See Chapter 1 for disclaimers, warnings, etc…

Sorry about the long update…Real life was killing me (still is but that isn't the point) but this chapter was fun to write for me.  There should be 2-3 more chapters and the next one should bring the climax….

                                                                                          Confessions and Fear

Legolas stood quietly only half listening to Aragorn's tirade about a certain Prince who did not know how to inform people of his whereabouts.  His arms were folded casually over his chest as he leaned against the hard wall.

He has arrived at the castle a half a hour before.  He had been quite proud of himself for slipping past the guards yet again and that had been his downfall.  As he turned to go down the hallway leading to Aragorn's study, the king himself had appeared from around a corner.  Needless to say, King Elessar was not happy.

Faramir had slipped out several minutes before on the pretense to go check on the progress of dinner.

As the loud words continued, Legolas' thoughts slipped from the room and drifted upwards and in the direction of Éowyn.  It was over.  He had seen her children.  He had seen the look in her eyes when she spoke of Faramir and knew in his heart that he no longer had a place in her life.  Her dreams, yes.  But not her life.

Would he leave again?

Once again the answer was no.  He would not abandon Aragorn again and he felt a need to stay near to Éowyn and her family, to protect them.  If he did leave, who would know what his mysterious pursuer would do in his absence.

"Are you listening to me?"

Legolas' eyes turned sharply back to Aragorn.  "Of course, my king," he said, making sure Aragorn caught the sarcastic slur.

Aragorn took a breath.  "I am sorry, mellonamin.  I was simply concerned about your safety."

"I am not a child, Aragorn. In fact, I am a good deal older than you."

"Then act like it!" His voice was sharp but Legolas could detect a hint of teasing in it.

Legolas chuckled lightly, feeling amused for the first time since he had fought Aragorn in the darkness of his study.  "You sound like my father."

"Your father was a wise man."

Legolas pursed his lips thoughtfully.  "Perhaps."

A pause.

"Aragorn…"

"Legolas…"

Both paused to look at each other, Legolas motioning for Aragorn to speak first.

"I am sorry I did not tell you of Éowyn.  I was so happy to have you back and I did not wish to ruin it by bring up those ill tidings.  But when Faramir informed me of what happened in the garden, I knew I had made a mistake.  Will you forgive me?"

Legolas nodded. "Of course I forgive you. I cannot say I would not have done the same if in your shoes.  But, Aragorn, there is another matter which I must speak to you of."

Aragorn cocked an eyebrow to show his attentiveness.

"You  know of the assassin?"

A slight nod.  "Do not concern yourself over him, Legolas.  My guards are highly trained, as am I. Honestly, I do not believe much is to fear from this mysterious assassin."

"He is more dangerous than you believe."

Aragorn was surprised at the fear he saw in his friend's eyes.  "Legolas," he began carefully.  "What do you know of this man?"

Legolas turned from the searching grey eyes of his dear friend.  "I know he is a danger to everything I hold dear. I know that he will stop at nothing to get what he wants."

Aragorn reached out and grasped the muscular arm.  "What does he want, my friend?"

Willing his hands to keep from trembling, he turned back to Aragorn, his face lined with poorly concealed fear that he had tried to hide for years.  "To hurt me by taking the people I hold dearest away."

Slightly shocked by the intensity in his friend's gaze, Aragorn took a step backwards.  "Why?" he finally whispered.

"Why?" Legolas echoed.  "I have no idea.  He has been hunting me for months now and I have yet to fully lay eyes on his face.  He is like a ghost in the way he haunts me."

A nod.  Aragorn turned for a moment to pace.  "You believe he will go after me to hurt you?"

Legolas sucked in his breath at hearing one of his worst fears spoken aloud.  "Yes." His eyes stared into nothingness, his voice nothing but a whisper of air in the room.

Aragorn was about to respond when a crash sounded from the hallway.

Both spun quickly to face the noise as the doors swung inwards without preamble.

A young guard stumbled in, one hand clutching at the door post and the other trying desperately to staunch the spurts of blood in his chest.  "King Elessar!" he gasped out.

Legolas took three steps forward, drawing his knives swiftly.

The young guard choked in another breath.  "There is…"  A hiss of air was the only warning he had as an arrow was buried firmly into his chest.  With a cry of pain he tumbled forward and lay still on the carpet.

Legolas knelt only for a second to check the pulse and then he was up.  With a quick step, he was at the door peering down the hallway.

Aragorn stood numbly, staring at the young man on the ground.  The sound of another arrow shook him out of his stupor just in time to see Legolas hit the ground as an arrow swerved over head.

Legolas rolled back into the room and accidentally collided with the guard's body.  He jerked away.  "It is him," he called to Aragorn.

"How do you know?"

The smile Legolas offered was grim.  "I know."

There was another crash in the hallway and Legolas sheathed his knives in favor of his bow and an arrow.

For a breathless thirty seconds there was silence.

Aragorn could hear his blood pounding through his ears.  His sword was gripped so hard that his knuckles turned a pasty shade of white.

And then he entered.

Legolas was prepared to shoot him as soon as he appeared but the figure held his hands up.

"Peace, my friends, I wish to talk."

Legolas spat at his feet.

Aragorn's answer was more coherent.  "And why should we listen to you?"

"Because if you do not, your wife will die."

Legolas and Aragorn exchanged a quick look.  "We will listen."

"Good. I assume you know who I am, Prince Legolas?"

With a jerky nod, Legolas agreed.  "I know that you have hunted me without cause these years and that you have threatened those who I love most.  But I do not know your name."

"And that is well that you do not."

"Why?" Legolas asked.  "Why do you hunt me?  Why do seek to torment me? If you wish to exact revenge than kill me, do not harm those who I love."

Aragorn took a quick breath and glanced at his friend.  "Legolas…"

"Be still, Aragorn!"

The man laughed.  "Because, Legolas, I have observed you over these years, and I know that it would be a torment worse than death to have those you loved die before you."

Legolas' downcast eyes confirmed his statement.

A knife suddenly appeared in the man's hand.  "Let's begin with him, shall we?"  He gestured to Aragorn with the tip of the knife.

A breath passed and Legolas threw himself in front of Aragorn.  "Let us end it here."  His arrow was aimed firmly at the man's chest.  "You make one move to harm him and I promise you will no longer draw breath."

The man easily sheathed the knife.  "That is too bad but I am afraid our time is up anyways.  Pity.  I was looking forward to the games."  He turned slightly and exited the room.

Legolas stared after him in confusion.

The man stuck his head back in. "By the way, good prince, you might want to check up on…what is her name?....Oh yes. Éowyn.  I hope she is doing well." And he was gone, leaving Legolas to feel his heart freeze in panic.

The only sound in the room was Legolas' ragged breaths when Aragorn reached out to and laid a hand on the tense shoulder.  "Legolas…"

With a cry of rage, Legolas threw himself from Aragorn's grasp and fled towards the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Éowyn!"

Another second passed, before Aragorn ran after his friend.

Down the stairs.  Through the hallway.  And then to a quick halt as they came to the back entrance by the kitchen.

Faramir, son of Denethor, lay sprawled on the stone with blood dripping from a particularly nasty gash on his head.

Aragorn dropped down besides him, gently shaking him.  "Faramir! Wake up!"

The steward moan slightly and his eyes fluttered.  "Aragorn…there was a man…"

"I know…lay still."

Legolas dropped down so he was in Faramir's line of vision.  "Éowyn! How many guards do you have posted at your house?"

Faramir's brow furrowed as he attempted to collect his muddled thoughts.  "Not enough…" he finally murmured, only slightly comprehending the situation.  The wider as realization sunk in.  "The children!" he struggled to rise.

Aragorn pressed him back down.  "Wait a second for your head to stop spinning."

Faramir turned his helpless eyes to Legolas.  "Go to her," he pleaded, "protect her from that man when I cannot.  I know you love her, this is now the time to prove it!"

Legolas nodded numbly and fled from the kitchen towards Éowyn and whatever he might find at the Steward of Gondor's house.

(*ahem* well see ya next chapter and since school gets out this Friday hopefully it will be sooner in coming….)