Authors notes: - Thank you all for the wonderful reviews. I am very sorry
for the delay in posting but I have been away and I need to revise for
exams in January. I hope you enjoy the new chapter and please please
review.
* Legolas shivered and pulled the blanket tighter around his thin shoulders. Glancing around to make sure Gimli had not seen him he sighed in relief; the dwarf was looking the other way. He had been allowed to sit outside for the last few days but as soon as he looked cold Aragorn or Gimli would force him to go back into the cave. He hated it in there and took every opportunity to leave. He wanted to be with the trees and hear their song. Aragorn was approaching and he watched his approach as he leant against the tree. His eyes closed and he felt himself drift off. A hand sweeping a strand of hair behind his pointed ear caused him to flinch and open his eyes.
Aragorn quickly removed him hand. "Sorry." He whispered looking both sorry and sad that his touch had caused such a response.
Legolas shook his head. "Do not apologize. It is my fault."
Aragorn closed his eyes briefly and swallowed the growing frustration of Legolas's continued belief that everything was his fault. Opening his eyes he saw Legolas watching him. "Its time to go inside I think for you are shivering." Legolas scowled at him and Aragorn laughed.
"I want to go home." Legolas said softly as Aragorn helped him up. An unreadable look passed across Aragorn's features and Legolas froze.
"You are not well enough to travel Legolas." He said soothingly trying to stall the inevitable conservation that would only add to the huge amount of grief and guilt that the elven prince already suffered.
"Nay" Legolas exclaimed angrily pulling away from Aragorn, his emotions violently changing as they were continuously doing recently much to his annoyance, as he seemed to have no control of them. Yet again they were keeping information from him and he was growing sick and tired of it. "Speak for I know you are hiding something from me." He demanded.
"Perhaps you should take some rest." Gimli suggested but was silenced by a look of fury from the blonde elf.
"I do not need rest. I need explanations and I am not getting any. I am not a child. I think I can handle anything you have to say!"
"What has happened to my home and where is my father? Has he been informed of my release?" he snapped his blue eyes flashing angrily at the dwarf and man. Aragorn sighed.
"When we came across Mirkwood we found no wood elves alive at all, not even bodies."
Again his emotions shifted as a well of grief and guilt rose up and threatened to choke him. Legolas lowered his eyes and his voice cracked. "The orcs would have taken them. Every elf would have fought to the death to protect the palace."
Aragorn nodded, for wood elves there was no surrender and they fought until the last.
"It was Balian who told us of your capture as he lay dying." Legolas flinched at the mention of his best friends death. He had seen him fall and tried to get to him when he himself was struck down. Aragorn watched tears run down the pale cheeks of the elf.
"The attack was devastating Legolas and I speak for all when we say we are so sorry for not getting there soon enough." Aragorn said but he knew no words could change the past.
"Why we expected anything different, why I thought aid would come is now inconceivable to me." Legolas said bitterly. "I held the last line of defence because of the mistaken belief I held that you would convince the council otherwise. I was mistaken and many lives were lost because of that. I failed my people because my trust in mortals was too high. I live when I should have died."
Aragorn knew that Legolas suffered terrible guilt for his people's fate.
"Legolas you were captured and tortured by Sauron, a fate worse than death in most people's opinion. You fought beside your people until you were taken down. No one could have asked for more from you and no one blames you in any way. Do not let this false guilt destroy you. You live and while you live the wood elves live on through you."
Legolas turned to face Aragorn. "You do not know of what you speak." The anguish and sadness deeper than any sea reflected on elf's face tore at Aragorn's heart. "I wish to be alone." Legolas turned and walked away. Gimli moved to go after him but Aragorn restrained him.
"He needs time alone Gimli. Let him be." The dwarf looked sceptical but let the elf leave.
*
Gimli and Aragorn made there way to the main house after leaving instructions that Legolas was to be watched discreetly.
"Why do we not move him back to the main house?" Gimli asked. "He would be more comfortable and not feel so isolated where all he can do is wallow in his own misery."
"Gandalf says that while his mind is still fragile and weakened he should remain in the Valley rooms as they are protected from Sauron's intrusions into his mind."
"Now that the ties to Sauron have been severed in his mind, is he not safe?" Gimli enquired.
"Sauron will be trying very hard to gain Legolas back under his power. You have seen the state he is in. One minute he seems to be fine the next he is sobbing uncontrollably the next he is bitter and angry. Do you think he will be able to resist them?"
"Nay it pains me to see him like this. How could he possibly blame himself for this?" Gimli asked.
"Elven pride runs deep Gimli. I do not expect you to understand. He is a prince and his kingdom has fallen, his people have been slaughtered and yet he still lives. How would you feel if the glittering caves fell and your people were killed?" Gimli nodded. He would feel the same.
"It will take time for him to adjust. He needs to go back and see for himself, to let his grief out and we shall be beside him when it comes crashing down." Gimli nodded resolutely at Aragorn's words.
Deciding to change the conversation Gimli asked Aragorn of what he intended to do with Gondor while he remains here.
"Arwen will return and she and Faramir will rule for the time being. Elladan and Elrohir will also be accompanying them."
"What could possibly go wrong?" a teasing voice enquired. The duo turned to see Elladan and Elrohir walking towards them.
"Hmmm maybe I should return myself." Aragorn mused.
"Aye I agree those two elves could not agree on what clothes to wear in the morning without a huge and volatile debate. Having to look after the mighty Gondor might be to taxing I fear!" Gimli exclaimed seriously his eye twinkling in merriment. The two elves exchanged looks of mock outrage causing the duo to chuckle.
"How is Legolas?" Elladan asked seriously. The two immediately sobered.
"He blames himself for Mirkwood's fall." Gimli said
"And did we expect anything different to occur?" Elrohir asked.
"Nay. I think Elrond should have a talk with him. He is much wiser than us." Elladan said
"Well you definitely!" Elrohir said.
"Why my dear brother that hurts me deeper than any arrow could ever!" Elladan said anguished. Aragorn smiled glad for some things that never changed but no matter how hard he tried his thoughts remained with Legolas.
* Legolas shivered and pulled the blanket tighter around his thin shoulders. Glancing around to make sure Gimli had not seen him he sighed in relief; the dwarf was looking the other way. He had been allowed to sit outside for the last few days but as soon as he looked cold Aragorn or Gimli would force him to go back into the cave. He hated it in there and took every opportunity to leave. He wanted to be with the trees and hear their song. Aragorn was approaching and he watched his approach as he leant against the tree. His eyes closed and he felt himself drift off. A hand sweeping a strand of hair behind his pointed ear caused him to flinch and open his eyes.
Aragorn quickly removed him hand. "Sorry." He whispered looking both sorry and sad that his touch had caused such a response.
Legolas shook his head. "Do not apologize. It is my fault."
Aragorn closed his eyes briefly and swallowed the growing frustration of Legolas's continued belief that everything was his fault. Opening his eyes he saw Legolas watching him. "Its time to go inside I think for you are shivering." Legolas scowled at him and Aragorn laughed.
"I want to go home." Legolas said softly as Aragorn helped him up. An unreadable look passed across Aragorn's features and Legolas froze.
"You are not well enough to travel Legolas." He said soothingly trying to stall the inevitable conservation that would only add to the huge amount of grief and guilt that the elven prince already suffered.
"Nay" Legolas exclaimed angrily pulling away from Aragorn, his emotions violently changing as they were continuously doing recently much to his annoyance, as he seemed to have no control of them. Yet again they were keeping information from him and he was growing sick and tired of it. "Speak for I know you are hiding something from me." He demanded.
"Perhaps you should take some rest." Gimli suggested but was silenced by a look of fury from the blonde elf.
"I do not need rest. I need explanations and I am not getting any. I am not a child. I think I can handle anything you have to say!"
"What has happened to my home and where is my father? Has he been informed of my release?" he snapped his blue eyes flashing angrily at the dwarf and man. Aragorn sighed.
"When we came across Mirkwood we found no wood elves alive at all, not even bodies."
Again his emotions shifted as a well of grief and guilt rose up and threatened to choke him. Legolas lowered his eyes and his voice cracked. "The orcs would have taken them. Every elf would have fought to the death to protect the palace."
Aragorn nodded, for wood elves there was no surrender and they fought until the last.
"It was Balian who told us of your capture as he lay dying." Legolas flinched at the mention of his best friends death. He had seen him fall and tried to get to him when he himself was struck down. Aragorn watched tears run down the pale cheeks of the elf.
"The attack was devastating Legolas and I speak for all when we say we are so sorry for not getting there soon enough." Aragorn said but he knew no words could change the past.
"Why we expected anything different, why I thought aid would come is now inconceivable to me." Legolas said bitterly. "I held the last line of defence because of the mistaken belief I held that you would convince the council otherwise. I was mistaken and many lives were lost because of that. I failed my people because my trust in mortals was too high. I live when I should have died."
Aragorn knew that Legolas suffered terrible guilt for his people's fate.
"Legolas you were captured and tortured by Sauron, a fate worse than death in most people's opinion. You fought beside your people until you were taken down. No one could have asked for more from you and no one blames you in any way. Do not let this false guilt destroy you. You live and while you live the wood elves live on through you."
Legolas turned to face Aragorn. "You do not know of what you speak." The anguish and sadness deeper than any sea reflected on elf's face tore at Aragorn's heart. "I wish to be alone." Legolas turned and walked away. Gimli moved to go after him but Aragorn restrained him.
"He needs time alone Gimli. Let him be." The dwarf looked sceptical but let the elf leave.
*
Gimli and Aragorn made there way to the main house after leaving instructions that Legolas was to be watched discreetly.
"Why do we not move him back to the main house?" Gimli asked. "He would be more comfortable and not feel so isolated where all he can do is wallow in his own misery."
"Gandalf says that while his mind is still fragile and weakened he should remain in the Valley rooms as they are protected from Sauron's intrusions into his mind."
"Now that the ties to Sauron have been severed in his mind, is he not safe?" Gimli enquired.
"Sauron will be trying very hard to gain Legolas back under his power. You have seen the state he is in. One minute he seems to be fine the next he is sobbing uncontrollably the next he is bitter and angry. Do you think he will be able to resist them?"
"Nay it pains me to see him like this. How could he possibly blame himself for this?" Gimli asked.
"Elven pride runs deep Gimli. I do not expect you to understand. He is a prince and his kingdom has fallen, his people have been slaughtered and yet he still lives. How would you feel if the glittering caves fell and your people were killed?" Gimli nodded. He would feel the same.
"It will take time for him to adjust. He needs to go back and see for himself, to let his grief out and we shall be beside him when it comes crashing down." Gimli nodded resolutely at Aragorn's words.
Deciding to change the conversation Gimli asked Aragorn of what he intended to do with Gondor while he remains here.
"Arwen will return and she and Faramir will rule for the time being. Elladan and Elrohir will also be accompanying them."
"What could possibly go wrong?" a teasing voice enquired. The duo turned to see Elladan and Elrohir walking towards them.
"Hmmm maybe I should return myself." Aragorn mused.
"Aye I agree those two elves could not agree on what clothes to wear in the morning without a huge and volatile debate. Having to look after the mighty Gondor might be to taxing I fear!" Gimli exclaimed seriously his eye twinkling in merriment. The two elves exchanged looks of mock outrage causing the duo to chuckle.
"How is Legolas?" Elladan asked seriously. The two immediately sobered.
"He blames himself for Mirkwood's fall." Gimli said
"And did we expect anything different to occur?" Elrohir asked.
"Nay. I think Elrond should have a talk with him. He is much wiser than us." Elladan said
"Well you definitely!" Elrohir said.
"Why my dear brother that hurts me deeper than any arrow could ever!" Elladan said anguished. Aragorn smiled glad for some things that never changed but no matter how hard he tried his thoughts remained with Legolas.