A/N: We have officially reached over 80 reviews! Thank you all for making this milestone possible! You have all waited a very long time for Legolas to know the truth of what's been happening to him, and now the wait is over :) This chapter is much short than the last one, but I couldn't lengthen it without having an awkward break.

Thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter: Mustard Lady, mystarlight (Welcome to the group!).

Chapter 17: With my life

~LOTRLOTRLOTR~

Thranduil returned with Legolas and the two of them entered the tent.

A jittery gasp made all eyes turn to the prince.

Thranduil laid a firm hand on his son's shoulder to ground him. "Be calm, Legolas. I know you want to flee, but I promise that if you remain here no harm will come to you."

Legolas closed his eyes and took a slow calming breath in and out. "Promise you won't leave me, ada… No matter what."

Thranduil felt a stab of guilt, knowing that Legolas added that last part because Thranduil had left him alone with the elf lord after promising to stay near. Oh, greenleaf, I will never do that to you again. "I promise."

Legolas felt the calming peace sent to him through their bond, and relaxed a fraction.

"Elrond," Thranduil spoke. "Tell Legolas what you told me."

The elf lord stood promptly and walked near the table in the center, stopping when he was within a hand's reach from it. "Do you see this table here in front of me?"

Legolas nodded, though he was weary of the question.

"I know you have the memory of being tied down to it while I cut your chest, and now I know why you have that memory."

Legolas shuddered at the description, but couldn't deny that he was curious about what would be said.

Elrond took in a measured breath. "The other day, I had been urgently summoned to the healing ward. One of your soldiers who goes by the name of Berion, had been helping the residents of a village to safety when one of the houses exploded. You may know of this, but what you do not know is that his chest was punctured by shrapnel from the explosion and his injuries were great. When I received him into my care, Berion was deeply unconscious and bleeding internally, on the brink of death. I had no choice but to operate immediately. And though I could have quickly administered herbs to keep the patient under, I believed there was no need with him deeply out of consciousness."

Elrond turned to Legolas. "You must understand that Berion's body was broken beyond even my abilities to heal. I could only remove the shrapnel and try my best to save his life. The operation lasted for 16 hours. No one expected him to awaken near its end, I least of all. He had lost much blood and the damage done to his internal organs was severe. But Mandos seemed to have a different plan that day. As I was removing the last few pieces of shrapnel, he awakened."

Elrond met Legolas's gaze, noting his complexion was almost sheet white and his breathing was shallow.

"That is the scene I believe you witnessed and then you heard him scream." Elrond continued. "If I am also correct, that is also the moment you fled the tent." A nod told Elrond he was on the right track. Encouraged, he continued speaking.

"The reason Berion screamed in that agonized and terrible volume, is because I was in the midst of removing a piece of shrapnel that was buried deep within one of his rib bones. The pain must have roused him to consciousness, and he suddenly became aware of his body and what was happening to it. You remember what happened next, but had you stayed just a little longer, you would have seen me stop the operation immediately and give much of my own strength to ease the elf's suffering before a large dose of sleeping drought—specially designed to take effect within seconds—was administered as quickly as was elvenly possible. Berion fell into unconsciousness a few seconds after, and keep in mind that his time alert and aware was very brief, and he felt only a fraction of the pain, nothing compared to what it was."

By this time, Legolas was looking straight at the elf lord, eyes searching.

Elrond's demeanor then conveyed all the intensity of an Elf Lord and the compassion of a healer.

"Legolas, I did not, have never, and would never do such an operation without making absolutely sure that my patients won't feel any of it. If Berion hadn't been in such a critical state and I had thought it necessary, I would have administered a sleeping-draught beforehand. I chose to be a healer because I want to help and heal, not harm. The operation you witnessed was a very rare occurrence and out of my control, as I have explained, and you were never meant to witness it. Had you been with me today, you would have seen me visit Berion to give my sincerest apologies to both him and his brother."

"Furthermore," Elrond continued. "I have never nor would I ever use rope to restrain my patients. If force is necessary to keep them still, I'll have one of my assistants hold them down while the treatment is administered. This is done more for the protection of the patient than anything because thrashing about with an injury can be damaging to them and could open up wounds."

"Your father told me of the pain you endured that night because of what you observed. For a nightmare to fracture one's soul, especially one as strong as yours, it used your greatest fears to strike you down when you were most vulnerable. But you must believe that it was not I that put upon you such a weight of terror. I swear on all that I hold dear that I would never harm you. Even while I was under the control of the Darkness I was able to restrain myself from harming anyone. It's hold on me has broken."

Elrond looked out at the trees swaying in the breeze through the view of the window. He sighed heavily.

"Now you know the truth. I understand that it will be some time before you trust me again, and given what you have suffered I do not expect it to be anytime soon, if ever. Therefore, by dawn tomorrow I and my sons will leave Mirkwood for an indefinite time."

Elrond turned to the king. "Thranduil, your guards told me that my sons escaped their room and fled into the forest, taking their horses and mine with them. I will need one of your fastest horses to retrieve them and then we shall all leave."

Legolas felt hot tiers prick his eyes and he hid his face in his hands, too ashamed to face the healer.

And then the tears fell.

They were light at first but soon grew to the intensity of a heavy downpour, a heathy release of all the stress and fear that Legolas had kept deep inside him, and the power of it made the elfling's inner light grow to such an intensity that even in the light of day, his skin glowed brightly with the light of the Eldar.

Arms were around him now, they were holding him, making him feel safe. But these were not his father's arms. The familiar scent of him wasn't there, the velvety robes instead of silken robes brushed against his skin, and experienced hands rubbed his back in soothing circles.

A deep exhale was heard.

"My child."

A voice was speaking to him now and Legolas recognized the calming, warm timbre. It was indeed Elrond. However, instead of fleeing, Legolas did something that the healer did not expect and brought his own arms around the peredhel, mindful of his injuries.

Elrond stiffened but then relaxed, returning the embrace.

"I'm sorry for believing you were a monster. You must hate me after how I've treated you! And you were whipped so badly all because of me." Legolas said, continuing to cry softly.

Elrond lifted the boy's chin and held his eyes with a sorrowful gaze. "I could never hate you, penneth. Your fear was real to you, and that is all that matters. I admit that I did a rather poor job trying to disarm you of that fear in the beginning, and for that I am truly sorry."

"S-okay."

"Furthermore," Elrond continued. "Do not blame yourself for something out of your control. The evidence against me was strong and you ended up saving me from a worse beating in the end. I am very grateful to you, Legolas. Will you- will you ever forgive me for all the harm I unknowingly caused you, Legolas?"

Legolas experimentally touched the Elf Lord's cheek and was surprised to find they were wet. He frowned. "Am I squeezing you too tight?"

Elrond laughed softly, shaking his head. "No penneth, these are tears of joy not of pain. You have always been like a third son to me since the day you were brought into this world, by these hands. When I first held you in my arms, I knew that I would protect you with my life as your father knew."

Elrond glanced over at the door of the tent and saw that Thranduil had left. A soft voice made him focus on the elfling in his arms.

"When you come back with your sons, will you stay a little longer before going back home?"

"If that is what you want, but are you sure you want my sons to stay here after what they did to you?"

Legolas nodded. "They weren't aware of what they were doing. The darkness controlled them and they need to be set free from it."

Elrond rubbed the top of his hand over Legolas's cheek, a small smile gracing his lips that lessened the crease of worry marring his brow. "You are such a kind and brave elfling. Very well, I will bring them here and purge the darkness from them. However, I will not leave until I know you are all right."

"I am alright now." The elfling put his hand over his heart and then looked thoughtful. "Feel."

Elrond's eyes widened immensely. "You- you trust me to do this?"

Legolas smiled softly. "With my life."

A/N: Next Saturday, the twins are back!

Feel free to review and tell me what you thought of this chapter :D