Chapter 39

"Gandalf!", Pippin breathed stunned and Legolas stared at the wizard too overwhelmed. How was that possible? Aragorn had said he had fallen into the shadows. He would be dead! And now he was standing here in front of them. All in white. Gandalf smiled slightly.

"I am also happy to see you, my dear friends." He looked so calm, so composed, while the fellowship was just completely overwhelmed.

"B-But how is that possible?", Boromir asked in shock and the white wizard smiled.

"I'll tell you later, but first we have to get out of here." The wizard muttered a few soft words and at the next moment, the door swung open. The Hobbits, Gimli, and Boromir jumped up immediately, but Aragorn stayed to help the prince, who he gratefully accepted. A slight pain shot through his back, but he ignored it. Now was not the time. The archer was more than relieved to see that Gandalf had somehow found their weapons. When he reached for his bow, quiver, and twin knives, he felt a little safer. He ignored the sharp pain that ran through the prince's back.

At the next moment, a hand lay on the beautiful archer's shoulder. "Are you okay?", Gandalf asked, his eyes shining with concern. Legolas knew that the wizard wasn't just responding to his physical condition. But the elf only nodded in response, even though his heart was full of sadness and darkness. However, Aragorn's words had been like a ray of sunshine in his heart.

"Come before the wizard or this crazy elf can find us," Gimli murmured, obviously relieved to have his ax in his hands again. The fellowship immediately began to move, looking for its way through the dark corridors. Every shadow made the archer flinch, fearing that he might encounter Eero at any moment. Aragorn gave him a worried look every now and then, but Legolas always gave him a smile. He didn't want to worry them all. Their steps were quiet and careful.

"That way," Gandalf breathed, pointing into a barely lit corridor. But the fellowship just followed his instructions, sure the wizard knew what he was doing. The prince would entrust his life to Gandalf as much as Aragorn. He had known the wizard for so long, had experienced so much with him. But apparently, they were not quite enough, because suddenly there was a very familiar laugh.

"Where do you want to go?" Everything in Legolas contracted. Not again. Why couldn't everything go according to plan? Anger and pain spread through the archer like every time he heard his voice. The beautiful warrior whirled angrily and looked into those hated green eyes.

"Eero. I never thought we would see each other again," said Gandalf in a neutral voice. But it was clear how much he also hated the dark-haired elf. This made an angry face.

"The old wizard. Are you back here to save the little prince?" Memories. Yet again. The blonde elf closed his eyes briefly and tried to displace them. Then he opened them resolutely. He would not run away. This was his chance to free Middle-earth from this monster. To free his heart.

"Go!", Legolas called. He didn't want the fellowship to be in danger. The prince had sworn to protect them all, even if it cost his own life. Aragorn looked horrified and stunned.

"No way." Fortunately, Gandalf intervened.

"Aragorn, this is not our fight, my friend. Let him. It is a thing that he has to deal with now. The two of them have to agree with each other." The ranger looked desperately at the archer, who only gave him a gentle smile.

"Please go, mellon-nin. I'll follow." There was a laugh from Eero, but Legolas ignores it. The ranger's eyes were full of love and affection.

"Please take care of yourself, my brother." With these words, he turned and, like the rest of the fellowship, leaving the prince alone with the murderer of his brothers.