Authors notes: - Thank you so much to goblz, ZeroCool, Angel of the Elves,
Lady-Daine and Genny for the great reviews. Hope you enjoy this penultimate
chapter!!! I think I may have to do a sequel as well as a prequel as I
think this is very long and should probably be ended!!! Please everyone
review even if it just says hi I have read your story. All reviews are
appreciated!!
**
"Is that it?" Gimli asked as a castle became visible through the trees.
"Yes." Azian said.
Gimli and Aragorn marvelled at the castle and the surrounding tree homes.
"I thought nothing could even come close to Lothlorien but I was wrong." Gimli exclaimed.
The castle was white marble but instead of blinding the weary warriors it sparkled in the sunlight. Banners fluttered in the wind. An emerald green with a silver leaf of Mirkwood. Tree homes similar to those in Lorien spiralled around the trunks of the huge trees surrounding the castle. Thranduil lead the way into the castle. He was met by another male elf. Aeolian the crown prince of Mirkwood.
Other elves stepped forward offering to carry Legolas but the king refused not wanting to give up his son.
"Azian." Aeolian said hugging his brother.
"Kahari. Where is Kahari?" Azian demanded. He could not see the third oldest prince.
Aeolian looked at his feet, tears filled his eyes.
"No no please be wrong!" Azian cried as he felt his knees collapse. Aeolian caught him. A healer stepped forward and helped them get the distraught elf to his feet. Aeolian spoke soothingly to his younger brother as he and the healer led Azian away.
Thranduil continued walking through a large hall, almost in a daze, intent on helping his son. Gimli looked in awe at the marble structures. Columns of pink and blue marble stretched throughout the hall. Plants with small flowers wound round each column and small white birds zipped overhead. A large fountain in the shape a white horse sprinkled water quietly into a small pool. The elves in the hall set down what they were doing and were watching the group intently especially the still form of one of their princes.
Thranduil walked up a set of stairs and through a pair of wooden doors into a room and laid his youngest son tenderly on the large bed that dominated the room.
Sitting next to him he brushed a few strands of blonde hair out of his son's face.
"I thought he was dead. All of them. That is why I sent no search party. We were weakened; there were so many casualties. I had to retreat. We thought that the first line of defence had been wiped out we could not wait. Then Aeolian made it back with a small group of survivors and told me of Legolas's capture by Sauron. Told us that Mirkwood was overrun and the aid sent to us had retreated beaten. We had been defeated and I had to live with the destruction of my people and knowing that my youngest son was being tortured by Sauron."
Thranduil furiously wiped his eyes refusing to cry again. He was King and should be strong.
"He is safe now." Aragorn said softly.
"But at what cost?"
Silence filled the room.
"Why did you not come to aid us? Were we not worthy of such aid? My son begged for aid and still none was sent. He is supposedly your friend and I know for a fact that he would have come to Gondor's aid and that of the dwarfs yet you would not do the same. Now you appear and expect us to shelter you?" Thranduil snapped angrily clenching his fists tightly.
"We know we made a mistake." Aragorn started
"A MISTAKE!" Thranduil roared. Legolas whimpered in his sleep and Thranduil lowered his voice.
"A mistake, a mistake is when someone writes something incorrectly on a piece of PARCHMENT!" Thranduil hissed furiously "Not when a people don't give aid which results in a slaughter."
"We are sorry, so sorry you cannot even imagine" Aragorn attempted again.
"I cannot imagine! I have watched my people fall and been able to do nothing about it, I have seen my home overrun by darkness and not been able to defend it and I have seen us suffer alone. We do not have a ring to protect us!"
Thranduil marched to the window desperately trying to stop himself from killing the two where they stood.
"Legolas hates us and that is more of a punishment then you can even think of placing upon us." Gimli said softly.
"He does?" Thranduil asked.
"Yes he does." A new voice said coldly. Legolas.
"My son you are awake." Thranduil said relieved.
"I hate you more than anything even Sauron." Gimli and Aragorn flinched at those words.
"You cannot mean that?" Aragorn said horrified.
"Why? At least he did not pretend to be my friend or betray me. Deflate your ego does it to know that there is one person alive who does not worship the ground you walk on, does not think of you as Estel." Legolas rose from the bed and walked to stand in front of Aragorn. "I gave you everything that I had to defend Gondor. I followed you to Mordor and even though I despaired at times I still gave you my whole hearted support and when I asked for aid you refused."
Legolas watched tears fall down Aragorn's face but he did not care. All the emotions, the terror, the anger, the guilt were all forcing their way out.
"I wanted to Legolas believe me but my warriors."
Legolas hit Aragorn hard. Aragorn's head flung backwards and he staggered.
"You are their King, they would follow you if you asked them too. Do not give me excuses." Legolas yelled.
Aragorn brought up a hand to wipe the blood from his split lip but said nothing. He deserved worse and was grateful for the pain of the blow.
"I watched you run." Legolas snapped
"What?" Aragorn said softly.
"When Saruman brought me out and tortured me I saw you. I called to you and you ran. You left me."
"Legolas we were beaten back. We tried to get to you, I tried so hard."
"Well you failed. For months I was in there as they tortured me. Every whip lash, every burn, every broken bone I waited for you. I prayed you would get there but you never came." Legolas snarled.
"But you are free now."
"Free yes but I am not the same. I am damaged."
"No, no Legolas you are not damaged." Aragorn said desperately trying to convince his friend.
"Yes I am. I can't sleep without the memories surfacing and each time I wake I think I am still there and I wait for the blows to fall." Legolas said furious at himself for his weakness just as furious as he was with Aragorn.
"I am so sorry my friend. I know not what else to say."
"Then say nothing at all. Say nothing at all." Legolas whispered as he sank onto the bed resting his head in his hands. Aragorn knelt in front of him.
"I am so tired. Every time I close my eyes I see him taunting me. I see the eye. It haunts me." Legolas whispered as the anger drained from his body.
"I can give you something to let you sleep."
"I will not be drugged." Legolas snapped angry that his friend would want to drug him.
"Please just go away. All of you leave me alone. I don't want to be around you, any of you." Legolas said angrily not looking at them.
Thranduil moved Aragorn and Gimli from the room and he heard the door click as Legolas locked it.
"Go back to your people. Take some rest. When Lord Elrond arrives at the falls, you will return to them. Do not return here and do not try to contact Legolas." Aragorn was about to respond when the bright light covered them and they appeared back in the meadow. Eomer looked up surprised at their sudden appearance.
"Where did you come from?" he asked startled.
"The castle. It did not go well." Gimli said.
"Who hit you?" Eomer asked indicating Aragorn's split lip and bruised cheek.
"Legolas." Aragorn said.
"He hit you!"
"Yes. He finally vented some of his anger." Aragorn said as he touched his lip.
"I can see that." Eomer said, "What happens now?"
"We should rest, they will return us soon to meet up with Elrond's warriors in a while."
"Resting should not be a problem." Eomer said indicating the surviving warriors. Most were resting peacefully and the others were eating and drinking. Healers moved between them treating wounds and soothing minds.
"We should rest too." Aragorn said and he sat down next to the pool of the waterfall. Washing his face he settled down on his bedroll, which had been set out. Looking out at the water cascading down the falls he thought to his friend whose tortured mind was desperately trying to fix itself. He thought of the wood elves whose home had been destroyed. His thoughts then turned to Arwen and as he drifted off he dreamt of her smile and it soothed him.
Gimli watched Aragorn lay down and he in turn felt overwhelming tiredness and he lay down to sleep. Falling asleep almost instantly he could swear he heard the voices of elves singing and for the first time in a long while he slept soundly.
**
"Is that it?" Gimli asked as a castle became visible through the trees.
"Yes." Azian said.
Gimli and Aragorn marvelled at the castle and the surrounding tree homes.
"I thought nothing could even come close to Lothlorien but I was wrong." Gimli exclaimed.
The castle was white marble but instead of blinding the weary warriors it sparkled in the sunlight. Banners fluttered in the wind. An emerald green with a silver leaf of Mirkwood. Tree homes similar to those in Lorien spiralled around the trunks of the huge trees surrounding the castle. Thranduil lead the way into the castle. He was met by another male elf. Aeolian the crown prince of Mirkwood.
Other elves stepped forward offering to carry Legolas but the king refused not wanting to give up his son.
"Azian." Aeolian said hugging his brother.
"Kahari. Where is Kahari?" Azian demanded. He could not see the third oldest prince.
Aeolian looked at his feet, tears filled his eyes.
"No no please be wrong!" Azian cried as he felt his knees collapse. Aeolian caught him. A healer stepped forward and helped them get the distraught elf to his feet. Aeolian spoke soothingly to his younger brother as he and the healer led Azian away.
Thranduil continued walking through a large hall, almost in a daze, intent on helping his son. Gimli looked in awe at the marble structures. Columns of pink and blue marble stretched throughout the hall. Plants with small flowers wound round each column and small white birds zipped overhead. A large fountain in the shape a white horse sprinkled water quietly into a small pool. The elves in the hall set down what they were doing and were watching the group intently especially the still form of one of their princes.
Thranduil walked up a set of stairs and through a pair of wooden doors into a room and laid his youngest son tenderly on the large bed that dominated the room.
Sitting next to him he brushed a few strands of blonde hair out of his son's face.
"I thought he was dead. All of them. That is why I sent no search party. We were weakened; there were so many casualties. I had to retreat. We thought that the first line of defence had been wiped out we could not wait. Then Aeolian made it back with a small group of survivors and told me of Legolas's capture by Sauron. Told us that Mirkwood was overrun and the aid sent to us had retreated beaten. We had been defeated and I had to live with the destruction of my people and knowing that my youngest son was being tortured by Sauron."
Thranduil furiously wiped his eyes refusing to cry again. He was King and should be strong.
"He is safe now." Aragorn said softly.
"But at what cost?"
Silence filled the room.
"Why did you not come to aid us? Were we not worthy of such aid? My son begged for aid and still none was sent. He is supposedly your friend and I know for a fact that he would have come to Gondor's aid and that of the dwarfs yet you would not do the same. Now you appear and expect us to shelter you?" Thranduil snapped angrily clenching his fists tightly.
"We know we made a mistake." Aragorn started
"A MISTAKE!" Thranduil roared. Legolas whimpered in his sleep and Thranduil lowered his voice.
"A mistake, a mistake is when someone writes something incorrectly on a piece of PARCHMENT!" Thranduil hissed furiously "Not when a people don't give aid which results in a slaughter."
"We are sorry, so sorry you cannot even imagine" Aragorn attempted again.
"I cannot imagine! I have watched my people fall and been able to do nothing about it, I have seen my home overrun by darkness and not been able to defend it and I have seen us suffer alone. We do not have a ring to protect us!"
Thranduil marched to the window desperately trying to stop himself from killing the two where they stood.
"Legolas hates us and that is more of a punishment then you can even think of placing upon us." Gimli said softly.
"He does?" Thranduil asked.
"Yes he does." A new voice said coldly. Legolas.
"My son you are awake." Thranduil said relieved.
"I hate you more than anything even Sauron." Gimli and Aragorn flinched at those words.
"You cannot mean that?" Aragorn said horrified.
"Why? At least he did not pretend to be my friend or betray me. Deflate your ego does it to know that there is one person alive who does not worship the ground you walk on, does not think of you as Estel." Legolas rose from the bed and walked to stand in front of Aragorn. "I gave you everything that I had to defend Gondor. I followed you to Mordor and even though I despaired at times I still gave you my whole hearted support and when I asked for aid you refused."
Legolas watched tears fall down Aragorn's face but he did not care. All the emotions, the terror, the anger, the guilt were all forcing their way out.
"I wanted to Legolas believe me but my warriors."
Legolas hit Aragorn hard. Aragorn's head flung backwards and he staggered.
"You are their King, they would follow you if you asked them too. Do not give me excuses." Legolas yelled.
Aragorn brought up a hand to wipe the blood from his split lip but said nothing. He deserved worse and was grateful for the pain of the blow.
"I watched you run." Legolas snapped
"What?" Aragorn said softly.
"When Saruman brought me out and tortured me I saw you. I called to you and you ran. You left me."
"Legolas we were beaten back. We tried to get to you, I tried so hard."
"Well you failed. For months I was in there as they tortured me. Every whip lash, every burn, every broken bone I waited for you. I prayed you would get there but you never came." Legolas snarled.
"But you are free now."
"Free yes but I am not the same. I am damaged."
"No, no Legolas you are not damaged." Aragorn said desperately trying to convince his friend.
"Yes I am. I can't sleep without the memories surfacing and each time I wake I think I am still there and I wait for the blows to fall." Legolas said furious at himself for his weakness just as furious as he was with Aragorn.
"I am so sorry my friend. I know not what else to say."
"Then say nothing at all. Say nothing at all." Legolas whispered as he sank onto the bed resting his head in his hands. Aragorn knelt in front of him.
"I am so tired. Every time I close my eyes I see him taunting me. I see the eye. It haunts me." Legolas whispered as the anger drained from his body.
"I can give you something to let you sleep."
"I will not be drugged." Legolas snapped angry that his friend would want to drug him.
"Please just go away. All of you leave me alone. I don't want to be around you, any of you." Legolas said angrily not looking at them.
Thranduil moved Aragorn and Gimli from the room and he heard the door click as Legolas locked it.
"Go back to your people. Take some rest. When Lord Elrond arrives at the falls, you will return to them. Do not return here and do not try to contact Legolas." Aragorn was about to respond when the bright light covered them and they appeared back in the meadow. Eomer looked up surprised at their sudden appearance.
"Where did you come from?" he asked startled.
"The castle. It did not go well." Gimli said.
"Who hit you?" Eomer asked indicating Aragorn's split lip and bruised cheek.
"Legolas." Aragorn said.
"He hit you!"
"Yes. He finally vented some of his anger." Aragorn said as he touched his lip.
"I can see that." Eomer said, "What happens now?"
"We should rest, they will return us soon to meet up with Elrond's warriors in a while."
"Resting should not be a problem." Eomer said indicating the surviving warriors. Most were resting peacefully and the others were eating and drinking. Healers moved between them treating wounds and soothing minds.
"We should rest too." Aragorn said and he sat down next to the pool of the waterfall. Washing his face he settled down on his bedroll, which had been set out. Looking out at the water cascading down the falls he thought to his friend whose tortured mind was desperately trying to fix itself. He thought of the wood elves whose home had been destroyed. His thoughts then turned to Arwen and as he drifted off he dreamt of her smile and it soothed him.
Gimli watched Aragorn lay down and he in turn felt overwhelming tiredness and he lay down to sleep. Falling asleep almost instantly he could swear he heard the voices of elves singing and for the first time in a long while he slept soundly.