A/N: Ok, I'm really sorry to everybody who read Royal Betrayal. It's been too long for this. But unfortunately my life has been VERY hectic as of lately. And for anybody out there who hasn't read it, Royal Betrayal HAS to be read before you can read this story, sorry I forgot to put this on the first chappie of this story. That story is listed under my bio. And also, last but certainly not least, I'd like to thank Sparx for helping me along. You're the reason I finally got on this story in the first place, so THANK YOU!! Now, on with the story.

"Ardain?" Thranduil's voice floated down the hall. The head guard stopped short and spun around quickly.
"Yes, m'lord?" Ardain asked, barely hiding his annoyance. He had been on his way to Elladan's room. With the elf incapacitated as he was, he made an easy target. While Ardain didn't plan to kill him, yet anyway, he needed a distraction, they were getting far too close.
"Has anything turned up?" The king inquired. They had been searching the surrounding forest since the prince and his companions were found. Ardain had foreseen this procedure and had carefully covered their tracks, but he knew that if they came under too much scrutiny, they would make some discoveries they shouldn't.
"No, m'lord, sorry, nothing yet." Ardain answered apologetically.
"Thank you." As Thranduil wrapped up the conversation, a still spacey looking Elladan exited out of his room. Ardain stifled his anger. This really was getting to be too much work. "I see that your father has finally allowed you to join the living." Thranduil remarked somewhat sarcastically. Elladan laughed groggily.
"Well, I guess I managed the rising part of the saying." He said, rubbing his eyes slightly.
"And what saying would that be?" Ardain asked, unknowingly setting warning bells off in Elladan's head.
"'Rise and shine.'" Elladan answered cautiously.
"Well, I should go check on the progress our troops are making." And with that was quickly off. Elladan watched him leave with narrowed eyes. Thranduil noticed the subtle changes in the dark-haired elf.
"Is something wrong?" He asked.
"I'd like to go check that clearing again."

Elladan searched on hands and knees around the small clearing. He sat back on his haunches with an annoyed sigh. He pursed his lips. There had to be something he missed. It hadn't taken them too much time in leaving the palace to arriving here after they heard Legolas cry out. Ardain couldn't have covered his tracks that well, not that quickly. He leaned back. Ardain, so did he think it WAS indeed Ardain now? Yes, he decided. It was, now he just needed proof. Elrohir had said that Ardain was not to be trusted, and then he disappeared. Aragorn had said there was something he had thought of to check, and Harim was the scapegoat he decided. And Legolas... That's where his plan's fault was. Why Legolas, what did Ardain, a guardian of the Royal Family, possibly have against the prince? He scratched his head. He sighed and stood up. He was suddenly aware of the presence of someone else in the clearing with him. He spun around and was surprised to be facing Ardain.
"Hello Elladan." The tone in Ardain's voice set Elladan on edge.
"Can I help you?" He asked coldly.
"Now why the tone, Elladan?" the head guard asked, mocking hurt.
"Because I know what you're doing. I may not have any proof, but I'll find it soon enough!" Elladan spat, his ire rising.
"Yes, that's what I came to speak to you about." Ardain's offhand manner threw Elladan off a step. "You see, Thranduil caused my wife and me no small amount of pain when he and his father agreed to join that damned alliance. My sons were killed and my wife never recovered. So you see, this has been long in plotting, my plan. And I'm not letting some busybody Noldor ruin it." His calm demeanor had vanished and rage had taken over. He unsheathed his sword and stepped menacingly toward the younger elf. Elladan unsheathed his own weapon. He set his jaw.
"Everybody lost loved ones in that battle. Thranduil's sons and father were killed as well. He knows the same pain!" Elladan snapped.
"No, he doesn't! He still had Legolas! His wife left much later than mine and he still has family! I have no one!" Ardain was barely an arm's length from Elladan now and he was very nearly screaming the words out now. He suddenly lunged forward. It was exactly what Elladan had been waiting for and he quickly sidestepped the enraged elf and bolted. Ardain gave chase, and that was what the younger elf had hoped for. He needed to keep Ardain angry so as to not notice that they were heading back to the palace. If he could trick him into coming close enough, then he'd have his brothers' and friend's would-be murderer. Ardain was suddenly on top of him and both elves went tumbling down. Elladan hit his head hard on a tree root and lay still, stunned for a moment. But that was all Ardain had needed. He jabbed his sword deep into Elladan's shoulder. Elladan cried out and shoved Ardain off of himself. He took advantage of the older elf's enraged distractedness and kicking him in the side and ran. He threw his plan of leading the treacherous elf back to the palace and settled for making it back by himself alive. He ran as fast as his reeling body would let him, which wasn't turning out to be quite fast enough. He heard his attacker's heavy breathing and loud step gaining on him. He was almost within sight of the gates now. He was almost there when suddenly a hand grabbed him from behind. He gasped and stumbled, slamming hard into the ground as he flipped over to see who was standing over him.