The truth always comes out
Aragorn took a deep breath. "I had just heard of your capture and I went to Mirkwood to see your Father. I went with Elrohir. Elladan was going to meet us there in 2 days. Once Elrohir and I were there, we were welcomed. Thranduil left us to do as we pleased and he went away somewhere. Elrohir and I discussed your disappearance and Elrohir began to cry. Then, I cried too. Sooner or later, Elrohir fell asleep. I was too grieved to sleep but Elrohir needed it badly. I went to wander the halls." Aragorn said.
Legolas didn't say anything, which Aragorn took as his queue to continue. "I heard your Father's voice in one of the rooms. It might have been his office or something but I tried to walk the other way so I wouldn't be interfering with something. I went in a circle and saw your father with some hooded figure in the office-place. I thought nothing of it. I just thought it was an Elf in a cloak. I was wrong. It wasn't an Elf. I do not know who it is, I can say that truthfully. But what I heard, I can never forget." Aragorn looked pained but he went on. Legolas was quiet.
"This is the conversation I heard. 'The deed is done, Thranduil. I have your son and you have the right to keep your Land and Kingdom, now. I will not tell you where he is or who has him. I can barely say that we will keep him alive.' The dark figure said. 'I do not care. As long as I can keep my land and the palace, nothing matters.' The king said. 'I have what I wanted and now I am pleased. You may keep your possessions. I think you staged your son's captured all too well. No one will suspect a thing.' The dark lord said. I backed away as your father showed him out." Aragorn said painfully, his heart breaking every second.
Legolas' eyes welled up with tears. They never fell. "I believe you. I also believe that I can never return home." Legolas said. "I'm so sorry, mellon nin. I will do whatever you want to make it up to..." Aragorn started. "NO! You don't need to make anything up to me. I won't let you apologize for my Father's actions." Legolas said in does-that-get-my-point-across-to-you tone. Aragorn nodded.
"I have to hide. Rivendell won't be safe. I can't put Elrond's people in danger. Once, that Dark Lord knows I'm gone...he will look right at Rivendell." Legolas said. "Lord Elrond won't let you leave. He will fight for you." Aragorn said. Legolas didn't respond. "I'm hungry." Legolas said. Aragorn looked at him with surprise. "Really?" he asked. Legolas nodded. "Just a little bit." Legolas said. "Good. Berries and a little meat. That should go down well." Aragorn said. Legolas nodded.
"Will you do me a favor?" Legolas asked as Aragorn put him down. "Anything." Aragorn said. "Let me shoot for meat. I want to use a bow and arrow again." Legolas pleaded. "You can barely stand, if at all." Aragorn said. "I can manage." Legolas said. "Okay. Sure but if you feel sick or anything...tell me right away." Aragorn said, handing Legolas his bow. Legolas nodded.
Aragorn helped Legolas stand. The Elf swayed a bit but didn't fall. He focused on a deer. He let go of his surroundings and only paid mind to the deer. He released the arrow and it hit the deer in the forehead. Aragorn helped Legolas sit down again and made sure he was okay before running to get the prize.
Aragorn picked some berries that were nearby. Aragorn started a fire and got Legolas in a somewhat comfortable sitting position. They ate and Legolas fell asleep. He hadn't ate much but Aragorn was glad that he ate something. He rested for another hour and got up and continued on the road.
Aragorn took a deep breath. "I had just heard of your capture and I went to Mirkwood to see your Father. I went with Elrohir. Elladan was going to meet us there in 2 days. Once Elrohir and I were there, we were welcomed. Thranduil left us to do as we pleased and he went away somewhere. Elrohir and I discussed your disappearance and Elrohir began to cry. Then, I cried too. Sooner or later, Elrohir fell asleep. I was too grieved to sleep but Elrohir needed it badly. I went to wander the halls." Aragorn said.
Legolas didn't say anything, which Aragorn took as his queue to continue. "I heard your Father's voice in one of the rooms. It might have been his office or something but I tried to walk the other way so I wouldn't be interfering with something. I went in a circle and saw your father with some hooded figure in the office-place. I thought nothing of it. I just thought it was an Elf in a cloak. I was wrong. It wasn't an Elf. I do not know who it is, I can say that truthfully. But what I heard, I can never forget." Aragorn looked pained but he went on. Legolas was quiet.
"This is the conversation I heard. 'The deed is done, Thranduil. I have your son and you have the right to keep your Land and Kingdom, now. I will not tell you where he is or who has him. I can barely say that we will keep him alive.' The dark figure said. 'I do not care. As long as I can keep my land and the palace, nothing matters.' The king said. 'I have what I wanted and now I am pleased. You may keep your possessions. I think you staged your son's captured all too well. No one will suspect a thing.' The dark lord said. I backed away as your father showed him out." Aragorn said painfully, his heart breaking every second.
Legolas' eyes welled up with tears. They never fell. "I believe you. I also believe that I can never return home." Legolas said. "I'm so sorry, mellon nin. I will do whatever you want to make it up to..." Aragorn started. "NO! You don't need to make anything up to me. I won't let you apologize for my Father's actions." Legolas said in does-that-get-my-point-across-to-you tone. Aragorn nodded.
"I have to hide. Rivendell won't be safe. I can't put Elrond's people in danger. Once, that Dark Lord knows I'm gone...he will look right at Rivendell." Legolas said. "Lord Elrond won't let you leave. He will fight for you." Aragorn said. Legolas didn't respond. "I'm hungry." Legolas said. Aragorn looked at him with surprise. "Really?" he asked. Legolas nodded. "Just a little bit." Legolas said. "Good. Berries and a little meat. That should go down well." Aragorn said. Legolas nodded.
"Will you do me a favor?" Legolas asked as Aragorn put him down. "Anything." Aragorn said. "Let me shoot for meat. I want to use a bow and arrow again." Legolas pleaded. "You can barely stand, if at all." Aragorn said. "I can manage." Legolas said. "Okay. Sure but if you feel sick or anything...tell me right away." Aragorn said, handing Legolas his bow. Legolas nodded.
Aragorn helped Legolas stand. The Elf swayed a bit but didn't fall. He focused on a deer. He let go of his surroundings and only paid mind to the deer. He released the arrow and it hit the deer in the forehead. Aragorn helped Legolas sit down again and made sure he was okay before running to get the prize.
Aragorn picked some berries that were nearby. Aragorn started a fire and got Legolas in a somewhat comfortable sitting position. They ate and Legolas fell asleep. He hadn't ate much but Aragorn was glad that he ate something. He rested for another hour and got up and continued on the road.