Amon Hen (2 years earlier)

The trees rushed past him in a blur. Over and over again Legolas prayed that they were not too late, that whatever evil he had sensed before had not touched the Ringbearer. Gimli raced beside him, the dwarf's presence was his only comfort at the moment.

The sound of approaching footsteps caused both elf and dwarf to freeze in their tracks.

"Aragorn! Have you found Frodo?" Gimli asked upon recognizing the ranger, yet both soon realized that there was something wrong with their friend. He had a dazed look about him, and his sword was drawn and hanging loosely in his hand.

Studying the blade, Legolas noticed faint streaks of blood, red blood.

Not saying a word Legolas waited for Aragorn's explanation.

"Frodo... Frodo is dead." He gasped.

Gimli staggered, grasping onto Legolas' arm for support, but even the elf was swaying on his feet.

"Dead?" He repeated, dumbstruck.

Aragorn nodded, tears forming in his sea-grey eyes.

"Orcs, dozens of them, they ambushed us and-and-" Aragorn broke off, his entire body trembling. Before another word could be spoken a horn sounded in the distance.

"The horn of Gondor!" Legolas turned in the direction of the sound. "Boromir calls for aid! We must help him!" Legolas started forward with Gimli on his heels when Aragorn stuck his arm out, smacking Legolas in the chest and stopping him.

"No! We cannot go after him!" Aragorn shouted. The ranger had dropped his sword and wrapped his arm around Legolas; an action that caused the elf to stiffen.

Something was not right.

"What are you talking about?!" Gimli bellowed. "The other hobbits may be with him! We have to go!"

"No!" Aragorn repeated, tightening his grip around Legolas. The archer noticed that his arms were both pinned to his sides; was this intentional or was Aragorn unaware of what he was doing?
Legolas prayed that it was the latter.

"Why not?!" Gimli stepped forward with his axe in his hands. He'd noticed the look of discomfort on Legolas' face, and like his friend, he too feared that there was something amiss about Aragorn.

"We have to keep the Ring safe! We cannot let it fall into the enemy's hands!" Aragorn suddenly opened the palm of his left hand, Legolas' eyes widened in shock.

Aragorn took the Ring?

Gimli was at a loss for words just as Legolas was. Neither could think of anything to say; Frodo was dead, their friends were under attack, and now Aragorn had the Ring!

"Please," Aragorn slid the chain that held the Ring over his head, "the orcs will be upon us any minute now. We must cross the lake and keep them from the Ring. We cannot go back to help the others and risk losing it."

"You would leave our friends to die?" Legolas challenged trying to remove himself from Aragorn's grasp, only to have himself yanked backwards. His eyes widened in fear as he found himself with his back against Aragorn's chest, and a knife at his neck.

"To keep the Ring out of their hands? Yes." Aragorn tightened his arm around Legolas' torso, making sure the elf's arms were secure.

"Have you gone mad?!" Gimli shouted stepping forward, his face red with fury. "Let him go!"

"I'm sorry," Aragorn whispered into Legolas' ear, "but this is the only way. I have to keep you safe."

Legolas said nothing. His face showed nothing. Turning back to Gimli the ranger nodded his head towards the direction of the boats.

"We are leaving, now."

----

Minas Tirith (Present)

How long ago that day seemed...

Legolas leaned his back against the wall of his cell. He gazed out the barred window forlornly, his mind replaying that day over and over again.

He should have fought harder; he shouldn't have let Aragorn leave! Perhaps if he had done those things, Boromir and the hobbits would still be alive.

They'd learned that Sam, Merry, and Pippin had been brought before Saruman by the uruks, when it was discovered that the Ring wasn't with them they had been killed. Boromir had fallen trying to defend them on his own.

Five friends...

Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, Boromir....

All dead.

"Forgive me," he whispered at the grey sky, "please forgive me..."

Two tears fell from his eyes, followed by another, then two more.

Five tears for five friends.

Footsteps could be heard entering the dungeon, followed by a familiar gruff voice.

"I don't care what your king says! I am going to see him and that's the end of it!"

The two guards were no match for Gimli's anger and stubbornness. They watched nervously as Gimli approached Legolas' cell.

"Why?! Why did you have to do it laddie?! I told you what would happen if you went but you didn't listen! You never listen to me and now he's imprisoned you! Why?!" The dwarf banged his fists against the bars of Legolas' cell. The elf remained calm as he moved to kneel beside the bars, keeping himself eye-level with his friend.

"I told you evellon, I had to see her. I could not stand the thought of her being alone." Legolas offered his friend a smile, hoping it would offer his friend some comfort. "I will be alright Gimli, don't worry."

"Don't worry?! How can I not?! You've been imprisoned by a madman for sneaking into his wife's chambers! How can you sit in that cell and tell me not to worry?!" Gimli's hands tightened around the bars, as if he thought he could pull them down and free his friend.

Legolas' smile faded. His eyes moved from Gimli to the bars, to the stone walls that surrounded him, before finally returning to Gimli.

"I don't know." He said it as if it were nothing. As if his life wasn't in danger. Sighing Gimli pressed his forehead against the bars.

Silence passed between the two until Legolas reached out a shaking hand through the bars. Seeing it Gimli grasped it in his own, both hands were shaking.

"I'm afraid," Legolas whispered, "I'm afraid for Arwen, and for you. What will he do to you because of this?"

"When will you stop worrying about us and take care of yourself for once?" Gimli joked trying to light the mood, but it was in vain. The fear was still in Legolas' eyes, Gimli had never seen him like this.

"I need you to promise me something." Legolas motioned for Gimli to lean closer, he checked to make sure the guards were not trying to listen in.

"Anything," Gimli whispered keeping his voice down.

"You have to get Arwen out of here. The first chance you get take her and flee this place, go to my father he will protect her and get you back home. Tell him I sent you and... and..." Legolas' voice cracked and tears filled his eyes. "T-tell him that I love him, and that I'm sorry for leaving him..."

Legolas' head fell forward, his hair hiding his face as while he arched his back, his sobs echoing throughout the dungeon. Throughout it all Gimli held his hand, refusing to let go.

"I will Legolas. I promise." He said no more after that. The two friends remained that way. Legolas leaning against the bars, his sobs reducing to silent tears, and Gimli holding his hand.

Finally, the two guards arrived, in a dry voice one said, "The King is ready for the elf. You must leave dwarf."

Gimli glared up at the guard, opening his mouth to protest when Legolas stopped him. "Do as he says."

Reluctantly, almost painfully, Gimli released Legolas' hand and stood. He'd fought many battles in his life, but watching the two guards enter the cell, haul Legolas to his feet and bind him, made him feel as if he had been stabbed through with a thousand swords.

As Legolas was led out of the cell he looked over his shoulder at Gimli, offering him one last smile.

"Goodbye evellon, I will see you soon." The guards turned Legolas' head back to the front, then to Gimli's grief, they placed a blindfold over the elf's eyes before leading him out of the dungeon.

Holding back his tears, and his mounting grief, Gimli called out, "Take care of yourself laddie."