Chapter Three :: Like You Used To
He could feel the soft spring breeze on his face as he finally came to. It felt as if the forest was closer to him, than when he was behind those walls. Finally, Legolas opened his eyes. Ryldor was sitting a good three feet away, the same arrogant smile on his face that Legolas was so tempted to wipe off anyway necessary.
"How did I get out here?" asked the prince as he looked around at the forest around them.
"I'm sorry I had to knock you out, but I thought it would be easier to get you out that way," explained the other elf. "You've been out for nearly two hours."
He looked up and saw that the sun was beginning to set.
"Only two?"
"Maybe more, I lost track of time after a while."
The prince stood up and frowned, "I suppose that you want some sort of payment for this, right?"
"No! Of course not, sir," protested Ryldor. "It was just repaying you for your help."
"I did not help you. I walked away! That is helping no one!" said Legolas slightly defensively.
"I've heard of you. I used to be a citizen of Mirkwood. I saw your skills. Mine, in no way, can match yours in a battle. In a way, you did help me."
"Still, I did not help you. The way you describe it, I spared you."
Ryldor smirked and stood up. Legolas had not noticed his features before. He was the same height as the prince, slightly darker hair making it a golden-brown, and silver eyes that seemed empty and dark. The elf produced a knife, causing Legolas to step back. His muscles stiffened as all the elf's sense went alert. Even though this man had helped him, he was not about to place any trust in his actions.
"Legolas, sir, please," said Ryldor calmly, "I simply want to help you."
"Give me a reason trust you," commanded the prince, taking one step towards the madman.
He threw the knife up, then caught the blade between his index finger and thumb. Ryldor held the handle out to the prince.
"You and me...we're both the same. We've been through hard times, and yet we've survived. We've come out stronger.
"I suppose that you would be more comfortable using one of your daggers, seeing as though you'd have the advantage of familiarity, but this was all the guard was carrying," he continued.
Slowly, Legolas stepped forward and took a firm grip on the handle of the knife.
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Elladan punched the wall so hard, the skin on his knuckle tore open.
"How could he have escaped! The door was never open, he had no weapons, there was no window the room, and he didn't even have a sheet!" exclaimed the older twin with a snarl.
Elrohir patted him on the back. "According to the guards, it seemed like Legolas was really kidnapped. Whoever it was disabled the guards and carried an unconscious Legolas out," protested his brother.
"What if it was just to make it look like he was kidnapped?" argued Elladan. "You saw the look on his face. He didn't care that he was being locked away! He didn't care when I accused him! This whole damn thing is ridiculous!"
"But...Legolas used to be so..."
"Used to be! He used to be kind! He used to be our best friend! Now, he's my worst enemy!" said Elladan angrily. "You can stand there and believe that there is some good left in his heart, but I won't! I'm going out to find that bastard, bring him back here, and beat him bloody! Forget the trial!"
The elf ran out of the room, equipped as if he were hunting. His brother frowned.
"In the past...would you have given Legolas a chance?"
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Legolas stood there, staring down at the knife as Ryldor watched him intently.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go back to Rivendell," said the prince, looking back up at Ryldor.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" asked the elf in surprise.
"The question is, are you trying to get me killed?" retorted Legolas. "We are nothing alike! You are a madman!"
Ryldor frowned, "Are you telling yourself the truth?"
"Are you willing to test your skills against me, Ryldor?"
The elf frowned once more, then started to walk away. Legolas turned and began to walk in the opposite direction.
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"Elladan! Stop!" cried Elrohir, chasing his brother down the steps. "You're going at this the wrong way!"
He stopped, then turned to his brother. "Very well, what do you suggest that I do 'Ro?"
"If Legolas truly has something do to with this, then we need to concentrate on finding Estel," explained the younger twin. "We find Estel, then we find Legolas."
Elladan followed his younger twin inside where they sat in the library.
"Why do things need to be discussed in here?" asked Elladan.
"So Ada does not overhear. Do you wish to worry him more over this?"
The twin shook his head.
"I have been searching these books," said Elrohir, gesturing to the shelves around them, "for any information on our brother's kidnapper. Sadly, only Ada's journals have yielded any useful information.
"What does father have to do with any of this other than the fact that his adoptive son was taken?"
"The man...err elf who kidnapped Estel, has a tragic history behind him. Ada tried to help him get over it, as I'm sure he was trying to help Legolas before this incident. Two years ago, he had been released from a slave trade in Bree after five years of imprisonment and torture."
Elladan looked at one of the journals laying open on a table nearby, "But why kidnap Estel? I do not understand."
"Sadly," replied Elrohir, "neither do I."
The two sighed almost simultaneously. Maybe if they could just ask Elrond...no, they still did not want to trouble him. He would have no more information, though, seeing as though it was all written down in the journal. He was also off somewhere and the twins were not in the mood to try and find him.
"How do you get into the head of a madman?"
Elrohir and Elladan looked up.
"Legolas," said Elrohir, "you are making a mistake returning here."
"I decided to help you," responded the prince. He sat on top of a bookshelf much like habit. A reckless grin was on his face while the sun glinted off the blade of a knife he held loosely in his hand.
"How can you look at me and say that? How can you look me straight in the eye and tell me that lie?" demanded Elladan indignantly.
"I have no heart," responded the prince with a laugh.
Elrohir muttered an agreement under hit breath, adding a few choice words of his own.
Legolas laughed again and stared down at the two. His gaze was unsettling, arousing a suspicion in the both of them. "Do you desire my help?" asked the prince. "Remember, though, that I am doing this to settle a small score of my own, but something good may come to you."
"Then tell us, Legolas, how does one get into the head of a madman?" asked Elladan, glaring suspiciously at the elf.
"With the thoughts of a madman, of course," said the elf as if the answer was so obvious.
"You are a madman, Greenleaf," retorted Elladan, not appreciating the tone in which Legolas had responded to his question.
Elrohir gasped, "That's it! That's the answer!"
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Legolas was laying back on the bed in his isolated quarters. He kept thinking of the things which Ryldor had said. Are you telling yourself the truth? Of course he was telling himself the truth! Then again, maybe he wasn't. Maybe Ryldor was right. Maybe he was really no better than the other.
The prince was brought out of his thoughts when Elrohir entered the room. It was odd to see one twin without the other.
"Legolas..."
He looked up at Elrohir and raised an eyebrow in question.
"What changed you?" he asked.
"It is nothing that is of concern to you," stubbornly responded Legolas.
"Why can't you be how you used to be? Why can't you act like the friend I had twenty years ago?"
"Because I can't!" responded the elf defensively. "I cannot just forget the past! It is impossible for me to just put all this tragedy behind me! I will help you get the brat back, then I'm leaving."
Elrohir frowned, "Must you?"
"I need to."
He could feel the soft spring breeze on his face as he finally came to. It felt as if the forest was closer to him, than when he was behind those walls. Finally, Legolas opened his eyes. Ryldor was sitting a good three feet away, the same arrogant smile on his face that Legolas was so tempted to wipe off anyway necessary.
"How did I get out here?" asked the prince as he looked around at the forest around them.
"I'm sorry I had to knock you out, but I thought it would be easier to get you out that way," explained the other elf. "You've been out for nearly two hours."
He looked up and saw that the sun was beginning to set.
"Only two?"
"Maybe more, I lost track of time after a while."
The prince stood up and frowned, "I suppose that you want some sort of payment for this, right?"
"No! Of course not, sir," protested Ryldor. "It was just repaying you for your help."
"I did not help you. I walked away! That is helping no one!" said Legolas slightly defensively.
"I've heard of you. I used to be a citizen of Mirkwood. I saw your skills. Mine, in no way, can match yours in a battle. In a way, you did help me."
"Still, I did not help you. The way you describe it, I spared you."
Ryldor smirked and stood up. Legolas had not noticed his features before. He was the same height as the prince, slightly darker hair making it a golden-brown, and silver eyes that seemed empty and dark. The elf produced a knife, causing Legolas to step back. His muscles stiffened as all the elf's sense went alert. Even though this man had helped him, he was not about to place any trust in his actions.
"Legolas, sir, please," said Ryldor calmly, "I simply want to help you."
"Give me a reason trust you," commanded the prince, taking one step towards the madman.
He threw the knife up, then caught the blade between his index finger and thumb. Ryldor held the handle out to the prince.
"You and me...we're both the same. We've been through hard times, and yet we've survived. We've come out stronger.
"I suppose that you would be more comfortable using one of your daggers, seeing as though you'd have the advantage of familiarity, but this was all the guard was carrying," he continued.
Slowly, Legolas stepped forward and took a firm grip on the handle of the knife.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Elladan punched the wall so hard, the skin on his knuckle tore open.
"How could he have escaped! The door was never open, he had no weapons, there was no window the room, and he didn't even have a sheet!" exclaimed the older twin with a snarl.
Elrohir patted him on the back. "According to the guards, it seemed like Legolas was really kidnapped. Whoever it was disabled the guards and carried an unconscious Legolas out," protested his brother.
"What if it was just to make it look like he was kidnapped?" argued Elladan. "You saw the look on his face. He didn't care that he was being locked away! He didn't care when I accused him! This whole damn thing is ridiculous!"
"But...Legolas used to be so..."
"Used to be! He used to be kind! He used to be our best friend! Now, he's my worst enemy!" said Elladan angrily. "You can stand there and believe that there is some good left in his heart, but I won't! I'm going out to find that bastard, bring him back here, and beat him bloody! Forget the trial!"
The elf ran out of the room, equipped as if he were hunting. His brother frowned.
"In the past...would you have given Legolas a chance?"
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Legolas stood there, staring down at the knife as Ryldor watched him intently.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go back to Rivendell," said the prince, looking back up at Ryldor.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" asked the elf in surprise.
"The question is, are you trying to get me killed?" retorted Legolas. "We are nothing alike! You are a madman!"
Ryldor frowned, "Are you telling yourself the truth?"
"Are you willing to test your skills against me, Ryldor?"
The elf frowned once more, then started to walk away. Legolas turned and began to walk in the opposite direction.
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"Elladan! Stop!" cried Elrohir, chasing his brother down the steps. "You're going at this the wrong way!"
He stopped, then turned to his brother. "Very well, what do you suggest that I do 'Ro?"
"If Legolas truly has something do to with this, then we need to concentrate on finding Estel," explained the younger twin. "We find Estel, then we find Legolas."
Elladan followed his younger twin inside where they sat in the library.
"Why do things need to be discussed in here?" asked Elladan.
"So Ada does not overhear. Do you wish to worry him more over this?"
The twin shook his head.
"I have been searching these books," said Elrohir, gesturing to the shelves around them, "for any information on our brother's kidnapper. Sadly, only Ada's journals have yielded any useful information.
"What does father have to do with any of this other than the fact that his adoptive son was taken?"
"The man...err elf who kidnapped Estel, has a tragic history behind him. Ada tried to help him get over it, as I'm sure he was trying to help Legolas before this incident. Two years ago, he had been released from a slave trade in Bree after five years of imprisonment and torture."
Elladan looked at one of the journals laying open on a table nearby, "But why kidnap Estel? I do not understand."
"Sadly," replied Elrohir, "neither do I."
The two sighed almost simultaneously. Maybe if they could just ask Elrond...no, they still did not want to trouble him. He would have no more information, though, seeing as though it was all written down in the journal. He was also off somewhere and the twins were not in the mood to try and find him.
"How do you get into the head of a madman?"
Elrohir and Elladan looked up.
"Legolas," said Elrohir, "you are making a mistake returning here."
"I decided to help you," responded the prince. He sat on top of a bookshelf much like habit. A reckless grin was on his face while the sun glinted off the blade of a knife he held loosely in his hand.
"How can you look at me and say that? How can you look me straight in the eye and tell me that lie?" demanded Elladan indignantly.
"I have no heart," responded the prince with a laugh.
Elrohir muttered an agreement under hit breath, adding a few choice words of his own.
Legolas laughed again and stared down at the two. His gaze was unsettling, arousing a suspicion in the both of them. "Do you desire my help?" asked the prince. "Remember, though, that I am doing this to settle a small score of my own, but something good may come to you."
"Then tell us, Legolas, how does one get into the head of a madman?" asked Elladan, glaring suspiciously at the elf.
"With the thoughts of a madman, of course," said the elf as if the answer was so obvious.
"You are a madman, Greenleaf," retorted Elladan, not appreciating the tone in which Legolas had responded to his question.
Elrohir gasped, "That's it! That's the answer!"
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Legolas was laying back on the bed in his isolated quarters. He kept thinking of the things which Ryldor had said. Are you telling yourself the truth? Of course he was telling himself the truth! Then again, maybe he wasn't. Maybe Ryldor was right. Maybe he was really no better than the other.
The prince was brought out of his thoughts when Elrohir entered the room. It was odd to see one twin without the other.
"Legolas..."
He looked up at Elrohir and raised an eyebrow in question.
"What changed you?" he asked.
"It is nothing that is of concern to you," stubbornly responded Legolas.
"Why can't you be how you used to be? Why can't you act like the friend I had twenty years ago?"
"Because I can't!" responded the elf defensively. "I cannot just forget the past! It is impossible for me to just put all this tragedy behind me! I will help you get the brat back, then I'm leaving."
Elrohir frowned, "Must you?"
"I need to."