Summary : Legolas's brash action causes disaster once again. And this time, a live is lost and blame is put upon his head. Guilt-ridden himself, the prince tries to win back everyone's heart, but it will not be easy.

Hello, everyone! Yes, I know I'm late. So sorry. My muse ran away and I got the worst writer's-block ever. I had to watch my LOTR DVD again and again just to retrieve the mood back. By the way, thank you so much for all the nice reviews you gave me for 'Tumbling Tot In The Stream'. I'm so glad you enjoy it so much! THANK YOU!

Okay, this one fic is progressing nicely. From the summary, you will know that this is not the short comedy 'Two In The Tub' that I promised earlier. I decided to put it up after this one—an angst—is completed. This story took place right after 'Too Much'. Legolas' age is equivalent to human's 15-year-old while Keldarion is 25.

So, happy reading and prepare a hankie or some Kleenex, just in case.

###############################

The moment the arrow flew off my bow, I knew I had done the most foolish mistake of my life.

The wild boar was hit hard on its flank. Instead of going down, the animal abruptly halted in its dash, staggering and wobbling on its feet. It slowly turned to glare at us, its front feet pawing agitatedly against the ground. Hot mist came out of its nostril as the beast snorted in anger, while its sharp white tusks gleamed under the afternoon sun.

Then, with a vicious growl, the boar leaped and headed directly towards us, revenge burning mad in its beady eyes.

The Mirkwood warriors shouted in alarm all around me, calling out warnings about the impending danger. I could also hear my elder brother yelling from upfront, cautioning a fellow elf about the boar that was aiming straight for him.

The elf warrior named Hadrian reined in his mount in panic. Unfortunately, he was not quick enough to avoid the attack. The boar rammed into the horse's forelegs, knocking the stallion and its rider into my brother who was trying to control his own stallion directly behind them.

"Kel!" I shouted in horror to see my brother being thrown off his mount before he was slammed into a tree. With a cry, Keldarion crumpled to the ground. I quickly dismounted and ran to get to him, painfully aware that Hadrian nearby was screaming in terror and agony as the injured wild boar kept ramming its sharp tusks against the poor elf's side.

Kneeling beside Keldarion, I hastily grabbed my dagger from the strap on my back. But before I could throw the blade at the boar, Commander Linden had already taken out his bow and started shooting at the frenzied animal in rapid succession.

Five arrows struck the boar squarely on the center of its forehead. The beast staggered away from Hadrian's limp unmoving body, growling and snorting weakly under its dying breath. Then it collapsed a moment later, never to rise again.

I turned my attention back to my brother. He was holding his bleeding head as he gingerly rose himself to a sitting position, wincing all the while. "Kel? You are hurt," I stated, instantly reaching over to touch the long bloody gash on his right temple.

Keldarion jerked away. "Don't touch me!" he snapped irritably as smoldering fury glittered in his cobalt blue eyes. "What were you thinking, Legolas? Were you trying to kill us all?"

I gulped in discomfiture, feeling highly censured and hurt by Keldarion's rejection to heal him. Never in my entire life as a manyan, a mystical healer for our people, have anybody refused my healing gift. And to have it rejected for the very first time by my own brother was truly hurtful.

Still, I could fully understand Keldarion's angered reaction. What I did just now was incredibly foolish. I guess my head was a lot bigger than my brain, after all.

In trying to prove my shooting skill to Keldarion and the others, I had boasted out loud that I could shoot any moving target into a standstill, no matter how small or fast it was. I was feeling highly excited then when my brother finally included me in one of his patrol rounds into the woods, telling me now that I had come of age it was time I learn the ways of a warrior.

But, a bit cocky and brash as I was, I wasn't thinking of the consequences when I targeted at the wild boar that had suddenly crossed our path. I had completely forgotten that I was a healer, not a killer. I forgot that I highly valued all living things and will not harm them in any way if not provoke. I also forgot that I loved to have animals for companions, not for sport. To make matters worse, I had been smiling with anticipation when I struck down the wild boar, only to deeply regret what I had done afterwards.

Stupid, Legolas! That was truly stupid! I yelled at myself inwardly as I watched Keldarion crouched down beside Hadrian to check on his friend's multiple wounds. Commander Linden had dismounted and was also worrying over the fallen warrior.

The rest of the elves were silent, though. They were obviously still in shock by this sudden turn of event. Never had they thought that their king's youngest son would cause such a disaster during a routine patrol. The warriors surrounded the carcass of the boar and stared worriedly at their wounded comrade whose blood ran freely onto earth. Once in a while, they would glance accusingly at me, painfully reminding me that my foolish deed was about to cost another innocent life.

I snapped myself out of my reverie and promptly got down on my knees beside Hadrian's inert form. Without a word, I placed my hands over Hadrian's serious injuries and forced all my healing energy onto them. But, even then, I knew I was already too late.

Hadrian was already dead.

"No…" I whispered, shaking my head in denial. I pushed my hands harder against his most serious wound, the gaping cut across his stomach. My power was still mad at work, yet I knew it would never bring the dead back to life. "Please, no!"

Keldarion grabbed my hands and pushed them off Hadrian's body. "Stop it, Legolas. It is no use."

"But we don't know that! I think I can revive him if I…"

"YOU HAVE DONE ENOUGH!" my brother shouted, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at me, while a single tear of sadness ran down his cheek. I was shaken to the core by that sight, for I knew that Hadrian had been one of his closest friends.

"You have done enough," Keldarion repeated more quietly. He then took off his cloak and laid it over Hadrian's body, covering his friend from head to toe. "There's nothing you can do for him now. He is dead. Even your healing power can not return him to us."

My lips trembled, and my heart quivered. My eyes were stung with tears of regret. "I…I am so sorry, Kel. I…"

"Speak no more, for nothing you say can right this wrong," Keldarion cut me off with a swiping motion of his hand. "Save it for father and Hadrian's family. May they forgive you…for I can not."

I felt as if I was hit by lightning when hearing those words. Stupefied, I stared in silence as Keldarion gathered Hadrian into his arms and gracefully climbed atop his mount. "Back to the palace," he said shortly, and nudged the stallion towards home.

The rest of the warriors immediately complied and followed after my brother. Keldarion sat stiffly on his mount without looking back, and there was no mistake in the tone of his voice just now that he expected everyone to obey his words.

The relaxed and carefree mood that had surrounded us previously had now become deeply glum and tense. Even Commander Linden was strangely quiet as he mounted his ride. He stared down at me with narrowed eyes, waiting for me to climb atop my own stallion. I saw no condemnation in his gaze, but I saw no adoration and love that he used to show me either. His eyes were completely empty, as if he didn't know me at all.

Valar. What have I done?

###############################

"What had gotten into you, Legolas? What had caused you to do such a stupid thing?!" my father's voice boomed like a thunder, ringing loud through my ears. I bit my lips as I fixed my gaze at the floor, having not the courage to look at my father's face, which I knew had turned red with fury.

Our troop had just returned from the woods not more than an hour ago, and Hadrian's body had been claimed by his kin. I could never forget the way his mother had collapsed and broken down into tears, hugging her son's limp body to her bosom. I will always remember her heart-wrenching wail as she mourned the loss of her only child, leaving her completely alone in Middle-earth.

It didn't take long for the entire realm to understand what had happened, of Hadrian's unnecessary death. Not less than ten persons had given me the look of utter hatred and condescension. They were blaming me for the incident, as I was blaming myself.

I had tried to seek forgiveness from Hadrian's mother, but she was quickly whisked away with her son's body, still crying uncontrollably. There was nothing more I could do but to stand there alone like an idiot, deserted by everyone that had loved and cherished me.

And now I had to face the wrath of my father, the king of the Mirkwood realm.

"Have you no sense?" my father kept on ranting as he paced the study to and fro. Then he yelled, "BLAST IT! LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!"

I instantly snapped my gaze upwards, staring back at him in uncertainty and fear. My father was glaring ferociously, clenching and unclenching his fists as if he was trying hard to control himself not to hit me.

"How could you be so stupid?!" he shouted. "Why were you so reckless that you did not care of the consequences of your brash action?! Why, Legolas? WHY?!"

My lips trembled anew as I spoke, "Forgive me, father…"

"Forgive? Why ask for forgiveness when it would change nothing, when it would not bring that warrior back to the living?" He shook his head with a disappointed sigh. "Your recklessness had caused numerous chaos to my household, to this realm. But now, it has cost someone's life."

As a huge lump grew within my throat, I croaked, "Father, I…"

He sadly gazed at me. "How many more times are you going to disgrace me this way, Legolas? How many more times are you willing to put me in this position? I'm a king, yet my son is not acting as a true prince should be."

My heart was near to breaking to hear that. "I am very sorry, father. Truly, I'm so sorry," I said beseechingly, moving closer to him. But my father turned away, staring through the opened window instead.

"You have come of age," he said softly next. "You are not a child anymore, so stop acting like one." Turning back to me, he added, "For all our sake, Legolas, grow up."

With that, me father whirled and strode out of the room.

Then, and only then, I let the tears come.

TBC…