Chapter 10
"They're not going to get anything from these interrogations." Arandur exclaimed loudly.
"And why not?!" Asked Raina with raised eyebrows.
It was near dusk and they were all sitting around in Legolas' chamber discussing the news that Legolas had broken to them minutes ago. Arandur shook his head in disappointment and jumped down from Legolas' desk. "Because the traitor is not going to get panicked by these interrogations, He must have foreseen it and gotten ready for it, He's not going to lose himself and give away any information, he's far smarter than it, this I'm sure!." He almost shouted at his friends.
"Calm down Arandur! What's wrong with you?" Asked Sadron in an annoyed voice.
"What is wrong with ME?! My uncle has gone missing and is probably dead and you ask me what is wrong with me?! Really?!" Arandur yelled at Sadron who cringed at the sudden raise of Arandur's voice.
"Arandur…" Silima pleaded from her seat in front of the balcony. "Please calm down, do not get your anger out on your friends it's not their fault."
Arandur visibly calmed at hearing her words. "I know… Silima…" He sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall with a sigh. "I'm so sorry, Sadron." He said in a broken voice without looking up. Sadron smiled in return, no apology was needed. Legolas who was still amazed at the exchange of those calming and almost loving words between Silima and Arandur, tried to suppress a grin as his mind went back to his previous discussion with Arandur about Silima. He reminded himself to ask Arandur about it in a better time.
"I'm afraid I should agree with Arandur…" Said Tauriel with a thoughtful frown.
"But that's the only thing we can do." Said Legolas in a firm yet tired voice. He was sick of discussing and talking and persuading people. He'd had enough for today. All he wanted was a goblet full of wine and a long and dreamless sleep.
"There must be another way…" Whispered Maerwen.
"Of course there is another way! The king can imprison everyone until the truth is revealed, how about this?!" Said Sadron sarcastically.
"We're not here to hear your stupid jokes." Maerwen growled at Sadron.
"Can't you two just get along?!" Meldiron hissed.
Amonost rolled his eyes and turned to Legolas. "I can help with the interrogations if you want." He offered gently. Legolas smiled gratefully at him and shook his head.
"Hannon le, mellon nin, but I think you shouldn't get involved. In fact the king thinks that you should stay out of it."
Amonost frowned in confusion and after a second his face went pale with realization.
"It will be alright Amonost, I promise you." Legolas added hastily at seeing his friend's discomfort. Amonost nodded with a forced smile but didn't express any more words.
Maerwen wrapped her arms around Amonost's upper body. "We won't let anyone question your loyalty again, melleth nin." She whispered in his chest, her voice muffled by Amonost's tonic. This time Amonost gave a real smile and caressed her back gently. "I know."
Raina cleared her throat and turned to Legolas. "Are you sure you don't need our help?"
Legolas nodded confidently. "Yes, I'm sure. Besides I don't need to do anything all I have to do is to observe the process of the interrogations, it shouldn't be that hard."
"But the most boring thing ever!" Meldiron said under his breath.
"But necessary anyway." Said Tauriel as she raised an eyebrow at her friend.
"You just said it's fruitless!" Meldiron exclaimed loudly.
"I did but as Legolas said there's nothing else that can be done." She said as she crossed her arms over her chest as if challenging Meldiron.
After a moment of silence suddenly Raina burst out laughing.
"Imagine Lord Vehiron's face when Lord Sellion is questioning him." She said in a squeaky voice.
"Seems entertaining to me." Said Arandur in a serious tone.
"But my father would get angry for sure." Maerwen confessed.
Legolas sighed. "I'm so sorry Maerwen, there was nothing I could do. I'm sure everyone else's parents would feel the same."
"My father doesn't care." Said Meldiron with shrug.
"But my mother would get offended. She always brags about how much she's trusted by the king and if she hears that she's going to be interrogated… I don't even want to imagine." Said Raina with a sigh.
"I can imagine my father's reaction." Said Sadron with a smirk. "I can only pity the one who is going to break the news to him."
Legolas smiled broadly at his friend. "In fact, I was about to ask you all to tell your parents personally."
Silima took in a sharp breath and jumped out of her armchair. "I don't want to be the one who is going to ruin my father's day."
"I'm sure Lord Maldor will understand." Said Legolas with a knowing smile.
Silima bowed her head, still clearly nervous about the situation she was going to face.
Legolas sighed. "Alright… I will ask someone else to tell them if that makes you uncomfortable."
"That'd be a great idea, although we are going to have to listen to my father's complains for a while anyway." Said Arandur in an annoyed tone.
"Should I be happy that I don't have to worry about any of these, since I'm an orphan?" Asked Tauriel in an unsure voice. Not knowing how to handle the question Legolas only managed to raise his eyebrows at her. An awkward silence fell upon the room as no one knew what to say. Finally Tauriel spoke again.
"I guess that's it! Is there anything else that we should know about, Legolas?"
Legolas shook his head. "No, I guess that'd be all." He said softly. Raina raised to her feet.
"It's getting late. I think we should all be going." She said. "We're so sorry for taking your time, Legolas. I know how tiring it is to repeat something over and over." Legolas patted her shoulder kindly as he went to open the door for his friends. Everyone headed toward the door, bidding Legolas a good evening as they walked out.
"Give the king our regards." Said Meldiron as he was the last one to leave.
"I will, Hannon le." Answered Legolas with a thankful smile as he watched his friend leave. As soon as Meldiron and others were out of sight he let out a shuddering breath and leant against the door frame as a strong wave of dizziness hit him again and he had to grasp the door handle to hold himself up.
"Legolas?!" he heard Hirion's voice in his throbbing head and looked up. He could tell from the look of shock on Hirion's face that he must be looking terrible.
"Legolas! Are you feeling ill?! Talk to me!" Hirion said in an urgent voice desperate to receive an answer from his prince. Legolas held his breath as the wave of dizziness passed and left him clinging to the door handle. Legolas blinked several times to clear his vision and looked up at Hirion with a weak smile. "I'm fine, Hirion. I'm just tired." He said as he stepped back from the door and walked back into his room and he had to try so hard not to roll his eyes as he heard Hirion following him into the room.
Ignoring Hirion's watchful eyes he walked to the balcony to grab the bottle of wine he'd left there earlier that afternoon. "Would you like some wine?" He offered a goblet of wine to his bodyguard although he knew the answer already.
"No Legolas, I am-"
"-On duty I know." Said Legolas as he drank his goblet of wine empty and put the goblet on the railing and gazed down at the darkening forest. Hirion came to stand beside him. They both stood like that for a couple of minutes in comfortable silence.
"Arandur was really devastated." Legolas finally spoke.
"About Imrathon?" Asked Hirion without taking his eyes from the peach black forest.
"Aye." Said Legolas. "I'm worried about his mother. She was really close with her brother… And above all I'm worried about Imrathon… he's dead isn't he?"
"I hope not but… I don't want to lie to you Legolas, the chances of him being alive are slim." Said Hirion with a sigh.
Legolas didn't say anything in reply. He just turned around and walked back into his room and sat on his bed with a heavy sigh.
"These interrogations are in vain." Hirion suddenly confessed as he sat on the edge of the window.
"Why everyone keeps telling me that?!" Legolas exclaimed with a frown as he laid back on his bed with his legs still hanging from the edge of the bed.
Hirion shrugged. "Because it has always been like that in these cases. The last time it happened we weren't able to find the traitor until the last moment and it was too late! He got away."
He narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. "If only I could get my hands on Daeron… I would have killed him with bare hands… that filthy traitor!"
Legolas chuckled and sat upright as he heard a knock on the door. He nodded at Hirion who jumped down from the window frame to open the door.
"Good evening Lord Hirion." Legolas smiled at hearing Landion's soft voice.
"Good evening Landion." Said Hirion as he stepped aside to let the servant in.
"Good evening my prince." He said with a low bow. Legolas smiled at him and nodded.
"I've asked lady Nessima to send a tray of food up to your room as soon as the dinner is ready, it should arrive any time." Said Landion as he started walking around the room collecting Legolas' cloths which he'd left on his chair and desk.
"Hannon le, Landion." Said Legolas with a grateful nod, although he wasn't hungry really. He sat in silence as he watched Landion lighting up the candles and organizing his messy desk.
Soon a knock was heard on the door.
"I'll get it." Hirion waved his hand at Landion who was about to go for the door.
"Hannon le." Legolas heard Hirion say as he closed the door and walked back into the room.
"Food is here." Said Hirion with a wink and placed the tray on the table in the center of the room.
Landion started setting up the table and Legolas tried to sniffle a yawn as he sat down at the table with Hirion sitting across from him.
They didn't talk much during dinner, Hirion seemed to be really hungry and Legolas' body felt so sore as if he was ran over by an Oliphant and didn't feel like talking.
After dinner Hirion retreated to his own chamber after giving instructions to the guards who were standing on either sides of the door to Legolas' chamber.
Before getting ready for sleep Legolas dismissed Landion who left immediately after wishing Legolas a good night.
The young prince threw himself on the large bed and stared at the ceiling. All the memories of the day rushed back to him. His father's look of despair never left his mind. He'd never seen his father so… desperate. He didn't know if others were informed of the interrogations or not.
'Tomorrow is going to be a tough day since I'm going to face a bunch of angry advisors and furious captains.' He thought to himself and buried his face in the pillow. 'Poor Ada! How does he tolerate these things all by himself?' he turned to his side and stared at the wall.
He took in a sharp breath as a searing pain took over his head. He clenched at his head as he pressed his eyes shut. He felt like his head was going to explode at any moment. He desperately tried to sit but the pain was so severe that he couldn't see anything.
He was about to scream in pain when it all suddenly stopped.
He stayed where he was for a couple of seconds, still panting from what his body had gone through. The prince slowly opened his eyes and let out a shuddering breath.
'What was that?' he asked himself as he laid back on the bed again. He suddenly felt really exhausted. Before he could think anymore he fell back into a deep sleep.
"Good morning my prince." Legolas turned around from the window at hearing Landion's voice entering his room.
"Good morning Landion, Thank you for the bath." He said with a smile but he was surprised by the look of horror that suddenly appeared on his servant's face.
"M… my prince… your nose is bleeding." He said while pointing at Legolas' face.
Legolas frowned and ran to the mirror to see a drop of blood dripping from his nose. He hurried to the bathroom to wash his face as horror started taking over him.
'What's happening to me?'
He grabbed a towel and pressed it to his bleeding nose.
"My prince! Are you alright?"
He heard Landion's terrified voice.
"I'm fine Landion." He said as he tried to keep horror out of his voice.
"I'll fetch master Ionwë!"
"Don't Landion! I'm fine!"
"What's going on here?!" both Legolas and Landion jumped at hearing Hirion's voice before Legolas could do anything Hirion was standing in the entrance looking with horror at Legolas' blood covered face.
"Sweet Eru…" He whispered as he took a step forward into the bathroom.
Legolas involuntary took a shaky step back and felt the wall behind him. He didn't know why it had suddenly become so difficult to breath. "I'm fine Hirion." He insisted and pressed his back against the wall. Deep down he knew he wasn't fine. All of a sudden his head had started throbbing with an unbearable pain that made him close his eyes he could hear blood rushing through his ears. He could feel cold sweat covering his body as his body started shivering uncontrollably.
Hirion watched in horror as Legolas' face turned white with visible pain and closed his eyes. He rushed forward as Legolas started shivering and he started sliding down against the wall.
"Legolas!LEGOLAS!" He yelled as he grabbed Legolas' shoulders and shook him slightly to catch his attention but the prince had gone blind with pain and couldn't make anything out of his surroundings. Hirion's eyes went wide as Legolas' lips started turning into a light shade of blue.
"Landion! Fetch Ionwë!" He shouted at Landion who seemed to be rooted to the ground with fear. The servant recovered from the shock quickly and ran toward the door.
Hirion turned back to Legolas who had gone horribly still.
"Legolas!" He pulled the younger elf's head into his lap. "Please answer me! PLEASE!"
But no answer came from the prince as his breath quickened and his face twisted in pain. Hirion lifted Legolas up in his arms and carried him to his bed. He didn't know what to do so he just sat there in despair, holding his fingers on Legolas' neck and counting his pulses.
The older elf was still in shock. Legolas seemed to be in a good health condition last night, they had dinner together…
"What has happened to you little one…?" He whispered to the almost unconscious Legolas. He didn't know how long he sat there holding his breath whenever he was waiting for the next pulse.
He almost cried out in relief as Ionwë's form appeared in the doorframe. The healer hurried to Legolas' side without a word. Landion walked in after him with two of Ionwë's assistants. Hirion stepped out of the healers' way and stood by Landion's side.
"You didn't tell the king anything did you?" He whispered to him.
Landion shook his head in response. "I was lucky that he was asleep when I ran in." Then he looked at Legolas' form which was surrounded by healers. "What's wrong with him?"
"I don't know! He seemed fine last night." Said Hirion in a low voice. He walked to Ionwë's side gingerly afraid that the healer might lash out at him.
"Ionwë? What's wrong with him?" He asked in a shaking voice. Ionwë didn't answer right away as he bent down and smelled Legolas' breath and frowned.
"He must be taken to the healing ward." He barked at his assistants without looking at Hirion. When the two other healers started preparing Legolas and one of them went to get the litter they had brought with them.
"Ionwë!" Hirion almost shouted at the healer. Ionwë took a deep breath and finally turned to Hirion.
"I am not sure yet, Hirion. I should take a blood sample of him and test it to make sure."
"Tell me what you think… NOW!" Hirion demanded in a stern voice.
Ionwë sighed and held Hirion's gaze before saying the most dreadful words that Hirion had ever heard in his entire life.
"Legolas has been poisoned and I don't know if he's going to survive."
*End of chapter 10*