Yikes!! You guys are even more cold-blooded than I am!! Love that ass-kicking scene, don't you? Thanks for the WONDERFUL reviews!!!!!!!!!!

When he woke up, Legolas knew that he was alone. Strangely though, he felt incredibly relieved. He was not in the mood to face anyone right now, not even his father or his brother. He'd rather be by himself, wallowing in his own misery, where no one else could see.

He wanted to cry, but where were all the tears? He wanted to scream, but where was his voice? He wanted to throw things, but where was his strength? He just lay there in his bed, feeling so weak and defeated. He kept staring at the wall, seeing nothing but remembering everything. He closed his eyes then, but the horrid details were still clear in his mind. The hideous sounds kept hitting his eardrums, getting louder and louder. Moaning, he put his hands over his ears, praying for the sickening sounds to stop.

"Legolas?" He jerked as his brother softly called his name. His senses must've gone weak. When did Keldarion enter the room?

Legolas opened his eyes reluctantly. Keldarion was looking down at him in worry. His older brother sat down at the edge of the bed, and touched his cool forehead. "What's wrong, brother? Are you in pain?"

The younger prince shook his head, and burrowed deeper under the blankets. He then realized that someone had dressed him in a nightshirt and leggings. For a while there, he panicked. Haven't I got violated enough to be dressed by strangers?

Keldarion saw the wild glint in his brother's eyes and understood the reason. "It's not the servants, Legolas. Father did." As he saw his brother heaved a sigh of relief, Keldarion added, "They do not know. Trust me. They will never know." Legolas looked up and nodded gratefully…before he continued staring back at the wall.

Keldarion gazed at his brother in sorrow. Why doesn't he speak? Why is he so quiet? Please, Legolas, say something!

"I killed him, Legolas. Jongos is dead." Legolas gave no reaction whatsoever to the news. Keldarion tried again, "He won't bother you anymore."

His younger brother turned back to him then, and Keldarion could have kicked himself for that stupid statement. Legolas's eyes were filled with agony and fury. Even when Jongos was already dead, the man would haunt his brother forever.

Keldarion gulped nervously before he remembered the basket in his arms. "Oh, here. Your friend, Gimli, send this to you. It's an eagle with a broken wing. The dwarf thought you might know what to do about this little one." Legolas only gave it a blank stare, before turning away.

"Okay, I just put it here then." Keldarion placed the basket beside Legolas's bed on the thick carpet. "If you feel up to it, the stone of manya is on top of the chest beside your bed." Legolas still did not respond, even when he heard the animal gave a little squawk. Sighing, Keldarion straightened up. He knew that Legolas needed time to recover, but his brother's rejection was hurting him so much!

A knock came at the door suddenly. Keldarion went to answer it. It was the servant, bringing food and drink for Legolas. The prince took the tray and placed it on the bedside table. "Have something to eat, will you? You must be hungry." His brother ignored him. The wall must be more interesting than the pancakes and fruit juice on the tray.

Keldarion admitted defeat then. If Legolas wanted to be alone, well, what else can he do? "Very well, Legolas. I'll leave you now. But do not hesitate to call me if you need anything."

As Keldarion walked away to leave the room, Legolas was screaming inside. No! Kel, come back! I need you now! Don't leave me!!! But no sound came out of his mouth and he was left alone once more. Now he felt like crying, but what was the point? Could it erase his dreadful experience? Could it bring back his lost innocence?

The squawking of the eagle caught his attention then. The bird with a broken wing. Why should I heal you when I'm all broken up myself?

When Keldarion glanced into the chamber a few hours later, Legolas had fallen back to sleep, the food and drink untouched…and the eagle was still not tended to.

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

The men surrounded the elf, evil sneers on their faces. The elf was cringing in fear, whimpering pitifully. The men laughed hysterically, enjoying the moment immensely. Grabbing the elf, they held him down as one by one, the men took turn creating unforgivable destructions. The elf screamed and screamed and screamed…

Keldarion snapped awake, his body sprang up from the bed like a released bowstring. Tears were running down his face; he had been crying in his sleep.

It was nearly a week now since that great tragedy. Legolas still didn't speak…and the crown prince kept having those nightmares again and again. Hugging his knees to his chest, Keldarion sobbed. I've failed! I've failed to protect him! What kind of elder brother am I? Now Legolas is nothing but an empty shell! It's all my fault! My fault…

It took him half an hour to calm down. He walked out onto the balcony and stared at the blue morning sky. The woods looked greener than ever. Everything in Mirkwood was still beautiful like usual…but the wind was sighing in sadness, the trees were whispering in sorrow. Even the nature sympathized with Legolas.

Haldir and his warriors had returned to Lothlorien after their mission to trace Maifron had failed. The evil wizard knew how to keep his presence highly undetected. Still the elves would not admit defeat. They will find the wizard…if not sooner.

There's still no change in Legolas. His current favorite pastime was looking at the wall, staring into space. He barely ate, he rarely drank…and he never stepped out of his room. He ignored the eagle beside his bed, so Keldarion had taken the task of feeding the bird everyday. The crown prince didn't use the manyan stone to heal the eagle, though; he kept waiting anxiously for Legolas to do it.

Everyone in Mirkwood was getting terribly worried about the reclusive beloved prince. They couldn't help feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

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

Sitting up in his bed, Legolas stared at his reflection in the mirror across the room. He saw nothing special in his face; his skin too pale, his hair no longer shining, his eyes no longer sparkling. Everything was dull…and dirty…sullied…

His eyes saw the small knife on the tray; it was to peel the skin off the apples. He got up, picked the knife, and sat down on the floor with his back against the bed.

With steady hand, he started to run the sharp blade against the perfect smoothness of his skin…

TBC…

Ok, that was a very bad example of problem solving. Please don't try it at home!!

Oh yeah, this is a short chappy…and a very evil cliffie…(I can hear you all screaming right now!!!! Ha! Ha!)