Note: This is an AU fic! Like I said earlier, I'm sorry if the Japanese words are messed up. My online translator is not perfect. All unknown characters are mine, except for Miat! Miat = Legolas. Legolas and the other LOTR characters belong to J.R.R. Tolkien. = Different language (other than English and Elvish), " " = Basic English, and ' ' = Elvish. Language warning in this chapter! I revised part of it. Again, a thank you to both of my beta-readers. You know who you are!

Sides That Are Chosen

Part 7

Miat froze when the point pricked his throat.

Doushite beki temae seme touhou dakara? Miat asked, flinching as the pressure from the blade increased. A  trickle of blood slid down the arch of his throat, soaking into his clothes. His bleeding hand hurt, but not unbearably so.

The attacker sneered. Nai-bu ahondara! Nakare okonai dakara inosento!

Before the man could advance, though, something flew past him, and clattered against the wall of the hallway. He hissed in pain, gripped his left shoulder, and quickly glanced behind him. A silver dagger lay on the floor, its blade stained with red blood. His blood. His other hand clenched, and he whirled to face the man who had dared to wound him. Apprehension and fear dawned in his eyes when he saw Meiyuu standing there, poised and ready with another dagger in his hand.

Nekare inta-fea, toraburume-ka-! Ikan aete temae! he snapped angrily, furious that Meiyuu had attacked him. He turned, knelt down, and grabbed the bloody dagger. After inspecting it carefully, the man was certain of who this hooded figure was.

An unpleasant smile spread on Meiyuu's face, one none could see as his face was still hidden by his hood. Kan temae anou achira sore hatashite ikkyou temae, hitogoroshi? the youth asked, a strange emotion in his eyes.

The figure glared at Meiyuu, preparing to attack him, but the second dagger flew toward him, embedding itself deeply into the wall at his back. A deep gash appeared on the attacker's cheekbone; blood dripped on his black shirt.

He had been warned.

Ware moushiireru temae tachisaru, kyou moshikasuruto imei supea goshujin seimei, Meiyuu said calmly. He hoped Legolas' assailant would take the hint and be gone. It would not do to murder the asshole in front of the gentle elf on the floor. But Meiyuu would if he had to. He had learned the hard way that sometimes, to defend yourself or your friends, you had to be willing to kill.

Just then, Aragorn, Frodo, and Gimli rounded the corner to see Meiyuu wielding his third dagger. They had lost sight of the youth as he dashed off to Miataru's aid, but they had finally found him, drawn by a man's sudden cry of pain.

"You'll pay, Meiyuu," the man in question hissed before turning to the three outsiders. "All of you will pay." He then gazed down at Miataru. "We have plans for you, elf, and nothing will interfere with them." The figure ran off, truly leaving them alone. He also took the dagger he still held in a fierce grip.

Meiyuu thought of the dagger he lost. Shimatta! It was one of his favorites.

Miat frowned at his friend. Nain, Meiyuu. Norou— He was cut off by the youth.

Sousou, Miat. Ware nakare teinei. His voice betrayed a hidden smirk.

Aragorn frowned as well. "You are a bit young to curse like that," he pointed out.

Meiyuu glared at Aragorn, giving him a Look. As before, it was wasted as his hood hid his face. "I've cursed like that since I was three. Do not tell me what to do. Miat does that enough as it is."

"Meiyuu…" Miat warned, his frown deepening.

"Here," Meiyuu said, ignoring the warning. He offered a scarred hand to the fallen Elf. "You need medical attention, and I would not recommend going to Shira right now."

Miat used his uninjured hand to grasp a hold of Meiyuu's and pulled himself up. He touched his bloody hand carefully. 'Not…too…bad,' he murmured, not realizing he spoke the tongue that had been blocked from his mind for three years.

Aragorn took the hand and inspected it. "You are correct, but an infection could set in, 'Miat'." He used regular English, but had noticed Legolas' subconscious slip into Elvish

Meiyuu frowned. "Call him by his true name. He may never remember otherwise." There was a slightly wistful note in his voice. It was a tone tinged with sadness and, perhaps, regret. Miat and Aragorn looked at him.

"Did they use it on you?" Aragorn questioned.

Meiyuu nodded.

Frodo asked tentatively, "Do you miss your memories?"

"How can you miss what you do not remember?" Despite the harsh words, there was an air of… loneliness and pain. Things the young man, barely past his youth, should not have experienced. "I'm leaving now. Remember what I told you. Leave before it's too late."

"Where… going?" Legolas asked. His voice was soft and compassionate.

"Somewhere I belong." Meiyuu turned and walked away. Alone and silent as he had always been. His thoughts were his only company.

Aragorn gestured for Gimli and Frodo to stay there, as he ran after the boy.

The older man blocked Meiyuu. "They will probably kill you because you helped Legolas," Aragorn stated flatly.

"They cannot do worse to me than they have already done," Meiyuu retorted. "It's my choice. I can't live how I would choose to, but Miat——no, Legolas——deserves better. He can have a life better than this town of lies and death. He should have the freedom to choose his own destiny."

"You deserve a choice as well. You are young, after all," Aragorn pointed out. "If you can leave, why do you stay?"

"I don't know," Meiyuu admitted. "Possibly because I have nowhere to go."

Aragorn inquired, "Do you not have any family?"

Meiyuu snorted. "I am from a family with diluted Elven blood. I told you that all Elves are dead. Do you think then that they are alive?" Meiyuu bit out, the bitter sarcasm in his voice belying his pain. "The Elven blood that ran in my veins and those of my sister was too thin to be of any use to Them. As a result, we were the only two not taken. Her husband was a full Elf, however, and she got pregnant before he was taken by Shira. Then she died and left me alone with her orphaned child. And even Mira was taken from me."

"I'm sorry," Aragorn said sincerely. He could feel the pain that the boy tried to hide. "Meiyuu, you could come to Gondor with us, if you wanted to."

"I cannot, Aragorn. I must first learn what Tsuku, Shira, and that stranger are up to, and what it has to do with Legolas," Meiyuu told him. "Then I will come… maybe."

"Meiyuu?" Miat questioned, for he, Gimli, and Frodo had followed Aragorn. The Elf was applying pressure to his bleeding hand, but his attention was truly on his friend. He was concerned for the young man.

Meiyuu looked at him. "You have a home and family, Legolas. If I knew a family waited for me, I would leave without hesitation. Find where you belong, my friend. You may regret it if you do not."

Miat paled. He knew enough to understand Meiyuu's meaning. "Am… I… Legolas?" he questioned.

"You are," Aragorn said firmly. "You should at least return to Middle-Earth and regain your memories. If you still want to return, you can."

"Go, Legolas," Meiyuu whispered, a strange, sad look in his eyes.

"I..." Miat was confused. He searched  his heart, unsure of what he should do. He longed to uncover his past, but yet… it frightened him. But one thing remained clear: he could no longer stay in the village, not after finding out that someone wanted him for an unknown purpose. "I—I… will… go."

Smiles crossed the faces of all save for one. Meiyuu turned and walked away silently, melting into the shadows.

"Let me bandage your wound, and we will be off," Aragorn said. He was happy and relieved as the group of three led Legolas back to their room.

Frodo brought Aragorn his bag of herbs, and Gimli the bandages. Aragorn gently cleaned the deep cut with a cloth, before applying the herbs.

Miat kept himself from flinching as the injury was bandaged. His long, golden hair would be a nuisance on the road, however. As soon as Aragorn had finished, the Elf fussed with his hair and retied it in a ponytail high on his head.

It didn't take very long  for the group of four to  slip their cloaks on, and, in Legolas' case, pack a few items. They left the inn silently. They were very grateful that it was so late for no one was around to see them carefully make their way to the gates.

Aragorn, Frodo, and Gimli walked through it first.

Aragorn turned to regard the elf he had searched so long for and nearly felt his heart stop as Legolas stopped short of leaving the town. His eyes shot up to the emerald green of the elf's, searching for an explanation. What he found was a shock akin to his own. Surprise flickered in Legolas' eyes as he reached for Aragorn, and found himself blocked by an invisible wall.

Hidden in the town behind them, a scarred hand reached out towards the gate, and the person concentrated. An invisible wave of power emanated from the hand and made the barrier fade away.

When the barrier suddenly went down, the elf quickly stepped through the gate, not noticing the barrier reactivating behind him.

A shadowy figure sprang up a tree and leapt onto a balcony, before springing to the top of the gate. He watched the four travelers walk out of sight.

Tears began to run down the face, as the hood was pulled back. The clear liquid slid over the scars on his youthful face.

 "My gift to you," Meiyuu whispered, as he watched the only friend he had left leave. "Be well and be safe, Legolas."

To be continued

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Doushite beki temae seme touhou dakara = For what reason must you attack me so

Nai-bu ahondara! Nakare okonai dakara inosento = Naïve fool! Do not act so innocent

Nekare inta-fea toraburume-ka- kanata temae sakusei! Ikan aete temae = Do not interfere, troublemaker! How dare you!

Kan temae anou achira sore hatashite ikkyou temae, hitogoroshi = Can you say that it really surprise you, murderer

Ware moushiireru temae tachisaru, kyou moshikasuruto ware imei supea goshujin seimei = I suggest you depart, and maybe I will spare your life

Shimatta = Damn it

Nain, Meiyuu. Norou = No, Meiyuu. To curse

Sousou, Miat. Ware nakare teinei = I remember, Miat. I do not care

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