A soft breeze blew through the trees, gently tearing several leaves from the branches and sending them spinning towards the ground.

It was late spring and the Greenwood had never been more beautiful.

A lone elleth stood under the trees, her long golden hair blew gently behind her, her green dress blended in with the forest.

"Naneth!"

She smiled and turned towards her son, his blue eyes were wide and filled with joy as he ran towards her.

She knelt down and took him into her arms, she lifted him up and spun him around.

He laughed in delight, she stopped spinning him and smiled.

"What do you have there Little Leaf?"
She asked gently.

"I found something for you Naneth."

He held out a small blue flower, she took it into her hand and smiled.

"It's beautiful Legolas."

Legolas smiled, she lowered him onto the ground and followed him as he ran ahead through the forest.

Everyday the two of them came out into the forest, no one else came with them, it was just her and her little leaf.

She watched as Legolas ran ahead.
"Legolas! Do not wander too far ahead."

"I won't Naneth!"
He called over his shoulder.

Legolas ran into the trees, enjoying the wind and sound of the forest.

He stopped in the middle of clearing, he gazed in wonder as a large gust of wind blew hundreds of leaves off of the trees.

He held out his hand and caught one, he laughed and ran, continuing to catch more leaves.

Then he stopped.

Something was wrong.

Legolas looked around nervously, suddenly the forest that had seemed safe and full of light, now felt dark and dangerous.

Legolas began backing out of the clearing, desperate to return to his mother.

A horrible noise filled his ears, his eyes widened in horror as orcs suddenly ran into the clearing.

He spun around and ran, he called desperately for his mother.

"Naneth!"
His voice was strained with fear, behind him the orcs moved closer.

Any minute now they would have him.

Suddenly he was lifted into the air, he was about to cry out when he realized that it was his mother.

She held him tightly and ran, the orcs continued to move closer.

Suddenly she skidded to a stop.
An orc appeared in front of her, blocking that way of escape.

She tried to run different way but another orc blocked her path.

They were surrounded.

She held Legolas tightly, she whispered softly intonhis ear.

"It will be alright, everything will be alright Little Leaf."

Legolas wrapped his arms around her neck, he watched the advancing orcs in fear.

"You can't save him she elf!"
One of the orcs spat.

She narrowed her eyes at the orc and held Legolas tighter.

"You will not touch him. Not as long as I draw breath."

The orc sneered and continued to get closer.

Legolas' mother spun around, there was no way for her to escape.

The orcs attacked them at once.

She spun out of the way of one orc, and right into another.

She cried out in pain as a sword slashed across her back, her grip on Legolas weakened.

An orc suddenly grabbed Legolas.

He screamed as he was ripped from his mother's grasp.

Two orcs grabbed Legolas' mother and held a sword against her neck.

She glared at the orc who held Legolas.

"Let him go."

The orcs laughed.

"Do you really think that I'm going to let him go?"
The orc that held Legolas snarled, tightening his grip on the frigtened elfling.

"You know as well as do what my master wants with him."
The orc continued.
"You may have escaped him but he won't."

"If your master wants me then take me."
She narrowed her eyes at the orc.

"It's too late she elf."
The orc spat.

He shouted something in the black speech to his orcs, they started running, taking Legolas with them.

The elfling struggled to break free but it was no use, he cast one last desperate look at his mother, and watched as the orcs drove a sword through her.

Legolas screamed.

»»»

Thalion heard Legolas' screams coming from his room.

He threw open his bedroom door and sat beside Legolas, he wrapped his arms around his little brother and began to calm him down.

"It's alright Las, it was just a dream. Everything will be fine."

Legolas' cries softened into small whimpers.

Thalion sighed, this had been the third time that this had happened since the orcs had attacked.

They had almost gotten away with Legolas, Thalion had been the one to shoot and kill the orc that had Legolas.

They hadn't been able to save their mother, she had been dead when they had arrived.

Their father hadn't been the same since her death.

He had become cold and distant, neglecting his people, and his sons.

Thalion looked down at Legolas, his brother had fallen back asleep.

The attack had happened almost two months ago, Legolas had been having nightmares ever since then.

Legolas was still very young, that had been his first encounter with orcs.

Thalion had been fighting for years. Out of the two brothers he had always been the fighter, Legolas had prefered staying in the palace with his mother.

Listening to stories, playing, and taking walks with their mother.

But now she was dead, their father ignored Legolas.

Who will look after you?

Thalion gently laid his brother back onto his bed, he covered him back up with his blanket.

He was so small, so innocent.

"I'll protect you Las."
Thalion said quietly.
"I swear I will never let anything happen to you."

He stood up and left the room, before he closed the door he looked back at Legolas one last time.

I will keep you safe Legolas.
Even if it costs me my own life.