[Lord of the Rings] Green Leaf's Blessing

The forest elves' attitude towards Gollum is changing silently like the seasons.At first they hated the stench and screaming monster, but as time passed, they felt a little uneasy about keeping it in a dark dungeon.

And this uneasiness is not just because of disgust and fear.

"I heard people say that the monster's soul was corrupted by evil forces and was tortured like this. Can it return to its original appearance?"

No matter the threat is near or far, the night in the forest is always filled with the songs and laughter of the elves, and the brilliance of the feast of stars never fades and changes.It was the same tonight, Tessier asked Legolas as they gathered to share and give each other joy.He has grown from a lively little elf to a heroic forest warrior, but he is still too young, and his time in the palace guards is still short, so there is no worry or panic on his face, but more It is curiosity and doubt.

"I don't know," Legolas replied softly, looking up at the night sky illuminated by the stars, "but I am willing to believe that when the shadows dissipate again, the once beautiful big green forest will return again."

"I also believe," the young Tessier followed Legolas' gaze, his eyes full of longing, "those legendary beauties have only appeared in my dreams so far—the place my father walked through piece of land."

"You will see." Legolas patted the young elf's shoulder lightly, both as a blessing and as a promise of protection.

No one expected that the speed of the nightmare would be so fast.Few summer nights have been so starless and moonless as that night, and after the sadness of that night, the night in the forest seems to have cast a lingering shadow ever since.When Legolas heard the news and rushed to the rescue, it was already too late, and the guard guarding the prisoner was either killed or lost track.Since those days, the soft-hearted elf guards began to lead the poor prisoner for walks in the forest in good weather, and gradually Gollum began to develop the habit of climbing a big tree far away from the others.The innocent and kind elf also hoped that the freely blowing wind could help heal its wounded soul, but it did not expect that it had already fallen into the opponent's conspiracy.In hindsight, the cunning Gollum sent his message with his hideous song—and then, on the night when the song was most piercing, his evil ally finally arrived.

Although it was not the first time he had witnessed the death of his companion, Legolas was still deeply saddened.And when he and his clansmen pursued the trail further into the forest, he clearly sensed that more sorrow would follow.Some of the monsters they thought had been eradicated and dispelled returned to invade, and the forest was once again shrouded in shadow.

Many times, their teams have almost crossed the border of the country.In the end, Legolas just stood still for a moment, and then ordered his subordinates to return.

But he knew deep down that the day might have come for him to leave the forest.

After finishing the hopeless manhunt, Legolas returned to the palace in a hurry, but to his surprise, his father seemed to be well aware of the request he was about to make.

"If you think it is necessary to do this, then you go." There was a peaceful smile on his father's face, only the worry that could not be completely hidden was faintly revealed in his eyes.

"We failed Estelle's entrustment, and we should give him an explanation," Legolas said frankly, "And the wise man stationed in Imlatri, I think he may be very clear about the situation in this world. In this confused and dangerous age, we can no longer guard our forest alone, Ada."

"I agree with you, son, so I won't stop you."

"But you're still worried about me, aren't you, Ada?" Legolas approached his father.

"Would you believe me if I said no?"

"Of course not..." Legolas sighed softly, before wrapping his arms around his father as usual.

Because I'm worried about you too... His eyes fell on the white gemstone ring that his father had placed on the desk, and he couldn't help but hug his father even tighter.From this moment on, he had his own secret, because he didn't tell his father, there was another very important reason why he wanted to go to Imratri—the secret that his father thought he had hidden very well. related.

On the eve of Legolas' departure, his father held a banquet in his honor.There has never been a banquet as silent and depressed as tonight, because the shadow has spread into the hearts of every elf.Until the end, it was Legolas who broke the deadlock of silence. He laughed and pushed the wine glass into his father's arms, and then jumped into the middle of the open space with light steps, and began to dance under the faint light of stars and moons.

The figure stretched out with the gentle song in the wind is still full of all the youthful vitality and hope.Soon, the nearby elves were infected one by one, and gradually jumped away to dance with the green leaf prince.Only Thranduil, who is the king and father, always sat quietly at this end, watching all this with a smile.

At that time, Thranduil did not think that this would be the last time he saw his beloved child dancing happily.

Later, Legolas was so drunk that he could hardly stand still, and he held his father's arm and refused to let go.Perhaps it was because tonight was so different from the past, Thranduil did not stop his childish behavior, but let him rely on himself, gently supporting him on the way back to his room.When all the servants retreated, he simply stretched out his other hand and held his son in his arms.

"Ada..." When he put his son gently on the bed, Legolas slightly opened his eyes, and pulled his father's blond hair with his hands, just like he did when he was a child.

"Rest, Legolas, you will be on a long journey tomorrow morning."

"Ada, promise me..." He struggled to wrap his arms around his father's shoulders, "Promise me...don't hurt yourself no matter what, no matter what it is for..."

A look of surprise flashed across Thranduil's eyes, but he quickly calmed down, gently pushed his son back to the head of the bed, and lowered his head to kiss his forehead.

"You're drunk, son, good night."

After leaving his son's room, his heart seemed to fluster like the restless wind at night. He was deeply relieved when he hurried back to the study and found that the white gemstone ring was still safe and sound on the desk.

At the same time, Legolas on the other side stood up quickly and steadily, and the drunken sleepiness he had pretended to be was no longer visible in his calm eyes.He went to the window and waited until another light figure leaped like a breeze.

It's Tessier.He didn't drink tonight, but his cheeks were flushed with agitation—it came from his previous behavior and the ring he was holding tightly in his hand.

"All right?" Legolas asked calmly.This was what he had planned a long time ago, he would pretend to be drunk and hold his father back, while Tessier would go to replace the ring on his father's desk.

Tessier didn't seem to be able to speak calmly, and just stretched out his slightly trembling fingers to Legolas' eyes—the white gemstone ring exuded a faint luster in the darkness.

"Thank you, Tessier." Legolas said softly, and took the ring into his hand.His hands never trembled.

"You really decided, Your Highness?" Knowing that the other party was so determined from beginning to end, the young elf still spoke unwillingly.

Legolas smiled and nodded.

"But I'm worried about you, Your Highness...Uncle Luye..."

"I can't help it, Tessier," Legolas said, tightening the ring, "because he's the one I love the most."

For 3000 years, Legolas never really set foot in the world outside the forest.And now that he was in a completely strange land, that stunning beauty should have printed more happiness in his clear young eyes, not more sadness.However, in this dark age when everyone's heart is covered with shadows, the more beautiful the scenery, the more sad it is, because even the wise Elrond could not accurately predict that the pure land he insisted on could still shine How long is the shine.

Elrond led Legolas, who had come from afar, to a small meeting room at the end of the corridor in the valley, and no outsider except the wizard Gandalf witnessed the conversation.Legolas first told the truth about the regrettable news he brought, and when he found that the expressions in the eyes of Elrond and Gandalf were not too surprised but quickly settled, he understood that he The news that comes may have the effect of adding insult to injury to what has already happened.

"I have decided to hold a meeting tomorrow, when Mithrandil and I will explain everything to everyone. And you, Legolas," Elrond paused, his wise eyes, which had witnessed too many traces of time, were gentle. Staring intently at the young elf in front of him, "It seems that there are other purposes."

"You're right." Legolas first nodded slightly to the venerable elder, then took out the white gemstone ring, and gently placed it on the stone table in front of the three of them— The brilliance of the stars and the moon shone brighter than the brilliance of gems, and when he thought that his bleak appearance was also a symbol of his father's fading vitality, Legolas' heart ached.

"This ring has ancient power." Elrond put his hand on the ring and felt it from the air. "Different from the power we poured into the three rings of the elves, the source of this power is more ancient and ancient." Jiuyuan...Well, I think it does not require manipulation, and the owner of it will not be the master, this kind of power is sad..."

"This power comes from the forest. This is an ancient contract, and it is also a kind of mutual sacrifice for protection and coexistence... Its owner is my father."

"I understand." Elrond nodded solemnly, "This is a sad and dangerous power. Thranduil can protect the forest from darkness, but it will also lead to complete destruction... "

"I came here to prevent the latter possibility from happening," Legolas looked at Elrond, his blue eyes filled with firmness, "Is there a way to transfer this contract power to another person?" On—like me?"

For a while, the small conference room was extremely silent.In silence, Legolas spread his slender fingers, picked up the ring and put it on.

"I can't feel at all... I can't feel the breath, struggle and pain of the forest," he murmured while looking at the ring, "Maybe it's because the contract Adar established with the forest is still valid, but I want to break this link—— In a way that doesn't hurt Adar. Please... tell me."

Elrond and Gandalf looked at each other in silence, as if hesitating whether to be involved in the young elf's decision.

"Don't worry," Legolas smiled, the faint light from his hand still reflecting his smile, "I will keep this secret."

Elrond's eyes sank, as if he saw in this young elf the same stubbornness in another person several years ago.

"Has it ever occurred to you, Legolas, that maybe your father is keeping some secrets about you?"

"Of course I think so, and I think it's more than that," he pointed to the ring in his hand, "but I never ask, because I know that if I did, he would never tell me anyway. And even if I don't Ask, I can also imagine how much he has paid for me."

"And your father may know your secret one day. You can't keep your secret forever, just like him, because you both love each other so deeply."

"Even so, so what?" Legolas caressed the ring, and the corner of his mouth raised a gentle arc, "I had already sacrificed and paid for him at that time, and nothing can be changed."

"That was cruel and sad for a father."

"So you're denying my request?"

The voice of the young elf was filled with sorrowful unwillingness and pain, and his begging gaze towards the other party was full of persistence that would not give up.Elrond sighed, and even Gandalf bowed his head involuntarily.

"I just want to tell you that in order to replace that contract, you may need to sacrifice all your soul and flesh and blood."

At the Forest Valley meeting the next day, Legolas appeared calm and calm compared to everyone's worries.This may be because he has already chosen the road he is about to embark on, and this road is related to his innate responsibility, his homeland and clansmen who are closely related to each other, and even more related to his father who he loved with his life. .

So, when Elrond asked everyone about their willingness to protect the Ring, Legolas repeated the promise he made the night before in a calm voice——

"I am willing."