Disclaimer: Do I really need this?

A/N: Sorry for the mean cliffe. This chapter is in Legolas' POV. It starts with him in his cell and goes to past the last cliffe. So, enjoy. And here's a response to all my reviewers. Thanks so much. I almost have more reviews on this one story then all my other stories combined. Thanks so much.

Aldawen Eldartari: I better not kill him, huh? I'm not that mean. gives innocent look I hope you didn't hurt yourself by falling out of the chair. Please be more careful as you read this chapter. I don't want to be responsible for any injuries while people read my chapters.

Saphire Cat: hehe! You didn't like that ending very much did you? I liked it. I know dreaminoflorien liked it too. smiles evilly It is always nice to know what will happen next. Here is the next part for you.

Dreaminoflorien: Yes, all your fault. It's so nice to know what will happen, doesn't it. But alas, my friend, you do not even know all that is in store. I have come up with new ideas to surprise even you with. MWAHAHAHHAHAH!!

Alia G. L: I know it is terrible. You wouldn't forgive me if I killed him? That's not nice. Lol. Thanks for your review. Here is the next chapter.

Lindahoyland: I know it is sad. I cried writing some of this. I am glad you think I create tension well and that you are eagerly awaiting my next chapter. Here it is for you. Enjoy.

Dark Borg Drone: Navaer means goodbye. Sorry I didn't say that one. Here is the next chapter for you.

Irukapooka: Yes, poor Elrohir. I would be really sad too if the person I loved most in the world was dead. I'm glad you think it is perfect. Thanks for your review. ]

The Cap'n: Yes, cliffes are evil, but they are so much fun to write. I'm glad you liked this chapter. Here is another for you.

Kukumalu: I'm glad you liked this chapter. I was a little hesitant with Legolas' sister and even more hesitant to put the relationship between her and Elrohir. It seemed like a good idea and everyone seems to be responding well to it. I'm glad you loved the angst. Thanks so much for your review.

Legolas lover: The best story you have ever read? WOW! I am honored that you think so. Here is the next chapter. Sorry to keep you waiting.

Mysterious Jedi: Yes, I know it was mean to do that to you, but I must admit it was quite fun. Elrohir will realize soon, but to him it seems like Legolas' fault. Thanks for reading.

Gozilla: Yes, evil cliffhanger. Here is the next chapter for you.

Kitsune Kida: Hehe. Yes, evil cliffhanger. Don't we all hate cliffhangers and love them too. I'm glad you think this is one of the best stories out there. Here is the next chapter for you. Thanks for your review.

Ella-elbereth: I know I'm an evil person. You actually think I would be that mean to Legolas and Aragorn? gives innocent look Here's another update. Please don't hurt me. I'm glad you like my style of writing. Thanks for the review.

Aranna Undomiel: I'm sorry these are so sad for you. Yes, nasty cliffe. Here is the next chapter. Thanks so much for your review. Is this updated soon enough for you?

Okay all done. Another big thanks to dreaminoflorien. A lot of the ideas from this chapter are hers. Thanks so much. Here is the next chapter for everyone. Hope you all enjoy this one too. Thank you so much for all your kind reviews. Next chapter will be up soon. Thanks, my friends.

Chapter 13

A Light in the Dark

'Bring me to life'

I sat silently staring at the wall. I could not sleep. I had not rested in days and I did not wish to. My dreams would be haunted by images of my sister. Every time I closed my eyes, her face would haunt my dreams. And every time I opened my eyes, I would be reminded of my grief and sorrow. There was no peace for me anymore. No haven to retreat to. Even being lost inside myself was no haven, for inside I was too broken. There was only one place that I could find relief and that was in death. I was ready to give up. I had no more strength left to fight. I closed my eyes wearily, just as I heard footsteps approaching my cell.

The door opened. I did not look up. Suddenly two men grabbed my arms and forced me to stand. My legs were weak underneath me and would not support my weight. As one guard held me standing, the other bound my wrists with rope. Then they began to lead me from the cell. Blandly, I wondered where I was going, but in truth, it did not matter. I was surprised; however, as they brought me into a room and sat me on the bed. I looked up briefly as I saw Aragorn leading the men out. A bit of hope came into my eyes. Even when I was ready to give up, my friend was not ready to give up on me.

Silently Aragorn cut the rope around my wrist. I did not move, but kept my eyes locked on the floor.

"I appreciate what you are trying to do Estel, but my life no longer matters." I said, breaking the silence.

Aragorn knelt down. "That's where you are wrong. Your life does matter. You can't just give up."

I did not reply, so Aragorn picked up one of my hands and squeezed it. "Listen to me Legolas. Your sister would not want you to give up like this. She would want you to keep fighting. She would want you to escape. I'm sure she doesn't blame you and you shouldn't blame yourself."

I drew in a shaking breath. His words were correct. Linriel would not want me to give up and inside I knew she did not blame me. But how could she not. Everything she went through was my fault. A tear fell down my face as Aragorn spoke again.

He placed his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look up. "Legolas think of your father. Loosing one child is hard enough, don't let him loose another. You can return to him, and together both of you can bear your grief."

I was silent, considering the words he had said. I wondered if my father would blame me for Linriel's death. I sighed as I pictured Linriel in my head. She was so beautiful. "Lenriel reminded me so much of my mother." I said barely above a whisper. "She was beautiful just like her and she had a heart of gold." I lifted my eyes to meet Aragorn's. "She didn't deserve death, Estel. She didn't deserve what these men did to her." I yelled out.

Aragorn sat on the bed. "I know she didn't, Legolas. You don't deserve to be here either and you don't deserve the guilt that you have placed on yourself. I am going to help you escape from here, but you have to promise me that you will not give up on life."

I wanted to make that promise to him, but inside my heart, I knew there would be no escape. I could no longer live in life. "There is no escape from this place. No way to end the torment."

"No, there is a way Legolas." Aragorn replied confidently. "Elladan and Elrohir will help me get you out of here."

My eyes snapped up as my heartbeat raced. Valar I prayed that was not true. I wasn't ready to see the twins. I could not possibly see them now. I feared I could never face them again. "The twins are here?" I asked.

Aragorn nodded. He muttered some stuff about them promising to help, but I did not hear. I clenched my fist and pressed them towards my eyes in frustration. Sobs rose in my throat and I bit my lip to try to control them.

"Legolas, what is it?" Aragorn asked, worry in his voice.

My body shook as I drew in a shaky breath. Aragorn did not know. He had not heard. "Elrohir and Linriel…" I swallowed hard. I had to tell him; he deserved to know. "They were engaged." My voice broke as tears fell from my eyes.

Aragorn gasped. "How can that be?"

I looked up. "They have been…" I corrected myself. "They were engaged for almost a hundred years now. My father said my sister was too young, so Elrohir had to wait." My voice was shaking, but Aragorn deserved to know, so I forced myself to speak. It hurt so badly. Valar did it hurt, but I continued. "Every twenty years or so, Elrohir would visit Linriel. He would stay for some time, before he had to travel home. They were going to marry this spring." As I said the last words, I could not continue. I covered my face with my hands.

"How do we tell Elrohir?" Aragorn asked after a long silence.

I shook my head and bit my lip. Suddenly a voice from the shadows startled me.

"Tell me what?"

I cringed as I saw both twins walk into the room. They ran to my side, quickly muttering in Elvish about how they had missed me and thought I was dead.

I looked up sadly, contemplating on how to tell Elrohir. How do you tell your best friend that the person they love most in the world is dead because of your mistakes? How do you tell them that it was your fault? For a moment, my eyes met Elrohir's brown ones, but I quickly lowered my face. I could not bear to look him in the eyes. I did not deserve it.

"What is it, Legolas?" Elrohir asked in a kind voice.

Tears formed in my eyes and I forced myself to tell him. "I betrayed you, Elrohir."

"Betrayed me?" Elrohir asked confused.

"I promised I would look out for Linriel." I explained, still unable to fully explain it to him.

Panic spread across Elrohir face and it broke my heart. "Legolas, where is Linriel?"

I could hear the fear in his voice and I was unable to answer his question. All I could mutter was "I'm sorry."

"Do not say something has happened to her." Elladan begged. His voice was shaking as well. I did not respond, but cringed as I heard Elladan's next words. "What happened?"

I drew in a deep breath. I had to tell them. I looked up slightly, but I was unable to meet the twins' eyes. "Gerchen killed her to punish me." I forced the words from my mouth.

A tear fell from Elrohir's eyes. He sat in shock, shaking his head. "Tell me it's not true." He pleaded.

I winced. Everything in me wanted to say it wasn't true. I wanted to believe it with all my heart, but it was true. She was dead.

"You promised you would protect her!" Elrohir shouted at me. "How could you let her die? How could you?!"

I lowered my head in shame, and drew my knees to my chest.

"It's not your fault, Legolas. There was nothing you could have done." Aragorn comforted as he placed an arm around me."

I pulled my knees closer to my chest. I could hear Elrohir sobbing against his brother's tunic. Between his muffled sobs, I could make out a few words. I could hear him saying that I should have done something. He blamed me for her death and no matter what Aragorn said, her death was my fault. Nothing could change that.

I heard the twins leave the room and as they left, I slowly raised my eyes. The grief and guilt in my heart was too hard to bear. I could not bear it any longer. I needed some relief.

"I no longer have a reason to live." I told Aragorn.

Aragorn tried to argue with me, but I cut him off. "Estel just listen to me. Everything I have ever lived for is gone. My family is destroyed, my pride is gone, and my honor has faded. There is nothing left."

"You can't believe that." Aragorn's voice broke as he spoke.

I swallowed hard. It needed to end now; the grief was too much to bear any longer. "Estel, I must ask you on last favor." He bit his lip, waiting for me to continue. "I can no longer go on. My body will soon pass into darkness. Nothing can stop it now." I said as tears fell from my face. I could feel my body growing weaker. "I ask that you relieve me of my pain. Take my life, so my passing may be swift." I begged.

"I can not kill you." Aragorn replied, his voice shaking.

"You must. Do it for me. Ease the pain of my passing." I pleaded.

Aragorn began to explain that there was more to live for, but how could he tell me that. How could he understand what I felt in my heart?

"I killed her, Aragorn." I shouted. "How am I suppose to live with that?! Shall I live in darkness and the shadows for the rest of my days? Shall I go on living when inside I'm already dead?" I quieted my voice some at seeing Aragorn flinch. "Please I beg you, as a friend, to ease my passing. Don't let me live a moment longer with this grief."

"Legolas, I could never kill you. And to kill yourself would kill more people than you would know."

I shook my head. No one cared for me anymore. When my father found out about my failure, he would blame me as well. No one cared whether I lived or died. I looked up at Aragorn and stood from the bed. If he wasn't going to kill me, I knew Elrohir would. Elrohir was in so much pain, that I knew he would kill me without a second thought. Perhaps it would ease some of his suffering.

"It will be payment for the pain I caused him." I told Aragorn. "I more than deserve it."

"Legolas don't." Aragorn said as he grabbed my arm. "Do not pain Elrohir with this. He bears enough grief."

I turned around to face him. I begged him one last time to end my torment.

Aragorn dropped my arm and bit his lip. Slowly, he unsheathed his dagger. I smiled sadly. This was it. All my turmoil would be over.

"Goodbye, my friend." I muttered as I stood waiting for the blade to fall.

Aragorn raised it and I held my breath. I waited, but the blade never fell. I opened my eyes slowly. Aragorn stood in front of me, staring at me, the point of the blade at his own chest.

"I would kill myself before I could kill you." He said.

I stared wide-eyed. "You can not kill yourself." I told him, unsure if he was actually serious.

"I can not bear to see you like this, my friend. Perhaps death would be better for the both of us." Aragorn said, his voice full of sadness and sincerity.

I shook my head. I could not let Aragorn kill himself. "You can't be serious."

Aragorn nodded. "I am. I'm afraid that my life has become bound to yours. If you take your own life this way, then I will take mine as well."

I looked down. "Estel, you are young. You have not seen the pain that I have. You have many things yet to accomplish. Do not be foolish." I pleaded with him.

"Foolish?" Aragorn asked as he held the knife up. "I'm not the one thinking foolishly. Look at you. You are slipping into darkness, when you still have your whole life ahead of you. Soon you will wish to travel over the sea to be with your people. Do not give that up." Aragorn pleaded.

I looked up. Aragorn had a point, but I did not see how I could go on. "How?" I asked. "How can I go on living?"

Aragorn sheathed his dagger. "I will help you, mellon nin. I will show the good still left in this world."

I nodded my head. I do not know how, but a small bit of hope formed in my heart. Silently, I walked towards the bed and sat down. I was so deep in thought that I didn't even hear Aragorn sit beside me.

"Can I get you anything?" He asked, breaking me from my thoughts. "Food, water?"

I shook my head, though I had not eaten hardly anything in four days, I did not feel like eating.

Aragorn looked at me, obviously wishing to say something. "What?" I asked.

"You look as if you haven't eaten in days my friend." Aragorn stated.

I shrugged. "Most of the food that was given to me the past few days, I shared with Linriel. We shared the same cell at night. She usually received the same amount of food that I did, but I would give her any food I had been given as well."

Flashback

I sat alone in my cell. My fists were clench tightly together as the events of the day played in my mind. It had been the worst day since my capture, and I feared it would only get worse.

Suddenly the door in my cell opened and someone was forced inside. I realized quickly that it was my sister and I caught her as she fell to the ground. She looked at me and smiled slightly.

"At least we get to share a cell together." She said with a sweet voice.

I smiled at her as I untied her bound hands. "I'm so sorry you got involved in this Linriel."

Linriel gripped my hand and squeezed it tightly. "We will make it out of this together. We always do." She whispered.

I smiled at her. Here I was the big brother, yet she was the one comforting me. "You're suppose to be the one that is scared." I said playfully.

She laughed and I smiled. "Are you hungry?" I asked after a moment of silence.

She nodded slightly, so I reached into a small corner of the cell. Hidden in the shadows was a bit of food wrapped in a small rag. "I saved this for you." I said, handing her the food. I didn't tell her that it was half of my own meal that I had just received.

She took it and ate hungrily. When she finished, she looked up at me with a smile.

"What?" I asked.

"Everyone in Mirkwood thought you to be dead. We searched for so long, that most did not have any hope. Even father's hope was waning." Linriel explained. "I; however, knew you were still alive somewhere. I knew you could not possibly be dead. I could still feel your light in my spirit. Though, once it almost completely faded, I still believed you were alive. Most thought I was crazy for believing such, but I knew it was real. I knew you were alive and I knew I had to find you."

I smiled. "I love you, Linriel."

"I love you." She said as she reached out to embrace me.

End Flashback

Suddenly I stood up. The sudden movement caused my body to scream in pain, but I ignored it.

"What is it, Legolas?" Aragorn asked.

"I can still feel it!" I said simply. Aragorn stared at me confused, but I ignored his unasked question. "Valar, why didn't I see it before?!" I asked myself.

"Legolas what are you talking about?" Aragorn asked.

"It has almost faded, but it is there." I muttered to myself. "I can still feel her light!" I almost shouted. "I can feel her. I never even lost her in the first place."

"Legolas, calm down." Aragorn said as he placed his hands on my shoulders. "Tell me what you feel."

I smiled. "She's not dead, Aragorn. Linriel is alive."