"If you two would cease bickering; I would like to speak with Estel alone please," Elrond said, catching Legolas' eye.
"Of course, Lord Elrond," the archer replied with a bow.
"Elrohir is waiting outside for you."
Legolas left the room silently as Aragorn looked at his foster-father.
"What do you recall from the past few days, my son?" Elrond asked as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Not much until I attacked the man trying to kill Legolas. The only solid memory that I have before that is riding through the forest and sitting by Legolas' bedside."
"You remember nothing of healing Legolas?"
Aragorn closed his eyes and forced his memory to replay that evening slowly. He saw himself running towards the healing rooms and going into the dimly lit room. Legolas rested on the bed, looking like a wraith despite his shallow breathing. He recalled the denial when Legolas ceased drawing breath. He remembered the desperation that coursed through him from not being there when his friend needed him. He saw himself pressing his hands over Legolas' wound and the heat; scorching heat that raced through his veins and left a burning path. He suddenly saw an elf that looked exactly like Elrond but not. There was something different about this elf. The name came to him as a whisper but he heard it…Elros. Aragorn saw himself fall into a black hole that didn't seem to end as he gasped at the sudden pain and jerked away from the vision.
Elrond was watching him worriedly as he passed a hand over his eyes and released a shuddered breath. From his son's actions, Elrond assumed that he just remembered.
"What did I do to Legolas? How did I heal him?"
"It is said that the hands of a King are healing hands. Your ability seems to have been passed down through my brother's line. A transfer bond can only be created under extreme situations. Your emotional bond with Legolas and the shock of his death in front of you was the catalyst. You gave him everything he needed to recover and you took his pain and discomfort. Only the best-trained healers are able to perfect it. You threw yourself into it."
"Will I still be able to?"
"If you do then it will be only in rare cases like if someone you are very close to is badly injured. It is very draining on the person supporting the connection and usually only used in life or death situations," Elrond explained while Aragorn nodded.
"I do not even remember doing it."
"I am not surprised. It was a shock to your body after being bombarded by Legolas' pain. You should not have done that Estel, it was foolish," Elrond admonished softly as the human dropped his gaze.
"I know, Ada, but I could not stand by and watch Legolas die. If I had the choice to do it again, I would, a thousand times over."
"I know that Estel. Nothing I could do or say would ever be able to change that. You are a good friend and a great son."
Elrond pulled his son to him and tightly hugged the human. When they separated, Aragorn saw Elrond turn serious.
"Now listen to me Estel. I want you to be very careful and cautious for the next few days. This elf assassin is dangerous and he may be coming after you. He managed to evade the Mirkwood warriors and I wanted to warn you," Elrond warned and Aragorn nodded.
"I will be watchful, Ada. I trust the Mirkwood guards to catch this assassin."
"I trust them also, my son, but I still want you to be wary."
Elrond kissed his son on his forehead before departing from the room. His hands were buried in his robes as he walked towards Thranduil's office. Nodding to the guards standing outside the office, he knocked on the door before entering. Large glass windows allowed the sun to shine in brightly and provide lighting. The Elven king sat behind his large desk, which was covered with books, parchments, and maps. Elrond suppressed a shudder at the disorganized clutter; he, himself, was a neat freak. He knew it, and his sons knew it, as well as the entire household. It would be best to just ignore it while he was in the king's office. The golden haired king looked up from his papers and set down the quill pen when he realized whom his visitor was.
"Lord Elrond, please, have a seat," he offered and motioned towards one of the other chairs.
"Have your warriors found the assassin?"
"They have not. Estel may have scared him away for good."
"Do you really believe that Thranduil?" Elrond questioned and raised an eyebrow.
Thranduil sighed and sat back in the chair. "No, I do not. It worries me that the warriors could not catch or track this assassin. He was only a few seconds away from killing my son and none of the guards knew, only your human son."
"Legolas and Aragorn have a unique friendship. They are tuned to each other. Estel sensed the danger to his friend and acted upon it," Elrond explained as Thranduil nodded.
"Their friendship continues to surprise me. Did you ever have a friendship like that?"
"I did. It was with my brother. At some times it was like we knew what the other was thinking," Elrond answered as he looked over the desk to Thranduil. "And you?"
"Aye. He was about twenty years older than I. We were almost jointed at the hip. He and I acted just as your son and my son act together. Trouble always found us," he chuckled and ruefully shook his head.
"What happened to him?"
"I am not sure. I believed that he sailed a long time ago, for he disappeared one day and never returned. I do miss him though."
"What was his name?"
"Bretharso, son of Metharlos. I wish I knew what did happen to him," Thranduil mused and shifted a few of the papers on his desk.
"Perhaps you will meet him in Valinor. He may be waiting for you."
"I doubt that he is waiting for me. Bretharso was not a patient elf; never has been. But he was a good friend of mine."
"Friendship is as fragile as crystal or as strong as the hardest ore. The two that wield it make the decision and adhere to it," Elrond offered and Thranduil nodded.
"You are very true."
"On another note, I will be leaving for Imladris tomorrow morning. I trust Glorfindel to run Imladris but not for too long. He is a worthy warrior but the simple task of running the realm can wear on him. Whenever I return, he has this look in his eyes that worries me. It may be because I usually leave him with the twins."
"Your sons are very trying at times, Elrond. They have the talent of wearing on other elves' nerves," Thranduil supplied with a wary grin.
"You think I do not know this? I have raised them since they were mere elflings. If you want to try, live with my sons for a month and then you would know what it is like. At this point a tap dancing, tutu wearing troll could not shock me after what I have seen my sons get themselves into."
"No, that is perfectly fine. I will take your word for it."
Elrond almost laughed at the horrified expression that danced across the Elven king's face. He knew that his sons could be trying, even for the most patient of elves. Despite all of that, he loved his children more than life. Ever since his beloved wife departed the shores, he had loved his children even more. His heart yearned to be united once again with his wife but he would not leave these shores until his children were ready.
"Elladan and Elrohir will stay until Estel is ready to leave. I hope you do not mind my three sons and your son running through your home."
Elrond never would have believed it but the Elven king actually physically cringed. The mighty King Thranduil of Mirkwood cringed in fear of three young elves and a young human. Elrond might have laughed except he knew what it was like when all four were under his roof.
"I will need to deal with it. Will I not?"
Elrond smiled and stood up before departing from the king's office. He sent up a small prayer to Valar to help Thranduil survive the four young ones. He hoped that they left the house standing when it was over.
The she-elf yelped when her hip collided with the table and she fell to the floor. Bretharso grabbed her blond hair and pulled her head back to look into her face. Tears streamed down her face in rivulets but her sobs were silent. She feared Bretharso, more than she ever did. He use to be different, he use to be a kind, compassionate husband and father but no longer. It had all changed and now she couldn't recognize him.
"I want to know, Liliath. Tell me what I want to know," he whispered cruelly.
"I do not know what to tell you, Bretharso. I do not know how the human saved the prince. No one does, except the royal family and Elrond's family."
"You must have some idea."
"I do not."
Bretharso shoved her away and walked across the room. His dark eyes snapped around the room until he spied a coloring made by one of Liliath's children. Slowly turned, he looked at her and she felt a new surge of fear race through her. She did not like the look that flashed through his eyes. He slowly walked towards her and knelt in front of her.
"But I will tell you what you may do for me."
"Please, Bretharso, do not make me do this," she whispered. "I do not wish to betray my king. I will not betray my king."
Bretharso slowly smiled and leaned forward closely to her ear to ensure that she would ever word that he was about to say.
"Oh yes, you will. Because if you do not, then one day your little girl might not come home one evening from playing with her friends. How old is she now? Thirty years? Every week, I will send you a piece of her with a note describing how I tortured her and she screamed for her Naneth."
Liliath's eyes looked over at the drawing that her little girl drew for her just this morning. Glancing over at Bretharso, she knew that he could and would do it if he needed it. He had changed that much from when she once knew him and called him friend.
"What do you want me to do?"
"You know that I do not like it when you hover like a mother-hen."
Aragorn looked over at Legolas as the elf raised an eyebrow at the human's words. The two of them were walking through the palace with Elladan and Elrohir a few paces behind them. His father had given him permission to leave his room just before the elf lord departed for Rivendell. He only made his son promise that he would take it easy and not travel outside alone. After rolling his eyes, Aragorn had promised his father. His first course of action though was to walk around a bit and stretch his legs some. And of course, the two shadows followed Legolas and him. They were also Legolas' shadow, so the two were even.
"I am only concerned about you, Estel. This assassin is intent on killing me and he might be going after you also," Legolas said as the human nodded.
"Why would this dark elf want to kill you? Well, I know you are extremely stubborn and can be very annoying but surely that is not enough to want to kill you."
Aragorn laughed as Legolas shoved his friend away in annoyance.
"Estel, stop picking on Legolas. You know that he can not defend himself," Elladan called up to them as his twin covered his mouth to muffle his laughter.
Legolas whirled around to glare at the older twin. His eyes narrowed as the others laughed but he felt a smile tug at his lips. A few moments later he was laughing with the others in the middle of the hallway. When the laughing subsided, they walked to Legolas' room and chose different places around the room to sit. Elladan sat out on the porch atop the stone balcony. Elrohir sat in one of the chairs to lean back and rest his feet on the bedside stand. Legolas rested on the bed with his feet propped on the head board. Aragorn rested on the floor despite Legolas offering to share the large bed but Aragorn wanted the floor. His travels through the wilderness had accustomed him to sleeping anywhere, no matter how uncomfortable it might be.
The elf looked over and saw the human's foot moving in the air. A question suddenly popped into his head and he decided to ask it.
"Estel?"
"Yeah?"
"When was the last time you were with Arwen?"
The moving foot stopped, Elrohir's chair slammed onto all four feet again, Elladan's head snapped around to look at them. The foot slowly lowered and a dark head soon appeared at the edge of the bed. Aragorn stared at Legolas and then to each of the twins. Elladan jumped silently off the balcony and tapped Elrohir on the shoulder.
"Come on, Elrohir, someone in the hallway is calling for us."
"I do not hear anyone."
Elladan resisted the urge to slap his twin over the head. He knocked his brother's feet off the stand and pulled him up from the chair.
"That is because you are not listening."
Elladan pulled his twin out the door and closed it behind them. Aragorn stared at the door before lowering himself back to the ground. His hands were laced behind his head as he stared up at the ceiling.
"It has been about ten years. A short time for elves but long for humans."
"Why so long?"
"She resides in Lothlorien with her grandparents."
"And?"
"And what?"
"There must be something or else your brothers would not have left. They obviously did not want to hear something about their dear sister."
"I believe that I am deeply in love with her. I hear her voice in the air; I see her face when I look to the starry night sky. I aim for a star that is just out of my grasp," he murmured as Legolas shifted to the edge of the bed and peered over the edge to look at his friend.
"Nothing is ever out of your reach, Estel. All you need to do is set your sights on what you desire and reach for it with all of your being. Love knows no limits."
"I believe that I suffer from madness, mellonin. Dreams of her invade my sleep and I wake knowing that I cannot have her. The pain of sorrow plagues me unlike any human or other known disease that infects these lands. If I was an elf then I fear that I would surely fade and die from unrequited love."
"There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness."
"Tell me what the reason would be? What reason would the Undómiel have to forfeit her immortality for a human, for a mere Ranger? I reach for something far out of my grasp!" Aragorn snapped and stood from the floor.
Legolas moved to sit cross-legged on the bed as he watched the human start to pace.
"I do not want her to swear her life to me and then I die the next day from a human weakness. I would not be the reason that she leaves her people to live with humans in a city of stone!"
"She will do all this and more because she loves you."
Aragorn stopped his pacing and covered his face with his hands.
"I do not want her to suffer and feel sorrow when I die. It could be at any time. I could die tomorrow."
"You are in the palace of Mirkwood. Nothing will happen to you here."
The prince would have never doubted his words. Nothing gave him reason to doubt his words. He was about to learn the hard way.
/////////////////////
Do you realize how hard it was for me to pull this chapter out of Twitch? The damn plot bunny just keeps disappearing on me. It is not really his fault, it is mine. It is getting near the end of school and all the professors are slamming us with all these papers that are due and last week I spent the entire time in the hospital so that put me behind. I just have not had time to write. So, here is the next chapter and I hope everyone enjoys it. Please review for me…it makes me write faster…whenever I do write. Cheers, mates!
Oh! And for anyone who is interested, I am in the process of creating my own website (slowly). It will have my LotR fiction on it, my Orlando Bloom stories, my Viggo Mortensen stories, and any hosted stories from other people. So that's that. And I have a major dilemma. Currently, my major is Business Management with a focus on International Business but I have realized that I enjoy writing so much that maybe I want to major in Creative Writing. I do not know what to do!
There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.—Friedrich Nietzsche
Elven Kitten- I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others. Take care!
Got-lotr- The assassin will die, have no fear! I will make it a fun and exciting death…or at least as fun and exciting that a death can be.
Star-Stallion- *blushing* I am glad that you are enjoying this story so much. FF.net has been being a butt the past few weeks or so but it is better now. You need to send me your address sometime so I can talk to you more often than just not every time I update. More angst is planning on arriving, have no fear. A side note: What do you use to create your website?
Leggylover03- Well thank you very much, I look forward to reading your reviews.
Lady-Eleniell- *blushing* Aw, you do not mean that. I apologize for taking so long to update but circumstances were not working in my favor.
Isadora2- Those two have the habit of pissing people off which sometimes is not a good habit to have. The action will pick up in the next chapter so be prepared.
Elvendancer- I know, I know; I should not stay up till all hours of the night working on a story. I am horrible that way. When the writing bug bites me there is no more hope; I just cannot stop when I am bitten by it.
XxgemxX- That is a very interesting name, if I may say so myself. Hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others.
Vampy2k- No, he is not; he ended the bond thingy when he dove out the window with the assassin. Here is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy it as much as the others. Ah, but the mystery surrounding the dark elf has been banished a bit in this chapter.
Kept-Secret- I am working as hard and as quickly as I can when time and school allows it. You must be a big Legolas angst fan. I can usually tell, they ask me when is Legolas' angst coming up. Like Star-Stallion.
Demon Faith- *bows with hand over heart and sweeps it out* Hannon lle, mellonin. I am glad that you enjoy my story so much; I am always pleased to hear from my enthusiastic readers. Here is the next chapter and I apologize for taking so long with it.
Tychen- *steps back in shock* You must be psychic! Of course Legolas is pretty sober right now after that little stunt that Aragorn did. This story is taking on a life of its own, I swear it is. Aragorn is going to be test in the next few days in this story. *cackles evilly while rubbing hands together* Yes, he is my precious.
Deana- I am glad that you liked the last chapter. Hope you like this one just as much.
Tychen- Did you not already review?????? Do not do that to me honey, I already think that I am losing my mind, do not help it along. I had to do a double take just to make sure *wipes imaginary sweat from brow*. Great, I am not going crazy.
Riva van Dyk- Legolas and Aragorn living in close quarters would be a good site to behold. I wish that I could be a fly on the wall and watch the fun. *sighs* You just have to love our little ranger and elf.
Ringmarciel- *fiercely blushes* Aw, you are giving me a huge ego right about now. I am glad that you enjoy my stories so much.
Jadesaber- I really enjoyed that scene; I had it all playing out in my mind and it was funny. I do have my beta people read over the story so if something is misspelled…blame them. Heehee.
Aragornwriter- *bows with hand over heart before sweeping it out to the side* Hannon lle, mellonin. I am honored to be on your favorite stories list. Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the others.
Wadeya- LOL, you must be a Legolas torture fan. You are in the same boat as: Star-Stallion and Kept-Secret. The Legolas angst is coming, having no fear.
Elven-Star-of-Gold- Here is the next chapter and I hope that you enjoy it as much as the others. I try very hard to make my stories enjoyable.
EnglishMystic- Updated.
Cosmic Castaway- *Pulls you along with me in front of the car* Do you really think that killing me will get me to update quicker? I apologize for taking so long with this chapter and for the other chapter being short. I am writing as much as I can, I just have to be careful that it does not turn into crap from writing so quickly.
Grumpy- The bickering between Legolas and Estel is just the best stuff to write. Maybe it is just like my relationship with my friends. Bretharso is up to no good…as usual.
Number Ten Ox- You have the right to not enjoy my stories and that is fine. No one is forcing you to read them. And personally, I think it is wrong of you to judge all of my writing by just this story. This one is one of countless many. But my writing must be good on some account seeing as how I am already published. Thank you for taking the time to review and have a good day.
ELFan- *blushing* I have been accused several times of being evil; usually only when I leave cliff-hangers. I am glad that you enjoyed the past chapter so much.
Snow-Glory- Updated!
Legalady- *sits back to read the poem* Wow, that is really good. I really enjoyed it. Now, I am really anxious to read the poem you have for my story *eagerly bounces up and down*. I enjoy talking to all my reviewers through emails. I say 'Bravo!' to your brother! Since I was diagnosed I have ridden horse in high level horse shows in other states, go to fencing competitions, kick-boxing competitions, traveled up to Washington D.C., traveled to New York by myself, and went to tour Europe for a week or two, then study abroad for four months. My friends usually forget that I am a diabetic whenever we go out. I did the insulin shots for about five years and then I switched to the insulin pump and I am so glad that I did. I love it…well not during the past week or two but it was okay. I am glad that your brother and you are doing well. Till next time.
Silver Wolf Gurl- I am sure that all the LotR fans would come out and kill me. I am fully aware of this, Heehee. I have already built my bomb shelter to protect myself from the murdering masses.
Nerfenherder- *fiercely blushing* Well, I thank you so much for the vote of confidence. I am glad that you have enjoyed this story and 'Order of Glaurung'. I am writing as much and as quickly and as physically allowed/permitted by school.
Kyliah- *rereads line* I only used it twice…is that a lot? I did not think so but oh well. Sorry about that. I use spell check and I have beta readers but there is always that chance that spell check does not catch it and my beta readers do not catch it. Hopefully, I can cut down on anymore spelling errors that may arise. I am glad that you are enjoying this story so much. Till next update.
Strider's Girl- *bows while holding hand over heart and sweeps it out to the side* Hannon lle, mellonin. I am glad that you are enjoying this story so much.
French Chipmunk- I am glad that you are enjoying this story so much. I will post as quickly as I can. Till next update.
Galadriel evenstar- Updated! Ah, but the future is hidden.
MelanyeBaggins- Updated! We always fear for our favorite elf and ranger.
Hiei-Rulez- I am so glad that you enjoy this story so much. The assassin is just plain evil but a little bit of the mystery has been revealed in this chapter.
Roccovende- It is updated! Till next time.
Someone Reading- Wow *blushing*. I am glad and honored that you enjoy this story so much. It is updated. Till next update.
Lauren- I am glad that you enjoyed the tutu comment, I thought it was hilarious when I wrote it. And shit, I would cringe too if I had all four of them living under my roof…well I would be doing more than just cringing. *slaps self* BE GOOD SPADES! The Arwen thing was just a random thing that Legolas came up with; other than that, I have no idea where he came up with it. If you think that you can score with a fictional character…go for it. Heehee. All humans are subject to pacing. I do at times and I am usually very calm. Aw, I love you too dearie.