Reviewer responses:
Mornflower: I'm sorry to hear your brother had an accident. I hope he is all right! Thanks for the congrats and glad you liked the chapter. Enjoy this one as well...
Karri: Ah yes, wood-Elves. I might have known you would have liked Legolas' tree affinity! Enjoy this one too!
Natasha AKA: Tash: I'm so glad you love the story....I love to hear that!!! Thanks for the well-wish and I hope you continue to enjoy Healing Hope.
Deana: Yeh, I finally posted. Glad you enjoy it. I hope this isn't AS bad as the last wait. I tried to write this up quickly.
Aranna Undomiel: Thanks for the congrats! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and felt it worked. I was a bit worried that the Legolas flashback would be lame.
InsanePirate624:Thanks! (about the engagement...) Sorry to hear your computer was acting up on you. It was good to "see" you again! I missed your reviews. I hope you get to work on your own stories soon! You flatter me! I'm glad you love my stories! It makes writing them THAT much better.
Marbienl: Yes, excellent points about Legolas. I almost said as much in this chapter, bout the mind healing and the body not now! You liked the orcs increasing huh? I loved that part! Thanks for the congrats too.
Isiliel: Thanks for the congrats. And thanks for reviewing my stories!!! I could never forget about my loyal readers. I ShALl update!!
Zammy: Thanks much...
Tmelange: Hello there! Thanks for the review!!! Glad you liked!
Chapter Nine: Return
As the group grew closer and closer to Rivendell, Marken grew quieter and quieter. His eyes roved the countryside, taking in the sites that were becoming quickly familiar to him, despite the long years since his last venture here.
The time to return Aiglos was nearly upon him and he feared it like he had never feared anything before. His hands even began to tremble as the gates of Imladris rose up in the distance.
"Home…" Elladan said quietly from his perch behind the shaking Legolas. The ride had not done the Prince good and he was beginning to really feel the brunt of his wound. But Estel's stitches had held at least, which the Elves couldn't wait to relay to Elrond.
Even though they wished there had been no need for him to make them.
"Marken! Behold! Imladris, the home of Lord Elrond and the Noldor Elves of Rivendell!" Elrohir said happily, not noticing the dread in Marken's eyes and posture.
Legolas glanced Marken's way and did, however, notice the trepidation. He chose not to speak on it, obviously Marken did not want to make known the reason for his fear and Legolas was of the mind that you shouldn't force someone to speak.
Frowning, his thoughts immediately turned to his father. He's going to have my head for this! First, I don't talk to him for the better part of three centuries and now I come back to him healed in mind and broken in body.
He sighed lightly, drawing Elladan's attention. "Is something wrong," the Elf asked, gripping Legolas' arm.
"Nay," the blonde replied. "Merely thinking of the expression that will cross my father's face when he sees my condition."
"Aye," Elrohir piped up from behind them with Estel. "I too am thinking on that facial expression. Except, beside that image stands the rather smug one of our own father. You know the face he will make… 'I told you so…you can never venture out without injury'."
The Elves had to laugh at that and Marken venture a wane smile, which was the best he could manage. Estel, who had been quiet up until now, frowned. "Do you think your father will be angry with you, Legolas? I mean, if you hadn't saved me I wouldn't be alive now. Will he still be angry if he knows that?"
Legolas gulped a bit. "Well, Estel. My father is hard-headed. He might be angry for a while, but I'm sure he will get over it. There is nothing for you to worry about. Leave my father to me."
Estel nodded, but didn't look entirely convinced. All were silent as they rode through the archway and were greeted immediately by Elrond and Thranduil. The latter, seeing that his son was not riding alone, frowned and his eyes darkened.
"What have you done this time," Elrond sighed, taking in the torn and bloodied wood-Elf and the bedraggled appearance of all present. Then, his eyes focused on the man at the end of the party, seemingly trying to blend into the background.
"Do I know you?" He said, addressing Marken. Elladan and Elrohir turned to the man and Elladan was about to speak, but they too hesitated. Now that Elrond mentioned it, there was something familiar about Marken. They just couldn't put their finger on it.
Marken swallowed the lump in his throat. "There is time for that later, my Lord. I do believe our friend Legolas is in need of attention."
He couldn't have chose a better distraction, for at that moment, Legolas lost consciousness and slumped forward slightly in Elladan's arms. Thranduil, seeing this, jumped forward and eased the Prince out of the saddle until he had his son fully in his arms.
"Follow me, Thranduil," Elrond said, gesturing that the Elf King follow. "And the rest of you, clean up and meet us in the healing chambers. I am certain you will wish to know how Legolas is doing and there is no sense in stopping you."
Nodding, they hurried off to do Elrond's bidding.
In the healing chambers, Legolas regained consciousness with a start and immediately grimaced. The wound was definitely reminding him of its presence. As a matter of fact, it seemed to be screaming for attention. He shifted uncomfortably and looking at Elrond, whose hands were quickly examining him.
"You are a lucky Elf, Legolas," Elrond said, pulling away. "This was taken care of quickly and efficiently. I must commend the one who treated you. Was it that man who accompanied you here?"
Legolas meekly shook his head. He glanced at his father, the Elf Lord's smothering grimace, however, quickly made him turn away. He could almost hear the accusation in his father's gaze.
"Legolas?"
Looking back up, Legolas shook his head. "We best wait for the others."
Confusion crossed both Elrond and Thranduil's faces at that. "All right," Thranduil said, "then perhaps you can explain why you return in such a terrible shape? Surely deer did not do this to you?"
Legolas hesitated, trying to determine whether or not his father was angry or not. He sure looked angry. Then, deciding to get it over with, he let the story out in a flood, not stopping for anything but breath. When he was finished, he shifted again and groaned in pained frustration.
"Easy does it," Elrond said. "You should have spoken a bit slower…"
Nodding, Legolas peeked at his father. The Elf Lord was still; contemplating. Then, he sighed. "Well, I guess I can not be angry at you, my son, for I have not heard you speak so much in centuries and I am grateful to hear you again."
Legolas fully looked up now, joy in his eyes. "Then you are not angry with me? I did not wish to disobey you; I know we took much longer than we had said we would."
Thranduil sighed. "I was angry. Lord Elrond knows this. But seeing you, and hearing you, has changed my mind. I am simply glad that you are all right."
Nodding, Legolas reached out for his father's hand. He was given the whole Elf, quickly encompassed in the strong arms of the Mirkwood king as the father hugged his son tenderly, mindful of his wounds.
They pulled apart just as the door was fairly thrown in by the onslaught of Elladan, Elrohir, Estel and slower, Marken. "Is he all right!" Estel cried out, scurrying into the room and to Legolas' bedside.
The Prince smiled, patting the bed beside him, which Estel wasted no time in claiming as his own seat. "I'm all right, Estel. I was just about to tell Lord Elrond who patched me up so well, but I thought I'd wait for the rest of you."
Estel blushed, which wasn't lost on Elrond. "What aren't you two telling me?"
Estel looked up at Elrond and Thranduil fearfully. "Well…see…I was…see…I did it."
"Did what, child?" Thranduil asked gently.
Frowning, as if he thought he had explained it plenty clearly, Estel continued. "I fixed Legolas."
There were gasps from both Thranduil and Elrond, then they both leaned forward for a better look at Legolas' stitched wound, making both he and Estel rather uncomfortable.
Elrond finally spoke. "They are a little uneven, but otherwise perfect. Well done Estel!!!"
Thranduil turned to Marken then. "So why are you here? You set them free, but you didn't have to follow."
Elrond looked at the man as did the twins. Legolas and Estel peered up at him from the bed. Marken took a deep breath. "It has been long since I have had cause to be in Rivendell, my Lords."
Silence.
"I once stayed here, as a young boy, with my parents. Until we left amidst a flurry of argument over a certain spear."
"YOU!" Elladan said suddenly. "You're the child of Nardor!!!"
Elrond nodded. "I knew you looked familiar. You look very like your father. Why would you come here after your father's actions disgraced your family?"
Legolas, Estel and Thranduil were clueless, but knew someone would fill them in later. Marken frowned. "My father was never to blame. He knew nothing of your spear."
The Elve's eyes narrowed. Marken continued. Now or never… "It was I. A small child who no one thought to ask. Too afraid to come forward when I saw the wrath of Lord Elrond over the incident."
Tensely, Elrond took a deep breath and asked, "And the spear? What happened to it?"
Marken smiled, turned and headed to the door. "I shall return shortly."
And he walked out leaving the room in stunned silence.