Behind Blue Eyes

Chapter 8: Undecided by emotions

(Elrond)

Shocked I stare at both Gandalf and my youngest son. All three returned a few moments ago and Gandalf requested a meeting with me without hesitation. Estel followed and once alone in the study they told me what they encountered on their way here.

" He… attacked this man?" I ask, amazement echoing in my voice. I lean back in my chair and sigh as Gandalf nods, his own eyes mirroring my own shock. Estel leans against the wall, eyes on the floor the look of pure helplessness on his features.

" Viciously, until death." Gandalf says, lowering his face as I let out a long sigh. Rubbing a hand over my temples I try to pull all this information in at once but it seems too jumbled to even be focused upon.

" You said this man insulted the Elven race and threatened to take Legolas?" I ask, trying to understand what would make that peaceful, usually quite youth outraged enough to beat a man to death.

" Yes, but it wasn't until the man had Legolas backed into a corner that he attacked." Estel says looking up sharply. I nod, taking in this new information. Looking at Gandalf I see the questions in his eyes and look back at Estel.

" Estel, you may leave, Gandalf and I have matters to discuss." The human nods and turn but before leaving looks back at me, staring right into my eyes

" Father, you know how Legolas gets when he's backed into a corner, but this… this wasn't even human. It was like he just… snapped. Much like an abused animal would have." With that he walked out of the study and closed the door with a quite click. Looking back at Gandalf I get to my feet

" Don't even say it." I growl and move to one of the many windows. This particular one over looking the same small wadding pool I use to watch both Legolas and Estel play in.

" Say what?" Gandalf asks, a bit of laughter in his voice. I gaze back at the man sitting calmly in a chair, pipe in mouth and a thoughtful look on his features.

" That I knew it was to good to be true? That the child wasn't fully healed and needed more time with healing before you allowed him outside Rivendell. No my friend I won't tell you that, you obviously already knew that." He states, voice calm and even as always. Frustration creeps up on me as I turn from the window to sit back across from the wizard.

" I honestly thought he was ready, I thought he was healed." I mutter and gaze out the window.

" He fooled me as well my friend, he's very good at hiding his true feelings. He's got quite a talent." Gandalf remarks and I smile

" Not one that should be encouraged. I want to know what he feels, for he has only just gotten his feelings back." Gandalf nods, knowing what I meant since he was visiting when the young elf began to really express himself freely. The wizard gets to his feet and wonders around the study, his old eyes watching the trees sway in the breeze.

" Something caused Legolas to attack like that. But what?" He asks mostly to himself than me.

" Memories maybe?" I put out

" But of what? What would make him snap?" My eyes widen as a thought dawns on me.

" Of his father. Maybe those memories are finally tired of being ignored and all the rage he felt toward the man has finally surfaced and when he was cornered it came out of him with a vengeance." Gandalf turns, his eyes narrowed with purpose.

" I think it is time to bring your brother, Thranduil back into the picture." He says and my anger rises a notch at the mention of my brother. Shaking my head I quickly dismiss the idea

" No, I will not have that… abuser undo everything Legolas has worked so hard to gain." I growl.

" But he is already undoing it! It was never done to begin with!" Gandalf counters and I still shake my head in refusal.

" Elrond you can't keep your nephew from his rightful father, no matter how much that father hurt him in the past. I know you hate your brother for doing this, but how do you think Legolas feels, not knowing the reason why? You at least owe Legolas the right to know why his father did that to him." I sigh, deep down I know the wizard is right, but I just can't bring myself to allow Thranduil the chance to ruin the boy again. Undecided I look up at the sky, noting how much darker it got, announcing the incoming of a severe rainstorm.

" I will write Galadriel and see what she suggests. For she is the only one that can see the outcome of this matter, and her decision won't be inhibited by feelings for she isn't as involved as I." I tell my old friend and he smiles before picking a few books from the shelf. Picking up his staff and hat he retreats with a

" Rest… read.. dinner." Beofre leaving me alone in the study with only the sound of falling rain to break the silence.

(Aragorn)

Being forced inside Rivendell annoys me. I have grown to both hate and love the rain but it still bothers me to be sealed up within the walls of the home, watching as most Elven people dance out there. Elves don't get sick, but I do, sadly. Sighing I rest my head on my crossed elbows, eyes watching as the rain falls down upon the world.

" I hate rain… oh yes I do… ba ta.. ba tabumm! I hate Rain!" I sing to myself, amusing myself with the lyrics that come into my head and right out my mouth without thought

"It soaks you to the bone, makes you sicker than a hound! I hate the rain and it must hate me too!" Smiling to myself I tap a rhythm on the windowsill.

" Why must it fall during the day? It's only thought is to torment me until… I die from downing in my own! I hate rain! I really, really do!" I hit the palm of my hand on the sill, ending the song with a huge smile on my face.

" Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away hunger."(1) I jump at the musical voice that invades my embarrassing song. Turning to look upon the grim face of Legolas, who is trying his hardest, and failing, to hide the smile that is creeping on his face.

" Aye, but when the man gets sick, it's only natural for him to despise the rain, no matter how much it helps in the end." I counter and watch as my friend's face burst into a huge grin and laughter comes from him. He sits on the bed, watching me with amused ice colored eyes. I turn in my chair, leaning back watching my friend. Something seems to be troubling him, for his shoulders, which he usually holds straight and even are now slumped and a weary look is on his face. Knowing my old friend won't tell me what's wrong willingly I clear my throat.

" Is there something wrong?" I ask and the icy eyes glance quickly up at me before returning to his boots. Noting this odd behavior I press harder.

" If it's about what happened in the woods…." The eyes come up once more, but instead of being the warm ice blue colored ones they are a dark, stormy gray.

" No, this has nothing to do with what happened." He snarls and gets up from the bed preparing to take his leave. Jumping from my chair I quickly grab his arm, I can't allow him to leave angry. He whips around, eyes filled with rage.

" I meant not offence my friend." I begin and drop my hand a bit lower to his forearm but release when he gasps in pain. He pulls away from me, eyes closed. Watching this very odd change in behavior I begin to run my eyes up and down Legolas, looking for any indication that he is injured. I find no traces of blood, but I do notice the odd way his hand is held the fingers stiff and curled. His eyes reopen, filled now with pain, nothing else.

" Your injured." I state and quickly take his slim, callused hand, drawing a pained hiss from Legolas at the treatment. Examining the wrapped hand I find that the muscles are as stiff as stone, and they are icy cold. He tries to pull the injured hand away but I grasp tighter, making him stop.

" I- it's nothing…" He begins and gasps when I move one of the fingers.

" Come. We're going to visit father." I tell him and gently lead my cousin to the study where I know father would still be. Walking down the hall we have to press ourselves against the wall in order to avoid a few elflings that are racing through the many halls in a game of sorts. Making a quick right I stop in front of the large doors and knock once and a muffled reply come from behind the door. Entering with Legolas in tow I quickly go right to my father's desk. He looks up a slight smile gracing his features but stops when he takes in the situation.

" Ada, Legolas hid an injury, it's bad." I tell him and usher my blonde friend foreword. Legolas now cradles his arm from sight but father seems to see it and stand up abruptly.

" How in the seven hells did this happen?" he asks gently taking the hand in his own and looking closely at it. Legolas swallows before looking away

" While fighting those men, one of them had a projectile launcher and it caught me in the arm. When I pulled it out it hard barbs on the end. While ridding back I began to lose feeling in it and then while seeing to Kagonesti my hand basically went stiff." He explains. The look of annoyance comes over my Father's face and he directs Legolas into one of the chairs. The Mirkwood elf sits, stiffly holding his limb straight as father begins moving his fingers and rotating the hand. His eyes are closed tightly in pain and I can tell he is trying to stay calm and not move.

" Where is the enter point?" he asks and Legolas points with his good hand to the spot near the center of his hand, covered in bandages. Father unwraps the bandage and I catch a quickly glimpse of the wound. Drawing in a hissing breath I shake my head at the stupidity of Legolas. The wound is jagged and red, obviously hot to the touch. The area around it is bruised and blue tinges part of the skin.

" This is bad, I think that one of the veins have been compressed, cutting the blood flow off from your fingers." Father explains and looks over at me, his eyes shadowed with concentration. He turns back to Legolas who's eyes are wearily drooping.

" Come young one, let's get you fixed up." Father says and gently hauls his nephew up. Legolas yawns slightly, trying to open his eyes, failing. I bring my friends other arm over my shoulders and help bring him to his room where we both lay the now sleeping prince down on the bed. Legolas sighs but doesn't stir. I watch as father gathers a pail of warm water and a few herbs he got before leaving the study. He then takes the injured hand and begins bathing it in the warm water all the while shaking his head and uttering a string of curses.

" Estel, what do you think about allowing King Thranduil to visit his son?" He suddenly asks as he begins massaging the hand, trying to feel where the pinched vein is. I watch as he rubs his thumbs over the top of Legolas's pale hand, his eyes focused on the task.

" I really don't know father… it would have to be up to Legolas." I tell him, not sure on how my cousin feels about his father. I never really had the heart to ask him, for he seemed over the past and only stayed focused on the future.

" Why do you ask?" Father looks sharply at me before returning his eyes back to the task at hand.

" When Legolas attacked that man, Gandalf and I think his memories of his father's beatings resurfaced and that is what made him snap. Yet we can not be certain." He explains, smiling as some of Legolas's normal hand color comes back. Taking a seat near my friend I watch his sleeping face, eyes glazed over in Elven dreams as he wonders through them. Every so often his hand would twitch but settle down. Smiling at the act that he has done since childhood I look over at my father, now rubbing some herbs into the hand, giving the air a wintergreen smell.

" So you think that if Legolas gets to speak with his father it might put an end to the pent up anger?" I ask quietly.

" Yes and no. Gandalf thinks we owe it to Legolas to hear it from his own father why he did this. Yet I am uncertain if this will cure the problem, or make it worse." He says and bandages the injured hand before looking up at me.

" Maybe it would just be better if no one helped him. Yet I don't know so I am writing a letter to Galadriel, she would be able to see the outcome better than I." He says and prepares to leave. I sit beside my companion's bed, watching the rain pouring out side.

" He will be asleep for some time. When he awakens get him to drink some tea and eat something. I'll return to look in on him soon." Father instructs and then is gone. I lean back in my chair and ponder about what the future would be like if Legolas never came to Rivendell, and what would happen if Thranduil actually succeeded in breaking his only son. Would Legolas be like him? These questions swim around in my mind as I watch the rain pour down from the sky, the sound of it hitting leaves the most comforting thing in the silent room.

Immortal Sadness: okay.. the (1) was a quote from Saint Basil. Yup… scary ass guy but that's okay. One MAJOR reason why I hate living in NEW ENGLAND: SNOW! We have a 40 hour storm going on.. and well.. yeah. I wish I didn't have to work.. I hate working. Well anyway, how did ya like that chapter? I thought it was boring but I typed the first thing that came to mind so… randomness.

Review Responses

Your fan: how about you DON'T do that and I'll give ya the next chapter soon? Deal?

Wadeva: yeah I noticed that AFTER I posted the bloody thing. If it's confusing to the person who wrote it than… it must be confusing for the rest of you. I'm sorry!

Deana: Very soon…. So very soon! ::evil laugh::

Angelbird 12291: Thanks! I hope you enjoyed this last chapter!

Rika-Chan: REALLY! 0.0

Hottie from hell: in the beginning Legolas is around 15 in human years and Aragorn is the same age. Now… they are both around 19.

Irish QT: Not sure…::evil smirk::

::sings badly to thing playing on 'BOB':: well I really do hope you all enjoyed this installment, so much more is to come in upcoming chapters. Hopefully my roof won't collapse any time soon and I'll update again soon. Pray that the storm gets SO bad that I can't go to work so that I can write all day!

See you all next time!

~ Immortal Sadness ~