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(((((((((((((((Chapter 13)))))))))))))))

Legolas awoke almost two days later. He didn't know when and he didn't know why, but he just opened his eyes one day. Awake.

The light in this room was bright. He blinked until his eyes adjusted to it. He could feel a large bandage covering his shoulder. He wondered stupidly why he was here and not in the cellar again.

Legolas turned his head to the right. There was another bed next to the one he was lying in. He could see a head rested on the pillows, still and unmoving. It was his head. Mithrendol's head. Looking over the length of the body, he saw the covers moving slowly up and down with breath. So Mithrendol was not dead? He had failed? He looked back up at his stolen face. His cheeks were dreadfully pale.

Legolas turned back towards the ceiling. So, both he and Mithrendol were alive. Yet he was awake and Mithrendol was not. Who had rescued them? Had Bethalyn told Aragorn everything? Was she even alright? Legolas remembered that Mithrendol had cut her on the throat. There were so many questions in his head, and such a void to fill.

Legolas leaned his head to the other side of the bed and saw yet another body. He stared, surprised, yet not. It was Andavar...or at least his body. Who knew if it was truly his soul in there. Apparently throughout this whole ordeal he had remained in a coma.

The room was quiet, except for the sounds of the three elves' breathing. Legolas made a conscious effort to try and figure out exactly what had taken place over the last few days. How had Mithrendol gotten here? Was Andavar still himself, or was there somebody else's soul trapped inside his body?

Legolas bit his lower lip. Andavar was most likely Mithrendol's first victim. But Mithrendol's former body had died. Where had his soul resided since then? Legolas looked worriedly back at the elf that looked exactly like he once did. Was Mithrendol truly immortal?

There was a sudden rush of footsteps in the room. Legolas's head whipped around quickly, a movement he regretted. His broken body hadn't yet recovered from it's abuse, and his shoulder hurt like the dagger was still in it. He let out a tiny wince of pain.

His sound caught the attention of the person in the room. Legolas closed and then opened his eyes to find his father hovering over him, along with Nainiel, the healer.

Legolas blinked when they both looked at him quizzically. Obviously, they were both still unsure of who was who at the moment.

"A..Ada?" He whispered, his throat suddenly dry.

His father gasped and stood up, smiling at the healer. He hurriedly leaned back down, placing a hand on his son's forehead. "Legolas?" He asked.

Legolas breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes." He replied.

"It is really you in there, Prince Legolas?" Nainiel asked.

"It is." Legolas coughed. "Ask me a question if you want me to prove it."

The two older elves above him shot each other looks and then looked back down. "What day is you're birthday?" The King asked.

Legolas smiled slightly. "August 24th."

Nainiel leaned forward. "How many times have you broken you're left arm?"

Legolas thought a moment and then answered. "Thrice. Once when I fell off my horse as an elfling, once falling off the roof of the palace…" Legolas almost laughed at the memory. "…and lastly when Halirod accidentally broke it when he and I were sparring in the courtyard."

Nainiel grinned and clasped her hands. "Thank the Valar, it is him."

"How could you have doubted me for a second?" Legolas jested lightly. His father did not laugh.

"I am truly sorry, Legolas…" He began. "I couldn't even recognize my own son…"

Legolas frowned. "So you know what has happened, then?"

"Somethings. Such as that body on your right is not you, although it looks so." Thranduil replied. "It is that Mithrendol fellow, is it not?"

"Yes." Legolas looked at him. "Has he showed any signs of waking?"

Nainiel snorted. "He wouldn't with all the potions I've been feeding him."

"What?"

"We thought it best that he stay unconscious, and therefore completely controllable, until you awoke." The King explained. "We still do not know exactly how he can banish souls."

"Through his mouth. It was a dark power given to him by Sauron." Legolas explained. "He has to get close enough. If we chain him up he will be as helpless has he is now."

Thranduil and Nainiel both nodded uncertainly and then looked down at the floor. There was a moment of silence. Legolas broke it suddenly.

"Can I get up?"

Nainiel looked at him sternly. "I would advise against it, Prince Legolas. You lost very much blood."

"It wouldn't have been the first time." Legolas replied, pushing himself up into a sitting position. He closed his eyes and concentrating in pushing back the dizziness it brought him.

He opened them and saw his father staring strangely at him again. "What?" Legolas asked.

The King shook his head. "Legolas…do you happen to know anyway we can…get you're body back?"

Legolas frowned deeply. He shook his head slowly. "As far as I know, Mithrendol is the only one who is able to control that."

"So we'll strike a deal with him." Thranduil added.

"No." Legolas said. "No deal will ever make Mithrendol give up what he has now. Unless we threatened to kill him or something of that sort."

"Why did he want revenge on you, Legolas? Why was he so bent on it?" Nainiel inquired.

Legolas sighed, placing a heavy hand on the bandage on his shoulder. Surprisingly, the pressure seemed to ease his pain a bit. "I ruined his plan to become more powerful seven months ago. He was once a Prince like me…it is such a long story, Nainiel."

"We have time." Thranduil replied.

Legolas looked up at his father with sore eyes and then nodded. He told him the story of the White Wood once more, adding all the details he could recall. He told of Mithrendol's first death, and his second. When he was finished his father sat on his bed and grasped his hand.

"We will find a way to make everything alright again, Legolas." He said reassuringly. "It may not be easy with an elf so stubborn and mislead as Mithrendol, but I'm sure we can do something."

"I hope so." Legolas answered. He looked up. "Is Aragorn and Lady Arwen still here?"

Thranduil blinked. "Yes. They haven't left since the incident."

Legolas assumed that 'the incident' was when he and Mithrendol were found broken and bloody on the hallway floor. "Can I see them?"

"They have checked on you very often, Legolas." Nainiel said. She looked towards Mithrendol's frozen form. "Both parts of you."

Legolas smiled. "So my body is healing alright?" He asked.

"Aye, it is. But it's not completely healed yet. I can imagine that if you and Mithrendol got into a brawl right now that you'd win." The healer jested.

Legolas somehow didn't think that was very funny. "I've had enough fights with him." He replied grimly.

"Son, you risked killing you're host body when you stabbed him. Did you realize that?" The King asked.

Legolas clasped his hands in his lap and nodded. "It was a sacrifice I was willing to make. Otherwise he would have…I don't know." His head sagged down. "I don't think he liked you much, Father. He probably would have tried to kill you."

"Not to mention he would have gotten his way with Lady Cefielle." Nainiel added quietly. Legolas suddenly jolted.

"Cefielle!" He cried. "How much does she know?!"

"Calm down." The King ordered, pushing Legolas back down onto the pillows. "You'll hurt yourself again."

Legolas sat back up disobediently. "But…she thinks that I want to marry her!"

"You do not?" The King asked, surprised.

Legolas shook his head vigorously. "No!" He protested. "I mean…she's lovely, but I don't love her!"

Nainiel and the King looked at each other. "Oh, dear."

Legolas looked at them. "What? What is it?"

"We thought that Mithrendol had perhaps taken your body away from you after you proposed to Cefielle." Thranduil answered.

Legolas shook his head yet again. He then ceased suddenly, realizing his neck was going to hurt later. "You mean to tell me that she still expects us to be wed?"

"She is full of hope." Nainiel said.

Legolas groaned. What am I going to say to her? He thought. He must have said it aloud as well, for his father replied.

"The truth would be best, Legolas." The King answered, pushing his son back onto the bed again. Legolas this time stayed down. "But she will not take it easily."

Legolas glared at his father. "She'll die of heartache. From what Mithrendol's told me…"

"Hush." The King interrupted sternly. "Do you want to get better or not?"

Legolas rolled his eyes, now terribly frustrated. "Yes!"

"Then lay down and stay down." Nainiel ordered. "We'll get you're friends."

"Wait!" Legolas called as the healer and his father began to move away. "What…what about Andavar's condition? Has he improved?"

Both elders looked at the other body laying beside Legolas's bed. Nainiel answered. "I'm afraid not, Legolas. He has remained as he was."

Legolas's face fell. "Oh."

"We'll be back in a minute, Legolas."

"Yes, father."

A few minutes later, The King and the healer returned, as promised. With them followed Aragorn and Arwen. They both gracefully smiled when they saw that the Prince was up and well.

"Legolas?" Aragorn asked. "Is that you?"

Legolas was too happy to be annoyed with the constant questions. "Yes, Aragorn. I really is me."

"Thank the Valar you are alright." Arwen said. "We thought we would never see you again."

"I'm not much to be seen these days." The Prince answered.

Aragorn grew more serious. "So Mithrendol came back, eh?"

Legolas nodded. "He came back and got what he thirsted for."

"At least he didn't kill you."

"No. He wanted me to rot in my own dungeon first." The Prince's words were bitter.

Aragorn grew silent. Arwen spoke. "Did you just awaken?"

"Yes." He gazed at both of them. They were like images from a comforting dream. "It is so good to see you two again. Especially after all that's happened."

"You two nearly killed each other." Aragorn said, gesturing to Mithrendol's body.

"How is the girl—Bethalyn?" Legolas asked, avoiding the painful subject. "I assume she told you what was happening."

"Yes, she did. And she was alright. A small cut on the neck, nothing more." Aragorn answered.

"Poor dear." Arwen added. "She was very upset."

"I owe her everything." Legolas remembered. "Without her help I'd most likely be dead now."

There was a brief pause in the conversation. Then Legolas smiled. "I can't wait to go out into the sunlight again." He said dreamily.

"You've been locked up in the dungeon, haven't you?" Aragorn asked. "How terrible."

"It has passed." Legolas excused. "I am fine now."

Aragorn's eyes turned towards his friend's heavily bandaged shoulder. "He hit you in almost the same place as last time…" He said.

Legolas nodded. "The exact place."

Another pause followed. Nainiel stepped forward into the conversation. "Lord Legolas. Do you want anything?"

Legolas blinked and then laughed. "Yes. A glass of water would be wonderful, thank you."

"I'll get you one." The healer replied and turned around. Suddenly there was a new set of footfalls in the hall. Cefielle poked her head through the door and looked at everyone. Legolas held his breath.

"Good morrow," The girl greeted. "What has happened?"

Her green eyes gazed across every face until they rested solidly on Legolas's. Or to be perfectly technical, on Halirod's face. She gasped.

"Is that…?" She breathed, unable to finish.

"Cefielle." Legolas said, trying to sound strong. It somehow came out as nothing more than a whisper.

The lady's eyes widened, growing in brightness and beauty. Somehow she recognized the soft expression the unfamiliar face was offering her. "Le…Legolas?"

"Yes, it is I." Legolas sighed. I have to tell her what has happened.

Cefielle's face filled with joy as she heard him speak his name. "Oh, Legolas!" She cried, rushing towards the bed, and kneeling by it. "I'm sorry for everything!" She began. "I didn't know that Mithrendol had stolen you're body…I should have noticed! I'm sorry."

Legolas bit his lip. "Cefielle…I…There is nothing to forgive."

The girl breathed and instant sigh of relief and reached for him. Legolas didn't do the same. Father was right. He thought. She still obviously believes that I'm the one who proposed to her. I have to set things straight.

The Prince looked at his friends and kin as Cefielle's hands clasped around his own. He tried not to flinch. "I'm sorry…Aragorn, Arwen…Father, Nainiel…but could I please speak to Lady Cefielle alone?"

Casually, one by one the others in the room nodded and left. Cefielle looked at Legolas in question. She opened her mouth to apologize again, but he stopped her.

"Don't." He ordered. "Please don't."

He looked at her. Her eyes shone with hope. The hope that Mithrendol had spun into cobwebs in her mind. He frowned. "Cefielle, I have something to tell you…" he began, and then added. "…something you will not be happy to hear."

Cefielle's large green eyes narrowed in confusion. "What is it?" She asked, her small voice laced with hurt.

Legolas was unable to look at her. "Cefielle…you know that Mithrendol stole my body, correct?"

"Yes…?" The answer was more of a question.

Legolas finally gathered the courage to look at her. "Cefielle, I cannot marry you." He said as clearly as he could.

The girl blinked and shook her head. Her pale silver locks flowed around her stricken face. "No…you cannot mean that! You said we were going to be married."

Legolas sat up and leaned over to her. "Cefielle…that was Mithrendol saying those things, not I."

With a gasp of realization, Cefielle flung herself back. "Oh no…no! It can't be…It couldn't have been him the whole time!" She began to sob.

"It was," Legolas clarified for her. Cefielle looked back up at him, trying weakly to hold back the tears.

"You mean you never cared about me?" She asked. The question was like a thorn twisted in Legolas's side.

He reached forward and grasped her hand. Pulling her closer. "I did not say that." He said. "I care for you, Cefielle…just not so intimately as Mithrendol did."

The girl ripped her hand away. "But he did not care for me! To him I was just another plaything!"

"I'm sorry you were mislead, Cefielle." Legolas said quietly. "I honestly wish I could love you…just to make you stop crying."

The girl's sobs ceased slowly at that statement. She wiped her eyes with her long, elegant sleeves and looked up at the Prince.

Legolas smiled and continued. "I believe you will one day find someone better than me for you to love. You are filled with so much."

"So much what?"

Legolas frowned. She didn't understand. "Love." He repeated.

Cefielle felt more hot tears spilling down her cheeks. How it felt weak and terrible to bawl in front of the Prince. She was spilling much more than tears. She had revealed to him that she loved him. And he had naught the heart to love her back.

"I knew that your loving me was too good to be true." She sobbed again. "I should have known it would never happen."

Legolas looked down on the sobbing girl curled up on the floor. "I'm very sorry."

Cefielle sniffed.

Suddenly, King Thranduil peeped his head into the room. Legolas's mouth flew open. "Ada!"

Cefielle whipped around, wiping her eyes. She didn't need another person to see her pathetic display.

"I'm terribly sorry for interrupting, but…" The King paused.

"Were you eavesdropping?" Legolas accused.

The King was taken aback. "Of course not, Legolas!"

"Then what is it?"

The King exhaled and then inhaled deeply. He looked across the room at his son. Legolas saw something strange flicker in his father's eyes. What was it?

"Legolas…you have another—unexpected—visitor."

(((((((((((((Personal thing))))))))))))))

Almost done! That was a pretty long chapter, neh? I'm sorry about the really late update, but I wrote this chapter, and then I thought it was ok, but after I read it again I hated it. So I deleted it and rewrote it so now it is much better! Thanks for all your support! I love you guys!