What Used To Be

Disclaimer: I only own the characters you don't recognise!

Well I'm really getting into this now. But I don't want to jinx it. :) Also 'cause of what's happening obviously the POV's are going to be changing around a bit now to get it all in but I will try to keep it as simple as possible!

Also sorry about the late update. It's just I wasn't allowed on my computer for ages as apparently I am on here too much. So I've had to wait...it's been tough. I can't help it if reading fanfic is addictive!

FemaleSpock - Wow. I added the new chapter and it was literally a minute and a half later and the little thing popped up to tell me I had a message and I looked at it and it was a review and I was like wow that was FAST and this is a really long sentence. But cliff-hangers get on my nerves. I can't believe I managed to write one without realising. But then I know what's going to happen next so it doesn't really work on me. :)) This is a long reply to a review that was three words long!!!

Swanfeather - Thanks for the compliment! Yeah, you're left to wonder...but not for long. I mean, everything will get clearer the further into the story we get. And I'm glad I can write 'unexpected plot twists' and that it can be classed under something and stuff. :)

Nosterineth - Now I can type your penname without going back to check Yay. Well I already PM'd you so there isn't really anything else to say:)

stlova - You're not weird. I feel like an idiot now actually! In my defence, it does look a bit like the name of a place (to me anyway) although I get it now. Also if it makes you feel better, I didn't know what Laurelin was until I went and looked it up. Although now I have forgotten anyway. I think its the golden tree of Valinor (?) but that's just suspicion. I know the films much better too! I no, that bit's sweet, and until I read the Mellon chronicles I thought Legolas and Gimli were the pairing but now I notice all the little friendship things they did in the film :)

Chapter Seven

Legolas looked down from the tree he was in. It had been exactly three days since Aragorn and Gimli had left, and later that evening he himself would be leaving too. He sighed. He felt ready to leave, now that he had had some time to get used to the idea. Everything had been loaded onto the last ship. There really were only a handful of Elves left - him, Linnod and about twelve others. They would be leaving in just a few short hours. In the meantime, he had decided to take a walk through the forest. He was a little way in now - he couldn't see the sea any more; which was good. He didn't really want to have to look at it right now. Legolas was just sitting, watching all the things around him: the trees, the birds, the wind. It was peaceful. Calming.

That was when Athan, one of the remaining elves, rushed up to him. Legolas had thought no-one knew where he was, but evidently they had all been watching him avidly. He sighed. All Legolas wanted was to be left alone, in these last few hours in Middle Earth.

"Yes?" He asked softly.

"Up ahead," Athan leapt right in. "There are a group of men."

Legolas waited for him to continue. When the other Elf didn't, he said, "Alright. What do you want me to do about it?"

"Well, they are up by the caves. By the look of it, they plan to stay there a while. They also don't seem to know we're here, or doubtless they would be making less noise." Athan said.

"Up by the caves?" Legolas thought. It could just be nothing - in fact, it probably was - but still. If you wanted somewhere to rest around here, the caves were not the place Legolas would go to. They had passed them on their way through to the harbour. Just off the path, barely visible, with a kind of silent silence. It wasn't just quiet...it was like there was no life in the place. It was worth looking into, at least.

"Yes-"

"Has anyone been to speak to them yet?" Legolas questioned.

"No, that's why we came to get you." Athan replied.

"Right." Legolas jumped neatly down from the he was in to land in front of Athan. "I'll go and have a look, and see if everything is OK." With that, he started walking in the direction of the caves.

"Maybe we should wait for some back-up." Athan suggested. He was only a young elf and had only been a soldier for a few years. That was why Legolas excused him for this suggestion.

"I'll be fine." He said. "It's only a few men, I'm only going to talk to them at most."

"Well-"

"Exactly." Legolas flashed a winning smile at the other elf. "You go back to Linnod and the others. I won't be long."

With that, Legolas began in the direction of the cave. He was confident that this would turn out to be nothing.

How wrong he was.

It wasn't far to the caves. Not even twenty minutes if he went quickly. Plus, he could hear them from ten minutes away. They weren't exactly trying to hide their presence. But then, they probably didn't think anyone else was around.

Legolas reached the small clearing in front of the cave and leapt lightly up into the trees. He tried not to look in the cave's direction, instead looking at the men around. He counted twenty two of them - and none of them were very pleasant to look at. They were all dirty and smelly and loud. How, he wondered, did these people survive living like this?

As far as Legolas could tell, the group were trying to set up some kind of camp, but whether inside or outside the cave he didn't know. It wasn't very organised, although they all seemed to be taking orders from one man in particular. He was standing just outside the cave entrance, talking to another man and seeming none too pleased. Legolas crept closer to hear what they were saying.

"- do you want us to put the brat, sir?"

"Inside the cave. Right at the back. Put him in the antechamber, Eradan." The other man ordered.

"Yes, captain." Eradan replied, and hurried off to get 'the brat'. Legolas was intrigued. Apparently, they had a prisoner. If there was a way to liven up his last hours in Middle Earth, this was it.

Legolas waited until Eradan came back, flanked by two other men who were holding someone else between them. That someone else was thrashing wildly, trying to break free of his captors grip.

"When did he wake up?" Demanded the captain.

"A coupla' hours ago, sir." Replied one of the men holding him.

"Well, this is interesting." The captain smirked down at the prisoner. "The tables have definitely turned."

Legolas couldn't see the prisoner's face from his position, but the figure was smaller than the others. Only a teenager, if Legolas wasn't mistaken. He was thoroughly confused. What could these men want with a child?

"Let me go." The prisoner said fiercely. "I'm no use to you!" Legolas frowned. He recognised that voice.

"That is where you are wrong." The captain turned to the other men. "Chain the brat up. Do not speak to him." Then he turned and strode away, a nasty smirk playing on his lips.

As Eradan and the others turned into the cave, Legolas got a glimpse of the prisoners face. Not much could make Legolas fall out of a tree, but this was nearly enough to do it. He couldn't believe it -had that really just been who he thought it had been? A thousand questions bubbled up in his head.

He had to go in there and save him. He couldn't leave Middle Earth, not like this. But he didn't have his weapons with him. Legolas had to be realistic. He was a good fighter, but he couldn't take down twenty men single-handedly. It was ridiculous.

There was only one thing to do. He didn't know where Aragorn was, but something bad must of happened if he wasn't here saving his son. So now it was up to Legolas to save Eldarion for him. Legolas didn't look back at the men as he hurried back to his own camp. He couldn't.

Legolas had no idea what was happening, but in any case, he didn't need to know all the facts. Not yet.

Legolas almost ran right into Linnod in his haste to get back to Dari.

"Legolas! Where have you been?" Linnod demanded. "Athan came back and said that you had-"

"Linnod." Legolas said. "Not now. Come on, we have to go back to the caves. Let me get my bow."

"I don't understand." Linnod replied.

"Those men, they have Aragorn's son. Eldarion. I don't know how, or why, but we have to go and get him back."

"Shouldn't Aragorn be doing that, my lord?" Linnod pointed out.

"I don't know where he is." Legolas replied. After he had rescued Dari, he would have to go and find Aragorn. Something bad must of happened to him.

"We are sailing in two hours." Linnod pointed out. "Legolas, I don't think there's time to go on any life-saving missions right now. Aragorn is just going to have to do this on his own, I-"

Legolas glared at the other Elf. "I am aware of what the time is." He said stiffly. He knew Linnod didn't particularly like Aragorn, but this was a matter of life or death. "I am going to get Dari. We'll just have to hold off sailing for a day."

Linnod shook his head desperately. "Legolas, we can't send these elves to what could be their death. Most of them are young and all of them expect to be sailing, leaving this place, and going to see loved ones. To tell them they now have to go and fight..."

Legolas could see his point, however much he didn't like it. "In that case, I will just have to go by myself."

"Absolutely not." Linnod said firmly. "Your father told me that if anything happened to you - even so much as a scratch - he would hold me personally responsible."

"I can look after myself." Legolas insisted. "How is he going to find out, anyway?"

"Legolas! This is ridiculous. If these men do have a prisoner, they are dangerous, so I can't let you go!"

Legolas didn't even bother answering Linnod. He was so angry, but the annoying thing was that Linnod was completely right when he gave Legolas his reasons. Instead, Legolas turned round, grabbed his bow and quiver and hurried down to the boat.

Legolas slammed into his small, private, cabin area bellow deck. He hardly expected to be disturbed. He had let everyone know what a bad mood he was in on his way down to the harbour, so only an incredibly stupid being would bother Legolas now. He didn't bring any stupid elves, after all. After banging around in his cabin for a while, he calmed down and sat down in a chair. He needed to sort his feelings out, sort through his options...

He could see only two options. Either he sat meekly and safely in his cabin until the sailed pretending Eldarion didn't exist and never be able to look anyone in the eye again, or he fought like the warrior he was and sneaked out behind Linnod's back. That wasn't much of a choice, but the fact was...what would the consequences be? He knew that his first option would mean that he would be feeling guilty for the rest of his immortal life. He also knew that if he sneaked out he would never be back in time to sail. The only way he was going to do this was if he left it until the very last minute, or anything could happen to stop him.

No, if he went after Eldarion he would not be sailing for a while. He knew that.

So what could he do? How could he not sail? People were depending on him.

But Aragorn was depending on him too.

With that thought, the decision was made. Yes, he wanted to see the friends and family that had left for Valinor before him. But he wanted to see Aragorn more. If he left now, he would never see his best friend again. Who knew what would happen to Dari? He wouldn't be able to teach Dari, Hal and Lauri to shoot properly, he thought with a smile. But if he stayed, he could see Aragorn every day. Dari would be safe, he'd make sure of that. He'd be able to teach the children to shoot. Who knew, he might even of been able to keep the whole thing from his father too, if no-one told him Legolas was in Gondor and he made sure that he sailed before Thranduil...

Legolas wasn't going to waste another minute sitting in here. There were things to do. He began filling flasks up with water, making sure he had enough sharp arrows, food (although that was mainly for Dari).

It didn't take long and soon he was left wondering if he should leave a note. Finally deciding it would be cruel to leave without leaving a note. After all, it wouldn't be found until this evening, earliest, so they couldn't do anything.

Linnod,

I'm sorry to put you in this position, I really am, but if I sail now without at least trying to get Eldarion, I will live in guilt for the rest of my life. What kind of life is that? I promise that you will see me soon, though, and you can do whatever you want to me then. Within reason, of course. I hope you'll forgive me and perhaps even understand a little. At the very least, accept it. Please.

Legolas

Now he really could leave. He slid soundlessly out of his door, shut it quietly behind him, slipped onto deck and jumped quietly into the water, as he would surely be seen if he went on deck. Legolas swam to the shore, where he ran as quickly as he could to the safety of the trees.

There wasn't anyone around as far as he could see, so he was pretty sure he hadn't been seen. Now he leapt into the trees and made his way to the cave.

He could only hope his plan wouldn't backfire on him. Because a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders now that he wasn't sailing. He knew he couldn't sail now. This was where he wanted to be, but it would be incredibly hard to explain that to anyone. He hadn't really wanted to leave at all. Now he didn't have to. Everything really had worked out perfectly. Hopefully, it would work out perfectly to the very end.