Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this chapter apart from Danuinel. Hopefully everything will be explained in this chapter. My computer has sorted itself out now, so everyone will be replied to at the end. Thanks, and enjoy!

Chapter 5

Estel took the time to explain to his best friend exactly what had happened during the hours after his death. Legolas listened with intent; his blue eyes still dull from sleep but eager to learn the truth.

"His name is Danuinel. He claims to be a friend of yours. He wishes to speak with you, but I was not sure. You never mentioned anything about him." Estel explained. The prince nodded, looking surprised.

"I did not know he still lived. It has been so long…" Legolas trailed off, deep in thought.

"You know him?" The Ranger asked, his expression showing slight surprise. He had believed the stranger to be of some evil, trying to gain revenge for some unknown crime.

"Yes, we were good friends. You said he wanted to speak with me, is that possible?" Legolas asked, wishing also to speak with his long lost friend.

"Of course. I think you should rest for a while longer though, before I bring him up. I will make sure that he is taken out of the cells. You understand that we ordered him arrested after the attack. I did not know who he was and –" Estel said.

"I understand, mellon-nin. You worry too much. I wish not to rest, however." Legolas stated, looking away towards the window. The prince did not say why, but Estel knew the reason for this. Legolas did not want to suffer the nightmares from which he could not voluntarily wake. Elven pride stopped the blonde Elf from admitting this fact and the Ranger would not push it.

"Very well. I shall go and tell the guards the he is to be let go. I will bring him up here, but only for a short while. You have just woken and are still ill. I do not want you exhausting yourself." Estel informed the prince who looked like he could murder the Ranger.

"Yes, mother." Legolas replied. The Ranger shot the Elf a look of mock hurt, and left the room. Legolas was not left alone, a fact he did not take to very well. One of the Rivendell healers came into the room and started preparing mixtures from the herbs at the back of the room.

In the dungeon

The grating sound made by the door at the end of the long corridor alerted the dark-haired Elf to someone coming in. He looked up and saw Estel walking towards the cell with a guard. The large guard took out a ring with keys attached to it and unlocked the barred door. The human entered the cell and extended a hand to the Elf.

"Legolas is awake. He wishes to see you." Estel informed him, helping the Elf up. "My name is Estel."

"It is good to meet you, Estel. Hope, a good name for one of such heritage. You are a good friend of Legolas, that is obvious." Danuinel stated as they climbed a staircase towards the Healing Wing.

"Yes, we have been through much together. Come, it is this way." Estel indicated turning and opening the door.

Danuinel gasped at the sight that met his eyes. Even though he had seen the prince only two days ago, he had been pre-occupied and hadn't been paying attention to detail. The prince before him had pale skin, paler than ever before. He was thinner than was healthy and the pain was obvious in the deep blue eyes.

"Legolas, it is good to see you again. It is unfortunate that the circumstances are such. Never mind, that cannot be helped. It has been a long time, mellon-nin." Danuinel greeted his friend, sitting down in a chair beside the bed.

"Aye, it has been too long. I feared you dead. There was no word from you for many years." Legolas stated, indicating for Estel to sit also.

"I sent word every few months, as was my promise." The dark-haired Elf said, confused by the information.

"My father, he must have been keeping it from me. I was never permitted to hear anything from anyone after a while. He felt that if I heard anything, I would leave the palace. His views on these things did not change. It matters not, you are here now." Legolas concluded.

"Did he ever stop blaming you for everything?" Danuinel asked carefully, well aware that the prince did not like talking about his personal life. Especially when it contained his father.

"Nay. Nothing I ever did was satisfactory. Some things did change when you left. He began beating me in front of other people. Estel was unfortunate enough to witness it more than once." Legolas said, turning to his friend. Inwardly, the prince was angry. His father had publicly humiliated him, and then banned him from his own kingdom.

Legolas felt a twinge and his eyes widened. Estel stood up quickly on seeing the small spasm too.

"Legolas, calm down. Everything is all right. Breathe deeply, mellon-nin. Come on." Estel said gently, placing his hand on the Elf's forearm. It was too late. The seizure had started and there was nothing that anyone could do about it.

Danuinel stood up and backed away on seeing a good friend suffering. He did not want to be in the way of anything. The Ranger turned to him and beckoned him back over.

The prince began convulsing, his eyes closing tightly against the obvious pain. The wound on his chest re-opened creating a crimson stain on the white material bandage. The other Elf was instructed to hold the prince's hand while the human gathered herbs and other bandages.

"Danuinel, you are doing fine. Just hold him there and don't let him hurt himself. This happens when his emotions become too strong. His muscles protest and it turns into a seizure. They do not last long, but he will be tired afterwards and will sleep for a while." Estel explained to the shocked Elf.

Legolas jerked violently on the bed, gritting his teeth through the pain. It did not take very long for the agony to become too much, and he slipped quietly into unconsciousness.

TBC

Replies:

the return of merry: Yeah, I rock! Woo hoo! Sorry. Anyway, it doesn't matter that the review was short, it's more than I get from other people who don't review at all. Thanks.

LanierShazar: Well, here it is, the next instalment!

marauding-siriusly: Well done, you guessed right, he is a friend. More about him soon. Once Leggy had stopped shaking (again).

Mornflower: God, I really worry about you. I'm glad you bounce, it gives people exercise, but all the "not dead" thingy's were weird. But cool. Thanks for that. I'm happy about the "there and back again" thing too. Thanks for reviewing, see you in the next chapter!

LiLred: I'm glad that you have forgiven me for that! Thanks for reviewing.

HarryEstel: Well, this is where we learn more about Danuinel. Like the name? I just thought of it one day and decided to put it in a story somewhere. Anyway, I liked the pun in your review, very clever. Thanks for reviewing.