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The Last Wood Elf	By : Mel99Moe Category: +Third Age > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 4551 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any characters or places. No money is being made from this story.

Chapter List
- 7
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Chapter 8 - By Moonlight

It had been a couple weeks since the villagers settled in with Grimbeorn and his people. They were, of course, very grateful for their temporary refuge, but anxious to return to their homes. The urgency to return spread throughout the Woodsmen, and even the children were becoming restless. There was not much to do at the Beornings village, and some began inventing new ways to keep themselves occupied.

“Come on, Legolas,” Katala whispered as they snuck down the corridors of the Grimbeorn’s house, “We must hurry or we might miss it.”

Legolas followed her, stopping and hiding behind massive urns or hidden alcoves along the way. Each time, he would have second thoughts about what they were doing, but Katala would rush off to the next safe hiding place. Legolas was beginning to lag behind, and she was becoming irritated. “How do you know where you are going anyways?” he asked.

“I don’t,” she said and grabbed his hand, pulling him along the hallway and spying another huge urn. They stopped once more to catch their breath.

“We should not do this. It is not right. Let’s just go back to the guest quarters,” Legolas complained.

Katala put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Alright then, fine. We will go back. We will miss seeing the Beornings shape shift. We will not get our evidence and Ladnir will make us look like pathetic fools. Is that what you want, Legolas? Do you want to be labeled as a frightened little coward?”

“No,” Legolas responded angrily and crossed his arms, “Why did you agree to his challenge anyways?”

“Because he was sure we would not go through with it. That is why we need to do this. We have to prove him wrong,” she insisted.

Legolas had done his best to avoid Ladnir so far, and Ladnir had ignored Legolas since that day on the road. Legolas had made it clear that he did not want any trouble, nor did he want to join the group of mischievous boys. Perhaps it was the fact that he stood up to Ladnir or maybe it was because Legolas was different, but the boys had left him alone … that was, until Katala got involved and aggravated the situation.

During one of the discussions amongst the children about the Beornings turning into bears, Ladnir approached Legolas about the topic. The elf said he did not necessarily believe the stories of the bear-men. Ladnir challenged Legolas to find proof that these were merely stories. Legolas declined and told Ladnir to find his own proof. Katala overheard part of their conversation and thought she’d help Legolas defend himself. This only made matters worse, and Ladnir came up with a plan. He dared Legolas to sneak off to the back gardens, wait until after the shape shifting, and then find some kind of proof as to whether it was true or not. Legolas was prepared to deny the contest and accept ridicule from Ladnir, rather than go against Sefa’s rules not to stray far from the guest wing, to play outside in the front courtyard, and never to go out after nightfall. Unfortunately, Katala interrupted and accepted the challenge, saying that Legolas was an elf and feared nothing. She got into an argument with Ladnir, and to stop the bickering, Legolas finally agreed to do the task, but only if she went with him. Now, however, he was beginning to second-guess his decision to do so.

“It can’t be much further,” Katala said, and she was right. At the end of the long hallway was a set of heavy wooden double doors. Leaving Legolas behind in the last alcove, she tiptoed to the corner and looked around the edge. There was another hallway lined with doors that ran vertical to the spot where they were now, but there was no one around. She turned and waved Legolas over. He poked his head out from behind a curtain, looked left and right, and then rushed to Katala on soft booted feet. They started to push on one of the wooden doors, but Legolas stopped her.

“Wait, Katala. What will we do if there are guards on the other side?”

“We will just tell them we were lost.”

“You have an answer for everything don’t you?”

Katala smiled and laughed quietly, “You catch on fast … for an elf. Now come on, let’s get this door open. It looks heavy.”

They pushed and the door did not budge. A second attempt and more muscle put into it, and the door started to open. Once it started moving, it seemed to open easier and when it was far enough, they slipped through.

Katala and Legolas found themselves on a veranda similar to the one at the entrance of the house. Potted plants hung from the rafters, strawberries from the look of it. Legolas’ stomach growled when his senses identified the sweet smelling fruit hanging just out of his reach. After living here with the Beorning people for that last few weeks, he had developed a craving for the succulent red berries and all the delicious treats the cooks made with them.

Katala nudged Legolas in the ribs to gain his attention. “Not now,” she said, knowing he was becoming distracted. They had left dinner service early, forgoing their meals in order to meet with one of Ladnir’s friends— or followers, as Katala liked to say— who gave them instructions for finding their way to the back gardens. There were several doors that led into the back yard, but only one that emptied to the courtyard where the shifting was said to take place. While it was early enough, they snuck to find a safe place to hide where they could watch the secret ritual.

The courtyard was a large grass covered area with white stone walkways laid out in a circular spider web design. Along the edges of the area were decorative topiaries with tulips springing from the ground at their rooted feet. Beyond this place, they could see a stand of pines. Legolas noticed them right away. He pointed, “There, that is where we should hide.”

Katala smiled, “I knew you would come around. We will make our way along the edge of the yard and use the topiaries for cover, just in case anyone comes out. Are you ready?”

Legolas nodded and crouched down ready to go, but Katala caught him off guard, and kissed him quickly on the cheek. He turned his attention from the trees to Katala, “What was that for?”

“Just because,” she answered, and their eyes locked as they did occasionally. The truth was, during the growth of their friendship, she had also developed an admiration for him. This was another reason she agreed to Ladnir’s contest. It was a chance to spend some time alone with Legolas.

Legolas was also beginning to wonder about the exchange that he felt when he captured her with his eyes. Most times, he could look at her and she seemed normal, nothing out of place, but every so often, they would connect when he concentrated on her. It wasn’t that he could not look away when this happened, but that he didn’t want to. He could hold her with no more than a fixed gaze. He had to admit that he liked this slight sense of power. With a flutter of his eyelids, the moment was gone and they were nothing more than two mischievous friends carrying out a dare.

“We’d better go,” Legolas finally said. Katala agreed with a nod. Legolas took her hand and they smiled at each other, then he led her off, into the courtyard.

They carefully made their way to the stand of pine trees and found the perfect place to hide, where the undergrowth helped to camouflage them. Legolas knelt down first, noticing that the dirt was damp. He stopped Katala before she got her skirt dirty. “Wait,” he called and took off the brown coat he had been wearing, laying it on the ground.

“Thanks,” she smiled shyly, and tucked her legs beneath her as she sat down, noticing that Legolas wore only a sleeveless jerkin and thin leggings. “Won’t you get chilled?” she asked. The nights tended to become a little cold.

“I’m an elf, remember. A night like this will not bother me, and besides, you don’t want to get dirt on your clothes. Your mother will wonder where you have been.”

They settled into their hiding place and remained silent, afraid their voices would carry across the courtyard. So far, it had been very quiet, not a soul around. It was also getting late, and they knew their parents would begin to wonder where they were. Katala started to worry, “Maybe you’re right, maybe we should go back. I did not think it would get so late. Ladnir said it happened just after the sun set.”

Legolas looked up in the sky and noticed a bright full moon, “They must go by the moon, not the sun. He probably lied, just to make sure we would get in trouble. I should have known better.”

“You did know better. It was my fault. I got you into this mess. Let’s just go, Legolas. I’m sure my mother is getting worried right about now and yours too,” she said concerned.

Legolas sighed, “Alright then, let me just—”

At that exact moment, the thick wooden doors that they exited through slowly opened, and the Beorning men strolled out wearing black robes. They hummed in low tones that harmonized and traveled around the courtyard filling it with their strange voices. Each man went to a section of the white path where two walkways crossed and stopped.

“What do we do now?” Katala asked worriedly.

“Now we see if they really do turn into bears.” Legolas’ voice was full of intrigue as he peered out from the underbrush.

Once each man had taken his place in the courtyard, they got down on their knees, tucking their legs beneath them, bent forward, and stretched their arms out on the ground before them. The humming continued, though it was muted now with their faces in their laps.

“Where are the women?” Katala asked.

“I don’t know. Perhaps they do not participate in the ceremony. This must only be for the men. Either that or the women do not change at all.” Legolas glanced over his shoulder, “Now, what are we supposed to bring back as our proof?”

“I don’t know.”

Legolas turned around to see her better, “What do you mean you don’t know?”

“Ladnir never said. He was surprised that we would even attempt this, and he forgot to say,” she whispered.

“Katala, you were supposed to find this out,” he reprimanded, “Now what are we going to do, draw him a picture?”

“Don’t get angry with me,” she countered, “You didn’t have to go along with this.”

“I wasn’t going to go along with this. You volunteered us, remember?”

Katala looked past Legolas’ shoulder and gasped. “Look!” she whispered, shocked by what she was seeing. He whipped around and watched as the men started to convulse and shake. Their harmonious hums were changing over to growls. Something was happening beneath their black robes as they jumped and twisted on the ground. Legolas focused his sharp vision on their arms and legs, noticing black hair begin to spring out of their skin. Their fingernails and toes grew instantly, turning into claws. The men seemed to rise from the ground, and their robes fell away. Their beards seemed to spread down their chests, over their shoulders and beyond until they were covered in black hair. Then their faces began to grotesquely change as their round noses protruded forward and turn into snouts. It all happened so fast that the children could hardly believe what they were seeing. One by one, the robes fell away, and what was beneath was no longer a man, but the perfect form of a black bear. The growls became louder and more ferocious.

“Legolas, I’m scared,” Katala claimed.

“It’s alright. We will just stay where we are until they are gone,” he assured her, and put his arm around her.

The bear-men stood on their hind legs, stretching their heads high into the air. One by one, they let out a loud roar and walked to the center of the courtyard. They pawed and sniffed one another in greeting. When they were satisfied, they lowered themselves back on all fours and walked around each other. Finally, one bear-man, the largest of the group, stood up tall and looked out over his fellow bear-men. He roared and lifted a huge paw the size of a dinner plate, aiming it at the forest not far from where Katala and Legolas hid.

Katala started to panic, and her breathing became rapid, “They’ll see us!”

“Keep quiet and keep still. It will be alright,” he told her, but she seemed not to hear him. He watched her eyes dart around, as if looking for somewhere to run. He had to keep her calm or she would give them away.

“No, no Legolas, they will find us. We have to go. Please, I want to leave,” she pleaded.

Legolas looked back to the courtyard. The bear-men were starting to wander into the forest, some coming close to them. He could hear Katala’s rushed breath behind him. He had to do something, and he turned his attention back to her, “Katala, look at me,” he demanded.

She would not look, but remained focused on the approaching bears. Legolas grabbed her shoulders and shook her. “Katala, please look at me,” he said in a kinder voice that earned her attention. Instantly, their eyes connected, and Legolas captured her stare, “Just look at me and nowhere else, alright?”

She nodded, as her brown eyes never left his blue ones. He started whispering in his native Sindarin tongue, something that she did not understand, but she felt herself calm as long as she kept focused on him. Her breathing slowed, and the panic on her face slowly washed away. Legolas gave her a small smile, his dimples becoming more prominent. Katala watched and found that she could not look away, no matter how badly she wanted to see if the bear-men were close. His hand came up and touched the side of her face. “How are you doing? Are you alright?”

“As long as I am with you,” she admitted. Without realizing what she was doing, she found herself leaning towards him.

Legolas felt a kind of flutter deep in his gut as he held Katala in his elvish gaze. His fingers traveled from her cheek to her chin as she leaned towards him, and he closed the distance. Now they were only inches apart, the sounds of the growling bear-men nothing more than background noise. For the moment, they seemed to forget the danger surrounding them.

“Legolas?” she asked innocently, “Have you ever kissed anyone?”

“No, have you?”

“No, but I would like to … with you.”

“Alright,” he answered.

Katala closed her eyes. Legolas leaned in the rest of the way, and just before their lips touched, he closed his eyes too. Then they kissed, lips upon lips, hesitant and unsure of what to expect. It was soft and warm, such a private feeling to have those intimate parts touching. It felt like forever before they separated, but they came together again, this time allowing their lips to move together, a much more exciting experience. They separated again and when they met for a third time their lips parted, tasting much more of each other, feeling the moisture of each other’s breath, the tips of their tongues barely touching. This time when they separated, they each sat back and watched the other’s reaction.

Katala blushed to a perfect crimson, “That was nice, just as I always hoped it would be.”

Legolas smiled, “I liked it too, especially with you.”

Their eyes never left one another, and the bear-men went unnoticed while the growls became less and further away. “I think they are gone,” he whispered.

“I guess it really is true then,” Katala said, “They really do turn into bears.”

“Uh huh,” he answered, lost for words, and finding himself wanting to feel her kiss again. He bent towards her, hoping she felt the same, and found his heart beating a thousand times faster. They were so close, lips almost touching, hearts racing with anticipation, when suddenly there was a low threatening growl behind them. They turned to see a black bear padding on giant paws towards them, its brown eyes focused on Katala.

“Legolas?” Her voice came out as no more than a squeak as she huddled again him for protection.

Suddenly, Legolas jumped up from his spot, pulling Katala up by her hand, “Run!” he shouted, pulling her along with him.

She stumbled, her legs wobbling with shock and fear, but he dragged her along through the trees, “Get up and run!” he demanded.

It suddenly set in, and her mind cleared enough to get her feet moving. The bear stood up on its hind legs and roared, as if calling upon its brothers. Katala screamed, but she ran as fast as she could, which was still not fast enough.

The house seemed to get farther away as he went towards it. He picked up his feet and his pace quickened, his long flaxen hair trailing behind him.

“Legolas!” Katala screamed from behind. He turned to tell her to keep going, but she had fallen, and was struggling to get back up. The massive bear was getting closer, its white canines flashing in the moonlight. Legolas turned and rushed back to Katala just in time. He grabbed her arm and started to lift her, but she cried out, “I can’t! It’s my ankle! I think it is broken!”

“Then hop!” he demanded. “Just get up! Now!”

The bear was getting too close, and Legolas knew they could not get away, not with Katala’s injured ankle. He managed to get her to her feet, but she could hardly walk let alone run. He had no weapon and no other choice but to put himself between Katala and the bear. In that one moment, Legolas became fearless, willing to put himself in harm’s way to protect another’s life. He stood tall, taller than ever before, chest heaving, shoulders squared, determination set in his azure eyes. Looking over his shoulder, he called to Katala. “I want you to go as fast as you can and don’t look back. Get to the house and tell the others what has happened. Do not question my decision. Just go!”

Katala saw something primal in his eyes, and knew there was nothing she could say to make him come with her. She hobbled as fast as she could towards the house, afraid that at any moment she would hear his shouts of pain as the bear attacked him.

Legolas planted his feet in the grass and braced himself. The bear was charging him. A few more leaps and it would be upon him, “I’m not scared any more. If this is to be my time, then so be it,” he muttered under his breath. At the last moment, he closed his eyes and prepared to feel claws raking through his skin and teeth crushing his skull.

From out of nowhere came a bellowing voice, half words, half growl. The bear stopped just a few feet from Legolas. He opened his eyes, and the bear was crouched down in a submissive position at his feet. Legolas released the breath he was holding, and felt as though he would collapse. A large hand covered his bare shoulder, and he realized that he had left his coat behind. He looked behind him to find Grimbeorn towering above with narrowed eyes as he watched the bear. “This boy is a guest and you might know that if you hadn’t let your animal soul run wild. You must remember to maintain control even when in bear form. Now, off with you. Join the others and patrol the borders,” Grimbeorn commanded. The bear got to its feet and turned to the forest, slowly walking away and disappearing through the trees.

The large hand turned Legolas to face its owner. Legolas’ chest heaved in and out rapidly as he tried to catch his breath. Grimbeorn could tell the boy was frightened, “That was a very brave thing you did for your friend.”

Legolas was shaking and bewildered from the close call with the bear, but he found his voice, “I had no choice. She was injured and could not walk, but I knew if I distracted the bear, it would give her a chance to escape.”

“And so you put your life between her and the bear,” Grimbeorn added, “That is such a brave and noble gesture for someone so young.”

“I would do that for anyone to protect them. I will never run away. I will stand and fight. That is what my father would have done,” Legolas said proudly.

Grimbeorn cocked his head to the side. “Who was your father, Legolas?”

He looked down to the ground. “I . . . I am not sure of his name. I only ever called him Ada. When I spent time with my father, it was usually just him and I, or a few servants waiting by, and when they spoke to me, they referred to him as ‘your ada’. I never gave it any thought, until—” Legolas stopped and remembered what his foster uncle had told him as he lay bleeding in the rain. “Elhadron tried to tell me before he … before he died. Tharan, he uttered with his last breath, but I do not remember anyone calling my father that name. It doesn’t matter though. What I do know, is that my father was a brave and fearless warrior of Mirkwood. He fought to protect me, and sacrificed his own life in order to see that mine continued. That is why I took on the bear. That is what my father would have done.”

“Well, as I said, you were very brave, but foolish also. What were you two doing out here at this late hour? Your parents have been worried sick, and they came to me when neither of you came home,” Grimbeorn reprimanded.

Legolas did not answer right away. He couldn’t tell him that they did it on a dare, but he wouldn’t lie either. Maybe if he just didn’t tell the whole story. “We were just curious. We have never seen a shape shifting before.”

“Of course you haven’t. Not many have. It is a very private and dangerous ceremony, as you well know. You must be careful, boy. When some of my men turn into their animal form, they forget that they are human, and they can bring great harm to anyone they see as a threat. I hate to think what might have happened if I didn’t come upon you when I did.”

“I am sorry, Grimbeorn. It will not happen again,” Legolas apologized. He stretched his neck trying to see around the chieftain’s broad body, “Where is Katala? Is she alright?”

“She is shaken, but she will be fine. She’s with her mother right now. One of the healers is looking at her injuries. Come now, let’s get you inside so everyone knows you are safe.” Grimbeorn watched Legolas pass by, and then followed him into the house.

Sefa and Folvar were waiting inside, neither seeming too happy with the situation. Still, Sefa had a look of worry and relief on her face, as if she wanted to scoop Legolas up in her arms and hold him. Folvar looked quite angry though, and Legolas braced himself. He had never been in trouble, but he had seen Folvar correct some of the older boys during weapons training. The Woodsman had a way for getting his point across with strenuous punishment.

Legolas approached his foster parents, ready to hear whatever corrective actions they would put upon him. Folvar opened his mouth, as he shook his finger at him, but just before he could speak, Grimbeorn interrupted.

“I have had a talk with him, Folvar. I believe Legolas understands what he did wrong. He has just had a traumatic experience, and has learned his lesson. What he needs now is a good night’s rest. I would suggest handing out his punishment in the morning.” Grimbeorn gently pushed Legolas towards his foster parents. Sefa immediately began checking him over for injuries.

“Thank you for finding the children, Grimbeorn. I assure you they will not do anything like this again,” Folvar said, as he glared at Legolas.

* * *

Over the next few days, Legolas carried out his punishment of having to clean out the horse stables. Katala was restricted from seeing Legolas until her sprained ankle healed. And even though they did not get proof of the shape shifting ceremony, Ladnir left Legolas alone after hearing about his encounter with the bear. He came to the realization that the elf must be mad to fight a bear, especially when he heard that Legolas was weaponless.

Legolas learned a thing or two about himself that night. He knew he could stand in the face of death and accept whatever was handed to him. He could feel himself mature from the timid elfling into the first stage of becoming a warrior. He felt an internal strength weave itself throughout his being, as if he had armor beneath his skin. No one could see this mental durability, but he knew it was there. It pulsated through his veins, strengthening his muscles, and sharpening his mind. He was ready to train for the one thing he wanted most, to be as fierce as his father and face his enemy, to destroy those who took away his home and his family. They would all face the last wood elf and meet their death. One day, he thought to himself … victory.

author's note:
Specail thanks to Mindirith for her beta work.
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The Last Wood Elf