Corruption

                   By iced1

This is my second attempt at this plot, only that I've changed it considerably. I personally think this is more than a hundred times better than my last attempt, which was months ago. I have had more experience in writing fanfiction, and I really hope you'll give me a chance.

Chapter One

Legolas Thranduilion, Lord of the elves of Ithilen sat silently on his mount, his head gently bobbing along with his steed's steady footfall. Just over two days ago, he had departed from his city and began the journey to the Greenwood to pay his father, the king, a very overdue visit. As his white mare plodded around a sharp corner, he took in the beautiful azure sky with its tints of red and gold. He stared at the sunset for a while before dropping his gaze, letting out an involuntary gasp. About half a league away there stood the beginnings of his childhood home. Right in the middle of the fringe of the forest was an entrance created by two tall trees leaning in together, covering a dirt path that was wide enough to fit two horses.

He urged his mare into a canter and the elven-horse raced across the grassy plains, the long blades of grass bending over as she passed. Within the next half hour, he had arrived at the entrance. He directed the mare onto the path and felt a flutter rush through his body. 'How good it is to be home again.' He thought to himself. The forest was in the exact same state he had left it in so many years back. When he had last seen the trees of his beloved home, the war had just ended, and the evil shadow had been lifted from the forest. The leaves of the trees were no longer a green so dark that it could be called black, but a bright and healthy green that glinted with the sunshine that could once more pour through the gaps in the canopy. The branches no longer held stray wisps of broken cobwebs and now and then his sharp elven ears could pick up the chirping of a bird or cricket.

As his mare walked deeper and deeper into the forest, he began to notice a drastic change. It wasn't only in appearance, but... well, everything. Soon, all he could hear was the gentle clip-clop of hooves. The trees in this area of the forest were a lot darker. The air was still and Legolas began to undergo the unforgettable feeling of foreboding. It was almost as though he had gone back seven decades to when Sauron had set up his dwelling in the now demolished Dol Guldor. 'At least there are no cobwebs around warning me of those treacherous spiders' he mused, a shiver running through his torso.

His mare halted her footsteps, stomping her feet on the ground, tossing her head about and snorting. Legolas leaned down slowly, peering at what had upset her. He squinted and leaned further in trying to see the object on the ground more closely. He finally jumped off his horse and walked over to examine the object. What he saw surprised him greatly.

A great footprint of the steel boot of an orc was pressed into the earth. Legolas touched it and confirmed that the footprint was not new. He wasn't that great of a tracker though, and he had no idea exactly how old it was. He shrugged himself back onto his feet and climbed back onto the bare back of his horse. He pushed his knees together gently and his mare reluctantly pulled herself over the print in the ground.

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"Laegolas!" Legolas dropped lightly onto the ground beside his horse and grinned. He knew exactly who the owner of the voice was, even though the two elves had not met in several years.

"Ada!" He cried out even before he had turned completely. He had just come through the silver gates, which he was glad to see still recognized his command of opening: the raising of his right hand.

"How did you know it was me, my Greenleaf?" the king asked, enveloping his son in a hearty embrace.

"You called me Laegolas, ada. I know you are the only one here that uses my Quenyan name." came the muffled reply from the younger elf, whose mouth had been squashed against the emerald green robes of the king. Thranduil let go of his son and rewarded him with a grin.

"Come along, son. Your room has been left untouched since your last time here." Thranduil put his arm around his son's shoulders and pushed him towards the open double stone doors, leaving an elven maid hurrying along after them with Legolas' pack while another took the white mare by the reins and led her to the stables.

Legolas walked a few steps ahead of his father through the doors. The Entrance Hall had remained pretty much the same, save for a giant tapestry depicting the end of the War of the Rings that spanned across the stone walls. Legolas couldn't help but smile at the thought that the elves of Greenwood had actually made something out of the long and fruitful tales of his travels with the fellowship that he had told them upon return from Minas Tirith. He walked over and ran his finger over the cloth, marveled by how closely it resembled the actual battle scene.

"You can gaze at the tapestry later, my son. I asked the maidens to weave it for you as a homecoming present."

"Thank you ada." He whispered, before following his father up the steps to the second floor, the maiden carrying his pack still hurrying behind him. He walked up the stairs, memories flooding back into his head. Running down the stairs with his nurse chasing madly after him. Creeping down the stairs to sneak some food back to his room for a midnight snack. Tripping over a new bow and rolling down a whole flight of stairs. 'It has been too long.' He told himself.

He allowed himself to be ushered into his old room, which looked exactly the same, save for the linens, which looked a whole lot newer than before. He barely heard his father telling him to take a bath and join him for dinner in a few hours time. He looked over every square inch of wall and floor, his arms laden with the towel and clothes he had accepted from the maiden as her speech went through one ear and immediately came out the other. He laid the clothes and towel on the drawer and flopped himself down on his mattress, glad to be home at last.

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A/N: allow me some time complete this story, please. I won't be updating every other day or something, but bear in mind: reviews = encouragement and encouragement = quicker updates  ;)