Legolas's health improved considerably. His heart lightened and his mind left dark thoughts behind. He made it a point to venture outside for a long walk with one of his brothers or parents every day. He put aside his books and schoolwork for Thranduil said he deserved a break, an examination revealing Legolas had learned far more then an elfling his age would normally have.
One morning Legolas sat on the floor in the living room, sprawled by the heart facing Realn, poring over the situation spread out before them on the floor.
"I am winning," Realn said in satisfaction, eying the chess board.
"But it is my move," Legolas returned. "And I am winning!"
"You are not!" Realn exclaimed.
"Children," Thranduil said from his chair, looking over the top of his book. "It is a game, not an excuse for conflict."
"Anyway, I am winning," Realn muttered, moving a piece on the checked board.
Legolas snorted as his turn came. "Ha. You better move your king or I will take it next turn."
As Realn exclaimed in annoyance and hurried to examine the situation, Thranduil asked, "Legolas, do you have any plans after the game ends?"
Legolas nodded. "Yes, ada. I am going for my walk with Brenen."
Thranduil smiled. "I see. Well, while they are gone, Realn, Mykar, come down to the training courtyard. We will practice your fire-bending forms."
"Yes!" Realn cheered. Mykar squirmed in his chair.
"Are you not excited?" Realn asked. "We have not practiced since Legolas left bed, weeks ago!"
"Oh, I am excited," Mykar said. "But Brenen will miss it. It is no fun without him."
"That is because he always misbehaves," Thranduil said.
Brenen blushed. "I do not misbehave, ada. I simply engage in more challenging activities."
"And ignore me," Thranduil replied.
Brenen waved a hand. "Well, I will not mind missing a day."
A brief shadows crossed Legolas's face as he stared at the chess board. The cloud passed and he smiled. "Have a good time."
"Oh, we will," Realn said.
"What are you reading, Mykar?" Thranduil asked, looking at the hefty book on his son's lap.
Mykar glanced up, his chin cupped in his hands. "Hmm? Oh. Oh." He held up the book. "The Office Workbook. I love it."
Cinwe raised an eyebrow as she threaded her needle over her embroidery hoop. "I had no idea that was a good book."
"It is wonderful," Mykar said enthusiastically. He turned back to the pages.
"I win!" Legolas said, jumping to his feet. "Come on, Brenen!"
Leaving Realn to put away the chess pieces, Legolas and Brenen ran out of the room. Walking on a secluded path beneath the trees, Legolas held his brother's hand and skipped. He stopped with a frown on his face, feeling something well within him, like vomit looking to explode. Maybe lying on his stomach while playing chess had upset his lunch . . .
"Are you all right?" Brenen asked.
Legolas ran a hand over his stomach with a slight wince. "Yes . . . could you leave me alone for a few minutes?"
"You know ada does not want you to be alone while Eigil is still out here," Brenen began.
"Please?" Legolas asked with imploring eyes. He swallowed nervously, feeling like he did indeed need to vomit. "Eigil has not been heard of in a long time. Why would he appear now?"
"Five minutes," Brenen said after a long pause. "Five."
"Thank you," Legolas said. He waited until his brother has disappeared down the path behind him before he leaned against a tree with a slight gulp, clutching his stomach. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and froze.
"Greeting, my little prince," Eigil said.
Legolas inched his way backward, knowing his fear showed in his eyes. The trees arched over the path around him and, though the air was full of sunshine, the air seemed heavy to Legolas.
"Where have your manners gone?" Eigil asked, his voice threatening.
"I-I will scream from Brenen," Legolas whispered, his throat dry.
"Then I will kill him to!" Eigil answered, his lips curving into a smile. He brought his hand out from behind his back, grasping a long, slender knife.
"No!" Terror rooted Legolas to the ground. He stared transfixed at the knife as Eigil approached. Eigil wanted to kill him. Eigil was going to kill him!
"Do you remember the pain, princeling? The searing agony reminding you with every step you are useless?"
"You lie!" Legolas spat, clenching his fists. He saw the sun catch on the knife as it went up and instinctively raised his arms to guard against the blow. "Ada does love me!"
"How pathetic!" Eigil sneered. "How could a father love a son whose spirit is so weak, he cannot fight for his own life?" The knife came down.
Legolas stumbled back, tripping. As he sprawled to the ground, he screamed, "Brenen! Help me! Please!" He felt an iron grip grab his forearm and drag him to his feet. He struggled against Eigil's grasp as the knife went back to stab into his heart. "No!"
Fear bubbled within him as he met Eigil's hard eyes. The knife came down. Legolas hurled himself forward, crashing into Eigil's chest, the knife missing him by inches as it swished past his back.
"I hate you!" Legolas screamed. Before his eyes the world turned red. A rush of heat hit his face. He could hear Eigil screaming. He looked down at his hands, instant panic and dismay filling him as he saw curling flames shooting out of his fingers. He shrieked, stumbling back as the fire caught hold of leaves and brush. All around him fire roared up and he could not stop it! He would burn down Mirkwood and ada—and ada—and ada—
Long, slender hands closed over Legolas's hands, shutting off the fire and holding them tight. The fire died. Legolas looked up, his frightened eyes meeting Thranduil's. He saw Brenen standing a few feet away, dissolving the flames eating the trees into himself.
"I am s-s-s-sorry, ada," Legolas stammered. "I-I-I do not know h-how it s-s-started . . ."
Thranduil wrapped his arms around Legolas and pulled him to his chest. Legolas cried smoky tears of confusion into Thranduil's pine-scented shoulder. Around him, the fires were dead, leaving only a few black marks to stain the trees. Thranduil picked Legolas up and crossed the path to sit down on a fallen tree trunk serving as a bench. Legolas trembled in his arms, hands curled into fists beneath his stained cheek. Cinwe came running, followed by two elves from the healing wing. Eigil's unconscious form was quickly removed.
"Legolas?" Cinwe placed a hand on her son's back.
Legolas sobbed, shaking his head. "Please do not punish me! Please do not! I did not mean to burn the forest down! I did not mean to kill Eigil. Please no."
Cinwe knelt down by her son and rested her cheek on his back, hugging him. Words were useless until Legolas knew some calm. Legolas coughed down a last sob, sniffling into Thranduil's chest. He peeked up at his father and met a gentle smile.
"It seems you have inherited my fire-bending after all," Thranduil said. "Worry not; you killed not Eigil nor did you destroy the forest."
"You can fire-bend!" Brenen yelled, overjoyed.
"It started by me feeling sick," Legolas said slowly. "I felt my stomach swimming and I thought I was going to vomit. And then Eigil attacked me and said I was unloved because—because I cannot fight for myself . . ."
"I hope you know it was untrue," Cinwe said.
"Do you love me?" Legolas blurted.
"Never have we stopped loving you," Cinwe said, hugging Legolas around the waist tightly.
Legolas sniffed. "I do not want to fire-bend," he whimpered.
"But why not?" Thranduil asked in surprise. "You wanted to be a part of your brother's lessons so long. And now you have the gift, you do not want it?"
"No," Legolas whined. "I was so happy with the way things were . . . my brothers played with me and you and naneth spent time with me . . . and now everything has to change again!"
"Oh, ion nin," Cinwe murmured. "Nothing will change in the way it did the first time again. We will still spend time with you, and your brothers will still play with you. You will just be able to do more with them. You will like it, you will see."
Thranduil set Legolas on his feet and reached for his hand. "And now let us return home and celebrate tomorrow's joys."
Cinwe used the corner of his sleeve to wipe Legolas's tears away. She patted him on the cheek, took Brenen's hand, and walked homeward. Legolas walked in silence, wondering if his mother was right.