Elrohir was sat reading in the extensive library when he became aware that he was being glared at. Closing the book he searched for the source of the glare and found it to be a adolescent elf, he had yet to grow into his ears. Elrohir laughed internally at this, he was sounding more and more like his father. He would say that when they had done something particularly immature when they were adolescents themselves. 'Will you two ever grow into your ears.' He stood from the comfy chair and walked towards the elf, upon closer inspection he realised that the elf was in fact an apprentice judging by the clothes. When he was face to face with the elf he spoke. "Have I done something to earn this displeasure young one?" He asked, he was was shocked by the response. "Yes, Caun Legolas doesn't need you. You have done enough damage. I could take care of him better than you or your double ever could." Elrohir blinked. This elf was clearly infatuated with Legolas, they way he said his name was proof of that, it held pure adoration. "And Child why do you think that you could do a better job than me or Elladan." He was intrgued to hear the response. "I earn a steady wage and I live in the palace with my father. I am here all the time and would never ask him to leave the citadel to chase me to some human city. I would worship the very ground he walked up on. So there" He crossed his arms over his chest frogetting that he was carrying a pile of books that went crashing to the ground. The elf went beat red but tried to maintain the glare. Elrohir had to resist the urge to laugh. "Child, Legolas has no interest in your steady wage or the fact that you live in the palace. There are other things to love." "I LOVE HIM" The elf yelled. There was a laugh from behind the pair. Legolas sat in one of the chairs watching with his kind smile "Leave off the poor boy Elrohir. I remember when we were much the same. Adament that once one of us was earning a steady wage ... we forgot that we were the sons of kings and lords. With duty in our future. Anyway Ro shall we go, I have much paper work that requires my signature and I would have company while I do it." Legolas stood again and looped his arms around Elrohir who had picked up the book he had been reading. Legolas then spoke to the other elf then. "While I am flattered that you care for me this much I am afraid that I must decline your offer for I am already bonded and will be forever more."

While they walked the halls towards Legolas spoke of his day so far. Elrohir said nothing as they walked, content to just listen to Legolas talk, he became engrossed in the slight changes of pitch and word that were heavy with his native acent. It was never something that he had really paid attention to in Legolas but when he really listened like he did now the gentle lilt to words as he spoke became like a sweet caress to him. He never had noticed his strong silvan accent. He realised then that he had never really thought about Legolas roots, he remembered that his father was in fact a grey elf from Lindon and that his mother a Sinda. Elrohir quite suddenly stopped and swung Legolas into a passionate kiss. When they broke apart Legolas cocked his head and looked at Elrohir with a questioning gaze. "Your mother must have been of the Valar for you my beloved have a heart of gold that even Yavanna would be envious of." Legolas just laughed and continued talking about his day as they rounded the corner to his study.

Laebon was waiting in the study, he appeared a centinal guard by the princes desk. When Elrohir entered alongside Legolas he cocked his eyebrow and leveled him with a look. "My lord will resuming his duties." There was a double meaning here, for Legolas it was mearly a statement as to his activities. For Elrohir it was a warning, Legolas has work to do you will not distract him. Elrohir raised the hand that contained the book and moved to sit in a chair in the conner of the room. Laebon nodded and then proceeded to direct to Legolas what needed doing first. "Oh Valar when did I gain so much. I swear I left this done." Legolas complained as he began, pulling the 'Urgent' Laebon looked up from the documents that he was sorting spoke with a tone of amusement "Well my lord I have oft told you that it will pile up if you insist on galavanting around the kingdom instead of putting quill to parchment. Now if you don't complain it will go a lot faster" Legolas rolled his eyes and settled into reading the long documents that he was given. And so the next few hours were spent in relative quiet with only the odd questions to Laebon from Legolas pertaining to certain documents and the call for mid day meal to be brought up as the work was done.

The quietude of the room was disturbed by the sound of the arrivals horn from the entrance to the citadale. A servant knocked and announced the the Lord Elladan had returned to the Palace. Legolas laid down his quill and rubbed a hand over his face, just hearing those words he began to worry, what had Elladan found if anything. Laebon laid a hand on Legolas shoulder and nodded to the servant that had brought the news. Legolas stood and walked solemnly towards the main entrance hall, he could see Elladan stood in front of a pallet. He looked distraught, ageless face drawing and seemingly aged. Legolas bowed to him and he repeated the gesture, Legolas just wanted to hug him but knew that there was formality that was necessary. "Report" He demanded with authority. Elladan felt reasured by the familiar routine. "Located the missing and retrieved the body. Bandits had turned over much of the caravan but we slavaged what we could. Found the bandits they had made camp close by we have apprehended them and brought them for trial." Finishing his report he waited for a new set of orders. "Go clean your self up and I will see you in out chambers Elladan. I must tend to Idhon." Elladan relaxed and let Elrohir take his pack and walked with him towards their chambers. Legolas sent two of the guards to take the bandits to a holding cell in the papal.

Legolas came towards the guards that were carrying the pallet, the body was covered with a black sheet. He let a hand hover over the sheet before beckoning them to follow him towards the Halls of the Lost. Once there he waited to the side as the guards placed the pallet in the centre of the room on a raised dais. The halls were set deep into the palace where there was little noise, the roof was opened to allow sunlight to filter in. The guards left and Legolas was alone with Idhon, he took the time to pull back the sheet. Idhon was not what he had imagined, appeared a lot younger in death, but even then he couldn't have been more than a year into combat training. It appeared that the fatal wound was a clean strike across the stomach but he was covered with small cuts and nicks, proof of the struggle that he put up for his family. Placing the cloth back over the body Legolas stepped back realising that he now had to tell a family that just beginning to heal that their beloved son was laid here. He was brought sharply back by the sound of a servants foot steps. A young ellon carrying a bowl of water, he held it out to the prince. Legolas gestured that he should wash the boy while Legolas watched and thought. His mind jumped to how easily it could have been him lying on that slab, how close it nearly was. This room had been filled by countless elves who lost people on their journey to the citadel or in the final alliance of elves and men. Suddenly he felt empty. This is what was left of a loving young elf, a broken body. His soul would have left to mandos halls but someone still had to take his life, a human had to take his life. Humans were worse than orcs, they had a choice and they choose to kill. They should pay, the bandits were in his cells. They had killed a simple elven boy for protecting his family. He died so they could gain a few petty coins and what ever they could sell.

The servant boy felt something change in the room and turned to find he Lord and master, he froze the look of anger on Legolas face was terrible and frightening. But, it was the darkening markings and air of pure power that was the most horrifying to him. He dropped the bowl "My lord. Caun Legolas" Legolas made no move of recognition, but his marking grew darker again. The servant boy ran from the room hoping to find someone, anyone who could help. The Twin Lords he should get the twin lords.

Elladan was washing away the dirt of the road chatting away with Elrohir when the doors to the chambers burst open and the servant boy burst in chest heaving and hair flying. Elladan quickly pulled a towel towards him covering himself as Elrohir moved to speak to the intruder. "What is the meaning of this?" He asked bluntly. The boy slowed his breathing enough to speak "Caun Legolas he has... somethigns happened. Marks on his skin and the aura... Oh valar the aura." Elrohir saw that they were going to get nothing out of the child and was worried for Legolas so took a different rout. "Tell me you name" "Kythylo, My lord" Right he had a name. "I need you to explain to me clearly what has happened." Kythylo took a deep breath and explained what he had saw in the Halls of the lost and how Legolas looked before adding "Please help him." Elladan who had been dressing quickly grabbed the cild by his shoulder and spun him to face the doors. "Take us there." He demanded and Kythylo ran in front of them towards the Halls of the lost.

Legolas mind kept spinning the same logic round and round, they had a choice, they killed innocents by choice. They needed to be punished. This kept spinning and the anger at the humans that were destroying all the work he and the fellowship had done in ridding the world of evil. There was no reasoning with the idea that there was never truly going to be no evil, but these men strike too close to his heart. He looked again at Idhon and decide that he was to pay a visit to the cells and deal with these perpetrators. Walking through the halls he didn't see anything but his goal.

The crowds in the halls fell silent and pressed themselves against the walls as warm shadows and calm quiet rippled around the prince. Many of the elves had already recognized that their prince had been touched by a Vala but now it became all to apparent that it was Mandos that has touched the elfs soul so deeply. They stood in awe, they has always admired him and loved him but this was beyond anything they has seen before he was glorious. Legolas brights robes where shrouded in a comforting darkness and began to change into long heavy velvet blacks that matched the markings. He seemed to grow in beauty and all who looked upon him could not fail but to love him. Elladan and Elrohir rounded the corner a split second after Kythylo and nearly ran him over as they came to a crashing halt in front of Legolas. "Legolas?" Elrohir tried and reached out to touch him, Legolas stopped and turned blazing eyes to him. He was crying. Reaching out with a hand he touched his face and uttered one word "Why?" He carried on walking then towards the cells. The Twins followed in awe, was it their Legolas that walked before them or was it the Lord Mandos with his comforting presence and warm darkness that promised rest from pain and hardship.

The cells were relativly nice with windows that let in the sunlight and clean water and food, but cells is what they were and the bandits were not happy to be in one. They were eager to get out but were worried about what the elves would do, the elves that had captured them were furious and rough. The leader has said something about a trail and a prince. They jumped at the doors to the cells were opened and an elf walked through. The bandits were absolutely enthralled by the beauty as he came to stand in front of their cell, they were kneeling and felt the blazing gazed fall upon them. They tried to look up but could not hold the it's gaze, then it spoke with a voice that was like the crashing of thunder yet was so beautiful that they had to listen. "You who have a choice over your lives, you who chose to kill and destroy. I put it to you give me you reason why." They found themselves unable to speak to this creature of power and light, guilt rushed over them and they felt their hearts hurt for the pain they had caused. Legolas spoke again. "There is nothing you wish to say in your own defence? I am fair and shall spare you lives for I would not commit to my own soul your sin of slaughter but you shall feel you guilt through your lives, when you look at yourself you will feel the pain you have caused. This is your punishment and your penance." The creature then turned and left the cells leaving the bandits with their own pain, sorrow and punishment.

Once they were out of the cells Elladan and Elrohir stood either side of Legolas and waited to see the next move. Then just as the change had come upon him the vestments of power and glory began to fall away and he felt a deep exhaustion roll over him in such a way that he had to reach out to steady himself. The twins gripped Legolas gently and let him collapse against them. "Legolas? Are you with us?" Legolas smiled and nodded. "I am myself again. I know not what happened" He spoke, he remembered everything but could not form even a simple reason for his sudden change and subsequent stint as a Vala. Elladan pulled him into a deep embrace and ran fingers through his hair. "You are one touched by the Valar and as such you have gained some part of him. You are bound in your own soul by your kindness and compassion and are driven by the search of righteousness and justice. This manifested it's self here. You were so calming to be next to and one just wished to rest so fear not that you were evil or anything of the sort. Your judgment was sound and clean. Your punishment was just." Legolas felt relived then for he could tell that Elladan would not lie to him and would not cover anything up. "I need to find Lolindir and his family so that they may begin their rites for Idhon." He pushed himself away to stand alone but felt the world spin again as the tiredness made it's known again. Elladan held him again and led him towards his chamber "Ro will find them, you need rest you are exhausted" Legolas wouldn't argue he could already feel sleep creeping in.

Their walk through the halls was less dramatic this time but the elves that were around did bow deeply and offer up prayers for their prince. Many reached out to touch his robes and hair and Legolas done his best to reciprocate and answer as much as possible but was falling ever closer to sleep.

When they finally reached Legolas chambers Laebon was already waiting. He opened the doors made a clear way to the bed. He acted no different than ever with Legolas and helped remove this robes and put on a night-shirt. "Lord Elladan shall I have your evening meal sent up here" Elladan also changed into light legging and under shirt. "Please, and call me Elladan." He carefully sat Legolas on the bed and pulled back the covers, Laebon came up and held Legolas as he listed were he sat. "Get in Elladan, I shall help him in." He did as he was bid and held out open arms for Legolas, who was place in them. Legolas was already asleep by this time and Laebon smiled sadly. "One more thing he has to worry about." Elladan pulled him closer, before turning to Laebon. "Please can you stay a while, I would talk to you of Legolas." Laebon nodded and sat on the edge of the bed. "I have already spoken of Legolas to your brother so and was expecting you to ask sometime." He spoke with a level tone that belied any of the anger that he truly felt towards the twin.

Elrohir returned a few hours later, eyes full of sorrow and pain. "He was so young." He said as he curled up with the pair that was already in the bed. He picked at the pate of food that was from their evening meal. "Has he taken any repast?" He asked referring to Legolas who was sleeping soundly on Elldans chest as he lent against the headboard. Elladan shook his head "He has not awoken, I thought it best to leave him." Elrohir agreed and also lent against the head board. "They want to have the rites tomorrow. His mother is starting her vigil tonight." Elrohir thought back to the family that Legolas had helped so much. Legolas shifted slightly and began to wake, he felt like he was pulling himself out of some deep hole. "Legolas, Meleth are you back with us?" Elrohir asked brushing errant hair away from his face. He pushed himself up against Elladan's chest pulling the sheets with him. "Yes." He shook his head slightly trying to force away some of the fogginess. Elladan stopped the move by placing a hand on his cheek. "Don't force it meleth. You were exhausted. You have slept soundly for many hours. Are you hungry?" Elrohir lifted the platter and offered it to him. Legolas took some fruit and meats eating slowly. "I heard you speaking of the family." He asked in between bites of food. Elrohir nodded and reported the same as he had with Elladan. "Legolas. Why such work on the part of this family. It is beautiful to see, but there must be hundreds of families that arrive here in much the same condition. Why this family?" Legolas stopped eating and cast his eyes to look out of the open balcony doors, his brow creased with a frown as he thought.

What was the reason for caring so much about a single family. Was it that he was trying to distract himself from past events? What about avoiding a rulers work? No he could do that with out helping this family. Then what was it, they has a sadly too common story that falls to many in middle earth from any race. He could only think of one reason, he had the means to do the right thing so he did. He looked his beloved Elrohir dead in the eyes.

"That could have easily been my family, had I been born to a different mother. Had my father renounced his throne. Does my station as a ruler mean that I can't care for single families or individuals under my care. If I have the means to help even one other person then I shall. If I find that I have only my bow and the clothes on my back left to me and I see a mother or child in need of warmth I would give up my clothes, should a elf need protection while he works in the world I shall pledge him my bow. Because I am able, I am strong and it is right. One can not survive this middle earth alone." He spoke with such conviction that the twins wished to take up the same mentality and the same morals that he held. They saw this conviction and thought back to the way that they had destroyed the elf, for such morals to be reduced to something so corrupt as to drive him to giving up his own life.

"Meleth, how strong your heart is. How bright you shine. We are blessed to have you." Elladan leant in and kissed Legolas gently before drawing away. Legolas wanted more he clasped Elladan's face between his hands and pulled him in hard for a passionate kiss. "I am also blessed to have two handsome and strong Elves at my side eternally."

They talked late into the night, the gentle breeze from the balcony teased hair and curtain alike as they laughed. Finally Elladan was left the only one awake. He couldn't just fall asleep, he watched his sleeping brother and beloved. He turned towards the sky and offered up a single prayer.

Namo, My bonded is beloved of you. Let this new-found blessing not become a curse. He far to lovely to become a vengeful seeker of justice with a heart that judges unfairly. May it not darken his heart or soul. I have bent and broken my most beloved Legolas and wish only to repair what I have done. He offered me forgiveness and mercy. I beg you let not this blessing of yours break him again.

Speedy update Yay (This is not a normal thing)

Okay a bit heavy during the end here, and I would like to make one thing clear. The manifestation of Namos blessing Legolas is taken as just that a blessing by the people of the elven race, he will not be something to be fear, yet he could be quiet terrifying should he wish it.

Please review.