You've had your taste of all that's sweet

Now it's gone and what does it mean?
You've sought the truth, found a lie
You've given up, but that doesn't make it right.

Want to go...
I know you want to leave.
Got to go...
Farther than you see.

If you just look, past your scars
You will see, it's not that far
Don't close your eyes, let hope inside
Begin to breath, start to fly...
Start to fly...

-By "Plus One"

Legolas relaxed slowly next to the campfire that Aragorn had started. The ranger watched the wounded elf out of the corner of his eyes. His friend was moving more slowly and nothing the man had done had been effective in stopping the poison, Legolas was doing much worse than he was letting on.

Closing his eyes, the elf prince concentrated on breathing. It had become more difficult lately and he could feel the poison in his system like an icy fire slowly shutting down his body and taking over. He breathed in deeply holding the breath inside of him and willing the ache in his bones to cease.

When he opened his eyes Aragorn was watching him worriedly. The human had been a good friend. If given the chance to repeat everything over he would have done nothing differently. He smiled sadly at the man as his thoughts turned homeward. Pain spiked through his awareness and momentarily cut him off from reality. He turned inward and homeward, thinking of the Great Fair Woods, his father, his own room bathed in the starlight of Eärendil and as he focused on the things he loved the most, the things he would never see again in this life, the pain lost its battle for his thoughts.

Aragorn was beside him, talking softly to the elf when Legolas once again allowed reality to seep back into focus. His body still hurt but he was at peace with it now. He wasn't sure if the poison had advanced too far or he had simply finally given up, but when he turned to speak to the human, Aragorn noticed the change and his heart dropped.

"Aragorn," Legolas smiled up at the worried human, "Perhaps it is better this way."

"What is this you speak of?" The ranger whispered, fearing the elf's next words.

Legolas looked up into the sky watching as the stars twinkled into existence, when he spoke his voice was soft and sad.

"Do you know why the elves banish their people for judgment? For an elf there is nothing closer to death than to be exiled. To be cut off from the fair lands and her people. To never hear the songs they sing in the night, to never be able to walk the lands again. To be cut off is to be eternally dead."

Aragorn held his breath, watching the elf. He could tell that Legolas was seeing things that he could not, remembering places the human had never walked and now never would.

A faint smile touched Legolas lips as he continued, "I had so wanted to see the undying lands someday and to reunite with my mother. I miss her sometimes, you know?" He glanced at the ranger as though seeing him for the first time. "She was truly beautiful."

"You will. You'll see them both I promise you that." Aragorn brushed the back of his hand along the elf's face, sensing the unnatural heat of fever and wiping away the perspiration that beaded on the prince's forehead.

Legolas smile grew large and he shook his head slowly, carefully, "Human, always so sure." He closed his eyes as a wave of pain broke over him.

Aragorn was at a loss. He knew the risk they would take, returning to Rivendell, but the poison in the elf was truly beyond his expertise to heal. If they did not venture into elven territory and find help, Legolas would surely die. And that would be one more thing on the human's conscious that he could not live with.

Legolas was speaking again, his voice so soft Aragorn had to lean down to hear him, "It has been good."

"What?"

"Life."

"Legolas..." Aragorn tried to swallow around the lump that had formed in his throat.

"I have seen many things and met many people; you among them. We have aided dwarves, hunted orc, I have seen the fair forest in the early morning light like a jewel on the horizon. My life has been a good one." His voice barely audible now, "Thank you for your friendship heir of Isildur."

"Legolas?"

The elf relaxed and closed his eyes; his breathing slowed as he gave into the inevitable.

"No, I will not let you! Listen, listen to me," Aragorn was desperate now and afraid, and he had no alternatives, "We are one day from my father's house. He can heal you. You're going to make it Legolas!"

A small almost imperceptible laugh escaped Legolas' lips, "Estel." He took a breath and opened his eyes, "Elrond named you well."

"I won't let you die."

Ignoring his young friend, Legolas cast his eyes once more to the sky, "Eärendil is very beautiful tonight is it not?" Not hearing Aragorn's protests, he passed out.

Aragorn jumped forward pressing his hands against the elf's throat, feeling for a pulse. The beat was weak and erratic. He had no choice. If they killed him for entering elven land then so be it, he would accept his fate if it meant Legolas had a chance to live. He had nothing to lose now. The elf was in this position because of him in the first place; he would not see him die. Quickly he scuffed the fire out and collected only what was absolutely necessary. It would be a long hard day of travel but if they left right now they would make Rivendell by nightfall on the morrow.

Dropping to one knee next to the unconscious elf, he broke open a small vial of wicked smelling portents and passed it under the prince's nose.

Legolas moved slightly, trying to escape the noxious fumes but Aragorn held him still, "That's it, wake up. Come on Legolas!" The elf's eyes snapped open and locked on to the man in confusion.

"Strider?"

"Yes, We are going home." He pulled the elf up into a standing position. He knew he was pushing the prince past what he could endure, but he had also heard tales that an elf could be pressed passed imaginable limits and he was willing to test them now.

When Legolas tried to protest, Aragorn shushed him, "Do not argue with me you stubborn hearted creature. We're going home. And if they want to, they can kill me for it later. Now save your strength." He ducked under the elf's arm and supported Legolas' weight on his shoulder, wrapping his free arm around his friend's waist he starting them into the darkened forest toward home. He knew these woods like the back of his hand and could easily travel them in the dark.

Aragorn shifted Legolas' weight against him as he half carried half walked the almost unconscious elf towards the darkened palace of Rivendell. It had taken them all night to steal down into the deep gorge that the city had been built into. The starlight had been their only guide as the new moon had cast the valley into near darkness. The ranger was partly glad for the cover of darkness but his eyes, unable to compensate for the lack of light often missed the obstacles in their path, making the trip down the cliff face perilous. He was worn out himself but the ragged, shallow breathing of his friend spurred him on.

Stopping to catch his breath the ranger gently lowered Legolas to the cool stone path pulling them both off the immediate walkway in case there were traffic on the crude road even at this time of night.

"Hold on." He brushed the wayward strands of hair out of Legolas face, pressing his hand against the prince's forehead. The elf was running a fever and his skin was clammy. Aragorn's heart clenched inside of him, they didn't have much time left. He hoped it wasn't too late already.

Slipping his arms around Legolas waist, he pulled them both into a standing position, "We are almost there; almost home. Don't give up on me now." He whispered the words of encouragement into the elf's ear as Legolas allowed his head to fall against the man's shoulder.

As they moved back onto the path, an arrow thunked into the tree next to Aragorn's face. The man froze, his every sense alert and screaming at him. They had come too far to be discovered and sent away now. Legolas would never make it without Elrond's help. Aragorn wasn't even sure the elf would make it until morning and he panicked.

An arrow touched his ear from behind, sliding along the left side of his face; he felt the curve of a bow press against his back. The sharp edged triangle bit into his cheek leaving a thin red line as it tracked across his skin, cutting him slightly. Moving very slowly, he gently lowered Legolas back to the path and stood his hands spread out from his side so that the warrior could see he carried no weapon.

"Intruders are not welcome in the House of Rivendell." A soft, lethal voice spoke behind him. "What is your business traveling under the cover of night?"

A sob broke from the man's lips as he recognized the voice and he stumbled as he turned towards the elf that had caught him unaware. "Oh for love of the Valar, Elladan, it is I, Aragorn!"

Elladan dropped his bow to his side; the fierce look on his face fading to one of surprise and joy. "Estel?" The arrow he had strung clattered to the rocky path as he crushed the man against him and held him tight.

A second arrow cut the night air brushing dangerously close to Elladan. The elf pushed the human to the forest floor and ducked, spinning on his heels to glare in the direction the arrow had come from.

"Elrohir!" The twin whispered harshly towards the thick wooded area that edged the path.

"Elladan?" A disembodied voice questioned.

"Yes! Stop it!" The elf growled under his breath.

"Who is with you?" the question came back.

"It's Estel."

"Aragorn!" Elrohir burst from the foliage and brushed past his brother, pulling the human up in a warm embrace, "Fathers been looking all over for you!"

"Elrohir!" Elladan cuffed the twin upside the head, "Keep it down. You know Aragorn is not allowed to be here."

"Oh and you think that father is going to abide by that silly ancient ruling?" Elrohir glowered at his brother.

Elladan rolled his eyes and patiently explained, "Father will not, no. But there are others about who may!" He whispered fiercely. The elven brother looked behind him into the forest and called out to the small band of elves that they were patrolling this area of Rivendell with; three elves stepped on to the path and curiously watched the reunion.

"Oh Estel, you do not know how father has been worried about you. Elladan and I have searched for you everywhere. Where have you been?" Elrohir placed his hand on the man's shoulder and drew close, talking softly and watching the human's responses.

The ranger couldn't help the tears that streamed down his face. He had missed his family so much and relief at seeing them alive again and having help so near for his friend overwhelmed him.

"Are you well?" Elladan stepped in front of his twin and grabbed the human by his shoulders, holding him at arms length and letting his eyes fall on the young man.

The ranger nodded, trying to control himself, when he spoke the words came out in a sob, "It is Legolas." He dropped next to his fallen friend and gently touched the elf. The prince was unconscious, his breathing was shallow and he didn't respond when Aragorn called his name.

He looked back up to the small ring of elves that stood watching him. "You know we are not allowed to give them refuge." An elf to the right of Elrohir spoke. The twins glared at the warrior.

Elladan kneeled next to Aragorn and gently pressed his fingers against Legolas throat searching for a pulse. The beat was barely perceptible and erratic. His eyes snapped up to lock onto the rangers.

"What happened to him?"

"Morgul poisoning." Aragorn swallowed, trying to get his emotions under control. He was weary beyond anything he could remember, fear and joy at being home warred inside of him and the thought that his friend might not live beat at his heart with every breath the man took. "We were near Moria, helping the dwarves and he was cut down. The wound did not seem deep, but the poison was already in his system by the time we were able to get to safety and see to the wound." His eyes dropped to the prone elf, "I did all I could. I have travelled three days without stopping and he has steadily gotten worse. The dwarves had no horses, there was no one to help us."

Elladan and Elrohir exchanged worried looks as the other twin dropped next to his human brother. He laid his hand on the young man's back in gentle support.

"Please," Aragorn grabbed Elladan's sleeve, he didn't care if he was begging, "Please get father, he will know what to do. He will help us. I know he will. Please, Elladan go get him."

The elf gently removed the human's hand from his arm and stood addressing the three elves that had joined them on patrol. "You heard?" He asked them. When they nodded he continued, "You know the penalty for helping these two. If you do not wish to be involved leave now." The warriors glanced quickly among themselves silently agreeing to join the brothers, none of them left. Elladan nodded his unspoken thanks and continued, "Go quickly then. Wake Lord Elrond. Tell him what has transpired and tell him we are bringing Estel and Legolas. Do whatever he asks of you." He held the elves eyes for a fraction of second, knowing what he was asking of them, giving them one more chance to back out of helping his brother and the elven prince. When no one spoke he nodded curtly, "Go now!"

The warriors quickly disappeared into the night, swiftly heading towards the elven lords chambers.

"Come Estel." Elladan pulled the ranger to his feet and moved him out of the way; "We need to get Legolas in, and quickly, before anyone sees that you have returned."

Elladan and Elrohir easily lifted the elf prince between them and carried him towards Elrond's rooms. Aragorn followed numbly in their wake hoping they would be in time.

Elrond stood inside the entranceway to his private apartments at Rivendell. He had dressed quickly, wrapping himself in a velvet burgundy robe that tied about the waist with a silver cord and waited anxiously for his sons to make it to his rooms. His hair was slightly tussled and his eyes were still sleep weary and edged in worry; his brow creased in a frown. He had had several of his warriors out searching for the ranger and the elf prince for months now. When word had reached him of their banishment the grief that touched his heart brought back memories that he never wanted to relive. The lives of humans were so short and the thought that he may never see his adopted son again tore at him deeply. He had vowed to himself that if he had a second chance he would let Aragorn know that he would gladly violate the mandate. He couldn't live with himself if he abandoned the boy now.

The warriors that had woken him ran out of the doorway as the ranger and the elves came into view. They helped carry Legolas to a room that the elf lord had had them quickly prepare. They laid the wounded elf on the soft bed and waited, giving Aragorn and the elven king a moment of privacy.

Elrond allowed the elves to pass by him, his eyes worriedly glancing over the young prince as they brought him in. He could instantly see the severity of the situation, but it was his human son that caught his attention.

Aragorn was miserable. He was dirty, dishevelled, and his boots scraped the ornamented rock steps as he approached his father. The tears he had shed earlier had left streaks on his dirty cheeks and his red-rimmed eyes were bright with the threat of more. Though at first sure his father would not deny him sanctuary, now faced by the elf lord himself, the ranger lost his resolve and the fear shown in his eyes. He wiped his face off on the sleeve of his worn overcoat and tried to get his breathing under control. At the top of the steps he simply stopped and stared at the man he had always known as his father. His breathing hitched as he bowed slightly and waited for the elder elf to speak. Elrond saw the way Aragorn trembled slightly and his heart broke at the sight of his adopted son.

Without a word, Elrond gathered the young man in his arms. The human winced, tensing in pain as the elf wrapped his arms around the ranger's back; hidden wounds that would need to be tended later. Elrond gently eased up the pressure on the young man's back and Aragorn fell against him unable to control the tears that fell unbidden from his eyes.

"I'm sorry father. I had nowhere to turn. Legolas is dying and it's my fault." He spoke through his sobs. Elrond let the boy cry, shaking his head. What kind of law, elven or not, separated families and kept them from the ones they needed the most? His anger flared momentarily. He knew Thranduil himself was even now dying of a broken heart. If the Elf Lord discovered the state of his son, Elrond feared it would be enough to send him to the Halls of Mandos - that day was not far off in the future as it was. Sometimes he truly believed the old laws had outlived their usefulness.

"Worry not my son. Things will work out just fine." He whispered the words in the man's ear.

Aragorn pulled away shaking his head in denial, "No, they will banish you for helping us."

Elrond's laughter was light and easy and there was no condescension in it, "Banish me? Not likely." He touched the human's face with his hand staring into the tired, teary eyes and continued, "Though the ruling is an elvish one, I do not recognize it. You are aware Aragorn that I am only half elven." He smiled at the surprise on the young face, "I can not abide but such a law. Not when it means losing Legolas and turning you away in your time of need. You are my son. And Legolas is a prince, heir of Mirkwood and your friend. You are both welcome here. I will not turn you out or turn my back on you no matter who says that I must. As long as I draw breath you are mine and no man or elf will tell me that I cannot give you refuge."

He placed his arm around the young man's shoulder and walked him into the house. "Rivendell is your home. We will see to it that Legolas lives; I will go care for him now. We will keep your presence here a secret for as long as is necessary, for your safety only. There are many things I need to discuss with the two of you but now I'm going to go take care of your friend first and you need rest."

"I'll sleep when I know he is better." Aragorn's weary voice was resolute.

"My son.."

"Father please, I need to know Legolas will be alright."

Elrond nodded knowingly, he had seen that stubbornness in the young man's eyes before and simply led the human down a hallway and into a dimly lit room. Glow globes sat about the room, casting warm shadows around the spacious quarters. Aragorn stepped next to the bed and looked down at his friend, the elf was even more pale in the candle light, his skin held a translucent quality to it that frightened the ranger.

Elrond was speaking quietly to the twins and the two elves that had accompanied them. Nodding silently the warriors left the room, Elrohir and Elladan returned in moments with a large overstuffed chair. They set the piece of furniture into a corner and Aragorn was pressed down into it.

"Stay out of the way my son." Elrond cautioned the ranger, "Elladan and Elrohir will assist me, you are too weary to be useful. If you stay out of the way you may remain in the room with us."

Aragorn nodded and relaxed into the warmth and softness of the chair as Elrond gently began to unbutton the prince's shirt, quietly instructing the twins in how best to assist him. As much as the young man wanted to stay awake, his sleep weary mind would not let him and within moments, knowing he was safe and Legolas in good hands, he was fast asleep.

Elrond glanced over at the still form and smiled. Following his fathers' gaze, Elrohir took note of his human brother and quietly covered the man with a thick blanket.

Soft, warm light spilled into the room. He was warm and he was safe. Aragorn lay in the chair he had fallen asleep in last night, unable to fully wake up. He could hear the soft steps of someone in the room, the footfall lightly crushing the thick carpeting. Shifting slightly the ranger gave into his weariness and let his body relax back into the chair and blankets that were tucked about him. He sighed with the peace that flooded through him and had almost fallen back to sleep when a hand gently touched his forehead, brushing the long strands of his hair away from his face. A smile touched his lips as he vaguely recognized the gentle brush.

"You are awake." It was a statement not a question. The voice of the elf was soft and deep and Aragorn slowly opened his eyes to look up at his father standing over him. The elder elf smiled down at the human and removed his hand from the ranger's forehead. He glanced back at the bed behind him where Legolas lay before returning his attention to Aragorn.

Memory slammed into Aragorn as his mind woke fully from its slumber and he lurched forward, throwing the blankets off of himself and stumbling for the bed.

"Legolas!"

Elrond caught the human's arm and forcefully pressed him back down. "Slowly Estel. You are not well yourself." When the boy started to protest the elf continued, "Legolas will be fine. The poison has been neutralized, he is simply sleeping now."

Aragorn allowed himself to be pressed back into the chair as his father knelt beside him, explaining the elf prince's condition. Elrond was right; the ranger wasn't feeling so well. He swallowed hard against the dizziness that caught at the edges of his awareness and threatened to throw the room into a nice spin.

Elrond noted the change in the human and touched Aragorn's arm, redirecting the man's attention to himself. "You are dehydrated my son." He smiled kindly into the dark eyes, "How long have you gone without food and rest?"

"Three days." Aragorn's eyes strayed back to Legolas asleep on the large bed. "It's been three days. We travelled almost without stopping because Legolas was doing so badly. I was afraid he wouldn't survive the trip here."

"He almost didn't."

Aragorn stared hard into the elf's eyes seeing all that his father was not saying. "Thank you."

Elrond smiled, "I would like to see them try to enforce that banishment rule here under my roof." He laughed softly, "I think Elladan and Elrohir would have taken you in even if I had expressly forbid it." He stood and reached his hand back down towards the man gently pulling the young ranger into a standing position, "They have been looking for you everywhere, for months now."

"Everywhere?" Aragorn's tone was teasing.

Elrond turned back towards him and raised an eyebrow in question.

"We were in Moria."

The elf lord appraised the young man curiously, "That is a story I should very much like to hear." He placed his arm across the ranger's shoulders and turned the human around, lightly touching the boy's back. Aragorn suppressed a groan but couldn't stop his body from tightening against the touch.

"But first I would see to your wounds," when the young man began to protest the elf lord simply raised his hand and continued, "and then you will eat and you will wash and *then* we will talk, if I can keep your brothers away from you for a bit."

Aragorn consented and slipped his shirt stiffly over his head allowing his father to see the still healing scars that striped his back. Elrond frowned as he gently ran his hand across the whip marks, touching the sensitive skin, looking for any signs of heat or infection. Aragorn winced and moved slightly, catching his breath as the elf noted a particularly nasty welt across his shoulder that was not healing properly.

"Sit." The elderly elf pressed the human back down into the chair and moved off to a small adjoining room. His voice came back to the ranger quiet and muffled, from where he searched through his medicines, "Tell me Estel, what cut you in this fashion?" He didn't have to ask, the elf already knew. The fact that his adopted son had been treated in this manner bothered him greatly.

Aragorn slumped forward and rested his face in his hands, "Orcs father."

Elrond walked back into the room his gaze darkened, "What?"

The young man glanced up at the elf, he knew that his father had heard him the first time but he repeated himself, "Orcs. I was in a tunnel and there was a cave-in which just happened to be because there were orcs tunnelling under us."

He watched as the elf appraised him, wishing that his father would speak. More than anything he hated the silence, "It wasn't my fault we didn't even know they were there."

Elrond looked wordlessly out the huge picture window behind the young man. How did one impress upon youth the impermanence of their lives, especially human ones? It was bad enough the boy had grown up among an immortal race thinking he was one of them, but to lose him to youthful folly or a careless moment...

Aragorn's touch on his arm brought Elrond's attention back to the human. "It was an accident."

The elf opened the small box of ointment he held in his hands, his gaze softening, and pushed the boy's head forward and down so he could better reach the gash, "I know it was my son. One does not go looking for orcs just because they are bored." He smiled ruefully at his own joke.

Aragorn snickered at the jest. He drew in a sharp hiss of pain as his father lathered the ointment onto his wound, "What is that stuff?"

"It is good for you, that's what it is. It will stop any poisons there may have been on the whip that did this."

"I should think if there had been poison on it father I would know by now." Aragorn responded lightly.

"Do not be so sure of yourself Estel. Some poisons are meant to not be found. All poisons do not work the same and this cut is not healing." Elrond shook his head when the young man winced again as he laid a clean bandage across the whip cut.

He crouched down in front of the human and stared up into the dark eyes, "Is there anything else I should know about or that you would care to tell me now or should I just wait until your brothers fill me in on all the details later?" He frowned at the quirky smile his youngest son gave him.

"There is nothing I care to tell you now, no." His feigned innocence did not fool the older elf and he pushed himself into a standing position with a sigh.

"Of course not." Shaking his head he handed Aragorn back his shirt and watched as the man gingerly slid back into the tunic and slowly buttoned it up.

"Aragorn you must learn to be more careful with yourself." He glanced sideways at the youth as he stepped toward the doorway, "Or at least learn to fight better so you don't get hurt."

The ranger rolled his eyes, arguing was out of the question, "Yes father."

"I'll want to see to that wound again before you go to bed tonight."

Aragorn nodded and followed Elrond through the door. The sounds of the twins echoed happily in the hallway as they walked towards the dining hall. Aragorn glanced over his shoulder quickly before they turned into the hall, catching sight of his friend. The elf looked much better in the morning light. He was glad they had reached his father in time. Yes, he would eat and he would wash and he would explain to his family everything that had transpired but when it was time to rest, he was returning to this room. He wanted to be near when Legolas awoke. Waking in an elven house was sure to startle the prince and the ranger did not want anyone attending his friend that might give the elf cause to fear.

Legolas woke slowly. Where ever he was it sure felt good to be here and that in itself was a foreign feeling. Opening his eyes he slowly allowed them to focus on his surroundings. Someone entered the room and he turned to see who it was it.

The sight of the elf that walked up to his bed actually caused the prince to flinch and move away from the hand that reached out to him. Fear at seeing one of his own was an odd feeling and his panic escalated slightly. He couldn't remember where he was or how he had gotten here. His thoughts were fuzzy and he dimly remembered Aragorn telling him they were home -but he knew that could not be.

"Peace, Prince Legolas." The attendant spoke softly to him as he changed out the water pitcher that rested on a nightstand near the bed, "You are safe here."

Where was here? Legolas looked wildly around the room until his eyes lighted on the form of Aragorn curled up in an armchair in the corner of the quarters.

The sound of the elf speaking brought the ranger awake and he jumped to his feet clumsily as he saw his friend was conscious. Seeing Legolas' confusion and fear he dismissed the attendant and sat easily on the edge of the bed, leaning over his friend and smiling.

"Where are we?" Legolas asked, confusion evident in his slightly bleary eyes.

"We are in my home now." Aragorn assured, pressing the back of his hand lightly against Legolas' forehead, testing his friend's temperature.

"Aragorn what have you done?" Legolas' panic heightened, "Do you not know what you have brought down on your family? We cannot be here." The elf tried to sit up but Aragorn pressed him firmly back down.

The ranger started to respond when a deep voice in the doorway interrupted them both, "My son did what was best, and what was right." Elrond walked into the room and approached the bed.

"My lord." Legolas closed his eyes and nodded his head in respect.

"Prince Legolas, you are safe here in Rivendell." Elrond said quietly

"Know you not the edict my father has proclaimed on myself and on your son?" Legolas asked slowly, swallowing back the unbidden lump of pain that appeared in his throat.

Elrond smiled, stifling a laugh and carefully responded, "And remember you not that I am only half elven and therefore do not keep so strict an account of every elven ruling?" He continued to explain when he saw the surprise and confusion in the young prince's eyes, "Your father is a good king, Legolas, and I do not support contradicting his rulings. However, if I were the one to turn away the joy of his heart and had allowed you to die do you not think that would in itself garner the king's wrath more than if I disobeyed his edict?"

"I am sorry you have been put in this position my lord." Legolas apologized, letting himself sink back a little against the pillows. He was still feeling incredibly weak from his ordeal.

"Well I am not." The elder elf smiled at Aragorn. "I have had warriors out looking for you both over these past months." He stared seriously back down at the elf, "There is much you must know. Things are not well in your fair woods and it is high time Mirkwood's prince returned to her."

"Please Lord Elrond, speak plainly for I would hear of word from my home even if it be ill tidings that you speak." Legolas eased himself upright with the help of Aragorn, his gaze never leaving that of the elven lord.

Elrond nodded but Aragorn interrupted, "Perhaps you should rest, we can talk about this later." He looked worriedly across to his father.

"No Aragorn. I would know now." His eyes were still locked onto Elrond's.

"Very well then." Elrond pulled up a chair and seated himself in it before continuing. "About a week or so after you left Mirkwood, the Wood-elves began experiencing unusual difficulty and increased aggravation from the spiders that inhabit the woods. The fell beasts started harassing hunting parties and encroaching ever closer upon your people's realm."

Legolas' brows knit in confusion and surprise. "Attacking hunting parties? That is almost unheard of! The spiders are evil, but they have never made so bold as to go up against any great numbers of us at the same time..."

"Nevertheless, they have now," Elrond shook his head gravely. "For a while, the problem was a nuisance only, but now it has become a very real threat. The spiders have massed and seem to be guided by a single purpose, which makes them dangerous. It is believed that it is because there is a leader, or matriarchal spider who is guiding the intentions of all the others, uniting them and making them a terrible force to reckon with. They have a secret hiding place somewhere that the elves have not been able to uncover. They have inflicted grave damage upon your people Legolas and ventured deep into the protected realm. There are even rumours that they have taken elves prisoner... and you know what they do with their prisoners Legolas." The elf lord's face was grim.

Aragorn repressed a shudder. Remembering his own brief, nasty encounter with the loathsome creatures.

Legolas' eyes were wide with shock and horror at the things that Elrond was telling him. "But-but this is impossible!" the elf prince sat up straight, ignoring the ache it ignited in his ribs. "How could they possibly venture so far into our realm and live? Our warriors would never suffer such an intrusion unchecked!"

"Your people were caught unaware and leaderless," Elrond said quietly. "They fractionated and fractured, became two, five, six, a dozen groups fighting individually, following their own different leaders and not pulling together as would have saved them. They need their Prince, Legolas."

Legolas looked stricken at the news, but dropped his eyes, staring down at his hands. "I can't go back," he whispered brokenly. Then suddenly another thought crossed the prince's mind, pushing all else from it as fear awakened inside him. "But... why leaderless? They have always listened to my father, why would they not do so now?"

Elrond's eyes turned sad and he looked compassionately at the younger elf. That in itself was enough to make Legolas' blood run cold.

"Please my Lord, tell me," Legolas begged breathlessly, leaning forward earnestly. "Has something happened to my father?"

Elrond sighed. "Thranduil is dying Legolas," he said quietly.

Legolas' face went very pale. Aragorn put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder as the elf sank numbly back against the headboard of the bed behind him.

"Why? How?" Legolas managed to force out between faltering lips. If he were hearing this from anyone else he would have demanded to know if they were sure of their information, but he knew that Lord Elrond would not lie to him. He respected the elder elf highly and there was a trust between them that went back to their first meeting many centuries ago when Legolas was quite young.

"Of a broken heart I fear," Elrond said gravely, wishing he could have spared the younger elf this pain, but knowing he could not. "He has retreated from the world and did not attempt to check the situation with the spiders when it was in its early stages. His grief has finally claimed his health and he is simply letting go of life. With him falters and dies much of the power that has safe-guarded and kept his kingdom orderly. The royal house have more power over those woods than they realize, now that both remaining members have forsaken it, the realm falls into shadow."

Legolas dropped his head into his hands, covering his face as he tried to process the incredibly guilt and sorrow exploding in his heart. "It's my fault," he whispered hoarsely. "My father's dying, my people are being decimated, and it's my fault." He didn't know how he could live with that. He couldn't.

Aragorn squeezed Legolas' shoulders tightly, but did not know what to say. He looked in anguish to Elrond for help.

"Nay," Elrond shook his head, tipping Legolas' head up gently. "Take not blame that does not belong to you."

Legolas nodded slowly, pulling himself together. He was not entirely convinced that it wasn't his fault, but wallowing in guilt was not going to help anything.

Elrond continued when he saw that Legolas was ready to hear more. "I offered to send such help to them as I could, but they would have none of it. I fear our relations have never been very clear with your people and they did not seem to want anyone to have a claim over them," he shook his head at their stubborn folly. "Besides, there was no general consensus. One group might agree, but another would not. There was no working with the situation."

Legolas understood, he knew just how difficult his people could be sometimes.

"Your friend Raniean was trying to unite them, but they would not all follow him. He is not their prince Legolas, you are. The last word we had from them was a week ago. The tidings were all ill. We have heard naught since," Elrond finished his grim tale at last.

Legolas' eyes were full of pain, but determined. "I have to go back," he said, decidedly, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and pushing back the covers.

"Not so fast," Aragorn gently restrained his friend, pushing the elf back down to a seated position. "You nearly died last night! Take it easy."

"I cannot," Legolas shook his head, urgency flowing through him. "It may already be too late!"

"It is wise to have a plan before one acts," Elrond interjected sagely.

"But I do," Legolas said, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "You say the spiders have a secret lair that my people cannot find?" The prince glanced sideways at Aragorn. "Well I think I know where that is."

"Of course!" Aragorn suddenly understood what his friend was thinking. "In the ravine! Where we stumbled on that nest and you got bit, right before Raniean and Trelan found us!"

Legolas nodded. "If we strike them at their source, we have a chance to wipe them all out."

"If we used that little path down the north ridge we could come upon them unawares, just like we did last time, only this time *we* would know they were there," Aragorn added, already thinking ahead.

Suddenly Legolas stopped, realizing that without thinking about it they were both talking about 'we'. Aragorn was safe here, with Elrond, who would obviously not reject him. Legolas could not ask him to go back into the danger that waited for them on all sides in Mirkwood.

"Aragorn," he said softly. "I do not ask you to go back with me. They are not your people, or your concern, and to go there means risking our own deaths for breaking the terms of our banishment. I would not willingly place you in that kind of danger."

Elrond quietly watched the scene unfolding between the two friends before him. He knew his adopted son's answer even before Aragorn spoke. He could read it in the boy's eyes.

"Too bad," Aragorn smiled lopsidedly at his friend. "Because you didn't ask, I offered."

"Aragorn..." Legolas caught his friend's eyes.

Elrond said nothing. Part of his heart wanted him to interject, to not let Aragorn place himself so readily in danger, but he knew that Estel was becoming a man and it was not his place to protect him all his life. Indeed, if he saw things aright, Aragorn had a hard life and many dangers ahead of him that he would have to walk alone. Besides, something told him this was right. The two of them were meant to go back to Mirkwood in her hour of need. Yet that did not entirely still the concern and worry in his father's heart. Many things could be right and still end tragically. He knew that very well.

"No," Aragorn held his friend's eyes as he shook his head. "Legolas, there's no way I'm letting you go back there alone. We're in this together."

Legolas smiled his gratitude and clasped his friend's hand. "All right then, together."

The great, vast expanse of the forest spread out before them, looking strangely ominous and foreboding. Legolas had insisted on leaving as soon as he was able to stand without wavering and Elrond did not waste futile words trying to convince him to tarry longer, even though he usually would have recommended such.

"Watch over him Estel," Elrond had quietly charged the young man as they prepared to set out. "He is not yet as healed as he thinks. Do not let him push himself too quickly."

Early dawn was just beginning to creep across the horizon as the two exiles readied to leave under cover of the weak morning light.

Aragorn nodded, shouldering his pack, but Elrond took hold of his arm gently, catching his eyes one last time. "Take care of yourself as well Estel." The elf lord's eyes were intense. "You walk into danger greater than I think you imagine, and I would not lose you yet."

The young ranger nodded seriously, but then smiled, giving his adopted father a quick, parting hug. "Don't worry father, we'll be all right," he assured confidently.

Elrond smiled wistfully as he watched the two friends leave. He doubted Aragorn really realized what he was getting himself into.

"Are men always so sure of themselves?" Elrohir asked quietly from his father's right as he watched Aragorn and Legolas depart.

"Perhaps," Elrond answered with a small smile. "Or perhaps it is merely Estel who is so eager to rush in where Valar fear to trod."

"We shouldn't let them go alone," Elladan said, concern etched across his face. "Elrohir and I should go with them."

"No," Elrond sighed heavily. "Estel has his own road and his own destiny, we cannot shelter him forever. Those two were meant to do this together... but their future is shrouded in mist and to what end this will come I cannot see."

"It is to what end this will come that I fear," Elladan said softly.

The trip across the Misty Mountains had been uneventful for the most part, and true to his word, and much to Legolas' annoyance, Aragorn had watched over the prince like a hawk. At first it had been obvious that the elf was weaker than usual and their progress had been slowed a bit, but by the time the mountains were crossed and they were passing through the lands of the Beornings Legolas seemed to be fully up to par once more. His strength had returned and Aragorn began to relax a little and worry less about his friend's well being.

And now they faced Mirkwood at last, stretching out before them as far as the eye could see both to the north and south. When they reached the first fringe of trees, Legolas paused a moment, gazing into the familiar woods he had thought he would never see again.

Aragorn said nothing, but stood quietly behind the elf, offering his silent support.

Legolas unslung his bow turned back to Aragorn. "Once we pass under these trees there is no turning back Estel." There was obviously no doubt in the prince's mind as to his course of action, but he offered his friend one last chance to back out now.

Aragorn gripped the hilt of his sword in its scabbard. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Legolas smiled and turned back to the woods as the two friends delved into the shadows of the trees.

It took them a bit more time travelling to reach the area where they had stumbled upon the spiders' nest before and the trip was both dark and disturbing. Shadow was indeed taking over the wood and the presence of the elves was barely felt. Even Aragorn could feel the change, although he could not explain it. He had thought that the dark parts of Mirkwood couldn't have gotten any more frightening, but he now found that he was wrong.

To Legolas the change was sharp and acridly clear, like a slap of cold water in the face. The trees moaned unhappily and it seemed that cobwebs and spider trails were everywhere. With the power of the Wood-elves receding and failing, there was nothing to halt the frank evil that wanted control of the forest.

Legolas clenched his bow tightly, his heart burning angrily at what he could see happening around them.

By the time they reached the deep ravine both of them were on edge and wary. Finding the same trail they had accidentally taken several months earlier the elf and the ranger picked their way cautiously down the narrow path, descending into the very heart of the spiders' lair.

The atmosphere of the ravine had grown darker and more foreboding since their last visit here and the two friends moved silently through the choking, tangled brush.

When they heard voices ahead, Legolas motioned for Aragorn to halt and they both dropped down behind a fallen tree, scanning the area. Two large spiders were clinging to a tree branch a little ways off and a third was hanging down on its thread.

The voices they heard were shrill, and ugly sounding, and obviously did not belong to any elves. There seemed to be some kind of argument going on, and the two friends listened quietly.

"It's not fair I tell you. Tairach keeps them all down there in her private underground burrow so she can have first pick." One voice whined angrily.

"If it wasn't for her we wouldn't have gotten this far in the first place, quite complaining!" the second said with irritation.

It took Aragorn several moments to realize who was speaking and when he did it came as something of a shock. He glanced at Legolas and then back at the arguing spiders and inclined his head questioningly.

Legolas just put his finger to his lips, not really understanding his friend's surprise. Of course, he knew that the spiders could speak, and were not the mindless creatures they looked, but it was news to Aragorn.

The young ranger began to get a better idea of just how all this was able to come to pass. The spiders were not like wargs, or other foul beasts that were evil, but ruled only by instinct and chance. No, they were more like orcs because they could think, reason and plan their loathsome deeds. And apparently, the one they called Tairach, who was probably the same beast that Elrond had referred to as the mother-spider, was the mastermind of this invasion into elf territory and the claiming of the woods.

The spiders were still talking. "We haven't had elf in this abundance in some time. They'll be good when they've hung a bit."

Another laughed cruelly. "Yes, but I think my favourite part is the way they struggle when they start to wake up, until you put them out again. As if they're pitiful attempts would do any good!"

The spiders cackled evilly.

That was about as much as Legolas cared to hear. Jumping to his feet he let three arrows fly in rapid succession and all three spiders fell dead before they knew what hit them. There was a scuttle of legs as other spiders, hidden in the trees further away saw what happened and raced off to sound the alarm.

Aragorn sprang up beside the prince and drew his sword. It was only a matter of time now until every spider in the place knew they were there, but this time, the two friends were prepared and this time, they had a plan.

Sure enough, a few moments later the first wave of spiders came rushing through the treetops towards them. If it were possible, it seemed that the spiders, emboldened by their recent successes, were even more aggressive than they had been the last time Aragorn and Legolas had encountered them, yet their boldness also made them more reckless.

The prince and the ranger felled creature after creature, slowly giving back towards the canyon wall, but intentionally drawing as much attention to themselves as possible. There were more spiders this time, than there had been last time and it took almost all of their combined skills to keep ahead of the angry black swarm.

When they reached the path leading out of the ravine, the two of them turned and ran, with nearly the entire contingent of spiders following them. The beasts pursued eagerly, thinking that their prey fled before them. They had no intentions of letting the two warriors go alive, after all, they had been to their secret nest, they knew their location.

Aragorn and Legolas raced up the path and into the woods as fast as they could, both of them shooting backwards as they ran to pick off any spiders that were getting too close.

When the reached the ugly, gaping maw of the cave, by Shellons Fallow, they knew what they were going to do, what they had already set-up before going into the ravine. Still, Aragorn glanced worriedly at Legolas. This was the most dangerous part of their plan and he knew how Legolas felt about this cave... but it had been Legolas' idea, so he had to trust that the elf was able to handle it.

Aragorn scrambled up into the rocks above the cave, hiding amid the crags.

Legolas paused in the mouth of the cave entrance, waiting for the spiders. It only took about half a minute for the spiders to gain their location and see the elf. Legolas had his bow drawn and dropped four or five of them before they reached him.

Aragorn tensed in his hiding place, wishing Legolas wouldn't let them get quite so close. He didn't like his friend using himself as bait, no matter how much they had planned ahead.

At the last possible moment, Legolas turned and retreated into the cave. The cavern was deep and he made for the back of it as swiftly as he could, shooting as he went.

The spiders followed him, thinking they had their prey trapped for certain now. Aragorn watched as the swarming black horde rushed heedlessly into the cavern and held his breath. The sheer number of the beasts was truly breathtaking.

Legolas retreated swiftly, but the spiders were too close for his bow to be much good now, so he abandoned it in favour of his knives. The creatures poured into the cave, on the floor, the walls, the ceiling... truly they were all around him now. Legolas repressed his slight wave of claustrophobia as he weaved his way through the towering stalagmites, slashing and hacking at the spiders as he did.

Once all the spiders were inside the cave, Aragorn scrambled forward until he was overlooking the mouth of the cavern. When they had examined this place and formed their plan, they found that the rocks up here were particularly unstable. Aragorn had remembered some of the things he had learned about stonework from Balin and Rorin during their time in Moria and together, Aragorn and Legolas had made sure that the whole area became a lot more unstable.

Now all Aragorn had to do was dislodge the beam they had put in place to keep the rockslide they had ready to start from happening before they wanted it, and, if all went as it should, they would effectively trap the spiders in the cave. If all went as it should. Of course, there had been no way to test their plan and Aragorn only hoped that nothing would go wrong.

Just as Aragorn reached the beam supporting the rocks, he discovered that not *all* the spiders had gone into the cave. One sprang out at him from the rocks while another dropped down to land on his back. Aragorn threw the one off his shoulders, knowing how dangerous a spider bite would be at this point, and slashed at the one before him. Another sprang from the rocks, hissing and throwing webs.

Inside the cave, Legolas nearly had his back to the wall. He had an escape route planned, but could not use it until Aragorn started the rockslide. One of the spiders caught his hair, trying to get at his neck and Legolas only just ripped the beast free before it could treat him to another unpleasant bout of spider poison.

"Anytime now Aragorn," he muttered under his breath as he stabbed backwards, skewering a spider without turning and hacking the legs off another. "Anytime now would be good..."

On the rocks above, Aragorn finally put an end to the last of his attackers and launched his weight against the beam, hoping the delay had not cost Legolas too dearly. It took three good shoves with all of Aragorn's force and weight behind them to dislodge the support strut, but when it finally came lose the young ranger had to scramble to get out of the way of the powerful rock-slide he had set loose.

Legolas heard the rumble and felt the ground quiver beneath his feet as the first of the stones fell across the entry of the cave. He took a deep breath, trying not to remember any of his previous bad experiences with cave-ins.

The spiders halted and looked around, realizing something was wrong. In that moment of confusion, Legolas made his move. Breaking sideways he fought free of the spiders long enough to reach a small, hidden grotto that had a small shaft leading sharply up to the surface. It was the discovery of this unexpected passageway that had actually started this entire plan in the first place.

The rumble turned into a roar as the rockslide picked up speed and the cave went dark as the buried entrance blocked out the light. The spiders panicked and their shouts and curses added to the noise.

Legolas climbed swiftly through the narrow, slanting shaft, heading for the daylight above. Suddenly he was tugged sharply back, and felt something sticky and strong twining about his ankles. The spiders had found him and were trying to pull him back, or trap him where he was.

There was no room to manoeuvre in the tiny shaft, and the elf couldn't even turn around to get at his attackers. Legolas kicked backwards sharply, repeatedly, trying to shake them off. Claustrophobia and his own fear of being trapped in stone gripped at him, but he refused to let it own him. Scrabbling forward, he tried to pull free. And that's when he heard the familiar sound of rending, groaning stone that has no longer wished to support its own weight.

Above, Aragorn felt the stones beneath him trembling, which he did not understand because the rockslide had already stopped, fully blocking the entrance just as they had planned. It took him about a half a minute to realize that perhaps they had done more than merely seal off the cave. Apparently, they had made it unstable enough that the whole thing was about to come down on itself.

"Legolas!" Aragorn shouted his friend's name aloud in concern as he scrambled across the rumbling, shaking outcropping towards where the secret entrance they had found opened up to the outside world.

Legolas felt the earth trembling around him and tried to move faster, fighting with the spiders webbing that was trying to entangle his ankles and trap his legs. He couldn't help remembering his past experiences with cave-ins now, in Moria, in Dorolyn... and Aragorn wondered why he hated caves!

"Legolas!" He heard Aragorn's voice calling to him from up the tiny passage. The ranger's head appeared as he looked in and saw Legolas.

Quickly, Aragorn hung down into the shaft, scrambling partway in, despite Legolas' warnings to get out. Grabbing his friends hands, Aragorn pulled backwards, helping the elf break free of the spiders' webs and scrabble out of the hole just moments before it and everything else came down.

The two friends backed up a little distance, breathing hard.

"Well, *that* was unexpected," Aragorn said, leaning forward and resting his hands on his knees as he caught his breath.

"Just as well, I never liked that cave," Legolas remarked as he cleared the last of the spider web off his boots. He glanced sideways at Aragorn. The last time he had been pulled out of a collapsing cave like that it had been Elrond who saved him; it was somewhat ironic that something similar had happened again, this time with Aragorn by his side. "Why don't you wait a little longer next time," he added with a dry grin. "You may be able to age me before my time yet."

"It wasn't my fault," Aragorn protested, actually a little remorseful. "I was held up."

"I noticed," Legolas grinned to let him know that he was jesting only. "Well," he unslung his bow once more. "Our work is not yet done."

Aragorn nodded and they headed back into the ravine. There were more spiders yet down there, but it was down to more manageable levels and for the better part of a half hour they did battle with the remainder until most of the spiders were either dead or had retreated away and no longer pressed them.

Their battles had brought them deep into the ravine as the spiders retreated until they were in the very heart of the nest and close to where the mother spider herself lurked. They had yet to see hide or hair of her, and they knew their job here would not be done until that menace was taken care of once and for all.

They had separated slightly in their search for the hidden lair and Legolas turned when he heard Aragorn calling his name from nearby.

"Legolas, over here!" Aragorn called out. "I think I found it!"

The elf followed his friend's voice until he stood beside Aragorn, regarding the dark, imposing mouth that yawned at them from the ground on their right.

The spiders they had heard arguing earlier had spoken of Tairach's underground lair and the instant that Aragorn saw this place, he felt sure that they were getting close.

Legolas sighed inwardly. More caves. Why did it always have to be caves...?

There were still spiders scattered here and there in the trees, but after the decimation that had been wrought upon their numbers they hung back now, afraid to venture too close. As a warning, Aragorn and Legolas heaped a number of the dead spider carcasses and set them afire. The remaining spiders pulled back even farther.

Lighting two torches from the pyre they had created Legolas handed one to Aragorn and motioned to the dark gaping maw. Tairach's nesting chamber was no more than a dank hole dug out of the earth itself. The sides of the cave were layered with spider webs. The silken threads that ran the length of the short passage were stiff and hard to the touch and they did not give when pressed. Their structure gave integrity to the walls and kept the burrow from collapsing in on itself. The small entry opened up into a large main chamber that adjoined Tairach's personal nesting room.

There was a rank odour in the air, a musky mouldy scent that marked the spiders. The younger arachnids lived in the surrounding forests choosing to make their homes and nests in the trees far above the ground or strung between the firs near the center of the southern forest. But this was Tairach's home and she was the matriarchal spider. She had lived as long as Legolas could remember but never had she, nor her spawn, ever ventured as far into the northern woods or become as aggressive as they had since the elf prince had left Mirkwood's borders and the king's despondency had caused the protection of the realm to falter. The audacity of the creatures incensed the young lord and he determined to end the spider's forays into the northern woods once and for all.

Elrond had made mention that some elves had even been taken by the spiders of late, and the argument they had heard earlier between the spiders seemed to concur with the notion. That in its self was unacceptable and Legolas hoped they would not be too late.

As they stole into the nesting chamber he was faced with the brutality of his answer.

"What are these?" Aragorn whispered to Legolas as he stepped into the main chamber of Tairach's lair. He held up his torch before him illuminating dozens of white oblong shapes hung from the ceiling, attached to the top of the room by a single thick silken thread. As the ranger approached the one nearest him he could tell they were actually spider silk spun tightly around tall objects, but what they encased was a mystery to him.

He turned towards Legolas as he heard the elf gasp. The prince stood in the entrance to the spider's burrow, his face a mask of horror. Slowly he met the ranger's eyes and his voice was haunted when he spoke, "They are cocoons."

Leaning forward Aragorn touched the lacy white shape in front of him, pressing his palm against its outer casing. He could barely feel the heat emanating from it. As the meaning sunk in, he stared wide-eyed at his friend, "They are alive."

"They are elves." Legolas thrust his torch into the wall near him; it stuck fast in the hard webbing that lined the room. Slipping his knife from its casing he gently ran the blade perpendicular to the heavy strands. They separated with a distinct popping sound.

Aragorn imitated the prince, carefully drawing his sword up the side of the cocoon he faced. As the webbing fell away he could barely make out the image of an elf inside the casing. Something was familiar about the long serene face and with a start, he recognized the warrior trapped inside.

"Legolas it is Raniean!" He re-sheathed his sword and tore at the tendrils of spider weaving breaking them away from the elf's face as Legolas ran to his side. Aragorn forced his way into the cocoon and gently wrapped his hands around Raniean's neck, pressing his fingers against the warm flesh feeling for a pulse; he found it, slow and steady but definitely there.

"He lives!" Aragorn turned to the prince.

"Get him out! Now!" Legolas ripped at the sticky net that enfolded his friend and between the two of them they had freed the warrior in minutes. Aragorn helped the elf prince gently lay the unconscious warrior on the dirt floor.

"Will he be all right?"

"Yes." Legolas was quickly looking over the elf for any wounds or broken bones. A small bite mark on the warrior's neck indicated the point where he had been injected with the spider's poison. "Remember what Trelan told you, the poison does not kill only puts one into a deep sleep. He'll wake soon." Legolas glanced around the room at the remaining cocoons, "Tairach is obviously not here. We have to free them all before she returns, quickly help me!"

They had freed nearly half the imprisoned elves before Tairach returned. Raniean's whole troop of warriors had been overcome by the spiders; those that had been released were regaining consciousness and had begun to help the two friends free the others, when a soft sticky tapping sounded up the passageway. It was the sound of a many-legged creature walking towards them down the earthen hall.

Aragorn froze and looked towards Legolas. The elf crouched low in the dark room and quietly reached for his bow, unslinging it and notching an arrow against its string. The rest of the elves flattened themselves down close to the ground and watched the entry.

The quieting scratching sounds of the spider's descent stopped. The silence was more intolerable than the sound of the insect's approach and it took all of Aragorn's nerve to wait patiently.

Slowly Tairach's luminous eyes came into view. The bulk of her body was still hidden in the passageway. She was aware of the intruders in her chambers and she could see that the meals she had saved for later, no longer waited for her as she eyed the elves stirring quietly on the floor as they woke slowly from her poison. Her keen sense of smell caught the hints of a different scent. Not elf, not dwarf, nothing she had come into contact with before. In her tiny evil mind, she associated the smell with the death of her children outside and with the violation of her private nesting. Rage built within her dark heart. Gathering her legs beneath her she sprung into the room.

Aragorn was caught by surprise as the large black projectile that was Tairach launched itself at him. He ducked at the last possible moment, barely hearing Legolas' shouts of warning. On instinct, he raised the sword in his hand and thrust it at the black creature. The blade bit into the soft underbelly of the monstrous insect and she fell with a piercing shriek to the floor.

It was hard to see in the dim lighting that the two torches afforded but Legolas reacted to the dark shape releasing his arrows at the evil creature.

However Tairach hadn't lived as long as she had without encountering elves before. Her reflexes though somewhat slowed by the blow Aragorn had dealt her, were still inhumanly quick and she skittered sideways narrowly avoiding the broadhead. A wicked hiss emanated from the arachnid as Legolas restrung his bow. Not waiting on the elf the spider scurried to the back of the room and entered the darkened antechamber.

Aragorn straightened slowly from where he was crouched down. Black thick ichor dripped from his sword and he grimaced as he cleaned the blade, wiping it off with a scrap of cloth he found on the floor.

Legolas was running towards the remaining cocoons. With Tairach in the lair, they were out of time. He needed to get the elves on their feet and out of the nest quickly. He only hoped that her brood was still too frightened by their latest losses to come to her defence.

"Go!" Legolas turned and yelled at the ranger, "Find Tairach. Kill her. If we destroy this nest the fledgelings will be scattered and easier to kill. We'll free the last of the elves." Raniean and Trelan joined the prince shouting orders at their men as they worked hard to shake off the effects of the spider poison and help free their companions and began to herd the waking elves out of the nest to safety.

"Be careful!" Aragorn warned them and ran into the darkened cave that the spider had retreated to.

He looked wildly about him; he knew Tairach was hidden in this inner room somewhere and the ranger had the odd sensation that this was where she would put up a fight. He waved his torch slowly around the room peering into the oddly cut out corners, trying to see through the labyrinth of spider silk that covered every inch of the cave. The room was pitch black and the dim firelight did not penetrate well as it refracted off of the silvery threads that hung about him.

The skitter of rocks behind him caused the ranger to jump and look back towards the entrance of the lair. His momentary inattention was all that Tairach needed. Silently she slid down a length of web, reaching down with one long multi-jointed leg she hooked her claw-tipped foot around the human's neck and jerked him off the floor.

The stranglehold caught Aragorn by surprise and he dropped the torch he held; it clattered to the earth floor and sputtered. He tried to pry Tairach's foot from around his throat but the small barbs on the insect's sticky footpad dug into his neck. The barbed tip pierced just below his collarbone as he kicked, struggling to free himself and he cried out at the inflicted pain.

"Legolas!" The ranger knew he was in trouble as a second appendage wrapped about his waist digging into his hip, "Legolas!" His words were choked off as Tairach pulled him closer to her, tightening the hold she had on her prey. As his breath was cut off Aragorn lost his grip on his sword and it fell to the floor with a clang, out of reach, as Tairach scuttled towards the ceiling of her lair dragging the human with her.

The elf prince heard Aragorn's strangled cries from the inner room. He quickly lowered the last cocoon to the floor and handed his knife to Morifwen, who was just reviving and gaining his feet. Pressing the handle into the warrior's hand, he motioned to the still trapped elf and instructed the dazed survivor, "Cut him free." He motioned to the remaining cocoon, "I'll be right back."

Legolas ran into the darkened room, his bow in hand and strung, but there was no one to be seen. The cave was completely empty except for the torch that Aragorn had dropped. It lay in the middle of the lair still burning in the dark denseness of webbing that coated every wall of the hollowed out burrow. Picking up the torch the elf weaved the firebrand around the interior of the room. The soft light caught the blade of Aragorn's sword imbedded in a thick web to Legolas' right. Re-shouldering his bow the elf retrieved his friend's weapon. There was no other entrance or exit from the room and he knew he had seen Aragorn enter. His panic heightened with every second.

A soft struggling echoed from above him and he heard the sounds of laboured breathing. The elf thrust the torch over his head and peered into the vaulted space of the inside of Tairach's burrow.

"Aragorn?"

"Help." The answer was choked and whispered. It was getting harder to breathe with Tairach's leg wrapped around his throat and the ranger was starting to see yellow spots dance in front of his eyes. He could hear the distinct quiet sounds of her prehensile jaws clacking as she drew him closer to her mouth.

Legolas barely caught sight of Aragorn dangling from the spiders grasp feet above his head. With a lunge he threw the torch into the silky threads to the left of the spiders' position. The webbing burst into flames, the fiery tendrils swiftly spreading from where the torch had stuck in the natural netting.

Tairach screamed and released her hold on Aragorn. The human fell to the cavern floor and lay motionless for several seconds as he gulped air into his oxygen-starved lungs.

In moments the room was on fire. And sparks of fire rained down around the two companions as the spiders' silk ignited, exploding with the heated touch and eating up the supply of oxygen in the earthen cave.

Legolas leaned down and drug Aragorn to his feet. "Now Strider! We must leave!" He shouted to the human over the roar of the flames.

Staggering to his feet, the ranger was forcefully pushed out of the nest by the elf as the intricate webbing overhead came crashing down on the very spot where they had stood.

The elves in the outer chamber that had been released were just gaining their feet, their senses returning to them slowly as Aragorn and Legolas were thrown from the inner room by the heat of the blast.

Aragorn curled into a ball when he hit the ground, covering his head with his hands as the flames blew out over their heads. The screams of fear from the retreating elves sounded in his ears and were echoed in the unearthly shriek of Tairach. The huge arachnid leapt into the doorway that separated the adjoining rooms. She reared up on her back legs her screams of rage spiking fear through the human. He rolled onto his back, trying to get away from the horrific creature as she advanced on him. He had no weapons to fight her off and was still attempting to force air back into his lungs.

Tairach screamed in rage, towering over the gasping, prostrate human who had once escaped her already.

Legolas had been thrown to the side of the cavern, away from his friend. He watched spellbound as the insect dropped into the main room and for a brief second was frozen in fear. Tairach was huge; he had never seen one of the evil creatures grow to her size before. She easily stood as tall as an elf when she raised herself up on all eight legs and her body was as thick as the trees that grew in the southern woods.

When she advanced on the human, Legolas sprang into action. He rolled up into a crouched position, unslung his bow and stringing two arrows simultaneously, he let the projectiles fly. The shafts flew true and struck the spider through her thorax as she raised herself up over the form of the cowering human.

Faster than the eye could follow, the elf re-notched his bow. The second volley pierced the spider's small head and she toppled sideways, rolling over onto her back, her ugly black legs contracting slightly in the last throes of death.

Legolas ran forward and pulled Aragorn away from the hideous creature. The fire from the inner lair was spreading, creeping across the ceiling of the main chamber like a living being, consuming the silvery prison cell that had held so many of Legolas' people trapped.

The elf ran his hand quickly over the human's throat, feeling the tiny cuts for any barbs the spider might have left behind. The young ranger's eyes were huge as he stared at the elf.

Legolas nodded in reassurance, "You're all right."

Nodding numbly in reply Aragorn glanced back at the advancing fire. The elf prince shoved the human's sword into his hand and grabbed the man by his coat dragging him towards the entrance to the burrow, "We have to get out of here, it's all going to come down!" Aragorn ran with the elf for the front of the cave.

They gained the open ground as the passageway behind them collapsed, sending sparks of fire into the trees surrounding the destroyed nest. The webs of the spiders near the Tairach's lair quickly caught fire and spread throughout the canopy filling the immediate area with soot and smoke.

Legolas choked on the thick air as they led the freed elves out of the dark woods. Aragorn caught glimpses of Tairach's brood in the upper reaches of the trees but the spiders were heading farther south, away from the perceived threat of the elves and in hopes of finding a new nesting ground amidst the empty towers of Dol Guldur in the black lands where the elves never ventured.

Near the border of the northern woods, Aragorn and Legolas quietly stole away, separating from the returning elves, and sought safety in the mountain hills on the perimeter of the forbidden elven territory. The refugees were so dazed and wearied that not even the elf warriors noticed the passing of the two friends. Once under the familiar woods they were able to find their own way home and staggered on without their rescuers.

From a short distance away, the two hooded and cloaked figures stood atop a thickly wooded hill and watched the returning elves slowly making their way back towards their homes. A number of them were wounded, although on the whole it was nothing worse than hefty doses of spider poison. They would survive, but they would not feel well for some time.

The palace itself had been turned into a temporary house of healing for the worst cases that had been accumulating during the long battle with the spiders and many of the wounded were being brought thither now. The great gates stood open to allow their passage and Legolas followed them with his keen eyes, a terrible longing pulling at his heart as he gazed upon his home. It was strange and painful to view it as an outsider, looking in. Even more painful was knowing that somewhere in there his father lay at death's door, and yet if he ventured anywhere near the King, his own life was forfeit.

Aragorn clutched his sword lightly, but warily, at his side, glancing at his friend out of the corner of his eye and wondering how the prince must feel being at the same time so close and yet so far from his home. He tried to catch a glimpse of Legolas' eyes, but the low hoods they had donned to conceal their identity hid all but his friend's tense mouth and jawline. Still, the ranger felt he could read some of the emotions Legolas must surely be feeling.

The young man remembered his own feelings and fears when they entered Rivendell, and he had even had the small comfort of feeling at least halfway sure that Elrond would not turn him away... Yet it was Legolas' father that had pronounced this doom upon them and death awaited if they ventured nearer.

"Look," Legolas gestured quietly to the ranger at his side. "There are so many going in, they do not watch the gate very closely. There will be many in the halls as well... one more could pass unnoticed..."

Aragorn knew what Legolas was thinking. Indeed, he suspected that the elf had been considering it since they first returned to Mirkwood.

"Legolas," Aragorn said seriously, his eyes searching his friend's. "You know they'll kill you if you're caught in there." His voice was quiet. He was not actually trying to dissuade the elf, but he felt compelled to point out the consequences.

Legolas nodded without hesitation, he was well aware of that. "I know. But it is a risk I will take. Aragorn..." he shook his head slowly, his eyes filled with sorrow and pain. "He is my father, and he is dying. I would speak to him again, at least one last time, even if my life is the price I pay. Would you do less if it was Elrond who was dying?"

Aragorn sheathed his sword resolutely. He knew he would have done the same thing in Legolas' position. "All right then, let's go."

"No, Strider," Legolas stopped his friend with a raised hand. "Not this time. This is something I must do alone."

"But you might need help," Aragorn protested. He did not want his friend to go in there by himself, knowing what he faced. "I've come with you thus far, I know the risks, I've already chosen them. I will stay by your side."

"Aragorn..." Legolas' eyes were serious and firm. "You are a dear friend, dearer than a brother. But this is not your home. These are not your people, and it is not your father who is dying. There are some places where even you cannot follow me Strider. I must go alone."

"I'm not afraid to die Legolas," Aragorn said quietly, although he could already see in the elf's clear, sad eyes that this was an argument he was not going to win.

"I know you're not, my friend," Legolas squeezed Aragorn's shoulder lightly. "But it is not yet your time. You have too much life in front of you to think about death young one." The elf grinned softly, because he knew that it always irked Aragorn when he called him that. Yet it was true.

Legolas turned and began to descend the slope and Aragorn had the horrible, sinking feeling that he was never going to see his friend again.

"Legolas!" his voice halted the elf and Legolas turned back for a moment.

"May your heart find peace," Aragorn bid the prince, wishing he could find the words he really wanted to say. He started to clasp his friend's hand in parting, but then pulled the elf close instead. Legolas wrapped his arm around the young ranger's shoulders, returning his farewell embrace.

"Namárië Aragorn, may the stars always shine on your path," Legolas whispered softly into his friend's ear before they separated again. His hood had fallen back and they were able to meet eyes one more time. "And if I do not see you again under these heavens, know that I consider myself blessed to have counted you my friend."

"And I you," Aragorn returned gravely, realizing for the first time that Legolas was not really expecting to return from this foray, which was probably why he did not want his friend to go with him.

Legolas lightly flipped his hood back up, into place, and started down the hill again, leaving Aragorn standing alone on the slope. Aragorn watched the elf blend effortlessly in with the others in the distance. He followed his friend's form until Legolas passed beneath the shadow of the great gates and was lost to his view.

Legolas slid silently through the familiar passages of his home. He had been right about the number of people in the halls and since he carried himself as one who was well aquatinted with the place, no one took any notice of him.

Still, the elf kept his hood up and his face down, because he knew that here of all places, the danger of being recognized was most high. Several winding hallways finally led him to the familiar door of his father's chambers. Here, Legolas finally hesitated. How many times had he passed through these doors in his long lifetime? And yet now he stood outside them, afraid to enter, a fugitive in his own house.

A sharp pain wrapped itself around Legolas' heart and squeezed tightly. He was not afraid to face the consequences of this visit... if he had to die, he could accept that. What he *was* afraid of was that he would go into his father and the older elf would reject him. That the King would keep his vow and even on the verge of death refuse to look upon the son that had defied him. That, Legolas did not think he could bear. Yet this was something he had to do, whatever the outcome.

Slowly, the elf prince pushed the door open and let himself silently into his father's chambers. There was no one in the lush, beautiful anti-chamber where Thranduil entertained his guests, and where Legolas had spent so many restful evenings simply talking and laughing with the older elf about everything and nothing at all.

This place held too many memories for Legolas, and he padded quickly over the thick rugs without making a sound. Ahead on the left was the doorway to his father's sleeping chamber and he could hear soft, muted voices from within. One of the voices approached the partially open bedroom door and Legolas quickly pressed himself back into the shadow of a draping curtain as the door was pushed open from inside.

Elrynd, one of Thranduil's faithful servants who Legolas knew well, exited the room. The elf's fair face was grim and sad and Legolas read there all the things about his father's condition that he did not want to fully accept.

The young prince waited until Elrynd left on whatever errand he had been sent before making his way back towards the bedchamber. The door stood ajar and through the crack, Legolas could see that there was no one else present save the sad figure of his father on the bed. The Elvenking lay with his back to the door.

Silently admitting himself into the room, Legolas' heart pounded loudly in his ears as he approached his father's bed. He was perhaps more frightened of this meeting than he had ever been of anything else he had yet encountered in his life.

Thranduil lay motionless against the pillows and a deadly pallor like a frost lay upon him. His ageless features looked infinitely older and sorrow creased every line of his care-worn face. It broke Legolas' heart to see his father in such a state.

"Elrynd?" Thranduil asked weakly when he sensed that someone had entered; his voice slurred slightly. There was nothing physically wrong with him, but his own feelings of despair had eaten away at him until he was very literally letting go of life altogether, his body wasting away with his spirit.

Legolas froze, momentarily unable to speak.

Thranduil rolled over with an effort, his eyes lighting on the cloaked, hooded form of the stranger at his bedside. The king blinked hazily as he attempted to focus on the newcomer, his brows furrowing in confusion. "Elrynd?"

Legolas swallowed hard. "Nay, not Elrynd..." with a quick flick of his wrist, the elf prince let his hood fall back, "...Father."

Thranduil's glazed eyes widened with shock and surprise. "L-Legolas?" he breathed his son's name unbelievingly. "My son... you shouldn't be here my son..." the king whispered weakly, his face filled with unbearable pain.

Legolas dropped to his knees by the bed, forbidding his body to tremble. "Forgive me father, I had to come."

"Legolas..." Thranduil's voice was frail and rasping, his eyes searching blearily for his son's face.

"I know what it means father, I'm sorry," Legolas' words tumbled swiftly out on top of one another. "But I-I had to see you again..." his voice choked slightly.

"Legolas," Thranduil cut him off, holding his arms out weakly.

Legolas had to choke back his emotions as he readily allowed himself to be folded into his father's embrace. Clinging to the older elf tightly, Legolas buried his face against his father's shoulder.

"My son... my son..." Thranduil murmured as he hugged Legolas close, cupping the back of the younger elf's head in his hand and stroking his son's hair as he did when Legolas was a child, many, many years ago. Silent tears ran down the king's pale, wan face. "I have missed you Legolas. All has gone ill since you left, as if a curse has fallen over us... I have failed my people when they need me most."

Legolas closed his eyes tightly against his own overflowing emotions, but was only partially able to hold them in check. "I missed you too Father," his voice caught slightly as his shoulders shook despite his best efforts. "More than you can know. But the spiders are dealt with now, there is no more danger. You have failed no one father. You must get well now, you must."

Legolas heard the door open behind him. Elrynd had re-entered the room and Amil-Garil, captain of the king's guard, was with him. They stopped when they saw the king and his son. Neither spoke. Neither dared.

Legolas tensed when he sensed the presences behind him, but did not move, lingering here in his father's warm embrace for as long as he could. Savouring every last touch of his father's love before having to face what he knew waited for him. When Thranduil told him to go with them, then he would leave and he would accept his fate without regret.

"What is it Elrynd?" Thranduil spoke with more authority and strength than he had in months. Legolas still had not turned around and his father had not released him. He tensed as the elf behind him spoke but his father's hands on his back calmed him. It mattered not what happened now. He was not rejected in the one way that truly mattered. Whatever had to happen, his father loved him still.

"We found an intruder my lord." Elrynd spoke hesitantly.

Legolas closed his eyes and relaxed, awaiting the inevitable.

"He is my son." Thranduil did not move or release the young elf he held onto. "Leave us now."

"No, my lord that is not what I meant, the intruder, I..." the elf hesitated, unsure how to proceed as Legolas turned in his father's arms to stare at Elrynd, "I was not speaking of your...your son lord Thranduil. I was speaking of this one."

The messenger stepped aside and the Captain of the guard motioned two warrior elves into the king's room. They drug a small figure in with them and shoved the intruder forward. He tripped at the rough handling and fell to the floor, the hood of his cloak concealing his identity. The person was tightly bound and made no move to rise.

Legolas did not need to see the intruder's face to know who he was. The dark strands of hair that brushed the thick carpet gave his friend away and he could tell by the man's breathing that he had been roughed up before being brought into the king's chambers.

"No." the elf prince barely whispered the word, stunned silent by this new turn. Now they would both pay with their lives.

Thranduil watched his son carefully as one of the warriors reached down and jerked the hood away from Aragorn's face. The man was lying on his side, his eyes closed in pain as he breathed in slowly, forcing air back into lungs that weren't quite working right yet, trying to get his diaphragm to remember how to work correctly after the vicious pounding he had just taken from the guards.

"Strider?"

At the sound of the prince's voice the human moved his head slightly, looking in the direction of the elf. Legolas still knelt by his father's bed. Thranduil had allowed the young elf to turn around but had not yet released him.

"I'm sorry." The young man whispered hoarsely, coughing as he finally caught his breath, "I got caught. I thought you might need help."

"You were not supposed to follow." Legolas leaned forward to help the man sit up but was stopped by one of the guards who blocked his path.

"Release him." The elf prince ordered out of habit.

"You carry no authority here outcast." The guard's voice was hard and he would not look the elf in the eyes.

"Do not speak to him thus," Thranduil sat slowly up in bed, his eyes hard, his strength seeming to return before their very eyes, "He is my son." Looking to the human the king ordered his guards, "Leave us alone. Remove the human, I will deal with him later."

"No!" Legolas turned to implore his father, "No, father. Aragorn is the reason I am able to return to you at all."

The king held up his hand and the warriors stepped back, leaving the ranger lying on the carpet.

Legolas continued, "I suffered morgul poisoning, to the point of death. There was no one to help us. Aragorn saved me." He tried to cover up for Elrond's part in his healing but the ranger softly spoke up.

"Elrond saved him. I only took your son home to my father." He met the king's eyes and held them. Legolas sighed deeply and turned away from them both. He had not wanted to involve Elrond if he could help it, and he still was not convinced that his father would not take steps against the other Elven lord.

"Did he now?" Thranduil's voice was hard as stared back at the ranger.

"Yes he did." Aragorn answered the question. When Thranduil did not back down the ranger simply shook his head and laid back down on the carpet, his body was still aching from the beating he had taken when the guards had caught him. Whatever his fate it was out of his hands.

"Do not hold it against him father."

Thranduil's gaze softened and he smiled at the young elf, "How could I? I owe him a great debt of gratitude that I cannot repay."

"But you can," Legolas returned the smile as a thought struck him. "Aragorn is Elrond's own. He has claimed him as his son. Give him back his life as Elrond gave me back mine."

"Legolas..."

"Father," The young elf did not give the king the chance but continued, "It was Aragorn who had found the spider's lair. Together we were able to destroy the nests and drive those foul creatures from the woods. Every wounded elf beneath your chambers in this palace owes his life to Aragorn."

"And to you." Aragorn twisted in his bonds and nodded at Legolas, more than anything he wanted his friend reunited with his father. Carefully he raised himself up to his knees, bowing low in respect to the elderly elf. "Your son underestimates his part. Because of Legolas the wastelands are free of orcs, their danger has been driven back into the evil mountains from whence they came." He smiled at his friend, "It was his bravery that slew Tairach where she hung in her nest. His actions would have made you proud."

"His actions have made me proud young human."

Legolas turned to back to his father, holding his breath in hope and fear.

King Thranduil looked between the two friends, gazing at them long and hard. His heart most desperately wanted his son back, the human, he would have to keep his eye on him before he was comfortable with the ranger, but the fact that Elrond had taken him as a son was no light matter. He could not condemn the man to death and he had the very distinct suspicion that if he did Legolas would go with him down to the grave.

Shaking his head at the two youths, he addressed the warrior standing closest to the ranger, "Release him."

Aragorn flinched slightly as the elf whipped out a long knife and stepped forward. He cut the ropes that held the man bound, in one swift motion.

As the bonds fell away from his wrists the man sucked his breath in sharply, the rush of blood to his fingers causing him no small amount of pain. He carefully rubbed the red burn marks the ropes had made on the soft skin of his wrists as Legolas glared at the elf warrior.

"Leave us." The king ordered. "I will address the courts regarding the fate of my son and the human." As Elrynd bowed to take his leave the king spoke once more, "And see to it that proper quarters are prepared for the human. Re-open the prince's rooms and see that they are well kept."

Legolas touched the king's arm lightly with his fingers, "Father I would be more at ease if Aragorn were allowed to stay in my guest quarters tonight." His implored the elder elf.

"I see your point." Thranduil conceded and addressed his servant once more, "See to my sons' wishes and prepare his guest quarters."

"As you wish my lords." Elrynd replied with a smile as he bowed to the two elves.

Aragorn still sat on the floor, watching the whole exchange, unsure if they had been released from their death sentence or just given a temporary reprieve.

"Father!" Legolas shouted the word with such joy that the human couldn't help the smile that crept onto his lips as the young elf threw himself back into the arms of the king. "Thank you father."

"It is not finished yet, my son." Thranduil held the young elf to him, feeling his strength return more every moment as he grabbed back onto life, to love, to hope... to his son. "We still must face the council."

"Surely our actions speak for our intentions, do they not?" Legolas was unsure what would happen next.

Thranduil looked over his son's shoulder at the man seated on the floor of his room and raised his eyebrow, he almost smiled at the wide-eyed expression on the human's face, "Young human, you say Elrond has claimed you as his son?"

"Yes?"

Legolas released his father and seated himself on the king's bed, holding one of the elderly elf's hands in his own.

"If I sent for him tonight and told him you were here, would he come for you?" the King queried again.

"Yes my lord and my brothers would accompany him also, I am sure of it." Aragorn looked questioningly at Legolas. The elf shrugged his shoulders slightly, uncertain where his father was going with the line of questioning.

"And you claim that your father does not acknowledge my sentencing of the two of you."

"No, my lord, he does not." A spike of fear ran through the ranger as he answered, unwilling to put his adoptive father in jeopardy; he began to defend the elven lord.

Thranduil raised his hand and stopped the ranger. "A king's verdict on any given subject is law and therefore cannot be violated or simply ignored." The colour drained from Aragorn's face as he heard the words but the king continued, "However if two rulers agree that the edict was perhaps ill-conceived or has outlived its purpose it may be overturned. It takes two however to do this." He stared hard at the boy in his room, "Will Elrond agree that perhaps this particular ruling in this particular case has outlived its purpose and needs be dropped?"

The rangers sigh of relief caused the king to laugh lightly. "I'll take that as a yes." He turned towards the outer chambers and called for his servant.

When Elrynd opened the door and stepped in he was surprised to find the king standing near the fire, stoking the dying embers. Just how fast Thranduil was recovering was truly remarkable, almost unbelievable if Elrynd had not been witnessing it with his own eyes.

Legolas reached down to his friend and pulled Aragorn up into a warm embrace, checking the human out to make sure he was okay after the abuse he had taken when he had been caught. He was quietly chiding the man about being more careful and disappearing into his surroundings better. The whole scene shocked the servant who only moments ago was tending a dying king.

"My lord, you called me?" The servant asked.

"Yes Elrynd," The king approached the elf, "I need you to send an envoy to Rivendell tonight, to request that Lord Elrond attend a council that I will be convening in two days." The elf king glanced at his son and Aragorn, "That should give him enough time?"

"Yes my lord." Aragorn replied respectfully.

"Tell him it involves his son." Thranduil turned back to Elrynd continuing to instruct him.

He was interrupted as Aragorn spoke up, "Begging your pardon my lord, but please make sure to tell him, and especially his sons, that Aragorn is well and lives." He smiled a lopsided grin at the questioning glance from the king, "They can be overprotective." He explained with a shrug.

Thranduil nodded, "I understand completely. Make sure you tell Elrond that his son is well and tell the brothers not worry, it is a merely a formality. I am sure Lord Elrond will understand."

Waking up had never felt quite so good in a very long time. Aragorn lay in his bed and let the soft sounds of morning sweep over him, he was in no hurray to get up and relaxed back against the soft mattress. A smile touched his lips as he remembered that this was the day his father and his brothers would be joining him at Lord Thranduil's palace in Mirkwood. He had spent the last couple of days catching up on his rest as he and Legolas used the palace as a sanctuary. Few of the elves even knew they had returned and those that did, had been sworn to silence by the King himself.

Legolas pushed the door open that separated their adjoining rooms and looked around the darkened interior for his friend.

"Are you still in bed? Know you not what hour it is?" The elf walked to the large window that exited on to the balcony and threw the curtains back letting bright morning light spill into the guest quarters.

He turned and frowned back at the bedchamber. "Strider get up!"

"Feels too good to just lay here." The man grumbled, pulling the covers over his head.

"Your brothers were spotted on edge of the wood." Legolas smiled wickedly at the lump of covers that marked where Aragorn lay.

"What?" Aragorn moved and squinted at the elf, "Then get out of here and let me get up!"

Legolas laughed and walked back to the door, "Very well dress quickly, I'll be waiting for you in the courtyard. Your family should be here any minute."

When the door had shut behind the elf, Aragorn jumped from his bed and quickly pulled on his leggings and tunic. He ran his hands through his hair and stuffed his feet into his boots, pelting down the stairs after his friend. Throwing the door open the human nearly ran Legolas over where the elf stood in the courtyard talking with Raniean as they awaited their guests.

The sounds of horses' hooves could just be heard as they entered the cobbled stone entry of the courtyard. Aragorn's excitement was contagious and Legolas found himself grinning as Elrond and his sons rode under the archway of the palace and dismounted near them. Raniean and his men took charge of the animals and led them away slowly, letting the horses walk off the long trip before they gave them food and water.

Aragorn found himself caught up between the twins who barely remembered their manners bowing slightly to the prince before they overwhelmed their brother. Their laughter rang off the stone walls of Thranduils' palace and filled the courtyard. Elrond shook his head watching the three of them. If he hadn't known how old the twins truly where he would have thought them to be no older than Aragorn. The young human brought out the youth in his sons and he smiled as he watched them.

Walking over to Legolas he bowed slightly and questioned the young man, "How do you feel young prince? I trust you are better than last we met?"

Legolas formally returned the bow smiling, "Yes thanks to your administrations my lord I am doing well."

Elrond turned to watch the brothers as they battered Aragorn with questions. Elladan stepped close to the human and cupped his hands under the man's chin forcing Aragorn's head back and inspected the almost healed wounds Tairach had dealt him, "What happened to you?"

"That looks nasty." Elrohir ran his fingers lightly around the man's throat tracing the cuts the spiders' claw had left.

Aragorn wrestled himself free of the two elves and brushed their hands aside. "I'm fine!" He glared at Elrond begging for help, but the elder elf only smiled back at the youth and raised his hands helplessly.

Elrohir sidled up to Aragorn and leaned down on the human's shoulder glancing at him conspiratorially as a wicked smile spread across his face. He threw a quick look at his twin before confiding in the human, "When Thranduil's men came and requested our presence, Elladan wasn't there. So when he got back I told him that they had killed you."

The elf started laughing at his own joke.

Aragorn turned wide eyes on his brother, "Elrohir! You didn't?"

Through his laughter, the elf continued, "I did. Elladan didn't take it very well but father ruined it and told him the truth."

Elladan glowered at his brother, "That was the cruellest thing you have ever done Elrohir."

"I was only getting you back for that time you said the white deer where running in the vale and then you left me there without a horse." Elrohir stepped away from Aragorn and challenged his brother.

Legolas laughed and joined the conversation, "The white deer run through your woods?"

Elrond left the young elves to their hunting tales as Thranduil's attendant Elrynd, entered the courtyard. He bowed low to the Noldor elf, "My lord, King Thranduil has requested your company. Would you follow me?"

Elrond turned his gaze back to the companions watching as Elrohir held their attention expounding on one of the twins' recent hunting forays.

"They are safe here my lord. Few know that they are in the castle and those that do have been sworn to secrecy." Elrynd offered mistaking the elf's attention for worry.

Elrond nodded and motioned for the twins to follow him as he caught Elladan's eye.

"We'd like to stay with Aragorn and Legolas." His son called back.

"As you wish." His eyes cautioned the younger elf and Elladan nodded back knowingly. They were with Silvan elves, in territory that had been declared off-limits under penalty of death to their human brother. Until the entire proceedings were over he was not out of danger and Elrond wanted his sons to be wary. Noldor and Silvan elves were not always known to get along; the day's events would prove very interesting. Turning back to Elrynd he gestured for the servant to lead the way.

Legolas stilled his laughter long enough to catch his breath. He touched Elladan's shoulder lightly drawing the twins attention, "The assembly will begin soon. We need to prepare." He glanced at Aragorn and looked the human up and down, taking note of the dark rumpled clothing, "You aren't wearing that are you?"

Elladan turned toward the human and appraised him, "No, he's not." He answered for the man.

Aragorn looked from Legolas to his brother in surprise, "Yes I am! I am a ranger. This is how rangers dress."

"You at least need a shower." His eldest brother frowned at him.

"It's all right Aragorn," Elrohir interrupted them, "I brought your formal wear." He smiled at the man noting the way the human had suddenly become highly self-conscious. Right now the last thing Aragorn needed was more stress, he had a feeling that the formalities of the assembly would be enough to put the young human on edge.

Aragorn nodded and smiled back, "Fine. Lets go then."

Legolas led the brothers back up to his quarters, "Come on, I need a change of clothing too. It will be very formal. I'll tell you all about what to expect before we are summoned."

They mounted the stairs listening intently to the elf prince as he explained everything that would take place over the course of the day.

An hour later a knock on the prince's door alert them that proceedings were beginning. Legolas was dressed in a forest green velvet leggings and tunic. The tunic had been embroidered with golden thread, weaving intricate patterns of leaves around the cuffs and near the buttons. Leather had been worked into the shirt forming a stiff collar that dropped in an elegant 'v' neck where it was fastened by a brooch in the shape of the royal insignia. The silver work was exquisite. Soft deerskin boots covered his feet and his elevn blades were hung in leather sheaths at his side. As he opened the doors and allowed the contingent of guards in he looked every bit the royal that he was. He looked the company of elves over quietly not quite sure who would have been sent to collect him and Aragorn. But as he opened the door and saw Raniean and Trelan and their company smiling back at him, he relaxed and stepped back so the elves could enter.

"My lord it is time." Raniean announced with a smile. It was good to have the prince back.

"Aragorn, we must be going!" Legolas called over his shoulder as he clasped the warriors forearm.

Behind him, the ranger stepped out of the adjoining room, trailing his brothers. Elladan and Elrohir though princely in stature had taken on the appearance of warriors instead. They had convinced Legolas to allow them to walk with the guards into the hearing, unwilling to let Aragorn go alone.

Raniean appraised the two Noldor elves not at all pleased with the turn of events. As the Dùnadan stepped from around the unknown warriors the Silvan elf stepped forward to greet the human and stopped in his tracks.

The man was dressed in dark trousers and a dark suede over tunic that swept down his back mid-calf. The shoulders and collar of the shirt were worked in gold and silver and the undershirt was a deep silk burgundy. Even Legolas stopped and eyed the man; he looked every bit a human prince at that moment.

The scrutiny was lost on the young ranger who was fiddling with the buttons on the leather tunic and pulling the tail of the shirt down as he adjusted to wearing the tighter fitting clothing. Elladan cleared his throat and Aragorn looked up for the first time. He glanced about him looking between his friends and his brothers unaware of the effect his bearing had.

"What?" He glared at Legolas, "I showered!"

Raniean broke out laughing and looked at Trelan, "Then it must be you I smell!"

The smaller elf rolled his eyes and approached Aragorn, "You look fine. How are you feeling?"

"How am I feeling? You're the one the spider was saving for dinner!" He laughed as he turned the elf towards the twins who still stood to the back of the room.

"These are my brothers, Elladan and Elrohir." He motioned to the Noldor elves, who both bowed slightly to the company of warriors. The fact that the human had called the elves his brothers was not lost on the elven guards and when Aragorn turned back to continue his introductions Raniean was frowning at the human in confusion.

Aragorn simply proceeded with the introductions, "And these are my friends." He introduced each elf by name to the twins.

"Your brothers?" Trelan leaned close and whispered the question to the human.

Legolas grabbed the small elf and steered him out the door, "It's a long story Trelan. Some other time. I think if we wait any longer they will send another contingent and I would rather walk among friends."

Aragorn stepped next to Legolas as they filed out of the princes quarters. Elladan and Elrohir immediately took up positions behind the two friends and Trelan fell in step next to the human as Raniean flanked the prince. The rest of the contingent followed a step behind closing the doors as they headed for the assembly hall.

Walking back into the large hall was more difficult than Aragorn had thought it would be. He remembered the last time he had walked these same steps and the nervousness began to eat at his stomach again. Sensing the mans' unease Legolas glanced at him out of the corner of his eyes and smiled lightly. Elladan's strong hand on his shoulder steadied him somewhat and in seconds they stood once again before Lord Thranduil's throne surrounded by the elves of Mirkwood. Aragorn fought the desire to fidget with his clothing and instead clasped his hands together in front of him and waited.

The huge hall was hushed as Lord Thranduil entered followed by Lord Elrond. Thranduil seated himself and indicated a seat to his left for Elrond. The elf lord bowed his head slightly and took his seat.

King Thranduil turned his attention to the guards surrounding his son and Aragorn and instructed them, "Be seated."

Raniean stepped away from the prince's side and bowed before speaking, "My lord if it pleases you my contingent and I would stand with the accused. We do not support this banishment and have evidence that it is ill-advised. If it is so decided today that the ruling stands we would be counted as outcasts with these who stand before you now."

Elrond glanced casually at the King who surreptitiously returned the gaze before responding. He had had no doubts that something like this would take place and had forewarned Elrond. Returning his full attention to the small group of elves he steeled his gaze and continued, "Do you understand the gravity of the situation?"

Trelan stepped forward next to Raniean, "They saved us my lord. Surely that is something."

Elrond cast his eyes down but couldn't help smiling as he glanced at Thranduil.

The king leaned on the arm of the throne and spoke quietly to Elrond, "Do you see what I have to deal with?"

"Well they are very loyal." He covered his expression with a serious glance, "Young elves are always impudent and sure of themselves. My own are enough for me I do not envy you your position at all."

Lord Thranduil chuckled and returned his attention to the warriors. "Your argument is duly noted. Stand with the accused then if you will."

The two warriors stepped back near Legolas and Aragorn and after a moment of silence the king once again spoke.

"The accused stand guilty of breaking their banishment. They have violated the law levied against them and entered elven territory." Thranduil stared hard at Legolas and Aragorn. "By doing so they bring down the sentence of death upon their own heads."

Slight murmurs from the crowd of elves whispered through the great hall. When it had quieted Thranduil continued.

"However as it has been brought to this assemblies attention these two have acted in a manner worthy of the houses they represent. The orcs that have encroached our forests and engaged the dwarves in battle have been destroyed by these two outcasts. And if it were not for their bravery alone, many are the immortals who would not sit nor stand beneath this hall today. Those freed from the lair of Tairach stand as silent witnesses."

One by one the elves that had been saved from the spider's cocoons quietly stood to their feet. Aragorn glanced around the room surprised at the number of elves that stood behind them. In the heat of the battle it had been difficult to tell how many the spiders had taken.

"However when a ruling is passed down from a king it may not be violated for any reason no matter how noble the motives may be." He glanced at Lord Elrond, "The only way that those who stand accused before this court may live is if the original ruling is found to be ill-conceived or has outlived its purpose it may be overturned. It takes two however to do this."

Thranduil turned to Elrond, "Lord Elrond of Rivendell you have heard of the banishment of these two. You have also seen witness to their testimony as given by others and have heard it explained to you in the privacy of my own chambers. On this basis alone do you feel that the verdict has outlived its usefulness?"

Elrond gazed out across the sea of elven faces his eyes lighting lastly on his adopted son, "On the basis of the witnesses and the testimonies given I do and on the honour of those who stand before this court I find that this law has outlived its usefulness. But I would further request that it be stricken from all elven courts and never be handed down again." He turned to Thranduil and continued, "This law has done great harm and therefore is not a just law. Do you not agree?"

Mirkwood's Lord eyed the Noldor elf for a long quiet moment before slowly nodding. "I do and such it is henceforth stricken from all courts of law in the elven territories and may never be used again against another elf."

Elrond nodded once in consent and turned back towards the audience chamber.

"Write it up and seal it with my insignia." Lord Thranduil removed his signet ring from his finger and handed it to Elrynd who curtly bowed and turned to Elrond.

"And with mine." The elven lord stated slipping his own ring from his finger and handing it to the servant.

"See to it that the new edict is read in every territory." Lord Thranduil further instructed.

Legolas sighed in relief and glanced at Aragorn before his attention was refocused on his father.

"Legolas, Greenleaf." Thranduil addressed the young prince. The elf stood tall and looked his father in the eyes, "As the court has seen to lift your ban, come and take your seat as Prince of Mirkwood once more." The king motioned to the empty seat on his right.

Legolas stepped forward and kneeled before the king his right hand covering his heart in pledge. When he stood Thranduil, was smiling openly at his son. The young elf restrained himself from exhibiting his joy and walked calmly up the steps to take his seat next to his father.

The chamber of elves roared in approval and came to their feet in a swift motion. Only a few of those present did not stand or cheer and their actions were noted by all.

Thranduil quieted the elves once more and continued, "Now as to the matter of the human."

Elrond glanced at Thranduil raising his eyebrows at the slight. However the smile that the king barely hid was not lost on the elven lord and he relaxed.

Legolas couldn't hide his own smile as Trelan and Raniean moved closer in towards the Dùnadan giving him their support with their presence.

"This one named Strider, is no ordinary man," the King spoke once more.

Elrohir leaned forward and whispered in Aragorn's ear, "Strider?"

"It's a long story." The man whispered back and returned his attention to the King who was still speaking.

"Because of his acts of bravery in freeing the elves and his disregard of his own life in saving the life of the prince he is now and will always be free to come and go under Mirkwood's trees for as long as he and his descendants live. The banishment is repealed, Aragorn son of Arathorn, Heir of Isildur and one in the guardianship of Lord Elrond." Thranduil finished.

Trelan and Raniean both turned towards the human and asked incredulously, "Aragorn?"

The Dùnadan rolled his eyes and replied, "It's a long story"

"Please come forward." Lord Thranduil motioned the man towards him as the king stepped down from his throne and approached the human. Elrond and Legolas stood from their seats in silent approval.

Elrynd met Thranduil, appearing from the wings of the hall and handed the king a swath of dark blue velvet. Carefully the elder elf unwrapped an elven sword and passed it to the young man. "Because I owe you a debt of gratitude I cannot repay in saving my son, consider this house as your own."

Aragorn took the sword on the upturned palms of his hands and kneeled before the elf lord. "Thank you my lord."

Thranduil touched his shoulder and motioned the man to stand. Addressing the crowd once more he dismissed them, "This assembly is at an end. You may leave. Tonight we will celebrate the prince's return!"

The exit of the elves was quite different than the last time Aragorn had watched them leave. Their faces were joyful and bright and they congratulated the warriors that had stood with Aragorn and Legolas even including the twins in their cheer.

As the room cleared the two elf lords talked quietly among themselves and the younger elves had formed their own small knot where they were animatedly recounting the events of the afternoon.

Aragorn felt eyes on him and looked about the hall. Near the doorway Sarcayul stood with his small band of warriors. His eyes were dark and the anger and hatred in them barely concealed. Legolas followed Aragorn's gaze and noted the band of elves. He stepped back near Raniean and touched the warrior. Instantly the small group of elves around the prince stilled and focused on Sarcayul's clan.

With so much attention on him the elf dropped his gaze and glanced to his left. Morifwen sat by himself on the far side of the hall his eyes down.

"Mori!" Sarcayul called to warrior. Slowly the elf looked back at his friend and was motioned to join them. He had already made up his mind he would not be a part of Sarcayul's contingent any longer. He had seen the grief and the pain the elf had enjoyed causing and he had had enough.

Morifwen shook his head and looked back to the front of the hall. With a snort of disgust, Sarcayul led his group out of the assembly hall.

"That one will be trouble my lord." Raniean watched the elf leave.

Legolas started to answer but was interrupted as Aragorn slowly left his side walking warily over to where Morifwen still sat. He took a seat in front of the elf and leaned over the back of the wooden pew.

"You all right?"

Morifwen sat back, surprised to see the human so near him.

"You and Legolas saved me from the spiders although I deserved to be left by you." He glanced over his shoulder towards the place Sarcayul had been, "I can't be a part of that anymore."

Aragorn extended his hand over the chair backing and reached out towards the elf, "No hard feelings then?"

Morifwen stared at him unable to speak. "You forget that I framed you and hunted you?"

"No." Aragorn answered him softly, "But I forgive it."

"Your brother is quite unusual," Raniean stepped near Elladan and spoke quietly to him.

"That he is." The twin answered watching with interest as the human made peace with the elf.

Aragorn pressed his open hand closer to Morifwen, "What do you say we start over again?"

Morifwen smiled at the man and nodded his head. Taking the proffered hand he answered the offered peace, "I would like that very much."

Raniean had watched the whole thing spellbound. As Morifwen stood and walked back with Aragorn Trelan stepped up behind the elf warrior, "Maybe you should ask him to join our contingent. He could use some retraining."

The tall warrior looked down at the smaller elf, "I supposed you'd volunteer for that?" He asked as Trelan grinned wickedly at him.

"Please."

Nodding Raniean stepped out and stopped Morifwen, "I see you have been left behind by your companions." When the elf did not respond he continued, "You have a lot to learn about compassion and what it means to be an elf."

Morifwen nodded and dropped his eyes to the floor. It seemed the human could forgive easier than his own.

"Would you care to join my contingent?" When the warrior met his gaze, Raniean continued, "You'll have to leave that bigotry behind though I won't tolerate it."

Elrond approached the group of young elves as Morifwen readily accepted Raniean's offer. "My sons its time to go." He interrupted the conversations and motioned to the door with his hand.

"I'd like to stay father. At least for a few days." Aragorn stepped around the warriors and approached Elrond.

The elder elf smiled and shook his head, "Not this time. I do believe our original agreement was a fortnight. I think that you have passed that deadline quite a few fortnights ago. We are leaving and you are coming with us." He smiled into the begging face of the human.

Legolas stepped next to the ranger and touched his shoulder, I have an idea Strider." His eyes were twinkling as he spoke and he purposefully avoided his fathers gaze, "How about I promise to come and visit you in a fortnight. And we can spend some time in Rivendell; see what sort of trouble we can stir up in your woods this time."

"Yes! I will look for you then!" Aragorn grasped the prince by his forearm and pulled his friend close.

Thranduil caught Elrond's eyes, "Good luck to you." He commented dryly. His sarcasm elicited laughter from those standing nearby.

Elrond signed and nodded, "Yes thank you I believe I am going to need it with these two." He fondly draped his arm around Estel's shoulder and escorted the boy out of hall, trailed by his sons.

Thranduil gazed at Legolas who smiled back at his father, "Well that was fun."

Raising an eyebrow in mock indignation the king turned and strode slowly out of the hall, his son at his side, "Yes well, let's not do that again for a very long time."

"Is a fortnight long enough?"

"When I have crossed to the undying lands you may pull a stunt like that again but until then, no." Thranduil smiled at the young elf.

The prince's laughter rang through the halls and resonated in the king's heart. It was so good to have him home.

The End

A/N: The next story is very fluffy with hurt-comfort and has young Aragon.

It's called You Make Me Home.

Summary : A young Aragorn is injured while out with the rangers. With the more seriously wounded demanding all the immediate attention, Elladan and Elrohir make sure their little brother is not forgotten.

I will start You make me home tommrow.

See you soon.

XXX

Rae