LEGOLAS
TITLE:Elenath
AUTHOR:Emily Kinsman
RATING:PG
FEEDBACK: emilyk@apptechnc.net 
DISCLAIMER:The characters from Lord of the Rings, their wonderful 
world, and the Elf-lore are all borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. I wish he 
were 
alive to see the LOTR pandamonium! The plotline and all other 
characters are copyright 2002 Emily Kinsman. 'Nuff Said
SUMMARY:I don't want to ruin any surprises, but an Elf-babe is 
abandoned in our world (through a nexus of sorts) to be raised by a 
human 
woman. This is the story of her return to her true home.
FEEDBACK: Please Please, Pretty Please tell me what you think! I'm new 
at this.
ARCHIVE: YES
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36. 
Elenath tried to explain to her young friends everything that she had learned 
about herself, but was quickly called away for practice with the guards. 
Fortunately, Kara showed up about that time, and after another emotional 
reunion, filled them in on everything from Elenath's Elven blood and Royal birth 
to her history with Legolas, while the preparations for battle went on around 
them. She left out the part about impending battle, unsure if they could deal with 
it. They had been upset enough when she told them that no, there was no 
electricity in Middle Earth. 
For a while after Kara fell silent, the newcomers watched Elenath train with the 
warriors of Mirkwood, shouting encouragement and saying things like, "Look at 
that wicked sword!" and "Man, this is freakin' awesome!" 
"No, this is not 'freakin' awesome,'" said Elenath, sitting out for a few moments to 
catch her breath. "This is freakin' for real. " 
"What do you mean?" asked Marcus. 
The princess sighed. "Sit down. I've got something important to tell you." 
They gathered in a tight circle as the Elves looked on curiously and Elenath 
caught her breath. 
"I've never lied to you," said the princess at last, looking each of them in the eye 
in turn, "and I don't intend to start doing so now." 
"That bad, eh?" said Marcus. "We're in trouble aren't we?" 
"Yeah," said Elenath. "Big trouble. Guys, it sounds to me like you prayed 
yourselves right into Mirkwood, and God would not have allowed you to come 
here without a good reason. But I have to say that I'm worried about all of you." 
"What are you talking about?" asked Susan, "Sum- I mean Elenath, this is us, 
remember? The ones who hit the drug houses and shine light into the darkness. 
We're cool. We can take care of ourselves." 
"You don't understand," said the Princess, "You've been dropped right in the 
middle of a war zone. This palace is secure, and the surrounding Kingdom is 
relatively safe, but we are under siege, surrounded by the enemy and cut off from 
our allies." 
The kids did grow sober then. "You mean that we are all going to die." 
"I don't know," said Elenath. "Nobody knows. The creatures that surround us are 
orcs - the most hideous beasts that you could ever imagine. They are stupid but 
they fight with skill and coat their blades and arrows with deadly poison. But the 
Eagles have been able to notify our allies – the Elves of Rivendell where I was 
born, and the Elves of Lorien. In about a month there will be a battle. Anything 
could happen then." She looked at the ground, opening herself to the young men 
and women around her. "I fear for my people and their way of life. I know that 
probably sounds crazy to you since I haven't been here that long, but it is true. 
This place has truly become my home and the Elves here my family, though a 
day hasn't gone by that I haven't thought of you." 
The teens gathered closer around her, some of them laying comforting hands on 
her. Marcus patted her on the arm. "You shouldn't fear. That was one of the first 
things you taught us, remember? No fear. You're a child of God. A princess not 
only here, but in the heavenly realms. You became one when you accepted what 
Jesus did for you on the cross." 
Susan nodded. "Romans eight fifteen. For you did not receive a spirit that makes 
you a slave again to fear, but you received a spirit of sonship. Jah looks at you as 
His daughter, Elenath. And He's one powerful Daddy." 
Elenath smiled at Susan's familiar reference to God. "Jah," a shortened form of 
Jehovah, was the name that they most often called Him. 
Another of the kids spoke up. "God is perfect love. First John four eighteen says 
there is no fear in love and perfect love drives out fear." 
Then to the Princess' delight, they began to shout in powerful voices: 
"O Lord," said the guys, and the ladies repeated it. 
"how many are my foes!" they shouted together.
"How many rise up against me (rise up against me)!
Many are saying of me, 
'God will not deliver him.'
But You are a shield (a mighty shield) around me, O Lord;
You bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
To the Lord (To Jah) I cry aloud,
And He answers me from His holy hill.
I lie down and sleep (a peaceful sleep);
I wake again for the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear (no, I will not fear) the tens of thousands 
Drawn up against me on every side!" 
They stood up, raising their fists into the air and stomping their feet.  
"Arise O Lord!
Deliver us, O my God!
Strike all our enemies on the jaw; 
Break the teeth of the wicked.
From the Lord comes deliverance.
May Your blessing (AWESOME BLESSING) be on your people!" 
Everyone on the field had turned to look when they started chanting, including 
Prince Legolas. He saw a change come over his wife as her friends shouted 
those words. Her posture changed from afraid to confident. The worried 
statement on her face changed to a self-assured smile and he was suddenly very 
glad that they had come. Legolas sighed, just drinking in the beauty of his wife. 
She was like a flower against the black background of her young friends.  
"You all are such a blessing," she was saying to them. "Thank you so much." 
"Hey," said Marcus. "You've been there for us in countless dark times when 
nobody else would even give us the time of day. We love you, El. We're here for 
you, and you know that none of us is afraid to die." 
"We wouldn't be here if we were," laughed Susan.  
"Whatever you need," continued Marcus, "Just let us know. Maybe we're not 
warriors in the same way all of these guys are." He gestured to the Elves around 
them, "But anything we can do to help with this battle… Just let us know, a'ight?" 
Elenath regarded them with pride in her eyes. "Alright," she said, "You can pray. 
Pray like you've never prayed before." 
Legolas witnessed the whole scene from a distance, amazed at Elenath's simple 
request and her friends' willingness to help. He was about to approach them 
when Thorondil appeared at his side, riding one horse and leading another. 
"Your Highness," said the Captain of the Guard, "Am I right in assuming that 
you've grown restless within the walls of the palace?" 
He nodded. "You know me well, Thorondil. I long to ride through the forest but 
my father forbids it." 
"He has given me leave to scout the road to Rivendell and permission for you to 
come with me if you wish." 
Legolas was not about to miss such an opportunity. He had missed his freedom 
and mounted the horse at once. "Let me tell my wife." 
Thorondil just nodded, nudging his horse to follow Legolas' toward the group of 
young humans. 
Elenath was preparing to return to her practice when he came up beside her. Her 
smile when she turned toward him was brilliant and he thought that his heart 
might stop. "Thorondil has requested my presence on a scouting mission," he 
said to her. 
Her smile faded. "Give me a moment and I will join you." 
Legolas reached out to lightly caress her cheek. "No. Stay here, my love. It has 
done you much good to see these old friends. I can see the change it has 
brought to you." He looked up and nodded to them, and then returned his gaze to 
Elenath. "I will return before the day fades into night." 
"Promise?" she asked. 
"Of course." With that, he bent low to kiss her. "Practice hard. The Elves of 
Mirkwood look up to you for strength and encouragement." 
"As you wish, Legolas, though I know that it is you they really look at for 
inspiration."  
The two of them exchanged smiles as he turned his horse and began to ride 
away. 
"My heart goes with you," she said to him. 
He turned his head to look at her again. "As always, my heart remains wherever 
you are." 
37. 
Legolas did not keep his promise to return that day. As the sun sank below the 
horizon, Elenath grew worried. She should have gone with him; should have 
insisted on doing so. Here behind palace walls she could do nothing but pray 
with David, Kara, and Pastor Mike and those who had arrived with him that day. 
She wanted to be at her husband's side, whatever the peril he faced, and she 
knew that he had to be in some kind of peril or he would be with her now. 
Elenath would not eat and refused to go to bed. Instead, she sat up with Marcus, 
Susan, Pastor Mike and his new wife Diana as the five of them continued to pray. 
Now and then some of the other teens would join them for a few minutes before 
stumbling back to bed. 
Finally, Lord Elrond approached the group and set a plate of food in front of 
Elenath.  
"I'm not hungry, Grandfather," she said. "I'm too worried to eat." 
He sat down next to her on the floor. "Your friends," he said, gesturing to them, 
"have the right attitude, it seems. They pray fervently just as this book says to 
do." He set Elenath's Bible down in front of her. "They do what they can, but they 
do not fret about what they cannot change." 
"I can't stand the thought of him hurt somewhere with no one to help him. Would 
you be so calm if it was me instead of him?" 
"You really love this Legolas guy, don't you?" asked Marcus, stumbling a little 
over the prince's name. "I never seen you so worried." 
"Yes I love him," she said. "Of course I love him. Somewhere in here," she 
knocked on her head, "are a thousand years of memories. A thousand years I 
have loved him! And my heart remembers every second. If he's not back by 
morning, I'm going out after him." 
"Elenath," said Elrond, "Do not be foolish." 
"What? What is foolish? They can't hurt me. I'm pregnant." 
"Elenath, it is true that the orcs would not be able to harm you, but make no 
mistake, they could hurt you. Pain is not always harmful to the body. If they 
captured you they would torture you horribly until you wished for death." 
"Like they're probably torturing Legolas now? How can you expect me to just sit 
here? I cannot!" Tears welled up in her eyes and Mike placed a comforting hand 
on her arm. 
"You do not know that the orcs have him. There could be many reasons he has 
not returned yet." 
"Such as? He gave me his word, Mike." 
Susan picked up Elenath's Bible and flipped though it before starting to read. 
"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a 
furious storm came up on the lake, so that waves swept over the boat. But Jesus 
was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We're 
going to drown!' He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he 
got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The 
men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the 
waves obey him!'" She closed the book and put it down. "Lord, let it be the same 
in this situation. All things are under Your authority. Keep Prince Legolas safe…" 
Elenath lost herself in the prayers again. Elrond finally convinced her to eat a 
little bit, but the plate was by no means empty when it was taken away from the 
room. Hours later, finally giving in to her weariness, she leaned her head against 
the wall and closed her eyes, slipping into a light slumber plagued with 
nightmares. 
38. 
A thick and heavy mist had rolled into Mirkwood during the night, obscuring the 
princess's vision, but Elenath's bay mare seemed to know where they were 
going. Elenath had risen at dawn's first light and snuck out of the underground 
palace to the stables where she used her royal status to secure a horse and 
provisions. She would find Legolas. Even if it meant being horribly tortured for a 
thousand years, she would find her husband and would not leave his side ever 
again. 
Elenath leaned forward slightly in her saddle and whispered gently in the mare's 
ear, just as Legolas had taught her. "Quickly now. We must find Legolas and 
Thorondil." She had already lost her father, and her mother had gone shortly 
after his death to recover her strength at Rivendell. How could she possibly face 
the rest of her long life without her husband and uncle by her side? 
Her mare cantered steadily forward, picking a path easily through trees and over 
rivers while Elenath lifted heartfelt prayers heavenward for the safety of her loved 
ones and her ability to find them. She stopped mid-sentence, however, as the fog 
began to lift, revealing a horrific scene that seemed to freeze time. Her heart 
skipped a few beats and her eyes would not focus on the two Elves who lay face 
down next to their slain horses in the fallen autumn leaves. One dark-haired; the 
other, fair. Elenath's heart sank.  
"No," she whispered as she dismounted and walked toward them. "No, please 
no…" Tears welled in her eyes and fell down her cheeks as she reached out to 
touch the fair-haired Elf's shoulder. Already weeping bitterly, she gently turned 
him over, her gaze meeting the cold, lifeless blue eyes of Legolas. A piercing wail 
echoed though the wood, and only moments later did she realize that it came 
from herself. "No!" she screamed, pulling his body close to herself, wishing that 
she could die right there. Maybe the orcs would come for her. Why bother with 
life anymore? 
"Melamin, what is it?" 
The voice pierced her consciousness and she looked with hope at the Elf in her 
arms. He remained lifeless. She scanned the forest around her and saw nothing. 
But she felt the warmth of living arms around her. Am I hallucinating? she 
thought. 
"Amaelamin, come back to me…" It was definitely Legolas' voice, but that was 
impossible. Legolas was dead. She held his body in her arms. 
"Oh, Legolas," she wept, closing her eyes tightly against the pain that 
overwhelmed her heart. "Oh, God, why? Why did I ever let him go?" Loud sobs 
wracked her. "Forgive me, My Love," she begged, "Please forgive me." 
"Elenath, My Love, open your eyes." 
There was his voice again, along with the warmth of his breath on her cheek and 
the velvet touch of his lips upon hers. Maybe it was his spirit, calling her to follow. 
"Tula, Melamin. Come back to me, My Love. Open your eyes." 
She heard movement in the wood around her and smelled the same putrid scent 
that had permeated Legolas' room when the orcs had attacked there. "Let death 
come quickly," she prayed. "Please, Father, let it come quickly." 
"Open your eyes!" came the reply, and she did at last, her gaze meeting the blue 
living warmth of her husband's.  
Elenath felt her body jump and stiffen in Legolas' arms. The dim light of early 
morning was shining timidly through the skylight of the great hall of the 
underground palace, many concerned faces gathered around, including that of 
Thorondil. Her arms flew around her husband at once and she realized that she 
was still weeping. 
"Shh…" he whispered to her. "You had a bad dream. That is all. You are safe 
now." 
"I… I've never experienced a dream so real." She clung to him, trying to regain 
her composure. "It was as if I was really there." 
"I know," he whispered. "I know, Melamin." 
She leaned her head against his shoulder and took deep breaths trying to calm 
herself. Elenath concentrated on the comforting circles that the prince was 
tracing on her back with the tips of his fingers and gradually began to breathe 
normally again. "Where have you been? I've been praying all night long." 
"I felt your prayers and those of your friends," he replied. "I could hear them, 
Elenath. They saved our lives, I am sure of it. Thank you." 
"It's what I was put here for," she replied, "But where were you? What 
happened?" 
He shook his head, unwilling to answer. "We both need sleep and neither of us 
will want to after I tell you where I have been. So I will tell you after we wake up." 
"But Legolas-" 
"Melamin, I'm sorry. I cannot bear to repeat it just now. Please… just come to 
bed and get some rest." He looked around at the crowd that had gathered and 
whispered to her in Elvish, "Please, Elenath. Come to bed with me. Not an hour 
ago I feared I would never see you again. Now I just need you to stay close to 
me." 
She sighed and managed a weak smile. "As you wish, My Prince."