Disclaimer: See other chapters.

Warnings: Rated R for rape.

Sorry 'bout all grammar and/or spelling mistakes.

No one told me I had Heart's Truth as the title here! Gah! That wasn't good! Wrong fic, wrong fic...

Yeah… well, me watchin' some Fullmetal Alchemist so… yup.

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. n.n Fairly short wait. n.n Wow, I can't believe it's already chapter twenty… craziness!


Unforgivable Pain

Chapter Twenty: Consuming Grief

"Elladan! Elrohir!" Legolas shouted, seeing the twins lying motionless on the ground, blood pooling around their bodies.

At first he couldn't move, frozen at the sight of his friends for over two millennia lying dead, eyes staring up at him blankly.

He then started to run towards them, but couldn't move an inch. He heard the familiar rattle of chains and his eyes widened in horror, realizing where he was.

Oh Valar. Please, no, he pleaded silently, unable to form any words.

The blonde closed his eyes tightly; trying to block everything out, fearing what was to come next.

His fears were confirmed when he heard the voice of the one person he was terrified of more than anything.

"Do you not wish to see your friend, my elf?" Selaedir questioned, sounding too happy for anyone's good.

Legolas kept his eyes shut, and would have brought his hands to his ears if it weren't for the chains.

However, he snapped his eyes open when he heard the scream of his closest friend.

As if Elladan and Elrohir weren't enough, Selaedir had to get a hold of Aragorn as well! Although, it didn't look like his death was going to be as merciful as the twin's.

"Estel!" he shouted, struggling against his restraints. He hadn't been able to save the twins but he would save the human. He couldn't allow another one of his friends to die by his tormentor's filthy hands, especially right in front of his eyes.

"Nay, do not do it! Please. Please," the archer begged of the sadistic human.

The brown-haired human only grinned maliciously, raising his sword.

"Please…" Legolas said again, broken.

Selaedir laughed cruelly as he thrust the sword into Aragorn's chest, causing the ranger to scream in pain.

Aragorn looked directly into Legolas' eyes, and the elf was surprised to see hatred burning fiercely in them. "It's all your fault, my friend," the human spat, going limp seconds later.

The prince could only stare in shock. It was true, though. All that had happened recently, all of it was his fault; no one else's... Elladan and Elrohir's death as well. He could have done something. Now, everyone was dead, and he was the only one to blame.

He lowered his head in his grief and self-blame, only to snap it up when he felt a hand touch his cheek, a hand he never wanted to touch him again.

"Now it is your turn, elf," Selaedir said, sealing the archer's fate. He gave the blonde a crushing kiss, biting his lip as he pulled back causing it to bleed.

The elf suddenly felt agony shoot through his chest as the blade ripped through it.

Legolas woke up in a cold sweat, clutching his heart with a death-grip. He could still feel the pain.

"Legolas?" Thranduil asked in deep concern. He had been unable to awaken his son when he had started to thrash about, screaming Aragorn and the twin's names over and over.

The younger elf had fallen asleep of his own accord, feeling that he deserved to suffer for what he had done to his friends. The elf king had tried to convince the archer that he had done nothing and he had suffered enough alread--more than enough. However, Legolas would hear none of it, and stubbornly refused the herbs. Thranduil had actually tried to drug him one time, but Legolas had been on to him so wouldn't accept anything his father handed him. Then the elder elf had tried to keep the archer awake. Legolas' body, which had been put under too much stress and was exhausted and starved, was unable to keep up and he fell under unconsciousness, so that plan had also failed.

"Are you alright, ion-nin?" he tried again after no response. He looked at the younger elf in worry, he didn't like how tightly he was holding his chest, or the pained look on his face.

To the elf king's utter surprise Legolas suddenly lowered his head and tears started to pour forth, his hand covering his eyes. However, his left hand never moved from his chest.

"Oh, Greenleaf," he said sadly, about to pull his broken son into a hug. He had only been able to place a hand on the elf's back before Legolas pulled away.

"No, don't touch me!" the archer hissed, hysterical.

Thranduil immediately withdrew his hand and all thoughts about comforting the stricken elf through touch.

Legolas pounded his fist against the bed hard in anguish. "They are gone, and it's all my fault!"

"Who is gone, penneth?" the elf king asked in confusion.

"It's my fault," the younger elf said quietly.

"Legolas. Legolas, look at me," Thranduil said, trying to get his son's attention without touching him.

Slowly, the archer lifted his tear-streaked face to his father's.

"What are you talking about? Who is gone?" he inquired softly, not liking the tears that were still cascading down the younger elf's face.

"They are gone," was the only answer he got in a listless voice accompanied by a blank stare.

"Who?" Legolas was making no sense!

"Estel, Elladan and Elrohir, all gone."

So that's what his dream was about... the elder elf thought. Finally an answer!

"They are not gone, Greenleaf," he tried to assure his son.

Legolas looked into his father's gaze, a flicker of hope seen. "They are back?"

Now it was Thranduil's turn to lower his eyes. "Nay," he answered reluctantly.

Suddenly, Legolas hissed in pain, and the elf king realized his son was still clutching his chest.

"What is it, ion-nin?" he asked, fearing the answer.

However, he received no response. The younger elf just closed his eyes tightly, and clenched his fists. This only caused the king's concern to mount.

Thranduil went over to the stand and prepared the herbs. It was too obvious that his son was in immense pain and he needed to rest, a dreamless rest.

"Drink this, Legolas."

He only got a shake of the head for an answer.

"Please, if for nothing else, than for me," the elf king pleaded, holding the cup in front of his son.

Legolas opened his eyes; looking at the pleading gaze, his resolve broke and he couldn't deny his father. He nodded, feeling guilty for causing the elder elf to worry so much.

Legolas drank the herbs, barely holding onto the cup with a shaky hand. Too many thoughts were swimming through his mind at once; he didn't know how long he would be able to endure. His friends' deaths, the nightmares, the self-blame, the pain, the humiliation of what he had gone through because of Selaedir… everything, it was all too much. He wouldn't have to think about it now… If only he could sleep forever; never wake up…

"I'm sorry, Ada," the distraught elf said quietly. He felt bad for thinking so lightly of his friends' deaths now, too. …He would join them.

"For what?" the elf king asked sadly, but it was too late, for his son had fallen asleep, eyes closed.

He laid the younger elf down and covered him up. Gently pushing a dull blonde strand of hair behind Legolas' ear, he kissed his forehead, willing all bad thoughts away.

By the Valar Elrond, return to us well, he prayed. He feared that his son was starting to succumb to the grief within his heart and would not last much longer, especially if he did not see everyone return alive and soon. His nightmares only seemed to speed up the process as well.

He felt so helpless.


"Shh, Elrohir, all is well," Elladan soothed his younger twin, trying to keep him as still as possible.

Elrond had thought it would be better for his eldest son to carry his twin and for himself to carry Aragorn, who had yet to awaken, which was expected.

The elf-lord turned to Elladan as he hushed the waking Elrohir. "We will take a break everyone!" he shouted, stopping his horse. They couldn't risk more damage to the younger twin. They didn't want him to be under anymore pain either.

It had been nearly three hours since their last break, if you could call it that after the orcs and wargs had attacked them.

This time Elrond was relieved to find that Elrohir was a lot better than before. While he still had a splitting headache and felt nauseous, his eyesight wasn't as blurry and he could actually form full sentences.

The younger twin was also able to stay up twenty minutes before falling back asleep, whereas he had only been able to stay up for not even five before.

Elrond and Elladan were extremely pleased by this. Unfortunately, Aragorn hadn't been able to witness this improvement, for he was still unconscious. He had lost a lot of blood after all.

About an hour later Elrond felt Aragorn tense in his arms, giving a low groan of discomfort.

"It's alright, ion-nin," the elder elf soothed, hoping he wouldn't move too much. If the human didn't then it would be alright for them to continue riding.

"Where…?" the ranger started, wondering about his surroundings. Last thing he remembered they had been fighting orcs… "Elladan, Elrohir!"

"Peace, Estel. They are well. We are on our way back home," the elf-lord reassured the human.

Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief, wincing at the pain it caused.

"Do you wish to stop?" Elrond asked in concern. If his son was in too much pain he would not force him to continue.

"Nay," the brown-haired man said stubbornly, wanting to see Legolas again. It had been far too long and he was deeply concerned for the scarred elf. He just prayed that he was doing alright.

The elder elf nodded, glad his youngest was so stubborn. This time that was actually useful. He also wanted to see how the prince was faring, as well as the king. He hoped that leaving them had not been a big mistake on his part. Fortunately, they would probably be back within a few more hours, hopefully sooner if there were no interruptions.

To distract himself form the pain coursing through his body, Aragorn started to sing. The tune was light, but also had a sad hint to it. It began to pick up and soon some of the warriors joined in, even Elrond hummed along. The song helped raise the mood, and give the others something to think about other than the sadness they felt over this situation, even if the song itself was slightly sad.

Elrond looked down at his son still in his lap, and smiled warmly at him. He was incredibly glad that his sons, including Legolas, were still with him. He didn't know whether to consider them lucky or unlucky for all the trouble they ran into. While they always seemed to come out of the danger alive--if not in one piece--was luck, but they always ran into it in the first place, which was unlucky. Well, so long as they kept surviving, that was all that he could ask for. There was one of them, however, that he was not so sure of his endurance: Legolas. He prayed to the Valar that the young elf would stay with them.


See? Legolas was in this one. He was most of it, in fact. n.n I actually wanted to end it with his part, but I didn't want it that short; it also makes things easier like this… hopefully. -.- So… there ya go. Let me know what you think, 'kay? Don't forget. n.n

I found that I like using twenty minutes whenever I say a time... XD

Yeah, I decided to update this before Heart's Truth. Why? Good question. That one's ready and everything. Prob'ly will be up tomorrow… .:shrugs:. Gonna watch me some FMA now… it's all 4am. XD

Review Responses

jen – Lol. Well, then I hope you enjoy the Legolas in this chapter. n.n And thank you!

Mrs. Bloom – Yup, yup. Noticed a lot of people seemed to be missing him… even I was. XD

Haldir's Heart and Soul – Lol… yup. That they are. n.n

inulover28 – Wow, couldn't spell your name… XD …still can't type, man. .:ahem:. Glad you liked it… hope ya liked this one, too. n.n Yup, yup, StS all the way, man. I liked the other ones, too, but I believe I told you already… .:shrugs:. I know I have to wait, lemon-girl! Just… had to. n.n;; .:goes off to read the fic you gave me:. XD

Saerwen – Lmao. Nice. Well, how was that for a quick update? n.n

Chichiri's Wanderer – Thank you. n.n

HarryEstel – Lol. Yup, and die they did. n.n Poor little elf…

empath89 – Yup, can't help but hurt people in my fics. XD Glad ya don't think it ruined it. n.n 'Kay, 'kay. n.n Well, have fun with whatever you're doin'. n.n

lunelwe – Lol… glad ya think so. n.n Yup, there ya have it. Legolas. n.n Lmao means 'laughing my ass off.' I usually only use it when something's extra funny. n.n

Thank you so much everyone for all the reviews! Please keep them comin'. They fuel my need to write… n.n;;

If I don't update before Monday, then you guys prob'ly won't be getting an update 'til August. I will be away for most of July. First going to Japan (yayness!); then I'm going to Ocean Shores (boo! …every freakin' year, man)… with pretty much no break in between so… yeah. I will try to give you all at least one more update, but… well, we shall see. So if I don't see you all have fun on the fourth! n.n I have to be at the airport at 6:15am that day, eighteen-hour-ish flight, too. XD .:is not a morning person… by far:.

So, let me know what you think of this and please review. n.n Have fun everyone!

Oh, and out curiosity, how many of you would be extra mad if I decided to... have a character death with... Legolas? I'm kinda toying with the idea some... and... yeah... n.n;;;

Ja ne