August 25 Ta 1636

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Elladan watched the rain drip on the balcony, and could not handle the silence any longer. He longed for Rivendell, for his own room. He had travelled before, but he could not help but feel the thought of being stuck in Mirkwood was what was making him so anxious. He could not leave when he was ready. He could not leave when he desired the warm breeze and fresh air of Imladris. He felt trapped.

He rose and walked barefeet down to The Gold room, where Erestor was staying.

He knocked, and waited awkwardly for him to open the door. "Elladan-"

"May I speak with you a moment?"

He nodded and stepped aside for Elladan to enter. They sat on the couch, Erestor poured himself a glass of wine. "What is it?"

"I want to go back with you."

Erestor's eyebrows rose. "What? You have just arrived."

"I know, but I do not know how long I will be here, what if something happens and I cannot leave-"

"You are not imprisoned here. You are merely here to gain some confidence on your situation with Elrohir. Earien knows most of what brings you here, do you really think they will hold you captive?"

He shook his head and leaned back with a sigh, covering his face with his hands. "I am being a child."

"You have never been apart. In your whole life you have never been without him. Now you cannot give up and go back to him when you wish, and it scares you. You are interdependent on one another. It is understandable. But you have family here as well, and they love you. You are not alone here."

"Please stay here with me, Erestor. Once you are gone it will hit me hard I know it."

"I am leaving when you do for the patrols. Your father's orders. You will do well, just calm down."

Elladan searched for comfort in his words, but he could not help but feel he would be here when a war erupted, and he would never be permitted to leave, "I do not even know what it is I must fulfill to leave."

"Go and speak with Earien. She is the only one that can make you feel better, as she and Thranduil hold the keys to your service here."

"She must be asleep surely-"

"She will not mind. Go."

Elladan smiled and touched his arm, "Thank you, Erestor."

Elladan started toward the Royal suite, and it was easy to spot with the guards outside the door.

"Are you alright, Master Elladan?" Thangannas asked.

"Yes, although I would like to speak with the Queen, please."

Thangannas looked at Adanion, who bowed his head and opened the door, "Follow me."

Adanion motioned for Elladan to sit on the couch, and offered him wine, which he declined. He opened the door to the bedroom, and Elladan prayed he wouldn't wake the King as well. Adanion reentered, and Earien followed, tying her robe.

Adanion bowed and Earien thanked him, and he resumed his post outside of the door.

"I am sorry for waking you," Elladan said quietly.

"Do not be it is alright," she said and sat down across from him, "what is the matter?"

"I, I think I made a mistake, coming here," he said nervously.

She sat back, her eyebrows rising, "why do you say that?"

"I was angry, stupid. Elrohir and I should never had been fighting in the first place, I see that now."

"What were you fighting about?"

He hesitated, "Elrohir told me he was considering being counted as one of the men."

She didn't let him see her surprise, "really?"

"Yes. I could not accept it."

"How do you feel about it now?" she asked quietly.

He considered the question a moment, "I do not know. I am so confused."

She leaned forward, her dark eyes meeting his blue, "what did you come to speak to me about? Really?"

"I, I cannot stop thinking about how I cannot leave until you and Thranduil say I can."

She smiled and ran her hand through her hair, "you think you are stuck here?"

He shrugged and blushed, "I do not really know what a traded warrior is."

"A traded warrior is a warrior that one realm lends to another either to train, or to lend service in a time of need. That warrior is released when he completes his training or is no longer needed. We have plenty of warriors, so you're here as a military trainee. You have a high ranking position, and you'll learn about military strategy and how to fight from the trees as well as fight spiders. Does that sound like imprisonment?" she said kindly.

He shook his head, "I thought I had a specific task I had to fulfill and I have been dwelling upon what it might be."

"No, just to train. You can go home when Thranduil and I give you permission as well as your parents' permission to return. Essentially you are here until we feel you are ready to go home, not when you miss Elrohir."

He looked up at her and smiled mischievously, "you and my father knew that I would be ready to go home quickly."

"Of course, you two are inseparable," she smiled.

"I can no longer feel his connection," he admitted, "It makes me anxious. I feel alone."

"You have every right to feel that way. My brother left the other day and I can no longer feel his connection either. I feel anxious as well. You and Elrohir are very close and have never been separated. It is ok to feel that way. Renil returns this morning, I think you will feel better when you are distracted."

"You are right," he said quietly, and leaned forward to hug her, "Thank you."

"Any time, now try to get some sleep so you will be rested for your first patrol."

He smiled and rose, showing himself out.

August 26 TA 1636

Legolas was up early in the morning, returning to training again. He was tired by noon, when he found Calis in the barracks with Salias, who was getting ready to leave again on the southern patrol. He was dressed in his sentinel uniform, his bag packed with two months' worth of Lembas, miruvor, medical supplies, clothing, and blankets.

Calis always got upset when his father left, and Legolas could understand. They never knew when and if he would return. The southern patrol was unpredictable, cruel. It took a serious toll on the elves that went on those patrols, and they rarely rotated, as the elves that had been on it several times were familiar with the area. The southern patrol got a week and a half's rest versus the usual two days for the other patrols.

"Legolas," Salias smiled tiredly as he strapped on his wrist guards.

"You leave today?"

"Yes the other patrols returned today, which means its time for us to go," Calis stared at his father sadly, and Salias seemed to be trying to keep his spirits up. He looked up at Legolas, "Where is your Adar?"

"I do not know, I have not seen him today."

Salias groaned, "will he come to see us off?"

"He did not tell me, I do not know," Legolas said, remembering what his mother had said about their argument.

Salias looked down at Calis, and smiled sadly at him, "I will see you before you have time to miss me."

"Please be careful, Ada," he said quietly.

"I will, I'll be fine don't worry about me, alright?"

Calis nodded and he embraced him. He looked up and past Legolas, his face changed. Legolas turned to see his father and Thangannas as they approached them. Salias released Calis, and followed after Thranduil.

Thranduil could not let his cousin leave on such terms. He was essentially his brother, his only kin. Leaving an argument unresolved for two months was unacceptable.

"I could not let you leave without speaking to you," Thranduil said quietly.

"I was thinking the same. I am sorry about what I said. I am not disloyal to you gwador-nin, I was tired and lost my head. I know what you have been through and would follow you to the end."

Thranduil smiled slowly, "that means a lot to me, thank you. I am sorry for my reaction as well. I was distracted and tired as well."

Salias took Thranduil's wrist in a warrior's embrace, and returned to his son's side. He kissed his head, and started into the forest with his patrol.

Legolas followed his father back to the stronghold in comfortable silence. The guards opened the gate for them with a slight bow, and Thranduil turned around to look at Legolas and waited for him to catch up.

"I would like for you to join me on a council meeting today."

Legolas stared at his father, "really?"

Legolas had nagged his father so much about his desire to sit in on a council meeting that he had given up asking, and assumed the answer would simply always be no.

"Yes. You are not an elfling anymore, and I wish for you to take up position at the council when you are of age," he smiled, and Legolas threw his arms around his neck.

"Thank you, Ada. I will not let you down."

"I know you will not. You never have," he grinned, and Legolas couldn't hide the joy his father's words gave him, "I have to go tell Nana."

Thranduil watched Legolas run down one of the adjoining halls, and Faroth came up beside him, "what is he running for?"

"He will be attending council."

Faroth's eyebrows rose, "he will?"

"He is growing out of his youth," Thranduil said sadly, "it is time to stop treating him as such."

Faroth smirked, "it is difficult to watch your child grow, but you have raised Legolas well. He is a wonderful person, and will grow to do great things."

Thranduil nodded, and spoke quietly to Faroth on their way to the council room.

Elladan followed Earien out to the barracks, his nerves rising with every step he took. She turned to give him an encouraging look before she entered the barracks.

Elladan followed, and several elves looked up at him with curious glances. He swallowed nervously, but rose his head. He would not let them see.

"My queen," one of the elves said, and they all stood and bowed in unison. Elladan's eyes widened. Imladris' elves did not do that. For anyone. The elf that spoke stepped forward, and she greeted him.

"Captain, I would like you to meet Captain Elladan."

The elf was fairly tall, with a thin angular face and bright grey eyes hidden under dirty blonde hair. He pushed his unruly hair from his face and put his hand out to Elladan. Elladan took it, and they grasped one another's wrists.

"It is great to meet you, my name is Renil. We have been looking forward to your joining us."

"Thank you, I have as well."

"I will leave you," Earien said with a smile, "I will see you in a few days."

Elladan nodded, and they all watched Earien and Adanion exit the barracks.

"Where should we start?" Renil asked with a smile.

"What about climbing trees?" another elf with light hair asked.

"That is Brethil," Renil laughed, "But he is right. Can you climb trees?"

Elladan flushed, "No, I have never had to."

"That is alright, we will teach you," Renil reassured him. "I do not need to question your skills, I have heard tales of you and your brother's skills in combat."

Elladan blushed, "thank you. I hope I can be of service to you all."

"I am sure you will be. Have you seen any of the spiders?" he asked, and Elladan shook his head. "They are rare this far north, however we do come across them from time to time."

Elladan nodded and tried to eliminate the detailed images of being mauled by a giant spider in his sleep from his mind.

"Pack your things, everyone. We are leaving in a few moments."

Huldion was well aware of Luin's apprehension regarding the mission. They had just arrived in Gondor, and the first thing Huldion planned to do was let the group rest, especially Luin. He had not slept since they left Mirkwood, and was beginning to look worn. They made camp a half mile from the village, and Huldion set up his tent and made sure everyone was comfortable. Once finally settled it was sundown, and he decided to check in on Luin before he turned in early.

He was sitting on his bedroll, writing a letter to his sister. He looked up at Huldion, and smiled sheepishly. He folded the letter in half, shoving it under his pillow. "She told me to write when we arrived."

Huldion held up a letter of his own to the King, "I have one to send as well. Are you almost finished? We can send them together." Luin pulled his letter out and scribbled down a few more words before he rolled and sealed it. "The messenger is in the village, care to join me for the walk?"

Luin nodded, and the two started toward the village. It was a cool evening, and the elves of the camp were in a cheery mood. Huldion turned to Luin, his face veiled of emotion, "I cannot help but ask, how are you faring? Being away from Earien and Mirkwood."

Luin sighed and turned his head away from him. His wavy hair was the same as the queen's, and with heads turned they could be mistaken for one another. "I miss Mirkwood, and my sister. It is strange, I realize. For a grow elf to be so attached to his sister. It is what everyone thinks. But she raised me, you know. Our parents sailed when I was an elfling, after the sacking of Doriath. She is all I know, my only kin living here in middle earth, until Thranduil and Legolas of course. The only person to ever love me, to be there for me. It is strange for me to be away from her."

Huldion was taken aback. He did not know Earien's parents were gone, that she had raised her brother. Did anyone else know? "I understand how you feel strange being away from her. I do not judge your love for Earien. She is incredibly kind, and I myself go to her from time to time." Luin smiled, relieved he understood, "that is why, if you decide you do not want to stay here in Gondor, I understand." He said quietly. "You have not been trained, and this mission is dangerous."

Luin groaned, "I do not want to, I just-" he shook his head, "I am acting like a child. Running home to my sister. But I do not intend to leave, no matter how badly I want to."

Huldion smirked, his hand clapped his shoulder supportively, "I am not the queen, but I am here for you if you need me."

"Thank you," Luin said, and they gave their letters to the messenger.

"Get me a bowl of soup," he yelled to his wife as he watched the elves from the window. Erodolliel walked over slowly and slipped the bowl in his hand. Her eyes followed where her husband was looking, at two elves in Mirkwood uniforms that stood near the messenger post. They were talking to one of the men. "They have come for us," he said quietly, his eyes trained on them.

"You think so?" she asked curiously, although she already knew the answer.

"I know so," he said as he sipped the soup. "I have been waiting for this."

She glanced at him, and at the collection of throwing daggers on the desk. She was the more lethal of the two of them, and knew he would turn to her, "I as well."

"We have waited so long for this, my love. Soon we will have what we have worked towards all of this time. They are playing into our hands perfectly."

She smiled and nodded, unable to deny her own blood lust.

"Do you see the one there? With the dark wavy hair? Whom is he the image of to you?" Beinion asked her.

"The Queen," she said with a small gasp.

"That is the queen's baby brother. Mirkwood's foreign representative. But the other, the Captain with the red-brown hair. That my dear, is Captain Huldion, Sentinel Captain. One of Mirkwood's deadliest warriors. He must go first, my love. Then our plan can commence." He watched the pair, his eyes wild with a dangerous flame. Murder, malice, "Yes, this will be fun."

Thanks again for reading! your support means a lot so please review if you enjoyed it! Sorry this one was a little short, but the next one should be up within the next week!

And to answer your question, Wenduo, Elladan did not hurt Legolas, the cut was shallow and elves heal pretty quickly, and a few days went by from Legolas' injury to seeing Elladan. Thanks for the question :)