See first chapter for disclaimer

A/N: Hello again! Well, we are over half way now, and though Legolas has been rescued. He hasn't got the sword back. So we have a long way to go. Anyway reviews. Thank you.

Deana: Yes, Legolas has escaped. But he's not out of trouble yet..

ghemstone: Oops, I didn't notice that. Thanks. I have corrected it now. It is really confusing remembering which of the twins is talking sometimes.

Chapter 6

Legolas stirred-before opening his eyes he realised he was free of his bonds and at once he leapt to his feet.
"You are awake then-you have been unconscious for a day" a voice said stepping out of the trees "My brothers shall be along shortly" Legolas whipped around to see a man, young-barely older than 17 walk into the clearing-his appearance shocked Legolas and for a moment scared him and then Legolas' face turned to one of anger and hatred
"I don't think I'll wait" he said walking towards the man, as he saw the intense hatred in the elf's eyes, the man stepped back "There's been a misun…" he never finished, Legolas had hit him. Hard. The man fell back and landed on the ground
In shock as he felt blood falling down his face, from his nose. "Please, wait!" he gasped getting a sickening feeling that unless he could get round to the elf he would be killed. Leaping to his feet he raised his hands "Legolas. I d…" he gasped as Legolas hit him in the stomach
"I'm Prince Legolas to you!" he snapped taking up one of his knives from where it lay beside his pack and other weapons underneath a tree he placed the point at the man's neck "and now you will pay!" he raised the knife and brought it swinging through the air…
"Legolas, Stop!" the familiar voice stopped the Prince; the man opened his eyes to see the sword barely an inch from his neck. Legolas turned his head slightly "Elladan? Elrohir? What are you doing here?" he asked his voice showing obvious confusion
"We…we came to find you." Elladan said with a nervous look at his brother
"Legolas, there is something we should have told you. The mortal you are about to kill he is our, well he is our brother-Estel."
"What!" Legolas said staggering backwards in shock "How is that possible?"
"Adar adopted him when he was two years of age. His parents were killed by orcs" Elrohir said as he helped Estel to his feet. Though as the three looked over at Legolas they were shocked by the harsh look on his face
"It makes him no different than any other mortal" he said turning away. "It makes it no different from those that stole Edhel-Naur. I have to go after them! I have to get the sword back"
"Legolas, he is different. Please accept him as you would an elf. He's not like that. He won't harm you" Elladan said getting steadily more frustrated
"How can I believe that, how can I believe that when the last mortal I trusted betrayed me!" the elf looked saddened by this fact. "I cannot trust him"
"Legolas, please, we wish to help you-but we cannot leave Estel here- we will need him" replied the younger of the twins.
"I got myself into this trouble. I will get myself out" Legolas said "I was going too ask your help but these men are dangerous"
"Danger? When have we ever been afraid of danger?" Elrohir laughed
"Very well, I will allow you to come with me however I cannot trust the mortal"
"Legolas, please…"
"I said I couldn't trust him, yet I can trust your judgement"." Legolas said, "That does not mean to say that I shall enjoy his company. But for friendships sake I will suffer it." With those as his final words Legolas turned and walked to the trees he lightly leapt up preparing to grasp one of the lower branches but failed falling backwards and landing heavily.
"You have been through a lot Legolas, you are not as strong as you usually are" Elrohir said as he and his twin helped Legolas to his feet. Legolas scowled-not so much at Elrohir's words but due to the fact he had shown weakness in front of a human.
"We rest here for the night" Elladan said
"No," Legolas replied "They will realise I am gone"
"Then we shall rest in the trees" Elladan said, "I'll take first watch"
"Make sure you don't fall asleep this time though" Legolas said a smile on his face as he remembered a time long ago.
"That wasn't my fault. You put Adar's sleeping draught in my water!" Elladan fired back
Elrohir laughed "it was worth seeing your face when you fell from the tree!"
"That was not funny Elrohir!" Elladan said-his face a perfect impersonation of their Father's
"However had our places been reversed-I swear to you it would be!" Elrohir laughed, as he swung up into a tree, followed closely by Elladan, Legolas too managed to join them-by route of a tree with a few lower branches and then so to did Estel. Legolas watched as the man tried to find a comfortable place to sleep, when the man was settled Legolas moved as far away from him as he could and drifted into the elven state of sleep.

The Mortals were everywhere spreading around the clearing like a disease. Causing the elf pain, striking him down when he attempted to rise, and all the time Malkon stood there glaring down at him. Hating him-and yet wanting him. Then the figure started forward and began to caress Legolas cheek. As Legolas stared Malkon turned into Estel, and the man began to laugh…

"Legolas! Legolas! Wake up" Legolas woke breathing quickly as he took in his surroundings. Noticing it was only Elladan who was leaning over him-and he was only trying to stop Legolas falling from the tree, he calmed down and closed his eyes briefly, trying to blink back tears that threatened to fall.
"It was all so real" he whispered "Malkon was killed-why does he return to haunt me?"
"I do not know Legolas" he said knowing of what the elf spoke. Long ago Legolas had been captured and violated. The man-Malkon-would have done so again had Elladan and Elrohir not rescued Legolas, the younger elf however had been haunted by dreams for many months afterwards-but Legolas had long since recovered from his ordeal. Elladan did know why the old memories had been resurfaced. Estel. The young mortal though not quite of the same build or age, had piercing blue eyes and dark hair as Malkon had done and maybe that similarity or maybe it had been the look of curiosity on Estel's face whenever he looked at the Prince that had spooked the Prince. Yet that look was nothing other than curiosity for Estel had never seen Mirkwood or one of the elves from that realm, and was obviously curious about the prince and his life.
"Legolas I know it seemed real-but it was just a dream" Elrohir said concern for his friend evident in his voice.
"I think we should move on." Estel said speaking up for the first time "We may be endangered staying here"
"That is true" Elrohir said "Come let us leave here" he leapt down from the tree and he was shortly followed by his brothers and Legolas-who still looked slightly shaken from his dream.

Thranduil's incessant pacing was beginning to grate on Elrond's nerves. Normally such a thing would not irritate the placid Elf lord. But with his son's away from home, Elrond was feeling strangely tense. Looking up form the large volume he was pretending to be reading he turned to his friend,
"Thranduil, please, Sit down. Pacing will not get you anyway"
"It will only give me sore feet" Thranduil said with a slight smile
"I'm sorry?" Elrond said obviously confused
"Legolas said that to me once. I was worried about him. He walked in on me pacing-like I was then. They were his words to me" Thranduil paused and sank into another chair. "Elrond, what happened to him? Where is my Son? Why can your son's not find him!" "If it was not for your son's carelessness they would all be here now!" Elrond snapped a sudden flame in his eyes. Thranduil's head snapped up.
"Say that again" he hissed leaping to his feet, angered at the critisism of his son
"I merely said that had it…" realising what he had said he stopped "Thranduil. I apologise. I did not mean what I said. I was"
"It is too late for that now! I thought you cared for Legolas' wellbeing. I was wrong all you care for is yourself and you sons!" Thranduil snapped turning on his heel and storming out of the room. Elrond watched him go then sank back into his chair. He knew he would never have said those words had it not been for his worry.
"Whatever have I said" he groaned.

Thranduil sat back in the chair in the small study adjoining his room. He didn't know why he had said those words. Elrond's words had just struck a nerve. However the elf-lord was worried too that was understandable. He knew that Elrond felt the same way about his children as he did about Legolas. He knew he was being childish. He knew he pair had to work together to help their children if they had fallen into any danger. Yet his stubborn pride refused to allow him to apologize to his friend. Yet even as he tried to dismiss the thoughts of his friend, another image sprang up an image of the first time they had become friends. Long ago at the Last Alliance…

Flashback

It was over, the last battle. Sauron was defeated was he not? Middle-Earth could live in peace could it not? Yes… it could. But not all people here were celebrating the victory. For not everyone who had set out to this battle were here. As with all wars there had been casualties. Gil-Galad had fallen. Elendil too had gone to his final resting place, so many who were not born to die had fallen too many. Elves the new king had known. Elves he had grown up with, Elves that had been his friends. But he cared not about that. There was only one death he cared about-only one. His Father, King Oropher of Greenwood had fallen too, leaving his son Thranduil to rule over his realm. But the new king did not want this responsibility. He wanted his father to be there by his side. As it had always been before, as it always should have been, and it still would be if it wasn't for himself. He could have tried harder to reach his Father's side. He could have saved his Father. But he hadn't done. It was his fault. His Father was dead because of him.
"It's my fault" he whispered "I should never have been born."
"Nothing is your fault" a voice responded "blaming yourself will cause you nothing but more pain. You must accept the path Eru places us on" Thranduil turned to face Lord Elrond. The tall Noldor elf was stood by his side a distant look in his eyes. Quite how long he had been stood there the elven king didn't know-but he wasn't happy about it. He had only met the elf a few times and had not gained a high impression of the elven-lord. Yet times like these called for some civility…
"But what if I do not like the path he chose for me?" Thranduil said his voice not quite hiding his contempt for the elven-lord.
"That is not something we can decide for ourselves. Eru works in mysterious ways" Elrond replied calmly, "Nobody can know how he selects those who leave this world. Nobody knows if it to be a loved one or themselves who must leave... We mourn them yes, but we cannot follow them if Eru wishes us not to. Maybe he has some task for you, as he may have for me. Whatever that may be, even I cannot tell you."
"What use am I to Eru? I could not even protect my own Father" Thranduil could barely be heard.
"Do not despair" Elrond placed a comforting hand on his companions shoulder "I think everyone present has lost someone they care for. I know you shall miss your Father. H e was a good king-and he shall be missed by many. However you too shall make a good King, I know it. You have inherited the same qualities that your Father had."
"No one could be as good a king as he was. Or as good a Father"
"You can try. He will always be there to aid you. Whether you can see him or not he will be there. As will you're Mother and all their forebears. They will always be watching over you. Always."
"Thank-you. Thank-you Lord Elrond." Thranduil said quietly "Thank you for your words of wisdom"
"You will be a good King, a good husband and a good Father.
"I must go and speak with my people" the king muttered
"Yet first you must allow me to see the wound on your arm mellon-nin" Elrond said "follow me"

FLASHBACK ENDS

"Thranduil?" the Elvenking looked up to see Elrond standing in the doorway
"What is it?" Thranduil replied coldly, then immediately regretting it
"I wanted to apologize for what I said earlier. I was wrong; I know none of this is Legolas' fault. I should not have said what I did"
"No, I too spoke wrongly of sons. I know they are trying hard to find him. If anyone is to blame then it is I." Thranduil dropped his gaze "This mess is my fault. Legolas offered me the chance to accompany him. I turned his offer down. If I had not declined none of this would have happened" Thranduil ran a hand through already untidy hair and sighed "I promised to protect him. I swore I'd never let anything happen to him! I should just leave for Valinor. I am no better Father than I was a son"
"You are wrong. Both your Father and Legolas would disagree there. Thranduil no one can predict precisely what is around the corner" Elrond said "I told you that once before long ago"
"I remember, though sometimes I find it hard to believe." Thranduil replied

TBC

Another chapter over with, I'll be back soon with chapter 7 Bye

Aranel