Nothing special to say. School starts soon, so my updates may slow down a wee bit. I'll try not to make them too far apart.

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"Fancy finding you here." The elder elf's voice held no surprise in it.

Legolas held his gaze squarely. A small gasp of recognition was audible from behind Legolas as the second man appeared.

"Miss me, elf?"

Legolas said nothing, but his fingers tightened around the bar he held.

"I'll give you one chance to go back to your room and prepare for dinner." The elder elf smiled, but a look of hatred was in his eyes.

"Just go, Legolas," Elrohir tried to spare his friend from any punishment he may obtain from this.

The prince ignored his friend. "And if I don't comply with your orders?"

His grandfather said nothing, but instead looked pointedly over Legolas' shoulder at Elrohir.

"I won't let you hurt him."

"Do you think you can stop me?" He continued when Legolas did not reply. "Mithrandir has been a friend to our family for ages. He may have taught you a telepathy of sorts, but he taught me many things."

"Things he shouldn't have."

"Hindsight isn't much good, is it? Besides, I've never found that my powers are a bad thing."

Legolas considered yelling for the guards. He definitely needed them now, with his grandfather and: him. He turned to the man with his grandfather.

"I killed you," he said softly.

"No, you only wish you had. Hindered me for a while," there was a wicked grin, "but that too has passed. I am now at he service of your lord, here."

"He is-"

"Legolas, mind your tongue," Elrohir hissed very quietly.

'Not my lord,' the prince finished to himself. Elrohir was right, now was not the time to protect his pride.

The guards, he could call for them still. 'No,' Legolas thought. What good could they do? Nothing, now, especially if they even heard him. If they didn't, he would ruin any hope of them helping him in the future.

"You would give me your word that you would not hurt him if I left now?" Legolas bit the inside of his lip. He chided himself. 'You've kept your pride wonderfully well, but your dignity is about to fly out the window.'

The elf nodded. "You have my word."

"You never did keep your word well. I can't trust you."

"You don't have much of a choice, do you?"

He looked back at Elrohir. He didn't have a choice. He hated this helplessness. "I will go back."

"Tarduain, my friend," Oropher said. "Would you mind escorting my grandson back?"

"It would be my pleasure."

Elrohir noticed the look of terror in Legolas' eyes. The prince's voice remained calm. "I am capable of finding my own way back."

Oropher raised his eyebrows. "You are also capable of disobeying orders. You seem to be just as stubborn as you were when you were little; I don't trust you."

"Believe me, the feeling is mutual."

"Legolas," Elrohir warned quietly.

"Listen to your friend, Legolas. He is smart."

'I am sorry, Elrohir. Whatever he does to you, I am so sorry.' He turned wordlessly to go back to his own chambers, vaguely aware of the human's footsteps behind him.

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Elrohir held his breath. He knew, at least, that this elf could not seriously harm him, or else Legolas would not heed any request. He was saved from the kind of torture that Legolas would no doubt have to endure.

"You do not mean to keep your promise to Legolas, do you?"

A sinister grin spread over the elder's face. "You don't remember me very well, do you? Manipulation is a wonderful thing."

"You don't remember me as well as you think you do." Elrohir mumbled under his breath.

"I've been wondering. My friend Tarduain says that you look so oddly familiar. Have you met him before?"

"We may have encountered each other once or twice."

"How's your life been since I last saw you?"

"You mean, since you kidnapped Legolas and I?" His voice held a bitter coldness in it that he could not hide.

The elf shrugged. "If you wish to think of it that way."

Elrohir wanted to shout in anger. He wanted to lunge forward and throttle the nobility that stood before him. He had robbed Legolas of so much. He stole time from him, time and trust that Legolas would never get back. He noticed it, as they were growing up. Legolas would flinch away from friendly hands. Now he was stealing even more. He had memories of Tarduain fresh in his mind. It was amazing that the prince didn't have a breakdown when he saw the human king again, in his own home. Elrohir respected him for his strength, but he knew, on the inside, Legolas was falling apart. They needed help, and the needed it fast.

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Elladan burst into his father's study, breathless. For days he rode hard, nonstop, to reach Rivendell. He hadn't stopped to sleep, or to eat. He knew he had very little time to waste.

"Elladan?" The elven lord looked at his son. A second later, the boy collapsed.

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Elladan became aware of voices. He didn't want to wake up completely, though something in his mind was telling him he needed to. The conversation became clearer as he drifted closer towards consciousness.

"He hasn't eaten in days," It was his father's voice.

"I fear he hasn't slept much either." Arwen's voice.

"Some ill has come to Elrohir and Legolas, I fear."

"I don't understand how."

Elladan finally woke at that statement. He struggled to sit up. Elrond moved quickly to his side, aiding his efforts. "Are you all right, Elladan?"

"How long was I asleep? How much time has been lost?"

"Only a couple of hours. Are you all right?"

Elladan's mind exploded like one of Gandalf's fabled fireworks. "It's Legolas! We met a group of warriors from Mirkwood. They were all quite grave and told Legolas that he needed to go home! His grandfather was killing people, and no one knows where Lord Thranduil is!"

"Breathe, Dan. Breathe. You have time to tell us what happened." Elrond spoke quietly, calming his son.

"No! There is no time! Legolas went home, and Elrohir went with him! Don't you see? It's happening again!"

There was an eerie silence that followed the statement.

"Arwen," Elrond instructed, "make a sleeping draught for me."

Ellandan protested immediately. "Father, no! We need to go help them! Right now!"

"I will go to them. You will stay here. I will not put you in danger by taking you back there. I only let you leave with Legolas because I had hoped it wouldn't be like this." He paused. "I should not have allowed Elrohir to go."

"Do you think he would have stayed behind if you had forbade it?" Arwen asked, reentering the room.

"No."

"You shouldn't have let Legolas go! He was in no shape for it, physically or emotionally!" He suddenly remembered their encounter with Tarduain. "He was stabbed!"

"What?" Elrond's head snapped up.

"On our way to Mirkwood, we were confronted by Tarduian and a hundred of his men. He singled Legolas out, and tried to kill him. He stabbed him in the shoulder with a poisoned blade. Legolas killed him."

"And that would have damaged our young friend worse than any wound."

"I don't understand it though. Legolas is a warrior. his archery is nearly legendary. Why couldn't he do it?"

Elrond sadly shook his head. "Legolas has been through so many things. He's seen so many deaths in his few years. He's seen the effect of those deaths on his loved ones. He can't bring himself to harm anyone unless it is absolutely necessary. He can't bring pain on anyone, because he has endured so much of it."

He closed his eyes. He remembered the broken body that he and Thranduil had found, the first time Oropher managed to get his hands on their sons. Elrohir, for his part, was only shaken. But Legolas. they had almost lost him to darkness. As a mere child, Legolas had almost given up the will to live.

"Legolas was robbed of the innocent childhood that every parent tries to give their child. He can't bring it upon himself to inflict anything like that on someone else."

Elladan only nodded slowly. Arwen had left the room, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Sleep, Elladan," Elrond said, handing his son the goblet of sleeping potion. "I will save Legolas and your brother."

"Don't go alone, Father.." Elladan drifted into a peaceful sleep.

Elrond watched his child sleep for a few moments. He knew what going to Mirkwood would mean. It would mean that he was going to find that broken body again. He and Thranduil were going to have to fight to keep Legolas alive. This time, Legolas' initial distrust of them would be even greater. It would be a miracle if the prince ever trusted anyone again after this was all over. That was just it, though. It would take a very long time, if not forever, for this to be over for Legolas.

'No child should have to go through this.'

He worried not about Elrohir. Legolas would not let any harm befall him. nothing lasting, anyway. He would pay dearly for it, but he would protect Elrohir. Elrond had faith in that.

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To my reviewers, whom have been redeemed:

Bec: Yeah, I had teachers like that. Several of them. Evil, aren't they? Don't worry, I'm going to be just as swamped next week when I have to go back. My updates should slow down a lot, unfortunately. I'm going to try and avoid that, but we'll see. Just keep in touch when you can! Oh, the elves are scared of Oropher. I mean, he killed someone, and exiled the rest, who showed loyalty to Thranduil. I'd be a little frightened too, lol.

Carol: Aw, thank you! Hope the wait wasn't too awfully long.

HalandLeg4ever: Thank you! (Is Hal Haldir? I love him!)

Legolas's fanatical fan girl: Yeah, I can't do it either. It's all good, you came back! ::smiles:: Send me the link to your site! If you don't want to post it, you can always email me. It is it_could_happen2001@yahoo.com (And if FF.net doesn't let that show up, I'll check my profile and make sur ethe address is there.)

Tonianne: Thank you! I'm so happy with all these great reviews!

Das Blume: Aloe stains? Really? Nah, it had to have been the pickle. Okay good, at least I have a reason for spelling it incorrectly, lol. I haven't started back yet. I start on Tuesday. I am honestly going to have no time left for myself. Double major, how insane can one person be? Nah, I'd like to be loved by everyone like Legolas, instead of feared like Oropher. Thanks for the great review!

Artemisa: Yes! I love that word. Thank you so much for the compliment!

Lady Larvle of Mirkwood: Thanks! ::big smile::

Sky: You know, someone else did too. Maybe it was FF.net. Stupid site, lol.