I hope you're still enojoying the story, there's been silence on the review side of things since we took a darker turn so I hope you've not all fled! I'd also like to say a quick apology for the erratic posting, I've gone back to work (Having spent over two years at home with my Son!) and going into shifts after so long is bizarre, I don't know what day it is half of the time!
Please don't hate me for butchering Legolas in this part of the story, it's a defining moment in the transformation from the old him to the Prince we know during the tales of the war of the ring. Something had to shock him out of his modern mindset. x
Chapter 36: The Price of a Promise
The moment they left the Princess' presence the mood dropped considerably. They had been rallying their spirits for her sake, and now the extent of their task was hitting them full on.
"They may already realise that we are missing, we could try the tunnel but it may be heavily guarded," the dark elf offered.
"Less guarded than the front door, Lia," Legolas made clear their method of entry.
They got to the site of the tunnel's exit and all climbed down into it's entrance. Running along the length of darkness, they halted when they heard the sounds of voices ahead. The elves pulled back their bows, and when the guards came into view they rained death down upon them.
"Clear," Boran reported, his Prince nodding, then taking the lead.
"Where now?" he asked of his newly acquired guide.
"This way," she cautiously stepped into the corridor, taking off down the dingy passageway.
She was getting further and further ahead of them when Legolas sped up suddenly to catch her up. She flinched when she felt his grip haul her to stop and thrust her against the stone wall. Pinning her there he warned her firmly, "Don't go too far ahead, I'm watching you remember, your every move," then he released his iron grip and continued on at a reduced pace.
Lia's breathing was ragged, she wasn't intending to escape, but perhaps a part of her hoped. She rubbed her leather-clad arm to soothe where his fingers had dug in. Why was he so forceful? But her mind knew he had every reason to remain angry with her. She wanted to be angry with him, but his closeness and his rough handling of her merely excited her. 'Damn him,' she thought, not for the first time. Lia glanced up to find the Captain glaring at her. Afraid he would sense her desire she turned to follow the object of it cautiously.
Boran, ever the observer, had glimpsed their exchange and was baffled by it. Legolas was always the gentleman, but he could barely believe his eyes as he watched his Friend all but throw that woman into the hard stone. His hands gripped her painfully, he could tell from her expression and the groan she tried to conceal, but Legolas paid it no heed though was blatantly aware of it. He moved his face dangerously close, then whispered something inaudible to his ears, pulling back and continuing on. The worst part was that when his back was turned her anger melted into pure lust. Boran was disturbed by this insight, and decided to keep a close eye on this she-elf.
An opening drew the Prince's attention and he made for the orange glow within the arch. Legolas halted suddenly, darting against the wall. As Lia was about to storm past him he grasped at her, yanking her to him in a desperate attempt to conceal their presence.
She was about to speak and he covered her lips with his fingers quickly. His eyes glared at her and bid her be silent in his arms. She complied, darting her eyes to the doorway. She released her grip on his tunic to creep towards the archway. The Prince gripped her waist and shook his head violently. Ignoring him she peered through the hole and into a great hall below. The hall of her old Master, she recognised, and there he sat on his marble throne. She darted back to the Prince, fear quaking through every muscle in her petite body.
Legolas looked down at her as she shook in his arms, grasping tightly at the front of his tunic, staring blankly at the faded patterns adorning it. For a moment he felt sympathy for her, she looked utterly terrified, as if she were staring her own death down.
She took off, dragging Legolas by the hand so he wouldn't think her attempting escape again. They went silently into a side room, an armoury he noted, then she slid to the floor with him still in tow.
The Prince looked at her confused as she shook, wrapping her arms about her knees but not releasing his hand. "He will find me," she whispered, "He will tear me limb from limb with his bare hands."
The other elves thought she had descended into madness, but took the opportunity to replenish their arrow supply. Legolas attempted to calm her, speaking slowly and confidently. He needed her to lead them to the prisoners. "He wont, I swear it. I shall protect you, Lia. But I need you to help me too."
She gazed up at him, the fear clearing and rational thoughts creeping back in. Just being in the Dark One's presence had reduced her to this. "Promise me, Legolas."
"I promise you, I will take you back to Greenwood when we escape this place, He will not harm you there."
Boran looked suspiciously upon this woman, reluctant to have her return with them. Legolas seemed to be in possession of his wits, but something about this she-elf had him behaving very peculiarly. Was she a prisoner he had come across during his incarceration? For the first time the elf entertained the possibility that they were lovers.
"It's not far from here, but there will be several guards to defeat as we get closer," she announced to the group.
She clasped the Prince's hand again, much as they had done on their way out, to show him her intent was not to run. She didn't know why, but she wanted him to trust her, like she desperately wanted to trust his promise.
She slowed and released his hand, readying her bow as they reached the top of a staircase. He followed suit as did his elves. Turning quickly around the corner she shot several arrows before advancing. Soldiers with dark robes lay littered in the corridor as they all passed.
Wave after wave of unprepared men were slaughtered as the elves progressed, nearing their comrades. Finally Legolas saw the great wooden door that he had stared at for endless days from the other side. They burst into the room, firing at the guards and felling them, though they lost two of their own in the process.
Lia took the keys from one dead man and unlocked the cells one by one. The occupants were emaciated and dirty, seven of which did not get up at all.
"Your Highness, I've found Leowen," an elf announced, "He is alive, but barely."
The Prince let out a breath, he may yet live. His guilt sat heavily still upon his shoulders, he had truly believed the Captain to have been brutally killed as he had been told. "Then we shall carry him," he voiced his command.
"So many dead," Legolas voiced sadly after much silence.
"We cannot carry the dead," Boran spoke the words on every mind, "We must use our strength to help those who may yet live."
Legolas nodded for his ellon to start retrieving their friends, heading back down the stairs they came from. "Lia," he went to her.
He did not speak to her then, but laid a hand on her shoulder in thanks. As he rubbed his thumb over the joining between flesh and leather their eyes bore into one another's. They had come to a point of understanding. She had earned his trust, and her deep pools told him he had hers. Though she could tell with trust did not come forgiveness, not yet, his eyes had softened and no longer swam with anger. She vowed over time to make up for the wrongs she had committed against him.
"Come," he asked of her, "Greenwood is our path now. To safety."
He took her hand, less forcefully this time, and followed the last of the elves out of the room. The line halted and they ran silently down the side of it to see what the problem was. As they reached the bottom Boran's face was grave. Legolas peered out of the slit in the wall, hundreds of evil men gathered at the front of the fortress and Lia sobbed beside him.
"It's too late, we are all dead," she whispered in despair, knowing what the Dark Prince did to traitors she could only beg for death by conflict before he got his hands on her.
Footsteps caught Legolas' attention and he crushed his hand over her mouth as he and Boran encircled their arms around her, pulling her back into the shadows. "Shhh" he begged so quietly she barely heard him.
Every elf held his breath as the small troop of guards marched past their concealed position in the stairway. As they disappeared from his vision, the two ellon released their captive and Legolas motioned with his hands for his men to follow.
They dashed through the corridors until one guard caught sight of them, he raised his bow and fired at the Prince. Legolas had his back to the arrow and Boran held his breath as he stood helplessly further back in the line. He watched still as the she-elf lunged forward, bringing Legolas to the ground clumsily, the arrow breaking against the stone wall. Boran raised his bow and killed the stray soldier. He looked once more to his Friend, breathing deeply and cupping the face of his rescuer briefly, before standing again.
They all took off at a limping run, burdened as they were with their sick friends, heading for the tunnel to escape.
"They will be guarding it this time," she warned, "We cannot get out that way!"
"You saw the force they had at the gate Lia, we have to try, it's our only exit," he paused, "Unless you know of another?"
The dark elf shook her head, frightened, and rightly so.
"Then trust me," he voiced softly.
He jumped down into the tunnel with a dozen elves beside him, slashing and hacking at any soldier who challenged them. They fought and fought, and at length they cleared that entrance. The wounded and remaining force clambered down, going silent when they heard what sounded like a thousand troops coming fast towards them, up in the fortress above them.
"Legolas," Lia pushed towards him through the crowded tunnel, "We can't run from this any longer."
He put a finger to his lips, closing the trap door above them quietly as the sound got louder. He motioned for something to barricade it with and Boran produced some bows as they slid them through the door handles. The company stood silently as the troops got closer still.
"We can still save ourselves, if we give ourselves up he may take mercy upon us," she hissed.
"Can you hear yourself? The only way out of this is to run, or die trying." Legolas did not like the way she was trembling, like she was a bomb that might go off at any second. "Lia, everything's going to be fine."
"Fine!" she raised her voice and Legolas clapped his hand over her mouth again.
The footsteps halted, listening for a repeat of the sound. Every elf stood stock still, their hearts pounding in their chests. Legolas struggled slightly as Lia tried to free herself, she bit his fingers and he opened his mouth in silent exclamation of pain.
Flinging herself away she turned to him, staring wildly, years of brainwashing kicking in. 'I want him to live, he is going to die if he runs like this, it's for his own good!' She had to give their position up. Her brain was scrambling, she was losing her mind. Terror gripped her, twisting logic and bending her mind to insanity. The marching resumed, she panicked, she had to do it now!
"Lia don't!" Legolas begged as she backed away from him, shaking and her eyes almost feral.
"I have to, I've betrayed him, he may yet forgive me!"
"He wont Lia you know that, he'll kill me and my men then he'll torture you! Then he's going to go after my little girl."
"No!" she screamed. 'Not the little one, but she has escaped already, she is safe isn't she?'
Legolas raised his bow, his breathing erratic and almost panicked. "Please, don't make me do this," he begged her.
The elves watched in horror as their Prince threatened the woman responsible for their safety with death. What was happening? Only Legolas knew what was going through her head.
"I've been so stupid, you were so different, I thought you could save the world from darkness!"
"The world? No. But I can save you! You don't have to side with him, come back with us!" Legolas attempted.
As she took an almighty breath in preparation for her yell the Elven-prince released his arrow, stopping the scream before it left her. He dropped his weapon and ran to her, catching her in his arms before she hit the cold floor. The arrow protruded from her chest and her breathing was laboured. He lowered her slowly, never releasing her.
"Legolas," she breathed, disbelieving.
He had always threatened to kill her if she turned on him, but she never believed he could do it. She kept a hope in her heart that he felt something in return for her, even if it could not compare to the love he held for Ceres.
"Lia, I'm so sorry," tears pricked at his eyes as he held her dying form, "Forgive me, you know I had no choice."
"You must protect them both, Ceres… Evie…" she coughed, "There was never any room for me."
Legolas silently agreed, he would never compromise on his family.
The she-elf laughed bitterly, and when the Prince's brows knit in question and concern she uttered, "I never knew what love was until you kissed me. I could have died happily if I were still made of stone. Still, even if it was not meant for me, thank you Legolas, for now I die having known that beautiful feeling."
Boran motioned for the other elves to back away, to start down the tunnel, clearing it of any foes, and to let the Prince have this moment to say goodbye to the shortest friendship he had known. He watched sadly as the woman, now looking little more than a girl, cupped his cheek and smiled with unashamed love.
"You have saved me, He can no longer hurt me…"
"I will keep my promise Lia, I will carry your body and lay it to rest under the boughs of Eryn Galen," Legolas bent to her ear and whispered, "If not for her, I could have loved you eternally."
He knew it may not be true, but it was what this poor, love-deprived creature needed to hear as the life drained from her. He leaned back slightly to see the tears fall from her dark eyes, and closing his own he thought of his Wife, mustering all the love he could for her and kissed the she-elf as he had before. He hoped the love and adoration he poured into their passionate kiss would make her believe that someone had loved her at least, and that only he knew it was not entirely for her.
Boran was shocked to see Legolas kiss her, and thoroughly at that. Such a kiss surely should be reserved for his loving Wife. The ellon felt slightly angry, his loyalty to her Highness steadfast. Yet if Legolas truly loved Lia, his heart went out to him, having to watch his beloved die by his own hand.
The woman's hands entwined in his golden locks, fisting and releasing as tremors wracked her failing body, returning his kiss with all the love and want that had melted her cold heart. Then they stiffened. One of her hands fell to the floor while the second slipped, becoming tangled in the blonde strands.
"Lia…" Legolas breathed in a broken tone against her lips. "Lia…!"
The Prince took several deep, shuddering breaths as he attempted to detach himself from what was happening, focusing on what had yet to be achieved.
"Legolas, I'm sorry," Boran squeezed his Friend's shoulder. "Later, when we reach safety, will you speak to me about her?"
"Aye, Boran, thank you," Legolas was glad to have someone share his burden, knowing this was not a problem he could wet his Wife's shoulder with. "It is not what you think," he added, knowing Boran must assume the worst.
The elf nodded, "Let us speak of it fully later, I think no ill of you."
Legolas nodded, lifting the dead girl in his arms solemnly, refusing to leave her lying there alone. He would keep his promise, as she had hers.