Sorry about the last chapter; I know that it wasn't very interesting, but it just had to be done. Things will get more interesting soon; Estel promises!

Estel: What?

Shh, just go along with. Anyway, again, thanks for the reviews. I love reading them, keep them coming. The responses are no where to be found...just kidding. They're at the end of the page.

Romen

That wasn't much of an a/n, but I'm still a little teary-eyed from "Titanic" and "Lost". Plus, this was an awkward chapter for me to write.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. If I did own something, there would be no Tom Bombadil. (Hehe just kidding) Have not owned, will not own, and do not own. I do own Dolenion and all of the other original (or unfamiliar) characters.

21. Banned

"But we were told to stay here," Elrohir protested, perplexed. "King Thranduil commanded us to!"

Dolenion shook his head. "Well, King Thranduil also asks that you join them for a small talk."

"We'll go," Estel quickly said, before Elrohir could interrupt. "But someone really should stay with Legolas. It wouldn't be good for him to wake up alone."

"I'll stay here with him," Dolenion replied, standing out of the doorway so that they could pass through. Estel and Elrohir did so, the latter regarding the healer coldly.

"Can you believe them?" Elrohir said the moment the door shut. "You'd think that they wouldn't want us to have any time alone with our friend!"

"Perhaps that is best."

Elrohir looked incredulous. "Huh? What do you mean, 'perhaps that is best'?"

"Well..." Estel hesitated, searching for the right words. "Legolas seemed a little...tempermental."

Elrohir shrugged it off. "He's been through a lot. Besides, it could be a combination of the pain killer and exhaustion. Wounded people aren't in the best of moods, either, I might add."

"I suppose you're right." Still, deep down, Estel doubted his own words. Legolas had never acted this strange while recovering from wounds. Was he angry at Aragorn? Did he blame the ranger for his situation? Estel barely stopped himself from heaving a sigh as they stopped outside of the library.

Elrohir opened the door, halting abruptly at the look on Elrond and Thranduil's stony faces.

"Please, sit." Elrond gestured towards two empty chairs.

Glancing at each other, the two did so, looking and back and forth between the two elves' faces, waiting in silence for them to begin. Elrond took a deep breath.

"Thranduil and I have just been speaking to each other about Legolas," he said painstakingly slow.

"I thought you said that he would heal!" Elrohir's eyes were wide.

"He will, ion-nin, he will." Elrond's brow furrowed. "However, during this process, we believe that it would be best if you refrained from visiting your friend."

"What!" Estel and Elrohir cried.

Theadan could hardly believe his ears. "Why not?"

Elrond hesitated. "Legolas has been through a lot recently, and in order to not put any mental strain on him, we think that it would be best if he spent some time alone."

"'Some time alone'?" Elrohir repeated, his lip curling. "He has spent some time alone! Now he needs to spend some time in other people's company."

Elrond shook his head. "I'm sorry, my sons, but this is what we believe is best."

"What does Legolas think?" Elrohir snapped, glaring at both of them. "Have you spoken to him yet of this?"

"I am sure Legolas would agree with us," Thranduil answered calmly, eying the youngest twin warily. "Anyway, after he has healed enough to travel, we are returning to Mirkwood."

"So we won't get to spend any time with him at all, will we?" Elrohir's face was red. "We cannot even speak with him or even be in the same room with him, and as soon as he is healed, he's leaving!"

"Elrohir"-

"I will not be silenced! You haven't even asked how Estel and I feel about this, have you? We care about Legolas just as much as the both of you and you haven't even asked us what we think! Well, Estel and I won't stand for this, will we, gwador? Will we?"

Silence.

"Gwador?"

Estel cleared his throat, suddenly very interested in the inlaid tile pattern on the floor. "Actually, Ro, I think that they have a point."

Elrohir lost his voice for a moment. "W-what?"

"Legolas didn't seem to appreciate our company," Estel continued, still not looking up. "It might be best if we spent some time away from him."

Elrohir was speechless. Was Estel actually agreeing with them? "This is insane," he muttered. "This is just absolutely insane! We can't isolate Legolas from the rest of the world! You know how he hates being stuck indoors as it is. Now he'll really feel like a caged animal."

Thranduil and Elrond glanced at each other, sharing a look.

"Elrohir, Legolas has some things that he needs to sort out." Elrond folded his hands in his lap. "Being around his friends may make this distracting."

"We wouldn't be distracting!" In fact, how could they distract Legolas from thinking? He'd been asleep most of the time that they had spent with him that day. "We could give him the emotional support that he needs."

Elrond shook his head. "No, Elrohir."

"But-"

"No."

Elrohir scowled, turning on his heel and slamming the door behind him. Estel followed, nodding in respect before he left.

Elrond sighed. "That went well."

"It went better than I thought it would." Thranduil stood and went to the window, looking out at the cloudy sky. It seemed as if it were going to rain again. "I hate having to tell such loyal friends that they will never see my son again."

Elrond frowned. "Perhaps not forever."

"Perhaps not forever, yet probably." Thranduil paused. "Legolas is not the same anymore. I am afraid that he never will be. They do not know him now."

"He may recover."

"Perhaps, maybe, might, may." Thranduil crossed his arms. "No, never. He does not want any friends." He turned around. "He does not think that he deserves them." Thranduil sat back down, staring off into space. "That was not the only reason that I made this decision. It was also because of what he said about Elladan."

Elrond nodded. "That was altogether strange. I can still feel Elladan's prescence; I know that he walks this earth."

"Legolas really thinks he killed him." Thranduil leaned back. "I didn't think that Elrohir and Estel would be able to see him in a state like this. He doesn't even know what he has done and what he hasn't done."

Once again, Elrond nodded. "We have made the right decision."

Yet he was doubtful.

"Elrohir!"

Elrohir didn't turn around. He kept heading through the halls, pretending that he hadn't heard hisyounger brother. When Estel finally caught up with him, he didn't turn around. He was trying to pretend that he hadn't seen him, but theadan knew better.

"Don't blame me for all of our problems," he said, sounding short of breath.

"I'm not blaming you for all of our problems." Elrohir turned around to face. "Thanks for standing up for me in there. You were a lot of help."

"Ro..."

"No, really; your assistance was appreciated." Elrohir continued walking. "I'm glad to see that you care about our friend as much as I do. It was really apparent."

Estel froze. "I care about Legolas just as much as you do."

"Well you certainly didn't act like it!" Elrohir stopped again, whirling around to look at his adopted brother. "You just stood there and let them say that they were basically cutting him off from the rest of the world!"

"What do you think that they should do, Ro? Legolas isn't the same anymore..."

"He's back! I know that he is." Elrohir took a deep breath, trying to calm down. He hated loosing his cool in front of anyone. "Estel, it's not good for him to be cooped up alone."

"It's too late now." Estel sighed. "They've already told us that we couldn't visit him anymore."

"They didn't exactly say anymore."

TBC...

Okay, here's the responses (dabs at her eyes with a tissue; poor Boone!):

Entis: I'm glad that you're enjoying it. Don't worry, more Leggy angst is on the way!

Slayer3: I know, poor guy. We are so hard on him! I need to write some fluff...hmm...Oh, poor Boone. I can't get my mind off of "Lost"...Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Faerlas: Just don't fall off! LOL I hope that this wasn't too crazy either. It was really hard for me to write.

Aragorn the super saiyan: Dude, may I reccomend less caffein in the morning? LOL No, no, I'm just kidding. You're my first flamer. Hmm...I guess the only thing thatI can really say is- don't read it anymore lol. Thanks for your input anyway. :)

IwishChan: Yes, poor little Leggy. I feel so bad for him. Of course, everything will turn out all right in the end, it's just getting there...Anyway I hope that you liked this chapter!

Moonyasha: Hug sent, hugh received! LOL I'm glad your liking it, and I hope that you liked this chapter as well.

Deana: LOL I'm glad that you liked chapter 20. Yes, poor Leggy. I'm seriously considering writing an angst-free one-shot...someday lol. Anyway, I hope that you liked this chapter as well.

Please keep up with the reviews; I really enjoy them.