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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42. 
"What did you say to her?" asked Legolas of Marcus as they left the meeting. 
Elenath was talking with Mike at the other end of the room. 
The young Man shrugged. "I only reminded her of Rebecca, Mike's step 
daughter. Her mother Diana got really sick while she was pregnant and the 
doctors told her she should end the pregnancy to save her own life. After all, she 
had just lost her husband to a similar illness and they worried about how the 
family would take her death. I guess they thought the grief of losing the child 
would be less. I don't know. Anyway, she didn't do what the doctors said. She 
trusted God to do what he would, even though she knew that she and her child 
might both die." 
"And we both know how that turned out," said Legolas. 
Marcus just smiled and gestured to the other end of the room where Diana had 
joined her new husband. Elenath stood next to them, holding the child Rebecca 
in her arms. Becca was kissing Elenath's cheek and playing with the Princess's 
long auburn curls. "Elenath always says how she can't imagine her life without 
Diana or Becca. She says their presence in her life is all the proof that she needs 
that God knows what he's doing." 
Legolas watched his wife with the child for a few minutes. It seemed so natural to 
see her with the little girl. It was as if she was meant to be a mother. He could not 
imagine his grief should she fall in battle, taking their child with her. He certainly 
would not survive it, and Mirkwood would lose three royals all in one fell swoop. 
"It is a rare time that I can say that I am happy that I am not my father. But this is 
one of those times. I would not make this decision for anything." 
"Dude, I don't blame you. It's a tough choice," said Marcus, shaking his head.
*** 
"How do you want this to turn out?" Legolas asked Elenath when they found a 
moment alone in the courtyard. Moonlight shone down on the stark shadow of 
autumn trees and a million stars twinkled in the sky above them. "Do you wish to 
fight?" 
She sat down on a bench and sighed. "Yes and no. I am glad the decision is out 
of my hands. Do you wish for me to fight?" 
Legolas looked at her for a long moment before leaning near to kiss her 
forehead. "No, Melamin. I do not wish for you to fight. I wish for you to stay here, 
safe behind palace walls. I could not bear to see you burned by dragon fire, our 
child dead within you. No. It would kill me." 
The two looked up at the stars for a time. Neither noticed Susan and Marcus 
approaching the courtyard, or saw them linger in the passageway when they 
noticed the royal couple there. Legolas spoke again. "But I made a promise when 
we were married." 
"What promise was that?" she asked. 
He looked at her a little sadly. "You do not yet remember?" 
"I'm sorry," she said, shaking her head no. "The sword brings memories of war. 
Battles and techniques. Perhaps when danger has passed I will be allowed more 
pleasant memories. What did you promise?" 
"I promised never to interfere with your responsibilities as the bearer of the 
Sword. I've only almost broken that promise once – when Estel first brought the 
weapon here and I tried to keep him from giving it to you." 
She nodded. "So you will stand by whatever decision your father makes." 
"Of course. I have no choice. He is not only my father, he is my King. And the 
promise I made at our marriage only makes any objection impossible." 
She looked into his worried blue eyes and drew him near for a long kiss. "Do not 
worry, My Love. I have great peace in my heart regarding this matter. Let it reign 
in yours as well." 
"Amaelamin, you are my everything. How can I not worry?" 
She answered his question with one of her own, changing the subject. "What 
else did we promise on our wedding day, Legolas?" 
He smiled. "We promised to love one another, to respect one another, to cherish 
one another… Here I will tell you." He turned toward her and took her hands in 
his. "I Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, do promise to love you with all my heart, 
forsaking all others. I promise to protect you with my life if necessary, to respect 
you and to cherish each moment that we share. I will support you in trials and 
celebrate with you on joyous occasions. All that I am is pledged to you and you 
alone, and all that I have, I give now to you. This bond that we share shall be 
unbreakable even in death. I shall be forever yours, and you forever mine." 
She smiled. "And what did I promise in return?" 
He traced a line from her nose to the neckline of her gown. "The very same thing, 
Melamin." 
"I wish I could remember," she sighed. "I've been planning my wedding since I 
was five. I mean since I was five this time around." 
"You will remember," he reassured her. 
In the shadows, Marcus and Susan exchanged a meaningful glance and snuck 
away. 
***
Almost every member of Thranduil's council visited him in his chambers over the 
next twenty-four hours. Most stayed only a few minutes, but some like Lord 
Elrond stayed for an hour or more. Legolas did not offer his father any council. 
He had none to offer aside from "I do not know." He spent the time training with 
Elenath until a meeting of the entire Kingdom was called and everyone reported 
to the Great Hall. 
Thranduil sat alone on his throne, his face set in stone, not revealing any emotion 
at all as the Elves filed in. Finally when all were settled, he spoke in a loud, clear 
voice. "I cannot make this decision." 
"What?" asked Elenath. "You must!" 
Thranduil shook his head. "It is not for me to decide." 
"Then who's supposed to decide?"  
"We will let the Sword decide," he answered. "We will get its answer now if you 
would be so kind, Princess." 
The King motioned to the floor at his feet and Elenath rose.  
"The one decision that I came to is that the Sword must be wielded in this battle. 
If when it is put down at my feet, it chooses Elenath, then she will fight in the 
battle. If it chooses another, then they will bear Calmacil into battle." 
With a short prayer, Elenath lay her beautiful sword at King Thranduil's feet and 
stepped back. The room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. For many 
long minutes, the weapon was silent and they began to wonder if it would ever 
speak. When it finally did, the room erupted into confusion and surprise. The 
Sword's decision had seemed to cause more questions than it had answered. 
43. 
Raion was the first to step forward to dispute the Sword's decision. "As second in 
command of our armies, I must protest. There must be some mistake. The very 
idea is absurd. It's not only impossible, but dangerous as well." 
Elenath herself was in shock at the words the Sword had spoken. Her young 
friends also exchanged wide-eyed glances with each other and Pastor Mike. 
None of them dared speak. 
King Thranduil turned with disbelief to Lord Elrond who simply shrugged. "The 
Sword has spoken," he said. 
The Sword had spoken. Elenath's mind reeled, trying to grasp what it had said. 
She went over the whole scene again, wondering if perhaps she had misheard. 
Her weapon had spoken her own name first, followed by ten others: each one of 
the teenagers who had come to Mirkwood with Pastor Mike. What did it mean? 
Why were these innocent young Men and Women being drawn into this? 
Shaking her head she stuttered, "I don't understand. Eleven people cannot bear 
one sword." 
"Of course not," said Elrond. "You will bear Calmacil, just as I will bear my 
weapon, the Lady Galadriel will bear hers, and Thranduil will bear his. Each of us 
will be attended by an honor guard made up of ten of our best warriors. At least, 
that is always the way it was in the past." 
The princess shifted her weight uneasily. "What, exactly, does this honor guard 
do?" 
"They are your protectors," replied Elrond, "and the protectors of your weapon. 
They ride in a circle or semi-circle around you at all times. That way if you are 
stricken down, one of the honor guard can pick up the weapon and continue the 
fight." 
Her heart was filled suddenly with protectiveness. "We cannot ask such a thing of 
them, Grandfather. You know how dangerous this mission will be. Those who 
have been chosen as my 'honor guard' stand upon the very threshold of their 
lives. Would you take that from them? Because I cannot." 
"Of course not," he said. "They will be given the option to serve or not to serve. 
Whichever they wish." 
Thranduil was taken aback so much that he stuttered. "How can you take this 
seriously, Elrond? They are children! Ten children cannot guard our princess! It's 
ridiculous and I cannot believe you would even consider permitting it to happen." 
"Indeed they are young," said Legolas to his father, "but children they most 
certainly are not. We would not allow a child to sit on Mirkwood's war council." He 
motioned toward Marcus. 
"You forget, King Thranduil, that this Sword can speak only truth. We would do 
well to heed its advice," said Elrond.  
Thranduil shook his head and slumped slightly on his throne. "I cannot believe 
this. Absolutely insane…." 
Elenath turned to face the group who stood behind Marcus and Susan, and 
watched as, one-by-one, they stepped forward to pledge their service to her. "We 
are warriors, after all," said Susan, "Even if we do not have the support of King 
Thranduil or the Elves of Mirkwood. Even if we have no physical weapons. We've 
had the feeling for a long time that we would not sit idle during this battle and we 
are all ready to fight and die if necessary. After all, if God is for us, then who can 
be against us?" 
While the Elves seemed to take this as naïve glory-seeking, Elenath practically 
begged the kids to reconsider. "You don't realize how dangerous this is, you 
guys. You could all be killed. Dragons breathe fire, and believe me, I've seen my 
share of burn victims and it is not a fun way to die. It is excruciatingly painful." 
They deliberated among themselves about this for a long moment while the 
Elves argued among themselves if they could really allow their princess to be 
guarded by mere human beings who had never shot an arrow or held a sword. 
"No." Legolas stepped forward. "No. Absolutely not. This is the most ridiculous 
thing I have ever heard. What point will there be in sending these ten into battle 
with my pregnant wife? All twelve will die. I will not have it. Over my dead body 
will these humans be her honor guard!" 
"Do not be so quick to make your decision, Prince Legolas" came a booming 
voice from the back of the room. "for there is more at work here than can be seen 
even with Elvish eyes." 
Everyone turned with a start toward the voice and Elenath looked toward it as 
well, seeing that it came from a slightly bent figure in the doorway – an old man 
who she regarded with curiosity. He wore flowing gray robes and a tall pointed 
hat. A thick, unruly white beard and bushy eyebrows obscured most of his face. 
The entire gathering seemed to look back and forth between the two of them, as 
if he was a very important person and they were wondering if she remembered 
him. At first she did not, but after a moment of looking into his eyes, a smile 
began to tug at the corners of her mouth. How could she ever forget Gandalf and 
the journeys she had shared with him? It took only a few seconds for her to fly to 
him with open arms. "Gandalf! How did you get here? We are surrounded by 
orcs!" 
The Wizard chuckled. "There are advantages to being a Wizard, my dear." 
44. 
Legolas was oblivious to the happy reunion taking place before his   
 
eyes. In fact, he was horrified. Approaching the unlikely pair of   
 
Elenath and Gandalf, he shook his head. "Am I to understand that you   
 
approve of sending Elenath into battle with ten untrained Humans,   
 
Wizard?"  
 
  
 
Gandalf gave Elenath one last great squeeze before letting her go. He   
 
shrugged at the prince. "It matters not if I do or do not approve. Is   
 
it not ultimately the princess' choice who will join her in the   
 
fight?"  
 
  
 
Suddenly all eyes were on Elenath. "Is that so?" she asked.  
 
  
 
Gandalf nodded and the Elves seemed to agree, though reluctantly.  
 
  
 
"What choice have I but the one put before me? Are these ten willing   
 
to follow me into battle?" Elenath looked at her young friends.  
 
  
 
Before they could answer, Raion stepped out of the crowd and knelt   
 
before Elenath. "If you will have me, Princess, I will pledge my bow   
 
and my life to your defense. You need not endanger the young ones."  
 
  
 
She looked deeply into his eyes, shocked by the dedication she saw   
 
there. Why would anyone, let alone such an important Elf, be willing   
 
to lay down his life for her?   
 
  
 
Gratitude rose in her heart as, one by one, ten of Mirkwood's best   
 
warriors came forward and knelt before her. They gazed up at her from   
 
the right. When all of their pledges had been made, Marcus and Susan   
 
stepped forward from the group to the left. They did not kneel.  
 
  
 
"El, look," said Marcus. "We don't know how to fight with swords and   
 
arrows and spears and stuff. Maybe we'd do better just to stay out of   
 
your way. But I just can't shake the feeling that the Sword is right.   
 
The ten of us are ready and willing to be your honor guard if that's   
 
what you want."  
 
  
 
"Since we arrived here, we've felt strongly that we would do more   
 
than cower in fear during the battle," said Susan. "Let us fight the   
 
dragon with you. Marcus is right. We don't know much about weapons.   
 
But…"  
 
  
 
"This war will not be won by the sword alone. Let us fight with you   
 
in our own way," Marcus finished.  
 
  
 
"I'm in too, on those terms," said Kara, joining the teens.   
 
  
 
"And I am a given," added David. "I pledged my sword to you long   
 
before we ever knew what an orc even was."  
 
  
 
"Don't leave me out of this," said Mike. "If we're fighting Marcus'   
 
way, I wouldn't miss it for the world."  
 
  
 
Elenath regarded the warriors on her right carefully. They were   
 
strong, rugged, battle-ready Elves. Each of them had a weapon at his   
 
side. No fear showed in their eyes. Indeed, she would feel safe with   
 
those ten. Certainly no physical harm would come to her in their care.  
 
  
 
Looking to her left, Elenath smiled softly. Ten teenagers, none of   
 
them armed with anything but a Bible, stood there looking afraid and   
 
uncomfortable in clothes they were not used to wearing. The additions   
 
to this group were not much better. Kara could dance better than she   
 
could fight. Mike was the most mild-mannered person she knew and she   
 
could not imagine him on a battle field. Then there was David. She   
 
knew he would gladly die for her. But what is one Man against a fire-  
 
breathing dragon?  
 
  
 
"It seems an obvious choice to me," said Legolas, surveying the   
 
scene, but Elenath shook her head. She closed her eyes and thought   
 
hard, trying to remember the battles she had fought before. Many of   
 
them came back to her and she knew that in over a thousand years, the   
 
Sword had never steered her wrong. It made sense to her anyway. It   
 
was as if God was asking, "Will you follow me when it's really tough?   
 
Will you put it all on the line to follow me? Or will you trust in   
 
the mighty strength of the warriors of Mirkwood to protect you?"  
 
  
 
When she opened her eyes, everyone was looking at her. It was so   
 
quiet in the Great hall that they could hear the Kitchen Elves   
 
talking over their ovens.  
 
  
 
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses," said Elenath, stepping   
 
toward the group on her left and reaching out to take Marcus' and   
 
Susan's hands, "but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. These   
 
thirteen will be my honor guard."  
 
  
 
Gandalf smiled. "You always were a wise one," he said as the Great   
 
Hall erupted into an uproar. Even Legolas was protesting her choice,   
 
begging her to reconsider but she would not.  
 
  
 
Later that night in their chambers, the prince was relentless in his   
 
attempts to change her mind. "Do you not care?" he asked, "You carry   
 
our child. Our child, Melamin! In doing this, you have doomed not   
 
only yourself to death, but the child too."  
 
  
 
"You don't know what you're talking about," she replied. "I have   
 
doomed no one. The Sword spoke, and I prayed, and this is my   
 
decision. I do not wish to discuss it any longer."  
 
  
 
He stood up, angrier that she had ever seen him. "I will not allow   
 
it," he said, "I'll chain you like your grandfather did long ago. I   
 
swear I will, Elenath."  
 
  
 
The memory of being chained came back strongly at that moment, and   
 
anger rose up within her. "You will do no such thing. How dare you   
 
even suggest it! You made a promise, Legolas. Remember? Now shut up   
 
and let me do my duty."  
 
  
 
He was speechless. Had she really just told him to shut up? "Curse my   
 
stupid promise, Elenath. I love you. I will die without you. You   
 
cannot do this. I will not allow it."  
 
  
 
"You will allow it," she retorted, "Even if I have to chain YOU!"