Author's Note:

*Crawls out of the Enchanted River, soaked through*

I'm ba-

*Gets thrown back into the river*

~S~

Chapter 8

Plains,

Rohan,

With a firm grip upon Kinnell's arm, he dragged the latter to the end of the camp, as far as Legolas dared to make sure Elfwine slept without any disturbance and yet remaining close enough to keep an eye on him. Legolas held his fear in a tight cage deep inside his chest. The poison was dangerous and the antidote was not enough to cure him completely. Time was of the essence.

His head throbbed and he leaned forward slightly before raising himself to full height. He let go of Kinnell, and the man collapsed on the ground. Legolas rubbed his temples lightly with his fingers. Because of his Silvan blood, he was more attuned to his surroundings. It was way he could discern any form of ambush or approach without it surprising him. Strangely enough, it never made his head ache. Perhaps he drained himself of energy for the sake of Elfwine more than he realized. With a sliver of regret, Legolas let go of some awareness of his surroundings. His headache somewhat lightened, but did not disappear completely. Still, it was better than nothing.

He turned his attention to Kinnell with some disgust. The noble sported a bruise on the side of his head, visible at the hairline. Legolas did not feel sorry for him. That camp held Kinnell's brother, his mother, and his treachery sacrificed them both and now the life of a child.

There were many questions that echoed in Legolas' mind. How was this noble involved in all of this? Why did he sacrifice his mother and brother for this madness? What did he have to gain from this? How this was all planned? Also, how did he manage to slip through the enchantments over his bag of poisons? Those enchantments did not allow any but the bearer to open the bag. Legolas looked down at Kinnell who was only a source of mystery to him. His mouth opened and the first word slipped through that had repeated itself over and over in his mind when all of this happened.

"Why?"

Legolas' voice sounded loud even to his ears, especially against the nightly sounds of the crickets chirping. The wind rustled about them, bending the grass and flickering Legolas' cloak behind him. Kinnell looked at him with dazed, slightly unfocused eyes. Legolas guessed he had a concussion. He hadn't been gentle.

"Why do you think?" The noble shot back at him. It was a pathetic attempt to be brave.

"That child is your prince." Legolas' voice gentled at the mention of his sworn brother's son. He had to know how much Kinnell had given Elfwine. Even if he did find out, there was no way he could calculate precisely how much… time Elfwine had. "How much did you give him?"

"Enough, I suppose, considering how worried you are."

"It was potent."

Legolas' headache worsened and he let go of some of his surroundings more. Legolas rubbed his forehead. He never had such terrible headaches before. If he did, he could not remember.

"Good."

"Good? You will be tried for treason."

Anger was beginning to boil within Legolas' but he kept it under tight leash. Anger accomplished nothing; that was what his grandfather used to say.

"I do not care. That king is no king, barely even a man, and the boy is nothing to me." Kinnell sneered. For a moment, his features twisted until Legolas could no longer recognize him and he seemed entirely something else for an instant.

"Nothing?" Legolas repeated. "He is just a child. Have you no heart?"

Kinnell only glowered at him as best as he could muster and kept his silence.

"What of your brother? Your mother? Were they too a part of this?" Legolas studied Kinnell's face and notice the jaw clenching and the faint twist of his lips. "No, they were not. Of course, for I too found it unlikely. They had gentler hearts than yours. What is it in your heart that opens up to such hatred?"

Kinnell's lips remained pursed and his breath came out quick and shallow. This time when Legolas spoke, his voice came out with a harshness of a whip.

"What was the purpose of the ambush on the camp? Speak!"

Kinnell looked up at him and said nothing. Legolas tried to ignore his headache and stared him down. The man kept the gaze for a few more hours and then pulled it away. Legolas had enough. In split second, he pushed him backward with a foot on his chest. He knelt down on Kinnell's chest and pressed down carefully, his cold blue eyes boring down on the captive.

"What was it about?" He pressed a little bit more.

"They wanted him!" Kinnell's voice billowed out of his chest in one breath. Legolas loosened the pressure.

"Why?"

"Leverage," Kinnell said. "They wanted him for leverage."

"For what cause?"

Kinnell fell silent.

"For what cause?" Legolas asked, pressing down on his chest. Kinnell clenched his jaw. Legolas sighed. "Don't be difficult."

"Or what?" Kinnell hissed. "You will torture me?"

"Torture you? Nay, there are other ways. But what I have in mind will not be pleasant." Legolas pinned him down with his steely gaze. "What cause?"

Kinnell tilted his chin up and shot him a defiant, triumphant look.

"Remember you had a choice," was the only thing Legolas said.

Legolas pushed his own mind against Kinnell's unarmed one and dug through his secrets until at last Legolas came upon his recent memories.

…

Key's laughter resonated through the air as he trudged in front of Kinnell. Kinnell followed him slowly.

"Did you ever see how the Elf blushes every time the girls made one particularly loud remark about him?" Key said, laughing again. He gave his last carrot to his horse before running a hand over his neck. Kinnell's own horse nudged him but he ignored it. His thoughts were elsewhere. When Kinnell did not laugh with him, Key spared him a concerned glance.

"What has gotten into you, brother? You have been quiet of late."

A settling horse gave a soft whinny before stamping its hoof. Kinnell looked up.

"Have you considered Calhoun's offer?"

Key's face darkened.

"What Calhoun has suggested is nothing but treachery. No good is going to come out of it, except our own people will curse our name and see to it that your line does not survive."

"You haven't even listened to his full explanation-"

"Have you not heard what I just said to you?" Key broke in. Kinnell looked up into his eyes. Key stared at him before comprehension dawned. Key's scowl deepened.

"Tell me not that you are considering it, brother mine."

Kinnell clenched his jaw and kept his silent. Of course he was considering it.

"We will discuss this in the morning, whereupon I intend to go and enlighten Prince Legolas on the matter." Key spoke with a tone of finality. Kinnell looked away. Then he gasped at the sudden sharp pain like a band of iron around his arm. Upon looking, it was Key's hand gripping his arm tightly. He looked up and met Key's unwavering, stern gaze. "And you will stay away from this."

Kinnell did not answer, and one of the nearby horses whinnied and reared. It would have kicked him had Key did not pull him away.

"What is wrong with that horse?" Kinnell said, reaching for it but Key stopped him.

"That is Prince Legolas' horse. Leave her be!"

They marched back to camp, leaving Tinúviel trembling behind them.

…

They had awoken to screams and smell of burning tents.

After a quick word to their mother not to leave the tent, both brothers ran out.

Kinnell looked about him, the smell of fear almost as tangible as that of fire and smoke. The Elf stood there with Elfwine, wounded. He watched him protect the prince with awe, seeing the lethal grace take down one enemy after another. He heard a whinny behind him and he instinctively jumped to the side. The mare galloped past. He was getting away! Turning around Kinnell raced to a horse.

"Kinnell, don't you dare!"

But Kinnell mounted his horse quickly and set it into a fast gallop, heedless to his brother's shouts.

"KINNELL!"

He could hear hooves behind him. Kinnell kept his gaze on the lone Elf standing in the midst of his enemies. He needed that Elf's trust to get to Elfwine. He heard a sudden strangled cry behind and he turned to find his brother facedown, with a spear protruding from his back. With grim triumph, Kinnell helped Legolas mount behind him.

"Where to?"

…

Unable to see any more of the depth of Kinnell's treachery, Legolas pulled away. Kinnell slumped back, keeping himself as upright as he could manage by his bound hands. Legolas turned away from him. His head throbbed from the renewed exertion. The interrogation was as hard on him as it was on Kinnell. The man was sweating in spite of the chilly wind, his breathing labored.

"You abandoned your brother." Legolas stated. He could feel his hands shake. He took in a deep breath, letting it sooth him and loosen the tension in his muscles. "For what gain? Likely your mother perished by now."

"They wouldn't dare." Kinnell's hoarse voice was vehement.

"They would." Legolas said. He turned and looked down at the man. "Oh they would. These are the kind of men who would do anything for their own purpose. And you were nothing but a pawn to be used and cast aside when the time comes."

"You lie," he hissed.

His head grew heavy and for a moment his sight grew clouded. His thoughts were jumbled, incoherent. With reasonable difficulty, Legolas continued on.

"I do not. Did they promise you anything for your troubles? Gold? Women? Title? Nothing. They only played with your emotions."

"I played a crucial role in this. That is more than enough." Kinnell's smile was strange, fey. Legolas looked upon it and felt his body recoil slightly. Something wasn't right. Once again, his mind clouded slightly. "You may be an Elf, but you are weak. Even you have your limits. And that child is past saving. What will you do, Master Elf," Kinnell sneered at him, "when you take his lifeless body back to his parents? What will Éomer do, when you have failed to keep his only child alive? Nay, each moment for you will be suffering, when that child finally dies in your arms and all you could do is keeping the crows feeding off of him!"

When he heard that, something inside Legolas just snapped.

It was then his hands moved as if they had a mind of their own. The blades sang as they left their sheaths and cut through the air as Legolas whirled them. He turned around and ran both knives across Kinnell's throat, slitting it deep. It was over in a few seconds.

It was only when Legolas stared down at the blood seeping into the ground that Legolas fully became aware of what he had done. Horror shook his core. He never lost control, not even in Dagorlad, when his grandfather was cut down by orcs. It was not as if he was not aware of what he had done, it was as if something nudged him to it, suggested it to him, until he took the step himself.

And the headache troubling him during the interrogation was gone.

An unexpected presence pressed down hard on his mind, instantly flaring his head with renewed pain. Legolas dropped his knives and his knees buckled under his father's wrath.

~WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?~

Thranduil's voice rocked the link and shook Legolas where he stood. Thranduil, a loving father and a just king, was a stern judge.

~Father, please…~ Legolas was unable to hold back a plea. ~My head…~

Realizing his son could not answer him from the pain his wrath ensued, Thranduil reigned in his anger a little.

~Boy,~ Thranduil's voice was now considerably low, but it was still full of wrath. ~You have tightened the noose around your own neck!~

Once the throbbing lessened, Legolas poured out the tale to his father.

~Headache? Clouded judgment?~ Thranduil said.

~It faded once the… once the deed was done.~

Thranduil's anger melted away.

~Clear the mess.~ Thranduil said. His voice was now neutral, colorless. ~We will speak of this later.~

And his father certainly would. For whatever this may be, that did not change the fact that Legolas killed a bound man, even a traitor, who should have given a fair trial. With a heavy heart, Legolas began to prepare for the burial, wondering how he would explain this to Elfwine once he awoke.

oOo

Ithilien Forest,

A slightest change in the Elven colony in Ithilien brought news everywhere. When Fion raised the city on alert, business and marketing was meant to go as it always went. However the presence of additional guards along with the way the Elves retired early in the night when they never did before would not go unnoticed.

Fion stood on a high talan and looked down upon the city below. The lights were dimmed and the city had fallen silent.

"This is a bad idea." Bregon muttered. Like Fion, he too was a Ranger, and ranked amongst the Rangers who held the titles of respectable elders.

"I don't think so."

"Putting the entire city on alert is bad idea. You know what Gondor is like. Our trades will suffer, it will be harder for us to maintain our relations-"

"We don't know as of yet who is behind this." Fion said.

"And what makes you think that Legolas is the target? What of Elfwine?"

"Both have a lot to lose." Fion said. "If Elfwine is harmed in any way, relations between Rohan and Gondor will turn sour. If Legolas is harmed any way, or accused in some form, Gondor and Rohan both will find themselves in the mercy of Elven vengeance."

"Which is precisely the reason putting this particular city on alert isn't right. What will it accomplish?" Bregon persisted. Fion sighed and turned and took the stairs. Bregon was not about to give in. He pursued him swiftly. "We are outmatched, Fion. Our guards are marching in the streets. What will Aragorn think of it?"

"I will enlighten him then."

"Enlighten him now before things worsen!"

Fion only shook his head.

"Has Dorián taken Éowyn and Elboron to safety?" Fion asked Bregon instead. The Elf frowned, not liking the change in subject. Éowyn and Elboron both were visited the city when Legolas contacted Fion.

"Yes, he is escorting them to one of the safe houses Faramir marked." Bregon answered. "He wanted to convey his message to you about what he thought of your ordering him to leave when he could help Legolas, but it wasn't polite so I will not say it."

"I see." Fion said. "Bregon I want wagons ready with tents and healing supplies within the hour. They should be by the gates. Go."

Bregon looked like he was about to argue but Fion stopped in his tracks and gave him a withering look. The Elf clamped his mouth shut and nodded stiffly.

"I had best be on my way then."

Fion watched Bregon stride away before turning on his heel and quickly climbing the nearby steps leading to a house built on a low talan. Stopping in front of the door, Fion gave quick knocks. It opened shortly after. An Ellon stood inside, black-haired, pale-skinned, green eyes staring at him curiously.

"Noron," Fion greeted his fellow Ranger.

"Fion," the younger Elf returned. "Come in."

"I am afraid I cannot linger." Fion said, stepping inside. Noron closed the door behind him.

"Is there anything that requires my services?"

Fion did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked about him.

"Where is your wife?"

"She went to Minas Tirith, along with my daughter," Noron said. "Is there something you need?"

"I have a mission for you," Fion said. "It involves going to Rohan."

"I see." Noron said. "It will take me an hour to get ready. I will be by the gates then. You can explain it to me there."

"Good. You leave immediately."

Trusting Noron would understand the haste and dress swiftly, Fion left his house. No sooner did he step outside did he feel a presence brush against his own.

~Fion?~ It asked. Fion blinked at the familiar deep masculine voice.

~Thranduil?~ Fion asked, puzzled to hear from his life-long friend.

~Aye. How are things?~ Thranduil said. Fion gave a snort. The way Thranduil posed his question made it seem as if they were asking after the sunny blissful weather.

~Oh, things are good. The Elves of Ithilien Forest will suddenly gain fame in all sorts of gossip now.~

~I am afraid you will gain more than just popularity.~ Thranduil said grimly. ~Have you spoken to Legolas just recently?~

Fion felt a feeling of dread.

~No. Why?~

Thranduil told him everything.

~No,~ Fion said. ~That's not possible. Why would an Elf have this much hatred-~

~I doubt an Elf is behind this.~ Thranduil said.

~Man, then?~

~It is possible,~ Thranduil said. ~The Race of Men is called Second born for a reason. They resemble us in some parts. They too have the ability of mind-speech if they simply try.~

~And evidently it is a strong one.~ Fion said. ~To put an Elf in a suggestive state is no easy task.~

~Which means that Man is probably well-taught.~

~This Captain-what was the name-Calhoun- do you expect him to be this person?~ Fion questioned.

~I think so but I am not entirely sure. We will only know more if we reach there in time.~

Remembering that the life of a child was at stake, Fion felt grim.

~We will have to.~ He said to Thranduil.

~S~

Author's Note:

I am sorry. I cannot tell you guys how much sorry I am. But I can tell you each day I sat down and worked on this. This plotline is amongst my personal favourites and needed all my time and energy to pull it off. Safe to say that I am ready to continue this story and will now be amongst my most active stories in updating.

If... if you guys still have the time. I would love to hear from you. I know I probably don't deserve it. But please, it would make me really happy that I did not upset you guys too much by the length of time this story remained without updates.

Emi, if you are reading this. Thanks a lot for your help. I wouldn't have pulled through without it. I hope whenever you have the time, you leave a review and we can have a chat for old time's sake.