Chapter 4

The six Elves sat in silence as Elrond finished telling them what he wanted to. Elladan was first to speak.

"I should have known." He growled, "as soon as I knew he was not here I should have realised."

"No, I am the one who should have acted on instinct; as soon as he was not here I knew something was wrong. I should not have waited." Legolas snapped, guilt edging at him.

"It is neither of your faults." Thranduil interrupted them, silencing the arguments.

"This is my realm. I should have noticed something was wrong sooner."

"What could you have done Thranduil?" Elrond snapped, fear of loosing his youngest made his tone a little sharper, "gone to Dol Guldur asked them to leave?" he let out a bitter laugh, "yes that would have worked. They would kill you as soon as they saw you. What would that achieve?"

"It achieves the same as you are getting worked up about this." both elves tempers were fraying. "Yes, he is your son, you are worried, but what can we do? Like you say we cannot just ask for the Heir of Isildur back can we?"

"As if you care." Elrond yelled, "You hate Humans that is no secret, you could not care less if he was dead or alive right now."

"How dare you presume to know my thoughts Peredhil. Estel is a good lad, and a good friend to my son. That is the main reason we try to get along is it not? So our sons can have good friendships? Or do you not care about that?"

"Now who is presuming who's thoughts? You seriously think I would put a pathetic dispute before my sons' happiness, then you are greatly mistaken. Nothing matters to me more than them and their safety. Just because you get your examples from your father..." e had overstepped the mark, and he knew it.

The feeling was confirmed as Thranduil punched the Noldor. Hard. Elrond was quick to retaliate by punching the Sindar.

The three friends were having a hard time trying to separate their fathers from tearing each other apart. Even Glorfindel got punched trying to help.

"Enough both of you. This is getting us nowhere." The Balrog slayer yelled trying to get their attention, but his yells went ignored.

Two dozen guards later the fight finally settled down.

"That is it Peredhil," Thranduil growled wiping blood from his split lip, "if you are not out of my realm by sunrise you will be killed on the spot," he threatened darkly, "same goes for those brats of yours, if they ever think of setting foot in my kingdom ever again." The twins exchanged worried looks with Legolas.

"Don't worry; I would not want to stay in this place for longer than I have to. The evil that has corrupted this land has obviously corrupted you too. Come my sons, we are leaving." Elrond turned on his heel and walked out, the twins managed a quick goodbye to their friend before they were ushered out by Glorfindel.

Things were not going well.

"I never want you to have contact with those twins and that Human ever again Legolas, is that understood?" Thranduil levelled his son with a cold glare.

"No, it is not. You ask me something I know I cannot do. They are like brothers to me; I cannot cut them out of my life just like that. Not with Estel..."

"The Human is no longer our concern..."

"Not our concern? He is my best friend. Like a brother to me. He is in the hands of the enemy, which is in our lands and you say it is not our concern?" Legolas exploded and headed for the door.

"Don't you dare go after them..."

"Or what father? You will have me killed too?"

"I do not want to loose you..."

"It is too late for that father," regret mirrored his face, "if you want to go to war with Imladris, I cannot stop you, but I will not be around to support you in this madness. Perhaps Elrond was right, perhaps you have been taken by evil, I hope you can see through it. I am sorry father. I hope someday you can forgive me for this, but I have to follow my heart and conscience, even if it means loosing you ,I will know I have done it for the right reasons." He closed his eyes briefly against threatening tears, "Namárië father." He walked out of the study to his room to collect his weapons and a few things before he left, for what could be a long time.