Disclaimer ; Same thing everyday! Not mine!
I'm really glad you guys enjoy this story! Keep on reading, please!
Legolas lay silently in his father's arms, his eyes glazed, staring emptily at the cell wall. He was not even aware of his brother's gentle ministration of his wound at the back of his neck. Now and then, he would stare at his hands, searching for the magic that was not there anymore.
Thranduil's eyes were misted with tears, his heart so heavy to see his youngest child in this condition. "Legolas?" he called. The prince looked up at him, no emotion evident on his face, only pure emptiness. Part of his soul had been crudely snatched from him, leaving him confused and bewildered.
"Am I dead, father?" he asked softly. Thranduil glanced at Keldarion's startled eyes. Those were the first words Legolas said after the Manya stone had been taken out of him.
"No, Legolas. You're still with us, not in the House of Mandos." Thranduil stroke his child's head tenderly.
"Then why do I feel dead?" He looked back at his hands. "There's nothing here. I don't feel a thing." Thranduil shook his head sorrowfully. He gathered his son closer to his heart. All the heartbreaking events in the previous hours rushed back to him in clear picture. How wrong he'd been. How terrible his misjudgment was that Legolas suffered so. But strong and stubborn as he was, Legolas still held on, not yet broken apart. The prince was slowly falling into sleep, his eyes drooping, and his stiff body relaxing.
Keldarion sighed. "Will he survive this, father? He'd lost a vital part of him so suddenly. I'm afraid he will shatter into tiny pieces," he said softly, gazing at his dozing brother.
"We won't let him. We owe him that much." Thranduil looked around their prison cell in distaste. "I can't believe I still keep this dungeons under the palace. I should have closed it millenniums ago!"
"Well, you never thought that we will end up here," Keldarion quipped, earning a rueful smile from his father. The crown prince finished bandaging his brother's neck wound with the piece of cloth he ripped from his own sleeve. He then stood up and walked forward to grip the cell bars, staring at the dank and musty area outside. "Remember when Legolas got lost here when he was a child?"
Thranduil laughed softly, still cradling his son in his lap. "How can I forget? The whole kingdom went into an uproar, searching inside out for this missing brat. I vowed then and there to close this hole!"
"But you still didn't." Keldarion shook his head in wonder. He strained his ears when he heard screams and cries of terror from the other part of the dungeons. "What is she doing? She had overthrown us, but now she's torturing our people. Is it still not enough?"
"She's evil. She won't stop until her own heart stop beating!" Thranduil said through gritted teeth. "I vow I'll kill her when we get out of this!"
"Get in line, father. She's mine. You can kill her after I'm done with her." Keldarion cringed when the screams hit his ears again. "Valar! I hate feeling so helpless like this!" Resting his forehead against the bars, Keldarion muttered, "When we get out of this, I'll get that bitch and…"
"And you will what, Prince Keldarion?" Arulin suddenly appeared, followed by her army of orcs. How she got controlled over them, nobody knows. Arulin found Keldarion's eyes glaring at the ugly creatures in pure hate. "You don't approve of my choice of servants? Too bad, my prince. I found them very loyal and strong. They made very good soldiers. The orcs fell all over themselves to please me, obeying my every command."
She then looked at Thranduil. "Do you like your new sleeping arrangements? Get use to it. You're going to be here for the rest of your life. You are lucky I didn't kill you. I'd rather have you all alive and go rotten in this pitiful place, thinking about me having grand time up there! My father would now rest in peace."
"Peace? Ai Elbereth! He'll burn in hell for his betrayal!" Thranduil yelled. "And so will you, you evil witch!"
Arulin's face was thunderous. Her beautiful visage now turned frighteningly murderous. "You will pay for that, Thranduil!" She beckoned the orcs. "Take his baby!"
Thranduil blanched. "No!!!" he cried out, holding on to Legolas like mad. Keldarion stood over them, trying to shield his brother from the orcs who were now unlocking the cell before rushing inside. "Stop this madness, Arulin! You've got what you want!"
"Move out of the way, Keldarion! Or you'll be send much early to Mandos!" Arulin shouted. Keldarion found himself facing pointing arrows aiming at his heart. He charged forward and knocked them away. But he was not fast enough to escape one flying arrow. It hit his shoulder hard, throwing him against the wall.
"Keldarion!" Thranduil stared wide-eyed at his injured son. Keldarion winced, pulling the arrow from his body in one angry move. "I am fine, father. We cannot let them take Legolas!" He didn't know what plan Arulin had in her mind, but he knew it would not be pleasant.
By that time, Legolas had already awakened. He blinked in confusion towards the whole commotion. The orcs grabbed his arms and hair while his father tightened his arms around him, crying out in protest.
"Let go of your son, Thranduil, or I'll cut your throat!" Arulin yelled, placing a dagger at Thranduil's neck. "So be it!" Thranduil growled back.
She then stared into Legolas's silver eyes. "You will come with me or else I will kill your father." Legolas looked up at Thranduil and saw the dagger at his father's neck, which was already drawing blood. Smiling reassuringly, he said, "Let go of me, father. I'll be fine."
It was a lie and they all knew it. Legolas squeezed his father's arm. "Please, father. Let go. I don't want to see you die because of me." The sharp point of the dagger bit deeper into Thranduil's flesh. Reluctantly, he loosened his hold on Legolas though it was killing him to do so.
Legolas was immediately dragged out of the cell the second he was released. Thranduil's shoulders slumped in great defeat, knowing he'd failed to protect his child. Keldarion wrapped his arms around his miserable father, having a hard time in controlling his own turmoil emotions.
TBC…