****************************Chapter 22************************

Hey!!! I am BACK!!!!!!!

So sorry for having to leave you guys hanging for so long but well, what can I say, EXAMS!!!

But finally... YAY!!! No more papers...only hope I passed all though...

Hahaha... but you're not here to read my ramblings... so on to the story then...

Thank you for all your reviews, they really overwhelming coz I haven't really checked my mail lately...

Thank you for your words of encouragement and pushing me to write...

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Chapter 22

"Elladan, wake up. Wake up, my son."

Elladan heard a voice calling him but rather faintly. 'Must be Adar. Who else call me son?' he thought to himself.

But he was tired. Like a hundred of orcs had ambushed him and left him for the dead. His limbs was sore but not hurt.

Elrond had heard the commotion in the hall where the Last Feast was held. He decided to let the elflings to worked the things out among themselves. How had he regretted his decision. If he had intervene, then Legolas might not have left in a rush. Things could've been better.

He was worried when the young elves that went chasing after Legolas had not return after a short while. So he went looking for them. He found them unconscious on the archery field. He managed to rouse Elrohir, and with his help, Arwen and Haldir. The only one left fainted was Elladan.

"Lemme sleep adar. M' tired," he whined as he tossed in his rather hard bed. 'Must get a new bed first thing I wake up.'

But his father would not let him sleep.

"You will wake up now or I will toss you into the river and let you drown," he heard his father said. Elladan heard a few snickers.

"Come on and wake up already, Ell. You've got yourself a prince charming to catch," this time it was Haldir that spoke.

"Yes, we better hurry before Legolas gets further away from Lorien. Wake up now, Ell," Elrohir spoke.

At the mentioned of Legolas's name, Elladan sprang(?) up and looked around him. He was surrounded by his father, Elrohir, Haldir and Arwen. The memories of what had happened before he fainted came rushing back to him.

"Legolas..." he whispered to himself.

"We must get to Legolas, Adar. We must," Elladan turned and spoke to his father with a grim expression.

It had hurt Elrond to see his son this way. And it had hurt to know that his own son could be the one breaking Legolas's heart.

"I agree. Let's go," Elrond said as he turned to go.

Somehow, Elladan hesitated. He felt as if his father knew something he don't.

"Adar..."

Elrond stopped in his tracks, closed his eyes and frowned. He knew Legolas's secret could no longer be contained. But he intend to keep his promise. What's done is done. Elrond turned around to face his son.

"I really am sorry about Legolas. I never intend for it to go this far. Nor was it my intention to hurt him," Elladan explained.

Both Haldir and Elrohir stepped up to defend Elladan. "He was not the only one at fault here, Adar. We were in the bet too. And for that we're truly sorry," Elrohir said.

Elrond looked at each of the young elves face and at last settled on his eldest's face.

"Do you love Legolas, my son?" Elrond asked.

Elladan stared after his father for a while and then he said," I think I've fallen in love with him. But right now I don't think I deserved him."

Elrond gave a sigh of relief," Then there might be some hope left for our young prince."

Four puzzled faces looked up at him but he continued," Legolas's story is his own to tell you, if he chose to. But know this my son, YOU must get to him as soon as possible. Only then he might stand a chance of survival."

"Survival?" Elladan asked fearfully.

Elrond nodded but said nothing else to elaborate.

"Let's not linger any longer. We must make haste then if it is as important as Adar said," Arwen said.

"We're really sorry Lord Elrond," Haldir said as they walked to the stables.

Elrond sighed and said," I am not the one you should apologize to. You are young. You make mistakes. But I really hope you'd learn your lesson well from your mistakes. No one's feelings should ever be toyed like that."

No one spoke. They knew they had learn their mistakes. At Legolas's expenses.

Meanwhile...

Legolas pushed his horse to ride faster. He was hurting inside. His tears could not stop flowing.

How could he had been so stupid to think that Elladan would love him? How could he not see it from the beginning? How Elladan relented when he refused to make love with him?

Mentally, he cursed himself for being so foolish.

All these years, his family had done their best to protect him. But he had been his own destruction. How ironic.

How do he even begin to tell his family what had happened, he did not know.

But they will find out. Sooner or later. Better be later.

He'll worry about that when he get home. Already, he felt weaker.

Little by little, his energy drained from his body.

Bit by bit, his soul leaving him.

The forest felt his heartache and did their best to help him get home.

Trees opening the way for the young prince to pass, rocks and roots moved from their place to not be in the way.

All the animals had heard the weeping of their young prince as the rider and his horse galloped past them. They felt his sorrow. His pain. His disappointment.

Their heart rejoiced and yet at the same time cried out for their young prince as they behold a beautiful vision seemed to flew by them.

A white horse with his silvery clad rider emitted a glow that looked as if it was ethereal being sent by the Valar herself. The wind blown blonde hair, caressing the rider's cheeks certainly added more touch to the vision.

The only problem with the picture was the crystal clear tears that flowed down the rider's cheeks and the occasional sobs emitted from him.

"Tumill'ya Nafirie Minetii," Legolas chanted.

He knew Elladan would come to find him in Mirkwood. Even if it was involuntary, Elrond would probably make him.

The spell would work.

The first test had begun.

Now it's up to Elladan.

TBC...

I think it's quite short but it's been a while and my brain wasn't processing very well...

Let me know what you think... review please?

Oh! the ex-gal is not finished yet... more to come...

To any chinese readers and reviewers, HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!

And again, the elvish is BS.... ahahaha