Big thanks go to all of my reviewers of Bed of Lies.
Disclaimer: First of all, I am not Tolkien. I am not related to Tolkien, so I do not own anything. For you fanatics out there, Oropher died. I know this. That is why I am not Tolkien, and I write fanfiction. Also, Cassia and Sio are geniuses! I love their work, and I am very aware that this resembles one of their stories. I began writing this before I read theirs, all right? There was no plagiarism intended, and this is the only one in my series that resembles theirs. Savvy?
Series: Bed of Lies (I suggest reading that one first, for references and what not, but I suppose you could read this alone and follow along all right.)
Here's chapter one!
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Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood, and Elrohir of Rivendell stood side by side, looking at the golden gates before them. Neither wanted to enter the cave castle. Neither wanted to see how ruined Mirkwood had become with a new ruler. Most importantly, neither wanted to face the new ruler.
"Well," said Elrohir, rather uneasily. "Here we are. Here goes nothing."
Legolas shook his head. "Here goes everything." The gates opened at his command, and the two elves entered slowly, and very alert.
The halls were dark and foreboding. Evil lingered in the air.
"Not as pleasant as I remember it," Elrohir joked lightly.
Legolas laughed airily. "You remember it being pleasant?"
"Legolas!" An aged voice startled both the elves from behind. Elrohir spun around, but Legolas turned slowly, looking as noble as his terrified mind would allow.
"What a surprise seeing you here!"
"You did send for me, did you not?"
"I did. But that was over a month ago. I am surprised at this meeting."
Legolas gave a curt nod. "Indeed. Especially since my people believe me dead."
Oropher smiled slightly. "Dinner is about to be served. Will you not join me?"
"Shouldn't Legolas be the one asking you to join him for dinner?"
Legolas and his grandfather turned towards Elrohir, who had remained silent until now.
"No, Grandfather. We wish to retire early," Legolas said, silencing Elrohir with a glance of warning.
"Where are your manners, Legolas? You should say thank you. Do I need to teach you a lesson in manners? Did your father overlook that in your upbringing?"
"Forgive me. We have traveled a long way to get here. We are too weary to worry about conduct."
Elrohir hid a roll of his eyes. It was ironic to hear Legolas say that. His friend was obviously working very hard on his conduct, but not in the way his grandfather intended.
"But of course. This is your home, do what you will."
Legolas narrowed his eyes slightly. The last comment sounded like a threat, and Legolas was very sure that it was intended as one. "Come, Elrohir."
"Yes, meletyalda, my lord," Elrohir watched for a reaction in the elder's face. He got one. The sinister smiled faded, and was replaced by a look of discontent and deep loathing.
"My grandson should not be addressed as such."
"Shouldn't he?"
"Elrohir, let's go." Legolas' voice had warning in it, but Elrohir couldn't help himself.
"You know as well as we that you shouldn't be here!"
"Elrohir!"
The older elf laughed. "Indeed not. But Thranduil only has one son. And he wasn't here to take the throne, was he?" He looked pointedly at his grandson. "Legolas, you really should teach your little friend the proper behavior in front of a proper noble."
Legolas tried hard to keep from scowling.
"I treat proper nobility just fine, thank you!" Elrohir was growing indignant.
"Would proper nobility leave its country, no one knowing where he was? Making his father worry day in and day out?"
"And just where is my father?" Legolas knew he would not get a truthful answer, but he needed to stop Elrohir before the Rivendell elf landed them both in a lot of trouble.
"Looking for you, I should say."
Legolas' eyes grew wide as a hunch grew in his mind. "Elrohir, let's go. I will show you to the guest chambers."
Elrohir nodded, and the two swiftly left. Legolas took his friend instead to his own chambers, locking the door behind him.
"He was in league with Tarduian."
"What?" Elrohir was stunned by the sudden comment. He almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
"He had to have been. It makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, how is it that my grandfather shows up at the exact time that I was taken by Tarduain? It was a perfect excuse for him to do away with my father, and he has an alibi for it! He had the same look in his eyes that Tarduain had."
"Legolas, men and elves have little to do with each other anymore. I doubt that they were in league. You would have heard something of it in Tarduain's castle, wouldn't you?"
"I swear it, Elrohir. I'm certain of it."
Elrohir noticed that prince's hands shaking, ever so slightly. He groaned. "We shouldn't have come here without Father. Or a lot more reinforcements."
"Well, we're here now. We must do what we can until reinforcements show up."
"Can't you just. reclaim the throne?"
Legolas sighed. "If only it were that easy. I can't now. Only my father can, and who knows where he is. There is a way. but I don't think I'll be given the opportunity."
"Your father, he's not."
"Dead?" Legolas finished for his friend.
"Do you think?"
"I don't think so. He would have told my people he was dead rather than looking for me. I know he's not out looking for me, though. My father wouldn't leave Mirkwood to Oropher. He'd rather leave me to the wargs, and I can't blame him."
He looked Elrohir in the eye. "Go home while you can."
A shudder passed through both elves. Now was not the time for memories to be resurfacing.
"I stayed by your side once, I will not abandon you now."
"I should not have asked you to come."
"You didn't, remember? I offered."
"He will try to use me against my father. It will be harder for him to do that without you here."
"No, I will not leave you to face this alone, not after what had recently happened, not after what you did for me last time this happened."
"Don't you see? He will use you as a tool to keep me under control! I will not see you hurt, nor will I willingly do anything he asks. I cannot have it both ways with you here."
"I will watch out for myself. I am capable of taking care of myself. You know that."
Legolas sighed. "I cannot ask you to go through this again."
"Then don't ask me! I cannot leave you here alone! This is serious, Legolas."
"You think I don't know that?" Legolas hissed. His body was tensing tremendously at the stress. He took a deep breath. "We have to find my father."
"Didn't I tell you?" Legolas jumped as a voice greeted them from his doorway- now unlocked. "Your father went on a trip to search for you."
Legolas balled his hands into fists. "One usually wishes to be left to his own devices when the door is locked."
"And the king may go where he pleases, when he pleases."
"You are not king. Whatever you have done to my father, it is no matter. He will come back and you will have to renounce the throne once again."
Oropher smiled again. "Your father isn't coming back."
Legolas ignored him. "Or have you forgotten the rules of this land? The people can vote to have you ostracized. They can vote me into ruler-ship until Lord Thranduil comes back."
"Look what Mirkwood has become! You left it to happen, they will not vote you back."
"Indeed, see what Mirkwood has become. You caused its destruction. They will welcome me for that reason."
The elder narrowed his eyes for a moment, then smiled. "I can see you are weary. Injured, as well. For that reason alone I will pardon your words. Rest. I will have dinner brought up to you, and I will send messengers to your father and his party."
"Do not bother. My father will return when he hears that we left Rivendell." Legolas knew that his grandfather would more than likely throw a couple of elves into the dungeons and say they went searching for Thranduil. He might as well play his grandfather's game for as long as it would work to his advantage. "And please, we are not hungry. Thank you kindly." He tried to hold back the sarcasm that threatened his words.
"As you would have it. I really do think we started off on the wrong foot. There's no reason we can't both live here peacefully."
Legolas said nothing. He would not agree to that statement. He knew what was meant by it: Oropher would continue being the worst king Mirkwod ever had and Legolas would be left to live in his home as a slave.
Elrohir was doing his best to blend into the walls behind him. Oropher looked as though he were waiting for something.
"Excuse me, Grandfather. I must escort my friend to his chambers."
Oropher nodded slowly. He and Legolas both knew what would happen by the end of the evening. Legolas did not want Elrohir involved in it.
Once in the guest chambers, Legolas grabbed Elrohir's shoulders. "I have to go back to my room, or he will suspect something. You are not to open these doors for any reason. Put a chair under the handle to prevent him from opening it. I will come for you when I can."
Elrohir nodded. He was terrified. Legolas, for his part, was more scared than he wanted to admit.
"Be careful, Legolas. Please."
"I will. I must go now." He turned and left the room before he changed his mind. When he re-entered his own room, his grandfather was waiting patiently for him.
"Close the door."
Legolas balled his hands into fists to keep them from shaking. He obeyed the command.
"I think we should talk."
Legolas nodded. If talking bought him more time, then he would talk.
His grandfather eyed the prince with shallow amusement. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you."
"You sent for me. There must have been a reason behind that. Why bring me back to my home if only to kill me?"
"You stupid boy. If I didn't send for you, I would have more rebels in this hole in the mountain you call a palace. But now that it appears that I care for you, why shouldn't I kill you and prevent any chance of you stealing the throne?"
"They would know you killed me." Elrohir would know. But Legolas was not going to bring the other elf into this mess.
"No, you were so ill, as I can see you still are," his eyes twinkled in perverse pleasure at this. "You died in your sleep from sickness. Don't you see? There's no reason I should keep you alive."
"How would you control my father without me to use?"
Legolas smiled. He had him; there was nothing the elder elf could say. "Then as soon as I have what I want from my son, you both shall die."
Legolas was satisfied. This gave him more time to, well, to figure things out.
"But."
Legolas was drawn back to reality. That sinister smile on Oropher's face took any thoughts other than fear from his mind.
He moved closer to Legolas. "In the meantime, I believe I still have a lesson in manners that I need to teach you."
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Elrohir paced restlessly in his room. Something bad was happening, he just knew it. He should have never agreed to let Legolas leave alone. Why had Legolas turned down the offer for food? They were both hungry. Poison; it was obvious. Why had Oropher seemed so calm when he had been listening to their entire conversation? Why hadn't they heard the door unlock? Why hadn't Legolas come back yet?
Elrohir stopped, taking a few deep breaths. If he was going to be of any help at all to Legolas, he had to have a clear mind. If he couldn't think clearly, he would only end up hurting his friend. Legolas said he return when he was able, and Elrohir had to trust that.
He moved to the bed in the room, and sat on the edge of it. He remembered Legolas' habit of trying to read minds, so he concentrated wholly on keeping his own clear.
He still could not shake the feeling that something very bad was happening to Legolas right now.
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To my reviewers:
Sky: Haha, yeah, "a chip off the old block," is fitting as well. Glad to give feedback. Have you written more? I'll go check! I think I reviewed for chapter 2. If I didn't, I will soon. I did read it and absolutely LOVED it! So, what do you think of this so far?
Nina: Hello. I thought it was quite fair. Although, ending a story with a cliffhanger is a bit mean, isn't it? How's this for you so far?
Wilwarin: Yeah, it was the last one. Thank you for your feedback, and I hope I didn't make you wait too long for this story!
Bec: I really was considering waiting a week to post the last chapter. I'm so evil. So, so evil, lol. Anyway, how was this first chapter? Be honest! Hope you enjoyed and I didn't make you wait too awfully long.
Disclaimer: First of all, I am not Tolkien. I am not related to Tolkien, so I do not own anything. For you fanatics out there, Oropher died. I know this. That is why I am not Tolkien, and I write fanfiction. Also, Cassia and Sio are geniuses! I love their work, and I am very aware that this resembles one of their stories. I began writing this before I read theirs, all right? There was no plagiarism intended, and this is the only one in my series that resembles theirs. Savvy?
Series: Bed of Lies (I suggest reading that one first, for references and what not, but I suppose you could read this alone and follow along all right.)
Here's chapter one!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood, and Elrohir of Rivendell stood side by side, looking at the golden gates before them. Neither wanted to enter the cave castle. Neither wanted to see how ruined Mirkwood had become with a new ruler. Most importantly, neither wanted to face the new ruler.
"Well," said Elrohir, rather uneasily. "Here we are. Here goes nothing."
Legolas shook his head. "Here goes everything." The gates opened at his command, and the two elves entered slowly, and very alert.
The halls were dark and foreboding. Evil lingered in the air.
"Not as pleasant as I remember it," Elrohir joked lightly.
Legolas laughed airily. "You remember it being pleasant?"
"Legolas!" An aged voice startled both the elves from behind. Elrohir spun around, but Legolas turned slowly, looking as noble as his terrified mind would allow.
"What a surprise seeing you here!"
"You did send for me, did you not?"
"I did. But that was over a month ago. I am surprised at this meeting."
Legolas gave a curt nod. "Indeed. Especially since my people believe me dead."
Oropher smiled slightly. "Dinner is about to be served. Will you not join me?"
"Shouldn't Legolas be the one asking you to join him for dinner?"
Legolas and his grandfather turned towards Elrohir, who had remained silent until now.
"No, Grandfather. We wish to retire early," Legolas said, silencing Elrohir with a glance of warning.
"Where are your manners, Legolas? You should say thank you. Do I need to teach you a lesson in manners? Did your father overlook that in your upbringing?"
"Forgive me. We have traveled a long way to get here. We are too weary to worry about conduct."
Elrohir hid a roll of his eyes. It was ironic to hear Legolas say that. His friend was obviously working very hard on his conduct, but not in the way his grandfather intended.
"But of course. This is your home, do what you will."
Legolas narrowed his eyes slightly. The last comment sounded like a threat, and Legolas was very sure that it was intended as one. "Come, Elrohir."
"Yes, meletyalda, my lord," Elrohir watched for a reaction in the elder's face. He got one. The sinister smiled faded, and was replaced by a look of discontent and deep loathing.
"My grandson should not be addressed as such."
"Shouldn't he?"
"Elrohir, let's go." Legolas' voice had warning in it, but Elrohir couldn't help himself.
"You know as well as we that you shouldn't be here!"
"Elrohir!"
The older elf laughed. "Indeed not. But Thranduil only has one son. And he wasn't here to take the throne, was he?" He looked pointedly at his grandson. "Legolas, you really should teach your little friend the proper behavior in front of a proper noble."
Legolas tried hard to keep from scowling.
"I treat proper nobility just fine, thank you!" Elrohir was growing indignant.
"Would proper nobility leave its country, no one knowing where he was? Making his father worry day in and day out?"
"And just where is my father?" Legolas knew he would not get a truthful answer, but he needed to stop Elrohir before the Rivendell elf landed them both in a lot of trouble.
"Looking for you, I should say."
Legolas' eyes grew wide as a hunch grew in his mind. "Elrohir, let's go. I will show you to the guest chambers."
Elrohir nodded, and the two swiftly left. Legolas took his friend instead to his own chambers, locking the door behind him.
"He was in league with Tarduian."
"What?" Elrohir was stunned by the sudden comment. He almost laughed at the absurdity of it.
"He had to have been. It makes sense, doesn't it? I mean, how is it that my grandfather shows up at the exact time that I was taken by Tarduain? It was a perfect excuse for him to do away with my father, and he has an alibi for it! He had the same look in his eyes that Tarduain had."
"Legolas, men and elves have little to do with each other anymore. I doubt that they were in league. You would have heard something of it in Tarduain's castle, wouldn't you?"
"I swear it, Elrohir. I'm certain of it."
Elrohir noticed that prince's hands shaking, ever so slightly. He groaned. "We shouldn't have come here without Father. Or a lot more reinforcements."
"Well, we're here now. We must do what we can until reinforcements show up."
"Can't you just. reclaim the throne?"
Legolas sighed. "If only it were that easy. I can't now. Only my father can, and who knows where he is. There is a way. but I don't think I'll be given the opportunity."
"Your father, he's not."
"Dead?" Legolas finished for his friend.
"Do you think?"
"I don't think so. He would have told my people he was dead rather than looking for me. I know he's not out looking for me, though. My father wouldn't leave Mirkwood to Oropher. He'd rather leave me to the wargs, and I can't blame him."
He looked Elrohir in the eye. "Go home while you can."
A shudder passed through both elves. Now was not the time for memories to be resurfacing.
"I stayed by your side once, I will not abandon you now."
"I should not have asked you to come."
"You didn't, remember? I offered."
"He will try to use me against my father. It will be harder for him to do that without you here."
"No, I will not leave you to face this alone, not after what had recently happened, not after what you did for me last time this happened."
"Don't you see? He will use you as a tool to keep me under control! I will not see you hurt, nor will I willingly do anything he asks. I cannot have it both ways with you here."
"I will watch out for myself. I am capable of taking care of myself. You know that."
Legolas sighed. "I cannot ask you to go through this again."
"Then don't ask me! I cannot leave you here alone! This is serious, Legolas."
"You think I don't know that?" Legolas hissed. His body was tensing tremendously at the stress. He took a deep breath. "We have to find my father."
"Didn't I tell you?" Legolas jumped as a voice greeted them from his doorway- now unlocked. "Your father went on a trip to search for you."
Legolas balled his hands into fists. "One usually wishes to be left to his own devices when the door is locked."
"And the king may go where he pleases, when he pleases."
"You are not king. Whatever you have done to my father, it is no matter. He will come back and you will have to renounce the throne once again."
Oropher smiled again. "Your father isn't coming back."
Legolas ignored him. "Or have you forgotten the rules of this land? The people can vote to have you ostracized. They can vote me into ruler-ship until Lord Thranduil comes back."
"Look what Mirkwood has become! You left it to happen, they will not vote you back."
"Indeed, see what Mirkwood has become. You caused its destruction. They will welcome me for that reason."
The elder narrowed his eyes for a moment, then smiled. "I can see you are weary. Injured, as well. For that reason alone I will pardon your words. Rest. I will have dinner brought up to you, and I will send messengers to your father and his party."
"Do not bother. My father will return when he hears that we left Rivendell." Legolas knew that his grandfather would more than likely throw a couple of elves into the dungeons and say they went searching for Thranduil. He might as well play his grandfather's game for as long as it would work to his advantage. "And please, we are not hungry. Thank you kindly." He tried to hold back the sarcasm that threatened his words.
"As you would have it. I really do think we started off on the wrong foot. There's no reason we can't both live here peacefully."
Legolas said nothing. He would not agree to that statement. He knew what was meant by it: Oropher would continue being the worst king Mirkwod ever had and Legolas would be left to live in his home as a slave.
Elrohir was doing his best to blend into the walls behind him. Oropher looked as though he were waiting for something.
"Excuse me, Grandfather. I must escort my friend to his chambers."
Oropher nodded slowly. He and Legolas both knew what would happen by the end of the evening. Legolas did not want Elrohir involved in it.
Once in the guest chambers, Legolas grabbed Elrohir's shoulders. "I have to go back to my room, or he will suspect something. You are not to open these doors for any reason. Put a chair under the handle to prevent him from opening it. I will come for you when I can."
Elrohir nodded. He was terrified. Legolas, for his part, was more scared than he wanted to admit.
"Be careful, Legolas. Please."
"I will. I must go now." He turned and left the room before he changed his mind. When he re-entered his own room, his grandfather was waiting patiently for him.
"Close the door."
Legolas balled his hands into fists to keep them from shaking. He obeyed the command.
"I think we should talk."
Legolas nodded. If talking bought him more time, then he would talk.
His grandfather eyed the prince with shallow amusement. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you."
"You sent for me. There must have been a reason behind that. Why bring me back to my home if only to kill me?"
"You stupid boy. If I didn't send for you, I would have more rebels in this hole in the mountain you call a palace. But now that it appears that I care for you, why shouldn't I kill you and prevent any chance of you stealing the throne?"
"They would know you killed me." Elrohir would know. But Legolas was not going to bring the other elf into this mess.
"No, you were so ill, as I can see you still are," his eyes twinkled in perverse pleasure at this. "You died in your sleep from sickness. Don't you see? There's no reason I should keep you alive."
"How would you control my father without me to use?"
Legolas smiled. He had him; there was nothing the elder elf could say. "Then as soon as I have what I want from my son, you both shall die."
Legolas was satisfied. This gave him more time to, well, to figure things out.
"But."
Legolas was drawn back to reality. That sinister smile on Oropher's face took any thoughts other than fear from his mind.
He moved closer to Legolas. "In the meantime, I believe I still have a lesson in manners that I need to teach you."
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Elrohir paced restlessly in his room. Something bad was happening, he just knew it. He should have never agreed to let Legolas leave alone. Why had Legolas turned down the offer for food? They were both hungry. Poison; it was obvious. Why had Oropher seemed so calm when he had been listening to their entire conversation? Why hadn't they heard the door unlock? Why hadn't Legolas come back yet?
Elrohir stopped, taking a few deep breaths. If he was going to be of any help at all to Legolas, he had to have a clear mind. If he couldn't think clearly, he would only end up hurting his friend. Legolas said he return when he was able, and Elrohir had to trust that.
He moved to the bed in the room, and sat on the edge of it. He remembered Legolas' habit of trying to read minds, so he concentrated wholly on keeping his own clear.
He still could not shake the feeling that something very bad was happening to Legolas right now.
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To my reviewers:
Sky: Haha, yeah, "a chip off the old block," is fitting as well. Glad to give feedback. Have you written more? I'll go check! I think I reviewed for chapter 2. If I didn't, I will soon. I did read it and absolutely LOVED it! So, what do you think of this so far?
Nina: Hello. I thought it was quite fair. Although, ending a story with a cliffhanger is a bit mean, isn't it? How's this for you so far?
Wilwarin: Yeah, it was the last one. Thank you for your feedback, and I hope I didn't make you wait too long for this story!
Bec: I really was considering waiting a week to post the last chapter. I'm so evil. So, so evil, lol. Anyway, how was this first chapter? Be honest! Hope you enjoyed and I didn't make you wait too awfully long.