Sirnonenath--Hee, hee; I was uploading it and realized that was the perfect place to stop . Thanks so much; I'm glad you like it! :) I have the thing finished, so I'm going to try and update daily.
"Forgive me, my friend," Legolas murmured.
"What--"
Glorfindel never got to finish his question. He had turned to see Legolas's troubled expression as he swung the thick branch at his head. But Glorfindel was unable to react fast enough, due to sheer shock. The branch connected with a dull thud, which was echoed when Glorfindel's dead weight hit the ground. Legolas wanted to knock the elf out, but not kill him or do any permanent damage. He knew Glorfindel would regain consciousness in a few hours.
Legolas dropped the branch as if it had burned him and spun around to confront the Lorien elf. Haldir was nowhere to be seen, but Legolas had a nagging, paranoid feeling that he was being watched. The prince drew in a shaky breath before jumping onto his horse and riding off in the direction of Rohan. Glorfindel's horse would wait loyally by its master.
'I pray am able to locate Estel. Please, please let him be in Rohan,' Legolas begged in his mind. Hunger began gnawing at his stomach again while drowsiness danced along the edges of his mind. 'He had to be.'
In the far-off distance, water crashed against jagged rocks. Stones and bark caught in its rapids were plunged into inky darkness and deemed never to return into light. Shadows danced to a rhythm from times ancient, mesmerizing and deadly in intent.
Legolas placed one slender hand on the tree beside him, seeking any comfort it could offer. A current ran from the tree up his arm, paining him so intensely he ripped his hand away. His gaze traveled up the tree's trunk. The body of an all-too-familiar dwarf was held by a thick noose.
"Nay!" Legolas jerked awake. Panting, he looked all around him, seeking out any foe. Only his horse was there, chewing methodically and contentedly. "I cannot believe I fell asleep. Elves can go longer than this without sleep," he said as if scolding himself.
Realizing that, he stopped, rubbing a hand over his eyes roughly. "Now I am speaking aloud to myself. Insanity might not be as outrageous an answer as previously thought."
"What would Aragorn think if he saw you? He would think you have turned weak."
Legolas lifted his head until Haldir came into view. The other elf sneered. "Some prince you are. Here you are, a warrior, only child of King Thranduil of Mirkwood. How you ever managed to survive this long is a mystery. You cannot even manage a grip on reality."
"What is reality?" Legolas queried bitterly.
"Getting philosophical in your insecurities?" Haldir scoffed mockingly at the younger elf. "The only reason you did not get killed on your journey to destroy the One Ring is because Aragorn watched after you. If not him, then the wizard or the dwarf. You were just a liability."
Haldir stepped closer to Legolas as he continued to lash out at him. "You are a pathetic excuse for an elf, especially one who grew up in Mirkwood. Mayhap if you had been more effective, stronger, not so many would have died at Helm's Deep. You failed to take down the Uruk-Hai that blew up the wall. What if you had stopped him? Aragorn believed in you, and you failed. If you had done better, I may not have died."
"Stop! You speak lies! I will not listen to such a tongue of poison. Leave me be!"
"Lies? The truth hurts sometimes, Little Greenleaf." Haldir spoke his name mockingly.
"What binds you here, Haldir?" Legolas whispered. "Why is it you haunt me? Is it not enough that I have my guilt to consume me, but now you must remind me of my short-comings and failures as well?"
Silence answered him. Haldir was gone. Legolas slouched in an uncharacteristic manner. He raised trembling hands to cover his eyes. 'Nay, I will not weep!' he thought in rebellion. 'I will not prove him right. I will show him I am strong.' Quicker than a blink, Legolas stood and marched over to his horse, mounting him. He sat straight as only fitting of a Mirkwood warrior. Though if anyone was to look closer, they would notice a hint of self-doubt, a shadow of fear, and a trace of defeat.
Haldir stood where he had a moment ago, smiling grimly in triumph as he watched Legolas ride away. "Soon enough, son of Thranduil. And the rest shall follow you."
A moan escaped Glorfindel's mouth. Blearily he gazed around and squinted at his surroundings. Sunlight was beaming at him at an angle. His mind told him that was important, but at the moment he had no idea why. 'Valor! My head hurts. Did I hit it off something?' Suddenly the memory of Legolas swinging the branch at him surfaced.
"Elbereth!" Glorfindel cried out as realization hit him. Every foul curse word he knew flew through his mind, and every single one was directed at a certain blonde prince. "How could he have done that to me? Where is he?"
'Well, sitting here will do me no good. I have been unconscious long enough for Legolas to be anywhere. I shall continue to Imladris and notify Elrond. Thranduil will just have to be informed by letter. I would hate to be within 20 yards of him when he reads it,' Glorfindel thought with grim humor.
After gathering his bearings, Glorfindel struggled to his feet. A wave of dizziness crashed over him, and the elf staggered. His horse trotted over to him and nudged at his shoulder. As soon as he felt able to, Glorfindel gripped the man and hauled himself up. 'With my luck I probably have a concussion,' he thought with an inward groan. 'When I get my hands on that elf...'
He rode swiftly, traveling a good part of the night. For a few hours he rested up in a tree without sleeping in case he did have a concussion. Then he was off again, wanting to arrive as quickly as possible in Imladris.
Another day and a half passed, and Glorfindel barely stopped. He covered a lot of ground, growing closer and closer to the great Elven sanctuary. To his relief, the boarders of Imladris soon greeted him.
Practically falling off his horse, Glorfindel rode in a trot until he came upon the entrance of the House of Elrond. A stable attendant rushed over to assist with his horse. Elrond had seen Glorfindel's arrival and now was already coming out the door to greet his friend.
"Glorfindel! Well met, my friend," Elrond called out. Then he paused, finally taking in his friend's appearance. "What in Middle-Earth happened?"
"That, my friend, may have to wait. I am sorry to be curt, but I think I may need to sit down."
"Of course; of course. Please, let me help you." Elrond placed a hand on Glorfindel's elbow and ushered the elf inside.
They sat in Elrond's study in silence while Glorfindel rested. Elrond fetched him some water and then examined the large and ugly bruise and lump on his head. Then Glorfindel filled Elrond in on what happened.
"You seem to be fine. The lump is already going down, although the bruise might stray a few more days." Elrond sighed. "I just wish I knew..." the Elven lord trailed off.
"What?" Glorfindel inquired.
"I bet he went to find Estel."
"Of course! I remember he told Thranduil that he thought Estel was visiting in Rohan."
"I will send Elladan and Elrohir there. Hopefully, they will be able to find Legolas and possibly Estel and bring them back here. Meanwhile..."
"A letter will have to be sent to Mirkwood," Glorfindel finished.
"Aye."
"Ai! How could I have forgotten?" Glorfindel exclaimed. Elrond frowned as Glorfindel reached inside his tunic pocket and pulled out the sealed letter. "Thranduil bade me to give this to you."
"Thank you," Elrond murmured as he took the letter. The lord quickly scanned it. A moment later he set it down and looked at Glorfindel with a troubled expression. "I believe it would be a good idea for a letter to be sent to Lorien also."
"You will be needing the Lord's and Lady's assistance?" he asked with surprise. The situation must be worse than he thought.
"Possibly. Mithrandir's presence would also be wanted." Elrond rose gracefully and called out to a passing servant, "Bring me Elladan and Elrohir."
The servant bowed and sped off toward the room shared by the twins.
"Now for those letters," Elrond muttered, going to a desk holding paper.