A/N: I do not own… blah blah blah. Sorry but I'm tired of saying it. You should know it by now. Well here's chapter 4. Took me a little bit to write but good thing is I have the next chapter all done already. Another thing is that I have just been to lazy to upload. My mom has been on a rampage about colleges since I will be starting in the Fall (groans). – Naur

----- Scene changes

Italics - Thoughts

The Forfeit

Chapter 4

I Will Do This

Legolas watched how Arwen held onto Aragorn. He felt bad for her; he knew how she felt for him just by the way she held onto his arm. Seeing this made him almost want to take back the offer of this alliance and just ask for the help from Elrond but then he looked into Aragorn's eyes, there was a slightly annoyed look to them.

"Could he not feel the same for her as she does him?" He wondered. Elladan smacked him on the shoulder laughing telling him he had missed the joke, he put on a smile for them.

"You seem distracted mellon nin. Care to share your thoughts?" Elladan asked. Legolas smiled a shook his head.

"I am merely tired from my journey here. If you will excuse me, I think I will retire for the night," He told them. The twins nodded and bid him goodnight. He and Aragorn shared a couple of parting words and he told Arwen goodnight before leaving.

Aragorn watched him go; somehow knowing he was lying about being tired.

-----

1 hour later…

"Have you heard of Legolas's skill with a bow and his silver daggers Estel?" Arwen asked sweetly as she, Aragorn, and her brothers walked back to their rooms. Aragorn looked down at her.

"No, I have not. Do tell me," He replied. Elladan and Elrohir shared a look, something was up.

"Oh! It is known throughout the elven realms that Legolas is a prodigy among the archers of each realm. Why, he bested Lord Glorfindel at the age of 500," Arwen told him.

"Really now?" Aragorn questioned his eyebrows raising.

"He hasn't tried since then. I think his skills have dwindled and he only wants us to still think that he is the best," Arwen said matter of factly.

"Arwen! You know that is a lie!" Elladan exclaimed.

"How? I haven't seen him shoot an arrow since then," She replied.

"He's hardly ever here and when he is you never come down to the archery fields. Legolas is still the best," Elrohir told her. Arwen shrugged.

"I think you are better Estel. You hold so much potential even though you are human," She smiled at him. Aragorn smiled.

"I may just have to test my skills against Legolas," Aragorn mused. Both the twins groaned and walked away before they could hear anymore of this trash about their friend.

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The next morning…

Aragorn waited until after breakfast to pull Legolas to the side to speak with him. Legolas gave him a confused look not knowing what this was about.

"I challenge you Legolas, to a duel," Aragorn told him loud enough for Elrond and everyone else to hear. Legolas's eyes narrowed.

"A duel of what?" He asked slowly.

"A duel of archery and swords," Aragorn replied. Legolas's eyes lost their intenseness and he smiled before chuckling softly.

"You surely jest me Aragorn. For a moment I thought you were serious," Legolas chuckled with a smile. Now it was Aragorn's turn for his eyes to narrow.

"I speak with all seriousness," He replied.

Their stare-off lasted for about 5 minutes before Aragorn looked away and straightened himself up.

"And you will regret this decision," Legolas told him and then walked away. Elladan and Elrohir stood each putting a hand on his shoulders.

"We pity you brother," They said before they to walked away.

-----

Legolas stood waiting with his bow in one hand, his arrows in his quiver and his silver daggers in their sheaths on his back. The sun made his hair seem fiery and his eyes intense. Giving him one look over Aragorn, for the first time he thought that maybe he had made a mistake but he couldn't back down now.

"Pick up your bow and let's start the first part of this duel. We will each fire five arrows. Lord Glorfindel will judge our performance," Legolas told him turning to the targets that had been set up.

Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel and Elrond all stood, leaning or sitting near the field. They all knew how this would end but Aragorn had been the one to give the challenge so it was best that he learn the hard way.

Aragorn picked up his bow and strung an arrow, Legolas did the same. Legolas looked over at him.

"Go ahead," He said with a smile. Aragorn looked back at the target and nodded. He brought his feet together and steadied his arm, then he let go. The arrow planted itself a few inches from the center. Aragorn smiled and looked over at Legolas expecting him to seem impressed if not shocked, he was very talented as Arwen had said, for a human. But no, Legolas wore a serious face his eyes fixed on his target.

Legolas let his arrow fly, not even smiling when it hit the center of the target. Aragorn gulped… now he was sure this was a mistake. Legolas looked back at him.

"Your turn," He said simply. Aragorn nodded as he loaded another arrow.

-----

Lord Glorfindel had given the archery contest to Legolas. Each of his arrows had pierced the last; while Aragorn's had all been around each other but none striking the last.

"Now you will perform a duel of your swords. Aragorn, your sword and Legolas, your daggers," Glorfindel told them. Aragorn smiled at Legolas, He would have the advantage in this part of the duel.

Legolas watched as Aragorn easily swung his sword around getting used to its feel. He then looked to Lord Glorfindel who nodded. Legolas took out his silver daggers; the silver glinted brightly in the sunlight. It was true that archery was his strongest point but his daggers were possibly the second. Even though, he walked over to Aragorn and held out his hand.

"Good luck to you," He told him. Aragorn stared at his hand for a moment and then smiled.

"You as well," Aragorn replied. Legolas smirked and took his stance a couple of feet away. Glorfindel walked around dragging a stick behind to make a large circle.

"Now the rules. You may strike each other but nothing deadly; this is a friendly match. Also you will not leave the circle, should you do so you will be disqualified and the other will win. Now let us finish this quickly. Begin," Glorfindel explained.

Aragorn held his sword with both hands as Legolas held his in both hands. They circled each other for a few moments, each waiting for the others move. Legolas watched, studying Aragorn's movements, this would help him in the future.

Aragorn growled getting impatient and ran forward to attack. Legolas blocked and then dodged his swings. He waited until Aragorn's blade is swept aside, attacking his open chest and then rolling away. Aragorn gasped when he felt the blade's sting. Legolas watched him from over his shoulder waiting to see his reaction. Angered that he had been left open Aragorn attacked again, his sword was just about to touch Legolas's shoulder when Legolas slid to the side with his leg out tripping him.

In doing this, he also got a deep cut on his shoulder but it was worth it. He watched as Aragorn fell, sliding in the dirt.

"The duel is over," Glorfindel exclaimed.

"WHAT?!?!" Aragorn cried propping himself up.

"You are out of bounds Aragorn. Legolas wins," Glorfindel told him. Legolas walked over and offered him a hand up but he slapped it away.

"That was a dirty trick," He hissed standing.

"One must do what one must in battle," Legolas answered.

"One should do what is honorable," Aragorn said. Legolas's eyes narrowed.

"I will not defend myself against you. What's done is done and I thank you for a good duel, even if it were not honorable," Legolas replied walking away.

Aragorn watched him go and then looked around. He was surprised Arwen was not present. She was the one who had truly convinced him to challenge Legolas to this duel. But she was not here…

-----

Arwen had ridden out that morning after breakfast, missing Estel's defeat. She did not really care; she had other plans to attend to. When she was about twenty miles from Imladris she stopped in a field waiting for whom she was to meet.

"Lady Arwen… I do not like to be kept waiting," A man's voice said. She turned and looked down at him. Black curly hair framed his face, his green eyes twinkling; his face was handsome enough but was marred by a few scars from previous battles.

"I told you the time I would be here. It is not my fault you decided to show up early," She answered as he helped her from her mount. She was shorter than he by a couple of inches, his chest, legs and arms strong from all his battles.

"So you wanted to see me about something?" He questioned.

"Yes. There is someone I want you to take care of for me. His name is Legolas. He is an evil elf and I believe is planning to finish off my betrothed on a trip into the wilds in a few weeks. I love my betrothed and would hate to see anything happen to him. Will you do this for me Feanor?" She begged him. He stared at her for a few moments.

"You have been good to my family my lady. My sister, Neilana, would not be alive if it were not for you. I will do anything for you. Just give me the date and I will see your will done," He answered.

Arwen smiled.

"Perfect," She thought.

-----

2 days later…

Elrond went to find Legolas. A messenger from Mirkwood had just arrived with a letter for Legolas; so far he had not had any luck in finding him. The letter's envelope had a few stains on it that looked like blood… but he prayed it was not.

Aragorn came out of the kitchen eating an apple. Elrond smiled when he saw him.

"Ion nin, have you seen or might know where Legolas may be? I have a letter here for him," Elrond questioned. Aragorn thought a moment.

"I'm pretty sure he went to the archery fields with Elladan and Elrohir. I will take it if you wish," He said, he had been looking for a way to get Legolas to talk to him again. Elrond smiled.

"Hannon le," Elrond told him giving him the letter. Aragorn smiled and took off running for the archery fields.

-----

Legolas fired his arrows in rapid succession hoping to burn away some of his anger. The twins watched with impressed eyes as each arrow hit it's mark splitting the last into pieces.

"Elladan! Elrohir! Is Legolas with you?" Aragorn called as he ran toward them.

"Umm… yeah… why?" Elrohir replied not wanting a confrontation after what had happened.

"A letter has arrived for him. Adar had me deliver it," Aragorn told them as he stopped. The twins saw Legolas tense as he glared at Aragorn.

Aragorn felt his glare before he looked to meet it; those eyes sent chills down his spine. He gulped and held out the letter for him. Legolas kept glaring and took the letter quickly. The others watched as he opened it and read over what was within and as his face fell.

The twins let out a cry of surprise when Legolas went to his knees, tears falling from his eyes. They immediately kneeled beside him.

"Legolas? What does it say? What has happened?" Elladan asked. Legolas did not answer as the letter fell from his hands. Elrohir picked it up silently and read. "Ro?"

"…A… a village near… the center of… Mirkwood… has been discovered…" He said quietly.

"And?" Aragorn inquired not understanding.

"The point is you unfeeling human, that village was full of living breathing people! The village was found taken over by spiders. It's people wrapped in their webs… dead… waiting to be the next meal of those filthy beast!" Legolas hissed standing. His eyes blazed with deep hatred… hatred for the spiders that had done this… hatred for Aragorn for what he had done… but also sorrow. His heart bled for those men, women and children.

"Las…" The twins started but he shook his head.

"I am not leaving… I will give my revenge soon enough. I am merely going to tell Lord Elrond that I am going through with this alliance. I will just have to keep reminding myself why I am… for those people," Legolas replied. With that he took the letter from Elrohir and walked away, back to the palace to find Lord Elrond.

Elvish Translations

Ion nin – My son

Hannon le – Thank you

Review Thanks

astalder27 – You're wish is my command!

spanishgoddess86 – Estel is around 20-25 and Legolas is around 2,440. Since they were together for around 40 years at the beginning of TPU.

Soar – I would love to have a beta for this story/series. Sadly it is very hard to find someone who has the time, is talented and likes Slash to read it. For you know anyone please let me know!

crazyrabidfangurl01 – Lol. Shhh… you'll scare her off.

Magda – You say that and I slow down. So sorry. Hope you liked this chapter!

tmelange – Thanks!

Espina Oscura – So are you! Thanks bunches!

Kel – I love the twins as well. They are the brothers I will never have.

Legolas19 – Thank you so much!

KawaiiWhiteWolf - Here is more. Enjoy it!

neuroticsquirrel1 – Hell yes he's a warrior. A very manly warrior… very manly and handsome… handsome and cool… (goes into lala land)