Hullo everyone! :) I'm sorry this is so late! Our computer wouldn't connect to the web last night. Rats. BUT I'm here now. Also, this throws me off schedule with Cassia and Siobhan, so we won't be posting on the same day anymore. :) That's good at least. ff.net readers can only handle so much angst at one time. ;)

Thanks for the great gifts guesses and best wishes! ;) Thanks especially to all those who guessed my age, it was fun! :D Of course, I doubt that e REALLY thought I was 42 ;) (how funny, my favorite number's 47 :) And that's VERY nice, Sarah. 6 ½. It's as if she doesn't LIKE me! Oh, oh sister's are SUPPOSED to do that, that's right. :P

Well, Blue Ribbon goes to Angel of the Elves. Who guessed correctly. Yep! On the 23rd of February I turned:

14-YEARS-OLD

:D

And second prize goes to chrisalin who guessed my previous age correctly: 13! *shakes both girls' hands, and hand Angel an Estel-plushie, and chrisalin an Legolas-plushie) Gongrats girl! ;)

And thanks to everyone who guessed once again. I was incredibly flattered by your guesses. I mean, Karri, Aurienia, and Cat guessed pretty close to Cassia's age! Wow, you girls REALLY thought I was in my later teens? *hugs for Julia, Hiro-Tyre, szhismine, and Trinity* Hantach rane' na rane'! :)

'kay dokie! Time for the responses:

Mae govonnen, Jewelz! I'm glad you're enjoying this so far. And I WILL try to update AMAP. :D My regards to your likely-tired eyes! ;) Thanks for the compliment, I'm blushing!

Hantach for the plushies, Elven Flower! ;) And you're right, I kinda need these boys, but perhaps you can borrow them between chapters…of course, then the torture chapter will be temporarily over, and there's really no point to keeping them AFTER the fact. :D *giggle* Yeah I hadn't noticed that before. Sure sounds like it's Legolas alright! But I'll give you this big wappin' spoiler; IT ISN'T LEGOLAS! :P ;)

Yeah, Karri, that was a pretty mild chapter compared to my others. Relief or boring I have no idea, but I think a little balance was in order anyway…though it's a little late. ;) LOVE the Hobbit idea. And here's your chapter!…of course, I was gonna leave it anyway, but you know. I was THINKING of you when I put it up. ;)

Now, now, ThE iNsAnE oNe, are you giving the boys grief? ;) lol! :D *leaps behind Grimi* now, see here, NO WARGS! Na-uh. Mean nasty little vermin, NO LIKEY! :P 'sides, if you send them after me, Grimi'll go first, and well, he's too young to die. ;) And I don't' feel old. Well, I- okay, sorta- older than 7 I guess. Hm… ;)

Yep, Julia, I turned 14 on the 23rd you were just about right. :D Bad girl, ME?! ;) Yeah, no kidding. And as for Thranduil…well, he has a BIG part in this whole thing, you just don't get to hear about it…YET. Ah, yes, as to Raustal…:D And I agree it would make sense to send for Elrond, but I think Legolas was hoping to wait-out for a chance to go there himself. I think it made him feel more in-control that way, and he never guessed that all THIS would happen. Also, he's got an awful lot on his mind to be thinking of alternate ways to get to Rivendell. That's my theory at least. :)

*giggles at e* :D lol! Yeah, well Bengwiil itself was common place to the elves of Mirkwood yes. But obviously they hadn't a clue of what it really was, or what it could truly do. And even if some of them DID, Legolas certainly wasn't let in on that information. ;) That's my logic, that is. Keep on singing, and bein' happy! ;)

Thank you ever so much, IC! For not ripping Aragorn and Legolas from my clutches, that is. ;) Yeah, I agree that getting to Rivendell would be a smashing idea for the two of them right about now. But, ah well. No one asked me. I'm just the authoress. I just live here. :P But you're right, tormenting him is better. ;)

*stuffs all her personal information into a locked box at the Mirkwood Sindarin Bank* HAHA! Not coming to kill me NOW gwyn! But you're right, my alibi (ie, no one'll know what happens in the end if they kill me) appears to be the only thins standing between me and disaster. Though Grimi does his best. ;)

Holy-moly! *pats Lirenel on the head* Yeah, gotta hate those evil Skittles. ;) Sorry, I can't answer any of your questions. But I CAN say that you've got a good eye, catching the significance of that hesitation there. ;) GOOD JOB!

Nope, no heart attack meant, Lynn! ;) And, not only that, but I posted before Wednesday AND your birthday! :P

Sounds like a GREAT party idea, Witchmaster! ;) Your question's answered in this post.

*munches on Celeborn Carrot Cake* Hantach, Callie! :) But you really should go catch-up on your sleep. Maer fuin! ;)

I'm so glad you're liking it, Elizabeth! Hope you enjoy it to the end…which isn't FAR! ;)

Woah, THANK YOU, Shauna! :) I'm SO glad you're liking it SO much!!! :D

Oh thanks for the- eh -Bengwiil, Trinity…hm…oh, and the party hat. Grimi looks- thrilled. ;) Babar the movie…is that the one with the "No one was coming to my aid, and I still was so afraid…" or maybe that was…OH I forget. ;) My little sisters are ALWAYS watching Babar, so that's not my fault. :D

*hugs* THANK you, Cat! For not dieing. ;) Not such an evil cliffy? Awe, that's sweet o' you. :D

lol! Welcome back, Firnsarnien! And no scream? How nice of you. ;) Even the little scream wasn't bad. :P

Hyper_shark indeed you are! ;) Don' worry, all questions will be answered eventually! ;) Just wait…if that's not too much to ask of someone who is clearly high on Mountain Doom or something. :P

Oooh! I want to hear GANDALF! *shakes Kaeera* I wanna hear Gandalf! J/K. I bet it's REALLY pretty from how you describe it. I simply adore music. Now, what instrument do you play again? I play the piano, psaltery, and the recorder. They're all fun, but I hope to learn the guitar someday. No, I don't set my goals too high. :P

Offo NOFFO! Nofot Soffaroffah's broffiloffant roffevoffiews offagoffain!!! *soffigh* OH well. ;) Oh DEAR! Sarah Snicket's going beyond her Lemony habits…now she's turning INTO Lemony Snicket!!!…cool! :P And I'm glad that though some would find it a disappointment, you were glad and even relieved that Aragorn didn't get turned into Ranger-Stew---or Ranger fillet as you put it, it really doesn't matter to me. ;) Grimi's birthday, Grimi's birthday…Hm…well, as far as I know, he was never born. I mean, how could he? There are no dwarven-women. Hm…guess he just sprung up out of the ground. *Grimi glares at me as if to say: "that, of course, is ridiculous"* WHAT! You mean to tell me that there are dwarven-women? Oh pal-EAZE. If there are, then they look just like dwarf-men…must be the beard. :P TOO MUCH TTT!!! ;) And here I was thinking that was impossible…hm. :D

So glad you're enjoying it, Throrfowiel! :) Nono, keep on rambling! I enjoy it immensely, truth-to-tell. :D Yeah, I know that I'm posting at the same time as Cassia and Siobhan. But be nerve-wracking, huh? ;) Ah well, since it took me so long to get this post up, I think we're now posting on different days.

*puts plushies on the shelf with the rest of her collection* Hantach, chrisalin! ;) Yup, this is the second-to-last chapter. Almost done! *shivers* scary, no? ;)

*grin* Aw, thanks for the French cheerleaders, Aurienia! *turns to cheerleaders and grins* Grâce à vous que vous êtes si gentil et heureux pour moi! (I can translate for ya if you want ;) I'm so glad you're still interested in my story! :D AND WELCOME BACK!!!

*nervous laugh* heh-heh. Now, now, Golden Days. Be nice. For Grimi's sake, he'll be the first to go should I be attacked…but some unnamed personages I shan't mention by name. :P

*hugs for szhismine* Aw, you make me feel so special. Did you really think I was between 16-19? WOW, you're so great. :) Thank you for guessing!

Congratulations again to my first-prize winner. ;) *hugs Angel of the Elves* You're so smart! Of course, I may have told you…I don't remember. The point is you were either smart enough to figure it out on your own, or sweet enough to remember I told you a long while back. ;) Either way! Love ya, Jenny! :)

*grins and hugs Phantom Ranger Fay* I LIKE STITCH TOO!!! My sister thinks he's cute, but she doesn't think he's entirely adorable like I do. Like when he's walking up those steps, and the ducks walk past him? AWW! I think L&S is the closest to a tear-jerking Disney ever. *sniff* he's so cute. I went and copied a TON of pictures of him off the DVD. Quite a doozy. Yeah, great word, Raven! I love that. Funny sounding, but ya know… ;)…doozy doozy doozy. Like the sounda that…:P

Hehe…uh put the meat cleaver down, ukay Siti? ;) And it's true, I have to save our boys if this isn't an AU…but I uh…never said this WASN'T an AU…it's not quite required to specify. Probably it'd be safer if you just assumed it is…less surprises that way. :D

Ika-Nika! Hehe, no swords, Trilku-sama! ;) I'm glad to see you here! I read your review on Iston, and was wondering if you even knew about Erfier. I was going to e-mail you and let you know, and low and behold! Here ya are! ;) I'm glad you're enjoying the stories so much. I hope they continue to satisfy you! :)

*laughs* STOP, Myfanway! You creativity is outweighing mine…easily! ;) 12 hours? Golly, I don't think it's SUPPOSED to take that long. Just a guess :P And I don't think you want me to stop the angst. Of course, even if you did, I wouldn't, because the story's already written. Done. And for that reason, the cliffies aren't gonna stop either. Ah well. ;) I'm glad you liked the 'true Bengwiil' idea. I had no idea if it would sound right, planned, or just an excuse. Yeah, I agree that it'd be better for Aragorn and Legolas if they made it to Rivendell before they've got the situation that they had with Legolas in Iston. But, well, they don't appear to have too many choices at this juncture (this point made clearer in this part) And thank you for volunteer! Perhaps, I shall take you up on it sometime. For now, my sister Sarah does my beta-reading. She didn't, however, do this one, because her and my other sister Hannah (Siri on ff) are working on their own story. Anyway, thanks for offering! And never stop rambling. I LOVE it. ;)

Well, Hiro-tyre, that was the general idea when I decide to post REALLY fast. ;) J/K sorry if it is a bit quick! I'm glad you're soldiering on, and reading it anyway though. Je n'ai pas su que vous parliez Français, cela est vraiment agréable! ;) Thanduil? Mornaeg? LEGOLAS?! No one can seem to agree on who in Middle Earth the bad guy is, it's true. But you'll find out…sooner than you think…;)

*hugs Lina* Aww of COURSE you're my friend. I like you a lot- ACK LINA GET THAT STUFF OUT OF YOUR MOUTH- Pepsi. Oh brilliant. And Eomer is not SANTA- oh fine. Thanks for the birthday greetings, Eomer! And- eh -thank Lina for her gift as well once she's back to normal…or as close as she can GET to normal. *watches Eomer and Lina ride off, and then turns* Nazgul. Oh boy. Eh…well, if you nine have any intention of HURTING anybody, Gimli goes first. I've got a story to finish. ;)

Well everyone, once again, I'm very sorry this took so long. Anyway, this is the second-to-last chapter! Which means, that after this, it is the LAST chapter. :D Kind of exciting isn't it?

Okay, here we go!

Chapter 12

Darkening Shadows

Most would be staring blankly at Aragorn as though to demand "Why?" right now, but Legolas knew. When Aragorn said he was afraid of himself, he knew exactly what the human meant.

"Aragorn." He sighed. "I- I do not know what to say. Your father has told you many times-"

"I know, Legolas, I know what he has told me. I know everyone says I should not act so over my mere heritage. That I am descended from Isildur, not Isildur. My brothers have even shown me my family tree. 'But Estel, there are forty men between you and Isildur, at the least! It is sure that his weakness is not your own.' All this, and so much more I have heard since the day my father told me who I was. I need no reminders from you, Legolas."

Legolas fell silent as Aragorn's voice grew angry. He knew this had always been something the human had always struggled with, though he'd never grown this angry over it before. A battle of fear and doubt was obviously taking place in his heart and mind, and doubtless the Bengwiil was doing the whole situation no favors. Legolas knew he need not interfere, but Aragorn awaited a response.

"I only tell you what you need know."

"I already know this, Legolas! I already know! Do you have any *idea* how hard it is to admit you are afraid of yourself? And when I do, for I *thought* you would be understanding, I am met with criticism!"

Legolas shook his head. "Aragorn, I do *not* criticize you. I have not said a *word* to imply censure of any kind. I don't care who your ancestors are. You know I don't care. I would *never* criticize you for your heritage."

Aragorn backed away from his friend. "I can see it though. You believe I wouldn't destroy it. You know I am just like him. If I had the Ring, Legolas, would I destroy it?!"

Legolas shook his again, quicker this time, in desperation. "It's not you! Aragorn, it is Bengwiil making you feel, see, think, say such things. You *know* it is not true! You *know* you are stronger than Isildur."

Aragorn's voice carried on, a crazed tone hiding it from recognition. "If I were given the Ring, I would not destroy it. I would keep it. I would use it. And it would betray me as it did Isildur, and I would end a coward and a slave to evil!"

"Aragorn, stop! Do not say such things! Hauta!"

//stop!//

"I would not die, but perhaps become an evil servant as the Nine. I would roam the land, I would frighten all as they do, and when you heard my scream, you would hate me. As you hate me now!"

"No. Stop this madness, speak no more of the Ring, Isildur, or *anything* evil or laden with shadow. It does the soul no good to dwell on what is evil."

"It would take me, Legolas, and you would hate me. You would. As you do now. I can see it in your eyes, that you can't stand me. You can't bare being beside me."

"It is not so."

"You want to run, you want to hide, you want to leave me. I can see it."

"No."

"You despise me. You hate me. You loathe me. You detest me."

"No! No stop, Aragorn, stop! Hauta, mellon nin!"

"You hate me. You hate me."

Legolas leapt across the bed, and grabbed Aragorn's hands tightly, pulling him forward, and forcing him to look the elf in the eye. "Aragorn. I do not hate you. I am your friend. You are my friend. You are. You can defeat the lies Bengwiil is telling you! You can fight it, Aragorn, you are strong enough to fight it!"

Aragorn's eyes were cold and vacant. "You hate me, Legolas. You do. Iston neach."

//I know you do.//

"You are my friend."

"You hate me."

"You are my friend!"

"Leave me!" Aragorn pushed Legolas away from him, but the elf was quicker, and grabbed the human again, this time by the shoulders.

"Aragorn listen to me!"

"No! No, leave me in peace! I can't stand it, leave me! Do not touch me, Legolas, I can't stand it!"

Legolas slowly let go of the human, and sat back on his heals. "Aragorn-"

"Just go." Aragorn half-hid his face in the pillows behind him. "Go away, Legolas."

Legolas felt himself climbing off the bed, and walking backwards towards the door. "I shall be back, Aragorn. When the Bengwiil relaxes its hold on your mind." With a heart heavy with discouragement, Legolas turned, and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

*********

All the pages were in order, even though that fool of a prince had stolen half of them. It did not matter, for they were back where they belonged. Even the most precious of them. The picture.

Long, slender fingers caressed the ink drawing of the elf, the fingertips taking special pleasure in brushing the green-brown leaf at the paper's foot. A leaf-shadow there was no more, and its replacement was extremely pleasing to the dark green eyes gazing at it.

Everything was almost exactly as it should have been. And the differences *made* no difference. The time was right, and in the darkness, and stranger smiled.

**********

Legolas thought he was going insane. He'd been wandering, perfectly miserable, around the Halls of his father, for a little over a half-hour. Going aimlessly from room to room, hall to hall, stair to stair, he thought of Aragorn's angry words over and over. He knew the human had meant none of them, and none had been particularly strong or painful, but just hearing such at tone from his friend of friends was enough to depress anyone.

But Legolas been wandering and dwelling on these thoughts far too long. His own words continued to echo in his mind, while he wandered. "It does the soul not good to dwell on what is evil." And he knew those words had not been spoken only to convince Aragorn, for they *were* true, though Legolas didn't want to heed them.

It was time to check-in on Aragorn again. If he'd gotten so bad that he was yelling angry words at his best friend, and not realizing it, Legolas was sure he needed help soon. How had they put of the journey to Rivendell so long? Legolas supposed that he hadn't wanted to take Aragorn in this condition, and blindly believe that there *was* another condition that he could bring his friend in. But Aragorn wasn't going to improve until the Bengwiil was out of his system.

Legolas made his way easily to his friend's room. He'd now memorized the trip so well, that he could barely remember the way to his own room. His feet seemed to move automatically to Aragorn's door.

He stepped slowly but purposefully into the dark room once more. He could see the sun beginning to set in the distance. Aragorn had been in the room a good portion of two days, he realized, and more than ever wished to ride to Rivendell with him.

Aragorn was lying on his bed, his face half-buried in the mountain of pillows at the bed's headboard. He hadn't moved since Legolas left.

"Aragorn?" Legolas' voice came softly, but abruptly due to sudden worry. The human jerked out of surprise, and turned his head shakily towards his friend.

"Legolas." He breathed, and to the elf's surprise, he then leapt across the bed, tightly embracing the prince. Legolas automatically wrapped his own arms around the human. "Legolas, I am sorry. Please, please forgive me. I didn't mean any of it. *any* of it. I'm sorry, so, so sorry."

"Sh…" Legolas soothed, too relieved to see his friend back to relatively normal to remain hurt.

"I know you're my friend, and I *know* you don't hate me, Legolas."

"No. No, Aragorn, I don't. I never shall." Legolas released the young ranger, and held him at arms length. "And your dream?"

Aragorn shook his head. "My ancestors and their mistakes, my life and it's future…that is something I shall have to work out. It will take time."

"I know. It always takes time. But you will conquer it, Aragorn. Iston nach."

//I know you will.//

Aragorn half-smiled, and squeezed Legolas' hand in thanks. He quickly jerked his hand back, and pressed his fingers to his temples. "The Bengwiil." He gritted out, his breath heavy. "It keeps coming back, tormenting my senses."

Legolas nodded. "I remember what it feels like. But it will pass." He rubbed his friend's shoulder reassuringly, and tried to smile.

Aragorn continued to breathe hard, while Legolas massaged his shoulder. But slowly, his breath became quicker and quicker until Legolas realized he was gasping.

The human began to shake his head from side to side, over and over, faster and faster. Gradually, his whole body began to shake, and he sank weekly to the bed. "Legolas." He whispered for no apparent reason. It seemed to be the only thing his mind could cling to.

Then his shaking stopped. Completely stopped. "Aragorn. Aragorn?" Legolas shook his friend frantically. "Aragorn, can you hear me?"

"Hm." Came the muffled response, as the young man opened his eyes, and looked up at his worried friend. "It's gone."

"That was *much* worse than before." Legolas guessed, sitting down beside to Aragorn. "I could see it in your eyes, Aragorn. You've never felt it before."

Aragorn nodded slowly. "It's taking over, Legolas, I can feel it now. I- don't think we shall make it to Rivendell."

"Of course we will, Aragorn, you just need-"

"Rest? Treatment? Time?" Aragorn laughed humorlessly. "No. Legolas, I finally understand. You w-"

The door swung open with a creak, and both friends looked up. Tirniel stood there, and gazed with a concerned eye upon Aragorn. "Are you all right, Aragorn?"

"No." Aragorn's voice was as dead and hollow as it had been in his dream. Tirniel slowly tore his confused eyes away from Aragorn, to the elf beside him.

"Your highness, I have some- well, some news."

Legolas looked up at the healer inquisitively. "What sort of news?"

"Bad." Tirniel responded sadly. "Raustal has…gone. I am sorry."

Legolas' heart sank into his stomach. "And I was not there." His voice came desperately, as he lay his head in his hands. "Raustal, maer mellon nin. I am sorry my friend." Legolas shook softly, but tried not to cry. Aragorn moved forward, and lay a hand on his shoulder.

"I am very sorry, Legolas."

Legolas raised his head, brushing the tears away before they had a chance to fall. "I shall miss him. Greatly."

"Iston, mellon nin."

There was silence in the room a long while, when Legolas finally spoke again. "I must go see him…while he still looks alive." His voice shook as he spoke.

Tirniel hesitantly spoke up. "Mornaeg wishes to speak with you, highness. In the Great Hall." Legolas looked quickly from Tirniel to Aragorn, and then back to Tirniel. The reluctance was evident. "He said it must not be delayed." The healer added, looking apprehensively at the prince.

"You don't have to, Legolas." Aragorn spoke softly, sitting back on his heels.

"I just don't want to leave you." The elf responded softly.

"Well, Tirniel is here, and perhaps he can assist me. Don't worry about me."

Legolas finally nodded. He felt slightly irritated as he slowly got up, and walked towards the door. Likely, Mornaeg wanted to apologize properly for his actions that afternoon, and as much as Legolas was eager for friendship to be restored between them, he wasn't keen on leaving his best Aragorn for an apology. And the sudden passing of Rastaul added to the unbearable load of emotion.

He pushed the door open, but turned and spoke before walking through it. "Don't go anywhere, Aragorn." And the anxiety in his eyes made his hidden meaning clear even to Tirniel. "Raustal was too much as it is" was written clearly on both the friend's faces.

"I won't." Aragorn promised, smiling sadly. "I'll wait for you."

Satisfied, or as satisfied as one could be in this kind of situation, Legolas left the room. His mind was a flood of questions and answers. He needed to get away from *everything* for awhile, he felt. He was beginning to feel so entirely overloaded, with one thing after another. He wondered if this crisis would *ever* be over.

He made his way swiftly to the Great Hall. When he reached it, it took him a moment to realize anyone was there. Then, he finally noticed Mornaeg rising from one of the seats across the titanic hall. Legolas expected to hear a torrent of apologies, and explanations, or perhaps he even had something *else* he'd done to make Legolas and his friend's already dreadful situation worse, and wished to admit it.

Legolas was surprised, however, when he stood there for a full sixty seconds, and the elf didn't speak. "You wished to see me." Legolas was forced to state the obvious, when Mornaeg continued to be silent.

"I did." Came the curt reply. Terse though it was, there was an suggestion of complete delight, as he stood there in absolute silence.

"What did you want to tell me, Mornaeg?" Silence. Legolas, now getting completely frustrated, added "Because Aragorn is getting worse, and I should like to be with him. Not only that, but in case you've not been told, Raustal is dead, and I should like to pay my respects to him. So will you tell me what it is you wanted?"

"I want what I have right here. You. Me. Alone. Aragorn is upstairs, growing sicker and sicker. He will not last long, will he?"

Legolas stared hard at the elf who was now walking slowly towards him. He'd never seen him act like this! "What are you talking about?"

"You don't need to know. You'll find out soon enough. But for now, I want to just explain a few things. Things that once told, you will wish you'd known years ago, and yet had never known. Believe me, though, you must hear it all."

Legolas shook his head. "You are making no sense."

"I am making the only sense there has been since Bengwiil was introduced to our fortunate race. Since my kinsmen learned early on how horrible, and magnificent it can be. Since I lost the only thing I had left in this mortal world."

Legolas realized he was backing away from the elf who was beginning to look crazed. "Mornaeg-" He stumbled around for words. "Who *are* you?"

Mornaeg looked straight at Legolas in a way the prince had never seen him look before. A way he'd never seen *anyone* look before. "You know who I am, Lindo. I am Mornaeg, son of Esedar. Minaeg's brother."

Legolas' eyes grew wide. "Minaeg's brother? Minaeg, the-"

"The elf first poisoned by Bengwiil, Lindo, yes. Your memory surpasses your father's. For he did not recognize me."

Legolas shook his head. "But- why are you telling me this *now*?"

"That is not what I've called you here for. Oh, no. There is much more than this to speak of. Much, much more."

Legolas sighed. "Well I am sure that you have much to tell me, and if that includes more about Bengwiil, I am more than interested, but I must return to Aragorn." Legolas turned, and began to head for the great, oak doors.

"Of course, if he makes it through the Bengwiil, if you take him to Rivendell, and let Lord Elrond heal him, he will still have all those dagger wounds to deal with. That one in the leg was especially was agonizing, and once the Bengwiil wears off, there isn't Salab enough to dull the pain."

Legolas halted. A cold, sick feeling gripped his heart. He turned slowly around, and faced the elf behind him. "Mornaeg. It- i-it was you?"

Mornaeg only smiled a cold smile, and his dark green eyes shone.

I want to see my 15th birthday.

Just FYI.

:D