I used one of my absolute favorite songs in this chapter, but it doesn't really fit into it very well. That's why I need you guys to tell me what songs you want to hear so I can find out what to put in! This is the fastest song so far so I hope you know it! If not, buy the Vertical Horizon CD!

Also, in case you're confused, the song if from the younger male adults, point of view.

Chapter 12

Suddenly, the leader's grip loosened and Legolas fell to the ground, breathless. He rubbed throat as the leader fell next to him, a sword buried deep in his back. He looked up to see the younger man hand him his white mask.

~I got to be honest, I think you know,~

~I'm covered in lies and that's okay.~

'This is yours.' he said with a quiet voice. Legolas took it from him and stuff it in his tunic. The man reached out and pulled Legolas up. Legolas took his now dim blade out from its cover and headed over to the tree where the rest of the people were tied up still.

Deep in his chest he felt this tight worry that slapped at him. The leader said he knew who Legolas was. If he did, would others be searching for him? Did Mirkwood send out a reward for his capture? Dead or Alive?

The women all asked him questions tied into the ones before and after it. The young boy simply stared in awe.

'Who are you?'

'Where did you come from?'

'Where did you get that blade?' Legolas was slightly overwhelmed and held up his hands.

'Please, I ask you not to ask me my name.' he said simply. 'I need to be on my way.' he turned to go, but one of the elder men grabbed him by the wrist.

'Please wait!' he begged. Legolas turned to him and the other two men that were tied to the tree. 'You saved our family! There must be something we can do in repayment!'

~And There's somewhere beyond this, I know,~

~But I hope I can find the words to say.~

'Please, there is nothing I want from you.' with that, he turned and started the short hike back up the hill.

The younger man turned to the older for a moment, then began to follow.

~Never again, no.~

~No never again...~

'Wait!' he said. Legolas turned for the last time, his frustration starting to show on his face. The young man froze, staring at him.

~'Cause You're a god,~

~And I am not,~

~And I just thought that you would know.~

~You're a god,~

~And I am not.~

~And I just thought I'd let you go.~

'I... we... I mean, we must know your name!'

'Just call me someone who wanted to help.' said Legolas as he turned around and continued up the hill.

*

When Legolas had gotten away from the all-too-thankful family, he collected all his things and headed on. Then it hit him that he still hadn't found a burial place for his chest of money. He stopped for a moment and rested underneath an ancient sycamore with bare branches and gray bark.

The back of his neck suddenly tickled again. He shut his eyes and moved his hand slowly to his dagger's hilt. He could feel someone sneaking up on him, quietly but not silent. He pulled the blade from its sheath and stood quickly, spinning around to face the follower.

He realized with surprise that it was the young man from the farm. He put away his blade, irritated.

'What do you want?' he snapped. The young man looked at him, confused.

~Nothing lethal will put you down.~

~I'm still learning things I ought to know by now.~

~It's under the table, so.~

~I need something more to show somehow.

'I just needed to thank you...' he started.

'You've thanked me enough. Is there something else you want?'

'I don't know if this is a reasonable expectation, but... uh...'

'What is it?'

~Never again, no.~

~No never again...~

'Well, our family has some cousins in the southern part of the Wold... and... since the gangs are back... we... uh...'

'The gangs are back?' asked Legolas.

'Yeah, for about two months now.'

'What about your cousins in the southern part of the Wold?' he asked.

'Well, I want to know that they're safe. I want to know if the gangs have them yet.'

~'Cause You're a god,~

~And I am not,~

~And I just thought that you would know.~

~You're a god,~

~And I am not.~

~And I just thought I'd let you go.~

Legolas smiled, although he had no reason to. Everything in his life was going wrong. He was an innocent fugitive, forced to leave Elenest and his unborn child. He was now scarred with the exhausting memory of his illness. He was running from deadly gangs who wanted nothing more then his head on a platter. He just needed to let out the stress of his peril.

'You don't have to fight the gangs or anything! I just want to know if they're all right!' Legolas shook his head.

'What profit would there be to me?' he asked.

'Nothing. I have nothing to give you except my allegiance, which isn't worth much, but I'm only human. We can't journey down there because we are too poor to make such a journey. Please, I only want one thing.' Legolas's smile disappeared. He realized he felt the same way about Elenest. He had only been gone for a week and a half and he was desperate to know how she was doing.

~I've got to be honest, I think you know,~

~I'm covered in lies and that's okay.~

~And there's somewhere beyond this, I know,~

~I hope I can find the words to say.~

~Never again, no.~

~No never again...~

'All right.' he finally said. He suddenly felt a strange compassion for the man. Something he had never felt before. All he wanted to do was help him. It seemed the only reason for him to be living now. He wanted to sooth his worrying... wanted to protect him. 'I'll see how your cousins are doing.' he held out his hand. The man's eyes suddenly lit up. His shoulders no longer seemed so stiff and he relaxed.

'Thank you.' he said as his eyes started to tear up.

~'Cause You're a god,~

~And I am not,~

~And I just thought that you would know.~

~You're a god,~

~And I am not.~

~And I just thought I'd let you go.~

~You're a god,~

~Oh, I am not!~

~And I just thought that you would know.~

~I just thought that you would know!~

~You're a god,~

~Oh, and I am not!~

~And I am not.~

~And I just thought I'd let you go.~

'Promise me though, one thing.' said the man.

'What's that?' Legolas asked his newfound friend.

'Don't interfere with the gangs again.' he said. 'If you do, they'll kill you.' Legolas grinned, his left hand rest on the hilt of his blade.

'Let them try and find me!'