@namarie2legolas : I think a white wolf might be cool for him as a guide dog (Wolves are so regal and handsome!), if Leggy gets permanently blind that is. Talking about Nara, she will be mentioned in the next chapter.
@Sailor Elf : Beware! Leggy is not in the mood to be cheered up! You'll understand what I mean when you read this chapter!
@Alkvingiel : Now that you've asked, I'll give you the permission to use the manyan stone in your fic. Tell me when it's all finished. Oh, be sure to drink lots of fluid because this coming chapter might render you to tears!
@purplesmackers : If the Hallmark people ask me to write a movie for them, you will be invited to the set, mellon! This I promise you. And that might take thousands of years to come true!!
@pirate chica : Sorry. Evil is my name, torture is my game! LOL!!!
@Kelsi aka CrazyStar314 : Yes. There will be a story of Keldarion when Legolas goes to sea. The title is going to be 'The End'. I'm still making the plot. Might come near you on April 2004, in conjunction with the world premiere of 'Troy'. He! He!
@Lomiothiel : Go riot, girl! I'm not giving him his sight back until I've finished playing around with him!
@Lisseyelen aka Lady V : Hawkeye will make a very good eye for Leggy, isn't he? Great image you gave me there! But no, that's not what I have in store for him. (But Hawkeye is going to have a story of his own. I called it 'Time After Time'. It will come out sometime in December.) Have fun with that rotten party!
@szhismine : Where did you learn to shoot? A Balrog? Poor Leggy, got hit by the arrow that was meant for me! LOL!!!
@Menthol : I'm honored to be your teacher of torturing plans and devices!!
@Kayo : Here, Gollum. Here, kitty kitty. I have a truckload of fresh fishes here with me. (Gollum come running and abandon Kayo and the prisoner) Sorry, pal. Gollum is also under my control. Err…Legolas in spandex? A very tight spandex? Arghh!!! (Instantly go into spontaneous combustion!!!)
@Vana E : I'll try to give you more EPT. Do you need blood? I have some of Leggy's in my fridge. (He is A- positive, same as mine).
@SilverWolf7 : Thank you and welcome to the crazy Manyan Series!!
@Lucy : Thank you. The characters' emotion might go haywire in this chapter.
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Legolas was angry.
Nay. Scratch that. Legolas was incredibly furious.
The hobbits had just received the brunt of his anger. Merry, Pippin, Frodo and Sam had scrambled out of the room in fear when Legolas screamed at them, ordering the little creatures out, cursing and swearing at them for their annoying noise. Gimli was also not spared. The dwarf had tried to engage Legolas in a conversation, but the elf only snarled back at him in reply. In the end, Gimli left the room in a huff and in an even blacker mood than his ailing friend.
Legolas had argued with Jaden, telling the elven commander in colorful languages to head back to Mirkwood and leave him there to rot. He had nearly come to blows with Éomer when their shouting match turned dangerously brutal. Even Elladan and Elrohir had gotten so frustrated with him that they never came in to see the prince except when they were completely assured that he was asleep. Gandalf had taken one intense look at the elf, narrowed his eyes and left without a word.
And Éowyn, dear gentle Éowyn, Legolas even snapped at her. But strong as she was, she snapped back at him, and they would end up yelling at each other at the top of their lungs. When Faramir tried to break them off, the steward was also shouted and cursed at.
Legolas was very angry, no doubt about it. He was angry with everyone and everything. But mostly, he was angry with himself. Aragorn instantly realized what was going on. So before any bloodshed could occur, he decided to confront the elf.
Like the previous days since he was bed-ridden a week ago, Legolas was found lying on his good side, facing towards the direction of the wall. From the uneven rises of his chest, Aragorn knew that the elf was not asleep and had sensed him entering.
"Legolas?"
"What do you want?" the elf answered churlishly.
"I heard that you threw away the healing draught I've made for you."
"It tasted worse than orc's blood! It would only kill me!"
Aragorn shook his head in disappointment. "You wouldn't even let Éowyn change the dressing on your leg wound."
"She's a lady. She has no right touching a male's flesh that does not belong to her husband!"
The man sighed heavily. "Legolas, you wouldn't let me or the twins change the dressing! I'm afraid that it might get infected again!"
"Just leave me be, Estel! Stop bugging me, all right?!"
"It's not all right! You are making everyone mad at you! Damn it! You are making me mad at you!!" Aragorn took a deep breath to calm down. "Why are you doing this, Legolas? Why are you punishing us so?"
"Punishing you? Who says this is about punishing you? This is about me! I'm broken and defeated! And I hate this! I cannot accept this fate, Estel! I will not!"
"If you would just let us…"
"What use am I now?" Legolas continued as if Aragorn had not spoken. "What else can I do without my sight? Weave rattan baskets and sell them to earn my living? Or parade in front of the humans and sell myself to the highest bidder?!"
"Legolas, that's not funny."
"Do I look like I'm laughing?"
"Why are you so…bitter?!" Aragorn had a hard time searching for the correct word.
"Why? Again you asked me why?" Legolas pointed to his covered eyes. "This is why!! I'm blind! I'm useless! What else do you want me to be? Happy?!"
"You're making it hard for us to help you…"
"Then do not help! You can do nothing anyway! Just get out! Leave me alone!"
"Legolas…"
"LEAVE!!" Legolas groped for the empty mug on the table beside the bed and flung it towards Aragorn. "Get out, blast you! I don't want your pity! I don't want your help! I just want to die!"
Aragorn had easily dodged the flying missile and stood staring sadly at Legolas. This was the stubborn being that had never so easily yielded before. This was the person that used to laugh at the face of danger and peril. But the elf that the man was seeing right now was just the empty shell of his best friend. He could not see the sign of the real Legolas in there.
Legolas had turned to face the wall once more. Silent. Fuming. Trembling.
With no further words, Aragorn whirled around and walked out of the room.
"I just want to die…" came Legolas' low whisper but the man was too far away to hear.
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I have only made it worse, Aragorn thought to himself as headed downstairs after leaving Legolas' chamber. I have triggered his fury yet again, and the mountain has become a volcano.
He shook his head again as he recalled the violent argument he had had with Legolas. The two rarely quarreled in the long years they had been friends, and it had pained him so whenever they did. And this time, the agony was nearly paralyzing. Will I lose Legolas as easily as he lost his sight? Ai Elbereth, help me!
So deep he was in his thought that he was late to realize of the excitement coming from the front hall until Faramir came to him. "My lord, there's someone here to see you."
"Can't you entertain whoever that is, Faramir?" Aragorn replied, pinching the bridge of his nose in weariness. "I'm afraid I'm not of the best company to receive any guests right now."
"Not even for me, Estel?"
Aragorn's head snapped up at the melodic voice. He went still for quite a long moment, blinking in astonishment at the sight in front of him. "A…Arwen?"
The beautiful daughter of Elrond glided closer forward. "Surprise?"
As his king shook his head dazedly in disbelief, Faramir smiled slightly and left the two alone. There were other unexpected guests he had to attend to. As soon as the steward had left, Aragorn rushed forward, kissed her and gathered the lovely elven lady into his arms. "Arwen! My love…"
She returned his embrace wholeheartedly, relishing this moment after they had been separated for many months. A full minute later, he pulled back and ran his eyes all over her form. "You're a sight for sore eyes! How I've missed you so!"
"I've missed you too, Estel."
He frowned. "What…what are you doing here? And how…?"
"Gandalf had arrived in Rivendell with Gwaihir several days ago. He had told us of your triumph over the Darkness."
"So, that's where he went missing to!" the man exclaimed.
"He also told us about Legolas," Arwen continued more quietly.
Aragorn gazed deeply at Arwen, wanting so much to share his worry of his friend's condition. But now that she was here, he had no idea where to start. Arwen made it easy for him. "How is he, Estel?"
He sighed and shook his head, two irritating feats that he always seemed to be doing frequently these days. "He has become…bitter." That's the word again, Aragorn thought, cringing inwardly. "He is not himself anymore. I fear that he is giving up."
"Is that true? Is the boy giving up?"
Aragorn was startled at that new yet recognizable voice. He didn't realize of the other's presence until it had spoken. Arwen smiled sadly. "I forgot to tell you, Estel, I came not alone."
The other elf spoke again, "You still did not answer my question. Tell me, Aragorn, is my son really giving up?"
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Legolas bunched his fists against the mattress as thousands of troubling thoughts assailed his already frayed mind. He was all alone just like he had asked for, but not as his heart wanted. He craved for the company of his friends and companions but he did not want them to see him like this, not when they could clearly witness the pitiful state he was in while he could see absolutely nothing at all. He wanted to join them in their celebration of Sauron's fall, but the defeat of his own self was even greater.
And to have everyone doing everything for him was the last straw. They spooned-fed him and helped him drink, changed his bandages, cradled him off while the bed sheet was replaced with fresh ones, he was undressed and sponged down for bath before being redressed again. And he had balked when they tried to assist him with his 'private matters'.
"I may be an invalid but I'm not a bloody puppet!" he had screamed back at Aragorn and the twins the last time they had make the attempt, sending the three of them running for cover when glass and food dishes flew towards their heads.
I can't live like this, Legolas repeatedly told himself. I don't want to live like this. Groaning, he buried his head under his arms, wishing he could chase away the humiliation and shame that was tearing his dignity asunder.
Suddenly, the door opened and someone stepped inside.
"Go away," he said curtly.
The presence was still there. Legolas was about to shout in ire to be left alone, but then he realized that the presence was very familiar to him. He cocked his head to one side, hoping desperately that what he was sensing was true. "Fa…father…?"
The presence did not speak but moved forward instead and sat down on the bed beside the young elf. A pair of arms pulled Legolas into a warm embrace, and the prince instantly broke down. "Father! Oh father, please help me!"
Thranduil painfully swallowed his tears as Legolas sobbed and wept in his arms. How terribly he had missed his son since that day the prince left home to relay the news of Gollum's escape. The Mirkwood king had been incredibly patient as he waited for his son's safe return, not knowing if the prince would surely return. He had prayed and he had hoped that Mandos had spared his youngest child from death. He had not expected that the Valar and all the gods above had other plans for him.
"I'm here, little one. Father's here," the king crooned softly to the prince, stroking his son's hair lovingly. "I'm so proud of you, my son. So proud. I heard that you helped slay a balrog. And you have met an ent, haven't you? What was its name? Treebeard? Hmmm, that's a story I long to hear. Will you tell me all about it?"
Between hiccups, the prince nodded, tightening his hold on his father. Thranduil leaned down and kissed his son's temple, cradling Legolas close against his heart like he used to do when his son was still a wee bairn. "I'm here, my little Greenleaf. All will be good again."
TBC...