I decided to put the map of Middle Earth in the actual chapter instead of in the media section for you reference. I have marked places that are mentioned in the chapter.

{2} Meddling with Maps

{no song lyrics are being incorporated with this chapter}

"Legolas," a voice rippled throughout Legolas' ears. While internally scolding himself for lacking enough attentiveness to notice company, his elven eyes darted around him to locate the voice's source. When his gaze was only met with the presence of a Lothlórien guard who held no interest in Legolas, his thoughts were stopped short.

"Who goes there?" The blond called out. He now assumed it to be Lady Galadriel, who had been rumored to obtain telepathic abilities. It was her gift, something that all elves receive sooner or later. Elrond's gift was foresight, as was Tauriel's healing. Even though Legolas hadn't discovered his yet, he never doubted that it would come to him sooner or later.

A soft stir in the wind sounded behind him. Legolas turned and was greeted by the sight of a beautiful, shimmering Galadriel. As usual, a delicate smile was worn on her face, and a flowing gown was draped across her frame. If it wasn't for the leaf that fluttered through her projection, he would've believed she was truly standing before him.

"Your engagement in this mission will be remembered for many years to come," she said sweetly, stopping right before him and allowing herself a slight nod. "Your bravery has the opportunity to save all of Middle Earth."

"I shall hope that it does," he affirmed, returning the respectful gesture. Though, before Galadriel could say more, Legolas hesitantly opened his mouth again. "Though, there is one term of condition I failed to entail during the meeting."

Galadriel tilted her head curiously. "What might that be?"

"In the absence of my presence, I request that aid from Lothlórien be sent to my father's command." Legolas kept his features void of the anticipation that racked his core. While it wouldn't appease Thranduil's lack of enthusiasm towards his sole heir being thrown in the face of danger, it might compensate for the lack of security that Mirkwood would be experiencing without Legolas.

The Lady of Lothlórien paused for a moment, seemingly contemplating Legolas' appeal. After a second of silence, she responded, "Certainly. It would be my pleasure. Is there anything else I might assist you with?"

"That is all, my lady," Legolas said. He prepared to take leave, considering that his father would be returning to Mirkwood soon and he wished to bid him farewell. Though, before he could get far, Galadriel's melodic voice rang out again.

"There is something of great importance that I must tell you," she explained, her voice uncharacteristically grim. Her eyes seemed to give their surroundings a fleeting glance, holding an uncertainty that Legolas had never seen Galadriel bear. "Follow me."

The elven prince did as instructed, maintaining a hasty pace as he followed Galadriel's projection. They wove between the lofty trees of Lothlórien, of which Legolas could only briefly express his extreme admiration for. In the forests of Mirkwood, there were many extravagant and intricate trees, but not even those could hold a candle to the sheer brilliance and livelihood of nature in Lothlórien. He had to force his gaze away from the plant life to maintain pace with Galadriel.

"Halt," the projection commanded, to which Legolas obeyed. For what reason he was unsure, given that they were still standing in a random thicket of trees and brush.

After throwing multiple dodgy glances to their surroundings, and what Legolas could've sworn was an ear twitch, Galadriel nodded to herself and gestured for the elven prince to follow. Finding no words to vocalize his confusion, Legolas simply rolled his concerns to the back of his mind and obeyed silently.

Without warning, the projection of Galadriel warped away from his view, leaving her prior surroundings to ripple outwards in distortion. It took several moments for the ground and air to finally linger in a stilled state.

A look of disbelief graced the elf's face as he blankly stared at the scene before him.

His fingertips, despite being dry to the touch, had been coated in a glaze of translucence and possessed the shimmer of a million crystals. There was a certain air about them that induced his mind to register them to not be in his possession. Instead, they hung loosely from the knuckles of his hands, lost without the control of his nerves.

Legolas stripped his surveillance from his fingertips and shifted it to the air before him. Not a single item was amiss--nothing that would even slightly hint at the supposed portal that Galadriel had vanished through--yet there was still an unsteady hum to the atmosphere. Even without the disappearance of Galadriel and the glistening varnish draped across his fingertips, he would've been able to sense the disproportionate feeling of his surroundings.

Recalling the urgency that was present in Galadriel's temperament, Legolas shook himself from his astonished stupor. He didn't bother to spare a second to consider the dangers of walking through a magic element could entail, considering that it would eventually lead to him cowering out of following Galadriel.

A serendipitous warmth encompassed Legolas upon reaching the other side of the portal, which brightly contrasted to the brisk spring air of Lothlorien. His nostrils flared, taking in the piquant fragrance of a million blooming flowers and herbs. As he finally regained his bearings, he wordlessly basked in the sheer magnificence of his new surroundings. Towering deciduous trees shot straight to the sky before entangling their limbs with one another, creating a gorgeous canopy in the air adorned with various flowers that bloomed from the branches. Rays of pleasant sunlight poured through the gaps of vibrant leaves and flecked the forest floor with warmth. This encouraged lush grasses and flourishing vegetation.

His eyes finally fell upon Galadriel, who was perched upon an intricately-carved wood swing. Pale braided rope wrapped in green vines and tendrils stretched from the length of the swing to the hanging tree limbs above. She looked even more radiant than usual, with a certain shimmer polishing her smooth skin and a new sheen displayed by her golden locks. Her features held an amused look directed towards his astonishment.

"I come here, sometimes," she softly spoke, clearly reminiscing on the memories of the past. "When I need to escape from the imperfections and troubles of the world. It reminds me of the days before the darkness."

Legolas nodded solemnly and took the liberty to seat himself on a nearby swing similar to Galadriel's and pondered her words. She was correct: it felt invigorating to be able to bask in the beauty of nature without a creeping sense of violence and sickness clinging to the air. Even the forests of Lothlorien were no match to the health of the greenery here.

"Though, recently, not even this paradise helps me evade the suppressing evils that have taken over my spirit." Her voice wavered, causing Legolas to notice for the first time how troubled the Lady of Light felt. He knew she usually wore a graceful facade to put her peers at ease, but even then he didn't think that the darkness was affecting her this much.

"Why is this so?" Legolas prodded gently. He had yet to piece together why Galadriel brought him here.

"I've fallen ill," she returned bluntly. "I've grown more sick than I've ever experienced in my life before. I don't know how much longer I will be able to reside on Middle Earth at this rate.

"I am not the only one affected, however. They don't show it, but the wizards, Celeborn, and Lord Elrond have been tainted by the evil that adheres to our world. Soon, your father and all elves will begin to suffer the symptoms of this disease."

Her words rested heavily on Legolas' mind. A few weeks ago, he had slightly felt as though his thoughts had rested heavier on his mind, and that his performance didn't quite live up to his normal abilities, but he had brushed it off as a lack of rest and malnutrition.

He knew the truth now.

"That still fails to explain why you have brought me here, my lady," Legolas commented, tilting his head slightly. Galadriel chuckled at his impatience.

"There's something I need to tell you about your mission," she explained. A few strands of her curled hair caught on a breeze and floated animatedly. "I've been having visions of a place that has been abandoned for a very, very long time. I believe it is a source of this growing darkness."

"Why have you kept this from the Council?" Legolas questioned. If what she had seen was indeed played a crucial role in the enemy's game, then it should've been mentioned in the meeting.

"I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want others to, either. If our troubles are truly involved with a place such as this, then we've got something on our hands that will be far too large for us to take on."

Legolas grew rigid and sat stiffly upon his swing. He had never heard Galadriel exhibit such a grave tone in all his years. "What is this place that you speak of?"

The elf remained silent for several moments, causing Legolas to grow restless. The surrounding nature's beauty was suddenly lost on him as he grew queasy from the anxiety that was being transmitted from Galadriel to him.

"The Halls of Realms."

Galadriel studied Legolas for a reaction, but it failed to arrive. Rather, confusion painted his face vividly, as he remained to wait for her to elaborate. The name 'The Halls of Realms' fell short of ringing a bell. Never once had he heard it mentioned in a conversation or inscribed on a book.

"I beg your pardon?"

"The Halls of Realms...?" Galadriel repeated painstakingly slow. "The temple of forsaken pathways that have been deserted for years too many for me to count? It's considered the most dangerous, yet sacred place, that exists on Middle Earth?"

Legolas pondered heavily on her words but drew a blank. "I can't say I've ever heard of it."

Galadriel remained quiet from disbelief for several moments, but eventually, it wore off into an unexpected face of relief. "Then I shall be grateful that the wretched place has finally fallen out of discussion and abandoned the tales of the younger generations. The fewer that are aware of it, the better. However, this will complicate matters for us now."

The elleth gracefully descended from her organic throne and softly landed on the damp forest floor. Her arms lifted in such a harmonious manner that Legolas could not refrain from becoming mesmerized by her movement.

His attention snapped back to their surroundings as sparkling dewdrops and luminous leaves flitted through the air at her call. A pleasant breeze stirred from the trees and swirled through the foliage Galadriel was manipulating. Just as quickly as it had arrived, the soft wind abandoned the elves and left a wall of kaleidoscopic leaves and water droplets residing in its wake.

Legolas inquisitively stepped forward as his eyes took in the beautiful pattern. It wasn't until Galadriel moved from behind the floating wall and took a position beside the Woodland elf that he realized that the leaves and water were creating more than just a breathtaking picture.

"A map of Middle Earth," he noted aloud before turning to Galadriel to flash her an impressed look.

"Precisely." She nodded before ambling closer to the map. "This is our location. Well, it will be, when we descend from this place."

His eyes shifted to the vivacious flower blossom that he assumed represented Lothórien. It lay next to a jagged line of warm-pigmented leaves, which symbolized the Misty Mountains.

"The place of which I speak lies here," Galadriel said lowly as she gestured to an area located in the northwest of Middle Earth. (blue on map)

"In the fallen kingdom of Angmar?" Legolas sharply inhaled. A realization as to why the place that Galadriel spoke of could be so vile and miserable finally struck Legolas. Angmar was once a desolate land and home to the degenerate Witch King. The kingdom was masterfully crafted with the sole purpose of dismantling the western kingdoms of men. It had successfully done such by the time the elves of the Grey Havens, Lothlórien, and Imladris had managed to unite and conquer Angmar's army. After the miserable kingdom's fall, the Witch King had fled to the land of Mordor.

Needless to say, any structure that remained in the lands of past Angmar was something that one should try to never meddle with. Even if none of the evil creatures that once resided there still lived, there was a certain sickness and dark magic that would always cling to the territory that one should never barter with.

"You are certain that it is this disconsolate place that is crucial to my journey?" Legolas questioned, despite already knowing the disheartening truth. The so-called "Halls of Realms" appeared to be a perfect source for the evil that was shrouding Middle Earth.

Galadriel rested a comforting hand on his shoulder and softly smiled. "All I request of you, Prince Legolas, is that you fulfill a swift and concealed scout to this land. Engaging with either the Halls of Realms or any potential inhabitants is entirely unnecessary. To be truthful, if I felt as though it was within my boundaries, I would unreservedly command you to stand down from taking any offensive stance in Angmar."

Legolas nodded at her words as confidence returned to his body. A simple scout was far within his abilities, even though it would have to be expeditious and done in an amount of time that would prove impossible to normal men.

A cluster of fiery red petals towards the western edge of the map caught the Wood-elf's attention. Their placement was queer, considering that they belonged to what one would presume to be a strip of land from the northern sector of Ered Luin (Blue Mountains). To his recollection, that area of Middle Earth was merely a section of uninhabited, untamed nature. (red on map)

"You've noticed it," Galadriel remarked as she observed Legolas' curiosity.

"But what exactly may it be?" Legolas countered. His gaze remained fixated on the blazing flowers, nearly against his consent. It didn't seem as though he could look away.

"We can only hope it is the answer to our questions," she answered in the classic elf riddle style. Once it became apparent that Legolas was neither amused nor content with her response, she elaborated, "a forest that I've heard whispers about. I too, thought that there was nothing of interest that resided in that corner of Middle Earth, but I believe it might aid you in your journey."

"Noted," Legolas hummed. It was undeniably a long detour from the path that he originally planned on taking to the Halls of Realms, but he knew better than to challenge the wisdom of the Lady of Light.

"Now, my dear," Galadriel abruptly said after clearing her throat. "If you are to venture to the forest, the Halls of Realms, and back here in time, you must embark on your trek immediately. Darkness does not wait for its enemy to strike."

Legolas could hear the tone of disappointment in Galadriel's voice at having to leave this paradise, but he knew that she was right. There was no time to spare now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A piercing whinny shattered the silence that hung in the air, breaking Legolas' mind from his wandering thoughts and causing his attention to turn to the thicket crowding the road he traveled upon.

His ivory-colored mount swiveled its head to face the oncoming horse, ears perked in interesting and handsome blue eyes twinkling. His nostrils flared as he tested the air to decipher the identity of the strangers.

"Lord Elrond!" He exclaimed at the sight of the respectable elf emerging from the brush upon the back of a raven-tinted horse. Just like any elf of Imladris, Elrond possessed a look of such grace and power that was sparsely rivaled. "Of what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?"

"I've come with advice, my friend," Elrond permitted a small smile to grace his features. "I wouldn't be able to bear my conscience if I didn't send you on your way with as much help as I could muster."

By that point, Elrond had allured Legolas' entire attention. The Woodland elf raised an eyebrow to showcase his curiosity and rested the reins atop his mount's flaxen mane.

"I know that Lady Galadriel has enlightened you on Eryngûl," Elrond spoke while maintaining a low, gravelly voice.

"Eryngûl?" Legolas echoed. Eryngûl roughly translated to a forest of evils, magic, and necromancy, which did not correspond with anything that Galadriel had disclosed in their conversation. "I believe you've been mistaken. She made no mention of such."

"She might not have addressed it by that name." Elrond remained silent for a second and contemplated his next words. "Rather a land of mysteries that might cast aside the veil on the source of this darkness?"

The connection between this Erynûl that the elven ruler spoke of and the forest that Galadriel had instructed him to visit finally settled in. Legolas' eyes shone as he signaled his understanding to Elrond.

"I know of a man that has experience with the place," Elrond said and adjusted his balance on the delicate, narrow back of his mare. "Experience that would certainly aid you in your journey through that cursed land."

Legolas hummed thoughtfully at Elrond's words. "And this man with supposed experience is one to be trusted?"

"I would readily trust him with my eternal life," Elrond readily responded to the Woodland elf's apprehension. While a wide range of motions was not something that was generally exhibited by elves, Legolas managed to wear a face of surprise at the bold words of the elder elf. Trust these days was hard to come by, and even harder when it involved the opinions of an elf.

Elrond suddenly smiled at Legolas, causing the poor blond's confusion to grow tenfold.

"He may just be a ranger, but the man is nothing short of my son."

:)
until next time