Disclaimer: Still not mine.

A/N: I thought I posted this earlier. I'm really sorry. I have been extremely busy. I hope to update again soon though. Thanks for being so patient with me and for the reviews. I appreciate every one. Yes, I know I am a horrible person. Yes, I know I was very mean to Legolas. And I'm not finished. Lol. I promise the end will be happy…. Eventually…I think…. Maybe…

Yeah so, now, back to the story to find out what will happen with our friends. Read and Review.

Chapter 18

Betrayal of a Friend

Look at my face you pierce with a blank stare
No dream could prepare a heart for a lifeless friend.
He's gone. Nothing will take back time.
I need him back, but nothing will take back time.

I can see just fine with you in my life,
there by my side as it starts to fade
I know this can't be right, stuck in a dream
a nightmare full of sorrow
Nightmare full of pain…

Sorrow, sank deep inside my blood
all the ones around me, I cared for
and most of all I loved
but I can't see myself that way
please don't forget me
or cry while I'm away

-I Won't See You Tonight Part 2 - AVENGED SEVENFOLD

Linriel pulled her horse to a stop and dismounted. She had been traveling for four days with only a few small breaks in between. The journey was taking a toll on both her and her horse. With a sigh, she decided to rest for a few hours. At dawn, she would rise and continue her search for Legolas.

She leaned up against a tree and slowly drifted off to sleep. Her slumber did not last long, however. Her elven hearing quickly alerted her of approaching horses. Even in rest, Linriel was alert to her surroundings. She had learned that skill from Legolas many years ago when they had been captured by humans.

She opened her eyes slowly, listening careful to what she had heard. She could hear three or perhaps four horses approaching at moderate speed. Quickly weighing her options, Linriel decided to avoid any and all contact with whoever was approaching. If they were humans, she knew her elven horse could easily outrun them. She did not wish to find any trouble.

She quickly mounted her horse and spurred him into a gallop. He complied and raced across the ground. Linriel listened hard to make sure no one was following. To her dismay, however, she soon realized that someone was pursing her. It was but one horse now and by the sound of it, he was gaining on her.

Linriel bit her lip and she urged her horse faster.

"Noro lim, Fanor" Noro lim" (Ride faster.)

Still the horse and rider pursed her. Linriel risked a look back, wondering who was able to keep up with an elven horse and her expert riding abilities. Only a few feet behind her, Linriel saw a familiar elf. She groaned loudly as she recognized her follower.

She, however, did not wish for him to stop her. She knew what would happen if he did. She pushed her horse even faster, trying desperately to escape. Her efforts did not last long, however. The elf and his horse were soon beside her.

"Linriel, stop this horse." He commanded.

"I'm not going back to Rivendell. I have to find Legolas and you're not going to stop me." Linriel called, trying to move around the elf.

The elf however would not give up. "I did not ask you to come back. Stop your horse and let's talk."

Linriel sighed and reluctantly pulled her horse to a stop. "I'm not going back, Elrohir. So you might as well forget it."

Elrohir stopped his horse and walked him beside hers. As soon as he began to let his guard down, however, Linriel took her chance. Once again, she spurred her horse forward.

Elrohir sighed in disgust. He easily caught up with her and rode beside her. Linriel tried to move around him, but Elrohir reached out and grabbed the horse's mane.

"Fanor, DARO!" He commanded. (Stop)

The horse complied almost immediately, despite Linriel's objections. Elrohir dismounted and practically pulled Linriel off her horse.

"At least listen to me." Elrohir snapped at her, though he did not raise his voice.

Linriel sighed. "I already know what you are going to say and I'm sorry I ran off in the middle of the night like I did and made you worry. All I…"

"Linriel, would you listen to me. You don't know all of what I'm going to say." Elrohir interrupted.

Linriel raised an eyebrow. "And what are you going to say that I can't already guess." She challenged.

Elrohir sighed, knowing this would be hard to tell her. "It's something Legolas didn't want you to know."

Linriel stared at him confused. "What?" She asked slowly.

"Let's wait for Glorfindel and the others. I will tell you when we are all sitting together." Elrohir suggested.

Linriel looked at him, trying to read his eyes. She did not like the unsurety that was in his eyes and uneasiness that they held. "Has something befallen Legolas?"

Knowing how well Linriel could read him, Elrohir tried to keep his face void of emotions. "I do not know for certain."

Linriel remained quiet until Glorfindel and the other elves finally caught up to them.

"Now what did Legolas not want me to know?" She asked quickly.

Glorfindel looked at Elrohir in question.

"We have to tell her. She's his sister and the Princess of Mirkwood. She deserves to know." Elrohir said.

Glorfindel nodded with a sigh. "Linriel, let's sit down."

Linriel complied, fear beginning to rise her heart. Elrohir sat beside her and began to explain.

"Linriel, Mirkwood is in danger. That's why Legolas had to return home so quickly."

"What has happened?" Linriel asked, worry growing in her heart.

"Evil has come against your beloved home. Your friend Kalen came as a messenger to tell us."

Linriel nodded, knowing that Kalen had summoned Legolas home quickly, but not knowing the reason.

"He said orcs and spiders are attacking the woods like never before. What's worse is that they seem to be cooperating with one another."

"That's impossible. How could orcs and spiders work together?" Linriel asked.

"I know not." Elrohir replied shaking his head. "There seems to be more evil present here than any of us can see. Something is amiss here, but we fail to see what it is."

Linriel stayed silent, contemplating what Elrohir had said. "What of my father? How does he fare?"

Elrohir sighed, not wanting to lie to her, but also not wanting to tell her the truth that Kalen had told them.

"King Thranduil has missed you and Legolas very much." Glorfindel said suddenly, noting Elrohir's struggle.

Elrohir looked at him, sighing in relief.

"He believed you both to be dead and became weak because of his grief. Because of the trouble that Mirkwood has been having and the condition he was in, Kalen says he has grown weaker."

Linriel bit at her lip as her heart panicked.

Seeing the fear in Linriel's eyes, Glorfindel quickly reassured her. "However, Kalen returned and has no doubt already told him that both you and Legolas are well. Legolas is probably there with him now."

Glorfindel had added the last part even though his heart told him otherwise. He wanted to believe that with all his heart, but he feared it was not true.

"Legolas did not want you to worry and he didn't want you to come out here. We do not know what evil has been devastating Mirkwood. Until we know it is safe or at least until we unravel this mystery, you should stay out of Mirkwood."

Linriel looked up at the stars with a sigh. She understood Elrohir's fears and why she should stay in the safety of Rivendell. Yet as she looked up at the stars, dread filled her heart. It would be morning soon. How she had come to hate the mornings as of late. When she awoke, she would remember her dreams that had tormented her in the night. She was having them all the time now. Horrible dreams of Legolas in danger, being tortured, and even killed. With all her heart, she wanted to believe what Glorfindel had said. She hoped that Legolas was indeed safe in the Mirkwood palace, talking with their father, reestablishing control of Mirkwood. She longed to believe that, but her heart told her otherwise. Legolas was not safe at home. Legolas was in trouble; Legolas was dying.


The Ringwraith peered down at the petty human he had just broke. The human was now under his control. Though he had found nothing helpful from the human's mind, he still believed there was something he was not finding. He had to find it, the elf had to break. And the Nazgul knew exactly how he would break him. He knew the elf was strong, but he had an idea that would even break the strong will of the elf.

With the help of the human, he would leave the elf heartbroken and shattered. He would use their friendship to destroy them.

In the elf's dying breath, the wraith would be able to purge his mind and destroy him. He would tear every thought and memory from the elf and find what secret he held.

He smirked to himself. Pulling a dagger from the folds of his cloak, he bent down near the human. He placed one malicious hand on the man's shoulder. Dark eyes void of life or emotion came up to look at him.

"Slave!" The Nazgul hissed in a voice, deep and powerful. "I have thought of your first task as my servant." The Nazgul placed a dagger into the ranger's hands. "Prove your worth by taking this knife and driving it through the elf. Make him suffer."

The broken human clutched the dagger tightly in his hand. "Yes master." He whispered. He quickly rose to his feet and walked towards the bound elf.

Legolas had been tied down on his back with arms painfully outstretched above his head. He looked up at Aragorn in fear and shock. He could not believe the human, his friend, was going through with this. He knew the human was being controlled, but seeing his friend approach him with the knife, Legolas could not help but feeling betrayed. He watched as Aragorn bent down beside him and raised the knife in the air.

"Estel don't do it!" Legolas screamed. "We are friends, Estel. You are being controlled by the Nazgul."

The ranger's hand hesitated, though no emotion showed in his eyes.

"Don't let him control you." Legolas pleaded. "Lasto beth nin, tolo dan nan nglad."

For a moment, the darkness in the human's eyes faded and Legolas saw a glimpse of the friend he knew. But as suddenly as it came, it left. Before Legolas could even react, the man plunged the knife deep into Legolas' stomach.

Legolas gasped in pain, as his eyes clouded over. He swallowed hard and focused his eyes on the man. "Mellon, saes…" (Friend, please…") He could barely form the words, but his pleading eyes held every word he could not say.

The ranger looked down at him with no regret or sympathy. "DIE!" He hissed in a cold evil voice.

It broke Legolas heart, hearing his friend utter that word. Not bearing to look his friend in the eyes any longer, he turned his face to the Nazgul.

"You are nothing elf. Even your dearest friend has betrayed you." The Nazgul hissed right into Legolas' mind.

"Curse you, you spawn of Morgoth!" Legolas spat with all the strength he could muster.

The Wraith bent down by him. "You are not as strong as you think. You are weak! You cannot fight."

Legolas glared at the creature with all the hate he had.

The Nazgul, however, did not notice. He reached down and grabbed the hilt of the knife. He twisted hard, digging it deeper into Legolas' stomach.

Legolas clenched his teeth to keep from screaming in pain. His breathing hitched and he struggled to gain his breath. Oxygen wouldn't seem to come. Legolas began to panic from the pain and lack of breath.

The Nazgul tore the knife from Legolas stomach, making blood flow freely. Legolas let out a small cry of pain as a blinding light came over him. The last thing he saw was the cruel, unmerciful eyes of his friend, before darkness took him.