Seylin: Well this is possibly the longest chapter of this story. A lot happens so be ready! This is the last chapter before the end tears For all of you who were looking forward to the 'personal toy' Legolas, I'm sorry but I went with another idea. The idea I used hit me in Physics class (where all the great ideas come from) and I fell in love. For the disclaimers, see the other chapters, it hasn't changed. Italics represent thoughts, dreams & letters.

I would like to dedicate this chapter to Cameron Duncan. For those of you who have watched the 2nd disk of the Appendices of ROTKSEE you will know who this is. For those of you who have not he is the one who inspired the song, 'Into the West'. He was also a wonderful filmmaker, and was only 16! Yes I am saying 'Was' because he died of cancer before ROTK came out. If you have a chance please watch the stuff about him on the disk said above. It is very touching.

The Forfeit
Chapter 9
The Rescue

Elrond jerked awake as the thunder crashed and lightning struck a few moments later. He looked outside to see the rain falling heavily. A frown graced his wise face, there had been no warning of this storm, and the air had not called for it. No, this storm brought with it a warning… and there was no doubt in his mind that this warning had to do with Aragorn and Legolas.

The horse galloped through the gates of Imladris past all the guards. It had a mission to get through and it would do it.

Elrond's head snapped up from where it had fallen into deep thought, the vision leaving him.

"Elladan! Elrohir! The courtyard!" He exclaimed and quickly swept from the room going down to the courtyard.

The twins came out of the library and followed without question. Over the years of Aragorn being their little brother had taken it's toll, they knew something was wrong with him… the only thing was, what was it?

o-o

The horse galloped through the gates of Imladris past all the guards. It has a mission to get through and it would do it. It's hooves clicked against the stones before it came to a stop in front of the main doors letting out a loud whiny.

The doors were thrown open moments later and three elves ran out. Two came to its sides and started to untie the ropes holding the one that had been tied to its back and saddle in place. The other elf came up and spoke comforting words so the horse wouldn't move much. Soon the weight fell to one side only to be caught by one of the ones that had done the untying.

The horse was quickly led away to be cleaned and taken care of.

o-o

Elladan caught Aragorn as he slid off the horse, his eyes barely open.

"Estel!" He called over the storm hoping to get some reaction. He heard one thing… but at least it proved his brother was alive. Quickly he turned and ran into the palace towards the Healing Houses.

"Le-Le-Lego-golas…" Estel kept repeating over and over again until he finally went unconscious.

o-o

He felt Legolas's hand brush over his and their eyes connected… everything seemed to go so slow. "Nie hem berrenthe, Estel. Ai, Elbereth… elenath eila erin Estel… amin mela le," Legolas said but only loud enough for him to hear.

"Amin mela le…amin mela le…amin mela le…" The words repeated themselves over and over in his mind as he was forced to watch the dream of what had happened over and over.

Estel groaned as his eyes fluttered open. For a moment he saw and golden haired prince sitting there watching over him but then he blinked and the prince was replaced with… Arwen. This thought only made him groan again.

"Poor Estel… does something hurt? Ada set your arm while you were unconscious but I can give you some pain drought if you are in pain," She offered sweetly dabbing his forehead to clear away the sweat.

"I…I…" He started.

"What darling?" She asked giving him a drink of water. He grimaced and the water burned his sore throat but also made it feel better.

"I must… go back… for Legolas…" He told her. Arwen frowned not happy that he was thinking of Legolas at a time like this. She was the one sitting here now taking care of him! Arwen put her smile back in place and dabbed his forehead again.

"You cannot go back because you are hurt and need your rest. Now sleep…" She whispered and watched as his eyelids closed once again.

o-o

Dear Thranduil, I am sure by now that you have felt something is not right. I can only tell you what I know as of now. Legolas and Aragorn's relationship did not start off well. For the past few months they have been fighting and ignoring each other actually. About a week and a half ago Aragorn came to me with a plan to go out on a joy ride to maybe at least make friends with Legolas. It would not be a long or far journey, truthfully a large circle. Legolas agreed, so they packed and left. What happened after they left I do not know. What I know now is that Aragorn was sent back tied quiet heavily to a horse's saddle beaten up fairly badly. As for the condition of Legolas I do not know. We will pray that he is well. You have my word that everything in our powers to find and rescue him from whatever has done this will be done. Sincerely yours, Elrond.

Elrond looked up at Glorfindel as he sealed the letter. He stood and handed the letter to his second.

"There is no one I trust as much as you to deliver this. You must ride with much haste, time is precious. See that Thranduil gets this," He said.

"My lord," Glorfindel answered with a small bow before he turned and left the room. Elrond watched from his balcony as Glorfindel mounted and then rode away. He prayed that he and the letter made it safely to the King of Mirkwood.

o-o

The next time Estel awoke Elrohir was watching over him. The younger twin gave him a small smile.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Less tired but more worried. His words keep repeating over and over in my dreams… I can only imagine what tortures he is going through…" Estel whispered, not needing to say who he was.

"What were Legolas's words?" Elrohir questioned.

"Amin me…" He started but stopped as he realized what he was going to say. Elrohir gave him a confused look but then put it aside.

"I'll be right back. Ada wanted to know when you woke up," He said. Estel nodded, his gaze focused outside. Elrohir cast one last worried glance at his brother before leaving the room.

o-o

A few moments later Elrohir returned with Elrond and Elladan following close behind. The twins stood behind as their father checked over Estel's wounds and then checked for the fever that he had had.

"Well your fever is almost gone, that is good…" Elrond sighed. Estel quickly took the blankets away and sat up slowly.

"Then let's go," He told them trying to stand before Elrond pushed him back down.

"Ion nin, I know you are worried for Legolas but you must heal yourself before you can go anywhere," Elrond told him calmly.

"He could be being tortured now and you are worried about me healing!" Estel exclaimed.

"Yes Estel we are. A couple of months ago I bet you wouldn't have even cared if he were captured and now you are willing to kill yourself over it. What did he say to you to make you change your mind so much?" Elrohir questioned but Elrond held up a hand.

"Let us begin at the beginning. Estel tell us everything," Elrond told him. Estel stared at them in disbelief for a moment before sighing. They were not going to let him up before he told them the story of how he had come back this way. Looking down at his hands he began his story.

Over 20 minutes later…

"And then he said, 'elenath eila erin Estel'" He finished leaving off the 'I love you' part. It was still something he was thinking about. Estel looked up and saw the distressed look in his family's eyes.

"We will go back for him… once you have healed enough," Elladan said seeing the look in his brother's eyes.

o-o

Thranduil sat at his desk in his office, papers skewed across the desk, to one who could just look in he appeared to be in deep thought but in truth the hand cupping his cheek was supporting his sleeping head. If one listened close enough they could hear small snores.

It was as if he were watching a play. These were the actors and he was the audience… only one of the actors was his son. Pride flooded through him as he watched his son fight these men with expert ease. That pride was shot down as he saw a man stab Legolas in the leg. It came back as Legolas continued fighting but there was also something new, worry. He wanted to shout 'NO' and jump up on the stage to help his son but it was as if something held him back. He had to watch as Legolas and Estel were captured.

"Legolas!" He exclaimed jerking awake. Legolas was being held prisoner… but where and how long? Standing he moved to look out the window. The wind blew and rain started to fall… fitting for what had happen. Would Mirkwood's crown prince ever return?

o-o

Legolas stared out the window to the room Neilana had put him in. He was surprised there were no ropes or chains, not that he was complaining. The room was small… and bare, only containing a bed, a dresser, and a window with a small window seat. That was where he found himself now, sitting on the window seat staring out.

These lands were barren, a few bushes and maybe some trees dotting the landscape here and there but other than that nothing. It was raining, although he doubted it was as bad here as it was in other places. But now… something else caught his ears. Legolas turned his head toward the sound. There it was… a faint crying. His brows knitted and he slowly stood, wondering where or rather who was crying.

Legolas went over to the door and eased it open cautiously looking out. He rolled his eyes, surely these people couldn't have held many people prisoners, they didn't even place guards by the door, the hall was empty. He opened the door the whole way and stepped out closing the door back.

Silently he followed the sound of the crying. It became louder as he neared a door that was slightly ajar. Pressing gently against it, the door opened to reveal no other than Neilana on the floor crying into her folded arms, which were on a chair. Legolas immediately felt pity for her and went over.

Neilana, so far gone in her grief did not hear him until his fingers brought her head up. She gasped and looked up at him expecting him to laugh or slap her and escape… but instead she saw nothing but concern. Legolas sat on the chair and started to stroke her hair. After staring at him for a few more moments her tears fell again and she buried her lap into his lap, her shoulders shaking with sobs. It had been three days since her brother's death and she had been holding all this back until now, the comforting hand stroking her head only made it easier to cry.

"Ar ve tirnentë… ar ve tirnentë or i coronna etuller minna eälë lenwi tuimat; ar ilamma né or ilya Ambar i lúmessë, ar únë lamma hequa i Yavanno lírala. Undu linderya i tuimat randortaner ar eänë vanimë ar hallë, ar tuller lóten; ar sin cuivaner Ambaressë Aldu Valinóreva," Legolas sang softly hoping to calm her down.

Neilana sniffed and slowly looked up at him, she reached up and wiped away her tears, this gesture made her look very much younger than he took her for.

"That… that was beautiful… but I know not the language," She whispered. Legolas smiled down at her.

"It is the language of my kin, Sindarin. That was a song of the trees of Valinor," He told her. Neilana stared up at him curiosity entering her eyes.

"What is Valinor?" She asked. Legolas's eyes widened in surprise.

"You have not heard of Valinor? Then I shall tell you," He replied and started to tell her of elves and Valinor. Neilana sat below him listening in pure wonder as he explained these things she had only thought of as fairytales for so long.

Over the next few weeks Legolas taught Neilana all about the elves and even started teaching her some elvish… all the while hiding how bad his leg truly was hurting him.

o-o

3 weeks later…

Aragorn stood looking out over the lands in the direction of which Legolas was in. Arwen had been in trying to distract him but finally he had gotten annoyed and sent her away in tears, funny thing was he didn't really care. In fact, her behavior struck him as odd. She had known Legolas much longer than he had but she seemed… almost happy with this turn of events.

He looked down at his arm, which was in a sling. Thanks to Elrond's healing knowledge and his own elven blood it was healing quickly. He could move his fingers now… but little bursts of pain went through his arm whenever he tried.

Over the past 3 weeks his dreams had been plagued of nothing but Legolas getting tortured, somehow he knew that what the elf was going through just had to have been worse than that. He only prayed that Legolas could wait a few more days.

Elrohir came in and started to pack for him. Aragorn came over and watched him, the twin looked up and gave him a smile.

"Ell finally convinced Ada to let us go. We are leaving in the morning," Elrohir told him. Aragorn smiled.

Finally he would be able to see Legolas again! That thought made him stop for a moment… was he really looking forward to seeing Legolas that much? Yes… he was.

o-o

Neilana's village…

Everything was quiet in the early morning hours in the village; most people were still sleeping or just getting up. No one saw the three hooded figures enter the town swiftly and silently. They made their way to the main house and silently broke in as to not cause alarm. Their swords were held at the ready should they run into anyone.

Aragorn glanced around trying to remember where they had been taken, he saw a door open and heard the voice he would never forget coming from inside the room. His eyes narrowed and he moved quickly. Elladan and Elrohir followed trusting their brother.

"Baw is 'no, hannon le is 'thank you', ion nin is 'my son'…" Neilana repeated going over the notes she had started taking a couple of days after Legolas had began teaching her. "Sae…" She started but stopped short as she felt the tip of a dagger come to rest on her neck.

"Please would be correct Neilana. Now where is Legolas? If you have hurt him in any way I will kill you… and enjoy it," Aragorn said quietly.

Neilana let out a whimper and closed her eyes. She was to frightened to speak so when she heard the next voice she was very relieved.

o-o

Legolas winced as he stepped wrong on the foot of his bad leg. He was hot and knew it was from fever. He pushed the dizziness and pain he felt aside as he cooked the elvish meal he was making for Neilana.

He had been surprised when she knew nothing but fairy stories of the elves and so had taken it upon himself to teach her. She was a quick and eager learner, in many ways reminding him of a small child. It wasn't until she saw that he was not going to hurt her that she started to tell him about her brother. It was through their little talks that he discovered she had been very sheltered and was in awe of Arwen. He found out that Arwen had saved her once from some sickness, that struck him as odd. As nice as Arwen could be she wasn't one to help someone with no gain for herself. Later he understood that Neilana's brother had promised to do everything she wished to pay her back for saving Neilana's life.

Hate for the daughter of Elrond started to grow in his heart as he heard about Arwen meeting with Neilana's brother to plan an attack against himself.

"But I don't know why… you don't seem to be the monster Lady Arwen described you as Legolas," Neilana had said.

Sighing Legolas picked up the plates he had fixed and went back to the room. He paused when his ears picked up on a familiar voice.

o-o

"If you harm her in any way Estel I will never forgive you," Legolas said stepping into the room. Aragorn lowered his dagger as he and the twins spun around shock written on their faces.

"LEGOLAS!" They all exclaimed. They had all thought that they would come in and rescue him from some horrid torture but here he was… standing… holding plates of food… looking fine…

"But Legolas how… I thought you… she…" Estel stammered. Legolas gave him a smile setting the food down.

"Neilana and I have become good friends. I am teaching her all I know about the elves," He replied.

"Legolas is a very good teacher," Neilana added in. Aragorn shot her a look.

"What the hell? When we were first brought here you were hell bent on killing me and then Legolas offers his life and you tie me to a blasted horse before sending me back!" Aragorn exclaimed.

"Calm down Aragorn. She had just lost her brother, I do not blame her for her actions and you should not either," Legolas said.

"I want to know what happened after I was sent away," Aragorn told him. Legolas nodded, he had expected this.

o-o

"And so… as you can see… everything's fine," Legolas said, he paused trying to keep the black dots from dancing in front of his eyes.

"Legolas? Legolas!" Aragorn exclaimed and stepped forward catching him as Legolas's eyes rolled back in his head and he went unconscious. Looking down at the unconscious form in his arms, he could feel the heat of fever and saw the dark red flush across Legolas's cheeks. This was not good… elves didn't get sick… the wound on his leg… it must have gotten infected…

Elvish Translation

Ion nin – My Son
elenath eila erin Estel – I am sorry Hope (Aragorn)
Legolas's Song The Trees of Valinor - And as they watched, upon the mound there came forth two slender shoots; and silence was over all the world in that hour, nor was there any other sound save the chanting of Yavanna. Under her song the saplings grew and became fair and tall, and came to flower; and thus there awoke in the world the Two Trees of Valinor.
Baw – No
Saes – Please
Mellon – Friend
Hannon le – Thank you

Review Thanks

IwishChan – It was cute? I was hoping it would be sad… oh well.

Mz psycho – You liked the part with the ring? Good! That was one of my fave parts!

Leralonde – Good! Well it's plagued him for over 3 weeks now… and now this!

KCEstel – Heheh… how true… you love the elves… you know you do.

MoroTheWolfGod – Hope this was soon enough!

Crazyrabidfangurl – Leave it to Leggy to make friends with the enemy.

Trista – Thank you so much! That comment made my day!

Astalder27 – Well we did see Thranduil but he won't actually be there till next chapter.

Templar Knight – Thank you! That makes me very happy!

Chu-chu – You liked that to? Yay. That makes me happy.