Chapter Twenty-Three: The Truth

Lumaeus Whitecloud stood, overseeing a large collection of elves, all of them were masked totally, with hoods drawn down over their faces. His son, Felair, was sweating with nervousness. "My son, you must calm yourself."

"These trails are intense, father... they're horrific... and we must watch them. I'm afraid I cannot be calm."

Lumaeus said nothing, but turned his attention back to the field. "Warriors! Listen, and listen well!" His voice was still strong and powerful. There was no need to raise it anymore. "What you experience will be pain... pain you can't see... pain you can't hear... pain you won't even know is coming until it hits you." A breathless, fearful calm came over everyone. Lumaeus had a way with words. "I'm happy to inform you, that is your only test. You withstand the pain, you are chosen. However, only one of you will withstand the pain for the designated time. Just one."

A voice from the sidelines spoke out. "What if there are-"

"THERE WILL BE JUST ONE. I guarantee it. If you feel the need to surrender, remove your hood."

Legolas, standing on the side, shivered. What was so horrible about it? He wasn't sure he wanted to know. A Western archer was among those hooded, but Legolas didn't know which one he was. It was dark out and the night was unusually hot. Bugs and creatures of the night buzzed, impatient with the heat and the large collection of elves.

Then, quite suddenly, it happened. Legolas thought he had screamed, but a great number had, so there was no way to tell. Those hooded fell to their knees and a bright wave of light passed over them and kept shining. It was brilliant and blinding, but Legolas's eyes adjusted when he realized the light was not touching the darkness around it. He looked for the elves being tried and saw them, writhing like large, black snakes. Then he saw why.

The light was not shining on them... It was shining through them. He could see their skeleton, and their elven hearts beating and pounding against their rib cages. This wasn't right, wasn't right at all. Their bones were glowing a very unsettling red. He wasn't surprised when the first elf threw off his hood. Immediately, the light stopped shining through him and he collapsed, breathing heavily. No one moved to help him. The screaming started shortly after that. It was horrible, Legolas felt he could hear it in his mind, except it sounded like a female.

Felair shut his eyes and looked away. Every time one elf quit, the light would grow stronger. If no one knew their limits, their heart would burst from the strain. He looked at the Western prince, watching with horror in his eyes, but unable to look away. King Felair followed the gaze and saw one heart, beating ferociously quicker than the rest. "Remove your hood," He silently commanded, knowing that it was hopeless. Faster and faster it went, the screams of the elf were great, but he thought he could withstand the strain. He couldn't, and Legolas's vision went dark as he saw the elven man's heart burst into as million pieces.

*~*~*~*

Legolas creaked his eyes open, then remembered what he happened, and shut them tighter.

"Don't be ashamed, boy, you weren't the only witness who lost consciousness."

Too tired to grumble at Lumaeus calling him a boy, Legolas opened his eyes and vaguely saw ten or elven elves, knocked out cold with maids tending to them.

"Who... who..." A maid suddenly put water to his lips and he drank, his throat had been dry. "Who won?"

"The warrior Andulin. He is still hooded. Once the rest are awoken, we can proceed with the ceremonies."

*~*~*~*

Filior's throat worked impatiently as he sat on a throne beside his father, mother, and grandfather. He hadn't planned on Andulin actually winning. There was little he could do now and two elves had died trying to withstand the pain of the Light. Legolas, and two other princes from the North and South also stood up alongside the throne, taking their place as royalty. The rest of the court was seated below, except Eli, who had a high place with the King and was seated like a prince.

Andulin kneeled before them, his face entirely covered and he looked down. Unbeknownst to the royals, a terror like nothing anyone ever felt was racing through the strong one as an honored servant came forward with outstretched fingers to remove the hood and reveal Andulin's face for the first time since the test. Filior cast a look at Andulin's men, Vandelar's jaw was set in defiance. Why that was, the prince could not put his finger on. He watched closer as Vandelar stffened when the servant grasped the hood, and gave a look of wild fear as it was pulled off.

"What is-"

"Filior..." Legolas's voice drew his attention, and Filior turned to look down at Andulin.

But it wasn't Andulin. Filior gasped with shock as his surprised eyes met the tormented ones of his sister. Elorelei was where Andulin should have been, kneeling before them, eyes set against his and their father's... and Legolas's.

*~*~*~*

A/N: Bwahahaha... BWAHAHAHAHA!! Cliff hanger... MUAHAHA.