This chapter has sat on my computer for weeks, unfinished. I didn't want to end it there but I need to get something out so that I can move past it. I haven't given up and will persevere until it is finished I promise. Thanks to everyone who has been reading and extra thanks to everybody who has left a review! I have posted a small one shot if anyone is interested, blatant plugging, I know. It is wildly different in style from this story. Let me know what you think.

Freddie23: Gotta love a bit of elf torture! Plenty more tormented love to come.

Muse10: Thanks so much. I know the timing can be difficult to follow but I think it keeps the reader a bit more on their toes, the writer too. I will try to get a bit more interaction going in later chapters which will hopefully give some more depth to the characters.

Sweet-hearted Silver Ears: Thanks for reading and reviewing every chapter. I really do appreciate every review I get.

Chapter 8

Legolas walked quietly down the hall towards the council rooms. He wasn't doing anything wrong, he reminded himself. He was a grown elf and was free to walk around the Last Homely House as he pleased, yet even so he softened the sound of his boots on the polished floor. He needed to do what he had been sent here to do. He needed to talk to Elronds council to ask for help for his people, it simply could not wait any longer.

He knew that Elrohir and Elrond would scold him mercilessly when they saw him there but he was prepared to face the consequences to see his duty fulfilled. They had no idea how extreme the situation in his home had become. His people were no longer safe, something had to be done and as valiant as his people were there was simply too much darkness in Dul Guldor for them to face alone.

The thought of the dark tower caused a shiver to snake its way up his spine. No, he would not allow anyone else to suffer as he had, as his beloved mother had. If the council refused he would ride to the tower himself, he would even go back inside it. If he could rid Mirkwood of its evil he was prepared to die. And if he was captured, he would release his spirit into Mandos and hope that the Valar was merciful. He would not be held prisoner in that place again.

Legolas pulled his thoughts away from the dark avenues they had began to wander. The door to the chamber was before him, the meeting would not have started yet so he would not interrupt anything. He took a deep breath, straightened his back and assumed the face of the Prince of Mirkwood. His hand was on the door handle and then he stepped into the room.

Glorfindel leaned back in his seat beside Elrond and tried not to look too miserable. If Elrond had asked him to attend the council then it must be important he told himself sternly, trying to stifle the impulse to stare out of the windows and think about all of the things he could be doing instead. Elladan and Elrohir sat on Elronds other side looking equally morose. It looked to be a long afternoon.

The councillors were slowly making their way to their seats, stopping to chat to each other as they went. The low buzz of conversation drifted around the room, accompanied by the rustle of ornate dress robes as they swirled about there owners legs. Glorfindel was wearing his usual tunic and breeches with long boots, he had been on his way to the barracks to talk to his men when Elrond had asked him to attend.

Elladan too had been on his way out when his father had caught him, he had been on his way to the stables to check on Legolas' horse as he had promised the prince when they had last spoken. His twin on the other hand had clearly been aware of what was happening and had dressed acordingly. Elrohir wore a deep blue formal robe with a light grey trim, his hair was pulled back behind his ears and the top half secured with a silver clip while the rest hung loose to his shoulders. Glorfindel scowled at him, he hated feeling under dressed and out of place.

If Elrohir noticed the glare he paid it no mind, he was clearly distracted by his own thoughts. The door opened to allow another entry and a pale figure stepped into the room. The noise died to nothing at once.

Legolas felt every eye latch onto him as he entered the room and it took all of his self command to keep his head high and not turn on his heel and leave again. He had spend far longer than usual preparing himself for this meeting. Luckily he had several formal robes that he kept in Rivendell in case he found himself in such a circumstance as this.

His recent poisoning had left him looking painfully thin, Legolas had always been tall and lean, but there had been a great deal of power to him. Now his robes hung off his shoulders like curtains, his belt was on is tightest hole and hung loosely on his hips. He hated it. Appalled by what his mirror had shown him he had tried everything he could think of to look less ill. The only thing he had settled on was to leave his hair loose around his face, this made his face appear slightly less gaunt.

Now he knew every councillor was seeing what he had seen and his mind recoiled at the thought that they would see him so weak. With a nod to Elrond he took a spare seat next to Glorfindel. How he managed to do it without meeting the accusing stare being levelled at him by Elrohir he would never know.

When he was seated Elrond rose from his chair.

'Let the council begin.' he said. And it did.