Thank you to MOStar598, PackWolfLegolas, crystalily2003, fateclaws, and nathalieAlice for commenting and voting on the previous chapter. You keep the love so sweetly. 

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When Legolas opened his eyes next, he groped for the book, panic rising as he could not find it. He threw off his blanket and his eyes fell on Forest Rituals lying on the floor.

Someone had opened the window and the wind had ruffled the open pages. As Legolas knelt to pick it up, his eyes fell on a single word: Understand.

The elfling sat on the floor and crossed his legs, touching the creamy page. He looked at the window and felt the cool breeze. His mother's spirit wrapped around him, fingers trailing through his hair. He felt her smile. She was not upset. She understood. She knew what to do.

"You are right, nana," Legolas said, hugging Forest Rituals to his chest. "I would be angry if I was one of the elves in the healing ward to. It is easy to blame someone else for your troubles then accept them as your own. I do understand; I wish I could make the wounded understand to."

Ailunai kissed his cheek before she faded from his sight. Legolas sighed. "I guess I have to try."

"Whom are you talking to?"

Legolas jumped and turned around. "Arwen! You startled me."

"I do not see anyone," Arwen said, coming into the room and sitting down beside him. She held a blue bunny in her arms. "Is it a ghost?"

"No," said Legolas. "It was my nana."

Arwen set her bunny on the floor and looked at it. "Ada said I should have a pink one. But I like blue."

"My eyes are blue," Legolas said. He drew his knees up to his chest.

"Ada says your nana is a spirit," Arwen said. "Is it true?"

Legolas nodded. Arwen asked, "Can I talk to her?"

Legolas pursed his lips. "I do not think she is here right now. She left before you came in."

"Will she be back?"

"Yes," Legolas answered.

"Can I see her?"

"Spirits can only be felt," Legolas told her. "They are like the wind."

"Ghosts are to," Arwen contradicted. "But you can see ghosts."

"How do you know?" Legolas challenged.

"El'dan is reading me ghost stories at bedtime," Arwen whispered. "But it is a secret."

Legolas grinned. "Your secret is safe with me."

"El'ro makes ghost noises," Arwen said. "They sound like wolves."

"Do they scare you?" Legolas asked.

Arwen drew herself up. "I pe'tend to be scared."

Legolas narrowed his eyes are her. "I think you are scared."

Arwen threw her bunny at him. "I am not!"

"I have to do something I do not want to do," Legolas confessed, resting his chin on his knees.

"Why?"

"Because it is the right thing to do. I hurt people and I have to make it right."

Arwen nodded. "I know what you mean. I poked El'dan in the eye but I kissed him and he was not mad."

Legolas chuckled. "I would have to give out a lot of kisses."

"But it is funny," Arwen continued. "El'ro pokes El'dan all the time and he likes it."

And, grabbing her bunny from Legolas's hands, Arwen skipped out of the room.

Legolas straightened his rumpled tunic and ran a hand over his hair. He put Forest Rituals on a shelf out of Arwen's reach and walked toward the healing ward. He retraced his steps to the room he had first entered and prepared to face the hate bristling inside. Words and voices filled his head, memories trying to guide him in to what to say. But Legolas focused on the door and ignored his thoughts, knowing if he thought them, he would face his task confused.

The elfling glanced down the hall, almost wanting to be stopped by an insistent healer but no one came. He rapped on the door and entered.

The same force of hate slapped Legolas in the face. He drew in a long breath and faced the sea of hurt eyes turned toward him. They were the eyes of injured elflings and the parents sitting at their children's side.

"I know I am not welcome here," Legolas said. "You have a right to know I am responsible for the black magic that is damaging Mirkwood. I know you are angry with me and you should be; I am angry with myself. Mirkwood is my home to and I know how much it hurts to watch it fall apart. I know how easy it is to blame your troubles on someone else and I almost blamed myself for what I did but I accepted responsibility for my actions instead.

"Black magic feeds off negativity and hate and this room is full of it. Healing feeds off positivity and hope. I am not saying you are not entitled to your feelings but we want the forest to heal. And, if we want it to heal, we have to work together. Whether you blame me for what is happening or whether you accept your anger is within yourself is up to you."

Legolas escaped the room before the air grew too thick to breath. He leaned against the door and steadied his breath. He looked up and squinted at Healer Jailil. "You were eavesdropping."

"Perhaps," the Healer agreed. He smiled. "But you are welcome to come down here anytime if you have such beautiful things to say."

Legolas accepted a hug from the elf, needing a place to rest his head if only for a moment. After the Healer walked away, he prepared to face the elves occupying the dozen other rooms filling the east wing of the healing ward.

Legolas wandered to dinner as the sun set, tired but his feet lightened by the knowledge not as many elves blamed as before. Thranduil him met at the dining room door to hug and kiss him.

"Healer Jailil told me what you have been doing all day," he whispered. "I am so proud of you."

Legolas smiled and flopped into his seat. Harune pushed a cup of tea toward him. "Drink up. You will feel less tired."

Legolas sipped the tea with gratitude. "I want to speak to the Mirkwood warriors tomorrow. May I?"

Thranduil moved to answer but Onyx cut him off with a concerned look. "I do not think addressing the warriors is a good idea. Many of them feel you have made their lives harder and torn them away from their families, as well as injured the ones they love. There is a great deal of bitterness and anger in the barracks at the moment and you might ignite a fire."

"But I cannot make it right unless I talk to them," Legolas insisted. "You cannot say no."

"I can say no and I do say no. It is my duty to protect you."

Legolas looked into his teacup. "You think they—they might hurt me?"

Onyx chewed his lower lip. "I am afraid so."

Legolas considered his plate before he said in a low voice, "I will not speak to the warriors. Will you tell me when I can?"

"Of course," Onyx answered. "But it might be a long while so do not let your hopes run away with you."

"How are things at the Healing Ward?" Celebrian asked.

"It feels good to practice what I know and see how things are done differently here," Elrond replied. "I am enjoying the work, not the injured elves."

"One cannot be a Healer without someone to heal," Harune said.

"Legolas talking to the injured elves has lessened the tension in the Wards thankfully," Elrond said, with a smile for the elfling.

Legolas ducked his head; glad he had done the right thing. He thought of the barracks and resolved to speak to the soldiers as soon as he could.

Hate is a hard thing for Legolas to face, when he is doing all he can to set right his mistake. But though he has the best intentions at heart, is Legolas doing the right thing sneaking away to the barracks?

Thank you all so much for reading; I love hearing from you!

Next Chapter: Legolas is injured.