Behind Blue Eyes

Chapter 9: Everything is going wrong

Elrond of Rivendell,

I was very disturbed by your last update on Legolas. You say he brutally attacked a human and killed him? This is very bad news concerning the boy. As you requested I have thought over the proposal put out by you of allowing Thranduil of Mirkwood to visit his son again. I talked it over with Celeborn and he agrees that it would be a good idea to allow the two to see each other and that it wouldn't harm Legolas in any way. I can not tell you what to do, for I told you before it is not our, Celeborn or mine, to tell Thranduil how to raise his child, nor you in this matter. We can and will not intervene in anyway. I hope you make the right choice, because either way their paths will cross and then there will be no escaping it.

Lady of Lorthloien,

Galadriel

I re-read the letter from Galadriel and growl. Of course they wouldn't get into the middle of this, they never do! Slamming the parchment down on my desk I pinch the bridge of my nose between two fingers and breath, trying to calm myself. Closing my eyes I randomly wander around the room I know so well.

" Elrond." I jump at the voice and turn to see Gandalf standing in the doorway, a slightly amused look on his face.

" Yes Gandalf?" I mutter and roll the parchment up once more and slip it into my desk. The wizard calmly returns the many books he borrowed and claims a few more.

" You know why I enjoy coming here?" He suddenly says, looking at me with knowing eyes. I shake my head, unsure of where this is going.

" My friend, there is nothing better than reading a book under a tree, and being surrounded by laughter from Elven children. For this I wouldn't give up anything." He says and turns his back to walk out of the Study.

" Not even to go on another adventure? With say a hobbit?" I laugh and the Wizard turns around, a sour look on his face.

" I'm to old for that nonsense now, to old indeed." He says and walks out, leaving me with a smile on my face. Gandalf knows what to say, and when to say it. Having the Wizard here is like old times, times not so plagued with questions that don't have answers.

(Legolas)

It had been two days since my hand function was good enough for me to function with it again. Elrond had said that I needed to take it easy and stretch the muscles so, what better way to do that than archery?

" Ha! Beat that!" Estel says happily from where he lowers his bow, the arrow in the center of the target. I smile and step foreword, bringing the larger and longer bow up and straightening my arm I pull back on the arrow, making the sinew string taught. Sighting down the shaft of the arrow I picture where I want it to go, and then level the bow to that spot. Leaning my head to the side a fraction I let loose the arrow. The string snaps back to its normal position as the arrow goes flying. It heads straight and true, right down the center of Aragorn's white arrow. Smiling I lower the bow and step back, looking at my human friend who is staring at the target in amazement. Sitting back down on the bench I send my friend a smug look. The human throws his hands up in the air and curses before sitting beside me.

" My friend, I am still amazed by your skill." He says and I smile slightly. I have been trying to teach Aragorn how to use a bow correctly, unlike how his brothers have shown him.

" If you only listened to me instead of your brothers you would be as good as any Mirkwood archer." I tell him and place a hand on his dark-clothed shoulder. The man laughs deep and long at this remark before sighing, his face going from happy to thoughtful as he gazes at his hands, now clasped in his lap. I know the look and cock an eyebrow at the new posture.

" What's wrong Estel?" I ask and the human moves his hands, wringing them nervously.

" Ah… Legolas.. H-how.. I mean…" He begins, stuttering over the words like a lovesick youth talking to the female of his dreams.

" Really Aragorn, clumsiness was something bred by your kind, but speech depravation as well? You're talking like a child. Spit it out!" I tell him and his eyes come up. I roll mine, showing him my slight annoyance. He clears his throat and looks me right in the eye.

" How would you feel if your father came for a visit?" he blurts out and quickly moves away from my side. I sit there a moment, trying to allow my mind to comprehend the words and put them into one message, all my brain caught were the words 'Father' 'Came' and 'Visit'. Looking at my friend I widen my eyes, fearfully watching the human. He stares at me, something akin to sorrow and comfort plain on his face.

" Legolas?" he asks about to touch my shoulder. I quickly flinch away, getting to my feet swiftly enough to make the human stumble back in shock. He tries to catch me but I quickly step out of reach of his hand, and take off.

" Legolas! I'm sorry!" He yells but I keep running, dodging tree roots and other elves along the path. My legs racing faster as I try to lose the thoughts in my head. How could they want me to see my father again? I was quite happy with living under Lord Elrond's care. I have never felt more safe, normal, and loved before. I stop my lungs heaving after my long race through the kingdom. Looking around my surroundings I realize that I have ran from the safe boarders of Rivendell and am now in the woods. Feeling I should go back, but fearing confronting Estel I turn my back on the trail, wanting to walk to clear my head.

" Why does this always seem to happen at the least opportune times?" I mutter and slowly round a corner in the path, to stop dead. My eyes widen at the sight of three men before me, their own shock showing at seeing me. I begin backing away, slowly reaching for an arrow, as the men advance, their swords held ready and evil sneers on their faces.

" Come here, pretty one." One says with a lust-filled voice, and I cringe at the nasty man.

" This it's a female? Or a male?" Another asks and I feel slightly annoyed at this, damn human's can't even tell the difference of a sex. Morons.

" I don't see breasts, so must be a male." The third once says and throws something at me. I quickly dodge the thing and jump high into the trees, leaping from branch to branch. They follow below, racing alongside the trees I run among, my inside twitch with the same annoyance from earlier. Stopping I jump to the ground, leveling my bow with the first human's head.

" What do you want in these woods human?" I ask, growling the last part. The three men stops, their own weapons raised and ready as I stand before them, boldly speaking in their language, silently thanking Estel for teaching it to me all those years ago.

" Well, well, well boys, we have an intelligent elf. Amazing that these demons know so much." One remarks watching my every move. I tighten my grip on the bow, making my injured hand protest at the ruff treatment, which I ignore.

" We are far more intelligent than you worthless people." I spit, knowing that by insulting the humans it would only make them angrier, but my own anger and annoyance was getting to me and I had to find some way to vent.

" Ha! Your race is nothing but merciless killers that should be wiped from this place! Prepare yourself demon!" One-man screams and I have barley enough time to dodge a swing from a sword. Crouching low I let loose the arrow and grit my teeth as it sinks into a tree beside the man, the tree's silent scream echoing in my mind. Jumping back into a standing position I grab the two knives I keep in my boots, having stupidly left my other's behind. One man tries advancing on me for the back but I quickly kick him away, making his grasp his abdomen in pain. The other two pounce on me at the same time, one pinning my wrists while I struggle wildly. The man who made the last comment comes into my line of view, sneering madly as he stalks around me. With a smile he punches me in the stomach, making the air in my lungs fly out, leaving me gasping.

" Tie him to the tree." He says and I feel the hands take me to the same tree that got my arrow in its trunk. They slam me against it and the feeling of raw hide encase my wrists, making me twist in agony when they are tightened.

" Not to brave now are you?" The ordered asks, his face looming in front of my eyes, he takes a strand of my hair and plays with it. Growling I snap out with my teeth, making him pull hi offending hand away just in time.

" Vile creature!" He shouts and backhands me across the mouth. This seems oddly familiar but I keep my mind from taking that trip into the memories that have recently been opened. I watch as the three humans ponder what to do, their eyes going back to me now and then. Behind the tree I try to work the small blade I usually keep up my guard out, but it's slow going since my arms are pressed against the tree and my injured on is contracting in pain. I watch the men wearily as I work on getting that blade out, not sure of what will happen.

" I heard Elves are supposed to be connected to nature. I wonder what would happen to him if I did this." One says and take out a knife and runs the blade down the side of the tree nearest him, I wince, feeling the cry from the being. Sap runs from the cut, trying to seal up the injury before some parasite can nest there. How can anyone be so cruel… I don't understand! They seem to notice my winces and soon all three are doing things to the trees, plunging an arrow into it, or trying to hack off its limbs. I wither in pain, the cries of the living trees making my head ache in pain, tears forming in my eyes. My eyes slowly begin to slip close as the pain takes over my senses and the cries of the tortured trees take up all my thoughts.

(Aragorn)

Rubbing a hand over my face I gaze about the path I know Legolas had taken after storming away from me in anger. Elrohir halts and kneels on the ground, looking at something.

" What is it 'ro?" Elladan asks, after looking into the high branches of the trees.

" I thought I saw a foot print but it's only one of a wolf." Elrohir mutters and gets back up, sighing in frustration.

" You all know as well as I do that when Greenleaf doesn't want to be found he won't be." He grumps but I shake my head and press on, guilt making me determined to find him.

" Estel! What did you say to him to make him so angry?" Elladan inquires and I cast a glare at my brother, wishing he would back off. But the elf only presses harder, his curiosity heightened due to my silence.

" Well?" he asks authority in his voice that reminds me of Ada when he's angry.

" Fine, I asked him what he would think if Thranduil came to visit. He got angry and ran off." I tell them, that basically summing up the conversation but leaving out the part of how scared he looked when I asked him. The pain and fear written plainly on his face is burned into my mind.

" First off that's King or Uncle Thranduil to you, and second" he hits me over the head making me cringe and moves away " what the Hoolies where you thinking!" I growl and continue my search for my friend, slowly rounding the bed with brothers in tow I stop dead.

" By the gods…" Elrohir mutters as he gazes upon the many trees, lined with slash marks and stab wounds. I sweep my gaze around the clearing and gasp when my eyes fall onto a figure strapped to a tree, hanging limply from the bounds that hold it to the tree. Running over to the person, my chest clenching in fear I angle the limp head up so I can see the face and I gasp. Legolas's face is lined with pain and far to pale for his own good. Elladan and Elrohir come to a stop with an angry hiss, but undo the bonds. Looking around for the people who could have done this I want to yell in frustration when I see nothing.

" They were using his link with the trees to torment him. Those sick people." Elladan swears and I glance quickly at him before laying my friend on the ground, looking down on his pale face. He groans and tries to shift but stops when his eyes snap open, wide and pained.

" Easy Legolas." I sooth but he gasps, breath coming uneven as he tries to force himself into a seated position. Elrohir is at my side, looking into my blonde friend's eyes and pressing a hand to his ribs.

"Legolas what happened?" he asks around the struggling. Legolas closes his eyes and swallows before regarding us with guarded eyes again.

" I was attacked… by humans. They attacked the trees, not I." He says and gazes at the many mutilated trees sadly. He touches one but withdraws his hand like his burnt, hissing slightly. I watch my friend in a concerned way as he struggles to get up. Once on his feet he begins to move away.

" Legolas, what's wrong?" I ask, going up beside him as he walks behind my other brothers. He gives me a side-ways glance, his icy eyes guarded and hard.

" When is anything right?" he asks before returning his gaze ahead of him and shutting his mouth. I can't say anything to this and keep walking silently beside him back into Rivendell.

Immortal Sadness: LOOK! I survived! I went to work for 8, and we didn't have a SINGLE person until around 12 when the roads became clear enough to drive on. Oh it was great, but almost everyone called in, leaving me and four other people the man the store. It wasn't so bad because we all had a good time, mostly we joked and cleaned but other than that it was a fun day at work. I realize none of you really wanted to hear about my day but… well.. yea I'm so tired that I could care less. I go back to school tomorrow but at least it's shop for me. I get to sit at a computer and let my feet recuperate from working all weekend.

Well I thank you to all those who have reviewed and I'm telling ya, it's going to start picking up with the action a little bit now so bear with me. I'm new at this…. lol.

Thank you and please review!

~* Immortal Sadness *~