"False face must hide what false heart doth know."

"And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray 's
In deepest consequence."

"When our actions do not, Our fears do make us traitors.".

-From Shakespear's Macbeth
-----------------------

Legolas glanced over his shoulder warily. Had he heard something? He paused, his eyes narrowing into the darkness behind him. There was no one there -- and good thing too, Legolas thought, Or I'd have a fun time explaining why exactly the Crown Prince of Mirkwood is sneaking around the old servant's stairways and supply venues. Sending a last penetrating glance at the shadows behind him, Legolas turned back around, shivering.

He had never liked these passageways, even as a child. There was a series of tunnels underneath Thranduil's Halls which servants used to shuffle supplies back and forth from Feasting Rooms to the kitchens. There was another passageway that led to the river, if Legolas remembered correctly, and if his calculations were correct, the one he was on led to the..dungeons. They were rarely used by the Royal family, or nobility -- they were more of a 'behind-the-scenes-' set of passageways, which was why they were stone, narrow, and poorly lit. Legolas cringed. A little too much like a cave for his liking. He paused, lost in his thoughts as he wondered what exactly he thought he was doing, until a soft chuckle reached his ears and he spun around, his blond hair whipping around in the narrow stone hallway.

Aragorn chuckled, his gray eyes kind. "You seem on edge, my friend."

Legolas exhaled sharply. "I did not see you there," he said sharply, and Aragorn raised his brows slightly at the flippant response. They were in a dark passageway, the only light Legolas's faint glow and the dim glow from the window several hundred feet away. It was the next morning, but after another sleepless night, Legolas was irritable. He didn't mean to take it out on his friend, however, and with a sigh, he gave the human a half smile. "My apologies, nin mellon. My temper seems to have shortened of late."

Aragorn returned the smile. "I can tell. And apology accepted. But I would like to know what in Valar's name we are doing here..." his voice trailed off as his eyes flickered over the damp stones, the endless path, and Legolas's tense posture. He paused. "Where is here, may I ask?"

Legolas chuckled. "We're using the servant's passages. One leads to the river, one to the forest, one to the armory, one to the kitchen and one to the--"

"Dungeon," Aragorn finished with a glimmer in his eye. "Ah, now it all makes sense. May I ask why we are here before the cock crows and the sun fully rises? And, while I'm asking questions -- may I ask why you snuck out this morning without my presence? I've heard much about this spy, and if I am correct in guessing that is where we are going, I am coming with you whether or not you like it or not."

Legolas sighed, and began to move forward again. As they moved down the passageway in compatible silence, Legolas frowned. "You know me too well, my friend. I am sorry I did not include you in my earlier plans -- I meant to meet up with you after we broke our fast. I should have known you would have planned otherwise."

"Yes," Aragorn agreed. "That was supreme stupidity on your part."

The elf threw his friend a look and Aragorn grinned, but Legolas did not return the smile.

"Legolas! I do not understand! Why the persistent scowl?!"

Legolas's pace quickened as the light in the passageway brightened. The sun was rising outside the palace walls, and he wanted to reach the captive before the guards made their morning rounds of the dungeons. "Because, mellon nin, I feel as if this elf's life rests on my soul."

Aragorn heaved a sign, reaching out and slightly patting Legolas's shoulder. The comforting gesture made the elf pause, and he stared quizzically at his friend. The human's face was unnaturally solemn, and his eyes captured his friend's as he spoke. "Legolas, whatever happens to this elf -- this spy," he stressed, " know that it is not your fault. She choose her path and now must follow it through. You can only do so much to help her see where she is wrong, but you cannot take responsibility for her actions, nor can you undermine their severity. Legolas, had her plans succeeded, you would be dead now -- as would your father and many of your people. I do not agree that she deserves death, but she does not deserve to have you share the consequences either."

Something flickered in Legolas's eyes. Was it reason fleeing from their sapphire depths? Aragorn wasn't sure, but his friend's reaction startled him. Legolas jerked back, his face forced into a mask of polite annoyance. "Thank you for your counsel, Aragorn," Legolas said coolly, taking two steps away from his friend and further down the corridor. He did not turn around to see the baffled look on Aragorn's face, but felt his friend's eyes bearing into his back. "But I no longer wish to discuss the captive's future with you."

Aragorn's expression registered the insult and the polite dismissal, but he recovered well. Only his silver eyes, now brimming with confusion, showed how hurt he really was. He didn't understand why Legolas would react this way to his advice, which had good intentions. There was something about this captive -- something about this spy that made Legolas feel increasingly possessive and protective. Aragorn didn't know why, but he did know he didn't like it.

The silence strutted in the corridor, broken only by their soft footsteps. Aragorn ducked his head down, still determinedly following his friend. He wasn't sure where the Prince was taking him, but with Legolas's attitude and emotions as strained as they seemed to be right now, the human was too good of a friend to leave him alone, despite how rude Legolas might be.

The Prince turned around, and his eyes locked on Aragorn. The human had his head ducked down, his eyes never straying from the floor. "Estel?" Legolas prompted.

Aragorn raised his head slightly, encouraged by Legolas's use of the human's elvish name. "Yes, Legolas?"

"Did you hear what I said?"

Aragorn's eyes bore into Legolas's, and this time, he didn't look away. "Yes, your highness. As you wish."