Legolas
Disclaimer can be found in 'Prologue'.
Notes: This chapter is a bit hurried. And why a dwarf was guarding an elven prince is this: Elrond, at this point, has a trade with a certain clan of dwarfs, and he doesn't even trust his own guards to guard Legolas - a visiting dwarf is much more likely to be less inclined to attempt to kill an elf for political reasons.
Legolas woke up, days later. He jolted up, and slipped into common at the sight of a short.. being. Hairy, fuzzy... Hmmm. "Who are you?"
The dwarf balefully glared at the prince. "I am Sain, son of Piawn. And, apparently, your guard for the evening."
"Guard?" The blonde looked vaguely suspicious - and fearful.
"Yes, guard. There has been no attacks made to you, and Priynel made it assured that your father thinks you dead... But Elrond demands a guard."
"And then, pray tell, Master Sain, where is my bodyguard?"
"Prianela is catching up with Elrond."
Legolas sighed, and carefully eased back. "I need to talk to Elrond."
And so, the dwarf sent for him; the lord of the Last Homely Home arrived, dismissed Sain, and sank down in his spot. "Legolas..." he began.
"I know you have many questions, Elrond. I will start my story.. from the beginning."
And so, Legolas spoke of how foolishly rebellious he had been, from his birth to recent history. When Thranduil finally grew tired of his rebellion, and requested that he marry a long childhood friend - and, ironically, his closest friend and bodyguard, Priynel - and the young prince had swore at him that he would never, the king's last string had been plucked. In a fit of anger, the elf had beat Legolas and called off his - and Priynel's - immortality, shattering both soulstones in rage. Coldly, he announced that the prince could live only if he successfully ran the gauntlet of fire and ice, the gauntlet of Mirkwood's forests. Presumed to have died in a fire, the mortal elf had to sacrifice two close friends and run with his last remaining bodyguard - again with strong irony, for his remaining bodyguard was the Elven warrior that he had so strongly refused to wed. Priynel understood, however, and agreed - she had no wish to marry her longtime friend, and was repulsed at the mere idea of thinking of him in those terms. They escaped to Rivendell, and from there on Elrond knew the story.
'I see,' Elrond spoke after a long moment of silence. 'Then we shall have to send you away from here.. far from here.'
Legolas' eyes flashed open. 'Elrond,' he started, fear evident in his tone.
'We expect a delegation from Mirkwood in less than a weak, fair Prince thereof.' He took a deep breath. 'I will send you to my youngest son, and one of my closest allies.'
'Lothlorien?' Greenleaf inquired, a slight hopeful tint to his voice. He had long since pined to see the golden woods of the Lady.
'Nay... to Rohan you will travel.'
'To Men?' The younger elf was repulsed at the mere idea. 'Nay, I would rather stay with my own kind and be killed than to travel and sup with barbarians.'
'You have no choice. You have sought my protection from your father.. and your protection I shall grant. You will seek out Ysilt's rider, in Rohan - my youngest son, Estel, is his Rider, and a man - and your protection. While you "travel and sup with barbarians", I will seek the ways of the Valar to see about reversing your predicament. Until then, obey me, for I am much wiser than thee.' With that, the Elven king rose and departed from the room.
--
Five days later, the arrangements were set. Elrond didn't even trust Galadrial or Lothlorien's golden woods - nor did he trust the land of men southernwards.
However, he needed to send him to a place that no elf would dream of going.
So, being sane of mind and sensible of heart, he sent him to Rohan.
So, Legolas' mare, the beautiful Nientwil, was tacked up and loaded with provisions. Priynel went with her charge, so as to keep out of sight as well -- after all, she was supposed to be dead, ashes, and gone.
Disclaimer can be found in 'Prologue'.
Notes: This chapter is a bit hurried. And why a dwarf was guarding an elven prince is this: Elrond, at this point, has a trade with a certain clan of dwarfs, and he doesn't even trust his own guards to guard Legolas - a visiting dwarf is much more likely to be less inclined to attempt to kill an elf for political reasons.
Legolas woke up, days later. He jolted up, and slipped into common at the sight of a short.. being. Hairy, fuzzy... Hmmm. "Who are you?"
The dwarf balefully glared at the prince. "I am Sain, son of Piawn. And, apparently, your guard for the evening."
"Guard?" The blonde looked vaguely suspicious - and fearful.
"Yes, guard. There has been no attacks made to you, and Priynel made it assured that your father thinks you dead... But Elrond demands a guard."
"And then, pray tell, Master Sain, where is my bodyguard?"
"Prianela is catching up with Elrond."
Legolas sighed, and carefully eased back. "I need to talk to Elrond."
And so, the dwarf sent for him; the lord of the Last Homely Home arrived, dismissed Sain, and sank down in his spot. "Legolas..." he began.
"I know you have many questions, Elrond. I will start my story.. from the beginning."
And so, Legolas spoke of how foolishly rebellious he had been, from his birth to recent history. When Thranduil finally grew tired of his rebellion, and requested that he marry a long childhood friend - and, ironically, his closest friend and bodyguard, Priynel - and the young prince had swore at him that he would never, the king's last string had been plucked. In a fit of anger, the elf had beat Legolas and called off his - and Priynel's - immortality, shattering both soulstones in rage. Coldly, he announced that the prince could live only if he successfully ran the gauntlet of fire and ice, the gauntlet of Mirkwood's forests. Presumed to have died in a fire, the mortal elf had to sacrifice two close friends and run with his last remaining bodyguard - again with strong irony, for his remaining bodyguard was the Elven warrior that he had so strongly refused to wed. Priynel understood, however, and agreed - she had no wish to marry her longtime friend, and was repulsed at the mere idea of thinking of him in those terms. They escaped to Rivendell, and from there on Elrond knew the story.
'I see,' Elrond spoke after a long moment of silence. 'Then we shall have to send you away from here.. far from here.'
Legolas' eyes flashed open. 'Elrond,' he started, fear evident in his tone.
'We expect a delegation from Mirkwood in less than a weak, fair Prince thereof.' He took a deep breath. 'I will send you to my youngest son, and one of my closest allies.'
'Lothlorien?' Greenleaf inquired, a slight hopeful tint to his voice. He had long since pined to see the golden woods of the Lady.
'Nay... to Rohan you will travel.'
'To Men?' The younger elf was repulsed at the mere idea. 'Nay, I would rather stay with my own kind and be killed than to travel and sup with barbarians.'
'You have no choice. You have sought my protection from your father.. and your protection I shall grant. You will seek out Ysilt's rider, in Rohan - my youngest son, Estel, is his Rider, and a man - and your protection. While you "travel and sup with barbarians", I will seek the ways of the Valar to see about reversing your predicament. Until then, obey me, for I am much wiser than thee.' With that, the Elven king rose and departed from the room.
--
Five days later, the arrangements were set. Elrond didn't even trust Galadrial or Lothlorien's golden woods - nor did he trust the land of men southernwards.
However, he needed to send him to a place that no elf would dream of going.
So, being sane of mind and sensible of heart, he sent him to Rohan.
So, Legolas' mare, the beautiful Nientwil, was tacked up and loaded with provisions. Priynel went with her charge, so as to keep out of sight as well -- after all, she was supposed to be dead, ashes, and gone.