I know I've left the disclaimer on my first chapter. All right here it is: I DO NOT own JRR Tolkien's works and creations, and never I ever will. But please can I have Legolas? Please, please, please!!!!!
@Feanen ; Thank you! You're my first reviewer!
That night, a feast in honor of Lady Arulin was held at the grand hall of Mirkwood. Hundreds of dishes and delicacies from the palace kitchen were brought onto the long tables. If King Thranduil gave a feast, he would give nothing but only the best. Everyone enjoyed the dinner thoroughly; some even sang their praises on Lady Arulin's beauty. Everyone was having a grand time…well, almost everyone.
Legolas who was seated on the king's left hand side could not fully enjoy his meal. He couldn't shake the bad feeling that kept nagging at the back of his mind. A shiver of dread still ran down his spine. Ever since he'd touched Lady Arulin's ankle, he couldn't stop being shaken up by the dark force that had hit him. The biggest problem was, he didn't know what to do about it.
He glanced at her who sat beside Keldarion on the king's right hand side. She was smiling prettily at what his brother was telling her. Kel is already smitten by her, Legolas thought in disgust. Something's terribly wrong about her, but what? Legolas sipped his wine without tasting it. He wanted to tell his father about his doubts of her but thought better of it. He better talked to his brother who would be more understanding.
Instead of taking him seriously though, Keldarion laughed. "What? Come on, Legolas. You're being melodramatic."
"I'm not being melodramatic!" Legolas fumed. He'd managed to drag his brother to a secluded spot at the balcony outside the grand hall after the meal was over. The guests were mingling now, enjoying the elven music put up by the royal minstrels. "Something is very wrong with her, I swear!"
"You were saying just now that you were hit by a force when you touched her ankle, right?" Keldarion said, putting a calming hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "I know the feeling, little bro. I felt it too. It's what we call thunderstruck. She was incredibly beautiful. No wonder you were stunned out of your senses."
Legolas rolled his eyes. "Really, Kel. I know the difference between thunderstruck and all that!"
"Really, Legolas. Why don't you lighten up and enjoy the party? My wedding is only a week away. Can't we at least enjoy the remains of my bachelor days in great fun?"
"I'm not sure…"
"Fine. Be that way. But I'm going to enjoy this night till I drop." With that, Kel walked away towards a group of his fellow friends. Legolas looked on in uncertainty and followed his brother inside.
"Your highness?" A melodic voice at his side snapped him to attention. He turned and found himself face to face with Lady Arulin. She had a coy smile playing at her pretty lips. Courtesy taught him to bow at her in respect. "My lady."
"You do not enjoy this feast, I gather. You don't seem to like me either. Why?"
"What made you think that way, my lady?"
"You barely speak to me."
"We are speaking now."
"You were avoiding me."
"I'm not avoiding you. I just don't have the apt reason to be near to you."
"We're going to be family, Prince Legolas. Surely the reason is apt enough?"
"I wish to retire, my lady. I find the company exhausting," Legolas said. Bowing to her one last time, he walked to his father and bid him goodnight. The king was puzzled by his son's early retirement.
"I have a headache," Legolas answered his father's unvoiced question. Not a full lie for his head was actually pounding. Before the king could say anything, Legolas turned and strode to the hall door. On the way he passed the huge mirror near the exit. He glanced into the reflection and searched for Lady Arulin through it. She was still standing there at the place where he'd left her.
But something was horribly wrong with the reflection. Instead of looking incredibly beautiful as she was supposed to be, Arulin's face in the reflection looked so hideous and frightening. Her eyes were bright red just like her hair, and her alabaster skin now looked pale and sunken.
He whipped his head around and stared at her. She still looked beautiful in all her finest glory, staring back at him as if daring him to say anything. His steps faltered, Legolas quickly retreated from the hall as if his feet were on fire.
***************
She kept staring at the prince until he vanished from her sight. "He knows," she thought. "Unbelievable, but he knows." She gritted her teeth, menace glittered in her eyes. "That won't do at all. He must be rid off before my plan fall to dust!"
***************
Legolas tossed and turned on his big bed. Sleep eluded him that night. No matter what he did, he couldn't put his mind to rest. He kept seeing Arulin's hideous face in the mirror. He could feel the dark force hit him again and again. What does it mean?
Disgusted and exasperated with the whole situation, he got out of bed and put on his tunics and soft boots. Strapping his quiver of arrows and his twin blades to his back, he grabbed his bow and walked out into his balcony. Gracefully, he jumped onto the tree branch and disappeared into the night.
***************
On the way to his chamber, King Thranduil paused at his youngest son's door. "Legolas?" He knocked at the door but no answer came from within. Suddenly worried by the empty respond, he pushed open the door and step in.
The room was now immaculate, with no more trace of the pillow war from earlier in the day. But Legolas's bed was empty, except for the pillows and blankets that lay in a jumble. Obviously, Legolas had been lying there recently. The door to the balcony was wide open, letting in the cool midnight breeze into the already chill room.
King Thranduil sighed. His restless son was on the prowl again. He must be in some kind of a mood. He also knew that something was bothering the young elf's mind and hoped that he'll get some answers tonight. But it looked as if it needs to wait until morning when the youngest prince return.
***************
Legolas leaned against the hard bark of the tree, sitting comfortably on one of its thick branches. His eyes closed, his fingers lax over his bow on his lap. But his mind was still in turmoil. Even by blending himself with the woods that he loved so much could not help put him at ease. How could he when the trees were whispering words of caution to him? Beware of the dark, again they whispered to his elven senses. Some evil is near. Beware of its power to destroy.
His eyes opened to the red rising sun, his heart filled with dread involuntarily. A kind of omen, or am I taking this far too seriously? Whatever it is, I must do something! I must speak to father.
Nimbly like a squirrel, he jumped from branch to branch and landed smoothly onto his father's balcony. Opening the door, he walked in, and slapped his forehead in annoyance. The king was still asleep. Ai! Stupid me! It's still too early.
Stealthily on silent feet, he tiptoed to the door, being very careful not to wake his father. He was about to step outside to the corridor when his father's booming voice hit him full force. "Where do you think you're going?"
Legolas paused, nearly in panic. "Err…going to my room?" He turned around to meet his father's frowning face. The king was very much awake now, crossing his arms across his chest.
"By going through my room?"
"Well…I…emm…take a short cut. Sorry to wake you." He tried to take off but his father had come near and grabbed his arm. "Not so fast, dear boy. What's going on? You weren't in your room last night."
Legolas was perplexed. "You checked up on me? Why?"
"Just want to make sure you're all right. How's your headache?"
"My headache?" Legolas sounded like a damn parrot now, repeating his father's words. "Oh, yes! Headache. I'm fine now. Really." Tell him about Arulin, you idiot! Tell him now!
"I just want to be sure, Legolas. We elves rarely got sick, so it worries me somewhat last night."
"Not to worry, father. I'm fine." Legolas really, really wanted to tell his father about his troubles but the timing seemed wrong. It was still too early in the morning to be spoiled by bad news. "Err...can I go now?"
"Of course." The king gave his assent. Legolas started to flee.
"And Legolas?"
The prince halted. "Yes father?"
"I see you've got rid of those damn ferrets. I have not encounter them since yesterday afternoon."
Legolas blanched. The ferrets? Actually, he didn't know where the ferrets were right now. They might be deep in the palace somewhere, wreaking havoc as they were speaking.
TBC…