Disclaimer: All names and places belong to the almighty JRR Tolkien and Peter Jackson for he has enough money to buy the rights were as I don’t.

Forward: Just to clear up some questions I have gotten on Barrow Downs about this story. First of all you will not have to worry about any mushy love story here for I despise those as much as many of you do. The only love relationships you will see in the story is the one between Legolas and his father and Legolas and his good friend Ellach the guard Captain. Second don’t worry if you are thirsty for more for I will finish this story I promise and I have plenty more stories in my wacky brain to write after this one. Well enjoy and please review.

The Warrior Prince
By LadySilmiel

Chapter One

An eerie breeze came though the night darkened trees making the four elven guards shiver on their lofty watch platform.

“Winter has come early this year and has brought a great evil with it” commented one of the guards.

“Orcs are all about now days so there is little hope for Green Wood the Great.”another replied and then paused. “No wonder the mortals are calling it Mirkwood.

“Hush! Bite your tongue!” Reprimanded the first guard. “We all trust that our King knows what is best for our people.” “Thranduil is wise and has great power against the evil that surrounds us. All of you must have more faith.”

Just then they heard soft footsteps coming through the woods and the four guards became silent. They quietly knocked their arrows and took aim in the direction of the sounds. They were about to fire just as a shrill whistle was heard though the trees. One of the guards motioned to the others to put their aim down before he whistled in reply and then called, “You started us Captain Ellach.”

A tall gray figure appeared through the brush followed by twenty others. They quickly and calmly moved to the area under the tree platform and climbed to where the four guards were standing. “Good evening gentlemen. I hope I find that you are all well.” said Ellach acknowledging the four guards.

The four saluted their captain. “There have been no orc sightings by us tonight Captain.” one responded eagerly. “I think the Valar are watching over us on this night.”

“I hope you are right and I hope the orcs have decided to stay in their fowl caves until a sunset ages from now.” the captain replied. “Anyway, even if they do stay in we still have to watch for them. King Thranduil has sent more guards then ever into the woods because it is our duty to stop evil from entering our realm.” Then a small smile crossed Ellach’s lips and he stroked his bow string lovingly. “They won’t enter alive.”

“Right then!” the Captain spoke to all of the guards in a commanding voice. “I want us to split up along this circle of tree platforms in this clearing so we can easily surround our enemies if they enter it.”

The guards split up and waited. There they stood for hours so still that one would have to place their hands on the elves’ chests to know they were breathing, but nothing came upon their lookout. Finally the captain whispered to one of his guards. “What is the time?”

“About a few hours before dawn Captain.” the guard replied.

The captain sighed. “I doubt we will see anything tonight. Orcs wouldn’t risk being caught in the light of the sunrise even in this dark wood.”

A screeching call was heard through the leaves followed by many other yelps and battle calls. “…but what do I know?” the captain commented with a mischievous little smiled. “Give them a Volley!”

The elves shot one arrow after another until they killed about hundred orcs but always more came to replace them. “Stay in the trees as long as possible!” “The ground may be our death!” Ellach shouted to his troops.

As if the orcs had understood him one grabbed a torch and set fire to a small ball at the end of a chain and flung it at one of the platforms. The blast that came from it killed all the elves of the unlucky platform and knocked all others to the ground. Ellach fell hard from his tree but quickly got up and drew his sword.

“Orcs are always more clever than they look, but elves are superior by far.”, he muttered to himself as he started cleaving orc heads. An orc arrow flew past his ear and hit the tree behind him causing the tree to catch fire. “They have Mirthril arrows!” Ellach gasped in horror. He was about to warn his troops but it was too late for the orcs had driven the last few elves into a corner and were having fun picking them off one by one. “Death to the foes of elves!!” Ellach screamed as he threw himself at the group of orcs. They were surprised by his fury and fell to him easily.

Finally as the last orc hit the forest floor Ellach looked around at the holocaust before him. The elves he tried to save had fallen along with all the others. Ellach couldn’t breathe and looking down he saw the gash in his torso he hadn’t noticed before. The forest spun around him and he thought he heard his name called but he couldn’t see anything. He fell to the ground and all went black.

**********************

Thranduil, King of Green Wood the Great, sat in silence as his advisor Silinde retold the events of the previous night.

“There was only one survivor then?” the King asked when Silinde had finished.

“Yes milord. Ellach one of the guard captains is the only survivor. He was badly wounded and still unconscious but he will recover.”

“Milord.” Came Saelbeth, Thranduil’s other advisor. “Something must be done about these orcs. They are killing everyone and everything in there path. The people are scared, Milord, we all are.”

Thranduil regarded him for a moment and then gazed upon everyone else. Saelbeth was right for he saw fear in even the bravest eyes in the room, fear for home and family. After a pause the King spoke. “I have refrained from war with the orcs before but now I see we have no choice.” “We must go to war if we are to make our woods safe again and as your King I will lead you in to battle.”

A pair of sapphire blue eyes watched the scene though a crack in the carved door as the elves inside rejoiced at the King’s decision. Watching made his heart sink for he knew that this war could take the man he loved most away from him. He pulled back from the door and sat against the wall with his head in his hands with his golden hair falling about his face and sighed. He knew that there was nothing he could do and that he was being selfish. Then he realized that if he could not stop the war he could at least do something to help.

The door opened and he quickly stood and watched as those inside passed through the door. “Prince Legolas.” greeted Silinde and Saelbeth as they bowed to him.

“Have you been spying on the court again my Prince?” Saelbeth scolded teasingly. Legolas replied only with a small smile.

Thranduil came out of the room and was about to follow the others but his son stopped him. Legolas held his head high and spoke in a strong voice. “If you are going into battle father, then I am going with you.”

The king gazed sternly at his son for a time and then took Legolas by the arm and lead him away. “Come Legolas” he said directing his son down the hall. The King then turned back to his advisors. “Please excuse me for I need to have a long talk with my son.”