Title: "Revenge"
Author: LegolasLover2003 aka Ashley
Category: Book - "The Lord of the Rings"
Genre: Angst/Adventure
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do not own any right to "The Lord of the Rings" or "The Hobbit". I just adore them to pieces! Legede, Tileng, Morlan, and Morfind are characters of my own invention. However, you may use them, but please ask permission to do so first.

NOTE: This story takes place after "Savior & Destroyer". You MUST read that story first for this one to make sense. It might also help to read "The Breaking Point" first as well as both "Secrets or A Six Year Old's Wisdom" and the Thranduil-centric story, "I Know It's Wrath". There are also mentions of things which happened in my stories "I Am Fine" and "U-erich o Nin Gwanno" as well.

REVENGE

"Dehino nin... adar..."

The voice was so soft... like a whisper... a gentle bree might have made more noise than the words that returned to the unconscious listener. And yet... that unconsciousness was slowly receding. He could fee it... a slight twitch of his own fingers as eyes, too long closed, struggled to open.

But he could not rise... and the whisper faded into nothingness once more as he fell deeper into the sweet embrace of oblivion.

Chapter X:
Nightmare's End

Glorenpaur sighed, grabbing up a cloth, and trying to wipe the blood from his long fingers. He was pale, which for the steel-stomached healer was a rare sight indeed, and his forehead held a slight bit of perspiration... another sign that the work had taken much from him.

"I have done all I can. The wound was not so grievous as your own back then, but it was small... excruciatingly hard to find. At least with your previous puncture, I had only to follow your broken rib to find the tear." the healer spoke, glancing at the blond Elf who sat beside the king's cot.

Legolas perched there, his father's limp fingers within his own hand, watching as Glorenpaur and his aid cleaned up as best they could. The tent had been hurriedly erected once the Elvenking's condition had been brought to the older Elf's attention. Glorenpaur immediately ordered Legede to construct the tent and keep everyone save himself, his aid, and Legolas from the space while he tried to save Thranduil's very life.

"I am still amazed at you however." Glorenpaur spoke, pointing to the prince. "Your hurts I have mended, but the human's work nearly rivaled my own. He patched you up nicely in the mountains, Legolas. I have not seen such work from another save myself in many a long year... no doubt your Ranger friend studied under Lord Elrond? I can see some of his handiwork present."

The blond frowned, "Aye, Estel did study under Lord Elrond... and while he was able to stop the bleeding, I had not planned the wound to be so grievous. I knew where to stab, making it superficial at best... made simply to bleed more than anything and give the illusion of my death. I never hit any organs, Glorenpaur... luckily. I had meant Tileng to think my gone... but I had no idea my father was so wounded that he too could not tell the truth of my ruse." Legolas spoke, indicating the bandage around his midsection.

In fact, the prince wore no tunic, so that Glorenpaur could better examine the hurt while they had waited for Thranduil to stabilize and the healer's aid worked on some of the king's less drastic wounds. His leg had to be tended to a second time as well, for though the pain had already been healed by Glorenpaur once, it had torn itself open again during the struggle in the caverns. Legolas' blood soaked breeches were something he very sorely wanted to change out of by now. So yes, the prince hurt... but it was nothing, he realized, compared to the unconscious Elf that lay before him.

"Adar will sleep for some time, yes?"

Glorenpaur nodded, "At least the rest of the day. You, Legolas, slept for over a month from similar wounds. However, since that incident, I have learned a bit more and have refined exactly how much water from the Mornduin to use for such a procedure. To be honest, in your case, I had feared initially that you might never wake."

Sighing, Legolas placed his father's hand back upon the cot, drawing the blanket up to the Elvenking's chin. "I would watch over him if that is..."

"I will do so." Came Legede's voice as the white-haired captain walked in, Aragorn trailing behind him. "Your friend wants to check your wounds again, Legolas."

Blue eyes rolled. "I am fine, Estel."

"Uh... huh... why do I not exactly believe you, hmm?" the man replied with a light smirk, motioning for Legolas to follow him. "Since Lord Glorenpaur is otherwise occupied with your father, I would tend your hurts, mellon nin. Come."

Bowing to the healer, though the move caused a wince on the prince's fair features, the blond turned and followed after the Ranger from the tent.

"How did you manage it?" Aragorn asked softly as the pair moved off to where he had set up a small makeshift healing station, complete with water boiling over a fire.

Quirking an eyebrow at the Ranger, Legolas gingerly sat down, again wincing as he moved. "Manage what?"

"Stabbing yourself like that." Estel continued, starting to carefully unwrap the bandages from around the Elf's torso. "You, quite literally, missed everything."

Smirking, the prince glanced behind his shoulder slightly. "I meant to miss. You did not think I wanted to kill myself, did you? Hardly! If given the two choices Tileng presented... I made my own third option. Hearing his scream of rage at what I did, and the arrow to his chest, was... most satisfactory... OW!" Legolas winced, pulling away slightly. "You did that on purpose..."

Aragorn returned his friend's smirk. "Just keeping you humble." he teased, changing the bandages out and applying new ones with plenty of disinfectant salve upon them. "And what were his choices exactly?"

"Kill adar and free myself and our people, a promise I knew he would never make good on obviously... or do not kill adar and be Tileng's slave for the rest of my immortal life." Legolas said darkly, his body tensing slightly in rage at the ridiculousness of either. "Those were certainly not 'choices', Estel."

A gentle hand rested itself upon the Elf's shoulder from behind then. "No. They were not. But I am still amazed. When I came into the chamber behind Legede, I thought you dead, Legolas. The blood alone..."

"Stomach wounds bleed quite a bit." the prince replied, turning so he could look at Aragorn now. "But I angled the tip of my blade to miss. It was for show, Estel. Nothing more. I was more concerned with keeping adar from further harm than anything."

At this, the human sighed, swallowing the emotions which boiled in his chest. "I... learned things, Legolas... his magic... his face, I..."

But Legolas quickly shook his head. "Do not speak of it. I know. You can see it in the tent even now, which is why none are permitted inside. Every hurt his body has taken in its long years... plain as the very nose upon my face. When adar wakes, his magic will hide his pain. It always has. It always will." The blond smiled softly, "Such is the magic he bears. I wished, after our first encounter with Tileng, that I too had such power but..." he shook his head once more before the Elf's smile grew ever so slightly. "I am not my father... only his son."

"And proud you should be of it." the Ranger replied honestly. "He bore his pain honorably, mellon nin. He... sacrificed his people, your people, for me... and I will never forget it, Legolas. I was in awe of your sacrifice for me those long years ago... but... now... Tileng knows."

Blue eyes shot up to lock on grey. "What?"

"I told him, Legolas. I... I could no longer bear seeing your father beaten and... and dying for me. He was prepared to do it too, just like you were... just as you still are." Aragorn shook his head, his grip on the Elf's shoulder tightening just a bit. "I told Tileng my name."

Taking a deep breath, the prince let it out very slowly, trying desperately to digest this information. There was nothing for it now...

Though they had captured him and the human now remained in the hands of some of Legede's most trusted guards... they could no longer afford Tileng to live.

"Are you certain, Legolas?"

The prince nodded, shrugging carefully back into his bloodstained and torn tunic. "I am, Legede. This must be done... and I will do so before adar wakes."

Sighing, the white-haired Elf glanced out from the healing tent, his gaze flickering to the ring of Elven guards who stood around a human, bound hand and foot and gagged within their midst. After ten minutes of hearing the man's drivel and slings towards the immortal race, the captain had ordered him silenced. Neither food nor water had they yet given him, though his arrow wound had been properly cleaned and dressed.

"I do not think it wise."

Licking his dry lips, Legolas turned his head back to the captain. "In adar's absence, it is my lead you must follow, yes?" When the captain nodded, his prince continued. "You and adar and I are the few here who know Estel's true name. Tileng knows now too. He is an Easterling of Rhun, from the lands to the east of it's sea, Legede. If we let this man go, he will tell those who may wish Estel harm... and if we imprison him, who is to say he shall not tell one of our own guards? His tongue can be... persuading... like that of a wicked serpent. Can we truly risk one of our own not being corrupted by him? Look at what happened with Morfind."

"He was different."

"Was he?" Legolas asked suddenly, his voice dropping in sound. "He and I were friends in our youth... at least for my part, but after Morlan's death, I could not bear to face the hatred in his eyes. This is the result. Swayed by promises of revenge. Tileng is only in these lands for HIS own revenge. How sweet then, do you think it would be, for him to turn our guards? Can we take that risk, Legede? Will we find daggers at our throats while we sleep in our beds next?"

Sighing, the captain crossed his arms over his chest. He hated the idea... because this was certainly not war... but the prince had a point. If Tileng was not dealt with...

"I shall take him to the trees near the river and..."

"No." Legolas replied suddenly, his gaze moving from the captain and looking off toward their prisoner. "The tree behind him will do fine. Fetch some rope and assemble the camp. I will not hide this act from our people."

"So, Elves commit murder for revenge now?" Tileng asked, the human standing beneath an outstretched limb of a rather tall oak. His hands were bound behind his back and there was an Elf in the tree tying a rope.

More specifically... tying a noose.

The man smirked wickedly as his gaze found Legolas.

For his part, the Elven Prince of Mirkwood was standing in front of the healing tent. He had assembled the warriors, at least those not still on the perimeter who ever, even now, keeping guard to slay any ill creature that had escaped the fight the night before. When Legede, Legolas, and their small contingent had invaded the caverns, their enemies in the woods had simultaneously attacked the camp. Elves battled Orc and Warg and spider viciously, protecting and holding their ground and the paths into the mountains. Mirkwood lost ten of their fifty Elves... and another eight within the tunnels themselves. Those eight victims of Tileng himself. However, Legede had also been able to rescue the remaining six in captivity, along with Aragorn and Thranduil and, of course, his collapsed prince. It was victory, hard won, but victory in the shadow of the mountains nevertheless.

"I will not hide this decision from your eyes." Legolas spoke to those assembled. The prince was standing atop a felled tree that had been burned and toppled in the night's battle. "It is not our way to seek vengeance. It never has been. This, however, is not revenge."

"Liar!" Tileng shouted from where he stood, but the prince ignored him, though his words spoke true. Legolas lied... an eye for an eye... justice and revenge were to go hand in hand this day.

He continued. "Tileng Handiri has committed grave sins upon myself and my Ranger companion in the past, ere long before he set foot in our lands... along with the murders of countless over Elves and innocent travelers to his one-time master's village. Now, a host has had to march to battle from the Elvenking's Hall because of his atrocities once again. Not only have our kin died, but our king lies within this very tent, fighting still for his life. The tortures of Tileng are despicable... the vile wretch destroying our dignity... our pride... for his own sick amusement... and I refuse to release him so that he might strike upon the immortal lives of Elves a third time. However," and at this, Legolas motioned to another guard who brought forth Morfind to the tree as well. "Morfind is not innocent in this either, for he gave our king to the enemy. He betrayed the crown and the kingdom."

"And you murdered my brother!" the dark-haired Elf retorted, but still Legolas pressed forward.

The prince's blue eyes scanned those assembled warriors before him. "You know of my own story. You know that I eased the passing of one of your own... by his pleas... and that it... it broke my heart to do so." he could feel his own voice nearly crack with the words. "There was no hope for Morlan and those who ran such dark paths with me that night know the truth of it. We were desperate to save him... but we all know... in these dark days... not every warrior comes home. From this alone we will bear back eighteen of our own fallen." he took a deep calming breath. "I must carry the sin of Morlan's death with me for all of my immortal days... but I too will carry his memory and his desire to preserve the lives of his friends... and his family. And so... because I shall not slay another Elf... and for Morlan's memory... Morfind will be exiled from all Elven lands." His blue gaze flickered to the human. "But this courtesy I do not extend to Tileng." Legolas motioned then for the guard near Morfind, and said Elf cut the bonds of the traitor.

For a few tense moments, Morfind stared at Legolas hard. Then... he turned and ran for the river, never once looking back.

"Tileng Handiri." Legolas spoke then, returning attention to the Esterling in their midst. "For your crimes against innocents and the crown, I condemn you to death by hanging. Do you have any last words?" he asked, as the guards beside the human moved.

They came upon him, forcing the man to stand upon another fallen log, though this one much smaller than Legolas's perch, and easy to kick away... making it a rather convenient small step stool. They fit the rope around his neck, making certain it was tight, before stepping back.

"Last words?" Tileng let the phrase sit for a moment. "You will never be rid of me, Finnelmathen." he grinned, his gaze piercing through Legolas' own heart as their eyes locked. "Every time you close those blue eyes of yours... you will see my smirk... my gaze on you... and your body will remember the pain I have inflicted... your ears recall the sound of your screams... both you and that wretched father of yours. And just think, Elf... I will live forever in your immortal souls." He spat upon the ground. "Take your revenge, Finnelmathen... become no better than I."

Nodding to the guards, Legolas said nothing in reply. Words, however, were not needed in this situation. The prince's gaze was focused intently upon the man and the rope which was coiled around the human's neck. He could almost feel that rope about his own... stealing his breath... his life... his light. Fingers reached up ever so slightly to brush the pale skin near his jaw. It would all be over soon... And it was then that Tileng saw it... the spark of desire in the prince's eyes. Legolas was not enacting justice, they both knew it... this was revenge... pure and simple.

Tileng's body jerked quickly, dropping down as he hung there, struggling to breathe. Legolas' gaze followed that form, never even noticing his guards kick away the log beneath the man, so intent had he been focusing on Tileng's neck. He could feel that moment himself, and the nightmarish experience of the past began to blur the lines of his current reality... fear and panic started to rise within the prince as Tileng's smirk bored into his very soul. That hideous smirk however, never left the man's face... or rather, not until the lack of air became too much. His eyes bulged as if they would burst from his skull, legs kicking in vain as the man tried desperately to find some sort of purchase and stop the inevitable. Lips opening and closing and trying to draw breath that did not exist.

Legolas, in that moment, could feel his own breath catch as he watched, his mind going back to that village so very long ago as death came to claim him. Death was coming for this man now... oh the prince could almost see it's specter there, as his own shaking fingers pressed against his throat where rope burns had once been a painful reminder of the past. That vision of death remained, waiting patiently as the light within Tileng's eyes began to fade, his body involuntarily twitching now in its final death throes.

When the body went still, only then did Legolas find the chance to breathe once more, a soft sigh coming from his lips as the prince's blue gaze closed in sheer relief.

"My lord, the king has woken." Glorenpaur suddenly spoke from just behind Legolas.

Eyes popped open as a rush of hope replaced the drained feeling of finality. The prince turned, leaping off the fallen log then and never once giving Tileng's death a second thought as he entered the healer's tent.

After all, the human was dead now... the nightmare was finally over.

THE END
(except there's an epilogue)

Translations:
Dehino nin... adar... = Forgive me... father...
Adar = Father
Mellon nin = My friend

Author's Notes:
-I know I said one more chapter to go but... I have an epilogue too! How could I not have when I had a prologue, hmmmmmmm?

Muse Moments:
"Such sweet poetic justice. Tileng tried to hang Legolas in 'Savior & Destroyer' and now Legolas gets to hang him in 'Revenge'." Nil smiled, looking over to Paris. "I think my Elf will be quite happy with the outcome."
The Trojan prince sighed, "Except his father... is still mad."
"Ah yes, there is there, isn't there?" she sighed, tapping her lip. "I'll make it better in the epilogue. Thranduil will be just fine." the woman grinned.
"Noooo... you will be just fine because Thranduil and Legolas are both out of town for the week and YOU are free as a bird." Paris added, pointing a finger at Nil. "So, I think, you have until they return to... make things right."
Sighing, the woman put her head in her hands. "Don't remind me..."