Elrond knew something was amiss when the twins rushed off on a sudden trip without even a hastily shouted goodbye to their little brother. Nor even a good morning to their own father.

The twins leaving unexpectedly was not uncommon in the valley, especially not after the loss of Celebrian, but with Estel having just arrived it put his heart ill at ease. It had been several years since they had last seen him, usually, the three brothers were impossible to part after that. And with the council so close at hand, secrecy did not bode well.

Still, they were his sons and he had raised them to be strong and sensible creatures. And they were, usually, but that didn't ease his heart even the slightest while he waited for them to return.

It was for that reason he nearly jumped out of his own skin when Estel burst through the door, forgetting to knock and out of breath, "Uhm, Ada, the Greenwood elves have arrived. Glorfindel told me to tell you."

The idea seemed ridiculous, they hadn't heard a single thing from Thranduil and his people since before the war at the mountain, and since then all they had learned was was Estel and Gandalf had told them of their last visit and it hadn't sounded pleasant. "Greenwood?"

"Yes."

"Thranduil?"

Estel shook his head, "Legolas."

At least that was good. If Thranduil had come out of his woods after so much time being holed away inside of it, it meant there was no forest left. "I'm coming."

And as quickly as he could possibly go while still maintaining a semblance of dignity, Elrond made for the main entrance of the house. Estel had said it was Legolas, but part of him didn't quite believe until he saw the prince for himself.

Or at least, a version of Legolas. Just not necessarily the version of Legolas he was used to seeing, but one that matched Estels story.

He stood between the twins, his ferocious-looking archers lingered in a neat line on their horses behind him. An incredible deadly and formidable force even though they numbered only ten.

Legolas did not smile at him like usual, nor did he offer a hug before a verbal greeting like usual. His back straight and hands clasped behind his back he dipped his head slightly, "Lord Elrond."

"Legolas."

The twins had that protective air around them that one could practically smell, and Elrond knew he was about to find out everything his sons had been so expertly hiding from him.

His foresight did not always warn him of specific things, often it was annoyingly vague, but if there was one thing it had been very insistent of the past half-decade was that Elladan and Elrohir were keeping things from him.

He knew better than to pry; if the both of them had agreed it was best to keep a secret then it was not his place to change their minds.

Glorfindel also stood nearby, looking as unconcerned as always but Elrond knew he was just as curious at this turn of events. Elrond tried not to frown, "It's been quite some time since we last saw you. Or heard from you. Or you even read a single letter from us."

A few of the archers shifted, not appreciating the tone that was currently being used on their Prince. Legolas didn't move an inch, "If you are looking for an apology, you are welcome to look but you will not find one. I stand by my decision."

Elrond and Glorfindel struggled not to exchange a look, Glorfindel was the one to speak for both this time, "Your decision?"

Only a king could order such things.

Legolas' unflinching eyes turned to the much taller elf, exactly the impenetrable stone Thranduil raised him to be, "Mine."

"Perhaps somewhere more private for the rest of this conversation?" Elladan suggested, and Elrohir eagerly nodded his agreement.

It wasn't until Legolas' eyes strayed behind them that it occurred to Elrond that the twins were trying to get more than just privacy. Turning to look as well he noticed Mithrandir standing some distance away with Frodo and Bilbo, exiting a favorite path of Bilbos, and looking not unlike a startled rabbit.

The wizard had told them about his trip into Greenwood with Estel; but had yet to fully divulge what had happened on the day of the battle.

"This way," Elrond suggested, sweeping his arm to back up the walkway he had just come down.

"I will see to food and rest for your warriors, in the meantime" Glorfindel added, proper care for warriors was something very near and dear to his heart.

Gandalf broke eye contact and began ushering the hobbits back the way they had just come, and Elrond had to smile. Just a little.

It took a very specific caliber of person to make the wizard turn tail and run.

Seemingly satisfied with the retreat, Legolas turned to his archers and said something to them in a language Elrond did not know. One looked unhappy with the orders, while the other nine remained a mask. The one that was unhappy crossed her arms and said yet another thing Elrond didn't understand.

Legolas only shrugged and began making purposeful strides towards the house, Elrond fell into step behind him. "Was that the old Silvan language?"

"It was."

The twins were close behind, but Glorfindel hung back to see to the care of the warriors; as carefully and meticulously as he would his own. He would appear at Elrond's office when he was done, of that, the Lord was certain.

"I thought it had been forgotten."

"By most perhapes, but not us."

"I have never heard you speak it before."

"We rarely do outside the forest, or in front of visitors, although now it seems a necessity."

Elrond laced his fingers together, it was a wonder Thranduil had already heard of the betrayal, considering he himself had only known for a short time, "You heard about Suroman."

Legolas didn't say anything, and so Elladan filled the silence, "An answer for a more private place, Ada."

Well that did not seem good.

"Oh, Caramris asked me to give this to you. He wants advice on a patient." Legolas passed him a thick envelope sealed from the elements.

Caramris was a good healer, one of the best in Elrond's opinion. He had known him since before the battle of the last alliance, and even then he had been impressed with the young thing.

He had what it took to be a great healer, he had the sight that cout not be taught.

Carefully Elrond opened the envelope and looked at the sketches they contained. Describing in detail not what one could see physically of the wound, but the one you could see with your healers spirit. A grave injury to one's spine, with significant damage.

He frowned as he flipped through them all, "Is the patient walking?"

"Sort of."

Elrond looked over the renderings again, "And in incredible pain when he does, by the looks of things. It's a wonder he's walking at all. I think you count this as a miracle from Eru and leave it at that. Even if it does not feel like it."

Some injuries were beyond even Elven healing, at least in these lands.

"Who is the patient.?"

Legolas said nothing, and just pointed down the hall to where th study door drew closer and closer.

This seemed even worse.

None others spoke until they finished their journey and the door closed behind them, and then Legolas turned to him and said, "My father."

Elrond almost dropped the papers. "What?" Elladan and Elrohir didn't look surprised, a bit guilty, but not surprised. "What happened?"

Legolas laced his hands in front of him, "We don't know any specifics, he was the only one around him that was alive. But something managed to get a spear between his armor plates."

"And he's walking?"

"On the good days, but only with the assistance of a cane and often pain numbing teas."

"And sitting?" Elrond flipped back through the pages once more, holding he had missed something before.

"On the very good days a soft enough cushion is enough for a few hours, in alright days he begrudgingly users a brace I carved for him."

"And on the bad days?"

"He can hardly leave his bed."

"And in the worst days?"

"His worst days leave his ears numb to my voice and bed drenched with sweat. It's like watching a deer wither in pain a limb it doesn't have anymore, unaware it's already in the belly of the warg who grabbed it." Legolas' voice was even, monotone, dripping with cold acceptance. "On the worst days I give him enough sleeping herbs that's Caramris yells at me but he sleep in peace."

"When did this happen? The battle of the mountain?" The day the woodland realm vanished from the world.

Legolas just nodded. Knowing the dangers of getting lost in the bad parts of one's own mind and memories Elrond gently grasped on if his clenched hands to gently ground him in the present.

Turning to his sons he asked, "How long have you known?"

Elladan cleared his throat, "Forty five years."

"Give or take a few." Elrohir added, they younger elves were still not the best at tracking smaller increments of time.

Legolas handed in another, much thicker envelope, "I have not the energy to explain of all, here, I brought you these."

…..

Legolas waited patiently for Glorfindel to finish reading through all copies of reports he had brought, it was tiring having to explain and discuss this particular topic over and over and so this was just easier for everyone.

Arwen had arrived with Glorfindel and took up residence on the armrest Legolas had been using as a headrest and pillow, and as a consequence, her lap now served the same purpose. She combed her fingers through his hair absently while she read everything over Glorfindel's shoulder, and he struggled not to fall asleep.

It had been a very long century.

Elrond hadn't said anything since he read everything himself, and had spent most of the time either looking at his desk or the fireplace. Not even to Elladan and Elrohir, who had both confessed to knowing about this for some time, got a verbal response, all they had received was an absent nod of confirmation he had heard and understood them.

Glorfindel finished the last page and checked to make sure Arwen had as well before carefully folding them all and placing them in the envelope once more. He glanced at Elrond who continued his staring contest with the desk.

"Well then." Was all he managed to articulate.

"I'm sorry, Legolas." Elrond whispered, raising incredibly guilty eyes from his desk for the first time in quite some time.

Legolas had closed his eyes and so heard the words but did not see the pain, "I don't want an apology."

Arwen nudged him and blue eyes wearily opened again, and frowned at the expression in the Lord's face. "Lord Elrond?"

"The dwarves came here before they made it to the mountain, with Mithrandir. I tried to sway them from their course but they did not listen."

"The stubbornness of dwarves is hardly-"

Elrond help up a silent hand for silence and Legolas fell quite. "I went with Galadriel and Saruman to collect Mithrandir from Dul Guldur. We thought it was empty, we, didn't think, we just, I -"

"What's done is done, Elrond. But perhaps in the future, the white council will not be so quick to dismiss us and blame out plights on weakness."

Elrohir, sensing that most in the room had hit their emotional threshold stood straight from where he and his brother were leaning against the wall.

On silent feet he went to the study door and swiftly pulled it open, giving the human crouched so carefully as to not leave a shadow on the other side unable to run for cover. "Did we speak loud enough for you, Estel?"

To his credit Aragorn kept a dignified look on his face as he raised to his full height. "Well, since you asked, no. You didn't."

Legolas felt the humans eyes rest on him like rock when he saw the way he laid on Arwen, but her hands still did not still in his hair.

A soft smile touched Elrond's face at the response, though his attention still seemed distant.

With great effort Legolas finally pulled himself upright, "Could somebody go and find Mithrandir? I would rather not keep having this conversation, but I owe him a personal explanation for some of my behavior."

Glorfindel was on his feet an already halfway out the door, "Stay here, leafling, I'll fetch him."

Arwen stood as well after kissing Legolas on the top of the head, "Come, Ada. Let us go and sit in the hall of fire for a while."

She never could stand to see her father upset.

As the two left the room Aragorn fell into step with them. The twins lingered behind, their brotherly instincts burning in their ears.

Legolas rolled his eyes, though secretly, it always touched his heart. "I'm fine. Stop hovering."

"I will go and get your room ready," Elladan declared, "And get you a warm meal."

"Thank you."

"I will stay outside the door so that nobody bothers you when you are with Mithrandir." Elrohir offered.

Legolas didn't really think enough people were currently awake to risk being interrupted but the twins always felt better when they had something to do. And so he said another, simple, "Thank you."

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