Suilad everyone!!! :) You have NO idea how excited I am to be back on the posting- eh -thing. ;) It's great to see everyone!!!

I sure hope that none of you are coming here and wondering "Why in the world wasn't I TOLD?!" but my e-mailer wouldn't send the post-notification e-mail to everybody, so some might have to find out on their own. For that, I am sincerely sorry. :( Hotmail is a big pain. *sigh*

ANYWAY! In my traditional fashion I would like to respond to everybody as best I can. I'd also like to thank you ALL for your faithful reviews on the Iston (I Know). Even if you posted ONCE, (throws an arm around Larus' shoulder) or rambled through every single bit of feedback (throws other arm around Kellen's shoulder) or even if you threatened my LIFE after every single cliffy (gives one, big group hug) AND, even though you drove me nuts when I didn't post. (grins over at Siri and Sarah) I appreciated EVERY BIT of feedback you gave me. *sigh* I love you guys. :) ……

……SO! *releases everyone from the strangling group hug* Onto responding to all this fabulous feedback! ;)

Well, Queen-of-Gondor, you are the FIRST person to post on this whooole thing! :) Do you know how SPECIAL that makes you? ;)

*imitates Halo's enthusiastic nod* Yes! Yes you're enthusiastic! Yes! Yes you're welcome! ;) I missed you, Halo! :D

Hi Karri! Good start? REALLY?! Oh sanks. ;) I sure hope it gets better from here!

Nice to see you again, None! :D I hope you enjoy the story.

GoldenDays!!! It's WONDERFUL to see you!! Yes, I'm afraid I will be driving everybody slightly mental again with waiting, but I will TRY not to be tardy. :)

Kellen! Kellen Kellen Kellen Kellen Kellen. :) I'm SO glad to see you here! Of course you're rambling on my fic again…I LOVE YOU! Please, ramble on!!! ;) And I am SO honored that you took a break from your story to read mine!! Especially since your story is going SO well. Speakin' of which, I need to go over and READ it! :)

Hey there, Angel of the Elves! It's great to see you! So the formatting was okay? Hm. Oh well, I guess it's just my computer. Ah, yes, "Maer fuin" is "Goodnight" in Sindarin. I didn't specify, because I figured that most would just guess anyway. I'm glad you asked! :)

Hullo KarateElf! Glad you're back! And enjoying the fic too! ;)

CHEYSULI!!! Oh man! The one who started this whole Efrier thing. Thank you once again for suggesting the sequel, else I like-as-not wouldn't have made one. :D A good idea of who the writer is, eh? Oh, tell me! Tell me! Tell me! ;) Okay, so I know. But you know, when in the middle of a plot you tend to lose track of certain details, and I may have forgotten. J/K! Welcome back, Cheysuli!

Hi Astaldocalwen! It's nice to see YOU again! Ooh I'm so GLAD you think you're going to like the story, and I hope you're right. Thanks for being so incredibly trusting, girl, thank you! :)

Sarah Snicket, YOU CRACK ME UP! I can't decide. Am I rubbing off on you, or is THAT where I got it?! ;) Your feedback is EXTREMELY helpful, as usual. Sheesh, you could make an novel out of your feedback ALONE! :D You've got enough comedy to occupy MIRKWOOD!…okay, bad example. ;) Keep it up! Please? Not as long, I know, but any feedback from a genius-writer is easily helpful. :) Please? Pretty please? *puppy/Olivia/Frodo eyes* ;)

*kneels down, and begins to whisper* Lina? Liiiina? I uh…see, I- I- I- I need Estel. For my story? Please? Lina…LINA GET BACK HERE WITH EST- sorry -YOUR Estel! I NEED him!!! ;) It's great to have you and YOUR Estel back again, Lina!

Mae Govonnen, YunaDax! I hope you like the story. :)

Hi Rosie! It's nice to have you back. :) Unhinging? What do you MEAN unhinging?…hm. *re-reads post* Oh. Oh THAT'S what you mean. Sorry, but it gets worse. ;) LOVE YA!

Siri…*giggles* it's nice to see you TOO! ;) Spooky? SPOOKY? OH yeah. That. :D Your feedback is VERY comforting as usual, Elrohir! I'm very glad you decided to come and force yourself through this, Shmallow. AND, I hope you don't kill me over every cliffy, George, because then I'll be dead before the 4th chapter. And, well, that's just not fun, being dead, Estel. ;) Hope ya like it! :D

HI Lynn! I hope that the rest is as good as you feel the first was. :) Favorite stories? OH! *hugs Lynn* SANK YOU! ;)

I- I made you cry, Chrisalin?…what a SWEET thing to say!!! ;) Well, I hope you aren't made to cry over this story as you did the other, but I thank you for the compliment! It's not easy making someone cry, you know…though, I don't suppose I'd wish to go and brag about it! ;)

Hi there Firnsarnien! You loved Iston? Oooh I'm SO glad. I hope you like this one as well. Thanks, Firnsarnien! :)

LARUS! Hi, I was hoping I'd see you again! D'you know, I STILL remember your review on Iston? You told me I was "suffering from a not so slight inferiority complex". And then, you told me to stop telling my readers that my story stank, when it didn't. I'll never forget that. And for that reason, I don't CARE if you don't post a whole bunch, because you said all you wanted to say, and I'd rather my reviewers be that way. Post all you like. No more, and less if you prefer.

So, Larus, now it is my turn. I think you are suffering from a not so slight inferiority complex. In other words, you are a GOOD reviewer, and needn't try to convince me otherwise. :)

Well, everyone, I've managed to talk your EAR off, and I apologize for that. But, now it's onto the story! I hope this lives up to your expectations, guys. I can tell that most of you REALLY liked Iston, and I don't know if this will be as good in your mind or not.

So, why don't you sit back, get comfortable, check any questions in the ff.net Rule Book (but don't drop it on Kellen's head ;) take a look over at Lina's Legolas Gift Shop (Chocolate Legolas is now on sale ;) don't shoot me over any cliffies, and PLEASE enjoy the story! :)

Here we go!

Chapter 2

Beggars of Truth

Legolas awoke the next morning to the sound of rustling paper. As his opened eyes focused on his surroundings, he spotted Aragorn sitting on the edge of his bed, flipping through a stack of parchment. The pages he'd been talking about last night, Legolas assumed. "Do you humans *never* sleep?"

Aragorn jumped at the sudden noise, and turned to his friend with a smile. "I have not been up long."

"Good." Legolas replied, and pushed himself up against his headboard, as he had the night before. "So, may I see these papers?"

Aragorn nodded, and handed the stack to Legolas, who took them gently from the human's outstretched hands, and spread them over his lap. "It is not very old…" he studied the writing again, letting his silver gaze slide over the minuscule writing. "You are right, it's hard to read. And it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. It is like you said; random thoughts."

After a few more moments of reading, or trying to read, Legolas glanced up at Aragorn, and saw he was holding a single page he hadn't relinquished with the stack. "What is that?"

Aragorn looked up from the page, and turned it over so Legolas could see. "It was with the rest of them, near the bottom, I think. I don't know who it is, and the name at the foot of it is as readable as the writing you hold." He let go of the paper, and allowed Legolas to inspect it closer.

There was silence as Legolas' keen eyes flew across the ink drawing of the Sindarin elf, over the illegible inscription at the bottom, and finally to the shadow of a leaf at the foot of the page.

"I cannot make sense of it either." Came Aragorn's quiet response as he saw Legolas' bewildered expression.

Legolas shook his head. "I now know what you meant last night, Aragorn. I don't like it either."

Aragorn, though he did not like to see his friend upset, was almost relieved to hear those words. He suddenly didn't feel so absurdly fearful anymore. There was indeed something wrong here, if Legolas too could sense it. Either that, or their misadventure with Bengwiil had made them *both* pessimistic.

"Well," the elf finally concluded, stacking the papers up, and tapping the stack on his knee to make them even with each other. "I will keep them in my drawer, if that's all right with you, Aragorn. Perhaps we can look over them together later. Perhaps then it will make more sense." He smiled. "After breakfast."

Aragorn returned the smile, and took the papers from Legolas. "Things are always clearer on a full stomach."

"And if they are not," Legolas shrugged, kicking his blankets off his legs. "they are at least more bearably confusing."

And with that, Aragorn stuffed the papers into Legolas' drawer, to be forgotten. For now.

**********

Aragorn and Legolas simultaneously dropped their breakfast dishes into the great stone sink in the kitchen. Aragorn was silent a moment while Legolas conversed with one of his many friends, Edren.

"You know who I haven't seen about, Edren, is Raustal. Where has he got to?"

Edren looked up at Legolas sharply, and glanced around his shoulder as though nervous to speak. "He went out on that hunting trip last night."

Legolas studied him a moment. "A hunting trip? Are you sure?"

"I saw a hunting party leave last night." Aragorn nodded to Legolas. "Forgive me, I didn't realize that was not a normal thing."

Legolas shook his head in reassurance that it was fine, and looked over at Edren once again. "But why would there be a hunting party in the middle of the night?"

"No idea, really. But it was your father who sent the hunters out."

"He did? Edren, are you *sure* of this?"

"As sure as I stand here, your highness."

"But my father is not one to send any into Mirkwood so late. There are many dangerous beasts that roam about at night."

"Which is just why I wonder at him sending them! He seemed very anxious for them to be on their way too, but we are not low on previsions. And the Spring has only just begun, so we cannot be at a loss for resources yet."

"Indeed."

There was silence a moment, while each considered the different reasons Thranduil might have sent out such a hurried hunting party so late. Then Edren spoke again. "Perhaps you should ask him about it."

Legolas looked unconvinced. "I doubt very much I'd get anything out of him. He was so distant last night."

"I'm sure it was the shock of our tale, Legolas. That is likely all. You would be surprised as well, were you in his position." Edren looked from Aragorn to Legolas quizzically at the human's comment.

"I still have not heard that story, Legolas." Edren told the prince softly. "I should like to know why you left on a two-day hunting excursion, were gone for nearly a fortnight, and came back looking half-dead."

Legolas shook his head. "I am sorry, Edren, but that is a tale I do not wish to tell at this time." He place his hand on the elf's shoulder, and smiled. "But I promise you will know in time." Legolas' friend nodded, and did his best to except the answer.

"At any rate, Legolas." Aragorn continued, wishing he had been more careful with his speech, and not said 'the shock of our tale', knowing Legolas would likely not want to speak of it to just anyone, and a phrase such as this would likely strike the curiosity of anyone. "I think your father was mainly tired, for it was late when we arrived the other night."

Legolas still didn't look sure, but nodded, and agreed to speak with his father on the matter. This, unfortunately, was easier said than done. When Legolas and Aragorn required an audience with Thranduil, they were told he was currently too busy for discussion, and didn't wish to be disturbed.

"Too busy indeed for his own son? What *has* come over him?" Legolas was still rather upset over the whole affair when he and Aragorn returned to the Great Hall that afternoon.

"Perhaps he is ill, Legolas." Aragorn suggested helpfully as they made their way towards the gardens. Fresh air, Aragorn hoped, would clear his troubled friend's mind.

"If he were ill, he would tell me." Legolas shook his head and clapped a grateful hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "I am sure he's merely…busy. It *does* happen at times, I just never like it. And I suppose after all I've been through, anything suddenly seems worthy of suspicion."

"Do not let it trouble you, Legolas. Let us enjoy our time back. It's home, after all." And they made their way under the great archway that led to the gardens. It was a beautiful day, and not to be wasted.

The rest of the day was spent enjoying each other, and many other's company. It was a splendid day, and Legolas and Aragorn were able to forget their horrible memories of their adventure for awhile. And whenever these recollections crept into their minds again, there seemed to be yet another friendly face, and far pleasanter subject to focus on.

Legolas, for once, felt at home, and ready to forget everything that had happened a week ago. Aragorn was so pleased to see Legolas' spirits brightened again, that he couldn't even think about the stack of parchments upstairs in the prince's drawer. It just didn't matter that much anymore.

But that evening, when many of the Woodelves had seated themselves in the Great Hall for an evening meal, trouble struck, as it is prone to do when anything is too good to be true.

Legolas had just finished eating, and was rising from the table to retire, when one of the elves from further down the long table also stood, and spoke loudly so that all could hear his voice.

"My dear prince. Pray, before you leave, will you not tell us of the adventures that you have experienced? For it is only your father who has been told of these things as of yet, and he is not present with us!" A murmur of agreement rippled over the table, and a few other elves stood up, nodding. Legolas sat down slowly in his chair.

"I so regret to say this, my friend, but I cannot. Not as of yet. The ache of this terrible journey I underwent but a fortnight ago, is too near for me to speak of it. I pray that you forgive me, and now excuse me. I am still very weary, and should like to get some rest."

But only a few of the elves sat back down, and all continued to stare at him. Aragorn had a sneaking suspicion that they had not heard a word. The first elf spoke again.

"Oh do tell us, your highness. Tell of what you can! I myself have ideas of the cause of your pain, but I do wish to know the truth. If naught else, give us a hint as to what caused this trouble for you."

Another ripple of agreement swept the long table, and several of the elves began to guess.

"Were you captured by orcs?" , "Was it Dwarves?" , "Surely you did not encounter one of The Nine!"

Legolas stood once again, raising his hand for silence, but had to raise his voice as well before he was heard. "Friends, please! Do not force me to do what I should loathe to." he turned pleading eyes on the elf who had been speaking. "Tell me, friend of my father, what is your name?"

"Mornaeg, your highness."

"Then Mornaeg, I beg you. Make me speak of this no longer."

But Mornaeg was not ready to drop his curiosity. He had gone to a desperate level. "If your highness will not give us any trace of what it was that he has encountered, then please. Tell us, my prince. A simple answer of yes or no will do. Was not the cause of this misadventure the forgotten plant of Bengwiil?"

This was the right, but the wrong thing to say. The room broke. Several elves began shouting, and angrily shoving Mornaeg back a step for the suggestion. Some looked at their companion with fear in their eyes. Some glanced suspiciously from Mornaeg to Legolas. But most rose out of their chairs and pressed to Legolas' side, eyes wide and increasingly probing.

Legolas found himself being shoved back into his chair, and questions flew at him from all sides, faster than even his keen ears could hear them. He did his best to calm them with words, but too many spoke, and the few clipped sentences he managed were drowned-out by the buzzing crowd.

"Please!" He cried "Please, do not- I cannot say as of yet what- it isn't the right time to-"

He felt a warm hand close on his shoulder, and he was suddenly lifted out of his chair, and onto his feet. He was being led gently through the crowd, held by both his shoulders. It was Aragorn.

"Gwiil, maer mellyhn! Ea na gwiil!" The human called as he steered his friend.

//peace, good friends! Be at peace!//

Aragorn continued to lead Legolas from the room, shouldering elves off of the weary prince. It looked as though it would be a smooth enough exit, but several more eager elves pushed in front of the companions, and tried to force Legolas back to the table, begging him to tell them all he knew of the Bengwiil. Aragorn could only shoulder them away again, trying his best to push Legolas through the crowd.

They finally reached the hall's door, and with a last effort, Aragorn forced his friend through the door, and closed it behind him. Pressing his back to the tall gate, he called in his loudest voice, "Friends of Thranduil! Hear me!" A few were silenced by the commanding tone, though most continued to demand Legolas back. "If you love your prince, please. Go and rest! Put your questioning minds at ease until Legolas is ready, and *willing* to answer them. Do not, dear friends, do *not* disturb him. I beg you. You do not know what he's been through, and if you did, you would surely be more understanding."

This silenced even more elves, and several had a look of discomfort and even guilt on their faces. Aragorn stood a long moment, feeling a little awkward standing as authority amongst elves, when he was only a man. But the fact that he was indeed doing it for Legolas, blew all possibility of fear away.

"Please." He repeated, and was able to speak quietly, and pleadingly now that so many had been silenced. "Give him the peace he needs, and do not put your own curiosity above his comfort. He *needs* to sort this out himself. Once he has, I promise you. You will know all you need know." And with these last words, Aragorn turned, and left the Great Hall through the gigantic door. No one followed.

When Aragorn moved into the huge room on the other side of the door, he found Legolas standing there as well. He wasn't doing anything, but his very posture suggested distress. Aragorn moved in front of his friend, and holding him at arm's length, looked him in the eye. "Are you all right?"

Legolas only nodded and was silent a moment. "How could Mornaeg know? No one but my father knew of the- the Bengwiil."

"I know not." Aragorn let go of Legolas and paced to the wall behind him. After a moment of thought, he turned his tired mind back on his friend. Legolas was like-as-not too weary to think about this matter now. Aragorn had to stay aware of Legolas' weary state at still being so close to the encounter with Bengwiil. Now that it had come up again so dramatically, it would be even harder for Legolas' to forget. He was now reminded of something else as well. Even once he had forgotten his fears, the whole of Mirkwood would have to.

As if to tie into his thoughts, Legolas spoke. "I don't want to tell them, Aragorn. I don't want to relive those terrible memories as though they were cheery adventures. I don't want there to be songs written of the Bengwiil, like it was naught but an evil villain in a child's tale. It was indeed evil…and it hurt. Deeply."

Aragorn knew several things he wanted to say. Reassurance that these terrible memories would fade. That they wouldn't necessarily have to tell the whole truth of their adventure. That they wouldn't *let* anyone make light of the horrible plant. But he knew all this was in vain. Optimism just wouldn't do it right now.

Aragorn approached Legolas carefully, and put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it with the reassurance he wished to speak. "Let's go and rest."

"Let's." Legolas sighed, and smiled over at Aragorn appreciatively. That was all he needed.

The two made their way across the great room, up the stone stairs, and into the corridors, towards their bedrooms. All the while, saying nothing, but still thinking about the most recent events. The elves' reaction to Bengwiil's name was peculiar, but not wholly unexpected. Even so, it was unsettling that they would still react so.

The friends finally reached Legolas' bedroom door, and Aragorn followed him inside. "Are you not tired, Aragorn?" Legolas inquired, as he kicked off his shoes and flopped onto his large bed.

"Yes," Aragorn smiled "but I wanted to take another look at those papers."

"Why in Middle Earth would you want to do that?" Legolas sighed, un-tucking his blankets half-way, and climbing down underneath them.

"I don't know, a whole day has gone by, I thought perhaps it might make more sense now, if only a little." Aragorn opened Legolas' drawer, and pulled out the stack of papers as he spoke. Flipping through them slowly, he kept a keen eye out for something, anything, that might make sense to him. Nothing.

"It's all nonsense." He sighed, flipping to the last page. "Terrible grammar, even worse punctuation. I don't know. Perhaps the elf who wrote this was half asleep. Perhaps he fingers itched at night, so he scribbled whatever came to him. That is the only thing I can make out of this." He threw the stack back into Legolas' drawer and sighed again. "Maybe the former owner of that room was only five years old. Well, you know, the elf equivalent of-" Aragorn turned to Legolas and stopped mid-sentence. He shook his head. "Can't even stay awake long enough for me to complete my sentence."

Smiling fondly, Aragorn swiftly blew out the only lit candle, and made his way through the dark, to the door. Suddenly, his foot caught something, and almost threw him forward. Growling at the interference to his exit, he turned and looked down at the floor. It was the discarded pillow.

"If your floor were any more cluttered," Aragorn growled "you could roll off your bed and not notice."

Aragorn turned to the door.

"I heard that." Legolas muttered from somewhere in his pillow.

"You were meant to." Aragorn responded, grinning. "Maer fuin, Legolas."

"Maer fuin." Came the muffled reply.

"And clean this room tomorrow." Aragorn added before going through the door.

"Yes, father." Legolas responded petulantly, and rolled over towards the wall, turning his back on Aragorn. The human shook with silent laughter, and left the room.

It wasn't a long journey up the stairs tonight. Aragorn's heart had become lighter at Legolas' sudden change of mood. He so hated seeing his normally lively friend sullen, and the transformation from latter to former was encouraging.

The minute Aragorn entered his room, he knew something was wrong. The wind blew angrily through his window, pushing the curtains far off the wall they hung from. Paper blew around his ankles, and as he looked around the unlit room, he saw the desk he'd found those papers in, had been turned over. The ink bottles were shattered, and red, green, and black ink spread in an ugly stain across the floor, spattering blank paper as it went. The feather quill was already drenched in ink.

Aragorn walked slowly, looking around for any other damage, besides what had been done to the writing desk. Nothing else had been touched.

He was just beginning to wonder what to do, when he felt two cold hands grab him by the shoulders. And one was holding a sharp, elven dagger.

…sorry?…why do I get the feeling that just isn't going to cut it…oye…bad adj. ;)