The Hidden Enemy

A Warning

"You won't be needing that."
Amarth dipped his head towards Legolas' bow.
"I have not come to harm you."
"Give me one reason why I should belive that."
Legolas gripped his bow tighter, his hands were shaking.
"I can't. I would not believe me either."
Amarth took a step forward, Legolas kept the arrow pointed at him.
"Why are you here?"
"I have come to return a favor that I owe you."
Amarth replied.
"Why would you owe me anything? I did nothing for you."
"Actually, you did. You let me live."
Amarth stopped walking and looked Legolas in the eyes.
"And you did not mention it to your friends. As far as they know I'm dead."
"I can make that happen."
Legolas prepared to let the arrow loose.
"But if you did that, you would not be able to hear what I have to tell you."
"I am not interested in anything you have to say."
"Even if it could save your friend's life?"
Legolas tensed. He looked skeptically at Amarth.
"What do you mean?"
Amarth smirked.
"First put that away, and then I will speak."
Reluctantly Legolas lowered his bow.
"I said put it away. It is still in your hands."
Legolas glared at him as threw the bow onto the ground and kicked it away.
Amarth shook his head.
"Really Legolas? I have only be here a few moments and already you are angry for no reason."
"What do you have to tell me?"
Legolas' hands tightened into fists.

"Do you know who Alatar is?"
Amarth asked.
"No."
Legolas replied. He had never heard of someone named Alatar.
"He is a being of terrible power who hates everything and everyone in Middle Earth. He has waited ages for Sauron's death."
"What does this have to do with my friends?"
"Actually, it only has to do with one of your friends. I forget his name but you have known him for a long time."
"Aragorn."
Amarth's eyes lit up in recognition.
"Oh yes! He's the one."
"How is he in danger?"
"Well, he is not in danger yet. But soon, very soon, he will be very close to death."
Legolas straightened.
What was Amarth playing at?
"Alatar is an enemy of all that is good in this broken world. He will destroy it in any way he can. Even if that means killing your friend."
Legolas tried to process everything Amarth had just told him.
"Your friend has been safe inside of Minas Tirith for a few weeks now. But in a few days he won't be."
"What do you mean?"
Amarth's expression became grim. He looked at Legolas and said, "He is coming."
Did he mean Alatar?
"What will he do?"
Legolas asked.
"He will kill Aragorn, and everyone in Minas Tirith. Then he will destroy the city until there is nothing left."
Amarth looked into the trees.
"Then he will move on to the next kingdom, and the one after that. He will kill everyone and destroy everything. Until there is nothing left."

Amarth waited for Legolas to respond.
"How do I know you're telling the truth? How can I trust you?"
"You can't, and that is my fault. Whether you believe me or not is up to you. But keep in mind that your friend is in danger, as well as the world."
Amarth began to walk away, before he vanished he called over his shoulder.
"If you do decide to go to Gondor and rescue you friend, expect to see me there. Depending on the situation I might be able to help you."
Legolas didn't want Amarth's help. He watched as the dark elf disappeared into the night.
He picked up his bow from where he had kicked it.
The possibilities of what could happen played out in his mind. If he went to Minas Tirith, and  Aragorn wasn't in danger and it was a trap set by Amarth....
But Aragorn could be in trouble, as well as his entire kingdom...
If he stayed he would avoid a trap if there was one.
But then there was the possibility of his friend dying while he did nothing.
He sighed in frustration.
If he didn't go it would plague him day and night.
Legolas made up his mind.
Clutching his bow tightly in his hand he returned to his father's palace.

()()()()

He had planned to leave without anyone knowing.
He hadn't left any clue as to where he was going.
He had only packed a small bag of provisions, his knives, a long white dagger, and his bow.
He entered the stables and selected a horse, there were not many and he knew that everyone would notice that a horse was missing.
His father would be able to piece together what happened quickly.
Legolas led his horse quietly out of the stable and away from the palace.
He mounted and began to ride into the forest.
He vanished completely in the darkness.
It wasn't until he was near the border that he realized that he was being followed.
He stopped his horse and looked around cautiously.
Was it Amarth? Or something else?"
Legolas grabbed his bow and fitted an arrow in the string, he turned his horse around and faced the last person he expected to see.

"What are you doing Legolas?"
Haldir asked as he walked his horse over to him.
Legolas put his bow away.
"I needed some air."
"You left on foot for almost an hour, and then you return and decide to go for a ride as well? All the way to the border of the forest, with your weapons and a bag of provisions on your back?"
Haldir narrowed his eyes.
Legolas saw that there was no use in lying to him.
"I am going to Minas Tirith."
Haldir's expression remained unreadable.
"I fear that Aragorn's life is in danger."
"Legolas, I admire your loyalty to your friends, many could learn from you. But you must realize that Aragorn does not need you to constantly look after him.
He is a warrior, and a king. He is capable of protecting himself."
"Not from this."
Haldir waited for an explanation.
Legolas sighed, "There is someone coming who will kill everyone in that city and destroy it. He will destroy every other kingdom in Middle Earth as well if he is not stopped."
"How do you know this?"
Legolas prepared himself for Haldir's reaction.
"Amarth told me."

The elf's eyes widened in shock.
"Amarth? I thought he was
dead."
"So did I."
It wasn't a lie. Legolas had assumed that Amarth had been slain in the battle.
"Why would he warn you about something like this?"
Because he owed me for not killing him.
But he couldn't let him know that he had spared Amarth's life.
"I do not know."
"How do you know if he is telling the truth?"
"I don't. But if I do nothing I will not be able to live with it."
Haldir said nothing as he took in his words.
Legolas sighed.
"I will not return home. Not unless you tie me up and drag me back. I am going to Gondor, whether or not there is danger."
Legolas turned his horse back around and rode off.
He wasn't surprised to hear the sound of hooves behind him.
When Haldir reached him Legolas glared at him.
"I will not go back Haldir."
"I know. That is why I am coming with you."
Legolas looked at him in disbelief.
"I was charged with looking after you. And I cannot do that if you are in Gondor and I am here."
Legolas didn't know what to say.
Together the two elves rode in silence through the night.