Finally I have done it. My mind is full of ideas again and I have time to write them down. I have thought many times about the direction, this is heading to but to be honest, I want to give it a flow. I know what happens the next few chapters but not in detail. After that… no one knows. I appreciate ideas but by now I can't say anything about the content.

Thanks for your patience, because I know it was an unbearable long time and I really want to apologize.

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Part 7

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Elladan walked along the great platform at the top of Minas Tirith. The elf enjoyed the last sunbeams. The night was coming and they had still no sign of Estel and Legolas. He reached the end and looked down. The corpses of the enemies were rotting on the fields and no one could do anything against it. The people of Minas Tirith had many other things to deal with. Most of them had to mourn over their great losses. The lucky ones, who had not to mourn, helped to bury the dead bodies.

His mind wandered back to his little brother; or so he called him: "little brother". Elladan was deep in thought when he caught a movement far on his left, down on the plain. It was too dark to make it out properly but deep inside he knew what it was. As fast as possible, he ran past the high building of the throne room and into their chambers, where he knew he would find Elrohir. "Ro! Ro! They are back!" Elladan stormed into his brother's room. Elrohir looked up from where he sat, on the edge of his bed. "What?" – "Aragorn… they are back!" Elladan didn't even wait for his brother to come and stormed out of the chamber again, running through the streets of Minas Tirith.

Maybe if Elladan had had a better look on his brother he would have noticed the different look in his eyes. Or he would have noticed, that the twin was not alone in his room. Maybe he could have prevented many things from happening.

Elladan reached the third ring when Aragorn rode through it, shortly followed from Legolas, who was hanging slightly forward upon his horse; an unusual gesture for the proud prince. "Estel!" – "El I'm glad you are here in one piece." The horses stopped before the brown haired elf and Aragorn dismounted his to be able to speak in a more comfortable way with his brother.

"What happened? Gandalf was here and told us from Legolas and that you were heading after him. We were really worried." Aragorn swallowed. He didn't want to discuss this matter in front of Legolas. He was barelyresponding at all. It would do him no good to hear the situation again. "Gandalf send me after him because of Gwann-Agar. I wanted to wait until you arrived but I'm more than just glad that I followed Gandalfs wish." The king made a pause. Elladan had many questions but he could feel his brother's unease. "Maybe you should eat something at first before you tell me anything else. You seem to have barely eaten at all."

Aragorn noticed the empty and sick feeling in his stomach but he ignored it. "I think you are right. I could take a lot of rest right now." The man said these words with a side-glance to Legolas, who sat sluggish on his horse. They headed through the rings of Minas Tirith, past the ruins and bodies. Finally they reached the platform. Two large torches on either side of the building broke through the darkness. A thought shot through Aragorns mind. "But Elrohir is alright?" – "Yes we are both unharmed. Only our horses did not arrive in Minas Tirith. This bastard slaughtered them." Elladan tried to fight the pictures down, which came into his mind. Then another thought struck him. "Now that you ask, I don't know why he didn't came with me to greed you. He sat in his chamber and I told him but…" He trailed off, not knowing where his musings would lead him.

Aragorn helped Legolas to get off his horse. The king had to steady the blond elf to prevent him from falling. Elladan noticed the way his brother grabbed the other elf and knew that the prince must be injured somewhere. The next thing, was the way, Legolas was shaking and trembling. It was the same sight, Estel gave, when it was too cold for him. The night was warm and by the way, elves didn't feel the cold in the same way a human would do. Something horrible must have happened.

Legolas gaze was empty. He swayed slightly on his feet. Aragorn realised how fast the condition of his friend grew worse. "Legolas?" The man didn't expect an answer but he tried it anyway. "I will help you." With the help of Elladan, Aragorn half carried, half dragged the blond elf into his guest chamber. The dark haired elf lit a few candles to lighten the room. The king laid Legolas upon the bed. "El could you please bring me some of the sleeping herb I have in my room?" Elladan knew he would get all the answers he wanted, as soon as Legolas would sleep. The elf nodded and headed away.

Elladan came back with a little bag of herbs in his hands and a cup full of hot water. Estel mixed the herb into the water. He shoved a hand carefully under the shoulder of the still elf and held the cup on the slightly parted lips. Legolas had enough conscious to open his mouth and swallow whatever Aragorn gave him. He trusted his friend with his life and was too weak to resist anything. The king placed the empty cup on the small table beside the bed, grabbing Legolas hand with his other. He squeezed it but no response came; the man waited a little bit longer until his friend was asleep and evenly breathing.

"I have to check his wound first." Elladan wanted to ask but Aragorn started by himself, while he was turning the sleeping elf on his stomach. "I rode as fast as possible but I was not fast enough. When I arrived in Mirkwood I found one of Legolas weapons. No sign of himself, only the blood on the ground and the traces told me, that there had to be a fight with more than Orcs, probably Uruk-hais." Elladan looked at the shoulder wound, still bandaged. "He was shot; I think from Gwann-Agar because the arrow was too fine to be one of the Uruk-hais. How exactly it happened, I cannot say."

The man unwrapped the shoulder and hissed in sympathy. It was healing but slowly. Blood, not older than a few hours, was dried upon the fair skin. The room was filled with silent while Aragorn fetched a bowl full of fresh water. Aragorn sighed and cleaned the wound with a short piece of cloth. "I made it to the Woodland realm. The guard at the gate told me about king Thranduils condition… he told me that the king died…" With Elladans gasp the sentence ended. Elronds son had to sit down on a chair near the bed. That was the reason for Legolas condition. Now he understood.

After a short pause Elladan asked. "How? How did it happen?" – "That is the part I hate the most because Legolas blames himself for his fathers death. I'm convinced, that Gwann-Agar is responsible for it. Legolas dreamed of it. No not dreamed; now I'm sure that it was a vision placed in his mind from this foul creature." – "But why should Legolas blame himself?" Aragorn bound the wound with new bandages. "Gwann-Agar wants him. He ever wanted him. I was there, in Dol Guldur, I know what he is able to do. He killed Thranduil only with the purpose to torture Legolas. And that's it: he killed Thranduil because of Legolas. That is the reason behind his guilt. And the fact, that he wasn't there to prevent the deed."

Aragorn finished the bandaging and turned Legolas on his back again. "What do you think Gwann-Agar wants?" Elladan had thought about it many times since he had found the horses slaughtered, but this time he had some more facts. "I don't know. I have nothing more than speculations. One thing he wants is surely Legolas. In what way, dead or alive, I don't know but one thing is sure he wants to torture him at first. I think Gandalf has told you about the Balrog?" After Elladans short nod, he went further. "I think he wants more than just revenge on us. I think his plan is far more greater than we think and Legolas is only the trophy."

This speculation matched pretty well with Elladans and it feared him, that the control of the situation slipped so easily through their fingers. "You could be right but I think at the moment we are save. The biggest problem is Legolas. In my life I have seen too many elves die because of grief. Some of them were close to me and I never knew why it was impossible to rescue them." Aragorn looked at his elven brother, sitting on the chair nearby. He knew that Elladan wasn't convinced as he said, that they were save. And he had to admit, that he didn't believe it either.

After a long pause Aragorn covered his face with his hands and leaned on them. He sighed heavily. "This seems to be harder than fighting against Mordor." Elladan saw through the dim lightness of the room, that the shoulders of the other shook. Before he could hear the first sob escaping out of Estels mouth, the elf was at his brother's side. Elf and human embraced tightly in a brotherly embrace. "I don't know what to do. I have no idea where to start. He didn't respond anymore, how am I supposed to help him if he does not respond anymore? My heart fears that I will loose him." Elladan didn't know what to say but he knew his words were useless at that moment; everything his brother needed was someone else.

After a few moments the sobs lessened and finally they broke apart. Aragorn wiped the remaining tears away. "Thank you." – "We have to be strong for him now. I'm sure he will speak again. Beside the many elves, which died because of grief, there were some, which overcome it and lived through it with the help of family and friends. You, Estel, are his family now. He has neither brothers nor sisters but he has lived through grief once, when his mother died and I'm sure he will life through this one, too." The words were true and Aragorn was encouraged, that he could help Legolas through the grief. "Will you help me?" – "I always will my little brother."

Aragorn stayed in Legolas room, sleeping on the chair nearby. He resisted sleeping in his own room because he wanted to be near the blond elf.

Ooooo

The next morning Elrohir woke with a headache. He couldn't remember what happened last night. He didn't even know, that Aragorn and Legolas were back. Puzzled he threw the blanket away and sat up. His chamber was dimly lit through the closed curtains. "Already awake?" Elrohirs head turned to the voice. Gwann-Agar walked ever so slowly towards the bed. Something inside Elrohir paralysed him; he couldn't move nor did he want to. The last thing frightened the elf on the bed. Why would he not want to defend himself? At Elrohirs startled expression Gwann-Agar had to laugh. "You have no idea!" It was more a statement then a question. Gwann-Agar knelt in front of the twin, his hands on the other ones knees, like old friends. "I have forced you to drink the bitter blood many times now. You are showing the results. I think today you should drink twice of it because of our special guests."

Elrohir didn't know what the black haired elf meant. He wasn't able to speak anymore. It felt like his whole body were in control of somebody else. "You want to know who? This filthy human and the princeling arrived this night. Your brother told you but you were a little bit distracted." Anger built inside of Elrohir but before he could form another thought, Gwann-Agar shoved a bottle into his mouth and forced him to swallow it whole.

Ooooo

A soft knock at the door brought Aragorn out of his light slumber. Elladan peeked through the opened gap. "I didn't want to disturb you but I thought you might be hungry." Elladan entered the room, carrying a large plate full of food. "I fetched it from breakfast. It's enough for two, if you would like to wake Legolas, he could eat something." – "Thank you. But I don't know if I should wake him because of something he might not like at the moment. I think rest is doing him better than food." Elladan sat down on the bed, placing the plate on the table beside the bed.

Before anyone could say another word, Legolas shifted in the bed. Elladan looked at the prince, now with the back towards him, then he glanced at his human brother. Aragorn stared down at the blue eyes, fixed on him. "Legolas!" The king knelt before the bed, grabbing one of the pale hands, squeezing it. "Estel…" His voice was weak but steady. Elladan too came around the bed to look at the woken elf. "Where are we?" – "We are in Minas Tirith and save for now. You should rest mellon nin." Aragorn was concerned because Legolas should be able to remember what happened. He should know where they were. The blond elf tried to sit up. He pulled his shoulder and winced. Without hesitation the other two helped the prince to sit against the bedstead. "I have rested enough. I cannot sleep anymore." My dreams… he wanted to aid but thought better. "No problem, do you want to eat at first?" When Legolas nodded, Aragorns heart felt much more at ease than it had before.

Aragorn moved the chair closer to the bed and put the plate beside Legolas on the bed. Elladan sat on the edge, at the blond elfs feet. No one said a word. Aragorn wanted to but all that came into his mind concerned Gwann-Agar or Legolas and he knew it wouldn't help his friend at all, so he kept silent. The twin watched the archer now and then, noticing how slowly he chewed and how absent he was. At least he is eating.

A soft knock at the door cut off their thoughts and musings. "Enter!" Aragorn thought it was Elrohir. He was slightly disappointed when Faramir entered. The other human hold an apologizing expression on his face, knowing that Legolas wasn't faring well. "I have an urgent message for you, my Lord." Aragorn stood up. "From whom it is?" – "I think it is from Gandalf but we couldn't say that for sure. Blood and dirt covered the letter." Aragorn was at once alert. Something must have gone wrong. "Where is it?" – "The messenger said that he won't give the letter to me but only to you because Gandalf ordered it." – "I will go with you. Elladan?" The king threw a quick glance at his elven brother. Elladan understood and nodded. The two human hurried out of the room.

Elladan met Legolas eyes. They were marked with sadness and it seemed as if the archer hadn't slept in the last days. The blond looked down at his food again. Not hungry anymore. "Legolas?" Elladan waited until the blue eyes locked with his again. "I will be there for you whatever you need." – "I know, mellon-nin, but at the moment I have to cope with it on my own. I hope you understand that." Elladan was surprised by this answer. It seemed to be far too calmto be true. But he had to accept the other ones choice to be alone with this.

He tried to fight the urge to go after Aragorn and see, what the message was about, when someone knocked at the door. The dark haired elf stood up. When he reached the door, he knew it was his brother and opened it, a frown on his forehead. "Where were you? I thought you would look after them a little bit earlier." His voice was mixed with anger. He couldn't understand how his brother was able to not look after his human brother and best friend. "I don't know. I was so unusual tired and slept. I didn't even sense, that you came into my room this night. I thought I dreamed it. I'm so sorry." Elrohir looked terrible. Despite the sleep he said he had, he looked as if he had hardly slept at all. "I forgive you. Can you do me a favour?" Elrohir nodded. "Can you please stay in here as long as I'm gone? Aragorn received an important message from Mithrandir and I have the feeling, that it wasn't a good one." Elrohir nodded again and wanted to go in. Elladan grabbed his shoulder. "One last thing. Legolas has no grave injury but he is mourning… his father died." It was much more difficult to say it than he would have expected. Elrohir tried to look shocked and startled but he already knew it, from Gwann-Agar.

After the door closed behind his brother, Elladan couldn't stop wondering about how easy the news had seem to Elrohir. He hadn't shown the same shock than he for himself had. The elf shrugged of the thoughts he had and headed to the throne room.

Ooooo

Elrohir closed the door; on his face was a bright smirk. He had to fight down the feelings rambling through him and set his face in a mask of pity. He rounded the bed and sat down on the chair, where Aragorn sat before. "Hello Legolas. How are you?" Legolas looked at the twin and thought this question to be one of the ridiculous he had heard ever in his life. Fine, he thought. Just fine! My father died but I feel fine. He tried to be calm but the anger was graspable in his voice. "It could be much more better!" – "I wanted no offence." Legolas couldn't believe it, was that a suppressed smirk on Elrohirs face?

"How did this happen?" Legolas only wanted Elrohir to be silent. "I want to be alone. Can we discuss this later?" – "No, I think I want to discuss this now. Do you know what I think?" Legolas shook his head; he wanted to hear no more. "I think Thranduil died because of you!" That brought the princes attention back to Elrohir. His mouth stood open. Had he heard it right? It couldn't be. "Yes, you heard it right. I think Thranduil was killed because he had you. You had only yourself in mind. If you would have been there you could have prevented it from happening." At this Legolas threw the blanket away and sprang up from the bed. The plate crashed at the ground and shattered into hundreds of pieces.

"How dare you to say such things. You have no idea! You know nothing of it." Legolas started to tremble. Elrohir could sense his brother and quickly stood up and went to the shaking blond elf. The door sprang open, both Aragorn and Elladan came into the room.

Legolas eyes were fixed upon Elrohir, who continued coming closer. "Get away from me!" Aragorn rushed to Legolas side. Elladan stared at Elrohir with a question on his lips. Aragorn was quicker. „What happened here? Have you done anything?" The human felt not well, asking this question. It sounded like an accusation to him. "I tried to speak to him, suddenly he sprang up and said I should go away. I only asked him how he was faring. I didn't do anything. I swear it." Elrohir filled his voice with distress and showed it on his face.

Legolas' eyes never left Elrohir. "Aragorn, you have to believe me. He said these things. He was not himself." – "What did he say?" Legolas looked at his human friend. "He said I was responsible for my fathers dead and that I could have prevented it, if I would have been there." Aragorn didn't know what he should make of it. The blond elf was trembling and he knew he wouldn't lie to him. Elladan sighed. He knew his brother well enough, to know that he would not lie in such a serious moment. "I don't know what to make of it. The only thing, that I can see, is that something here is wrong or amiss." Maybe Legolas starts getting mad. Elladan cursed himself for this thought, because Legolas was strong and he didn't want to think about him in such a way.

"We will discuss this later," Aragorn threw a quick glance at Elrohir. "Now we have other problems. We received a letter from Gandalf. We couldn't read it whole but the things we could read were fear, danger and Balrog." The king sighed heavily. "I hope Gandalf returns soon but it may last longer than he wanted. I hope we will handle, whatever is nearing."

Ooooo

Legolas had enough of these enclosing rooms. He had to go out in nature and try to forget about his aching heart. He got the permission from Aragorn to use the gardens and train with his bow. He hit the target every time he shot. "At least you are able to do one thing." Legolas spun around, to face Elrohir. "I don't want you around me at the moment!" Elrohir came closer. Ignoring the fact, that Legolas had his bow still drawn. "You are able to hit every target but not able to defend your father, what a son does that make you, little princeling?" Legolas was startled and shocked. "What's the matter with you? What happened?" Elrohir stood before the blond elf and burst into laughter. "Your father died, that's what happened. I spoke with Elladan; he agrees with me, that you are responsible for your father's death. He thinks you are going to get mad. Have you not seen it in your room? The way he looked at you?" – "Shut your mouth. Stop speaking! You are lying." Elrohir tried to look pitiful. "You try to ignore the truth but you can't. I think Aragorn has his own doubts about your sanity. Not long and he will see, that you are the one responsible." – "Shut up! I don't want to hear that anymore." Legolas trembled. His bow slid to the ground.

Legolas couldn't react fast enough, not because he was not able to, but because he would never have expected Elrohir to hit him across the face. The blow sent him to the ground. Legolas anger was rising. What in the world was happening? The archer stood up, facing the other elf. "Why?" – "Because I hate you for killing your father." The words sank down like a hot knife. Legolas stood there in disbelief. He was too shocked, to sensesomeone else approaching on him. Elrohir walked away, turning one last time, with a grin on his face, before he disappearedthrough the door. Legolas was brought out of shock, when hands encircled his throat and squeezed his airway shut.

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I hope you like it. I had much more in mind for this chapter but it grew longer and longer and I think this cliffy is the right moment to end this chapter.

Please r+r