Cale au Aratar 10

As soon as Thranduil, Althilwen Elladan and Luimîr entered, accompanied by Gimli and six of the ilsa tirnoë did Elrond direct them to different tasks:

"Thranduil, Althilwen, Gimli, Frodo, Sam Merry, Pippin, try to wake Legolas up, speak to him, try everything you can think of to bring him back!

Elladan, Luimîr come over here. And you, guard this room: no-one can enter who is not one of you, especially not king Ellessar!"

Guiding the two other healers into a corner of the room he continued in old Quenya, conscious of the hobbits who were trying to listen to what he was saying:

"We have to stop the bleeding of the wound, if it continues as it does now it will not be the poisons or his heart that kills him but a loss of blood. I have brought some athelas-oil with me, but I fear that it will not be enough, till morning we must have fresh oil to be able continue the treatment. You have to make it while I will try to call Legolas back from the darkness after I have spoken to Gimli - he may be the only one who knows what has happened to him. Go, we have no time to loose."

The one thing they needed most they did not have, time. He could not imagine how the prince of Eryn Lasgalen, the High Prince, had managed to survive this long with the wounds he carried. When he had seen him in Rohan he had immediately felt that something was wrong with the younger elf but had been insured that it was only Morgoths tears that caused the change, he had been to caught up in his worry over Arwen that he had not dared to look closer, fearing what he might find.

How he wished that he had called Legolas unto this obvious lie - maybe they would have found by now the reason for his breaking heart. But than, what would he have done? He was the only one who knew how to brew the antidote against Morgoths tears, the only one who was able to save Legolas from that death.

But now was not the time for regret, now he had to ask Gloins son for everything he knew that might help:

"Master Gimli, " he spoke stepping to the bed around which Legolas closest family the hobbits and the dwarf were sitting, "may I have a word with you about what you mentioned to my sons?"

He was astounded how readily the dwarf stood up and followed him into a airy sitting room that was adjourned o the bedroom.

"My son Elrohir told me that you seemed to have an idea what might have caused Legolas heartbreak..."

Elrond began and stopped seeing the dwarf nod.

"Yes, he behaved strange during the last two months: it started before the battle at Helms Clam but only after we visited Orthang did he really start to act peculiar. At Orthang Pippin had picked up a large christal-ball which Gandalf took immediately from him, claiming that it was on of the Palantiri. During that night Pippin took it from Gandalf to look into it, not knowing how dangerous it was. He started to scream and writhe in pain until Aragorn tore it from his hands.

In pain Aragorn fell back but was caught by Legolas and moments later he let the ball fall out of his hands. As soon as was clear that Aragorn was not seriously harmed Legolas ran over to where Pippin was lying and cradled his head into his hands and held him till he calmed down.

Shortly after that Legolas left the room and came only back in the morning before Gandalf left with Pippin for Gondor; he was even quieter and paler than before but when I asked him what happened he shrugged it of as nothing - claiming that he would just miss Pippin now that we had found him once again."

At this point Gimli paused, seeing the pale shocked face of the elf Lord before him:

"You know what happened to him that night, don't you?"

he asked him, fearing the answer even before it was given.

"Yes, I know what happened..." came the slow, pained answer from the Lord of Imladris,

"You know what the poison was created for and by whom...and I am also sure that Elrohir has told you who or rather what Legolas is, what he stands for...

The moment he touched Aragorn who was holding the Palantir he opened himself to Sauron in order to save Aragorn form the pain he would otherwise have felt; but in doing so he risked his own life: he allowed Sauron to see who the High Prince is - and that he was poisoned, affected by the most horrible poison ever created.

In that very moment he was submitted to all the malice Sauron had used when he created together with his master Morgoth the first Orcs millennia ago. It is a wonder that Legolas survived that encounter and was not turned but from what you have just told me I must conclude that even after that he was not willing to stop before he had also helped the young hobbit.

From what you described I gather that Legolas gave Pippin his own strength and peace, that would also be the reason why he left the room after that, he would have had barely any strength left for himself. Only by the grace of the Valar he could have survived that night!

May Elebereth always shine with such a mercy upon him!

But you said that his behaviour had changed even before then, what happened before the battle, somehow you seem sure that that may be the real reason for Legolas troubles!"

Deep in thought Gimli sat opposite from the elf, not sure how to continue his tale, how to tell him what he knew. Yes, he had to tell Lord Elrond what he knew - but how could he betray one of his friends for the other? Even when he was sure, that Aragorn would forgive him if this would save the life of their mutual friend ...but still.

"Master Gimli?" inquired Elrond.

"Before the battle he and Aragorn had an argument ... at first I thought nothing of it, just that Legolas was offended by what Aragorn had said but now when I think back to it I know that there was more, that I am overseeing something, something important..."

he trailed of, once again lost in memories of that evening. He could recall every word his friends had spoken, every gesture they had made and suddenly he realised what he had been missing all this weeks: when Aragorn had uttered his last words his voice had been filled with not only anger but also fear, hate, accusation, resignation and hopelessness. He had not seen Legolas face but he had been able to see his friend flinch for a second before his whole posture stiffened. That must have been the cause of their problems - but what exactly had it been that let the elf flinch? Was it the hate, the anger?

"Their argument was about the men of Rohan, who were either to young or to old for battle, Legolas said something in your language and their argument started; Aragorn ended it as he said to him in Common:

"Then we will die as one of them, elf"...

Legolas flinched at those words and than stiffened... during the battle he seemed once again fine and shortly after that we left for Orthang... I didn't even notice that he was wounded..."

And silently he added: What kind of friend am I? I bantered with him about the number of Orcs each of us had slain when he knew that he was poisoned and would most likely die...

The quiet emotion laden whisper of the elf brought him back to the presence:

"Oh Estel, what have you done! Have I thought you nothing about elves? Have you forgotten all you have learned? You have lived with our people for so long - and yet you are still careless enough to bring death to your best friend... It would have been more merciful

if you had shot him or had driven Andruil into his heart..."

Gimli was shocked to see tears sliding down the pale cheeks of the elf. Feeling the gaze of the dwarf Elrond looked at him and spoke, not even trying to conceal his emotions, his tears:

"It was Aragorn, one of Legolas and my own family, who broke Legolas' heart - and I don't even think that he is aware of it!

It were not Aragorns words but his hopelessness, the fact that he had given up, that he did not believe that he would survive and worse yet, that he did not want to survive...

The moment he asked of Legolas, his best friend, to die, the moment Legolas must have known that he was all that stood between Aragorn and Namos halls - had he been killed that night Aragorn would have given up completely, he would have not fought back anylonger if an Orc had raised his scmitar against him - and with Aragorn Arwen would have died.

I doubt that Legolas will ever be able to forgive Aragorn that he risked Arwens life so carelessly, he sees in Arwen his dead sister... I am not sure if I can forgive Aragorn for that...

What has he done?" Elrond choked,

"Only when Aragorn sees his error on his own will he be able to save Legolas, there is nothing we can do for either of them. If anyone tells Aragorn what he has done and how and Legolas should ever learn of it his heart will irrevocable break and nothing will then be able to save him.

No, only Aragorn can save him - and he is not even aware of what he has done!

Thranduil can never learn of what Aragorn has caused in his fear and hopelessness."

His eyes closed and his face turned to the darkening sky that was visible through the window, Elrond uttered a whispered prayer in Sindar to his deceased father:

"Oh father, Earendil, if I ever needed you, this is the moment: show your sons heir a way to rebuilt what he has broken! Let Aragorn not be burdened with the guilt of having caused the death of his best friend!"

For a moment both sat still, till Elrond stood suddenly up and cleared the tears from his face; before he left the room he turned to Gimli:

"Do not scorn Aragorn, he is not aware of what he has done, he would have never willingly caused Legolas harm, he would die for him if the need be...

You have to get ready for the banquet, it will soon start and Aragorn would miss you and the hobbits if you were not present..."

He stopped in his step as he heard Gimlis reply:

"He will not notice that we are there if Legolas is missing!"

"Aragorn will see that you are there - as will be Legolas if I can help it!"

he answered with a slight edge to his voice and left the room. Inside the bedroom he send everyone away to get ready for the banquet and even Thranduil left after he promised that he would come back shortly.

Alone in the room with the unconscious elf Elrond sat down behind Legolas on the bed and positioned himself in that way that Legolas upper body was leaning heavily on his chest and the wounded elf's head could rest on his left shoulder. Drawing a deep breath he closed his eyes and willed himself to enter the mind of the elf resting against him; almost immediately he found himself on a cliff next to Legolas.

"What do you see, tithen?"

He asked the golden haired elf who did not look away from the water that was roaring below, his face a mask of intense pain.

"Aragorn fell from this cliff, haryon nin... I feared he was death but he came back, bloodied, wet and dirty - but alive! Our little child was alive and I have seldom felt more happiness then in that moment..."

Elrond had turned his head in alarm as Legolas had addressed him as his heir, had Legolas already given up his hope, did he no longer expect to live?

"You call him our little child"

he stated more than questioned and was rewarded with a small smile.

"Did you know that Arathron was my best friend, that I was there when he grew up, when he married and when Aragorn was born? After his parents I was the first who held Aragorn.

I was there when Arathron was slain, I held him in my arms as he drew his last breaths..."

Only now did he turn to face Elrond and the other elf was nearly overwhelmed with the sadness he saw in the golden-ones eyes.

"I promised Arathron that I would always be there for his little boy, that I would treat him as I treated him, that I would be there for him if he needed me..."

once again he turned his head away to look down the steep cliff,

"I broke that promise when I allowed Aragorn to fall down this cliff...

When I came to Imladris all these years ago I just wanted to keep my promise to my friend but I had not planned to start to care for him!

After Arathron had died I promised myself to never again care for a mortal, yes, I would take care for his son as I had promised but I would not get attached to him... And then when I saw him after five years and he came to me that night I saw not a duty in him, the subject of a promise but a charming young boy who was also the son of my best friend.

In that moment I knew that I loved him like I would love my own son...

I have failed him, failed to show him that there is always hope, that there is always a reason to live...

Elrond, he had given up, he wanted to die that day in Helms Clam and nothing I could do could give him back his hope, I have failed both father and son, two of the best friends I have ever had ... and I failed them!

I came to late to save Arathron and I allowed that his son lost his will to live, the knowledge that there was someone waiting for him."

With tear filled eyes he turned to Elrond:

"I heard him tell Lady Eowyn on our way to Helms Deep that Arwen was sailing to the West - I did not correct him, I did not tell him that she would never leave him even if that would mean her death. I knew that Arwen would never find peace without him, that it would be her greatest joy to spent the rest of her life with him no matter if that only meant a few years - but I did not tell him this, I allowed that he despaired, that he believed himself alone in the world.

Elrond, I am the reason that Aragorn nearly died that night! If it weren't for Gimli and the warriors you sent to our help Aragorn would have fallen - and with him Arwen... I nearly caused the death of your daughter and your brothers last heir!"