Chapter 35

Aragorn had to smile at the speed with which the wood elves had taken over the fight, dispatching the deadly creatures with a ruthless efficiency gained from centuries of practice and the ingrained loathing of those whose beloved home was being desecrated around them. He watched as they swiftly checked each spider, the growing gloom of evening no hindrance to their elven sight, ensuring that none still lived, gathering all arrows as were fit for reuse as they went, then moved to stand proudly to attention before their prince their faces wreathed in welcoming smiles, practicality having won out over joy.

The young man felt his hopes begin to rise once more at the easy camaraderie that Legolas now showed with his kin. Never one to stand on ceremony, he greeted them as comrades in arms as he ever did without the rigors of regality, their names and those of their families flowing from his lips effortlessly as he enquired about the health and lives of each. Gone was the cold, unknowing stranger of just a few days before and Aragorn's heart soared to think his friend's memories would soon return and all would repair to how it once was.

As the elves enjoyed their reunion and the happy chatter of musical voices began to ring out over the now forgotten corpses the twins moved to Aragorn's side, almost as if they felt he was needful of their protection. After all, the elves of the Greenwood were known for their intolerance of outsiders, especially those of other races and although Estel was widely known here as friend to the prince, there may still be those whose prejudice ran deep. They had both seen the light of hope and relief in their human brother's eyes and could not bear to imagine what would happen if it were to be extinguished once more.

Finally, glancing their way, Legolas raised his hands to quiet the happy group and called over, beckoning the brothers to join him.

"There is a guard flet nearby where we can find food and rest for the night if you so wish." He spoke with a smile. "Although only half a day's march from the halls, it is not safe to continue in the dark, the spiders are growing ever bolder in their malice."

A flicker of emotion in his eyes at the last words caught Elrohir's attention but before he could name it, it was gone and the younger twin was left with a vague feeling of unquiet, wondering if it had ever been there at all.

~o~

"He killed me."

The words hung in the air between them, the pain they contained almost palpable.

"He killed me Galion, and I could do naught to stop him."

Blue eyes, bright with tears stared over the top of the goblet and caught the butlers own in a grip made tight with so much pain his heart could hardly bear it.

"It was just a dream Sire, a nightmare." Galion whispered soothingly. "You know your son would rather die himself than…"

"It was no dream." Thranduil interjected with frustration. "I felt it Galion. I felt my fea separate, saw his hand upon the knife, looked into his eyes as the world faded…"

Sudden comprehension dawned as the words tailed off and the kings own eyes opened wide.

"Dead!"

Confusion now hit Galion as the word exploded from Thranduil's mouth.

"Dead." He repeated, his eyes clearing as hope replaced despair.

"Yes sire." The butler was backing away fearing for his master's sanity, he needed the healer. "You said you were dead." He was almost at the door.

"Not me, you fool!" The regal tone arrested Galion in his tracks. "His eyes."

Galion stared at the king, incomprehension making him waver.

"His eyes were dead!"

Before Galion could act Thranduil had thrown back the thin, white sheet, swung his legs over the edge of the bed and upon feeling the floor beneath his feet raised himself to stand, shaking with the unaccustomed exertion. Swaying alarmingly, he then began to walk towards the tall cupboard in the corner of the room which contained his clothing.

"Sire!" The butler gasped as his king stumbled. "Sire, please, you should not be out of bed. Healer Fearvel will not be happy to …."

"The healer is not here, Galion." Thranduil cut in curtly. "And I need to think."

He waved a hand imperiously as Galion opened his mouth once more to protest.

"Which I cannot do properly, lounging about in bed."

Having made it to the cupboard without further incident the king flung open the doors, reached in and withdrew the first robes that sprang to hand then stood with them in his grasp as if wondering what to do with them next.

"I need to go to the study."

Galion closed the gap between them and gently removed the robes from his fingers.

"Of course you do sire." Moving to the bed he laid the robe across its rumpled surface then turned back to retrieve a matching pair of breeches from shelving underneath the hanging space.

"And I will help you."

Placing his hand softly upon Thranduil's arm he led the king back to sit on the edge of the bed before assisting him to get dressed. This was a strange, vulnerable Thranduil before him and he did not like it at all.

~o~

True to the wood elf's word it had not taken long to reach the flet in question and as Elrohir pulled himself up onto its large wooden boarding he took in its sparse details and sighed. He knew from experience that in Imladris the guards had little room and no comfort when out on patrol and it appeared things were even worse in the dark forest. The flet was a simple, flat ledge built around the tree's thick trunk, with no walls and only a small, oiled cloth covering forming a roof of sorts over one half which appeared to be where bedding and equipment was stored. The other side was open to the canopy above. Moving to join his twin in the middle, to allow Aragorn up behind him, he wondered if they would all fit, then looked up at a lightly trilled call from above to see wood elves seated in the branches overhead, their legs swinging nonchalantly as they smiled and beckoned their prince to join them.

"You will be safe here for the night." Legolas said as the brothers looked around. "It is only a small flet so we will stay up above to ensure there will be room for you to rest."

His voice seemed oddly impersonal and Elrohir could not help but wonder at the lack of warmth it contained but decided that it was probably only due to weariness after the spider attack and earlier wounds the elf had taken.

"You need rest also mellon nin." Aragorn smiled as he went to place a hand upon Legolas' arm

"Nay," the wood elf retorted sharply, stepping back out of reach. "I am fine, adan." Turning abruptly he leapt effortlessly up into the branches to join his kin.

Elrohir saw the flash of hurt that passed over his brother's face at the prince's words and scowled. He had hoped that meeting some of his own people would help with Legolas' memory loss but it appeared that it was going to take much more to encourage him to remember Estel. Narrowing his eyes he watched the wood elf move up until he was almost out of sight in the canopy, noting the way the group closed in around him forming a protective shield. As Legolas finally lowered himself to sit on a slender branch Elrohir thought he saw the flicker of a grimace but it was gone as quickly as it came and soon the prince was resting, back against the trunk, legs dangling either side of the branch, deep in conversation with the Silvan's surrounding him.

~o~

Walking slowly through the deserted, torch lit corridors, trying not to lean too strongly upon his long time friend, Thranduil's head was filled with images of his son. He was close. Just close enough to feel his presence at the edges of his mind. Maybe only a day away now. Their connection had ever been such that each felt the others nearness, their spirits entwined together with the forest in a unique bond set all those many years ago when first Thranduil had held him as a babe at the very core of the forest, a balm to the grief that had so nearly claimed his life.

Finally reaching the plain, oak door that guarded his private study the king pulled himself up straight to stand alone.

"You may leave me now, mellon nin." Softly yet firmly spoken the words were a dismissal and Galion, though loathe to leave him alone, knew he would not be permitted to stay.

"I will wait here sire."

Nodding slightly in deference the butler moved to stand by a large tapestry of the Greenwood in lighter times, which hung on the wall directly opposite the door.

"In case you have need of me."

With a small smile Thranduil acknowledged the equally firm response, knowing that whatever he may say Galion would remain in that spot, then swiftly passed through the door closing it quietly behind him.

Leaning against the comforting bulk of the door Thranduil's eyes closed briefly as he tried to calm muscles quivering from weakness due to his prolonged inactivity. It was a few moments before he felt able to move into the room itself and breathed a small sigh of relief upon reaching the tall chair behind the beautifully intertwined, thick vines that created his desk, sinking into it just before his legs gave way to drop him ignominiously on the hard, stone floor. He sat, slumped inelegantly, waiting for his head to clear and his limbs to become responsive once more before reaching for the ever present decanter and goblet, pouring a hefty measure of his favourite wine and gulping it down like a man dying of thirst.

Re filling the goblet Thranduil took another, smaller gulp then swirled the liquid around, watching the ruby and crystal glint in the candlelight, allowing the warming fluid to slide down his throat and ease the tension from his body. He needed his mind to be free from the aches and pains of his flesh, to be able to let it wander, seeking out the truth amongst the dreams and puzzles of his time spent insensate, before making any decisions upon how to proceed when his son finally returned home. Placing the goblet back carefully beside the decanter his fingers began reflexively to trace the patterns created by the aged, highly polished wood, smoothed by centuries of use as his mind roamed and drew upon the natural bond between king and forest, the only outward sign of life in the room as he fell deeper and deeper within its trance.

~o~

Curling up in his blanket upon the hard wooden floor of the flet Aragorn found himself unable to sleep. The look on Legolas' face as he had shaken him off and taken to the branches with his woodland kin had hurt far more than he would have believed possible. Berating himself for his own naiveté he could not help but wonder how he had ever thought that bringing his friend back home would repair his broken memories overnight. Things were never that simple and Legolas had obviously been through much that they did not yet really know about. He sighed. A sign would have been nice though. Something, anything, just a small indication to show that deep down all was not lost between them.

Aragorn had cherished their friendship, using it to bolster him in the dark days immediately after Elrond had told him of his inheritance. Those days when he had wandered in the wild, unsure of who he was, anger and frustration eating away inside. The thought of Legolas and his cool, quiet strength and love had been like an anchor in a world suddenly strange and new. He had never expected to be welcomed back by those he had called father and brothers after his swift, acrimonious departure from Imladris but he had always been certain of a warm welcome from the one he knew would never judge him for the blood he carried, who he might become or what choices he made upon the way. Legolas had only cared about the person he was, titles, bloodlines, deeds done long ago by those long dead had not mattered to him. He was his sworn brother and if needs be, would lay down his life for him and that was all he needed to know.

Pulling the blanket higher around his shoulders he felt the sting of tears beginning to form and squeezed his eyes tight shut in an effort to prevent their flow. They would get through this. Somehow he would see those clear, shining eyes gaze upon him with affection once more. He looked up to the trees above. Night had truly fallen now and although he could hear the faint musical lilt of voices he could no longer make out the forms they belonged to. A song began to weave through the air, soft and soothing, a song he remembered hearing long ago when he was lulled to sleep as a child and he recognized his brother's voices now. Tense muscles began to relax as the song did its work, taking him back to carefree days filled with love and happiness. His heart lightened and he heard again the elven name he had been given by his foster family to help keep him safe and he clung onto it like a lifeline and finally drifted off into dreams where hope ran through the trees laughing, cocooned within a golden halo of light, happily following a pair of horses with long, flowing manes the colour of midnight.

A/N

Well, another chapter finally up! For those of you who would like to know more about the scene alluded to between Thranduil and baby Legolas all is explained in my short story 'The Last Green Leaf'.

Thanks to all of you awesome people still reading, even though I am keeping you waiting so long between chapters atm. I really do appreciate it.

Mentions, as ever to my wonderful reviewers - bettsam0731, Obsidianglasses, LegolasLover2003, Estaron and earthdragon (the guest) who unfortunately I have been unable to reply to personally but would like to say your review was very much appreciated and yup, Legolas seems to be enjoying the dark side a little too much but hopefully forewarned is forearmed for Thranduil :)

Keep those reviews coming guys. They really help spur me on. :)