Just a quick line to say thanks to those of you still reading and especially to those who have reviewed. I can't believe you are all being so nice to me! * Looks over to see if you're reading someone elses story by mistake* Hopefully you will continue to like it.

Ilovevolleyball - you are now officially my number one fan! *Bows* You MUST be crazy. Your reviews make my really should have a go at this writing lark, you could do a brilliant comic story I bet, how about Leggy introducing Gimli to Thranduil? Now thats got potential for you to play with, lots of crazyness could happen there! Anyway, favourite colours hmmm, * thinks... smirks* that could work somewhere! You'll have to wait and see ;)

Important message for everyone follows:-

I have to tell you that I'm sorry but you may well have to wait for the next update. We am going away on Sunday for two weeks and I have been banned from taking my laptop. I am hoping to smuggle it into my bag but if caught there could be repercussions I don't want to think about! So Sorry to do this to you guys but please don't desert me. I promise I'll be back with the next chapters as soon as I can.

Anyway, this one took a while, and I'm still not sure that I got the tone right but here we go again. I hope you enjoy it but either way, feel free to let me know! Oh, yes and before I forget I apologise for any mistakes with the elvish- I'm still learning. :)

Chapter 19

Kinslayer.

The word seems to shimmer round the room with an almost palpable presence as the young man stares from one to the other of his family members noting the stricken expressions on each face. His stomach lurches as he realises that there is more to this tale than he is aware of and judging by the reactions of both his adoptive relatives and the now unconscious archer, whatever it is, is not good. His gaze returns to the young elf still resting within his fathers arms.

"Ada?" there is a question in that single word which conveys a whole paragraph.

"Estel," for once the lord of Imladris appears unsure of how to continue " I, think, we need to talk."

The elder finishes smoothing the sheet he has gently covered over the young archer after laying him back down in the bed, then turns troubled brown eyes to meet his youngest sons puzzled grey.

" Come, we can find quiet in my office," he looks then to the twins " 'Dan, 'Roh, will you remain with Legolas and call me as soon as he re-awakens please."

A meaningful glance passes between the three elves and the younger pair give a brief nod in acknowledgement of the request before the elder moves to exit the room, his youngest son in close attendance.

The room labelled as Elronds office is so much more than that alone. It is also a library, an apothecaries laboratory and a quiet, comfortable, safe haven he can disappear to if the need arises. Estel has always loved this room too. It embodies his adoptive father and since childhood he has always found himself here in times of need or distress. Even without his fathers physical presence it feels that the lord is here to comfort and console and seated, curled up, in the large, overstuffed chair by the fire, worries and cares diminish and fade away to be replaced by feelings of love and contentment. True, there have been odd occasions when this room has seen him rebuked or reprimanded for some minor indiscretion but even this has always been done with love so has never marred the caring atmosphere imbued within its walls.

As he finds himself gently encouraged to be seated in this easiest of chairs Estel feels his heart begin to race, he is unsure why, but for the first time of being in this room he feels afraid. He looks up to see his father staring with unseeing eyes into the leaping flames dancing in the fireplace as if trying to gather courage from their energy and this unnerves the young man even further.

"Ada." Though quietly spoken under his breath the word makes its way into the lords consciousness and with a small shake of his head the lords eyes re focus and as he turns them to his son they briefly shine with painful memories before clearing to their usual fond gaze.

" Estel." He stares down at his youngest son, " what do you recall of your history lessons?"

.

Silence lays heavy in the room as the twins wait, seated one either side of the bed containing the motionless elf they have come to love as a brother over the past many years. Each one is locked in their own thoughts and memories, from the time they were first introduced to the tiny, elfling prince through to the happenings of the previous few days, trying to make sense of what has led to this point in his life. Neither has spoken or moved since their father and human brother left, both seemingly unwilling, or unsure how, to broach the subject weighing heavily on their minds, as if by keeping it hidden within it will not be real.

At last Elrohir can keep the fear trapped within his heart no longer.

"Why do you think he did it?" the words, though whispered seem so loud in the hushed, leaden atmosphere and both twins visibly flinch at the sound. Identical eyes, filled with anguish, seek each other out then look back down at the young archer.

"We will not know until he wakes 'Roh" the eldest briefly reaches out a tentative hand towards the prince as if to touch a porcelain cheek but retracts his hand before making contact, "but I would dearly love to comprehend what was in his mind," he sighs regretfully, " to bring arms to bear against another of our kind, against someone so close, someone you love, someone akin to," there is a pause as Elladans brow creases into a frown and the last word is uttered in disbelief "family!" Shaking his head he raises his eyes to his sibling with a pleading stare. "How could he?"

"I don't know muindor, brother," a comforting mental touch accompanies the words as youngest tries to soothe oldest, " there must have been some reason we do not yet see, Lhosson was always as another father to Legolas, I cannot think what may have occurred to bring about such a change." He sadly shakes his head and lowers his eyes once more to the bed. "Oh gwador nin, my sworn brother, what have you done?" and with these words silence once more descends to envelop them in a blanket of unease.

.

"History,? Ada? I…" the young mans reply falters as a puzzled expression settles upon his face, "some, but what do my studies have to do with all this?"

He delves into the memories he has of time spent with Erestor and other tutors, trying to instil some knowledge of the past into a head too busy with childish thoughts of mischief, make believe and the here and now.

"Except," he pauses, " Kinslaying?" Another pause then, " Aqualonde."

A name conjured from the depths suddenly rises to the forefront of his mind and he sits in silence for a moment, trying to piece the elusive memories together.

" I remember Erestor telling me about how Feanor led the Noldor to Aqualonde and something about them killing the elves that lived there for their ships but, I cannot think why or what bearing that has on what has happened here." He looks to his father in confusion. "What has that to do with Legolas?"

"You are partially correct ion nin, my son, when you speak of Aqualonde, although that was the first of only three such battles pitching elf against elf, known, you rightly remember, as The Kinslaying and all involving Feanor or his sons." The lords voice falters as he continues, grief written deep within his stern, dark eyes. " The loss of life was great in all. But the third." His voice is now barely a whisper. "The third is considered worst of all as many women and children perished at the hands of the Feanorians."

There is a sudden sharp intake of breath as Estel recalls his old family history lessons.

"You," he breathes. "You and Elros." The young mans heart fills with sorrow as he remembers the tales. "That was when you lost your mother to the sea."

The two stare at each other, grey eyes filled with concern, dark brown with great sadness.

"Diheno nin, forgive me, ada, I forgot, but," there is a hesitation, as if the young man does not wish to cause further distress yet knows he must. " I still do not understand how this affects Legolas."

The elven lord turns his gaze once more to the fireplace, as if seeking strength from the flames and breathes in deeply.

" You must understand Estel," his tone is weary, as if teaching a recalcitrant elfling. "The kin slayings are linked to our doom, it was the Valars judgement upon the Noldor who fought at Aqualonde that they should be refused entry to Valinor unless they repented," he pauses once more to look to his son. "Most did not," he lowers his head as if in shame. "And most died in the subsequent battles and became the dispossessed."

Although this is many ages ago and he was but a child during the last part of the kin slaying this does not stop the lord from feeling guilt at what his own people did and to talk of it so brings back memories he thought long suppressed.

"Kinslaying," he shudders as the word leaves his mouth with reluctance. "Kinslaying is the worst crime an elf has ever, or will ever commit."

"But ada, that was different, there were wars, it was all so long ago, you can't tell me..." The young man rises from the chair in a movement swift enough to make it topple."You cannot tell me you believe this to be the same?" his voice cracks with emotion and he moves forwards forcing the lord to involuntarily take a step back."Ada, Legolas was fighting in self defence, I know it, he did not mean to kill, he slipped.." The impassive silence from his father causes his blood to begin to boil. "You know he would not, could not." He stops for a second to stare at the figure before him as if seeing the lord for the first time, "It could have been Legolas lying dead out there!" He gesticulates in the direction of the healing rooms as he spits this last out.

" Can you read his thoughts pen neth?" Elronds voice, in contrast to the young mans ranting, is low and controlled. " You were not there at start of the fight, only the end. You did not witness how it began or who was the instigator. "The young mans face registers shock and disbelief as his fathers words sink in."You cannot say what was in his mind".

"I may not be able to read his thoughts." The words struggle out against clenched teeth. "But I know Legolas' heart, and I thought you did too!"

The young man is so wrapped up in his anger that does not realise a third person has entered the room until he feels a sturdy hand placed upon his shoulder and he turns, shrugging it off abruptly to come face to face with his oldest brother.

"Legolas has awakened."

Worried deep brown eyes bore a challenge into stormy grey and for a moment they are locked together, until, feeling his anger dissipate, Estel grins ruefully at his brother and lowers his gaze.

" Diheno nin, forgive me, ada, 'Dan, it is frustration that makes me speak so".

The lord moves closer to place a loving arm around the young mans shoulders and directs a brief shake of the head at Elladan as the twin goes to speak again.

"I know pen neth, young one, u-moe evaded, there is nothing to forgive." Elrond smiles gently, " let us go and see how your young friend fares".