Author's Note: I hope you enjoy this chapter! My new play opens tonight and I am very excited about it!
Thank you for reading and please review!!!!
Chapter 11: The Turning of the Tides
"Why don't you go outside and play in the sunshine, Legolas?"
A smile was her only response. The young Elf fled outside to be with the trees that adored him so much. Ever since his front teeth decided to depart, Legolas did not speak much anymore. Jaden knew he would find a way around this new challenge, but she was surprise that avoiding it had been the little Elf's answer. She closed the door to the back gardens.
The day was exceptionally beautiful and Legolas was very happy to have some free time to enjoy it. He quickly climbed up into the trees and found the book he had hidden among the branches. Legolas had found a fascination with books. The stories they told were fascinating to him, especially the ones with dragons, monsters and magic. He felt somewhat content. As content as he could be, for his Elven memory never let any moment from his past escape him no matter how terrible.
For now, the trees, the light and the book were enough for him.
Jaden stood behind her bar cleaning up some glasses when some men walked in and sat down. It was early and they were the only people to be in her bar at the time.
"What I can get for you, Gentlemen?"
"A round of your strongest rum."
"Isn't it a bit early for that?"
"You might as well have the best a bar has to offer before you rob it."
Her eyes widened.
Legolas spent a few hours in the trees. He had been surprised he had been allowed to stay out in the favorite place for so long. Usually, Jaden would call him in for afternoon chores or to see to his homework. Maybe she finally decided he should have a short holiday. He had heard rumors that people would take holidays and spent their days doing nothing but wandering around and seeing sights.
The young Elf noticed someone coming out into the backyard. It was his teacher. Legolas smiled and climbed down out of the tree.
"Is it time for lessons?"
The face that met Legolas was stricken with grief and uncertainty.
"You must listen to me, Legolas. You must listen well."
The rain poured from the gray sky, soaking all the people of the town in the land of Gondor. All ran to hide from its assault, save one. Save one little child who did not know what to do. He had lost everything. His whole world was stripped from him in one instance.
Despair welled into him, filling his entire being. This could not be his life. These events could not be what shape his life.
It was supposed to be just a simple robbery. They had no intention of killing her, however her stubbornness would not let her submit. All she had asked was that they keep it down, she did not want to disturb anyone. Most of all, she did not want Legolas hearing what was going on, for if he were to come running in and try to save her, the harm that would befall him would be terrible. Especially if they would out what he was. Elf children in that situation would be abused with much more prejudice than human children, for they could bear it. Her last thoughts were of him and that she was glad he had gone into the farthest tree and she had shut the door.
In the end the robbers had walked away with many painful wounds and just enough money to buy an article of clothing. She had sent Legolas to the bank with the earnings from last night not an hour before they had walked in. They had been easy to find and arrest for the showed the signs of the fight clearly.
When the words of Jaden's fate had fallen on Legolas' ears, many thoughts flooded into his mind. His only friend in the world was no longer with him and he had nowhere to go. He could not bear being there any longer, for every last object in that place would remind him of her.
His teacher had asked him to wait in the gardens, however the people were staring at him, their eyes burning into him.
"I shall return shortly." Were his teacher's words. However, what then? He could not end up in an orphanage, he would not survive there with human children. His race was already something of a myth in this far off land. What would happen if the people knew what he was? There was only one thought in his head, one thought that would not leave him be. It pushed its way into his mind until there was nothing else.
'You cannot stay here. You have destroyed your palace in Mirkwood and now Jaden is dead. Death and destruction come to all who care for you. You should leave now before you doom someone else to an untimely death.'
'You should go.'
"Then it is settled. I shall take the child into my protection."
"Yes, Katari. However, I don't see why you are so intent on taking this child into your protection. You have never taken a pupil into your own caring."
"Yes, but this child is something special. He will accomplish great deeds one day. I can see it in his eyes. Besides, I made her a promise a long time ago to see to his well being." Katari bowed before the mayor and left to find Legolas and take him home.
When he returned to the gardens, though, Legolas was gone.
"Legolas!" But his words were only answered by a clap of thunder in the night.
A sickening feeling settled into his stomach.
"Oh God, please, no."