Last chapter. See below for a preview from the next story. To everyone who
wished me luck in the tourny: THANKS! We came in second or third in our
bracket, I forget, the coach didn't say.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
"I can't believe you. I even gave you the chance to do it without Aragorn there."
Elladan hung his head. Quietly, he defended his actions. "I could not leave him there. He has been a good and honorable friend to us through so many years. He deserves more respect than to be left out there. I thought you of all people would understand that. He was your best friend."
Elrohir opened his mouth, but closed it again. He did not want to say anything he would later regret. "I did not want Aragorn to have to deal with it. Did you see him? He was genuinely concerned about Legolas, as if they were friends. Besides, I did not want him to witness the last breath of an immortal. It is a hard thing to see."
"Indeed. Father is taking a look at him now." He looked up then to notice tears in his brother's eyes. "Oh, Elrohir. I am so sorry." He pulled his brother into his arms, and Elrohir mourned the loss of his greatest friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Elrond watched the exchange from a doorway at the far end of the room. He smiled slightly, then let his presence be known. "Oniya," he said quietly.
The two elves looked up at the sound of their father's relaxed voice. Neither said a word, for Elrond's expression was unreadable.
"Never give up hope, my sons, never." He sat on the couch next to them. "Legolas is not dead."
The two pairs of eyes that were fixed on him grew wide and surprised.
Elladan was the first to speak. "But I checked- his heart had stopped beating, and he was so cold!"
Elrond nodded once. "He was cold because of the amount of blood he lost. However, his heart had not stopped beating. I dare say young Aragorn made sure of that. It was beating slowly, and faintly, but it was beating nonetheless."
"Ha!" Elladan's face lit up with a smile. "I told you I shouldn't have left him out there!"
Elrohir's mouth was still gaping in shock. "Can I see him?"
"No, not just yet. Aragorn is with him now. It seems as though they have become friends." He added with a slight smile.
"You noticed it as well, then." Elrohir said. "Perhaps Galadriel was right."
Elladan snorted. "You had any doubt?"
Elrond looked at Elrohir, his youngest son. "When it comes to your friend, never settle for anything. The powers that rise from Legolas cannot fully be seen or known. You would do well to remember that."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Aragorn stood by the side of the bed that Legolas' was in. He waited patiently for the elf to awake, as he knew he soon would.
Only a few moments later, the intense blue eyes opened, and Legolas locked eyes with Aragorn. Neither said anything. Everything that needed to be said was already communicated through their gaze.
Aragorn finally smiled. "We're even now."
"I beg your pardon?"
Pointing to himself, Aragorn said, "I've officially saved your royal butt twice. I believe that makes us even."
The elf raised an eyebrow. "Twice? I only saved you once."
"No, no you saved me twice. In the forest, the first time, and then again in the bar."
"Oh. I do not think the first one really counts."
Aragorn shrugged, smiling. "Okay. Then I guess you owe me."
A smile grew on Legolas' lips, then he laughed lightly. "Oh, don't make me laugh. It hurts my stomach."
"No wonder. It's a marvel you survived that."
"Thanks to your use of medicine, or so I hear."
Aragorn shrugged again. "I wasn't about to have the guilt of your death on my shoulders."
Legolas laughed again, then became serious. "Your drugs brought many unwanted images."
"They do tend to stir up nightmares. I am sorry."
"There is nothing to be sorry for, Aragorn."
The man's head shot up. Surely he had misheard the elf; he wasn't supposed to remember.
"What?" Legolas asked with a certain smugness in his voice. "You don't trust the information with me now that I am alive and well?"
"No! That's not it. I trust you. It's just. . . you shouldn't have remembered what I told you." He paused. "Legolas, you must never tell anyone."
"You have my word, Estel." He smiled, lightening the serious note the conversation had. "Did you get teased a lot for having a name like that?"
"I still do, actually. I would feel bad telling that to Elrond."
"Well, if I cannot call you Aragorn, and if I want to laugh every time I call you Estel, what shall I call you, human?"
Aragorn said nothing, but he wore a bemused expression.
"I know!"
"What?" Aragorn asked, leaning forward.
"Telcontar."
"Strider? And that solves my problem with Estel, does it?"
"Would you rather I called you Rúcina? Confused and disordered?"
"Strider is a fine name."
Legolas smiled. "I thought it would be."
A peaceful silence followed. Neither felt like they had to say anything; just being in each other's company was enough for them. Eventually, one of them started a round of small talk, though later neither could say whom it was. There they stayed for hours, gaining a fast friendship that was to be one of the greatest Middle-Earth had seen.
Elrohir smiled down the hall as he heard his younger brother and his friend laughing. It was good to see them out of their contempt for each other. He worried for Legolas, still though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Elrohir looked at his father. He was deep in thought, and the young elf knew that he was seeing some premonition.
"What are you thinking, Ada?"
Elrond blinked, gazing out over his balcony. Legolas was leaving for Mirkwood and Aragorn was seeing him off. "She'll be back."
"Sorry?"
"That crossing place, where you found them," he gestured to the two on the edge of the forest, "there was a woman in charge."
Elrohir nodded.
"She wants Legolas' blood, and she did not give up."
"But she let us out of the town so easily."
"She has seen the elf she wants, she didn't want to have to deal with the three of you, just him. She will come after him again."
Elrohir turned his attention to his longtime friend and sighed as the elf disappeared into the forest. "Then we will just have to be there to protect him."
Elrond smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Reviewers: Big gushy thanks for sticking with me to all of you! And don't worry, we haven't seen the end of The Lady.
Elizabeth Black: I'm so confused. I loved your review for chapter 8, but you said, "and please no mention of me in your replies to your reviewers." So I honored your request, and I put that bit about Estel in someone else's response 'cuz I wanted you to know it was really funny without mentioning you. I'm sorry.
Jadelyn Rashwe: Yeah, I know. I suck. I even had to work REALLY hard not to make this one a cliffhanger. The next story will be better, I swear. (I hope.)
Lulu Bell: Dude, you had an interesting day. And you're gonna run around the soccer field with that thing? I feel so bad. I hope it gets better soon. How long does it take for those to heal? Holy monkeys.
Bec: See? He's not dead. A whole town wants him to be, but he's not. Did the resolution disappoint? Get some sleep! Being tired is no good, lol!
Moro the Wolf God: I loved it. I thought it was hilarious, and I could just see that scene played out. Silly Estel, lol.
Lei Dumbledore: Omg, I am blushing. Thank you a hundred times over!
LeggyLover: Now really, how did you KNOW that? I swear, I'm just going to randomly kill him off one day. Without warning. He'll fall off a cliff or something. ::starts planning::
Luthien: I'm sorry. . . sick like flu or because of me? Either way, I'm sorry.
SPEOD: You're name is just TOO long anymore, lol. I figured that's what LotR time was, but I wasn't sure. I've read her stuff. She's good. Uhm, "him" is Tarduain. See chapter 5, "she's just like him," meaning her ancestor whom Legolas killed. Are you confused? I don't think I explained that very well.
Sky: Holy cow, you update stories really fast. As soon as I finish my thesis, I'll read all of it, seriously. I'm so happy that there's more there!
Stella Pen: No, Legolas has too much to do yet, and he's gotta help Aragorn "become who he was born to be." He won't die. ::big grin:: I like killing people off in my stories too, and usually bring in an OC to kill since I won't do cannon characters.
Bill the Pony: No, I didn't, lol. But he came very very close! ! Lol!
Nikki: Haha, I think you're the only one not ready to kill me for that last chapter. Wait, you have a HUNCH? "I was right, you did know one of my ancestors. You killed him! I have been waiting forever to meet you. My family has waited many years to get their revenge for what you did." And "Take him to the square. We shall hang him, for all the public to know that my family's murderer has finally been caught." And A man stood next to the elf, and shouted above the crowd. "Today we bring justice upon Legolas, son of Thranduil, murderer of King Tarduain!" Shoot, I think I really screwed up that plotline. I think I made it really confusing.
Lomiothiel: So, you're not happy that Legolas lived at all, are you? Lol. Thanks!
Sara: It's all good. I figured I'd see you again eventually. Oh no, only Legolas and Estel, you're right, lol. And see, Leggy didn't die! I'm not that cruel.
TsugumiWolf: ::Pokes you with a stick:: Uhm, I don't think I've killed anyone thus far. Wow, after that, I really really am going to try and squash the cliffies. Lol, ::pokes some more::
Leggy Lover: I got it. Thanks!
Das Blume: Haha, if he has time to save the elf, and if he feels like it. But even if he does feel like it and have time, the time has to be opportune, savvy? Lol. Ah, you crack me up. Haha, thanks for the sign! Seriously, maybe Legolas should just send his messenger to visit Rivendell and takes notes and report back to the prince who is safely locked away in his room, on the first floor so he can't fall out the window, and with no hot or pointy objects anywhere nearby. He might even be inside a big plastic bubble. That just might help. Maybe.
True-Slytherin-Girl: I know! Sheesh. Bad place to end. I didn't mean to, but that's where it needed to be for this chapter. I know, excuses are lame.
Lulu Bell: Holy monkeys, that was one LONG review. Ah, you're in pain for my review! How sweet. I'm sorry soccer's out. That really bites. Dude, no, your idea was awesome, and I was so going to use all of it, but I couldn't let Estel find out so soon about the elf's past. That's the next story. He had to be clueless enough so that he could say, "Well why are you punishing Leggy for it?" You know? It was NOT lame. Oh, sweet, my first actual death threat! Oh, no, sorry, my second. Yay! Plurals! I don't think we've played you before. Our team is good, but we've only gone as far as regionals, so we haven't been to where you are. What's your team's record? How good are they? (I love talking volleyball. V-ball and horses, and I can talk for hours.) We did all right in the tournament, not as well as I had hoped, but there was some attitude in the way. Some girls that think they are a lot better than they really are. I can't wait until we play our next game. They are our biggest competitor, and they are a much better team than us. These girls are going to get a rude awakening, and then maybe we'll start playing as a team. Overall though we didn't do too badly.
Dimostiel: Ah, it's okay. I'm sure you'll find plenty of puns later on. Yeah, I'm still sick too. It sucks. Haha, me? Planning something? Wherever would you get that idea? Lol, wait until you're better for the puns, dear. ::wink:: I'm just kidding. See you next story!
The Next Story: (Which I was half tempted to name Meet The Parents)
Secret Allies
Aragorn visits Mirkwood and finally meets King Thranduil. During the process, he learns more about his friend's tormented past, and the two are thrown into a whirlwind adventure of crossed alliances and secret treaties that can only mean certain death.
Aragorn jumped at the light knocking. He half wanted to ask 'Who is it,' but the rudeness of the question stopped him. What if Legolas' father was the one knocking? How awfully rude it would be to ask that question, as if he would consider giving the elf permission to enter. Imagine, telling an elf lord he had permission to speak to you? 'Come in,' was the next phrase that came to mind. That too would be an awful thing to do. Was the king not good enough to have a door opened for him?
By now, another knock came. Aragorn abandoned his thoughts, getting up to open the door.
"Legolas!"
"Did I wake you?" The prince asked softly.
"No, I thought you were your father."
Legolas raised a bemused eyebrow. "So you were just, not going to let him in?"
Aragorn cringed. "I. . . no, I was going to. . . but, deciding on how was another story completely."
Legolas shook his head. "Did Minastir treat you well?"
"Indeed. You would have thought I was royalty."
"You are, Strider."
Aragorn rolled his eyes. "They don't know that."
"I know. All of our guests are treated as such." He thought of how rude he was to the man in the hallway. . . oh, what was his name? If the man really did tell Thranduil, Legolas would be in a heap of trouble. What was he to do though? It was either be rude, or deny his father's words of Mithfalas.
"Legolas? Are you all right?"
The elf nodded once. "I may be in for a rough morning, though." He paused. "Come to breakfast with me. I need your opinion on the men that are here."
Aragorn said nothing, but regarded his friend with curious eyes.
"There are three of them, but I do not trust them."
Aragorn nodded, with a knowing look.
"I know, I know. I don't trust anyone. That is why I need your opinion."
"All right, I'll come." Was now the time to ask? Elrond had told him that Legolas would recount his story when he was ready, but it had been eight years, and Aragorn was growing ever more curious, the closer he became to his friend. "Are you ready to talk to me?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
"I can't believe you. I even gave you the chance to do it without Aragorn there."
Elladan hung his head. Quietly, he defended his actions. "I could not leave him there. He has been a good and honorable friend to us through so many years. He deserves more respect than to be left out there. I thought you of all people would understand that. He was your best friend."
Elrohir opened his mouth, but closed it again. He did not want to say anything he would later regret. "I did not want Aragorn to have to deal with it. Did you see him? He was genuinely concerned about Legolas, as if they were friends. Besides, I did not want him to witness the last breath of an immortal. It is a hard thing to see."
"Indeed. Father is taking a look at him now." He looked up then to notice tears in his brother's eyes. "Oh, Elrohir. I am so sorry." He pulled his brother into his arms, and Elrohir mourned the loss of his greatest friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Elrond watched the exchange from a doorway at the far end of the room. He smiled slightly, then let his presence be known. "Oniya," he said quietly.
The two elves looked up at the sound of their father's relaxed voice. Neither said a word, for Elrond's expression was unreadable.
"Never give up hope, my sons, never." He sat on the couch next to them. "Legolas is not dead."
The two pairs of eyes that were fixed on him grew wide and surprised.
Elladan was the first to speak. "But I checked- his heart had stopped beating, and he was so cold!"
Elrond nodded once. "He was cold because of the amount of blood he lost. However, his heart had not stopped beating. I dare say young Aragorn made sure of that. It was beating slowly, and faintly, but it was beating nonetheless."
"Ha!" Elladan's face lit up with a smile. "I told you I shouldn't have left him out there!"
Elrohir's mouth was still gaping in shock. "Can I see him?"
"No, not just yet. Aragorn is with him now. It seems as though they have become friends." He added with a slight smile.
"You noticed it as well, then." Elrohir said. "Perhaps Galadriel was right."
Elladan snorted. "You had any doubt?"
Elrond looked at Elrohir, his youngest son. "When it comes to your friend, never settle for anything. The powers that rise from Legolas cannot fully be seen or known. You would do well to remember that."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Aragorn stood by the side of the bed that Legolas' was in. He waited patiently for the elf to awake, as he knew he soon would.
Only a few moments later, the intense blue eyes opened, and Legolas locked eyes with Aragorn. Neither said anything. Everything that needed to be said was already communicated through their gaze.
Aragorn finally smiled. "We're even now."
"I beg your pardon?"
Pointing to himself, Aragorn said, "I've officially saved your royal butt twice. I believe that makes us even."
The elf raised an eyebrow. "Twice? I only saved you once."
"No, no you saved me twice. In the forest, the first time, and then again in the bar."
"Oh. I do not think the first one really counts."
Aragorn shrugged, smiling. "Okay. Then I guess you owe me."
A smile grew on Legolas' lips, then he laughed lightly. "Oh, don't make me laugh. It hurts my stomach."
"No wonder. It's a marvel you survived that."
"Thanks to your use of medicine, or so I hear."
Aragorn shrugged again. "I wasn't about to have the guilt of your death on my shoulders."
Legolas laughed again, then became serious. "Your drugs brought many unwanted images."
"They do tend to stir up nightmares. I am sorry."
"There is nothing to be sorry for, Aragorn."
The man's head shot up. Surely he had misheard the elf; he wasn't supposed to remember.
"What?" Legolas asked with a certain smugness in his voice. "You don't trust the information with me now that I am alive and well?"
"No! That's not it. I trust you. It's just. . . you shouldn't have remembered what I told you." He paused. "Legolas, you must never tell anyone."
"You have my word, Estel." He smiled, lightening the serious note the conversation had. "Did you get teased a lot for having a name like that?"
"I still do, actually. I would feel bad telling that to Elrond."
"Well, if I cannot call you Aragorn, and if I want to laugh every time I call you Estel, what shall I call you, human?"
Aragorn said nothing, but he wore a bemused expression.
"I know!"
"What?" Aragorn asked, leaning forward.
"Telcontar."
"Strider? And that solves my problem with Estel, does it?"
"Would you rather I called you Rúcina? Confused and disordered?"
"Strider is a fine name."
Legolas smiled. "I thought it would be."
A peaceful silence followed. Neither felt like they had to say anything; just being in each other's company was enough for them. Eventually, one of them started a round of small talk, though later neither could say whom it was. There they stayed for hours, gaining a fast friendship that was to be one of the greatest Middle-Earth had seen.
Elrohir smiled down the hall as he heard his younger brother and his friend laughing. It was good to see them out of their contempt for each other. He worried for Legolas, still though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Elrohir looked at his father. He was deep in thought, and the young elf knew that he was seeing some premonition.
"What are you thinking, Ada?"
Elrond blinked, gazing out over his balcony. Legolas was leaving for Mirkwood and Aragorn was seeing him off. "She'll be back."
"Sorry?"
"That crossing place, where you found them," he gestured to the two on the edge of the forest, "there was a woman in charge."
Elrohir nodded.
"She wants Legolas' blood, and she did not give up."
"But she let us out of the town so easily."
"She has seen the elf she wants, she didn't want to have to deal with the three of you, just him. She will come after him again."
Elrohir turned his attention to his longtime friend and sighed as the elf disappeared into the forest. "Then we will just have to be there to protect him."
Elrond smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Reviewers: Big gushy thanks for sticking with me to all of you! And don't worry, we haven't seen the end of The Lady.
Elizabeth Black: I'm so confused. I loved your review for chapter 8, but you said, "and please no mention of me in your replies to your reviewers." So I honored your request, and I put that bit about Estel in someone else's response 'cuz I wanted you to know it was really funny without mentioning you. I'm sorry.
Jadelyn Rashwe: Yeah, I know. I suck. I even had to work REALLY hard not to make this one a cliffhanger. The next story will be better, I swear. (I hope.)
Lulu Bell: Dude, you had an interesting day. And you're gonna run around the soccer field with that thing? I feel so bad. I hope it gets better soon. How long does it take for those to heal? Holy monkeys.
Bec: See? He's not dead. A whole town wants him to be, but he's not. Did the resolution disappoint? Get some sleep! Being tired is no good, lol!
Moro the Wolf God: I loved it. I thought it was hilarious, and I could just see that scene played out. Silly Estel, lol.
Lei Dumbledore: Omg, I am blushing. Thank you a hundred times over!
LeggyLover: Now really, how did you KNOW that? I swear, I'm just going to randomly kill him off one day. Without warning. He'll fall off a cliff or something. ::starts planning::
Luthien: I'm sorry. . . sick like flu or because of me? Either way, I'm sorry.
SPEOD: You're name is just TOO long anymore, lol. I figured that's what LotR time was, but I wasn't sure. I've read her stuff. She's good. Uhm, "him" is Tarduain. See chapter 5, "she's just like him," meaning her ancestor whom Legolas killed. Are you confused? I don't think I explained that very well.
Sky: Holy cow, you update stories really fast. As soon as I finish my thesis, I'll read all of it, seriously. I'm so happy that there's more there!
Stella Pen: No, Legolas has too much to do yet, and he's gotta help Aragorn "become who he was born to be." He won't die. ::big grin:: I like killing people off in my stories too, and usually bring in an OC to kill since I won't do cannon characters.
Bill the Pony: No, I didn't, lol. But he came very very close! ! Lol!
Nikki: Haha, I think you're the only one not ready to kill me for that last chapter. Wait, you have a HUNCH? "I was right, you did know one of my ancestors. You killed him! I have been waiting forever to meet you. My family has waited many years to get their revenge for what you did." And "Take him to the square. We shall hang him, for all the public to know that my family's murderer has finally been caught." And A man stood next to the elf, and shouted above the crowd. "Today we bring justice upon Legolas, son of Thranduil, murderer of King Tarduain!" Shoot, I think I really screwed up that plotline. I think I made it really confusing.
Lomiothiel: So, you're not happy that Legolas lived at all, are you? Lol. Thanks!
Sara: It's all good. I figured I'd see you again eventually. Oh no, only Legolas and Estel, you're right, lol. And see, Leggy didn't die! I'm not that cruel.
TsugumiWolf: ::Pokes you with a stick:: Uhm, I don't think I've killed anyone thus far. Wow, after that, I really really am going to try and squash the cliffies. Lol, ::pokes some more::
Leggy Lover: I got it. Thanks!
Das Blume: Haha, if he has time to save the elf, and if he feels like it. But even if he does feel like it and have time, the time has to be opportune, savvy? Lol. Ah, you crack me up. Haha, thanks for the sign! Seriously, maybe Legolas should just send his messenger to visit Rivendell and takes notes and report back to the prince who is safely locked away in his room, on the first floor so he can't fall out the window, and with no hot or pointy objects anywhere nearby. He might even be inside a big plastic bubble. That just might help. Maybe.
True-Slytherin-Girl: I know! Sheesh. Bad place to end. I didn't mean to, but that's where it needed to be for this chapter. I know, excuses are lame.
Lulu Bell: Holy monkeys, that was one LONG review. Ah, you're in pain for my review! How sweet. I'm sorry soccer's out. That really bites. Dude, no, your idea was awesome, and I was so going to use all of it, but I couldn't let Estel find out so soon about the elf's past. That's the next story. He had to be clueless enough so that he could say, "Well why are you punishing Leggy for it?" You know? It was NOT lame. Oh, sweet, my first actual death threat! Oh, no, sorry, my second. Yay! Plurals! I don't think we've played you before. Our team is good, but we've only gone as far as regionals, so we haven't been to where you are. What's your team's record? How good are they? (I love talking volleyball. V-ball and horses, and I can talk for hours.) We did all right in the tournament, not as well as I had hoped, but there was some attitude in the way. Some girls that think they are a lot better than they really are. I can't wait until we play our next game. They are our biggest competitor, and they are a much better team than us. These girls are going to get a rude awakening, and then maybe we'll start playing as a team. Overall though we didn't do too badly.
Dimostiel: Ah, it's okay. I'm sure you'll find plenty of puns later on. Yeah, I'm still sick too. It sucks. Haha, me? Planning something? Wherever would you get that idea? Lol, wait until you're better for the puns, dear. ::wink:: I'm just kidding. See you next story!
The Next Story: (Which I was half tempted to name Meet The Parents)
Secret Allies
Aragorn visits Mirkwood and finally meets King Thranduil. During the process, he learns more about his friend's tormented past, and the two are thrown into a whirlwind adventure of crossed alliances and secret treaties that can only mean certain death.
Aragorn jumped at the light knocking. He half wanted to ask 'Who is it,' but the rudeness of the question stopped him. What if Legolas' father was the one knocking? How awfully rude it would be to ask that question, as if he would consider giving the elf permission to enter. Imagine, telling an elf lord he had permission to speak to you? 'Come in,' was the next phrase that came to mind. That too would be an awful thing to do. Was the king not good enough to have a door opened for him?
By now, another knock came. Aragorn abandoned his thoughts, getting up to open the door.
"Legolas!"
"Did I wake you?" The prince asked softly.
"No, I thought you were your father."
Legolas raised a bemused eyebrow. "So you were just, not going to let him in?"
Aragorn cringed. "I. . . no, I was going to. . . but, deciding on how was another story completely."
Legolas shook his head. "Did Minastir treat you well?"
"Indeed. You would have thought I was royalty."
"You are, Strider."
Aragorn rolled his eyes. "They don't know that."
"I know. All of our guests are treated as such." He thought of how rude he was to the man in the hallway. . . oh, what was his name? If the man really did tell Thranduil, Legolas would be in a heap of trouble. What was he to do though? It was either be rude, or deny his father's words of Mithfalas.
"Legolas? Are you all right?"
The elf nodded once. "I may be in for a rough morning, though." He paused. "Come to breakfast with me. I need your opinion on the men that are here."
Aragorn said nothing, but regarded his friend with curious eyes.
"There are three of them, but I do not trust them."
Aragorn nodded, with a knowing look.
"I know, I know. I don't trust anyone. That is why I need your opinion."
"All right, I'll come." Was now the time to ask? Elrond had told him that Legolas would recount his story when he was ready, but it had been eight years, and Aragorn was growing ever more curious, the closer he became to his friend. "Are you ready to talk to me?"