Sorry that it took me that long but next Tuesday I will write my first exam and I'm lost in work. I have just finished maths and have to start German and English. You see I have still a lot to do.

I promise I will rewrite the first chapters because I'm not satisfied with them. Probably they will get longer and may be they will have a slightly different content.

I thank you for reviewing. I'm really glad to have people like you with – I hope – a lot of patience.

I hope you will enjoy this chapter. The next post will take some time. I#M finished with my exams Monday in a week and after that I hope I can write further with no end ;)

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Part 4

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Legolas finally reached Mirkwood. The wood lay in darkness, only frail glimpses shone through the high trees. The blond archer inhaled deeply, enjoying the smell of fresh air. He barely remembered when he last was here to just enjoy the whispering of the trees. It was a soothing feeling he had missed for a long time. But the trees weren't just soothing; they tried to say something else. Legolas sensed the danger immediately.

A loud scream ripped him out of his thoughts, making him fully alert. Before Legolas could wonder if he heard right another scream followed, this time Legolas got it. They were words in the black speech screamed by a voice he knew all too well. The blond elf hesitated, slowing his horse and finally turning it around. The archer soon recognized that stopping was a great fault.

Six uruk-hais were running towards him with their weapons raised up high and their teeth bared. They were fast coming closer. Legolas had no time to loose, took his bow and notched an arrow aiming it at the nearest beast. A sudden, stabbing pain in his right shoulder distracted the blond elf. The arrow never reached its true aim, flying past the attackers. Legolas suppressed an outcry when agony spread out, across his back and right arm. He nearly lost his bow in surprise, catching it by the thin string, which cut in his palm, leaving it bloody and slippery. With his left hand, he could feel the arrow, which had struck him deeply in his right shoulder blade. The uruks came nearer.

Legolas knew that his bow was useless with his injured shoulder. The blond elf dismounted his horse, leaving his useless bow upon it and sent Arod away, out of harm. With his elven daggers in his hands, he stood there and waited for his attackers to come. His muscles were flexed ready to fight and kill. Through his total concentration Legolas could feel the growing agony in his back; his blood flowing out of the deep wound. The archers' right arm was nearly useless but he would not give in that easy.

The uruk-hais slowed down their pace just before they reached the wounded prey and built a circle around him. Legolas senses were highly alert without letting anything slip past him. He could feel his grip weakening on his right dagger through the pain running down his arm. The blond elf tried to shut out the pain but it seemed to be impossible. Legolas searched a way out but he was not able to flee anywhere. The Uruk-hais encircled him. He had no other chance but to fight.

The uruk standing in front of the elf gave a cry of rage, showing his teeth. The beast leapt at Legolas his dirty sword drawn. The archer swung his daggers up to block the blow of the attackers' sword. Pressing against the enemies' blade the elf kicked his opponents' feet away and slit his throat with his left dagger. Legolas spun around to defend himself against the other five uruk-hais. They attacked all at the same time giving Legolas no chance to breathe. His movements tug painfully at his shoulder, moving the arrow along his shoulder blade. Legolas gritted his teeth letting only hisses of pain through. He fought without mercy with his left dagger trying to compensate his hurt right one. He fought against each one, spinning around to avoid the next blow of another one behind.

The blond archer could chop off the head of an uruk-hai with his left dagger, defending with his right. One of his attackers used his chance and smashed his sword at the elf. Legolas blocked this blow with his right dagger. His injured shoulder was too weak to stand against the whole strength and his arm gave away. The orc blade sliced through his right side splitting the elfs' blood. Legolas loosed his grip on his right dagger and it flew out of his reach. The remaining uruk-hai felt that they were able to overpower the elf and reinforced their attacks.

Legolas gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the pain shooting through his arm and side. His body grew weaker with each passing second, slowing down his movements. One of the uruk-hai ripped at the arrow in the archers shoulder causing him to stumble on all fours. Legolas hissed in pain, trying to clear his blurred vision but it was too late. A large fist smashed in his back caused his body to fell in the dirt. Legolas noticed that his left weapon wasn't in his hand anymore but through the circle of uruk-hais he wasn't able to spot it. The uruk-hais hit him wherever they could reach his beaten flesh. They didn't pay attention to his bloody wounds. They would have beaten him to death If not someone else would have ordered them to stop.

"That's enough!" The uruk-hais went away from him, giving Legolas' sight free. "I thought you are a better fighter but I think you are simply too frail… and stupid." The newcomer, a black haired, tall elf, stood bent over Legolas with his arms crossed and an evil smirk on his lips. Legolas went on all fours intending to stand up. "Do you not recognise me? Now I'm disappointed." The elf dressed in black made a step in Legolas direction and kicked him in the ribs, sending the blond elf flat on his back. The arrow shaft connected hard with the earth causing Legolas to groan through his teeth. He would never cry out.

"Are you now willing to look at me princeling? Or should I at first tell you an interesting tale about your fathers' health?" Legolas was alert. He looked up. Through the darkness, he could see the bright smirk on the other ones face. His evilness reflected in his green eyes. Legolas again tried to stand up; he did not want to face his enemy out of this position. "What did you do to him?" Legolas spoke in a low and threatening voice. He rolled on his left side, using his good arm to stand up. "I did nothing to your filthy father. It would make me sick touching him." Legolas glanced at this evil creature. Gwann-Agar smirked when he saw the pain stricken face that looked at him.

"Why so angry today? The last time we met, you were actually vulnerable." Legolas suppressed his anger and stood up on shaking legs. He was glad to be out of the humiliating position, even if standing caused him much more pain, and now he was able to face this cruel and evil person standing in front of him.

"Finally you made it up to me. I'm really surprised that you came alone; surprised and disappointed." Legolas glared at him. "You, Gwann-Agar, have no power over me or over my friends, even if you would like to. You have nothing more than empty threats." The blond elfs proud never left him and this gave him the strength he needed to suppress his fear. Gwann-Agar paced to Legolas until he stood in front of him, with his black bow still in his hands. With this bow he shot Legolas in the back. He tried to conceal his anger about the blond elf but failed. "You think it's false what I told you? Then why do you not ride to your father? I release you. You can go." Legolas did not believe what he just heard. The dark haired elf shifted slightly to whisper in Legolas ear. His hot breath on Legolas skin nearly made the blond archer sick.

"Don't forget to take something against the venom of a deadly spider with you." – "What have you done?" Gwann-Agar leaned back again, facing Legolas. "Maybe your father was bitten of one." The evil elf smirked with a mock innocent expression on his face. "Which venom?" Legolas tried to hide his growing fear. He was not sure if the other elf played with him or told him the truth. "A deadly venom. Your father must be dead… right now." With an evil smirk, Gwann-Agar turned around and send the remaining uruk-hais away. The dark haired elf looked at Legolas one last time. "You will meet me again. Be prepared because I will not let you go another time. We have an unfinished business." Walking past the blond elf Gwann-Agar enjoyed the look full of hate on the other ones face.

Legolas still couldn't believe that he was allowed to leave. There had to be something wrong with it. The blond elf felt the presence of the other elf leaving. The tension left his battered body and Legolas slipped to his knees. He panted hard and for the first time since he received the wound in his shoulder he let sounds of agony past his lips. Panting and moaning, he tried to grip the arrow with his left hand. The movement caused more pain. Legolas soon had to realise that he alone couldn't remove the arrow from his shoulder. With a shudder he fought the panic down, welling up with the imagines of possible poison on the arrowhead.

Legolas stood up and through his dizziness he called Arod and mounted it with some difficulties. The thought on his father came in his mind and the blond elf knew that he shouldn't loose more time. With each step his horse did, his wounds pounded more and he feared that he might bleed to death until he arrived at home.

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Within the next day, Legolas arrived at his home. His tunic stained with dark red blood and the arrow still piercing his right shoulder. The blond elf crossed the bridge leading over the river. The wounded elf dozed off many times on their journey but he was still alive, even if he wouldn't make it that far on his own. The guard at the gate recognized him at once with a worried look. "My Lord you are wounded, you should see the healers." Legolas could barely hear him. "My father…" Was all he managed to say before the other elf helped him to dismount Arod. Legolas shook off the hand of the other elf and stumbled through the tunnel. The other elf was slightly irritated by behaviour of the prince but followed immediately.

"My prince! Your father! He was on a journey through the woods and then suddenly out of nowhere spiders attacked his party. They were surprised and your father was bitten by one of them. It was… I don't know how long he will…" The other elf pulled Legolas with him while he spoke. He didn't even know if the prince was able to hear him. Legolas tried to focus on what the elf said but he was hardly able to stand let alone walk along with him. The only words he could grasp were 'father' and 'spider'. Legolas remembered Gwann-Agars words and his fear was immense. Fear for his fathers' life.

They arrived in his fathers' chamber. Legolas slowly rounded the doorframe and for one brief moment he faltered by the sight his father gave him. Thranduil lay in his bed, his head lay directed to the door but his eyes were only half open and unseeing. Legolas fell on his knees just before the bed, grabbing his fathers' hand. "Is that you Legolas?" – "Ada!" The blond elf reached out a trembling hand and touched his fathers face. Legolas had heard that some poisons could take away the eyesight. He tried to sound normal but the grieve of the unspoken truth sounded clearly out of it. "I'm here my father. I'm with you now." Thranduil tried to reach out a hand to feel his sons face but he couldn't see him. "I want to feel your face." Legolas grasped his fathers searching hand and allowed him to cup his face. The touch was light and the first time since he sat there Legolas knew that his father was fading. "I will ever love you my son." Thranduils strength was spent and his hand slid down again. Legolas knew that he would speak the last words with his father. There were so many thinks he wanted to say but nothing but a small sob escaped his lips. His whole world was crushing down and there was nothing he could do to stop it. There was just one thing he had to say. "I will love you too, ada. Forever I promise."

The hand of Thranduil grew weaker until his eyes lost their shine and went empty. "Ada? Ada! No…" Legolas desperately screamed, clutching his fathers' lifeless body to his own. Tears streamed down his face. "Leave me alone!" Legolas barely saw one of the other elves standing around but he felt that they were there, looking at him. "My prince, you are wounded." The confused hesitation in the other elfs' voice made Legolas angrier. "Go! I don't need any help." Legolas heard the door falling in its lock but it doesn't matters. Nothing mattered anymore. Suddenly he was alone. His whole family was gone and he was alone. His mother is gone when he was young and his father. Legolas cried harder until his tears were spent, leaving him in wrenching sobs.

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Aragorn rode through exhaustion. The human was tired and hungry but he knew he had to press on. It was getting dark when he arrived at the gate of Thraunduils' realm. The guard at the gate knew him. "King Aragorn, it's an honour to greet you." – Aragorn dismounted Brego. He had not time to speak with anyone. "Has Legolas arrived?" The elfs' features darkened. "He arrived this midday. King Thranduil died shortly after and the prince sent us away. Later he locked the door from the inside." The elf looked away, guilt shown in his eyes. "He was wounded. I could get glimpses of the wound but we could not take care of it. I am worried about the prince; he did not come out for hours. Every attempt to speak with him failed. He seemed to pass out every moment and his tunic was stained with blood. I really hope you can speak with him."

Aragorns' heart grew heavy from the ill news. Legolas was far too young to loose his father, let alone to rule over the realm. The human ran past the elf through the tunnels, earning strange looks of the elves he passed. The king arrived at the heavy door of Thranduils' chamber. "Legolas? If you can hear me please open the door." Aragorn waited. He started searching another way to remove the door. He could see the key in its hole. If I could turn it… Aragorn bent over to look at the gap between the door and the floor. It could be enough.

Aragorn hectically searched something small. His hands came across the brooch of his cape. He loosened it, throwing the clothing on the floor, and bent it until the metal part was nearly straight. He shoved the end carefully in the keyhole. The man could feel sweat running over his forehead. If he made a fault, Legolas could die in this chamber if he wasn't already. The man shoved this thought away and tried to concentrate at the task before him. The metal collided with the key. Aragorn tried to turn the key until its big end showed down. Slowly, he pressed the metal against the key. With a final thud, the key landed on the stone floor.

Aragorn was satisfied but the difficult task was to get the key. "Legolas! Please open the door." Aragorn pressed his ear against the door but he could not hear the faintest sound. The king drew his small knife out of his boot. He lay on the floor and tried to look through the gap, seeing nothing than darkness. He slowly shoved his knife under the door until the hilt connected with the stone. Aragorn looked up, searching the keyhole. He traced the way down and where he supposed the key to be fallen, he brought his knife there. The human held his breath until he felt the blade collide with something hard. He sighed heavily. Aragorn stretched his fingers, trying to stop them from trembling. His hand firmly about the hilt, Aragorn lifted the blade over the key and pressed down hard. He pulled at the knife. A soft rustling came through the door, telling Aragorn, that his plan functioned. With a last pull, the key came into his sight.

Aragorn quickly came to his feet and unlocked the door. He pressed it open. The room was dimly lighted with two candles, nearly burned down. On the bed lay the lifeless body of Thranduil, one hand hanging over the edge. Aragorn spotted Legolas, lying in front of the bed. The arrow in his back was clearly visible. The human rushed to the blond elf, kneeling down beside him. "Legolas!" There was no response, no sign of life. Aragorn searched on the elfs neck, sighed in relieve when he found the faint pulse. Aragorn grimly looked at the arrow and the blood his friend had lost too much. He knew he had to remove it. The human moved Legolas arm slightly. The arrow moved with it. Luckily, the arrow had struck his shoulder blade. Otherwise, it would have caused far more damage. Aragorn only hoped that Legolas was unconscious enough to remove the arrow without causing his friend further pain.

Before Aragorn could pull out the black arrow he had to find something to bind the wound, otherwise the elf would probably bleed to death. The man stood up looking frantically in the room. Finally he found some clean bindings lying in a small drawer near the bed. He went down to Legolas again and started to rip the bloody tunic down with his dagger. After Legolas lay there with his back bare Aragorn laid his left hand on the elfs shoulder and with his right hand he grabbed the arrow. The knuckles of his right hand were white and he shook slightly but he had no other chance. With a sudden tug, the arrow came free. Blood spurted through is hand and Aragorn grabbed the bandages to take care of the bloody wound.

The bandages were right away full of red crimson. Aragorn looked over the elf and found the large gash in his side. With another bandage he bound the wound to stop the bleeding. Large bruises in black were spread over his body giving away the fight he had. Aragorn grabbed the arrow and smelled at its tip. There was no poison on it. The man sighed. Why had he let him pass? It was his fault that he had received these wounds. Aragorn glanced up at the dead body of Thranduil what ever he said to Legolas the man was sure it was important to be said one last time. If Aragorn had stopped his friend, he wouldn't have been able to say goodbye to his father. That would be far worse than these wounds.

Legolas shifted slightly, groaning in semiconscious. He couldn't remember why he was lying on the cold ground. His shoulder ached greatly. Another thing came to realisation. He was not alone in the room. The blond elf forced his eyes open. His blurred vision spotted someone beside him. Legolas backed away, still confused over the past events.

"Sh… Legolas it's me." Aragorn could see the unfocused look and the confusion in Legolas eyes, caused by the blood loss. "Estel? What happened?" The elf could hear a loud and heavy sigh. That was not a good sign. "Your father…" The king had to say no more. Realisation hit Legolas like a blade slicing through his heart. His father died. He was still lying in his bed above where Legolas passed out. His stomach rebelled and tried to empty itself on the floor but nothing came out. Aragorn laid a hand on Legolas to sooth him while the elf retched to empty his stomach.

Aragorn could see the distress on his friends face. He took one of the weak cold hands and squeezed it, showing to the elf that he was there for him. Legolas closed his eyes as grieve washed over him, trying not to let another tear fall, not in front of someone else. His mind was still dazed and he let it happen to be hauled up by Aragorn and carried along. Legolas turned his head one last time in the direction of his father. Looking at the dead stare of his eyes and the white skin, the only remains of a great elf, his own blood; his father. Sadness gripped Legolas heart deeply. He couldn't bear seeing his father like that. He wanted to remember his father like the honourable and proud man he was and not like this. Legolas energy was spent and he let it happen and passed out.

Aragorn carried Legolas in his arms. Just before he left the room he felt the body in his arms slacken. His friend was unconscious again, hanging limp in his arms. Aragorn preyed that Legolas grieve wont destroy him completely and press him over the edge of fighting for his life. "You will live my friend. You must live!"

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Now I finally have rewritten the chapters and I can start with the next one. I hope you can wait a little bit longer.

I also hope that you will review further because it's making me really happy and when I'm happy I'm able to write much more faster… ;)