Disclaimer : JRR Tolkien bequeathed to me his rights on LOTR, and Legolas had asked me to be his wife! Then, I wake up! Grrrr!!!!!!
Thank u, thank u, and thank u for the nice reviews! I'm still grinning like a fool that my friends got really worried they asked me to take the day off from work!
@Sremla calcacil : Witnesses? Yeah, it's quite loose there. I overlooked it somehow. And sorry to make Thranduil so gullible. He reminds me of someone I know. (Shh!! Don't tell anyone but that 'someone' is my boss!)
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Thandruil tried to ignore the knockings at his door, but he relented when he heard his son's urgent voice. "Come in, Keldarion."
The crown prince walked in, his face a mixture of panic and horror. "Father, I…" He trailed off when he saw the tears streaking down the king's face. "Father?"
"I hit him. I can't believe it, but I hit your brother." He stared at his shaking hand in shame. "Never had I ever hit the both of you. Never! But now…" He cradled his face in his hands, willing himself to calm down.
Keldarion knelt down near his father, squeezing the elder elf's forearm warmly. "Father, I came here not to add burden to your misery. But I believe, Legolas was speaking the truth."
Thranduil looked up in astonishment. "What did you just say?"
"Legolas is innocent. And I can prove it to you." Keldarion told the king of his recent discovery. Thranduil at first was shock beyond believe, then he slowly became furious…terribly furious that his hands shook in his fight to control his anger. "I punished my son because of that…that evil bitch?!!" He stood up and started to pace in pure agitation.
"What should we do now?" Keldarion asked. He couldn't wait to choke the life out of Arulin with his own bare hands. The king looked at his son, his face thunderous and stiff. "The royal guards must be called on alert. Enhance the security. I believe we're not dealing with a simple she-elf here," he said, massaging his suddenly pounding head. "It is time we confront her."
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Arulin looked up and frowned when she saw the stirring of activities among the Mirkwood royal guards. Many had appeared and took position near every door and window. They all stood on alert and great attention, as if preparing for something.
Her eyes drew to a slit. So, that brat prince had convinced his family somehow. You are trying to foil my mission, aren't you? You can try. I came here not without a back-up plan. Let's see if you can really stop me, Thrandulions!
She gave signal to Berthana. Her lady-in-waiting, or rather her loyal soldier, nodded and slipped away from the gallery…
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Thranduil and Keldarion entered Legolas's chamber. They were stunned to find Legolas missing, his bed empty. There was no trace of his quiver, bow and twin blades either. The door to the balcony was ajar, allowing the night sounds to filter in.
Father and son looked at each other and sighed heavily. Thranduil turned to his guard commander. "Linden, tell your men to find Prince Legolas and inform him of what we planned to do."
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Legolas meanwhile was already down at the royal stable, heading to the back where the eagles and falcons were kept in one spacious barn. The prince had been suddenly awakened from his deep sleep, his sense of warning in full alert. The dreadful feelings that have been running down his spine intensified. He didn't know what to make of it, but he was sure something terrible was going to happen. As no one believed him, Legolas now took the whole matter into his own hands.
He approached the magnificent bald golden eagle that was called Emas. "Hey there, friend." Legolas crooned to it, mumbling silly noises. The eagle squawked back at him, so happy she was to see the prince that used to train her in the open field.
"I'm in need of your great help, Emas." Legolas took out the parchment of message he'd written in his chamber before he went out, and tied it to Emas's leg. "I want you to find Mithrandir. Take this message to him."
Legolas went out of the barn; Emas now perched on his wrist guard. "Go now, and make haste! For our kingdom might already be in great danger." Emas gave a final squawk and flew off into the night.
Legolas stared at the animal messenger until he could see it no more. He hoped that Emas would find the wizard on time. The troops from Rivendell and Lothlorien would only arrive in several more days for the wedding. By that time, all would be too late. Everyone in Mirkwood would fall prey to Arulin's evil charm by then. And he would end up dead in a dungeon somewhere, considering the fast pace thing was happening.
He stiffened when his senses pricked on something evil, something totally bad and full of menace. He crouched down in the dark, moving stealthily about, searching for the source. He moved deeper into woods, away from the palace, towards the sense that had become stronger by the minute. His eyes widened at what he saw then. A troop of twisted and ugly creatures was advancing towards the palace!
"Orcs!" Legolas hissed in dismay. How did they get here? Where are the woodland guards? He got his answer later when he saw the bound and injured guards at the end of the procession.
Legolas kept to the shadow, silently retreating. I must warn the king! He turned around and was startled out of his wits to see Berthana, flanked by five other Garmadris elves, standing tall and looking own at him, holding daggers and swords. "Going somewhere, your highness?"
Legolas looked up at Arulin's lady-in-waiting. The more he stared at her, the more he could see the slow transformation that had happened to Arulin in the reflection. So were her companions. Their skin was turning sallow and wrinkling, their eyes turning brightly red in the darkness. Terrified, Legolas stumbled backwards. What kind of evil is this?
"Get him!" Berthana cried out. Her fellow companions circled around the prince. Legolas's head whipped about, searching for any way out. Using the bow and arrows was out of the question. The enemies were already too near for him to draw his bowstring, no matter how fast he was in using the deadly weapon. Then they all rushed at him at the same time.
He grabbed his twin blades in a blur of movement, brandishing them with his great skill and quick reflexes. The elf prince's speed was terrifyingly fast as he whirled and spun, blocking the blows and slashing in his own attacks. He stabbed one enemy, jumped away from another and slashed at the third, but the next one slipped under his guard.
The next thing he knew, a body had slammed him down to the ground, pinning him there. His blades were knocked out of his hands; his bow was already thrown earlier into the bushes. Legolas struck his fist into the enemy's face with all his might, feeling pure satisfaction when the elf started to bleed. But before he could rise, the others came onto him again. One kicked him in the back, another in the chest and shoulder as Legolas tried desperately to roll away from their jabbing blades.
He managed to kick one away when a blunt object hit him hard on the temple. His head exploded in blinding lights. Then he saw absolutely nothing….
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Thranduil and Keldarion were entering the gallery, followed by the palace guards. They found Arulin still deep in conversation with her fellow people. Then Keldarion halted. "I don't like this at all, father."
Thranduil turned to his son. "I know what you mean. These elves from Garmadris looked odd somehow. They looked so…confident, as if nothing is wrong."
The Garmadris elves, now conscious of the king's entrance, gave full attention. "My lord Thranduil, your gallery is very impressive. Such craftsmanship can not be competed by any other," one of them said.
His face a mask, Thranduil nodded. "I'm glad you approved." He looked straight at Arulin. "Would you please accompany us, my lady? I believe we have a matter to settle."
"Oh, is it about the wedding?" Arulin played dumb, blushing prettily. Keldarion was about to give her his piece of mind when he paused, "Where's your lady-in-waiting?"
"Who? Berthana? I asked her to do something for me. She'll return shortly," Arulin stated, noticing the way Keldarion clenched his fists and Thranduil's stiffening jaw. So, they already knew. Confronting me now, aren't you? You think I'm all alone in all this? I'll get what I came for! You'll see.
Meekly, she followed them out of the gallery, with the other elves trailing behind them in excitement.
TBC…