Okay you guys! We're at the end. *Pouts* Kinda sad really. I feel like a
mother watching her child leave home. After this chapter is the epilogue
and I really don't want to say anything there, so I'll say it all here.
Thank you so much to all of you who have continued to read this, who have begged for more chapters, or who have just encouraged me. This story has been an absolute joy to write, even though it basically wrote itself. If it was half as much fun for you to read as it was for me to write, then I know I've done good. I hope you all will continue to enjoy my stories as this series progresses. Thanks again! My next story, "World's End", should be starting pretty soon.
Disclaimer: Ha ha. They're mine. Yeah, right. And please excuse my poor attempt at poetry.
The Silent Prince
Chapter 27: Breaking the Silence
After a few panicky moments of not being able to find their female companion----Aragorn knew he had seen her fiery sword in the fray----they were directed by a group of archers to the hall where the bodies of the slain warriors had been taken. There they found Ylana in a corner, her hood drawn over her face in mourning.
Legolas had heard from a group of archers that young Taolyn had fallen, and he felt his heart sink with grief. To know that one so young and full of potential should be taken from the world was disheartening indeed.
But for Ylana... He had been able to read the misgivings in his companion's eyes when she had agreed to let the boy fight alongside them. He had heard her tell Taolyn that he would be safer with his comrades. Legolas had no doubt that Ylana would blame herself for his death, even though it had been the boy's own choice.
This saddened the male Elf further. ~Hasn't she seen enough death already?~
He, Aragorn, Boromir and Gandalf stood by quietly, their heads bowed in respect. This gave the Ranger time to cast his eyes around the room, feeling his own heart weighted down by sadness. ~Forty-three. Forty-three good Men lost their lives today. And all because of us.~
Most people would agree that Aragorn should be happy that he'd lost only forty-three, not even a quarter of the Terin army. And while it was true that he was overjoyed at having so few casualties, Aragorn felt each loss keenly.
"He died to save my life." Ylana's quiet voice reached their ears, causing all of them to raise their eyes. "I was thrown to the ground by the quake and hit my head. There were Uruks on the wall. If Taolyn hadn't stepped in, that would be me lying there."
A ghost of a smile touched her lips. "All he wanted to do was to fight beside the two greatest archers in Middle-Earth to protect his home. It was his way of repaying me for being so kind to him. Now I wish I hadn't of been."
Boromir reached out to place a hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry," he said softly.
The companions all saw the glare from inside the hood as the female Elf shook off his hand. "I do not ask for your sympathy, human, nor will I have it," she snarled. "This is not the first time I have seen death, nor will it be the last. I have mourned, and now it is time to move on."
Here she threw back her hood, and the others could see that, though her face was tear-stained, her eyes were dry. "Come. We have much to do." With that, she brushed past the startles companions and headed for the door.
Legolas exchanged a look with Aragorn before calling out to his Elvish friend. "Ylana, please. Wait."
She gasped and stumbled, nearly falling. Whirling, the others could see the surprise that was written clearly on her face. "Legolas?" she said in an awed tone of voice. "You can speak!"
He gave her a smile. "Aye. It hurts at the moment, but Gandalf assures me that it is because I haven't used my voice in awhile."
She looked him up and down. "How is this possible?"
He shrugged. "I was able to break the spell that Saruman wove around me. Apparently, it was by trying to save a dear friend that I was able to break it. Saruman most not have expected me to care for anyone again. At least, not this soon."
Ylana blinked at him, then broke out into laughter. Seconds later, though, she was crying. Her face was buried in her hands as her shoulders shook with sobs.
The others looked to each other in confusion, not knowing what to do. Both Legolas and Aragorn wondered if grief had taken hold and she would soon fade, while Boromir feared she had somehow been injured in the battle. Only Gandalf seemed unworried.
Finally, after a few more minutes of this odd behavior, Ylana stood and wiped her eyes. Seeing her friends' worried looks, she managed a smile and a wave of her hand. "I am sorry for that. It's just...I am glad to see a spark of good in tragedy." Her smile widened as her eyes twinkled. Not with tears, but with hope. "Now come! We still have much to do!" With that she turned and walked through the doors, leaving three confused people and one highly amused wizard behind.
-----------------
Days passed. The nine members of the Fellowship plus Ylana stayed in Terin to assist with the clean up, feeling as though it was the least they could do. Taolyn and the other fallen Men were buried as heroes, much to the she- Elf's delight.
Finally, though, it was time for them to begin their trek once more. So after saying goodbye to Liothiel and Kellian---who made Frodo promise to return one day---the group struck out for the mountain of Caradhras, where they hoped to pass through the Redhorn Gate.
Gandalf had been greatly upset when he had realized that the mountain passes had been collapsed, especially when the presence of magick had been detected. This had confused him, until Ylana had remembered something from before the battle.
"I saw a girl earlier. She was leading the Orcs. She looked... She was very strange. She had white hair and golden eyes. It seemed as though she was from Angmar, but...Gandalf, how can that be? That country fell hundreds of years ago!"
"I know who she is," came Legolas's soft voice, still slightly raspy. "Her name is Aislyn, and she has teamed up with Saruman. To what end I do not know."
This caused Gandalf to slightly frown. He remembered hearing of a girl from Angmar named Aislyn...But they did not have the time for this now. So it was pushed aside, but only for the moment.
So it was that, a night or so later, Legolas found himself prowling restlessly around the campsite. Gimli, Gandalf, Boromir and the hobbits sat around the fire, swapping stories of their journeys to Terin. Ylana was sitting on a rock away from the others, staring into the sky. Aragorn was nowhere to be found.
The male Elf was torn in two. His heart was weighted down by the events that had taken place and his part in all of it. Yet his mind was refusing to relieve his burden, refused to embarrass him.
~But I can't carry this forever!~
~Not forever. Just until you've passed into Valinor or the Halls of Mandos.~
Legolas ground his teeth. He couldn't wait that long, else he'd go crazy!
His eyes once again fell on Ylana, and he suddenly was reminded of the words she had spoken on the night they had met.
~"Legolas, you cannot go on being the Silent Prince forever. Else I'm afraid you'll be silenced for good."~
How right she had been.
~If only you had something earlier, then all of this might have been prevented. You could have spared Taolyn's life.~
That settled it. He would be rid of this dark burden, if only for his own peace of mind.
But where was Aragorn? While it was true that he and Ylana had become friends, he wasn't ready to share his deepest secrets with her. No, he needed someone else to speak to. Someone he was very close to, someone who knew more than just his name.
He had a feeling that Ylana knew where that someone was.
With a sigh he came to stand at his female companion's side, laying a hand on her shoulder. "It is a beautiful night, is it not?" he asked softly. His voice had grown stronger, and it no longer hurt his throat to talk.
"Aye," Ylana replied, not bothering to look at him. "But my heart tells me that you have not come here to discuss the beauty of the night."
Legolas blushed at that, which in turn made him scowl. ~You certainly have a low blush factor for an Elf, Greenleaf.~
"You are correct. I am looking for our errant Estel. I don't suppose you know where he is?"
The stars still held her eyes. "Why do you wish to find him?"
Legolas blinked at this, not expecting the girl to dodge his questions. "I wish to speak to him. That is all."
"Over what?"
Legolas couldn't help but sigh in frustration. ~I am tired of these games!~ "Ylana, I asked you a simple question. I have neither the patience nor the tolerance for your interrogations. Now tell me, where is Aragorn?"
This time Ylana turned to look at him, and he was shocked by the emotions in her eyes, though her face remained impassive. "You are deeply troubled, Legolas," she said quietly. "Though you try to hide it was always, I will not let it go this time. Let me help you, Legolas. I know that we are but comrades, friends at best. But I can no longer bear the sorrow that comes from you. Please, let me help!" All of this was said in a rush, her pleading eyes locked with his own.
He blinked, then let out a sigh, suddenly feeling very tired. "I am sorry for getting angry with you, Ylana," he said, his voice soft once more. "The reason I inquired of Estel is that I wish to unburden my heart to him. I would speak with you, but..." He blushed again. This time, however, he did not reprimand himself.
Ylana smiled and laid a hand on his arm. "I understand," she said gently. "Did I not just say that we were, at best, friends? Aragorn is what you need, not I." She turned and gestured to a patch of forest. "And I believe that you will find your wayward human somewhere in there. I think he mentioned finding a stream form which to get water."
Legolas nodded, feeling relieved. Then, in a move that surprised even him, he leaned forward and gently kissed the Elven girl on the forehead. "Thank you, Ylana," he whispered. "Thank you for understanding."
With that he strode forward, disappearing into the forest to search for his dearest friend.
--------------------------------
When Ylana had inquired as to his intended whereabouts, he made up something about filling his water bottle from a small stream nearby. While the stream itself did exist, Aragorn had no intentions of bringing back any water. He simply needed to be alone and away from the others. Somewhere he could think---and smoke---in peace.
His thoughts drifted over the events of the past few days, especially the part of Legolas getting his voice back and how it came to be. His heart soared when he realized that it was because of Legolas's care for him that the Elf could speak again, and he quickly tried to suppress it. ~You love Arwen.~
But he was finding it more and more difficult to convince himself of that.
A slight rustling of leaves alerted him to a new presence and, taking his pipe from his mouth, turned his head in time to see Legolas step through the trees. His heart skipped a beat, and he was content to ignore it.
Legolas's eyes fell on his friend, causing his face to brighten. "Ah! There you are, Estel. I was beginning to fear that you'd wandered off and gotten lost."
Aragorn chuckled, knowing that his companion was teasing. "No. I still know where I am. Though I sometimes wish I didn't."
The Elf lifted an eyebrow. "Then I am not intruding am I?"
"You know better than to ask that, Legolas. Your company is never an intrusion." He waved at the ground beside him. "Come and sit. Tell me what's on your mind."
As Legolas gently lowered himself to the ground, he couldn't keep the nervous look out of his eyes, though his face remained expressionless.
This did not go unnoticed by his human companion. "Legolas?" he murmured softly. "What is wrong, mellon-nin?"
The Elf let out a sigh. ~This is it. There's no turning back now.~ "Do you remember, back before this began when we had just set out from Rivendell, you spoke of wanting to help with the burden I obviously bore?" A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. "I wish I had. Then this all would have been prevented."
"What do you mean?"
Legolas turned to face the Ranger. "Does your offer still stand?"
"Of course it does," Aragorn replied firmly. "You should know better than to have to ask!"
The Elf gave him a brief nod of thanks before turning back to stare out into the darkness. He was silent for a long moment, trying to gather his thoughts before beginning to softly speak.
"It was not Saruman's idea to attack us, or to capture me. He had no intention of attacking our Fellowship just yet." Here he paused, and he couldn't keep a wince from crossing his face. "It was Annolir's."
"Annolir?" Aragorn frowned. "What on Arda does your brother have to do with all of this?"
"Everything," Legolas whispered. His eyes held a haunted look as his mind once again returned to that fateful day. "Father was holding a council with his advisors and councilors. Now, you know as well as I how much I despise those meetings. You've helped me escape from a number of them, if I recall correctly. But there would be no escaping this one. Father wanted me to be involved with state affairs so had asked me to attend. So I agreed.
"While I am not the Crown Prince, I have been trained in the art of diplomacy. I was witty, polite, charming... I soon had them comfortable and laughing. All except Annolir. But I was too caught up in my little game to notice."
Aragorn didn't miss the bitterness in his friend's voice, nor the single, silver tear that slid down Legolas's face.
"Ada had told me of some problems that had arisen, and I had decided to think them over and present my ideas to the Council. Turns out the liked them too much. They told me that it was a shame that I was not the eldest, for I would make a fine king. I was too busy congratulating myself to realize that Annolir, who would one day be king, had heard every word."
More tears leaked from his eyes, and Aragorn had to fight the urge to reach over and brush them away.
"That night, as I was preparing for bed, I heard someone walk into my room. Turning, I managed to catch a glimpse of Annolir's face just before he struck me." Legolas shuddered at the memory. "He looked like a demon," he whispered.
Aragorn reached out t place a hand on the Elf's shoulder, not being able to stand seeing his friend in so much pain. "Legolas..."
"He just kept hitting me. And the entire time he's shouting 'I hate you!' over and over.
"That was the first time I used my haven that was in the back of my mind. I went there to escape the pain and confusion of my brother's attack. They did not find me until the next morning. When I did not show up for morning meal, Ada became worried and sent a servant searching for me.
"When I was revived, I was covered in bruises, along with two broken ribs. I would not speak a word, not even cry out in pain when the Healers began working on me. When asked if I had seen my attacker, I simply shook my head. What *could* I say? That it was my own brother who had done this to me? Even if I was believed, it would surely break Ada's heart. And I did not want to suffer more beatings at Annolir's hands. My soul had already been damaged by him.
"Father was worried by this. He believed that it was an attack on the royal family and, since both he and the Crown Prince were too heavily guarded, the attackers came after me instead. So I was sent to Rivendell to tell of Gollum's escape rather than the messenger Ada had appointed to go. There I would be in the care of the most renowned Healer in Middle-Earth, be away from my attacker, and be around close friends who might get me to speak again."
Legolas closed his eyes as hot, angry tears began to flow down his face in earnest. "But that was not the end of it," he said in a tortured whisper. "He was not content in knowing that he had betrayed me in the worst possible way. When he heard that I had joined the Fellowship and how proud everyone was of me, he couldn't stand it. So he went to Saruman, promising him the use of Mirkwood's army in return for helping him take out his vengeance on me."
Aragorn could only stare in shock and horror at the distraught Elf as the words sank in. ~Annolir?! True, I never liked him. But to resort to torture simply because he was jealous...~
"Annolir was there at the tower. He had no desire to kill me. Oh no. He wanted to humiliate me the way that I had humiliated him. He wanted me to know how unfair it was that he is always trying to learn how to become a good king while I am out playing, yet it is I who gets the credit and praise. He is sealed by fate while I was free to do as I chose. So Saruman stripped me of my voice, making me think that no one would want to be around me. That you and the others would see me as a weakness. That a Silent Prince was no good. And I...I believed him."
Suddenly, Legolas couldn't take it any more. All of the emotions he'd kept locked away suddenly came pouring out, and all he could do was bury his face in his hands and cry.
Aragorn wasted no time in pulling his friend to him, holding Legolas tight as he gently rocked back and forth.
"This is all my fault," Legolas sobbed, his face buried in the Ranger's chest. "If only I had noticed it sooner, if only I had said something to Ada, if only I had not gone to Rivendell, if only---"
"Hush," said Aragorn, feeling his own eyes sting with tears. ~If I ever get my hand on you, Annolir Lightbringer...~ "This is in no way your fault. You were not the one guiding your brother's actions."
"But Taolyn..."
The Ranger interrupted him by wiping a tear from the Elf's cheek with his thumb. "It is not you who will have to answer for young Taolyn's death," he said softly but firmly. "That burden falls on Saruman's shoulders."
Legolas blinked at him then leaned against the human, feeling safe for the first time in months.
--------------------------
Hours later, after all of Legolas's tears had been spent, he and Aragorn were sitting side by side once more.
Unbidden, the words of an Age-old song flowed into his mind. Almost without thinking, he closed his eyes and opened his mouth to sing.
------------------------
The songbird shook the snow from his feathers and spread his wings, ready to fly But lo! Something was wrong! For snow clouds still hung heavy in the sky. "Where is Spring?' cried he, desperation making his voice shrill "For without him I cannot sing, cannot dance, cannot fly over wood and field."
"He has fled away," came the wind's whispered reply. "The Evil One drove him from this land without giving him a chance to say good-bye." "Spring cannot be gone!" cried he, not believing a word. "He must open the flowers, bring the rain, give us songs to be heard."
"Spring has gone," came the wind's whispered reply. "And gone he intends to stay Until the evil that drove him there has been chased far away." "But who would do such a thing?" cried he, defeat already in his voice. "Who would leave their homes to face such Evil? Who would make that choice?"
"People like you," came the wind's whispered reply. "People who want to see Spring again. People who miss the flowers, the rain and the other joys he would bring." "I am but one!" cried he, feeling very miserable inside. "What could I do against such Evil? I could only die."
"Look inside yourself," came the wind's whispered reply, "and you'll see what you've known all along That, to drive Evil away, it only takes a simple song."
So the songbird song, and much to his delight The Sun rose high into the sky, chasing away the night The Evil screamed in defeat and quickly fled away And Spring crept back into the world, this time to stay
------------------------------------
Silence descended over the forest once more as Legolas's voice trailed away. The Elf kept his eyes closed, feeling his heart lighten.
Next to him, Aragorn let out a contented sigh. "I have sorely missed that sound," he murmured. "You have always been able to comfort me."
"And I hope I always will," Legolas replied. "I will never let myself become the Silent Prince again. Tomorrow is a new day, a new beginning."
And it was.
For he was Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of the Mirkwood Elves.
Silent no more.
Thank you so much to all of you who have continued to read this, who have begged for more chapters, or who have just encouraged me. This story has been an absolute joy to write, even though it basically wrote itself. If it was half as much fun for you to read as it was for me to write, then I know I've done good. I hope you all will continue to enjoy my stories as this series progresses. Thanks again! My next story, "World's End", should be starting pretty soon.
Disclaimer: Ha ha. They're mine. Yeah, right. And please excuse my poor attempt at poetry.
The Silent Prince
Chapter 27: Breaking the Silence
After a few panicky moments of not being able to find their female companion----Aragorn knew he had seen her fiery sword in the fray----they were directed by a group of archers to the hall where the bodies of the slain warriors had been taken. There they found Ylana in a corner, her hood drawn over her face in mourning.
Legolas had heard from a group of archers that young Taolyn had fallen, and he felt his heart sink with grief. To know that one so young and full of potential should be taken from the world was disheartening indeed.
But for Ylana... He had been able to read the misgivings in his companion's eyes when she had agreed to let the boy fight alongside them. He had heard her tell Taolyn that he would be safer with his comrades. Legolas had no doubt that Ylana would blame herself for his death, even though it had been the boy's own choice.
This saddened the male Elf further. ~Hasn't she seen enough death already?~
He, Aragorn, Boromir and Gandalf stood by quietly, their heads bowed in respect. This gave the Ranger time to cast his eyes around the room, feeling his own heart weighted down by sadness. ~Forty-three. Forty-three good Men lost their lives today. And all because of us.~
Most people would agree that Aragorn should be happy that he'd lost only forty-three, not even a quarter of the Terin army. And while it was true that he was overjoyed at having so few casualties, Aragorn felt each loss keenly.
"He died to save my life." Ylana's quiet voice reached their ears, causing all of them to raise their eyes. "I was thrown to the ground by the quake and hit my head. There were Uruks on the wall. If Taolyn hadn't stepped in, that would be me lying there."
A ghost of a smile touched her lips. "All he wanted to do was to fight beside the two greatest archers in Middle-Earth to protect his home. It was his way of repaying me for being so kind to him. Now I wish I hadn't of been."
Boromir reached out to place a hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry," he said softly.
The companions all saw the glare from inside the hood as the female Elf shook off his hand. "I do not ask for your sympathy, human, nor will I have it," she snarled. "This is not the first time I have seen death, nor will it be the last. I have mourned, and now it is time to move on."
Here she threw back her hood, and the others could see that, though her face was tear-stained, her eyes were dry. "Come. We have much to do." With that, she brushed past the startles companions and headed for the door.
Legolas exchanged a look with Aragorn before calling out to his Elvish friend. "Ylana, please. Wait."
She gasped and stumbled, nearly falling. Whirling, the others could see the surprise that was written clearly on her face. "Legolas?" she said in an awed tone of voice. "You can speak!"
He gave her a smile. "Aye. It hurts at the moment, but Gandalf assures me that it is because I haven't used my voice in awhile."
She looked him up and down. "How is this possible?"
He shrugged. "I was able to break the spell that Saruman wove around me. Apparently, it was by trying to save a dear friend that I was able to break it. Saruman most not have expected me to care for anyone again. At least, not this soon."
Ylana blinked at him, then broke out into laughter. Seconds later, though, she was crying. Her face was buried in her hands as her shoulders shook with sobs.
The others looked to each other in confusion, not knowing what to do. Both Legolas and Aragorn wondered if grief had taken hold and she would soon fade, while Boromir feared she had somehow been injured in the battle. Only Gandalf seemed unworried.
Finally, after a few more minutes of this odd behavior, Ylana stood and wiped her eyes. Seeing her friends' worried looks, she managed a smile and a wave of her hand. "I am sorry for that. It's just...I am glad to see a spark of good in tragedy." Her smile widened as her eyes twinkled. Not with tears, but with hope. "Now come! We still have much to do!" With that she turned and walked through the doors, leaving three confused people and one highly amused wizard behind.
-----------------
Days passed. The nine members of the Fellowship plus Ylana stayed in Terin to assist with the clean up, feeling as though it was the least they could do. Taolyn and the other fallen Men were buried as heroes, much to the she- Elf's delight.
Finally, though, it was time for them to begin their trek once more. So after saying goodbye to Liothiel and Kellian---who made Frodo promise to return one day---the group struck out for the mountain of Caradhras, where they hoped to pass through the Redhorn Gate.
Gandalf had been greatly upset when he had realized that the mountain passes had been collapsed, especially when the presence of magick had been detected. This had confused him, until Ylana had remembered something from before the battle.
"I saw a girl earlier. She was leading the Orcs. She looked... She was very strange. She had white hair and golden eyes. It seemed as though she was from Angmar, but...Gandalf, how can that be? That country fell hundreds of years ago!"
"I know who she is," came Legolas's soft voice, still slightly raspy. "Her name is Aislyn, and she has teamed up with Saruman. To what end I do not know."
This caused Gandalf to slightly frown. He remembered hearing of a girl from Angmar named Aislyn...But they did not have the time for this now. So it was pushed aside, but only for the moment.
So it was that, a night or so later, Legolas found himself prowling restlessly around the campsite. Gimli, Gandalf, Boromir and the hobbits sat around the fire, swapping stories of their journeys to Terin. Ylana was sitting on a rock away from the others, staring into the sky. Aragorn was nowhere to be found.
The male Elf was torn in two. His heart was weighted down by the events that had taken place and his part in all of it. Yet his mind was refusing to relieve his burden, refused to embarrass him.
~But I can't carry this forever!~
~Not forever. Just until you've passed into Valinor or the Halls of Mandos.~
Legolas ground his teeth. He couldn't wait that long, else he'd go crazy!
His eyes once again fell on Ylana, and he suddenly was reminded of the words she had spoken on the night they had met.
~"Legolas, you cannot go on being the Silent Prince forever. Else I'm afraid you'll be silenced for good."~
How right she had been.
~If only you had something earlier, then all of this might have been prevented. You could have spared Taolyn's life.~
That settled it. He would be rid of this dark burden, if only for his own peace of mind.
But where was Aragorn? While it was true that he and Ylana had become friends, he wasn't ready to share his deepest secrets with her. No, he needed someone else to speak to. Someone he was very close to, someone who knew more than just his name.
He had a feeling that Ylana knew where that someone was.
With a sigh he came to stand at his female companion's side, laying a hand on her shoulder. "It is a beautiful night, is it not?" he asked softly. His voice had grown stronger, and it no longer hurt his throat to talk.
"Aye," Ylana replied, not bothering to look at him. "But my heart tells me that you have not come here to discuss the beauty of the night."
Legolas blushed at that, which in turn made him scowl. ~You certainly have a low blush factor for an Elf, Greenleaf.~
"You are correct. I am looking for our errant Estel. I don't suppose you know where he is?"
The stars still held her eyes. "Why do you wish to find him?"
Legolas blinked at this, not expecting the girl to dodge his questions. "I wish to speak to him. That is all."
"Over what?"
Legolas couldn't help but sigh in frustration. ~I am tired of these games!~ "Ylana, I asked you a simple question. I have neither the patience nor the tolerance for your interrogations. Now tell me, where is Aragorn?"
This time Ylana turned to look at him, and he was shocked by the emotions in her eyes, though her face remained impassive. "You are deeply troubled, Legolas," she said quietly. "Though you try to hide it was always, I will not let it go this time. Let me help you, Legolas. I know that we are but comrades, friends at best. But I can no longer bear the sorrow that comes from you. Please, let me help!" All of this was said in a rush, her pleading eyes locked with his own.
He blinked, then let out a sigh, suddenly feeling very tired. "I am sorry for getting angry with you, Ylana," he said, his voice soft once more. "The reason I inquired of Estel is that I wish to unburden my heart to him. I would speak with you, but..." He blushed again. This time, however, he did not reprimand himself.
Ylana smiled and laid a hand on his arm. "I understand," she said gently. "Did I not just say that we were, at best, friends? Aragorn is what you need, not I." She turned and gestured to a patch of forest. "And I believe that you will find your wayward human somewhere in there. I think he mentioned finding a stream form which to get water."
Legolas nodded, feeling relieved. Then, in a move that surprised even him, he leaned forward and gently kissed the Elven girl on the forehead. "Thank you, Ylana," he whispered. "Thank you for understanding."
With that he strode forward, disappearing into the forest to search for his dearest friend.
--------------------------------
When Ylana had inquired as to his intended whereabouts, he made up something about filling his water bottle from a small stream nearby. While the stream itself did exist, Aragorn had no intentions of bringing back any water. He simply needed to be alone and away from the others. Somewhere he could think---and smoke---in peace.
His thoughts drifted over the events of the past few days, especially the part of Legolas getting his voice back and how it came to be. His heart soared when he realized that it was because of Legolas's care for him that the Elf could speak again, and he quickly tried to suppress it. ~You love Arwen.~
But he was finding it more and more difficult to convince himself of that.
A slight rustling of leaves alerted him to a new presence and, taking his pipe from his mouth, turned his head in time to see Legolas step through the trees. His heart skipped a beat, and he was content to ignore it.
Legolas's eyes fell on his friend, causing his face to brighten. "Ah! There you are, Estel. I was beginning to fear that you'd wandered off and gotten lost."
Aragorn chuckled, knowing that his companion was teasing. "No. I still know where I am. Though I sometimes wish I didn't."
The Elf lifted an eyebrow. "Then I am not intruding am I?"
"You know better than to ask that, Legolas. Your company is never an intrusion." He waved at the ground beside him. "Come and sit. Tell me what's on your mind."
As Legolas gently lowered himself to the ground, he couldn't keep the nervous look out of his eyes, though his face remained expressionless.
This did not go unnoticed by his human companion. "Legolas?" he murmured softly. "What is wrong, mellon-nin?"
The Elf let out a sigh. ~This is it. There's no turning back now.~ "Do you remember, back before this began when we had just set out from Rivendell, you spoke of wanting to help with the burden I obviously bore?" A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. "I wish I had. Then this all would have been prevented."
"What do you mean?"
Legolas turned to face the Ranger. "Does your offer still stand?"
"Of course it does," Aragorn replied firmly. "You should know better than to have to ask!"
The Elf gave him a brief nod of thanks before turning back to stare out into the darkness. He was silent for a long moment, trying to gather his thoughts before beginning to softly speak.
"It was not Saruman's idea to attack us, or to capture me. He had no intention of attacking our Fellowship just yet." Here he paused, and he couldn't keep a wince from crossing his face. "It was Annolir's."
"Annolir?" Aragorn frowned. "What on Arda does your brother have to do with all of this?"
"Everything," Legolas whispered. His eyes held a haunted look as his mind once again returned to that fateful day. "Father was holding a council with his advisors and councilors. Now, you know as well as I how much I despise those meetings. You've helped me escape from a number of them, if I recall correctly. But there would be no escaping this one. Father wanted me to be involved with state affairs so had asked me to attend. So I agreed.
"While I am not the Crown Prince, I have been trained in the art of diplomacy. I was witty, polite, charming... I soon had them comfortable and laughing. All except Annolir. But I was too caught up in my little game to notice."
Aragorn didn't miss the bitterness in his friend's voice, nor the single, silver tear that slid down Legolas's face.
"Ada had told me of some problems that had arisen, and I had decided to think them over and present my ideas to the Council. Turns out the liked them too much. They told me that it was a shame that I was not the eldest, for I would make a fine king. I was too busy congratulating myself to realize that Annolir, who would one day be king, had heard every word."
More tears leaked from his eyes, and Aragorn had to fight the urge to reach over and brush them away.
"That night, as I was preparing for bed, I heard someone walk into my room. Turning, I managed to catch a glimpse of Annolir's face just before he struck me." Legolas shuddered at the memory. "He looked like a demon," he whispered.
Aragorn reached out t place a hand on the Elf's shoulder, not being able to stand seeing his friend in so much pain. "Legolas..."
"He just kept hitting me. And the entire time he's shouting 'I hate you!' over and over.
"That was the first time I used my haven that was in the back of my mind. I went there to escape the pain and confusion of my brother's attack. They did not find me until the next morning. When I did not show up for morning meal, Ada became worried and sent a servant searching for me.
"When I was revived, I was covered in bruises, along with two broken ribs. I would not speak a word, not even cry out in pain when the Healers began working on me. When asked if I had seen my attacker, I simply shook my head. What *could* I say? That it was my own brother who had done this to me? Even if I was believed, it would surely break Ada's heart. And I did not want to suffer more beatings at Annolir's hands. My soul had already been damaged by him.
"Father was worried by this. He believed that it was an attack on the royal family and, since both he and the Crown Prince were too heavily guarded, the attackers came after me instead. So I was sent to Rivendell to tell of Gollum's escape rather than the messenger Ada had appointed to go. There I would be in the care of the most renowned Healer in Middle-Earth, be away from my attacker, and be around close friends who might get me to speak again."
Legolas closed his eyes as hot, angry tears began to flow down his face in earnest. "But that was not the end of it," he said in a tortured whisper. "He was not content in knowing that he had betrayed me in the worst possible way. When he heard that I had joined the Fellowship and how proud everyone was of me, he couldn't stand it. So he went to Saruman, promising him the use of Mirkwood's army in return for helping him take out his vengeance on me."
Aragorn could only stare in shock and horror at the distraught Elf as the words sank in. ~Annolir?! True, I never liked him. But to resort to torture simply because he was jealous...~
"Annolir was there at the tower. He had no desire to kill me. Oh no. He wanted to humiliate me the way that I had humiliated him. He wanted me to know how unfair it was that he is always trying to learn how to become a good king while I am out playing, yet it is I who gets the credit and praise. He is sealed by fate while I was free to do as I chose. So Saruman stripped me of my voice, making me think that no one would want to be around me. That you and the others would see me as a weakness. That a Silent Prince was no good. And I...I believed him."
Suddenly, Legolas couldn't take it any more. All of the emotions he'd kept locked away suddenly came pouring out, and all he could do was bury his face in his hands and cry.
Aragorn wasted no time in pulling his friend to him, holding Legolas tight as he gently rocked back and forth.
"This is all my fault," Legolas sobbed, his face buried in the Ranger's chest. "If only I had noticed it sooner, if only I had said something to Ada, if only I had not gone to Rivendell, if only---"
"Hush," said Aragorn, feeling his own eyes sting with tears. ~If I ever get my hand on you, Annolir Lightbringer...~ "This is in no way your fault. You were not the one guiding your brother's actions."
"But Taolyn..."
The Ranger interrupted him by wiping a tear from the Elf's cheek with his thumb. "It is not you who will have to answer for young Taolyn's death," he said softly but firmly. "That burden falls on Saruman's shoulders."
Legolas blinked at him then leaned against the human, feeling safe for the first time in months.
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Hours later, after all of Legolas's tears had been spent, he and Aragorn were sitting side by side once more.
Unbidden, the words of an Age-old song flowed into his mind. Almost without thinking, he closed his eyes and opened his mouth to sing.
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The songbird shook the snow from his feathers and spread his wings, ready to fly But lo! Something was wrong! For snow clouds still hung heavy in the sky. "Where is Spring?' cried he, desperation making his voice shrill "For without him I cannot sing, cannot dance, cannot fly over wood and field."
"He has fled away," came the wind's whispered reply. "The Evil One drove him from this land without giving him a chance to say good-bye." "Spring cannot be gone!" cried he, not believing a word. "He must open the flowers, bring the rain, give us songs to be heard."
"Spring has gone," came the wind's whispered reply. "And gone he intends to stay Until the evil that drove him there has been chased far away." "But who would do such a thing?" cried he, defeat already in his voice. "Who would leave their homes to face such Evil? Who would make that choice?"
"People like you," came the wind's whispered reply. "People who want to see Spring again. People who miss the flowers, the rain and the other joys he would bring." "I am but one!" cried he, feeling very miserable inside. "What could I do against such Evil? I could only die."
"Look inside yourself," came the wind's whispered reply, "and you'll see what you've known all along That, to drive Evil away, it only takes a simple song."
So the songbird song, and much to his delight The Sun rose high into the sky, chasing away the night The Evil screamed in defeat and quickly fled away And Spring crept back into the world, this time to stay
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Silence descended over the forest once more as Legolas's voice trailed away. The Elf kept his eyes closed, feeling his heart lighten.
Next to him, Aragorn let out a contented sigh. "I have sorely missed that sound," he murmured. "You have always been able to comfort me."
"And I hope I always will," Legolas replied. "I will never let myself become the Silent Prince again. Tomorrow is a new day, a new beginning."
And it was.
For he was Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of the Mirkwood Elves.
Silent no more.