Special note for this chapter: The plot in the next few chapters is a homage to an episode of the old sci-fi TV show Battlestar Galactica, because I'm an uber-geek like that. ;)

They rode through the trees and had they not kept their mission in mind, it would have been easy to depict them as two lovers riding towards an afternoon picnic in a forest clearing. A more careful observer would see that their glances never met, but spread across the vast wooded territories before and around them, their entire pose a vigil one.

I closed my eyes when it began. In the years that were to come, I would always have the picture of that battle in front of my eyes, knowing that nothing could ever be worse.

We did not expect them to ambush us, nor did we know that they would have archers with them. It was not a battlefield and it was, apparently, quite tempting to think that they would want to slip quietly into Rivendell's domain.

They attacked from behind the trees, shooting their poisonous arrows and taking cover right away. I saw them, I watched their every movement, hypnotized like a moth to a flame, though I knew I should be seeking a place to hide as I was certain – from the sound of leafage parting – Legolas had already done, far to my left.

I found myself moving somehow, against all odds, but my limbs were heavy and I was unsure of what it was that I was doing. I was trying to disembark from the horse I was riding. The reins restrained me, I know not exactly what I had done to get entangled in them, but as I heard the shriek through the air that, even in this half-frozen state, I was aware it meant an arrow was heading right at me.

I heard a shout. It was Legolas, though it came from too far to the left to change anything. I was still seeing only the back of the horse I was riding, the hairs moving on its back as it was breathing our last gasps of air.

Then I heard a sound worse still. Legolas, from the same position as before, crying out in pain. I turned around with all the haste I failed to muster before and saw him collapsing to the Earth, his hands clutching at the well-aimed arrow, which tore through his chest. I saw a blinding light coming from behind me, I heard Orc yells and their sudden retreat, but I noticed nothing beyond the figure towards which I was running, towards whom I leaned down.

It was too late and in the few minutes it took me to pass the distance to him, Legolas’ beautiful blue eyes were wide and staring without seeing a thing.

Estel raised his eyes to see Gandalf stepping closer in small, unhurried moves, standing almost directly above him and looking at the body of the Mirkwood Prince.

To be continued...