Aragorn groaned as his flickered open. He was lying on a soft bed and he was dressed in a light green tunic and grey trousers.

His wounds had been tended to and he was no longer in any pain. What he was wondering was, How long have I been laying here?

"So the human lives."
Aragorn shot up in bed as his eyes darted around the room until they landed on a tall, imposing figure.

At first he thought it was Legolas, but upon closer inspection he realized that the elf before him was not his friend, but his friend's father.

Thranduil....

"You brought my son here."
Thranduil stepped forward until he was standing just two feet away from Aragorn's bed.
"He was wounded and nearly dead. How did it happen?"

Aragorn had to force himself not to cower under the piercing gaze of the elvenking. Though his voice was calm it had traces of anger and fear for his son.

"How long have we been unconcious?"
Aragorn asked boldly.
"Three weeks."
Thranduil replied sharply.
"And my son has yet to awaken."

Three weeks?

"Now answer my question. What happened to my son?"
Aragorn closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.
Where should he start?

From what he had gathered from the letter Thranduil already knew about him, so he might as well start from when he was ambushed near the mountain pass.

Aragorn forced himself to relive every moment of his and Legolas' capture. He told him about Legolas' failed rescue attempt, his torment from the leader, how he had been poisoned, he told Thranduil everything.

After he finished Aragorn could see the fire that was burning in the elvenking's eyes.

"It was my fault, the orcs wanted me not Legolas. I promised him that I would keep him safe and I failed."

Aragorn could feel tears burning in his eyes but he held them back.

"Legolas was harmed because of me. I will take whatever punishment you believe is necessary."

Thranduil didn't say anything for a moment, he stared blankly at the wall while Aragorn waited for an answer.

"The orcs were hunting for Isildur's heir."
Thranduil said quietly.
Aragorn nodded.
"Yes."

"What they did not know was that the one they sought lay right in their clutches the entire time."
Thranduil turned back to him with a look of pure disgust.

"You said that you tried to protect Legolas? Then why did you not give the orcs what they wanted and saved him?"

Thranduil's voice rose and he seemed to grow even taller, Aragorn flinched and wanted to back away but there was no where for him to go.

"Whether I revealed myself to them or not wouldn't matter. They were going to kill Legolas no matter what I did."

"If my son hadn't gone anywhere near you in the first place none of this would have happened!"

Aragorn felt as if a heavy boulder had just been placed on his chest. Crushing and preventing him from breathing.

Thranduil was right....

He was the reason why Legolas had been captured, why he had been beaten and tormented, it was all his fault.

"I only wanted to help him."
Aragorn said softly.
Thranduil's eyes burned into the human causing him to flinch.
"I want you out of my lands by dawn."

The elvenking commanded.
"You will never step foot here or ever see Legolas again."
Aragorn turned away from Thranduil and hung his head.

I should have listened to Elrond, I should have let Legolas go. How could I have possibly thought that I could protect him?

Thranduil turned his back on Aragorn and strode towards the door. Before he could open it an elf suddenly burst into the room, his eyes were wide with panic.

"Hir nin your son, he is dying!"
Aragorn leapt out of his bed and joined a completely stunned and frightened Thranduil.

"I am a healer."
Aragorn told the messenger.
"Take me to Legolas, I can help him."

The elf hesitated and turned to his king.
"Hir nin?"
Thranduil remained frozen while Aragorn was about ready to burst out of that room and find Legolas himself.

"Do you want to help my son?"
Thranduil faced Aragorn with fear and desperation in his eyes.
"Then save his life."

»»»»

It's so peacful here; why shouldn't I stay? Here I would be safe and without pain. Why shouldn't I remain here?

Legolas walked amongst the the the blackness as if he was floating. There was an emptiness here that somehow calmed the weary elf, he wanted to stay here forever.

A soft glow began to shine from overhead. Legolas looked up and saw hundreds of stars fill the sky, something else had appeared too, it looked like fire.

"Legolas?"
A voice called to him from the shadows, soft and almost surprised.

Legolas turned towards the shadowed figure walking towards him. He narrowed his eyes and tried to make out who or what was coming towards him.

His eyes widened as the figure stepped into the light, and for a moment he thought that it was all some cruel dream.

"Tauriel? Is that you?"
She nodded her head and smiled warmly at him.
"Yes my love, it is me."

Legolas nearly shouted for joy as he ran towards her. He was about to take her into his arms when the doubts from before entered his mind.

"Are- are you real?"
Tauriel chuckled and took his hand into hers.
"Yes Legolas I am real. And this is real, but why are you here?"

Legolas hesitated as he stared into the eyes of the one he loved. She seemed almost translucent, yet at the same time whole. Stars were in her eyes and hair while fire appeared to dance around her.

She was just as beautiful as he remembered.
He put his arms around her and pulled her close, she leaned her head against his chest and he rested his chin on her head.

Legolas had longed for this ever since she had died. To hold her in his arms again, and to kiss her just as he did all those nights ago.

Tauriel had the same thoughts as she lifted her head up and Legolas looked down at her.

They started to move closer together, and Legolas felt as if the hole in his heart was about to be filled again.

Suddenly Tauriel pushed away from him. Legolas looked at her in hurt and confusion while she looked back at him with fear and grief.

"Why are you here Legolas?"
Her voice trembled and held the slightest hint of accusation.
"What do you mean?"
Legolas asked as Tauriel backed out of his arms.

"You should not be here Legolas! Why are you here?!"
Legolas couldn't understand why she was acting this way.
"Why can I not be here?"
"Because you cannot die!"

Legolas stared at her in shock.
"I am dying?"
Tauriel nodded.
"Yes, but you must not die."

"Why can't I? I am tired of living, I am tired of all the pain and misery. Why can't I die and stay here with you? Is that not what you want?"

"I want that with all of my heart."
Tauriel replied as tears began to fill her eyes.
"But you cannot stay here Legolas. You have to go back."

"Why do I have to go back?! What is left for me there?! All that place has given me is pain and suffering! Why do I have to go back?!"

"Because your part in the story is not finished yet."
Her words were quiet, yet held a force so powerful it nearly knocked Legolas over.

"You were chosen Legolas."
Tauriel continued.
"Everything that you have been through, everything that has happened had been for a reason."

"What do you mean?"
Legolas' voice shook. He was confused, frustrated, and afraid.
Who chose him? Why had he been chosen? What reason could there possibly be for losing everyone he cared about?

"You were chosen by Eru Legolas. And not just you, but Aragorn, and Gandalf, and six others. You will all save Middle Earth through your strength and loyalty to one another."

Chosen by Eru? No he couldn't have been! Aragorn and Gandalf perhaps, and probably whoever the other six were, but why him?

And what about all the suffering he had gone through with losing his mother, Thalion, and then Tauriel? What had been the purpose for all the pain he had gone through?

"Not everything that happened to you was Eru's will Legolas."
Tauriel continued.
"Sauron became aware of his plans and tried to stop them, by attacking the first of the lights."

"The lights?"
"There are nine lights. You were the first, Aragorn was the second and Gandalf was the third. The rest will soon come and when they do it will be time."
"For what?"

Emerald eyes burned into saphire ones as Tauriel's voice pierced his heart with shards of ice.

"To end Sauron's reign once and for all. War is coming Legolas, between the forces of Mordor and the Free Peoples of Middle Earth. If the nine of you do not stand together then Arda will fall."

The weight of Tauriel's words threatened to crush Legolas and for a moment he wished that it would.

How could he handle all of that responsibilty? How could he and nine others hope to defeat Sauron?

Thinking of the dark lord caused Legolas to wonder how Sauron could have known he was one of the so called "lights" and whether or not he was responsible for the deaths of his loved ones.

Bolg had tried to capture him, had Sauron meant to have the orc bring Legolas to him?

"Your past remains veiled for a reason Legolas."
Tauriel's voice broke through his thoughts. Legolas shook his head and stared at her in confusion.

"One day it will all be made clear to you, but for now you must put your past behind you and focus on what lies ahead."

Tauriel paused and hesitated before continuing. The strength in her voice was gone and now she trembled as she spoke her next words.

"It is time for you to go back."
Tears were forming in Legolas' eyes as he stared back at Tauriel.
"I don't want to leave you."

A tear fell from Tauriel's eye and rolled down her cheek.
"You must Legolas, your time has not come yet."

Legolas allowed his own tears to fall as the light, and Tauriel, began to fade out of sight.

"Wait for me."
Legolas whispered.
"Always."
Tauriel's voice echoed in his head as he turned away to return.

He looked over his shoulder just as the last of the light began to vanish.

I will wait for you Legolas.
Until the end of all things, I will wait for you.

»»»»

"He is waking!"
One of the healers exclaimed as Legolas' eyes began to open.
Aragorn sighed in relief and slumped onto his knees.

He thought that Legolas had passed out of this world and into the Halls of Mandos, he thought that he had failed.

"Aragorn?"
Legolas mumbled weakly.
"I am here mellon nin."
Aragorn placed a cool rag on Legolas' forehead. The elf still had a mild fever but now that he had received the proper care he would recover.

"Where-"
"We are in Mirkwood Legolas."
Aragorn said.
"You are home now Legolas. You are safe."

Legolas said nothing as he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
"Will he be alright?"
Thranduil asked anxiously.
Aragorn nodded.
"He will recover in time."

The elves all seemed to let out equal sighes of relief while Thranduil remained motionless as he stared at his son.

"Do you still wish for me to leave hir nin?"
Aragorn asked standing to his feet.
Thranduil shook himself and then turned to face the human.

He seemed uncertain for a moment and then returned to his usual calm demeanor.

"You may dwell here until my son is well. After that time comes then you will leave."

Aragorn nodded in understanding and then turned to look down at Legolas' sleeping form.

I may never see you again Legolas, but you are safe now and that is all that matters gwador nin.

»»»»

A/N

This has been quite the emotional ride hasn't it?

Well, I am very sad to say that this story only has one chapter and an Epilogue left....

Then it will be over.

This is the longest story I have ever written on Wattpad and it's probably my favorite as well.

I won't get too sappy and/or emotional right now but I just thought that I'd let you guys know that this story could (and probably will) be finished tomorow.

Until then good night!
Or good morning, whatever time zone you guys are all in.