Black Moon

Due to a slight problem in FF.net, basically not letting me read the new reviews (I still get them in my e-mail though, so keep sending!), I can't remember who said what. So, I can't respond directly. :)

In another note, I checked out a band called Abney Park, very nice. If you likt good goth, haunting music, check them out. Some great sounds. :)

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The clearing was empty when Legolas returned that evening, the evidence that anything had taken place there was gone. The young Elf sighed and turned to go, wondering why he had thought that he would have been able to find the WolfKing. Each encounter had been initiated by Draugaran and with Legolas barely aware of the environment he had found himself in.

Before he could reach the path to return to Thranduil's palace, a now familiar sensation reached the back of his mind, a slight tugging that called him back to the center of the clearing. His eyes were quickly drawn to the large black-furred figure Legolas recognized as the Wolf that had been his guide so far. The creature was waiting patiently for him and Legolas allowed himself to be led deeper into the forest.

After what seemed like at least an hour of walking steadily deeper, the weight of Legolas' lack of sleep seemed to beging to take effect on the young Elf. Determined to keep pace, Legolas steadied his steps and continued to follow. He noted the lack of spiders and squirrels here and thought that Draugaran must have something to do with that.

After a short time more, Legolas was led to a cave and the Wolf guestured for him to go first. Unsettled by the thick darkness, Legolas hesitated but moved ahead as silently as he could, unsure in the silence. A large hand rested on his shoulder, steadying him as two more Wolves stepped from the shadows to move a boulder from what Legolas had thought had been a dead end.

Legolas gasped, beyond the boulder the passage led down, a long flight of steps leading into the earth. They ended at the floor of an enormous cavern, many times larger than Thranduil's palace. Many passages lined the walls, leading off into other darkened corridors. A huge bonfire burned in the center of the cavern and the scent of cooking venison reached Legolas, reminding him of how little he had eaten lately. Torches along the walls added to the light, giving everything an almost golden look to it, resembling a larger version of Thranduil's main hall during a festival.

Legolas was led down the steps and the boulder was rolled back into place. Deerskins were drying and stretched against one wall, with cooked meat joining them. Wolves paid him and his guide no mind as they went about their tasks in the cavern. At a closer look showed that the seperate passages were lighted as well, and some led to other cavernous areas beyond the walls Legolas could see. A wave of deja-vu took Legolas and he decided that it was due to the familiarity to his father's halls.

A corridor led to a room Legolas was certain he had been in before. A fire burned and danced in a hearth that had been dug into the stone wall, a mat of fur rested before that. There were no chairs, but a table stood about a foot above the ground against one wall. There was another pile of furs near a corner, roughly in the shape and size of a bed. A signal from his guide told him to stay there and Legolas absently wondered why he hadn't heard any of the other Wolves speak as Draugaran does.

"So you've found your way back."

Legolas bowed to the speaker in greeting and Draugaran made a movement to take a seat on the mat by the hearth.

"I've been here before?"

Draugaran nodded, "You have. But I wonder what you are doing back here."

Legolas hesitated, "I wish to know more of your offer..."

The larger creature nodded and shifted so his tail was resting across his l"It "It is difficult to explain, a small ritual only. Little will change within you, if that is what worries you."

"What about my family?"

Draugaran tilted his head, "What of them? You will still live with your Elf-family if you wished it. I would only ask that you came for two weeks within each month, from the dark moon to the full."

Legolas thought, he could still be with his father and brothers, but he was curious as to what the ancient creature before him could teach him as well. Suddenly a question came to mind.

"There are no hills here, how was this place formed?"

Draugaran smiled, "Curious little pup. It was dug into the earth long ago, by my sire. My own pack is small in comparison to what his had been, but all was formed long ago."

Legolas thought again, causing his host to chuckle. Draugaran stood in a graceful movement seen normally in Elves.

"You have had little to eat, you should not preoccupy yourself so. And your rest has been disrupted for quite some time now. Sleep here thins night, and I will make my offer again in the morrow."

"My father...He will worry."

"...You are free to leave at any time, but it is dangerous out and you are exhausted. Little can be done now. If you truly wish to, write a message and I will have it sent."

Legolas nodded his gratitude, quickly writing a message on a scrap of paper found on the small table. He handed it to Draugaran and followed the instructions to sleep, curling himself between the furs near the corner. Warmth and the feeling of safety quickly brough his exhaustion to him and Legolas slept.

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Legolas woke to the comforting weight of the blankets covering him. He could smell the food and his attempts at staying asleep were ruined by his body's desire for sustenance. Sitting up, Legolas found the plate of food almost directly next to him. He ate silently, enjoying the comfort and warmth, feeling rested.

"Are you feeling better?"

Legolas looked up to see Draugaran coming in through the passage and nodded. The WolfKing sat nexthim him and smiled.

"Have you come to a descision?"

Legolas thought, his mind was clear now, the sleep doing him good. "I would like to take your offer...But I fear how much I would change."

"A sensible worry, but I assure you that little would physically change. Perhaps your hair and eyes, but that would be the extent of it that would be noticable."

Legolas hesitantly nodded, "Then I accept."

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Thranduil frowned as he read over the note that had been delivered to him this morning. Legolas stated that he would be gone for several days perhaps, practicing his hunting skills. Legolas had been acting differently for a while now, but this was strange indeed. To just leave, without asking permission or bothering to inform anyone.

He had already sent Nimelen to Elrond, asking for help in his search. He could only conclude that these creatures were Werewolves, servants of Morgoth that had supposedly been destroyed. But if that were true, than they were in great danger.

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Legolas was unsure of the time as he followed Draugaran back to the room he had slept in. He had spent the day wandering the caves, exploring what he could.

"Draugaran, what do I have to do now? To completely accept what you're offering?"

Draugaran made a guesure for Legolas to sit, taking a chalice from the small table and a bottle of what looked like a thick red liquid.

"Drink this."

Legolas nodded and accepted the chalice, brining it to his lips and drinking deep. The coppery tang of blood hit his tongue and Draugaran was at his side, preventing him from spitting it out. When the first pangs of pain begun, the large creature kept a large hand over Legolas' mouth, preventing the Elf from expelling the blood.

"It would hurt a lot more if you expell it now, Little Elf. It will be over soon."

Legolas whimpered and collapsed, blackness conquering his mind.

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I'll update soon. Glad yoy find this interesting.