They were trapped...

"Elbereth, do let this be the end..."

Legolas let out a scream of frustration, he couldn't let this child die like this. He wouldn't be able to bear it, to only be able to watch her scream as the fire ripped away her soul. He angrily kicked at the weakening stonewall. The child whimpered and buried her face in his shoulder, her fingers fastened tightly on a lock of Legolas' hair.

"I will not let you die like this," Legolas kissed the top of Marli's head, a fierce sense of protection came over him and he held her tighter in his arms.

Legolas crouched down by the small drain vent. It was large enough to push the girl through, and that was enough. He sat down and kicked furiously at the iron barrier but it wouldn't budge.

The fire hissed and crackled as it eased into the room; searing heat and thick smoke trailing in its wake.

Time was running out.

Legolas heaved forward in a fit of dry coughs that racked through him and he gasped for breath. His hand brushed over a thick tree root that had grown under the flooring. He quickly raised his head and glanced at the approaching fire and then back at the tree root that hadn't been there a moment ago. Legolas placed his palm against the root, his eyes closed and his senses opened to the tree. He felt a new light pulse through his veins like a deep power re-awakened.

"Welcome, wood elf"

A strong wind gushed into the room making the trees outside sway as their roots grew and stretched. With great speed, they shot out of the ground. Thick, strong roots and limbs latched onto the barrier and tore at the vent that held the wood elf trapped inside.

Marli's reddened eyes widened in amazement and fear. The trees are moving, moving? her young mind couldn't understand but something deep inside her felt at peace. She held tighter to her strange rescuer and laid her head against his thumping heartbeat.

A bright light that not even the fire could outshine exploded in front of their eyes. Stone crumbled to the ground leaving a large open gap to the outside. The roots, having completed their task, retreated into the moist earth.

Wasting no time, Legolas ran out of the burning building and far out into the opening. The child in his arms let out a gasp as fresh air filled her starved lungs.

Legolas sucked in the air as if it was the day he was born. The aroma of autumn air and wildflowers welcomed him with open arms and he sank to the ground in exhaustion by a large tree that provided shade. He unwrapped his cloak from the child and found that she was fast asleep. Legolas smiled, he ran a finger over her dusty face. The little girl's brunette hair was soaked in sweat and her face grey with ash, but she was alive.

The soft wind gently soothed them and Legolas rested his head against the rough bark, he whispered his thanks to the Valar and closed his weary eyes.

                                                                             ~~~~*~~~~

The fire had been defeated but the bakery was almost no better than nothing. Galidar and the people if Willowdale had fought the flames with courage and were now tending to any wounds. It wasn't enough to save the bakers place but they had kept the fire from spreading throughout the village.

Galidar eyes roamed over the ruined building. There had been no sign of Legolas at all. There was only ash and stone. "He is dead then..." He shook his head to rid himself of that dreadful thought, but how then did he escape the flames alive? A movement by his side made him turn his head and he spoke softly. "My lady."

"Thank you. . ." Talmara's voice quivered in emotion--"he was a good friend, wasn't he?"

"Yes...He--" Galidar took a shaky breath--"he cannot have perished... I will not believe it."

"It is difficult... To believe a loved one is lost, especially ones of such innocence..."

"They must have found a way..."

Talmara felt tears fill her eyes and words left her mouth unchecked, "how could they have survived that? No man could have escaped that death trap, no--"

"--Legolas could."

Talmara frowned and hastily wiped her eyes. "I wish I could believe you."

And with that, she walked away. Guilt ate at her soul, guilt of being alive instead of her sister, guilt for not being there to save Marli from a horrible death. And shame... Would she have been able to run through fire to protect the ones she loved? This Legolas had risked everything for someone he knew nothing about. His courage had forever marked a place in her heart.

Galidar bowed his head and exhaled. He made his way to the people and brewed a soothing tea. He passed it out to the villagers. A man grasped his arm and peered into Galidar's hood.

"The fella who ran into the flames, did 'e make it?"

The people murmured amongst themselves and looked expectedly to the hooded figure for an answer but his eyes were fixed on something else and they too turned their eyes to follow his gaze.

A large black stallion approached from the haze carrying a figure. He was hunched over and seemed to be carrying a bundle of some sort. Blonde hair whipped in the wind like a golden banner making no mistake of whose identity the rider belonged to.

Galidar had already broken into a full run. Several villagers followed him including a disbelieving Talmara.

The horse halted and kneeled to the ground to ease his distressed companion's dismount. When Legolas didn't budge, the horse neighed and nudged him with his nose.

A tickle of horse mane on his cheek made Legolas shift, he coughed and opened his eyes to see figures rushing towards him. He held the sleeping bundle closer to his chest and attempted to move from his mount but his limbs refused to obey.

"Legolas! Legolas, cormamin lindua ele lle." Galidar's eyes roamed over his friend's condition with worry, his face was grey with ash, his hands raw and his garments were torn in many places. "Legolas, speak to me."

His reply was a violent fit of coughing. His throat burned and his voice was rasped and painful. His once clean hair now marred with ash-covered his face. "The child... She is well."

Galidar gazed down at the precious bundle in Legolas' arms. A little girl wrapped in a woolen cloak lay sound asleep, her face was dirty and reddened but she was unscathed. Galidar smiled softly, he wondered what had transpired, and how they managed to escape that death trap. "We must get you to a healer."

Several villagers approached the scene and gazed at the strange rider in wonder.

"He is alive!"

"How did 'e survive that hell."

"Did 'e get the' girl!?"

Talmara pushed past the stunned villagers and ran towards the two figures. She noticed the bundle in the strange blonde's arms and prayed it was what she hoped. She slowly approached the kneeling horse, and let her eyes roam over the slowly dismounting Legolas. "Marli...?"

A little head poked out of the bundle and green eyes peeked out from dark lashes. Marli blinked, her eyes adjusting to the afternoon light. She heard a soft voice call her name, "Talma?"

Talmara burst into tears of joy. She reached for the bundle in Legolas' arms and he deliberately let the woman take the child.

"Thank you," was all she could say, her voice wavered with emotion. Leaning over, she kissed Legolas' cheek; her eyes gazed over his filthy but beautiful face, marking him in her memory.

Legolas smiled softly and tilted his head. That one small kiss seemed to uplift his soul. His eyes moved to the bundle now in the woman's arms, and he smiled when the little girl reached her hands out to him. He brushed his thumb over her cheek and moved a strand of hair from her eyes. He wanted to say something but his voice wouldn't permit it. He leaned heavily on Galidar, who wrapped his arm around him tighter to stabilize him.

"Come, Legolas, you must see a healer," not caring that their hoods had fallen, Galidar led Legolas past the crowd of the onlooking villagers who eyes shone with respect and awe.

A gruff looking man peered closely at the two strange beings; his eyebrows shoot upwards and his eyes widened. Fair-skinned and tall, long hair of purest silk, overly bright eyes, and leaf-shaped ears. These were no men, they were not human.

"If ever I saw one... Those fellas are elves!"
               
                 ~~~~*~~~~

cormamin lindua ele lle: My heart sings to see thee

Word count 1482💫

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