The Lost

The Lost

Chapter 3
Author: Frosty the Dairy Cow
Rated: NC-17
Codes: Elrond, Legolas, Aragorn, Haldir, Galadriel, OC, AU, N/C
Summary: After the defeat of Sauron, Elves and Men go to war. The reason, though, is not so clear. Contains real plot.
Notes: Elvish translations are at the end of each chapter.
Disclaimer: LOTR is not mine. Bleh.


*

The blonde elf's blue eyes darted through the trees. He knew they were being watched by others of his kind, but he was not certain of their intentions. Not in all his years had he come acrosses oes of a dark realm, but in this day and age anything was possible.

Legolas glanced back at his group, three other elves riding cautiously behind him. They were the only ones to have escaped from Mirkwood, the home of his father, Thranduil. He turned back and let out a tense breath, wincing at the pain in his side. He had only one option.

"Anglenna-mellon," he called out, "I Caun o Mirkwood anira-ah gur i Brennil o Lorien."

It took a few moments, but soon Legolas could hear rustling in the trees. An elf stepped out onto the path, blocking the horses from continuing further. "Man on thel-lin si?"

Legolas steadied his white steed as he heard the strings of bows tighten. "Abonnen penia-naur an min bar a esgari-dad min gwaith," he replied, sitting straight, "Nin echor on pun ai brono."

With a nod of his head, the elf of Lorien called out nearly a dozen elves from the trees. "Ego lin roch," he said, "Le innas no heltha-tegi i Bereth."

Legolas nodded to the others and dismounted his horse, intent on not provoking these elves. They were obviously nervous of strangers, but he and his company needed the protection of Lothlorien. Without it, they would surely be caught by Gondor eventually.

As they walked through the quiet forest, Legolas listened carefully to the noises over the crunching of leaves beneath his feet. He could sense the presence of guards in the trees, watching them as they were escorted further into the trees. Mirkwood had only had limited contact with Lorien and Imladris during the beginnings of the war, and lost contact altogether when Rivendell was defeated. Now that Legolas' father had perished in the attack on their home, it was his responsibility to care for those still alive. Unfortunately, the living were so few. They had had no choice but to flee for Lorien.

He hoped it was the right decision to make.

Soon the crystal white buildings of Lothlorien came into view. He remembered visiting here years ago, when the relationship between elves and men was peaceful, if not strained. He had trouble recalling exactly where and when things went wrong.

"Deri si," spoke the lead elf, leaving the group and heading up the glowing steps to Galadriel's rooms. Legolas looked upward and knit his brows. There was no longer singing in the realm of the Lady. Misery made its home here.

After waiting several minutes, an different elf descended the stairs. It was not Galadriel, and Legolas narrowed his eyes at that. Instead, he was greeted by Elrond.

"Mae govannen, Legolas," he said, nodding to each of the new elves, "My sympathies."

Frowning, Legolas replied, "Thank you. Tell me, where is Lady Galadriel?"

The elder elf's eyes dimmed slightly. "She is not well," he said, "I have come to greet you in her stead. I was unaware it was you who traveled to Lorien, or I would have not sent so many guards to welcome you."

"You have a right to be cautious," he said, not voicing his concern about Galadriel. "My company are weary from battle and travel. Would you be so kind as to allow them beds?"

Elrond motioned for several elves to come forward and take the horses. "Of course," he said, "And you as well?"

Legolas blinked up into the trees. It was nearing dusk, but he was not tired. "If it meets with your approval, I would enjoy a walk in the forest. It has been a long time since my last visit."

"Do as you will. A bed will be made up for you in the houses to the west. You may retire there when you are ready." Elrond's eyes slid to the home above them. "If you will excuse me, I must speak with Galadriel."

Legolas knit his brow. "I would like to offer my gratitude to her, if possible."

Elrond's eyes glinted in the dying light. "Not today," he replied, shaking his head, "I will give her your message. Perhaps tomorrow she will be well enough for a visit."

Worried but suspicious, Legolas did not question Elrond's answer, nor Galadriel's state. Instead he bowed his thanks and brushed past the Lord, moving onwards into the woods. No matter what else was going on, Legolas revelled in the peace of the forest. If nothing else, he needed quiet.

Lorien was very quiet, he found. Even with all of the Imladris elves here, few ventured out. He supposed most of them were sent out on patrol, for Lorien was the last realm of the elves. Legolas stopped and leaned against a tree, sighing heavily. They were being destroyed, one city at a time.

"Suilad." Shifting his eyes up, he saw a dark-haired elf standing not far from him. "Did I startle you?"

His blue eyes took in her archer's tunic, similar to his own. "No," he responded, tilting his head, "Who are you?"

She smiled shyly and came closer, clasping her hands behind her back. "My name is Anólindë. I did not mean to interrupt you walk, but I was curious to meet you. We do not get many visitors here."

Legolas grunted a soft laugh. "I am afraid we are more than just visitors. Mirkwood has been taken by Gondor. Lorien is our refuge."

She did not seem surprised by the news. "I am sorry. I know how hard it is to suffer such a loss." Licking her lips, Anólindë narrowed her eyes and stepped closer. "You are Legolas Greenleaf, correct?"

He nodded. "How did you know?"

"Lady Galadriel has spoken of you, once or twice." A faint smiled creased her features, but quickly faded when her eyes fell upon his tunic. "You are injured."

Legolas pushed himself up from the tree and stood stiffly as Anólindë made to touch him. "I assure you, I am fine," he said, wincing when her fingers brushed against the cloth. She looked at the fresh blood on her fingers and shook her head, reaching for his tunic again.

"You are not fine," she said quietly, lifting the cloth and touching the gash along his ribs. When he hissed in a breath, she glared at him. "I can help you. Come with me. My home is not far from here."

Feeling more injured than he let on, Legolas followed her without speaking. If nothing else, he hoped for clean clothing. "Thank you," he said as the cabins came into view.

Her dark eyes met his and she smiled softly. "You should have said something to Elrond when you arrived," she said, knitting her brow, "He should have noticed."

Legolas watched her carefully as they entered her home. "It is not his fault," he said, testing her, "He was quite concerned about Galadriel."

She glanced up at him, her expression unreadable. "We are all concerned," she replied quietly, pulling gauze out of a drawer.

Legolas took a seat upon the bed when Anólindë motioned for him to sit. She licked her lips and opened his tunic, pulling the garment down his arms and dropping it to the floor. He watched her softly as she cleaned him with a wet cloth, and set about to bandage him up.

He could see the defeat and exhaustion in her eyes, as he felt it himself. "Tell me about Galadriel," he said, looking around the room, "Why is she ill?"

"She has suffered many losses," replied Anólindë as she reached around Legolas to bandage him, "Her time is at an end, and she can no longer take refuge in Valinor. The world wearies here, moreso than it does us." She clipped the gauze and tied it, patting his wound softly. "How's that?"

Lowering his arms, Legolas smiled. "Better, thank you." When she stood to put away the supplies, he continued his questions. "Has Lord Elrond taken over the command of the elven army?"

Anólindë took Legolas' dirty tunic and balled it in her hands. "Not officially," she said, her eyes averted from his, "I will wash your shirt. I'm afraid we have no extras to spare. Rest. I will be in the bathroom."

Legolas sighed as she disappeared into the small room. Pulling himself back, he lied down on the bed, closing his strained eyes. He had hoped Lorien would be in better condition than this. It seemed, though, that things were as bad here as they were everywhere else.

*

TBC

Anglenna-mellon. I Caun o Mirkwood anira-ah gur i Brennil o Lorien. - Friends approach. The Prince of Mirwood desires counsel with the Lady of Lorien.
Man on thel-lin si? - What is your purpose here?
Abonnen penia-naur an min bar a esgari-dad min gwaith. Nin echor on pun ai brono. - Man set fire to our home and cut down our people. My circle is all who survive.
Ego lin roch. Le innas no heltha-tegi i Bereth. - Off your horse(s). You will be taken to (to take) the Queen.
Mae govannen, Legolas. - Welcome, Legolas.
Suilad. - Greeting(s).