The Price of Pride

72: Sparing the Worries Away

ActVI

The Shadows

Chapter 72: Sparing the Worries Away

Imladris, October 9th 3018 T.A

As the company departed from Elrond's study chamber, the tension that had built up during the hearing lingered in the air, like an unspoken storm. The soft sounds of their footsteps echoed in the grand corridors of Rivendell, each member of the group lost in their own thoughts. Despite the resolution that had been reached, there was an underlying sense of unease, as if the events of the day had only stirred deeper questions and unresolved emotions.

Legolas walked ahead of the others, his face composed but his mind anything but. The weight of the hearing, of Elrond's words, and of Erestor's sharp criticisms still pressed heavily on him. Though he had expected worse, the reprieve felt hollow. He knew he had acted impulsively, that the shadow of his past still clung to him, pushing him toward reckless decisions. His mother's death, the grief that had haunted him for centuries, had once again clouded his judgment. He was a prince, a leader, and yet he had allowed himself to falter.

Xena walked a few paces behind him, her own emotions bubbling just beneath the surface. She had defended Legolas in the chamber, and she would do so again without hesitation, but now, alone with her thoughts, she questioned what this meant for them. Legolas had always been a close friend, a comrade in countless battles, but this quest had revealed something deeper—something she hadn't fully processed. His desire to help her, to find the sword, was not just an act of duty. There was more to it. But what troubled her most was that Legolas had been running from something—something that had nearly gotten them all killed. She could see it in his eyes, the way his shoulders tensed whenever his mother was mentioned, the way he deflected conversations that came too close to his heart.

She knew, all too well, that every night he was haunted by nightmares, ones rooted in the death of his mother. They had spoken about it once or twice, but the full story remained hidden from her. She never pressed him for more, understanding that it was a deeply personal matter. Yet, she couldn't shake her concern over the relentless nightmares that tormented him each night. Now, something felt different—something was off. She had endured years of her own nightmares, haunted by the things she had done, but none seemed as harrowing as what Legolas was enduring. And today, for the first time, she began to wonder if there was more to these nightmares than he had let on.

Elladan and Elrohir followed closely behind, exchanging glances but keeping quiet. They could sense the turmoil within their friend and the growing tension between Legolas and Xena. The twins, ever attuned to the emotional undercurrents of those around them, knew that whatever words had been spoken in Elrond's chamber, the real reckoning had yet to come.

Once they reached the open gardens, the group dispersed. Elladan and Elrohir lingered near the ivy-covered arches, speaking quietly, while Xena approached Legolas, who had stopped near a stone bench overlooking a small fountain. The soft sound of the water trickling down the rocks filled the silence between them.

"Legolas," Xena said, her voice steady, though her heart raced with the questions she had been holding back. "We need to talk."

Legolas didn't look at her immediately. His gaze remained fixed on the fountain, watching the ripples in the water as if they held answers he couldn't find within himself. "About what?" he finally asked, though he knew exactly what was coming.