Posted same time as 6th. (Only thing that sucks about that is I get the replies for one chapter when I post two) Read!

Elwyn

He burst out of the doors before I had a chance to enter them and the aura of anger surrounding him was almost tangible. Enough so that I backed away slightly.

"Man ná raica?"(What's wrong?) I asked hesitantly.

"Úengwë,"(Nothing.) he said curtly, continuing past me. "Ëa."(Let it be.) I immediately followed, against my better judgment.

"Legolas," I reached for his upper arm, effectively pulling him to a stop. "Please."

He sighed and a great deal of the worry lines disappeared from his features. He looked exhausted. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I didn't sleep well and this on top of it…" He gestured toward the doors to the Hall that he had just exited.

"What on top of it?" I persisted. "You won't tell me anything."

"Aragorn…" He trailed off and I suddenly grew nervous, having a hard time believing that my father could have sparked such fury in him. "I do intend to return to Ithilien," he revealed, "at his request." My eyebrows lifted, almost hitting my hairline. "He wishes to gather forces to beat back the Orcs attacking the boarder lands…and he has asked me to bring the colony here to fight."

"But…" I glanced at the doors myself and turned back to him, finally understanding his anger, "that endangers the Elves," I realized, stating it for no purpose in particular.

He nodded. "Again."

"And the Men there," I added. He nodded again. I shut my eyes momentarily, trying to think of an appropriate response, then opened them again. "This was Faramir's idea." It was not a question.

"Yes."

"And…you agreed?"

He let out a breath, as if deflating and averted his gaze, lowering himself onto a nearby bench. "Yes," he said eventually. "This is an inevitable battle. And Aragorn fights it partially for the Elves." He lifted his clear blue eyes to mine again. "How can I refuse him?"

My brow furrowed and I sat beside him as he placed his head in his hands. "You don't have to go." I absently brushed a stray blond strand behind his ear.

"Don't I?" He refused to look at me, even when I touched him. "If I don't, I let down Aragorn. And he needs this. If I do, this could very well be suicide. Or worse, genocide." He paused. "What sort of leader does that make me?"

"A concerned one, I suppose," I replied vaguely, "Which makes an admirable one."

"Admirable," he scoffed, drooping his head and resting his elbows in his knees, dangling his hands in between them. "Hardly."

I sighed. "All that really matters is whether or not you think it wise to involve them in this battle."

He finally looked over at me again. "For your people or for mine?"

I opened my mouth to respond, then shut it, realizing I had no response. I knew my father had spoken of moments like these, when he first began to discover he was meant to be King and small distinctions were made, especially between him and Legolas or him and Lady Arwen where it was obvious that Elves and Men were not the same and that he was not one of them. I felt that now.

And the gap between the two had never seemed so large.

* * * * *

Okay, there should be actually some mush next post, so as the guy in Jurassic Park says, "Hold onto your butts." (heehee, always liked that line)

Now, I need replies ppl! I know you know how! Ya see that little blue bar in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen? It's right there! Click on it! Ya don't even have to be registered to do it. It's not hard and I need to support!!!