Thank you for SCREAMING!! LOL!!!!!!!!!
"Everyone, this is Legolas speaking. I will not die in this story, I can assure you that. I have a contract with Adromir for several more stories. If she kills me now, I'm going to drag her to court and I will…ow!!!!" I just knocked him on the head with my keyboard. He! He!
Okay, read on.
On his way to Legolas's chamber to do his routine check-up on his youngest child, Thranduil nearly ran into Keldarion in the hallway. His elder son was looking a little pale and tired, his eyes red. "Rough night, son?"
Keldarion smiled weakly. "I'll live."
They entered Legolas's chamber together…and got the biggest scare of their lives. Legolas was sitting calmly in his own pool of blood, pressing a knife deep against his already bleeding left wrist.
It was as if time stood still. No one dared to say anything. Legolas had looked up when they entered, now staring blankly back at them; his face, the wonderful and beautiful face, was filled with hundreds of tiny bleeding cuts and nicks. Thranduil nearly fainted in great shock. Keldarion felt his heart burst in a sudden wave of overwhelming emotion.
"Legolas!!!!" The elder elves rushed at Legolas in one simultaneous move. Keldarion snatched the knife from Legolas's grasp, while the king grabbed some nearby towels and wrapped it around the prince's slashed wrists. Legolas only looked on in silence, no expression whatsoever on his face.
"What do you think you were doing?" Thranduil was yelling. "What the hell do you think you were doing?!!!" He grabbed Legolas's shoulders and shook him hard. "Are you trying to kill yourself? Is that what you want? To die?!!!!!"
Legolas's shook his head in denial even when the king kept on yelling and shouting. Thranduil was incredibly upset to know that his youngest child had just attempted suicide; this child that used to be known as a very stubborn, strong and joyful person. How did he come to be this weak? "You really want to die? Go ahead, then!" Thranduil grabbed the cursed knife and shoved it back into Legolas's hand. "Here! Take this damn blade and slash your throat with it! It will get the job done faster, don't you think?! Or better yet, why don't you just stabbed my heart with it because you're really killing me this way!!"
"Father, please…" Keldarion pleaded with teary eyes, gathering his brother into his arms. Legolas's face crumpled then, and he broke into gut-wrenching sobs. The bloodied knife fell out of his grasp to the floor. He clutched at Keldarion's tunic, smearing the cloth with his fresh blood.
Thranduil sat down hard on the floor, his own heart bled as he heard his son's pitiful crying of misery. Sighing, he took Legolas from Keldarion. "Get the manyan stone, Kel. We must stop the bleeding."
Cradling Legolas in his arms, the king softly sang a long time lullaby, his cheeks wet with tears. Keldarion tended to his brother's own-inflicted wounds with the healing stone, wincing involuntarily all the while. Legolas must be feeling terrible pain but he showed no sign of reaction at all. The younger prince was gazing up at Thranduil, fully concentrating on his father's fine singing voice. He fell into a deep sleep not long after.
Thranduil and Keldarion exchanged sorrowful glances. "Father, we cannot let this go on much longer. I'm afraid he's already losing his mind. We must do something!" Keldarion was holding tight to one of Legolas's hands, channeling his own inner energy to his brother.
The Mirkwood king nodded. "He needs someone that could talk through the hard shell that he'd erected around himself. And I know of someone that could do it."
*************
"What is it about the wall that fascinates you so, my child?" The soft melodic voice caressed his ears, snapping him out of his melancholy. Legolas turned, and gaped at the beautiful lady of Lothlorien.
Galadriel smiled at the prince, even though her heart hurt to see this once noble warrior suffered so. This carefree child that used to wreak havoc in Lothlorien when he came visiting, always creating mischief with his usual partners-in-crime: his brother, the Rivendell twins, and sometimes, even Haldir. To see him brought so low like this actually pained her terribly. He has great future in front of him, but is he going to turn away from it now?
She sat down beside Legolas, lifted her hand and gently stroked his hair. "Come, my dear. Tell me what's bothering you?"
He looked away, shame and pain on his face. She touched his chin and tenderly brought it forward so that their eyes met. Why aren't you speaking, Legolas? What are you afraid of?
Legolas's lips trembled as he heard her voice in his mind. He lowered down his head, closing his eyes. Please, my lady. I need to be left alone.
Will the loneliness heal your heart, dear Legolas?
He started to cry then. The tears trailed down his smooth cheeks; the manyan stone had healed all the cuts and nicks that he'd inflicted with the knife two days ago. I don't know, my lady. I'm not ready. Not now.
Then, when? Will you let those evil men get the power over you forever?
Please, my lady. I can't…
Legolas, look at me.
He lifted his head, gazing up at the queen who was the closest to a mother that the prince ever had.
Why are you shutting your family out? Your brother and your father, they love you very much. And you are hurting them this way.
I didn't mean to. I can't face them right now.
Why is that so?
I'm ashamed, my lady. I feel so weak… and sullied…
"No, you're not!" Galadriel voiced out vehemently. "Don't ever think that way! You were protecting the future of middle earth and it's the holiest deed ever." She placed a hand over his heart. "This is what matters. Your heart is pure, unblemished, untainted. Keep it this way, Legolas. You will find light again. I promise you."
The bleakness lifted off Legolas's eyes then. Still, he looked uncertain as he gazed back at Galadriel in that sorrowful way. She picked up the woven basket from the floor. "Hmm, look at this majestic bird. Its wing is broken. But in time, his wing will mend and it will fly again."
She stood up, placed the basket on the bed, and bend down to kiss Legolas's forehead. "The eagle will fly again, Legolas. Mark my words."
He watched intently as Galadriel gracefully left his chamber, his mind actively pondering the double-meanings in her statement. He looked down at the bird squawking excitedly within the folds of the silky cloth…and at the stone of manya lying on the chest beside his bed.
Now he knew what he needed to do…
************
As Galadriel came out and pulled the door close, the three elves that were waiting outside snapped to attention. Keldarion stopped his pacing and rushed over. "My lady? What do you think? Will he recover?"
"Kel." Thranduil gently admonished his son for advancing towards the queen that way. Keldarion flushed in embarrassment. "Forgive me, my lady. I forgot myself."
"I understand, Keldarion." She smiled tenderly at the crown prince. This is another being that had been gravely hurt by the men's actions. Glancing meaningfully at Lord Celeborn, she took Keldarion's hand. "Come with me." The prince was puzzled but he let himself being led away by the queen.
Thranduil stared at the closed door of Legolas's chamber, longing to enter. Lord Celeborn saw this and said, "Give him time, Thranduil. From the way my lady wife had smiled just now, I believe your son will recover."
The Mirkwood king turned towards the lord of Lothlorien then. "Maybe you're right. Let's follow those two. It looks like they are heading down to the garden."
Thranduil was very much relieved when the Lothlorien elves arrived that afternoon after he'd asked for Galadriel's assistance. He and Keldarion had watched over Legolas closely around the clock due to the prince's attempted suicide that day, not trusting him with any weapons or sharp object that he could use to hurt or kill himself with. Never had Thranduil felt so helpless! Now that Galadriel was here and had talked some sense into Legolas, the Mirkwood king could breath a little easier.
Thranduil and Celeborn watched from afar as Galadriel and Keldarion took their seats on one of the garden benches.
************
"Will he be all right, my lady?" Keldarion asked again, anxious to know the progress of Galadriel's short session with his brother. She stared deeply into his eyes before asking, "How about you, Keldarion? Will you be all right?"
The prince was caught on surprise. "Wh…what…what are you…talking about, my lady?"
The queen placed a comforting hand on Keldarion's clenched fist. "You brother is not the only one hurt while being captive, my prince. So are you."
He gave a low chuckle. "Oh. That. Yes, they hurt me too but I'm healed now. Legolas had used the manyan stone on me…with his tears, can you believe it?"
"That's not what I meant," she replied softly. He looked back at her, uneasy. She continued, "You are hurt much deeply than you know…for what they've done to your brother." Keldarion looked away then, hiding his tears from her. "What they forced you to witness that day was very cruel, Keldarion. You shouldn't blame yourself for all that had happened."
"I'm not blaming myself! I'm…" His voice trailed off as his throat closed up on him. Shaking his head, he tried again, "I should've protect him, my lady, but I failed!"
"What else can you do? You are a victim yourself. If not for your quick thinking, both of you might still be missing, never to return like the other taken elves."
"Well, not quick enough…"
"Cease this, Keldarion. You know as well as I am that no one is to blame for all this." She turned to gaze lovingly at her husband, who tenderly gazed back at her in return. She remembered that day when she looked into the liquid mirror, and how Celeborn had consoled her afterwards.
"He's my little brother, my lady. I've been looking after him since he was a baby," Keldarion said softly. "But now, I don't recognize him anymore. He's not the Legolas I used to know."
"Do not lose hope, my prince. Your brother will return to you. Look up there." Galadriel pointed towards Legolas's balcony that can be clearly seen from the garden. Keldarion looked up and stared in awe.
For the fist time in many days, Legolas walked out from the confine of his chamber into fresh air, the golden bald eagle perched on his wrist. Keldarion slowly stood up, half aware of his father's hand on his shoulder. He didn't even realize the king had walked closer. "What is he doing?" Thranduil whispered.
"Flying," Galadriel replied shortly.
With the wind brushing through his long golden hair, Legolas lifted his arm and the eagle flew off…higher and higher to the air.
"Now he's ready for the next stage," Celeborn stated.
"What exactly do you mean?" Thranduil asked.
"He has faced his own self. It's time he face the reason to all this."
"And what would that be?"
"Not what, my Lord Thranduil, but who." Galadriel smiled proudly at Legolas who was staring back at them. "He needs to face the boy…and accepts his destiny."
TBC…