**Re-written**
Chapter 2
The Last Homely House of Rivendell stood still at the news a battered massager elf bought to Lord Elrond. He closed his eyes briefly and muttered a prayer under his breath.
Mirkwood had been ambushed; a battle which raged for two days, the death toll had not been counted yet if there were any alive to count it. The smoke of the burning forest had been seen in Gondor and on the Iron Hills, even here in Rivendell Elrond smell ash and smoke. Legolas had left the village soon after the battle started but not yet bee found, no news also about his father or of any survivors.
Elrond feared the worst. Though Mirkwood's prince was strong and fiercely willed he doubt the lionhearted elf could survive such a battle.
The hardest thing to do would be the tell Estel and the remainders of the Nine walkers which set out from here right years ago that where waiting outside for him to return with the news. Estel and Gimli's friendship with Legolas had been particularly strong and it took time for anyone to accept the pair of elf and dwarf. Bu the bond between the three of them had strengthened over the time and events they had passed through. Together they stared death in the eyes and fought in the front lines against the greatest far Middle-Earth faced in an Age. Again they would have to endure it, the pain, the suffering, the anguish, the destruction and the devastation. But time the bond would be lost.
Someone knocked on the study door and Aragorn entered. His face and body stood tense waiting fir word from the messenger who bowed and left them alone in the old, well kept study that captured the morning sun.
Elrond did not turn to face his step-son but continued to stare out id the window as if avoiding the question he knew Estel would ask.
"What did the messenger say? Was it news of Mirkwood, or of Legolas?" he asked wishing Elrond would turn to face him.
"It was" the half-elven Lord said still not looking at his step-son.
"And? What did he say?"
Elrond sighed and finally turned to face the man that stood hanging on his every word. The Lords' tiara flashed in the sun as he turned, remarkably he kept his face straight nut his wise eyes betrayed his emotion.
"Mirkwood has been ambushed," he said, "There has been no news let of Thranduil or his son. Amin hiraetha*, Estel." He ended slipping into elvish his brown eyes filling with tears as he watched his adopted son pass through the various stages of loss.
First, shock
Aragorn steeped back half a step and raised and eyebrow then opened his mouth to speak –
Second, denial
"No" he whispered, "I do not
believe it. I will not believe it"
"Some has been seen rising from the forest in Gondor and from the Iron Hills. I
wish as much as you that Legolas still lives but we cannot hold on to and live
on a prayer"
Third, anger.
"No! You don't know him like I do! He's still out there, I can feel it!"
"Estel, please! I know it is hard to accept but you mustn't go off chasing your heart!" Elrond pleaded snatching Aragorn's wrist as he turned to the door. "Stay! We do not have time to search for him"
"Time?" Aragorn cried, "We have wasted enough of it waiting for Legolas and Gandalf to arrive. By now you could have explained why we are here instead of keep it a secret"
Elrond maintained his firm grip: "I would tell you" he began but his voice faded and broke off.
"Will you do nothing to aid the elves of Mirkwood?" Aragorn asked staring in the half-elven lord's face. He felt his anger grow as he saw the sadness and weakness on Elrond's face.
"My hands are tied; there is nothing I can do"
"Then I will" Aragorn snatched his hand away and flung open the door leaving Elrond alone. He wanted to stop Estel but he could not bring himself to it instead he returned to the window watching Aragorn head to the stables where his horse was kept.
"What's going on Strider? Are Legolas and Gandalf coming?" Pippin asked as Aragorn burst from the house, outside the hobbits and dwarf had been standing waiting for news the messenger bought.
Aragorn spun on his heel and faced the study window where Elrond stood watching him: "Ask him" he snarled pointing at the window. Turning and marching away towards the stables he left the other behind still firing questions at him.
"Where are you going?"
"To act"
Sighing Elrond stood amongst the hobbits and dwarf after watching Aragorn ride into the horizon.
"He goes where his heart desires him to go" he said. Merry and Pippin turned to the elf lord to speak but Sam found his voice first.
"They'll not coming are they?" he asked raising his head to Elrond, all eyes were watching waiting from him to speak – even the birds had stopped singing.
"Gandalf will be here soon, Sam" he said his voice wavering.
The four short friends watched a tear spill down Elrond's cheek, he did not wipe it away but left it run, shining sadly upon his flawless face. He needed to rid himself of the building grief. Legolas, Thranduil, countless others dead and Estel riding into the unknown. He felt himself beginning to fall apart. He needed someone strong to support him. Already at this early hour he was failing.
He wished Gandalf or Arwen, or even the twins were here to piece him back together.
He pushed aside his desires of reassurance and looked down at the four friends, his heart heavy with the news he must tell them.
"Mirkwood has been ambushed by Uruk-hai" he said. It was twice as painful repeating his words which now stung him like a scorpion.
"There has been no news of Thranduil or Legolas nor anything about survivors"
His words hung in the air, he could see the impact on their small faces as they turned away to shed their tears.
"Aragorn believes Legolas to still be alive. I could not stop him from leaving. I fear he will be riding into the enemy" There was much more he wished to say, but now was not the time.
And time was against them.
The fingers of shadow stretched over the lands of Gondor, Rohan and the smouldering ruins of Mirkwood.
They would all fall in due time.
Fourth, guilt.
But it was not Aragorn suffering from it; it was Elrond as he returned inside, no longer able to witness the tears from the other, nor able to hold back his own.
He had lost friends and distant family quickly unprovoked and brutally, not he feared for Aragorn's life riding into the unknown.
Why didn't I try to stop him?
I will never forgive myself should something happen to him.
Estel – Hope, my little bundle of hope. Don't fade.
* = I'm sorry