Disclaimer: Tolkien's masterpiece. I'm just messing around with it.  

Author's Notes:

Another taste of Thranduil darkness…a longer chapter for those who reviewed!!! Yay! Six pages…

Farflung: Thanks for being so understanding. You are right about the twins though…hehe…

Irish QT: Cute review :)

Marblez: Right.

Tara: You are absolutely right. Only that now that I have two English tasks, one history and that science task…that sucks…

Kerla: First to update last chapter! Again! You going for the record?

Amariel Greenleaf, candidus-lupus-full Moon and anyone that I have missed: Thanks for adding me to your favourites!

 

More…Legolas' thoughts are in italics.

**In Mirkwood, Throne Room**

Thranduil barked at his advisor, who stepped out of the shadows of the room. Meleris had just left, he had never even noticed the advisor standing there. The king was obviously in a dark mood. "What did you think?"

The advisor visibly gulped. "It was fine," he lied. "My King."

"I want you be honest!" Thranduil ordered. "Tell me! You are my most loyal advisor! I trust you with this investigation! I have only told you! Don't you owe me your honesty?"

"Of course," the advisor stammered. "My King." Then he composed himself, slowly. "I just do not with to offend you with my…blunt opinions."

"Tell…me…what…YOU…THINK," the King spat irritated. His hand tapped the throne in impatience.

"I think that your decision was a clever one, My King," the advisor squeaked quickly. "The faster the investigation is, the less risk that other people will find out. Crimes do not happen much in Mirkwood. This news would spread like fire if it ever got out."

"That is better," the king calmed down a little. "This is why I trust you. Tell me what you think of Meleris and my dealings with him."

"I think that Meleris is an honourable elf, My King. He has good moral values and he is a valiant warrior. He gets his work done. I can see he cares for others. You dealt with him business-like. This was great and you wasted no time…but…you were…too…too…" the advisor stumbled. He didn't know how to put it in a nice way.

"I want to know the truth. Tell me." The King's eyes flashed menacingly.

"You were too harsh, My King." 

"Harsh? How?"

"You seemed unwilling to understand him, My King. You did not let him speak. Nor did you explain to him your other…matters," the advisor answered unwillingly.

"But they are none of his concern!"

"Maybe so, My King. But if you had explained, you may have left a better impression on him," the advisor added.

"You may go now," the King said without much emotion. "Thank you for your honesty."

"My pleasure, Great King of Mirkwood," the advisor smiled and bowed. He knew that the King always tried to hide his feelings – but it actually hid the fact that he did care. The king never thanked anyone much, so it was definitely sincere thanks. The advisor also knew that this was the king's way of apologising. The advisor didn't know why the king trusted him so much or why he wanted him to be blunt. He never used to care about what other Elves thought of him…perchance, the king might change. For the good.   

**In Mirkwood, Healing Rooms**

Meleris entered the room, closing the door with a loud bang. His cheeks were flushed red, the tips of his ears crimson. "That son of an orc!"

Herendil looked at Meleris with concern. "Who? And where did you learn such vulgar language?"

Meleris blushed. "The King. And to answer your other question, the warrior patrols that look for orcs…"

Herendil face turned solemn at the mention of the king. "What happened?" 

"Do you want the good news first or the bad news?"

"Uhh…can't it all be good news?" Herendil said. "Bad news first, I guess so we can end on a happy note…"

"The bad news is that the statement has to be ready in one day. The King said 'Two days have already passed, today is third.' He said that he had other matters to deal with," Meleris relayed.

"Could you not ask him to give us an extra day?" Herendil said desperately.

"If I could have been given a chance, trust me, I would!" Meleris snapped. His earlier encounter with the king had taken its toll on his patience and control. Now he was tired of it. "What don't you think I would not give for you to have an extra day? I wanted to ask but he didn't even let me say a single thing! He ordered me…he ORDERED me not to argue with him!"

"I didn't know…I didn't know…I'm sorry but I was worried about it…I didn't know," Herendil said softly. He knew that Meleris really cared about him, even if he was angry with him at the moment. This was the answer to the question. Meleris was willing to sacrifice a lot for Herendil.

"It's alright. I'm sorry to have yelled at you, it's just that today was very trying that's all," Meleris said. His momentary anger was now deflated. "You didn't deserve that.

"Are you angry with me?" Herendil asked quietly.

"No," Meleris said truthfully. "I don't blame you for asking the question either. I would have too."

There was a pause then Herendil broke the stillness.  

"What was the good news?" Herendil said curiously.

"Oh. The king wanted the investigation 'over and done with as soon as possible.'  He wants it over in a week because he doesn't want to prolong the procedure. This is good because it means it will not have to be as tiring for you. At the moment, you only have to hand in the statement," Meleris said. "We only have one day left."

They both sat in a sober silence. "We have to get started. Will you help me?"

"Of course. Anything, my friend," Meleris said earnestly.

"About what you said earlier…did you mean it? Truly?"

"Yes I did. I regret the way I said it and my anger but I don't regret the words that I said. I never did and I never will. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that I would not give for you to have an extra day. Anything that will make you happy."

"Thank you for caring for me. You are a true friend to me. I wish I could thank you more." Herendil eyes glittered with moisture.

"You have thanked me enough – by calling me as your friend. It's the highest title you could give me. Nothing else matters," Meleris responded.

"No, nothing does," Herendil agreed. "…friend."

"Do you believe that you can do it?"

"I think so."

**In Imladris, Gardens**

Where should I hide? I suppose I am good at one thing…Legolas smiled. He knew where he was going to hide.

Elrohir was also in the gardens.

"Fifty…Fifty-one…Fifty-two…" Elladan's voice drifted, carried by the gentle wind.

Elrohir knew his time was running out. Should I climb a tree? No. That is the first place Elladan will look. The younger twin looks around quickly. The fountain was quite big and Elladan wouldn't think to look there, he thought. Silently he walked past Elladan and climbed into the middle of the fountain. There were many marble statues standing in a ring with water cascading down. Elrohir had skipped delicately around the ring of statues and slipped inside the centre. He climbed onto one of the larger statues and held on. He found and ledge and swing himself into the hollow. He could see Elladan out of the eyes of the statue.

Legolas was sitting high up in a tree, one of the highest ones he could find. He made sure that he was well camouflaged within the branches. From his vantage point he could only see Elladan. He wondered where Elrohir was hiding.

"A HUNDRED!" Elladan said at the top of his lungs. "READY OR NOT, HERE I COME!"

Both Elrohir and Legolas tensed in anticipation as they heard Elladan's yell, holding onto their perches. The search had begun.

**In Mirkwood, Healing Rooms**

"I still can't use my hands. They are bandaged," Herendil said glumly.

"I know," Meleris said comfortingly. "I have everything here. Look on the bright side, you only have to talk."

"I guess…" Herendil seemed hesitant. "What do I have to do again?"

"Just say everything that happened in that room and what led to it, I suppose. It's fairly simple," Meleris said optimistically.

"It's not that simple." Herendil closed his eyes. "It's a very…long story. I am not sure if I'm ready to tell someone else. I'm sorry."

"What about what you said earlier? You are ready. I believe in you."

"I'm not so sure now. I thought I was. I don't feel ready anymore. Perhaps I was wrong. I don't really want to do this."

"I understand," Meleris said disappointedly, "if you do not feel that you trust me enough-"

"It's not that!" Herendil protested. "I've never told anyone as much as I have told you! Its too much. I just can't…"

"You can do it," Meleris encouraged. "I know you can."

"It is easy for you to say. You see everything as simple. You don't understand."

A silence settled heavily in the room until Herendil said, "Look. I just don't know if I can do it. I don't really want to press this matter anyway."

"Why not? Why won't you tell me?" Meleris pushed.

"It's because you wouldn't understand. It's not as simple as you think!" Herendil shot back. "You think that this is a small thing!"

"This is not about that! I wasn't belittling your problems, I wanted to help you!"

"You can't help me and you clearly don't know a thing about my problems!"

"How do you know that I won't get it if you won't tell me!" Meleris said in an exasperated voice. "You barely tell me anything about you!"

"Maybe it is because you think you know me but you don't," Herendil said coldly. "You assume too much. How can I tell you if you are already questioning me? You don't believe me."

"No, this is where I am different," Meleris said. "You are questioning yourself and you won't let anyone help you. I believe you that you can do it."

"I should be able to make my own choices. I don't need you to do it for me. I just don't want to do it." Herendil glared at Meleris.

"It is your choice then." Meleris walked out with this.

When he had gone, Herendil thought that he would feel satisfied. I won the argument, his pride sung. Instead, it seemed that he was pushing his only friend away. He thought about his life and how it all changed. Legolas, Elrond then Meleris.

**Flashback**

Herendil gently tilted the elfling's head up. "Look at me. I'm sorry. I'm not really angry at you. I was just worried…so worried about you. Don't do that to me again. I don't want you to be hurting alone."

"I hurt you by running away," Legolas grieved.

"No. You didn't. By running away, you are avoiding your problems. You can't solve anything. You hurt yourself. Sometimes we all need to be alone, but sometimes we need a friend to help us. I promise I will be there for you, if you let me. You need to want to heal. Only you can heal your heart."

**End Flashback**

Sometimes we need a friend to help us. The words echoed in his mind. You are condemning yourself and you won't let anyone help you, Meleris voice said. Sometimes we need a friend…avoiding your problems…you hurt yourself…your choice then…your choice…your choice…

Herendil could see now. He had to return to Legolas, he had given his promise. Herendil was faced with the dilemma – his pride or his healing. Once again his pride had to give way. I have to follow my own advice. I need to be strong…for Legolas as well as me. I miss him and I miss Meleris…my friends…

"Meleris. I pushed him away. Meleris was right. I did need help. I am avoiding my problems. I pushed him away from me."

Herendil felt grieved. "He saved my life, he probably regrets it now."

"I'm so sorry Meleris. How can you forgive me? I'm so sorry…"

His bandaged hands covered his face, the clean linen wet with bitter tears.

Please Review! (No, I did not mean for it to be a cliffhanger ok? It just happened because I was trying to write a longer piece and boom it crashed down on me. It is two pages longer than the average…so try and be happy.)