Legolas shot acroos the roof and caught her outstretched hand. Once she was safely on the roof Legolas stepped back.
Aphylia immediatly unsheathed two knives. Protectively swinging out with one knife her voice cut through the night air.
"Who are you? If you are that man from Gondor I will slice you into a million pieces. For the hundredth time I'll tell you, I will marry no one, especially a mortal man. Leave me in piece."
Legolas had already unsheathe his own knives. Knocking the two knives out her hand he dropped his own to grab her wrists. Pulling her towards him he whispered calmly in her ear, "I am no mortal man, I do not wish to harm you."
Trying to twist free she cried out, "Who are you?"
"And I thought I was bad for not remembering, it is I Legolas."
Releasing Aphylia he watched as she backed fearfully away.
"Legolas is dead!" Aphylia's heart was racing. Was this elf telling the truth. Most of her doubted what he said was true but, the other part of her hoped he was right.
Legolas realized that they wouldn't be able to recognise either one in the dark. Carefully pulling her into a small beam of moonlight he searched her face.
Her eyes once widened in fear squinted as she searched his face as well. Hendel was right she had changed. She was taller and more slender. Her once long and silky black hair was tied back and tangled. Her arm was bruised from her bowstring. But, what struck him most was her beauty. She was radiant and pure. Her crystal clear blue eyes took his breathe away. No wonder she had elves and (mortal)men after her hand in marriage. Yet there was something missing. She was too solemn, her sadness tore at his heart. This was all his doing in a way too.
Aphylia looked at so called Legolas elf. He was tall and broad shouldered. His deep blue eyes were looking over her, studying her as well. Aphylia blushed. She saw his bow peaking out from behind his shoulders, longer and stronger then that normal to Mirkwood. His silver, blonde hair lay silky and long down his broad back. He was strong and very skilled with knives as she had already experiensed earlier. But, how could this elf be Legolas. He had been dead for 100 years.
Legolas spoke first, "Do you remember me now fair Aphylia?"
"Yes, I think." she paused her eyes watering.
"Legolas!" Throwing herself at Legolas she sobbed into his shoulder.
"Legolas. Oh my god! I thought you would never come back."
Legolas wrapped his arms around her slender frame. He buried his face into her hair.
"It has been too long," he murmured.
"Yes. I must apologize though."
"Why?"
"After all this time I barely remember you, though I am trying so hard to right now."
"I must apologize as well, I didn't remember you either until Hendel mentioned your name. But, we have the rest of eternity to refresh our memories."
Aphylia part one |
