A/N: Have no idea if I did this right. Takes full responsibility for mistakes.
:: Nods and scampers back to bed ::
Chapter 11: Bound
After three days, Legolas decided that it was time to tell Kythe and Karalynn about Lorien.
Kythe far surpassed his expectations of anger.
She was furious.
"I will not allow it!" Kythe exclaimed.
Legolas stared at her in surprise as she glared at him from the chair beside Karalynn's bed. She stood up and her dark green eyes flashed with a deep anger. Karalynn looked just as shocked as Legolas felt for she turned her head to look in awe at the tall female elf next to her.
He had entered their room while Kythe was feeding her. From the looks of the thin broth left in the bowl near her bedside, she hadn't eaten very much and Legolas was sorry that he had interrupted them at this moment. Now, more than ever, Karalynn needed nourishment.
"You have no say in this matter, Kythe." Legolas said firmly, regaining his ability to speak. "Karalynn must go to Lorien..."
"I will not let her go!" Kythe said, shaking her head. "She is far too weak to undergo such a journey and..."
"The Lady Galadriel calls for her..."
"...her death will be on your head if she goes!"
Legolas drew in a cold breath and his eyes moved to Karalynn's face at Kythe's harsh words. She seemed to grow even paler at the declaration and she squirmed uncomfortably underneath her covers. For a moment, he considered going to her and something inside of him ached to cradle her in his arms. Karalynn drew her arms around herself as if she were trying to take up less space and it only made her seem more vulnerable and fragile.
But if he wanted to touch Karalynn, he would have to go through Kythe first.
Legolas knew she was right, after all. Karalynn was too weak- physically and mentally to go through the darkness of Mirkwood. The girl was bundle of raw nerves and even now, her gray eyes darted from wall to wall, afraid of anything that might resemble a shadow. She had barely eaten since he met with his father and even when he tried to feed her, she would turn her head nervously, frightened by any small sound or creak that was unaccounted for.
Karalynn hadn't slept properly for three days...
Despair haunted her eyes and she took to moving around constantly to stay awake. Despite her protests, Legolas had tried to rock her to sleep many times. He tried singing, which had always worked before but even that failed to calm her now so he was reduced to telling her tales as she sat up, in wearied silence. Lohr had even tried to help her sleep but she would force her eyes open until she eventually passed out into a dreamless void from pure exhaustion.
With each day that passed, Legolas' fears about the trip increased but so did his conviction that she had to go to Lorien.
If Karalynn stayed in Mirkwood she would die. If she traveled to Lorien, she might die. There was a difference between the two. One offered him hope, while the other did not and for this, Legolas was willing to take the chance.
But still... his heart failed him each time he looked at the ever fading girl. Kythe was right- painfully right. If Karalynn died, her death would be on his head, a heavy burden to be placed on his shoulders and in his heart and soul for all time.
Karalynn's eyes met his and for a moment, something passed between them. Something unspoken and unsaid- rather it was like a touch of a finger and Legolas closed his mouth, knowing Karalynn would speak on her own behalf.
"What say you, Legolas?!" Kythe demanded, angry at his silence. "I never knew you to be a coward, too weak to stand up to your father! And you pretend to care for this girl when instead...."
Karalynn reached up and touched Kythe's hand and the words died on her lips as she turned to look down.
"I want to go." Karalynn said in a hoarse voice. "I will go. I have to. I want to know what happened to me, Kythe and if this is what I have to do...."
Kythe sat down on the edge of the bed and clutched Karalynn's hand with both of hers.
"You don't understand." Kythe said. "Mirkwood is filled with creatures that seek to harm and kill anything that comes along. It is a cold and nasty place, Karalynn. You will not survive if you go through the wood!"
Karalynn's eyes moved back to Legolas and he saw a sad understanding in her gaze. Kythe did not want to let go of her friend- the human she now considered her child and Karalynn knew this. If Karalynn arrived in Lorien unscathed it would not matter- Kythe would still have to let Karalynn go back to her home.
To death or otherwise, Kythe would lose Karalynn just as he knew he would too.
And Legolas was all too aware of this impending loss. He turned away from Karalynn, unable to bear the sight of her face anymore. He had been able to deny himself of the emotions he felt or could feel for the girl. He was strong enough, or foolish enough, to hold off on the temptation to completely love the mortal but his resolve was slowly crumbling.
Kythe was not able to do the same. She had not the strength to keep her emotions- her love for Karalynn, in check and all of them understood this.
She had loved Karalynn fiercely and openly, from the beginning and now she was being forced to give her up. It was like being witness to a crime- to wrench an infant from its sobbing mother. It was cruel and unbearable but necessary.
"If this Galadriel you speak of knows how to stop this." Karalynn said softly. "If she knows who I am and where I come from... I have to go. If I stay here, then I'll never have peace. I'll never have rest."
Legolas heard Kythe sob and he closed his eyes, hating the sound of his friend in pain.
"No, I won't let you go!" Kythe cried. "It's not fair! Why can't Galadriel come here? She is not ill! Why must she force you to go to her?"
Karalynn said nothing.
"Legolas, this is on you! You shall take the blame if anything goes wrong! I am against this with every ounce of blood that runs through my veins and I shall hate you for all eternity if you take her out of this palace!"
Legolas heard the creak of the bed as Kythe stood up and then the slam of the door when she walked out.
For a moment, he stood still, listening to her footsteps slowly disappear down the long hallway outside. When he heard the slam of Kythe's bedroom door, he opened his eyes and sighed.
"She's not mad at you. Not really. She's just scared." Karalynn said. Legolas turned to her and nodded.
"Aye. I know." he said. "Nor is she mad at you."
Karalynn smiled wanly and shrugged.
She tilted her head to the side and began to rock herself back and forth. Her hands opened and closed and she blinked rapidly. The quiet, composed girl she had been a few minutes ago was slowly fading as he watched and the now familiar hysterical light entered her eyes.
"`Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: 'We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.'" she said. "I think I'm going mad, Legolas. I am, aren't I? That's what everyone thinks anyway. All the other elves. Because I hear things they can't and babble sometimes. Yes. I am mad. They're right, just like the Cheshire cat!"
Legolas frowned.
"You must rest, Karalynn." he said in a harsher tone than he meant. "Stop this now or you will perish before the preparations for the trip even begin!"
"I didn't know that Cheshire cats always grinned; in fact, I didn't know that cats could grin." she said in a suddenly flat voice. Her eyes seemed to glitter. "Do you know what Alice saw in Wonderland, Legolas? She saw a cat that grinned! The cat could disappear at will and sometimes only its grin remained to be seen. Imagine that, Legolas... a grin without a cat. Alice said..."
"Karalynn, stop..."
"...that she had seen cats without grins but she had never seen a grin without a cat before." Karalynn smiled suddenly and Legolas could not stand to look at her anymore.
"Wasn't that a clever thing to say?" she asked, innocently, still smiling. "A cat without a grin but never a grin without..."
Legolas strode over to the side of her bed and grabbed her shoulders, unable to endure her words any longer. He shook her slightly, lifting her body from the bed and bringing her to her knees. His fingers dug into the thin material of her nightgown and she winced at his touch.
"Stop that!" he cried out at her. "Stop talking nonsense! Why are you doing this to yourself?! Why are you doing this to me?! Why...."
Karalynn's eyes grew wide and Legolas immediately released her from his grip, startled at his own actions. He stared in horrified silence as she fell back onto her bed and brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs.
"I am sorry. I did not mean to..."
She started to rock back and forth violently, placing her hands on her ears to block him out.
Legolas uttered a cry of disgust and despair and he placed his hands on Karalynn again, forcing her hands away from her head and making her look up at him.
"Stop this." he said in a soft voice. "Stop. Stop moving. Stop saying these things. Just stop."
Her gaze was full of misery and despair and her mouth trembled slightly. Legolas blinked and sat down on the bed without letting her go.
"I wish I could." she whispered. "I keep seeing things- hearing things, that... that I can't explain but... and this story keeps winding itself in my mind... everyday it gets louder and stronger. And the voice tells me to jump and it's getting harder to ignore it and.. I have to keep moving, you see, because it helps me keep my mind off of..."
Her voice broke off and she suddenly grabbed Legolas' hands, shaking them off of her arms and clutching them with her thin, cold fingers.
She looked at him pleadingly.
"Can this Galadriel you speak of really help me?" she asked. "Will she make everything, all of it, go away? I lied to Kythe, Legolas. I don't care about going home anymore. I don't care about finding out who I am. I just want the nightmares to stop. I want to stop hearing things that no one else hears. I would do anything, go anywhere to stop this. I don't want to be crazy. I'm tired. I'm so very, very tired...."
Her eyes grew shiny with tears and Legolas watched quietly as one crystal clear drop slowly made its way down the gaunt curve of her cheek. He brought her cold hands to his mouth and kissed them gently, setting them back in her lap. Then he reached up and cupped her face, wiping her tears with his thumbs.
"The pain will end." he said softly. "I promise you that the pain you feel will be erased. If Galadriel can not help you then I will find a way to make things right for you. I stake my life on this promise, my love, I swear it to you. I bind my future to you with this promise, Karalynn."
She was either too tired to notice his words or too relieved to hear what he was really saying for Karalynn only nodded and settled back on her pillows. Legolas waited for her to say something to him; he expected her to ask what he meant by his words but she didn't.
Instead she held out her hand to him and he took it without hesitation, squeezing it gently.
"When do we leave, Legolas? I want to leave as soon as possible."
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Legolas hitched the small bag over the neck of the horse and smoothed out the large piece of fabric over its smooth dark brown back. Elves usually rode bareback but he knew that Karalynn would be uncomfortable without at least something to sit on. She would be riding with him naturally so she would be in no danger of slipping off- the fabric was more or less to settle her mind and not for any other specific use.
He glanced at Faran and Fortinbas who were readying their own horses and then at the healer who was arranging the myriad of colorful bottles in his bag.
Lohr had begged King Thranduil and Legolas to allow him to go and Legolas had been tempted to let him. But as the King had said, Lohr was still too inexperienced a fighter and healer to do much good. Though Rinwethiel had taken him under her wing and despite the fact that his powers were already strengthened greatly by the few lessons he had been taught- it wasn't enough. Instead, Legolas had opted to bring the best healer in Mirkwood with him- Rinwethiel's father, Nuratar, who was also a good friend of the royal family.
It would be the three warriors, the healer and the girl.
Legolas secured his bag and patted his steed kindly on the neck. It turned its broad head towards him in greeting and Legolas smiled, nodding his head in return.
"You shall be carrying two for the next week, my friend." he said. "But fear not, she is a gentle lady. And I suspect, though she may be afraid of you at first, she will treat you with the respect you deserve."
His horse lowered its lashes, as if to signal its understanding of the matter at hand.
"Be kind with her, Belleth. She is weak." Legolas said seriously. "Tread as lightly as you can. 'Tis a careful road we must take for the lady."
They were standing in the open field, at the edge of the kingdom and the dark wood, where the stables were. It was dawn, for that was the best time to start any journey- at the beginning of a new day when hope still springs fresh from the earth.
Legolas and the rest had woken up early to make sure that everything was settled and in place and now that everything was- they were ready to leave.
"Where is Kythelin and the lady?" Fortinbas asked, glancing at Legolas.
"They shall be here soon." Legolas said, unperturbed. "And so shall my father and my brothers. Remember, we have woken up far earlier than needed. There is still time before the sun is high up."
Fortinbas nodded and smiled slightly. "Aye, Prince, you are right." he said. "It is just my impatient heart calling out for the road. It has been far too long since I last journeyed out from the kingdom and I long for a new adventure."
Legolas smiled indulgently and nodded. "Yes, Fortinbas, I know." he said.
Faran made a small sound of disgust and rolled his eyes at his fair-headed brother. "You would not be so eager to go if you actually had reason to stay." he said.
"I am not so weak as to forgo adventure for a maiden, brother dear." Fortinbas said at his brother's irritation. He looked at Legolas and winked. "I believe my brother has gone soft-hearted on us, Prince. He would not leave the Lady Kythelin for an hour if I held my blade at his throat or offered him a handsome share of my wealth."
Instead of laughing, Legolas looked at Faran in quiet appraisal.
"Faran, do you wish to stay?" he asked softly. "I asked for you and your brother's companionship on this journey but I do not wish to force it upon you. Though I do hope you would go of your own free will for your skills as a warrior are sorely needed."
Faran stood up straight and shook his head proudly.
"No, Prince Legolas. I go of my own accord." he said firmly. "I was merely jesting with Fortinbas. I said I wanted to accompany you on this trip and so I shall- of my own free will. Nay, Kythe would have my head if I did not go. She loves the girl and though she is dismayed at the idea of letting her go to Lorien, I believe my presence here will ease her mind."
"Then I owe you both my thanks." Legolas said, looking at Faran and then at Fortinbas. His eyes moved to Nuratar. "And you, great healer. Thank you for coming with us."
Nuratar looked up at Legolas from his bag and waved his hand in the air, as if to clear the Prince's words.
"No words of thanks are needed, dear Prince." he said. "For like the young Fortinbas said, I long for a new adventure as well. And my daughter tells me that the girl is a soft-hearted creature, full of mirth and kindness. I go along to help her."
Legolas smiled quickly. "That she is, Nuratar." he said softly. He glanced at Fortinbas and Faran. "Alas, here I am, hoping that our ride to Lorien will be an uneventful and worry-free one when my companions seek adventure!"
They all chuckled and Nuratar looked past Legolas, pointing at the palace with his hand.
"Aye, they are coming." he said softly.
They all turned around to see King Thranduil and Daurwyn walking towards them. Behind them, a little further away, was Kythe, Lohr and Karalynn.
At the sight of the human, Legolas' eyes misted over and he studied her thin frame as she made her way across the grass to the stables. She wore a simple dress, undecorated and suitable for riding. For once it was a dark green color instead of the usual blue that Kythe dressed her in. The long brown cloak she wore was still unclasped and he could see her struggling to keep up with Lohr and Kythe though they moved slower than usual. Her face was pale and drawn but there was a glimmer in her eyes, a spark of life that Legolas was relieved to see. She seemed alive- moreso than she had in the days past and Legolas felt hope stir up in his chest at the sight of her.
"Father." Legolas said when King Thranduil and Daurwyn had come near. He bowed deeply to King Thranduil and smiled slightly at Daurwyn. When he stood up, Kythe, Karalynn and Lohr had caught up.
"My son, are you ready?" King Thranduil asked, sweeping his eyes over the horses and elves.
"Yes, father." Legolas said. He tugged self-consciously on the strap across his chest. His weapons were in place and his bow would rest near his leg when he rode, for easy access if needed. "We have food enough for a few weeks, water bags, bedrolls and..." Legolas glanced quickly at Karalynn. "And medicine."
King Thranduil nodded and looked back at the three behind him. To Legolas' surprise, he held out his hand to the girl and smiled kindly at her.
"And you, child." he said in a gentle voice. "Are you ready?"
Karalynn took it shyly, her pale cheeks reddening slightly and nodded.
"Yes, King Thranduil. I-I think so." she whispered. She looked at him from behind her thick lashes and smiled.
The King led her to Legolas, holding her hand out for him to take. Legolas took it and looked at his father curiously. There seemed to be more meaning infused in the moment and Legolas looked at his brother for help. Daurwyn's dark blue eyes seemed sad and serious and Legolas felt as if he were missing something important.
"Here, my son." King Thranduil said softly, looking at Legolas carefully. "The hand of your mortal charge. For though you are of my own flesh and blood, I have no say over whose hand you take. For better or worse, Legolas, this is your path- the one of your own choosing. And though it causes more heartache than joy, your decisions are not for me to question over but for yours. Whether 'tis folly in my mind matters not for you shall be the one to carry the burden of consequence. This is your journey, my son. Crown prince of Mirkwood, you know your duties to your kingdom and you know your duties to yourself. Here is her hand, Legolas...
Legolas suddenly realized that his father was not talking of the journey at hand but of the one that he had already begun upon. His father was telling him that he had to make a decision, right then and there about Karalynn. Succumb to his emotions or still them. His father was offering him no hope and no advice and though there was no rebuke in his words, there was no happiness in them either. His father was warning him, perhaps, and even that was cloaked in shades of gray.
Like the gray of her eyes.
Everyone else except Karalynn understood this and she glanced around, in sweet innocent confusion. King Thranduil still held out her hand but her eyes were studying Faran and Fortinbas and Nuratar.
"What say you, my son?" King Thranduil asked quietly.
Legolas took her hand, drawing Karalynn close to him and slid his arm around her waist. She looked down at his arm and then up at the horse and Legolas could see that she thought he meant to lift her up on the tall creature. It was not an embrace to her, nor was it a symbol of his affection and love for her. But to everyone there, his choice had been made. He was not admitting outright that he loved her nor was he saying that he would enter into marriage with the mortal girl but there was now a bond between them- unbreakable and true. He had made his claim on her for all of them to see and by doing so, prevented anyone else from claiming Karalynn or himself. It was a spiritual union not sealed by any physical act but it was final and complete in the presence of the King.
And Legolas knew that there was a chance she would never realize any of it.
He didn't care.
"I have chosen, father." he answered. King Thranduil nodded and stepped back and Daurwyn offered a small smile to his eldest brother.
"I don't think you can carry me that high, Legolas." Karalynn said in wonderment, still gazing up at Belleth. "And frankly, I don't think I can jump that high."
Legolas laughed and the King smiled widely at the girl's words. He heard Fortinbas stifle a chuckle behind him and Legolas tightened his grip on her waist.
"You will not have to jump, dear one." he said. "There is a stool nearby for that purpose. See, here? By my foot. No, you shall not have to exert yourself at all."
Karalynn blushed brightly and covered her mouth with her hand, obviously embarrassed.
The group moved into action and Legolas helped Karalynn up onto the horse. Faran, Fortinbas and Nuratar got up on their own steeds and Legolas was the only one left on foot. He embraced his father and Daurwyn and Lohr tugged on his eldest brother's hair impishly before releasing him from his own tight grasp. Finally, only Kythe was left for Legolas to bid goodbye to.
She walked away from Faran, after giving him a long, tearful kiss and moved towards Legolas. Her bright green eyes were still filled with anger as she glared at him.
"Fear not, old friend." he said. "I shall let no harm come to your child."
"I believe that it is too late to say that, elf prince." she spat. "This journey is all your doing, Legolas, and whatever happens to her will be too."
"I know, Kythe." Legolas said, saddened that his childhood friend was still mad. "But whatever is in my power, I shall do for her."
He lowered his voice so that Karalynn could not hear his next words.
"She will not be out of my sight for even a second, Kythe. 'Tis not a choice of mine anymore. I have already bound my fate with hers and she shall be under my constant protection. You heard my father and you heard my answer. Please, let your heart be relieved and may we leave on good terms."
Kythe's eyes softened and she sighed heavily.
"I meant what I said." she said. "I will not forgive you if..."
"I know."
She held out her arms and Legolas hugged her back, grateful for her forgiveness. When they drew apart, she walked away and Legolas swung himself up onto Belleth gracefully, behind Karalynn. Karalynn clutched at the horse's mane, frightened at the movement he had caused and he grabbed her waist, steadying her against him.
"Not so tightly, Karalynn." he whispered into her ear. "Belleth will not allow you to fall but please, loosen your grasp on him."
"I don't think I've been on a horse before." she whispered back, turning her head slightly towards him. "This just doesn't feel right. It's too high."
"But you've climbed tall trees before."
"Yes, but trees don't breathe and move." she said. Her eyes were wide with fear and Legolas glanced down at Lohr, gesturing with one hand for him to come.
"Yes, brother?" Lohr said.
"Give me that cord around your waist." Legolas said. "I have better use for it than decoration, Lohr."
Lohr laughed as he unwrapped the long leather cord from his waist and handed it to his brother. Legolas wrapped it around his back and then brought the two ends to the front of Karalynn's waist, tying it tightly around them.
She looked at him, blinking.
"Now you are secure, Karalynn." he said confidently. "You will not fall off and you need only to hold lightly to keep your balance."
Karalynn smiled cheerfully and loosened her grip on Belleth's hair, to which the horse neighed as if grateful for the release.
"Goodbye!" Legolas called, waving one hand. His other one was kept securely around Karalynn's waist. "We shall all see you in a few weeks time!"
And the five travellers rode off into the forest of Mirkwood, as the sun slowly made its way into the lightening sky.