"Black Lion of Middle Earth."

Chapter 1

"Your name will be Raion."

The day was beautiful in the land of Mirkwood, once called Greenwood due to its magnificent trees that were its pride and joy.

Despite the growing darkness that came from Mordor, some of the trees stayed in the light and allowed the sun to lighten up the forest around them.

A dark-clad figure walked through the large forest, his horse in toe. Quiet curses could be heard erupting from the mouth of the figure every time a branch hit his face or a vine tramped his movement.

"'This will help you with your medicine knowledge.' He said. 'You need to get out more or else you'll grow vines into the ground.' He said. 'You're the only one who can find those pesky, little mushrooms in that dark forest, Taseko.' He said." The man's voice high-pitched in imitating that of another. "Well, orc crap! Meshiru can do that just as well as I can, Keshin-sensei." Taseko yelled throwing his hands up, grass-green eyes blazing.

He felt something soft nudge him in the shoulder. He looked back and saw his faithful horse, Bruus looking at him as if to say: 'You know, for a ninja and a master of stealth you sure are adamant to let everybody know you're here.'

The man glared at the animal. "Shut up before I decide you're too old for further service and eat you for diner." He then took a deep breath and placed a hand over his masked face. God how he hated sneaking around the great Mirkwood forest in search for medical herbs that can only be found in this particular location, while also avoiding the elven guards that were patrolling the roads.

He and his fellow clan members were not welcome in king Thranduil's realm, long before the man was born.

That fact alone made it impossible for him to travel safely and comfortably, not having the luxury of riding his horse on a traveled forest road. Instead he has to go through bushes and long tree branches that have a terrible habit of scratching every bit of what was left of his uncovered face, with the intention of avoiding the elven king's patrol.

Growling at both his current situation and Bruus, Taseko kneeled down in front of a tree and began tracing his hands against the trunk.

He was looking for a small fungus that helps cure rheumatism, which is slowly taking over the graceful movement of his clan leader, Keshin.

The problem with that task was that the mushrooms he needed were the same color as the tree it was growing on, meaning that if he wanted to find one he'll have to feel all over the tree until he feels something softer under his fingers.

It usually took hours to no end before he finally found one in the size, he needed and that irritated the man just as much as his sensei's so called reason to choose him for the task.

Apparently he spent too much time meditating in his room and his fellow teammates were worried about him.

Taseko snorted and made his way to the next tree.

Yeah, right. He thought bitterly. Those ninja-wannabe's simply needed somebody to do the boring task for them, that's all. The second tree he examined had a little bit of the mushroom he needed, but the fungus itself was way too small to qualify for any healing experiments. Which meant he was back at square number one.

Or at least he would be if a giant horse didn't appear out of nowhere and threaten to stomp him to death.

"Woah! Woah! Easy there big fella." The ninja jumped back a bit when the panicked horse stood up on its hind legs and began wavering his front ones up and down, wanting noting more than to hit the black-clad man in the head with them.

"Easy, easy now, big guy." Taseko cooed, his tone comforting and calm. He didn't want to scare the horse beyond what it already was. Not taking his eyes of the frightened animal, he mentioned for his own stallion to back away to a safer distance. "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise." But the large, cream colored horse was beyond listening. As the man's hand came closer to its muzzle to catch the rains, it tugged its head out of reach and stood up again. Heeding whoever that was on its back from the black-clad man.

It wasn't going to let the human hurt its rider, no matter what.

Taseko was getting irritated by the horse's behavior, but couldn't really blame the stallion for it. After all the years he spent baby-siting Bruus, he learned that horses usually act that way when they're trying to protect their young or something they consider as their little ones.

This cream colored, larger-than-most horse was franticly trying to protect whoever that was curled on its back, from the world around it. Even if parts of that world didn't want to hurt his charge, such as Taseko.

The man could see that the animal was hurt. Having long, thin scratches decorating its chest and legs that looked to straight and precise to be made by a tree branch.

Taseko felt his chest tighten upon that revelation. There was an orc attack in the elven king's realm.

And that fool probably didn't even know about it.

Without even thinking, the shinobi snatched the rains and pulled the horse's head down his other hand placed between the shocked animal's eyes, rubbing the horse's muzzle and whispering words of comfort.

Slowly but surely the animal began to calm down at the sound of the masked man's voice and reassuring touch. Once it relaxed enough to not bottle the moment Taseko released his grip on the restrains, the man slowly made his way to the animal's side petting it comfortingly.

"That's right, big fella. Nice and calm." He repeated the words until his glowed hands touched something that wasn't the saddle or the blanket beneath it.

It was a leg.

A tiny one, that of a young child.

Taseko looked up and saw a small figure pressed against the horse's large neck, shaking slightly and quiet sobs escaping its lips. The boy's head was hidden beneath the stallion's great yellow mane, effectively hiding the child's face from view.

"And what do we have here?" He spoke quietly, gently. Just like he did with the horse. Reaching out a hand he moved away part of the yellowish mane.

The ninja paled at the sight before him.

He saw a young boy that was about five-years-old, long blond hair, big blue eyes looking at him with fear and…pointy ears.

A part of him was scared by the child's age. Surely he must have come along with his mother or father, right? Taseko thought, looking deeply into the large blue orbs and smiling reassuringly. But there is nobody with him and that means…oh, dear Valar.

To witness the death of his parents at such a young age…

The shinobi shook his head.

What did this poor Little One do, to deserve such a faith?

The second part of him was more concerned about the youngling's ears.

This boy was an elf or, if he wanted to be posh about it, an elfling.

One that had a surprising resemblance to king of the Woodland realm himself, but that might have been due to the fact that they both had blonde hair and blue eyes.

Is this how you protect your people, Elven King Thranduil? Taseko though angrily though his face showed no indication that he's angry. Allowing little elflings to watch their parents die, because none of your ever-present patrols were there, when they were needed most? Despite the anger rising in his heart them man continued to smile gently at the young soul before him.

"Hello, Little One." He spoke softly, his eyes cringing in a fake smile. "Can you tell me what your name is?"

The boy didn't answer, only stared at him with horror-struck eyes. "Y-Your f-face." A small voice squeaked.

That's when the man realized the child had probably never seen a mask such as the one he wore, and was probably terrified that the human before him didn't have half of his face.

"Oh, this?" He pointed at the black, mask. "It's just a mask, Young One." With one swift movement he junked the material down, revealing the long scar that went from his left eye all the way through his face and chin. "See? Nothing to be afraid of." He smiled.

The boy smiled back though it was hesitant and didn't last long. Soon the big blue eyes widened again and began looking around fanatically. "W-Where a-am, I-I? Where is Nana? S-She was r-right b-behind me…where is Nana?" Not receiving any answer from the ninja, they boy continued looking around calling for his 'Nana', before turning to the horse he was riding.

"Esthrebien." He sobered pulling on the yellow mane. "We have to go back for her, Esthrebien!" But the cream colored horse didn't respond to the boy's pulls. "She could be hurt by those mean creatures! Turn back, Esthrebien! Turn back!" The child was screaming now, his little heart breaking right in front of Taseko. Soon the elfling stopped crying and simply buried his head into the horse's mane, crying loudly.

Not being able to stand and do nothing no longer, the ninja pulled the boy into a tight embrace which the child returned with equal strength.

"Shhh…Shhh…Little One. It's alright…Shhh…"Taseko knew he was lieing, but the boy needed reassurance. Even if it was fake.

"T-This is all my fault." The boy wept, his voice muffled by the ninja's leather armor. "I-If only I waited… If only I l-listened to Ada…"

"No, no, no Little One. Don't think that." The shinobi rubbed circles around the child's back comfortingly, the last thing the child needed was to blame himself for something he didn't do. "Nothing that happened was your fault, Young One." He then gently pulled the child so that he can look him in the eyes but the elfling didn't look back at him, only wiped his glassy, blue eyes with his sleeve. "Never believe anybody who tells you otherwise, do you understand me Little One?" The boy nodded but didn't meet his gaze, probably to ashamed.

Taseko's heart melted at the sight of tears falling down the chubby cheeks.

No one that young should be carrying the weight of such guilt.

Nobody that young should live knowing that their beloved mother died, because of a stupid mistake.

Where were you when this little boy needed you, Thranduil? The ninja thought, concentrating all his anger not at the orcs that did the deed, but at the incapable king that had all the power he needed to prevent and yet did nothing. Absolutely nothing. Where were you?!

He knew that, even if the infamous elven king was able to hear his angry questions, he wouldn't answer.

I have to go check on the battle scene. He thought, hugging the boy. There might be a slight chance that the mother survived. Again he pulled away from the boy and this time he pulled the child's chin up so that he can look into those blue eyes, filled with grief. And even if she didn't…I'll avenge her for you, Little One. I promise you, those filthy creatures won't see the next sunrise.

"Listen to me now, Little One." He said, his voice gentle but commanding. "I'm going to back, to see if there's any orcs left. I want you to stay here with Esthrebien and my horse, Bruus." To prove his point, he whistled for his auburn horse to return. "Can you do this for me, Young One?"

The child looked up at the man he barely knew and, for a split second, Taseko thought he saw worry in them before they filled up with grief and the elfling nodded.

Taking that for his permission to leave, the shinobi gave the boy one last tight squeeze and turned away towards the direction from which the cream colored horse first appeared.

Placing his mask back on his face and he was about to take of in a chakra-enhanced run, when…

He felt something soft nudge him in the shoulder.

Taseko turned around to meet two large, amber orbs of his stallion gazing at him with worry.

Sighting, the man placed a glowed hand on Bruus's muzzle.

"You better take care of the boy till I return, Bruus." He whispered softly, pressing his forehead to that of the horse. "Or my earlier threat will come very much true. I've been dyeing for some good horse meat for some time now." He said, his voice deadly serious.

With that said, he leaped into the trees.

#Five hours later:

"I sent you out to look for mushrooms and you return to me with an orphan?" Taseko watched his leader's eyebrow rise. The room they were currently in was dark, gloomy and altogether unpleasant for those who are used to places that have more light in them.

The large man was sitting behind a large oak desk in the middle of the said room, his icy-blue eyes glaring at his soldier and his face twisting into a grimace underneath his dark mask.

At the sound of the man's booming, angry voice the boy pressed himself closer to the green eyed shinobi's pant leg, weeping quietly.

"That is correct, Master." Taseko's words held no regret to his decision. He knew he did the right thing. The boy needed a place to live for both his parents were confirmed dead and he was too young to be left alone to fend for himself.

If Master Keshin disagreed with his action, that was okay.

Taseko could take any punishment the elder man threw at him, as long as the child stays.

"Is there a particular reason you choose to bring the boy here, instead of dropping him of in some orphanage?" The leader of asked leaning back on his chair and pressing his fingers together on top of his chest.

The green eyed ninja blinked.

The dyeing mother's last words echoed in his head…

#Flashback:

It didn't take long for the ninja to find the battlefield.

The stench of orc blood could lead a blind man to it with no problem.

The ground surrounding the dead bodies was covered in dry, black pools of the substance accompanied by broken tree's and flies buzzing above the older bodies.

Taseko walked carefully between the fallen monsters, not wanting to stain his clean, black, leather shoes with orc blood and other body fluids.

A groan was heard by his left.

It was an orc. Barely alive, his chest heaving to get enough air to the shutting-down lungs.

For a second, the shinobi considered giving the Valar forsaken creature a quick and painless death. But then the image of the crying boy flashed before his eyes and he decided against it.

That abomination deserves every minute of the pain it's getting, for attacking a defenseless elleth and her child, as well as ridding a young elfling from his mother.

Pushing through bodies, he searched for any signs of an elf.

He was about to give up when, his sharp eyes spotted a handful of pail-blonde hair from beneath one of the wargs, that accompanied the vile creatures.

After that it was just a matter of time before he had the poor elleth in his arms.

She was beautiful even with her face and warrior-dress covered in thick red-black blood. A large stab wound decorating her thin torso as well as numerous scratches ripping apart the delicate, pail skin.

Taseko supported her head on his right arm as she struggled to breathe.

"W-Where…is…my son?" Despite his heightened senses, the green eyed shinobi could barely hear the softly spoken words.

"He's safe now, my lady." He spoke gently, stroking the elleth's pail blond hair to keep her awake. "He's okay. Nothing happened to him. He's safe."

"S-Safe." She whispered. "L-Legolas…s-safe. G-Good." She opened her eyes and glassy, gentle amber eyes looked into his own grass-green ones. "P-Promise me you'll…keep him safe. D-Don't let him be…alone. N-Never let him be…consumed by…grief and guilt. Tis was not…his fault."

"I won't, I promise." Taseko vowed, squeezing the elleth's hand firmly.

The female elf smiled gently, her eyes fluttering.

"T-Tell my king…t-that I love…him." And with that the elleth passed away in Taseko's arms.

The ninja lowered his head and prayed over the soul of this unfortunate mother, who will never watch her child grow up before picking up the body and digging a hole under the largest tree around and burying the lady.

Once that was over he pulled out a scroll and a piece of coal, and began scribing something on said paper. After a minute, he finished writing and stuck his masterpiece on the tree trunk with one of his shuriken stars, in hopes that somebody will find that note and notify the elleth's family and friends.

With one last silent good-bye to the fallen warrior, Taseko turned on his heels and sprinted to where he left a boy and two horses.

#End of Flashback:

"Well?" The impatient voice of Keshin-sensei pulled the green eyes shinobi out of his thoughts.

He blinked before focusing on his former mentor's icy-blue eyes.

"I made a promise, Keshin-san." He answered seriously, placing a hand over the blonde elflings head. "And I intend on keeping it."

"No matter what I say?"

"No matter what you say."

The leader sighted and rubber his hurting temples.

There has not been a child in the temple for years now. He didn't know if he and his fellow shinobi can handle one anymore.

He looked at the small child hugging Taseko's pant leg and looking up at him with curiosity.

His senses told him the child has a surprising amount of chakra (a spiritual energy that was dying out in Middle Earth) in his system.

More than enough to become one of them.

A ninja.

If the boy really was meant to be a shinobi, then his natural skills as an elf would make him a valuable ally to whatever side he chooses to take.

A grand opportunity like this should not be tossed aside, but it was the younglings own choice whenever he wants to end this chapter of his life and start a new one or return to Mirkwood and his kin.

Sighting again he raise his eyes to meet that of his former student.

"Very well, Taseko-san." He said. "The boy might stay…if he wants to."

The green eyed ninja nodded and kneeled before the boy.

"Listen to me, Little One." Taseko started and the elfling looked up at him. "I can take you back to the land of elves, where you will be raised among other…special elflings." The boy looked down, already not liking that option very much. He didn't want to be with 'other special elflings', he wanted to be with his Ada. Unfortunately, his Adar was always too busy to be with him. "Or…you can have a new family, here with me."

The boy's eyes sparkled at that. A small smile spread across the small face before fading.

"Would Nana want me to stay with you?" The boy asked, shyly looking up at the taller man.

Taseko smiled brightly.

"Yes. Your Nana would want you to be happy, Legolas."

The boy nodded, not realizing that this was the first time the man has spoken to him, using his real name.

"I will stay here." The child decided, his baby-blue eyes glassy from all the tears they shed.

"Very well then." Keshin stood up from his desk and walked up to the man and elfling.

Once he was in front of the child he softened his gaze.

"Kneel before me, Legolas of Mirkwood." He spoke, his voice gentle let commanding.

The five-year-old looked up at Taseko, not sure if he was supposed to do what the larger man said.

The green eyed ninja's only response was a gentle push on the child's back.

A minute later, little Legolas was kneeling before Keshin, his head bowed respectfully just like his mentors taught him back at home, whenever he was supposed to meet his Ada in the crown room.

The leader of the Shinobi Clan kneeled before the elfling and pulled his mask down, reveling his gently smiling face to the scared child, before placing both his hands on the blond head.

"Legolas of Mirkwood. Since you've accepted joining our league, I shall now give you a new name. It will be a symbol of the beginning of your training as a ninja and shinobi, as well as a 'farewell' to the old life you left behind." He then lifted his hands of the young head and stood up.

"Good bye, Legolas of Mirkwood. Rise Raion, the Black Lion of Arda."