Stars_Alight

Entry for Battle Beneath the Trees: Even Darkness Burns contest. Word count 690

Disclaimer: I wrote this in one hour(this is why I have an unspeakably dull and generic title). It is unedited and most likely horrible. Choppy, poorly conceived, all those things. Read at your own risk.

I have made use of Stars' unequivocally fabulous OCs, because this writer is far too lazy to invent her own in one hour.

Everything else belongs to Tolkien.

~AGAINST THE DARKNESS~

Tall grew the trees, and thick was their dark raiment. Like a frowning shadow they stretched standing above the insignificant figures of the two men; a shadow black and tainted with ill will, for the Shadow had reached out long ago to touch the trees of Mirkwood.

They walked toward the drooping eaves, those two men, the quick waters of the Running River coursing steadily beside them. The eaves they passed, and the taut, heavy roof of the forest was over their head, the moss-grown trunks passing them steadily by in the still greenish air. But their presence did not go unseen; for there were eyes in the forest, and seldom did they sleep.

Out of the trees swift lithe figures slipped, and the foremost laid his arrow coolly against the chest of the first man. "Who are you? Speak quickly, stranger. Not readily do we let folk walk unhindered in our lands, save for our own kin and the men of Dale; and you are neither, unless our eyes mistake us."

The greybearded man cast back his hood. "And you should not be quick to hinder Gandalf the Grey, or has my presence grown too much for the Elves? Make haste, my good Wood-elf, put the bow aside; I have urgent business with Thranduil."

Another elf pushed forward through the others, his bright hair gleaming in the gloom of the eerie forest-light. "Mithrandir!" he exclaimed. "Yea, truly it is you. Put aside the arrow, Caneir–" and he drew the warrior's hand away. But his keen eyes looked upon the other with no favourable sign. "We will let you pass, Mithrandir. But who is this? We have not seen him before, and who is the strange creature that he leads behind him?"

"That creature is why we are here," returned Gandalf shortly. "But that is a matter for the king's ears, though I suppose you have a right to hear it as well, as his son. As for the Man, I vouch for him beyond question, and I hope you have known me long enough to accept my word."

"Know me you may not," said the other man, speaking for the first time, "yet I have walked in your realm, Legolas Thranduilion, more than once, and am accustomed to its paths."

"Indeed?" Legolas' brow rose sharply. "Do you seek then to proclaim yourself as a spy?"

"Peace, the both of you," said Gandalf. "An old man grows weary of bickering between the young. Will you let us pass, Master Legolas? – for I surely hope so."

The prince of Mirkwood turned, and spoke softly and heatedly in Sindarin to his lieutenant. The dark-haired elf smiled slightly, and replied, "You are younger than he, gwador."

With a shake of the head, Legolas put the matter behind him and addressed Gandalf. "You may go past, yes. But I will accompany you to my father, for it seems there are strange matters afoot. And who is this Man who goes with you? Has he a name?"

"That, too, is a matter for elsewhere," replied Gandalf. "But he is the hope of Men."

And Legolas of Mirkwood looked curiously at the roughly clad man, whose hair was touched with grey. So did he first see Aragorn son of Arathorn. And he thought him grim and weary, and aged as one who has weathered storms beyond his years; yet his sight also beheld the valour, and a great nobility, and the hope of which Mithrandir had spoken, that burned very brightly within his eyes like a fire.

For Legolas had seen that fire before – in the eyes of his lieutenant and all his Silvan warriors. He had felt it in himself. It was the fire which would fight on against all, despite all, even when the darkness rose like a threatening tide and claimed the victory. And he felt a stirring within him, a kinship with the Man at his side.

If Men are ever to have a Captain who can lead them, it will have to be one like this – one who will burn against the darkness.