Hi folks! Thanks for all your reviews, i'm so glad you like the story! and i'd like to dedicate this part to all those who found the time to review my story, both on here, and by email, cause it's you guys who make me want to keep writing! due to overwhemling demand, i have decided on the ending for my story! please, enjoy part 8!
Disclaimer: I don't own the lord of the rings characters, i'm just borrowing them!
Thranduil stalked up the corridor, and banged on his son's door.
"Legolas!", he called sharpely,"Let me in now!"
Legolas opened the door softly, his eyes swollen from crying so much.
"What are you playing at my boy?!", Thranduil growled at his son, choosing to ignore his eyes,"The bell for dinner rang but half an hour ago! Get yourself down there now, i will not have our good family name embarassed by you."
Legolas's father spun round, and left the chamber, forcing himself not to shout at his son, for although he was angry with Legolas, he was proud of him for passing the second task.
Legolas stood in the open doorway shaking as he watched his father leave. He began to pull on his dinner garments slowly, for he knew it would do him no favours to have both his father and Elrond annoyed with him.
Several minutes later, he slouched into the hall, dragging his feet behind him. He began to move toward his usual seat, but found to his dismay that someone already filled it. Thandiul. Hurridly, he turned away, his eyes once more filling with watery tears. He wiped them away with the back of his hand, and held his breath. He walked straight past Arwen, towards the only vacant seat in the hall, beside Prince Ruyston.
"Hello Legolas", Arwen nodded to him as he strode by.
Legolas could only give a slight nod back, for he knew that he would burst into sobs if he stopped to talk to the beautiful elf maiden.
He lowered himself into the chair beside Ruyston.
"Ah. Evening Legolas", Ruyston smiled as he took a sip of wine."How are things? Solve your riddle?"
Legolas was not in a talkative mood, and for once could not bear the Prince's bubbly attitude.
"Yes", he replied, with no expression on his fair elvish face,"I did."
"I wonder who will eventually win the tournament?", Ruyston remarked, once more sipping some of his wine, only this time drowning the glass, signalling to one of the elf servants to bring another bottle.
"I do not know", Legolas remarked dryly, glancing at the Prince's once more empty glass,"Any one of us is fit for it, so it will be to chance that the eventual winner is decided."
"I suppose you are right", Ruyston remarked, as the elf servant appeared at the table.
Legolas recognised him immediatly as the elf who had banged into him earlier that day. He looked up at the servant and smiled broadly.
The young elf looked shocked, but returned the smile pleasantly, and began to pour Prince Ruyston another drink.
"What are you smiling for?", Ruyston spat at the poor servant,"I told you to come over here immediatly, not when you feel like it! I demand you apologise to me, right now!"
The young elf trembled, his own blond hair falling over his face, as he stumbled to both apologise and pour out the wine. His confidence failed him, and he spilled the blood red wine over the pearl white table cloth.
"Stupid elf!", Ruyston got up from his seat and pushed the servant roughly backwards,"I will see that you are punished for that! Get that cleaned up immediatly!"
Legolas snapped.
"Enough Ruyston! It was an accident! Leave that poor elf alone!", he to got up from his seat, glaring at the Prince from the Grey Havens. He glanced at the poor elf, who looked as though he were about to dissolve into tears.
"It was not your fault", he said kindly to the trembling elf,"Go now, it was an accident, i shall fetch someone else to clean this mess."
The elf quickly obeyed, giving Legolas a small stammer of thanks.
"See here Legolas!", Prince Ruyston glared at the mirkwood elf,"If i say something you are not to argue with me. I demand that elf is brought back here to apologise."
"It was an accident", Legolas retorted calmly,"The elf does not need to apologise again, he has done so once, and once is enough."
Ruyston made a fist, and lunged across the table at Legolas. Legolas was ready for the attack, and dodged out of the way. Ruyston's fist hit the empty wine bottle, smashing it into a thousand pieces which spilled over the floor.
Legolas looked on in disbelief as Ruyston turned and lept on to the table.
"You stupid elf!", Ruyston cried at the top of his voice, the dining hall suddenly in silence as their fight was carried over the grounds."You are a child Legolas, you know not what royalty is. If you were not the son of Thranduil, most probably you would be serving in the kitchens yourself! You are not good enough for the mistress Arwen, you are not even good enough for the lowlyest of kitchen elves!"
Legolas bore his fist into Ruyston's face, his white hot anger blinding his vision to see sense.
Ruyston tryed to duck, but missed, and Legolas's punch hit him full force on the head. He fell on to the table, but began to swing his own fists wildly in the air, attempting to hit Legolas.
Legolas in turn lept upon the elf from the Grey Havens, and kicked him in the stomach. Ruyston grabbed Legolas's blond hair, and pulled as hard as he could on the wild, tangled locks.
"Enough Legolas Greenleaf!", Elrond called, pulling Legolas from the weak body of Prince Ruyston."Enough Prince Ruyston! I will not have fighting in my dining area! Both of you should be ashamed of yourselves, elves of your calibre should not have to settle an argument with violence. Leave immediatly, and stand outside my chamber, i shall speak with you shortly."
The two elves left the room in silence, not daring to look at each other in case their fight began again.
Legolas hung his head as he walked past Arwen.
"I'm sorry you had to see that", he whispered in her ear as he continued towards Elrond's chamber.
Arwen was stunned with shock, for she had not thought that Legolas would ever hit another of his kindred, she had always seen him as a gentle spirit, who helped others when they were in need. She glanced at his swollen face as he moved on.
"Perhaps i was wrong", she thought to herself as her friend slowly moved out of sight,"Perhaps he is not the elf i deemed him to be after all."
Thandiul remained silent, for he knew that he need have no input to Arwen's thoughts at this moment, for she was imagining the worst of Legolas without any help from him.
Elrond walked down the corridor after the two elves, simmering with anger at the humilation they had just brought upon his house.
"Inside Ruyston", he pointed to his door,"Remain here Prince Legolas, i shall speak with you next."
Prince Ruyston cast Legolas a dark look as he was shown inside Elrond's room. The door slammed shut, and there was silence.
Legolas leant against the uncomfortable wall beside Elrond's room for some considerable time, thinking over what had happened in the dining room. He felt embarassed over what he had done now, but he knew deep inside that he had made the right decision, for someone had to stick up for the servant elves, and he was proud to be the one to do it.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Prince Ruyston imerged, a sad look on his face that at once proclaimed him to be a wiser man than before.
"Enter Legolas of Mirkwood", Elrond's cold voice seeping through the warm palace air.
Legolas frowned at the prince, and slowly stepped over the threshold of Elrond's domain.
The door closed swiftly behind him.
"Let me explain what happened Elrond", Legolas began, wishing to tell Elrond why he had acted in the way that he had.
"I have heard it all", Elrond interrupted,"I know you acted from the best of itentions Legolas, but what you did was wrong. Prince Ruyston is your elder, and i will not have younger elves disobeying their superiors. I will not tolerate this kind of thing again Legolas."
"But Elrond", Legolas stammered,"I meant no disrespect to Prince Ruyston, i mearly set out to stand up for the servant elf.....i."
Elrond raised his hand."Our interview is over Legolas. As i have said, i will not condone actions of this kind. If i hear of you in any trouble like this again, i will disqualify you from the tournament. Understood?"
Legolas nodded, biting his lip to sustain his temper, for if he shouted at Elrond, he was sure to be disqualified.
"Then you may leave", Elrond waved his hand at the poor Mirkwood elf, how imediatly turned and thrust open the oak door.
Legolas ran down the passage, his light feet only skimming the marble ground. Suddenly, he stopped. He glanced out of the arch window, and was almost sick at the sight that he beheld. There, down on the lawn, Arwen and Thandiul sat kissing, the sun sinking slowly into the trees behind them.
Legolas felt the soft tear running down his cheek even as he looked away. He hurried back to his own chamber, and lay down on his bed.
"Could this day get any worse", he whispered into the sheets miserably.
Elrond hastened outside, he had to reach Arwen before the third task went into place. To his surprise, he found her kissing Thandiul. He became embarassed, and coughed quietly.
"Thandiul?", he said quietly,"Do you think it possible for me to speak with my daughter?"
Thandiul rose quickly, and backed away."Why, of course Elrond. I shall see you tomorrow Arwen."
"Arwen?", Elrond said urgently,"I need you to come with me, you are to play the biggest part in the third task."
"Of course father", Arwen said doubtfully as she followed her father indoors. She reflected on her night with Thandiul. He was a lovely person, but deep down Arwen knew that she still cared for Legolas more, despite what he had done in the dining hall that evening.
"Well", she mumbled to herself, as she relentlessly folloed her father through the palace,"That may have to change, for i know father likes Legolas less than he should."
"Here Arwen!", Elrond called to his daughter,"Stay here, and do not move. I promise daughter, you shall not be hurt."
Suddenly, a wall of fire sprung up around Arwen, leaving her trapped in the centre.
"Father!", she called,"What are you doing!?"
But Elrond had gone, and Arwen was alone to face the flames.
It was dark outside when one of Thranduil's servants shook Legolas's shoulder lightly.
"Awaken Prince Legolas!", she whispered to him,"For Elrond wishes to see thee, it concerns the final round of the tournament."
Legolas shot out of bed, and grabbed his tunic from the floor.
"Where?", he cried,"Where must i go?"
"Follow me", the elf said, springing out of the door.
Legolas follwed imediatly, as his fathers elf led him down a huge, winding set of stairs.
"Where does this lead?", Legolas asked, hugging himself, for it was much colder down here than in the warm vicinity of the palace.
"To here", the elf hit one of the stone ruins embeded on the wall. Suddenly, a passageway sprung out from behind the wall. "Down there Prince Legolas, tis the final round of the tournament, a great task awaits you."
Shaking his head in disbelief, Legolas entered the passageway, edging down the deserted bridge.
"There you are Legolas!", Elrond's voice boomed over the rushing noise of the walls."You are late."
Legolas ran to Elrond, apologising swiftly, looking in doubt at the obleak darkness in front of him.
"Now, this is your final task competitors", Elrond pointed into the darkness."One by one you shall venture into the darkness. This task was made to test your elvish nature. In the darkness, there are some simple obstacles to pass, but the true test shall come at the end. Prince Ruyston, you are first. Enter the darkness."
Prince Ruyston drew his small sword and ran into the blackness, without looking back.
"I cannot tell you what to expect", Elrond warned Legolas and Thandiul,"But, you must only enter one at a time, or you shall be disqualified. I must leave, but i shall be waiting for you at the other end of the maze. Good luck."
Elrond, snapped his fingers, and he disapearred, leaving Thandiul and Legolas alone in the darkened cave.
Quickly Legolas edged away from his uncle, he was terrfied of the older man, and he silently cursed Elrond for leaving him alone with him.
Thandiul heard Legolas scrape himself against the wall.
"What's wrong Legolas?", he called softly to his nephew, beginning to reach out his hands, trying to grasp Legolas's own."Are you scared?"
Legolas could only whimper in reply. He was terrified, for he had no wish to stay with his uncle, and yet, he could not leave because of the tournament. He stayed silent, praying that his uncle would fail to find him.
It was not to be.
"Legolas", he uncle said, grabbing his young nephew by the neck, dragging him towards him. "I have no wish to torment you........."
Legolas splutered wildly as his uncle forced him to the ground.
"But, i'm bored, and you are my one source of entertainment", he continued, watching Legolas squirm underneath him, laughing cruelly at the young elf's feeble attempts to get up.
"Let me go", Legolas wept, forcing himself out of his uncle's arms.
But, Thandiul was too strong for Legolas, his forcefull hands binding Legolas to the floor. He stroked his nephews face, feeling the swollen lumps around his eyes.
"Stop it!", Legolas cried,"Stop it!"
Thandiul took no notice.
"Please", Legolas prayed, as his uncle came closer.
"You brought this upon yourself Legolas", Thandiul snarled," This is nothing to do with me!"
Hope you liked it! Part 9 up soon! Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I don't own the lord of the rings characters, i'm just borrowing them!
Thranduil stalked up the corridor, and banged on his son's door.
"Legolas!", he called sharpely,"Let me in now!"
Legolas opened the door softly, his eyes swollen from crying so much.
"What are you playing at my boy?!", Thranduil growled at his son, choosing to ignore his eyes,"The bell for dinner rang but half an hour ago! Get yourself down there now, i will not have our good family name embarassed by you."
Legolas's father spun round, and left the chamber, forcing himself not to shout at his son, for although he was angry with Legolas, he was proud of him for passing the second task.
Legolas stood in the open doorway shaking as he watched his father leave. He began to pull on his dinner garments slowly, for he knew it would do him no favours to have both his father and Elrond annoyed with him.
Several minutes later, he slouched into the hall, dragging his feet behind him. He began to move toward his usual seat, but found to his dismay that someone already filled it. Thandiul. Hurridly, he turned away, his eyes once more filling with watery tears. He wiped them away with the back of his hand, and held his breath. He walked straight past Arwen, towards the only vacant seat in the hall, beside Prince Ruyston.
"Hello Legolas", Arwen nodded to him as he strode by.
Legolas could only give a slight nod back, for he knew that he would burst into sobs if he stopped to talk to the beautiful elf maiden.
He lowered himself into the chair beside Ruyston.
"Ah. Evening Legolas", Ruyston smiled as he took a sip of wine."How are things? Solve your riddle?"
Legolas was not in a talkative mood, and for once could not bear the Prince's bubbly attitude.
"Yes", he replied, with no expression on his fair elvish face,"I did."
"I wonder who will eventually win the tournament?", Ruyston remarked, once more sipping some of his wine, only this time drowning the glass, signalling to one of the elf servants to bring another bottle.
"I do not know", Legolas remarked dryly, glancing at the Prince's once more empty glass,"Any one of us is fit for it, so it will be to chance that the eventual winner is decided."
"I suppose you are right", Ruyston remarked, as the elf servant appeared at the table.
Legolas recognised him immediatly as the elf who had banged into him earlier that day. He looked up at the servant and smiled broadly.
The young elf looked shocked, but returned the smile pleasantly, and began to pour Prince Ruyston another drink.
"What are you smiling for?", Ruyston spat at the poor servant,"I told you to come over here immediatly, not when you feel like it! I demand you apologise to me, right now!"
The young elf trembled, his own blond hair falling over his face, as he stumbled to both apologise and pour out the wine. His confidence failed him, and he spilled the blood red wine over the pearl white table cloth.
"Stupid elf!", Ruyston got up from his seat and pushed the servant roughly backwards,"I will see that you are punished for that! Get that cleaned up immediatly!"
Legolas snapped.
"Enough Ruyston! It was an accident! Leave that poor elf alone!", he to got up from his seat, glaring at the Prince from the Grey Havens. He glanced at the poor elf, who looked as though he were about to dissolve into tears.
"It was not your fault", he said kindly to the trembling elf,"Go now, it was an accident, i shall fetch someone else to clean this mess."
The elf quickly obeyed, giving Legolas a small stammer of thanks.
"See here Legolas!", Prince Ruyston glared at the mirkwood elf,"If i say something you are not to argue with me. I demand that elf is brought back here to apologise."
"It was an accident", Legolas retorted calmly,"The elf does not need to apologise again, he has done so once, and once is enough."
Ruyston made a fist, and lunged across the table at Legolas. Legolas was ready for the attack, and dodged out of the way. Ruyston's fist hit the empty wine bottle, smashing it into a thousand pieces which spilled over the floor.
Legolas looked on in disbelief as Ruyston turned and lept on to the table.
"You stupid elf!", Ruyston cried at the top of his voice, the dining hall suddenly in silence as their fight was carried over the grounds."You are a child Legolas, you know not what royalty is. If you were not the son of Thranduil, most probably you would be serving in the kitchens yourself! You are not good enough for the mistress Arwen, you are not even good enough for the lowlyest of kitchen elves!"
Legolas bore his fist into Ruyston's face, his white hot anger blinding his vision to see sense.
Ruyston tryed to duck, but missed, and Legolas's punch hit him full force on the head. He fell on to the table, but began to swing his own fists wildly in the air, attempting to hit Legolas.
Legolas in turn lept upon the elf from the Grey Havens, and kicked him in the stomach. Ruyston grabbed Legolas's blond hair, and pulled as hard as he could on the wild, tangled locks.
"Enough Legolas Greenleaf!", Elrond called, pulling Legolas from the weak body of Prince Ruyston."Enough Prince Ruyston! I will not have fighting in my dining area! Both of you should be ashamed of yourselves, elves of your calibre should not have to settle an argument with violence. Leave immediatly, and stand outside my chamber, i shall speak with you shortly."
The two elves left the room in silence, not daring to look at each other in case their fight began again.
Legolas hung his head as he walked past Arwen.
"I'm sorry you had to see that", he whispered in her ear as he continued towards Elrond's chamber.
Arwen was stunned with shock, for she had not thought that Legolas would ever hit another of his kindred, she had always seen him as a gentle spirit, who helped others when they were in need. She glanced at his swollen face as he moved on.
"Perhaps i was wrong", she thought to herself as her friend slowly moved out of sight,"Perhaps he is not the elf i deemed him to be after all."
Thandiul remained silent, for he knew that he need have no input to Arwen's thoughts at this moment, for she was imagining the worst of Legolas without any help from him.
Elrond walked down the corridor after the two elves, simmering with anger at the humilation they had just brought upon his house.
"Inside Ruyston", he pointed to his door,"Remain here Prince Legolas, i shall speak with you next."
Prince Ruyston cast Legolas a dark look as he was shown inside Elrond's room. The door slammed shut, and there was silence.
Legolas leant against the uncomfortable wall beside Elrond's room for some considerable time, thinking over what had happened in the dining room. He felt embarassed over what he had done now, but he knew deep inside that he had made the right decision, for someone had to stick up for the servant elves, and he was proud to be the one to do it.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Prince Ruyston imerged, a sad look on his face that at once proclaimed him to be a wiser man than before.
"Enter Legolas of Mirkwood", Elrond's cold voice seeping through the warm palace air.
Legolas frowned at the prince, and slowly stepped over the threshold of Elrond's domain.
The door closed swiftly behind him.
"Let me explain what happened Elrond", Legolas began, wishing to tell Elrond why he had acted in the way that he had.
"I have heard it all", Elrond interrupted,"I know you acted from the best of itentions Legolas, but what you did was wrong. Prince Ruyston is your elder, and i will not have younger elves disobeying their superiors. I will not tolerate this kind of thing again Legolas."
"But Elrond", Legolas stammered,"I meant no disrespect to Prince Ruyston, i mearly set out to stand up for the servant elf.....i."
Elrond raised his hand."Our interview is over Legolas. As i have said, i will not condone actions of this kind. If i hear of you in any trouble like this again, i will disqualify you from the tournament. Understood?"
Legolas nodded, biting his lip to sustain his temper, for if he shouted at Elrond, he was sure to be disqualified.
"Then you may leave", Elrond waved his hand at the poor Mirkwood elf, how imediatly turned and thrust open the oak door.
Legolas ran down the passage, his light feet only skimming the marble ground. Suddenly, he stopped. He glanced out of the arch window, and was almost sick at the sight that he beheld. There, down on the lawn, Arwen and Thandiul sat kissing, the sun sinking slowly into the trees behind them.
Legolas felt the soft tear running down his cheek even as he looked away. He hurried back to his own chamber, and lay down on his bed.
"Could this day get any worse", he whispered into the sheets miserably.
Elrond hastened outside, he had to reach Arwen before the third task went into place. To his surprise, he found her kissing Thandiul. He became embarassed, and coughed quietly.
"Thandiul?", he said quietly,"Do you think it possible for me to speak with my daughter?"
Thandiul rose quickly, and backed away."Why, of course Elrond. I shall see you tomorrow Arwen."
"Arwen?", Elrond said urgently,"I need you to come with me, you are to play the biggest part in the third task."
"Of course father", Arwen said doubtfully as she followed her father indoors. She reflected on her night with Thandiul. He was a lovely person, but deep down Arwen knew that she still cared for Legolas more, despite what he had done in the dining hall that evening.
"Well", she mumbled to herself, as she relentlessly folloed her father through the palace,"That may have to change, for i know father likes Legolas less than he should."
"Here Arwen!", Elrond called to his daughter,"Stay here, and do not move. I promise daughter, you shall not be hurt."
Suddenly, a wall of fire sprung up around Arwen, leaving her trapped in the centre.
"Father!", she called,"What are you doing!?"
But Elrond had gone, and Arwen was alone to face the flames.
It was dark outside when one of Thranduil's servants shook Legolas's shoulder lightly.
"Awaken Prince Legolas!", she whispered to him,"For Elrond wishes to see thee, it concerns the final round of the tournament."
Legolas shot out of bed, and grabbed his tunic from the floor.
"Where?", he cried,"Where must i go?"
"Follow me", the elf said, springing out of the door.
Legolas follwed imediatly, as his fathers elf led him down a huge, winding set of stairs.
"Where does this lead?", Legolas asked, hugging himself, for it was much colder down here than in the warm vicinity of the palace.
"To here", the elf hit one of the stone ruins embeded on the wall. Suddenly, a passageway sprung out from behind the wall. "Down there Prince Legolas, tis the final round of the tournament, a great task awaits you."
Shaking his head in disbelief, Legolas entered the passageway, edging down the deserted bridge.
"There you are Legolas!", Elrond's voice boomed over the rushing noise of the walls."You are late."
Legolas ran to Elrond, apologising swiftly, looking in doubt at the obleak darkness in front of him.
"Now, this is your final task competitors", Elrond pointed into the darkness."One by one you shall venture into the darkness. This task was made to test your elvish nature. In the darkness, there are some simple obstacles to pass, but the true test shall come at the end. Prince Ruyston, you are first. Enter the darkness."
Prince Ruyston drew his small sword and ran into the blackness, without looking back.
"I cannot tell you what to expect", Elrond warned Legolas and Thandiul,"But, you must only enter one at a time, or you shall be disqualified. I must leave, but i shall be waiting for you at the other end of the maze. Good luck."
Elrond, snapped his fingers, and he disapearred, leaving Thandiul and Legolas alone in the darkened cave.
Quickly Legolas edged away from his uncle, he was terrfied of the older man, and he silently cursed Elrond for leaving him alone with him.
Thandiul heard Legolas scrape himself against the wall.
"What's wrong Legolas?", he called softly to his nephew, beginning to reach out his hands, trying to grasp Legolas's own."Are you scared?"
Legolas could only whimper in reply. He was terrified, for he had no wish to stay with his uncle, and yet, he could not leave because of the tournament. He stayed silent, praying that his uncle would fail to find him.
It was not to be.
"Legolas", he uncle said, grabbing his young nephew by the neck, dragging him towards him. "I have no wish to torment you........."
Legolas splutered wildly as his uncle forced him to the ground.
"But, i'm bored, and you are my one source of entertainment", he continued, watching Legolas squirm underneath him, laughing cruelly at the young elf's feeble attempts to get up.
"Let me go", Legolas wept, forcing himself out of his uncle's arms.
But, Thandiul was too strong for Legolas, his forcefull hands binding Legolas to the floor. He stroked his nephews face, feeling the swollen lumps around his eyes.
"Stop it!", Legolas cried,"Stop it!"
Thandiul took no notice.
"Please", Legolas prayed, as his uncle came closer.
"You brought this upon yourself Legolas", Thandiul snarled," This is nothing to do with me!"
Hope you liked it! Part 9 up soon! Thanks for reading!