Thranduil called out, "Come in," clearly, albeit reluctantly. They broke apart as the door opened, revealing Lord Elrond and Estel. The Lord of Imladris' gray eyes flicked from Legolas to his father and he apologetically said, "I must re-bandage Legolas' wounds. I am sorry. Estel also wished to see him." Thranduil nodded and said: "I understand. I am obviously not the only here that cares for my little Greenleaf." Legolas blushed at the nickname that he had had since he was a young Elfling.

Estel had never heard it before. However, the young ranger made no comment about it as he would have, had Legolas been perfectly well. Instead, he stepped inside the room towards Legolas. Thranduil stood up reluctantly and hugged Legolas once more before heading away as if he did not trust to leave Legolas ever again. He paused briefly as he passed Estel and put his hand upon the human's shoulder. He looked the ranger in the eye and said quietly, "Take care of him, Estel."

Estel nodded once before heading towards the now unoccupied seat beside Legolas' bed. He sat there quietly while his foster father took care of Legolas. He gave the Elfling some draught that would help him heal and re- bandaged some of his wounds.

When he was finally done after what seemed like an hour to Estel, but was in reality only about ten minutes, Elrond said, "Be careful Legolas, I don't want any of your bandages to be messed up, and drink the potion I gave you. Don't over exert yourself, and I do wish to speak with you later about your definition of: 'fine'." Legolas smiled weakly and Elrond left the two alone.

Estel sat quietly for a few moments before saying, "How are you feeling?" Legolas' immediate response was: "Fine." The young ranger responded to that: "No wonder my father said he wished to speak with you about your definition of 'fine'. No offense, Legolas, but...For some strange reason that I just can't fathom, I don't think you are fine." Legolas chuckled for a few seconds before clutching at his chest and saying, "Ugh, remind me not to laugh for a month! It hurts too much!"

Estel laughed at this and replied, "That may be hard with the twins around." They sat there quietly for a few more moments before finally Estel exclaimed, "Legolas, what happened?!"

Legolas knew that question would be coming sometime soon from the curious human. He winced inwardly and said, "Please, I would rather not talk about it at the moment. Maybe someday I will tell you. Please don't be offended. Its not that I don't trust you, it's just..........Please understand. All I can tell you is: Saruman is traitor......he...he, well my brother and I had been traveling here and....I was captured. He took me deep into the darkness of the caves.

"There he...he tortured me. Every day. Every night. That's all I can say at the moment. I have not the heart to tell you the rest; for me the pain and grief is still too near." Legolas closed his eyes briefly and looked away. But Estel was not fooled; he saw the pain and nightmarish remembrance Legolas' silver sapphire eyes. But when he turned back to face Aragorn his face held no expression. Only his bright eyes gave away any sign of feeling.

"Avo iosto, mellon nin. You do not have to tell me anything now. I am not offended. I understand." Estel once more took in his best friend's appearance. He was certainly in the worst shape he had been in his entire life. He was covered with bandages from head to toe quite literally. His natural elven glow was not there as it normally was. That really worried Estel.

Normally to see Legolas, you just felt this overwhelming urge to laugh and have fun and enjoy life. Now when you looked at him, you just felt like either holding him and never letting go, or maybe crying. Even when he did laugh or smile, it seemed somewhat forced.

Legolas shifted a little and winced as he jarred his arm against the mattress. They sat in a long silence until suddenly it was broken as the door burst open with no sign of warning. Two elves tumbled in bickering about something.

"I want to tell him, Elladan!'

"No, I should be the one to tell him!"

"Why you? He likes me better anyway!"

"Because I was the one that gave it to him, Elrohir! Besides he does not! He likes me better!"

Both of them turned and said in unison: "Legolas, I want to show you something!"

The two identical elves glared at each other for a few seconds before breaking out laughing. Legolas and Estel just stared at them before also laughing. None of them could quite figure out what was so funny, but they laughed anyway. "Are you well enough to stand up and walk?" asked Elladan.

"Of course!" Legolas replied indignantly. He tried to get off the bed, but was hit with an overwhelming dizziness and fell down upon the soft bed again. He tried once again and this time stayed up, but swayed a little. The twins rolled their eyes and went over to each side of him and gave him support.

"Clearly not," they said together. Legolas was stubborn, but in the end, he accepted the support from Elladan and Elrohir. They led him outside towards a stream. Estel followed, as curious as Legolas was. They sat him down upon the lush green grass and said, "Legolas look at this tree."

They pointed at a tree about the same height, if not a little taller than them. Legolas furrowed his brows for a moment before exclaiming: "Is that my tree?!"

The twins nodded enthusiastically and said, "See how it has grown in just one year? You have a way with trees, mellon nín."

They sat there for about twenty more minutes when suddenly Thranduil and Elrond burst in on the scene.

"Legolas! Why are you out of bed? I thought I told you not to over exert yourself!"

"I was...enjoying the view with El', El', and Estel?" Prompted Legolas.

Elladan spoke: "Ada, this is the tree Legolas planted last year. We had to show him!"

Elrond said, "Ai, Elbereth! What did I do? Elladan, Elrohir, you know Legolas is supposed to be resting."

"I needed some fresh air," Legolas said in defense of his friends. "They decided to help me."

Thranduil said, "Well, I think you have had enough fresh air for now, Greenleaf. Time to go back in. You are never going to get well if you don't rest."

"Ok, ok." Legolas stood up too fast again and was once again hit with a wave of dizziness. He swayed backwards onto his father who got him. Thranduil raised an eyebrow and said, "Still fine, ion?"

Legolas smiled sheepishly and after everyone else was ready they left with Thranduil and Estel supporting Legolas. They had barely gone a few steps when suddenly Legolas jerked backwards. Thranduil and Estel were not ready and he got out of their arms. He hit the ground, his eyes closed and his breathing uneven.

__________

Legolas stood beside a peaceful river. The steady rhythm of the river lulled him to sleep. It gave the sense of peace to anyone who was honored enough to be around it. He sat beside it and breathed in the fresh air deeply. He lay down and let the sun kiss his fair features, enjoying the warmth. Suddenly the sun seemed to darken and dark clouds began to roll in. He sat up and looked around for any sign of anything in this peaceful setting.

Then, all of a sudden a large group of Orcs burst in from beside him on the clearing. He turned in horror to run, but there were more Orcs behind him. He turned again and again, looking for an escape route but he could find none. He reached for an arrow, but found no such thing. He was weaponless and once again at their mercy. He tried to find a way out, but he was surrounded by the foul beasts.

Abruptly they all suddenly attacked him, and dove on him. He couldn't breathe and he felt himself being stabbed over and over. He felt himself being killed. Suddenly darkness took him and he was in a long dark hallway. He took one cautious step and began moving forward for what seemed like hours. Finally he appeared before who he knew was Mandos and he finally realized he was dead.

He felt himself sigh in relief at peace forever. He wished his family and friends best of luck and prepared himself to be taken on. However, instead Mandos spoke in a loud, commanding voice. "You are not worthy to be here! You are not worthy to be an elf. Be gone!"

Legolas opened his mouth in a silent scream as he was suddenly being pushed through another dimension. However, instead of going back to the Orcs he was in a dark cell. A dark cell he remembered all too well. Saruman's face loomed up in front of him and he felt a thousand whips and brands and fire overwhelming him. He screamed a long and tortured scream that was filled with agony. Over his scream he heard Saruman's voice. "I hope you did not think you were free from me, my pretty. You will be mine once again!"

"ADA!!!!!!!!" Legolas screamed once more. His cry was pleading and agonizing.

~~~

"Legolas, Legolas, echuivo!" Thranduil shook Legolas lightly while the others all stood around anxiously. Legolas opened his eyes and looked around not knowing where he was. He was still upset from the dream and his vision was not clear. He could not see his father was holding him, or that his friends were around him. He only saw Saruman and Orcs. He lashed his fists out at his father and tried to get away. His father touched his shoulder and Legolas jerked away abruptly. "Baw. Baw. Baw.........Saes, baw," Legolas whimpered.

"Legolas, its ok, its all right. Its me, Ada, don't worry, your safe now."

Legolas wanted to say, 'No I'm not' but instead what came out of his mouth was: "Mani marte?"

Thranduil said, "I...I don't really know. We were all walking when suddenly you just blacked out and fell. You began murmuring things like 'No. No. No.' Then you...you screamed." Thranduil stopped for a moment remembering the scream that was just torn from his son's throat. "Then, you cried out my name." Tears came to Thranduil's eyes as he remembered the cry. It was filled with an emotion he had never heard from Legolas before.

"Legolas, will you not tell us what happened? A burden shared is a burden halved," Thranduil asked gently.

Legolas took a deep breath and said, "I...I will...but please, Ada...Could we do this alone...with just you and Brannon Elrond?"

He looked over to see what his friends reactions would be to the request.

_______

Baw: No

Saes: Please

Horrible place to end a chapter, I know...but...hmm I wonder what their reaction *will* be? At least I posted a chapter! Merry Christmas everyone! RotK is BRILLIANT! I don't want to give anything away if you haven't seen it, but I will say it is Brilliant! (However, I am guessing you have all seen it by now.) It is the BEST MOVIE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!!! (Along with FOTR, TTT, POTC...)

DarkAngel60: Ha! Legolas and I already got married! You haven't read my other story...the one I posted in JUNE! We already got married! Take that! Legolas would never be disloyal, so through deductive reasoning, I know he did not write that review, you know why? Because you should never go against a Sicilian when death is the line! Bwa ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha h-- *Keels over dead.* *not!* Anywho...Have you seen 'The Princess Bride'? Because where I got that last part from with the Sicilian (Vizzini) and everything. Yeah. Well. Anywho. Thanx for the review!

Gimli: Thank you for defending me, my friend.

Legolas: Umm..well now I feel like I am talking to myself...in any case...don't worry. I know you would not be disloyal to me. *mutters under breath* DarkAngel.... *voice goes back to normal.* *Army of 6 inch Dwarves start dancing.*

Lainfaer: I feel like such an idiot. Of course you used to be Gilraen3! Well thank you for putting me on your faves list! Um....I guess this was not faster than before, but I really am trying! Thanks for your support!

MoroTheWolfGod: Not that quick, but here!

Iavala: Soon...Right....I am not sure I know that meaning of the word. *Goes and looks it up in dictionary* Soon.....oh dear.....lol. Hope you liked the chapter!

Star-Stallion: Thank you! Ok, I wont pay attention to him/her! LOL. Cant wait for your next update! Here you go!

Well. That about wraps it up I think. Sorry if I missed anyone! Go right on and tell me if I did not reply so I can in the next chapter which, hopefully, will be posted sooner. Happy New Year everybody! See you in 2004!!!!!