Hello guys! Sorry for delay :)Here's a fresh chapter and I'm telling this now, I really don't know if the next chapter is uploaded soon. Perhaps, you'll have to wait even a few months, I'm sorry, I'll try my best to return asap :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

~~~Chapter 9~~~

He thought of Gandalf. He was absent again. But this time he was alive. He wished to talk to him, to tell him he's very delighted that he came back to them. But he didn't even meet him. Not when he was alone.

"What are you thinking about?" asked the ranger suddenly.

"Hmm?" he looked at him. "Ah, nothing. I was just thinking how happy I am I can be with you right now." he smiled hoping it will cover his real reason.

"I'm happy too." responded smiled human.

Seemed like his plan got succeed, Aragorn believed him. That was good. The ranger had got too much on his head at the moment to bother him even more. He felt his nervous state. He felt only nerves recently. Everyone doesn't even smile for a minute. He understood it, a war isn't anything to celebrate. What is to be happy about?

The neighbourhood was so quiet, only men and their loud talking could be heard every now and then.

~~~o*o~~~

Galadriel, Arwen, the twins and Haldir were in the forest, admiring the beauty of nature as elves use to do.

"Can you feel this peace around us? Everything seems to be calm and quiet..." smiled gently Galadriel, glancing around.

"Here is peaceful as always, my lady." answered her Haldir.

"I agree. This forest reminds me of everything what is good." whispered Arwen.

She closed her eyes to feel closer to the nature. Her elvish instincts were calm as never recently.

"I almost forget about the danger upon entire Middle-Earth." said now Elladan.

"Thank you brother. You've just destroyed everything. I was very calm until now. How could you remind me of this? Valar, I still fear for our boys."

"Stay calm, my dear Arwen. They're fine, I feel it." whispered the Lady.

They looked at each other. Galadriel wiped away her tears and smiled lightly. Her smile gave her a new hope, she felt some kind of warmth in her heart.

"Don't bother your beautiful head."

"But Ada said they have a war in Rohan. I'm very sure they went there to battle."

"That is true. But everything is on the good way. We will help them win this fight."

"How?" broke in Elrohir.

Galadriel exchanged gaze with Haldir and smiled.

"I will lead our army to Helm's Deep, for they are surely there." said Haldir calmly. "We will stand and fight. We cannot leave King Théoden alone."

"Really?" Arwen's lips formed into a big smile. "Hannon le, hannon le!" she almost shouted happy. She could swear she would embrace him.

She doesn't think about war very much and she doesn't even want to. Her mind is too peaceful to bother herself about such bad things. And normally she wouldn't be happy hearing about a fight. But this situation was different.

Galadriel smiled to herself and touched the white birch tree carefully. It was calm and quiet, as if it doesn't even know about the world and the still increasing danger. She looked at Arwen and her brothers. They were so worried but she felt bounds among them all very strongly. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the nature around them. Arwen seeing her state, did it as well, and boys looked around.

"Never before had been... like that here." Arwen whispered.

"What do you mean?" asked Elladan.

"Don't you feel this? Trees, grass, everything seems to be so calm. As if they don't feel what is happening in Middle-Earth. But at the same time, it seems it knows."

"Indeed. I've always known nature around can tell us more than anybody supposes." said now Elrohir.

Galadriel nodded gently and looked around again. Haldir glanced at his friends and the Lady. He knew he has to go to Helm's Deep to help. But he hoped he will make it out alive.

~~~o*o~~~

They returned to their camp and sat on the grass. They had a good view on everyone from here. Gimli was with Théoden. They were talking calmly. This dwarf seemed to feel very good among them all, telling about others of his race made him happy. Especially when these Men don't know much about dwarves. They always sit at their home, far away from people. Elves do it as well. He was sure he is an unusual view for many of them, what was lessening his mood and comfort.

He looked around and then at Aragorn. He hasn't spoken. Nor has he. The silence took them until Èowyn approached. She had a bowl in her hands.

"I made some stew." she said smiling. "It isn't much, but it's hot."

She kneeled in front of them and handed the bowl to Aragorn.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I haven't done more. I did not think lord Aragorn will be with anybody else." she whispered as she noticed fair being of the prince. Her eyes were saying 'sorry', and it was honest.

"It is okay, my lady. I'm not hungry anyway." the elf smiled. He couldn't say he isn't afraid, but he surely could say he does not feel unsafe when she is near him.

"I always see you together. You must be good friends."

They looked at each other and exchanged their gazes a little smiled.

"We are." answered Aragorn.

"That's amazing. I would do everything to have a friend."

"Don't you have, my lady?"

"My only friend here is Éomer. But he is far from me. I feel lonely sometimes. But it does not matter. Please, eat. Eat until it's still hot." she smiled.

Aragorn glanced at the soup and smiled lightly. Legolas could see in his eyes that the ranger isn't keen on eating this stew.

He took a spoon to his hand and tried it. He was fighting with himself. His face was trying not to show the grimace appearing on his face. Èowyn looked at him. She was waiting for his reaction. He glanced quickly at Legolas who was trying not to laugh.

"It's good." he whispered. He would like to throw it away but he was trying to be kind.

The stew was neither salty, nor spicey. It hadn't got any flavour. In his mouth he could feel something like greasy pulp but in water's form.

"Really?" she asked clearly happy.

"... Yeah..." he stopped himself from coughing.

Èowyn smiled once again and turned on her heels to join the rest. Aragorn met the eyes of his elven friend. He burst into laughing as soon as the girl disappeared.

"What? Do you find something amusing here?" he coughed and expectorated.

"You're looking strange, didn't you like the soup?" he smiled widely.

"Very funny, you prissy elf."

"Filthy human. I encourage you to chuck this out unless you want to vomit."

"Oh, maybe you want some, huh?" he gave him a smile.

"Thank you for your kindness and care for me, but I'm sure I'll be fine without it."

"Ohh.. but I encourage you. You haven't eaten for very long. You must be hungry."

Legolas raised his hands to protest. He wasn't keen on eating anything, especially this soup Aragorn is offering him.

"Oh, no. Nooo, I couldn't... this stew has been made for you. Keep it."

Aragorn snorted amused and started to dump the rest of the food.

"Watch out. She's coming back." warned him the prince.

"Whoa..." he whispered and quickly took a spoon again.

"You know what?" she approached them from nowhere and stood next to. "I'm curious of you both. I mean... an elf and a human, befriended. It is not the usual view." she gave them a wide smile, her eyes were birght and full of happiness.

"Well, we've been raised together. At least, for very long time."

"Where have you met?" she sat on the grass.

"Uh, in Mirkwood." said the elf.

"Mirkwood? Are you Woodland Elf?"

He nodded in agreement. But he hoped she won't be asking too much.

"I've never seen an elf. As well as the rest of us."

"Yes, I noticed it. Everyone looks at me." he glanced around the field where, as usual, some men and women were staring at him.

Aragorn petted his back gently and sighed.

"You're unusual for them." she said. "As well as Gimli. Dwarves don't leave their mines very often."

"I've been with them for some time. Haven't they got used to me? Will they stop?" he asked annoyed. He was tired of them, actually. He stopped worrying that much after the talk with Aragorn, but this wasn't a good feeling when each eye of foreigner was observing him.

Of course, it was him, who was a foreigner in these lands, but he couldn't stand it.

"I'm sure they will. Just give them some time." she smiled gently and stood up. "I have to go. I guess we're leaving in a few minutes. Please, eat." she said and pointed to the bowl.

Legolas couldn't help and he chuckled like a child, amused. Aragorn looked at him. His face was telling him 'Can you stop it?', but when he turned his head away, he took a sip.

Èowyn smiled one more time and walked away. The ranger immediately dumbed it and glanced at his friend.

"Very funny." he snorted lightly, smirking.

"Oh, Estel, don't worry. A hope still remain."

"A hope? What hope?" he asked surprised.

"A hope she will never make a meal again." he responded and laughed getting up. He felt a gaze of Aragorn on him. "Get up, we're leaving." he said wanting to distract him.

"You'll regret that, elf." he threatened amused.

They both chuckled and joined the rest where Gimli was trying to jump on the horse. Aragorn saw the king nearby. He nodded to tell they must go. Soldiers and other people quickly mounted their horses and prepared for continuation of the journey, or rather escape.

~~~o*o~~~

A night has come. Most of people were asleep. But not he. He was thinking, he was coming back to his life in Mirkwood and how Aragorn opened his eyes. After all this time spent in Thranduil's halls, telling himself his beloved dad loves him, he could see clearly. There was no love, no warmth and no strength in him. He was so stupid. He couldn't even say 'no'.

~~~o*o~~~

He stepped into the room, it was dark there. Only small lamp was giving some light. In the middle of the room, there was a tall person standing. He swallowed and opened his mouth.

"Why did you come?" asked him a cold voice.

"My lord, I wanted to speak with you."

His father turned to him, his face was emotionless as always.

"So speak. But quickly. I want to go to sleep."

"Adar, I... I want to leave."

"Leave?" he furrowed his eyebrows and sat on his bed. "Where?"

He opened his mouth again, but blue eyes of his father were staring at him, making him feel more and more nervous.

"You know what, forget I said anything. It would be better if I go..." he whispered cursing himself in his thoughts.

He turned away heading to door when the voice behind him spoke.

"I thought so. You would never tell me anything you want. You're too cowardly for that."

"... What?" he asked quietly, almost whispering, meeting the gaze of his father.

"You heard me. I knew you are not a material for a prince. Real heir must be more... noble."

Legolas closed his eyes, he felt tears forming in them and his heart started pounding. But then, he has decided. He let the anger take him. He turned to his father again.

"Fine. You've won. I am no noble, nor the material for the prince. You know what? I've tolerated your comments all my life. I've believed you want the best for me. But I have enough, adar. You've never asked me what I want."

"Oh yeah? Interesting..." his voice was so neutral. Why is he always that calm?

Legolas sighed to calm himself but it was fruitless. His anger took control of him this time.

"You know nothing about me and you don't even try to know. Did you forget I am also your son, not only your heir?"

"I've been trying to make you a real prince. The prince I wouldn't feel so ashamed of."

"Are you not happy with me? I gave you all I could." his voice broke and his eyes were in tears.

"It seems it is still too little, son." his tone hardened. "Tell me quickly what do you want. Don't annoy me with your problems."

"Don't annoy you?! Do you hear yourself? I'm your child. You could at least try to be kind."

"I am. I've just let you speak. My patience is about to end."

"Don't you love me, ada?"

And with this question, happened this what he was afraid of. No one answered him. An eerie silence fell on the room they were.

He shook his head and tears left his eyes.

"So it is true. You don't." he turned away.

"Legolas wait!" he stopped him.

"Oh, so you remember my name. That is something." he hissed angry.

"All I ever did was good for you. You don't appreciate it. I raised you to be a prince, not a normal elf. I wanted the best for you. What do you need now, after this what I've done for you?"

"I need to leave, ada. I want to see the world. You have no rights to keep me here."

"You are my child, I have. You cannot go. I do not agree. You're needed here."

"I don't see it. Why don't you just let me go? Let me live my life. My life. Not the life you want me to live."

"I just want you to be happy. You belong to me and your people. You cannot leave. You mustn't abandon your lands. It is your kingdom, you're the prince."

"I belong to no one and to nowhere. I am free, I can decide by myself."

"You've never asked me to leave. You've never been like that. You started to be disobedient. Why? Who stands behind it?"

"I want to see Rivendell. I'll go there. With Estel."

"Estel? Is it this human who changed you?! I knew I shouldn't have trusted him. Mortals are bad, they ruin everything." he hissed angrily.

"Estel is not behind it, father. Estel just opened my eyes and thank to him, I found my destiny. I don't belong here. And I don't even want to. So just let me go with him. To Rivendell. You told me Lord Elrond is a good king and an honest person also. I'll be happy there."

"Happy? Aren't you now? How can you be so cruel to your father?"

"I'm not cruel, I just want to meet people and see something more than only dark woods, spiders and orcs. This darkness bothers me. I have enough of it."

"So you want to leave and let darkness eat us? My own son, is it a nightmare?"

"No, it is just my decision. You must understand." he said and got closer to his parent hoping he will accept it.

Thranduil only pushed him lightly and turned away.

"You will regret this. You will see. People there are cruel and evil. You will see. They wait only for an occasion to hurt you, to make you suffer."

Legolas shook his head in disagreement. Estel isn't evil and cruel, why others can be?

"I don't believe you." he hissed.

"You don't have to. I'm just trying to warn you. You'll be crying. You'll be regretting. They will hurt you, my son. Hurt and leave you. You'll become lonely and alone. And you'll die. Die of grief and sadness. Your heart will be broken. They will break you. You will mark my words."

Tears again formed in his eyes. He felt an angry stare of his father upon him.

"And there will be no one to help you. You are a foreigner for them, humans you'll surely meet on your path will show you no mercy. There is no love where you're going."

"NO!" he got up quickly and violently. "What do you know about it? What do you know about love? You know nothing, you're lying to me, those people are good, not every is cruel. Don't lie, don't stop me, don't even try to play a good parent because you aren't, don't b-"

And in this moment, he felt pain on his cheek and a 'slap' was heard in the room. He covered the place which pained him and looked at his father. His hand was raised and his face wasn't saying anything. Then, they both realised what had happened. Thranduil looked at his trembling hand and then, at his shocked son.

Legolas straightened himself and shook his head, tears of his were all over his face.

"How could you?" he asked whispering and they both were standing in silence.

Then, before his father managed to say something, he angrily turned on his heels and left the room quickly. He could barely see because of his tears. He was shocked. How could he hit him? Again?

He hoped he will not meet anybody now. But unfortunately, he did. In his way to his room, he bumped into Aragorn. The human immediately noticed the elf's state.

"Legolas? Are you okay? Are you crying? Has something happened?" he asked worried.

The elf looked at him and hasn't spoken. Could he trust him? Maybe his father is right, maybe they're liars. But he had hit him. He was sure now he wants to leave...

T.B.C