Author: Mirrordance

Title: Exile

Summary: An elf is exiled as a suspect to his own brother's murder.  A young king goes out into the Wild.  Two warriors cross paths and embark on a common adventure as one seeks to escape his past and the other to reclaim it.  How Aragorn and Legolas met.

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PART 17

      Estel walked apace with Legolas, whom he was watching from the corner of his eyes.  The Mirkwood elf breathed as if each one was a memory.  Legolas caught him, and raised an eyebrow in innocent inquiry.

      Estel shok his head, nothing, he lied wordlessly.  He wondered if the elf was missing some things in all his overwhelming feelings over returning home.  The situation was dangerous enough without the added distraction.  He should never allow himself to forget that there is someone here who wishes to dispose of Thranduil's heir and as of the moment, that was he.

      Legolas knew from the look on the human's eyes that he was bothered by something; well the entirety of the situation was after all, disturbing indeed.

      "You needn't worry," he whispered soothingly, his voice echoing in the emptiness of the lengthy, dimly-lit, narrow hall that they walked in.  It was a long way along the winding secret passage from the royal mausoleum to the palace living quarters, turning, rising, twisting… at least it was as blessedly empty now as it had always been. 

      The group made for a strange party of Middle-Earth royals with Prince Legardo holding point, flanked by Prince Legolas and the King of Men.  Right behind them, the King of Mirkwood and the twin sons of the Lord of Imladris made a crowd; they refused to tear their eyes from their respective charges-- a fair request, since all the circumstances that had brought them to where they are were undoubtedly prompted by the exiled elf and the stubborn human in some way.

      They stopped at the end of the long hall.  Legolas knew this particular door would open up to Lesandro's bedroom.  The crown prince strategically had the best access to the escape path, to keep the line alive in case of invasion.  He remembered with fondness that his old room was connected to Lesandro's.  Legolas would come through the door all hours of the day and the night, and Lesandro would happily welcome the intrusion. 

      He was always so kind…

      Legolas was torn from his memories when Legardo took a deep breath and pushed the door open, letting light into the hall.  Cautiously, Legardo looked about the room to ensure it was empty, before stepping aside to let the others in.  When Thranduil stepped forward at last, Legardo closed the door behind him, and it melded against the walls so well one could not have known it led to a secret passage.

      Lesandro's room, Legolas thought, looking around.  This once housed my brother.  This place once housed our childhood, and our dreams…

      He suddenly paused, felt dismayed.  The room has since been lived in.  It smelled different.  It felt different.  Things were not where they were supposed to be.  That chair didn't belong there.  That table, that mirror… Those aren't his.  He stepped towards the cabinets and threw them open.  And he didn't find Lesandro's clothes.

      His heart pounded.  He felt an irrational anger.  What is this madness?

      ~This is my room now, Legolas,~ Legardo said quietly from behind him.

      Legolas took a calming breath before he faced his younger brother.  He tried a smile, winced instead and abandoned the effort altogether.  ~I am sorry,~ said Legolas softly, ~Of course it is.~

      ~Time may have stood still for you,~ Legardo added uncomfortably, ~But we have since moved on.  Lived on.  As we had to.  It is the way of things.~

      ~I know,~ said Legolas quickly, ~I apologize.  Truly, I do.  You had to.  I know.~

      ~But you cannot understand,~ Legardo said edgily, ~Can you?~

      Legolas opened his mouth to reply, but King Thranduil interrupted the helplessly bitter exchange of his sons before it went any further.

      ~There are things to do yet, my sons,~ he told them evenly, ~I am wondering if I should summon my more trusted advisors.~

      ~It is secrecy that is most crucial here ada,~ said Legolas, shaking his head, ~Because we are not yet entirely certain that it is Lord Sala to blame, and may inadvertently be informing the real plotters of our plan.  However, it would also be prudent to ensure that someone else knows of this, in case anything should happen to us.  Perhaps your most trusted friends, ada.  Or if there are none you can trust with a secret such as this, then elves who are currently in a position of power but could not have been in a position to plan Lesandro's murder years and years before.~

      ~A wise suggestion,~ the King said approvingly, thoughtfully, ~That way, they are in a position to aid us now but could not have been his murderers because they were not in power before.  I have a few such elves in my ranks.  I shall meet with them at once.~

      ~And I shall have a conversation with Sala,~ said Legolas, emphasizing, ~Alone.~

      ~Absolutely not!~ retorted Thranduil.

      ~I will catch him unawares, ada,~ said Legolas, ~It would be like the arrival of a ghost, or a conscience.  Perhaps the truth will flow from his lips this way.~

      ~My son,~ said Thranduil fervently, ~Alone with Lesandro's murderer? No! I've only just had you restored to me.  Absolutely not!~

      ~We are not even certain if he will fight,~ Legolas pointed out, ~You have seen me in battle, ada, I am more than capable of handling Lord Sala.  He is--~

      ~Old?!~ Thranduil cut him off coldly, ~I am old, boy, and I can take you to task if I so desired.~

      Estel, Elrohir and Elladan looked at each other wryly. They had long since looked upon Legolas as a respected warrior, and then for the twins, a threat.  But this was a curiously familiar side, one that they knew by their own experiences with the undoubtedly overburdened Lord Elrond.  They had also long looked upon King Thranduil of Mirkwood as rather stern and forbidding.  But Legolas was as much a weakness to Thranduil centuries before as he was now.  The King would eventually bend, they guessed.  They knew the signs from their own father, after all.

      ~I shall accompany him,~ said Legardo.

      Thranduil looked at the brothers skeptically, ~Now you ask me to lay both my sons at the feet of a murderer.  We need sentries, at least!~

      ~But secrecy must be kept,~ Legolas reminded him.

      ~We shall go as well,~ offered Estel, and though the King of Mirkwood doubted for a breath, the suggestion naturally comforted him; the human king and the twin sons of Elrond are known for their skills and have gotten his son this far, perhaps they can take him the rest of the way.

      ~Now I must object,~ said Legolas, ~If my return here stirs up old ghosts and murderers, I refuse to allow ada to be cavorting around unescorted.  Estel.  Go with him.  Please.~

      King looked at King, measuring.  Thranduil was wondering if the young human could defend him at all.  But the man's eyes held a wisdom and sharpness that was uncomfortably reminiscent of the best of elves.  And of his skills and courage the King of Mirkwood has heard before. 

      ~Now I must object,~ said Elladan.

      ~Is this a debate or am I not the King? Or perhaps we have left Mirkwood without my knowledge,~ snapped Thranduil, frustrated in general.

      ~I apologize, my lord,~ said Elladan, ~But it is my duty upon our father to ensure that Estel is kept safe.  We both shall go with you.~

      Elrohir looked at him in dismay, but did not object.  Naturally he was completely displeased to be closeted with Murder Suspect 1 (Legolas), 2 (Sala) and possibly even 3 (Legardo).

      This is going to be a long and insufferable night, he predicted, sighing.

TO BE CONTINUED…