Here's chapter 4! ^_^ I love writing this series, he he, it's just so much fun!

     LEGOLAS- Yes, you would say that, wouldn't you?!

     Oh shut up...

Twinlakeshgrl; Yes, rather weird reactions. You're not sure? Well, the other stories in this series are Hope and Greenleaf and An Inseparable Duo. The last one (I call it A.I.D for short) says why Legolas has been away from home for a year... if you missed them you're more than welcome to read them! ^_^

Ivory Novelist; Thanks! Thranduil may be understanding, but considering the situation he may not be... you'll have to find out. =)

Anarya; Hang on a mo... I'm a little confused now... when you said "...seeing some recommendations about Cassia, I went to read some of her fics. I didn't read much, but the stories I've read were worse than yours. At least, in my opinion..." what did you mean? Do you mean, mine are good and you think they're better than hers or mine are terrible but those ones are even more so? =S I'm just a bit confuddled... it's an easy thing for my tiny brain to be mucked up by! Of course you can see the Sadist's Code when it's done! As long as the author lets me show you of course! ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!

Estel Elven Enchantress; No I have not forgiven you for that yet!!! I was so embarrassed... but I guess it was pretty funny... Ah! There's an idea... now, who to turn Jo into? Mwuhahahahaha!!!

Lainfaer; Could be! Read on to find out!

leggylover03; Thanks!

Viresse0; Ah, the cliffhangers are so people actually come back to read more! Lol, thanks for reviewing! I think the best way to get more reviews is to put a really interesting summary in, and also to review loads of other people because then they often come to look at your fics. Hope it all works out!

Yavie Aelinel; Lol! ^_^ Here's the next chapter before you go dying on me! ^_^

That's enough for reviews... now the story! There is a flashback scene in italics here, just so you know!

.:Chapter 4:.

Sólia knew where this seemed to be heading. She rose from her seat uncertainly, and addressed her oldest son.

"Hallataulë, would you please be so kind as to lead the twins to their room? I will take Estel." She began to walk over to the boy, but paused. Turning to her husband, she sighed.

"Don't make this too hard on him," she whispered. She then led Estel from the room, placing a fair hand on his shoulder.

Hallataulë glared at the young human as he left. How could he have been so stupid not to notice the boy?! He was furious with himself, and with Estel, but he found his anger directed mostly at his little brother. How dare he, after everything that had happened?! As he span on his heel and stalked out of the throne room, he found himself remembering a past he had longed to bury...

~*~*~*~

"So, the little Elf wants his mummy?!" sneered one of them, laughing hard with his gang. The Man strode forward and struck him across the cheek with a sharp backhand.

Hallataulë curled on the floor, shivering. He shut his eyes and tried to remember better things, but the all consuming darkness made it so very hard.

The Men had attacked the small party as they headed South West to Lothlorien. He had been taken from the other Elves; it seemed it had been well planned and thought out- to separate the young Prince from his guards and then capture him. They had succeeded.

And now he lay on the cold stone floor, waiting, just waiting to be saved...   

~*~*~*~

The Crown Prince seethed silently as he led Elladan and Elrohir to the guest room.

"Here," he said sharply, throwing open the door and pointing inside. He didn't meet either brothers' gaze.

Elrohir sighed and walked into the room, the awkward silence broken only by his footsteps. Elladan, however, remained behind.

"Hal," he said gently, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. Hallataulë shirked away from him, staring at the floor. The Rivendell Elf tried again.

"Hal, I know this is a shock, especially after everything you've been through with humans, but please, try to understand; Estel is not like them."

The Mirkwood Prince suddenly shot his head up, glaring angrily at him. "What would you know?!" he shouted. "Those humans, they're all the same!"

"He's just a child-" began Elladan.

"And when he grows up, he'll be just like all the others!" finished the other. Elladan fell silent, and he shook his head.

"I know you've had a bad experience," he said simply, his voice tinged with despair, yet that was overshadowed by anger. "But you have no right to brand my little brother."

With that, he walked in and shut the door behind him, leaving Hallataulë alone in the torch-lit corridor...

~*~*~*~

Legolas stood alone in the room, only his father seated on the tall ornate throne in front of him for company. Not a sound could be heard but the steady rhythm of his breathing, but even that began to quicken as his palms became clammy and his knees started shaking ever so slightly.

Thranduil sat, not looking directly at his panicking youngest. How could he explain this to a child?

~*~*~*~

Estel followed Sólia from the room, looking back one last time at his best friend before the heavy oaken door swung shut.

He had often heard Legolas speak of his mother, but never had he imagined her like this. Her voice was soft and gentle, and when she spoke, it was like bird song on a summer's day. Her hair reached her waist, golden blonde and shining brightly, even in the dim light of the corridors.

Her face was fair beyond description, sea blue eyes shining like beacons through the mist, with pink lips like rose petals. She held herself like the Queen that she was, and when she walked, it was so graceful that Estel had to make sure that her feet actually touched the floor, so much like flying it was, and there was a scent around her, like cinnamon and forests and flowers. She was beautiful.

Sólia looked down at the youngster and smiled sadly. 'He shouldn't have to go through all of this,' she thought as she turned the corner...

~*~*~*~

Thranduil was drawn from his thoughts by Legolas.

"Estel is my friend Ada."

The King looked at his son in surprise, before rubbing his temple with his fingers. "I know Legolas, and I know that you would never stop being his friend."

Legolas was confused. "Then why is there such a problem?"    

Thranduil didn't know how to explain the problem without hurting Legolas. The young Elf had never experienced death before, although living in Mirkwood, Elves did sometimes die from the dangers that lay outside his domain, but Thranduil had taken care to never let the any of the Elflings in the Woodland Realm see it.

"Come here," he said finally, opening his arms. Legolas approached, sitting on his father's lap.

'He's too young...' thought Thranduil. Legolas was only 640; a child in Elvish eyes. Even to the race of Men, he looked only to be around fourteen or fifteen.

"Legolas, I think you need to consider just what this means."

The Prince scowled. "I knew it. You hate him because he's a human, and you hate me because I'm his friend-"

"No!" gasped Thranduil, shocked that this was what his son believed. "No... I'm just trying to tell you that maybe... just maybe you shouldn't get attached to humans, or any type of mortal. You'll only get hurt in the end."

"Why?!" asked Legolas. "Just because they're different from us-"

"Legolas!" groaned the King desperately. "I don't think you understand what I'm trying to tell you..."

"Then what are you telling me?"

There was a long pause as Thranduil agonized over how to tell the Elfling the awful truth. "What I am trying to say is... one day, Estel will die, and you'll be left here without him."

That was it. It was said, and no amount of words or actions could ever bring them back.

Legolas was stunned. "No... no, not Estel. He can't die... he won't!" he said half to himself. "He promised... I promised! We're going to be friends forever, just you wait!"

Thranduil swallowed hard. "Legolas. Estel is a mortal... he cannot escape his fate, and you cannot change it."

Legolas shook his head slowly, numb inside. "No..." Suddenly he tore away from his father's arms and dashed out of the room.

"Legolas, come back here!" Thranduil called, but he could only watch in dismay as his son disappeared, before sinking tiredly into his throne...

~*~*~*~

Please R&R! I'd love to know what you think! ^_^ Oh yeah... I have a new Legolas & Aragorn website. I'd love it if you could go and visit it; the link is in my bio! Please?!