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TIME TO TAKE YOUR PLACE: 25

Elfwine was still silent. He could feel his mother and father's eyes burning into his soul. He looked to Amdiriel, and she raised her eyebrows, urging him to speak. A part of him wanted to cry as loud as his voice would allow him that he was their son, but another part of him was so ashamed of the past that he felt like his tongue was disabled from use.

"I have no time for this. We must ride to Gondor, immediately," Éomer said with a forceful tone but a look of hurt was evident on his face. Elfwine only held his head down in disappointment as his father strode past him to prepare to leave Edoras. Lothíriel approached the boy after Éomer left, and lifted up his chin so that he would look her in the eye.

"The past still has hold of you Elfwine?" she said gently, her tone so comforting to Ewan that he began to tear.

"How can it not? I hurt him again didn't I? It seems it is the only expectation I am capable of doing."

"Do not speak that way. If you could only swallow your pride Elfwine and come to realize that after everything that has happened, all the changes that have resulted in that one decision you made, there is one thing that keeps strong: our love for you. No matter what path you choose ultimately that is something you can always rely on. Your father rides to Gondor today, to lead the Eored to aid a friend. It would be a great thing if you were to ride alongside him, and come to accept your place. If you decide not, then you are free to leave just as you had so many years ago." Lothíriel placed a kiss atop his forehead, and retired to her chamber, her heart breaking each time she took a step further and further away from Elfwine, leaving him to his own decision. Lothíriel wanted nothing more than to hold her son for the rest of her days, and she would have tied him to a post in Meduseld to keep her boy home if she had to. But she knew this was out of the question. Elfwine was a grown man, as his return proved. He would have to make the decision on his own, and it killed her to give him that choice fearing he would do the same thing he did as a boy.
Elfwine turned to Amdiriel, who had her arms crossed about her chest, and her eyes were so narrow they seemed to disappear.

"Do not speak, Amdiriel, for I know what it is you will say." The two were left alone in the main hall, save a few guards who stood watching the doors, including the two guards at the front of the door who were only now getting up.

"Oh you do? Well thank Eru for you saved me a lot of time and strain in my voice. You are the most selfish man I have ever met! You are not afraid of your father, you are afraid of the title he offers you, the weight that the crown bears. You stray from it because you are afraid of life it will make for you."

"You make me out to be some restless adolescent who cares for nothing but his own self! I do not fear the responsibility Amdiriel, I only fear that I cannot be great enough to follow my father's reign, to follow the kings of Rohan that have gone before me. You know nothing of what I fear."

"I may not know what it feels like but I know that it is only an excuse. Elfwine, break away from that notion that you are not good enough for anything. That crown is made to fit your head, you are capable of greatness, you've only to believe in yourself. For the love of Eru, Ewan, everyone believes you are made for this path, including me, but you are the only one who cannot, who will not, see the possibilities that lie ahead of you."
Amdiriel stared into Ewan's eyes, and Ewan only stared in return. She was holding onto his hands, clamping them within her own, as she smiled to comfort him. Raising her hand, she brushed his cheek with her fingers, and placed a kiss upon his lips. Gentle but meaningful, she kissed him with emotion that she tried to hide from everyone, and when they finally parted she squeezed his hand lightly, and took her leave. She exited the hall to make her way to where Lord Éomer was, to begin to prepare for the journey home.
Ewan was now left alone in the hall, and he turned to face the thrown that had sat so many of Rohan's royalties in the past. He brushed his fingertips against the chair, imagining what it would be like if he did accept his destiny. He was startled when a voice from behind called to him, and he turned to see a young maiden standing there, her piercing cerulean eyes almost matching his own. Instantly Ewan knew who it was, but feared to speak to her, for the hurt in her eyes was evident.

"So you've returned? And I thought that you would never show your face here again," the girl said coldly. Ewan stepped down from where the throne was to approach her, but she stepped back as he moved close. "Keep away from me."

"What? Why?"

"Why does it matter? You've kept away for so many years, why break your consistent habit now?"

"Sister," he said trying to reason with her, but she would hear nothing of it. Olwen was also grown, and deeply hurt that her brother had left their family without even a word of good-bye. She had only been ten or some years when he departed, but she remembers the day so vividly.

"Do not call me that! You've no right to say that to me! What makes you think that returning after all these years places you as my brother again? My brother Elfwine was never proud or afraid, and you prove to be both. That is why you've changed your name, isn't it? I believe Ewan is the title Lady Amdiriel called you? Then I suggest Ewan you leave before I call a guard to heave you out of Meduseld. This Hall is only fit for Kings." Olwen stared at him, then left his presence, passing by him as if he was not there. Ewan sighed, as he listened for it seemed the Eored was beginning to gather to mount their horses and leave Rohan. Ewan stood in the doorway, and watched his father prepare to mount his horse, to lead the great army to Gondor. Ewan only then decided if he would ride out with his father, and went in search of his mother to tell her what he had chosen to do.

ARLEN "Legolas," the elf echoed to Laurelas. He was examining Laurelas with narrow eyes, but Laurelas only countered with wide eyes, knowing whom this elf was.

"Yes, Legolas. You are he are you not? You are Legolas Thranduilion," Laurelas said excitingly.

"I am, but you must be misinformed, I've fathered no son..."

"You've fathered no son to your knowledge. I was hidden from you; he hid me from you, Rhaemyr. But can you not see the resemblance between us?"

"I admit it is a coincidence.."

"Coincidence? You do not believe me do you? This is mad, you are the father I loathed to meet as a child, but not that I've grown and learned the truth I could do nothing but think of the day that we would some day cross paths. Now it is you who are reluctant to accept me. I am your son, you must believe me," Laurelas said pleadingly, stepping forward approaching Legolas, but Legolas only retreated from the boy.

"I am sorry I cannot help you. Truly you have my sympathy boy, I wish I could be that father you search for, but your mother must have made a mistake, for I've only been with one woman so far in my life; I've only loved one woman ever. Your mother must have given you my name in hopes I was your father," Legolas said in an apologetic tone. The elf looked away from the boy, not ashamed but hurt almost for he truly wanted to believe the boy, but his head knew better.

"But my mother is that one woman you've been with! I am Laurelas, Laurelen's son; I am her child."

"My boy I am indeed very sorry but..." Legolas was becoming irritated, for the boy was pushing his emotions more than he could have imagined.

"And just so you know, my mother never gave me your name, Aragorn did." At the very mention of Aragorn's name Legolas looked up at the boy startled.

"Aragorn?"

"Yes, Elessar of Gondor, who promised to care for the child of his good friend, until Legolas of the Woodland Realm would return to Gondor to claim his son."

"But, Laurelen never told me, she never breathed a word."

"She never got the chance to."

"I know. She was murdered by orcs, and to this day I regret not having been there. I could never imagine something so simple as enjoying the fields would claim her life."

"She was murdered but not by orcs! But.." The sight of a guard who had approached the gate of their cell cut Laurelas off. The guard unlocked the gate and tied Legolas and Laurelas' hands, and pushed them to ascend the steps, where a few more guards met them to escort them to their destination.

"Where are you taking us?" Legolas demanded, turning to face the guard behind him, who only pushed him forward to make him turn around.

"It is matters little where you are going, but if you must know you are being transferred the prison of Arlen's court. Tomorrow you stand on trial, both of you, to be tried by the Captain himself," the guard responded.

"Tried? For what! He is senseless, he has no reason!" Laurelas protested, but the swift hand of one of the guards swept across his face, disabling the boy from speaking for the moment. As if by reflex at the sight of someone striking the boy, Legolas attempted to hit the guard but was restrained from doing so. The two were only now forced to follow to where they were being taken; knowing in their hearts that a trial was pointless, for Rhaemyr would have them killed no matter what.

GONDOR (the next day)
Elrohir and Elladan were both pacing about the throne hall, as Arwen sat watching the two.

"Brothers I beg you sit down! My nerves are on end just seeing you both pace worriedly," Arwen, begged them.

"I am sorry sister, but can you blame me for being a bit anxious? We have lead Gondor to wage war with an enemy who seems to grow by the hour; and your husband is nowhere in sight, and neither is the Rohirrim," Elrohir cried.

"Thank the Valar, Elrohir that the army of the sons' of Imrahil have arrived, at least," Elladan offered, trying to calm his siblings.

"I suppose so, brother. But battle is only a day away, and the list of aid doesn't look too promising."

"Elladan, Elrohir, I know this not to be the time, but maybe it will distract us from worry. I've only to ask you how you knew where all the children were? Who to call on at the right moment, when to arrive at the opportune time?"

"Well, you are right it is hardly the time for this, but if you must insist. The whereabouts of the children were revealed to us by the leader of a maverick group, who housed the children some weeks before. It seems your son lead his siblings and companions to a journey towards the Northern Waste, and Yrumyr, as the leader's name was, thought it to be foolish. He knew it was not of his place to stop Eldarion, so he sent a rider to follow them, only to watch them from afar to see if they would get there safely. When a gang of orcs stormed the group, the rider watched as to where they would be taken. The children were split and taken to different places, it seems. The rider lastly followed Anárion to the Northern Waste, for he watched as Nestor and Laurelas were accepted at Eryn Lasgalen. After seeing Maethoriel and Aeronel accompany the boy to the Shire, the follower immediately rode to Yrumyr to inform him, and he in return went to Imladris, for the whereabouts of Aragorn was unknown. Yrumyr also relayed to us that Éomer's son was with Amdiriel, that Gondor was soon to be threatened, and told Elladan and I of the prophecy that concerns your son and Amdiriel, but we admitted that we already knew of it."

"What prophecy? I know nothing of it?"

"That, my sister, is for another time. Right now the fate of this city is highly in question, and that is what we must see to," Elladan replied, as he made his way to the outside to see if any news had arisen.

ELSEWHERE

"Remember to tell your men that I want the son of Elessar DEAD. I should even go as far as giving a prize to anyone who brings to me his head, should they find it more exciting to see it as a game." Ainik chuckled amongst his two cohorts, the Dunleding and Harad leaders.

"It's already been done my Lord. The troops are ready now, Ainik. They've even migrated to the field already. They're excited and want blood stained on their hands," the man of Harad said gallantly.

"They can hold off until the morn," Ainik said calmly.

"What is it you wait for Ainik? Surely not the return of their king?" the Dunleding asked.

"Are you mad? Of course I don't wait for him. I wait for his daughter, but I will not hold off longer than a day for her. I will find her one way or another. And that reminds me, inform your troops that if the little yellow- haired wretch shows up bring her to me, ALIVE." Both men bowed their heads simultaneously, and made their way to their armies to inform them. Ainik ignored their departure, and smiled to himself.

TBC... Sorry so long, hope you liked!