Disclaimer: I now own everything because I purchased everything to do with LOTR at a small store in the mountains of North Carolina. It's all mine. Oh and yes, I purchased the song to. That's mine.

A/N: Well, I'm finally home. I've had many adventures, but it is nice to be home. I'm going to finish this story pretty quickly now. I've already started working on the next one. So enjoy this and continue to review. I love hearing what everyone has to say.

Chapter 33

Last Hope

Why does it feel like night today?
Something in here's not right today.
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia's all I got left
I don't know what stressed me first
Or how the pressure was fed
But I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
Like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face watches every time I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
(And watches everything)

So I know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is hearing me
Right beneath my skin

It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
-Paper cut - Linkin Park

As the morning dawned, Aragorn waited for what seemed like forever in his cell. Finally, he heard the guard coming towards his cell to bring him his breakfast. Instead of being the guard Netelth, however, it was some guard Aragorn had never met.

"Where is Netelth this morning?"

The guard glared at him. "That's not of your business, Edan!"

Aragorn bit his lip. He needed to talk with Netelth. The guard knew him and if Aragorn could convince anyone to let him out, Netelth would be the one.

"Please, could you tell me where he is? He is usually here at this time." Aragorn persisted.

"Silence, prisoner, before I have you punished for misbehavior." The guard spat as he opened the cell door and placed a plate of food near Aragorn.

Aragorn sighed at the treatment he was receiving from this guard. He had the feeling that things could easily go from bad to worse if he did anything to upset the guard. "May I then please talk with Prince Legolas?"

"No prisoner is allowed to speak with the Prince of Mirkwood."

"Legolas is my friend. I need to speak with him."

Aragorn's head snapped to the side from the blow the guard delivered him.

"How dare you speak about the Prince so casually! You have no right. The prince would never befriend an Edan the likes of you."

Aragorn licked blood away from his lip and looked back up at the guard. "I do not mean to cause any trouble, but there is an important matter that I need to speak with either Netelth or the Prince about."

"You will speak to no one." The guard said as he closed the door to the jail cell. "Enjoy your meal."

Aragorn looked down at the plate of food the guard had left. "How am I suppose to eat it?" He asked, pulling on the chains that the guard had forgotten to unfasten.

The guard looked at him and shrugged. "Not my problem. I was told to bring you your food today and stand guard of the jail cell. They mentioned nothing of unchaining you."

Aragorn bit his tongue to keep from saying something out of anger. "Look, I don't know what it is about me that troubles you, but I am not a bad man. Prince Legolas' life may be in grave danger. That's what I wanted to talk to him or Netelth about. At the very least could you pass my message along to one of them or even the king himself?"

The guard laughed. "A warning from a prisoner? Now that's one I've never heard before."

"This isn't a joking matter." Aragorn said becoming frustrated. "Your king and prince are in danger."

The guard rolled his eyes. "Amin feuya ten' lle, Edan." (You disgust me, human.) He did not expect Aragorn to understand him, but was surprised at Aragorn's retort that was said in perfect elvish.

"You are the one that disgusts me, for you seem not to even care for the lives of your king and prince."

The guard stared him. A human prisoner knowing the elvish tongue was not at all what he expected. It bewildered him. When he finally spoke again, he spoke in elvish to test the human. "And why would you care for those who have imprisoned you?"

"Prince Legolas is my friend. I would never wish any harm to come to him." Aragorn replied softly in the elvish tongue.

The guard stared at him for a minute, not sure whether to believe what he said or disregard every word. "If what you speak is true, then you are too late. Prince Legolas has already left."

Aragorn's face fell. "We have to find them. They are in danger."

"They are going to safety, Edan. Shows how much you know."

"I believe there is a traitor in their midst. I have to go help them." Aragorn continued to plead.

The guard rolled his eyes. "A traitor among the elves? Next, you'll be telling me that the traitor is Legolas' best friend, Salien." He said with a laugh.

Aragorn bit his lip. This was not working. He would have to do something else, come up with some other plan to get the guard to free him or even believe him. "Please, I beg you. Let me talk with Netelth."

The guard only rolled his eyes again. "I have had enough of you, human. I have better things to do."

"Wait!" Aragorn called. The guard, however, did not turn. He walked back up the stairs, leaving a distraught Aragorn chained to the wall.


Legolas stared at the trees above him as he rode quietly towards the cave. His father was at his left, one guard was behind him and Salien rode ahead of them.

"It's been a long time since we've been down this way." Salien said, as if reading Legolas' thoughts.

"Yes, it has been." Legolas answered.

Salien slowed his horse so he could ride beside his friend.

"I miss those old days." Legolas said as he looked at his friend.

Salien nodded. "They disappeared far too fast, especially for you."

Legolas looked away into the trees. "I had duties." He said simply.

Salien nodded. "After your mother died you were forced to grow up and never had any more time to be an elfling."

Legolas looked down slightly. Salien was right. When his mother had been alive, Legolas remembered having duties and schooling, but he always had time to be an elfing. His parents would spend their evenings with their children and sometimes they would go on hikes and picnics. They always did whatever they could to ensure that their children felt secure and loved. After his mother died, however, Legolas' life became a jumbled mess of schooling and duties. Burdened with his pain and grief and a sense of having to please his father, Legolas secluded himself from most of the world. He was forced into a life of adulthood. He lost his relationship with his father and soon became angry and bitter at his father. Those years had been hard years, and one of the only things that gave the prince joy in that time was Linriel.

Legolas did whatever he could to look out for her and give her as much of a childhood as he could. At times, she was the only reason he did not just give up on everything. She kept him going.

"It should have never been that way." Thranduil, who had been quietly listening the whole time, spoke up.

Legolas looked up at his father and smiled at him. "But at least things worked out."

Thranduil squeezed his son's shoulder. "I'm very proud of you, Legolas. I always have been."

Legolas grinned. "Even the times I still act like an elfling?"

Thranduil chuckled. "Even then, ion nin." Despite Thranduil's lectures to Legolas telling him to act his age or to quit with the games, Thranduil was happy that his son still had a bit of the child in him. It had taken a while to revive that lively spirit and Thranduil was pleased.


Aragorn stared at the wall for what seemed like hours. When he heard footsteps coming near his cell, he barely even turned his eyes.

"I don't even get a 'hello' today?"

Aragorn looked up to see Netelth opening his cell door. "Netelth! Where were you this morning?"

"King Thranduil had me doing some other stuff this morning. I sent Finalwen as my replacement today. I hope he didn't give you too much trouble." The guard replied.

"Listen, we have a problem. I think someone in the palace is a traitor and wants to kill the King." Aragorn spoke up, knowing he didn't have much time.

"What are you talking about?"

"I warned Legolas not to travel out to some cave yesterday, but he wouldn't listen. I think it's a setup." Aragorn replied.

"What makes you think that?" Netelth asked curiously.

"I can't really explain it to you. I have a bad feeling about one of the elves. I think he might be working for the Nazgul." Aragorn told him.

Netelth stared at him for a moment. "If you are referring to Salien then I don't believe you are right. He often considers himself to be Prince Legolas' bodyguard. He will follow the prince around and will usually stand in the shadows so he can look out for the prince. If you suspect him just because he has been lurking in the shadows, then I assure you, there is no need to worry."

Aragorn stared at him a moment, then shook his head. "No, it's more than that. King Thranduil and Prince Legolas are in danger. The Nazgul wants them and he will do whatever he can do to get them."

Netelth unlocked the cell door and stepped inside the cell. "If what you say is true, what do you want to do about it?"

"You have to release me. I am a ranger. I can track them easily and will be able to find them quickly." Aragorn tried to convince.

"I can't release you. I have been ordered to keep you here." Netelth said.

"I came here of my own free will. I didn't want to risk hurting the king, but now I might be the only one who can save him."

Netelth bit at his lip, weighing those words and his actions.

"Please, if you care for the lives of your Prince and King, let me help them." Aragorn pleaded.

Netelth finally nodded his head and bent to release the human. "Stay here for a few minutes. I will go upstairs and bring you your pack and weapons. Then I will lead you safely out of the palace."

Aragorn nodded his head. He waited impatiently for the guard to return, knowing that every wasted minute kept him from fulfilling his mission. He had delayed long enough. If he wanted succeed, he needed to hurry. Failure was not an option.

Finally, the guard returned and beckoned the human to follow him. Then he led Aragorn through the palace and out into the back of the courtyard. A horse was all saddled and waiting in the shadows. Aragorn's pack and another backpack were on the horse's back.

"I have packed some food for you on your journey as well as a blanket. Here are your weapons." The guard said, handing Aragorn his sword, bow, and a quiver of arrows. "Lead your horse towards the north through those trees. The north gate will be open for you."

Aragorn nodded as he looked to where the elf pointed. "Hannon le, Netelth. How can I ever repay you?"

"Just bring the King and Prince back safely." Netelth replied.

Aragorn nodded his head. Quietly, he began to lead his horse towards the northern gate. When he reached the gate, it was open just like Netelth had said. He silently walked through it, and then watched as it closed behind him. He took a deep breath and mounted his horse. He looked silently towards the woods. He was free, but deep in his heart, he felt anything but free.