The Fellowship was summoned to King Theoden's throne room.

There the king sat on his throne. Beside him stood Theodred and Eomer. A lady, whom none of them had seen before, stood on the other side of the king.

"Gandalf, I am glad to see that your friends have recovered."
Theoden told him.

"I thank you Theoden, for providing the help they needed."
Gandalf replied. "I'm afraid that we will have to be on our way soon. We have urgent business in Gondor."

"Of course. I will not keep you here against your will. When do you wish to leave?"

"We shall leave at dawn. If it is not a problem Theoden, we could use supplies as well as horses for our journey.

The king nodded. "All that you need will be provided. Theodred will see to it that you will have everything you need."

Theodred smiled at the Fellowship. Eomer stood motionless beside him. The lady that stood on the other side of the king looked at them curiously.

"You are dismissed." Theoden told them. The Fellowship bowed and turned to leave. As they did Gandalf told Aragorn, "I have some things that I believe you will all enjoy."

The rest of them overheard and followed Gandalf curiously as he led them into a room they had been in earlier.

Inside, lying on a wooden table were their weapons. The hobbits rushed over and grabbed their swords. Frodo smiled as he held Sting. He thought he'd lost his uncle's sword!

Gimli held his axe while Legolas gently ran his fingers over his bowstring. Aragorn looked for his sword and saw a new one.

One that he hadn't expected to see.

"How did you find these?" Pippin asked studying his small sword.

Gandalf smiled. "I found them when I was searching for you."

"Even this?" Aragorn asked in a sharp tone. The others looked curiously at him. Legolas' eyes widened.
"The shards of Narsil, they have been reforged."

Aragorn looked at Gandalf in disbelief. "It is time Aragorn. You must accept your path."

"I can't... Gandalf-"

"You will because you must." Gandalf told him sternly. "The people of Gondor need their king. It is time."

Aragorn looked at the sword. He looked at the others who stared at him. They were waiting for him to answer.

Aragorn placed the sword back on the table. "I can't."

Without another word he left the room.

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Aragorn found himself standing alone in front of the Meduseld. He stood outside and let the wind blow on him.

It was dark and the stars were out. He was surprised when he turned and saw Legolas standing a few feet away from him.

He wore a hood over his head and there was no movement from him, except for the wind blowing his cloak.

Aragorn sighed and walked over to him. He needed to talk to someone.

Legolas said nothing as Aragorn approached. He was busy with thoughts of his own.

They stood side by side in silence. Until finally Aragorn spoke. "Did you know I was out here?"

"No. I just needed some fresh air. I have been inside for far too long."
Legolas replied.

Aragorn smiled slightly.

"I know why you are afraid." Legolas turned to him. Aragorn's smile faded.
"What if I can't do it? What if the Ring takes me like it took Isildur? And Boromir?"

Aragorn gazed out across the plains of Rohan. "What if I become something terrible? Like-"

"A monster." Legolas finished his sentence for him.

Aragorn turned to him in surprise. The elf sighed and looked up at the sky. The stars reflected in his eyes.

"There's something I need to tell you Aragorn. Something I should have told you a long time ago."

Aragorn was confused. What did he mean? Legolas didn't-
There are things that he has tried hard to forget. Things that he has kept hidden.

Aragorn remembered Saruman's words. He looked at Legolas and waited for him to speak.

"A long time ago, when I was much younger, after my mother died..." his voice trailed off.

Aragorn knew how hard it was for Legolas to talk about his mother. He barely remembered her. He knew almost nothing about her.

Legolas sighed and continued. "I was in the woods, near the border of my home, I was alone. Orcs appeared out of nowhere. They captured me and took me far away to the South."

Aragorn was shocked. He never knew that Legolas had been captured by orcs before they'd met. He'd heard stories about elves that had been, they never had good endings.

Legolas continued. His voice shaking. "They brought me to him. To Sauron. I saw him Aragorn. It was- I cannot describe it."

Aragorn listened in stunned silence. Legolas had seen Sauron?

"He tortured me. For years he kept me as a prisoner in that forsaken place. At first I didn't know why he didn't just kill me. But then I found out."

"He wanted to use me. To aid him against his enemies. I refused. So he continued to torture me. But I still refused. Then one day, he put a spell of blindness over my thoughts."

"I could not think for myself. I was bound to his will. Like the ringwraiths, only I was living."

Legolas lowered his head. Aragorn saw tears running down his face.

Legolas turned to Aragorn. His face was filled with grief. It made Aragorn speechless.

"He made me kill people Aragorn. Innocent people. I couldn't stop myself. I couldn't-"

His voice broke off. He turned away and cried. Aragorn was in shock. How could this be?

How could his friend, kill innocent people?
"How did you escape him?" he asked.

Legolas breathed in deeply and finished. "Gandalf saved me. He freed me from Sauron's grasp. He took me back home. He saved my life."

Legolas looked at Aragorn. "I tried to forget everything that had happened. And for a long time I did. But when Saruman brought the memories back, I remembered eveything."

"The things that haunt me the most are the faces of the people I murdered. Men, women, children."

Legolas stopped and spoke no more. Aragorn stood next to him in shock. He didn't know what to say.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"
He asked.

"Only Gandalf and my father know. I believe Elrond and Galadriel may know as well, but I am not certain."

Legolas turned back to Aragorn. His eyes red from crying. "I couldn't have told you Aragorn. Even if I had remembered when we met, I wouldn't have told
you."

"Then why are you now?"
Aragorn asked.

"Because you deserve to know. And I trust you to keep it to yourself. I cannot let the others know."

Aragorn placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I will not tell them anything. I promise."

Legolas looked at him. His expression unreadable.

"You do not have to dwell on the past Legolas. It is over. Let it go."

"I don't know if I can." He turned away. "It is harder than you think."

"I understand Legolas. You should know that."

Legolas didn't respond. He continued to face the mountains in the east.

He tensed. Something was wrong. He turned towards Aragorn. The man was walking away. He ran towards him and shoved him to ground. They landed hard on the stone.

Just as they did, a massive boulder flew over their heads and crashed into the Meduseld.  It was followed by several more. Each one just missing the man and elf.

They crawled away and looked out over the walls of Edoras in horror. An army of orcs was attacking.

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Next part coming soon! Plz comment!