I know that you all are probably most upset at me for leaving Kélion and Thranduil in such situations. I promise I will come back to them soon. Please do not be too mad :)

I hope you guys will enjoy even if this is not one of my longer or better written chapters…

And a big thanks to my Beta and mellon nín ElvenMaia! You all do so much to encourage and keep me enjoying writing this story! It makes my day that you all love to read it as much as I enjoy writing it :) Le hannon!

I hope that some of Legolas's actions and thoughts will now make more sense to you know that you know some of the back story. I promise he is not a jerk. I could never do that ;)

This will pick up right where chapter 28 left off (and sorry if it is not as long as some of the others have been) …


Out of Mirkwood

Scribbles-on-Parchment

February 22, 2020


Chapter 31 – Doubt

"My name is Elrond, and these are my sons. Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel. We are travelers from Imladris."

Legolas felt all his blood run cold. Elrond. The stories of betrayal that his adar and Kélion had told him as a child flooded his mind. The Sinda directed his gaze over to the elf lord who had just spoken. His icy blue eyes scanned the ellon. The Noldo's gentle gaze looked back at him, unfazed. The soft brown eyes spoke of compassion and wisdom, but Legolas could detect a shadow of sorrow and regret. The elf lord's dark brown hair hung loose around his shoulders, a light breeze blowing it away from his face. The clothes of the Noldo were similar to that of the human. The elf wore a pair of light brown leggings and a dark blue tunic that flared out elegantly at his waist. There was no embroidery on his clothes, but he did not need them. All one had to do was look at the ellon to realize he was an elven lord, wise and powerful. At last Legolas's gaze landed on the sheathed sword that hung on the elf lord's hip.

"There is no reason to fear Maer," it was the elf that stood next to the human that spoke now, "Why do you not trust us? Have we given you cause to think us a threat?"

But the young Sinda did not heed the elf's words, he was too busy staring at the ellon who had spoken. This Noldo was obviously a true son of Elrond, for the features between the two were great. However, this was not what had startled Legolas. What had startled him was another younger elf that stood next to the one who had just spoken. They were almost identical. Their faces seemed to mirror one another, they differed only in dress and stance.

Twins. Legolas knew that such things existed, but never had he fully believed to be possible. Mostly he had just thought it to be a story Kélion had told him as child. A rumor, a myth. Yet here in front of him stood proof. His brother had not been lying.

"I think he is in shock, Ro. I don't think he has ever seen twins before," the human's voice snapped Legolas to his senses and he quickly looked away from the two Noldor.

"Either that or he is stunned by my handsome features."


Legolas's cheeks flushed a pale pink and he quickly lowered his head as the males chuckled softly. He felt slightly humiliated and frustrated. He had not meant to stare as long as he had, in fact he had not meant for any of this to happen.

His mind was still trying to wrap itself around what had just happened and the fact that Elrond was there in front of him. The very elf who had broken his treaty and had condemned so many of his people to die, to be slaughtered in their very kingdom.

The toes of soft leather boots appeared in front of the prince. Causing Legolas to quickly look up, he did not want to be caught off guard by anything. For now that he knew who these ellyn were, he knew they could not be trusted. They must have captured him for a reason. He needed to figure out what that was so he could plan what to do next.


Elrond shot his youngest sons a harsh look, silencing their soft laughter. He could detect the faint pink that had spread on the elf's pale cheeks before the elfling had lowered his head shielding his face with his long golden hair. The elf lord shot his friend a questioning glance before walking over to the Sinda. The ellon reacted in an instant, his head shooting up to see who was in front of him. The sky-blue eyes showed no emotion, but Elrond could sense what lay beneath this elf's hard exterior. Maer was angered, yet also fighting feelings of fear, confusion, and overwhelming despair.

The Noldo knelt in front of the elf noting the increasingly guarded look the ellon gave him. He needed to find a way to earn the Sinda's trust and that started with a gentler approach.

"I feel that we have much explaining to do mellon. But first let me get you something to eat. I fear you must be famished."


Estel watched Maer look down at the elvish Lembas in his hand. After a moment the ellon took a small bite out of it. The human shook his head. His ada had told the elfling a shortened version of what had taken place and he had half expected Maer to react in some way. But the Sinda had still not said anymore but had continued to look at them all in turn with the same emotionless gaze. As bad as it sounded, he almost preferred Maer when he was unconscious. Now that he was awake the elf made him uncomfortable. Every time the eldar's gaze landed on him, he found himself fidgeting. It was like the Sinda knew something he did not, like he held a great secret; perhaps even a deadly one. This elf could not be trusted. Yet there was still a part of Estel that felt protective of the young Sinda. After all he had be the one to find him wounded and had helped heal him.

"Why did you help me? Why did you not just leave me to die?"

The voice of the Sinda caused the human to look up, crumbs from the Lembas he had been eating getting caught in his stubbled beard. Maer spoke in heavily accented elvish instead of the Westron he had spoken in before. The elf's voice was soft yet was hinted with confusion.

"What cause do we have against you to leave you wounded?" Tamír spoke this time, the Sindarin elvish flowing smoothly from his lips, "Why would we want you to die?"

Estel looked again at the elfling. The Sinda's eyes had lost much of their fierce, cold look and now a shadow of doubt and confusion was growing in them.

At last you begin to show your true self. The young human looked over at his adar and smiled. However, the Noldo did not acknowledge him, but continued to look hard at the ellon as if trying to figure something out.


Confusion was growing in Legolas's mind. Had they really saved him from the Silvan who had knocked him out or were the Noldor just weaving a story?

"Why would we want you to die?" The Silvan elf's green eyes were filled with compassion.

This was the same Elrond who had killed his people and almost ended the lives of his family. This was the elf who had brought pain and destruction down onto the Greenwood, onto his adar. Why would this elf not want to kill him to die as well? Did they truly not know or see that he was the son of Thranduil?

His mind was torn. Had they saved him? If they had then why had they not taken him back to the Greenwood, to his home?

"Do you not know who I am?" The words slipped out of him lips before the young prince could stop himself, "Do you not know the consequences of holding me captive?"

Legolas's watched as his words caused Tamír's eyes to narrow in thought.

"Should we know who you are? You have not told us your name, so for us you remain Maer. And as for holding you captive, we are doing no such thing. We healed you, not kidnapped you. We are not like the yrch. We do not hold our own people captive."

Legolas's eyes widened in surprise. They truly did not know who he was? This had not been some elaborate plan to gain a ransom or revenge from his adar?

"Then I am free to go?"

"We will not hold you here against you will. You are free to go where you choose. However, you are not healed…"

Legolas didn't wait to hear the Silvan finish. He pushed himself to his feet and immediately he knew it had been the wrong decision. His vision immediately went grey as the blood rushed from his head. He stumbled forward and felt strong arms grab him, steadying him. For a moment Legolas thought that he would be fine, the dizzy spell would pass, but instead his body went numb. A second later fire flooded his veins and he was lost in a churning sea of darkness.


The Noldo rushed forward as the elf's face went white as sheet and he stumbled forward on the verge of passing out. Elrond caught the Sinda and steadied him. He had expected something like to happen sooner or later. However, a moment later the elfling went completely limp, his eyes rolling back in his head. Elrond cried for Elladan to come and help him. He had hoped this would not happen.

His eldest son was at his side in an instant and was helping him lower Maer to the ground. As the golden locks touched the soft grass the elfling's body went ridged. The ellon's back arched off the ground as his limbs began to shake. A horrible gasping noise escaped the lips of the poor elf.

"What is going on ada?"

Elladan's face was full of concern as he gently cradled the Sinda's head in his hands trying to keep the elf from hurting himself. Elrond pried Maer's mouth open and forced a leaf of altheas between his clenched teeth before saying,

"I expected this would happen. The poison has not completely left his body yet and he is not yet healed. But do not be concerned I suspect this will pass soon."

The other ellyn and Estel had gathered around the shaking body of Maer. No one spoke. Everyone just watched as the tremors and convulsions began to die down. Then as quickly as it had started Maer went limp again.

"There. It is over. Though we must be prepared for another to come. His body is weak, and he is overwhelmed," Elrond noted the look on Estel's face and added, "But he will be fine. Worry not ion nín."

The elf lord got to his feet and beckoned for Tamír to follow him. The two ellyn walk away from the to others before Elrond said softly,

"I have a horrible feeling I know exactly who our young Sinda is."


Elvish Translations:

adar – father

maer – golden

mellon – friend

ada – dad

yrch – orcs

ion nín – my son