Chapter 7
Gondor's capital city stood out with ease against the natural landscape it was built into. Though still off in the distance, there was no mistaking Minas Tirith for anything other than what it was as the pearly white walls stood out in sharp contrast to the craggy ridge of mountains that rose predominantly over the Pelennor Fields that lay just beneath. The naturally steep slopes and isolated sumits made for one of Middle Earth's strongest barriers that kept the soul of the human kingdom protected since its construction so long ago.
The elf's haste to leave the unprotected wilds paid off and the White City finally came into view. Legolas was unrelenting in his spur, seeming to have forgotten all together the injuries that should have hindered him. The trio's incredibly high limits were well tested, for they forged on both day and night. It was only at his mortal companions' prompting did they take any breaks at all, but even those were few and far between.
"God bless it." Gimli puffed as they crested a notable hillside to take in the panoramic view of Gondor's realm before them. Rolling hills and flat plains expanded into the west as far as the eye could see, but the dwarf's eyes only saw their destination straight ahead, glad that civilization was at least visible.
"... Ya' think… we can make it…. by nightfall?" Gimli said between pants looking to the king that stood beside him doing the same. The wind pushed past them carrying with it the frigid temperatures that rolled off the mountain tops. Aragron pushed a hand through his hair to clear his face of the dark tress that the wind played with.
"It is midday now…" Aragorn breathed heavily, chancing a glance at the clouded sun to try and gauge the time. "If we keep our pace… I do believe so."
Gimli nearly groaned at the thought of pushing onward as they had been. Even when they ran the expanse of Rohan many years ago attempting to catch Merry and Pippin, they were careful to take breaks to adequately rest. Though they were not running now, the terrain they had just traversed was far more difficult opposed to the grassy flats of Rohan and the dwarf sighed.
"I've journeyed far in my time..." Gimli began, but stopped as he placed his hands on his hips to give him better access to air. "But makin' our way to your home, Aragorn, has got to be one of the longest I've ever had to make!"
Aragorn only smiled at the exaggeration, but continued to breathe heavily himself. The king glanced over his shoulder to Legolas, checking on the elf who had been quiet all day. The usually resilient prince was also panting softly from beneath the hood of his cloak. However, the wind threw Legolas' capuche off and pulled at his torn and soiled shirt, billowing the thin fabric about the elf that was far too large for his slender frame.
"Shall we break, or continue?" Aragorn asked the prince, hoping the sight of Gondor's citadel would quell the unnatural urgency the elf had to push onward.
Legolas' eyes swept the terrain with unease as he gripped the edges of his blood-stained shirt to hold it closed against the wind that wanted to tamper with it. Before him was the objective they had been seeking for some time now, but rather than being relieved that their journey was coming to a close, he felt unsure of his agreement to enter the human city.
He knew the landscape well. Further south, the makings of Osgiliath could just be seen sitting at the edges of the Anduin. The river glittered under the rippling wind as it cut its course across the plains and continued its flow west. Just across the expanse of dark water, the thick secluded forests that composed Ithilien began and the prince exhaled densely.
Aragorn waited silently, expecting the elf to answer which would push them onward once more, but now the prince seemed to hesitate and it confused the man. He followed his friend's gaze, finding Minas Tirith's sister city just on the horizon and his brows knit as if he could read the elf's mind. Legolas was not seeking the city, but the forests way beyond.
"We are nearly spent, Legolas." The man said softly to try and talk some sense into his friend. "It is too far at this moment for any one of us, even more so, you."
Legolas took a deep breath, his eyes squeezing shut to try and banish the disappointment that Aragorn's words brought about, but his reactions gave it away regardless. Aragorn stepped closer to his friend intending to reassure the elf and keep his dwindling spirits up, but Legolas moved away. He knew the man spoke truthfully, but it was hard to hear it.
And yet, he was unsure if Ithilien was even where he really wanted to go. Standing at the top of the windswept grassy knoll gave him an expansive view showcasing any number of locations or directions that could offer some kind of peaceful refuge to heal a troubled soul…
But the calm waters of the westward flowing Aduin now called desperately to Legolas' heart.
The elf gulped.
"Please-" The king's soft words cut through the elf's concentration, but the prince interrupted the soft plea with a subtle lie.
"I-I only wish to make it to Minas Tirith before nightfall." he said quickly before he forced himself onward to complete their journey. He glanced at the dwarf in his passing, finding that Gimli had plopped on the ground to take a small break. "On your feet, Master Dwarf."
Gimli let out an exacerbated breath for all to hear.
"I wouldn't mind if ya' tossed me now." the dwarf called back in a mild joke, but his words lost their spark of humor when they failed to amuse the elf. He turned to Aragorn, now serious and he inclined his head towards Legolas in question, asking by way of gestures for an update on their companion. It was clear Gimli was trying to loosen the tension around the prince with this comedic approach to traveling, but it seemed to have washed over the despondent elf.
Aragorn shrugged softly to Gimli's silent inquest, unsure how to take the elf's lack of interest. Yet, he was not entirely surprised by it either. Without a word, the king reached a hand to the seated dwarf and helped pull him to his feet.
White fortress walls towered overhead and the sheer size of the burg swallowed any view of the mountains around it. The overwhelming scene of hand forged rock jutting out in layers towards the sky was always a breathtaking sight, no matter how many times one had seen it.
The king kept his disguise up, remaining mostly hidden by the hood of his black leather overcoat, but he walked confidently toward his home city. Gimli was beside the man, the two of them holding a light conversation of sorts as they made for the keep's massive gate that was fully open for the city's daily efforts. Together they picked their way through the soldiers, messengers, supply carts, hunters, foragers and even travelers that came and went with relative ease making the single access point through the gate a busy area. The grassy plains of Gondor that carpeted the land before the massive hold started to grow sparse with the continued foot traffic that trampled the earth on a daily basis. Anyone walking this portion of the well-used road had to watch their steps to dodge mud and deep ruts that made for a sloppy route.
The elf who had once been at the forefront of their trek now held back, his every step felt weighted as he fell behind in his march. His cloak's hood was drawn as far over his head as possible to hide the ugly wounds that still decorated his face and he had wrapped the protective covering tightly about himself to further hide his atrocious appearance. He glanced up though, finding Aragron and Gimli who were farther ahead, but the elf had no real desire to catch up. In fact he had no desire to even continue.
The ever present yet gentle puffing wind passed through, jostling about anything that was willing to bend to its mischievous will. The edges of the massive defensive wall that loomed overhead seemed to move groggily under the playful twisting air. Numerous oversized Gondorian banners lined the fortress and they swayed lazily in the stirring breeze. The dark banners stood out in stark contrast to the city's white walls, offering a repetitive reminder of the proud and strong realm that fought, died and lived for these beautiful lands.
A shudder skittered down the elfs spine, startling the prince whose memory recalled the last time he had seen that prominent emblem stitched upon his captor's tunics that falsely marked them as part of the noble troops that served to protect the mighty king and his realm. Unconsciously, Legolas' forward motion stopped, nearly freezing the elf in place at the end of the mud-caked path. The only thing before the prince now was the blank, white, brick incline that vaulted the stone road upwards to meet the massive egress into Minas Tirith and an unexplainable dread took a seated weight in Legolas' core.
The prince contemplated his next move, trying to find the will and courage to complete the trek he so desperately drove. But the sounds and smells of the well-used human civilization did nothing to help Legolas' apprehension as it rolled out of the gate and down the landing, assaulting the elf's sensitive awareness with the city's overly occupied and actively engaged citizens.
It was too much.
The wild expanse of plains and forests were just behind him and Legolas turned slowly, daring to take in the sight that was far more settling than the crowded mortal city he was supposed to enter.
He could run. He could simply-
"Greenleaf!" he heard Aragorn call out to him, using the nickname to offset any possible recognition until they were totally safe within the king's barricade. They were so close, but not yet there.
The elven prince cringed privately beneath his hood, knowing that he was only delaying the inevitable. Aragorn was right; it was not a good idea to continue another few days to journey elsewhere, but closing himself off in a human blockade now felt totally wrong.
Legolas finally turned back, finding Aragorn and Gimli waiting for him at the top of the stone slope. They were too far away to catch notice of the struggles the elf faced and they watched him, perhaps a tad impatiently, as the prince stalled their trip just below. Though they had reached the city, they still had to travel through it, which would take some time.
Legolas failed to realize when he began trembling, but he noticed it now.
This was ridiculous.
He knew very well that he would be safe within the walls of Minas Tirith. He had no idea what was wrong with himself. The elf clenched his jaw, screwing up his determination quickly so he could move on.
He took his first step onto the rock landing, but suddenly his world went dead and the prince's stride faltered. The pleasant humm from the alive earth beneath his feet felt as though it was quite literally severed and the prince gulped at the broken connection he once had with the natural world around him.
The prince was bewildered by this perception, looking to the bleak rock beneath his feet trying to find the cause of the sudden void that left him reeling and numb. He had taken these steps numerous times before and never once had he experienced this deadening when entering Aragorn's home - his home even, for this was the capital city that encompassed its reach over Ithilien, the lands that the elf now resided in and preferred over the abandoned forests of Mirkwood.
"Com'on, Laddie!" Gimli further encouraged the elf when he noticed his friend halting once more, mistaking the prince's reluctance for fatigue. "It's not that much further! You're nearly there!"
Lost and totally alone, stripped of any choices he could possibly have and finding nothing but eagerness for the decisions that his body and mind screamed against in warning, all Legolas could do was force his way forward and try to ignore his dejected heart. His heavy feet moved despite himself, further wading through the thick nothingness of dead stone to climb the pitched road.
And finally, he met up with his friends.
Aragorn clasped the elf gently on the back, silently celebrating the miniscule victory of reaching their destination. His hand lingered though, guiding the prince past the city's portal with his unspoken support through the light contact. Legolas did not pull away though, finding that he desperately needed his friend's encouragement to make it into the darkened archway and glad for once that Aragorn's seemingly smothering presence was readily available at this vital time.
The light dimmed from their path as they walked through the thick stone wall, their footsteps echoed hollowly around them. The friends pulled up abruptly though as the garrisons that guarded the door went about dutifully checking and inspecting each person that came and went. Aragorn stepped forward to take charge, intercepting the questioning officers. After a few quietly exchanged words and a presentation of the marking accessories that only the king of Gondor would carry, the trio was ushered off the main course as the guards seemed to erupt in a flurry of activity. Legolas shifted nervously, tring to watch everyone at once as the atmosphere around them turned urgent and tense.
Suddenly, a horn sounded nearby, the sharp alarm felt unnecessarily loud and the soldiers in the area exploded with orders that seemed to come from all directions. Shouts were being thrown over one another and it was hard to make out what was going on. Aragorn was unfazed by the eruption of excitement. In fact, it seemed as though he was prepared for it and he stepped off to a secluded nook while his people rushed about to tend to the orders that his very presence spurred fourth. The activity, however, made Legolas edgy and he shifted closer to his companions, not really sure what was transpiring.
"The king has returned! Secure the gate!" a captain shouted above the rest and the clanking of metal chains groaned as the troops followed their orders. Using the pulley system in place, they close the massive mirthil and steel stronghold to protect their high lord that stood seemingly unprotected among the city's bustle.
The singular door began to move and the elf turned quickly, watching in unexplained horror as the thick exit intended to be blocked off. The open expanses on the other side of the city's portal that offered the elf his freedoms became nothing more than a sliver of longing between the crack of the hefty gate and the impenetrable wall. But even that disappeared when the gate crashed into place, sending the resound of isolation resonating through the courtyard.
Legolas was now trapped behind unbreakable walls and there was not a thing he could do about it. The dark corners of his mind sent the elf into panic-mode, making him certain that he would never see the other side of those doors again. He worked hard not to let his fear show, hoping that he was just overreacting, but he could not help the dark thoughts that wanted to make him lose all shreds of self control.
Gimli looked at the fastness with pride, inspecting from afar the mighty portcullis that he himself forged as a dwarven gift to the human city - one of many contributions his people gave to the rebuilding of the human capital after the war that destroyed it nearly a decade ago. He nudged the elf beside him with his sharp elbow, showing off his handy work that was hard to miss.
"Nohting's getting through that gate, eehh?!" the dwarf boasted proudly, jostling the elf's arm with good-natured glee after witnessing his skillfully crafted gift in action.
The elf saw no awe-inspiring beauty in what Gimli was speaking of and he swallowed back a choking lump as his emotions threatened to overtake him in front of all these people.
Nothing was getting through that gate.
The words echoed in Legolas' mind, further acknowledging the notion that the elf would never see the outside world again.
Nothing was getting through that gate.
He truly was trapped in this human pit.
Nothing was getting through that gate.
He was a captive yet again, although this time, he openly walked into it. How could he be so stupid?
Nothing was getting through that gate.
He was going to die here.
Legolas' distress was beyond unbearable and with nowhere to turn, he reached through his tightly closed cloak to tug gently on Aragorn's sleeve, tring to gain the man's attention without anyone else's. He was far too overwhelmed to keep up with his calm facade and the proud prince turned to the only person he felt he could rely on at this moment.
Aragorn glanced casually at his friend, but his easy demeanor changed, suddenly aware of the elf's trepidation.
"What is it?" The man asked, pulling in close to Legolas. He ducked his head slightly to peer under the prince's hood only to find the elf's blue eyes clouded with fear. "Legolas, what's wrong?"
The tender question further pulled at the elf and he stammered under the king's concern.
"I-I cannot do this, Strider." Legolas whispered hoarsely, now absolutely loathing himself for this pitiful reaction.
"What do you mean?" Aragorn was trying desperately to tread the thin line of connection that the elf had forged. It was promising that the elf was not trying to hide from him any longer, but the clear signs of distress that the elf displayed worried him deeply and he could not begin to understand it.
"I cannot stay here. I want out."
"Out?" the man asked, confused. "Out where? Out there?" the king pointed to the gate, disappointed when the elf tightly nodded. "Legolas…." the man reproached softly, thinking of what to say to put the elf at ease. He had no way to read his friend's mind, thinking the elf just wanted to travel further to reach another destination since Minas Tirith was not his friend's first choice. Under normal circumstances the human would have gladly walked to the ends of the earth for his long time and dearest friend, but weariness fogged Aragorn's mind and he knew he was far too run down to chase after an elf who fared no better.
"We are already here, Mellon-nin. Listen, we do not have to walk another step. I have arranged for a carriage to take us the rest of the way. The coach will be here soon." Aragorn soothed, hoping the idea that they did not need to put forth any energy into the rest of their trek would appease the elf.
A thick, but merry voice popped up and both man and elf turned to Gmli who overheard what Aragorn had just said.
"Thank the heavens, Aragorn. I think my legs are about ta' give out on me." Gimli said with humorous overdramatics to help showcase his gratitude in the luxurious travel accommodations.
Aragorn smiled, now speaking for all to hear. "It will take us to the palace. Word is being sent ahead of us that we are arriving. My staff will be waiting to let us in."
The elf immediately regretted dragging Aragorn in on his matter. Legolas was just desperately trying to explain his terror of being tapped here as the feeling of claustrophobic chaos closed in on him. But he failed to voice it properly for fear of sounding weaker than he already was and the true meaning of his plea for an understanding and reassurance went unnoticed.
Why was it so hard to ask for help?
The clicking of horse hooves and the clatter of wooden wheels began filtering through the court and it wasn't long before a team of draft horses trotted into the gait's courtyard. They pulled with them a small enclosed passenger wagon intending to be used for only four people, but luckily they were only a party of three.
A swarm of soldiers were buzzing around the area, taking up a defensive line behind the coach that would ensure the king would make it to the palace with no danger and little delays. The doors of the buggy were pulled open and the driver held the door out respectfully as he waited for his passengers to get in.
Gimli needed no prompting and he quickly shrugged out of his packs and gear, handing it over to a coachhand to be loaded at the back end of the wagon so they did not have to be cramped in the vehicle. He kept his two axes though, not trusting just any stranger to handle his personal equipment. The dwarf climbed into the car ready to get moving.
Aragorn followed the dwarf's lead and he too unslung his pack, bow and quiver and handed it off to the attendant who packed it away. Like the dwarf, he kept his sword handy to err on the side of caution. Of course he had no real worry of being attacked in his own home, but old habits were hard to die and keeping a weapon near at all times was embedded in all warriors from a young age.
Aragorn stepped close to the elf after he made no move to get in the wagon and Aragorn reached out to the elf's quiver still strapped to his back, lifting the weight off the elf's shoulders to prompt him to slip through the harness.
"You do not need to give them up, but you will not be able to sit in the coach with them on." Aragorn explained easily and without judgment. After a moment of pause, the elf obayed the silent command and shrugged through the leather straps.
Aragorn held on to the weapons though, intending to shoulder that small burden to help the elf get into the coach with ease. The king carefully draped his arm over his friend's stooped frame, shielding the prince from his troops eyes while further supporting the hesitant elf who needed further prompting to walk the few paces to the cart.
Both the man and elf ducked into the cab, taking the bench opposite of the previously seated dwarf and after a moment to settle, the driver got the wagon ready for its ride. The horses pulled slowly at first, but once out on the main road, the animals stepped into a rhythmic trott.
It was not long before the dwarf's head began to nodd, the gentle rocking of the cab lulling the stout being into a brief respite and his head soon fell to his breast, his deep breathing turning into a gentle rumble.
Aragorn was soon to follow. The rocking of the cab drooped his posture and he leaned against the elf beside him. His head came to rest on the prince's shoulder as his conciseness fled, falling into a much needed sleep that he had been denied for days.
Legolas watched his two friends doze, finding that the sway of the coach soothed even himself to some extent. No longer desperate or an escape he knew would never come anyway, he settled back and just allowed Aragorn to rest on him, now guilty for putting such a strain on his friends. They had done so much for him over the course of the last few days and Legolas' lack of regard for them began to eat at him.
He did not deserve them.
But he was so grateful for them.
"I am sorry." The elf spoke to his sleeping companions, feeling like the burden he was and he tried to make it right, although he knew it was a shallow attempt to fix his wrong doings. He rested his head against the crown of Aragorn's that jostled slightly on his shoulder. The wayward strands of dark hair sirred around in the elf's face and Legolas brought a hand up to swipe it away.
His long graceful fingers felt odd with the simple movement, failing to properly register the sensation of the stringy tress. He pulled his finders away, looking at them perplexed. He tested the feeling in his fingertips, using the pad of his thumb to press on each digit, finding that the smooth sensation tingled slightly as if his hands were asleep. He tested his other hand finding the same and he flexed his hand, trying to work the blood flow to relieve him of the annoying perception, but it did not work.
He gave up though, knowing that he himself was exhausted and chalked it up to his self neglect after pushing himself far too hard and hoped his friends were not reeling like he was.
The elf shifted his cloak to settle back down, making a silent vow to both Aragorn and Gimli that he would not disturb his friend's lives and harass them with his troubles. This was his stress, not theirs and he would not weigh them down any more than he already had.
With a sigh to clear his running thoughts, the elf waited patiently to arrive at the palace.
The carriage ride took nearly an hour to complete but finally, the coach came to a halt and the lack of movement woke Aragorn instantly. He sat up, realizing that he had been using the elf as a pillow, stretching his arms out in front of himself while giving the elf a sheepish grin.
"Sorry." Aragorn said with a yawn. "Did you get any rest?" he asked the elf, but Legolas looked far too alert to have slept and he knew the prince did not drift off.
Legolas smiled slightly. "I was able to sit idle for a while." he responded quietly, not affirming that he obtained rest, but was finally able to take a break.
Aragorn nodded in understanding, glad the elf at least had that small comfort.
Gimli let out a rather loud snore and Aragron chuckled at the dwarf who still slept soundly. The king reached out, giving the sturdy shoulder a firm shake to rouse the dwarf.
"Gimli. We have arrived." Aragorn said to call the dwarf out of slumber and the burley dwarf woke with a startled snort after being so deep in slumber.
The cab rocked lightly as the driver jumped off the vehicle and before too long the door of the carriage rattled before it was pulled open to allow his passengers to exit.
Aragorn was the first one out, knowing that his men were outside standing in waiting and he gave his thanks to them before dismissing his soldiers with a salute. Gimli and Legolas made their way out next, and together the three of them headed for the stairs that would take them inside the palace.
The guards stationed at the top of the landing recognized their king despite his unmarked clothing and bowed low to him before they pulled at the thick cast iron handles on the grand doors. The small company began to enter the palace.
"The king has returned!" one of the soldiers gave a shout to the interior, letting those inside know that their duties needed to shift to focus on their high lord.
Aragorn nodded in thanks to his stationed men as he passed by. The three were instantly surrounded by a handful of staff who were waiting to relieve them of their gear in the expansive foyer. The man and dwarf went about unstrapping their weapons and handed them off to a nearby servant who was prepared to whisk them off to the armory to be cleaned, sharpened and oiled.
Unconsciously, Legolas shifted a little closer to Aragorn. The strangers who approached with no reservations made the elf uneasy despite knowing he was safe in his friend's halls. Prying eyes were on him and he was dead set on keeping his abduction or any possible hint of his ordeal from anyone. Aragorn and Gimli were the only ones who knew of his maltreatment, but in the elf's mind, that was far too many. The prince pulled the cloak tighter about him, trying to calm his nerves with the little security that the thin covering offered.
The servant glanced to the elf's weapons, waiting to obtain Legolas' cache of blades and arrows, but the cloaked form made no move to hand them over.
"My Lord, your weapons, please..." the servant asked of the elf, but the hooded head shook tightly to the negative. And so, the staff member dipped in respect of his guest's wishes, then walked off to care for the weapons he already acquired from his king and the dwarf.
Others began to swarm them and this time, the servants and maids collected the travelers' dusty and travel-worn outerwear. Aragorn and Gimli's cloaks were balled up to prevent any trace of filth from falling to the spotless floor and their coats were inspected for any repairs and cleansing they might require.
Legolas however, was uneasy to undress in the slightest among a crowd. Much like his weapons, the prince refused to give up his cloak for it provided a shield to hide his atrocious appearance that would clearly depict what he had been through. The deep hood remained low over his features, concealing the ugly bruises that were still on his face.
A hand reached out to unclasp the broach at the nape of the elf's neck, but Legolas recoiled.
"No..." the prince's low voice was stern. When the servant did not listen to him, he began to tense up. "No!" The elf stepped back, bumping into Aragorn as he dodged the maid who was diligent in seeing to her guests just as the palace protocol trained her to do.
Aragorn turned after the elf's sharp demands and quickly interjected. He stepped lightly in front of the elf, using himself as a barricade while silently holding a hand out to stop the maid. She curtsied after her king's command and quickly took what provisions she already had to the laundry.
Legolas exhaled after he realized he was holding his breath, but that only further aggravated him. He should not be this edgy and was disappointed with his own reactions that he seemed to have no control over. The prince was thankful Aragorn came to his aid, but he should not have needed it to begin with.
He was pathetic.
"Are you alright?" Aragorn whispered the elvish words as he regarded his friend. Though there were few around them who could understand the language, Aragorn drew close to keep the conversation private. He tried to get a glimpse of his friend's face to see for himself before the elf answered, but Legolas' hood still hid all visuals.
"Yes." The elf's Gray response was quick and flat.
Aragorn was not convinced, but as news of his return spread quickly through the halls, advisors and council members began to seek the king out and interrupted the small exchange. Their footfalls pulled at the elf's awareness and he cast his sights towards the approaching nobles.
Aragorn sensed the elf's apprehension immediately. Servants would not be so bold to pester the prince if they noted something out of the ordinary, but most of the ranking officials of the palace personally knew Legolas from their continued efforts to rebuild all of Gondor. That included Ithilien which was partially Legolas' responsibility. While the council members usually upheld manners, it was doubtful they would hold their tongues if they saw the elf in his current state.
"Why do you not retire to your rooms?" Aragorn suggested to Legolas, then looked to Gimli to extend the offer. "Duty will take me away for awhile, but I will be up later to check on your wounds-"
"That is not necessary, Aragorn," the elf said. Honestly, he just wanted to be left alone and not have to feel the smothering presence of anyone for a time.
Aragorn clenched his jaw, but knew this was not the time to get into a battle of wills. He did not push back, but that did not mean he would cave on the matter.
"Com'on Lad." Gimli motioned for the elf to follow as he headed off to the guest quarters. The tall form solemnly followed the dwarf and they disappeared down the rotunda.
A spike of worry suddenly drove its way through the man's awareness and he had second thoughts about letting the elf be alone. Perhaps it was not such a good idea to send Legolas off to be by himself given the circumstances.
Then again, all Legolas seemed to have wanted was to be left alone for he put up that defense nearly the entire trek here.
Aragorn sighed. He would deal with it later.
The king's thoughts were quickly distracted as a young messenger was the first to approach him. He held a silver platter between his hands that was stacked with a mound of rolled and folded parchments.
"King Elessar! You have received a few messages during your absence."
Aragorn eyed the mail and snorted.
"A few?" the king repeated sarcastically, but the youth only nodded. "Please set them in my study. I will get to them shortly."
The boy bowed as much as he could and the parchments began to fall off of the plate. He moved stiffly to keep the rest of the notes on the platter and picked up what he dropped slowly, then made his way to the king's study to deposit the letters.
Council members and advisers filed in quickly and a low buzzing began to fill the foyer as all of the occupants began to talk at once. There was much to discuss regarding recent meetings, events and decisions and most matters awaited Aragorn's attention. They bombarded him with questions as to when decisions would be made and how soon he could meet with him, but everyone went quiet as a beautifully excited voice cut through the chatter.
"Estel?!" Arwen's exclamation filtered down a hallway for she too heard of her husband's return and she rushed to greet him. Aragorn looked up just as her bright face appeared and the crowd parted when she pressed through the gathering of men. Forgetting all formalities, the queen embraced her husband the instant she reached him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Estel? I was so worried about you! You said you would not be gone longer than three days' time, yet it has been nearly twice that long. What happened, Meleth-nin (Elvish for "My Love")?" she nearly demanded as her apprehension controlled her tone.
The king returned her hug briefly but drew away from her as he realized all eyes were staring at the royal couple. Such affectionate displays were usually kept to a minimum in the presence of professionals, but it slipped from time to time.
"I did not mean to worry you. We will speak later." He gazed into her eyes and Arwen saw the man was begging her to understand and not press for more information at the moment.
Something had happened- something horrible had happened. Arwen could feel it and she grew very still until Aragorn took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. She nodded in understanding.
Taking up his authoritative role, the king gave a few orders to address the crowd. "Members of the council, I apologize for my absence. I know there is much that I missed. Let us adjourn on the morrow after the midday meal and we will discuss everything at length." Disappointment resonated in the room, but everyone bowed in unison before they shuffled out of the foyer.
Through the departing crowd, Aragorn spotted the head maid who was checking on the status of her staff, ensuring all aspects of their duties were carried out.
"Anna!" he called her over and the maid perked up.
"Yes, your Highness?" She approached attentively.
"Please see to Legolas' rooms as he is with us now and I do believe his chambers need to be refreshed. He will need some new clothing as well; see if there is anything that my brothers may have left behind from their previous visits that will fit him for the time being... I am requesting a private dinner tonight as I do not want to be bothered by council debates. Can you please arrange that for me? Include Lord Legolas as well as Lord Gimli in the attendance and inform them when we will take our meal."
The maid nodded her head. "Anything else, Your Highness?"
The king thought for a moment then turned to his pack that was still across his shoulders. He dug out a few tins and jars that contained healing herbs and oils and passed them to the maid.
"Yes; please have a bath drawn for Lord Legolas and add all of this to it. Let him know I will visit him later to check on him."
The maid took the items without hesitation and bowed once more, then proceeded in her errands to complete the king's wishes.
Soon Aragorn and Arwen were the only ones standing in the foyer.
"Estel... what happened?" she asked. Her voice clouded and her eyes took on a pleading inflection. She saw the herbs that were passed to the maid and it deepened her worry. Though she was not a renowned healer like her father, brothers or husband, she still possessed much knowledge of the healing arts and knew exactly what was given to the maid and their various purposes. Legolas would only be in need of such powerful herbs if he was injured.
Aragorn shook his head as dark memories crossed his mind.
"Ill news I fear... Legolas has had a rough few days... but I do not wish to further discuss it here." He drew Arwen close and wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace, seeking out comfort in the loving contact to ensure himself that he was finally home and his friends were safe. "I have missed you." he whispered. He needed his wife. He needed to feel her fierce love and joy after being immersed in a nightmare for so long.
Arwen tightened her arms around him in the same fashion. At the gentle touch, she could feel her husband's inner turmoil, though she could not decipher the meaning of it.
"Estel..." Arwen repeated. She heard her husband's wishes, but the grief and negative energy she felt rolling off the man's presence was alarming. She pulled back to try and draw the information out of Aragorn, but he recognized the look and deferred her intentions.
"Not now. Please. I have no intentions of hiding anything from you, Meleth-nin - not now, not ever... but there is a time and a place for it, neither of which are here or now."
Arwen's troubled expression only depended, but she heard the desperate plea to relay his news later. She nodded to drop the subject, but it seemed her timing was impeccable for one of the nursing staff entered the corridor.
"Your Grace, your son has awakened from his nap and is quite fussy. He has been changed, but I believe the little prince is hungry, My Lady."
Aragorn and Arwen allowed the interruption to bring a small smile to their tense reunion with the mention of their beloved child. Aragorn pulled out of the embrace and cupped Arwen's face lightly and he fondly ran his thumb across one of her pale, smooth cheeks.
"Go care for him. I must go over some messages that came in while I was away and make sure there are no urgent matters that need to be dealt with," he stated and tenderly gave her a soft kiss on her forehead. "We will talk later... Thank you." he added to express his gratitude to his wife for her utmost understanding.
With nothing more she could do but wait, Arwen turned to the nurse.
"I will be right there."
Aragorn sat at his large wooden desk eyeing the stack of messages that were placed in his study. He did not know where to start and the more he eyed the mound of parchments, the more he wanted to procrastinate in the painstakingly slow task of reading each one. With a weary sigh, he forced himself to get started and picked up a scroll, reading the penned script.
⇚"Greetings King Elessar,
I am writing to you about the recent council you held over-"⇛
Aragorn quickly rolled up the parchment and placed it to one side of his desk. He did not have to read much further to know that this was a letter addressing one of the countless meetings and decisions he made and it was most likely voicing their displeasure with the outcome of a particular meeting. That message was not urgent, so he set it aside for a later time. He reached for another letter, then another and began to read and sort each note quickly and thoroughly.
He had only a few messages left when a hesitant tapping at the door made him look up. It took a moment for his tired mind to process what he saw, and once he did, a bright smile spread across his face as he rose to his feet.
Standing in the threshold of the door were two elves who were completely identical.
"Elladan?... Elrohir?!"
"Estel!" the two exclaimed at the same time and they rushed forward to embrace their adopted human brother.
"What are you two doing here?!" the man fiercely hugged them back.
"Ah! Estel! It has been a long time! It is good to see you! You look to be doing well!" Elladan said as he pushed himself back and held his little brother at arm's length, giving the man a once-over to judge his state of being.
Elrohir drew back in the same fashion, noting the dirty travel clothes the man wore and the exhaustion on his face.
"My word little brother, you are a king and yet you still prefer to play in the dirt?" Elrohir smiled as the human gave him a playful swat at the remark.
"Nay, I was out and only just returned this afternoon!"
"So we heard!" Elladan responded through his smile. "We arrived here the day you left, though a few hours after your departure. We had no idea that you had left. Arwen was held up and we were not able to see her until later that night. We would have caught up had we known sooner!"
"Arwen said there is trouble in your lands? Kidnappers?" Elrohir asked, his light voice turned grim and the bright smile faded from Aragorn's face.
"Unfortunately, yes; it has steadily been growing, but it is now a major issue. My men have not been able to stop them. Gimli and I went to try to gather information that we could relay to the troops." The man shook his head. "It seems there is more trouble than I thought in Gondor and kidnapping is no longer the only concern."
The man stepped back and swept his hands to the two chairs sitting in front of his desk, motioning to his brothers to take a seat. He took up his place behind his desk and drummed his fingers lightly on the table before he pushed the dark thoughts from his mind. Of course the twins would need to be filled in on what transpired, but the man did not have it in him to start down that road at the moment.
"So," Aragorn forced a change in his voice, now picking it up to help banish the feel of shadow that crept into the room. "-what are you doing here? How long will you be staying?" His excitement was contagious and he looked between the twins.
"Well..." Elladan started but looked to his identical brother. A smile graced his lips and the other twin mirrored the expression.
"As you know, Grandfather was residing with us in Rivendell, but sailed to Valinor this past spring..." Elrohir began to fill in and looked to the human as Aragorn nodded his head. "It seems with his departure, more and more elves feel the need to leave as well. Lothlorian has been empty for some years and there are very few of us left in Imladris," he spoke quietly.
"We..." Elladan picked up where his brother left off. "We were hoping to spend some time here." The elder twin used the statement as a question, asking permission for an extended stay without actually asking.
The man smiled warmly to his elven siblings. "Of course! You know you do not need to ask!"
"Well... we were hoping to stay for a while..." Elrohir added. The statement Elladan provided did not exactly fill Aragorn in on their plans and he looked to his twin before he continued. "Estel..." Elrohir took a deep breath. He hated more than anyone to beat around the bush so he laid it all out on the table. "We are hoping to reside here."
The man stared blankly at his brothers before a look of joyous surprise flooded his face.
"You mean... permanently?" he asked, though he believed he already knew the answer to the question.
Elrohir snorted. "I do believe that is what 'reside' means little brother! Yes! We want to stay here with you!"
"Rivendell no longer holds the magic of the elves." Elladan piped up. "It is still dear to us and always will be, but the remaining elves have voiced their wishes and most of them will be sailing once spring returns. There are a few who wish to remain here and they are seeking out Ithilien, hoping to make a new life for themselves under Legolas' rule... Imladris will be empty. We have no wish to leave Middle Earth just yet, and we cannot fathom being the only two residing in the large abandoned city."
"And we would stay with Legolas as well, but..." Elrohir took in a deep breath "Well, things are changing... The world is changing. We want to be around as much as possible. Eldarion will be growing up, we are sure there will be other little ones on the way and we would stay with you and Arwen as long as we can."
"-If you would have us." Elladan added quickly for he did not want to encroach on his brother's life.
Aragorn leaned across his desk as he looked at the twins. "I would love nothing more than to have you here! Whether it is a small visit or to... *Permanently*-" he gave a wicked grin to Elrohir "-reside here, I am glad you are here nonetheless!"
The twins smiled but they were not surprised.
"That is what Arwen said." Elladan reflected on their big announcement they gave days ago, but could not deliver it to everyone at once since Aragorn was gone.
Everyone sat back in their chairs pleased to have the joy surrounding them after the news had been shared. The silence grew between the three, but it was a pleasant silence that neither wanted to disturb. Finally, one twin spoke up.
"It looks as though you have received a lot of mail!" Elladan commented as he eyed the desk littered with messages addressed to the king. Aragorn raised his eyebrows briefly as if confirming the obvious.
"Aye, as soon as I walked through the doors, *this* is what I was so pleasantly graced with." His voice was pure sarcasm as he too looked at the mess that was strewn about. "The next time I leave for any amount of time, I think I will appoint someone to receive the messages on my behalf to avoid another vast collection." He neatly stacked the remaining unread messages absently and began to straighten the desk.
"Where is Faramir? Should he not be seeing to the mail while you are away?"
"He should, but he is still in Osgiliath working on the city's reconstruction..." Aragorn explained and began to tidy the mess that was on his desk. "My departure was not carefully timed and I left without appointing someone to care for the messages. Honestly, I was not expecting to be gone quite so long and hoped to be back several days ago already, but... things did not go as planned."
"You spoke of other issues earlier... What did you uncover?" Elladan asked.
"Well..." The man sat back in his chair, abandoning his cleaning efforts for the moment as he filled his brothers in "-Gimli and I were only really looking for information. We knew we were outnumbered and could not fully tackle the problem. But, since my men have not been able to track the criminals, we figured we would travel unmarked with no one else to try and find out for ourselves what has been going on. There is a town just south of the Dead Marshes- a traveler's stop rather- and we figured that would be the best place to start due to the close proximity of the latest attack... There, we found a rather large illegal market and anything you can imagine is sold there... It seems there is a new trade rising..." He let his voice trail off as his eyes sought the large windows, noting the golden sunset. In truth, there were two trades rising, that of dark weapons and forced personal pleasure. The man swallowed the lump in his throat.
"What trade?" one of the twins asked, but Aragorn was not looking at them and did not know which one spoke. He did not wish to discuss the details on finding Legolas at the moment, so he resolved himself to talk about the orc weapons he spied. Rather than answer the twin's question, he asked one of his own.
"Tell me, do either of you know what happened to the weapons of the enemy once the War of the Ring was over?"
The twins exchanged puzzled looks as they began to formulate numerous possibilities that would include this new information.
"You... ordered them to be discarded, did you not?" Elladan stated, but a chill ran down his spine. This did not bode well.
Aragorn nodded his head absently. "And do you know where they were discarded? Or how?" he asked again. Neither twin spoke or moved, confirming that they did not know.
With a heavy sigh, Aragorn continued. "It appears that information leaked about the location where the weapons were buried. They are now flooding the markets and people are buying them for... who knows what purpose."
"What?!" both twins exclaimed at the same time.
"But, why in Arda would anyone want anything that belonged to that horrendous evil?" Elrohir looked completely baffled.
"The evil has not come back has it?... Sauron *was* destroyed, was he not?" Elladan asked.
Elrohir didn't give Aragorn time to answer as he threw another question to the mix. "Who exactly is buying them?"
Aragorn just shook his head, though slightly harder this time. "Sauron was destroyed, but as for the other questions, I know not. I was not there long enough to dive into the issue as my main focus was finding the kidnappers and putting a stop to them. Gimli and I just happened to stumble on the weapons trade, but I fear they have been selling for some time... It needs to be addressed and dealt with immediately."
"Well, you have some good information to share, do you not?" Elrohir asked. "I am sure what you are able to relay will guide your troops and the matter will be handled quickly- all matters actually."
"Aye... Gimli and I at least figured out how some of the kidnappers are able to evade us... They dress as Gondorian soldiers and used false authority 'sent from the king' to order people out of their homes where they would be abducted... as for the weapons, all I know is there are several groups of men selling in various areas."
The twins exchanged worried glances. That was ill news indeed and the easiness Aragorn had just a few moments ago was replaced by a grimness while shaking his head with thoughtful worry.
Aragorn was getting lost in his own head now, reflecting on the outcome of that dark night. Elladan and Elrohir needed to be told what happened to Legolas, but the king was unsure how to even begin digging into that topic a the moment. Like Aragorn, the twins held a special spot in their hearts for the Woodland Prince. He was an extension of their non-traditional family and was regarded as a brother; a bond that was forged while they spent time in the wilds with Aragorn as the man explored his life as a Ranger of the north.
The king breathed in to clear his head. He did not have the will to tell them about it now, although a small part of him wanted to do it just to get it over with.
The air around Aragorn was thick and the elves could sense it with ease.
"I think you need a break." Elladan said softly. "Can all of this not wait?" He pointed to the desk indicating all of the letters and mail. Surly Aragorn was running on little to no sleep and even if there were pressing issues with the kingdom, he doubted the man would be of any use at the moment.
Aragorn resolved himself to let go and not dwell in the anguish that had been attached to him since that fateful, rainy night. The topic would come up later and he gave into to the plan that he would tackle it then, not now. Aragorn reclined in the chair, balancing the wooden frame on the back two legs as he folded his hands together behind his head.
"Yes, I suppose so. I wanted to try and get caught up before my meetings tomorrow, but I fear I will not be able to."
"If you must, then can we help?" Elrohir offered, but before the man could respond, he reached out and grabbed the stack of 'to-be-read-later' and moved back to his chair.
Aragorn smiled at his brother, but it felt forced. He straightened up and the chair rocked forward. The two legs slammed into the stone floor as he reached across the desk once again and grabbed the last two unread messages. He flung one to Elladan who shifted awkwardly to catch the sudden object that was tossed at him. The elf snatched the paper just before it hit his face and the elven twin glared playfully at his human brother. He shrugged his nose towards the chair's legs as he unrolled the parchment.
"I know you are a king and give the orders around here, but didn't father teach you any respect? Mind the furniture!"
His brother's taunting caused Aragorn to grin wickedly, the humored barb did wonders in driving away the sorrow. He grabbed the last note and unfolded the little square before quickly scanning the letter. Yet, his brows creased as he read the words.
⇚King Elessar,
I hope this letter finds you and your family well. I have received the message from you addressed to Lord Legolas regarding efforts to aid you in tracking down information pertaining to the disappearances of your people. I regret to inform you that he is currently abroad as he is making yet another long journey to the north lands before winter sets in. I do not know when he will be returning, nor do I know his exact whereabouts, so there is no possibility of forwarding the message on. I will keep the note here and deliver it upon his return. Please know that if you need any assistance, I, along with the elves of Ithilien, would gladly help in his absence.
Sincerely,
Valiändier⇛
"Well, that is strange..." Aragorn spoke to himself as he read over the letter again to be sure he was not missing any information. The twins looked up from their studies and regarded their brother.
"What is it? What do you have?" Elladan asked.
"It is a message from Valiändier in Ithilien."
"Valiändier? Why, isn't that Legolas' second in command?"
"Yes."
"What does it say?" Both twin's interest peaked and they looked to the man.
"Well, it is in response to my message that I had sent to Legolas asking for his help with the trip... he said he was not in Ithilien." Aragorn brought the paper closer to his face and quickly read the lines of script until he came to a puzzling section and punctuated each word. "...it reads... 'he is currently abroad as he is making... Yet-another-long-journey... to the north lands before winter sets in'." The man cocked his head as he thought about the statement.
"Oh, Legolas headed back north did he?" Elrohir commented offhandedly as he went back to the parchment he was previously reading.
"He travels frequently?... and you know of it?" Aragorn was a little shocked that he did not know any of this.
"Oh yes he stops by Rivendell on his way and pays us a visit before he continues northwards. This would make... what would you say El?" He turned to his twin "... The third trip this year? Maybe the fourth?"
"It will be the fourth." Elladan stated as he continued with his readings.
Aragorn's gaze only became more puzzled at the news. "Where does he go?... And why so frequently?"
Both twins shrugged before Elrohir answered him. "We know he heads north... probably towards Mirkwood. We have asked him why he goes back so often, but he tells us that he is simply visiting and searching for others that would wish to join the efforts to rebuild Ithilien."
"No doubt he misses home." Elladan added. "Perhaps he is visiting his old home?" The eldest twin glanced over the top of the parchment he held to look at his brother.
"I do not know why he would since the palace is empty. When Thranduil left for the undying lands a few years ago, Mirkwood was left to the wilds and has been uninhabited since."
"Uninhabited?... I knew Thranduil left shortly after the evil in Dol Guldur was defeated, but I thought there were others still in Mirkwood." Elladan stated. "So there is no one in Mirkwood then?"
"Not that I know of; after the war, Legolas went home about a month after Arwen and I married. Thranduil was prepared to hand over the throne to Legolas, but... Legolas declined. Instead he asked for his father's blessing to reside in Ithilien... Legolas said he was not exactly happy with the decision... so I can only imagine that Thranduil was furious..."
"As usual..." Elrohir mumbled.
Aragorn shot his brother a distasteful look at the comment but continued. "-but it sounded like Thranduil gave in and Legolas moved to Ithilien about a year later with the elves of Mirkwood who were not ready to follow Thranduil to the Undying Lands. After Thranduil and Celeborn battled against the remaining orcs in Southern Mirkwood, Thranduil did not stay long and left. I was told Mirkwood was vacated. The elves either went with Thranduil, or joined Legolas in Ithilien."
The twins furrowed their eyebrows at the same time with the news.
"I know not what to tell you. We knew Thranduil was no longer there, but thought Mirkwood was still under elven care." Elrohir looked up from the letter and placed it on the desk as he too started a pile of read messages. "Legolas says he is off visiting... but...who is he visiting, then?"
Aragorn raised his eyebrows in surprise and shook his head indicating he had no idea.
"Well," Elrohir brushed it off. "-if he left now, there is no way he will be making it back before the season's first snow... Wherever he is headed, and whoever he is keeping company with, he will most likely have to winter there until spring returns..."
"Nay..." Aragorn's voice sounded distant as he absorbed the information. The twins both looked sharply to their human brother, fixing him with a questioning glance. "He is here..."
"He is here?" Elrohir asked. "Now?" Both twin's faces brightened at the news. "Hey 'Dan! We can show him our trick!"
"We need to practice more."
"No, *you* need to practice more! I, on the other hand, have mastered my part."
Elladan shook his head as he rolled his eyes. He ignored his twin and turned to Aragorn. "So when did he arrive? Do not tell me he has been here this whole time and we did not know about it?!"
"No. He arrived with us." The king's voice was a little flat as his troubles deepened.
"He went with you?"
Aragorn shook his head. "No, we found him..."
Elladan squinted as he regarded his human brother. "There is something you are not telling us."
"What happened?" Elrohir added, but then smacked his palm to his forehead with a chuckle. "Oh, do not tell me it was one of *those* adventures again... the ones where you two get into a slew of trouble and one of you is dragged back half alive..."
Elladan's eyes went wide when the human did not answer. "Is Legolas in the healing wing on death's door *again*?" He too laughed slightly. Injuries were not exactly funny, but bad luck seemed to follow the pair and it was silly how time could pass, but their ways never would.
Elrohir snorted. "Seriously! It is a wonder to me that the two of you, part of the Nine Walkers, renowned heroes of the war, fought in all of those battles and came out unscathed... yet you go on one little side journey and... Ai Elbereth..."
"So what happened *this* time?"
"Or *who's fault* was it this time?"
"And how is Master Gimli? Did he get caught up in it too?"
"Oh that poor dwarf!... Did you really drag him into this?"
Both twins were smirking as they blurted out the usual lines that they were used to hearing from the two friends. They sobered quickly as Aragorn sighed and passed his hand over his face to rub the anxious look away from his eyes.
"Estel?" one asked quietly. It was evident that someone was hurt, and the twin's healer's instincts tingled with alarm.
Aragorn addressed his brothers vaguely. "I believe I have questions of my own that I need to address with Legolas. But he is here and I hope for him to find healing after a long journey." was all he said. Remarkably, his voice was calm and his emotions were not heard in his response.
"What happened?" The remark did not sit well with the twins.
Aragorn shook his head yet again as he looked to a window, noting the sun had set and the dinner hour was drawing near. "We need more time than we have at the present to discuss. Besides, Arwen is to be informed too and I would rather relay the details to the three of you at the same time for I do not have the heart to keep retelling it. But we will speak of everything later. Legolas is going to need your support."
"Is he alright?"
Aragorn nodded his head. "For now... But like I said, I will tell you everything later. Come... let us get ready for dinner. I need to get washed up. Will you two be joining us?"
He looked to his brothers to see pure worry etched in their faces, but his level stare was used to ward off any more talk on the matter. Hesitantly, the twins followed the man's change of subject.
"Of course... yes... We will meet you in the dining hall," Elladan said.
All three rose from their chairs and headed for the doorway. Before they could pass through, Elrohir turned back to the room and blocked the exit.
"Estel... are you sure he is alright?" He did not like the way the man avoided the subject and he feared what had happened to their friend.
The man gripped his brother's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze as he moved past the elf and stepped into the hallway. Words seemed to be lost with the man and whispered to his brothers.
"I hope so." The twins watched as Aragorn strode down the hallway, making his way to his private chambers.
"Something is not right." Elrohir said to his twin.
"I know, but we will hear Estel out. Come, let us get ready for dinner."