"Risk of Yesterday"
Author: Spark. Just... Spark.
Email: LimeVegetaSpark@aol.com

Reviewers:
PokeThePenguin: Thranduil good as well? You don't say! Maybe I will... maybe I wont... -evil laugh-
Lessian Helyanwe: Yes, I tend to confuse many people, but you're going to have to wait for THAT answer ~_^
MoroTheWolfGod: Is this now enough? I'm so glad you like it! -throws random things in the air- YAY!

-gives all her reviewers Dr.Pepper, Coke, Diet Coke, and Barqs Rootbeer. For herself she mixes them all together at a fountain drink place- Ahhh... Mobilians ^_^ Review, and it will come!

Rating: PG13, for mentions of slight 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

Think that's it! Enjoy!
The scouts of Rivendell never really got farther than there own borders, for outside was a number of wargs that would make even the wisest elf stop guessing or counting. While a few elves could probably dodge these hoards, Elrond and his sons were sure they'd need more to get safely to Mirkwood, not to mention finding out what was going on there.

"Ada! Where could all of these foul creatures have come from?" Elladan was more than annoyed at the delay. It had probably been a week since he and a group had tried to get to Mirkwood.

Elrond looked up from the text he was studying, finding it was one of the only ways he could calm himself anytime he got overly worried. He was again the calm, thoughtful and patient Lord of Imladris all knew. "My son, no new devliry rules over the lands. Drought simply pushed them to these lands. As soon as another good rain emerges their onslaught will receed."

Elladan looked away, as annoyed as ever again. He could not sit and wait when he knew not where Legolas and Aragorn were, if they were well, if they were dead... he didn't even know if the largest elven kingdom left still stood! This waiting was getting to his already not-the-longest temper.

Suddenly, a sharp cry from Elrohir, who was watching with the sentries this past week, aroused both Elrond and Elladan from the inner study. Elrohir was pounding the steps in a very un-elflike manner, but it just seemed because of a chaotic rush. "Ada! Elladan! Estel is approaching!"

"What?!" Elladan didn't even have a second to tease his brother for pounding liek a heard of Oliphants, he was already pulling both Elrohir and Elrond down the stairs faster. Once they were flown down and stopped before the gates which were being opened as quickly as possible, Elrond turned to Elladan.

"Elladan! Next time you decide to bang down the stairs built millenia before you were born and tear down all the wall hangings, not to ripping apart all the handbars will you please leave me out of the fun!" The elder elf did seem a little ruffled, but not all too angry, for he knew of Elladan's urge to get down the stair as quickly as possible. "Oh look...." Elrond held up the sleeve Elladan ahd grabbed. "You even managed to tear one of my best tunics while you were at it."
Elladan had no time to look sheepishly at his father, for right then the gates swung wide enough for everyone to see Aragorn gripping his horse trying to stay upright. Slowly the horse trotted towards the three elves waiting for Aragorn. "Ada... Must... Mirkwood... Legolas..." Aragorn's stuttering and harsh speech was indecipherable even to Elrond who was quickly hastening to his youngest's side, which didn't seem to be quick enough. Aragorn slowly seemed to lose every ounce of strength he had clung to to get to Rivendell, and now in relief of his arrival he properly collapsed, causing Elrond th trouble of jerking forward in time to catch his son.

Elrond nodded one of the guards to Aragorn's horse, who looked even more tired then Aragorn. The quickly sweeping towards Aragorn's room Elrond motioned Elladan and Elrohir to follow, not that either of them would have stayed put if he asked them. Elrohir was looking worriedly at Aragorn. "Ada, ada... what's wrong with Estel?!" Elrond shushed Elrohir soothingly.

"Worry not Elrohir... Estel shall be fine. If we can get him to eat, drink, and rest, which it seems he hasn't done for a long time." Elrond, upon entering Aragorn's room, layed his son on the bed, and quickly shirked off Aragorn's muddy and dirty boots.

Elladan gave an exasperated look towards Elrohir. "Even when Estel collapses... no reason to dirty the house." Their father's constant need for a clean house had always been a joke between the three who unconciously did everything in their power to prevent such a thing from happenning. Elrond gave them both stern looks before turnign his attention back to Aragorn.

"Elladan, fetch me some water, Elrohir my medicines if you please, and make sure there is bread and fruit available when he does awaken.... for I'm sure he'll be voracious." Elrond set to the task of making sure his son had all the comforts of... well... home.
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Legolas's sides burned, his breat was raspy and his muscles sore. The metal bonds tight on his wrists caused only a small bit of bleeding compared to soem of his other wounds, though Legolas couldn't really see his hands behind his back.

At all times at least three guards were on every side of Legolas as they continued to move southeast, or so it seemed... If pressed to guess, Legolas would say they were past the sea of Rhun, above, and slightly east from the direction of the wind and his sense of smell. They had also passed a joint in two rivers that looked suspiciously like where the Carnen and Celduin met.

Legolas had little time to think of such things. He was so exhausted and in so much pain the only thing he could concentrate on was putting one foot infront of another, and half the time he couldn't even do that right. To keep himself sane, during rest periods Legolas thought of anythign except his pain and captors, such as Aragorn. Was he alive? Was he caught? And he always fretted over whether his father was found out or not. Surely, he hoped, not by the traitors, bu would Aragorn still remember his instructions? Just when all the what-if's started to plague him, he'd fall sound asleep, so physically strained as he was. The next thing he knew an angry kick awoke him, telling him to get up and keep moving.

Indeed he had learned or figured out a bit more about his captors. Always he wondered why he did not recognize many of the Mirkwood elves, but he had at last concluded they were older than him, and obviously exiled when he was young for some treason or another. The men that travelled with them were indeed renegades that wanted Mirkwood's land, even though they seemed to have enough where they were taking him from what he collected while eavesdropping.

So it was only greed that caused this much pain and sufferring. from the sounds of it, revenge also. Revenge under certain circumstances he could understand, but with greed causing harm he could not condone. It made him angry with even the thought of such greed of men... but quickly he had to check himself when he found his thoughts swaying in such a directiong. For 'twas not only men that held such greed, his father was also a greedy man... but it was for power in his own realm, and for jewels and riches.

Never did he let his head hang in shame, for never would he let these foul rebels consider they had broken his spirit or knocked down his pride, no matter how many blows it cost him.

Whenever they did come to their destination, Legolas had barely noticed. He was so extremely tired, and it was fairly dark. Not that darkness usually could much hamper an elf's vision, Legolas had not the energy even to gaze through it. Which would be all for the better, so he didn't see the hard and malevolent stares he was recieving.

A dark hand shoved him forward, the intent to push him over, though Legolas regained his footing, causing himself to be forcebly by many shoved to the ground. He only could lift his head, so many elves and men had pressed their boots into his back to keep him down. A man... was it a man? He couldn't tell... stood before them with a dark hood hiding his identity.

Kesuil, one of the elves Legolas could recognize, stepped forward to address this strange fellow. "Wizard, we have the little Mirkwood prince in our custody. What should we do with him?" Kesuil's voice was tight with spite, his words tinged with malice.

The figure spared Legolas no second look. "I have no need of him." The dark voice left Legolas in a whirl trying to place it with one of the wizards, and he found himself unnsuccessful. "Let the men have him." Legolas's eyes widened for only a second as Kesuil nodded in compliance and dragged a fallen Legolas roughly through the small town.

Hearing the clank of metal against metal, Legolas refocused his eyes and was dimly aware that he was in a barred jail of some sort. Kesuil gave him a hard yet mocking stare. "Sleep well young prince. For I am sure it is the last long sleep you will have. For as long as you last anyways."
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When Aragorn awoke it took a few seconds to clear his mind and remember what happenned. 'There was him... gallopping towards Rivendell... wargs... he was in Rivendell... suppossed to tell ada something.... Oh! '

Aragorn sat straight up in his bed and quickly spun his head around. There, sitting next to him, was Elrond, who was watching Aragorn, as most healers do, searching to see if he missed anything. Two other elves leaned against the large chair Lord Elrond sat in, but they were both sound asleep, Elrohir was on the ground, his head leaning against the armrest and Elladan was collapsed with most of his weight on the top of the chair and Lord Elrond.

Lord Elrond saw his son awakening and gently moved Elladan's arm off his head at moved it so it was laying against the chair. "Estel. Try to be quiet, your brothers had a long night. Hungry?" Lord Elrond held a peice of fruit out to Aragorn, but Aragorn pushed it away.

"Ada there is no time!" Aragorn spoke in a hushed urgency. "We must go to Mirkwood... as soon as possible! With all speed!"

Aragorn's mini monolouge was stopped by a pear getting shoved in his mouth, angrily Aragorn pulled it away but did not deny his stomach the bite of the fruit before he did. Elrond was watching him in a concerned yet amused way. "Me and the boys may go... but you are going no where until you've had enough to eat and drink. Even rangers need food and water. Obviously your father never told you that." He said in a way of chiding himself.

Aragorn shook his head. "Ada... I know your worried, I can see it in your eyes! Just let me tell you what happenned and you will understand why I can't let you keep me here another second! I'm leaving: With or without you! I just came to tell you because Legolastold me to do so!" Elrond had already sensed the urgency of the situation long ago, but he did not argue with his son, and the elf lord gracefully sat on the bed. "Fine then Estel. Tell me what you must."

A groggy voice could be heard from the direction of the armchair, and Elrohir and Elladan were watching Estel. "Yes Estel. Why don't you tell us? I want to know why you gave me and ada." Elrond glanced at him and raised an eyebrow. Elladan gave another of his trademark exasperated sighs. "Ada and I. Better ada?" Elrond gave a small smile, but Elladan was interrupted again by a poke from Elrohir. "Sorry! Can't please anyone today, can I? I want to know why you gave Ada, Elrohir, and I..." The 'I' was emphasized just for Elrond. "a heart attack by collapsing from exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition..." Elladan was counting off the reasons with his fingers.

Fairly amused, Aragorn almost forgot what he was suppossed to be telling them, but his face fell grave again when he remembered. "Ada... Mirkwood has been overthrown." He let that sink in before continuing. "Elves and men tried to kidnap the king early in the morning but King Thranduil gave a cry in his surprise and Legolas's ears don't miss a thing he raced away and I tried to follow him as quick as I could Legolas seemed to know a few of the elves and then he told me to hit a brick and said to run and tell you so I did and then all this dusty stuff that wouldn't settle flooded the area and I ran and he wouldn't tell me what he was going to do so we've gotta see if he's alright Ada please!"

The long run on sentance Elrond was able to decipher, but the twins were blinking, and they turned to each other. "Did you catch the part about the rusty stuff?"
Elladan looked at Elrohir. "Not rusty... dusty stuff on a wooden kettle."
Elrohir blinked back. "I though he said that 'wouldn't settle.'"
Elladan gave an long 'oh'. "That would make more sense Elrohir. Okay then... I think we've got you Estel."

Aragorn gave a long sigh. "Can we go help them Ada?"

Elrond seemed deep in thought, his mind calculating everything. "Did he tell you anything else Estel?"

Now it was Estel's turn to look deep in thought. "I thought there was something... oh! A riddle of some sort... 'The crown is behind his crest' or something like that...."

Elrond looked at his son quickly. "We set out. Now. Assemble Rivendell's warriors." He said quickly to Elladan, who nodded, yet surprised at the order, and ran off. "Organize provisions." He told Elrohir. Aragorn made to get up and help, but Elrond pushed him back on the bed. "You stay, eat, drink. I've still got questions for you."

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Thranduil still sat int he dark. He'd have to wait for someone to find him. Did any that knew of his secret hiding place still live? Oh well... he could wait... Except, he was growing worried about his leg wound... while Thranduil had put in someprovisions in the small hole in the wall, he hadn't added any medicine. 'Legolas told you to.' His mind haunted him with nagging voices. Oh well. What was done was done. He just hoped many of his men hadn't been hurt by those traitors.

Filthy varmints! If ever he came back to the fresh air and was still with the abillity to rule, he'd see how well he treated those exiled or punished for crime! He had always been too soft. Why? Why be soft? No reason.

Only slightly did Thranduil sigh when he thought of Legolas. Deserved what he got, in Thranduil's opinion. It still angered him that these enemies had anything as hostage to use against him. He really didn't care if Legolas came back, but those softy Noldor elves... and those in Lorien... how would they take it if Thranduil let his heir die? The relization that he didn't care hit Thranduil hard. What did it matter if they saw? What would they do... try to take over Mirkwood? Well someone had already beat them to it.
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The next morning Legolas was awakened by a hard kick. What was with these men and kicking anyways? Legolas quickly looked up at his adversary to see a man standing over him. "Time to get up, oh Prince."

Legolas hated it when the men mocked his title. He wouldn't even let elves use it, he had even succeeded in getting many to treat him as equal, except when Thranduil was in view. Now it was being used against him, and he just hated the title even more. Legolas slowly stood, his body would not allow the grace usually allotted him because of his injuries. "I have a name."

The man had backups. Definately no way for Legolas to escape. The man grimaced and punched Legolas hard in the jaw, causing a small trickle of blood to escape his lip. "You had a name. Didn't anyone ever tell you it's impolite for a hostage to talk back to his captors?"

Still he mocked. "Didn't you know it's impolite to take over other people's rightful lands?" Legolas could return an even gaze at the man, no matter how bad the elf's situation was.

Legolas's comment earned him two more punches. As usual, Legolas took them, though it was different from his father's punches, which were not quite as spitful, and Legolas knew full well that Thranduil never let it get so far that he'd truly hurt his son as bad that it would not heal in a week, tops. That was usually so no one really suspected anything, but it really mattered not.

Also, with his father's punches Legolas had a sense of control. He knew he could block Thranduil's punches, but now wiht his arms chained behind him, Legolas felt more helpless than ever. "C'mon elf... we're moving out." Pushed forward hard by three men, Legolas stumbled into the sunlight above him. Where were they going NOW?

Of course, not a single moment was given the prince before he was pushed forward, no food offerred him. On for another long walk... and guards constantly around him. Legolas started to walk, and his fears for the other's, never for himself, continued to plague him. He really didn't care about where he was being led... as long as he didn't meet anyone he knew while he was there, he was fine with it.

Legolas knew he could not feel sorry for himself. he'd been in worse instances... besides, if it wasn't he there it might be King Thranduil of Aragorn... and that thought gave him all the strength he needed for the journey.
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