Thank you to MOStar598, fateclaws, PackWolfLegolas, joellamariah, nathalieAlice, and dobblewolf for commenting and voting on the previous chapter! 

Thank you to Jesufemi111 and juleahtrustyoro for adding this book to their reading list. 

Legolas snatched his cloak to ward off the crisp air and slight drizzle outside. Avoiding the front gates, he tiptoed down to the east door and emerged from the palace. Two wide bushes threatened to make the door unusable as he pushed through their branches and stepped onto a faded path not used since times of old.

Legolas trotted toward the barracks, glancing up at the trees as he passed, starting at the slight creak and groan of the branches. The drizzle left his cloak dripping by the time he arrived at the barracks. He approached the largest of the six buildings and twisted the handle of the side door. The elfling ducked into a dim office room. His heart fluttered in his chest as he thrust himself out into the bunk hall.

The bunks lined both walls, reaching almost to the ceiling. Long tables down the length of the rectangular room made a dining and recreation area. Light glinted off blades resting on their owner's legs as the edges were sharpened. Elves in leather armor rested their feet at the tables, clustered in groups.

But, as Legolas's presence became clear, the noise died down. A woman with snapping black hair rose and asked, "Has someone's son wandered in?"

Legolas pushed back his hood and wiped the water out of his eyes.

"It is the Prince," the woman said. Her tone turned cold.

Legolas remembered what Onyx had said about some of the warriors wanting to hurt him and swallowed as he met the woman's angry eyes.

"I know you are angry with me," Legolas said. "I would be angry with me to, if I was in your place. I am sorry you must leave your homes and families and risk your lives for others in the forest because my careless use of black magic caused this. Mirkwood is my home to, and it hurts watching the trees fall."

"You may be safe and sound in the palace," the woman said. "But I had to leave my little girl in a cave to save the people you doomed. Believe me, you know nothing about hurt."

"I do. It hurt to leave my mother and not see her again for three years. I wanted her back and I thought—I thought I could bring her back," Legolas said, gulping as if an invisible gag had been crammed into his mouth. "I know I made a mistake and I accepted responsibility for it. I am trying to fix it."

The woman shook her head. "No, your father accepted responsibility for your mistake and your father is the one working to fix this. You are nothing but a wretched orphan child raised by humans who came crawling here like a rat in the mud."

"That is not true!" Legolas cried. "I know I cannot do as much as ada but I am doing what I can."

The woman folded her arms. A dozen elves came to stand behind her, eyes as accusing as hers.

"Marin is right, you know," one of the elves said. "No child raised by elves would dabble in black magic."

Legolas's hands turned to fists at his sides. "How you choose to live your lives is on you. I did not make you hate me; you chose to hate me, just as you chose to be as black as orcs about your responsibilities. You knew what it meant to be Mirkwood warriors when you joined the ranks!"

"How dare you! You have no right to be angry with us!" Marin spat.

"I do not want to be hated. And I have tried to talk to you; to help you understand what I am going through and how I feel. If you want to be angry, be angry. But do not blame me when it makes you bitter! The problem is not me; it is within all of you."

Marin's hand drew back. The elves made no move to stop her. "Maybe if your father had slapped you more often for your insolence, this would not have happened."

"This is not ada's fault!" Legolas shouted.

Marin's face settled and her hand dropped. She inclined her head. "Commander Onyx."

Legolas looked up as his uncle stepped between him and the glowering elves. Onyx snatched Legolas's wrist and lugged him toward the door. "What did I tell you about coming here? Can you not listen to me for once in your life? Do you want to be hurt?"

"I had to speak to them, Onyx. No one would listen to me. No one would even come with me."

"Everyone is a little on the busy side, Legolas," Onyx said, as he marched the elfling along the riverbank toward the front gate.

"Why can we not take the passage to the kitchens?" Legolas asked, wary of the trees.

"Because, as you saw, many elves want to hurt you and I am not in the mood to protect you from a pack of angry, hungry elves."

Legolas looked back and saw Marin following him. The woman stopped and folded her arms, tilting her chin back. He heard a branch crack.

Onyx jumped back, dragging Legolas with him as a branch landed at his feet. "Let us take the passage; it is too dangerous for you out here."

Legolas shuddered and felt the ground quake as fracturing wood rent the air. He winked at sudden tears as a thick trunk bent in two and toppled forward, its majestic head descending toward the river.

"Marin!" Legolas yelled as the dark shadow fell across the elf woman.

Marin looked up, shielding her face with her arms and slipped on the mud as she stepped back.

"Legolas, no!" Onyx screamed, grabbing for the elfling's arm as he dashed forward.

Legolas crashed into Marin, knocking her clear of the tree. The trunk slammed into the ground behind the two as Marin scrambled to her feet. The tree's branches and small leaves swirled in the river, weeping tears of sap.

Legolas groaned and tried to stand. He fell back with a wince of pain. "On-Onyx, I cannot move my ankle."

"Oh valar, your father will kill him," Onyx muttered as he hopped the tree trunk and knelt at Legolas's side.

Legolas tugged at his leg, "It—it is trapped under the tree."

Onyx pressed his hands down Legolas's leg. "Nothing is broken and it is just your ankle under the tree. Hold still while we dig you out."

"It hurts."

"Well," Onyx said, as he accepted an axe from Marin, "It could be broken. Do not move and, when I tell you pull, pull."

Legolas turned his face away as wood chips flew in the air. His fingers struggled to gain traction in the muddy ground and a few chips landed in the dirt beside him. He tried to move his ankle as Onyx dropped the axe and wriggled out free where the axe had cut away wood from the trunk.

"Ow," Legolas whispered as he sat back. Onyx felt the bone and relief spoke before he could.

"Nothing is broken," Onyx said. "Your bone is a little bruised. Take my hand and stand up."

The elfling winced as he stood, limping on his injured foot.

"You saved my life," Marin said.

"You would have saved mine," Legolas answered. "You risk your life daily for others. My life is not above yours. I am scared of dying; of leaving behind everyone I love when I think about death. But when I saw the tree fall, I was not afraid. I did what I knew had to be done."

Marin nodded. "I am sorry I . . . treated you badly. Not because you saved my life but because your actions opened my eyes where I was once blind."

Legolas nodded as he clutched Onyx's hand and limped after him. As he and Onyx stepped into the cool passage leading to the kitchens, Legolas asked, "Do you think she still hates me?"

Onyx ruffled his hair. "No. And you know what that means?"

Legolas tilted his head. "What?"

"Marin was the leading force behind the hate for you in the barracks. Once she is over her bitterness, I think everyone else will follow suit. They saw what you did for her."

"Everyone?" Legolas asked.

"It is never everyone," Onyx admitted.

Legolas grinned. "I will not let ada kill you."

OoOoO

"I want it, I want it! I want it now!"

Ariel started and paused in her fingering of table mats as the angry cry resounded through the shop. At her feet, Nightwing fumbled and almost dropped the wooden animal in his hands.

A mother's stressed voice rose next. "No, darling, put it back."

"Dear me," Ariel murmured, peeking around the corner of the shelf. She was in time to see the young mother spank her crying offspring and march the girl out of the shop.

Ariel pursed her lips. It was a constant curiosity to her how a woman, embarrassed by the scrutiny of strangers to her misbehaving offspring, could act. She wondered briefly how mothers might act in public if they were not thrown annoyed glances by strangers the moment their child fussed.

"Come, Nightwing," she said. "Let us go home."

Nightwing held up the wooden animal hopefully. Ariel shook her head. "Not today, little night. Put it back on the shelf."

"But I want it," Nightwing insisted.

"I know, ion, I want table mats to. But sometimes it is better to look."

Nightwing considered. After a long moment, he put the carved wolf back among his pack and asked, "Can I play with him when we come here again?"

"You certainly may." Ariel took Nightwing's hand as she emerged onto the street, remembering her original mission for oranges as she glanced at her basket. Gracious, Erestor would have a late dinner if she did not hurry.

Ariel checked herself in time as she recognized the young mother's voice scolding, "If you do not behave yourself, young lady, you will get a real spanking when we get home."

She looked around for the woman but could not see her. Yet the howls of the little girl gave little doubt as to her direction. Ariel drew in a breath. And let it go. Oranges would have to wait. She followed the noise until she found the young mother and approached her with a smile.

"I wonder if I could help," she said, indicating the crying child at the woman's feet.

Legolas (and Marin) have learned valuable lessons, do you not think?

I would love to hear from you! I miss reading some of your thoughts and suggestions at the end of each chapter.

Next Chapter: Ariel does what she can for a woman in need.