Disclaimer: I'm lazy, so NOT MINE!!!!!!!!

Title: From Ancient Grudge

Rating: PG-13

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CHAPTER 21

The group chatted animatedly for several hours, eventually falling into silence as the events of the day finally caught up with them. The majority of the Elves fell into sound sleep a short while later, leaving only Aragorn and Elrohir awake.

Elrohir picked up on his brother's silence. "You fear for his spirit." He said softly, "You think he may be broken beyond healing." Aragorn looked up with a sad expression, his blue gaze flicking to the prince before meeting the gaze of his foster brother.

"You know too much about me Elrohir." He chuckled, trying to ease the tension to no avail. "He is such an innocent creature…I'm just afraid he's--"

A groan pulled their attention to Legolas as he shifted, slowly waking from a troubled sleep. They moved over to him as his grey eyes opened and gazed around in confusion.

"Are you alright, Legolas?" Aragorn asked gently, smiling as the prince's gaze met his and recognition dawned in his eyes.

"For a moment there, I was unsure of where I was." Legolas mumbled, his voice thick with the remnants of sleep.

Aragorn put a hand carefully on his shoulder, mindful of the welts that covered the archer's upper body. "You are here with us now, Legolas. You are safe."

Elrohir moved off to give the two friends a moment alone and to take some rest before dawn. Aragorn took up a place beside Legolas as his eyes cleared completely and he sat up. "I never thanked you, Aragorn." Legolas said, guilt laying thick over his words.

Aragorn looked at him in confusion. "What for, Legolas?"

"For everything." The Elf muttered. "You tried to help me and I turned you away. You must think badly of me that after everything that has happened I cannot even accept the aid of a friend. Forgive me for my selfishness."

Aragorn looked at his friend, stunned into silence. "You are speaking naught but foolishness, mellon nìn! You cannot be held responsible for your reaction! I would have done just the same."

Legolas averted his gaze and did not answer, but Aragorn could clearly see the haunted look in his friend's eyes. "Something ails you Legolas. Will you not talk to me?"

Legolas shook his head, "'Tis nothing you could help me with."

Aragorn reached out and tilted Legolas face towards him. "I can help by listening. I can ease your burden."

Legolas sighed. "He still haunts me, Aragorn. Every time I hear approaching footsteps I think it is him. Every time I hear a voice raised in anger it is all I can do not to flee. I am just afraid that…I feel dirty, Aragorn. Unworthy of your protection… I can't…can't imagine feeling safe again."

"Legolas, you have no idea how much you mean to these Elves who came to save you. To Gimli and to myself. You will not only feel safe, you will be safe as long as we live! Do not let him haunt you, for he shall never get near you again!" Aragorn declared vehemently.

Legolas smiled slightly. "Thank you, Estel."

Aragorn waved his hand, indicating no thanks was necessary. "Try to rest, Legolas. We ride for Imladris tomorrow. We are going home. Yours as well as mine." Aragorn watched as Legolas stretched out on his less wounded side and drifted into sleep. The prince had been through much these last weeks and Aragorn felt a strong need to protect him.

After all, they were family.

* * * * * * * * * *

As the sun rose, the small party packed their belongings and prepared to move out. As the horses started on the trail, the Elves' acute hearing picked up something and they pulled their horses to a stop, scanning the clearing for the source of the sound.

Aragorn and Gimli watched them, confused, as they had heard nothing. Legolas saw it first and slid off Elrond's horse as gracefully as he was able. He ran to the far edge of the clearing and knelt by a figure that came crawling from the undergrowth. It was one of the Mirkwood Elves from the party that they had just driven away. He was in a bad way, gaping wounds had left a trail of blood marking his passage through the forest.

"Citahel, no…What happened?" Legolas whispered. Citahel turned dark, pain filled eyes on Legolas.

"Orcs." he gasped out. Just speaking was draining what little strength he had left, "My prince…your father…" the Elf lost consciousness, but Legolas was not there to see it. He took off through the trees with a speed that belied his injuries.

He heard Aragorn and Gimli calling after him, following him, but he did not stop. He needed to find his father. As he came upon the scene, he stopped, staring in horror. Dead Orcs lay scattered around the area, but they were not alone. Many of the Mirkwood Elves lay dead or dying, it was clear the Orcs had taken them by surprise.

As Aragorn, Gimli and the twins reached his side, Legolas' gaze finally fell on his father, lying wounded and semi-conscious on the ground several metres away. Aragorn and Gimli took in the scene and turned to Legolas. The look on his face was torn between several emotions and they turned to follow his gaze.

They saw Thranduil and Gimli felt a strange satisfaction at his suffering. "Legolas--" Aragorn started, turning to his friend. But the Elf was no longer there. He was slowly making his way to his father's side, his eyes blazing with emotion.

"Fool Elf! What's he doing?" Gimli growled.

Aragorn shrugged. "Maybe he needs to purge his demons."

Legolas knelt by his father's side, a guarded expression on his face. "Legolas…My son…" Thranduil sighed, reaching up to touch Legolas' face. Legolas recoiled at his touch as if struck.

Thranduil dropped his hand and gazed into his son's eyes. Regret and grief were clear in his own eyes as well as etched on his face.

As he watched his son, he saw no blame or hatred in Legolas' eyes and sighed with relief, finally giving in to unconsciousness.

"Ada! No!" Legolas cried, shaking his father's arm. When Thranduil did not awake, the prince pressed a hand to his father's forehead. The king was alive, but fading fast. "No…"

Aragorn and Gimli stood silent, watching. When Legolas placed his other hand on his father's chest, Gimli was abruptly pulled from his trance-like state as he realised what his friend was about to do. As Aragorn had never seen it before, he knew not what was happening.

"Aragorn!" Gimli exclaimed, "Stop him! He's going to do it again!"

Aragorn needed no explanation and hurried forward to stop Legolas, but he was too late.

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Review replies::

Lefty: I'm posting this chapter for you!! You jumped up and down?? Hehehe! Yay! Yeah, we're weird like that, but it good to be not normal!! Poor Legolas! I treat him terribly don't I? Don't apologise! I was at church too only I'd have posted this earlier! Long reviews are fun to get but short ones are good too! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and sorry about the cliffie! I'll update really quickly tomorrow to make up for it!! Thanks for reviewing!! =)