Oooo…death threats, compliments…nice, nice!!! Gimme more! I want more!! I'm surprise I'm still alive, though. Ha! Ha!

(Legolas was glaring at me from across the room. "Now you've ruined my reputation! How am I going to face the public when they all know everything that had happened to me?"

"Shut up, Leggy!! If you complain one more time, I'm gonna cut your payroll!"

He run and hide like he usually does when my temper blew up. Sometimes I pity him. I have been too hard on him, I know. I think it's time I give him an elf-maiden…you know, a romance experience for a change. Hmmm…)

************

Keldarion tightened his grip on Legolas when his younger brother stumbled again in his steps. Legolas was grimacing in agony and discomfort throughout the journey. He was still sore all over, and blood started to run down his legs. But there's nothing Keldarion could do to help lessen Legolas's pain except by keeping his comforting arms around the shivering form.

Without a shirt on, Keldarion himself was also shivering against the chill of the night. But Legolas's trembles was not only cause by the coldness, but something else from deep within him. Keldarion rubbed Legolas's arms to give him some warmth. That made the younger elf clung to his older brother even more.

Keldarion's eyes were tearing in sorrow again, while at the same time his worry increased by his brother's long silence. Legolas had not spoken a word since Keldarion had seen him in that room; not even a single sound. He was like a doll, lifeless and empty. The ugly experience had rendered him mute, the shock so overwhelming. To Keldarion's absolute horror, Legolas's glow was fading before his very eyes.

He also saw the way the men's gaze kept straying back towards his brother. "Keep your eyes away! Stop staring at him!" Keldarion snapped, so furious he was that the veins in his head throbbed.

Jongos and his men laughed from atop their mounts. "Too late for that warning, your highness. We've seen everything of him!" Jongos cried out, roaring in his crazy mirth. Legolas cringed, hiding his face in his brother's neck. Keldarion cursed under his breath. By damn, I'll kill them all!

"Say, elf, aren't we near the place yet?" Jongos called out, looking around at the darkness of the woods. Keldarion had been leading them for over two hours now, directly into the Misty Mountain.

"Just another league. We'll reach the dwarves' cave soon," Keldarion replied through gritted teeth. He purposely led the troop along this way, the path that will lead them all to the dwarves' territory.

It was going to be their escape route.

The prince had always known about a waterfall in front of them, just around the bend. It stood directly in their path, over a small cave tunnel that they have to walk through. The tunnel was not tall enough for the men to stay on top their horses. They all dismounted, pulling the reins behind them.

With that little distraction, Keldarion whispered to his brother, "Do you trust me?" Legolas looked up, and slowly nodded. Keldarion glanced meaningfully at the cascading waterfall above them as they went through the tunnel; it was like a liquid curtain, so beautiful and mesmerizing. But the elves had no time to stand and admire the view.

Legolas nodded again, understanding his brother's plan. He waited for the signal.

"Now!" Keldarion yelled and made the move. Holding his brother against him, Keldarion jumped through the curtain of water, dragging Legolas along. It was a thirty feet drop…right into the great river. The brothers were immediately swept away by the current. Keldarion still had his hold on his brother and he hang on tight, not dare to let go. Legolas was a strong swimmer but his current condition would hinder his movements.

The humans' cries of alarm came from above, but it started to fade as the brothers were carried further away downstream. With one arm around Legolas's chest, Keldarion treaded water with all his strength. The river was taking them directly into the dwarves' territory. When the distance was safe enough, Keldarion swam to the side, bringing them both to the bank.

They scrambled over before collapsing to the ground, gasping for breath. The night sound was active around them; the singing crickets, the wind that brushed against the leaves, the howling of a lone wolf. It were the usual sounds of the woods; serene yet mysterious. 

Then a strange sound hit Keldarion's eardrums. He turned to look and felt his heart crumbled to pieces. On his side, Legolas was hugging himself, curling into a ball. His scantily clad body was shaking all over, his teeth chattering. Pitiful whimpers were coming out of his lips; tears were streaming down his already wet face.

"Legolas." Legolas stiffened when his brother touched his bare shoulder, but he let himself to be pulled into his brother's comforting arms. Then he broke into heart wrenching sobs, clinging desperately for sanity. Keldarion stroked Legolas's sodden hair, rocking his brother back and forth in his arms, his own tears flowing over. Valar, give us strength! Help us get through this! Be merciful to him when others do not.

The trees also cried for the brothers' cruel fate that night…

***********

Crystal teardrops trailed down the alabaster skin of her cheeks. Closing her eyes, she turned away from the liquid mirror. Such a price they had to pay. The younger one is breaking apart; the elder is in despair. All this for the cause of middle earth.

A hand touched her shoulder. "Galadriel, my love?"

She turned towards her soul mate, her husband; the Lord Celeborn. "Thranduil must be grieving with worry. This hideous events will definitely hurt him deeply."

Brushing away his queen's tears, the elven lord said, "He'd asked for our help through his message that arrived a couple hours ago. I've already instructed Haldir to lead the procession of our warriors to Mirkwood. The person responsible behind all these will be brought down, once and for all."

"We should have send them out earlier, when our own officers had disappeared. But now, it's already too late for the Mirkwood brothers…"

Tipping up her chin, Celeborn looked deeply into her blue eyes. He saw regret and guilt there. "Don't blame yourself over this, my love. This is the first breakthrough we've got. Maifron will definitely fall down, we'll see to it." He smiled softly before continuing, "Do not lost hope on the two princes. They are a lot stronger than we know. They will prevail."

************

Cradling his brother in his arms, Keldarion stumbled through the woods, heading towards the cave of the dwarves. The river had brought them much closer to it. The sun was rising, smearing the sky red in color. He looked down at his brother who was deeply unconscious.

Legolas had collapsed in exhaustion after only taking a few stumbling steps. Keldarion had been carrying his brother ever since. His arms were straining, but he welcomed the pain. It was nothing compared to what Legolas had been through. If carrying him for thousands of leagues could erase his brother's dreadful experience, Keldarion would do it!

Keldarion knew he was only a few hundred yards away from the cave opening. He reluctantly laid his brother down on the ground, hiding him behind some bushes. He broke some branches from a tree nearby and covered his brother with it. Stroking his brother's forehead, he softly said, "I'll be right back, my brother." Straightening up, he gave a last glance to his still unconscious brother, before moving on to the cave.

"Halt there, elf! For what business are you here?" A dwarf that was guarding the entrance cried out as he saw the approaching elf. Then his eyes widened when he recognized the tall person. "Keldarion?"

Keldarion didn't know how to react. "Tarang?" The dwarf had had a history with his brother. He had kidnapped Legolas over fifty years ago after his brother had fallen into a hunting trap. Legolas had knocked Tarang on his ass not long after that, but Keldarion still held grudge with this dwarf over that incident.

Tarang looked the elf over, up and down, noticing Keldarion's damp condition, wearing only his leggings. "Going swimming at this time of day, elf? And got lost in the process?"

If it were not a dire situation, Keldarion would love to hit Tarang's sneer off his face. He advanced forward but a cry from within the cave made him halt. "Prince Keldarion!" A dwarf came running then, and stared in wonder at the elf. Keldarion frowned. If I'm not mistaken, this is…

"It's me! Gimli! Don't you remember me? I had given a tiger cub to your brother!" The dwarf said excitedly. Of course, Keldarion thought. This is the kind young dwarf that had taken care of Legolas during his captivity. He has grown up. "Yes, Gimli. I remember you."

Gimli scanned his eyes over Keldarion in puzzle. "What happened to you? Where's Legolas? I've longed to hear how the tiger is doing."

Keldarion said sadly, "The tiger had passed away a few months ago. Legolas and I were in trouble."

"Trouble? What kind of trouble?"

"I can't tell you. But I had to come here because I need your help."

"What kind of help? Is Legolas okay?"

Keldarion closed his eyes. Gimli saw the anguish written all over his face. "Please, don't ask more. All I need is a couple of blankets, then I'll be off."

Gimli nodded in understanding. He ordered another dwarf to fetch some blankets, and turned back towards the elf prince. "Where is he, Keldarion? I need to see him."

Keldarion inclined his head in the direction of the bushes. "I left him there." He grabbed Gimli's arm when the dwarf made a move to go that way. "Don't. Please."

Gimli was even more alarm. "Why? What's wrong? He's my friend. I must see him!"

"Not in his current condition, Gimli! I don't think he's ready to see anyone!"

Gimli saw the fight Keldarion was having in controlling his emotion. The elf was in the verge of tears, while his blue eyes were glinting dangerously with fury. "Something terrible had happened to him, right?"

Keldarion nodded. "He's not himself right now. I must take him home as soon as possible."

"But if he's wounded, we can treat him here…"

"No!" Keldarion snapped, and then sighed. "No, Gimli. It was kind of you, but I must take him home."

The dwarf reappeared with the blankets then and handed it over to the elf. "Thank you," Keldarion said gratefully. He was turning away when he remembered something else. "Gimli, be prepared for a group of humans. They might come this way, searching for someone."

Gimli frowned. "Why would they do that?"

"Because I told them the person would be here with you."

"What?! Who are you talking about?" Tarang jumped in, already raising his axe.

"None of your concern. But you dwarves can handle about twenty men, can you not?"

Tarang looked insulted. "Twenty? Send hundreds of them and we can still handle them all!"

In spite of the tense situation, Keldarion smiled. "I know you can. Thank you again, Gimli. I hope we'll meet again in better circumstances."

"I hope so too, Keldarion," Gimli replied. He watched until Keldarion disappeared from his sight.

When he reached his brother, Keldarion was startled to see Legolas already awakened. The younger elf was sitting up; his eyes wide opened, looking around him in panic.

"Legolas, I'm here. I'm right here." Keldarion rushed forward and knelt down beside his brother. He swept away the branches and threw the blanket around Legolas's shoulders. "Can you walk?"

Legolas weakly nodded, gripping at the edges of the thick and warm fabric. After throwing the other blanket over his own shoulders, Keldarion helped Legolas to his feet. Keeping his supporting arm around Legolas's waist, Keldarion led the way to Mirkwood palace…and stopped dead in his tracks. Gimli was standing in front of them, with a look of dismay on his face.

Keldarion cursed under his breath, angry with himself for not sensing the dwarf's approach. How the dwarf managed to sneak up on them like that was beyond him. "Gimli! Didn't I tell you to stay away?" he snapped.

Gimli walked closer, looking directly at the miserable elf within Keldarion's arms. "Legolas?" The elf only responded with a blank stare, seeing nothing that he recognized. The dwarf tried again, "Don't you remember me? I'm Gimli. I gave you a tiger cub all those years ago, remember?"

Legolas did not answer. He buried his face deeper against his brother's neck, averting Gimli's inquisitive gaze. Keldarion sighed. "We need to move on now, Gimli. Please, no more questions."

Gimli let the brothers go, staring at their progress in mixed emotions. What happened to you, Legolas? Why do you look so defeated?

TBC….

Jongos's ass kicking coming right up in the next chapter!