"'It cannot be that bad'?" Elrohir yelled at his brother. "'One is young and the other has no inspiration for pranks. What can they possibly do?' Well, brother, what say you now?"
"Do not shout at me!" Elladan screeched back, ducking below the upturned table. "How was I supposed to know how popular Estel was with the kitchen staff?"
"It is not them we need to worry about! What can we say to the guards? And the maids? They have access to hair dye!"
Elladan paled. "You do not think they would, do you? Truly?"
"We did it to them, first. Besides, Estel has our esteemed prince wrapped around his little finger. There is nothing he would not do. It has only been a week so far!"
"How long is his stay this time?"
"He did not say, as such. I think a few months."
"And how are we expected to survive that?"
Rather than reply, Elrohir poked his head over the table, checking to see if the coast was clear. It was not, and he was rewarded with a well-aimed chunk of porridge to the face. They heard snickering behind them, and turned to see not only the two culprits, both dyed head-to-toe a slight shade of orange, but also their father, who was leaning against the wall and trying to remember how to breathe.
"Oh," he gasped eventually. "And I thought the jellies were a good idea. Well done, my sons."
The twins opened their mouths in vexation as Legolas and Estel graciously dipped their heads in recognition. The prince then scooped the human up into his arms with practiced ease, and the two walked off in a much too dignified manner. Elrond quickly followed, and the moment he was out of range, the kitchen staff resumed their catapults of stale and mouldy foods.
"We should have run while we had the chance," Elladan hissed.
"You do not think ada will make us clean the courtyard, do you?" Elrohir asked, moaning at the idea.
After a few more minutes, the thumping of food on the other side of the table stopped, and the twins cautiously poked their heads over their shield.
"We have run out of food! It is safe," one of the cooks called out to them.
Untrusting, the twins stayed behind their table until all the elves in the courtyard had gone. Then, cautiously, they picked their way over to the stairs, and made it to their rooms without incident. Heaving a huge sigh, the twins immediately went to shower. A few seconds later…
"Rhaich!"
"Pe-channas! What did you expect?"
"Ego, mibo orch. Û, ego, nestago lammeg min nîf a besto orch!"
"Antolle ulua sulrim. Amin feuya ten' lle."
"Le ú-vain orch. Llie n'vanima ar' lle atara lanneina!"
"She was your mother as well, you moronic maggot-filled pig!"
Outside the rooms, Legolas stood with hands over Estel's ears, smiling.
"That went about as well as could be expected. Come, little one, and let us leave before they come to their senses and hunt us down."
Estel giggled and followed his friend, stopping only to wonder why Elrond was shaking on the floor.
XXX
"Why is he never on time?" Aragorn asked, pacing.
"To be fair to the young prince," Elrond said, not looking up from his book. "He is often earlier than you expect."
"But you remember what happened the last time he was more than a day late…" Elladan said from across the room.
"Ah, but this time Estel knows better than to go out in search of his friend, does he not?" Elrohir asked pointedly.
"He better," Elrond said.
"Lord Elrond," Glorfindel called from down the hall, waving a piece of parchment at them. "Word from Greenwood."
Aragorn vaulted over the chair, grabbing the letter from the elf. He ripped it open, and the twins went to read it over his shoulder.
"There is ill fate in Greenwood," Elrohir said for Elrond and Glorfindel's benefit.
"Legolas cannot leave at the moment." Elladan frowned. "Thranduil has been injured and our young prince has taken command."
Aragorn looked up at his father, who in turn looked at Glorfindel, who then looked at the twins.
"To Greenwood?" Elrond asked quietly.
"I shall ready the horses."
"I will write a reply immediately."
"How soon can we leave?"
Within twenty minutes, or there about, Elrond, Aragorn, and the twins were riding for Greenwood. Glorfindel had reluctantly stayed behind, as they belatedly realized that someone needed to look after Rivendell while the Lord and his sons were away. As eager as they all were to get to Greenwood, the elves soon found themselves wishing that Aragorn had gone on ahead. After two days he was complaining that they were going much too slowly, and even with the speed of elfish horses, progress was slow. It could take up to a month to reach the elfin realm, though Legolas often made the trip in much less time.
Elrond, Elladan, and Elrohir were reminded of these facts often and loudly as Aragorn grew more and more agitated. They rode for much longer and harder than they normally would, and made it to the edge of Greenwood three days ahead of what they predicted. It was then that they understood why Legolas had not been able to leave. The drying husks of giant spider bodies lay littered on the ground, more numerous than any of them had ever seen.
"What could have happened here?" Elrond breathed.
"When we were last here," Aragorn said quietly. "It had already grown dark. He who is known as the Necromancer had cast his spell upon the land, but it was not mentioned by any in Greenwood. Legolas seemed more concerned with prisoners having escaped than anything else. It is hard to believe that it was less than two months ago."
"I had heard that darkness had come," the elf lord sighed. "But I had no notion of it being this grim."
As they rode deeper into the forest, neither guards nor scouts appeared, worrying them; Greenwood was known for its vigilance. Even as dusk fell, they did not feel comfortable making camp, and so continued on deep into the night. When they were but a few hours from the new fortress that the elves had taken, forced to leave due to the influence from Dol Guldur, finally there was a sign of life. A weary and weathered elf appeared, looking much darker than any of the fair folk should.
"Lord Elrond," he greeted. "We were not expecting you. I am afraid that my King Thranduil will not be able to see you at this time. Of course, you are welcome to stay and take rest, but I suggest you return to Imladris with all haste."
"Are you not going to dispel the Necromancer of his power?" Elrond asked, concerned.
The guard opened his mouth, and then changed his mind, instead waving them forward. "Let us not speak of these things now. Ride on, and I will alert my king of your presence."
Not two hours later, they rode into the Halls of Thranduil, where Legolas himself waited to greet them. The moment Aragorn saw his friend and brother, he knew that things were much darker than they had feared. Legolas, who never frowned or took anything seriously, was standing grim-faced and covered in bruises and bandages. He embraced Aragorn a little too tightly, and bowed stiffly at Elrond.
"Come," he said quietly. "I am glad you have come, and we have much to discuss."
"I hear that your father was wounded," Elrond said after a moment. "Is he recovering?"
"He is, gradually," Legolas paused. "But I try not to burden him with all that is happening, so I ask you not to speak of it if you visit with him."
"How did it happen?" Elladan asked when Elrohir shoved him to say something.
Apparently, it was the wrong thing to do, as Legolas' lips pressed into a thin line. "You know how he rarely fights anymore? Well, I was nearly killed when fighting some spiders, and my companions were not as lucky as I. In a rage, he led an attack to destroy the nest. Now he is bedridden and I am in command."
"Oh," Elladan managed, when his brother kicked him.
Elrond exchanged a look with his sons. It was well known that Thranduil's greatest weakness was the welfare of his son.
"I will show you to your rooms, and then will send for you when we are ready to dine. Elrond, I will also ask if my father will see you."
They were led to their regular rooms, and Legolas left them to talk to his father. The moment he was out of sight, Elrohir grabbed Elrond's arm.
"We need to do something."
"He has never looked this wretchedly close to defeat before," Elladan added in a hushed voice. "And we have almost seen him killed."
"I know this," Elrond sighed. "And we will do what we can. I will speak to Thranduil and all of those who hold any power here, and see what else can be done. The three of you need to be there for Legolas, especially you, Estel. Help him." He paused, and pulled a face. "Treasure this because it will never happen again, but I give all three of you the power to decide how long you will stay. I see that he needs you and I will not argue against it." At his sons' raised eyebrows, he amended. "I will protest loudly and inappropriately, I give you that, but I will not force you to leave before your time."
With that, he sent them into their rooms to unpack and wash, giving Aragorn a pointed look about the latter. Smiling ruefully, the young man obliged. He then went about shoving his clothes into various drawers and under the bed and so on. A soft knock drew Aragorn's attention to the doorway, where Legolas stood, looking a little self-conscious.
"I thought you might like some company."
Rather than reply, Aragorn crossed the room in three long strides and wrapped Legolas in a hug.
"Come, sit, and tell me everything."
As soon as Legolas sat on the bed, he seemed to deflate. "I do not know what is happening. Everything is… I truly did not know how bad it was – I was fighting spiders every day, seeing my people die around me, and I still did not know how bad things had truly gotten until I saw my father's face as he said that we would soon have to sail across Belegaer to the undying lands, or face the darkness alone. He is supposed to know what to do. Then he was nearly killed because of me, and now I am supposed to lead my people, and I do not know what to do!"
Aragorn laid a hand on his friend's shoulders, and quietly tried not to fall to pieces. Legolas was not supposed to be like this. The elf was never lost, no matter what the circumstance. They had faced unyielding odds together, and won. How could this have happened?
"Is there no one you can talk to for support?"
"I could ask the war council, but no, they are dead. I could ask my father's advisors, but no, they sail to the undying lands. I could ask my father, but no, he cannot be burdened with these things." Legolas dropped his head into his hands. "Can we not just go on a hunting trip, and return to find that everything is as it should be again? We moved north, we fought the Battle of the Five Armies, why can we not escape this darkness?"
Aragorn patted Legolas on the shoulder, muttered some words of encouragement, and quietly had an existential crisis. "Come," he said after a moment. "And let us see what ada thinks. I am sure he knows exactly how to solve everything. He is magical in that way."
Elrond, as it turned out, was still speaking with Thranduil, and was trying quite hard to pretend that he had not noticed the twins who were blatantly listening in on their conversation. The King of Greenwood motioned for his son to enter, and Aragorn and the twins followed.
"We have decided," Elrond said after a moment. "To call together the White Council in the hopes of driving away the Necromancer, who we now know to be Sauron. This means that, Elladan and Elrohir, you will have to return to Imladris. Do not argue, for you know that Glorfindel's presence is required here."
"Do you think that it will work?" Legolas asked worriedly. "Is it not dangerous to have so many important figures here at one time?"
"They will be well guarded," Thranduil said in a hoarse voice. "And it is necessary for their protection as well as ours. If Sauron were to return, it would mean another war on Middle-Earth."
"I agree father," Legolas looked concerned. "But you are weary. I believe that you should rest. Elrond, if you please?"
The group quietly left the room, where they were immediately accosted by an angry healer.
"Legolas Thranduilion!" she shouted at them. "You were supposed to see me this morning for your antidote to the venom and to have your bandages changed! Do not tell me that you are so thick as to have forgotten."
Legolas, somewhat pink under the glares of nearly the entire house of Elrond, muttered "I was busy, and truly, I am well."
"Oh, yes?" The healer lunged forward and, before he could stop her, lifted Legolas' shirt to reveal a bandage stained and fresh with red. "I knew it! Follow me, young prince, or I will have your head."
"I have guests, as you can see," Legolas almost grumbled. "I will see you when I am able."
Doubtless, he would have dismissed her, had the twins not taken hold of his arms and Aragorn swooped for his legs, and hoisted him up in a position that, unfortunately, he had experienced before.
"You did not!"
"They did," Elrond said lightly, and turned his attention to the healer. "I believe I may be of service in the re-stitching of our prince, here, if you will allow me."
The elf shrugged, and led the way to the healing wing. Once there, Aragorn was forced to sit on a livid Legolas to make him cooperate. However, as soon as he did, Elrond became concerned, and spent over an hour looking over his wounds and speaking to the healer about spider venom.
"He has had more in his years than is healthy," she said, giving Legolas a dark glare, making him squirm.
"You are an idiot," Aragorn muttered, smacking his friend on the head. "Why can you never take care of yourself?"
"As if you are any better."
"At least I get re-sewn afterwards."
"Untrue. I drag you to your father and sit on you until you are better."
"As I did today."
"Hush, you two, or I will sedate you both – again."
When he was finally satisfied, Elrond sent Aragorn to escort Legolas to his room. Once away from the eyes of the public, the prince let himself show his pain, even just a little. Aragorn knew that he would not reveal just how much he hurt until he was alone. Torn between hugging his damaged friend and smacking him upside the head, he settled for sitting him down on the bed. They sat there for a good ten minutes before Legolas quietly spoke.
"Do you think the White Council will be successful?"
"Of course," Aragorn replied immediately. "They have your father breathing down their necks. I am surprised that he is not a member already."
"There is some speculation that the Necromancer has already fled for Mordor, and that the darkness will remain for long after he has fled."
"It will all be fine." Because that was not vague or unhelpful.
Legolas sighed and leaned into Aragorn. "I am glad you are here."
"As am I, gwador."
"Hannon le, mellon-nin. Hannon le."
Well, that happened. Wasn't this supposed to be a comedy? Oops. In any case, if y'all are wondering what Elladan and Elrohir are yelling at each other in the first part, don't. It is much too vulgar for your delicate ears. Also, don't worry, the White Council succeeded in driving out Sauron to Mordor, but they ended up sailing to the undying lands none the less, mostly after Aragorn was crowned. I also have no idea if this story makes any sense, so sorry if it doesn't.
*Note, this series will contain a heck of a lot of spoilers, so if you were lazy enough not to have read the books, be warned.
