Disclaimer:

No copyright infringement intended, I own nothing, never have or will.

Rating:

Will be R.

A/N: Reviewers, see bottom of chapter once again! Thank you!

CHAPTER EIGHT

The candle flames flickered brightly in the dark chamber, causing shadows to sway and contort. Aragorn stood silently in the corner of the dark room, eyes downcast, swallowed in darkness as he listened to the sound of the leaves, rustling lightly outside.
Elladan stood by the door, arms folded across his chest, blocking the route of escape as he gazed across the room at his twin, who stood stubbornly by the balcony. Elrohir had refused to be seated; even as he had nursed his wounds, he had stood quietly by the drapes, refusing to allow Elladan's fierce glares of disapproval to sway him. Both twins displayed obvious signs of Legolas' assault, though Elrohir had taken the main brunt of the archer's wrath.

Seated on the bed in the middle of the room, having escaped with one bruise to his jaw, sat Legolas, staring at the flickers of light. In his hand, lay the herb Aragorn had extracted from his water flask. He had said nothing as the man had placed it into his hand after presenting it as if it were evidence for the building case they had against him…against his lies.

After a silence that seemed nothing more than a mere torment, Aragorn lifted his head.

"It is a strong herb," the Ranger explained, looking to the plant root, "how did it get into your water flask, Legolas?"

Blinking slowly, the archer tore his eyes away from the flames and stared down at the tiny root in his hand. So small. Such a small thing.

I should have known…I…

"Legolas?"

"Do not speak to me as though I were a fool, Aragorn." Legolas replied with a hint of venom.

With those words, Aragorn exchanged a glance with Elladan. The elf-twin met his gaze, acknowledging his foster brothers reaction, but he said nothing. Elrohir glanced between the three of them, choosing to remain silent.

Legolas tilted his head as he gazed at the root, rubbing it between his fingers as memories stirred within his mind, threatening…he could feel the pain, dormant, but for how long? It could not be buried, only postponed.

"Do you know its effects?" Aragorn pressed, turning his eyes back toward the elf.

Legolas nearly laughed miserably at the question.
What a foolish question.
Of course he knew its effects; he had been the victim of its poison. How he wanted to forget!

"It is a sedative." Aragorn explained, remembering all that Elrond had taught him and all that he had learned in his years as a ranger, "Small doses can stimulate, but larger doses can paralyse. Eyesight, and naturally coordination, is affected…it can induce a state of severe disorientation."

Where's the fight in you now, Elf?

Legolas shuddered visibly and closed his eyes for a moment, shaking his head. Elrohir frowned and shifted restlessly, refusing the urge to comfort his friend. Elladan's gaze held him in check though, ere it passed to Aragorn. The man stood tall, gazing at Legolas as the elf clenched the root in his hand.

"Do you know how that got into your flask?" Aragorn asked again, refusing to let his heart hinder the questions that needed answering.

"No." Legolas lied, placing the root on the bed. "I do not remember."

"You're lying."

"Estel." Elladan warned.

Legolas lifted his head and met Aragorn's gaze. His gaze was fierce yet he said nothing in his own defence and turned his eyes away, rising slowly. The twins shifted, their eyes transfixed upon Legolas as he stepped forward.

"Am I a prisoner here?" The Prince asked, shifting his gaze from one elf twin to the other ere it came to rest upon Aragorn.

"You are your own prison keeper, Legolas." The ranger replied, "Tis' a pity."

"A pity?" Legolas spat, eyes flashing, "I came here to forge an alliance of kinship and support between Imladris and Mirkwood, not to break one with those whom I would call friends."

"Might we kindly remind you, Legolas, that it was you who is responsible for what is happening?" Elladan cut in, not realising the damage his words would cause, once again.

You are responsible…you should never have let it come to pass. You should always be on your guard…

"Is lies all that you have left inside, Legolas?" Aragorn murmured quietly, "I would have hoped for your trust in our friendship."

"Aragorn-"

The man abruptly cut the blond off, "But then, I fear I do not know you so well anymore."

Who am I? The words taunted him…

"Aragorn –"

"You have done nothing but lie to us, all of us. You are embracing this pain as though you enjoy it." Aragorn snapped, resorting to a new method, "What is it that you are so fondly protecting? That you are allowing to hurt those who would help you? Are you truly that foolish? I do not even know who you are."

The rage that sparked at those words faded, as his sadness and hurt proved stronger.

"Saes daur…" Legolas whispered, turning his gaze away.

"Caro ha daur." Aragorn replied, heartless, even though the disbelief and pain that washed over the elven Prince caused him to hesitate.

Elrohir glanced at Elladan, shifting anxiously. This was cruel. Meeting his brothers stare, Elladan blinked slowly and shook his head, trusting Estel and without a word, telling his brother to do the same. Aragorn had tried patience and compassion. Now, Legolas needed a fierce blow to finally knock the barriers he had constructed, to crumble his lies and denial.

Legolas turned away from his friend, only to feel Aragorn's next words slice at him as the mortal hurled them like daggers.

"Who else shall you hurt now, Legolas? Who else shall be the victim of your pitiable tantrum?" As he said the words he nodded to both Elrohir and Elladan, warning them to be alert.

Turning as if to deflect another verbal blow, Legolas met Aragorn's eyes with both a fierce anger and sadness.

"I know what you are trying to do, Estel." He replied, though he was unable to convince his emotions of this certainty.

"Do you?" Aragorn asked, feigning amusement, "Well, that is more than what I can say for you, mellon nín. Please tell me just why you decided to strike both Elladan and Elrohir?"

"I-"

"And why you foolishly placed a powerful and dangerous herb into your own water flask?"

Immediately Elladan's gaze flicked to Legolas. The archer looked as though he were about to be sick as the colour drained from his face.

"That is not what happened..." Legolas replied, trying to control the surge of anger that started to eat at him, gnawing his control.

"I thought you did not remember what happened?" Aragorn countered, taking a step forward from the shadows.

Legolas blinked several times to clear his mind, "I-"

"You tell me not to treat you as though you were a fool, yet you are acting as though you were one." The ranger continued as he advanced, "Can you not even speak your mind?"

Legolas stood his ground, matching Aragorn for height he lifted his chin, struggling…unaware of the mortal's own struggle to maintain his masquerade.

"I do not answer to you." Legolas replied, resorting to any words that might protect him.

"No, you are your own prisoner."

Legolas hissed in frustration and turned toward the door, only to pause as Elladan straightened. The elf-twin's eyes held no aggression, just a strange sadness and desire to understand. Legolas fell back a step.

"Though it is the scar that intrigues me the most, Legolas." Aragorn continued, praying for the strength to continue this torment.

The archer turned his head, though not once did he step away from Elladan and as he shifted his gaze. Aragorn picked up the herb from the bed and studied it with false interest.

"Though the root is easy enough to question, how you managed to twist your head around and bite yourself on the neck is most fascinating!"

That was all it took and Legolas turned like a predator, his gaze darkening. Aragorn forced a smile to contort his face, hating the pain that welled within his friend's eyes at the cruel gesture.

Legolas paused, confused and angry.
He says this to rile you. This you know. It is no more than an act...an act is all...
He tried to reason with Aragorn's behaviour, tried to tell himself that it was naught but baiting.
Or perhaps you wish to comfort yourself. His mind hissed.
Shaking his head, Legolas willed his body to take a step back, to take a moment to just breathe…to think…Aragorn denied him this.

"The people who show you concern, you attack? Perhaps you are no better than the foolishness that befell you."

"Nay, I-"

"Words from your father? What was it that King Thranduil said to you Legolas? Did he also sicken of your foul mood?"

Even when the archer could attempt to speak, Aragorn went on, desperately trying to avoid the discomfort he saw reflected in Elladan and Elrohir's eyes.

"So consumed by your own self-pity you dare to strike two friends? You indulge in your own melodramatic ordeal and hurt those who care!"

"DARO HA!" Legolas cried out, closing his eyes to blind himself to the vision of betrayal.
Elladan and Elrohir both took a step forward, their gazes shifting between the two.

"BAW!" Aragorn yelled back, taking a step forward, closing the space between himself and the elf with one long stride, "Tiro na le! Le aen ú ellon."

Legolas reeled as if he had been struck and the anger vanished from his eyes, replaced with hurt and an unknown despair as they shot open. Even the twins flinched at the cruelty in those words. Mind racing, Aragorn sought for further torments, though he never broke the eye contact with the archer. Throwing caution to the winds and relying solely upon luck, he took a chance.

"Agorechberio lín! Agorech ú maeth!"

"Baw!…I tried…" Legolas whispered, shaking his head as Aragorn now voiced words that his own mind screamed at him.

Elladan and Elrohir stiffened at those words, at the way that Legolas's breathing hitched and quivered. Aragorn, refusing to be overcome, continued.

Where's the fight in you now, Elf?

"I tried.." Legolas reasoned again.

"Did you?" the ranger asked, forcing sarcasm into his tone.

How dare he speak to me thus! How dare he accuse me!

"I could not move! I tried!" Legolas reasoned, desperate, "He…I trusted him…"

Him…Aragorn frowned.

"Legolas?" his tone softened immediately and he glanced nervously toward his two brothers, "Who did you trust?"

Aragorn's question fell upon deaf ears as Legolas struggled with his own demons, his own torments. The elf took a step back, shaking his head ere lifting a hand to the tear that had slipped past his lashes. He stared at it.

Can I not find peace...for even a moment? His mind responded. You fool.

"Law…law…" Legolas chanted, closing his eyes, his breath coming in short pants.

Never before had Aragorn felt so utterly useless. The elf no longer responded to his questions or cared for his cruel taunts. He was engaged in a battle with his own mind, and how was one to intervene? He reached out and touched his hands to Legolas' shoulders, only to find himself landing flat on his back as the elf shoved him away. Elrohir and Elladan stepped in, both advancing.

"Ai, not again." Elrohir whispered, "Legolas…Why must you fight us?" he asked, exchanging a glance with Elladan and a brief nod that indicated that he was prepared.

"Why do you torment me?!" Legolas cried, half speaking to his own angst as both the world and the twins closed in on him.

"You torment yourself." Elladan corrected.

"You harbour your own demons." Elrohir agreed.

"Do not speak to me of demons!" Legolas hissed, turning on Elrohir, that same viciousness sparking in his eyes.

"You are as stubborn as a mule, Legolas." Elladan replied, directing the attention away from his brother.

"And as hot headed." Elrohir snatched it back.

Elladan shot his twin an irritated glare, knowing that Elrohir's defiance was not what was needed whilst Legolas' sanity was dangling from a thread.

Whilst the twins played a game between themselves of wishing to protect one another from an enraged and tormented Prince, Aragorn raised himself on his elbows and was about to speak. However, glancing past Elladan he fell silent, mouth slightly agape as his eyes settled on the new presence in the room.

Their voices grated against Legolas's mind, churning pain and confusion. He found himself short of breath as panic shook him, causing him to shudder.
Weak, unable to defend yourself...you deserved it...I deserved it.
Suddenly it became even harder to breathe. Too much, it was too much. Too many people shouting too many orders and taunts of what he was

…Who am I?

Unable to still his racing heart, or his racing mind, Legolas bolted. He shoved past Elladan, who had been glaring fiercely at Elrohir. But ere Elladan turned, a wince sounded as Legolas collided into the body of another individual, who had gone unnoticed amidst the chaos.

Nay...I cannot face this...

Breath hitching as he struggled to breathe, Legolas felt a strange sensation wash over him as he stared into the dark eyes before him. Desperately he tried to draw precious air into his lungs and still his heart.

Tilting his head, the new visitor and witness reached out with a hand, gently touching it to the back of Legolas' head so he could better gaze into the frightened eyes.

You have no cause to fear me, Legolas.

The blond shivered and shook his head, fearful of the probing stare and how deeply it searched him. It seemed to crumble his walls and in the process draw pain from him like poison from a wound.

You hurt. Do not fear me, Legolas.

With a cry catching in the back of his throat the tears came.

No...No.... His mind taunted only to be soothed as another calm voice resonated inside of his head.

Lean into me, Legolas. There is no shame.

And he did not protest when the Lord of Rivendell pulled him into a gentle, though firm embrace. Staring over the blonds' shoulder as Legolas buried his head into the crook of his comforter's neck; Elrond met his children's gaze. A haunting wisdom and patience lingered there as he stroked a hand down Legolas' head with a parental gentleness to help quell the young elf's shaking.

Legolas' hands clenched into fists at his side. What am I doing? Valar just let me go. I cannot breathe...

Fael thuio. Came the answering reply.

Elrond stared at his sons as Aragorn rose to his feet. He met their desolate eyes and spoke, his powerful voice resonating in the room, though it was to Legolas.

"Fael thuio, Legolas. Fael thuio."

Another Chapter done and dusted! Please, please Review!

Sindarin Elvish Translations

BAW! – NO!
Saes – Please
Tiro na le! Le aen ú ellon. – Look at you! You are no Elf.
Agorechberio lín – You did not protect yourself!
Agorech ú maeth! – You did not fight!
Baw! – No!
Fael thuio. Fael thuio – Just breathe, Legolas. Just breathe.

Wonderful Reviewers:

Irish Anor – [grins] I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter! Hannon le for your high compliments, it was very sweet of you to offer such encouragement. I'm sorry this chapter was a wee bit late in posting! The update for the sequel I shall up a.s.a.p. Thank you again for your patience and for taking the time to review! Hannon le!

Deana – [laughs] well I'm certainly pleased that you enjoyed the last chapter! I hope that you have enjoyed this one also! Sorry to have kept this update a bit late in posting, Deana! Thanks again for your review!

Snow-Glory – Hannon le for your review, meldir! (friend) It means the world, as always! I'm so glad that you're enjoying it so far and I hope that you enjoy the rest as it comes along!

Stephanie – Hello there Stephanie! And how are you? Thank you so much for showing an interest in my story and for taking the time to leave me such a lovely review! It is wonderful to know that you are happy with it so far! I hope that you continue to like the rest of it also! Thanks again and catch you next update!

Tmelange – Mae govannen (well met!) and thank you for your review! I hope you enjoy the rest of it!

IMTrinity – [smiles] Aaaw, thank you soooo much for posting me a review for the last chapter even though you were so tired! I do hope that you are well rested now! I am thrilled to know that you wish to start writing again and needless to say I would love to read your work! Take care of yourself and thank you so much again for your review!

Tonianne – [smiles] Hello! And thank you so much for your encouraging and wonderfully kind review! To answer your question, yes this was posted before a while ago, but I took it down and what you're reading now is the re-post with a bit of editing done to the chapters. As always, it is wonderful to hear that someone is enjoying the story so thank you so much!

Ashaselle – [grin] Again that lovely name! Thank you so much for reviewing the last chapter, Ashaselle. To know people like you are enjoying it gives me much incentive to post, so thank you! I'm so sorry that this is a little late, please forgive me! I hope that you enjoyed this chapter also!

Jade – Hello Jade! Thanks so much for leaving a review! Phew! [grins] its always a relief to know that people are enjoying how the characters are being portrayed, so thank you for your feedback! I hope you continue to enjoy the story!

Elven Writer – [laughs] Hello there! It's great that you are enjoying the story! Thank you for your feedback and I hope that you liked this chapter! Sorry that it's a little bit late!

Angharad – Your name is Welsh? How lovely! It is not a strange name at all, it's an intriguing one! [laughs] Oh but it is always lovely to hear that people wish for an update! It shows that they are enjoying the story, so thank you so much . Thank you also for taking the time to tell me what you feel is working in the story, i.e. amount of description and dialogue – it helps to know what is and isn't working. So hannon le (thank you) so much once again for taking the time Hopefully catch you next post! (I'm sorry this update was a bit late!)

Sophie – [smiles] Greetings, Sophie! Oh its wonderful that you are enjoying the story so far! I can only hope you continue to enjoy it! Indeed, Legolas "is" fortunate to have such caring friends – silly elf should realise this! Lol. Thank you so much for your review, Sophie! I'm glad that the characters have come across as believable . I hope that you have enjoyed this chapter also! Thank you once again!

Thank you again, reviewers! If I have failed to mention anyone, it is purely by accident, so please let me know who you are as I wish to thank ALL of you.

Hannon le (thank you)

Silver Thorne
xxx