"Risk of Yesterday"
Author: Spark. Just... Spark.
Email: LimeVegetaSpark@aol.com
Rating: PG13, for mentions of torture (no Cassia thing going on here, I could never pull that off ~_^) and some physical abuse.
Feedback: Very welcome! The bad and the good please! One request, if your telling me it sucks, please... tell me why!
Disclaimer: No, for those people who have the strange idea that I am J.R.R.Tolkein and own Lord of the Rings or anything related, I don't. Yup. Sad, but true
Summary: When Aragorn pesters Legolas into letting him travel with him as he goes home he finds himself seeing a part of Legolas's life Legolas doesn't normally show... his relationship with his father. When time is running out, will Legolas risk himself for a man who never truly cared for him?
Notes: Like Cassia and Sio, I hold the fact that Aragorn was raised by Elrond among Elladan and Elrohir to be true to these stories even if some do not agree.
Fairly Important only to title of story: 'A risk of yesterday' is a phrase I thought would seem like a very elven phrase, meaning it was of the past, it was something that can not be changed, etc... as 'yesterday' to the elves is more or less a greater idea of time. If an elf wanted to literally say it was a risk of the day before, it would make more sense to state a more direct time reference, such as 'yesterday morning' or 'yesterday evening' or such. Thanks for understanding my odd mind ^_^
Elven references
nin mellon: "my friend"
Estel: Aragorn's elven name, meaning in elven, Hope.
Namarie: Farewell
Mae Govannen: Well met
REVIEWERS
rabbit of iron: Yeah, I'm working on cutting down the number of typos! Glad you enjoy it!
BlackRose1356: No, no kicking of Thrandy's butt now! I'm so happy you like it!!!! ^_^
SpookyChild: I'm trying, I'm trying to get these out when I can! sorry it takes so long!
PokethePenguin: Cliffies? Have you EVER read Cassia and Sio's mellon chronicles? and you call THESE cliffhangers?!?!?! Augh! (To Cassia and Sio... really, I love your cliffies! Soemtimes they're just...evil)
Lessian Helyanwe: I'm writing... just very slowly! You can choose to save as when you save your story and then select .doc or.txt.... but you'll lose your formatting. I'd love to read your stories!
-passes out Dr.Pepper to all reviewers- yay!
Think that's it! Enjoy!
Aragorn didn't have the heart to argue with his friend right now, because he knew that Legolas's plan, no matter how risky, had to be better than his lack of one. "Yes Legolas. I'll do it. Only, only..." He shook his head. They had no time for Aragorn to start on his list of worries for his friend. "Namarie for a short time nin mellon."
Legolas's eyes flicked to him for only a second. "Namarie nin mellon." They could speak no longer, the other men were setting suspicious though they could hear no words go between the two nor see their lips moving very much.
"NOW ARAGORN!" Legolas yelled, and darted forward, but that was the last Aragorn now saw of him, because he took his gripped sword and swung it at the stone Legolas told him. He sure hoped he knew the right one, in that split second he could think, for this would not be good on his sword otherwise. But to his surprise, instead of the sword hitting stone, it hit a brittle wood made to look like stone, and it split, freeing sand and other forms of dirt in the air in a thick cloud.
Aragorn then took off running, he'd promised Legolas he would, though he loathed to leave his friend there. But he had to trust Legolas. The thick cloud of sand and other sorts didn't settle, obviously other things were added to it, and it made it fairly easy escape for Aragorn... if anything else, the ranger thought, the Mirkwood elves were good at defending themselves without any use of rings or such as his father had.
After this however, he had no more time to think. As soon as he was out of the throne room he ran as fast as his legs would take him, heading for the secret exit. Obviously these rebels did not know of it, for none followed when they searched for Aragorn. Aragorn then pulled his cloak fast as he could up over his head and sprinted down, out of the lands of Mirkwood. He only hoped he could make it to Elrond in time to save Legolas and his father.
"Legolas... you'd better live! "
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Legolas could barely see Aragorn run and smiled slightly to himself. Good. Aragorn was out... He sprang forward, knowing the other elves couldn't see very well in the Mirkwood mists, the stuff that looked like sand, so it was easy to take out the elf holding onto his father.
Quickly Legolas took his father, knowing he could not move on his own because of the leg wound, and disappeared. Suddenly he reappeared, and the other elves, who had now gotten over their sudden shock, were upon him.
Moving as quickly as possible Legolas took both his long knives and began to try and get through as many of these elves as possible... only one problem, Legolas didn't want to kill them. How was he to judge if they did what they did out of spite or need? He could not make that decision, and it was his downfall, though everything went just as the prince suspected.
From out of no where these elves kept coming, and while Legolas could best them all in one on one combat, a gainst so many he did little except injure a few arms and stab a few stomachs. Then, as the Mirkwood mists began to dissipate, for they never settled, LEgolas could see with more clarity the knives that finally jerked his away. Without any warning, a kick against the back of Legolas's knees made him lose his balance, though he did not crumble, but when about three fists hit him against the head or back he fell forward onto his knees.
"Back away! Back away from him! What are you, orcs that you think twenty need to ensnare a down elf?" Kesuil pushed other elves out of the way angrily. He then grabbed LEgolas by his long light hair, and pulled his head up to look at him. "Where's the king? It will go easier for him and you if you tell us! Where's the king?!?!" Legolas simply gave Kesuil a look that spoke of a hatred few elves grew to know. With a small growl, LEgolas spit in Kesuil's face. The elf swore and kicked LEgolas, letting go of his hair in time so Legolas fell and lay sprawled on the floor of the room. Kesuil then commenced in kicking the elf in anger. He had to find the king, and soon if he didn't want his master's vengeance upon him. "You stupid elf! You idiotic excuse for a firstborn! You deserve no more than torture till the end of your days, which will end very painfully if I have my way!" Kesuil didn't stop his kicking until he heard a crack from one of the prince's lower ribs and knew the prince wasn't going anywhere.
Legolas refused to give way and let Kesuil know how much this hurt him. He refused to cry out in pain. He slowly tried to readjust his staggered breathing, but it would not, and the pain from the broken rib surged through his body like white fire.
Kesuil gave a sneer at the wounded prince before turning towards the other elves. "What are you standing here for!? Get out there and fine that king!" Slowly his head turned towards the prince again. "And get this one in chains. He's coming with us. If the king insists on hiding the prince will pay until the king stops this cowardly act. And if not, we will not only find and kill the king, this one shall know tortures beyond what was planned for him and the elflings of Imladris."
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Thranduil could hear the voices perfectly. Now he could not help but bite hard on his lower lip as he heard Kesuil beating Legolas. Sure, it was not as much as a truly loving father went through, but to hear anyone tortured as so angered people. A cowardly act? Is that what he had just been accused of doing?! A cowardly act was conniving with men and evil lords behind a kings back, THAT was a cowardly act! From his dark place he couldn't see anything, but in the darkness he swore he'd get revenge over anyone who called King Thranduil a coward... oh, and maybe for treating one of his subjects in such a manner. Son or no, Thranduil at least showed no favoritism.
Thranduil tried to move a bit and shift his weight, but the sharp pain in his calf told him that wasn't an option. So here he would have to stay until someone found him. Dang... he hated to rely on other people.
Now that the king was alone and out of immediate danger, he also had time to worry himself over other business. How had LEgolas snuck that filthy ranger friend of his into Mirkwood? And without telling him?!!? Surely that human would run back to Lord Elrond and say of Thranduil's inhospitality... and since Lord Elrond was about one of the only people that could save his kingdom, he really did not feel like getting on their bad side.
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Lord Elrond stood in one of the courtyards of Rivendell, his face stern and his mouth turned in a malice-full frown. Elladan and Elrohir both stood with many of their warriors, and in front of them were several bound elves.
"Father, these elves are accused of treason and trying to kill you and take me and Elrohir prisoner. Also, they have told of threats to Estel and to Mirkwood's royal family." Elladan talked swiftly, knowing he had to tell Elrond nothing, he had already figured it out, but it was always good to hear everyone's side of the story.
"Is that so? You elves acknowledge these things? Anyone who believes themselves wrongfully accused speak now or forever live with he consequences!" None of the adversary elves stood or spoke out, all knew there was too many facts against them, and none could bring themselves to lie in front of Lord Elrond. "Fine then. And what of Mirkwood? When was that attempted?" While Elrond worried not for Imladris, he knew Mirkwood had not the defenses he himself had, and worried for the stubborn king and Legolas. "Not to mention my other son. What is this that I hear?" He inwardly started condemning himself for letting LEgolas go... he hadn't wanted to in the first place, with Legolas revealing Thranduil's less than perfect side, and then allowing Aragorn to go with him!
Elrohir kicked the nearest elf a little, who could not help but tell Lord Elrond. "My Lord... it was to be executed no more than an hour ago. Your son was reported seen sneaking into Mirkwood."
Elrond's mind rattled with accusations against himself that he couldn't help. 'Your fault... your fault... you let Legolas go back to be hurt by Thranduil... you could've stopped them both... Estel wouldn't have gone if Legolas had not... your fault... now they're both going to die... and it's all your fault!' Elrond put a hand to his forehead, trying to block out these horrible words. Elladan looked at him worriedly. "Father?" Elrond lowered his hand and looked up. Twenty elves knelt before them. "Take them to the jail below... I have not time to deal with a trial now. No harm is to come to them before they receive one, understood?"
All elves around that guarded the twenty bound ones nodded warily, and so Lord Elrond turned quickly and started marching off to the Hall of Fire. Maybe that could calm his worried and hurried spirit. He had to be thinking logically if any good was to come of this knowledge at all. Worried for their father, Elladan and Elrohir quickly followed.
Once they had reached the Hall of Fire, Elrond quickly swooshed forward his robes and slumped into one of the large chairs set forth for just an occasion. The twins slowly went over towards him, and Elrohir spoke. "Father, what is it that eats at you so? I'm sure Aragorn is fine. I'm sure that the Mirkwood elves could easily fight off twenty or so elves trying to get in."
Elrond looked at his son, knowing that the true hope that was in Elrohir's voice wavered not. The younger twin had always been so optimistic, and often had that helped even out his brothers all- too negative outlook when things looked bad. "I'm sorry my son. This time, you are much too optimistic. There are many variables I fear you overlook." Both of his sons quickly pulled chairs over towards their father, ready to listen to whatever he had to say. "Firstly, Imladris is wanted by no men. Our lands do not extend very far, but the men around Mirkwood have already proven themselves very greedy, and any plot against the king would probably have much of their support." Elrohir opened his mouth to question that, but Elladan quickly shushed him, knowing his father was not done. "Secondly… if you did not notice, none of the attacking elves were from Imladris. They were all from Mirkwood. Thranduil made himself quite a few enemies, and I fear that the attempt against Mirkwood came form inside." Both Elladan and Elrohir found themselves speechless. Elves wanting to mutiny against their own king? Such a thing sounded crazy!
Elrond had already laid his forehead upon his open hand, his elbow leaning against one of the large arm cushions on the chair. "I never should have let them go." Elladan now found he had to step in.
"But father, Legolas got summons from Thranduil himself. Aragorn always accompanies him. You had no way of knowing this was to happen. You can't blame yourself for not stopping the two! You had no reason to Ada." Elladan's voice was very sincere, and he now moved closer to his father, clasping his hands around Elrond's free one. "We're sure Aragorn will be fine. We can only hope now, what we could have done is now passed. All we can do now is send forward scouts to see how Mirkwood faired."
Elrond seemed very depressed and his voice was hushed. "Oh my son, if only what you said was true… I would not blame myself as much as I do now!" confusion set in among the two twins, and Elrohir moved closer too.
Elrohir turned and bent over trying to look into his father's eyes, though he could not. "Of what do you speak ada? Surely you would have told someone if such a plot was perceived?"
Elrond gave a small flick at Elrohir. "Of course! It is not that that I could have stopped, dear son. I could've stopped Legolas and Aragorn, I had reason! And now both could be lying dead somewhere, or being taken somewhere because I did not!" Elrond's voice almost seemed frantic, angry with himself.
Elladan gripped his fathers hand tighter. "Father… on what grounds could you have stopped the two? If you have none I will not let you torture yourself over something you could not change."
With a deep sigh, Elrond raised his head towards the two. They were so eager to hear what tortured their father so. He had to tell them, or they would think he worried over nothing. In this circumstance it was obvious he was not betraying Legolas at all… no, not if it was for his own good in a time such as this. One of those times he had tried to explain to all his sons when it was okay to tell a secret… was when another would get hurt if they did not. "Legolas… I could have stopped him… almost did… the night before…" He took a deep breath to rearrange his thoughts. "I… guessed at something, and my fears were proved true. Legolas even confessed to it."
Now Elladan and Elrohir were confused. What secret had Legolas been hiding from them? One that had almost caused Elrond to stop Legolas's return home? "Father… what is this you speak of? We do not understand. We cannot guess."
A sympathetic stare from Elrond softened the conversation a bit. "I'm glad you can't guess my son. King Thranduil is not an easy person to get along with. He can be stubborn, hot headed, you get the idea." Still, Elrond was fairly happy at their ignorance. "Well, Thranduil also has a few other faults. One of which is he's not the best father." This caused yet more confusion between the twins. Elrond knew he had to explain more for them to comprehend. "Did you ever look fairly closely at Legolas while you were tackling each other and other types of mischief? Did you ever wonder at scars that you thought you didn't cause?" The words seemed to deeply hurt Elrond, each time a new one was laid down. And even more so when Elladan did finally put two and two together.
"Oh father! You can't mean…" Elladan was now very taken aback, somewhat horrified. Very rarely did such a thing happen in elven families! Elrohir still looked frantically between the two, and was still frowning, but was too embarrassed to ask his father and Elladan what they meant. Elrond saw his other sons confusion and put a soft hand on Elrohir's shoulder. "my son. Tis Thranduil that caused Legolas's scars and bruises." With this new understanding Elrohir grew more silent, and Elrond fell back down into his chair.
"I confronted Legolas about it the night before they left. I had seen his wounds, but really not close enough to guess they weren't caused by your rough housing. I knew! I could have stopped him… I could have done it! And Aragorn would certainly be in none of the danger he is now if I had stopped Legolas! They would both be safe here! Yet I sent Legolas home to a cruel father and did not lift a finger to stop them!" Elrond's accusations against himself built up and both the sons now kneeling close to him had ever seen him in such a manner. Elrond's usually energetic and wise eyes had turned very tired, the stress of the day finally seeping into the sons, with the realization that both Legolas and Aragorn were indeed in serious danger.
Slowly the two sons stood, and pulled their father up with them, to his surprise. "Father, you need sleep if you are to do anything to help. Elrohir and I will do what we can for now, send out scouts and spies to check what has become of Mirkwood, Legolas, and Estel." Elladan spoke soothingly, and finally his father consented.
"Fine my sons. I can not help when I am so weary from these troubles. I do not know what I will do if something should become of either of them! They are both sons to me…" Elrond's voice was sad and low, and his sons were quick to see him to his room.
All three knew that Elrond loved Legolas as he did a son, and that Estel was one of his pride and joys, and as loved to him as any of his other elven sons were. Elrohir finally again found his tongue. "Don't worry ada. Everyone will be safe, Everything will be fine." It didn't take long before Elladan and Elrohir's calming and mellifluous voices sent him to wander the pats of elven dreams… and nightmares.
Author: Spark. Just... Spark.
Email: LimeVegetaSpark@aol.com
Rating: PG13, for mentions of torture (no Cassia thing going on here, I could never pull that off ~_^) and some physical abuse.
Feedback: Very welcome! The bad and the good please! One request, if your telling me it sucks, please... tell me why!
Disclaimer: No, for those people who have the strange idea that I am J.R.R.Tolkein and own Lord of the Rings or anything related, I don't. Yup. Sad, but true
Summary: When Aragorn pesters Legolas into letting him travel with him as he goes home he finds himself seeing a part of Legolas's life Legolas doesn't normally show... his relationship with his father. When time is running out, will Legolas risk himself for a man who never truly cared for him?
Notes: Like Cassia and Sio, I hold the fact that Aragorn was raised by Elrond among Elladan and Elrohir to be true to these stories even if some do not agree.
Fairly Important only to title of story: 'A risk of yesterday' is a phrase I thought would seem like a very elven phrase, meaning it was of the past, it was something that can not be changed, etc... as 'yesterday' to the elves is more or less a greater idea of time. If an elf wanted to literally say it was a risk of the day before, it would make more sense to state a more direct time reference, such as 'yesterday morning' or 'yesterday evening' or such. Thanks for understanding my odd mind ^_^
Elven references
nin mellon: "my friend"
Estel: Aragorn's elven name, meaning in elven, Hope.
Namarie: Farewell
Mae Govannen: Well met
REVIEWERS
rabbit of iron: Yeah, I'm working on cutting down the number of typos! Glad you enjoy it!
BlackRose1356: No, no kicking of Thrandy's butt now! I'm so happy you like it!!!! ^_^
SpookyChild: I'm trying, I'm trying to get these out when I can! sorry it takes so long!
PokethePenguin: Cliffies? Have you EVER read Cassia and Sio's mellon chronicles? and you call THESE cliffhangers?!?!?! Augh! (To Cassia and Sio... really, I love your cliffies! Soemtimes they're just...evil)
Lessian Helyanwe: I'm writing... just very slowly! You can choose to save as when you save your story and then select .doc or.txt.... but you'll lose your formatting. I'd love to read your stories!
-passes out Dr.Pepper to all reviewers- yay!
Think that's it! Enjoy!
Aragorn didn't have the heart to argue with his friend right now, because he knew that Legolas's plan, no matter how risky, had to be better than his lack of one. "Yes Legolas. I'll do it. Only, only..." He shook his head. They had no time for Aragorn to start on his list of worries for his friend. "Namarie for a short time nin mellon."
Legolas's eyes flicked to him for only a second. "Namarie nin mellon." They could speak no longer, the other men were setting suspicious though they could hear no words go between the two nor see their lips moving very much.
"NOW ARAGORN!" Legolas yelled, and darted forward, but that was the last Aragorn now saw of him, because he took his gripped sword and swung it at the stone Legolas told him. He sure hoped he knew the right one, in that split second he could think, for this would not be good on his sword otherwise. But to his surprise, instead of the sword hitting stone, it hit a brittle wood made to look like stone, and it split, freeing sand and other forms of dirt in the air in a thick cloud.
Aragorn then took off running, he'd promised Legolas he would, though he loathed to leave his friend there. But he had to trust Legolas. The thick cloud of sand and other sorts didn't settle, obviously other things were added to it, and it made it fairly easy escape for Aragorn... if anything else, the ranger thought, the Mirkwood elves were good at defending themselves without any use of rings or such as his father had.
After this however, he had no more time to think. As soon as he was out of the throne room he ran as fast as his legs would take him, heading for the secret exit. Obviously these rebels did not know of it, for none followed when they searched for Aragorn. Aragorn then pulled his cloak fast as he could up over his head and sprinted down, out of the lands of Mirkwood. He only hoped he could make it to Elrond in time to save Legolas and his father.
"Legolas... you'd better live! "
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Legolas could barely see Aragorn run and smiled slightly to himself. Good. Aragorn was out... He sprang forward, knowing the other elves couldn't see very well in the Mirkwood mists, the stuff that looked like sand, so it was easy to take out the elf holding onto his father.
Quickly Legolas took his father, knowing he could not move on his own because of the leg wound, and disappeared. Suddenly he reappeared, and the other elves, who had now gotten over their sudden shock, were upon him.
Moving as quickly as possible Legolas took both his long knives and began to try and get through as many of these elves as possible... only one problem, Legolas didn't want to kill them. How was he to judge if they did what they did out of spite or need? He could not make that decision, and it was his downfall, though everything went just as the prince suspected.
From out of no where these elves kept coming, and while Legolas could best them all in one on one combat, a gainst so many he did little except injure a few arms and stab a few stomachs. Then, as the Mirkwood mists began to dissipate, for they never settled, LEgolas could see with more clarity the knives that finally jerked his away. Without any warning, a kick against the back of Legolas's knees made him lose his balance, though he did not crumble, but when about three fists hit him against the head or back he fell forward onto his knees.
"Back away! Back away from him! What are you, orcs that you think twenty need to ensnare a down elf?" Kesuil pushed other elves out of the way angrily. He then grabbed LEgolas by his long light hair, and pulled his head up to look at him. "Where's the king? It will go easier for him and you if you tell us! Where's the king?!?!" Legolas simply gave Kesuil a look that spoke of a hatred few elves grew to know. With a small growl, LEgolas spit in Kesuil's face. The elf swore and kicked LEgolas, letting go of his hair in time so Legolas fell and lay sprawled on the floor of the room. Kesuil then commenced in kicking the elf in anger. He had to find the king, and soon if he didn't want his master's vengeance upon him. "You stupid elf! You idiotic excuse for a firstborn! You deserve no more than torture till the end of your days, which will end very painfully if I have my way!" Kesuil didn't stop his kicking until he heard a crack from one of the prince's lower ribs and knew the prince wasn't going anywhere.
Legolas refused to give way and let Kesuil know how much this hurt him. He refused to cry out in pain. He slowly tried to readjust his staggered breathing, but it would not, and the pain from the broken rib surged through his body like white fire.
Kesuil gave a sneer at the wounded prince before turning towards the other elves. "What are you standing here for!? Get out there and fine that king!" Slowly his head turned towards the prince again. "And get this one in chains. He's coming with us. If the king insists on hiding the prince will pay until the king stops this cowardly act. And if not, we will not only find and kill the king, this one shall know tortures beyond what was planned for him and the elflings of Imladris."
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Thranduil could hear the voices perfectly. Now he could not help but bite hard on his lower lip as he heard Kesuil beating Legolas. Sure, it was not as much as a truly loving father went through, but to hear anyone tortured as so angered people. A cowardly act? Is that what he had just been accused of doing?! A cowardly act was conniving with men and evil lords behind a kings back, THAT was a cowardly act! From his dark place he couldn't see anything, but in the darkness he swore he'd get revenge over anyone who called King Thranduil a coward... oh, and maybe for treating one of his subjects in such a manner. Son or no, Thranduil at least showed no favoritism.
Thranduil tried to move a bit and shift his weight, but the sharp pain in his calf told him that wasn't an option. So here he would have to stay until someone found him. Dang... he hated to rely on other people.
Now that the king was alone and out of immediate danger, he also had time to worry himself over other business. How had LEgolas snuck that filthy ranger friend of his into Mirkwood? And without telling him?!!? Surely that human would run back to Lord Elrond and say of Thranduil's inhospitality... and since Lord Elrond was about one of the only people that could save his kingdom, he really did not feel like getting on their bad side.
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Lord Elrond stood in one of the courtyards of Rivendell, his face stern and his mouth turned in a malice-full frown. Elladan and Elrohir both stood with many of their warriors, and in front of them were several bound elves.
"Father, these elves are accused of treason and trying to kill you and take me and Elrohir prisoner. Also, they have told of threats to Estel and to Mirkwood's royal family." Elladan talked swiftly, knowing he had to tell Elrond nothing, he had already figured it out, but it was always good to hear everyone's side of the story.
"Is that so? You elves acknowledge these things? Anyone who believes themselves wrongfully accused speak now or forever live with he consequences!" None of the adversary elves stood or spoke out, all knew there was too many facts against them, and none could bring themselves to lie in front of Lord Elrond. "Fine then. And what of Mirkwood? When was that attempted?" While Elrond worried not for Imladris, he knew Mirkwood had not the defenses he himself had, and worried for the stubborn king and Legolas. "Not to mention my other son. What is this that I hear?" He inwardly started condemning himself for letting LEgolas go... he hadn't wanted to in the first place, with Legolas revealing Thranduil's less than perfect side, and then allowing Aragorn to go with him!
Elrohir kicked the nearest elf a little, who could not help but tell Lord Elrond. "My Lord... it was to be executed no more than an hour ago. Your son was reported seen sneaking into Mirkwood."
Elrond's mind rattled with accusations against himself that he couldn't help. 'Your fault... your fault... you let Legolas go back to be hurt by Thranduil... you could've stopped them both... Estel wouldn't have gone if Legolas had not... your fault... now they're both going to die... and it's all your fault!' Elrond put a hand to his forehead, trying to block out these horrible words. Elladan looked at him worriedly. "Father?" Elrond lowered his hand and looked up. Twenty elves knelt before them. "Take them to the jail below... I have not time to deal with a trial now. No harm is to come to them before they receive one, understood?"
All elves around that guarded the twenty bound ones nodded warily, and so Lord Elrond turned quickly and started marching off to the Hall of Fire. Maybe that could calm his worried and hurried spirit. He had to be thinking logically if any good was to come of this knowledge at all. Worried for their father, Elladan and Elrohir quickly followed.
Once they had reached the Hall of Fire, Elrond quickly swooshed forward his robes and slumped into one of the large chairs set forth for just an occasion. The twins slowly went over towards him, and Elrohir spoke. "Father, what is it that eats at you so? I'm sure Aragorn is fine. I'm sure that the Mirkwood elves could easily fight off twenty or so elves trying to get in."
Elrond looked at his son, knowing that the true hope that was in Elrohir's voice wavered not. The younger twin had always been so optimistic, and often had that helped even out his brothers all- too negative outlook when things looked bad. "I'm sorry my son. This time, you are much too optimistic. There are many variables I fear you overlook." Both of his sons quickly pulled chairs over towards their father, ready to listen to whatever he had to say. "Firstly, Imladris is wanted by no men. Our lands do not extend very far, but the men around Mirkwood have already proven themselves very greedy, and any plot against the king would probably have much of their support." Elrohir opened his mouth to question that, but Elladan quickly shushed him, knowing his father was not done. "Secondly… if you did not notice, none of the attacking elves were from Imladris. They were all from Mirkwood. Thranduil made himself quite a few enemies, and I fear that the attempt against Mirkwood came form inside." Both Elladan and Elrohir found themselves speechless. Elves wanting to mutiny against their own king? Such a thing sounded crazy!
Elrond had already laid his forehead upon his open hand, his elbow leaning against one of the large arm cushions on the chair. "I never should have let them go." Elladan now found he had to step in.
"But father, Legolas got summons from Thranduil himself. Aragorn always accompanies him. You had no way of knowing this was to happen. You can't blame yourself for not stopping the two! You had no reason to Ada." Elladan's voice was very sincere, and he now moved closer to his father, clasping his hands around Elrond's free one. "We're sure Aragorn will be fine. We can only hope now, what we could have done is now passed. All we can do now is send forward scouts to see how Mirkwood faired."
Elrond seemed very depressed and his voice was hushed. "Oh my son, if only what you said was true… I would not blame myself as much as I do now!" confusion set in among the two twins, and Elrohir moved closer too.
Elrohir turned and bent over trying to look into his father's eyes, though he could not. "Of what do you speak ada? Surely you would have told someone if such a plot was perceived?"
Elrond gave a small flick at Elrohir. "Of course! It is not that that I could have stopped, dear son. I could've stopped Legolas and Aragorn, I had reason! And now both could be lying dead somewhere, or being taken somewhere because I did not!" Elrond's voice almost seemed frantic, angry with himself.
Elladan gripped his fathers hand tighter. "Father… on what grounds could you have stopped the two? If you have none I will not let you torture yourself over something you could not change."
With a deep sigh, Elrond raised his head towards the two. They were so eager to hear what tortured their father so. He had to tell them, or they would think he worried over nothing. In this circumstance it was obvious he was not betraying Legolas at all… no, not if it was for his own good in a time such as this. One of those times he had tried to explain to all his sons when it was okay to tell a secret… was when another would get hurt if they did not. "Legolas… I could have stopped him… almost did… the night before…" He took a deep breath to rearrange his thoughts. "I… guessed at something, and my fears were proved true. Legolas even confessed to it."
Now Elladan and Elrohir were confused. What secret had Legolas been hiding from them? One that had almost caused Elrond to stop Legolas's return home? "Father… what is this you speak of? We do not understand. We cannot guess."
A sympathetic stare from Elrond softened the conversation a bit. "I'm glad you can't guess my son. King Thranduil is not an easy person to get along with. He can be stubborn, hot headed, you get the idea." Still, Elrond was fairly happy at their ignorance. "Well, Thranduil also has a few other faults. One of which is he's not the best father." This caused yet more confusion between the twins. Elrond knew he had to explain more for them to comprehend. "Did you ever look fairly closely at Legolas while you were tackling each other and other types of mischief? Did you ever wonder at scars that you thought you didn't cause?" The words seemed to deeply hurt Elrond, each time a new one was laid down. And even more so when Elladan did finally put two and two together.
"Oh father! You can't mean…" Elladan was now very taken aback, somewhat horrified. Very rarely did such a thing happen in elven families! Elrohir still looked frantically between the two, and was still frowning, but was too embarrassed to ask his father and Elladan what they meant. Elrond saw his other sons confusion and put a soft hand on Elrohir's shoulder. "my son. Tis Thranduil that caused Legolas's scars and bruises." With this new understanding Elrohir grew more silent, and Elrond fell back down into his chair.
"I confronted Legolas about it the night before they left. I had seen his wounds, but really not close enough to guess they weren't caused by your rough housing. I knew! I could have stopped him… I could have done it! And Aragorn would certainly be in none of the danger he is now if I had stopped Legolas! They would both be safe here! Yet I sent Legolas home to a cruel father and did not lift a finger to stop them!" Elrond's accusations against himself built up and both the sons now kneeling close to him had ever seen him in such a manner. Elrond's usually energetic and wise eyes had turned very tired, the stress of the day finally seeping into the sons, with the realization that both Legolas and Aragorn were indeed in serious danger.
Slowly the two sons stood, and pulled their father up with them, to his surprise. "Father, you need sleep if you are to do anything to help. Elrohir and I will do what we can for now, send out scouts and spies to check what has become of Mirkwood, Legolas, and Estel." Elladan spoke soothingly, and finally his father consented.
"Fine my sons. I can not help when I am so weary from these troubles. I do not know what I will do if something should become of either of them! They are both sons to me…" Elrond's voice was sad and low, and his sons were quick to see him to his room.
All three knew that Elrond loved Legolas as he did a son, and that Estel was one of his pride and joys, and as loved to him as any of his other elven sons were. Elrohir finally again found his tongue. "Don't worry ada. Everyone will be safe, Everything will be fine." It didn't take long before Elladan and Elrohir's calming and mellifluous voices sent him to wander the pats of elven dreams… and nightmares.