Chapter 8: Awakening

When Legolas regained conciousness, he was laying flat on his back. He felt a soft, cool hand on his brow and heard a voice singing. It was a sweet, sad song. Legolas connected it to his mother; she used to sing that lullaby to him when he was a child. The Elf's eyelids fluttered open and his vision swam. Sitting on the stone floor next to him, leaning over top of his prone form was an Elven woman.

Legolas, his vision still blurry, studied the blonde hair and blue eyes so similar to his own. Then, he allowed a hoarse whisper to penetrate the still.

"Naneth?"

The lullaby stopped, but the hand continued to caress his forehead. "No, Legolas. It's Lothien.

He blinked several times to allow his sight to clear. Now he recognized his sister. She was smiling sadly and her eyes glistened with unshead tears - whether they were from relief or anguish, Legolas couldn't tell.

Slowly, he pulled himself into a sitting position and flung his arms around his sister's neck. Lothien returned the gesture. Hot tears streamed down Legolas' face. He heard a soft sob, and assumed correctly that Lothien was letting her tears go as well.

After the embrace, Legolas pulled back and looked around him. He was in a different room now. IT wasn't much smaller than the one he'd fallen asleep in, but it seemed much larger because the two Elves were the only occupants. Along with the narrow window on the door, there was a small barred one on the wall opposite. A board for sleeping on was attatched to the wall with chains and brackets. A bucket sat in the corner that reeked of urine and feces. the entire cell was made of hard grey stone.

"How did I-?"

Lothien smiled. "You're lucky you're a prince, elle muindor. After a hefty sum of gold offered, you got transferred to solitary confinement."

Legolas looked aghast. "You bribed government officials?"

"It was either that, or leave you in a chamber with fifty other men!"

Noticing his sister was becoming agitated, Legolas changed the subject. "How long was I asleep?"

Her features softened. "Two days."

"You never left my side, did you?"

Lothien shook her head. "What else is there to do in this Valar-forsaken city?"

"Have you eaten?"

Lothien hesitated. "No. . ."

Legolas looked at her disapprovingly. "Go."

"What?"

"Go get something to eat."

"But-"

"Now."

Even in his own weakened state, Legolas was looking out for his sister's well-being. Reluctantly she left, looking behind her uneasily.

As soon as she'd gone, Legolas regretted insisting she leave. Alone with his thoughts, he reminisced about Aragorn. But even remembering happy times brought tears to his eyes.

Aragorn is dead, he thought, the concept finally starting to sink in. He's not coming back. I missed my chance.

Legolas began to cry; letting out low, wailing moans. "He's dead!" Legolas screamed between sobs. "He's dead! He's dead! He's dead!" Legolas stopped suddenly as he remembered his dream. "And I killed him!" he whispered, horrified.

He found himself somewhere he wished he could forget: on top of the palace of Minas Tirith. In front of him, quite close to the edge, was a tall Man, his dark hair streaming behind him in the wind. His eyes were closed and his lips were moving in silent prayer. Aragorn. If he had been able to, Legolas would have embraced the King and never let him go. But, his body seemed to have a will of its own. The Elf saw his hands reach out in front of him; felt Aragorn's tunic in his fists; watched him sway on the edge, trying to keep his balance. Finally, Legolas heard the Man hit the pavement and the screams of the peasents below. He'd just killed the only one he'd ever loved. But. . . why?



As all the details came rushing back in a flood of memory, Legolas suddenly felt sick to his stomach. Kneeling before the bucket in the corner, the Elf retched and vomited. The fetid smell of excrement hit him like a brick and another round of bile was forced out of him.

When Legolas had emptied his stomach, he dragged himself onto the board, curled himself into a small ball, and began to weep uncontrollably.

The Elf was asleep when the old man entered the cell. The etermally youthful form was curled up on the wooden plank attatched to the waqll, occasionally making a jerky movement or mumbling something.

Gandalf sat next to the prince and whispered his name. "Legolas." No reaction. The wizard spoke a little louder. "Legolas!" Legolas mumbled. Gandalf was beginning to lose his patience. "Legolas Greenleaf Thranduilion!" hke shouted at the other's sleeping form. "I am here to help you, but if you do not cooperate, there is little I can do!"

Legolas sat up quickly. "Aragorn!" he said in a cracked voice.

"No, mellon nin," Gandalf placed a gnarled hand on his friend's shoulder, "only me."

Legolas turned his head, seeing the Istari for the first time since he'd woken up. "Mithrandir," he whispered, his eyes filling with tears. "I killed-"

Gandalf cut him off by holding up a hand. "You killed no one, my boy. Do you remember the day Aragorn and Arwen died?"

The prince of Mirkwood cast his eyes to hte ground, closed his eyes, and shook his head. "Not clearly. Everything that happened that day is a blur in my mind. Like a page torn from a book."

"Think," Gandalf encouraged, "You will remember. I saw you wandering the streets of the city shortly after Arwen died. You looked upset and confused. Do you remember?"

"Vaguely. Aragorn wanted to be alone with his grief. He'd never left her side." Legolas stopped and looked up at Gandalf. "He'd never left her side," the Elf repeated. "Gandalf! That means I couldn't have killed her!"

Gandalf nodded. "That's good. Now, you saw me on the street. What next?"

"You - you told me to tell Aragorn-" The Elf's eyes reverted to the floor again. "You told me to tell him that - that I loved him."

The wizard nodded. "And did you?"

Legolas closed his eyes. A tear trickled down his cheek. "No. I didn't get the chance. He - he. . . jumped off the top of the palace."

Gandalf nodded again and grief flickered in his eyes. "Then you are not guilty. Now that you realize it, other will." He placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder. "I will do what I can to help you, mellon nin, but you must hang on to life while I do so. I can tell your spirit is slipping away as we speak."

"Legolas?" Lothien stepped through the doorway looking concerned.

"I'll take my leave now," Gandalf announced. The wizard moved his face closer to Legolas'. "Don't let me down," he whispered, then walked out of the cell.

A/N: I know what you're all thinking: Elendil finally updated?! What in Varda's name took her so long?! To tell you the truth, I have no excuse this time. I am a procrastinator, so please feel free to pelt me with rotten fruit and other non-pointy objects you might have. spreads arms wide While you're at it, some comments and ideas for future chapters would be welcomed. I know what I'm going to do, just not how I'm going to get there. Hopefully I will update sooner next time-

Elendil