Disclaimer: See one of the previous chapters.
A/N: Okay here is the next chapter. Angst warning on this one. Also, this is going to be the last update for a while. Saturday I am leaving to fly to Japan and will be there for about ten days. I will come back, but I am leaving pretty much right after to go visit some relatives. I hope to update on the 25th, but I don't know if I will have the time. Then I will be gone another week. Hopefully I will have the time to update. If worse comes to worse I can have my best friend update the story for me. The good news is that all the chapter have been written. I have completed this story. So enjoy because not much is left. Thanks for all the reviews. I appreciate them all.
Chapter 31
Painful memories
And I can't stand the pain
And I can't make it go away
No I can't stand the pain
How could this happen to me
I made my mistakes
I've got no where to run
The night goes on
As I'm fading away
I'm sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me…
…So I try to hold onto a time when nothing mattered
And I can't explain what happened
And I can't erase the things that I've done
No I can't
-Simple Plan - Untitled
Legolas dismounted quickly from his horse and walked up the steps to the palace. Two other elves followed him inside, while the rest of the elves took the horses to the stables to be tended. The palace was quiet and seemed eerily lonely as Legolas walked towards his father's study. It made a slight shiver run up his spine. He knew most of the elves were out fighting in the war or in areas most needed around the palace, but it still felt awkward. Before long, however, he was knocking on the door to his father's study. No one answered so Legolas pushed the door open slightly.
"Ada?"
He looked around, but no one was in there. He closed the door and considered where his father would be at this time of night.
"Prince Legolas, it is good to have you back." A guard called as he passed the elf.
Legolas nodded to him. "Have you seen my father?"
"I believe he is out in the garden." The guard replied.
Legolas bowed his head slightly. "Thank you."
He walked quickly towards the garden and found his father sitting quietly by the rose bushes. This place was his mom's favorite area. She would sit out here for hours, reading or playing with her children. She loved the roses and the fragrant scent of the beautiful garden. For a long time after she died, Thranduil could not bear to come out here, but he had ordered the garden to be taken care of and kept beautiful. He wanted to keep his wife's favorite place just the way she liked it. Now, however, the bushes were all wilted and dying for no one had been caring for them, but the king did not seem to notice. He just sat there, staring off into space. Legolas held his hand up to the guards, telling them to stay where they were. Then he proceeded alone towards his father.
"Ada?"
Thranduil looked up and smiled. "Legolas, I'm glad you are back. Any news?"
"Not much. There are still scattered groups of orcs around defending their areas. It's eerily quiet, just like everyone else has been reporting." Legolas informed quickly. He really did not pay much attention to what he was saying and he doubted if his father was even listening. "Ada are you all right?"
"Yes, ion nin. I am fine. I was just getting some fresh air."
Legolas nodded his head. "Naneth use to say that this place could always bring her peace."
A smile crossed Thranduil's face. "Yes, she did. That's why I wanted to come out here for a minute. It seems she was right."
Legolas smiled. "When was she ever wrong?"
Thranduil chuckled lightly. It was a sound Legolas had not heard for a very long time. With a smile, Thranduil embraced his son. "I'm glad you are back. We will have a meeting tomorrow afternoon to discuss our plan."
Legolas nodded his head.
"Oh and by the way." Thranduil added. "You have visitors waiting to see you."
Legolas' eyes brightened in a questioning gaze.
"The twins arrived about a week ago. Elladan was injured, but he has recovered well." Thranduil informed.
Legolas smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Ada. I will go see them now." With that, he turned and walked away. He dismissed the elves that had been following him, informing them of the meeting tomorrow and telling them to get some much needed rest. With that, he set off to find the twins. He soon found them in their usual assigned rooms in the palace. From outside the door he could hear them talking. He listened for a moment and heard them talking about some kind of strategy. They seemed to be looking at a map and trying to find a plan to bring up at the meeting tomorrow. Quietly, he knocked on the door.
"Come in." Elladan called from inside.
Legolas opened the door a crack. "Planning mischief, I presume?"
"Legolas!" Both twins exclaimed together as they jumped up.
Legolas smiled and embraced them both. "It's great to see you. Are you well?"
Both twins nodded. "Elladan is recovering from an injury and he insists that he is perfectly fine, but I think it still hurts him and he just doesn't want to admit it."
Elladan smacked his brother playfully, and then looked back at Legolas. "I'm fine, really."
Legolas laughed. "Glad to hear it."
"What about you?" Elrohir asked.
"I am all right."
Elrohir smirked. "Well you won't be after El and I get through with you."
Legolas looked at him, curious as to what teasing remark would follow.
"We entrust you to take care of our little brother and what do you do? You lock him in the dungeon." Elladan said, finishing his brother's words.
Legolas shrugged. "I had to keep him out of trouble. I never signed up for a babysitting job. It's a full time job watching out for that human."
The twins laughed. "If you put it that way, I guess we understand." Elladan said, laughing.
"Why didn't I ever think of that when he was younger and we had to be constantly watching him?" Elrohir remarked.
Legolas laughed, but then asked, concerned. "How is he doing?"
"As well as he can in a jail cell. I know he'll be happy to see you." Elrohir replied.
Legolas nodded. "Then let's go."
The twins nodded and followed him towards the jail cell. Estel embraced him as soon as he was able and asked how everything was going.
For the next two hours, the four updated each other on anything they knew and plans they were considering.
Then for some time, they all fell silent. Legolas stared silently at the wall, thinking of his mother. He wondered how often Thranduil thought of her and knew it was probably even more than he did. He looked at the others, quietly wondering what was going through everyone else's minds. Being back with his three friends brought a smile to his face. He thought briefly about everything they had all been through the past few months. His thoughts went back to his and Aragorn's capture with the Ringwraith, and he swallowed hard. Finally, he broke the silence between them all with a question that had been weighing on his heart.
"Estel, when we were captured, what happened after…" He paused for a moment to consider his words. "After I was stabbed with the knife?"
Aragorn looked at him, the guilt clearly shown in his eyes. "Do you not remember?"
Legolas shook his head. "No. No matter how hard I try, I can't remember anything that happened in those two days. The only thing I remember was waking up here."
Aragorn swallowed hard and looked away. "Perhaps it is better that way."
Elrohir looked hard at his brother. The pain that was in the human's eyes ripped his heart.
Legolas placed his hand on the ranger's arm. "Estel, please. I have to know what happened."
Aragorn did not look away from the wall. His body trembled slightly beneath Legolas' touch. Tears began to fill his eyes as he recalled the events that took place after he had stabbed his friend. That had only been the beginning of the pain he had caused Legolas. He closed his eyes tightly and despite his wish to suppress it, the memory vividly replayed in his mind.
Legolas screamed as the hot coal was pressed against his wound. The searing pain crudely closed his knife wound while getting the desired effect of pain. Aragorn barely reacted to the elf's scream and only peered down with cold, careless eyes into the pain filled eyes of the elf. He looked up as the Nazgul approached.
"I have done as you asked, master. His wound is sealed for now."
The creature nodded and bent down. He stared at the elf for a few moments, but stood in frustration. Even in his state of mind, Aragorn could tell the Wraith was getting nowhere with the elf and that angered him.
"Question him. I want to know who he is and what secret he holds."
Aragorn nodded at the order. As his master left, his lifeless eyes turned back on the elf. He needed to do whatever it took to break the elf for he knew his master did not react well to failure. It was simply not an option.
"Sidh, Estel!" (Peace)
Aragorn was drawn from his memory as heard Elrohir talking beside him. He did not even realize that his whole body was shaking.
"What is it, Estel? What happened?" Elladan asked, concerned as to what caused such a reaction in his brother.
Legolas still looked at Aragorn with curious eyes, pleading with the human to tell him what he knew.
Aragorn felt a hot tear run down his face. He felt Legolas gently squeeze his hand and he took a deep breath.
"You were so strong, Legolas." Aragorn looked at his friend with admiration in his eyes. "No matter what the wraith…" Aragorn paused and looked down. "…or what I did to you, you would not break." Aragorn swallowed hard and clenched his fists.
"I do not blame you, Estel. Do not lay the blame on yourself. The only one to blame is that evil creature." Legolas reassured.
Aragorn did not smile at the reassurance of his friend, but he was grateful. "For two days, the Nazgul used unthinkable ways to torture you. He used me against you, hoping it would make you break." Another tear fell down Aragorn's cheek. "I could see the pain it put you through, not so much what we did, but that I was the one doing it."
Legolas' eyes were filled with tears. Slowly, he was beginning to remember. He now knew why his mind had blocked those two days from his memory. It had been too painful to remember.
"At one time, he brought another elf into the camp. When he saw you, the elf's eyes filled with sadness. He told you something in elvish, but what it was, I do not remember."
"No bell, nin caun. No beren. Im innas dinen. Gwestan." Legolas muttered and as he remembered, a tear fell from his eyes. (Be strong, my prince. Be bold. I will stay quiet. I promise.)
No one said a word until Legolas spoke again.
"He did stay quiet. Never uttered a word to the Nazgul, except with his dying breath, he cursed him."
Aragorn nodded but he could not keep his hands from trembling. If Legolas remembered that, then his friend would know whose hand it was that killed the brave elf. "I'm sorry, Legolas."
Legolas nodded, knowing what Aragorn was apologizing for, but at the moment not able to speak.
No one spoke for a minute, until Elladan's curiosity finally got the best of him. "What happened that made the Nazgul leave?" He asked. He had heard the story that when Kalen found the prince, the Ringwraith was nowhere to be found.
Aragorn made no indication he had even heard his brother's question. He simply stared at the wall ahead of him. Finally, he spoke. "Shortly after the elf was killed, another Nazgul rode into the camp. They talked for a moment about needing to regroup and discuss their plans. The one seemed to have orders from another, so despite the one Nazgul's wishes, he had to follow. He left soon after, but he spoke to the orcs and to me before he did. He told the orcs that if the human or elf got away or were rescued, they would pay dearly. Then he told me that if someone tried to rescue the elf, I was to kill him before they were able to. I nodded and watched as he left. A few hours later, Kalen and his elves rode into our camp and began to kill the orcs." Aragorn took a deep breath. "I did as the Nazgul commanded, but thank the Valar, Kalen stopped me before I could."
Legolas squeezed Aragorn's hand. "Thank the Valar, Kalen did not kill you with his arrow."
"It should have killed me, but the Wraith wanted me alive to continue to do his will. He still believed there was some use for me." Aragorn took a deep breath and stared back at the wall. "That's why I fear I am still under his control. I fear he may still have a use for me."
Elladan shook his head. "That is not possible. If you were under his control, how would you be able to think and make decisions for yourself? How would your compassion, your kindness, and your humor be able to show through?"
Aragorn shrugged, but did not speak. He hoped his brother was right.
A few minutes later the guard, Netelth, stood by the door of the cell. He shifted uneasily on his feet and he played with his hands in front of him as he spoke.
"I'm sorry, my prince, but visiting hours are over. It is time for you and your friends to leave the cell."
Legolas looked up at him with a glare. "Excuse me? Visiting hours?"
"Yes, sire. I have never allowed visitors in here at this time of night. It was always King Thranduil's rule, in case of jail breaks or something."
Legolas rolled his eyes. "We'll make an exception this time."
The guard seemed unsatisfied. "Sir, I…"
"Lock the door for all we care, but in any case, none of us are leaving tonight. We will stay here together."
The guard swallowed. "But only three are allowed to a cell, except under the unlikely circumstance of not having enough cells."
"Netelth!" Legolas raised his voice in frustration. "My friends and I are staying here the night. If there is any problem with that, I will be the one responsible. Do I make myself clear?"
The guard nodded. "Yes, sir." He hesitated for a moment before turning to leave. He left the cell door cracked opened, obviously unable to lock it knowing the prince was inside.
As soon as the guard had left, Elladan looked at Legolas with a glare. "So now you are keeping us as prisoners, too?"
"Forcing us to stay a night in a jail cell." Elrohir added, backing up his brother.
The corners of Legolas' lips rose into a smile. "I had to do something to make sure you two didn't cause any trouble as well."
"My brothers cause trouble?" Aragorn asked in his lighthearted humor. "How absurd."
Legolas couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh, come on. We're perfect little angels." Elrohir defended.
Aragorn snickered and muttered under his breath. "Little demons."
Elladan jabbed him in the ribs. "I heard that."
Aragorn put on his best innocent face. "Heard what?"
"Oh, don't you play innocent." Legolas commented. "You're just as bad as they are."
"If you think we're bad, you should see yourself." Elrohir responded.
They all continued to laugh and joke, jabbing each other in the ribs or playfully smacking one another in the head. Finally, the laughter ceased as they all sat worn out.
"We should get some rest." Legolas finally said. "We need our minds fresh for tomorrow."
"Yes, mother." Elladan sassed.
Legolas glared at him. "Well, I am the oldest and therefore the wisest."
The others laughed and coughed to mutter under their breath.
"Wise is not the word I would use." Elladan muttered.
"Wise? Since when?" Elrohir asked.
"Somehow I don't believe that." Aragorn retorted.
Legolas just shook his head, not willing to get into another argument. "Say what you like, but I'll just be the smart one and go to sleep."
Despite their comments, the others agreed with Legolas and decided it was a good idea to get some rest. Eventually, all of them settled down against the wall, happy to be together.
A few hours later, Legolas awoke in a panicked fear. For a moment, he could not recall where he was or why he was in a jail cell, but his fears quickly diminished as he saw the others beside him. Still, even with his friends, he hated the look of this place. There were no windows for light from outside to creep in, nor was there any way to heat the place. It was cold, damp and dark, just like any normal dungeon would be. The fact that he had slept here willing, and even been able to sleep at all, amazed him. He rose and stretched, deciding he should get ready for the meeting that afternoon. As he left the cell, he noticed Elrohir awake and looking at him. He smiled at Legolas and mouthed a good morning. He dared not move for Aragorn was asleep next to him, lying against his shoulder and Elladan was lying against Aragorn's shoulder. Legolas smiled.
"There will be a meeting this afternoon." Legolas whispered almost silently.
"Elladan and I will be there." Elrohir whispered back. Then added, "If these two lazy bums don't sleep the whole morning."
Legolas smiled and nodded his head.
