A/N: So sorry this chapter is not being posted this morning. I really tried, but I am currently recovering from very extensive oral surgery at the movement so these past few days have been hectic. This chapter is a bit of a break, though not much of one, from all the angst that's been happening recently. Be advised that the next one will cover corporal punishment but it will be very brief and barely spoken about.

Another big Thank you to Mustard Lady for reviewing the last chapter. You always give me such clear and concise thoughts, and it helps to direct this stories direction better (Where art my other readers?)

IMPORTANT: I sent Pms to all of you last week but only got one reply back. Did you all take a vacation from fanfiction while I was gone and haven't returned? Or did most of you believe I abandoned this story and are waiting for me to finish all chapters of this story before you read anymore? If you answer is yes to either of these, I ask that you please message me in a pm. Thank you :)

Chapter 15: Unexpected Visitor

~LOTRLOTRLOTR~

Legolas sat frozen on the edge of his bed for the longest time. He couldn't believe it had all come to this. He used to think his family and friends were untouchable from Darkness, but that had been a foolish belief. No one and nothing was untouchable. Not even himself. His father had told him that the Darkness had tainted all of Mirkwood and even the royals were not exempt.

But Legolas could not understand why it was not taking him over. What made the residents of Mirkwood so resilient against it? Legolas did not know. Rivendell was a much lighter realm than Mirkwood and that light should have been enough to fortify their minds and hearts in an impenetrable shield against the Darkness. But instead they were controlled by it. Whereas Mirkwood was much less light and growing darker by the day. What little light there was grew dimmer and was barely enough to protect the palace and its residents. But some dwelled elsewhere in the forest. How were they protected? Yes, their inner lights were dimmed to the point of almost nonexistence, but they were still surrounded by fell creatures and tainted trees. How did it not effect the patrols? How did the darkness not effect the people of Mirwood; those who dwelt in one of the darkest realms, and instead, those who dwelled in one of the lightest realms were vulnerable to it? Legolas didn't understand. There was still so much he didn't understand, and he hoped that one day that would change.

The prince sighed and fell back, spreading his arms. Perhaps if he had stayed away from Elrond this wouldn't have happened. If he hadn't have been curious and peeked into the tent maybe he wouldn't have gotten hurt and Elrond wouldn't be punished tomorrow. If… If…If.

Legolas clenched his fist. This was his fault. His curiosity always got him in trouble and now it was going to ruin the life of another. Legolas knew that his father had been good friend's with the elf lord, and Legolas also had regarded Elrond as an uncle. But when he had looked into his father's sorrowful and angry gaze, he knew that that friendship was dying if it wasn't already dead. He had wanted so badly for Thranduil to believe him and now that he did he wished he still doubted him. Then Elrond would be spared from the fate that awaited him.

Legolas didn't know much about the corporal punishment. What little he knew was told to him by his ada, and only at the barest of detail. Legolas knew that the prisoners were restrained and the clothes covering their back were stripped away. He also knew that the whip was a handheld tool with leather strips that hurt when they hit skin. But that was the extent of his knowledge and even though Legolas had asked more questions about it, Thranduil did not reveal more, explaining to the elfling that he shouldn't know any more about such a brutal practice at his age.

That didn't matter now though. What mattered was that Lord Elrond would face that punishment tomorrow and there wasn't a thing Legolas could do about it.

Legolas felt tears of despair roll down his cheeks and was tempted to give into his grief. But a knock at the door interrupted that thought.

"Who is it?" Legolas asked firmly, effectively hiding his grief.

"Relias, my prince. I need to talk to you."

Legolas wiped his eyes with his sleeve and hobbled off the bed, heading for the door. When he opened it, Relias rushed in, searching around the room as if looking for others before coming to stand in front of the prince.

There was no need to mask his true feelings from this elf. Instead, he showed everything openly and without regret.

Relias took one look at the prince, sighed and then embraced him. "I take it you have heard the news."

"Yes," Legolas said quietly, returning the embrace.

"For such a sentence to be passed, a royal had to have been harmed, and you are the only other royal besides King Thranduil. I ask this because I am your friend so I need you to answer truthfully."

Relias pulled away, keeping eye contact. "Did lord Elrond harm you?"

Legolas gave a nod.

Relias ran a hand over his face. "I feared as much but wished it not to be so" He met the other's gaze with a fierceness. "Where did he hurt you, can I see?"

Legolas didn't want to speak of it anymore, but Relias deserved to know since he was his good friend.

"My chest was cut."

Relias's eyes went wide in surprise. "You were cut! That monster of a healer cut you? I can't believe he would do something so horrible!"

"He was not himself. My ada thinks he was controlled by Darkness," Legolas replied distantly.

Relias shook his head. "Still, he should have been able to fight it. I am very disappointed in Elrond for being so weak. In fact, I don't understand it at all."

"Me neither."

"Can I see it?"

"I don't want to show anyone else tonight if that's alright."

Relias nodded. "I understand. You don't have to show me then."

Legolas smiled gratefully, but it soon disappeared.

"What's wrong?" Relias asked.

Legolas knew that his friend deserved to know the truth. He just wasn't sure if he could speak of it. Still, he tried his best, speaking hesitantly.

"My father is punishing Elrond for another reason."

Relias clenched his fists. "What else did he do to you?"

Legolas sighed. "My fëa was fractured due to a nightmare I had about..."

Relias seemed like he wanted to rush out the door and throttle the elf lord, but he unclenched his fist and held out his hand, speaking. "may I?"

Legolas gave wordless permission and Relias gently pressed his hand to the prince's chest.

Legolas thought he was going to speak, but was surprised when the elf's arms crushed him in another embrace.

A broken voice spoke. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I didn't think about it." Legolas replied. "Why did all this happen?" He wailed, and squeezed his eyes shut as he received comfort from his friend. Relias didn't say another word, holding the prince as he heaved gasps of air. Legolas wanted to cry, but couldn't for some reason.

They held each other for a few moments more and then pulled apart.

Both were silent, neither knowing what more to say. Then, Relias broke the silence.

"Why don't you spar with me tomorrow. It will take your mind off of everything and more importantly, it will take you away from the palace for a while."

"Aye, I don't want to be in the palace when…"

"You can teach me that new move you've been practicing. I can impress so many eleth with it!" Relias winked.

Legolas stifled a laugh, knowing what his friend was doing. "I can teach you, but you're going to need more than a fancy knife trick to impress Heledh."

"I am quite aware. That's why I will also turn on the charm" Relias smiled romantically off into the distance.

Legolas couldn't stifle his laugh. Especially when Relias shot him an irritated glare.

"I'll have you know that I have charmed many an eleth before Heledh. It will be easy. You'll see!"

Legolas kept on laughing, his face turning a little red. He calmed just enough to speak. "Relias, when you're around any eleth, you are nervous and jittery. Often making a fool of yourself."

"Name one time."

"There was that time when you asked me to duel with you in front of that one eleth to impress her at the banquet. You asked me to lose to you on purpose, but you ended up tripping on that tablecloth and bringing half a banquet's worth of food down on top of you. Then there was the time that you were sparing with me on the training grounds when an eleth walked by. You wanted to impress her by your fancy knifework but you had used too much energy in your sweep and ended up spinning in a circle and cutting a foot of your hair off. Then there was the time-"

"Alright, enough! I may have been a bit clumsy, but I have matured a few years since then," Relias countered.

Legolas scoffed. "Matured? Face it, an orc has more charm than you!"

Relias crossed his arms. "What did you say?"

Legolas stopped laughing, hearing the warning in his friend's voice. Swallowing nervously, he stepped backward as Relias approached; like a predator stalking his prey. Then he jumped onto the bed and hid behind the pillows.

Relias grinned wickedly before pulling the pillows away, ignoring the cries of protest.

Legolas held up his hands. "No, please don't!"

"You should have thought about that before you called me a orc! Relias snarled. Then he pulled a screaming elfling toward him, pinning Legolas to the bed with his hands. He dangled his fingers in front of his face. Then he went in for the kill.

Legolas squirmed, clenching his teeth to keep from crying out, but his resolve soon faded.

"Stop! I'm a prince, hehehe, you can't hehehe do this!"

"Take it back. Say I'm not an orc."

"NO! Hahaha Never!"

Relias grinned wickedly. "Then be prepared to suffer!" Relias renewed his efforts tenfold, finding all the secret spots and showing little mercy.

"Hahahaha your going Hahaha to regret this," Legolas wheezed.

"Make me."

Legolas heard the challenge in his friend's voice and when he was the least suspecting, he arched his legs up hard and flipped them.

Relias held up his hands in mock-surrender, swallowing audibly. "My prince, surely you'll be merciful to your old frien-"

Any further words were cut off by laughter.

"No, hehehhe, I won't be conqured!"

"Say an orc has more charm than I!" Legolas pressed, unrelenting.

"An orc has more charm than you!"

Reliase let out a loud and indignified squawk as the prince's hands found a very secretive spot.

"NO, hahahah, not hahahah there!"

Legolas chuckled. The elbow was a very sensitive place for Relias. Interesting.

"Say it right or I won't release you."

"No!"

"Say it!"

Relias tried to flip them, but his legs were pinned down, preventing such an action.

Unable to take it anymore, Relias surrendered.

"Alright, I'll say it right. All eleth adore me!"

Legolas pressed his lips into a line and began work on the other elbow.

Relias cracked.

"Alright, hahaha, I yield! I yield. An orc has more charm than me."

Legolas released him, laughing triumphantly.

Relias's was also laughing, his face still red as he sat up. "You don't… play fair."

Legolas smiled back sweetly.

Relias leaned back on his hands, still somewhat catching his breath. "This bed is quite comfortable. Is yours like this?"

"It's comfortable, but not as big," Legolas responded.

"That's good to hear. You might get lost in it, what with your small size," Relias quipped.

Legolas gave him a mock glare. "Do you want more?"

"No no, I apologize," Relias said quickly, holding up his hands.

"Don't think you are much better. You're only a little taller than I am."

"True, but I think we can both agree that I'm more mature."

Legolas stared at him seriously for a moment and then they both burst into laughter.

Calming soon after, Relias sat up and slid off the bed, smoothing down his brown hair before facing the prince.

"Well, this has been fun, but I should be on my way. My father worries if I'm not home by dark, and from the looks of the sky it will only remain light for ten more minutes."

Legolas stood up, facing his friend. "Thank you for the company as always, Relias."

Relias smiled gently. "I could do no less." Then he pointed at him. "Remember, meet me a half hour before dawn and bring your best skill. Heledh will be impressed one way or another."

"I'll be there," Legolas replied, none of the teasing in his voice that had been there earlier.

"Till tomorrow, my Prince." Relias bowed in an obvious and overly regal manner and then shut the door behind him.

Legolas chuckled, shaking his head. He'll never change.

A/N: I like Relias. I think he is a believable friend for Legolas, and just the small comedic relief this story needed. What do you think?

Next chapter will be posted on Saturday(hopefully morning-ish).