"It has been completed."
Legolas jumped as soon as the door had flung open and he cursed himself for being so distracted that his Elven ears had not heard the footsteps outside. He calmed himself in an instant and watched as Lord Elrond moved back to his daughter's bedside, his robe flowing behind him as he bent over her.
Legolas moved from the fire, the flames warming the backs of his legs as he stood at the foot of the bed and watched as Elrond pulled a small bottle from his robes.
"Where is my father?" Legolas enquired, his eyes never leaving the movements of the Elvish Lord. Elrond kept his gaze fixed on his daughter as he brought her body upwards. He perched on the side of the bed, resting Evelyn against his chest as his arm moved around her shoulders.
"The King and Gandalf are speaking with Aubrey. Your father is not in the best of moods with his advisor. He feels wronged and betrayed."
"The truth came out?" Legolas checked, his eyes widening as Elrond looked across to him, a stiff nod escaping his neck as he motioned for Legolas to come and aid him.
"Gandalf had some choice words and threatened to use the deep arts on him. Aubrey refused and told them all that they wanted to know. I imagine that he had no choice but to do so. I left as he was telling them of the attack in the woods."
Legolas sighed and moved to Elrond's sighed, taking the bottle from the Lord and removing the stopper. The pop echoed through the room as the smell of the elixir came into their nostrils. Elrond wrinkled his nose before tilting his daughter's head back onto his shoulder. He moved his fingers to her jaw, allowing her mouth to hang open.
Legolas poured the clear liquid into her throat, wondering if it tasted as foul as it smelt. The two men sat hesitantly, waiting for her to make some form of movement. Their patience was wearing thin, panic moving through their bodies as they wondered if she would move and awaken.
Legolas pressed both his hands under her chin, closing her mouth and he pinched her nose gently, forcing her to swallow the liquid. Elrond adjusted her in his arms, lowering her back onto the bed, her head falling against the pillows. Sweeping a warm hand over her cheeks, he watched as she didn't move a muscle.
"It isn't working," Legolas quickly said; fear radiating through his veins as Elrond shook his head, refusing to believe that. It would work. He knew that it would. Gandalf had brewed it.
Legolas's blue orbs widened in panic as he stood tall, running his hands down his blonde hair, shaking his head in disbelief as Evelyn didn't move. Her eyes remained shut and her breathing remained steady.
Elrond leaned down, pressing his lips firmly against her forehead, silently willing her to open her orbs so that he could look at her once more.
"Evelyn," Elrond drawled slowly. "Come on, daughter. Wake up."
Legolas remained patient for a second or two, watching with intrigue yet nothing happened.
"I shall go to Gandalf. This cannot be happening-"
"-Legolas," Elrond interrupted the Elf before he could make it to the door in the corner of the room. Legolas turned around, his blonde hair whipping over his shoulder as Elrond smiled to himself, watching as Evelyn mumbled in her sleep. Her words were incomprehensible but she was certainly speaking softly to herself.
"Evelyn," Legolas was the one to speak her name, rushing to the bedside and dropping to his knees. He picked her hand up into his, squeezing her fingers tightly in his and her eyes slowly moved. Elrond watched as her orbs widened and she looked around the room, wondering what was happening before she felt a hand moving from her cheek and onto her hair.
"My daughter," Elrond said, helping her to sit up one more time as she looked at the pair of them, the concern in their eyes unnerving her.
"What happened?" she wondered from them and Legolas sighed, simply relieved that she was awake and speaking like her normal self. The two males turned to look at each, smiling softly in relief.
"You were poisoned," Legolas told her and she looked to the side of the room, avoiding their questioning glances as she thought back to the events, trying to remember what had happened. She vaguely remembered going for dinner in the great hall and that was it. She did not know how she had managed to end up on her bed in the guest wing.
"I assume it to be the normal culprit?" Evelyn said and Legolas nodded, his jaw clenching in anger as he thought of Aubrey and what he had done to his betrothed. It made his anger boil over inside of him.
"He is with Gandalf and Thranduil as we speak," Elrond told his daughter, sensing that Legolas wasn't going to tell her what was happening. The young elf was much too annoyed to do so. "They have found out the truth. Nothing will hurt you now, Evelyn. I promise you."
"I am sorry," Legolas blurted out to her and she turned to look at him as he kept his distance. He was cautious and hesitant, still panicking that she could slip away from him one more time. "Evelyn, I should have believed you from the beginning. I should never have doubted anything which you said. I should have taken your word-"
"-I don't want to dwell upon it," Evelyn interrupted Legolas, sensing that his regret was coming into his emotions. She forced herself to smile at him, not wanting him to blame himself for what had happened. "It is in the past, Legolas. You heard my father...I am safe...we are safe."
Legolas said nothing but he nodded stiffly at her. She moved from the bed, her body numb from a lack of movement as she pushed her body to its feet. Elrond stood by her side, waiting to catch her if she fell. She smiled softly at Legolas and Elrond placed his hand on her back for a moment, rubbing the small of it encouragingly.
"I do love you," Legolas spoke to her, moving to stand before her as Elrond turned away, giving them a moment of privacy as Isabella pecked his cheek, not daring to do anything further whilst in the company of her father.
"And I you," she responded and Legolas found his mind wondering.
"I should go down to my father," Legolas said. "I wish to give Aubrey a piece of my mind."
"Is he worth it?" Evelyn wondered from him, taking hold of his hand and stopping him from moving away. He searched her gaze for a moment and he nodded once. He truly believed that he was worth it. He had harmed her and he wanted him to know that he couldn't get away with it.
"I suppose there is a queue to Aubrey," Elrond simply spoke to them, knowing that he would also quite like to harm the advisor. He knew that it would make him feel better in the short term. But in the long term it would not matter. Elrond had seen bloodshed far too much for his liking. No. He supposed Aubrey rotting in a cell or being banished would be better than death.
"Yet harming him will not make you feel any better, Legolas," Elrond assured him. "It will not bring you peace."
"Ada is right," Evelyn simply spoke. "I would not mind if I were to never see him again, Legolas."
Pushing his lips into a tight line he nodded once at her, running his hands up and down her bare upper arms and smiling encouragingly at her.
"You must be hungry," Legolas said, searching her gaze. "Come, we will find some food in the kitchens."
"You go with Legolas," Elrond instructed her and she turned her gaze to him. "I shall go to Thranduil and Gandalf."
Evelyn nodded once, taking hold of Legolas's arm and allowing him to lead her from the chamber whilst Elrond tried to contain the rage which was building up inside of him.
...
Legolas left Evelyn with her father in the library, the pair of them having received a letter from Arwen and replying to it, telling her of the trials and tribulations which they had faced. Legolas had kissed her on the top of her head, telling her that he would go to see his father and make sure he was managing after the revelations of the day.
She had smiled at him, squeezing his hand one final time before resting against her father's side and allowing him to write the letter.
Legolas would never intentionally lie to Evelyn. But he didn't want to tell her that he intended to go to the dungeons where Aubrey was being held. He needed to speak with the man before his father decided what to do with him.
He walked swiftly down the stone steps, the lighting on the wall illuminating his way as the air turned significantly cooler.
"Have you told anyone that you were involved?"
"Of course not."
"Then leave me. Do not risk being associated with me."
"But you are my father...regardless of your foolish behaviour."
"Loriett." He warned her. "Go now."
Legolas coughed once, making his presence known for he saw the two elves wrapped up in their own business. Legolas's eyes instantly settled on Loriett and she looked at him with worry. She didn't know what he was going to do with the information which she had told him. A part of her hoped that he would forget it and he would move on, ignore her and leave her to wallow. But she knew he had a duty to his King not to house traitors.
"My Prince," Loriett said, dutifully curtseying in front of him. Legolas watched her for a moment before he moved deeper into the dungeon, looking at the metal grid which separated them from Aubrey. The advisor said nothing, remaining stood at the bars as he watched Legolas. He knew that the Prince had come for answers which only Aubrey could give him.
"Can you leave us be, Loriett?" Legolas wondered, struggling to look her in the eye with the knowledge of what she had done. She nodded, turning to look at her father with wide eyes before she swept from the room, willing herself not to cry before she made it to her chambers.
"I thought that you would come," Aubrey said confidently, backtracking down his cell to sit on the simple wooden cot whilst Legolas came to stand in front of him.
"My father and the White Wizard are in private talks of what to do with you. I have not seen them and they have not told me your reasoning for your actions," Legolas informed Aubrey who quirked a brow in his direction. "Evelyn is with her father. She is safe and away from you. That is how it is to stay."
"As you wish," Aubrey simply said to him and Legolas felt his hands clench into fists by his sides. "Do you want to know why I did this?"
"Yes."
"I did this because of your actions." Aubrey spat, knowing that the truth would come out soon enough when Thranduil came out of hiding. His anger was directed at Legolas. It was directed at him because he had failed to honour his agreement with Aubrey and Loriett. If only Legolas had put Mirkwood first. "I did this because you had an arrangement with my daughter."
"Then it is Loriett who should be scorned and not you," Legolas quickly spoke and Aubrey shook his head, resting his hands together and his elbows bent on his thighs.
"You see, my future rested on this marriage...this loveless marriage which would break you," Aubrey muttered, shaking his head and wondering how he could have failed.
Legolas said nothing, his teeth firmly clenched together in anger and his tongue being bit on as Aubrey continued with his speech.
"Thranduil confided in me that once you were married then you would become King. You would be the one who was in charge and he would move on to the immortal lands...leaving Middle Earth."
"And then the future of Mirkwood would be in the balance. I knew that you would wither away. I had heard of this Evelyn from Rivendell from your father and I always assumed that she had been the one who held your heart...my Loriett never was the one for you." Aubrey shook his head, the thought of Loriett meaning something to Legolas incomprehensible. "Once you had withered then Loriett would be the Queen. And I would be with her, guiding her and helping her...taking over Mirkwood before the entirety of Middle Earth fell into my grasp."
Legolas shook his head at hearing him, unable to believe what he had heard. He had always thought that elves were good natured creatures. He had never seen one unable to harm any creature who did not threaten them. And now, here he stood, listening to someone's cries over a failed plan. Legolas could no longer bear to look at Aubrey, his stomach churning and a sickening feeling pulsing through his veins.
"It no longer matters," Aubrey said, a deep chuckle moving through his body. "She ruined everything."
"You are twisted," Legolas responded, not wanting to hear him mention Evelyn again.
He could see now why his father was taking such a long time deciding what to do with his advisor. His thoughts and the crimes which he could have committed were horrendous. He had proved that much.
"One ring to rule them all," Aubrey drawled. "It was destroyed but who is to say that another could not be found?"
"Well I doubt you will ever have the chance to do that," Legolas hissed, backing away from the cell. "I assume your fate will make sure of that."
"I have no doubt," Aubrey said and Legolas narrowed his gaze.
"And you do not even sound as if you regret any of this," he spoke back to him. "How can anyone sympathise?"
"I do not want anyone's sympathy," Aubrey spat the word in disgust, his eyes looking the straw covered ground. "Sympathy is for the weak."
"And that is where you are wrong," Legolas informed him in a small voice. "It seems you are wrong about a great deal of things."
Legolas could no longer bear the sight of him and he moved from the dungeons, passing the guards who lined the steps without casting them a second glance. He walked hastily, his feet never slowing as he shook his head. He knew that he should have been relieved. He should have been happy that it was all over and Evelyn was awake and safe. Yet he could not push the conversation from the front of his mind.
"Legolas!" Evelyn's shrill voice called out to him as he came into the library to see her once more.
Elrond dropped the quill he had been writing with as he looked at Legolas, instantly knowing that something had happened. Legolas said nothing but simply forced himself to smile at Evelyn.
"My father is holed up with the White Wizard. They do not wish to be disturbed and so I thought that I would come back here."
"Good," Elrond was the one to speak. "I was about to tell Evelyn of news."
They both looked at Elrond as he stood, moving to stand in front of the roaring fire as Legolas took a seat on the chaise longue next to Evelyn, holding her hand and kissing her cheek.
"What news is this?" Evelyn wondered from her father, her voice slightly cautious.
"We leave to visit Arwen in the coming hours," Elrond said and Evelyn's eyes widened.
"Ada," she protested. "Legolas needs to stay here. I cannot leave him-"
"-No," Legolas interrupted. He wanted to get her as far away from Mirkwood as he could. He knew Aubrey was prisoner but he still didn't want her near him. He smiled at Evelyn, tucking her hair behind her ear before the back of his fingers ran down her cheek. "Your father is right. You need to be away from here. I understand and it is what I want."
"And what of you?"
"I shall stay here for a day or two," Legolas said to her. "I shall stay with my father and Gandalf and then come to you."
"Is this really necessary?" Evelyn wondered.
"Yes," they both spoke in unison.
Legolas moved his hand to her cheek, forcing her gaze to his and he smiled encouragingly. He knew that she was suspicious about everything which had just happened and she did not doubt that she had questioned her father of it. Legolas wondered how much Elrond knew about Aubrey's master plan for he had left him when the confessions had commenced. Yet the gift of foresight never evaded him.
"I know when you are trying to rid yourself of me," Evelyn spoke to Legolas who grinned at her and then kissed her swiftly.
"I would never do that."
...
A/N: I know that it has been a while but here I present another chapter. Hope you enjoyed!