Disclaimer: I do not own Lord Of The Rings, I merely own what is not Tolkien's, work. The song that appears later own belongs to Michelle Branch. (Title: I'll Always Be Right There)

Chapter Three: I'll Always Be Right There

They were running through the antechamber and through rooms, finally Legolas cornered Elrol and he rounded up on him. "Elrol, elongated hasn't it been?" Legolas said, smiling, but the grin didn't reach his eyes.

Elrol looked a bit startled and then shrugged giving a feeling of superciliousness and high authority, "I'm sorry Milord, but I have no idea what you're saying." He smiled and bowed, turning around and readying for leave.

"Uh-huh, Elrol, then who are you? Legolas?" He asked acerbically.

"I don't understand, why you persist on calling me Elrol, but if it satisfies you, Milord, then please go on."

"You know something? I hope above all, Elrol that you would stop calling me that and refurbish our friendship." Legolas leaned in close to Elrol, obviously making Elrol quite perturbed. "I've missed you," He breathed into Elrol's ear until Elrol pushed him away and bowed, looking quite miffed.

"Milord, please you do not know what you're saying and you may come to regret it."

"Elrol! What is it that is so abhorrence about me? I've grieved for you for the past years! Why can't you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Legolas hissed; he could feel tears welling up in his eyes and a pain crossing through his torso.

"Because you sent Glarawen into the dungeons. I can't believe you did that," Elrol said coldly. Shaking his head in complete aversion.  

"Glarawen? What has she got to do with you?"

Elrol looked up, a look of resentment and hurt crossed his face, his eyes blazing with hatred. "Putting Glarawen in jail, is just the same thing as putting my mother in jail, Prince Legolas."

Legolas was a bit startled and it took a couple of seconds before he recovered. He looked away ashamed, but he didn't know why. Glarawen had done wrong and placing her in the dungeons had seemed right. "But why do I feel so culpable now?" He thought and he looked at Elrol, who was biting his lower lip and tears welling up in his eyes. Elrol leaned against the walls and sniffed then closed his eyes; a single tear escaped and ran across his fair face. Legolas couldn't stand watching Elrol in pain. He used his thumb to wipe away the tear. "Elrol, all that was amiss would be made amend." He murmured into the elf's ears, but with that Elrol began to sob and he covered his face with his hands, tears dripping between the fingers.

"Elrol, it's okay. Everything will be fine. I'll protect you forever," Legolas said, wiping Elrol's tears away. Finally Elrol stopped crying and tried to stand up, but his legs were weak and he fell back down. Legolas leaned in and pulled Elrol up, smiling at him. "I'll be here for you…"With those words he remembered a song and slowly began to sing it.

"When you're all alone,

And you need a light

Someone to guide you

Through the night

Just remember that I am here

To hold you close and dry your tears.

Just when you thought you were falling,

But you know, I'll always be right there.

When you're all alone

And you need a friend

Someone to help you

To the end

When you need someone

To catch you when you fall

I'll be there

Through it all

Just when you thought you were losing

But you know I'll always be right there

And I'll be there

Through the good times and the bad

And will be there

For each other

Coz you're the best friend I ever had.

Just when you thought you were falling,

But you know, I'll always be right there.

Whenever you need me,

I'll always be right there

I'll always be right there…"

He hugged Elrol to him and with this movement a sudden reminiscence seemed to be dancing in his mind, replaying over and over again.

- & -

A young boy sat by a tree, tears streaming down his porcelain face and blood seeping through his scrapped knee. He tried to swathe it up with his small hands, but the blood poured out, escaping the protective covering of his hands. The blonde boy sat there crying and then another boy with dark black hair ran towards him, carrying a roll of white bandages. "Legolas!" He shouted and then skid to a stop in front of him and pulling Legolas' hands off the wound, then bandaging it tightly. He wiped Legolas' tears away and then smiled at him. "C'mon, Prince! Be strong and fight it. I'll be right with you all the way!" Legolas managed to crack a small smile.

"Thanks Elrol," Legolas said gratefully and he began to wipe his bloody hands off on the white bandage. Elrol smiled and his claret red eyes looked up contentedly into Legolas' own cobalt blue eyes. The blithe look of Elrol cheered Legolas up greatly and it was growing late, but Legolas and Elrol continued to talk under the tree. Finally Elrol stood up and helped Legolas stand up, supporting him up and leading him back to the grotto.

They hadn't gotten far when a group of older elves surrounded them, snickering and laughing; Elrol placed Legolas down and against the tree before advancing up towards them. The older one with the washed out blonde hair laughed and then sneered, "What are you doing here? This is our territory! Get out you poor elf and take your little beggar friend with you!"

Elrol looked up at them, his crimson red eyes glowing with the same ardent fire, the same fire of hatred that glowed inside of him. He said nothing and they continued to abuse Legolas and him finally he cracked and punched the older elf in the stomach making him double over in pain. "I believe in actions, not your deplorable words. You're a pathetic excuse for an elf! Go leave the forest and go back to your home of orcs! You're not wanted here." With that the boys' mood began to grow sour and they started pushing him around, but Elrol fought back until the leader went over to Legolas and picked him up, dangling him from the ground.

"C'mon! Save you're disabled friend!" He snickered and dropped Legolas to the ground. Legolas crumpled into a huge heap and bit his tongue to keep from crying. He could feel the copper taste of blood in his mouth. Elrol ran over and started to attack the older boy. Elrol got knocked back and the boy took out a dagger then held it against Elrol's esophagus. "Prepared to die?"

"Filth! An elf without honor or decorum, lucky I'll die honorably attempting to save my friend," Elrol hissed and then began to thrash around, the dagger began to cut into his skin, and bits of blood poured out, but Elrol ignored it and finally he managed to kick the boy off of him, but the other's held on. The dagger was raised high above Legolas' throat, ready to take the plunge and annihilate him, if the shrill whistle had not come.

Mirkwood guards came running up towards the boy, pushing them to the ground and then ordering them to remain silent. "Prince Legolas! Are you okay?" Elrol asked and he nodded, but Elrol's eyes began to droop and slowly he fainted and fell over Legolas. The guards rushed over helped Elrol up, but blood trickled down his neck and onto his white tunic.

- & -

"Elrol, you saved me, you saved me…" Legolas murmured, while holding his friend. A feeling had entered his heart the moment he held Elrol, but he couldn't tell what it was, but he knew one thing about it, he didn't want it to leave his heart, he wanted the warmth and tranquility to stay ceaselessly. Elrol looked up at the Elven prince, and sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"Legolas, it has been so long since I've cried. I can't remember the last time I truly did," he smiled and then hugged his friend, but a voice sliced through the moment, and the girl in black showed up.

"Your Highness, the King requires your presence in his study," she said, her voice as cold as hoarfrost and as hard as steel, but her eyes locked with Elrol and there seemed to be an unsaid agreement. Legolas eyed them both before turning away and heading for his father's study.

"Tadriendra, what are you planning to do here?" Elrol asked cautiously, brushing some pretend dust off of his sapphire cape. 

"Simple, I need to uncover the murder. Isn't that why you're here?"

Elrol shook his head, but a smile crept across his face and he looked down at her, "I came to claim the prince for my own." Tadriendra was startled, backing away from Elrol. A malevolent look crossed his face and his eyes glowed red.