#19 The Lion and The Mouse
Eyes as huge as dinner plates stared out from a tear streaked, pale, small face as the young boy walked into the throne room flanked by two sturdy guards. His steps were firm even though his legs trembled and his head was held high, determination writ upon his brow.
"Here is the miscreant, your majesty."
Pushed forwards forcefully the child almost fell, only his lightness of foot and determination keeping him from ending up in a sprawled heap at the king's feet.
Thranduil unfolded his long limbs from his seat and rose, his face a cool mask. Towering over the youngling he stared down his aquiline nose, blue eyes glinting with masked emotion.
"Well!"
The single word elicited the widening of already fearful green eyes.
"What have you to say for yourself?"
Small feet shuffled briefly and the child swallowed audibly.
"S. ." The word was squeaked out from between lips made dry by nerves.
"I can't hear you, child, speak up!" The king roared and stepped closer, noting with satisfaction that, although shaking in his shoes, the child did not retreat.
"I am sorry. Aran Nin." The boy replied after taking a deep breath. "I did not mean to …"
"It is not I you should direct your apologies to, ion nin." The king broke in. Trying hard to maintain his stern mien. "'tis Elladan who lays, unconscious in the healers hall."
The child shuffled nervously again as tears began to flow anew from eyes already red with weeping.
"I…I…I never thought…"
"You never do." Thranduil snapped. "That is the problem."
"Sire, if I may speak."
A tall, dark haired young ellon pushed past the guards to stand beside the youngster, resting a hand consolingly upon his shaking shoulder.
"It was not entirely Legolas' fault."
Thranduil raised a kingly eyebrow and nodded slightly for the youth to continue.
"We, that is, my brother and I." The young elf began sheepishly, trying and failing to meet the king's eyes. "We, well, we, may have, suggested to Legolas that he was too young to be able to climb the old oak, the large one that stands where the river crosses the elven path." His voice petered out as the king inhaled loudly.
"Go on." Thranduil's voice was low and frost filled.
"Well," Elrohir swallowed nervously and continued. "We did not mean…we did not think…" He gulped as he was finally caught in the king's gaze and could not tear his eyes away, feeling like a mouse trapped in a lion's angry stare.
"We tried to stop him, sire, we tried to call him back but he would not stop. Elladan followed but he could not keep up, he was just so fast, so very fast, and we were calling and calling and telling him to come down, that we could see we were wrong, but then Elladan slipped and …" The youth stopped and gasped for breath.
"He fell."
The childish voice broke as it uttered the words.
"Elladan fell and it's all my fault."
"Nay, pen neth." Elrohir knelt to face Legolas. "It is our fault. We should never have doubted what a wood elf could do."
"Nay," Thanduil retorted sharply. Moving to stand beside his young son. "You should not." Placing his hand gently upon Legolas' head he looked down at the young twin. "Many have come to grief after underestimating an elf of Eryn Galen."
"But 'tis my fault Elladan is dead!" Legolas raised eyes riven by pain and anguish to his father.
It was then Thranduil's turn to kneel, gathering his young son into his arms as he did so.
"Oh, nay, nay, Legolas." The king soothed, stroking an elegant hand down the younglings back. "Elladan is not dead."
Legolas pulled back to stare at his father in puzzlement.
"He merely sleeps, ion nin." Thranduil smiled slyly, arching one dark eyebrow. "After all, he did fall into the enchanted river…"
A/N Ok, so I know this is really too long to be called a drabble but I have had sooooo much trouble with this prompt and after having at least 4 different attempts finally decided that enough was enough and this one should stand. So, here it is. And I know it has been a while but hopefully now Christmas and other stupid RL stuff is out of the way I will find more time for writing and updating.
It just remains to say thanks for reading and hopefully you might think about dropping me a note to say what you thought :)
