Amystika

Okay, a note on the slash; it's Elrohir/Legolas because I happen to like that pairing. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to have some fun before I get to it. ;-) And it will be minor, not a major plot point.

Current Soundtrack: The Cruxshadows, "Binary". I love that song....
***********************************************************************

What destruction there had been, seemed to stop after the Mountains. While the growth of new life was small, and rarely seen, the death of the land seemed less prominant. Signs of battles and skirmishes were still evident, as well as the burning (in the form of twisted ash trees and scorched earth in some places), but Haldir had proudly said that the Elves remaining in Imladris had fought bravely in defending their realm.

The closer the pair came to Rivendell, the greener things became. But Legolas could see that things were not as he knew them. The borders of the city were closer to the buildings, evident in where the freshest plants grew. And where he expected to see guards, there were none. One or two other Elves had been encountered since crossing the mountains, and those had been curious about Legolas, but quickly moved along by Haldir.

The state of the House itself surprised Legolas. The white buildings were mostly ruin, as if a great battle had been fought. What walls were left standing, were those of the main house. There was little movement that Legolas could see, and he could only guess that there were few Elves living in the once magnificant city.

As they neared, Legolas saw two familiar Elves sitting on the steps to the main entrance. Both grinned at Haldir before noticing Legolas.

Before the two could speak, Haldir did. "This one was found in Mirkwood. And claims to be Prince Legolas."

Two sets of slate-grey eyes narrowed.

"Now, that's not very funny," said one.

"Indeed," answered the other. "Rather cruel."

Legolas sighed, "Elladan, Elrohir, of all in Arda, I would expect you two to know me."

The twins looked at each other in surprise. Elladan stood, followed closely by Elrohir. They made a show of looking the exasperated Legolas over, while Haldir simply looked on with slight amsement.

Finally, Elladan turned to his twin. "The resemblance is uncanny."

Elrohir nodded, "Yes... But this cannot be him... Not after..."

Legolas sighed, startling both twins. It seemed they weren't expecting a reaction.

"Just what happened? If it involved me, I'm apparently not aware of it."

Elrohir grinned, "Now that sounded like our Legolas."

Elladan nodded, "I'm sure Adar will know what to do."

Haldir shook his head at the antics of the twins, "Which is why I brought him here."

Elladan smiled, "Well, Adar is inside, so I'll take you in. Elrohir, I'm sure, would be more than happy to take your report, Haldir."

Elrohir scowled at his brother, "Oh yes, estatic."

Taking Legolas' arm, Elladan led the blonde inside. Deciding that he would probably get better responses from Elladan than from Haldir, Legolas asked; "So, just what happened?"

Elladan looked at him, "If you are Legolas, than you would know that. And just what were you doing in Mirkwood? It's far more dangerous now than ever before."

Legolas shook his head, "This cannot be right. The forest was cleansed of darkness after the Dark Lord was defeated."

Elladan laughed, "Defeated?! Now that would be a most wonderful dream. But, alas! I fear that you must have struck your head, youngling. Perhaps that is why you remember nothing. But I'm sure Father can fix that."

"What are you so sure I am able to fix?... Legolas?"

The two turned to face the speaker, and saw the surprised look on Lord Elrond's face. The normally stern Elflord stepped up to Legolas with a curious look. Reaching out a hand, Elrond touched Legolas' cheek in what seemed to be wonder.

"This cannot be..."

"Adar?" Elladan asked.

This seemed to snap Elrond out of his toughts and the Lord straightened. "Your name, young one?"

"You've already said it, Lord Elrond," Legolas answered. "I do not know how, or what has happened,whatwhat you have thought to happen; but I am Legolas Thranduilion."

Elrond looked the younger Elf over again, "I wish to believe that our Legolas is here, alive and well... But a false hope is foolhardy... Yet your spirit matches... And your resemblance is uncanny."

Not knowing what to say, both Elladan and Legolas remained silent while Elrond thought. The Elflord seemed to decide something.

"Elladan, go make sure all is well with your brother. Come with me, youngling."

Elladan nodded, but hesitated to obey. When he was off, Elrond led Legolas through the doorway that the former had appeared from. Two blonde Elves looked up.

"I thought you were going to fetch those scrolls?" Glorfindel, far more battleworn than Legolas remembered, asked. He caught sight of Legolas. "But I see you've found something far more interesting."

Celeborn stood from where he had been sitting, and looked Legolas over in the same manner Elrond had done. His critical eye trying to pinpoint anything that would give the much younger Elf away as an imposter.

Legolas fidgeted under the sudden, intense, attention, and Elrond indicated that he should sit in one of the vacant chairs by one of the windows. Glorfindel and Celeborn looked to Elrond for answers.

"Your eyes do not decieve you," Elrond said. "Nor do your senses. He seems to be the young Legolas."

"And how can that be?" Celeborn asked.

Glorfindel nodded, "If the Valar had given him new life, aside from still being a babe, he would be in the Undying Lands."

"I did not die," Legolas said, feeling himself blush as the three Lords focused on him. "At least, I do not think I died... I do not know what happened here, but just last week I was in 'Lorien and-"

"Lothlorien is gone, young one," Celeborn said. "Taken by the Shadow. And it has been much longer than a week since then."

Glorfindel crossed his arms as he leaned against a desk. "We saw Legolas die. We all did. Less than a decade ago. His death had been the final strike against the valiant Wood-Elves of Mirkwood. Without a prince or king, they succumbed to the darkness of Mordor."

"What?! No. Mordor has fallen. Frodo destroyed the Ring, Aragorn rules Gondor. The Shadow has been defeated."

"Ring?" Celeborn asked. "What you speak of..., while it would be nice to believe, has never happened. And we have heard of no ring."

"And there is no one I've heard of named 'Aragorn'," Glorfindel added. "Or 'Frodo' for that matter. Such unusual names... They must not be Elfkind."

Legolas shook his head, "Aragorn is a Man, Isildur's Heir. He was raised here in Imladris! And Frodo is a Hobbit, of the Shire."

"Isildur's line was destroyed with him and his brother, young one. And The Shire has long since been destroyed. It was not until after the news reached us that the Hobbits were made known to us."

Legolas shook his head in disbelief, not understanding what was going on. Elrond abandoned his silence.

"I think it would be best, if you told us everything you knew. Once that has been done, we will tell you has has happened. Perhaps we can find a point in both stories that can reveal the answer we seek."

Nodding, Legolas started. As he told what he knew, he answered questions. The One Ring was unknown to the three Elflords, as was the Last Alliance of Elves and Men. No Rings of Power had ever been crafted. And Isildur had never lived beyond the first battle with the rising Dark Lord.

"...And when I woke, I was attacked by a strange creature. Haldir had been there, he was the one to bring me here."

The three Lords mulled over what had been said. None speaking and none seeming to want to be the one to recount the history they knew. Finally, Glorfindel spoke.

"There was never a crafting of any Ring of Power, let alone one that would rule them. The Men of what had been Gondor did not wait to recieve aid from us Elves, sealing their fate to either be destroyed or enslaved by the Dark Lord. Without the strength of Men, the Elves had less chance to defend our own homes. Lothlorien fell, many Elves seeking the Sea and beyond to the Blessed Realm. With so few left in the Golden Wood, it succumb to the Shadow. The Lady Galadriel was slain by the Dark Lord himself. Those that escaped, came here.

"Sauron's forces managed to attack by sea... Destroying the Grey Havens, and the passage West was closed. Either by the Dark Lord, or by the Valar to keep the Shadow from touching it, we do not know.

"Mirkwood fought the longest. Oropher was slain in battle, and Thranduil took his place. His sons, your brothers, I suppose, died in the second battle to take place in the forest. But Rhiernil, the eldest, discovered that the medallion Sauron had recieved from his master was a weakness. It channelled the powers of the Black Enemy through to the new Dark Lord. He died shortly after the information was revealed. The forest had to be abandoned, and the few Elves left came here.

"Thranduil died, valiantly in battle, trying to defend what was left of his people. And... you... shortly there after. The death of Prince Legolas heralded the end of the Wood-Elves of Mirkwood and the best archers of our kind. We all were present at both the battle, and the funeral after. That was eight years ago."

There was a silence as the Elflords watched Legolas' reaction. As the new information sunk in, Legolas closed his eyes. "But what I saw, what I lived through... I speak the truth. I fought at Helm's Deep and Pellenor! I saw the fall of Mordor and rise of Gondor! I speak only the truth of what I saw!"

Elrond nodded, "Which we can see. Yet, we saw and lived through what we spoke of. We speak the truth as well. Neither can seem to fully be denied..."

Celeborn thought, "This is no trick of Sauron's. There is too much innocence about him. No... This is Legolas... But it is not ~our~ Legolas."

Three pairs of eyes turned to Celeborn in confusion. "There is no denying that we saw Legolas die. Yet here he is, whole and well. Yet not the one we knew, either. Our Legolas had lost much of his spirit in his trials... This one still has his, though I feel a calling, like the ebb and flow of the Sea... Quite perplexing, but true."

Glorfindel sighed, "There could not be two of Legolas... It would require another world. And from his tale, it must be a truly wonderful world indeed."

Legolas thought, "I do not recognize this land... I have spent much time in Imladris before, but this... It is not known to me. I last visited my father in the renamed Eryn Lasgalen a month ago. He was well, as were my brothers. Rhiernil was preparing to wed, and Feinereg's wife had had their first child... What you've said... I do not understand any of it."

"Perhaps this 'other world' theory is not so far-fetched?" Elrond said. "Yet, if we accepted such a thought, it would not explain what this Legolas is doing in our world. Or why."

Legolas frowned, "I do not know how I came to be here... As I've said, I simply woke and found myself in the midst of your Mirkwood. When I had gone to sleep, I was on the borders of Fangorn."

"I will speak with Haldir. Perhaps he had seen something unusual that night," said Celeborn.

Glorfindel nodded, "I will have patrols sent to the area... If anything is physically there, they will find it."

Elrond nodded and turned to Legolas. "In that case, all that's left to be done, is to keep an eye on you."

At Legolas' curious look, Elrond explained. "You'll be given a room, and until we have found a plausible, if not deffinate, answer, it would be best if you stayed withing our borders and sight. Everyone knew Prince Legolas, so news of you will spread through the community very quickly. Tonight an announcement explaining what we know will be made."

Legolas nodded, "I understand."

"Good," Elrond said. "Come, I'll have a room readied for you."

Legolas gathered what he had brought with him: meager camping supplies and his bow and quiver. Following Elrond from the room, they met Lindire bae bard seemed willing to show Legolas to a room while Elrond went to speak with Haldir, his sons, and the captains of patrols.

Lindir asked a few questions, and if the one Legolas knew was anything to go by, it was certain that the musician was already plotting a grand song with what he was told. Lindir seemed much more friendly towards Legolas, and far more willing to answer any questions the younger Elf had forgotten or had been too intimidated to ask the three Elflords.

"Is there another of me, as well?" Lindir asked as they walked.

Legolas nodded, "Aye, and there seems to be no difference."

"Really? I suppose I would be the better looking of the two," Lindir grinned. Legolas had the feeling the Lindir he knew would have said the same thing.

***********************************************************************

I don't know when the next time I update will be...

On November 19, 2003, my father passed away. He was 57, and died of heart problems. He will be greatly missed, and forever loved.