Legolas watched his friend wrap his hair up in a cloth that protected his ears. "Tel, if they find out. . ."

"They won't find out. There's no reason they should. I have a plan."

Aragorn watched Legolas, the debate going on in the elf's mind.

"Please be careful, Tel. Remember what I told you to do. If she asks, and I know she will, you came with one other. Do not attempt to tell her that you came with two others. She will know you are lying. Keep your lies to a minimum. She sees into you, so try not to let yourself grow nervous. And be careful. There is so much at risk here."

"I will. You two just try not to kill each other while I'm gone, okay?"

Both nodded, smiling at the joke. When the door closed, Legolas sighed.

"He'll be fine, Las. Legolas? What's wrong?"

"She's calling me."

"Don't go. Stay here."

Legolas grimaced. Even thoughts of defiance were painful. "I can't. I will be back. Trust me, I will come back. Stay here, stay out of trouble. Don't let yourself be seen."

"Don't leave me, Legolas!"

"I will be back. Do you trust me?"

Aragorn nodded, watching as his friend actually flickered and then disappeared.

Things were going terribly wrong. . .

"Enter."

Telemnar took a deep breath, and pushed the double doors open to see the queen of the town. He inhaled sharply when he saw her. She was gorgeous. It was literally a breathtaking beauty. . .

Stay on task, he reminded himself. You're here for Legolas.

He strode forward and knelt at the foot of her throne. "My noble lady," he said, his voice almost velvety. He hadn't lived in Thranduil's court to learn nothing of etiquette.

"Rise. Lem, is that right?"

"Yes, my lady, I am Lem from. . . Gondor." Stay calm, he told himself, trying to make himself forget that he was lying.

"Why have you asked my counsel?"

"I am told that I need to speak with you about leaving."

"And why do you feel you must leave, Lem of Gondor?"

He wasn't prepared with a reason; he had just wanted to ask her if he could leave. "I am here in search of an elf," he had never lied so quickly in his life. "He goes by the name of Legolas. However, I am led to believe that he is not here, and I need to return home."

She leaned forward, staring directly into Telemnar's eyes. She said nothing, making the elf nervous, but he would not let her see the lie in his eyes. She nodded, and pointed to her right. Telemnar followed her hand, his eyes resting upon—Legolas. The elf prince had an unreadable expression on his face.

Telemnar did not know what to do. Was this really Legolas? Had the prince betrayed him and Aragorn? He opened his mouth to say something when the prince imperceptible shook his head.

The queen spoke. "You may tell Fairell that the elf is not yet ready."

"Aye, my lady. Thank you."

"You did not come here alone, did you?"

"No, my lady." He had to keep his lies to a minimum so that she would not see through them. On thinking about it, he was actually quite glad that Legolas had gone over all of this beforehand, or he would have given himself away some time ago.

"I will open the wall for you and one other. Go and tell Fairell to be patient. I am working on him. And thank him for me again."

"Yes, thank you."

He threw another glance at his friend. "How long will the wall be open?"

"Until you leave."

"Thank you." He bowed and backed out of the room.

To Aragorn's surprise, Telemnar returned by early evening. "Well, what happened? I've been dying of anticipation!"

"It was the strangest meeting I've ever had."

"Well, by all means, tell me. I've nothing better to do. Legolas isn't here."

Telemnar nodded. "I know. He was with the Lady."

Aragorn raised his eyebrows. "What?"

"I know, I was just as confused. He was just sitting at a table in her throne room. He was holding something in his hands, but I don't know what it was, or even if it was anything important. I couldn't read anything by his face, but he shook his head when I meant to take notice of him."

"Did he. . . you know, betray us? Is he really giving her information about us?"

"I doubt it. Legolas would not do that, no matter how much power this woman has over him. Unless that's not really Legolas? Whose to say that it is? Maybe that is Legolas' body in Mirkwood? But then why all of this? Why keep the decoy here?"

"Legolas is not dead. I swear it."

"I'm not dead."

The elf and the man turned to see Legolas standing in the doorway. "I promise, I'm not. Nor am I betraying you."

"How long have you been here?" Telemnar asked.

"Just a minute or so. I had to go. She summoned me; I had no choice. Which means she knew you were coming, Tel."

Aragorn sighed. "What did she say to you after Tel left?"

"Nothing. She just started talking about how impatient Gondor's men are."

"What is she getting you ready for, Legolas?" Telemnar asked, a little suspicious.

"I honestly don't know."

They all sat in silence for a minute, each in his own thoughts. Finally, Legolas spoke. "Tel, you have to go. You and Strider go and warn my father, and tell him that I am still alive. Leave now."

"No, Legolas. . . you have to come. You and Strider go. You two are the ones most in danger here."

Legolas opened his mouth to argue, but suddenly realized that there was no point. He had no point. "Tel, Ada needs you to lead your contingent if there is a war."

"You two leave at the same time. I'll go out first, and you two go at that same time. Don't say that it won't work, let's just try it."

Legolas nodded his consent. "We'll try it."

They waited until midnight, when the town was sleeping. The three stayed close together, looking at the outside world, through an invisible wall.

"All right, Legolas. You'll have to hold on to Strider, just until you get to the other side of the wall. Do you think you can handle that?"

The elf prince nodded. "Yes." He said it as though he were convincing himself.

"All right. I'll see you on the other side." He slowly stepped forward, and then disappeared. Aragorn inhaled sharply. "It's a guise. You're not even looking out of the city. It's just a picture."

"Let's just get out here and forget about it, shall we?"

Aragorn nodded, then grabbed onto Legolas' forearms. The elf winced, but nodded.

Thranduil had introduced Mithfalas to a very quiet and very large group of warriors. He sighed.

His son looked at him. "It never gets easier, you know."

"What doesn't?"

"People you love not being there anymore."

Thranduil closed his eyes. "Lead them well, Fal." He left.

Mithfalas nodded at his temporary contingent. They nodded back, each holding the reins of their horses' bridles. They mounted in silence, each completely apprehensive. Mirkwood had not been attacked in many long years.

"We hold them off. They will want to breach the gates. It is our job to ensure that no one gets close to the gates. Remember that we have archers poised behind the gates and in the forest. This will be easy. Just remember to stay calm and focused. Remember that you are not only fighting for your city, but you are also fighting for the elf next to you. Protect each other first and foremost." He paused. "And try to imagine that you are fighting for your respective leaders, and not me. Let's go."

In silence, the whole mass of elves began urging their horses forward.

"Mithfalas," one elf whispered.

"Yes?"

"We don't need to pretend that we're fighting for Legolas."

"Or Telemnar," an elf from the other contingent added. The first nodded.

"We're proud to fight under your command."

Mithfalas smiled. "Thank you. I appreciate that."

The group fell into silence once more.

Legolas screamed in agony. What was happening? He was being bombarded with memories, from all around. Surely these weren't all Aragorn's memories?

"Strider?" Telemnar called from the other side.

"I don't know what's going on! Stay out there, Tel! Don't come back in!" He tried pulling Legolas forward.

The elf prince tried moving forward, but the memories and the pain became more intense with every step. He didn't have room in his head for his own thoughts.

He finally gave up, pushed Aragorn forward, and fell back himself.

"No!" Aragorn yelled, his friend now hidden from his sight. "Legolas!"

Telemnar grabbed him. "Don't go back! You won't be able to get out again!"

"I can't leave him!"

The elf pulled Aragorn away from the wall, and the human finally fell to the ground. "No."

"What happened, Strider?"

"Those memories weren't mine. I saw memories that weren't mine."

Legolas, breathing rapidly and still in mild pain, saw the shadow pass over him. He looked up.

"That wasn't very wise, Legolas."

To my reviewers:

Sielge: It's worked one way in everyone except Aragorn- sort of. Aragorn doesn't see a memory of Legolas', but he sees his own that Legolas sees. Not so with the others.

Sky14: Well, I'm glad it's a good different, lol.

Arrana U: I really sincerely doubt this made it any clearer. This is supposed to be one of the more "what?" chapters. Sorry, lol!

Mellathaiwn: I misspelled your name, I know I did. Sorry! Typical blame the human strategy. I was cracking up!

Faerlain: This chapter was supposed to be confusing, at least the end of it, lol.

Deana: He's not allowed back permanently, remember. Yet, wink wink.

Lindele: Thank you! Sorry for the wait!