Rating: PG-13 to R (Angst... proceed with caution)

Summary: When Legolas is forced to make a decision that could very
well determine the fate of all Middle Earth, what will he do? And
what consequences will his choice have?

Disclaimer and Acknowledgements: As in Chapter 1

// = elvish translations
# = flashbacks
* = thought

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Chapter 6 - The Longest Night

The commotion had woken Elladan from his slumber. Still in a daze, the older twin made his way towards the room where all the sound had come from wondering why his brothers had returned ahead of schedule. Rounding a corner, he was almost knocked off his feet by two shadowy figures brushing past him.

"Nice to see you too," he mumbled after his brothers, not knowing the reason that had brought them home this early in the morning. Poking his head into Aragorn’s room, he saw his father bending over the bed.

"Ada?" Elladan called, his voice still raspy from sleep.

Elrond straightened and turned to face his son, his movement giving Elladan a better view of the person lying in the bed. He blinked, all traces of sleep left him in a split second.

"What happened?!" he blurted out.

"That’s what we want to find out. Go fetch some wood for the fire. We must keep the light strong."

The three returned shortly with their respective items. Elladan balancing a stack of firewood in his arms and Elrohir wobbled unsteadily behind a pile of blankets. Aragorn came in behind his brothers with a basin of water in his left hand, a jug of water on his right and a mixing bowl for the herbs and a glass tugged under each arm. Elrond’s healing packs hung around his neck. Elrond would have laughed at his son’s comical appearance if the situation were not so tense.

As Elladan tended the fire, Aragorn set down the items on a table beside the bed and helped Elrohir spread out the extra blanket over Legolas. The growing fire warmed the room slowly, the golden flame dancing in the hearth but the body beneath the blankets remained cold and still.

"Leave the room," Elrond commanded. His sons started to protest but his voice left no room for arguments. "Go."

Slowly, the three brothers moved out of the room and closed the door behind them. Leaning against the wall, Aragorn slid down to the floor with a loud sigh, his face buried in his hands. The twins settled down beside him and Elladan gave his shoulder an encouraging squeeze.

"He will be fine. Ada will help him." Elladan reassured his brother.

Aragorn lifted his head, haunted silver-green eyes stared up at the twins. "You were not there, Elladan. You should have seen him." Aragorn shook his head sadly and reached up unconsciously to rub his jaw where Legolas had hit him earlier.

"What happened to your jaw?" Elrohir pushed the human’s hand away and held the human’s chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting his head towards the light for a better view. Dark bruises spread across his jaw all the way up his left cheek. The younger twin prodded it gently and the human winced, swatting his hand away carelessly.

"What happened?" Elladan pushed his brother for an answer.

"He hit me," Aragorn answered.

"Who?" the older twin questioned.

"Legolas," the worn out ranger sighed dejectedly. "He thought I was someone else and…" Aragorn shuddered. "He was terrified! I could see it in his eyes! I have never seen him so afraid before in my life!"

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Crushing some athelas in his hands, Elrond dropped them into the bowl of hot water. He sat down on the edge of the bed, placing a hand on Legolas’ chest and the other found the elf’s slender hand. Closing his eyes, he focused his healing powers into the almost lifeless elf. "I know you are hurting although I do not know why. But whatever is troubling you, it is not worth giving up your life for it. I will help you with your pain. Stay with me Legolas. Do not give in to the darkness." Elrond’s soft words and the sweet scent of athelas filled the room.

He searched for the prince, calling out to him for a long time but he could not feel the presence. "Hear my voice Legolas and take comfort in them. Come back to me. Life is precious. Do not turn your back on it." He felt a small flutter and held on to it. "I know you are there, Legolas Greenleaf. I know you can hear me. Come little one, your friends await you." The presence grew stronger and he could almost touch it. "Be strong. We will fight it together." Feeling a twitch in his hand, he opened his eyes and found that Legolas’ slender fingers had wrapped themselves around his hand. Some color had returned to his pale face and the skin beneath his hands had started to warm. His breathing evened out and the heartbeat grew stronger and steadier under his palm. Elrond smiled wearily. With the life threatening situation resolved, he proceeded to clean and dress the prince’s other wound.

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The young man got to his feet and started pacing in front of the closed door. Elladan and Elrohir watched as their brother walked back and forth the short corridor, his movement making them slightly agitated after a while. Finally, Elladan sprang up to his feet, blocking the ranger and forcing him to a stop.

"You know Estel, the house was not built for such extensive pacing. Stop before you wear a hole in the flooring," Elladan stated flatly and a snicker came from behind him. He turned around and glared at Elrohir who feigned innocence. Looking at the mischievous smirk on his brother’s face, Elladan eventually gave in, his gaze softened and he let out a small laugh.

"Come, sit with us," he draped his hand around Aragorn’s shoulders, guiding him back to where they were seated earlier. Elrohir brushed a strand of stray hair from Aragorn’s face after his brothers rejoined him on the floor and tugged it behind his ears. "Don’t worry Estel, he will be fine."

As if on cue, the door to the bedroom opened revealing an exhausted Elrond. The trio greeted him and was relieved to see a small smile breaking out on the elf lord’s face.

"Legolas will be fine. It was not easy to call him back but there are things that he still holds dear in this world which kept him with us." Elrond motioned them into the room. "His wounds are healing but rather slowly. Watch him closely. Alert me if there are any changes." He proceeded out the room but paused near the exit. "Elladan, take care of your brother’s bruise please," and with that, he left his sons to do what they do best…keeping vigil beside someone’s bed.

The remaining of the night passed quickly and uneventfully. Aragorn had rooted himself beside Legolas’ bed and had settled into a comfortable spot, intending to keep a watchful eye on his friend but exhausted from the night’s event, the ranger had eventually succumbed to sleep. After draping a blanket over their brother, Elladan and Elrohir had each commandeered a large chair in front of the fireplace, curling up snugly into it. A few moments later, sounds of light snoring could be heard throughout the room from where the twins slept.

Legolas regained consciousness briefly sometime near dawn, his incoherent whimpers brought Aragorn out of his dreams instantly. Smoothing Legolas’ hair back from his forehead, he whispered soothing words to calm the distressed elf and after some time, the prince quieted down and drifted back to a more natural sleep.

The days passed swiftly but Legolas’ wounds healed slower than he had expected. He knew that it was caused by the poison, but he had no intention of letting the others know about it. He lied about how he felt and pretended that all was well. Although he claimed that he was only attacked by a group of bandits, the haunted look in his eyes said otherwise. The elf had become reserved and was frequently found at his room window staring out blankly, trapped in some distant memory. But no matter how long the three brothers had interrogated, he insisted that nothing was wrong. Even Elrond was unable get any details out of him.

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To Be Continued...