I would just like to say thanks to all those of you who have added this to your favourites or are following. It means a lot to know you are still reading and enjoying this fic. I also appreciate all the reviews and comments, you really know how to encourage a writer! :)

I think I managed to reply to everyone that was logged in.

ILVB - you really should get an account you know. It would be so much easier to reply to your awesome reviews!

I can hear the screams from here ! * Hands over a throat lozenge* Sorry for the lack of dragons! Maybe next time. ;)

Thanks for the reviews for True Friendship and So Small a thing too. I find poems much easier to write somehow.

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Thanks to everyone still reading and if you feel like dropping me a note to let me know what you think I won't mind *puppy dog eyes*

AN - Felakgundu - dwarvish for cave-hewer - I have had Elrond use this as an insult in this instance.

Chapter 26

Pain, so much pain, he never thought it would hurt this much, but he can not show it, dare not show it or he will be lost. It takes all of his inner strength to keep the mask in place and he silently gives thanks to his father for his teachings on the unacceptability of weakness over the decades. Ada, the simple word almost breaks him, almost brings him to his knees, he no longer can lay claim on that word and that thought increases the pain he already feels nigh unbearable. He takes a conscious breath and resolves not to look down at the signs of disgrace at his feet, the reminders of a past no longer his. He senses movement and realises there is something he must do now and he fixes his vision upon the only one in the room that he dare allow his eyes to meet.

Elrond is the first to regain his senses, the first to move. Taking a step forward he glances towards his sons.

"Do not let them leave," his voice is rough and curt with anger. "He will answer for this, by the valar, he will wish he had never sent them here!" The twins nod and turn to leave the room. "Go! Bring that insolent, ill-mannered felakgundu back to me."

"No!" One word, spoken sharper then he would wish, comes from the young archer still standing mired in a sea of broken arrows. " No" he reiterates in a quieter tone as the twins share a glance with their father. "They have done what needed to be done. Let them go."

He takes a step towards Elrond, his face icily unemotional, and bows deeply.

" My Lord, I regret that you had to witness this, nay, that you were involved in this and give my deepest apologies for having caused you to be treated in such a disrespectful manner". His eyes flicker to the doorway, "They were merely carrying out their duty." Those sapphire eyes have lost their usual lustre and seem eerily empty as he continues " I'm sure you would not risk open conflict between yourselves and my," he swallows. "The King."

Elrond has not missed the slip and for a second the blue orbs in front of him seem to shimmer like pools before icing over once more and regaining their distant stare. The elder raises an eyebrow and opens his mouth to reply but before he can utter a sound finds himself cut off.

"How can you say this?" Estel has finally found his voice, "how could they do this?"

He stalks over to the former prince and lays a hand on his shoulder in a move intended to comfort but is startled when it is shrugged off.

"This is wrong! They are wrong! You did not even defend yourself Legolas, Why?"

Confusion is written all over the young mans face and the archer dares not bring his eyes to meet those grey ones he knows will be filled with tempestuous clouds.

"It is beyond your comprehension, how could you, a man, possibly understand. " The curt, cutting words spill from the elfs mouth as he forces himself to look away, to not see the hurt he knows will be clear to read on his friends open, expressive features. " The term kin slayer means little to one of your race, but I must face what I am become."The words have an edge of self disgust that the young man has not heard in his friends voice before.

" Baw! No. I have warned you before. Leave me be!" He almost shouts this last as Estel reaches out once more to touch his arm.

" Legolas. Look at me Legolas." The young mans voice shakes as he withdraws his hand, he knows his friend, is sure that there is a simple misunderstanding here, that they can sort the whole mess out somehow and is determined not to allow the elf to push him away, no matter how justified he feels his reasons.

" Saes, please Legolas, look at me." A pleading edge creeps into his voice as he clings onto hope, then in a brief moment all is shattered as the blonde elf finally meets his gaze.

Legolas will never know how he managed to seal his heart for long enough to maintain the glacial façade required to ensure no emotion touches his eyes or words, he has but one opportunity to do this, because he will never have the strength to repeat it so must do it well. Ice cold sapphire locks with steel as he fixes his eyes upon those of his friend for one final time.

" Leave me be. Adan!"

He trusts himself to say no more, these four words contain all the anger and forced hatred that he can muster, burning them into the orbs in front of him even as they burn into his heart, leaving it bleeding and torn in his chest. Then before the pain and guilt can overwhelm him and show this for the sham it is he breaks the contact and turns to lord Elrond once more.

"I beg your leave, hir nin, my lord" he bows formally once more, " I shall disgrace you with my presence no longer than is necessary." He steps towards the twins and nods his head. "Navaer, diheno nin, goodbye, forgive me," and with those final words forces himself to walk briskly from the room before the dam behind which his tears have been locked away breaks.

"Ada!" a cry from the heart as Estel clutches his fathers arm and Elrond folds him into his embrace unsure if they call is for help or for action.

"Hush, ion nin, my son, let him go" his hand gently rubs the young mans back as the tears begin to fall. "You will do him no good at present."

"But… he…I…" the young mans mind is a whirling jumble of words and images that will not seem to connect and his heart feels like it is breaking as the words tumble disjointedly from his lips. "Not.. right… not…. no…"giving up all attempts at speech as the tears overwhelm him he feels rather than sees his brothers approach and wrap their arms around both he and his father, lending their silent support and strength until he has regained his senses once more.

Twin gazes meet over the heads of brother and father, a shared moment in time that holds the promise of intent. A silent vow taken to right the wrong done to those dearest to their hearts and eyes darken with the threat of things to come. As Estels tears ebb and his erratic breathing slows they move away, leaving him to the comfort of their fathers arms. By unspoken agreement they bend to pick up the scattered arrows. Throwing the broken shafts into the fireplace thus rekindling the dying embers of a fire lit to warm and cheer travellers who had come far but had proved inadequate to the task against such icy beings.

Once the last arrow has been consigned to the flames they stand and watch, each deep in their own thoughts, both filled with conflicting emotions, hurt, confusion, anger. Mirror images, clenching and unclenching fists, lips taut and pressed together tight in identical grimaces, the reflection of flames glinting in brown eyes lending an unearthly menace.

Elrond watches his sons over Estels head as he holds him close, he sees the tension and anger held barely in check but is not sure just at whom it is directed, indeed, he thinks they may not be sure themselves. Loathe as he is to let the elves from Mirkwood leave he knows Legolas was right to let them go, he does not wish to court trouble with Thranduil which, given the kings volatile nature, could soon escalate into something beyond their control if not handled with utmost diplomacy.

The woodelves have acted according to their laws and just because Elrond does not agree with them does not mean he can ride roughshod over them, although this does not mean he will allow their behaviour to go unpunished, no one threatens either himself or his family within his own home without repercussions. He feels Estels breathing steady and releasing hold steps back to look into red rimmed eyes.

" I'm sorry ada" the young man shakes his head " I don't know what came over me, I just could not bear to see them treat Legolas that way, and then, when he" he breaks off as tears once more threaten to fall.

"That elf, has a lot to answer for." The venom in Elladans voice is clear as he walks over to his father and young brother. "He must pay for what he has done." Estel nods in agreement.

"Surely you must at least have him brought back ada," he meets Elronds gaze, grey eyes swimming with grief. "Even if you let the rest go, the advisor should return to.." his words are interrupted by an angry exclamation.

"Not that elf!" Elladan raises his hands in exasperation. "The one who started all this, the one who is the reason our father has been insulted within his own home, caused us to be restrained, the one who has taken your friendship and thrown it back in your face Estel." His words are coming thick and fast as he paces back and forth, anger welling up inside him. " That, that," he pauses to catch his breath then spits out the last word in horror. "Kinslayer!"

Silence follows as his father and siblings stand, faces wreathed in shock, at this outburst.

"'Dan?" Estels voice sounds young and scared. "You can't believe, you don't mean Legolas?" the question hangs in the air between them ominously as the young man looks to his brother in confusion.

"Do you not see?" Elladan shifts his gaze from one brother to the other and then on to his father. "Do all of you not see what he has done, not feel sickness, and loathing for the act he has committed or is it just me? Does the death of one elf by the hand of another not mean anything to you?" Malificence sparks from his darkened eyes in a glare that challenges any to answer.

"Elladan."

"'Dan."

Father and twin speak together, both voices filled with compassion and disbelief at the words uttered and Elrohir reaches out a hand to grasp his siblings shoulder.

"You speak of our friend, 'Dan" the younger twins words are soft and gentle, " you must know it is not his fault, there will be an explanation, remember, we were there, you saw him trip, he would not have meant it to happen."

"Elrohir is right ion nin, my son, we have not all the facts yet at our disposal." Elrond raises an eyebrow as his eldest son opens his mouth to protest "Remember, we still do not know why the elf shot Legolas in the first place." His face turns grave and thoughtful. "Yes, I know the horror you feel." Again he stops his son from speaking by preempting the words he knows will come with a raised hand. "But I am prepared to look beyond the surface and try to discover what lies beneath. I would uncover the chain of events leading to this point before passing judgement," here he pauses and fixes Elladans wrathful gaze with his own uncompromising stare. "And I would have you do the same."

"Please 'dan," his mirror image entreats. "Listen to ada, listen to your heart, you know Legolas would not," his sentence remains unfinished as Elladan breaks in.

"then why did he admit guilt 'Roh?" his voice breaks "tell me that. Why admit guilt if there is none?"

"Do you really have to ask that question?" Disbelief colours the young mans words as he turns to his eldest brother, his eyes steely bright. "You, who have known Legolas for so much longer than I, you know his tendency to take blame upon himself for any perceived fault, he has been taught that only perfection is good enough and feels guilt when he fails to achieve it." He pauses and shakes his head sadly," I can not believe you so eager to condemn one who has readily been prepared to give his life for yours in battle time and time again, has been like a brother to you, to all of us," his voice falters briefly and he swallows." Well. I for one am not prepared to let him take the blame for this." Gathering strength and conviction in his tone he continues. " I plan on uncovering the full tale of what has happened. I will not abandon my friend to this fate!"

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Lowering his gaze as his anger dissipates under Estels tirade Elladan feels his twins arm snake around his shoulders and he gratefully leans into the embrace. He does not know what to feel any more, confusion rules over his emotions, he knows they are right, he should not be so quick to judge and condemn yet he can not overrule the feeling of revulsion that has taken up residence within his heart.

" I will try ada, I know I should try." The quiver in his voice betraying his inner turmoil.

"That is all I ask ion nin" Elrond smiles at him gently then turns to his adopted son. " Now Estel," his tone turns brisk and businesslike. " I think the motive behind the original attack on our young friend is the key to the whole matter so that is where we need to start."

He walks over to the fireplace and leans on the mantle then begins to outline a plan.