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I think my chapters are getting longer… and hopefully more interesting!! :D

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Anywho, who here is chapter 12…. Thanks!

Chapter 12: Forgotten Evil Remembered

Aragorn fidgeted in his semi-awake state. As he did so, his head sank further and further into the fluffed up feather pillows that he was resting on. How strange, I can't be in Rivendell already… Suddenly the events of the previous day rushed back to him. "Legolas!"

He gave a small gasp and bolted upright, but immediately regretted it when he went light-headed.

"Careful, Estel!" Elrohir exclaimed, placing a hand on the man's chest. "You will pass out, sitting up so fast."

The tiny black dots in Aragorn's vision slowly disappeared, and he looked up at his brothers, whom he scowled at.

"You lied; you said that wasn't a sleeping tea!" he said grumpily.

The twins smirked. "Actually, we told the truth. You asked if it was a sleeping tea and we answered honestly."

"Because ada likes to call this new concoction 'successful', because he can get us to drink it without being able to smell or taste it," Elladan finished. "Not that we like it of course."

Aragorn glared at them, before twisting his body round, so that he was sitting on the side of the bed.

"There is no point in trying to go and see Legolas," Elrohir said apologetically, "we tried this morning, ada and Glorfindel just ushered us away."

Aragorn gave a grumble and fell back against the bed. He hated being in a position like this, where he was unable to help his brother in need. "But this could be when Legolas needs me… and I cannot go to help him, or be there for him," he said in a quiet voice, looking up at the ceiling.

The twins looked at him sympathetically. "Legolas will know you are here. I am sure we will be able to go and visit him later today." Elladan was cut short by the sound of the rumbling of Aragorn's stomach, which caused both of the twins to grin. "I'll tell you what, you stay here Estel, and we shall go and get you some food. You sound hungry, and from experience, we know that when a certain ranger and king is hungry, said person tends to get grumpy."

Aragorn picked up a pillow and threw it at his brothers. He suddenly perked up when a plan formulated into his mind. "I suppose you are right. Thanks." Elrohir threw the pillow back at the man and winked as they left the room.

When certain that they had walked down the vast hall and towards the staircase, Aragorn quickly sat up and made his way out of the room. Poking his head around the door to check that the coast was clear, he started walking towards the room three doors down. He cast a glance over his shoulder to make sure that no-one was coming, and pressed an ear to the door of Legolas' room. Convinced that no one else was in the room, Aragorn slowly began to turn the doorknob…

"Estel!"

The sudden noise made Aragorn jump and he smacked his elbow off the door. The language that came out of his mouth would have made an orc blush. He turned around to see Elrond walking up behind him. The door then opened, and out stepped Glorfindel, looking confused at the commotion.

"What is going on? Estel!"

The Lord of Imladris gazed down at his foster son, who was getting back onto his feet. "Apart from the obvious colourful language spilling from your mouth, Estel, I would like to know the same." Elrond raised a dark eyebrow. "Well?"

"I was." Aragorn sighed. "I was trying to go and see Legolas, he said in a resigned voice.

A forgiving expression flashed upon the Elf Lord's face. "As a matter of fact, I was coming to see you and your brothers to explain the situation." His voice softened. "Come, we shall wait in your room. I passed the twins whilst they were on their way to the kitchens." Elrond held out an arm and followed Aragorn back into his room. Glorfindel shut the door and returned to Legolas' side.

When in Aragorn's room, Elrond embraced his foster son in a hug, which was returned. "It is good to see you again. I hear Minas Tirith is flourishing now under your care. How fares Arwen and yourself?"

"Everything is – was - going really well until this happened. Legolas' elves and Gimli's dwarves did a magnificent job rebuilding the city. Arwen is happy too; in fact, we were planning to come up here for a few weeks next month."

Elrond smiled at this. "As you know Estel, you are all welcome whenever you choose to visit."

At that moment, Elladan and Elrohir entered the room, bearing some plates of food. A few seconds later, Aragorn and Elladan were seated on two separate chairs, with Elrohir to their side, and Elrond was standing before them all, wearing a grim expression.

"I do not know where to begin with this, so I am going to start when all of this was set in motion." He paused, and then continued. "As you know, in the year 1200 of the Second Age, Sauron attempted to seduce the Eldar, but did not succeed with them all. In his anger towards Gil-Galad and the elves, he returned to his new stronghold that was being completed in Mordor. This stronghold was Barad-Dur. The races of men and elves were growing too strong for his liking, and the alliance they formed was what he considered dangerous for him. In his anger and desperation, the Dark Lord formed a weapon, using a drop of his blood, some of his spirit, and a Morgul poison. He cast these, and, like the One Ring, some of his cruelty and malice, into twelve arrowheads. Four shots for each great Elf Lord or Lady."

Elladan spoke up, despite his mounting worry. "Who were these Lords and Ladies?" he asked, although he felt he already knew the answer.

Elrond sighed. "Galadriel, Thranduil and Gil-Galad. His main target was Thranduil." The twins and Aragorn felt angered at this.

"Sauron realised in his darkest hour that he was unlikely to survive should the elves and men confront him together, and so he presented himself with two options. He could either destroy the three great elves whom he had targeted, or he could wait. What he decided to do was present one of the twelve durzum-kahn inflicted arrows to each of his best orc leaders. His instructions were that, should he and his evil domain ever perish, one of the three was to be shot at with one of the arrows, but not to kill them. He explained that the best shot was just above the heart, as that way the evil could work quickly and effectively. By doing this, the orcs would be able to capture the one they have wounded, and watch as he or she transforms, whilst taunting and baiting them. It takes days. That is why those orcs attacked Glorfindel, in a bid to get Legolas." Elrond saw the confused look his family wore, and so, understanding their thoughts, he answered. "Thranduil was one of the elves chosen, however the orcs have obviously changed their minds. Knowing how well Thranduil kept back the shadow passing over his home, they have decided to target Legolas, in an act of revenge. Word has spread around the whole of Arda of Legolas' skills as a prince and warrior. The orcs think he would make a fine leader."

Aragorn felt his mouth go dry, as it suddenly dawned on him what could be happening to Legolas. His hunger was forgotten. "What does it do?" he asked quietly, his eyes poring into the older elf's. Elrond looked at him deeply, his sympathy and regretful feelings showing in his wise, shining eyes.

"Unlike the Morgul blade, it does not merely allow the elf to pass into the shadow world. Sauron wanted the elf to experience fear before completely succumbing to it, he wanted the elf to suffer terribly. In order to do this, Sauron created it so that it played images in the elf's head of things that are dear to him being destroyed. He made sure the elf lost the presence of nature, for them to kill. I do not know exactly what happens, but I do know that eventually, the elf inflicted succumbs to the shadow side, eventually becoming a more great and menacing leader than Sauron himself."

Elrohir dropped onto the arm of one of the chairs. The twins and Aragorn's eyes were looking up at their ada in disbelief. "Can you help him?" Aragorn asked quietly, his eyes stinging from the tears forming in his eyes.

Elrond walked towards the table, and sat on the edge, avoiding any eye contact. "I do not know." He took a deep breath and continued. "Though I do not think it wise that you go and see him, Estel." Aragorn's head snapped up at this.

"Why?" He demanded.

"Because Sauron's main purpose was to destroy the world of men. That was the task appointed to the elf that was taken by the evil. Eventually, he would have to destroy the elves, dwarves, hobbits, and all free beings in this world until it is all covered in shadow. That would make you Legolas' target if and when he succumbs to it. He may even be able to survive this, though the hopes are slim."

"That explains what he was muttering on the way here then," Aragorn whispered. "He was asking 'what is your name', maybe he saw me in his dreams. He mentioned seeing shadows, and terrible things, things he fears, perhaps the poison is already telling him of his duties."

"That is possible, but he was not dreaming, or sleeping. He was half unconscious to this world, and half conscious in the shadow world." Elrond brought up his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose with his finger and thumb. "The durzum-kahn ceased to exist in 2250 of the Second Age, a year before the Nazgul came from abroad. All traces of it were forgotten, and now this forgotten evil has returned."

Aragorn gave a small sniff and leapt up from his chair. The three elves looked up at him. "Where are you going?" Elladan asked.

"To see Legolas," came the cold reply.

"Estel, no!" Elrond called out, leaping from the table to go and get his foster son. The twins stood up and also ran out of the room.

But Aragorn had already barged into Legolas' room, surprising Glorfindel. He took one look at the man and understood that he had been told. "You shouldn't be here Estel," he said.

The twins ran up beside Aragorn and held their arms out on Aragorn's shoulders to prevent him from getting any closer. The man's eyes were fixed on his unconscious Mirkwood friend; whose glow seemed to be fading. "Aragorn, come with us. Please." Aragorn looked away from Legolas, and stared into the dark shining eyes of his brothers, and held their gaze.

Elrond walked up beside them and placed a hand on each of his foster sons' shoulders, making eye contact. "It is for your own safety Estel."

"Don't call me that."

"Please. " Elrond hated what he was doing, he knew the deep friendship that sewed Legolas and Aragorn's hearts together as brothers was unbreakable. "We shall go and discuss what can be done. Thranduil needs to know."

"Let me just speak to Legolas, let him know that I am there for him," Aragorn pleaded, allowing his tears to freely fall.

Elrond hated himself for what he was about to say. "He cannot hear you, Estel!"

Aragorn finally felt his calm façade explode within him, and he let his anger and sadness take over. "How can you call me that?! How can you call me hope when you clearly have none?" he bellowed. Elrond kept eye contact with his foster son, feeling tears well up in his own eyes. "You have to help him, ada," Aragorn whispered, as Elrond pulled his son into an embrace.

"I know, ion-nin, I know."

For how long they stood like that Elrond did not know. It was as though he was once again holding his foster son, no, his son, like a child. He could still hear the sobs and sniffs coming from Aragorn, and so he quietly whispered words of comfort in elvish in Aragorn's ear.

Silently, he watched as the twins and Glorfindel left the room. This durzum-kahn, he thought, was worse than death.

TRANSLATIONS.

Ada – father/dad

Ion-nin – my son

Arda – world/Earth

I felt quite sad when I was rounding off that chapter :S I am hoping the reason for Legolas' condition is good enough…

I've put up my teitho entry, which is now changed. I'm really sorry Jaimie-Erin! I had already reposted it before I got round to sorting out this chapter! hugs and says sorry Check it out and let me know what you all think of it!! : )

Just a quick question, do you prefer me to put the translations at the bottom of the chapter? Or would you rather I put it next to the elvish or black speech? Please let me know, because this story is for the readers!

I accept anonymous reviews now btw.

Hope you have enjoyed this chapter. Please review!! : )

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