A/N: Well, I've had this hanging around for ages, and it's probably going to be something that I won't update very often, but I thought I might aswell publish what I've got cause it's not bad and the Legolas/Harry fandom could always use another addition.

always forget this!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. not Legolas, not Harry and most definately not that gold ring this story revolves around! I so don't suit gold! Silver is much more my colour!

Tell me what you think of this, alright?

Prologue

Harry blinked, observing the jubilant witches and wizards rushing about him, overcome with joy. It wouldn't last long. Soon the sorrow and devastation of the war they had survived would overcome them, and instead of embracing each other with smiles, frowns would mar their tear-streaked faces.

Yet Harry already felt the emptiness. All his friends were gone and the one thing that had kept him going – his drive to defeat Voldemort to avenge each of them – was gone. Staring at the body of the man who had caused him so much pain and hatred for the past seventeen years. He was truly glad it was over. His vengeance fulfilled and the darkness that had blanketed the country finally felled. Yet, what was he to do now? His task was complete and he was free of all responsibility to the wizarding world. He could finally get away, have some peace from the constant fighting that he had been forced into. But Harry suddenly found he didn't want that. His friends… Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna… they were all gone. He would miss them all so much but… even after all they had been through – him, Ron and Hermione particularly – he found they were not the ones he missed the most.

Hedwig. Oh how much he would give to see her one more time. She truly had been with him from the start, through the horrors of living with the Dursleys. She had been the only one to witness him at his weakest, seen the scars marking each of the failings his uncle had beat into him. She was the only one who had never strayed from him in the slightest. Never doubted him, even when he fell into the deepest self-doubt. And he had failed her when he fled the abusive home she had lived through with him.

He hardly noticed when he slipped to his knees and pulled them to his chest protectively, his eyes still staring unseeingly at Voldemort's body. He subconsciously registered that soon people would begin crowding him, once the shock had worn off for them.

'I don't want to be here!' he thought unexpectedly to himself. Why wouldn't he want to be here? he wondered. Hogwarts is his home, ever since he first entered it's doors and walked down the centre of the great hall, scared of whatever test he would be faced to decide his house.

But suddenly in his vision Hogwarts wasn't the important part, the twinkling blue eyes watching over the procession in a grandfatherly fashion were. The nervous babble that Hermione spouted out about the ceiling of the hall. The shocked exclamation of 'Bloody Hell!' from the redhead walking in awe beside him. That was what made this castle home to him. 'I don't want to be here!' he cried to himself again, desperate to be away as he felt the first wizard approach him and lay a hand on his shoulder, shaking him exuberantly.

A split second later his magic lashed out, pushing the wizard backwards across the floor. He closed his eyes tighter, overcome in his thoughts of memories he had shared with his most important people. Hermione conjuring a small blue flame for them to huddle around for warmth. Ron's freckled face cringing as a small trail of spiders escaped from the corridor through a cracked windowpane. Dumbledore lamenting on his experience of a vomit flavoured bean. Sirius' laugh the second before he began his slow fall backwards through the veil… Hedwig nipping his ear harshly when he wasn't paying attention to her.

He felt it all, all the emotions associated with each memory, even the sharp pain on the shell of his ear…

Then he felt it again, as if the owl was still perched on his shoulder, wanting his attention. On the third painful tug he noticed his eyes were tightly closed and tried to open them. He had only managed the smallest peak when the white light surrounded him blinded him. He tried again, more slowly, before a fourth nip gained his frustration.

He threw his left arm up to his shoulder, successfully displacing the object of his ire only to receive a loud, shrill hoot of annoyance in his ear as the weight reattached itself to his shoulder.

Taking his right arm this time, he raised it carefully to his shoulder, placing it carefully and cautiously on his shoulder. He could never mistake the soft plumage he ran his fingers through as any other bird.

"Hedwig?" he asked, surprised at the musical and soft tone his voice took, instead of the normal harsh and deep sound. The gentle 'coo' he got made him force his eyes open the last fraction and turn to his left in shock.

Large amber eyes stared back at him, silent mirth conveyed in them at his disbelieving expression.

"Where am I?" he asked her softly, continuing to thread his fingers through her soft feathers as he finally surveyed his surroundings.

"You are in a holding chamber in the Halls of Mandos, little one, however you do not yet belong here," spoke a gentle voice to his right.

There were four of them stood there, beings of such great power he could not make out their features for the aura surrounding each of them. He could but make out that there were two of each sex.

"Why am I here then?" he asked nervously, adding, "if I'm not meant to be."

He felt, more than heard, several of them chuckle, the feeling causing a great warmth, the likes of which he only ever felt whilst listening to the song of a phoenix.

"We brought you here to explain your new task to you, bright one, before we send you onwards", one of the male figures informed him.

"New task? Send me on? Who are you?" he asked, starting to panic slightly.

One of the female forms moved towards him swiftly, leaving him little time to defend himself other than shuffle backwards hastily, putting too much weight on his wrist, which – he now noticed – was still as broken as it had been when his duel with Voldemort ended. All the other wounds were still very much present – and bleeding – and yet he couldn't feel anything except a numbing warmth throughout his body.

His attention was suddenly pulled from his wrist when two arms enveloped him, pulling him to a chest and surrounding him in the glowing aura that blanketed the beings.

"Calm Little one, we will not hurt you," she whispered soothingly. "We are known as the Valar, or what you would call Gods. I am Estë. The others are Nienna: Lady of Mercy; Lórien: Master of Visions and Dreams and Mandos: Judge of the Dead and the Master of Doom. We are but four of the Valar who are most relevant to you, Little one." She motioned to each as she spoke of them.

Lórien stepped forward as she finished, beginning to speak in a voice misty and distant with forsight. "We have seen your struggles in your own world and the toils you went through to defeat an enemy who should have been far outwith your strength to conquer. And still, when fulfilled your set task," here Harry could tell he was getting a look of wonder, "you were not content. You wished for another task, another set of struggles. We have such a task for you to undertake."

Mandos took up the explanation instantly, as if previously rehearsed. "The world we watch over is falling into darkness as a Dark Lord rises again. He is much stronger than the one you have just conquered, but you would be an invaluable ally to the Light with the experience you hold. Your strength – that would be greater in the world of Arda – would also be greatly needed to combat the armies of evil. There are but few wizards – or Istari – in Arda and the leader of the council has shown his betrayal with his violation of the land. You will meet with the strongest Istari in Rivendell, Olórin, or Mithrandir, as they call him in Arda. He will travel with you on your journey."

And finally Nienna stepped forwards, speaking a in voice so gentle, Harry strained forwards to hear. "But we would not send you without gifts in return for your assistance. The first shall be Hedwig, your most loyal companion, may her presence guide you through your darkest times."

Harry smiled brightly at her, whilst Hedwig 'coo'ed, nibbling his ear affectionately.

"The second and third gifts go hand-in-hand" Lórien continued, "on entrance to Arda you will gain a new form, do not worry when you first see it, for you are still 17 years old. However this new form has certain benefits which will be explained to you. The third gift is that of a person. Your soulmate is in Arda, waiting for you. He too will be waiting in Rivendell for you but neither of you will know of each other until you meet properly."

"The final gift" Estë spoke again from right beside him, "is of the least import. A sword to defend yourself with, for when your magic is best kept hidden."

Here she unclipped the belt from her own waist and fastened it around his, holding the sheathed blade to his left hip.

She stood up, placing him on his feet and backing away to join the other three Valar in watching.

"Good luck Little One, may you find healing quickly."

Harry opened his mouth to ask what she meant, but in a blinding flash, he disappeared from the light room, reappearing instantly in a snow-covered field and mind-numbing pain.

He fell to unconsciousness instantly.

I feel the need to point out now that, unlike other LOTRs authors, I'm not Extremely knowledgable on all the names, religions, history etc. so if I get things wrong, please inform me, but try to do so in a way that is not offensive, no one likes an offensive reviewer!

thank you!