Chapter 9:

Aragorn stared at the wall behind the bar counter. They had been in the bar for a couple of days, and the insanity was about to set in. Telemnar only irritated him, and Legolas would speak in nothing but riddles.

Legolas' soft voice broke the ranger's thoughts. "Aragorn, please, say something to me."

"I have nothing to say, Legolas."

"You have been distant, Aragorn, and I worry for you."

"Why don't you just touch me again and find out for yourself what's wrong? Here, let me help you!" His anger finally overtook him, and he lunged at the elf, gripping his shoulders. Legolas closed his eyes, trembling. Aragorn tried to shut out the memory that his friend was reliving for him, but he could not. He finally released the elf.

"Please do not do that again." Legolas' voice was no longer soft and concerned, but angry. "Is that was all this is about? Believe me, Estel, it's not something I enjoy doing to you."

"Do you not fear to be near me, Legolas? After what you've seen? How many people I've killed? Do you not fear for your own life?"

Legolas was silent for a minute. "No, Estel. I trust you with my life, and I always will. Nothing of your past can change that. You cannot take the faults of your race upon yourself."

"You know things about me now that I would have no one know."

Legolas reached towards his friend, then pulled back, remembering that he could not touch the human. "Humans die, Aragorn. The only ones you killed would have hurt thousands more if you hadn't. You are a ranger. Things like this are expected of you. Nothing I have seen makes me think any less of you. This is not my fault. Please do not be angry with me for what I have seen."

The pleading in his friend's voice made the ranger's anger soften. "I am sorry, my friend. I am just scared that you no longer trust me."

"Nothing will ever change my trust in who you are. Nothing." He paused. "Aragorn?"

"Yes?"

"I knew you'd come back for me."

"Of course I came back." There was silence. "Legolas?"

"Yes?"

"I'm not angry with you. I'm just. . . it's weird, having you relive things I thought I had long past buried."

"They make me think nothing less of you."

Aragorn looked at his friend, sadness etched deep in his eyes. Without another word, he left the room.

Legolas, however, was left in silence for only a short time.

"You call him Aragorn. Certainly he is not the son of Arathorn?"

Legolas turned to see Telemnar standing in the doorway.

"How long have you been there? How much did you hear?"

"Enough. Is he the heir to Gondor?"

Legolas shook his head. "The name is nothing but a coincidence."

"It's not. Legolas, don't you think I know you well enough by now to know when you're lying?"

"As your prince, are you not expected to trust what I tell you?"

Telemnar sighed. Legolas always pulled out his title when he wanted a conversation to end. He wasn't going to let it happen this time. "Yes, but as your friend, it is my duty to press you on matters such of these. Do you know what befriending him could mean for you? The Dark Lord will be looking for him. You cannot afford to be with him when he is found. Mirkwood cannot lose another prince."

"Mirkwood could better afford to lose me than Middle Earth could afford to lose him."

"What you do will end in death, of this I am certain."

"Do you possess the gift of foresight, Tel?"

The elf looked at the ground. "No."

"Then you are certain of nothing."

"I am, though. You've always asked me to trust your guidance, Legolas, and I always have. As a friend and as a servant to the throne. Just once, cannot you not do the same?"

"Not about this. I will not let you do this to our friendship."

"Do you know what Lord Elrond once said to me? 'Those who live by the sword shall die by the arrow.' I didn't know what he meant, but now I think I do. It works conversely. You two will be the downfall of the other."

Legolas nodded. "Perhaps. But Elrond has said many things to me as well that condone this friendship. I'll not have you act as an authority over me."

"You've been trapped here for a long time. Aragorn says you've been through a lot. Perhaps you are not thinking clearly."

"Do not make me fight with you."

Telemnar threw his arms in the air. "I don't want to fight, I just want you to listen to reason!"

"My friendship with Strider has reason that you can not understand. Be satisfied with that."

"I only worry for you. I thought I was going to fade when your body came to us."

"There isn't a day I don't worry that something will happen to you either. I even asked Father to appoint you to citadel guard."

Telemnar narrowed his eyes. "You asked him to take me away from my command?"

"To keep you from harm. Do not be angry with me for it. Father denied the request, for which I am now grateful. I would have regretted it if he had allowed it. Don't be angry."

Telemnar sighed in discontent. "I'm not angry with you, my friend. I only wish I could hug you."

"I as well. I miss normal contact."

"I can imagine."

"It makes me feel so isolated, even when others are near. You never realize how you depend on contact until it's gone."

Telemnar could say nothing. After a few minutes of silence, he changed the subject, "So when do you think the people will come back?"

"Soon. They've been gone for a long time."

There, he was talking to the prince again, not his friend. It was like talking to two completely different people. Business was business, and there was no room for emotion in that. Thranduil was the same way, which was partially how the two had kept themselves alive in many situations. Still, it was something that Telemnar had a hard time understanding.

"When they come again, they must not see Estel. They will kill him."

"Is the entire city not to be trusted?"

"No, there are quite a few trustworthy people here."

"Difficult to know the difference?"

"For you, yes. But not for me. You see, I've found way around the appearance of the city and the people. Once you get used to it, you can see what is real. I know who I can trust without even talking to them. For your part, I would not trust anyone unless I am with you."

"You're not making sense again."

Aragorn reentered with three mugs of ale. "I figured you'd be here by now. Find anything in your search?"

"Nothing," Telemnar said, only sniffing the mug handed to him. "But Legolas is speaking in riddles again."

The prince smiled. He couldn't explain what they needed to learn. They would find out quickly enough.

Telemnar suddenly thought of something. "You said not to trust anyone unless I was with you. Do you intend to leave us?"

"I have no choice. She has a power over me that even I cannot break."

Aragorn swallowed his drink. "Meaning what? What does this power entail?"

"Nothing to be spoken of. If I leave you, just trust that it is for your safety and that I will be back."

"You would think Gandalf was hiding around here somewhere."

Telemnar smiled at the joke, but Legolas did not find it amusing. "There are things happening here that you cannot understand. There are things bigger than us that you cannot even imagine. Just trust me."

Telemnar frowned. "You are not yourself, Las. What is the matter?"

Legolas was looking into his mug of ale. His eyes were shifting focus, and he suddenly looked up. "They're back. Hide."

Suddenly, human forms began appearing out of thin air. Legolas stood and quickly moved away from the table that hid his friends.

The bartender smiled and waved the elf over. "Hello, Legolas. Haven't seen you in a while."

"Good evening, Darl. You've been away."

"Oh? Again? I hadn't noticed."

Aragorn and Telemnar looked at each other in confusion. Did these people not know when they disappeared? Where did they go to? Why didn't Legolas go with them? Were there others that didn't go? Ai, there were so many questions!

"Is the lady back yet?" Legolas asked conversationally.

"Yes. I have to tell you, Kid, she's been talking about you."

Legolas shot a glance at the table in the back. "What has she been saying?"

"You know I'm not supposed tell you what she says."

"Come on, Darl. No one has to know that you told me."

Aragorn nudged Telemnar. He had good hearing, but not good enough. "What's going on?"

"Sh, I'm trying to listen. . ."

Darl leaned toward Legolas. "She says she sent your father a body."

Legolas pretended to be confused. "A body?"

"Your body. She says that your father may allow Mithfalas to come back for a memorial if he believes you dead. She has some plan of downfall for your forest if he does return."

This time, Telemnar tried to jump forward. Holding him back, Aragorn was panicking. "What? What's happening? Tel!"

Legolas was trying very hard not to panic. "You mean she plans to attack my father's kingdom?"

"As far as I've heard."

"Come on, Darl, help me get out of here. I need to get home so I can warn my father!"

The bartender sighed, sipping his own brew. "You know that isn't my place, Kid. You know how things work here."

"It doesn't have to work like that. Come on, you could escape with me."

"Hey, you know, Kid, I could even be wrong. All I ever get is the rumors anyway."

"Come on, wouldn't you want out if your family was in danger?"

"My whole family is here, Kid."

"I know, but if they weren't?"

"Once you start enjoying it here, you can leave with us."

Legolas dropped his head. He could tell Darl had given up on the conversation. "Of course. I'll see you again, Darl."

"Hey, Kid?"

"Yes, Darl?"

"Surrender does not diminish our power, it enhances it."

Legolas furrowed his brow. "Pardon?"

"Good evening to you, Kid." The bartender disappeared behind his counter.

Guys, I am SO sorry for the huge long delay. I will try really hard to get better at it, I promise! Life has slowed down and I was re-inspired, so. . . please forgive me! I will answer ALL reviews, for this chapter and chapter 8, in the next chapter.