A/N: I have re-written parts of this chapter to make it hopefully more comprehensible. As it turns out, the next chapter will hopefully tie up a few loose ends, but at the moment, I hope you bear with the confusion for a little while more.

XXV

When Elrohir returned with Esendri, they found Legolas staring at Eilwar's body with a lost expression.

"It is too late." Elrohir bowed, and said a prayer for his soul.

"I wish that he could find some peace in Námo's halls. Peace that never came to him while he was alive," Esendri said.

"Legolas?" Elrohir said, trying to approach him. "It is dangerous here, more dragons will return."

"Dead," Legolas said, looking up at Elrohir, a look of utter incomprehension on his face.

"Lass! Please!" Esendri helped Elrohir to pull Legolas to his feet.

"Drink!" Elrohir forced some liquid down Legolas's throat, warming him and easing the shock.

"What do we do with Eilwar?" Esendri said.

"We bury him," Legolas said.

"No. There is no time," Elrohir said. "His feä has left, and this is just an empty shell now."

"An empty shell that once housed a soul!" Legolas lashed out.

Esendri took his hand. "Lass, if we do not leave now, the dragons will return! Come!"

"Wait" Legolas cried, kneeling before Eilwar. He leant forward and placed a kiss on his brow.

"May you have release from your torment," he murmured. "I am sorry we did not get along, but I promise that your sacrifice will not go to waste."

Picking up the fallen Elflord's sword, he strapped it to his belt, before allowing Elrohir and Esendri to lead him back.

Legolas would not hear of moving until Elrohir's arm was attended to, and saw to it that the appropriate salves were applied.

"Not now," Legolas said, turning to look at Elrohir, who had a million questions in his eyes too. "We must move off, or the dragons will return."

Making a few hurried excuses, Legolas disappeared in the direction of where Eilwar had left his pack, only to return a few minutes later, paler than before, clutching a letter in his hand which none of the other two noticed.

"We must leave," he said in answer to their curious stares. "We carry on northwest once we have rounded the edge of the cliffs. If we keep low, the dragons will not spot us. Otherwise, we give them a good fight."

Elrohir glanced up in alarm, the unsolved mystery of how Legolas had managed to command the flames that killed the dragon still weighed at the forefront of his mind. Yet, the look in Legolas's eyes told him that no answers would be given that night, and so they travelled a good distance by the time night fell.

"I do not see any stars," Elrohir said as they came to a halt close to midnight.

"No, I have never seen land like this before," Esendri said, looking out across the strewn rocks and huge cliffs. "How like giant marbles they look, thrown there by creatures so large they could reach the stars with their outstretched hands!"

"Winter is coming," Legolas said. "The air grows chill."

Not waiting for a reply, he walked away, leaving his companions behind. Then, he took out an unopened letter, fingers trembling in the unrelenting moonlight. It was a while before he could summon up enough courage to break the seal.

My dearest brother,
If you are reading this, you will probably have met Lord Eilwar. Be respectful to him, in spite of however he may treat you, for his brother and father died to save ours. He is a great Elflord, and has fought in many battles and seen many horrors -- horrors that I hope you will never see.

I am writing because there are so many emotions which have been playing in my head, none of which I ever found the courage or opportunity to speak of to you. Now, away from the strife of Arda and the stench of death, I must put my thoughts to paper, and hope that you will get to read them.

I must apologise for leaving both you and Adar behind, but I hope you understand that there is nothing left for me to remain in Arda for. Fêrlinn's death continues to haunt me, but it is more bearable here. I apologise for leaving my duties to you, for our people will turn to you in their darkest hours. It was the fate that Naneth saw when you were born: that you were the Hope of our people. I beg you not to think this way, for one must never feel the weight of responsibility this strong, especially one as young as you.

Naneth also once spoke to me of a prophecy, a vision she had. She dreamed that an evil force haunted you, that it wished to use you for its twisted intentions. I promised her to look after you, but I failed. You will find that I am not as powerful as you thought I was, but I too have my weaknesses. We all do, but some of us are stronger than others. She told me that she dreamt that you possessed a magic, and that it would be this magic that the enemy obtains, or is destroyed by. Maybe my words might not make any sense to you, or may sound like the ramblings of a mad mind, but you must seek Eilwar out, so that he will give you a full explanation. Lord Elrond too, will be told of it, and I know that you can trust him, in spite of what Adar feels about Imladris.

Adar has been aware of a darkness spreading itself into Eryn Galen, and may have chosen to hide it from you. I am telling you now so that you know what you are up against. Rumour has it that it was bred in the south of our kingdom, where our people seldom venture, for the firs which grow there are black. There is talk of the Witchking rising out of the ashes of Morgoth again, and that he seeks to make our kingdom his again. The increase in number of Orcs is an indication of his return. At the same time, there is also whisper of another dark creature stalking the lands. You must remember how Fêrlinn was attacked by Orcs a year before our son was begotten. It was the Orc-poison that killed her, as she lay, pouring her life's essence into our child, trying to birth him. It was the Orc-poison too that killed our son, and he followed his Naneth into the halls of Mandos. This evil will stop at nothing to rid us of those that we love, and who are we to fight against them?

Finally, you might not know this, but Adar promised your hand to Caeriel when you were a child. Her father looked into the future, and had good reasons for wishing it to be so, but you must understand that you have a choice. Tell Adar that you love her, and the marriage will go ahead, and doom will be avoided. If you do not, you will die should you be forced into a loveless match. Our people are free to love whom they will, and the one you lose your heart to is lucky indeed.

"Legolas?" Elrohir appeared, causing Legolas to jump.

"How is your arm, Roh?"

"Healing rapidly. I wished to check that all is well with you."

"Eilwar handed me a letter before he died. It is from my brother."

"In that case, I shall leave you to read it alone."

"No, please stay."

"Are you sure?"

"I have almost finished it."

Legolas turned back to the letter.

It remains for me to wish you well, little brother. Try not to think too much about me, somebody who was happy, poised on the edge of fatherhood only to have his dreams shattered. Instead, I hope that you remember the times when Shadow was far from our hearts. When darkness falls, you must remember that time, and fight to bring it back. I would send my regards to Adar, but I fear to do so would only bring more pain to him. Naneth is watching over you, her little Leaf, and is proud of your strength. Never forget that. By the will of the Valar, I will see you again soon.
Your brother,
Dethronir

Legolas allowed his eyes to linger on the end of the paper. Images of his brother, torn apart by his grief, all came rushing back to him. How he had stood in the empty courtyard, screaming to the Valar to be smote by lightning as a storm raged. How he had not attended the burial ceremonies of his wife and child, too hit by grief to rise from his bed. His final decision to sail West, leaving behind a stunned father and brother to pick up the pieces.

"Lass?" Elrohir said.

"It is alright, Roh. He warned me of the danger that hunts me, not knowing that I would be reading this miles from home, in the wastelands of the North."

Elrohir could only stare helplessly at Legolas.

"Look what I found among Eilwar's possessions," Legolas said, removing a chain from his neck to show a small locket wrought of white gold. He opened it to show a lock of hair.

"Yes, Roh. It is Nana's hair. Eilwar loved her, but she was unable to return his love. Ai, what a terrible burden it must have been!"

Elrohir looked away, unable to look at him any longer as he felt the weight of his own heart ready to give under the strain of loving another in the dark.

Suddenly understanding, Legolas took a step forward. "I am sorry, Roh, I did not mean to hurt you!"

"You did not. We must talk about what happened yesterday. How did you escape from Braunlon's flames?"

Legolas turned even paler if it were possible. He drew out the blue stone.

"When the flames came towards me, I thought I would die, but a brilliant light shone from this stone, and the flames were absorbed by it. The flames that consumed the dragon also came from it. Each time, I felt as if it were drawing something from me and flinging it out at those that sought to harm me."

"And what were you talking about when you mentioned the Dark Prince?" Esendri said, coming up upon the pair.

"So Elrohir has told you. Braunlon said earlier that one was supposed to conquer them. He seemed to believe it, and so I took the chance. It worked."

"Yes, Lass, too well, which is why I worry. We do not know about what the dragons speak of when they mentioned this Prince," Elrohir said, refusing to give voice to the unspoken thought that ran through his minds: that Legolas was indeed the dark one.

"Do you think me to be the one they refer to? I simply made use of their myths to buy us a chance of survival! The second dragon was twice the size of Braunlon!"

The glance his friends exchanged turned Legolas's blood to ice. "You believe that I am the dark prince?"

"No, Legolas. I do not -- will not -- believe it! But we were wondering if it worked the first time, whether you could convince the rest of the dragons to do your bidding." Esendri said.

A sad look filled Legolas's eyes.

"Do you realise that if I bring them under my control, that I would be the one they speak of?"

"No, you will use them to do good, to destroy the gem!"

"It does not work like this, Sen!" Legolas cried. "Dragons are creatures of the dark, and I will not have them on our side! They kill hundreds and plunder without remorse! There is no way I would have them fight for us!"

Elrohir did not mention how Legolas too had the power to kill hundreds, if not thousands, with the stone in his possession, as just demonstrated. "Very well, Lass. What remains to be done is to look at that stone you found in the cave."

"If it is a map, I cannot read it."

"Perhaps you should rest."

"Ai, Roh. I am tired, as you must be too."

*

The rain started that night, and come morning, there was no sign of it letting off. It was not heavy, but persistent enough to annoy, and the Elves woke up drenched, for the rain had seeped through their cloaks and burrowed its way to their skin.

"Lovely weather," Elrohir said, attempting to beat off as much water as possible, but finding that only more water replaced it. "I wonder what brought about such a change, for it was cloudless yesterday."

"The clouds rolled it from the Northeast," Esendri said. He had been on watch all night. "There is no shelter in sight among the rocks!"

"We must push on, then," Legolas said. "Eilwar spoke of storms raging the earth as we neared the gem."

"Hardly a storm, is it?" Esendri said.

"Do not laugh, Esendri. It is not wise to mock the elements," Elrohir said. "We are at their mercy."

"But even elements can be controlled by magic," Esendri said. "I have heard many things of wizards able to summon storms and hail. Maybe this is one's abysmal attempt at doing so?"

"He might be right," Legolas said, trying to peer into the distant East. "I cannot see through this rain and cloud."

"Do you wish to examine the stone again?" Elrohir said.

Legolas removed the stone from the chain and handed it over.

Elrohir thought for a long time, before a thought struck him. "Give me your hand!"

Legolas obeyed, almost bemused. Elrohir picked up the stone and wrapped Legolas's fingers around it.

"Now close your eyes."

"Yes."

"What does it tell you?" Elrohir said.

A few minutes passed without anything happening.

"Well?" Esendri demanded when Legolas opened his eyes again.

"Nothing," Elrohir said, for he had been studying Legolas all this while, and had not noticed anything unusual.

"No."

"'Tis a map --" Elrohir said.

There was a flash, and blue light shot from the stone, casting a long beam on the ground, leading off into the distance, like a long thread, disappearing over the rise of rocks into the north.

As quickly as the light appeared, it was gone.

Esendri leapt to his feet. "What did you do to make it show up?"

"Nothing," Legolas said, "Just like in the caves. I did nothing."

A sudden shadow crossed Elrohir's face. "Use it sparingly, Legolas. You have used magic enough times for others to have felt it."

"How do you know?" Legolas said, surprised.

"Both Esendri and I feel it every time you call upon your powers."

Legolas and Esendri stared at Elrohir, incredulous.

"You? How could you have felt it?" Legolas said.

Elrohir waved his incredulity aside. "It matters not. We should be doubly careful."

"I do not think we are near the end, Roh. It cannot be so simple."

"Nevertheless, shall we follow the line north?" Elrohir said.

"Yes," Esendri said. "And let us hope this weather rolls away soon, or we shall be very wet indeed!"