Blood-Stained

Ch. 2: Of Courtship and Catastrophe

A mere three days after his coronation to Prince of Mirkwood, Legolas was already being followed by 'eligible young maidens' wanting much to make his 'personal acquaintance'. True, there had not been a time in his adult life when he was not stalked continuously by females with raging hormones, but at this moment those numbers of crazed girls tripled, and were getting in his way more than usual.

Frustrated by the fact that he could not stroll down the city streets without being run over by masses of girls and ladies, Legolas turned about and headed back to the palace, the one place in Mirkwood where unwanted visitors stayed out when they were ordered to. It was just as Legolas was passing through the gates and about to walk up the long road to the palace that he spotted someone lying in the grass near the gates, which were now unmanned at this hour. He curiously sidled over and looked down upon the figure, which turned out to be a gloriously pretty young elven girl, with dark brown hair swirling in patterns down her back and with small braids similar to his own adorning each side of her hair. She appeared to be sleeping, and Legolas poked at her curiously. Eyes opened and revealed their beautiful jade-green colour to him, and she squinted in the sunlight as he looked down upon her, his figure outlined in sunbeams.

"What...? Who...?" She stuttered, clearly not knowing where she was or who Legolas happened to be, at least not at this particular moment. Her eyes flickered around to spacing behind Legolas, and finally her eyes settled on him, and to the glimmering helm upon his forehead.

"King Thranduil of Mirkwood?" She questioned, clearly still confused. Legolas blinked for a moment, then laughed heartily.

"No, Lady, I am his son, Legolas." He corrected her, helping her to stand. Before she could utter apologies, he asked her if she was feeling alright and what she had done to be laying at the guard gates to the Mirkwood palace. She wobbled slightly when she stood and leaned against him for support, still blinking back the harsh rays of the afternoon sun.

"I do not know, Milord. I only remember being hit on the back of the head, and just now waking up at your calls, sir." She said softly, letting go of Legolas and leaning against the stone of the wall she had been previously lying against.

"You have no memory of what happened to you?" He asked her, finding this very curious indeed. She nodded, pressing her hand to her forehead. It was obvious that she was in pain; Legolas mentally smacked himself for not noticing it earlier. He walked up to her and grabbed her behind the knees and backside, taking her up in his arms; she let out a startled gasp, but said nothing more and did not struggle against him as he led her up the path to the palace.

"Milord, what are you doing..?" She asked wildly, but was cut off instantly by Legolas' stare.

"You are obviously injured and not in the right mindset to be let back out, my dear. I'm sure that the healers in the palace will help you from whatever ails." He said softly, trying to ignore the strong feeling of warmth that he was getting in his palms and up around his neck. "And you don't look fit to walk." He added quickly, noticing her questioning stare.

"Thank you, Milord Legolas." She said softly, keeping herself as far away from his body as she could manage, being held in his arms so tightly and possessively - in her opinion.

"You are welcome, uh..." Legolas' mind went blank as he realised that he did not know the girl's name.

"Luthiena." She provided for him, looking around her as several tall trees passed her field of vision. Her head was swimming, but slowly things were coming into place and she could remember more and more. She did not know why she had come to Mirkwood, but she could remember things about her past, such as important facts, but the memories did not come back to her as swiftly. She shrugged internally and hoped that the prince would not ask about where she had come from.

"Ah, Luthiena. Where have you come from, Milady, or have you forgotten that too?" Legolas asked her nicely, and she thought that she heard a bit of a tease in his voice. She blinked, spitting out words before she even managed to get them around her mind.

"From Rivendell, sire. I was there under the care of my guardian, and I remember travelling on a horse..." She shook her head, "That is all I can remember. I am sorry." She said softly, wondering if he would be upset. After all, she was in the arms of Mirkwood's most valuable elf, and she had not known him very much in the time she had - supposedly - spent in Mirkwood. Vague images of walking the city's streets came to her, but nothing solid she could base assumptions on.

"Quite alright. Don't tire yourself. See, we are almost there." Legolas assured her, walking through the gardens and tendered fishponds that led up to the steps of the great gilded palace he called home.

`-`-`-`-`-`-

"Is there anything else you require, Milady?" Thranduil asked his guest sitting directly beside him, smiling winningly. Lady Galadriel shook her head, nibbling daintily at the food that had been specially prepared for this meal. Her husband Celeborn sat beside her, and Elrond of Rivendell was directly across from her, sitting with his daughter Arwen. They spoke quietly to one another, clearly not in the direct conversation with the king. Celeborn remained quiet, wishing that he could get out of the deep woods of Mirkwood and back to a home he recognised - and most definitely liked better.

Being the only one that was not really doing anything, Thranduil kept trying to strike up conversations with Galadriel, or asking things of her that went way beyond casual conversations. Though it was three days since the coronation of his son, Thranduil insisted that the high guests of honour would stay another week in his presence so he could catch up with things. Elrond and Arwen didn't seem to mind, though they seemed rather anxious to leave. Celeborn rarely came from his room, except for dinner, and was becoming continually anxious to get home and moody about being delayed.

The King's attempts to get the Lady to speak were foiled when Elrond spoke up from the other side of the table.

"My Lord, it has been very pleasurable staying here in such a fine country, but I fear that we must leave now. Unrest has been reported near fine Rivendell, and these days one cannot take chances." He bowed gracefully and stood up, Arwen doing so silently at his side. Thranduil nodded gently and bid them off, before returning his attention to Galadriel.

"Perhaps, my Lady, you would join me in a walk about the gardens when you are done eating?" The King asked suddenly, making the Lady nearly spit her food out across the tablecloth. She kept it in, however, and nearly managed a weak reply before the slamming open of the door shook her out of her sudden fright. Legolas entered the room, unable to formally bow for the half-unconscious girl in his arms.

"Father, I have found this young lady laying among the grass outside of the palace walls. I believe she's been attacked." Legolas said, sounding slightly breathless. Thranduil stared for a moment at his son, an eyebrow raising slowly.

"And what were you intending to do with this girl, my son?" He asked, nearly laughing at the situation he found himself in.

"I thought that perhaps our healers could look at her, father." He asked, barely noticing Lady Galadriel and her husband sitting in their chairs, watching and being slightly miffed that he had just come barging into the room bearing a very young and attractive maiden in his arms. Had he been Galadriel's own son, she probably would have slapped him.

"Yes, yes, go right ahead....Next time do so with a little more caution, Legolas..." Thranduil said, his gaze critically piercing his son's own eyes. Legolas blushed slightly in embarrassment before he ran from the room and down the hall, still able to travel at speed with a woman in his arms.

Scuffling was heard outside of a small, first story window. Twin bulging eyes popped out of the bush and looked into the room, past it into the hallway just in time to see Prince Legolas running down it with the girl in his arms. The creature smiled; the mission had been set underway.

`-`-`-`-`-

In the deepest parts of the forest, where elves dare not venture, there stood an elf of evil proportions. Looking down from his castle window to the barren landscape ahead of him, he could do nothing but scowl. For long years he had been king of nothing more than dirt, dust and rock, and the anger within him had been boiling to a point of no return.

There came a feeble knock at his chamber door, and he knew that his servant had come back to him with news. He said nothing, and the door swung open moments later. The creature Gollum stood hunched before him, it's huge eyes blinking madly about and looking nervously around, as if something would jump out of the shadows and attack him.

"What have you for me, Gollum?" The estranged elf had been in much sorrow for days now, since his daughter had run away from the castle. Why she had done so he did not know why, but he wanted her back soon. Sometimes he felt like she was the only thing keeping him alive, for he loved her much - probably more than he loved life itself.

"The child, ssssirr...She is in the cassssssstle.." Gollum reported, sounding happy with himself. He knew his new master would be happy with this news, and might even reward him with something. At this the elf whirled around on the former hobbit, his green eyes glowing with what seemed like anger, but underneath was happiness and relief.

"She is? In Mirkwood castle?" He said, scratching his chin. He had been fortunate; this could play to his advantage, if he did it right. "What was she like? Did you see her condition?" He asked again, his maternal instincts overcoming him once more. He only cared in this way for his daughter, and he supposed that it would remain like that until he could be eternally happy again.

"Injured, massssster. The Princcccccee took her." Gollum said, shivering in the cold air of the castle. It was cold in these parts of the forest, but he knew that it made no difference to his master, who could not feel the cold, or the heat of the world. Ancient devilry was how he thought of it.

The elf seemed to think this over for moments, his gaze returning to the window and to the barren landscape that swam before his eyes. When Gollum thought that it was his cue to leave, the elf swung back towards him and stared at him, a plan forming in his mind.

"You will go back to the Mirkwood castle, and keep an eye on her for me. Come report to me in three days' time." He said. With that he resumed his staring out of the window, and Gollum left for real this time. He shrank through the corridors of the cold, stony castle, and back out towards the light of day which he despised so much.

`-`-`-`-`

Luthiena groaned when she came to, her eyes opening slowly and adjusting to the waning light of the day. It looked to be almost evening, and sunset was nearly upon her. She sat up, blinking back sleep and looking all around her. She looked to be in some sort of hospital, and at the moment it was completely empty. She looked down and found that her clothes were still upon her body, something that made her sigh in relief. She fingered her long, thick dress, wondering if perhaps she could get a hold of something a little more lighter than this.

The memories of the hours past came back to her, and she unconsciously where Legolas had gotten to. He's a prince, my dear, she reminded herself, He's got better things to do than watch your recovery all day. She sighed, flinging the blankets aside and standing up. She went to the window and looked out, feeling her face being bathed in the sunlight that came streaming down at an angle from the darkening sky. As she stared, she thought about how she had gotten to Mirkwood in the first place. It bothered her because she could not remember anything about where she had been before, who perhaps her parents had been, and why she thought she had come from Rivendell. She did, however, remember emotions and small snatches of memory, and none of them were good. She remembered anguish, pain, suffering and darkness all around her. Even when it was light, the trees blocked it and forced the darkness down upon her. She had fled... Yes, that was it. Wherever she had come from, she had fled in fear. In fear of something, but what she did not know. Yet, hopefully.

There came a knock at the door, and she whirled around, jumping slightly. A servant entered, and she noticed with some disdain that it was a human woman instead of an elf, but she didn't care when she noticed that she brought her a change of clothes and steaming hot food. She thanked the servant and bid her out, who looked happy to serve her even though she was a complete stranger to the royal family. First she looked upon the clothing that had been given to her, and her eyebrows immediately raised themselves. She held the dress out in front of her body; it was a beautiful hunter green, with a small slit down the side decorated in beautiful gold leaf patterns. It also had very thin straps on the top, and she found herself blushing at it's appearance, though it was simply a dress. Along with the dress she found an odd-looking overcoat, of the same colour and gold leaf patterns and beautiful green slippers. She carefully slipped on the dress, afraid that she might rip it if she was not careful. The slippers came on next, and she looked at herself in the mirror. With horror she realised that she actually looked good in it, and she blushed despite herself. It was a far change from her usual woollen dresses that were usually very uncomfortable and itchy. This one was silky, soft and very nice against her skin, despite it's skimpiness in her opinion. Remember dear, there's still the overcoat. She reminded herself, shaking out of her thoughts.

The overcoat, once put on, made the dress look a little more modest; the bottom of it was very form-fitting and melded well with it's golden edges against the underlying green dress, and it continued to be tight until it came to the shoulders, where it became looser and the sleeves billowed out and down, much like the rich dresses she had seen in her lifetime that the Mirkwood noble ladies wore. The sleeves were decorated in the same beautiful gold leaf and the edges, which were wide like the sleeves of religious robes, nearly touched the ground when she put her arms down. All in all, a very stylish dress and it matched perfectly with her hair and eyes. She had a strange feeling that Legolas had picked it out for her, and that feeling made her stomach flutter oddly.

From the food she had been brought she ate roughly half of it, not wanting to seem like a pig or anything. It was very delicious, and seemed to nearly melt in her mouth as her tongue touched it. She smiled happily, feeling more so than she had in years.

`-`-`-`-`

Thranduil entered his son's room, upsetting the deep thinking that he had obviously been in. He started to apologise, but Legolas stopped him.

"That's quite alright, father. What is it that you have come to see me about?" He asked, sensing the worry from his father. The king looked rather distraught, and sat down on a chair near the door to Legolas' chamber.

"I have just found out a few minutes ago, my son. The creature, Gollum, has escaped from the jail we have so painstakingly protected." He said, looking relieved now that he had shared the burden with his son. Legolas felt his mouth open in shock, but instead of looking like an idiot he asked his father exactly when this had happened, and how he had not known until now.

"He escaped the night of your coronation, my son. I do not know how the information has escaped me until now, but it is clear that we cannot leave this be. You must travel to Rivendell and tell Lord Elrond of this immediately. Had he stayed perhaps a little longer, this journey would not have to take place." Thranduil said softly. "I would go myself, Legolas, but I must stay here." He said, his voice changing oddly at the last sentence. Legolas stepped forward and nodded.

"Of course, father. I shall start out tomorrow morning." Thranduil nodded, getting up warily from his chair and walking down the hall, to some unknown destination. Legolas raised an eyebrow at his father's sudden departure, but he said nothing of it. Instead, he remembered suddenly the young maiden he had brought in earlier that day. Perhaps she was awake now. He made plans to go down and see her, but right as he was leaving his quarters a young servant woman stopped him.

"It is the Lady, sir. She has awoken." Legolas nodded, waving her away. He made his way down to her room, which was for now the medic's practicing room, wondering what would become of tomorrow.

Luthiena jumped when the door to the room opened once more, and Legolas stepped through. She calmed herself, but she couldn't help but notice how the Prince was staring at her quite oddly. She blushed and turned, but his stare did not cease.

"That is one of my mother's dresses. I knew you would look very nice in it, Milady." Legolas said after a prolonged silence, feeling warmth creeping up his neck and into his cheeks. "But I have not come here simply to stare at you, Milady. My father wishes for me to travel to Rivendell tomorrow, on the account that the creature Gollum has escaped."

Why did that name sound so familiar? Luthiena found herself searching her brain as the Prince's words filtered through her head. "I would like it very much if you would come with me. You said you are of Rivendell, and perhaps you could find something that jars your memory there. You are certainly not a native of Mirkwood, as you carry the characteristics of one of the dark-haired ones." Legolas added. Luthiena felt her throat tightening, but she did not want to tell him that she was, in fact, not of Rivendell. Somehow she knew that she was not, but she could not tell him that now.

"Yes, I would enjoy that much. Thank you for your hospitality, my Lord." She said gently, bowing oddly in the new dress she had been given. "Perhaps you would like this precious memory of your mother returned to you?" She added, seeing the hurt in his eyes when she mentioned mother. Most likely she was dead, and was immediately sorry she had mentioned anything.

"No, I insist you keep it. There are many more like that, and I believe you will make more use of it than she will, hm?" He said light-heartedly, feeling a smile come to his lips. She nodded, looking around her for lack of anything else to do.

"Ah, yes. Perhaps you would like another room for tonight? I daresay that you would like to spend another night in the infirmary, am I right?" Legolas asked her. She nodded, following his gesture for her to step outside. The dress swished when she walked in it, and she felt distinctly royal in it. She even felt the urge to stand up directly straight as she walked, but it was near to impossible. She found herself wondering what Legolas' mother had been like. Had she the same brown hair that she did? Or perhaps was his mother native Mirkwood blood, so obviously like his father?

"Thank you so much for your hospitality, my Lord. I am sorry that I cannot tell you more about myself, I really wish I could. I am a blank slate on some matters, I fear." She said, embarrassed, but Legolas did not show any sign of making fun of her or spurning her for it.

"Think nothing of it, my dear. We will find out what happened to you. I am just as curious as you, for I have never run into an elf that has lost her memory before, and find it quite intriguing." Legolas said truthfully. Luthiena felt her cheeks growing warm at this, but said nothing.

`-`-`-`-`

Gollum blinked, watching as the two walked down the long corridors of the Mirkwood Castle. He was surprised that guards had not spotted him already, but he took this to his advantage and spied on the young Luthiena as much as he could without being seen. It seemed that the elves here at the palace were too trusting, but he could have been wrong.

"Hey, you creature! Come here!" There came a voice. Gollum whipped his head around, seeing three elves running towards him. The one in the head, and drawing an arrow to his bow, was Haldir of Lothlorien. Gollum screeched and bolted from the bushes, running as fast as he could over the palace gardens, three angry guard elves in hot pursuit, their bows singing and arrows flying.