Brothers In Arms Chapter 14

Author: Robin9

Beta: Cara

Quick Note: As promised here is the next chapter today! A huge big thank you to Cara - comma, comma, comma, comma, comma, comma, comma, comma, comma, comma, comma, comma.

I know for a fact that I am missing reviews but to all who are reviewing thank you so much. You guys are great especially Deana (really caught up now in Defying Death, I want more!!!!), Melissa (thanks so much for always reviewing!) angelbird12241 (thank you!)

Disclaimer: I am not making any money from this at all, I do not intend to infringe on any rights.

Sitting again in his office, Thranduil read

I am now at a loss at what I am to do. Legolas refuses to go to Lorien. He is now refusing to talk to me. The only people he talks to are the horses. Sometimes he will say some words to passing visitors but even then it is strained. Every day I feel I am losing. I know he hurts but I wish he would at least let me try and help. Noralis now wonders if he will recover at all. I still think he will, though at times even I am unsure.

A knock on the door startled Thranduil. Looking up he saw Deral, his bodyguard. Rising to greet his greatest friend and confidant Thranduil joked. "Deral, why such a long face? Have you lost your great sword again?"

Deral took one of the chairs and sat. "My king, we fear for your safety and the safety of your family."

Sitting down, Thranduil said "That is not the way I had hoped to start my morning Deral. I know you well enough that you do not jest. What is it?"

Deral looked directly into the king's eyes as he began to speak. "The attack on your brother's home was planned. We did not realise it at the time."

Thranduil looked in open shock at the elf in front of him. "We knew the attack did not happen by itself. I thought that it was assumed there was an external influence."

Here Deral looked a little uncomfortable. "Yes that is true. But we had thought it to be orcs or at the very least a tragedy after a rushed robbery."

Thranduil began to look a little angry at that statement and he stood. "My brother would have been able to fend off ten men. He was a strong warrior. Better than I, for it was he who saved my life on Mount Doom."

While any other elf would have flinched at the anger, Deral was well used to this. Still looking at Thranduil with the same intensity he quietly said. "For a son any father would willingly give up their own life."

Silence entered the room for a second as each elf considered what must have occurred in that home. Deral continued. "Items were removed from the home. I saw it when we were there. A shield that Legolas first used was gold covered and had precious jewels set inside Yet you would not have known of the value of these unless you spoke to Sorian, Legolas or Noralis. There were other items I noticed missing also."

Thranduil held his head in his hand as he looked at the journal on his desk. "Is there any possibility it was orcs?"

Deral did not answer for a moment. When Thranduil looked up their eyes met and Thranduil got his answer. For the benefit of clarity Deral spoke. "There is always the possibility. But no, it could not have been orcs. It was planned and executed too well."

The king had now stood and was looking out the window. Deral heard a whisper on the wind. "What do we do now?"

Feeling slightly concerned, Deral began to speak quickly. "We are increasing the security of the palace. None of the royal family are to leave without a bodyguard. I am assigning bodyguards to your two nephews. . .with your permission," he added as an afterthought.

Nodding Thranduil agreed. "Continue. What else?"

Shrugging Deral finished. "At the moment we have no other plan. We will monitor any who enter close to this realm and if we deem it necessary escort them on their way. Apart from that at this moment I feel we can do no more."

The king nodded at the information that he now had to digest. "Very well continue. One last question- who have you chosen for Legolas?"

"Resim."

Thranduil turned looking more than a little surprised. "He agreed? I thought he would never leave the border and become a bodyguard."

Smiling a little Deral explained. "Legolas was Resim's project. I think that, since Legolas never returned to the patrol, Resim in some way did not finish it."

As Deral was about to leave he turned back to the king. "Thranduil, we need to sort out patrols, food and weapons."

Deral saw his king slump a little at the sounds of all of this. "My friend I find it hard to go on at the moment. It seems to me that since my brother has died a little part of me is dying every day. I cannot seem to find the energy to fight much more."

Deral looked sadly at his friend. "I can not even begin to understand what is occurring for you old friend but I do know that you are needed somewhere"

Thranduil sighed. Nodding his head he looked back at his friend. "I had better become myself again."

Deral looked closer at Thranduil and frowned as he said "No my friend, the elves need you to become king again."

Edain had been spending the last few days with Legolas. He was glad Legolas was opening up to him a little more. The lessons were always in the morning, normally as soon as breakfast was over. Edain was trying to help Legolas differentiate between different emotions he was feeling.

Edain was now realising that Legolas had a mixture of all the gifts that come with the dobhracht and it was this mixture that was tearing him apart. However, as hard as Edain tried to get Legolas to open and talk, there was a huge wall in front of anything remotely close to the elf's heart.

Edain feared for Legolas if that emotion was not released. He could see the strain that had been wreaked on the elf's body for the number of years that he had been dealing with this. Edain saw an exhausted body and a weary mind. He had never before encountered an elf who at the age of 145 had been given the dobhracht. He saw the torture it was doing to Legolas' emotions.

Occasionally around the palace Edain would see Legolas frown and backup when it came to getting close to anyone. Edain saw for himself that Legolas seemed to fear everyone. Edain wondered if Legolas even knew what he himself wanted. No matter how hard Edain tried, Legolas forbade anyone to get close.

The result of this was that Edain could not get close to Legolas' emotions to help ease the suffering of the dobhracht, and that after some days of trying, Legolas was not making any sort of headway in his recovery. Edain resorted to blocking some of the pain in Legolas' head, but this was a draining exercise for both involved.

Edain also found that this stressful situation was being repeated across the palace. There was an air of danger and secrecy. The king seemed to live in his office and his work was taking up most of the time. Edain noticed the elves who followed the king and queen like a hawk. During lessons with Legolas, Edain noticed one elf in particular was always close.

However as his concern for Legolas' physical and emotional state was increasing every day he decided it was time to meet with Laomir and Thranduil.

Standing in front of them in the library he told them what he feared and what was happening. As Edain finished they both looked shocked and disappointed.

Thranduil was the first who spoke. "But I saw into his memories the day we were in the garden. Surely he trusts us enough now to tell us what happens."

The Lorien elf looked sadly at the king who he had gained a lot of respect for over the last few weeks. "There is the problem. His emotions are overpowering his body. He cannot control them. His strength is gone."

An exasperated Thranduil scoffed. "What do you mean his strength is gone? What does that have to do with us? He trusts us. He has stayed in the palace."

Edain knew this would be the most difficult part of the conversation. "You saw into his emotions not because he wanted you to, but because at the time he was upset and he could not stop you. He will not get better overnight simply because he is now working with me."

Laomir very gently brushed her hand against her temple and in a quiet but ultimately powerful voice said. "Can you not tell us, please, why he is not simply getting better by working with you? If you cannot help him, I trust you will pass us to someone who can."

Here Edain had to hide a smile. In the short time he had known her, one thing he liked about Laomir was her honesty.

"I apologise. I did not explain myself well. Legolas is like a locked box. The memories of that night are locked away. He will not open it. But the box is growing. It is taking a lot of strength and energy to try and keep it quiet as it is growing. That is why it is so hard for me to help him. He doesn't have the extra energy to work with me."

Here Thranduil spoke up "Memories? Are you saying he can remember nothing of that night?"

Edain was beginning to get frustrated trying to explain this. "He can remember parts. Even I have seen parts, but most is locked away. That is what is making him so confused and scared. He vividly relives some of these memories as you have seen, but not all."

Laomir looking a little shocked asked "Will he get better by himself?"

Edain sighed and shook his head. "No. I think it more likely his big box will break first. Whatever he is hiding, it is forcing its way out. That is what you saw Thranduil, the overpowering of his emotions. He is a very powerful elf. So it not only overpowers his senses but as you saw, it can leak into yours."

Laomir and Thranduil looked at each other for a moment before Laomir hesitantly asked. "If he does not release these. . . emotions?"

Edain was silent for a moment before answering

"He will release them. It is not a matter of if, but when, it happens."