Legolas hastily shook his head, in a last ditch attempt to clear his thoughts as he made his way back towards the main palace. His eyes ignored the subtle change from dungeon to palace corridor; slowly the walls he passed evened and smoothed and were brightened by colorful wall-hangings. Large windows were suddenly built around him, and below his feet the stone floor merged to marble. The passage grew wider, until they reached a thick wooden door. Leaning absentmindedly against it with his shoulder, Legolas led the way through. He had to brush a tapestry aside when the door opened into a random hallway where many of the guest rooms were housed. Most palaces had tunnels like these; hidden behind paintings or such, embedded in thick walls should the day come when there was no other way out.

The elf slid the tapestry back into place, his hand lingering near the spot where the door had just been. "Valar protect us that we never need use it," he whispered to himself and Aragorn glanced up at him, but the ranger didn't speak.

Today he was dressed more appropriately, at least, in comparison to the rest of the court's garb; he felt ill at ease in his courtly dress, however, and though he had just returned from a long journey, he was anxious to get back in the saddle.

Anything to get her out of his head.

She was still laughing, back in the darkness of her cell. As he exited the tunnel into the loftier chambers near the guest rooms, he could hear the echoes of her amusement. He shook his head again, and Aragorn at his side, glanced over. The human could almost read hear the elf's thoughts; they echoed in his own mind.

But Aragorn wouldn't speak; he wouldn't say what he was truly thinking. Legolas had already told him he did not want nor need his opinions, and Aragorn would not forget it. He knew that Legolas didn't truly mean to be rude, but he wasn't about to push it.

They paused at Elrohir and Elladan's rooms. His face was carefree, but Legolas could tell that his friend's easy manner was forced. Aragorn was displeased with Legolas's attitude towards him, and the Prince couldn't blame him.

Legolas glanced down at the floor, his eyes falling on his delicate leather boots. He could barely bring himself to look his friend in the eye - he was returning to his senses now, away from the stuffy air and dark confines of the dungeons. He didn't know what had caused him to act so stiffly towards his long time friend, but right now, his soul was conflicted and he could use whatever help he could get.

After a long moment, he glanced up, his eyes locking onto Aragorn's silver gaze. "I'm sorry, mellon nin." He said softly. "I should not have snapped at you before. My temper.."

"..got the better of you," Aragorn finished with a wry grin. He reached out and gently clapped Legolas's shoulder. "I know, my friend. Forget it. You've been exhausted of late and this whole --" he shook his head in the direction of the dungeons --" this whole bit hasn't been helping."

Legolas frowned, his fair features marred. "No. It hasn't. But that is no excuse. I'm truly sorry, Aragorn, if I've made you feel unwelcome."

Aragorn laughed. "I know when I am unwelcome, Legolas. I've seen resentment often enough not to confuse it with frustration. Forget it."

"Are you sure? Because if --"

"Forget it." Aragorn repeated firmly, and Legolas smiled. "Good. Now.." he glanced at the ornately carved doors behind which the twins of Elrond were probably waiting for the pair to break their fast. "We probably should go in."

Aragorn raised a brow, his face traced with mischievousness. "Oh, let them sleep," he said generously, even though it was creeping towards late morning and the twins always awoke with the sun. Etiquette would keep them from eating until the Prince joined them, and with a chuckle, Legolas shook his head. "That's rude, Aragorn. After the reception I gave them last night, they'll never want to come to the Palace again!"

Aragorn shook his head, his long midnight locks becoming more tousled then normal. "Oh, let them sleep, Legolas. They've had an exhausting journey."

"So have you," the Prince pointed out wryly, "and yet you still managed to rise before the sun and stalk me down. Imagine that."

"Well," Aragorn said slowly. "I guess they are just not blessed with my human endurance."

Legolas let out a bark of laughter; it was common knowledge that elven endurance was much more hardy and long lasting than that of humans. In addition, elves recovered from injury faster and could function on less sleep than humans.

Legolas chuckled once more and glanced at the still firmly shut doors. "Well, if they have not heard us talking out here..."

"Then they are still abed. Come, let us go for a quick walk outside. We'll return quickly."

Legolas shrugged. "You are the guest."

Aragorn smiled. "Indeed, I am."

The two friends slowly walked into the courtyard, the late morning light washing over them. It was quiet outside the main gates. Birds chirped and trees rustled, but the only other souls visible were elven guards posted at the entryway.

Neither elf nor man spoke as they walked out, side by side, stopping to rest in the sun. The streaks of sunlight fell on their faces, illuminating Legolas's blonde hair. Several scars on Aragorn's face shined silver white when the light struck them.

Legolas's eyes registered the mass of green the palace overlooked, the sounds of the giggling river nearby and sighed. Some of the tension in his proud shoulders eased and he could feel his muscles physically relaxing.

It was good to be home, even if he did have to put away his bow and arrow for a little while. The air was free here; lighter almost, as if cheered by the happy elves dwelling around it. The shadows held less weight and laughter came easier somehow.

Finally, Legolas spoke into the silence that was broken only by the occasional footfall and brush of wind rustling through the trees.

"Well?"

Aragorn chuckled. "I see what you mean," he allowed. "She is quite an intriguing character."

Legolas exhaled through pursed lips. "And you see how wrong it would be to destroy her."

Aragorn didn't answer the statement meant as a question; instead, he said. "She is very clever; quick witted, and beautiful. But she is an elf, Legolas. That is to be expected."

"That doesn't mean it should be taken for granted." Legolas responded sharply and Aragorn merely stared at him. Legolas made a conscious effort to soften his tone.

"I just mean that simply because she is an elf doesn't mean she is guaranteed to be a clever, beautiful creature. Look at what she has for a father. Clever, he may yet be, but mad and deranged as well."

"Deranged, but did he start out that way? Or did imprisonment turn him so?" When Legolas didn't answer, Aragorn pressed, "or is that not what the legend says?"

"No," Legolas said sinking to his feet as he sat at the foot of a tree. "I don't know what he was like when he was younger...innocent. I'd bet he doesn't even remember anymore," he added bitterly.

"Probably not," Aragorn agreed with a sigh, falling down next to Legolas.

"I cannot believe she will simply forsake life to escape punishment," the Prince said, almost wonderingly.

"Why are you so surprised?" Aragorn cocked a brow, sending his friend an inquisitive glance.

"She saved me, Aragorn, as well as almost half of the guard. She didn't have to do that."

"Maybe she was saving herself as well. What do you think would have happened to her if the orcs found her alive and all of you dead -- if she even made it out of the fray alive?"

Legolas considered that, leaning back against the trunk of the tree, inhaling the comforting smell of the forest. "She is one of them," he said softly. "Her life is bound to them. She would just have had to prove it."

"How?" Aragorn challenged. "What can you say to get through to an orc? Anyway, she doesn't speak the Black Tongue, does she? And I doubt the orcs remember elvish."

"She would have had to show them her necklace," Legolas murmured, his hand unconsciously straying to his pocket to grip the tiny charm.

"But you had it. You would have to be--"

"Dead," Legolas finished grimly. "All she needed to do, Aragorn, was wait for me to fall, then take the charm off me."

"But she didn't know you had it, Legolas! Think. Did she sound the alarm before or after she saw the necklace?"

Legolas said nothing.

That had not occurred to him.

"Legolas, I know you'd like to think she was suddenly swept up in a wave of righteousness, but it is more likely she was protecting herself."

The prince shook his head, his eyes glued to a white moth that fluttered around his head. It landed on his shoulder and Legolas held out his hand to it, thinking.

"Nay, Aragorn.." he said slowly. "She could have simply hidden until they were gone. Or she could have willingly been taken captive, and they would have brought her back to Dol Guldur. Or better yet, to Valneuma. She would have only had to mention the village and I'm sure Sauron would instruct the orcs to take her back."

"Sauron is not one for mercy," Aragorn said flatly. "If she hadn't successfully infiltrated your palace, if you had caught her, she was better off dead to Sauron. She must know this."

Legolas sighed. "I don't think she thought that far." He paused. "She never expected to fail."

Aragorn leaned his head back. "There is something I don't understand," he said after a moment. "What is all this nonsense about this necklace? Why is it so important?"

Legolas let out a long breath, and his eyes clouded a little as he remembered. "It's a long story," he warned but Aragorn nodded, glancing around at the empty courtyard. "I've nowhere else to go," he said and Legolas took it as a prompt.

"Years ago, when Father and I first heard rumors of a strange elf that was allying himself with Sauron, against his kin, no one believed it. How absurd, how simply absurd. Dozens fled from the village, rushing towards the palace, begging my father to do something, ianything/i before it was too late."

Aragorn listened intently. He had never heard this before.

"Most thought my father did nothing. They thought he disregarded the rumors as just that, rumors, and focused instead on building up the Guard, which then was weak. It hasn't always been the regimented system it is today. Today, there are about two hundred members of the guard. They rotate, who is on active duty and who is not, and sometimes I will personally command some off duty members on some expedition or other. But several years ago, it was not like that. It was only twenty elves or so; I forget. They weren't used so much as for protection, as for secret missions. So my father sent five of his favorite members, the most skilled and elite of them all. Sindatil's father was one. Astalder's uncle was another; I forget the other three. With them, my father enclosed a peace offering, of sorts, to show he meant no ill will. A necklace, nothing ornate or very delicate...just a simple star on an emerald ribbon."

"I did not see the necklace before it was sent with the missionaries, indeed I was not a part of this decision. But the Guard went, and entered the village without a problem. They told Valneuma that they were emissaries of Thranduil who had come to see that all was well, and that the necklace was to show the King's respect. Valneuma welcomed them, took them into his home and spoke to them about the village's safety, produce and other mindless things. That night there was a great feast, and all the elves of the village came to eat and be merry. The Guard subtly slipped among the elves, asking little questions, trying to get a hold on some of the rumors. But the elves were all wary to answer, or to even talk to them," Legolas inhaled, rubbing his eyes as his voice grew hoarse from the lengthy story, but he continued.

" They were suspicious but said nothing. But that night, when the Guard was settling down to sleep, one of the guards decided to remain on watch. And it was lucky he did, for when the rest of the Guard settled down to dream, Valneuma slipped into the room. The Guard saw him take the necklace Thranduil offered, slip it into his pocket, and then the next thing he saw the gleam of a dagger being hurtled towards himself. He sounded the alarm, naturally, and they fled. That was when Valneuma began openly showing his support for Sauron, and closed off the village to visitors. No one was allowed in or out. And it remains that way to spite and mock Thranduil; Valneuma renamed the village Single Star village and made a single star its symbol."

Aragorn nodded thoughtfully. "And Valneuma gave the necklace to Seasa."

Legolas sighed. "Yes. So it seems. I didn't realize what it was at first, but I know the story -- most elves do. It clicked after a while, and I was so furious that I let her know I knew exactly who she was. She could only be his heir if she was wearing the necklace."

Aragorn shook his head. "The whole ordeal is tragic," he said quietly. "An elf so tortured, so bitter that he will use his position as a playing card to maneuver—"

Legolas's head snapped around, and he raised a hand to cut off Aragorn. "Do you hear that?" he asked, his head cocked slightly, his eyes narrowed in the distance.

Elves have superior hearing to humans and Aragorn stared blankly. "I hear nothing," he whispered, but Legolas slowly eased to his feet and Aragorn mimicked him.

The guards, too, had heard something; they were conversing in low tones, their eyes trained in the distance, their hands resting on their bows.

Legolas approached them, all fair elven heads turned in the same direction, looking into the forest. Aragorn followed cautiously behind.

"What is it?" He whispered after a moment, when no one spoke, trying not to feel like a fool.

Legolas sighed and squinted into the distance. "Two horses. Maybe three. Elves, I think. Maybe men."

"A representative from Valneuma?" One of the guards suggested. "Pleading for his daughter's life?"

Legolas sent him a very sharp look. "Hold your tongue on the case of Valneuma's daughter. You do not know enough to have your tongue flap like the evening breeze. Next time I catch you rambling—"

"What the Prince means," Aragorn interrupted smoothly, "was that the palace guards should concern themselves only with guarding the palace, not the issues of the king."

The guard shrugged. "My apologies Sire. As you wish."

"Ai!" the other guard exclaimed suddenly, rushing towards the gates. "Ai, Captain!"

Legolas's head swung around, his eyes registering the elven horses and figures approaching the palace. He took the scene in with a glance, the color in his already pale face fleeing. He turned to the other guard, barking, "Quick! Run for the healers. Alert my father!"

He started towards the company and Aragorn grabbed his arm. "Wait, what is happening?"

Legolas shared a grim look with his human friend as they jogged towards the horses entering the courtyard. The elves were clearly distinguishable now, and there was no mistaking who the riders were. "Sindatil has returned."

Aragorn raised a brow at the three lone figures. "Why is he returning with only two elves? I thought you said he left with a small group."

Legolas frowned. "He did."