Severity of Silence

Chapter 3: Reunion

"One whose friend is fond of us; one who's fond of us isn't necessarily our friend"

Marcus Anneus Seneca

:Legolas:

Waking up the next morning and stretching I am relieved to find no more pain from my injured rib and smile. At least now when I ride I won't be held back to trots. Getting myself dressed and set to head out for morning feedings I quietly make my way to the door, trying my hardest not to disturb the elders. Opening the great door I stop suddenly to find Prince Aragorn , standing there, hand raised to knock. Glancing back behind me I motion for the human teen to be silent and I close the door. I motion for him to follow me as I head for the barn, the fresh morning air hitting my lungs and making me appreciate the morning. Walking the winding path in silence we soon come across the many gates leading into the stable, some of the other hands have already begun morning feeding and I am quick to join them. Aragorn follows right beside me and I seek out Jerald. Finding the younger teen in the feed loft I quickly send out orders and he interprets them too Aragorn.

" He wants you to help him with the shoeing today. We need to get the Stallion's ready for their trip to Rohan." Jerald tells the Prince and the dark haired teen nods before following me down the ladder and back to the isle way. The sweet smell of horse assaults my senses and I close my eyes briefly, remembering back to how my father's own Elven stable smelt, so much the same. Just as this thought came into my mind a feeling of sadness rips through my heart, making me open my eyes quickly, dismissing the thoughts and memories. Signaling to Aragorn who was petting one of the many horses I lead him into another tack room where the many horseshoes can be found. Grabbing a bucket of those and grabbing lead lines I take Aragorn with me and have him fetch Merciner while I get Amakusa. The great charger squeals when he sees his companion Merciner and tries to pull closer to him but I hold his head away, not wanting them to become edgy for the blacksmith. Pointing in the direction of a small workshop we lead the horses there and are greeted by a short man with a long reddish colored beard and narrow brown eyes. He stands there, holding a hammer and heating a forge.

" Ah, Master Elf. Are these the beasts that are to be shoed?" He asks and I nod at the Dwarf, smiling as I tie the charger securely and then turning to see how Aragorn is doing with his horse. Merciner is yanking his head against the lead, already dreading what is to happen. The dwarf goes over to the King's horse first, since that one has been trained since birth to stand for his shoes and gently picks up the hoof and pulls the old shoe off. Filing down the hoof he makes sure it is level and then heats up the shoes. Placing them against the hoof he sees how much he must take them in before they fit properly and then goes over to the anvil and begins pounding the heated steel into a U shape. Finally he gets the right fitting and copies three more, then begins nailing them to the hoof. I pet the stallion's head while this is happening and soon the Charger is done, able to have his treat that I keep in my jerkin pocket. Holding out the bit of Sugar he takes it greedily.

" Aye.. the beast from hell." The black smith says with a bit of loathing in his voice as he approaches the Elven horse, not letting on how intimidated he really is when the mighty stallion snorts. I go and grab onto the animals' sensitive ear while Aragorn takes a firm hold of the halter. Merciner jerks and snorts and stamps his feet but by the time he is done his antics the job is done and the dwarf is putting his last hoof down.

" He hates having his feet done. Wasn't he trained like the others?" Aragorn asks and I smile slightly as I untie the two and begin leading them back.

:Aragorn:

I watch as Legolas leads the two stallions away, their new shoes striking the stone with a clomping sound.

" No, that be an Elven horse from the land of Lorthlorien. Spirited beasts they are, and smart too. You see lad, Elves don't shoe their horses nor do they ride them with gear. They allow them to be wild like they are supposed to be, not animals of burden like our bred beasts." He says and I nod, watching as Merciner prances around at the very end of his lead, trying to loose the fingers wrapped around the end. Smiling I turn back to the Dwarf and give him and inquisitive look.

" What is a Dwarf doing in Gondor? If it's not to rude to ask." I ponder and the dwarf laughs, a deep rattling laugh that comes from his very gut. I smile as the dwarf takes a swig from a flask on his hip and wipes his mouth on his leather-guarded arm.

" Well Lad, it was not only Elves that were attacked by those hell-bent killers. Many of my people fled deep into the caverns they built, and the few of us left on the outside when those gates closed had to find some other place to live. I was in service to your father in his raid. Yes my ax and I chopped a many that night, so many. I was offered a job here under your father as a black smith, and I took it. It's not digging in the beautiful caverns in my home, but it's something. That's all anyone effected by those bastards want, all they want is a place to belong now that their kind is mostly gone." He adds sadly and I suddenly feel very sorry for the Dwarf. His Kin's men didn't die, or were killed they shut him out of his own homes in the caverns in the mountains. I never realized how fully this group of people really impacted upon the other people of Middle Earth.

" Your name sir Dwarf?" I ask, suddenly.

" Gimli, son of Gloin. Just like I am in service of your father young Aragorn, I pledge my Ax to you as well." He says and holds up a tomahawk on his belt before putting one leather-gloved hand over his heart. I put my own hand over my heart and bow my head, accepting his allegiance.

" Thank you Gimli, son of Gloin." I nod and the turn to race back to the stable hoping to find Legolas once again. I find him all right, right out in front of the tack room. With Boromir and Faramir. Racing down the hall I duck behind a few bails of hay. Watching this exchange.

" What's wrong Shadow? Not speaking to me anymore?" He roughly shoves Legolas back but the lithe elf stands his ground, trying to press past the human boy to get into the tack room. Boromir keeps pushing him back, making the elf narrow his eyes in annoyance.

" Say something. C'mon." Boromir prompts. Legolas only moves away from him, seeking a way out but finding none. Finally he sighs loudly and slumps his shoulders but I catch the tensing of his muscles and he sets himself into motion. Legolas goes down and brings his left leg out while he balances on his right hand, using momentum he swings his leg around and catches Boromir's ankle, making the human teen fall on his back. Legolas then springs to his feet, agility showing in every gauged movement and he falls into a defensive stance. Eyes narrowed and face stern, he watches as Boromir rolls to his feet and smiles.

" My, we are quite the fighter when we want to be?" He laughs and is about to lunge at the elf but is stopped by a long elvish blade at his throat. Legolas hisses angrily like a cat and it doesn't take a genius to know what he is saying. Boromir holds up his hands in a gesture of peace, eyes intently watching the mad elf before him. They stand there and stare for a long time, blue eyes meeting angry pale ones, locked in a silent argument of wills. Jerald comes running in and stops at this sight before racing to Legolas' side, talking to his friend calmly. Legolas seems to snap out of a trance and drops the white-handled knife before backing away. Boromir does the same and with a glare he turns and stalks from the barn, Faramir following closely behind him. Jerald kneels beside Legolas who has pressed himself into a tiny, trembling ball. His long body wedged between a bail of hay and a stall door, eyes frightfully wide and open but not really seeing the world around him.

" What's wrong with him?" I ask, going to the other boy's side and watching the elf. Jerald glares at me before checking the Elf's temperature. He puts his hand back on his knee before looking at me again, worry lining every feature and making his eyes seem brighter than before.

" I honestly do not know. Get Lord Elrond. Please hurry my Lord." He says and I nod, getting to my feet quickly I race from the barn, going back up the pathway and into the palace now just coming alive. Racing the halls to where I know the Elf Lord would be my mind keeps replaying the scene from before over and over and how much I do not know about Legolas.

:Elrond:

A knock at the door draws my attention from the mirror set up against the wall. Glancing quickly at my blonde companion just to make sure his slumber was not disturbed I go and answer the door. Opening it just a crack I peer into the hallway, then upon seeing the aging face I fling it open, not caring when it hits the wall and wakes Glorfindel up.

" Gandalf!" I smile and welcome him into my room, his two hooded companions come in also, but say or do nothing. I peer at them cautiously and then turn to Gandalf, knowing full well that the Wizard wouldn't be traveling with anyone dangerous. The wizard sits and glances about the room, smiling at Glorfindel who has risen and is now blinking sleep from his eyes.

" Good morning my friends." He greets and I smile at him.

" Your late." Glorfindel's tired voice says from where he is stretching and Gandalf shoots him an annoyed look before responding coolly.

" I have never, and will never be late. I arrive just when the time is appropriate. You will learn that someday Captain." He smiles and Glorfindel chuckles before excusing himself from the room and going into the bathroom. I turn and smile back at the wizard before inquiring about the robed figures.

" Who are your companions?" At the mention of them they turn and look at me before looking back at Gandalf who nods. Throwing back their hoods I am shocked to find two dark-haired elves standing before me, identical in every feature. My shock must have shown on my face since the two younger elves smile and laugh.

" Elladan… Elrohir.." I mutter and get to my feet, drawing close to the two boys of my own blood, touching their faces, almost thinking myself mad.

" Yes Ada…" Elrohir asks his eyes becoming misty in tears as happiness floods them. I smile and shake my head, bringing both of my boys into a hug, clutching them close to my heart like I use to when they were young. Both boys were sobbing into my shoulders and I into theirs.

" We missed you.." Elladan says into my arm and I release them and pull back to gaze at their faces. So much have they grown form the time I sent them away to live in the Golden Wood after the first attack. Both boys have lost their look of innocents but gained the hard look of an experienced life, yet their impish smiles have remained unscathed.

" My how you have grown." I comment and turn when I hear the gasp from Glorfindel who was present at the twin's birth all those centuries ago. The blonde stands there, eyes wide in shock as he stares at the two, then a smile spreads slowly across his face, as he lunges foreword and clasps both children.

" Never gave up hope.. never." He says and the twins exchange words with his while in the embrace. Stepping back I gaze at Gandalf who was smiling at the scene in front of him but his smile is a mask of sadness. Going to sit beside him I watch the wizard closely.

" What of Thranduil?" I ask, and the saddened look become more grave as my long time friend looks down at his hands, so frail looking from age.

" Slaughtered where he stood at his gates in Mirkwood. He died valiantly and the way any elven warrior such as himself would have wanted to go." Gandalf says and I nod, my own sadness coming into my heart at this news. Although Rivendell and Mirkwood were enemies for something our forefathers did we stood together as one when that group of humans came down upon our people. I never did like Thranduil but he did not put anything before his people, or his family. He was a skilled warrior and was a grand king. Bowing my head I say a small prayer for the king and the others of his people who were slaughtered.

" Where is Legolas?" Gandalf asks and at this Elladan jerks his head up from his conversation with Glorfindel and looks over at me.

" Prince Legolas is here?" he asks and I nod, quite alarmed by this shock.

" Why would he not be?" I ask, and both twins look at each other.

" There was news of his death in one of the camps. We thought that all of the Mirkwood elves were killed." One says sadly and I nod.

" In some ways the young prince died." I tell them and get nothing in return, glancing at Glorfindel I find his face hidden from me and the others.

" In what way?" Elladan asks, looking about the room as if trying to see if the child was there.

" He has lost the ability of speech." Both of the youngsters gasp as they finally realize the full horror of what had happened. Yet they wouldn't fully understand how badly we were treated in those camps and how much it changed each of us. I hope they never have to find out.

" How..?" I look over at Gandalf who nods and moves back to lean in his chair, he knows what was done to the boy better than I.

" He was given a poison that inflames the vocal cords so badly they begin to tear. On my many travels I have come upon some plants that might reveres this effect and restore his speech." Gandalf says and I watch itnently as he reaches into his robes and withdraws a small package of leaves.

" These are Fairy Breath, a plant that only grows in the Golden Wood. The lady herself gave me these when I went to gather the twins. She also said she foresaw the friendship between two princes but many problems will be aroused." He says and hands me the plants.

" Why must she be so vague?" Glorfindel asks and I smile, knowing that sometimes he has trouble with interpreting the messages from the Lady.

" What must be done to these leaves to make them work?" I ask the wizard ignoring the blonde.

" Boil them down and then make a hot tea of them. Make him drink it. Be careful though, the whole patch of Fairy Breath was destroyed when the elves left the Golden Wood." He cautions and I nod, knowing how the elves left no traces of their existence once they were gone. We did the same to my home of Rivendell, torched it's living grounds and strong buildings before leaving and never looking back.

" I must be ready to leave for Rohan." Glorfindel says and gets to his feet. Going over to his chest he removes the Elven armor and begins lacing the leather strings and clasping the fine metal. He is finished readying himself when a loud knock at the door alerts us all to a new visitor. Elrohir opens the door only to be shoved back by a dark-haired youth. Aragorn stops, breathing heavily before straightening and looking right at me.

"Legolas… fight… Come quick." He pants and I catch the satchel Glorfindel tosses at me and I tear off down the hall, my two sons and Aragorn following.

:Jerald:

Once Aragorn raced from the stable I sit down beside the elf, watching his body shudder and shake as his eyes stare ahead but see nothing of this world.

" My friend, you know you shouldn't fight so. Come back, don't give into those haunting memories." I tell him but in reality I know not of what he is thinking. I have known the elf for a good three years and he has found a way to worm into my ice heart. My mother and father died when I was young and the old stable master took me in, which is why I am a worker now. Never having the same things as the noble children I was always left out, and this made me become cold and bitter. Meeting Legolas, the blonde elf with so much behind his pale eyes, yet he keeps a smiling and happy front. Something terrible must have happened within his past that causes him to hide from the world during a confrontation, something within his scarred soul. Sitting there I sigh and wait patently for the Elven Lord to come and fix my dear friend. Like all the other times.

:Legolas:

Flashback

Sitting in the cell, knees drawn up to my chest I can't get the face of the human I killed out of my mind, nor the actions taken. He raises from the ground where I had dropped him with a swipe of my long leg he lunges at me. Quicker than he or I could comprehend my blade went through his throat and bone, making his breath gurgle and blood shoot from his throat where the blade had entered. His warm life essence sprayed my face and hands as my momentum carried me through, the Elven blade slicing neatly through his throat, decapitating him. His body lurched forward, and I step back watching as the headless from convulses (1) on the ground. The head only a few paces away where is landed stares at me, eyes open in shock and mouth all blood. I gasp in horror and step away from the dead body, 'I am a warrior' and 'this should not effect me so' I keep telling myself over and over but nothing seems to justify his death. Hands yank at me, their faces screaming alien words at me but I am numb, body and soul. They throw me into the cell, so dark and empty of life. So empty.. and dark.. so alone.

End Flashback

:Elrond:

Upon reaching the youth I am shocked to find him unharmed by this fight. Finding the white-handled blade lying in the isle it didn't take me long to put together what had happened. Legolas had felt threatened enough to draw the weapon from its hidden sheath under his tunic sleeve. Turning now to Legolas who is shaking and huddled in a ball I realize what had happened. While fighting the other boy, most likely Boromir, the drawing of the blade triggered some form of memory long kept hidden. Kneeling beside the youth I place a hand on his shoulder, alarmed by how badly it shakes and slowly rubs the joint.

" Legolas? Young one." I begin in his native elvish, hoping to rouse the child that way. His body begins to shudder less but his eyes remain vacant and empty. Gripping the shoulder more tightly I roughly shove it giving a quick

" WAKE!" order as I do so. Nothing come from this and I try again, grasping for the child's mind as well as his soul.

" Come back penneth… come back. Those memories hold nothing for you. Come back." I plead with him, I can't bear to lose one when my own family is beginning to become whole again. I will not allow that which as has taken so much to take the only joy in these many years so soon.

:Aragorn:

I watch on as Elrond tries to awaken the young elf, his Elven words spilling past him mouth in a flurry of sounds. He grips his shoulders and shakes his form but nothing seems to be working. The elder turns to the other two elves and the elder man, those I have never seen before.

" Gandalf… please. Bring him back." Elrond says and the older man kneels down in front of my friend, his pointed hat shadowing his eyes. The elder begins to say something in some ancient language. I watch the pale eyes and am shocked to find them become focused and more vibrant in color. I watch as those eyes blink rapidly and he gazes about himself like someone whom was lost for a long time. He gives the new elves a weird look before his face breaks out in a bright smile.

" Legolas!" The two cry and lunge for the elf, engulfing him in a large hug. Jerald comes to my side and puts a hand on my shoulder.

" Come, let them be." He says and I nod, following the other boy. Before turning the corner I cast one last look at them and for the first time in all the many years I have seen Legolas his face seems finally happy and carefree, just like elves should be. Even in a world of men.

For those of you who were concerned:

Legolas and Aragorn as a couple: will NOT be happening. I'm not a big fan of slash, more into the friendship thing.

The twins: HAHA! I brought them back

Legolas being able to talk: …. Does that leave you still with a question?

Looks into Legolas' past: There shall be more… that I promise.

(1) If your head is disconnected from your body the rest of you will convulse. I found that quite funny, no idea why.. just did.

Thank you to all those who have reviewed. I am happy you all like this. I'll update as soon as possible.