A/N: Well, I hope everyone had a great Christmas! My house is in shambles and now filled with lots more toys than my kids know what to do with, but it's all good, LOL! Anyhoo, here is Chapter 26. I hope y'all enjoy it because it was really driving me crazy last night as I was trying to write it!
Chapter 26
Legolas stood silently beside his father's throne, his eyes staring hard at the Elf brought before him. He had thought that the capture and return of Grien would have lightened the weight on his shoulders. Instead, he found his anger growing once more in his heart as he watched the courier stare insolently at the king.
"Why have you brought me here in such a fashion?" Grien demanded by way of greeting, "I am not a criminal and have not warranted such treatment!" He turned his gaze to the guards that flanked his sides and rewarded them with scowls before returning his attention to the king.
Thranduil frowned, glancing at his son from the corner of his eye. He could sense the hostility emanating from Legolas and could see the contempt he held for the brashness of the young courier. It was plain to everyone within the cavernous throne room that the prince held this servant responsible for the high emotions of the past several days. Thranduil knew that if he did not defuse the situation immediately, Grien would no doubt be sprawled upon the cold, hard floor with Legolas standing menacingly above him.
"Quiet!" Thranduil barked, his command echoing off the walls and high ceiling of the room. Birds that had been peacefully nesting within the open windows squawked at the sudden noise and noisily flew away. "Your disrespect will be forgiven and the reason for such treatment will be revealed…at my leisure." He stared pointedly at the young Elf.
Grien continued to frown, but bowed his head slightly. "Yes, your Highness," he murmured. When he looked back up, his eyes lingered on the prince and his frown deepened.
It was not that frown that surprised Legolas when he saw it, nor the furrowed brow of the courier when he looked at him. It was the light in those eyes, the pure loathing and bitterness that he saw in those bright brown orbs that Legolas wondered at. All of it seemed to be directed at him, he was sure of it, but he did not know why.
"You have been summoned here for the purpose of questioning," Thranduil continued, noting the looks that had passed between his son and the courier, "Know ye of the unfortunate events of the past several days?"
"Only from what I have heard from the talk that has gone around, milord," Grien answered, shrugging slightly.
Legolas started at the reply, a slight smirk creeping onto his face. He is lying! He thought, smugly, The stable hand said he had disappeared the day the kidnappings had been discovered! How could he have heard of such talk when he was not here?
"And what have you heard?" Thranduil pressed.
Again, the nonchalant shrug. "Three maidens were reported missing," Grien answered, "And, from what I understand, have not been found yet." He directed the last part of his reply to the prince, a slight arch in his brow.
Legolas immediately bristled at the insinuation and took a hurried step forward. Just as quickly he felt his father's hand grasp his arm firmly. He looked down and saw the command in the king's eyes. We will get no answers from him through violence, they seemed to say, The safety of the maidens depend on calm, clear heads.
Reluctantly, Legolas acknowledged his father's wisdom and quietly stepped back into place. He glared at Grien, who merely glared back. Legolas could feel his dislike for the man immediately growing.
"We have reason to believe that you may have had a hand in this business," Thranduil announced with the calmness of a still pond, gesturing lazily with his hand. He leisurely sat back into his throne, watching the accused with an interested eye.
Grien's face flushed red with anger and his eyes looked ready to pop from their sockets. "How dare you!" he sputtered, indignantly, "How dare you accuse me of such a deed! This is outrageous!" His ranting went on and on, much to the amusement of the king and prince, who merely watched as he paced the floor before them.
Finally tiring of the man's outburst, Thranduil demanded, "You deny the accusations?" His question only furthered the servant's outrage.
His pacing stopped and he faced the king. "Of course I deny them!" he shouted, his face now turning purple. The chords in his neck tightened and flexed, standing out against his pale skin. "I had no dealings with these abductions!
"Then why did you run?" a new voice demanded, causing him to turn on his heel. He found the trio of Gragoc, Lorith and Jhad behind him, boring holes into his body with their glares.
Jhad had been the one to ask the question and Legolas marveled at the regal way his friend stood now. He was dressed in his finest tunic and leggings, and his boots were polished to reflect the filtering sunlight in the room. He stood there with such importance in his posture that there was no doubting the noble blood that ran through his friend's veins.
His demeanor remained, even as Grien's fell apart. "What do you speak of?" he demanded, spittle flying from his mouth, "Run? From what?"
Again, Jhad spoke. "We have a very reliable source who claims you took a horse from the stables the morning the disappearances of the maidens were reported. Riding out towards the eastern borders, I believe." He arched a brow at him, encouraging him to deny it.
Grien visibly faltered at such a statement, then quickly regained himself. "What need do I have to be in the eastern parts of the land?" he asked, though his voice had lowered quite considerably.
"We were hoping that you would be able to tell us," Jhad answered, folding his arms across his broad chest. It was clear now who was in charge of this interrogation and Legolas could think of no better Elf to do so.
"I-I do not know what it is that you ask of me, milord," Grien said, a slight tremble in his voice. He averted his eyes from Jhad and silently clasped his hands in front of him in a sign of humility.
Jhad took no notice. "Where were you when on the evening of the maidens disappearances?" he asked, his tone hard.
Grien chanced a peek at him, then quickly looked away when he saw the grim set in his interrogator's jaw. "I was working in the library, milord," he answered, somewhat nervously, "Organizing some last minute scrolls for the other couriers."
"Is that so?" Jhad countered, stepping closer to him. When Grien nodded, he added, "I have spoken to the other couriers; they say you claimed an ill disposition shortly before the evening meal and retired to your room. For the entire evening."
Grien paled. "Yes, well," he stammered, "I meant I was working in the library before falling ill, milord. Then I retired to my room." His fingers began to twist around themselves.
"And the morning that these disappearances were reported?" Jhad continued, slowly circling him. He stared intently at him, but the courier refused to look at him.
Grien tried to swallow the hard lump in his throat. "Working," he managed to croak. He cleared his throat, then tried again. "Working in the library," he answered.
Jhad's eyebrows rose high up on his forehead. "I will remind you of the statement from out reliable witness who said differently of your actions that morning," he said, continuing his intense scrutiny.
Legolas chuckled inwardly, pleased at the sight of the haughty-turned-squirming Elf courier. Jhad was doing a fine job in wearing down the worm and he had to admit that they were learning far more than his fist would have been able to accomplish.
"I will also reveal that since that morning," Jhad was now saying, silencing the gesture of protest Grien's open mouth proposed, "your fellow couriers have not seen nor heard from you. What say you to that?"
Grien was now openly squirming. He suddenly felt as if the sun shone directly on him, warming his skin to the point of unbearable heat. What do I do? He thought wildly, his panic echoed on his face, What do I do? She never gave me instructions for this situation! "I-I…" he began, but abruptly stopped when his brain gave him no answer. He closed his mouth and swallowed hard.
"Where are Ladies Elyse, Ariel and Ziendriel?" Jhad demanded, taking advantage of his confusion, "We now know you are a part of this scheme! There is no more denying that!"
Grien began to shake his head wildly, but remained silently. Gragoc suddenly stepped forward and grasped him by the shoulders, dwarfing him with his height. "Tell us what we desire to hear!" he demanded, shaking him slightly, "Tell us of your plan; tell us what you have done with these ladies."
The servant released a strangled sound, causing Gragoc to release him. Grien stumbled to the floor, landing painfully on his knees. His heart was pounding painfully in his chest and ears. He could not do what they asked of him for it meant turning his back on his love. If he told the truth, it would mean the most dire of consequences for Adrianna and he could not live with that. He could not hurt her, not like her friends had. For that would be the same as deeply plunging his dagger into his heart. He could not do that when he had pledged his heart to her service and especially not when she had rewarded him with her love.
He would not do that.
They could torture him for the rest of his eternal years, but he would not implicate her. Never! He would rather kill any of them who dared to venture too close to his Adrianna!
"NO!" he shouted, startling everyone in the room, "I know nothing! Nothing! Do you hear me?!" He began to laugh softly to himself, rocking his body back and forth.
Legolas stared at him, the disappointment and frustration mixed in his eyes. He saw that his sentiments were also mirrored in the eyes of his father and friends. He was frustrated that they had such a breakthrough in this mystery so close within their reach, only to be snatched away.
Another guard suddenly entered the throne room and confidently walked towards them at the base of the king's dais. In his hand he held a scroll and handed it to Jhad. The latter took it with a look of puzzlement, until the guard whispered something to him. Quickly, Jhad unrolled the parchment, his eyes running over the words printed there. A sudden smile leapt onto his face.
He turned back to Grien and showed the scroll to him. "Do you know what this is?" he asked him, knocking him gently on the nose with it. When he made no reply, Jhad continued, "This was found in your cloak shortly after it was removed from your body upon arrival. The guards searched it and found this." He cleared his throat, then read, "'Task 1: Feed maidens morning meal; Task 2: Secure their binds; Task 3: Move E and A into second location; Task 3: Feed them noon meal.'" He stopped, then faced the king and prince. "This was dated for today, milords," he announced, waving the parchment in his hand, "Furthermore, it is the same type of parchment the forged messages were written on."
Legolas felt his heart leap in anticipation. This was exactly what they needed and the Valar had deemed it fit to give it to them. Ziendriel will soon be in my arms again! He thought, excitedly.
His excitement was dampened when his father suddenly asked, "Are you sure, Jhad?" There was such a one in his voice, that everyone turned to look at him; he had a frown upon his face.
Jhad seemed puzzled. "Yes, milord," he answered, "The guards had the librarians examine and compare this scroll to that of the others. They are perfectly matched in color and texture."
Thranduil furrowed his forehead in deep concentration. "The reason I ask is because I know to which family that particular parchment belongs to," he said.
Eyes were on their king as several voices asked, "Who?"
Thranduil sighed and shook his head. "It belongs to my family," he answered.
Legolas did not understand. When they had first taken the news of the colored parchment to his father, he had looked at it for but a moment, then given it back and announcing that he would have his librarians identify it. They had taken their sweet time, much to Legolas' dismay, only to have the king himself answer the mystery!
"How can this be?" Legolas was now asking his father, "You saw the scrolls yourself and did not recognize them then. Why now?"
Thranduil gave his son an annoyed look before answering. "Simple, my son," he answered, "The appearance of the dye on that scroll is different to what I normally see on my parchments, but it belongs to our family, I assure you."
Legolas looked bewildered. "Explain," he demanded.
Thranduil did so, but only after giving him another look. "The parchments that are usually sent for my use are made daily," he explained, "Straight from the drying line, then to my desk. I know this because I often ruin a good robe from all the excess ink that has rubbed off." He chuckled, then seeing the anxious faces of those around him, continued. "The parchments that I am accustomed to seeing are a much darker tone than that of the forged scrolls. However, if you allow a few days time, I assure you that the color of the freshly made parchment will fade to match that of your scrolls of evidence. That is why I did not recognize them at first."
"So, not only are the signature and seals of those scrolls forged and stolen," Lorith reasoned, "But the paper itself is also! Perhaps they were taken before the abductions were committed." A thought clicked in his thoughts. "This was premeditated!" he added.
Thranduil chuckled and tapped the side of his head with his index finger. He winked at his son's friend, who beamed proudly.
Jhad stepped back to Grien and roughly set him to his feet. "How did you come by this particular parchment?" he demanded. The Elf stood silently, his lips pursed tightly. "Tell me!" he demanded, but again was refused.
The same guard who had procured the vital scroll stepped forward once more. "This was also found in his cloak, sir," he announced, handing another scroll to Jhad. He quickly unrolled this one and his eyes immediately took on an amused light.
He shoved the paper into Grien's face, forcing him to look at it. "If you will not tell me," he taunted, "Then perhaps she will."
Grien caught the paper in his hands and felt his body still. The paper he held before him was a sketch that he had done of Lady Adrianna a few nights ago. It had been his reward for accomplishing his tasks so well and he had relished in it. Relished in committing the gentle curves of her cheekbones, the soft light in her eyes, the fullness of her lips to the memory that the paper promised to hold. It had been such a privilege for him to do such a sketch and even a bigger honor to be allowed to keep it.
"What do you think, milord?" Jhad was now asking, his attention to the king, "Shall I send someone to fetch this ravishing creature?"
Grien did not appreciate the light, knowing tone that this Elf had. He felt his jaw clench and his eyes narrow. Adrianna was his and he would die before allowing this pompous lord to harass his lady. He would rather knock that smirk off his face if that meant keeping her from this lord. But, he knew he could not touch the Elven-lord, not while in the position he was in. Instead, he would have to think fast to keep Adrianna safe.
"No," Grien said, gritting his teeth and staring hard at his tormentors, "No, leave her be. She knows nothing of this. I will tell you what you want, but please leave the lady alone."
Jhad looked to Thranduil and Legolas, who both nodded in agreement. "Speak," he commanded.
"I work not alone," Grien began, "In fact, I am but a mere servant in this plan, doing what is asked of me. If I am guilty of any crime, then it is that of obeying my master."
Jhad looked amused. "And who is this master that you have so willingly pledged your faithful obedience to?" he asked, a bit mockingly.
Grien took a deep breath. He glanced down at the sketch in his hands and felt his spirit renew. "Tiri," he answered, calmly, "Tiri Amberwood."