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?

// = elvish translations
# = flashbacks
* = thought

Disclaimer and Acknowledgements: As in Chapter 1

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Chapter 12 - The Need of Many

Elladan and Elrohir had just entered the house when they heard the screaming and hurried towards the arguing duo just in time to see Aragorn grabbing Legolas by the arm. They were shocked to see the elf prince shove Aragorn away roughly. Elladan rushed over and reacted immediately by stepping in between the two, trying to calm the situation. Elrohir was by his brother’s side in a flash and had reached out to pull his human brother away from the furious elf. He and Elladan started speaking at the same time.

"Estel, calm down..." Elladan tried to hold on to the struggling human.

"Legolas, what has gotten into you..." Elrohir frowned at the sight of the irritated elf.

"...it is not going to help..."

"...why are you screaming at each other..."

"...I am sure we can work this out..."

"...resolve it peacefully without killing each other..."

"Shut up!" both Aragorn and Legolas yelled at the twins simultaneously. The brothers froze in mid-sentence and gaped at their younger brother and friend. Legolas shoved Elrohir aside and turned to leave again but Aragorn was not going to let him off that easily this time. The human shrugged away from his brother and reached out to grab his friend once again, spinning him around to face him. "Don't you dare walk out on me like that. I want the truth," he eyed Legolas intently, his voice low and tensed.

"What do you want from me?! I said I am..." Legolas froze suddenly, his eyes went wide and a strangled cry escaped his lips. His hands shot up to his chest as his knees buckled beneath him, sending him ungracefully onto the ground. It took the three brothers several seconds to realise what was happening. The elf prince was tearing wildly at his chest, his eyes squeezed tightly shut in pain and a heart-wrenching scream shattered the peace of the morning. A pain so great shot through his chest that he felt that he was being torn apart from the inside. Elladan, Elrohir and Aragorn dropped down beside their friend, holding onto the writhing elf, not knowing what to do.

"Help him Elladan!" Aragorn pleaded desperately to his elven brother hoping that he would somehow know some miracle cure. A cold shiver ran down his spine and he felt as if his heart had sunk to his stomach.

"How?!" Elladan asked hopelessly, looking back and forth at his brothers, a stab of panic shot through his heart. "I don’t know what to do!" he said with fear evident in his deep brown eyes.

"I'll get Father!" Elrohir offered but before he even got onto his feet, Elrond was already rushing towards them.

"What happened?!" the elf lord demanded loudly having to make himself heard over Legolas’ agonising screams. The trio shook their heads helplessly. Elrond reached down and pulled the trashing elf up against his chest, trying to calm him to no avail. In the blind struggle, Legolas found one of Elrond's hands and latched onto it for dear life, squeezing down hard until the older elf winced in pain. The scream soon turned into a choking sob as the young elf had exhausted all his strength, his body shaking uncontrollably and his breath coming in short gasps. This was the time when Elrond cursed the high endurance of elves and he prayed desperately that the prince would succumb to the pain and fall into unconsciousness soon. He thanked the Valar when the trembling figure went limp in his arms.

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He was safe and free from pain. Maybe if he stayed in the darkness, the pain would leave him be. But the persistent and annoying voices were calling out to him, urging him to leave his safe haven. Someone's hand was resting on his forehead and soon he felt the darkness slowly dissipating and a warm light infiltrated his mind. An involuntary moan escaped his throat and his eyes fluttered opened momentarily only to be assaulted by the bright light that spilled into the room from the open window. He squeezed his eyes shut and turned away from the light, groaning in disgust.

"Elladan, lower the shades," Elrond prompted his son and turned back towards Legolas. "It's all right now," he soothed the young elf, brushing a strand of stray blond hair that had fallen loose across his pale face.

Legolas blinked a few times, clearing his blurry vision and as his eyes came into focus, he found himself staring into a pair of intent grey eyes. "W-What happened...?" his voice came out croaked and raspy.

"I was hoping you could tell us," came a soft reply from behind the elf lord.

Elrond threw a glance over his shoulder and shook his head at the younger twin, silently asking him not to bring up the subject so soon. He helped Legolas up to a sitting position and brought a cup of cool liquid to his lips which elf gratefully accepted.

Pushing the cup away after taking a few sips of the drink offered to him, the miserable elf choked off and looked away guiltily, "I-I'm sorry...," Elrond eased him back onto the pillows and he sighed as he lay propped up against the soft bed. The elf lord moved away and Aragorn took the spot he vacated in a flash. He sat down gingerly on the edge of the bed and pulled the elf into a quick embrace.

"No, it is I who should apologise," Aragorn's eyes shone with unshed tears as he eased his friend back onto the pillows. "I'm sorry for pushing you to tell me things which you're not ready to," his voice trembled slightly.

"I am as ready as it will ever be for I cannot hide the truth from you... from all of you any longer." Legolas took a deep shuddering breath and recounted the events that had happened from the time he was captured to the day Aragorn found him curled up on the forest floor. He started cautiously, not wanting to go into the details but as he went on, he found that he could not hold back the horror and pain that had plagued him since the fateful day. He retold everything, leaving nothing out.

"I cannot – will not sacrifice all of Middle Earth just to save my own life. The need of many outweighs the need of one," he sighed heavily and closed his eyes. "And even if I did deliver Vilya, there will be no way to know if Delund will give me the anti-poison for evil creatures were not known to keep promises," his voice trembled. The tears that he had been trying to hold back for so long finally found their way down his face.

To Be Continued...

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