I hope this is a little longer than the last chapter. Thanks for all the reviews. I love you all to death :) Sorry for any mistakes. I'm off to have a nice long soak in the tub and read 'The Vampire Armand' finally. He's my favorite vampire…
" You must wait here…they might hear you." Elladan whispered as the foursome crouched behind a mass of bushes. The three men seemed travel worn and were oblivious to their watchers.
" That Elf better pay us for this." One muttered reaching up to scratch the side of his head. Dirt was heavily embedded in to the deep crevices lining his face. The four watched quietly.
" Why do I have to stay? I was raised amongst you…mortal men would not be able to hear my approach." Aragorn argued in a soft voice. Elrohir shook his head.
" You would serve as an aid if we were to run into trouble.' He explained yet it was clear from his expression that he did not intend to do anything of the sort. Aragorn sighed and was about to protest but Elladan held up a hand to silence his foster brother.
" Sh…they're starting a fire…" He whispered. " How utterly foolish. Do they not think we would see such a thing! They're burning the grass as well…"
" The trees are angry." Legolas whispered. The Twins nodded identically and Aragorn remained lost for a brief minute.
" We advance when I say." Elladan instructed. There was a silence and the men seemed to feel safe and had taken to laughing and jesting with each other as food was brought out. Legolas made certain that his daggers were in reach. He had not felt the need to bring his bow and quiver. He and Aragorn exchanged a small look and a soft smile, ignoring the faces the twins made at their open affection for each other.
" Stay please?" Legolas asked. Aragorn sighed and nodded in defeat much to the Twins' delight. Slowly the three Elves crept forwards, not making the slightest of noises. Aragorn watched from their first hiding place, his eyes glued to Legolas.
" Now." Elladan hissed and the three sprung from the bushes. The men whipped around in complete shock.
" What…" One began but froze when he found a dagger pressed to his throat. Elrohir glared at the man angrily.
" Do not move or it will be the last thing you ever do." He said menacingly and the man did as he was told. The others struggled against their attackers but to no avail. Elladan and Legolas had the men trapped immediately. Aragorn emerged from his place and went to stand at Legolas' side.
" How came you to gain access to the refuge of Imladris?" Elladan demanded forcefully, pressing his knife ever so closer to the man's neck. The man held captive by Legolas spit at the dark haired Elf but his aim was poor and it hit Aragorn. Fire flared within the gray eyes and without thinking Aragorn lunged at him.
" No!" Legolas shouted for second letting his guard down. During that second the man's arm came down hard and fast against the Prince's exposed stomach and he let out a cry of pain. Aragorn leapt at the man once more but was surprised to see Legolas had gotten there first. His thin white fingers dug into the man's hair and he pulled his head backwards and a cry of pain escaped the mortal. All those watching saw only a glint of steel as the man's throat was slashed. Blood poured from the wound and began to soak into the travel-worn clothing. With a grunt of pain Legolas threw the body to the ground before giving it a well-aimed kick.
" Legolas?" Aragorn stated softly reaching out hesitantly for the blond. Legolas shook his head.
" I'm fine." He hissed. " It will pass." But the shaking hand clutching at his stomach betrayed him.
" What is it? Is it the child?"
" No." Legolas answered quietly. " I am fine." Aragorn stared at him in complete disbelief.
" The life of our child is perhaps at risk and you choose to further endanger it because of your ridiculous Elven pride?!" He shouted not caring that others were listening. The men seemed to have been scared enough by their friend's death that they remained obedient and did little to struggle. Elladan and Elrohir watched silently.
" My ridiculous pride?! How can you say that?"
" Because it's true!" Aragorn answered angrily. " I love you, more then you'll ever know but if you're going to risk our child because you don't want to admit you're hurt then-"
" THEN WHAT?!" Legolas screamed angrily. Aragorn went silent.
" I'm going inside!" He said and then turned storming towards the direction of the main building. Elladan and Elrohir held their captives still and waited for Legolas to say something but the Prince was silent. Letting out another small hiss of pain he began to trudge towards the main building as well. The twins followed.
* * * * *
" Estel what's wrong?" Elrond questioned after the Ranger had stormed into the room, a look of pain and anger on his face.
" He's impossible!" Aragorn shouted before he could stop himself. Thranduil looked up from where he had been examining maps on the table.
" Is it the young prince of whom you speak?" Elrond asked, already knowing the answer.
" Is there another?!" Aragorn shouted back. Thranduil raised his eyebrow and stood.
" And what has my son done to enrage you so?" Aragorn sighed and sank into the nearest chair.
" It's his damned pride, that's what it is." Thranduil and Elrond both laughed, which did nothing to improve the King's humor.
" Estel you too suffer from pride as well…don't be so swift as to condemn another for the same fault you possess." Elrond said finally. Thranduil nodded in agreement and returned to the maps.
" I think this small grove of trees here would be a wonderful site for the ceremony…" He mused placing his finger on the ornately drawn parchment. Elrond went over to join him. Aragorn glared angrily at their backs and then stood.
" Then I will find someone who will help me elsewhere." He said before turning and leaving the room. He did nothing to lessen the racket he made as he stomped through the halls. Thranduil looked up briefly.
" He does not act like a king of men Elrond."
" He is very capable, trust me, he is merely frustrated. Here is his haven, he needs not act like a King when under my roof." Thranduil once again nodded before speaking.
" We forgot to inquire as to how the search had gone." And he was answered by the sudden presence of Elladan and Elrohir.
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Legolas sat down heavily on the bed, glaring at everything in the room. " Ridiculous…he had no right to…ah!" In his sudden anger he took hold of a vase sitting on the nightstand and stared at it for a moment. Its small delicate designs glittered in the sunlight and he though back to what Aragorn had said to him. 'I love you, more then you'll ever know but if you're going to risk our child because you don't want to admit you're hurt then-' What had been about to say? Then what? Caught up in another flood of anger Legolas threw the vase and it hit the wall, shattering it into a thousand glinting fragments. He stared at them as if in a trance, the different shades of blue dancing before his eyes. " What have I done…" He groaned letting his head fall into his hands. I am a disgrace…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
" We have two prisoners." Elrohir said calmly. " They were getting in through a breakage in the fence. Immediately we set workers out to repair it." Elrond nodded, searching the identical faces.
" What else…there is something you are not revealing to me." Thranduil though quiet seemed to mirror Elrond's suspicion. Elladan and Elrohir exchanged uneasy glances before turning to face their father once more.
" There…as it were we had originally held three captives." Elrohir spoke quietly.
" Three? Then what happened to third, surely you as my sons are aware that no one should be killed unless it is necessary…as such is the law of Imladris."
" Yes we know but it could not be helped. Legolas-"
" Legolas?" Thranduil echoed. " It was Legolas who brought death to the third captive?" The two younger Elves nodded in confirmation. " Did he do this needlessly?"
" He was only trying to protect himself. The man insulted Aragorn and Legolas attempted to stop Aragorn from lunging at the man." Elrohir explained slowly.
" And how does this make it impossible for Legolas to do nothing but slay the man?" Thranduil's tone was menacing at best but the younger twin swallowed and continued.
" The man struck out at him and managed to catch the Prince's stomach." The King of Mirkwood seemed to pale at these words. " And before we could intervene Legolas had slit the man's throat."
" Is Legolas well?" Elrond inquired, concern clouding his face.
" He says he is well." Elladan answered. " Though we all know what such a sentence means when coming from the Prince."
R&R cause you all know I love it! I'm selfish…