Behind the Scenes

Deleted/Discontinued Fanfic

 In order to start another Lord of the Rings series sooner, I discontinued The Quest of the Ring. I no longer had inspiration for it and I already have read other fanfics that are basically the same idea but complete and well written. Not wanting to copy them as I was heavily inspired by them, I couldn't think of better ideas and stopped. I may pick it up again, but I'm not ready for it yet. Too many projects. However, I really loved the first chapter and saved it so you could still enjoy it. 

In Imladris: I Failed Your Trust

  "Aragorn, dartha."

Aragorn paused. The council courtyard emptied, no doubt to enjoy dinner as the noon-bell had already rang long ago.

  "Mae govannen, mellon nín," the Ranger greeted with a smile. "Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."

"Nay, for we only just arrived this morning in time for the Council."

Legolas and Aragorn clasped forearms with very brotherly vigor, for that's what they were in everything but blood.

  "I must extend my apology to you personally, Aragorn," Legolas began humbly. "You labored to capture Gollum and entrusted him to us. I am truly sorry I failed your trust."

  "Escaped?" cried Aragorn. "That is ill news indeed. We shall all rue it bitterly, I fear. How came the folk of Thranduil to fail in their trust?"

His fair elven face already betrayed his distress. Now he swallowed back his anger and hurt, though his cheeks flushed in shame. Every eye was on him.

  "Not through lack of watchfulness," answered Legolas, struggling to keep his words emotionless; "but perhaps through over-kindliness. And we fear that the prisoner had aid from others, and that more is known of our doings than we could wish. We guarded this creature day and night, at Gandalf's bidding, much though we wearied of the task. But Gandalf bade us hope still of his cure, and we had not the heart to keep him ever in dungeons under the earth, where he would fall back into his old black thoughts."

Glóin the Dwarf muttered something of the past and Mithrandir chided him for it.

  Legolas continued, "In the days of fair weather we led Gollum through the woods; and there was a high tree standing alone far from the others which he liked to climb. Often we let him mount up to the highest branches, until he felt the free wind; but we set a guard at the tree's foot. One day he refused to come down, and the guards had no mind to climb after him: he had learned the trick of clinging to boughs with his feet as well as with his hands; so they sat by the tree far into the night."

Legolas took a breath. Everyone was still listening intently. Now came the difficult part in his report.

  "It was that very night of summer, yet moonless and starless, that Orcs came upon us at our unawares. We drove them off after some time; they were many and fierce, but they came from over the mountains, and they were unused to the woods. When the battle was over, we found Gollum was gone, and his guards were slain or taken. It then seemed plain to us that the attack had been made for his rescue, and that he knew of it beforehand. How that was contrived we cannot guess; but Gollum is cunning, and the spies of the Enemy are many. The dark things that were driven out in the year if the dragon's fall have returned in greater numbers, and Mirkwood is again an evil place, save where our realm is maintained."

  Aragorn's features had softened, but Legolas could not meet his grey eyes. "How came the folk of Thranduil to fail in their trust?" His words cut deeply, and the memory of his soldiers dead or missing drowned him in guilt. I was too late. I failed them.

Legolas was only an Elfling when the Shadow first invaded Mirkwood. He did not remember what it was like before aside from stories by the older Elves, including his father when he had time. After the Necromancer's banishment, Mirkwood finally had peace. The trees turned green, birds and butterflies and other animals returned to the forest, light shined through the canopy, and the air was clear. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He would sit in the boughs for hours, dangling his leg in the free air and simply be at peace. But he could not properly enjoy it after growing up in war. For ten years they enjoyed their hard earned peace, but that was a blink of an eye to an immortal Elf. The Shadow invaded again and the Woodland Elves fell into exhausted despair. Would it never end?

  "Legolas, it is I that should beg for your forgiveness. I should not have spoken out of turn, and I rue it. It was not your fault and I should have given more thought to the risk you were taking."

  "We accepted it with honor."

  "Even so, I am sorry for your losses and we are grateful for your services." Aragorn placed a hand on the Elf's shoulder and locked onto his blue eyes. "You will never fail my trust, mellon nín. And neither will your people."

  "Hannon le," Legolas whispered softly as one of the many heavy burdens on his heart lifted.

  "Now come!" Aragorn draped his arm around the Elf's shoulders in human fashion and began walking him toward where the others had gone. "We must join the others before the Hobbits steal all the dinner. And Elladan and Elrohir will want to greet you."

  "It would be a great joy to be in their company again," Legolas remarked.

As they walked, Legolas drank in the beauty of Rivendell as he always did. The rushing waterfall mixed bells of laughter was music to his elven ears. Butterflies gracefully fluttered from one flower to the next, an explosion of color to his eyes. The soft wind worthy of Vilya brushed his face and carried the smell of dinner from the chattering party. Despite the chill of winter, the Sun still shone warm, Her gentle rays on his back.

It was beautiful here, just as Mirkwood had been for a moment much too brief.

  "What is wrong?" Aragorn asked, noticing the despair that suddenly crossed his best friend's face.

Before Legolas could answer, if he even intended to be truthful, an identical pair of Elves rushed up to the pair with wide grins and cries of joy.

  "Mae govannen, mellon nín!" Elladan cheered to the Wood-Elf.

  "What is it, princeling?" Elrohir asked. "Why was the air around you so dark and melancholy before we graced you with our presence?"

Legolas rolled his eyes, but was touched by the underlining concern.

  "I was just admiring the beauty of your home, wishing Mirkwood's was also here to stay." He sighed and scrubbed his face tiredly. "My troops are weary. The Woodland Realm is at it's breaking point. I almost sent a Sindar Elf in my stead, but I felt it my responsibility to deliver the news of Gollum's escape."

  "We are sorry, penneth," Elladan began sincerely. "It is not fair that victory is ripped from underneath you."

  A somber smile cracked on Legolas' sorrowful face. "Only Mithrandir and Lord Elrond may call me that."

  "Then I envy them," declared Elladan.

  "Come!" Elrohir slapped the younger Elf on the back good-naturedly. As strong as a young tree, Legolas didn't stumble. "It seems we must be your caretakers yet again! Join the feast before the Hobbits eat it all!"

  "That is the second time I have been told that. The only Hobbit I have ever met is Bilbo Baggins."

  "Well, my ignorant friend, Hobbits eat at least seven meals a day. They eat more than Dwarves and somehow their small bodies can contain it all!" Elrohir laughed.

  "Indeed?" Legolas replied, intrigued. "I have already learned of their surprising resilience and bravery as Master Frodo Baggins volunteered to be the Ring-bearer, but it seems that there is yet still more than what meets the eye."

  "We will be in Imladris for some time, mellon nín," Aragorn laughed. "You will have your fill of Halflings soon enough!"

Translations:
Sindarin:
Dartha - Wait/Stay
Mae govannen - Well met
Mellon nín - My friend
Hannon le - Thank you
Penneth - Young one