A/N: I am SO sorry for the huge delay for this chapter, don't worry I would never leave this story unfinished but I have a just had the worst 2 weeks. They say bad things come in threes and I have just had mine so I'm crossing my fingers for smooth sailing from now on.
Thankyou to my new and regular reviewers as well as subscribers, without you this story may not have been what it is so I give you all a hug!

CHAPTER 14

Aragorn reached for another piece of bread and glanced over at Legolas who was looking unusually nervous. They were seated at the long table in the dining hall to have a meal and discuss the events of the past week, however the silence in the hall was deafening. It seemed none of the tables occupants were willing to describe what had happened, even Thranduil seemed tense despite his calm exterior. There was no avoiding the subject though, and Aragorn knew that the longer they drew out the silence the harder it would eventually be to talk about it.

Aragorn took a deep breath, "My Lord, we cannot put this conversation off".

Thranduil looked up from his meal which had barely been touched and sighed, "Indeed, I will admit, my heart greatly wants to know what has happened, however" he glanced over at Legolas "if you are not ready I will understand". Aragorn was surprised at the response, admittedly he had only known Thranduil for a small portion of the elfs long life, but he had always known him to be direct, if there was something going on in his realm he wanted to know about it, and he wanted to know about it now. He knew the King was not as harsh as the stories about him made people believe, and he had certainly seen more acts on kindness from him than anything else, but until now he had not truly realised how strong the Kings bond was with his son, and what lengths he would go to just to see to his needs.

Aragorn was about to object and ask for permission to speak to the King privately when Legolas spoke up for the first time since they had been in his quarters. "No, it needs to be told, there is someone who needs to be dealt with", his brow furrowed as he thought of Braelor sitting in the dungeons. Aragorn really felt for the elf, he knew Legolas hated appearing weak, but to appear weak in front of his father would be a thousand times worse for him. Aragorn looked over at Legolas and the two locked eyes for a moment, it was clear to Aragorn that this was something Legolas had been thinking of for quite some time and he would find no rest until the situation was resolved. He nodded to the elf in understanding and Legolas began telling the tale, everything from their capture, his treatment and eventually Braelor. The man who had caused himself and his people so much pain over the past few months, the same man they now held captive.

Thranduil stormed down towards the dungeons, his robes fluttering as his two followers struggling to keep up with him. He had heard enough, when Aragorn told him of the manner of Calanons death he could wait no longer to speak to this abomination being held in the cells. He knew how hard it must have been for Legolas to tell him exactly what had happened, the torture, the deaths, and he knew his reaction should have just been to comfort his son, but his temper rose to the surface and he was struggling to control it.

"Ada wait, think about this" Legolas pleaded, but Thranduil didn't hear him, his only thoughts were focussed on this man, the man who had murdered so many of his loyal subjects, and his foster son. He came to the corridor which contained the cells and the guards stood to attention as he approached, after the last incident with prisoners escaping he no longer took any chances. He slipped a fine gold chain over his head, hanging from it was the master key to the cells. He took a deep breath to try and calm himself, more for Legolas benefit than his own and turned the key in the lock. Before anyone could voice their objections he swung the door open, there sitting on the ground against the far wall was Braelor, unbound with uneaten provisions sitting at his side.

Braelor jumped straight up off the ground when he saw the Elfking, "YOU!" he roared as he sprinted towards Thranduil, the King however did not move an inch, knowing full well his trusted guards would take care of the matter. When Braelor was mere feet from the King the guards immediately sprang into action, grabbing Braelor by the wrists and twisting them behind his back so he could not move.

Thranduil eyed him up and down, his head raised in what only could be described as superiority. "I do not believe we have met" he said in the most neutral tone he could muster, given the deathly cold stare the man was giving him. He heard Legolas and Aragorn step into the cell behind him, "Though I do believe you have met my son and his friend".

Braelor stared at the pair for a few moments, sparing an especially malicious glance at Legolas. "Your son? I knew that elf reeked of your stench" Braelor spat "If you do not remember me then you are a bigger fool than I first thought".

Thranduil heard Legolas shuffle his feet behind him, obviously being held back by Aragorn and felt heat rise in his body, he took another deep breath to calm himself. "I would caution you to remember where you are being held and who you are speaking to".

"I know I am speaking to a murderer" Braelors voice was filled with hate. Thranduil could only guess as to the cause for his hatred, he had never seen this man before, he had barely left the Halls in so many years now. Even the dealings and trades with Lake Town were left for his subjects to handle save for a few wanderers into his realm he had not met any new peoples of Middle Earth in decades.

"A murderer? The only murderer I see in this room is you. I have been informed of your deeds in the village , and I can assure you, they will not go unpunished". Thranduil resisted the urge to look over at his son, he did not want him to be here, but he knew there was nothing he could do short of locking him in his quarters that would keep him away, and even that had not always worked when he had been an elfling. And Aragorn, the man had ben a pillar of strength to Legolas for many years now and he was very grateful to him for being here for his son now.

"Punishment?" Braelor gave a mocking laugh "Punishment for what exactly? I was merely helping your kind atone for your sins" he gave a wince as one of the guards twisted his arm behind him further. Thranduil resisted a smile before looking the guard in the eye in a wordless command to stop.

"And what sins would they be?"

"You ignored our pleas for help, the great battle at the foot of the Lonely Mountain, you did nothing but watch as my family died, you are nothing but a murderer!".

Thranduil furrowed his brow, the only great battle in recent times was Battle of Five Armies, but that was almost five decades ago. He tried to remember that fateful night, it was utter chaos, with elves, dwarves and men fighting against the horde of goblins from within the mountains. He searched his mind and his blood ran cold, there was a boy, he remembered a boy asking him for help, but...

Thranduil looked over the Legolas and Aragorn "Boe i 'waeg" /You must go/.

"Ada?"

"Ego!" /Be gone!/ Thranduil regretted his harsh tone, Legolas and Aragorn both looked slightly shocked but they simply bowed their heads and left the cell. If the story Braelor was about to tell was what he was thinking he did not want his son to hear it, not from this man anyway. This was a story he would have to tell Legolas himself. He was surprised when Legolas made no further protest to being asked out of the room, he could only assume he would have Aragorn to thank for that, the mans presence seemed to ground the elf. He had spent so many years with so many familiar elves it was good for him to have a newer friend, and this man was one of the few who could actually talk some sense into the stubborn young elf.

"You remember don't you" his attentions were drawn back to Braelor and the task at hand. Thranduil took a breath and closed his eyes.

"Yes"

"Then you admit you murdered my family?"

"No. There was nothing I could do"

"LIES!" Braelor struggled against the guards holding him. Thranduil knew that this man was partially right, he probably could have spared a few of his warriors, but the damage was so great, so many of his own army were injured or killed that he was more concerned with helping his own. After the Last Alliance almost three thousand years ago, and the catastrophic toll it took on the woodland elves, not to mention taking his own father from him, he became much more protective of his own people, realising how easily the ones you love can slip from your grasp. "I asked you for help, and you just walked away. You could have saved them, and by doing nothing it is you who is responsible for their deaths". Braelors voice turned from pure anger to sorrow at the memory of his family, this man had lived for so long with nothing more than a pure hatred, it seemed he had almost forgotten why he was angry in the first place, now that he was reliving the memory, he was experiencing a whole new wave of emotions.

"If you truly believe it is I who is responsible, why take it out on my people?" Many of the elves you yourself have murdered were not even at that battle".

"I had tried to get close to you" Braelor explained "but you were never alone. I am not a fool, I knew I could never exact my revenge on you inside your own Halls so I simply resigned to watching you. After the battle I spent countless hours following your parties in the woods, learning how you moved and where you went, when you left the Halls how many guards accompanied you. I lived in your own woods for years and you never even knew I was here". He gave a twisted and triumphant smile at his ability to go undetected by the elves. "After I had learned enough I wandered and came across the village of Hollow, their leader was a weak old man, he easily gave up power and the villagers looked to me as their new leader".

Thranduil knew this to be a lie from what Legolas and Aragorn had recounted to him, the villagers did not look up to him, they simply feared him, he found himself wondering if by giving up power, he meant murdered, but Thranduil looked at this man and felt pity. He felt anger towards this man, and he certainly would not be taking what he had done lightly, but there was a small amount of guilt eating away at him. He found himself wondering if he truly was responsible for the death of Braelors family. He shook himself from his thoughts.

"That does not answer my question" Thranduil realised Braelors story was merely an attempt to draw his attention away from the murder of the elves.

Braelor gave another twisted smile, whatever grief he had felt earlier had been once again overwhelmed by his hatred. "If I could not hurt you physically then what better way get revenge than to hurt those you love, the same way you did to me. None of your people stopped to help, they are all to blame, you are all the same". Braelor spat down at Thranduils feet in defiance and the King simply looked down at the offending mark on his shoe and exhaled deeply.

He looked to the guards "See that you keep up his provisions, we will decide what to do with him later".

"You are just going to leave me here? You are a coward, you will run away now just like you did then!"

Thranduil could no longer contain his temper and he slapped the man hard across the face, Braelor turned his head back slowly, looking stunned. "Do you know how many of my people were slaughtered in that battle?" Thranduil bellowed "You are not the only one who has lost loved ones in war. If I could have helped your family I would have, but in case you hadn't noticed elves were dying on that battlefield as well as mortals. I suggest you think about why it is you hate me so and why you have spent your whole life bent on revenge. Has it been worth it, truly? All this pain and suffering?" Thranduil noticed a slight amount of fear and indecision in Braelors eyes as they flicked to the guards and the man opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. "I will return after I have made my decision". He nodded at the guards to release the man and turned to leave the cell, but not before Braelor made one last effort at his revenge...

Legolas leaned against the stone wall in the corridor outside the prison cell, his mind awash with thoughts. 'Why did his father order them out of the cell? What was he hiding?'

"You are going to burn a hole in the floor at the rate you are going mellon nin, tell me what troubles you so?" Legolas looked over to Aragorn and realised he had been staring at the same section of flooring since they had been ordered out.

He shook his head "It's just Ada, I have never seen him acting so strangely, he is hiding something".

"He probably just did not want you to have to be in there with Braelor, and he knew you would not leave willingly" Aragorn offered. Legolas wished it to be true but his heart told him otherwise. Thranduil had lost his temper many times, but never at his own son and this worried him, there was definitely something wrong.

"Come, there is no point waiting here, we should check on Adrenen". Legolas knew it was a feeble excuse but he appreciated what Aragorn was trying to do, anything to take his mind off what was happening in that cell. He nodded to Aragorn and they walked together down the corridor back to the main hall. Legolas stopped and pulled one of the vibrant colored flowers out of one of the vases and twirled it in his fingers. Not a day had passed when these halls had not seen the color of these flowers. Even in the winter months his father grew them inside, carefully tending to them, taking them outside just long enough to see the sun, but not too long so they succumbed to the harsh winter.

Aragorn stopped and stared at Legolas for a moment "I'm sure it is nothing mellon nin" he smiled at him.

Legolas couldn't help but smile back, "you are right, but I would still feel more comfortable waiting down by the cells, I just have a strange feeling something is amiss" he furrowed his brow. The feeling he had while down in the corridor had intensified and now a panic almost gripped him at the thought of being away from it.

Aragorn walked over to him and clapped his hand on the elfs shoulder, "then the cells are where we shall go". Legolas smiled at him again, thankful for not having to have another one of their famed arguments. He knew Aragorn only had his best interests at heart, but right now he felt his best interests were to be down in the cells with his father.

They walked back down the winding stone stairs and when they reached the bottom Legolas felt his heart skip a beat. Down the corridor lie his father, King Thranduil, face down on the floor, a dagger protruding from his back and the cell door wide open.