Surely every LOTR fanficcer has to chain Legolas up sooner or later! :-)

Title: Legolas Enchained
Author: surreysmum
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Tolkien made the Ranger and the Elf; I just play in his sandbox sometimes. No profit accrues.

Legolas Enchained

Legolas sighed and fingered his shackle. The cuff was lined with fur and made of the finest decorative mithril, and the chain that attached him to the bedpost was light and very long, but nonetheless he was a prisoner, and had been since the evening before.

He could easily have broken free, of course. Even the cuff, let alone the fine chain, would have yielded to the strength of his hands within minutes, had he chosen to try. But fleeing from his sumptuous quarters in Minas Tirith was not the way to resolve the problem of Aragorn and his unreasonable demand. There had been much joking but an undercurrent of deadly seriousness when Aragorn had chained him up here last night, declaring that Legolas would not leave until he gave in.

And Legolas was determined to refuse.

The door swung open and Aragorn entered, completely unaware of how utterly majestic he looked in his court robes and crown. "Well, you stubborn Elf, have you seen the error of your ways?" he demanded.

Legolas rose to his feet and bowed with sincere deference. "The answer is still no, my Lord."

Aragorn grimaced with exasperation and, motioning Legolas to reseat himself, sat on the bench beside him.

"My dear Legolas," he expostulated. "Why will you not concede? If Faramir will accept this at my hands, why is it so difficult for you?"

Legolas stiffened and looked pointedly at the hand Aragorn had laid upon his shoulder. Aragorn removed it, mentally berating himself for choosing such an ill-considered line of argument.

"I am not Faramir," said Legolas tightly.

"Indeed you are not," replied Aragorn, growing a little angry. "I think perhaps you are over-proud, Elf. Is it that you are ashamed to be associated with mere mortals?"

Legolas glanced at him in surprise. "Of course not. It is just…"

"Yes?"

"It is not fitting."

Aragorn bit his lip. "I know it is not to your liking. But I would never force you to do things that were too onerous for you to bear."

Legolas sighed and shook his head.

"Surely you are not worried about how people would refer to you?" went on Aragorn. "After all, they use the same words in Mirkwood."

Legolas groaned and put his face in his hands, the metal shackle glinting in the sunlight. "I have not deserved this," he muttered.

There was a rustle of cloth in front of him, and Legolas looked up startled to see the King of Gondor kneeling humbly at his feet. "Please, Legolas. For the sake of all the dangers we have shared, the bread we have broken together and the paths we have travelled side by side, will you not do this for me?" The King's hand reached out and rested tentatively on Legolas'.

Legolas' expression softened as he looked at the other man's brightened eyes. "Truly, it means this much to you?" he asked quietly. Aragorn nodded, swallowing hard.

Legolas closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath. "Then I will do your will, my Lord," he said. "Estel," he amended.

Aragorn rose to his feet with a triumphant smile on his face and flicked Legolas' handcuff open. "You will kneel before me tomorrow at ten sharp," he proclaimed. "In the Throne Room."

"Aye, my Lord." And as Aragorn left the room full of glee, Legolas thoughtfully fingered his now bare wrist, wondering if he had exchanged a visible for an invisible shackle.

And that, my children, is how the famous Elf Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, consented to become also a Prince of Gondor.

finis

[Were you thinking of something else? Shame on you!]