This extra update is for the lovely Lathril - thanks for dropping me a review and getting me out of my literary rut :) x
Chapter 38: The Whole Truth
"Legolas, darling," Ceres held her arms out to him as he dismounted and strode to her quickly.
"Inside," he uttered curtly and passed her completely, going into the palace. Butterflies fluttered in her tummy as she worried that he was angry with her for some reason. Why rush inside? Was he going to shout? She followed him into an empty lounge and to her shock he fell to his knees before her, clinging to her waist and muttering into her skirts as he buried his face in the fabric.
"Legolas?" she voiced worriedly, glancing up at his parents as they entered, standing stock still as they witnessed his state.
Ceres' breath hitched as she noticed his shoulders shaking visibly. Was he crying? Nay, but he was trembling and upset. She patted his almost dark hair, she had never seen it so filthy, in an attempt to give him comfort but was at a loss.
"Son, get up!" she heard Thranduil boom, he being of the opinion that a man never bows down before his Wife.
"Thranduil, leave us!" Nienna's voice was as foreboding as her Husband's had been.
She shut the door on him and went to her child. "Legolas my sweet boy, what in Arda has happened?"
He turned his head to the side, revealing his dirt saturated face and his Wife took the opportunity to sink down to the floor with him and his Mother.
"My love you're scaring me, speak to me please…" she begged, close to hysteria herself at seeing him so.
"Ceres, Melethen, please don't leave me…"
Boran had given Thranduil a brief run down of the events leading to the safe return of Legolas and some of his men. A full debriefing had been verbally scheduled for the next morning as he and the King stood on the Palace steps conversing. There was just one task to see to, the burial of Lia. Thranduil gave his permission for the woman to be laid in the chapel of rest while arrangements were made for her.
Boran took the wrapped body along the paths through the gardens and grounds of the Palace to the burial site. He meandered through the peaceful resting place of the few elves unfortunate enough to pass, to the small stone chapel. Entering it silently he laid her upon the stone slab in the centre, crafted for such a purpose. He prayed to the Valar that she would be seen safely to Mandos. Perhaps Legolas was right, her deeds were true in her final hours, and he hoped that she would be judged by those actions.
"You dare to bring that whore here!" Ceres thundered behind him, breaking the tranquil air.
He stood quickly, bowing his respect. 'So, Legolas had disclosed all then.'
"T'was my order Highness," he answered her truthfully.
"Ceres, don't hassle Boran," Legolas' tone was meek but he attempted to stand his ground. "I couldn't just leave her there after what she'd done for me.."
She spun back to face her Husband, "Awww boo hoo Legolas. Did you stop to think about what she'd done to you! And what about Morov? Kinter? Oramir? Adan? They deserved to be left where they fell. Did you think of them too? Or were you too busy thinking with your cock?"
"Ceres!" he warned, though didn't sound very menacing, he was taking a proverbial beating and he obviously thought he deserved it.
Boran was saddened to see him stood letting her batter the hell out of him verbally, believing every word she said. The Princess got closer to Boran, turning her back on her shrinking Husband.
"Ceres?" he questioned boldly, wondering what she could possibly want down here.
"Uncover her."
He blinked repeatedly.
"Do it!" she commanded, "I want to look upon the woman in whose shadow I stand!"
She was being irrational, but Boran had predicted that much, it was always going to be difficult for her to come to terms with. He pulled the blanket back slowly, revealing Lia's lifeless form.
Ceres sobbed into her hand. Partially because she had never seen a dead person before, but another thought pulled at her. "She's beautiful," she whispered, so softly that only Boran heard her, "Damn you, you bitch I hope you burn in hell."
The Captain was sure he had misheard her, but then she suddenly turned on her heels and stormed back up the path before he could react to her unbecoming words. She paused to quarrel with Legolas once more but their words were lost to him as he tried to push the anguish from his own being. Watching them like this was heart wrenching. Their voices raised in volume and their arms flailed in frustrated gestures. Legolas looked like he was begging again and she left abruptly.
Boran walked the Prince back to the palace, watching him drag his feet and keep his gaze downward. Neither spoke, each lost in their own turmoil. Upon spying a lone guard the Captain approached him, "Are you assigned to a specific position?"
"No Sir, I am on general perimeter patrol," the youngster stood to attention, baffled by the Prince's less-than-regal state and attitude beside the ellon giving him his orders. He knew Boran was the new authority, that Leowen was teetering on death's door.
"Go down to the chapel of rest, the body of a woman lies there. I would have you watch the entrance this night," Boran continued, wanting to ensure Lia had some company. It was for Legolas' peace of mind also, until they reached Greenwood he had not left her since her death.
"Aye Sir," the ellon saluted in the elven fashion and left to take up his post.
"I have arranged for you to reside in the chambers across the hall," Legolas said so quietly that his Friend barely heard him as they entered the foyer.
"Thank you," he voiced genuinely, having been worrying about where he would now go. Then he cautiously added, "She will come around you know."
"Hmmm, maybe."
Their silence resumed as they walked, both looking forward to a soft bed and a long sleep, though both knew they may not find the sleep. In the corridor outside their doors Legolas halted, biting his lip nervously as he eyed his family's chamber door. His Daughter had been in her Grandparents care tonight, so he would not have to face her disapproval, but he would have to deal with that of his Wife.
"If you should need a place to sleep tonight…" Boran smiled humourlessly, knowing the likelihood of Ceres letting Legolas sleep in his own bed was dubious at best.
He turned the handle of his new chambers and entered. Just a few moments later he heard shouting across the hall and sighed worriedly, he had been the one that insisted he tell Ceres, he feared now that it had not been sound advice. His rooms were stunning, almost identical to Legolas and Ceres', the only difference being that he only had one bedroom, they had two. He didn't deserve to be in chambers fit for royalty, that he felt sure of.
A quiet knock at the door made him smile a grim smile. He went to the door and opened it, and as predicted, there stood Legolas clutching a pillow and nursing his pride.
The elf came inside and flung his pillow on one of the sofas. "She's pretty pissed off," he mused aloud as he started to remove his boots, not wanting to stain the luxurious carpeting, "But by the morrow she will have improved."
"Give her a few days and her anger will dispel. Telling her was a brave and honest thing, and she will see that once the anger clears," Boran watched as his Friend winced, peeling his torn and battered boots from himself, "Are you in pain?" he asked, concerned.
"'Tis very unpleasant, I have not removed these boots for over a month."
It was then that Boran truly noticed the disgusting condition of his Friend. His hair was almost black with dirt, his face also dirty but his cheeks were not so, having been cleaned by his tears the previous evening, hints of pink scars peeking through the grime. His clothes were torn in places and worn through on one knee, probably from being thrown to the floor by his aggressors. "Go on and use the bathing room before me, do not take offence Legolas, but it is for the greater good!"
He was relived to see his Friend smile broadly, for the first time since their reunion with Evie in Imladris.
Legolas finally managed to get the boots off, tossing them by the door, only fit now for the bin. His tunic soon followed, encrusted with blood and sweat. Untying his breeches he halted for several moments, lost in thought as he stared down at them. Boran wondered at his halt in movement and glanced to him. It was as if he were reluctant to remove them. He followed the Prince's gaze, at the front of his garment was an unsavoury stain. For a fleeting moment Boran was embarrassed for Legolas, the evidence of his arousal during his encounter with Lia apparent. But then he realised the stain was on the outside, and Legolas' words lead him to a different understanding.
"I can't believe she is dead, she is still on me." His mind flashed back to her grinding against his clothed hips, the fluids of her orgasm spreading over the front of his breeches.
Orgasm? Legolas' mind stopped dead. He remembered now, he had pleasured her and she had come. Surely that was not in her design, that must have been the turning point? If everything he remembered about his actions toward his imaginary Ceres had actually taken place between him and Lia, then he did not penetrate her at all, save the tip. He felt relief at that thought, but a rogue part of him wished he had now that she was dead and gone. He willed the thought to leave him, he was in enough trouble with his Wife without making things worse.
As if reading his mind's inclination, Boran assured, "Get rid of all of this and you will be free of it all Legolas, any stray desire for her, any guilt you feel at her passing, it all seems so raw now, but it will pass."
He nodded and removed his breeches, tossing them into the pile as if they were on fire. He strode towards Boran's bathroom and could have leapt for joy to see the bathtub filled with steaming water. The maids were, he had to admit, efficient to a baffling degree. He stood before the mirror and tried to yank the ties from his hair. It was not happening, they were too matted in. He took the small, intricate grooming knife from the table in front of him. He attempted to cut the ties alone but widened his eyes slightly as a clump of hair came free with it. He worked the other tie out with the knife, deciding it may not be worth cutting any more without either his Wife or a maid to aid him.
Walking to the tub he climbed in and closed his eyes blissfully as he sank into the warmth. He barely suppressed a groan as it swished around him, washing away the dirt, the blood, and Lia's arousal. He dipped his head underwater and raked at his tangles as he rose again. It was no use, he would need help with his hair.
"Boran!" he called several times before his Friend appeared at the crack in the door. "Would you get Aòrelind for me, it's late, she shouldn't be with Ceres now." He hoped anyway, he'd rather not have a stranger with him if she were unavailable. He was fairly certain the ladies maid was over her crush, and if not, the sight of him in his current unsavoury condition was sure to cure her of it.
"OK," Boran voiced half in amusement, did his Friend have a death wish? If Ceres found out in her current state of perpetual anger she'd castrate him for sure.
The Captain went silently across the hall, hoping Ceres was already asleep. Aòrelind was folding clean washing when he entered the main room. "His Highness requests you, follow me," he bid her quietly.
"I have washing to do Boran, I don't have time to play games this night."
"My Lady I assure you I do not play with you."
She eyed him suspiciously, then reluctantly followed. She walked across to the chambers opposite and into the bedroom, at which point she wondered if it had merely been a bid to get her into his bedchamber. She halted her steps nervously. But she narrowed her gaze at him when he indicated the bath chamber. She thought him jesting and strode to the door, swinging it open and gasping embarrassedly to find the Prince actually bathing.
She was about to turn and run when she caught sight of the clumps of severed blonde hair on the table, "By the Valar what have you done to your hair Highness!" Her mortification fled her as the maid in her prevailed over the young woman and she strode to his side, assessing the damage.
Legolas smiled sheepishly, "Aye, I have made a bit of a hash of it. My Wife may slit my throat if I let her loose with a knife at her leisure so I beg of you Aòrelind, will you make what you can of it?"
"Of course I will try, but Sire you have taken a considerable amount from the sides!"
Boran chuckled at her initial discomfort but found himself bored once it seemed to flee her. Thus he left them to it while he went about unpacking his belongings in his temporary new home. He wondered how long Legolas would allow him to stay here.
He heard, "Ow!" then, "If you would just keep still your Highness…" The dark-haired ellon laughed aloud, receiving a jesting curse in answer from the direction of the bathroom.