Author's Note

So I am posting a day earlier than I had planned. It is always so exciting to post, but ...it's even more exciting to hear feedback! Is anyone out there still reading? I would love to hear what you think. I hope that all is well with you all (that is whoever may be reading this note...) and that you enjoy the next chapter. Well, let's get on with it then ...!

-Athena

Four
Legolas closed his eyes, willing his concentration to hold. With the conclusion of dinner came the commencement of discussion, serious discussion. Legolas observed now, as Aragorn spoke across a large, circular table to a captive audience. At the head seat was King Elimerel himself. To Aragorn's right sat Dalinor. Various elf captains from the ranks of Elimerel's guard occupied the remaining three seats. Legolas shifted slightly, barely betraying his discomfort. Dalinor's gaze had been fixed on him since the meal had ended and though he did well in hiding it, Legolas was growing steadily perturbed by the rude gesture. Aragorn was saying something about Elladan and Elrohir, something more about Gandalf…his friend was very careful to give only so much information. It did not surprise the elf that Aragorn played the role of Strider to this court, it was imperative that his true identity remain concealed for as long as possible. And most importantly, he spoke nothing of…the ring. The One ring that Gandalf had spoken of, warned them of. The ring that at that very moment, not be known to the companions before Elimerel's court, was being kept by a hobbit who would come to play a much larger role before the end.

Maybe the weariness of the weeks travel was finally catching hold of him.

Their wounds had been dressed and for that he was thankful. The meal had been excellent, far better than the lembas rations they had grown accustomed to in their short journey.

"Legolas?"

His eyes shot open. Six pairs of eyes were fixed on him, as if expectantly waiting some sort of response. He cast Aragorn a questioning stare.

Aragorn narrowed his eyes in confusion. It was near impossible to catch an elf off his guard, let alone to catch Legolas off of his guard. " The orcs, what did you make of them?" He repeated, masking concern with casual patience.

"They bore the white hand of Saruman, a sign that can only lead us to believe that Saruman is in fact allied with the Dark Lord." Legolas responded, coolly.

" This is ill news indeed, for the White Wizard is a terrible force to reckon with." Elimerel replied, his face grim, his words low.

Aragorn watched the King's reaction closely. " My lord, we must find Mithrandir. If the dark Lord has indeed returned and the legends are true, we have no hope without him. I believe he has been taken to Isengard."

Silence ensured, a long, tense absence of speech.

"I suggest that the two of you get some sleep. You are weary with travel and your wounds require rest for healing. I will consider all that you have told me and will inform you of Lamias' decision on the morrow. Of course, Lamias will stand by Lord Elrond and his allies, but in what manner we will support, that has yet to be determined." Elimerel stood smoothly, everyone at the table followed suit, chairs slid against the smooth wood floor. " Until then do not be troubled. You are safe here. Do not hesitate if you need something, my people will see to it."

"Thank you," Both Aragorn and Legolas replied, bowing curtly.

With that, they turned to exit the meeting room, followed closely by the three less familiar elves. Dalinor remained and now, turned to his guests.

"I will show you to your chambers."

Legolas closed his eyes briefly, steadied himself, then followed after Dalinor who had not noticed.

It had been nearly impossible to notice Legolas' slight hesitation. But only nearly, for Aragorn was observing him now, very closely, a shadow of concern growing in his mind. A sudden wave of…dizziness? Had he risen too quickly? The blood loss had not been much, and as an elf he would heal quickly. He would question the elf later, but for the present he would remain as alert as possible.

To put it simply, he did not trust the King of Lamias.

There was something in his eyes at the mention of Isengard, something hidden behind the gray, attentive spheres. He had not been surprised as the other captains had. Something was not right….

"Legolas-"

No response.

"Legolas?"

The elf stirred slightly.

Aragorn frowned in disapproval. He had only been gone a moment, a quick survey of their surroundings after Dalinor had left them to their room. They were in the hollow of a great tree, as all of the sleeping quarters were. The Lamias elves were a quiet, mysterious people. Save for the central structure of Lisabeth, where the throne room and meeting hall were constructed, the settlement was composed of the clustered and ancient trees of the Firien Wood. They were mostly hollowed at the trunk, large enough to fit several elves. The arrangement suited them well as it provided not only shelter but protection as, on the outside, the trees seemed nothing more than that. Had it not been for Lisabeth, the city would seem nothing more than a glowing grove. He had left Legolas but for a moment, and now returned to find the elf lying on his small bed, deeply lost in what seemed to be sleep. His eyes were shut…elves did not sleep with their eyes shut.

"Legolas!" Aragorn tried once more, this time sitting at the bed's edge and shaking his friend lightly.

Legolas blinked in confusion, his eyes clouded with weariness and fatigue. Slowly the mist lifted and his vision cleared. "What is it? Why must you behave so coarsely!" Legolas scowled, Aragorn's calls roaring in his brain. " …like an edan…" he mumbled, as though sincerely annoyed.

"I am an edan, Legolas," Aragorn replied, gently. The words would not have stung had he known it to be humor. But Legolas' mood was strange to him. Aragorn straightened as Legolas sat up, appearing to be fully awake. "Listen to me, my friend. There is evil here, I am certain o fit."

Legolas waited patiently for an explanation. " I do not trust Elimerel. To begin with, the news of Saruman's betrayal was no surprise, I saw it in his eyes. And secondly, Elrohir. Elimerel implied that Elrohir had come to this place and left, leading us to believe that he had befallen some peril on the way to Mirkwood. Tonight I have found his track, from the illusioned tree gate, but have found no tracks out of this cursed city…"

Legolas' eyes widened in disbelief. " You are suggesting that Elrohir is still here?" his voice was but a whisper. Aragorn did not respond, his silence spoke volumes. "This is ridiculous, Aragorn." Legolas murmured, swinging his legs to the side of the bed, then rising to pace the room. "Elimerel is a friend to Mirkwood and Rivendell."

"I do not pretend to know the extent of his belligerence, but I promise you, Legolas, Elrohir is here, I know it."

"You are a fool, Aragorn. Elrohir is not here, Elimerel is not evil. It cannot be, he is a just king and a friend to my father-" His voice was steadily rising.

"Peace, Legolas. Do you doubt my skill as a tracker?"

At this Legolas' eyes narrowed. "It is not your skill alone that I have doubted." Suddenly the world was spinning. Such a strange sensation. He did not intend for these words to flow, did not believe them in his heart….spinning out of control, what a strange sensation…control…

The bitter sting of his words cut through Aragorn's heart like a knife. It shocked him what power the opinion of his friend had over him. This is not like Legolas, there is something out of place, some ill… "Do you doubt our friendship then? Do you no longer trust to my word?"

"Aragorn, yours is but the word of a mortal, despite your misconceived notions of identity. What is the word of mortal to the word of an elf King?"

Aragorn bit his lip and rose abruptly, desperately fighting the wave of rage and anger with threatened to crash down upon them. A moment later the wave ebbed, but only slightly. The pain was raw and struggled to keep his composure. Suddenly, anger mingled to something far worse, far more destructive, fear.

Legolas could not comprehend the words escaping his own lips. He trembled slightly, then, with effort, spoke once more. He felt for a brief moment the semblance of a lost control. "Forgive me, Estel…I am not myself…" He mumbled, overwhelmingly light headed. Aragorn's anger gave way to desperate worry as the color drained from the elves face. He took a step forward, in time to catch Legolas as his knees went numb beneath him.

"Legolas!" He exclaimed, helping his friend to stand.

Legolas closed his eyes for a moment, drawing in a deep breath. If only the world would stop spinning. "Something…is amiss…it will pass-"

Aragorn helped him to his bed and then sat down beside him on the edge, his eyes wide with concern and fear. "Are you alright? Take some rest, Legolas. You are not well," he spoke soothingly, a reassuring hand on the elf's trembling shoulder.

Legolas nodded wearily, opening his eyes. He was relieved to find that his vision was clearing. "There, it has passed," he mumbled. "Perhaps you are correct in your suspicions, Estel. There is some evil at work here," he found his voice, feeling the clarity return to him.

Aragorn sighed in relief. Legolas was himself again, but whatever dark influence held him, the grip was tightening. Their time was running thin. "What could be causing these spells? A poison perhaps?"

"Perhaps, the effects are subtle and are only now growing more intense. The attacks began after the meal," Legolas replied. He breathed in deeply before continuing. "They seem to come in waves, swelling, crashing and then ebbing until I feel as though nothing is wrong." The vertigo still loomed too close for comfort, but he pushed his discomfort aside. At least for the moment control was his. Their situation required immediate action.

"Then it is settled. We cannot trust them. For I believe Elimerel to be holding Elrohir captive in this very city. We cannot leave before we search for him. I feel it in my heart, Legolas. He is near-"

"Then we will search, now. We will find him and we will escape to warn Lord Elrond," Legolas replied, finding his strength and rising from the bed.

Aragorn did not protest, though the fear in his heart for Legolas was amplified ten fold. Legolas hated to be coddled, and for him to admit his ailment worried Aragorn deeply. Elimerel would pay severely for the suffering Legolas was enduring. Aragorn knew well that Legolas needed healing herbs that had been left with the horses. It was the only way to counteract whatever poison they had given him. Until then, he would keep a close eye on the young prince.

Dalinor strode briskly down the dew glistened path. The sun had not yet risen and he had need of great haste. He had received the summons just minutes before and left his watch at the northern end to his second in command. Arriving at a flight of stairs, he quickly ascended and nodded curtly to two guards who stood tall at the door. They had been expecting him and opened the doors, bidding him enter.

"Captain Dalinor, how fare our guests. Has the task been accomplished?"

The room was dimly lit. It was the private meeting hall of the King, in the dark corridors of Lisabeth. The room opened out to a large dais overlooking the glimmering city below. King Elimerel stood on the dais, his face partially hidden in the shadows cast by the flickering flames of candles lit strategically around the chamber. Dalinor took another step in and the doors were closed securely behind him. He stood now, hands behind his back in obedience. He gave a respectful bow before proceeding to speak.

"It has been done as you have commanded, my lord. The elixir has been included in their cups at the meal and they have taken it without suspicion."

He knew that Elimerel had no love for the race of men, and with good reason. Men were corrupt, power hungry. They cared not for the preservation of Middle Earth, only for their own selfish gains. He had heard the tales of old countless times over, how evil was allowed to survive and how the strength of men failed. But to harm Legolas, the son of their ally, this he could not condone. He would not keep his silence. "What must be done to the edan I understand, but he is an elf, my lord, one of our own. And a prince, no less. The potion is powerful and in too large a quantity, lethal. Surely-"

"Silence Dalinor, have you heard nothing of what I have just told you? The time for alliance has ended. Legolas and his people, our supposed kin, desire to leave Middle Earth, to give it up to the evil and corruptive ambition of men. They are cowards and deserve not the right to travel to the Grey Havens, if my opinion may be heard. I curse Lord Elrond and Thranduil. They are fools," Elimerel snarled viciously, turning briefly from the servant to look outward from the dais.

Dalinor's jaw hung slack with shock. He remained silent, confounded by the harsh words .

"The time for diplomacy has ended, Dalinor." Elimerel continued.

"Then you would join with Saruman and so with the Dark Lord Sauron, the greatest of evils? Surely you know that this corruption runs far deeper than any mankind could evoke," Dalinor erupted, no longer able to bite his tongue.

Elimerel did not chide him. He did not turn from the dais, only spoke in a low voice. "We will use Saruman. I will have the ring and with it I will destroy all that oppose me. An alliance with Saruman is necessary only until I have what I want. None can contend with the power of the One ring…"

Dalinor could not stifle a gasp. " You would wield the One ring…" He repeated. "But when…how?"

"Why do you think the gray wizard has vanished? He found the ring, and the edan knows of it. Legolas too, I would venture. They will tell us what they know, the elixir will see to that. Saruman does not realize that I am aware of this, he underestimates us, wishes to bend us to his bidding. He would have this ranger and the ring and would overthrow Sauron himself. That is his purpose. He is a fool, I have lived far too long to be manipulated by such antics." With that he turned suddenly, then paced across the floor.

Dalinor remained still as stone, trying to comprehend what he was hearing. He knew of his King's hatred and distrust of men, but he never imagined that the days of darkness would arrive so swiftly. He was young, by elf reckoning, and had not lived during the era of the first war. It was as much a myth to him as to many of his people. As a result of the war, they had lived in seclusion, total isolation in the Firien Wood for thousands of years. Only recently had Elimerel opened the lines of communication with the other Elvin cities and finally Dalinor understood his intention. Intelligence.

"What say you, Captain Dalinor? Your king now stands alone in the face of a great darkness. Do you stand by your king?" Dalinor was suddenly aware of Elimerel's icy glare fixed on his stoic face.

He nodded once, forcing himself to believe it. " I am ever on the side of light, majesty."

Thanks for reading! Looks like Elrohir is in a bit of trouble...hmm...tbc