Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

Review Responses:

Slayer3: You think I'm joking huh. I'm really in the process of writing a novel. My own original work. I promise if I ever finish it, and it gets published (Yeah I got big dreams) I'll mail you a copy of it. It's hard not to love the elves isn't it?

Karone Evertree: Yeah I updated twice on the same day, but they were short chapters, and now I'm drawing a blank. So this one is going to take some time probably. I know what I want on the paper, but it just isn't cooperating by appearing there. And yes your review was very fast. Thank you. But if I don't hurry up and fill the blank spot below this review I'm going to be the one falling behind.

Author's Note: Okay I have to admit this update is a little late, compared to what I usually have going. But I do have a scapegoat. It's all my husbands fault. He bought me the second season of a TV show I used to love, and since it was a western now my head is muddied up with gunfights instead of swords and bows. So if you blame anyone, blame him. (Dang I wonder if anyone bought that?)

Sindarin Translations:

Le abdollen – You're late

Hannon le – Thank you

Forgiveness

As Aragorn entered the Keep of Helm's Deep his only thought was to tell King Théoden of the large host that was marching towards them. He was greeted by Gimli first. He was happy to see his friend and would have liked to prolong their meeting, but his first responsibility was to give warning, so he rushed off towards the king's hall. He was almost there when a figure appeared before him. He looked up into the startling blue eyes of his best friend.

"Le abdollen." Legolas said.

This brought a wry smile to Aragorn's lips.

"You look terrible." Were his next words, as he looked the Ranger over, as concern crossed his face.

At that Aragorn did chuckle. He looked down as Legolas extended his hand. He reached out and took the Evenstar pendant from his friend.

"Hannon le." He said. He looked up to his friend who he knew, even though it did not show, must have suffered not knowing his fate.

Atavus had seen him enter the gates below.She and Legolas had made their way down the mountainside, but as they approached him she had hung back so Legolas could speak to him first. She still felt very guilty over her behavior of earlier. She stood in the shadows watching the exchange between her friends noticing his ragged appearance. She could also see that he had been urgently making his way to the king's hall, with a look of great worry on his face, before Legolas stopped him.

She did not leave the shadows as Aragorn walked by Legolas. Legolas started to follow Aragorn, but stopped when he saw her. "Why didn't you speak to him?"

"He has something very important to do now. I could see it in his eyes. I will talk to him later. You follow him though. Please come tell me the news he brings, when you can." She longed to follow Aragorn also, but knew that her presence might distract him from what he needed to do. She could not do that.

"Please don't wait too long to talk to him. I'm afraid things might go ill, and then he'll never know the truth." Legolas said leaving her standing there in the shadows.

She soon learned that things might very well go ill that night, as an army of ten thousand marched towards the keep. She had been ordered to again help Éowyn to get all the women and children in the caves. She was following her orders, but stopped as she saw Aragorn. He was sitting on the steps outside the keeps armory, speaking to a young boy. She could not hear what they spoke of.

After the boy had left Aragorn sat staring down at his own sword. He knew that Legolas was right they had little to no chance of winning this fight, but it was his duty to do his best to try to defend these people. He looked beyond his sword to see a pair of green leggings in front of him. His eyes traveled up the person before him. He was surprised to see Atavus standing there staring down at him.

"I see you made it safely here." He said with a cold note to his voice.

"Yes. I see you made it here also, whether I used the term safely or not would be another story." She answered, making a clucking noise with her tongue. "You really should have those wounds seen too."

"They've been cleaned. They'll heal soon enough." He answered her stubbornly.

"I thought stubbornness was Legolas' trait. Yours is supposed to be recklessness." She said kneeling beside him trying to pull the torn fabric of his coat back.

A grim smile crossed his face. "If I remember right you had me beat when it came to that trait. You proved it in the Misty Mountain caves."

"Ah yes. I seem to remember something about that." She said pulling some athelas out of a pouch she had fastened to her waist. She thought maybe if she could keep him talking he wouldn't stop her from trying to help him. "That's not my worst trait though." She didn't look at his face. She concentrated on bandaging the wound on his shoulder.

"Oh and what is?" He asked curious as to where she was going.

She swallowed hard trying to bring up the courage to say she was sorry. "Pushing those I care for the most away from me, when I should be holding them as close as possible." She whispered. Her hands had begun to tremble.

"I thought you didn't care for anything anymore?" His words were not spoken in anger, but in confusion.

"That's another of my bad traits. I sometimes lie when I don't want anyone to know what I'm feeling. This time though it might have lost me a friend, and a brother." She still did not look at him. She had moved to his other side and was bandaging another wound.

He placed his hand over hers and used the other to pull her face up so he could look into her eyes. Instead of the cold dead look he expected he saw tears brimming her emerald green eyes. Her eyes sparkled as she fought to keep the tears in. "When this night is through you and I need to have a talk about what is going on."

"I already had that talk with Legolas." She smiled remembering how she had felt when he had forgiven her, and pledged to help her through what she was dealing with.

"You have?" Aragorn was surprised Legolas hadn't mentioned anything to him.

"Yes. We waited on top of the mountain for you to come back. We had a long talk. If things go well tonight, I will be heading back to Rivendell soon. I need to go home. I know most of the elves are gone, but I need to see Ada." He could see that the mention of going home made her smile brighter, and her eyes sparkle.

"Ada will be pleased. And I think that is exactly what you need." He also smiled, knowing his friend had not really changed so much that he no longer recognized her.

"I promise Estel. I will not shut you out again. Almost losing you has changed my perspective on many things. Losing you would have almost destroyed me, but the thought of losing you while you thought I did not care was much worse. If I ever say something so stupid to you again please don't believe me." In all of her life she had only begged a very few times, being to proud to lower herself, but now she felt as if she was pleading for him to forgive her, and she knew she would do anything for that forgiveness.

"Its not very often that I have a friend tell me not to believe them. But I will keep that in mind. But Atavus I would prefer it if you just didn't lie to me." He said taking both her hands in his.

"I'll try. But you know I have been influenced by dwarfs." She said jokingly. Then remembered something. "By the way, how did you and Legolas ever manage to become friends with Gimli? You I can see, but Legolas."

"Friendship is a mysterious thing. Sometimes those that you would expect to be bitter enemies manage to become the best of friends. But that is a long story, which we will tell you someday, but now I need to go find some chain mail." He said standing and pulling her up with him.

She thought of his words. He was right. How else could she being what she was have ever became friends with them?

She agreed hugging him fiercely; she also had tasks to perform of her own, before the fighting began. She just hoped he would not discover what she was planning and try to stop her.

Author's Note: Aren't you happy Atavus is acting even more like herself. The next chapter she is very much her typical self. Yes that means trouble.