Thanks a lot for the review.

Legolas is in Arwen's hands. He has to protect his baby against his enemies. Just take a look.

Thanks to Lothiriel for beta-reading.

Legolas didn't know how many hours it had been since he was brutally caught. He just knew he had awakened in a cold and dark dungeon. It didn't seem like a dungeon from Gondor, but he was sure it belonged to the queen. He was tired and his body was bruised from the way he was carried to that place. He wanted to move but his wrists and feet were tied up. He tried to look for someone but they had left him alone, lying on a wooden board. He wondered if Elrohir had gotten help and if his friends could rescue him in time. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the door open. He turned his head as much as he could. The Elf recognized the man from the tavern (he never forgot a face). There was a second figure, wrapped in dark robes with a hood hiding its face. Legolas glared at them with rage but his eyes sparkled with fear. They stood before him and the second figure pushed its hood back and he could see Arwen's face. She walked a few steps and stopped close to him. All her body was shaking with anger when she ran her open hand over his swollen stomach. He moved his body when he felt his enemy's touch in this vulnerable area but that didn't stop her. She sensed the baby inside and squeezed it with considerable force. The child replied by kicking strongly. Legolas cried with pain and Arwen closed her face to him.

"You know me, Legolas. I really liked you but your evil seed can't live." She murmured into his pointed ear, keeping her hand over his abdomen. "A healer is coming. Tonight he will do it. This monster doesn't deserve life." Legolas didn't reply and he bit his lower lip trying not to think about the sharp pain in his stomach. He didn't want to cry in Arwen's presence. She took her hand away from his belly and the waves of agony started to calm. She gestured to the man and they left the dungeon.

When the door closed he started to breathe slowly as the pain decreased. He could sense his child was still angry and the baby's reply just showed him how brave the kid was.

"She didn't hurt it." He prayed. "I can feel it but, please, Valar, don't let her hurt my baby." Tears ran over his cheek and he tasted them with his tongue. Then he remembered his new powerful way for connecting with Nature and thought about using this ability.

"You don't have to die. Please, fight for your life and help me, little one." Now he was talking to his child. "Concentrate, sweetheart, and call them." He felt funny movements inside his stomach and smiled because it was the unborn baby crying for help. After awhile he saw two mice coming from the only window in the wall. They ran toward him and bit the ties from his wrists and feet. It took just a few minutes and as soon as he felt his limbs free he stroked his stomach tenderly. "Good one, my little one. Now let your ada do his job." He smiled when the baby replied with a soft move.

He stood up quickly and ran silently toward the door. He looked through the small window and saw four guards outside his dungeon. He knew Arwen hadn't locked the door but the guards were too many for him.

"We must get a weapon." He talked to the child. The dungeon was empty and the board which was his bed was stuck to the floor. He sighed deeply and opened the door quickly. The movement hit a guard who fell down. Faster than the man, he stole his sword and waited for the others with a menacing attitude. They ran toward him lifting their swords. He swung the blade and injured one of them. A second guard jumped over the injured man and Legolas kept his weapon up. The bloody steel stabbed into the man's body. The other guards understood they couldn't win against the warrior Elf and ran away. The prince knew they went to inform the queen so he ran along the hallway to find a gate to escape.

Walking silently down the long hallway, he recognized the place. They had brought him to an old castle which had belonged to Aragorn's family for centuries. He remembered this was the place where he spent some quiet days with his lover before Aragorn decided to speak with his wife about their secret relationship. He entered into a little chamber.

"I'm not so far from Rivendell. I wonder if my friends could find me here." He heard several foot steps running along the hallway and laid his ear against the wall. He heard a voice he recognized as Aragorn's first officer, demanding the guards look all over the castle. Legolas held his breath and waited. When the footsteps grew fainter, he approached a large window and looked outside. The sun was setting and he could see several stars. Suddenly a group of men on horses stopped in front of the gates.

"The healer." He whispered. But he realized he was wrong. They were elves from Rivendell and Elrohir was with them.

"I came from Rivendell. I have news for the queen. Our father sent it." The guards knew who Elrohir was so they let him go inside.

The queen waited for her brother in her own chambers. They greeted each other politely but as soon as they were alone she couldn't control her anger anymore. Elrohir was sad, but understood his sister. They weren't supportive of her. She should feel upset with them. She had never recovered from her husband's betrayal. Aragorn had been honest with her but only after bringing the Elvish prince to their bed. She could never forgive him his love for Legolas. Then he died leaving her alone with the crown. The ministers explained that she should let the throne go to a man, perhaps Boromir's child. She accepted the idea and thought she could raise her heir. But now, when she felt the future smiling at her, her husband's lover appeared carrying a child with Elvish and human blood.

"You know this means war, Elrohir." She said. "You could not win. The child must die."

"Arwen." He tried to calm himself. "I know how you feel." The look in his sister's eyes showed him how angry she was. "But you cannot touch him and you are not allowed to keep him imprisoned. He belongs to the Royal Family of Mirkwood."

"He doesn't act as a prince, brother." She replied dryly.

"Arwen, I know you don't want to start a war but that is what you are going to do if you don't set him free."

"I was thinking perhaps that war is the only solution. Men will never accept his child's life and you can't lie and say it is not Aragorn's babe."

"I know you want revenge but you cannot respond for your people. They wouldn't allow you hurt him if they know the consequences."

"Elrohir, the war is imminent." She turned back to him and commanded the guard to call her ministers.

When they arrived Elrohir told them why they couldn't touch Legolas. Despite Arwen's anger they accepted it and decided to let him bring the prince to Rivendell.

Meanwhile, Legolas hid in a dark room, waiting for night to fall. He didn't want to go outside but he started to think that perhaps his friend had helped him. Suddenly he heard footsteps from outside the room and lifted his sword, ready to defend himself. Some men opened the door and found the escapee. Legolas fought but the guards were more numerous than before and caught him quickly.

The ministers were explaining to Elrohir the importance of stopping the prince's pregnancy when a guard announced they had found him. They brought Legolas into the chambers and his friend ran toward him. He held him by his shoulders and whispered in his ear.

"Everything is fine. I'm going to take you away from here." He led the tired Elf to the gate and commanded the guards get their horses ready. Legolas sighed, knowing his troubles had just begun.

They rode to Rivendell under the pale moon. Elrohir asked the prince to sleep for awhile, as he was concerned about his health but Legolas wanted to arrive to Rivendell as soon as they could. He hoped his own father would still stay at his side and that he could bring him to Mirkwood. After all, he was a beloved king and his people would support him.

Elrohir glanced at the prince thinking how strong he seemed. Despite his feelings of sympathy for his sister's predicament, he found he was attracted to the Mirkwood prince.

"Aragorn was right when he chose him." He tried to erase the thoughts from his mind but he couldn't. "He is so lovely. I cannot stop looking at his face, his blue eyes are driving me insane."

They arrived in Rivendell before the sun began to rise.

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Legolas was waiting in the principal chamber at Rivendell. Before leaving him, Elrohir suggested he take a seat but his anxiety wouldn't let him stay in his chair. Suddenly the gates opened and Legolas saw his father. Thranduil walked toward him with a serious look on his face. He didn't bring him good news.

"Son." His voice sounded concerned and a shadow of sadness invaded his face. "I have done everything I could. I jeopardized my own throne for your baby's sake but now… It's over, Legolas. We didn't want to give up but a war…"

"But I won't, Father." The king had never seen the blue eyes so angry. Legolas stepped back, far from him. "I will fight for my child until my death. You will have to kill me if you want to stop me."

Thranduil shook his head with exasperation.

"How far along are you, son?" He asked as he glanced quickly at the rounded stomach. "Four months, perhaps. You can't continue waiting. It's too risky for your health. Think, Legolas. You are not acting as a Prince of Mirkwood."

"That's because I'm acting as a father. Something you forgot days ago." The sarcasm in the words made Thranduil freeze. Nobody had ever spoken to the king in that way.

"I'm your father, spoiled boy!" He cried as he walked toward him with his hand raised. "You must respect me as your father and as your king." He stopped and looked at his son, who had wrapped his arms around his head protectively. He sighed and continued calmly. "I'm sorry, son. I feel so frustrated. I betrayed you."

Legolas was surprised when he saw the pain in Thranduil's face.
He had never seen the stoic king of Mirkwood so disconsolate.

"I'm so concerned about you, Legolas." He reached his trembling hand and stroked the prince's blond hair. "Look at you. You don't seem healthy. You haven't been happy since your friend's death and that worries me more than this bloody war. You will have children. You are young and beautiful. There are a lot of eligible females, among the best families in Middle Earth." Legolas couldn't hide his anguish when he thought about new lovers. He couldn't imagine a life with someone who wasn't the late king of Gondor. Thranduil lifted the prince's chin softly. He looked intensely into his eyes. "You remind me of your mother."

Legolas looked down sadly, his father only mentioned his mother as a last resort when he couldn't bear to be in pain. The king turned back and went to the doorway. He glanced at his son one more time.

"We'll talk later, son." Legolas looked up at him as his father left the room. He heard the door locked from outside.

He was a prisoner again. This time he wasn't tied to a board but he couldn't leave Rivendell. He rested his right hand on his abdomen and closed his eyes to listen to his unborn child. But the sadness from his soul didn't allow him. He sat on a velvet chair and rested his head. He was so tired.

After awhile he heard a key opening the door. Quickly he opened his eyes and looked at Lord Elrond as he entered. He didn't seem as concerned as Thranduil.

"Young Prince, we must talk." Legolas moved in his seat defensively. Elrond sensed his fear. "I will not hurt you. In fact that is the reason why I am here."

Legolas listened to him warily.

"I don't want a war. But I have a last solution for you." He sat in a chair near the blond Elf. "There's someone who could be your last chance. Like your child you have the blood of two races running in your veins. I know the pain of her early departure made you forget her." Legolas realized who he was talking about. "She had to leave you and your father when you were too young to understand. Remember, Prince?" Legolas nodded sadly. "The Valars' messengers arrived to take her away from us, from Rivendell. Your father was so devastated he couldn't see her and spent several days locked in the same chamber you have stayed in this last visit. I was there, in those gardens, watching her leave. I took your little hand but after she kissed your cheek, you let go of my hand and ran toward them. She turned toward you as she heard your cry and held you in her arms. I went over to hold you back. Those who were with her looked at you angrily because your cry made her hesitate. She embraced you strongly against her heart and asked them for a last time if she could bring you. 'He would not survive.' I remember my words and after she glanced at me with glassy eyes, she left you in my arms and walked away." Elrond stopped and looked at him. The memories tortured Legolas and he was struggling against the tears. After awhile Elrond continued. "She was one of the Valar's daughters, you know that. After your father became widowed from his first wife your mother fell in love with him and asked her own father if she could share Thranduil's immortal life with him. The council of gods gave her one hundred years, almost nothing. They were not supposed to have any children but I can't explain to you how happy they were with your arrival. She loved you so much. But five years later the messengers from the Valar arrived at Mirkwood. She didn't want to leave. But she couldn't stay."

"Why?" Legolas asked, crying. "My father told me they threatened to send devastation and death to Mirkwood. I was too young to understand. She explained it to me that one afternoon when I was playing in the gardens at home. She said she had to speak with me about something extremely sad. When I started to cry she reminded me for the first time in my life that I was a Prince of Mirkwood and that I had to sacrifice what I loved the most for the sake of my country." The words escaped from his lips almost without forethought. "Every time someone reminds me who I am, I scream to the Valar why I HAD to be a Prince of Mirkwood. It's always the same."

Lord Elrond felt sorrow for the young Elf and thought how strong he was for hiding so much pain during all those years. He continued speaking.

"Legolas, that is what she told your father. She didn't want to worry him. But she did tell me the truth. They came for you. Her father wouldn't accept that she bore a child to an Elf. Of course she refused, so they came again. The time when your parents were spending some weeks here, in Rivendell, they explained to her the Valars' last offer. If she gave you to her father, he would promise her the immortal life that she was asking for. Just your life and they could spend the rest of their lives together. She came to me for advice and I told her to watch you while you were asleep because she could sense your soul. She did that and came to talk to me again. She said she didn't need to touch you. She already knew you were the most shining light in her life and she would give her own freedom to keep you safe. That's the reason why she left us, Legolas and that's why I wasn't surprised when you fought to keep your own child's life. It's in your blood." He reached out his hand and stroked the prince's swollen stomach tenderly. Legolas sensed the baby's movements. It seemed happy.

"There's more." Lord Elrond continued. "Before she left, we had a last chat. They would come to find her here, in Rivendell, because this is the place where she made them her last offer. She explained to me that she knew her husband couldn't handle it so she asked me to hold you during her departure and then she gave me this." He searched inside his tunic and put a blue talisman in Legolas hand. "This is a gift from her, for you, to give to you when you need it. I think this is the time."

"How does it work?" Legolas asked as he examined the blue stone.

"Tonight, go into the gardens. Lift the talisman toward the moon and your mother will come."

Legolas felt his heart jump in surprise, as a new hope sparked in his soul.

TBC