I cannot believe he actually came.

Estel glanced behind him as if to confirm that the elf was in fact following him.

Legolas had his hood pulled over his head once again but had decided not to wear the cloth over his face.

He had expected Legolas to completely reject the idea of coming with Estel to Arnor and living among the Dunedain, but to his surprise the elf had said "yes."

Why would he agree to this? What is he trying to accomplish?

Estel had known that Legolas had been trying to get out of Rivendell, and that Elrond would not allow him to leave on his own.

Perhaps he is going to run the first chance he gets.

Estel glanced behind him again, Legolas was still following.
"Why do you keep looking at me?"
Legolas asked in annoyance.
"I want to make sure that you haven't vanished."
Estel answered shortly.

"It would be unwise for me to leave."
Legolas stated matter-of-factly.
"I do not know these lands as well as you do. You could find me easily if I tried to escape."

"You make it sound as if you are my prisoner."
"Is that not what I am?"
Estel glared at the elf. He couldn't see Legolas' expression from under his hood or tell if he was joking or not.

"I have only been asked to bring you among the Dunedain. Whether you wish to stay or go is up to you."

"Do you truly believe that after all the trouble Elrond and Gandalf went through to find me that they would risk letting me run again? I have no say in where I go now or what I do."

Behind him Estel could faintly hear Legolas mutter, "I will always be a prisoner."

»»»»

T

hey reached the Dunedain camp just before nightfall. Legolas remained behind Estel, observing everything around him in silence.

Estel searched the faces of the Rangers until his eyes spotted the man he had been searching for.

"Halbarad!"
He called.
A tall Ranger with dark hair, who was probably three or five years older than Estel, smiled and made his way towards him.

"It has been too long my friend."
The two men embraced and Halbarad noticed the hooded figure standing nearby.

"Who is that?"
Estel sighed as he prepared to introduce Legolas to the others.
By now the rest of the Rangers had gathered around them and were casting suspicious looks at Legolas.

"My friends,"
Estel started.
"I have brought someone who wishes to aid us in our defense of the north."

As if on cue Legolas removed his hood and was met with several gasps of shock from the Rangers.

"This is Legolas of Mirkwood."
Estel watched in amusement as some of the younger Rangers stared wide-eyed and opened-mouthed at the elf.

"Why would an elf concern himself with the troubles of men?"
One Ranger questioned.

"How do you know that we can trust him?"
Another one added.
Estel sighed, he had known that questions like this would be asked.

"In case you were unaware this earth is my home as well as yours."
Legolas addresed the two Rangers who had spoken through narrowed eyes.

"I have a right to defend it just as you do. If darkness is setting over the land should I not do what I can to drive it back?"

For a moment no one would answer the elf, except for the same Ranger who had questioned him first.

"Then why do you not do it with your own people?"
"My people are tied to their own lands, the shadow has been creeping over my home for thousands of years and is now spreading to other lands. If they cannot do anything to aid others than I will."

Legolas drilled him with a hard stare that caused him to lower his gaze.

"Legolas is one of us now."
Estel announced loudly enough to be heard by everyone.
"He is to be treated as one of us and not as an enemy. Is that understood?"

The Rangers nodded their heads, all except the one man who only scowled at the elf.

"You may go back to your business."
The Rangers drifted away, all casting one or two curious glances at Legolas as they went by.

Legolas, who had walked over to Estel, gestured towards the one Ranger with a sideways nod of his head.

"Who is that man?"
He asked.
"His name is Brion."
Halbarad answered.
"Don't pay any attention to him, he's always been arrogant and distrusting. He'll come around in time."

Halbarad offered a kind smile to Legolas.
"Welcome to the Rangers of the North Legolas. We are glad to have you here."

Turning to Estel Halbarad's expression became grim.
"There is something I need to discuss with you."

Estel nodded and addressed Legolas.
"You may go where you wish. Find Fornil, he will show you around the camp."

Legolas seemed uncertain but before he could protest Estel was already following Halbarad away from the others.

»»»»

"What is it Halbarad?"
Estel asked once they were out of the camp.
"Something odd is happening; there have been more sightings of orcs in the north. They are coming from over the Misty Mountains and into Angmar."

"Have you sent men to investigate?"
"I have, they should be returning any day now. But that is not all I have to tell you."

Estel waited as Halbarad took in a deep breath.
"There are strange men roaming the north, I believe some may be men of Rhun and Harad. I do not know why they are coming this far north but it cannot be for anything good."

Estel furrowed his brow at his men's words.
"This is unsettling news."
Halbarad chuckled.
"What kind of news were you expecting?"

"That all our enemies decided to surrender and we could all go back to living peaceful lives again."

"If our enemies surrendered it would mean that you could take your rightful place as king, Aragorn."

Estel's face turned slightly pale at the mention of his true name, and the reminder that he was the heir of Isildur and next in line for the throne of Gondor.

"Does the elf know?"
Halbarad asked lowering his voice.
"No; and I would like to keep it that way."

Halbarad sighed.
"He will find out eventually. Once he has been here long enough."
Estel only shrugged his shoulders in response.

"Have you known him long?"
"No."
"Then what exactly were you thinking when you decided to bring him here?"

Estel shook his head.
"That is a long story that I will save for another time."
Halbarad nodded in understanding.

"You can tell me some other time. For now let's head back to camp shall we?"

Estel couldn't agree more, he was tired and ready to rest.
Silently he followed Halbarad through the trees and back to camp.

»»»»

"

What's wrong Legolas? Haven't you ever seen a pipe before?"
Fornil asked as he lit his pipe and raised it towards his mouth.

"I have seen them, but I never could understand their purpose."
Legolas replied.

Fornil shrugged and turned his gaze back towards the fire. Legolas had to admit that even though he wasn't the nicest person he had ever met, Fornil wasn't that bad.

The young man had shown him around the camp and introduced him to everyone, except Brion.

"I usually avoid Brion."
Fornil had told him.
"He's not the most pleasant person to be around and he's always questioning Halbarad."

Legolas hadn't asked anything else concerning Brion. In fact the man was sitting on the opposite side of the large fire and continued to shoot him dirty looks.

He wasn't as tall as some of the other Rangers, but he was muscular and broad-shouldered
He had sandy colored hair that went down to just above his shoulders and green eyes.

Most of the Rangers either ignored Legolas or sent curious looks his way. Legolas didn't bother acknowledging them in return, he knew it would be a long time before he had gained their trust.

But that is not your goal. Your goal is to escape remember?

Legolas had never intended to stay among the Dunedain, he planned on leaving the first chance he got.

Which was impossible at the moment with all these men lingering about.

"Do you want to try one?"
Fornil's voice jerked Legolas out of his thoughts.
"Try what?"
Legolas asked in confusion.

Fornil held an extra pipe out to him.
"Give it a try. Who knows? You might even enjoy it."

Legolas wanted to refuse but by now all the other Rangers were watching him, and to make matters worse his own curiosity was getting the better of him.

"Alright."
Legolas took the pipe from Fornil's hand and looked at it uncertainly.
"I already lit it."
Fornil told him.

"Just put the end in your mouth and breathe in a bit."
Legolas glanced at the pipe nervously, wishing that he had said no.

The Rangers were waiting for him to do it so he thought that he might as well get it over with.

Legolas did as Forlin instructed him, but when he breathed in he did it too hard.

Legolas gagged and began coughing violently. The other Rangers couldn't help but laugh as Forlin quickly handed him a waterskin.

Legolas yanked it from his hands and gulped down the water, only to quickly rise to his feet, stumble a few paces forward to the nearest tree, and cough it all up.

The other Rangers were still laughing as Legolas stood bent over with his hands on his knees.

"Are you alright Legolas?"
Forlin asked in concern.
"How-"
Legolas struggled to speak in between coughing.
"Do you- people- enjoy that?"

This was met with more laughter as Estel and Halbarad returned to camp.

"What's going on?"
Halbarad asked taking in the scene around him.
"Poor elf can't smoke right."
One of the Rangers said which brought on even more laughs.

Estel was already at Legolas' side and was checking to see if he was alright.

"I will be fine after I get as far away from those foul thing as possible!"

Estel supressed a laugh as he led the elf away from the fire.
Legolas pulled his arm free from Estel's grip.
"I can walk by myself."

Estel rolled his eyes.
"Did you find a place to sleep for tonight?"
"I plan on sleeping among the trees as I always have."
Legolas answered curtly.

"Will you be fine on your own?"
Estel asked.
"I have been on my own. I will be just fine."

Legolas quickened his pace and headed towards the trees. Estel followed at a distance and watched as Legolas climbed up one of the bare trees and seemed to disappear among the branches.

One Legolas settled himself amongst the branches he leaned his head back against the trunk of the tree and tried to listen to its song, or even converse with it.

He'd used to have a strong connection with trees, but that time had seemed to pass on, and Legolas had found that he was beginning to have more and more trouble hearing and speaking to the trees.

What has happened to me? What has caused me to change so much?

Yet in his heart Legolas knew the answer, it was because his heart was broken.

Tauriel's death had shattered his heart into millions of pieces. Her death was what seemed to cause him the most grief, other than the deaths of Thalion and his mother.

Legolas looked up at the starfilled sky, the white lights danced in his eyes, yet he could not find confort in their glow.

"Why did you leave me?"
Legolas whispered.
"Why did you leave me with no memory? Why did you leave me without saying goodbye? Why did you leave me when you knew that I needed you?"

Legolas was unaware that he had started singing as he continued his quiet lament.

"Did you not care for what would happen to me without you? Did you not care that I would be left alone? Did you not care that I would be lost? Did you not care that I would be broken?"

"I needed you all and you left me. I needed your guidance, I needed your protection, I needed your love."

"But it is too late now. It is too late for you to come back. It is too late for me to help you. It is too late for me to save you."

"You are all gone, and now I am alone. Darkness threatens to claim me, the shadows close in around me, the emptiness consumes me."

"I am a fading light, alone in the night. I am a fading light,running from hunters I cannot see. I am a fading light, doomed to be lost in the darkness."

"And no one can save me from my fate."

Legolas finished his song and continued to stare up at the sky. A single tear rolled down his cheek and he wiped it off with the back of his hand.

He couldn't stay here, and he didn't care what anyone said or did.

If he remained in one place all the memories would return, the ones he wanted to forget.

If he stayed his enemies would find him, and they would kill him.

Legolas made up his mind as he climbed down the branches of the tree. He would leave that very night, right now.

Legolas paused just before he lept out of the tree. He would have to wait, the Rangers were all awake, they would see him of he tried to leave.

I will wait until later this evening, after they have fallen asleep.

Legolas climbed back up to his branch and settled himself once again.

It will only be for a little while, then you will be able to leave.

He continued to tell himself that as he felt his mind grow heavy with sleep. He wouldn't fall asleep, if he did he would miss his chance.

I will not fall asleep, just stay awake for awhile longer.

Legolas' breathing slowed as he leaned folded his arms across his chest.

You will not fall asleep.
You will not....