Title: Forsaken Scars 

Author: Areli 

Rating: PG-13 

Summary: The background of Legolas leading up to his first appearance in the book in Rivendell. His background involves love and betrayal. A classic combination. 

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I am Legolas son of Thranduil of the realm of Mirkwood. My tale is filled with woe and sorrow yet none now know it for unlike Beren and the fair lady Luthien, none put my tale into songs. Alas that even Turin, a disgrace, should have a tale or Eol the Dark elf. No songs were sung ever of my tale and so I find it of the utmost importance to tell my tale in hopes that people may realize I was not merely the companion of Aragorn, king. I, too, have my own tale though historians wish to not remember it. And so I begin. 
Chapter One 
It was not long before I ventured to Rivendell that I first fell in love. She was but the petty servant of my sister, Neni though often I would call her Uruvoitearanel (meaning Fiery Princess) for her fiery attitudes. She behaved as though she were newly brought into this world despite how she was only five hundred or so ages before me. Her servant was called Melian in great honor of the first Melian despite how low in stature my sister's servant was.  

 I believe I first began to enjoy her company when she arrived. That was...ere twenty ages ago. She simply wandered in to our realm begging shelter. My sister took pity upon her and declared we take pity upon the poor creature. How dreary she did look on that night. Filled with fright and wonder at our fair kingdom.  

How long had I gazed at her from afar as she was dried off and tended to. And she, too, looked upon me as well.  

 Long did Thranduil, my father, question her. She claimed she remembered not and only knew she was to come to Mirkwood to seek refuge. My father, after much debate with his advisors, agreed to let her stay yet remain under his watchful eye. He named her Melian as she knew not her own name.  

 It was not long before Uruvoitearanel made Melian her servant. Long did they converse and carry on as though they were equals. I remembered watching them playfully run through the forests and often would I follow behind, far behind, to simply enjoy watching Melian run as though the bonds of gravity held no place on her. Such beauty did Melian possess. Beauty I had never seen before. 
Often my father called upon me to sit with him by his throne and entertain maidens from distant lands or from our own realm. I was to choose a wife yet my heart laid only on Melian. Still, I knew I must not marry such a lowly creature as her despite how fair she was indeed.  

 The ages passed with little or no meaning to me for my eyes were only on fair Melian. How lovely she was and she grew only fairer with each passing moment. And wonders of all wonders she held eyes for me. Yes how she too would look deep into my eyes as Uruvoitearanel would prattle on about meaningless things. I wanted her for my wife. I would wed her I decided.  

 And so a darkness crept over me for a long while as my thoughts toiled over whether or not to tell my father of my desires. Long had he told me of his mistrust of Melian and long would I heatedly disagree. Our terms were not of the fondest sort.  

To clear my thoughts I would stand on my balcony that was as high as the tallest tree in Mirkwood and gaze up at the bright stars. They were always a wonder to me. I would that I could gaze at them forever. They soothed my bothered thoughts and gave me hope that perhaps my father might understand.  

 On one such night I heard footsteps approach from behind me. I whirled around with my knife ready only to find Melian. How small she looked framing the way to my balcony. How beautiful...  

 "Why are you here?" I asked her gently.  

 "I felt your troubled thoughts over me." she told me. "I have ever felt them."  

 I turned away from her in shame.  

 "Forgive me. I meant not to cause trouble to your own thoughts." I told her.  

 I felt her arm slide through one of my own that laid at my side. My eyes widened yet I spoke not a word. She sighed and leaned her head against my shoulder.  

 "Speak not of us to your father. He will surely banish me to rid you of your filthy thoughts."  

 "Filthy?" I cried. "Think not of yourself as filth for even the greatest of elves would long that they could but think of you should they ever gaze upon your face!"  

 "You are kind Legolas." Melian said sadly. "I know your father's will and in my heart I know that should you speak of us, all will be lost between us."  

 "My heart tells me otherwise." I retorted.  

 I wrapped my arms around her and closed my eyes as I reached out to kiss her. The joy I felt of her soft lips touching mine. The stars above seemed to sing of our great love. Such light I did feel from it all. Such wonder.  

 She pulled away and I saw that the stars did not sing, they cried as they sparkled against her own tears.  

 "What is wrong?" I asked her.  

 "It is wrong that you should love me!" she cried. "You are too fair and too proud to love such a creature as me."  

 I held her close to me and tightly, as though she should flee from me. I would not have it.  

 "You are not what you speak of." I told her in a soothing voice.  

 "You must wed."  

 "Yes I should like to."  

 "Not to me." she continued. "Marry another, one of higher status."  

 "No." I told her. "I would rather face the wrath of Sauron than leave your side."  

 "Your words are empty of logic." she said. "You will wed. I see you shall wed soon to another."  

 "How can you think of such things?" I wondered.  

 "I do not think of them, I know. I see them. These visions..." she buried her face into my chest. "I know it all..." I heard her sob through a muffled voice.  

 "Think not of what you may have seen fair Melian." I told her.  

 "Perhaps tonight I may not." she said, pulling herself away from me. "If you should wish for me, I shall be on the southern border of Mirkwood."  

 With that she fled.  

 I wondered what her mind was up to yet I followed her trail until I reached the outskirts of Mirkwood.  

 Once there I found her sitting underneath the stars and singing softly to herself. She turned her head towards my direction and smiled faintly.  

 "Come and sit a while under the stars. We shall think nothing of what divides us on this night. But tomorrow shall you find a bride and not in me."  

 I said not another word for she ran up to me and kissed me. I spoke not of it any longer as we sat side by side singing of the stars above us. What a glorious night that was. And more glorious nights were yet to come. 



Chapter Two
All that Melian said did indeed come true and the following day. I awoke out of my passing dreams on the borders of Mirkwood to the sound of the ancient horns signaling that a company of elves was approaching the kingdom.  

 I searched around me to find that Melian had gone. She had been gone for some time from what I could gather.  

 I shook my dreams away and raced up the throne room.  

 I found my father greeting a band of elves clad in wondrous garments that were strange to me.  

 "Ah and here is my son now." my father said.  

 "What news father?" I asked as I stood before him and over looked the crowd that had gathered from afar.  

 My eyes were drawn as though by some strange fate to a maiden that was bowed low before us.  

 "May I present Lady Cuilaranel. She has ventured from her hidden kingdom to make peace with ours." my father told me.  

 "It would be an honor to have an ally as powerful as Mirkwood." Cuilaranel replied as she rose.  

 I heard a gasp escape my lips and I nearly regretted it for I felt my heart go out to this maiden who had stepped into our borders. Had I forgotten of my love Melian? Yet she had spoken of the one I was to truly wed.  

 And so I forgot about my love for Melian and held my eyes only for her at that moment.  

 "You are truly a lovely Princess." I told her and bowed low before her.  

 She laughed merrily and took my face into her hands as she pulled me upright.  

 "Bow not before me lovely Prince." she told me almost playfully.  

 I was enchanted.  

 They were, in time, escorted to their chambers and I looked at my father with pleading eyes.  

 "Father I must wed her!" I cried.  

 My thoughts panged of Melian for but a moment. Yet this was my fate.  

 My father's eyes softened happily.  

 "Ah. Good that is what I expected. I have already betrothed you to her as a sign of our two kingdom's union."  

 "When shall we wed?"  

 "By tomorrow's eve should you desire."  

 "Very much."  

 "Splendid! Then is it so!" he said.  

 He called to his messenger to send word to Cuilaranel that we were to be wed the following evening. 
I escaped to her chambers and stood outside of her window, simply gazing at her as she dreamt for it was late in the night when I had the chance to see her.  

 What good fortune I did possess that I should dream next to one so lovely for the rest of eternity. Fortune was indeed my fierce ally.  

 And suddenly I felt warm hands wrap around my arms from behind.  

 "It is as I said." I heard Melian whisper to me so as not to stir Cuilaranel.  

 Reality came crashing back to me and my thoughts cursed me for having been so fickle.  

 "What a fool I am!" I seethed softly.  

 "Do not fear. I knew it would be so and thus did not wish to entertain your kind notions yet one as yourself I could not ignore."  

 "What shall I do?" I wondered aloud. "I love you both..."  

 "In secret shall we be?" she suggested. "Love her when eyes are upon you and love me when eyes fall closed."  

 "But that is forbidden."  

 "Does not forbidden love burn more hotly than those ordained?"  

 "I do not know." I frowned. "It does not feel right to me."  

 "Then what will you do?" she asked tearfully. "I cannot bear the thought of not being with you. I am far more than willing to be but your lover from the shadows should I be allowed to stay with you."  

 "I shall dwell on this for a while."  

 "You have not the time to. You wed tomorrow. Neni spoke of it to me."  

 "It is not enough time..." I murmured.  

 She and I kissed for a long moment.  

 "Forget not this. Forsake not this love you feel for me." she whispered and her tears ran down her soft cheek. I brushed them away gently.  

 "Then let it be so for I cannot bear to see you in such pain. I shall be yours by the night alone."  

 Her face brightened.  

 "I thank you my lovely Prince. I thank you."  

 Her words seemed to stab at me yet I thought nothing of sorrow for my fair Melian was joyful by my doing.  

 The wedding was to come and I would have everything. 

Chapter Three 
The following day the air was filled with excitement for I, Legolas son of Thranduil was finally to be wed. Long had my father awaited this day.  

 The eve fell upon the lands as the stars danced overhead. We were united under the eyes of my father and such happiness did we both feel as we kissed and were made one. Cuilaranel smiled into my eyes.  

 "I worried that I should not love you." she said as she kissed me again. "That worry fills me no longer."  

 "I am glad." I told her.  

 And indeed did fortune remain my ally. For by night Cuilaranel passed heavily into the realm of dreams and I needed to but lie for a moment beside her before she noticed me no longer.  

 Melian would often await me by my window and together we would steal away until dawn.  

 Often would we traverse outside of Mirkwood if only to see how far we could go. We would often race one another and dance and sing as we journeyed under the stars.  What nights I had.  

 Some nights we would not meet for I had need of some rest and thus no one noticed that I ever left the side of Cuilaranel by night. 
No children did Cuilaranel or I have for a while. An age passed and no child came. My father grew impatient and worried that Cuilaranel might be barren and therefore cursed.  

 Cuilaranel, too, did seem worried.  

 It was decided that she would return to her kingdom to become cleansed and return to me as soon as she could. I, though not in the gladest of hearts, comforted her woes and assured her she was not cursed and that a child soon would be brought forth for the Valar surely smiled on us. I secretly worried if the Valar knew of my love with Melian and therefore were punishing Cuilaranel for my evil deeds.  

 I spoke nothing of this to anyone yet Melian suspected, as she always seemed to. How keen she was on what my heart was thinking.  

 Cuilaranel departed Mirkwood and I knew that I would see her again and we would produce a child. My hope was returning. 
Melian and I were free to roam around together in the open again for we declared that we were but friends of old and thus wished to spend time together for I had need of being consoled.  

 Not even my sister knew of how strong our love was. How joyously it sang.  

 Often would Melian visit my chambers now that they were emptied. No one knew for she stole away before the dawn rose. How often would she tell me tales from places I knew not of. I suspected her memories returned though she long denied that she knew anything of her past.  

 Our nights were filled with wonder and our days with careless joy. It was not long before I forgot of Cuilaranel altogether.  

 Yet it was one night that a dream strongly laid itself upon me and forced me to remember my sole wife. I saw her in fierce pain and crying out my name. I felt utter horror and grief strike me and my eyes focused on my chamber before I could watch any more.  

 I stretched my arm out to not find Melian beside me. It was odd. Night had but newly fallen from what I could tell. The moon stood still high in the air.  

I heard Melian's voice from behind me. Her voice sounded cruel and full of malice, such that I had never heard before. I shuddered as I heard what she spoke. The Dark tongue.  

I reached for my knife that was ever under my pillow and rolled over softly, harmlessly.  

I saw her on her knees before a glass sphere. A palantir. I knew the accursed object.  

 "Melian!" I yelled as I lunged at her suddenly.  

 She was caught off guard and screamed violently as I pinned her to the ground and held the knife within inches of her throat.  

 "Explain your evil deeds!" I roared.  

 She but laughed in a cold laugh.  

 "Pitiful prince." she scoffed.  

 "Who are you? Speak!" I demanded.  

 "A servant of great Dark Lord Sauron, my master. He told me to infiltrate Mirkwood and that I did."  

 I cut her throat slightly. She did not wince.  

 "To have deceived me so!" I reeled.  

 How could this be?!  

 "How easy it was." she crowed.  

 With strength that I could not imagine her frail figure to have, she threw me off of her. My head smacked against my bed side and I fell into despair and darkness. 

Chapter Four 
I awoke in my bed. Melian was beside me placing enchantments on me. I could not move yet she moved me. My thoughts were blocked and so she thought for me. She spoke through my mouth. I became her puppet.  

 I could hear footsteps on my stairs and heard the doors fly open.  

 "Prince Legolas, the Lady Cuilaranel has return-" they were cut off upon seeing me in my bed with Melian.  

 Melian cried aloud but my lips did she curl into a smile as I rose to face them. My eyes glared at them despite how I attempted to plead understanding to them.  

 "How dare you interrupt me." I heard myself say.  

 "This is against our laws!" I heard one of the messengers say. "Quickly go get the King. He must know of this treachery!"  

 "He enchanted me!" Melian cried in fear. "He seduced me whilst I was walking in the gardens!"  

 "Be silenced you little fool!" I snapped harshly. "I can have whom I will."  

 Oh that I could but move. That they could but know of her foulness.  

 "Fear not Melian for he shall be well punished for this crime." the messenger comforted her. He looked at her gently. "How strong you must be to night die after such evils have been done unto you."  

 She ran into his arms and he held her tightly. I wondered if perhaps they were not lovers as well for she seemed to kiss his neck ever so slightly.  

 Suddenly I tasted such bitterness in my mouth that I thought of dying. My voice spoke in the Dark Tongue as Melian commanded and the messengers looked at me in awe and horror.  

 "A servant of Sauron in our midst!"  

 "A spy! Where is the real Legolas?!"  

 And alas that my father came as the chanting grew louder.  

 He fell to his knees before my bedside as I rose and stood before him.  

 "It is true then..." he whispered.  

 I shakily felt my arm rebel against Melian's enchantment as I readied my knife. If I could but strike the fell creature perhaps the lies would be broken.  

 Melian saw my trick and had my arm immediately throw the knife near enough to my father for him to think I would have thought to hit him.  

 He roared angrily and pressed a blade against my throat.  

 "Where is my real son!" he hissed.  

 "That you shall never know." I heard myself say coldly.  

 Silently I begged for Melian to but lift the enchantments.  

 She did just as Cuilaranel ran up the stairs.  

 "Father what is this that you do?" I cried. "Please I am your son! Melian is the evil one!"  

 "You disgusting creature!" My father seethed at me. He raised his sword with ever intention of plunging it through my neck. I could see Melian smile as the arms of the messenger were draped around her protectively.  

 "No!" I heard Cuilaranel cry. "No you cannot kill him!"  

 "He is not Legolas!" my father yelled. "He is but an imposter! What he has done with my real son I know not!"  

 "You must not destroy him all the same!" Cuilaranel pleaded. "What shall that solve? Nothing but your rage for the moment."  

 "Yet he deceived you. He laid with others while sharing your bed. He spoke in the Dark Tongue and only now attempted to claim my life!" my father roared.  

 Cuilaranel's eyes widened as fear and sorrow filled them at the sight of my desperate eyes yet she covered the fear with firmness.  

 "You must not kill him. It would solve nothing. Please...I ask for banishment perhaps...for though he may have deceived me I still felt love within me from him."  

 "He might have cursed you and made you barren!" Melian cried.  

 "No! No it is not so for a child has been brought to me."  

 My eyes widened and I smiled despite how my father's sword was inches away from my neck. Cuilaranel caught my smile and faintly smiled herself despite how she thought me evil.  

 "Please father I am not evil!" I tried again.  

 "Be silenced fell creature!" my father demanded. The sword drew closer to me despite how I held my stature.  

 "We cannot allow you to have this child." my father said to Cuilaranel. "No one knows what evil he may have put into this creature. It may be a demon you birth."  

 "Then so be it." Cuilaranel said. "And I shall love whatever creature it may be."  

 "Get thee some rest and I pray senses shall come to you." my father told her coldly. "We shall chain him in the dungeons. At light we shall banish him."  

 "Yet what if the real Legolas returns?" Melian asked.  

 How I desired to kill her yet if I but protested my father would surely kill me.  

 "An idea I have for that. Let us brand this one so that we may know the difference." he said.  

 "No!" I cried.  

 "Silence! For lying on your back for another against her will and deceiving us all so shall we brand your back!"  

 "No you must not! I beg of thee!"  

 The soldiers came rushing up the stairs and they carried me away to the dark towers that we possessed from ages passed.  

 There they tied me to a table and carved within my back a warning in Sindarin and the common tongue that I was a spy of Sauron never to be trusted. Or so they told me they would write over my screams.  

 Tears flooded my face with every stroke they made as I called out my fathers name for mercy. I knew he could hear me for his chambers were not far. I cried for Cuilaranel as well and demanded the head of Melian.  

 They all laughed at me and drove deeper into my back to silence me.  

 At last...at last they had done their evil deed. On my back was I forever branded the spy of Sauron.  

 I could not lie on my back and cried aloud every time they touched me. Such pain I felt and anguish.  

 They left me tied on the table and, laughing cruelly, they locked the door behind them. 

Chapter Five 
I heard Melian's footsteps before I heard her voice, laughing in her foul tongue I had not grown accustomed to.  

 "I shall destroy you someday." I vowed. "I promise that."  

 She was suddenly in the prison cell.  

 "How can you accomplish this for I shall ever remain in Mirkwood, corrupting it until it falls. You are banished and now..." she traced the words they had carved into me with her fingers. I cried out despite how I bit my tongue until it, too, caused me pain.  "Now you are branded as though livestock not wanted."  

 "Tell me fell beast," I asked, "who have you lain with and deceived?"  

 "I know not for certain. But I liked you best." she said and kissed my hair as she stroked it.  

 I wrestled with the chains that kept me still and felt such pain fill me that I soon stopped fighting despite how my hands yearned for her blood to touch them.  

 "I must go. Other lovers await me. Farewell Legolas the Proud. Farewell mighty prince." she scoffed and was gone.  

 "I shall destroy you!" I yelled after her. 
They came for me the next day and wished to move me. They told me that Cuilaranel had thrown herself from the highest tree and killed herself as my father had threatened to take away her child.  

 "See what you have done?" they jeered as they roughly untied me. My back was still fresh with pain and blood still trickled softly off of it yet they paid no heed and dragged me down the stairs all the way to the thrown room.  

 "Ah treacherous spy." my father greeted me. "Toss him off of our borders for I shall honor the wish of the late Cuilaranel. Be sure to watch him and make sure he is out of sight of our borders before you leave him. Make sure he does not follow."  

 "Am I allowed but a shirt to cover me from the hot sun?" I asked through a shaky voice. Were these to be my last words to my father? No I would speak something of more meaning despite how they should mean nothing to him.  

 "Yes, yes." he waved his hand dismissively. "Give him a silver tunic and a green vest."  

 "What of my gauntlets?"  

 "What shall you need those for?" he scoffed.  

 "To kill animals to feed upon."  

 "You have no hunger."  

 "I am not an elf and therefore do feel the pains of hunger."  

 "Ah you admit at last what you are in the open." my father cried. "So be it! Give him gauntlets! Let us see him off mightily! Give him a bow and a quiver but no arrows! Give him his knife but make it dull! Let us see his mighty warrior off!"  

 They pulled me away out of the throne room to prepare for my departure.  

 And it was so. They taunted me utterly for my evil deeds. Indeed was I dressed richly despite how my shirt was becoming drenched in my blood. They gave me my bow and a quiver yet no arrows and my knife I had attempted to kill Melian with but it was dulled down.  

 As they took me away I saw my father stand and watch.  

 "Farewell father!" I cried.  

 He did not answer.  

 And so they dragged me for several leagues away from Mirkwood and left me in the fields.  

 "Farewell fell prince." they spat and left. 
I writhed on the ground in utter agony for days.  

 Birds of Sauron circled overhead, waiting for me to die that they may devour my flesh. I beat them back with my dulled knife and cried bitterly at my bitter misfortunes.  

 What a fool I had been...