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Rated M for violence and sexual encounters
Disclaimer: The characters all belong to the master Tolkien and this is only being written for my own enjoyment and hopefully yours. No money or profit involved
A Cage of a Different Kind
Chapter 11
Blue eyes fluttered open. He looked about confused by what he saw. He recognized this place but it was not where he had expected to be. How many times had he opened his eyes to see some portion of this ceiling? He did not think he could count those times. "But why was he here?" He tried to sit up too quickly and the pain quickly doubled him up.
"Legolas! Don't try to move yet, you are finally starting to heal."
He recognized Havain from his father's healing staff.
"How did I get here?" He breathed through clenched teeth. "Where is Eowyn and Aragorn?"
"Just relax ion nin." His father said as he crossed the room. "We brought you home to save your life."
"What are you talking about?" Legolas gasped in disbelief. "That is a long journey. How is it that I remember nothing of it? How long have I been unconscious? Why did you have to bring me here?" his voice had taken on almost a panicked tone.
"Enough questions ion nin. Let me answer a few before you go on!" His father chuckled, relieved to even be talking to his son. "First of all, it has been over a month since you were hurt."
"A month!" He jerked with surprise and quickly regretted it. His father eased him back and rubbed his back soothingly.
"The orc's blade was poisoned and you were not healing. Brenan finally figured out that it was some sort of spider's venom. We needed to get back here with all haste and try to mix an antidote. We have so much more information here since we deal with the creatures almost daily.
"I should be healed by now..." Legolas started to say.
"That was one of the problems. The poison did not allow your blood to clot and you were slowly bleeding to death. Your wounds were not healing." Thranduil said trying to sooth his anxious son.
"I don't understand? Aragorn and Elrond are two of the best healers in Middle Earth. Why couldn't they do anything?"
"They tried Legolas, but they had not been exposed to this particular poison. They had tried almost everything, but luckily Brenan was able to waken you long enough to find out some vital information concerning your condition. It was only a hunch, but thank the Valar he was right. He needed to access some books here so that is how you ended up at home."
Legolas closed his eyes as he tried to take everything in. Suddenly his eyes shot back open. "Where is Eowyn? Did she come with you?" He asked as he looked about the room.
"Eowyn? Who is that ion nin? Thranduil answered putting on his best innocent look.
"Father, don't play games with me. You know who I speak of. She would not have left my side." Legolas knew his father well and believed he was not as clueless as he was trying to act.
Thranduil seemed lost in thought for a moment then asked "Do you mean the fair haired mortal betrothed to Faramir?"
"Betrothed?" He gasped in disbelief. "What are you talking about? She is not betrothed... We were ..." his voice trailed off as he thought back to their less than loving parting and the few memories he had of the last month. His brow furrowed, "I thought that was just a dream." he mused as he remembered seeing her in Faramir's arms as they had landed in Gondor. "Maybe she had never gotten his message when she awakened?"
His father watched carefully as the various emotions played across his son's face. "You seem surprised ion nin. Is there something I don't know about?"
"How can I tell my father that I have fallen in love with a mortal woman? Dare I reveal that one of the only things that had kept me holding to life was the chance to be with her again?" He had known from the beginning that Thranduil would fight this match but he also thought he could prevail. "How can my father resist his only son's choice?" Above all else, he knew his father loved him dearly but he was not ready to reveal all just yet. Still he had to know what was going on.
"Surely you are mistaken Father." Legolas almost pleaded. "She is Eomer's sister. Eomer is the heir to the throne of Rohan."
"Is she comely for a human with long golden hair and a bit of a temper?" Thranduil asked hesitantly.
"That would be her." Legolas almost smiled as he thought of his fiery shield maiden.
"I did see her but she is going to marry Faramir of Gondor. I seem to recall something about an alliance between Gondor and Rohan. That is all I remember right now. Your health and well being were far more important to me than any mortal's marital status." Thranduil tried to downplay any knowledge he had of the situation so Legolas would not suspect anything.
"That cannot be..." Legolas thought the breath had been kicked from him. "She would not agree to that... Ada! I need to get a message to Gondor right away?" Legolas struggled to get out of bed.
"See here ion nin, you will not move from this bed until the healers release you!" Thranduil said as he pushed Legolas back down in bed, which took little effort in his present state. "We almost lost you and I am not going to allow you to relapse."
"Ada, I need to know what is going on with Eowyn. There are things I need to tell her?" Legolas pleaded surprised by how much he had revealed.
The raw emotion on his son's face surprised Thranduil and almost made him reconsider his agreement with Eomer. He had not seen his son react this strongly to anything in a long time. "Maybe this is more than just a passing fancy." he mused. "No, this is for his own good."
"Relax Legolas, write your message and I will make sure it gets off on one of our fastest birds." Thranduil tried to soothe his son. "I am really not lying, it will get off to Gondor, she just will never receive it." he thought as he tried to justify the unease he felt at his son's obvious distress.
"Thank you Ada." Legolas said as he tried to relax back in the bed. His mind was racing and his heart was anxious. "What if Eomer has forced her into this? It definitely sounded like something he would have pushed. "What if she had fallen in love with Faramir in my absence? What if she thinks I have died!" He had to know what was going on and he had to put a stop to it if what his father had heard was true...
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Eowyn stood gazing across Pelanor Fields. She could not get the image of Legolas lying still on his bed out of her mind. The wind blew her hair around her head like a golden halo but she hardly noticed. "Why had his father taken him away so suddenly? Was he yet living? A feeling in her gut told her that he still shared Middle Earth with her but she had no idea in what condition. Every message she had sent to Mirkwood had gone unanswered and the pressure from her brother grew daily. She loved Legolas, of that she was certain. But with no word from him, Faramir's proposal was getting harder and harder to refuse. It took all her strength not to spend her days crying. Her morning sickness was starting to abate but her pregnancy was going to be impossible to hide very soon. Faramir loved her and she cared about him. He was an honorable man. She could not let her child grow up a bastard, if no word was received from Legolas, she would have no choice but to marry Faramir, if he would still have her after discovering her secret. "Please Legolas, if you are able, let me know that you live. Let me know we will be together." Her head bowed as she sent her fervent prayer to the heavens.
(2 weeks later)
Legolas had been forced to remain in bed, much to his ire. His father had assured him that his messages had been sent to Eowyn but so far, there had been no response. Now that he was finally allowed to get up, he had quietly made his way to the tower where they kept the the birds. It had been no easy task to convince the healers that he did not need constant surveillance and he wanted to see for himself that his messages had been sent. He also wished to send a new one and witness it's exit. He loved his father but he knew he could not always trust him. Thranduil was capable of much when he thought he was protecting those he loved.
Legolas was out of breath by the time he reached the top and he cursed the continued weakness of his body. He glanced around as he steadied himself but he did not recognize the only elf there.
"Excuse me, but I am checking to see if any messages have been sent to Gondor recently?"
The young elf seemed almost startled by his presence and when he recognized who stood before him he bowed deeply at the waist. "Excuse me your majesty, I did not realize you were there!" He was obviously flustered but managed to reply "Absolutely! One, sometimes two messages each day have been sent to Gondor, if I am not mistaken my Lord." He replied.
Legolas studied him trying to assertain the truthfulness of his answer. During this time the poor elf shifted and squirmed but the prince could not detect any dishonesty. He hesitated but then plowed on.
"And you have received no response from Gondor?"
"Nay my lord" the elf replied quickly startled by the sadness that flashed across his prince's face before he turned to hide it. "But I am not always here. You may want to check with some of the others, although I am sure that they would have delivered them with all haste. The King has been up here quite frequently to check on it as well."
"My father made the effort to come here?" Legolas thought with disbelief..."did he care that much or is there something else?" He quickly dismissed the thought.
"Thank you, I appreciate your help." He said as he turned to leaven for he feared his emotions might get the better of him if he remained here much longer.
"Wait, my lord! Now that you mention it I think someone said that there had been one message from Gondor. It arrived a little over a week ago. I believe it was an invitation of some sort but it was delivered it to your father."
Some hope flared in Legolas and he thanked the young elf and then made his way back down. "I must approach this carefully with Ada if I am to know what was written." he thought ruefully, plans already beginning to form in his mind.
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Legolas was quiet at dinner that night which did not go unnoticed by his father.
"Are you still in pain, ion nin? I was told that you have been overdoing it since we let you out of bed." Thranduil asked his son.
"Nay, Ada. I was just wondering why there has been no reply to my messages to Eowyn." Legolas replied quietly. "By the way, when were you going to tell me about the invitation that arrived last week?"
Thranduil glanced up with a somewhat surprised look on his face that he quickly hid. "Who told you about that?" He asked, trying his best to sound nonchalant.
"I was told when I went to send another message today. Is the invitation to Aragorn's wedding?"
"Well, yes, actually it is. It is in a few weeks but I don't think you will be well enough to attend. I was just getting ready to send our regrets."
The hope that had flared in his heart quickly turned to despair but he quickly shook that off as determination took its place. "That won't be necessary Adar. I plan on going." Legolas said preparing for the fireworks sure to follow. He was not disappointed.
"You most certainly will not!" Thranduil sputtered as he practically leapt to his feet. "You almost died and have just started to regain your strength. I will not allow you to make that long journey so soon after almost losing you!"
Legolas was trying hard to remain calm but before he could stop himself he blurted "I do not recall asking for your permission Adar."
Thranduil's face turned various shades of red as he spat out his reply. "Need I remind you that you are the crown prince of this realm. You have duties that you have ignored while you chose to gallivant around Middle Earth, getting yourself wounded and almost dying."
His eyes opened wide and his mouth dropped open. "Gallivanting!" Legolas almost started to sputter in rage like his father but he quickly pulled himself together and decided a calm approach was still the best tactic. "I don't think ridding Middle Earth of Sauron constitutes gallivanting Adar, but I do understand your concern for my welfare. I will be fully recovered by then and I intend to see my closest friend wed."
Thranduil stared at his only son in consternation. He knew that his own stubbornness was equaled if not doubled in his offspring but he could not allow him to do this. "I do not care what you intend, Legolas. I finally have you back from that wretched quest and I will not risk you returning to Gondor for quite some time. This discussion is at an end." Thranduil sat back down and continued to eat his food effectively dismissing the younger elf.
Legolas sighed, trying to decide what to say next. "Ada, Aragorn is my best friend and has been for a very long time."
"Against my wishes." Thranduil interrupted.
Rage started to boil again but this time he could not contain it. He rose abruptly and threw his napkin onto the table. "Short of throwing me in the dungeon, you cannot keep me from attending his wedding!"
"If it takes the dungeons to keep you home, then the dungeons it will be. I will try to make you as comfortable as possible during your stay there." Thranduil did not even smile as he said that.
"Ada, you must be kidding. Am I to be a prisoner in my own home?" Legolas said in disbelief.
Thranduil drew himself up and leveled a gaze of such intensity that it took all of Legolas courage to remain and continue eye contact.
"You will learn what it is to be the crown prince of Erin Lasgalen. I can see now that I have been much too permissive in the past. Your days of running around Middle Earth as you please are over. There are duties that must be performed here in your own realm. I am your father, but I am also your King, and I command you to stay here and do your duty."
"You have never needed help ruling your kingdom Adar and I have always done my duty to the best of my ability. I am sorry if I have been a disappointment to you." With that, Legolas got up from the table and left.
Thranduil sat looking at his plate long after his son had swept from the room. "Ah my little green leaf. You have never been a disappointment. Only a source of constant worry. You are your own worst enemy at times and I find I must step in before you really destroy yourself." Apicture of a mortal maid with golden hair came to his mind. "I don't enjoy this, but I must keep you away from her for you appear to care more than I had even imagined."
TBC