Disclaimer : No, Tolkein is still not mine. So is Legolas. Waaa!!!!
@parasindy – the ferrets are going to be fine, they will…oopss! I can't tell you!
@Lomelinde – Arulin is evil, I assured you. Yes, she'll do something to our beloved Legolas. More will come!!
King Thranduil's throne hall was crowded with diplomats and officials from Mirkwood and the visiting Garmadris. It was still morning but great excitement had already erupted in the kingdom. For once in history, one of the royal Mirkwood family members was caught in a very shameful situation. Everyone present was murmuring and whispering in disbelief and dismay.
"Prince Legolas? That can't be true!"
"Aye, he's a reckless one but not heartless!"
"But they saw him! His own father saw him assaulting the lady!"
"Valar! This is a tragedy!"
"The wedding is only a week away…"
"What do you think will happen now?"
"May Illuvatar take pity on the prince…"
"But poor Lady Arulin…"
And on and on they went. Legolas who was kneeling silently in front of the throne could only listen to it all with pounding heart. Ai! He's in deep trouble now. He looked at his bound hands in front of him. Two royal guards, the guards that used to accompany him on many excursions into the woods before, flanked him at both sides. He was being treated like a prisoner. How can I repair this situation? How can I convince them of my innocence?
He looked up when the king and Prince Keldarion appeared and stepped onto the throne. The hall immediately fell silent. After they were both seated, the king ordered for Lady Arulin to enter. He didn't even glance at his youngest son all the while, as if he was avoiding looking at Legolas, so ashamed he was with him.
Lady Arulin entered, clinging to her lady-in-waiting with tears in her eyes, her face filled with anguish and fear. Only Legolas knew better. Underneath that entire mask was an evil and powerful person that would bring disaster to the future of Mirkwood. She took a seat near the throne, several feet away from Legolas. He glared at her, barely containing his fury.
The king cleared his throat and began. "We all gathered here to decide the just action that should be taken on an elf's misconduct." Then he looked at Legolas straight in the eye. "This elf, Prince Legolas Thrandulion, my own son, had committed a crime of assault on Lady Arulin of Garmadris, the betrothed of Crown Prince Keldarion, in the garden early this morning." The hall exploded in a volley of murmurs and exclamations again.
"I will not take this matter lightly for I detest immorality and violence in my kingdom," the king said, staring hard at his youngest child, trying to make him see his position as a ruler. "Now, Legolas. How do you plead?"
Legolas looked at his father eye to eye, still holding on to his strong will. "I plead not guilty." They all murmured again. The troops from Garmadris were now shouting in anger and dissatisfaction.
The king put up his hand, asking for silence. He turned to Lady Arulin. "My lady, tell us what happened." Sobbing, she started to relate her tales of deceit. "I was taking a stroll in the garden, then Prince Legolas approached me and said how he desired me. I was uneasy with his words; I tried to get away from him. He then grabbed me and asked me to marry him instead. I…I…I said no, telling him I'm already betrothed to Prince Keldarion, his own brother, but he wouldn't listen and…he…he started to drag me to some bushes and kiss me…and…he tried to…"
"That's a lie!" Legolas could hear no more of her poison words, pulling him deeper and deeper into a hole of doom. "You're lying!"
Lady Arulin burst into tears. Her cries of sorrow could be heard throughout the hall. Everyone was looking at her in sympathy and awe. She was still beautiful when she cried.
"Silence, Legolas! Don't you shout at her like that!" the king said angrily.
"But father, she is lying. I was in the garden by myself when she came to me. I was looking for the ferrets…"
"The ferrets?" Thranduil gritted his teeth.
Legolas gulped. "Err…yes, the ferrets. They are still roaming within the palace walls and I was trying to find them so they won't bother you anymore. Then Lady Arulin came and helped me searched for them when she suddenly grabbed me and pulled me to the ground. She started to tear her dress and kissed me at the same time and…"
"How could you?!" Lady Arulin cried out, jumping out from her seat. "How could you blame me for your behavior?" She turned to the king, "I'm sorry, my lord. I can't stand being in the same room with this…this…" Not finishing her statement, she rushed out of the hall, tears running down her pretty face.
Legolas felt doomed already. Everyone was sympathizing her plight. "Father, I swear I'm telling you the truth."
"But the witnesses tell another! I can hardly believe what I saw with my own eyes, Legolas, but I know what I saw." Thranduil sighed. "Your words against the others. What else can you say to defend yourself?"
"I have nothing else to proof my innocence except my words. I swear to you father, I've been framed!"
The Garmadris troops started to protest again when they heard this. "My lord Thranduil, this is madness. We know he's your son but our lady's reputation has been shred to tatters. We beg for your fair and justified decision."
The king shook his head in sorrow and looked at his son with suddenly old eyes. "All evidence pointed out that you're guilty, Legolas."
Legolas's face drained of all color. "No…"
"Prince Legolas Thrandulion, you are found guilty of assaulting Lady Arulin of Garmadris." Thranduil said in his full regal being, staring unwaveringly at his youngest child. Keldarion's face though was a mask, very hard to read. "According to the rule of Mirkwood royal house, your crime entitled you to a punishment of…" At this, the king paused. "…flogging of fifty lashes."
Gasps and exclamations were heard. Some of them were horrified to hear this, but some others were nodding in agreement. "It's a fair enough punishment," one of the Garmadris elves said.
"If they asked me, I'd like to see the prince banished…after being flogged!!" said his companion.
"Oh no! The decision is killing the king himself!"
"Look at Prince Keldarion. He looked as if he's going to faint!"
Legolas heard all this but took no heed. All he saw was his father's dejected face and his brother's anguish countenance. Fifty lashes? Would it be painful enough to kill me?
"Father," he pleaded one last time. "You're making a big mistake. Please, I'm innocent."
The king straightened up and ordered the hall to silent down. "I'm not making a mistake, my dear son. I'm carrying up my responsibility as a ruler." He beckoned for the guards. "Take him for now. The punishment will be carried out in the afternoon in the courtyard." With that, he got down from the throne and walked out of the hall.
Legolas could only slumped in defeat.
***************
All the elves of Mirkwood had gathered at the palace courtyard to witness the flogging of their beloved Prince Legolas. It was a sad day for the kingdom. Never before had such a punishment carried out onto the royal family. To the beautiful Prince Legolas, of all person!
They were all waiting for Legolas to be brought out. He was flanked by the previous two guards. His hands now unbound, and he was stripped to the waist. His lean muscle-toned body glowed brighter than ever, making everyone stared in wonder. For once, Thranduil had a sliver of doubt running down his spine. But he hardened his heart. The punishment must be carried out or there will be chaos in my credibility as a king.
They tied Legolas hands to two posts, spread eagle, facing the king's dais. An elven guard came forward with a long whip made of black leather. Legolas trembled at the sight of it. He looked up at his father, asking for mercy…anything! Please, father! I'm your son! Why can't you trust me enough to believe me?
The courtyard was quiet now, silent as a graveyard. At the king's signal, the flogging began. Through it all, not once did Legolas cried out, even though the pain and humiliation was so unbearable he wanted to scream. But he could not prevent gasps and whimpers from coming out of his lips. After the twentieth lashes, he lost count. He let himself wallowed deeply into the agony, cursing Lady Arulin to hell and back.
They released him after what seemed like hours of pure torment. Legolas stumbled to his knees, not yet ready to stand on his own two feet. He slapped the hands that tried to help him up. He painfully stood up, slowly but stoically, and looked directly at his father. "Anything else…my lord?" There was a bite of rebellion in his last words.
The king shook his head seriously, catching the sting in his son's voice. "No, you may go."
Walking tall and proud, albeit stiffly, Legolas moved towards the palace royal chambers. They all watched his progress in wonder. Even in hurtful condition, Legolas could still hold on to his regal being. His glow did not fade.
Keldarion suddenly appeared in his blurry vision. "Legolas?" he asked hesitantly. There was pain in his dark eyes as he stared at his younger brother's face.
"If you want to know the truth, look at her through a mirror," Legolas said before he walked away, ignoring everyone's probing eyes.
*****************
Arulin saw it all from her chamber above. An evil smile formed at her lips. They don't believe him now; they won't believe him ever…
TBC…