Black Moon

Title: Black Moon

Author: Aithilin (nimcuran_aithilin@hotmail.com)

Rating: R

Pairing: not decided yet.

Summary: A grief-stricken Legolas wanders alone one night, and comes into contact with a creature he didn't know existed.

Disclaimer: Characters and places belong to Tolkien and his estate. The song and inspiration is from Howling Syn. And The Missing: just for being such kick ass bands with haunting music. I do own Draugaran, Celebdae, and Legolas' brothers. Mine are the characters not there in the books.

Warnings: slash, darkness, my usual, a touch of werewolf stuff(kinda)

A/N: A new angle for me, thought it might be interesting.

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Thranduil didn't care that his footsteps could be heard as he walked quickly through the halls of his palace. He stopped in front of a door and knocked. Af opf opened the wooden door, looking tired and with near silver hair mussed.

"My Lord? What is it?"

"Legolas is gone," Thranduil said quickly. "Gather at least ten, Celebdae, and meet t tht the front gates in twenty minutes."

The Elf nodded and shut the door while Thranduil quickly went to go wake his three other sons, trying to think where houngoungest may have gone.

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Legolas was walking aimlessly, tears leaving small tracks on his cheeks as he mourned. He couldn't have stayed in the palace any longer, not with the memories of his mother there to haunt him. He had to get out, regardless of how late it was, never mind that even his sharp eyes could barely see in the encompassing darkness. Not even a ray of moonlight penetrated the thick forest, just as well since Legolas knew there was a black moon this night.

At 150 (the mortal equivalent of 18), Legolas was already one of the best archers in Mirkwood, one of the best hunters, and a beloved Prince. He already carried the strong features of his father, and the softer ones of his mother, to create a balance.

Even with all of his training and talent, Legolas was too lost in his thoughts and grief to notice the creatures stalking him along the path. He had sensed the orcs a while back, had a dagger out to defend himself, but those were not the creatures that followed silently in the forest by the path.

It wasn't long before the orcs that Legolas had been aware of attacked. Clumsy creatures, but attack in greater numbers, and fueled by their hatred for all things living and beautiful. While Legolas was able to defend himself against a great number of them, his dagger was lost and his shoulder wounded by an orcish sword. Thrown to the ground and staining it with his blood, the young Elf kept his eyes open defiantly as he saw the nearest orc raise it's blade for a final blow.

/I'm sorry, Ada.../ Legolas thought. He knew that his father and brothers' pain would be great; losing him so soon after Alothrhis met the same fate only months earlier.

There was a movement of black and the orc was knocked aside, several others followed and Legolas gasped as he saw the wolf-like creatures ripping the orcs apart. He felt his back press against a tree and watched as the new creatures stood, almost in a Human fashion.

Wide eyes wayched their approach and Legolas shivered. Orcs were nothing new, Wargs were not as common, but easy to deal with; these were creatures Legolas had never seen before, had never heard of before. At least five of the black and grey cretures formed a semi-circle around him now, seeming to be waiting for something.

One stepped away from the line of others, extending a normal-looking hand, with the etiontion of long claws that looked like sharpened points of obsidian. Legolas drew back, unsure. The creature cocked its head to one side and moved its hand further, offering.

Legolas hesitated, he wanted to run, wanted to go home, back to his father. Seeing no other option, Legolas hesitantly placed a hand in the creature's, finding the grip almost gentle as he was pulled to his feet. The others took places around him, almost as a protective shield and they started to walk deeper into the forest, ignoring the path.

Legolas felt a stab of pain from his shoulder, and clutched it, faltering slightly. Blood was still flowing freely and the young Elf knew that it must be deep if it was still bleeding. The creatures stopped and one, the one Legolas assumed had been the one to help him up, quickly picked him up.

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Legolas was startled when he woke, not aware that he had even let himself sleep. There was a fire burning in a hearth and it tool Legolas a few seconds to realize he was in his own rooms. He wondered if it had been a dream, but the pulsing pain in his shoulder told him otherwise.

"Legolas! Ai! You're awake."

Legolas looked up to see his eldest brother, Rhiernil, come in. Rhiernil turned to speak with who Legolas assumed was a servant outside before coming to sit by the bed.

"How do you feel? You've been asleep for days."

"What happened?"

The door opened and Thranduil came in, followed closely by Feinereg and Nimelen. "We were hoping you could tell us that."

Legolas smiled as his father embraced him. "I'm so sorry to worry you, Ada."

Thranduil sighed, "Just tell us what happened, Legolas.""I "I was walking...There were orcs and I fought. These...creatures...aided me. They were like wolves, and Men or Elves, I do not know what they were. Last I can recall was stumbling when they were leading me somewhere, then waking up here."

Thranduil frowned, "You remember nothing else?"

Legolas shook his head and the three elder Princes looked at each other.

"We found you two days after you left," Nimelen said. "Your shoulder cleaned and bandaged. You were left in front of the gates, something had carried you there and lay you."

Feinereg nodded, "What of these creatures?"

"I remember no more than what I've said," Legolas said quiety, looking to his father for reassurance. "Ada?"

Thranduil was broken from whatever reverie he had been nd snd smiled kindly. "It's alright Little Greenleaf. Rest now."

Legolas nodded and Thranduil left the room, his three older sons trailing behind him.

"What do you propose, Ada?" Rhiernil said.

"A message to Rivendell, if I find no information in my own library. I do not know what had happened, but Legolas does not lie."

The other three nodded and Nimelen spoke softly. "Do we know if these creatures did anything to Legolas?"

"We don't know if they even exist," Rhiernil said.

Thranduil sighed, "I will look into it. Nim, in about two hours, could you bring Legolas some lunch?"

Nimelen nodded, taking it as a dismissal.

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Legolas lay on his side, absently watching the shadows dance against the walls. He remembered similar shadows, and in a flash, a great creature that stood before him.

//'I am Draugaran, the WolfKing,' the creature said with a deep voice, rumbling deep in his chest. 'Your wound, it was poisoned...'

Legolas could feel his fever burning, but shivered still. His eyes closed as a great hand was placed on his brow.//

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Boring, dry, I know. Did I at least get anyone's attention?