The Road to a Friend's House is Never Long

DISCLAIMER: None of these wonderful characters belong to me and I am making no money from this story.

***A/N: I have to warn you this chapter contains suicidal thoughts and some self-harm, if this troubles you please don't read. PLEASE REVIEW!!***

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Legolas sat opposite Lord Elrond in a comfortable chair on the Elf-Lord's balcony. Elrond was going to waste no time asking questions, as he knew the longer he left it the faster Legolas was going to dry up.

“Legolas, how did you get these injuries?”

Legolas started to shift uncomfortably in his seat, he brought his up gaze to meet Elrond's. The prince opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again turning away from the Elf-Lord.

“Legolas, please do not hide from me. Whatever has happened, I can help you to sort it out. But only if you talk to me.”

No reply came from the Prince.

“Legolas?”

“I have done something terrible.” Came the emotionless reply.

Elrond sat back in his chair and raised his brows in surprise. This was not what he was expecting. However, he kept silent allowing the Prince to carry on.

“Something.... unforgivable.” Legolas' eye brows furrowed as he tried to recall the events. “I stabbed him.”

Elrond took a sharp intake of breath at the words. The Elf-Lord went to speak but was cut off by the confused Prince.

“I stabbed him..... my own father. I'm despicable. I stabbed him and ran.... came here, when I should be with him. My own father...” The Prince's expressionless eyes were sparkling with unshed tears and he was shaking his head in shock and disbelief.

The Elf-Lord sat opposite the stony Prince wore a similar expression and was momentarily speechless. This was not what he was expecting at all. Was Legolas telling him he had stabbed and possibly killed his own father for no good reason? Elrond quickly realised that he was drifting into his own thoughts and snapped himself back into the present. He spoke quietly.

“Why?” This was all the shocked Lord of Imladris could muster as he felt his anger rising in worry for his old best friend.

Legolas almost jumped at the voice coming from opposite him. He had almost forgotten another was present. Slowly raising his gaze to meet that of his best friend's father, Legolas found himself speechless, finding only enough strength to give a secretive and rather lax shrug to the question.

At this Elrond sprang out of his chair and rounded on Legolas. The Elf-Lord was furious to see such little care for his long time friend, especially coming from his own son.

“Valar Legolas!! Are you telling me you have attacked your father for no good reason?! What is wrong with you?!”

The Prince flinched at the anger in Elrond's voice, he had never heard him this infuriated.

“Your father could be dead and you are here feeling sorry for yourself!! This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard!”

The Elf-Lord grabbed the young Prince by the collar wrenching him to his feet, pulling his face close to his own.

“Is this all you have to say for yourself Legolas?! Do you not care for your father?!”

Legolas drew his gaze away from Elrond's.

“Legolas! Tell me for the sake of the Valar! Why?!!”

“I will make no excuses for my behaviour. I have hurt the one I love most. I will return to Greenwood and accept the consequences of my actions. I have troubled you too much already.”

The Prince turned to leave but was stopped in his tracks by a hand wrapped tightly around his wrist.

“Legolas, sit.” Elrond guided him back to his seat and pulled his own chair closer to the young elf not allowing him to escape his gaze.

Before Elrond could begin to speak, the Prince cut him off again.

“I cannot live with myself my Lord..... there is no reason that could possibly explain what I have done and why. I lost control, could not take anymore. I was losing him day by day.... now I have lost him completely. He will hate me even more so now, and rightly so. What I have done is unforgivable. I was a coward, I couldn't face him anymore, and now I can't face the consequences of my actions. I am pathetic.” Finally the unshed tears trickled silently down his face.

The anger that had earlier filled the Elf-Lord's face had soon changed to confusion whilst listening to Legolas' confession. What had been going on at the palace in Mirkwood?

Once again Elrond opened his mouth to speak and was interrupted by Legolas' mumbling

“I can't live with myself... I can't.”

This was followed by a loud knock at the door seconds after. The frustrated Lord rolled his eyes at the latest interruption and rose to his feet excusing himself to the younger elf.

“I beg your pardon Legolas. I will be back in a moment.”

The Elf-Lord exited the room to talk to his latest visitor leaving Legolas alone with his thoughts.

Murderer.... you've killed your own father. 'He may yet be alive.' And what if he is? He won't want you now... he never wanted you. 'He is my father, he loves me.' Loves you? Is beating you what you call love? He hates you. He will want you dead for what you have done. 'I know. I hate myself.' Then do it, do what is best for everyone. You are nothing but a burden. It is not your father's fault he gets so angry... look at how you angered Elrond. It's you. 'I know' Then do it.

Slipping his hand down to his light boot, the young Prince pulled out a small dagger and held it loosely in his shaking hands.

'I can't' Yes you can, it is easier this way. This way you will not be hurting anyone. 'But I can't do it' You are a coward, not fit to be called a Prince. You could do it to your father, now do it to yourself. There is nothing here for you Greenleaf, do not cause anymore grief.

With that, Legolas raised the dagger and drove it deep into his midsection. The Prince stifled a scream of pain as the sharp blade cut through the soft flesh and found its way into one of his organs. The pain was excruciating and Legolas found himself trying to catch his breath as it overwhelmed him and the blood flowed out of his body. Soon the young elf started to lose conciousness, first losing his hearing and gradually his vision. The last sight he saw was that of Lord Elrond running towards him with a look of panic on his face and then the darkness claimed him.