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An Undying World

Chapter Four: The Modern World (I' Sii' Palurin)
 
 

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"Aragorn?" Legolas asked in shock.
 

The man looked over at Legolas, as if seeing him for the first time, then looked back to Gandalf, "Who's-?"
 

"Aragorn, don't you--" The elf stopped as Gandalf lay a hand on his shoulder, he looked curiously at the wizard.
 

"Elessar, this is a friend of mine," The Wizard explained. "He'll be staying with us for a while."
 

Elessar stood and extended a hand to the prince, "Name's Elessar Dunadan, what's yours?"
 

"I am Legolas Greenleaf," He smiled, taking the human's hand as a sign of friendship.

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"So, Gandalf," Elessar started, soon as Legolas was settled in his room and out of hearing range, "Is he another one of your 'reincarnations' from way back when?" He questioned accusingly.
 

The wizard chuckled, "Surprisingly for you, no, he's not a reincarnation. He's an elf."
 

For a moment Elessar nodded as if he understood, before he almost fell of the sofa doing a double take, "Wait, what? An Elf? But, how's that...? I mean, aren't elves like...? Wouldn't he be...?" He paused a moment, gathering his thoughts, "An Elf? So, he's a reincarnation of the Elf that was on the journey?"
 

Gandalf sighed in frustration, "No, Elves are immortal, he's the actual elf that was a member of the fellowship."
 

The king reincarnate was silent for a moment, "So then, if I go up to him right now... He'll be able to tell me exactly the same things you told me?" He said quizzically.
 

"Yes, he should be able to give you a fairly similar story," the wizard answered.
 

Elessar smirked, "All right then..."
 

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Legolas sat on the edge of his bed, taking in all he saw. It confused him, he had no idea what many of the things were, or what they did. Frankly, it scared him, he wondered how he would ever fit into this world. By what he had heard from Gandalf it seemed that the only race left in Middle-earth was the race of men. Orcs had long since gone extinct, not that that was a bad thing. Hobbit's had disappeared from all knowledge, and Dwarves were considered to be a genetic defect.
 

Sighing the elf lay back on the bed, he wondered if Mirkwood was still there. Had Gondor fallen to ruin? And what of Imladris?
 

A knock came at the door. Legolas sat up, "Come in," he called.
 

The door creaked open as Elessar looked in and smiled, "Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil, Elf king of Mirkwood... Who'd 'a thunk it?"
 

"What?" Legolas blinked, "How did you know? I never said..."
 

"Gandalf likes to tell stories."
 

"I see..."
 

"So, is it true?" Elessar questioned, sitting in a chair across from the elf, "Those stories Gandalf tells?"
 

"Depends on what 'those stories Gandalf tells' are," Legolas replied, "If they are about the Third Age and the War of the Ring, then yes, they are true."
 

Elessar rested his chin in his hands, "Ah, so you know of this do you? So tell me, what was your part in this war?"
 

"I was a member of the Fellowship of the Ring, made in order to destroy the One Ring made by Sauron which had the power to enslave all of Middle-earth..." The prince continued his story, telling all about the quest, the other members of the fellowship, and answering any questions Elessar had.
 

"So this guy, Aragorn? Looks just like me, and had the same name once he was crowned?" Legolas nodded, "And... He was the king of this place called Gondor?" Legolas nodded again, "And their symbol was a tree? A tree? How lame."
 

"It was not 'lame'," Legolas said defensively, standing, "It was the white tree..." He went on to explain the importance of the white tree and how when there was no king there was not tree and Aragorn had found the new seed, replacing the old, dead tree.
 

By the time all the stories and explanations were over, at least two hours had passed. Elessar stood up, "Well, Prince Legolas, it has been an honor to speak with you, but I must be leaving now. Perhaps if you ask Gandalf... He will introduce you to the Hobbits," with that, he turned and left. Leaving behind a slightly confused elf prince.
 
 

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To be continued....