Legolas kept his glistening eyes fixed on the floor as the door softly opened. The footsteps were too heavy for an Elf; it was Estel. He had not wanted to go with the others, for the grief of the King had been too much to bear. He smiled sadly when he saw that his friend was sitting up on the bed, though, he did not catch the tears.
"Oh, you are awake. It was not my brothers, was it?" he asked softly. "I know only too well how they shatter peace upon entering a room."
"It was not the twins," Legolas said dully.
Estel went forwards, surprised at the tone of voice, and touched a hand to the Elf's shoulder. "Are you in pain?"
"No, I am not," Legolas said angrily. "Do you think it was sensible for my father to be told of Elladan's vision right outside this room? I was listening at the door. I heard every word."
"I…I do not know of what you speak," Estel said hesitantly.
"Don't lie to me!" Legolas flared. "I heard your father and Elladan talking about it, so don't you dare sit there and tell me otherwise. Do you not think that I have the right to know the fate of my own brother?"
Estel bit down on his lip as the Elf jumped from the bed, and stormed over to the door. "Legolas, what are you doing?"
"I am going to save Airëlus," the Prince snapped.
"You cannot do that," Estel said incredulously. He followed his friend down the corridor, and grabbed his arm. "You are not thinking straight."
"You cannot stop me," Legolas said in a low voice.
"Stop this madness! You are not thinking properly. What makes you think that Thranduil will let you venture into the forest in the state that you are in?" Estel demanded. "I have no wish to further damage your pride, but the truth is, is that you are weak at the moment. Your father will not give you permission to go out there with a whole patrol, let alone on your own."
"He will not need to know," Legolas replied, glaring at the human. But then his expression softened, and he sighed deeply. "Estel, what if it was Elladan or Elrohir out there? Would you leave them alone to die if there was a chance that you could save them?"
Estel shook his head reluctantly. "No, I would not. But I would not do this either. What help will you be to Airëlus? I saw what you did when you jumped off the bed back then. You closed your eyes in pain. And you have three broken bones in your left hand. How do you expect to fight?"
Legolas pulled away from Estel, and continued down the corridor to his room. "Do not forget that I am an Elf. My hand is nearly fully healed."
The mortal shook his head in disbelief, though a great part of him knew that his friend had never been more serious. He sighed deeply, and followed the Prince down the corridor, but paused, when he saw that Legolas had halted outside the door to his own room.
"What is it?"
"When I go in there, it will be for the first time since Calaen held me captive," the Elf said slowly.
Estel sighed again, and touched a hand to his friend's shoulder. "You knew that you would have to do this at some point. But you are not alone, Legolas. And there is nothing in there that can hurt you. Only memories. You can fight them."
"I am glad you are with me," Legolas murmured. He smiled weakly, and pushed the door open.
His eyes flickered as he looked around slowly. The bed had been stripped of its old bloody sheets and remade with new ones, whilst the blood stain had been cleaned from the carpet. Apart from that, it was no different to the last time he had seen it. Shaking himself mentally, he walked into the room and went across to the cupboard.
"You do not have to do this," Estel said softly. "Your father sent a patrol out earlier today."
"They may be looking in all the wrong places," Legolas replied, pulling a light brown tunic over his blue shirt. "Airëlus is a good fighter, and strong, but he is weary at the moment. He has spent many days without rest."
Estel looked up, and his heart sank at the words. "What….what exactly did you hear my father and Elladan saying?"
"Calaen has Airëlus, and is holding him captive," Legolas replied. "That is all I wished to hear."
"Valar…" Estel pushed a hand through his dark hair, and shook his head sadly. "Mellon nin, there is something that you must know. In Elladan's dream, he….he…"
"Tell me," Legolas said sharply.
"In Elladan's dream, he did not see Calaen holding Airëlus captive," Estel replied. "Airëlus was on the ground, and he….he was not moving."
"What are you saying?" Legolas breathed.
The human reached out and touched a hand to his friend's shoulder. "There is no easy way to tell you this. But what I am trying to say is that Airëlus is….is dead. I am sorry. Elladan thinks that we are too late."
"Don't do this," Legolas whispered. "Using that as a way to keep me here is wrong. Please…"
"I wish I could say that I was doing such a thing," Estel sighed. "But I am not."
"My brother is dead." The Prince closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. "Dead…"
Silence fell, a silence that was broken only by the soft voices of the trees outside, the whispering of the wind around the palace. As Estel watched the mix of emotions playing on his friend's face, he felt his own heart aching. Legolas had been through enough in his life, and he was the last one to deserve something like this to happen to him. It was unfair that such misfortune should fall upon him, when he had done nothing to deserve it.
Legolas looked up, and his eyes flashed dangerously. "I will go out there, with or without the help of anyone else, and I will avenge the death of my brother. Calaen will die, Estel."
"You really are going to do this aren't you?" the human said slowly, watching as his friend strapped his bow and quiver of arrows onto his back. "You are really going to go out there, despite your weakened state."
"I am," Legolas said firmly.
Estel sighed, and stepped forward to the Elf. "If this is what you want to do, then I cannot stop you. But you do not know where Calaen is. He could be anywhere."
"No, I have a good idea of where to find him," Legolas replied.
"What do you want me to do whilst you are gone?" Estel asked softly.
The Elf shook his head. "Whatever you think is best." He paused, and looked up at his friend. "Why are you doing this? You could tell my father what I am going to do, yet you are just letting me go."
Estel smiled, and drew the Prince to him in an embrace. "You are my closest friend, Legolas, and I understand your reasons. However, there are two things that I ask of you."
"Go on."
"Firstly, you will let me alert your father after one hour has passed," Estel said. "If you do not agree to this, then I will have no choice but to tell him now, for I do not want to see you fall prey to more harm."
"Alright," Legolas said. "And the other condition?"
Estel put a hand on his friend's shoulder, and locked eyes with him. "When you return, you must free your emotions. I know you well enough to see that you are hiding your grief. But to do that is not good for your soul."
"You are right. I am hiding my grief," Legolas said shortly. "But I will shed no more tears for Airëlus until Calaen lies dead." He raised a hand and rested it on Estel's shoulder. "Hannon le."
The mortal smiled weakly as his friend turned and left the room. "May the Valar be with you and keep you safe," he murmured.
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