Sorry, this took a little while, been a little too busy to write. I hope this was worth the wait and once again thank you so much for all your feedback!

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Explanation

The rocky floor outside the gate of Moria was cold beneath his finger tips as he was lowered to the ground by his saviour. He could see nothing but the empty spot from which Gandalf had fallen, as he desperately tried to use what ever magic he had to save Mithrandir. Slowly the cold world around him began to creep in and his eyes began to focus on the man that crouched in front of him, his expression filled with a mixture of anger and sadness. He knew he would have to explain himself now, he was found out and the fellowship would have questions.

'Legolas?' said a distant voice.

The elf fought to focus on where it came from, and as his sight began to clear he realised that Aragorn was in front of him calling his name.

'Legolas what was that?' he asked, as he began to inspect the elf's wound.

'My curse.' he replied as he stared at the ranger.

'What did they do to you?' pushed Aragorn as he pulled the arrow from Legolas' leg, causing him to scream out in agony.

At this point the fellowship were surrounding them, tears streaming down their faces. They watched as Aragorn worked and listened as the elf spoke about his darkest secret. The Legolas looked around at them, unsure whether to tell his story but he knew that he could not withhold it from them. Not anymore.

'I was captured by man who experimented on my kind. He is in league with the dark lord and Sauron wanted to create an elf as powerful as the lady Galadriel.' he paused as he looked down at his bleeding wound that Aragorn was now binding 'He had captured and killed many elves. They all died because his experiments failed. Then one day Aragorn and I were traveling from the North to Mirkwood when we were attacked by a pack orcs. They kidnapped me and took me to a dark place, tortured me until all I knew was pain.'

The fellowship shivered at his story, the hobbits began to cry more as they listened to Legolas' horrid tale.

'One day, when they had decided they had beaten me enough they took me to their master. I never saw his face as they always bound my eyes. He fed me potions, cut me, poked and prodded… Cast dark spells that made the blood in my body burn like Molten Lava. I prayed that the Valar would take me, but i did not die. He told me that because I was a Sindar, he was hopeful that he would be successful… and he was.' Continued Legolas, his eyes now fixed on Aragorn who looked at him with a broken expression 'I was rescued by Aragorn when they had decided to transport me to Mordor. I was drugged so that I would not wake and kill my captors. When my power was revealed he did not realise how strong he had made me and I destroyed everything, almost killing him.'

'Why did you never tell me?' asked Aragorn as he placed a comforting hand on the elf's shoulder.

'Because I hoped that I would never have to use this terrible power…' he paused, tears welling up in his eyes 'The magic weakens me when I use it if I lose control I could kill myself and all around me.'

Aragorn said no more and he turned his attention to his other companions who stood around them, looking at the elf in horror.

'We must leave now, make for the woods of Lothlorien.' he stated as he helped Legolas stand.

The ranger looked around and noticed that one of the party was missing.

'FRODO?' he shouted as his eyes scanned the rocks for the halfling, spotting him wandering a little farther down 'FRODO!' he shouted again, grabbing the hobbits attention.

'Come… we must hurry.' He said as he looked at the elf who was leaning heavily on him 'Can you run?' he asked him, the elf shook his head in response and the man scooped the elf up into his arms.

The rest of the fellowship followed, no questioning the new leadership. Swiftly they made their way down the jagged rocks towards a long open field crowned with a golden woodland at it's end. For hours they ran, the woodland slowly but surely edging closer towards them, exhaustion and blood loss had caused Legolas to slip into unconsciousness again. The sun was at its highest in the sky by the time they reached the forest, the fellowship breathing a sigh of relief as they jogged into the safety of the woodland. The elf began to stir as they continued on, moving his head as if he was listening to the trees, cracking his eyes open and smiling when he was met with the golds and greens of nature. Aragorn set him down as he allowed the group to catch their breath, leaning him up against one of the many trees that surrounded them.

'We made it Mellon-nin.' he said as crouched beside Legolas to inspect his wound.

It was bleeding freely through the makeshift bandage that Aragorn had applied so the ranger went about binding it again, inspecting it for signs of poison. Relieved to find no such evidence he wrapped the elf's leg again and then looked around at his weary companions who were perched one the ground eating what little food they had and sipping from their water skins.

'Rest while you can, we must push on. We are still not safe here.' said Aragorn as he stood up and looked around at them.

They all nodded in reply before taking what respite they could, but unspoken questions clung to the air like a thick smoke bellowing from a hot fire. Each taking a turn to look at the weary elf as he leaned against the white bark of the tree Aragorn had propped him against. Legolas felt their eyes on him, he shifted uncomfortably, praying that the ranger would announce their departure so that he could escape their probing eyes. Aragorn saw the elf's discomfort and crouched beside him, placing a comforting hand on his companion's arm as he gave him a weak smile.

'They're going to fear me now Estel.' he said as his eyes flicked to the Hobbits who huddled together, talking to each other in whispers 'They are talking about me.'

'It's rude to eavesdrop Mellon-nin.' said Aragorn, a small smirk crossed his lips as he looked back at the halflings who looked away as he caught the gaze.

'Aye' that it is but my keen hearing is both a blessing and a curse my friend.' replied Legolas as he looked at the ranger with his piercing blue eyes.

'What do they say?'

'Well, Sam keeps saying "he ain't natural" which is not wrong, and Merry and Pippin think that I'm dangerous which is also not wrong.' Legolas replied as he shifted his position, wincing as it sent a pang of pain through his injured leg.

'Come, we should go.' Said Aragorn as he lifted the elf to his feet 'We leave now.' he finished as he turned around to address the rest of the fellowship.

They all stood and followed without question, following the ranger as he trekked through the wood. Boromir helped Legolas as he limped, keeping his pain hidden behind a stone cold expression. The look sent a shiver down the mans spine, but he pushed his fear of the elf back and walked on. The light of day was beginning to fail as the walked further into the forest, Gimli held his axe up in front of him as his head flicked around like a cat.

'Stay close young hobbits.' he said as he ushered them to walk beside him 'They say there's a great sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf-witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell…'

Frodo stopped in his tracks as he started to look around anxiously.

'Mr Frodo?' asked Sam, concern touched his voice.

'Well! Here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily! I have the eyes of a hawk, and ears of a fox!' finished the dwarf.

Gimli's attention was abruptly brought to an arrow that now pointed directly at his face, 'Oh.' he muttered as he leaned back in shock.

'The dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark.' said a voice, as a white-haired elf walked into view.

Gimli grunted in displeasure as he gave the elf a cold glare. The elf smirked before turning his attention to Boromir, and then to Legolas whose head hung low.

'I see you have an elf in your party.' he said as he looked at Aragorn.

'Please, we need your help. Legolas is wounded and we are being hunted by orcs from Moria.' pleaded the ranger, his expression changed to one that none of the group had seen before.

The elf turned and started to walk further into the woods, motioning for them to follow. The fellowship looked around at each other with nervous expressions but we're pushed on by the armed guard that surrounded them. They walked for some time, the light of day began to fail and soon the golden wood became a mixture of deep blues and greens. They came to a wide tree, the leader waited at its base and out of nowhere a ladder rolled down from the canopy above. The white-haired elf ascended the ladder, and the fellowship followed in silence. Aragorn helped Legolas, glad that the ladder was wide enough for them to climb it side by side. They pushed on, coming to a plinth that sad high in the tree top. They clambered onto the platform, where they then stood side by side as the elvish captain spoke to one of his compatriots in a hushed voice before sending him off, then turning to face the fellowship. He walked up to Legolas who was leaning headily on Aragorn, the blood loss beginning to take its toll on him.

'Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion.' (Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil.) said the leader as he placed his hand on his chest in respect to the Mirkwood prince.

Legolas straighten himself as he returned the elf's gaze 'Govannas vn gwennen le, Haldir o Lrien.' (Our Fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lorien.) replied Legolas.

Frodo looked at the Legolas in surprise, he knew this elf? More questions ran through the hobbits brain as he watched Haldir walk toward Aragorn.

'A, Aragorn in Dunedain istannen le ammen.' (Oh, Aragorn of the Dunedain, you are known to us.) he said as he gave the man the same greeting he had given to Legolas.

Aragorn bowed as he returned the gesture.

'So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves! Speak words we can also understand!' spat the dwarf as he looked glared at the elf.

'We have not had dealings with the dwarves, since the dark days.' replied Haldir through gritted teeth.

'And do you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul!' (I spit upon your grave!) growled Gimli.

'That was not so courteous.' barked Aragorn was he grabbed the dwarf's shoulder.

'You bring great evil with you.' continued Haldir as he looked at Frodo, his gaze piercing 'You can go no further!'

Legolas shared a glance with Aragorn, unspoken words passed between them. The elf pushed himself off of the Ranger and limped towards Haldir who had turned his back to them.

'Haldir, I must speak with you.' said Legolas as he grabbed the captains arm 'we need your help. We have suffered great loss and we are all in grave peril.'

'Legolas, you bring the ring of power with you.' replied Haldir as he turned to face him 'I cannot allow such evil into our kingdom.'

The elven prince looked at his kin with wide eyes.

'Theres something you should see…' started Legolas as he let go of his fellow elf's arm.

Haldir looked at the elf in confusion, and Aragorn walked up behind him, knowing what his friend was about to do.

'Legolas don't…' he said as grasped his the Prince's arm.

Legolas then closed his eyes, allowing the power within him to surge through his veins. Haldir continued to look at the Mirkwood Prince with bewilderment, but soon that expression changed as the Prince's skin began to glow. His eyes cracked open, a pure white light leaking through them. The Prince's once blue orbs were now just pure light. Legolas' chest began to heave as his power drained him of what strength he had left, collapsing as his consciousness left him. Aragorn caught the elf before he hit the floor before looking up at Haldir who stood looking at them in shock.

'He needs the lady Galadriel's help.' said Aragorn.

Haldir said nothing but nodded, ushering for them to come with him. He stopped in his tracks, turning his head towards them.

'Just you and him.' said Haldir 'I still cannot permit the ring to enter Lothlorien.'

'Haldir, I beg of you…' pleaded Aragorn.

They were interrupted by the return of the elf that Haldir has sent away, who stopped directly before them.

'The Lord and Lady wish to speak with the ring-bearer and his companions.' he said as he bowed to Haldir.

Haldir nodded in reply before turned to face the rest of the troop 'Come with me.'

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So sorry this took so long. I hope it was worth the wait. Please let me know what you think.