Disclaimer's at the start! You *know* I don't own LOTR, and I have no say over anything other than these fic, I'm making no money from it etc etc etc...

First of all..... I'M SORRY IT'S BEEN SO LONG!!!! I've had exams and stuff at uni, and everything's just been crazy here. The fic is actually finished, and this is the second last chapter! Ack! The sequel's already been started on.

Reviews, reviews... where to start?!

Lizzie: I'm just guessing here, but you really don't like Turion, do you?! lol! *huggles Lizzie* sorry I've made you wait so long. I'll have the final chappie up on probably Monday.

Deana: yes they did! thanks for reviewing!

lulu bell: HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!!! You speak Spanish? coooooolll!!!!

Kawaii Elf Girl/Gloriollas: huh? there's two of you? *confuzzled* but that's easily done at the moment! thanks for the reiview!

cherryfaerie: yes he is, and you'll see the effect of it in this chappie... Morrigan left. She'd done what Turion had paid her to do, and you won't hear from her again in *this* fic... She hasn't forgotten about him, but because she doesn't have a personal interest in it, it doesn't really matter to her... *re-reads that* I didn't say that very well did I?! ack! I'm not saying if Thranduil or Legolas are gonna die though... *evil laugh* :D

kurafoxgirl: SORRY it's not quite within an hour! Here's the next part, and you won't have to wait long for the final bit! If you think I'm good at cliffies, you should read Cassia and Sio's Mellon Chronicles fics! *not* good for heart conditions!!!

Helluin: thankyou! I have, and it's finished! Like I said, the sequel has been started, but I don't know if I'm gonna post it...

Anyhoo.... on with the chapter!!!

When Galadriel had left the king with Elrond, whe had immediately gone to find Aragorn. As she suspected, he was in the rooms he had been given when he had first arrived at the palace. He was standing completely still at the window when she entered, watching the stars. She silently moved to stand beside him, and waited quietly for him to speak first. When he did not, she spoke to him quietly in elvish.

"The stars are beautiful, aren't they?"

Aragorn spoke, but he did not move his gaze away from the sky.

"They are, but tonight they are dimmed. It is almost like they grieve." he sighed. "What if something has happened to Legolas because of me? Because I couldn't see the difference between one of my closest friends and a complete stranger?"

Galadriel spoke slowly, and when she did, her voice was quiet, and she still spoke in elvish,

"If something does happen to Legolas, it will not be your fault Aragorn. The magic used on you is strong, and it would make no difference who it was used on. Morrigan is incredibly powerful, and even Gandalf and myself may not have been immune to it had she turned her will towards us. Gandalf is looking for a way to remove the spells, so that hopefully you will be able to help us find Legolas."

Galadriel turned and took a step towards the door. "I am going to see Turion just now. I will return when we have some news."

Aragorn took one last look at the stars, before turning to follow her.

"I'm coming with you."

.

Over a week had passed since the two young hunters had set out to take Legolas home. They had left the mountains behind the day before, and were now nearing the furthest west borders of the wood elves realm. The journey so far had been relatively uneventful. They had just settled down for the night, when a howl split the cold night air from somewhere disturbingly nearby. It was soon joined by another, closer still. Soon there were voices calling too, but neither Matin or Indir had heard anything like them. Little did they know, there was a large group of orcs bearing down on them.

Moments later, the first of the orcs appeared over the edge of the small ridge that was sheltering them from the elements. It was a struggle, but the elder of the two, Indir, killed it just as the rest of them appeared, accompanied by a group of wolves. The group headed towards their prey slowly, while more and more took notice of the unconscious elf lying by the fire, seeing him as an easier prey than the pair who stood in front of them armed with swords and knives. Indir noticed this, and stood between Legolas and the attackers. At that, a few of the orcs laughed among themselves, before attacking with a fury.

Both young hunters had been badly injured, and the fight was not looking good for them, but so far they had managed to keep the creatures away from the elf. Until now. Matin had fallen moments ago to one of the wolves. As Indir contined to struggle against the odds, one of the orcs snuck past him to stand above Legolas. His long ugly knife paused high above the prince's heart for a moment, before starting to come down...

Then stopped dead in mid air as the orc shook from the shock of the deadly accurate arrow hitting him in his back. Indir had been almost ready to give up, his strength spent, when the elves appeared on top of the ridge. The sight of them encouraged him to go on, knowing he was not alone anymore. He had not yet noticed Matin's death, and just as he did, another orc swung viciously towards his neck.

Indir didn't notice the deadly weapon until it was inches from his neck, stopped by an elvish blade. He had been too shocked at his friend's death to care. He still was. All of a sudden, the adrenaline that had been keeping him going for so long ran out. He sank to the ground beside Matin's body and saw no more of the battle between the orcs and the Mirkwood elves.

.

The next day, Indir and the elves were well on their way to Mirkwood. With them they carried their prince, and Matin's body, along with two of their own who had fallen to the orcs. They were met by Aragorn and the group of elves from Rivendell that Elrond had sent out. The elves had told them what they could gather from the few details Indir had been composed enough to tell them. Much of it, they already knew from what Gandalf had told them. They were relieved to have Legolas back, but were disturbed that nothing could seem to wake him. Indir had told them that when they had found him, there had been a message saying that he was cursed, but they did not know how. Aragorn dearly hoped that Gandalf would know what to do.

The group had made good time and arrived back at the palace two days later. Immediately, Indir had been taken to a room near Aragorn's where he could rest. They had called for Gandalf as soon as they arrived, and he had taken one look at Legolas and gone very quiet for a moment. After that, everything happened at once. Gandalf ordered for the prince to be taken to the room next to his fathers, and Galadriel saw to the bodies of the fallen elves.

Aragorn had followed Gandalf when he had gone to try and help Legolas. He arrived a few minutes after the wizard had started working.

"Can you help him?"

Gandalf looked up.

"I don't know. Morrigan has put a particularly nasty curse on him. It's going to take a lot of work to remove it, and I am concerned about the effects it may have had on him. There is nothing you can do here. I will come for you when I have news."

Seems people are saying that to me a lot lately, he thought to himself as he headed next door to check on the king.

Elrond happened to be doing the same. He looked up briefly when Aragorn entered, and Aragorn could see that he was worried about something.

"What's the matter?"

"I don't think I can save him. There is something I have not seen before in the poison that was on the knife. Turion refuses to tell us what it is, and even Gandalf does not know. I have tried every remedy I can think of, but none have worked. Unless we know the poison, I cannot even begin to come up with a remedy."

There was silence for a moment.

"Does Turion know what's happened?"

"I don't believe so, no."

Aragorn turned and stormed out of the room, heading towards where Turion was being kept.

.

Author's note: I claim no knowledge whatsoever of the Elvish laws!! I'm making it up as I go!

When Aragorn reached the lower levels of the palace, the guards didn't question him. They simply let him pass, and closed the door behind him. Turion sat against the opposite wall. He looked remarkable calm, considering his entire scheme had collapsed, and when he looked at Aragorn, his expression was openly hostile.

Of course, he still expected his father to die. And if he did, he still expected to get the crown. But that had changed. Turion had looked up when Aragorn first entered, and held his gaze coolly. Aragorn still couldn't get over how similar the two elves were. Every so often, he had to remind himself that this wasn't his friend.

"Nobody's told you what has just happened, have they?"

The mans tone held no indication as to whether the new was good or bad for Turion. When the elf didn't reply, Aragorn carried on, "Your brother is here. Legolas arrived back this morning." he paused. "Now, I've been looking into your laws here. You were right when you thought that you would be crowned if your father dies, even though you murdered him. That was because you would have been the only present and viable heir at the time of death."

Turion could see where this was going, and he didn't like it.

"However - and I'm sure you know all this, so I'll keep it short - now that Legolas is here, your claim is gone if Thranduil dies. If that happens, you are tried for murder, and Legolas takes the throne."

There was silence as Aragorns words hit home with Turion.

"You expect me to believe this? Why should I? You bring no proof of your words - for all I know, you are here to try to find the name of the poison I used. If he is really here, why have you come down here, and not him?"

"I have come because his wounds are being seen to. He will face you when he is ready." Aragorn turned to the door. "However, if you were to tell us the poison," he added, "you would make things much easier on yourself."

"I will not tell you, but know that it has no antidote."

Turion would say no more, and Aragorn left, hoping he was lying.

.

When Aragorn returned, he found Gandalf leaving Legolas' room. The look on the wizard's face was enough to tell the man that something was wrong.

"What is it?" Aragorn asked as he started to move past Gandalf. He found his path blocked by the old man's arm.

"Aragorn, wait. I removed Morrigan's curse, but the news is not good. The nature of the curse was one whose function is to completely break down another being, and as strong as Legolas is, I don't think he was able to resist. He is awake, but he is not there."

Aragorn pushed past the wizard and into the room. Gandalf's words were ominous, but he felt a small bit of hope when he saw his friend awake at last, and sitting up on the bed. But at second glance, he saw that all was indeed not well. Legolas was barely breathing, and as still as the stone walls that surrounded them. Aragorn walked across and stood directly in front of him, and when the elf finally met his eyes, he saw that there was most definately somthing wrong.

Their eyes only met for a moment before the prince turned away, seemingly disinterested, but in that moment, Aragorn had seen in his friend's eyes an overwhelming emptiness overlying the terror that still lingered, even though the curse had been removed. The sight was not one he would forget.

Aragorn turned when he felt the wizard approach.

"You see? I fear we may be too late. He won't speak, or show any recognition, or even that he has heard a word you say to him. I am going to find Galadriel. Maybe she can help."

With that, Gandalf turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind him. Aragorn sat down next to Legolas, and started to talk to him very quietly in elvish. Gandalf was right. There was no recognition when Legolas looked up, and he neither replied to any of the man's words or gave any sign that he had heard them. He still sat unmoving, watching something distant only he could see.

Minutes later, Gandalf returned with Galadriel. Aragorn stood and Gandalf motioned him towards the door. Aragorn looked back as they left the room to see Galadriel sitting in the spot he had been in. Gandalf closed the door, and they stood alone in the corridor. After a few moments heavy silence, Aragorn spoke.

"I don't understand. What is wrong with him?" the change in his friend was heartbreaking for the man. Gandalf started walking down the passage, knowing Aragorn would follow.

"What you have not yet learned about elves, Aragorn, is that they are very sensitive creatures. When you humans feel so sad that you feel like you might die, you do not need to worry about that actually happening. However, elves feel the same emotions as you, but they experience them at their most extreme. They can die from them. And I fear that after the terrors Morrigan has visited upon Legolas, it may be enough for that to happen. Unless Galadriel can reach him, I doubt there is much we can do."

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