Thanks for all the kind remarks. I'm glad you're enjoying the tale!

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Chapter 15--Close Call

After an hour and a half of searching they finally found Lord Cedrin's manor. There were a lot of guards milling about so they stopped a safe distance away to think about what to do next.

"So now what? Do we storm in and demand that he give Legolas back to us?" Elladan asked.

"We are going to have to be a little more subtle then that," Aragorn said. He headed for the manor with determined strides. He went to the door and knocked. The last person he ever expected to answer opened it. "Legolas!" he exclaimed.

Legolas stared in shock. "Aragorn, Elrohir and Elladan! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed.

"We came to find you. Are you alright?" Elrohir asked.

"Yes, I am fine, but you should not have come," Legolas said. He would have said more, but they were interrupted.

"Legolas? Who is here?" Cedrin asked, coming up behind him.

Legolas turned to answer, but some one grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. He found himself between the twins with Aragorn in front of him facing Cedrin.

"Stay away from him. Legolas is coming with us. He does not belong to you any longer," Aragorn said.

"I will not allow you to take him out of here unless he wishes to go, but what do you mean by saying he does not belong to me? He never did," Cedrin said.

Caught off guard, Aragorn stared at him. "We were told he was a slave here," he said.

"I do not keep slaves!" Cedrin said angrily then forced himself to calm down. "Look there has obviously been a misunderstanding. Let us go into my study and talk this over."

"Yes, I think that would be a wise idea," Aragorn agreed. They went to the study. Once they were all settled comfortable, Cedrin explained everything.

"So that sneaky bastard did lie to us. We will have to keep our vow and go have a word with him," Elladan said. A dangerous sparkle appeared in his eyes.

"No, if he is harmed the guards will start searching. We should just leave this place and go back to Imladris," Aragorn said. "Will you let Legolas come with us?"

"If he wishes too, as I said he is not a slave," Cedrin said. "He may come and go as he pleases."

"We can leave early in the morning," Aragorn said. "Alright Legolas?"

Legolas looked at all of them then shook his head. "Sorry, I am not going with you," he said.

The twins and Aragorn stared at Legolas in shock for a long stunned moment.

Aragorn was the first to regain his wits. "What do you mean? Why?" he asked. "You know that you are always welcome."

"I will not involve Imladris in this tangled mess. It will only widened the rift between our homes. I cannot let that happen," Legolas said firmly.

"We cannot leave you here. Father is expecting us to bring you back," Elrohir said. "He is horribly worried about you."

"He might be able to figure out what truly happened," Elladan added.

"Then tell him I refused. He will respect my decision," Legolas said. "As for the rest it has already been decided that I am guilty. They were going to kill me, remember?"

"I will carry you out of here if I must," Aragorn warned.

"You will not do any such thing. I will not allow it," Cedrin said. "Legolas must go of his own free will or not at all."

The twins and Aragorn looked at each other as they realized this had suddenly gotten a lot more complicated….

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Stubborn blonde! R/R please!