Chapter Text
You slowly but surely slid of the leather saddle and fell down to the floor. Lying there unconscious, that was going to give you a bad headache when you woke up. You had let the horse here, seeking refuge. You were barely alive and breathing, but you made it.
The edge of the forest had an entrance, six stone pillars that looked like trees stood on either side of a stone table, the Forest Gate. It looked like there hasn’t passed anyone in a long time, plants and thick strings of ivy, had wrapped themselves around the stone statues.
Weed crawled all over the path that you could barely see anymore. Behind you the sun was setting over the big green meadow.
You lay there lifeless, dying until an elf came, he was like around your age but it was hard to tell with elves. He looked at the girl, intrigued but cautiously, well aware of the danger.
The young elf ling slowly walked towards you, he had no clue where you came from, or what you wanted. You had a dark green cloak on, underneath a long light green tunic with very light blue pants and black boots. He first gingerly lifted the cloak, trying not to awake you, to see if you had any sort of weapon on you.
Strapped around your waist was a brown belt that held a dagger. He took hold of the hilt, dark green with plant like engravings. But that movement seemed to have awoken you, and his arm was suddenly tightly gripped by your hand. You held on to the stranger for dear life, you knew you would die without his help.
“Help me, please.” You pleaded weakly. Your strength was little, you hadn’t eaten in days, causing you to lose consciousness again.
You let another arrow fly through the air as it penetrated the head of a huge spider. You ran and jumped on a thick branch, taking another arrow and hitting one again. From the corner of your eye you saw your companion, killing one after another.
You shot one right in one of its six eyes, it screeched in pain, before it fell down. Jumping down from the thick branch you landed on a thinner one. You tried to keep your balance, the wood creaking underneath you.
It was going to give in any minute, you carefully tried to step closer to the tree trunk, were it hopefully would be stronger. But of course you had no such luck. The branched snapped and you fell down into the massive and thick spider webs.
The webs caught you and prevented you from getting killed ,by falling on the ground and breaking your neck. The white substance stuck on you like honey, every time you moved more cobweb held you down.
In no time a spider would be here, and it would be draining you from your blood ,like a giant mosquito. Yeah you weren’t really waiting for that to happen, but you also didn’t want to show weakness by asking the others for help.
And especially not him, he would taunt you forever about this. But luck was not on your side, because from a distance you could see that a spider already had seen you.
You tried reaching for your dagger, but your arms were stuck, the spider was only a few feet away now. Coming at you, athletically running over the trees and webs with its eight legs. You cursed in yourself, you were too late, the brown spider hang over you.
He let out a loud screeched, maybe that was spider for ‘you’re going to die!’ He unbarred its huge sharp stinger, that you would bet, probably hurt a lot. You closed your eyes and prepared for the worst, the sound of something impaling a spider’s head had never sounded more relieving.
The spider went limb and fell down sideways. Through the leaves of the trees fell a bundle of light, exactly in your face, you couldn’t see a thing. While you were trying to get out of the web, a figure stood in front of you. You couldn’t see him, but by his outlines you recognized him.
He reached out his hand for you to grab, you did so. Now having a more clear vision, you saw the familiar light blue eyes staring at you. Two strands of long blond hair
“What are you smirking at?” Trying to sound angry but you secretly liked it. “I didn’t need saving, I had everything perfectly under control, Legolas.”
“I see, the spider that was about to devour you, was also under control?” He asked sarcastically, with a big grin over his face.
“Yes, it was.” You lied obviously, also smiling. He was beautiful, not that anyone couldn’t notice that. But as you were next to him, you really saw it. He was perfect, kind and sweet to you, but strong and skilled.
Wow, you just did not think that. You said to yourself. Legolas and I are just friends, nothing more. You had to remind yourself, but were you? You had always felt something for Legolas, but you thought it was just in a friendship kind of way, now you weren’t so sure.
You both climbed down to the ground. The group of elves that you were on this task with, had now assembled. You and Legolas walked over to the place where you had left the horses.
“Their numbers are growing and they are becoming more bolder. I fear soon the spiders will not be afraid of us anymore.” You looked at Legolas with fear in your eyes.
“We shall not let it come to that point, if we protect are borders and go on more attacks. We’ll be fine.” He reassured you, but he didn’t sound convinced of it.
“Let us go back.” He ordered in elvish to you and the rest of the elves. They all took their horses, Legolas jumped back on his white horse, most of the other horses were black and brown, which made him look even more like a leader.
Your horse was light grey, with white specks on its neck and dark grey mane. Tálagor was his name, what stood for Fast Foot, he is the horse that brought you here many years ago.
“I will not be going with you.” Legolas looked up at you, but he knew why. Today was the first day of HivreʽIsia, which translates to Winterfest. This fest lasts for three days, and begins with Yeartide, that was today, December 19th.
On this day, the first of the three, the elves reflected upon the last year and meditate. Which you always did in the woods, a special place you liked to go.
The second day was for wishing each other good luck and start preparing for the feast, that was on the last day. A big party was held, and every elf in Mirkwood would be there, dancing, drinking and celebrating.
“Stay save, and be back before dusk, you know what is out here in these woods.” Legolas reminded you, he always made sure you were save. You gave him a small nod, so did he and galloped away.
You turned your horse around from the group and started riding, you loved horse riding. It was very calming and freeing, but in these parts of the wood there wasn’t such thing. It was already winter, but snow did not lay on the ground. The dark trees that loomed over you, let nothing through, no snow, sunlight or fresh air.
This part of the forest was sickening, dark and unpleasant. And if you stayed there to long, there was a big chance you would not come out alive. Luckily for you, you knew the whole forest like the back of your head.
You rode to the edge line of the forest, were sunlight did creeped through the branches. Until you were there, the place where you were first found. You came here every year to remind yourself how lucky you were, and there was a part of you that hoped ,that maybe you would remember anything. Where you came from, your mom and dad, but could never recall those memories, like they didn’t even exist.
You walked up the little stairs, and looked around. It was still how it was years ago, through the entrance you saw the sun setting. You were lucky that it was Legolas who had found you out here, if not Thranduil would have never let you stay.
He wasn’t very fond of outsiders, especially not people that had no memory of where they came from. But Legolas persuade him, and made Mirkwood your home.
You stepped outside of the woods, which you did not do very often. A cold breeze flew through your hair, you closed your eyes and stood there inhaling the pure air. A smile grew wide on your face, that was what freedom felt like, no worries, no obligations just peace.
Sadly that moment didn’t last forever, you had to get back, else it wouldn’t be a pleasant night. You took Tálagor and strode back to the Elven King’s Halls.