A/N: Hey guys! sheepish smile I haven't updated in like a year, huh? And this chapter is NO WHERE as long as it should be. But I do have an excuse! froze me out of my account. I'm not sure why, or how, but I couldn/t upload anything. I couldn't do anything in my profile. NOTHING! So, yeah... Enjoy!

Story time!

"We must do as Legolas asked, 'Ro!" Elladan said. Elrohir glare darkly at his twin and continued putting on his battle armor. Elladan grabbed the chain mail and shouted, "Elrohir, listen to me! If you ride back to that human camp, you will die."

Elrohir shook his head and took his mail back. "I'm riding to the Mirkwood Palace. We need to warn its inhabitants before it is too late. I'm not going to sit by and watch the forest burn as humans take over."

"Brother, you are not thinking right now! You just want to plunge headfirst into battle. That won't save Legolas or Estel. We must think of our actions before we execute them!"

"Thinking takes too much time," Elrohir retorted. Elladan, fed up with his twin's stubbornness, whacked him across the face, knocking him unconscious.

"Then I shall do the thinking, brother." Elladan gently tied Elrohir to his horse and rode south, heading for Rohan.

Legolas walked calmly from the brush a few hundred yards away from where he'd met the twins. Damean, spotting him immediately, strode over with a chunk of bread the size of his fist. "Sit," he commanded. "Where were you?"

Legolas hissed softly as his stomach rippled in almost nonexistent rolls, disturbing his burnt, infected flesh. "I had to relieve myself," he replied respectfully. Damean nodded and handed him the bread.

"Eat. You look like a starved wolf," he said.

"Thank you," Legolas said, and bowed his head. He picked at the bread, having lost his appetite somewhere along the way.

"Are you not hungry, dear?" the human asked.

"No, not really. I I am worried, to tell you the truth," Legolas said, hoping Damean would get the hint and ask him what was bothering him.

"What ails your mind?" The man's forehead wrinkled in concern, his dark eyebrows almost knitting together.

"A lot of things," Legolas said. "I am worried about my father, and my people, and my home."

Damean nodded in understanding. "Well let's begin with your father. Tell me exactly what is bothering you about him."

Legolas looked at his father. Thranduil was sitting silently next to his appointed guard, staring sullenly into the roaring fire. "My father is fading away," the Prince said and turned to face the Haradrim. "I can feel it in my heart, and it pains me to see him so. He's a proud Elf, and he won't take to slavery as well as others."

"And your people?"

Legolas took a deep breath. "I worry that should I anger you, you will kill them without a second thought. My people are so important to me that I would lay my life down for their sakes, but what if it isn't enough?"

Damean reached up to stroke the Elf's cheek. "Legolas, why do you trouble yourself with these thoughts? Your duty is not to Mirkwood, but to me and me alone. You do not have to worry about anything except for me. All else will fall into place eventually." He leaned close to nuzzle the Elf's neck, but Legolas pulled away.

"But I do worry! I have two brothers and they have wives and children. My concern for their wellbeing runs deeper than my own life. I could never live with myself if one of my kin dies, all because of my foolishness." Ignoring the pain, Legolas pulled his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them.

"What is the big deal, Legolas? They are just Elves, soon to be slaves. They are easily replaceable," Damean said with a shake of his head.

"My father is not easily replaceable, my brothers are not easily replaceable. You don't get it. You are an only child, therefore not realizing the importance of a sibling. I've known them for over two thousand years. I just can't let them die!"

Damean sat silently, letting all he had heard sink in. As much as he loathed admitting it, the human found his captive was right. Damean stood. "We ride at dawn," he said and stalked to his tent.

Legolas stared after the human, willing him to understand. The Elf tucked the piece of bread away in his pocket for a later time and let his gaze fall into the heart of the fire, allowing its graceful dance of flames to soothe him. Legolas slipped into a trance, a daydream, if you like. He envisioned the alternate future of what would have happened if his father had never come, if he, Legolas, had never been captured in the first place.

As the flames continued to die, Legolas let him mind wander further and further.

An orange and yellow haze filled his eyes, denying him sight. The air was close and dense, suffocating his delicate nose and watering his bright blue eyes. Screams of pain and fear assaulted his pointed ears. Legolas took a deep breath, even though it pained him to do so, and forged through the fiery colors and smoke until it cleared somewhat.

There, in a large clearing, stood Damean and Thranduil locked in a sword duel. Although Thranduil was an Elf and superior to the human on any good day, he was weak from lack of food and water and Damean was extremely well trained. When Legolas rushed forward to help, Thranduil's sword was flung out of his hands, landing yards behind the human. Damean grinned and thrust his blade clean through the Elf's gut. Thranduil, looking upon his slayer, gasped for breath and fell to his knees. The Haradrim twisted the blade and sliced upwards, killing the Elf.

Legolas stopped dead in his tracks, disbelief written on face. Damean smiled evilly and drew his blade from the King's stomach, the Elf's blood glistening in the flames quickly surrounding them from all sides.

"Is this was you were afraid of, slave?" the human exclaimed. "Your father and brothers dead, your people being slain, your home burning to the ground?" Damean gestured behind him and Legolas saw past the man. His brothers' carcasses, along with their wives and children, were now where his dead father lay, burning with the same fire that consumed his home.

A ghost of his late mother appeared, shimmering like a mirage in the heat radiating from the flames. She gazed upon her husband and sons, tears in her eyes. "You have failed me, Legolas. In the worst way anyone ever could, you failed me

Legolas shook his head, his breathing now coming in short, harsh gasps. "No, no, it wasn't me!" he pleaded.

"Oh, but it was, dear child. You couldn't keep your family safe, because of your selfishness. Your pride killed them, Legolas. It is all your fault

"No!" Legolas shouted in anguish. "No, no, NOOOOO!" The Elf rushed towards the burning bodies determined to get them away from the flames that burned higher, faster, hotter. Invisible hands grasped his shoulders pulling him away from his father and brothers, even though he struggled with all his might.

Aragorn rose immediately when he saw Legolas tossing and turning. The Elf was moaning about something indiscernible. "Legolas? Are you okay?" The man trotted to his friend and shook him by the shoulders, trying to wake him from his nightmare. Legolas lashed out with his limbs, holding back, striving to stay where his mind had him. Though he was still in the land of dreams, Legolas began sobbing uncontrollably and trembling so hard the human could hardly hold him.

Finally, the Elf opened his eyes, tears still streaming down his cheeks. "Ada!" Legolas sobbed into Aragorn's shoulder. "Ada!"

"He is gone, mellon," the human said patiently. "Tell me what it is the matter!"

But Legolas was not listening. After the Gondorian had said "He is gone", the blonde began hyperventilating, thinking his nightmare had been true. "No! No!" he whispered loudly in frustration. "I never meant for this to happen! Father! Father, I am so sorry! Forgive me, for-gi-ive me!" (A/N: Ok, you know when someone is crying, and they are trying to speak, but it comes out like all broken up? Ok, just picture that in your head, but with Leggy, ok?)

"Legolas, mellon nin, listen to me!" Aragorn tried again, but the Elf could not hear him. He had collapsed into the fetal position, his hands covering his eyes as he wept unyieldingly.

Aragorn raced off in the direction of a nearby spring, hoping to find what he was searching for. The man burst into the designated bathing area, quickly scanning the sun reflecting-water for a certain Elf. "Thranduil!" he yelled. Said Elf was currently bathing under the watchful eye of some strong soldiers. Thranduil furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"Aragorn?" the golden-haired being asked. "What is the matter?"

"'Tis Legolas! He is in hysterics!" the human explained. "He woke weeping, and I could not calm him down. You must come quickly!"

Thranduil nodded and pulled on a spare pair of cotton leggings, letting the fabric dry his skin. The Elven King pulled on a shirt and a dried his hair with a towel all the while sprinting back to the campsite. There he found Damean pressing a screaming, struggling Legolas to a large dew-drenched firtree, in hopes of finding what had caused his breakdown.

"You killed him!" the blonde yelled. "I'll kill you for what you've taken from me! I swear by the Valar, I'll kill you!"

Damean remained calm, though you could see his patience was beginning to wear, evidence given by his clenched jaw and pulsating vein in his temple. "Who did I kill, Legolas?" he asked softly.

Apparently, that one question in that certain tone, broke the young one, and he whispered, "My father. You killed my father." Legolas slid down the trunk of the tree, his forehead resting on his knees, his shoulders shaking with sobs.

Stepping forward, Thranduil replied, "Legolas, I am right here, ion nin!"

The young Elf lifted his head and narrowed his eyes at the blurry figure of his father. "Ada? Is it really you?"

"Aye, little one. 'Tis me." Thranduil knelt by the blonde archer and wrapped his arms around the younger Elf's thin, shaking shoulders.

"Oh, Ada! I thought I'd lost you!" Legolas said into his father's shirt.

"I will never leave. That I promise you!" Thranduil let his chin rest on Legolas' bowed head, and he smoothed the mussed hair. "Le melon, ion nin." (I love you, my son)

Damean stood off to the side, observing the father and his son. Why had his father never care about him that much? Why had his father only want power instead of love? Confused by the sudden emotions he was being subjected to, and not wanting anybody to see his confusion, the Haradrim pulled Legolas from the Elven King's grasp.

"Come now, Legolas. Let's get you washed up," the man said quietly. Legolas, still feeling dizzy from his highly unusual outburst, could only nod forlornly. "Elessar, come with us as well," Damean commanded.

Aragorn gathered a spare set of clothing and hurried to catch up with the pair. "Legolas, are you alright?" the man asked quietly once they were in the spring.

"Aye, Estel. I'm just a little upset. I have never been so scared in my life."

"What happened in your dream, mellon nin?" Aragorn asked hesitantly.

Legolas dipped his head under the water. "I saw Mirkwood burning," the Elf said when he had emerged. "I heard my people screaming from the pain. I saw — I saw my father murdered." Legolas paused, unsure if he could continue.

Aragorn, knowing he would never know if he let his older friend stop, urged, "Go on, Legolas."

"My mother appeared, telling me it was my fault that my father and my brothers were dead. She told me that my selfishness and pride were the things that had killed them." Legolas turned his soulful gaze upon the human. "Maybe she was right. Maybe I should just submit to it, to slavery."

Aragorn gasped, shocked at the revelation the Elf had just said. "Never, Legolas, never. Hebo estel." (Have hope)

Just then Legolas held up a hand to the man's mouth and cocked his head to the side. Damean, noticing the alert expression on the Elf's face, remained quiet. "Spiders," he muttered to Aragorn.

The human furrowed his brow and looked frantically around, anticipating an attack from the monstrous creatures. "Be silent, be still, and they will not know we are here," Legolas whispered to Aragorn's straining ears. The Elf held a slender finger to his lips; Damean nodded, showing he understood.

"Estel, they are moving toward the camp. We need to get there before they do!"

Elrohir groaned and sat up. His eyes refused to focus and his head was pounding like a hammer on an anvil. "Where am I?" Elrohir moaned.

"We just passed the Rohan boarders," a voice matching Elrohir's answered. Elladan halted the horses and grasped his twin's forearm. "How does your head feel, brother?"

"Like someone let a cave troll sit on it," Elrohir said and clenched his eyes shut, away from the blaring sun.

Elladan chuckled. "Can you hold your reins, brother, or do you need me to?"

"I can do it," Elrohir grumbled and snatched them from his twin's open hand. "Did you say we are in Rohan?"

"Yes," Elladan replied hesitantly. He knew what was coming next: a loud, possibly violent outburst from his brother, which would lead to more heavy silences and —

"WHAT! ROHAN! WHAT IN ELBERETH'S SWEET NAME ARE WE DOING IN ROHAN!" the younger Elf shouted.

"Brother dear, calm down. We are in Rohan to makes sure Estel's son is safe," Elladan explained calmly.

"But what about Legolas, Mirkwood, Estel? Are they safe?" Elrohir pressed.

"Not yet. We need to get Eldarion and alert Rohan if they have not been already. This Haradrim king has the intention of taking over Middle-Earth. We are going to prevent that from happening." Elladan, pleased about making his mini-speech with interruptions, was now gazing at his twin. Elrohir said nothing, just glared. "'Ro? Are you alright?"

"Don't talk to me," the younger twin said angrily.

"Aw, c'mon, 'Ro! We made the right decision." When Elrohir remained silent, Elladan said," You can't stay mad at me forever."

Elrohir huffed and turned his horse away. "You know I'll always love you, but right now I just don't like you."

Elladan shrugged. His brother would get over it. "Race you to the Golden Hall," the older Elf proposed.

Elrohir, although didn't show it, enjoyed the prospects of a challenge. "Eat my dust, brother!" he yelled and took off at a gallop. Elrohir's horse snorted and bucked slightly, happy to finally be able to stretch his legs.

A/N: So? Hate it? Love it? Too short? Not short enough? Review!

Challenge: I have written a line from a song by my favorite band, Relient K, in this chapter. The first person to find the line before I post the next chapter can ask me two question about the fic! I will answer truthfully to any question. (Hint: It's from their latest album. Happy Hunting!)

Very big thanks to all my reviewers! I know I'm horribly inconsistent at my updates, but I'm very, very, VERY grateful that you put up with me. You guys are the best! smoochies and huggles for everyone