CHAPTER 5
Authors notes: - Thank you everyone for the reviews. They are great! Exams are over. Woohoo!!!! Just something totally unrelated if it's not too much bother when or if you write a review can you put where you are from. Just out of curiosities sake. I am English, which might be obvious from my spelling! I know it's a weird request but I am a curious person, might be a bad thing but I think not. Can you guess I am happily hyperactive about the end of school forever! Uni here I come!
***** A single candle lit the musty small room that Gandalf sat in. He was reading an old leather book, intently studying the ancient text. He frowned as he ran a finger down the page pausing when he reached a word. Liran.
The name had sounded familiar to him when the dark lord had uttered it. The fact that he was referred to as Legolas's friend confused him. Liran wasn't an elf he was a shapeshifter he had met on a number of times long before any of the fellowship had been born. His intentions had always been shrouded in mystery never helping Sauron but never helping him either. Taket must have found a way to kill Liran and his spirit had possessed Legolas. He vowed to find out what his intentions were with the young elf and how if possible he could rid the spirit from the elf. It looked as though it would take a while for the solution to be found.
****** The creature hissed and scrambled up into the canopies of the trees. It watched as others of its kind climbed the trees, hooking their curved talons into the bark. The sun had risen and the creatures needed to get out of its hurtful rays, which burned their skin. There they would wait until given the order to strike. They shivered in anticipation of the taste of elf blood as they patiently sharpened their claws on the bark.
******
The fellowship was led through the marble passages of the elven palace. Gimli admired the workmanship of the elven architects as he ran his hand along the surprisingly warm walls. The sound of water from a fountain filled their ears and glorious sunlight streamed through the open balcony that ran on the other side of the passage. Gimli had noticed that nothing was enclosed in elven homes and for the first time he began to realise why Legolas hadn't wanted to enter Moira. It was so enclosed compared to the open and airy palace. Although he wouldn't share his thoughts on the subject as he didn't want to be seen as going soft. The elf leading them stopped in front of a huge oak door that had the emblem of Mirkwood carved into it.
"Please wait here." He said and disappeared through the doors.
Legolas turned to face the others.
"My father is not the most diplomatic of elves. Please be mindful of what you say." He said as a warning. Aragorn understood why and Gimli was reminded of his father's captivity but the hobbits were confused. The doors opened and the elf beckoned them in. Legolas entered first, he stopped suddenly and Aragorn walked into the back of him. The man pushed Legolas forward gently and the elf moved again. As Aragorn entered he saw the reason why. Thranduil sat on his throne drinking from a goblet and resting his hand on the knee of a female elf, presumably his soon to be wife. The king looked up from the elf when the group entered. His gaze drifted along the fellowship, pausing when his eyes fell upon Gimli and then he shifted it and rested his eyes on his son. Legolas returned the look without backing down.
"Father." Legolas said bowing slightly in respect.
"So my wayward son returns." Thranduil exclaimed placing his goblet down on an ornate table next to his throne.
"And brings with him a fine assortment of creatures."
"Father allow me to introduce my travelling companions and friends. You have already met Aragorn." Aragorn bowed in acknowledgment of his introduction.
"These are hobbits from the Shire. Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took." The hobbits bowed slightly copying Aragorn.
"And Gimli son of Gloin." Legolas waited for the outburst that was sure to follow.
It did.
"A dwarf!!" Thranduil roared spilling his goblet of wine and making the female elf jump.
Legolas flinched. "And the son of that wretched dwarf that I imprisoned." He rose from his throne. Legolas noticed Aragorn move to hold Gimli back. The hobbits looked shocked.
"Yet again son you disappoint me. You failed to guard that creature, you were sent to Imladris to report your failure and end up on a wild expedition abandoning your home to the whims of orcs and other dark creatures."
Aragorn looked ready to protest, as did Gimli. Legolas held up his hand.
"Peace my friends." Aragorn frowned but held his tongue.
"And now you dare to return after being missing for months with a dwarf." Thranduil spat the word disgustedly "halflings and this man expected to be treated as if nothing has happened. You disgust me. You should never have come back!" The king's face contorted as if he was looking at an orc when he stared at Legolas. He waved his hand and a servant filled up his goblet with wine.
"Father." Legolas said patiently well aware that the mood his father was in now would mean that no matter what he did he would lose so losing his temper wouldn't help.
"The loss of Gollum was my fault. We were not vigilant enough and didn't detect the orcs until to late, but I didn't abandon Mirkwood. I joined the fellowship to ensure the safety of Middle - Earth. The ring had to be destroyed and we did this."
"Middle - Earth brought this on themselves. The men through their greed, the dwarfs through their carelessness, need I go on? Your fondness for these lesser races is tiresome. You are an elf. Act like one"
"You are wrong father. Every species has their weaknesses, even elves but these lesser races as you call them also have the ability to show great compassion, courage and loyalty."
Thranduil scoffed. He leaned right into Legolas's face.
"You have just proven what a naïve and ignorant child you are. We are the first born, the wisest of all beings. We are leaving Middle - Earth. When we are gone why should we care what happens to it."
"I care what happens to it as do the other elves in the other elven realms. True our time is over but Middle - Earth will not fail. It will grow strong and flourish under the brave and wise leadership of my friends and others like them."
"You have become weak and influenced by these." he indicated the rest of the fellowship. "The elves of Lothlorien and Imladris care more for the lesser species than their fellow elves. How many times have we requested aid to rid our realm of the darkness that has infested it and received little or nothing? How dare you defend them. Does your home mean nothing to you child!"
Legolas grew angry as he cared deeply for his home; it was the reason for him going on the quest. His father knew he cared and was just baiting him.
"I do care deeply for my home. The other elves do not send us aid as your fondness for precious stones and wine has strained relationships with the other realms!" Legolas snapped angrily.
Thranduil grew red and his eyes bulged. How dare his youngest child speak to him like that, in front of his future wife. He would have to be taught a lesson. . "ENOUGH!" Thranduil roared. "Get out of my sight NOW!"
Legolas and the fellowship hurried out. He knew he had overstepped the line and he would pay for it later. He wished he hadn't let his pride and anger get to him.
Authors notes: - Thank you everyone for the reviews. They are great! Exams are over. Woohoo!!!! Just something totally unrelated if it's not too much bother when or if you write a review can you put where you are from. Just out of curiosities sake. I am English, which might be obvious from my spelling! I know it's a weird request but I am a curious person, might be a bad thing but I think not. Can you guess I am happily hyperactive about the end of school forever! Uni here I come!
***** A single candle lit the musty small room that Gandalf sat in. He was reading an old leather book, intently studying the ancient text. He frowned as he ran a finger down the page pausing when he reached a word. Liran.
The name had sounded familiar to him when the dark lord had uttered it. The fact that he was referred to as Legolas's friend confused him. Liran wasn't an elf he was a shapeshifter he had met on a number of times long before any of the fellowship had been born. His intentions had always been shrouded in mystery never helping Sauron but never helping him either. Taket must have found a way to kill Liran and his spirit had possessed Legolas. He vowed to find out what his intentions were with the young elf and how if possible he could rid the spirit from the elf. It looked as though it would take a while for the solution to be found.
****** The creature hissed and scrambled up into the canopies of the trees. It watched as others of its kind climbed the trees, hooking their curved talons into the bark. The sun had risen and the creatures needed to get out of its hurtful rays, which burned their skin. There they would wait until given the order to strike. They shivered in anticipation of the taste of elf blood as they patiently sharpened their claws on the bark.
******
The fellowship was led through the marble passages of the elven palace. Gimli admired the workmanship of the elven architects as he ran his hand along the surprisingly warm walls. The sound of water from a fountain filled their ears and glorious sunlight streamed through the open balcony that ran on the other side of the passage. Gimli had noticed that nothing was enclosed in elven homes and for the first time he began to realise why Legolas hadn't wanted to enter Moira. It was so enclosed compared to the open and airy palace. Although he wouldn't share his thoughts on the subject as he didn't want to be seen as going soft. The elf leading them stopped in front of a huge oak door that had the emblem of Mirkwood carved into it.
"Please wait here." He said and disappeared through the doors.
Legolas turned to face the others.
"My father is not the most diplomatic of elves. Please be mindful of what you say." He said as a warning. Aragorn understood why and Gimli was reminded of his father's captivity but the hobbits were confused. The doors opened and the elf beckoned them in. Legolas entered first, he stopped suddenly and Aragorn walked into the back of him. The man pushed Legolas forward gently and the elf moved again. As Aragorn entered he saw the reason why. Thranduil sat on his throne drinking from a goblet and resting his hand on the knee of a female elf, presumably his soon to be wife. The king looked up from the elf when the group entered. His gaze drifted along the fellowship, pausing when his eyes fell upon Gimli and then he shifted it and rested his eyes on his son. Legolas returned the look without backing down.
"Father." Legolas said bowing slightly in respect.
"So my wayward son returns." Thranduil exclaimed placing his goblet down on an ornate table next to his throne.
"And brings with him a fine assortment of creatures."
"Father allow me to introduce my travelling companions and friends. You have already met Aragorn." Aragorn bowed in acknowledgment of his introduction.
"These are hobbits from the Shire. Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took." The hobbits bowed slightly copying Aragorn.
"And Gimli son of Gloin." Legolas waited for the outburst that was sure to follow.
It did.
"A dwarf!!" Thranduil roared spilling his goblet of wine and making the female elf jump.
Legolas flinched. "And the son of that wretched dwarf that I imprisoned." He rose from his throne. Legolas noticed Aragorn move to hold Gimli back. The hobbits looked shocked.
"Yet again son you disappoint me. You failed to guard that creature, you were sent to Imladris to report your failure and end up on a wild expedition abandoning your home to the whims of orcs and other dark creatures."
Aragorn looked ready to protest, as did Gimli. Legolas held up his hand.
"Peace my friends." Aragorn frowned but held his tongue.
"And now you dare to return after being missing for months with a dwarf." Thranduil spat the word disgustedly "halflings and this man expected to be treated as if nothing has happened. You disgust me. You should never have come back!" The king's face contorted as if he was looking at an orc when he stared at Legolas. He waved his hand and a servant filled up his goblet with wine.
"Father." Legolas said patiently well aware that the mood his father was in now would mean that no matter what he did he would lose so losing his temper wouldn't help.
"The loss of Gollum was my fault. We were not vigilant enough and didn't detect the orcs until to late, but I didn't abandon Mirkwood. I joined the fellowship to ensure the safety of Middle - Earth. The ring had to be destroyed and we did this."
"Middle - Earth brought this on themselves. The men through their greed, the dwarfs through their carelessness, need I go on? Your fondness for these lesser races is tiresome. You are an elf. Act like one"
"You are wrong father. Every species has their weaknesses, even elves but these lesser races as you call them also have the ability to show great compassion, courage and loyalty."
Thranduil scoffed. He leaned right into Legolas's face.
"You have just proven what a naïve and ignorant child you are. We are the first born, the wisest of all beings. We are leaving Middle - Earth. When we are gone why should we care what happens to it."
"I care what happens to it as do the other elves in the other elven realms. True our time is over but Middle - Earth will not fail. It will grow strong and flourish under the brave and wise leadership of my friends and others like them."
"You have become weak and influenced by these." he indicated the rest of the fellowship. "The elves of Lothlorien and Imladris care more for the lesser species than their fellow elves. How many times have we requested aid to rid our realm of the darkness that has infested it and received little or nothing? How dare you defend them. Does your home mean nothing to you child!"
Legolas grew angry as he cared deeply for his home; it was the reason for him going on the quest. His father knew he cared and was just baiting him.
"I do care deeply for my home. The other elves do not send us aid as your fondness for precious stones and wine has strained relationships with the other realms!" Legolas snapped angrily.
Thranduil grew red and his eyes bulged. How dare his youngest child speak to him like that, in front of his future wife. He would have to be taught a lesson. . "ENOUGH!" Thranduil roared. "Get out of my sight NOW!"
Legolas and the fellowship hurried out. He knew he had overstepped the line and he would pay for it later. He wished he hadn't let his pride and anger get to him.