**Re-written**

Chapter 5

The following morning Elrond slipped silently into Legolas' chambers placing a tray of food at the bed side, pausing slightly at Legolas' sleeping face. It was peaceful and at ease but the once beautiful and flawless look to his skin seemed to pass like spring into winter. Elrond turned towards the door to leave some what shaken by what he had witnessed. The once beautiful, brave, handsome elf that was Legolas was no longer he.

"I feel what you have seen, my Lord"

Elrond turned at tired to hide the surprise that crept across his face.

He inclined his head and sat on the foot of Legolas' bed. 

"What do you feel Legolas?" the elf lord asked gently.

"I feel delicate, worn out and tired" he said watching Elrond nod at his words. "I see you suffer them too"

Elrond stopped nodding and looked firmly at Legolas before replying: "Surely I am allowed to express emotions, Legolas"

"Of course"

Elrond studied his patient closely.

"You fear the journey ahead and wish to ask why I have chosen you to go on it despite what has happened recently?"

"Yes"

"I understand what you have been through has been hard and painful I am sure. But your skills are unmatched, both in peace and warfare. You are negotiator" –Legolas raised an eyebrow- "though you do not seem to know it. Surely you understand your importance when the company pass through Lothlórien, or meet wondering elves that seek the peaceful life in the West? You must stop the, in which ever manner you chose. Armies of Men and Elves must be united and only together will they be strong enough to stop Sauron from building, the facts from the rumours will be seen and wrecked. The alliance between Aragorn and yourself will be the key" Elrond said, pressing a weight onto Legolas heart.

"I do not agree that Cassione accompanies us"

"She has volunteered to maintain an eye on you especially after your attack and I enforce it" Elrond said very seriously.

 This conversation is over tone. 

Five days later Aragorn approached Elrond asking him of his opinion of Legolas' condition.

"He is mending well and should be able to leave on time" Elrond said. "But he must be watched in case for any after affects, the past events have left him traumatic. He has not shown any signs of it yet, but he may still."

Aragorn nodded, understanding perfectly well the words which Elrond had not said, for he sensed something was amiss, something deep seated.

On the evening before departure the nine companions enjoyed each other's company, wishing to catch up on old tales and memories as they ate and drank happily blocking about the travels ahead of them.

 Aragorn talked to Gandalf and Jacob about the goings in Gondor over the last few years and each in turn telling of some heroic tale.

 The hobbits drunk merrily together talking and singing songs from The Shire, their voices becoming hitched with the alcohol as they sung louder, more  and more out of tune and their conversations become more hysterical and distracting their little chubby fingers always near food or their pipes.

 Gimli and Legolas however sat apart from the others speaking little but absorbing the atmosphere around them, each in turn remember the journey to Mordor before which took a different toll on each member. Legolas enjoyed a different surrounding to his chambers where he had been confined to for the last several days.

 Suddenly Gimli interrupted the silence between them.

"Never did I think ten years ago would I be eating and drinking with elves!" he laughed at his friend's raised eyebrow.

"You may be sitting amongst elves in Rivendell but you certainly don't act like one" Legolas said coolly his eyes landing on the empty mugs next to his friend, while the dwarf laughed louder still.

"True, true I still lead the life of a dwarf and their desire of root beer"

Legolas smiled over his cup at the flushed face of Gimli as he belched loudly turning several heads.

"But tell me, friend how is it you know the she-elf Cassione?"

"What makes you think I know her?"

"Oh come now! You elves are so closely related you are bound to know her!"

"Yes, I suppose"

"Besides Aragorn told me that you know her"

Legolas managed to restrain himself form spiting his mouthful of drink back into his cup and swallowed painfully in haste.

"He - what did he tell you?"

Gimli blinked at his friend's sudden change in behaviour and blamed the alcohol. "He just told me that you know each other that was all"

Legolas tried to relax a little, Aragorn did not tell him of the adventures the two elves and human had shared together when they were younger.

"I haven't laid eyes on her in years. Though I doubt she had changed much" Legolas cast his mind back to the last time they met properly, the glaze in Lothlórien whilst the  Fellowship past through the woods didn't count but it did set off some deep set memories which he would rather had forgotten. It was at least thirty years ago they'd meet Aragorn was a child then wondering the grounds of Mirkwood with Legolas and Cassione in tow they had played innocently in the branches but they had also been blissful aware of the dangers in the woods that day. Blinking away the memory Legolas forced his eyes to focus of his friend who was steadily on his way to become drunk.
"So tell me about her" the dwarf demanded.
"There is nothing to tell"
"Oh come now"
"There is nothing worth telling you that you would understand my friend" Legolas hide his grin underneath the rim of his cup as he raised it to his mouth to drink. Nothing I want you to hear, my friend he thought to himself pretending to be watching Merry and Pippin singing and dancing on a table top creating quite a stir and applause of approval. Though through the cherry faces Legolas saw the pouting look on Elrond's face and sniggered into his mug wondering when and if Elrond would have the heart to break up the hobbits song and dance over the fear of broken furniture.

Beams of moonlight fell across the grounds of Rivendell catching the lighter hairs in Legolas now short hair after he had left the others to sing and dance, he slipped away unnoticed. Or so he thought.
"Such old songs you sing, Prince" a gentle voice spoke behind him.
Legolas did not turn, but stopped singing immediately mentally cursing himself for opening his mouth in the first place. Now he was trapped, faced with the conversation with the one he had been avoiding all night, but it was not polite to ignore her. He swallowed hard and answered her: "I did not know I was singing them"
The smile she wore fell from her face: "Will you not face me?"

Stiffly Legolas turned, his eyes not meeting hers.

 "Many time have I seen the leaves fallen since I saw you last." She said.
"You haven't changed" Legolas said still not looking at her.
Cassione paused for a moment deciding not to reply at first but finally said.
"Why didn't you say anything when you were in Lothlórien last?"
"I could not. We were heading -" Legolas said finally meeting her gaze but turned away quickly as if he had done something wrong.

 Cassione placed a hand on his shoulder pulling him closer holding him firmly as he revolted to her touch. "I know where you were heading, and together we will return there" Cassione said gently, her grey eyes softened at him, struggling weakly in her arms. "What would your father say if he saw you in this state?" she added.

"He'd say I deserved it" Legolas whispered feeling trapped as he surrendered to her already.
"No he wouldn't," she gently brushing his cheek, he flinched and fought harder against her grip.
"What troubles you Legolas?" She asked sharply battling to keep him still
Legolas did not wish to answer her but finally twisted himself free heading already away from her grasp.
"You cannot avoid me any longer; I am your companion now" her words still reached his ears as he left her standing alone feeling victorious.

Ashamed Legolas closed the chamber door and leant against it.

"Coward" he chided, "you can't run from it anymore with her alongside you"

He shivered feeling the icily shadows of his past creeping over his skin, recoiling he fled to the comfort and protection of his bed.

Rivendell it seemed was no longer the safest place in Middle-Earth.