Prologue

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Long, long ago, before the Darkness of Sauron entered Greenwood the Great, the royal family of the Elves of that wood was in their prime. Their King, Thranduil, was the greatest they had ever had. Most precious to them, even more precious than their King, was the King's son, their Prince, Legolas, whose beauty it was said rivaled only the Evenstar's.

The time the Elves had in Greenwood was joyous and peaceful. But that soon faded, for the second Dark Lord had long watched and planned an attack upon them, jealous of the happiness and power the Elves possessed.

He attacked one night, during a joyous celebration- the celebration of the five-year old Legolas being crowned Prince of Greenwood. His plan was not to kill all of the Elves, but rather to kill the royal family. He slew nearly all of them, but in the confusion Legolas and Thranduil managed to hide in a hidden room. There, Thranduil gave Legolas an amulet and said: "If you escape, go to fair Imladris, where you shall find freedom, and peace."

Legolas nodded, and clasped the amulet around his neck, taking time to read the inscription. Translated to the common tongue, the Elvish words read, I am Legolas, the only son of Thranduil. I have survived the attack on Greenwood, and by the pledge of the Elven Kingdoms, I wish to live here.'

Thranduil then opened a secret door in the far wall and pushed the younger Elf through. It was not a moment too soon, as the door splintered and crashed to the ground, and the armies of Sauron began to pour into the room. Thranduil followed his son and shut the secret door behind him just before it came into his enemies view. The minions of Sauron began to search frantically, for the two surviving members of the royal family had disappeared.

The Elves of non-royal blood fled into the forest, and, eventually, to Rivendell or Lothlòrien.

The secret door led to a secret passage that led outside, but Sauron was waiting at the exit, and with a huge bolt of lightening, caused Thranduil to be separated from his son. Thranduil managed to flee to Rivendell, but to this very day it is unknown whether or not Legolas escaped, or indeed even lived.