Reviewer Responses for Chapter 5...

moo13: Thanks for the review! Glad we have you hooked and interested!

Zammy: Sorry to keep you waiting...here's a chapter!

Kelsey: As I said in my review on the story...I can't reveal answers to your questions, all of which are EXCELLENT thoughts. HOPEFULLY you will understand more of what you are asking VERY soon. And I have my beta to thank for the knowledge of The Silmarillion...she whips that out for us!


Chapter 6: Shattered Peace and Parting Ways

The next day...

The sun rose early for the travelers who had only just gotten to sleep. The ashes of the soldiers of Gondor who had perished in battle had long since cooled and spread in the wind. Aragorn was the first to rise, stretching cautiously.

His movements jolted Arwen from sleep and she frowned. "Long has it been since I had to rise so early after going to bed so late," the Queen lamented. But her joking smile quickly became a frown. "Estel, you are in pain."

"Some," the king answered, brushing the question aside as not important. "Legolas did a good job with the wound, it is much better then it would have been if I had been left to attend it myself."

He turned, looking toward the sleeping elf who had curled up a little next to his father. Thranduil, perhaps seeking the warmth of his son, had slipped his hand into the prince's. It tore at Aragorn's heart to think that they would be separated forever.

"Not forever, love," Arwen said. "I know what troubles you."

Aragorn looked down. "You read my mind again, Arwen. I have a feeling that Legolas has no intention of going into the West and I hate to see him lose his father so suddenly under such dire circumstances. How will he ever know if his father lives or dies? There is no way to send a messenger with news."

"I will know." Legolas put his hand on Aragorn's shoulder, slightly amused that he had been able to sneak up on the king and queen. "I will feel it if he dies, but he will not die, he is strong." The prince looked much better today, back to his usual pallor.

Arwen, contemplating for a moment, suddenly looked up, smacking her forehead lightly. "Why did we not think of it sooner?" she muttered. Aragorn and Legolas eyed her in confusion. "We are not far from Rivendell. Surely my father can help the King. He is, after all, a highly gifted healer. Then you would not lose your father to the Havens just yet, Legolas!"

Aragorn and Legolas exchanged glances. "Good point, why didn't we think of this sooner?" Aragorn chuckled. "I guess in all the excitement we really were not thinking straight."

Legolas' eyes flitted to his father. "Rivendell is closer then the Havens and he is failing fast. We should do as Arwen says and take him to Lord Elrond."

A guard broke into their conversation, bowing to his King and Queen. "King Elessar? We have prepared everything for our journey, we await your orders," said Alladan, a captain of Gondor.

Aragorn looked over to where Thranduil lay sleeping. "Legolas, will you be strong enough to ride with your father today or shall I assign a man of mine to the task?" Inwardly he knew the question was a futile one.

"I will be fine," the prince said, calling to Arod who wasted no time in coming to his master. "We will have another companion today, just like old days. Except my father is a bit bigger then dear Gimli was."

Arwen laughed at the statement and hurried off before Legolas could ask what was so funny. The elf prince hurried to his father's side, gently shaking the elf's shoulder. "Adar {Father}? You must wake up for a moment; we have had a change of plans. We are taking you to Rivendell, to Lord Elrond."

Thranduil groaned as consciousness washed over him. "I feel as if I were pummeled by an avalanche of stones, every inch of my body hurts," the elf king muttered. He saw who was rousing him and frowned. "Are you well enough for this, my son? And what's this about Rivendell?"

Legolas smiled. "Father, I know I did not tell you of my magic ability, I hope you are not offended, but I was unwilling to accept them for a while. They have allowed me to heal myself and you so we can make the journey. Arwen rightly suggested we go to Rivendell where Lord Elrond can better heal you. Though I could help you, I do not have the strength to fully heal you."

His father looked about to argue, but realized that there was no point. He could tell just by looking at Legolas that the prince was definitely on the mend. He looked almost no worse for the wear. "All right, I trust you. And Rivendell is a fine idea. I admit this injury grieves me."

With the help of Aragorn and Legolas, Thranduil was soon situated on Arod. Legolas lithely swung up behind his father and reached around both sides of him to take hold of the horse's reins. Since Arod wore no saddle, Legolas would have to hold his father tightly to keep him on the horse.

As the two worked on moving and situating Thranduil; Arwen drifted away from the camp. She was not feeling well, again, and didn't want to worry Estel. This was the second week in a row that she had gotten physically ill nearly every morning. She wasn't sure what ailed her, but she was still immortal since her father had not left these shores and Elves weren't supposed to get sick. So what was this?

Estel has enough on his mind, the Queen thought. No need to burden him more. She stooped over, moving her hair aside, and lost her meager breakfast. I don't know why I bother eating breakfast; I should just stick to lunch and dinner. She resolved that when they got to Rivendell, she would speak to her father about what was ailing her.

Sighing, she stood, rearranged her clothing and hurried back to the others, glancing around cautiously. No one had noticed her brief absence.

Once everyone was mounted, Aragorn and Arwen led the way, followed by Legolas and Thranduil and then the rest of the company. They went only as fast as the elf king's injury would allow, taking frequent rests along the way.

Legolas marveled at the darkness of the day, it was noon and the sky was blue but the earth was not responding to it. He sighed; knowing now was probably not the time to do anything to wake up the land, though he wished he could. Right now, his father was more important.

"We are nearing the borders of Rivendell," Aragorn said after a time, turning in his saddle to face Legolas. "Do you think he will make it there or shall we rest?"

Legolas was about to reply when a weak but resolved voice sounded in front of him. "I will make it."

Arwen rode close to Aragorn and Legolas now. "Estel? It worries me that there are no border guards. They should have intercepted us by now; we are not exactly traveling in stealth."

The King had been thinking much the same, but he had not wanted to worry his wife. "I too thought it odd, meleth nin {my love}, but perhaps the border guards are spread thin. Many of the people in your father's realm have already sailed."

Arwen didn't answer. She had a feeling things were very wrong in Rivendell. As they entered the beautiful valley that was home to the Elven haven, all eyes scanned the area for movement.

There was no one to be seen.

"Where is everyone? Surely they haven't all left for the Havens already!" Arwen cried, fear creeping into her usually calm voice.

Aragorn put a hand on her shoulder. "Easy. We will see what has happened." The King led the group into the courtyard of Elrond's home, scanning left to right in search of someone. Anyone.

What he found, he wished he would never have seen in his lifetime. A mass of dark hair spilled over the head of an Elf lying just inside a nearby building. A dark brown stain had long since dried on the marble ground around the elf.

"Rivendell has been taken by the shadow as well," Legolas breathed quietly, his eyes widening as he too saw the fallen Elf.

Arwen's sob sounded like a clanging bell in the silence. My home! My people! "Estel! They have destroyed my home! Blood has been spilt in this haven where no harm has ever befallen anyone in my long years. I have to find my father!"

Vaulting from her horse, Arwen hurried along well-wore paths, Estel at her heels. "Arwen wait!" but she would not listen, weaving through the corridors toward her father's familiar haunts, knowing she would not likely find him there, but desperate to find him safe.

"Arwen!" Aragorn tried again, finally catching up with her and grabbing her arm. To his immense surprise, she spun around and threw herself into his arms, crying uncontrollably as the events of the recent days and the tragedy of Rivendell caught up with her. "Shhh, your father is not dead, you would have known. Something tells me you would have known."

As the King comforted the Queen, Legolas turned to the Gondor soldiers. "Begin a search of the city. There must be someone alive yet. Search all the surrounding lands, including the waterfall."

The men obeyed without question, bringing a smile to Legolas' face. He was a prince, but not of Gondor and yet the men listened to him as if he was. He went to his father, whom the guards had helped lower from Arod's back, and proceeded to aid the elf lord into the Last Homely House.

He could hear sobs and low voices as he neared Elrond's healing chambers. Arwen. This must be devastating for her, just as it was for my father and I. He decided to take the longer way around, not wanting to bother Estel and Arwen.

Thranduil seemed to sense this motive and did not say a word. He was too busy trying to continue moving, fighting against the always present weakness and dizzy spells he was now suffering from.

"Elrond is not here," he muttered, leaning heavily on his son.

Legolas frowned, finally reaching the healing chambers. "No, but he will come. He would not leave Rivendell for long. There are plenty of herbs here to help you and Aragorn is an accomplished healer."

As he spoke of the man, Aragorn entered the room, trailed by a red-eyed Arwen. She had composed herself quickly and Legolas had to smile to himself. She is such a strong being!

Aragorn approached Thranduil and Legolas stepped aside, letting the King do his work. Unwrapping the bandage from the Elf's chest, Aragorn frowned. "The wound does not seem keen on closing," he muttered, turning away from Thranduil. "An old concoction Ada taught me should help that."

He hurried over to the wall lined with jars of healing herbs and began to scan the bottles, lifting a few from the shelves here and there. As he took down a clay bowl and began to crush a few of them together, the door burst open.

"My Lord! We have found a survivor!" cried the guard who entered, breathless from an apparent run. "He is in a bad way, my Lord! They are right behind me!"

Stepping aside now, the guard allowed two of his companions to enter the room, carrying a barely conscious, dark-haired Elf between them.

"Erestor!" Arwen cried, hurrying forward. Legolas met her at the door and the two carefully took the Elf from the soldiers and laid him gently on the bed next to Thranduil.

"Estel!" the Queen called, worry flowing through her at the sight of her father's long time advisor. His clothes were torn and bloody, his right arm appeared broken and he had a large, ugly gash on the side of his head. She knew there were numerous other hurts on his body, but the head wound and the fact the Elf's eyes were closed worried her greatly.

The King gently moved her aside, looking to Legolas for a second before turning his attention to Erestor. He inhaled sharply at the sight of the elder elf. It hurt to see him thus injured; Erestor was always a kind, good- natured soul. He wouldn't hurt anyone and was not really a warrior. Obviously he had battled hard and held his own for a time before the Orcs had left him for dead.

Aragorn worked quickly and efficiently to stabilize the Elf, using a lot of his strength to call him back from the brink. Legolas joined in a little, lending some of his healing ability to the Elf in hopes that he could prevent Aragorn from draining all his strength.

After a half hour of tense work and intense silence, Aragorn looked up from Erestor. "He will live," the exhausted King announced, slowly sinking into a chair between the beds of his patients.

Thranduil had long ago fallen into a deep sleep, his breathing ragged, but still strong. Erestor had not stirred, but neither Aragorn nor Legolas felt him wavering at the doors to the Halls of Mandos anymore.

Arwen breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Estel. I know that took a lot out of you. Legolas and I can remain here, you need some rest."

She frowned when the man made no move to rise. "I am fine, meleth nin, {my love}" Aragorn countered, resting his head in his hand.

"Fine? You can barely stay upright, Estel. Please, for all our sakes, go rest."

Arwen had a point, he had to admit it. So Aragorn slowly rose to his feet, his easy acquiesce a sure sign that he was overtired and had taxed too much of his strength to heal the two wounded Elves. "I will be just down the hall in my old room," he announced, dragging his feet as he stumbled from the room.

Legolas and Arwen exchanged knowing glances, and once Aragorn was out of earshot, they both began to laugh softly at the former ranger's predictable behavior.


A few days later...

"Erestor, do you really think you should be out of bed?" Thranduil called from where he was propped up against a mountain of pillows. He laughed lightly, clutching his chest, at the look that he received.

The dark-haired Elf shook his head. "My Lord, I am fine. There is no need for me to remain in that bed anymore then there is a need for you to worry about me!" Only the slight smile on his face belied his joking.

"What is going on in here?"

Arwen entered now, a chiding tone in her voice. "Erestor, the King is right, you are barely healed yourself, and you were at the doors to Mandos' Halls only a few days ago."

Erestor frowned. "Dear Arwen, I am far older then you and when I say I am all right, milady, I am all right."

"I'll be the judge of that, old friend."

"Estel! Of all those in this room, you are by far the youngest! How can you claim to know better then I when I am healed and when I am not?"

Aragorn laughed. "I can because I am the King and have the hands of a healer. Besides, you are my patient and you follow my orders in regards to your health. Unless you would like me to call on the Orcs to return you to your former state, then there would be no argument."

Legolas laughed from the doorway. "I see no reason why Erestor should be made to lay in that bed any longer. He looks fine to me."

Aragorn frowned. "You are one to talk, your Highness! You are the worst patient of any of us!" Legolas shot the ranger an offended look, and everyone laughed.

Erestor broke in. "As much as I enjoy this conversation, I believe updates are in order here." He waited until all those present were listening to him. "Lord Elrond received a letter from King Thranduil and left for Eryn Lasgalen a few days before the attack on Rivendell..."

"From me!" Thranduil cried, startled. "I sent no such letter!"

There was silence.

"Perhaps it was the wizard who sent the letter, Adar." Legolas mused. "He probably didn't want to contend with Lord Elrond. What with Vilya, he was too much of a threat to his plans."

The others nodded in agreement, turning to Erestor to continue speaking. "Well, he went, traveling part of the way with Glorfindel and old Bilbo Baggins who were heading to Lothlorien for a visit to the Lord and Lady."

Aragorn sighed. "Well that explains why he is not here then. In a way, it is good, but it also worries me. If Graelath knows that Elrond has the ring, he probably knows that Lady Galadriel bears Nenya. He may hope to gain the rings for his own use later. That can not be allowed to happen."

"We won't allow it," Legolas said, laying a hand on Aragorn's shoulder. "We probably know more then Graelath thinks we do and that works to our advantage."

"You are right," Aragorn said, smiling lightly. "I think it is imperative that we return to Minas Tirith. The realms of Men may be next on Graelath's list and I do not wish to leave my city to his hordes without being there to fight for her." He glanced to Legolas. "I think your father should remain here and wait for Lord Elrond."

Legolas did not answer immediately. He hated to leave his father's side when the King was in such a bad way, yet he knew that the fate of Middle- Earth might weigh heavily on himself. He had to go with Aragorn.

"As much as I grieve to do so, you are right, Aragorn." Looking to his father he saw only acceptance. "I will accompany you to Minas Tirith. We will rid Middle-Earth of this fiend."

Erestor looked thoughtful. "If you will give me a clean bill of health Estel, I can watch over the King until Lord Elrond returns. I can't imagine that it would be much longer before they will return, especially once they realize that he and Legolas are no longer in Eryn Lasgalen."

Thranduil nodded in agreement. "Go Legolas. I will be fine. Your healing, combined with Aragorn's, has given me the strength to wait for Elrond."

Legolas nodded and left the room swiftly to order the Men to ready the horses for the journey back to Minas Tirith. Meanwhile Aragorn and Arwen stayed in the healing room in order to get as much information possible from Erestor about the attack in Rivendell and the details surrounding Lord Elrond's departure.

After he had seen to the necessary preparations, Legolas headed back toward the healing chambers, lost in thought. He slowed as he drew near, uncertain of what he wanted to say to his father. A nagging fear of losing the elder Elf ate at his heart and he wanted to pour out centuries of things he wanted to tell his father, just in case he did not see him again. But he swiftly pushed thoughts of death from his mind.

He will not die. Lord Elrond will arrive in time and he is the strongest Elf I know, Legolas thought to himself as he halted outside the chamber door. But how do I say goodbye?

Aragorn and Arwen opened the door, speaking quietly until they noticed Legolas standing there. The King put a hand on his long-time friend's shoulder and smiled wanly. "Go to him, mellon nin, we will give you privacy," he said, turning and beckoning for Erestor to follow them out.

Taking a deep breath, Legolas entered the room, his eyes traveling straight to those of his father. For a moment after Arwen eased the door shut with a smile, Legolas didn't know what to say, he remained rooted to the spot.

His relationship with his father had not always been the closest. They were royalty and had to act the part in most aspects of their lives and the times they could act with open emotion were few and far between.

"Ada..." Legolas began, faltering. "There is so much to say and no time to say it in," he muttered.

"I know, ion nin. What I wouldn't give for a century just to speak with you about everything and anything." Thranduil beckoned for Legolas to come closer, waiting until the Elf was at his side before he reached out and took his son's hand.

Legolas stared at his father, still uncertain of things. "Are you proud of what I've become, Ada?"

Thranduil forgot to breathe when he heard those words. Faltering and sputtering a bit, the Elven-king finally found his tongue. "Legolas, my Greenleaf, I could not be more proud of you, ion nin. You are a brave, honest, caring soul and I could ask for nothing more. I love you with all my heart; I pray that you know this."

Legolas looked into his father's face, tears glistening in both of their eyes. "Iston, Ada {I know Father}. I have always known you love me, but to hear it come from you means so much more to me."

Thranduil pulled downward on his son's hand and drew him into an embrace. "We will see each other again before long, Legolas. You and Aragorn will once again save this world and I will see you again before I set sail. This is no goodbye, only a short separation. There is no need to say farewells here."

Sighing contentedly, Legolas whispered into his father's shoulder. "That's good, Ada, because I was having a rough time working up the courage to say goodbye to you." He pulled away now, rearranging his clothes and smiling. "And we will see each other again in this world. I will see to it."

The Elven-king laughed lightly, and then swatted Legolas away. "Now go, ion nin. I will be fine in the care of Erestor until Elrond returns. You have a wizard to catch and no time to lose. Promise me you will be cautious and return to me unscathed."

Legolas laughed now. "I promise I will be cautious, but I can not promise unscathed. Aragorn and I have a penchant for injury."

Thranduil glared at his son, who laughed and then turned and fled the room before the King could exact revenge for his son's last statement. When the footsteps receded, he whispered to the air, "Valar protect my son and his friends in these perilous times."

Legolas joined the others and they slowly proceeded out the gates of Imladris, calling out prayers for Erestor and Thranduil and promises they would meet again in better times. Legolas turned in his saddle one last time before the gates disappeared. "Valar protect my father and all the others in these perilous times."