Note: Only the unknown characters are mine! The rest are J.R.R. Tolkien's creation. Elvish speech is in ''. Takes place shortly after the last chapter. Sorry, I know there isn't any A/L slash in this chapter! I promise more when they reach the Misty Forest in one or two more chapters.

Illusions

Part 9

A small group of humans were galloping, on their way to a nearby town with six spare horses, when they came across a strange sight. A very slender, blond-haired figure sat beside a splashing brook. The clothes were faded and torn slightly, and made of a material unknown to them. The remaining fading bruises stood out on pale skin.

"An Elf?" one questioned.

The leader frowned slightly. "I'm not sure. We'd better speak with him," he muttered. "You there!"

Falcon was drawn out of his thoughts by the sounds of a human talking to him. He turned slightly, and tried to judge from where the sound was coming from.

"Yes?" the blind Elf inquired calmly.

"You are an Elf, then, judging from your ears," the leader murmured. "What is one of your kind doing out here alone?"

Falcon smiled. "I'm not alone. My brother and his friend are near."

The leader was angry because the Elf would not look at him. "Is it your intention to show me disrespect?" He gestured, as the small group of humans dismounted.

"What do you mean?" the blind Elf questioned, slightly puzzled. Two humans walked over and roughly pulled him to his feet.

A few seconds later, they were flung off and landed on the ground, thanks to the protective shield the Lord of the Forest had.

"Do not take liberties with my men," the leader of the humans snarled.

Falcon sighed. "I do not know how I offended you, but please do not grab a hold of me."

Legolas felt a stirring in him, an urgency to return to where he had left his younger twin.

'Aragorn, something's wrong. We need to return to Falcon,' he murmured. The blond archer began dressing quickly.

Aragorn nodded and did the same. He didn't ask how Legolas knew that something was wrong. It was probably Falcon's doing, the half Elf thought.

The two dressed quickly, and then began heading back to where the blind Elf had been sitting. A frown crossed Legolas's face when he saw a group of humans surrounding his younger twin. Two were holding him again. Falcon was dampening down his protection, for he did not want to accidentally start a fight.

One of the older humans there frowned suddenly, and made his way forward, until he could peer into the Elf's eyes. Compassion instantly entered his eyes, as he took the pale and thin Elven face in his hands.

"Release him," the human said loudly. "He meant not offense to you, my lord, but if you look carefully, you will that he cannot see. That is why he did not look at you when you spoke to him."

The leader drew closer and saw the cataracts in the lone Elf's eyes. "A blind Elf?" he mused. He felt a touch of sympathy, for everyone knew that Elves enjoyed the splendor of the trees. "Tis not safe for a lone Elf these days, albeit a blind one. We should not leave him here alone."

"I am not alone," Falcon gently told him. "My brother is nearby, as I said."

Legolas and Aragorn reached the group quickly, and pushed their way through. Anger flashed in the blond archer's green eyes at the humans who still gripped his brother.

The humans were ordered to let go by their leader, who watched the other Elf and… a human stand in front of the blind Elf. It was surprising to see a human with an Elf, but the world was full of surprises today.

The leader thought for a few moments. The two Elves looked exactly alike nearly, save for how thin the blind Elf was, and his blindness. "He's your twin, isn't he?"

"Indeed. Why were your men holding him?" Legolas asked neutrally, biting back his anger, for he did not want to upset Falcon more.

"It was a simple misunderstanding. I did not realize that your brother could not see," the human explained. His gaze softened a bit when he saw the slight fear on the blind Elf's face. "I meant no harm, but I believed he was alone. It is not safe for anyone to be alone anymore, especially when the person is blind."

Aragorn put a reassuring hand on Falcon's shoulder. 'He didn't mean for it to sound like that, Falcon,' he said gently in Elvish. He saw the hurt and fear on the blind Elf's face.

Falcon nodded slowly. 'I am not helpless because I cannot see, Aragorn. I must overcome it, not be treated like a child.'

"What kind of talk is that?" the human leader questioned.

"Elvish," Aragorn said.

The leader frowned slightly. "What is a human doing with Elves? No offense meant, but most humans and Elves do not get along."

Legolas said, "We are on a quest to see my brother home." He didn't want Falcon to stay permanently in the place where he'd grown up, for he wanted the chance to get to know his brother better.

Falcon shifted, and a yawn escaped from him. He'd somehow grown tired again, after doing little more than using some magic. A second yawn followed the first.

The humans looked at the sleepy Elf curiously.

Legolas turned to his brother, and sighed. 'You're tired again, aren't you,' he stated.

Falcon nodded. 'The magic I used earlier took more out of me than I thought.'

The group of humans exchanged a look, before nodding slowly.

"Look, if it would help you out, we could let you have two of our horses," the human leader said finally. "He looks like he can barely stand," he muttered, gesturing to the blind Elf.

An expression of surprise crossed over Legolas and Aragorn's faces.

"That would help, for we have days left on our journey," Legolas said gratefully.

Aragorn nodded in agreement. "It would be very generous of you."

Falcon felt reproach at himself for being so tired again. The spell should not have taken so much out of him, he thought. His outspokenness had been severed when he'd lost his eyesight and it seemed to Falcon that he was losing himself.

Where was the calm and stoic Lord of the Forest who had refused to meet the demands of his tormentors? The strong, reliable Elf who had not depended on others to protect him was gone now. In his place stood a blind Elf, who took comfort from the support of others, when he had rarely done so in the past. Falcon could not help being afraid, for he'd gone through more pain in his one time as a prisoner than he had in his entire life.

Legolas glanced at his brother, and saw an unhappy look on his face. The blond archer wondered what was making the blind Elf upset, and decided to speak of it with him later. Now was not the time, for they had to get moving again.

Aragorn saw the pained expression as well, but said nothing, for now. He felt that Falcon would mention what troubled him sooner or later. The half Elf thought that part of it might be because Legolas fussed over his twin like he was a child. It was natural, Aragorn supposed, for he had done the same unintentionally.

A chestnut-colored horse, and a gray one were given to the group of three. The humans then bid them farewell and rode off as fast as they had come.

Falcon sighed, saddened.

'What troubles you?' Aragorn questioned.

'Nothing…' the blind Elf said quietly. His thoughts betrayed him, however, as he tried to make his way over to the horses. He had his hands out in front of him, listening carefully. He was distracted, and did not note where the sounds of the horses whickering came from.

When Legolas saw that Falcon was heading in the wrong direction, he automatically reached out and took his brother's hand. The blond archer led him to the horses, and pain twinged in Falcon for the action.

'Here,' Legolas told him.

Then Falcon felt guilty. Legolas was only trying to help him, after all. 'Thanks…'

Legolas chose to ride the gray horse with his brother, because Falcon could not lead a horse when he did not know where to go. His brother knew where his home was, but could not see to distinguish the road.

The blond archer mounted, and Aragorn silently lifted Falcon and placed him behind his brother.

The blind Elf murmured his thanks, before he took a secure hold on Legolas.

Aragorn mounted as well, and led the way, as the three began riding towards the entrance to the Misty Forest. With horses, they would reach it in two days, counting this day.

Falcon gasped, as a thought occurred to him. 'Legolas, do you have my necklace on you?'

The blond archer nodded. 'Melody pointed it out to me, shortly before Aragorn and I left to help you. I'll give it back to you when we stop on the next break.'

Falcon was relieved at Legolas's words. The Key to the secret room was in his necklace, and the Lord of the Forest was glad that his brother had picked it up. The blind Elf relaxed, and managed to drift into sleep, as he held onto his brother tightly.

Falcon knew that he needed rest before they reached his home. For the secret treasure that he guarded would take most of his magic to control. But what do with the item once it was removed? It was too dangerous in the wrong hands.

That question plagued the blind Elf as he slept.

To be continued