Disclaimer: I do not own LotR.

Alrighty. So it's been a year again since my last post. Well... Oh well, I guess. I'm trying to write again, as usual, but the amazing thing is that I actually came up with another plot. It's amazing for me recently. I haven't come up with one in a long while. Obviously, I'm rusty. Way rusty. So forgive me if this isn't up to par and if it gets lame. I tried. I really, really did try, and I really hope you like. n.n

Let's give this fanfiction thing another whirl. n.n

Forest's Melody

Chapter One: Missing

A hand came up to block out the sun as grey eyes scanned the area in surprise.

He had only left for a brief moment to gather some fallen branches to cook their meal.

And now...

He was gone.

"Legolas!" he shouted again, knowing it would be pointless.

He had already tried countless times.

He just didn't understand.

Why would the elf disappear so suddenly? Legolas had left everything exactly as it had been.

Estel checked their camp again for any sign of a direction his friend could have taken off in. However, he frustratingly came up short-handed.

He looked up at the bright blue sky and closed his eyes with a heavy sigh, vowing to get Legolas back.

The young man gathered their belongings as quickly as possible.

Legolas and Estel had travelled just outside of Imladris into the forest and had opted to trek on foot to enjoy the wonderful weather they had been having. Because of this their gear was light and so, giving another sigh, he slung his bag and Legolas' over each shoulder.

Keeping alert for any sounds out of the ordinary and his eyes glued on the ground, he started off in a guessed direction.

...

Estel glanced up at the sky barely visible above the canopy of leaves.

The sun was peeking above the trees. He had been searching for a couple hours now.

At one point he had gone back to the starting point at their camp and started anew in a different direction since Legolas couldn't have gotten that far. He had only been gone for a few minutes, but the longer he searched, the further he could be.

He sincerely hoped Legolas wasn't trying to play some joke on him because he was well beyond exasperated.

However, he held on to the idea that his friend was watching him, quietly laughing as he searched. He didn't want to think about what could have happened to Legolas. He wasn't ready to think about what could have happened...

He had tried shouting several more times out of desperation, with no results, unsurprisingly.

Estel stopped and looked around.

Muttering curses under his breath, he decided he would go back and try again from another direction.

Before continuing, he pulled out his waterskin and tilted his head back for a drink.

As he raised his arm something caught his attention from the corner of his eye.

He lowered his waterskin and squinted in the direction of a tree beside him. The sun glinted off something from that direction.

As he moved closer dread quickly filled him, his heart beat faster.

Estel replaced his waterskin and then crouched beside said tree.

Brushing aside a couple leaves, his trembling fingers wrapped around the hilt of one of Legolas' knives.

Stormy eyes darted around the area much more alert, foolishly trying to spot Legolas' assailants.

His friend was in danger. His fears had become concrete.

This had been no jest.

But what could have overcome the elf so quickly, so quietly?

Estel put Legolas' knife in his boot and looked around again a lot closer. He was still beating himself up for almost missing this sign.

After a couple minutes of searching, he was able to find a slight indentation in the soft earth from what must have been Legolas.

He shook his head.

He would have failed had Legolas been in the middle of giving him a lesson.

Unfortunately, he was not.

Estel unsheathed his sword, more cautious and determined than ever as he kept a sharp eye out for anything.

He had no idea what to expect.

...

Estel stopped.

Something wasn't right.

Something had changed.

He listened.

Nothing.

There were no sounds.

The birds' songs he had heard all day were gone. Even the gentle breeze had abandoned him.

Being as silent as possible, he slowly crept forward.

This part of the forest seemed somehow thicker. It was harder to see, as though a heavy fog had rolled in.

Faintly, he thought he heard a sound.

He stood completely still again, even holding his breath in anticipation.

He listened closely.

Music?

It was there. Seemingly far away and deep in the forest. The only sound he could hear.

Should he follow?

Before he had even decided, he realized that his feet had moved towards the music.

He frowned in thought.

The man quickly checked the area for any signs of his missing friend.

He shouldn't have needed to force himself to think about that...

An uneasy feeling had settled in his stomach.

It took but a moment for him to find the footprints.

They were everywhere; going seemingly in the direction of the music.

More worried than ever, Estel rushed after his friend.

The main reason an elf would ever leave prints so noticeably was if they were injured.

...

Estel paused and glanced up at the sky of leaves.

It had felt like he had been walking for days as his concern only surmounted with no sight of Legolas.

No light seeped through to even guess at what time it could be. Although it should have been pitch-black, he could easily see by a glow that surrounded the forest ahead.

Even if the music hadn't been getting louder with every step he took, he still would have known the way by the strange light.

Every once in a while he glanced down at his feet to see the footprints that now left a blaring trail.

The music and light greatly puzzled him, but his only concern was of Legolas.

Scenarios ran through his mind constantly about what could have happened.

However, he had to push them aside to focus on finding his probably injured friend.

The man took a quick swig from his waterskin and then trudged on.

...

What must have been at least another hour later, the music was at its height, the glow its brightest.

A feeling he couldn't explain enveloped him and he silently set down the bags.

Estel then slowly stepped forward, sword at the ready.

He came to a clearing and stood behind a tree.

Peering around it, he gasped at the sight before him.

Legolas was pinned against a tree, held tightly in place by silver, glowing vines. His eyes were closed as his chin pressed against his chest.

Resisting the urge to cry out to his friend, Estel took stock of the rest of the clearing.

The song came from creatures he had never seen or heard of before. There were two of them. They stood no more than four feet tall, had long, silver hair and were robed in white. Their features seemed to glow.

Now that he was so close the man could appreciate how lovely the music really was. The melody soothed one's soul and calmed all fears.

He was amazed that two creatures could make such a song, and with no instruments.

The silver eyes still absentmindedly scanned the clearing.

Until his gaze came back to rest upon Legolas.

Estel had taken a step towards Legolas to join him.

He quickly stopped. Staring at the elf made him note how pale he was; how his own natural glow had diminished, while the surrounding area was so bright.

Estel shook his head vigorously to clear it.

What was he thinking?

He took a deep, silent breath and slowly let it out to steady himself, to think.

The music.

He could feel the pull from it, from the creatures.

Had it affected Legolas differently? Is that how he had ended up tied to the tree?

None of it really mattered. He needed to find a way to free his friend.

Acting quickly, but quietly, Estel made his way to the tree holding Legolas captive.

Keeping a close eye on the creatures, and staying behind the tree, Estel brought his sword to the strange vines and started to cut his friend free.

However, as soon as the sharp edge nicked the vines, the creatures suddenly let out piercing wails and Legolas cried out in pain at the wretched sound.

Estel winced at the sound and his heart sped up in fear. These were the only reactions he had allowed himself to make as he continued to saw at the restraints. They were much tougher than regular vines.

Then the glowing vines snapped loose and fell harmlessly to the ground.

He started in surprise when his friend followed. Holding on to the elf, he sank down with him, gently lowering him.

"Legolas, Legolas," he called in desperation and despair.

It grew brighter.

The keening got closer.

Estel neither turned his head nor looked anywhere besides Legolas.

He quickly sheathed his sword and shot up off the ground, the blonde elf held tightly against his chest in protection.

His fear only worsened when Legolas did nothing to protest - his head lolling against him.

Please let me not be too late, he silently pleaded.