Author's Note: Poor, poor Legolas, he was so close wasn't he? (evil
laughter) Now that ff.net seems to be up and running again we can continue
on with the story! And what exactly is up with Glorfindel? Whose side is
he on, what was he thinking, etc. etc.? Hmmm, I guess we'll have to wait
to find out. Anyways, I have a feeling most of you are going to like this
chapter, 'cause I really enjoyed writing it! So sad really, oh well, I
love you guys so much, and a small reminder reviews are very nicely
appreciated (as if you didn't know that.) And no I do not claim Tolkien's
genius, the only character I truly want is Legolas, but there is always
Orlando Bloom to go stalk and track down...I've said too much, on with the
story!
Chapter 23
The abrupt end to Legolas' escape brought the young elf momentary confusion. Several thoughts raced through Legolas' mind. This was all a large ploy to put off his pursuers, Glorfindel was going to aid in his escape, his horse had run away from him and he had only accidentally fallen off on top of Legolas, every option went through. Yet even as his mind made up explanations, he could not understand why Glorfindel was continuing to hold his arms tightly and was now starting to march him back towards the cave. The elves that had followed Legolas outside were surrounding Legolas and Glorfindel tightly, seeing to it that the young elf prince did not escape again.
Adrenaline still surged through Legolas' body and he kept his gaze on Glorfindel's face, searching for any sort of signal to begin running again. Yet Glorfindel's gaze remained fixed and to the front. As his hopes began to dwindle and reality began to set in, Legolas felt he had to say something. He was about to open his mouth to ask Glorfindel what he was planning on doing when Glorfindel shot him a stern look. Legolas kept his mouth shut.
Finally beginning to realize that perhaps Glorfindel was not trying to aid him in his escape, Legolas took his eyes off of the blonde elf next to him and focused on the direction they were going in. He could clearly see the stone outcropping coming to greet them, and an angry looking Maeglin standing just inside of the entrance.
In what seemed like less time it had taken Legolas to get away from the dank cave, they had reached it again. All adrenaline and false hope had emptied and the young elf prince tried to resign himself to his fate. He kept his mind off of Glorfindel, as he did not want to think about the actions of the elf he had always thought to be so honorable, and drew himself up to face Maeglin.
Yet Maeglin was not even looking at him. His gaze was fixed on Glorfindel. "It seems that you were very lucky in being able to capture our unruly guest," he told Glorfindel softly, "almost as though you were merely in the right place at the right time."
Glorfindel returned Maeglin's sharp gaze impassively and gave a short nod. "Of course I expect that you are pleased that I was able to return the one that your own hand-picked guards could not contain."
Maeglin gave a thin smile. "You would be right to expect that," he replied. He sounded as though he wanted to add more, but before Glorfindel could even reply, the dark elf lord reached out and grabbed Legolas by the arm.
Something inside of Legolas paused to admire the strength of Maeglin. His very grip was like the iron he so loved. Legolas had never felt such strength before, and something in the back of his mind wondered if even Glorfindel would be a match for him.
However the momentary admiration melted away as Legolas found Maeglin's dark eyes now boring into his. He tried to meet the gaze, but the intensity of it would not allow him to hold it for too long. Legolas almost winced and settled on a spot underneath Maeglin's chin. He would not look completely away.
Legolas steadied his breathing, not wanting Maeglin to know of any fear inside of him. He kept his eyes straight forward as Maeglin impatiently turned away from what little sunlight was filtering into the entrance and took Legolas with him. He walked swiftly and unerringly, almost pulling Legolas' arm out of the socket as the elf prince tried to keep up without it appearing as though he had to strain to do so without running along behind him. Legolas matched the stride of the dark elf in front of him, placing his feet in the exact spots Maeglin had stepped in. He did not even bother to acknowledge the leering elves around them, watching after Legolas and Maeglin with interest. They knew it was rare when their elf lord took matters into his own hands, but when he did, it was often quite a spectacle.
Legolas was led back to the same post he had so recently broken away from and was forcibly placed against it. When Legolas was turned to face the direction he had just come in so that his back was to the pole, he was surprised to find Glorfindel not too far from him. He had assumed Glorfindel had stayed behind at the brink of the entrance, but he had followed Legolas and Maeglin, and now his normally expressionless eyes almost seemed to be tinged with worry. Legolas wondered at it, but his attentions were taken from Glorfindel when Maeglin returned from a very short trip somewhere to the side of Legolas and stood directly in front of him.
The dark elf lord looked infuriated, and it grew with every breath he took. Legolas was of course expecting some sort of respite for his failed escape attempt, but he could not understand the amount of rage emanating from the elf lord.
On an impulse, Legolas looked down at the elf lord's hands. He had expected to see perhaps a whip, akin to what had happened the last time he had been punished by the dark elf lord, but there was nothing in his hands save for a leather pouch. Legolas wondered at this and raised his eyes back to Maeglin's face.
The dark eyes of the elf lord were hard and set and his face drawn. This was no simple punishment for a misbehaving elf, he looked as though murderous thoughts were behind his intention.
Legolas unconsciously drew in a breath. He was not afraid to die, he was a warrior after all and an honorable death would land him in the Halls of Mandos, but he feared for what would happen to Mirkwood and his father.
Legolas steeled himself, he would not cow even in the face of death.
An unexpected intervention came from off to the right.
"Lomion," a low voice said.
Maeglin flicked his eyes off of Legolas and in the direction of the new voice. Legolas looked as well. He had completely forgotten that Glorfindel had accompanied them, and he stood now with his head lowered, his muscles taut, almost as though he was just waiting to spring.
"It was not his fault," Glorfindel continued talking when he saw that he now had Maeglin's deadly attention. "Remember, we can still save him. That was the plan."
The dark elf lord's face twisted as though he was trying to mask an unpleasant grimace. He stared at Glorfindel for a moment longer, and to Legolas it seemed as though the very air was palpable with tension between them and the battle of wills.
Slowly, Maeglin's menace appeared to dwindle and he relaxed imperceptibly. He took his gaze from Glorfindel and looked almost thoughtfully at Legolas. The deadly intentions Legolas had read earlier were now lessened, but not by all means gone.
Faster than Legolas could see, Maeglin reached out and grabbed the knife from Legolas' hand that he had completely forgotten that he still held. In a daze, Legolas looked at the knife now held in the elf lord's hand. He thought he had dropped it when he had started running, but apparently that had not been so. The focus of his body on his stamina had disregarded the hand still clutching the knife.
From a tiny flick of Maeglin's hand, three elves stepped forward and held onto Legolas. One of them rebound his wrists with less mercy than before while the other two held him fast. Once his arms were once again bound behind his back he was pushed back down as he had been before with the metal post at his back. Hastily, he was once again tied down at the waist, again with less give in the rope than last time.
When they were done, the elves stepped back and Legolas was confused. He had been expecting some sort of punishment, preparing himself for any type of beating that he may receive. But when it became obvious that he was not going to be receiving any, he began to wonder. Once again his eyes were drawn to the leather pouch held by Maeglin, but it was hanging loosely from the elf's palm and Maeglin was making no move to use whatever was inside of it.
Warily, Legolas looked back up at Maeglin's face. The elf lord's gaze was directed at Glorfindel again and tension reined free.
A thin smile graced the dark elf lord's face. "As you wish," he whispered softly at Glorfindel. Glorfindel straightened at the words, and his brows creased together imperceptibly. "We will wait," he continued, "but this must be done for now."
The crease on Glorfindel's face deepened, but he gave a short nod.
Maeglin's focus came back to Legolas. Legolas had been watching the proceedings almost with fascination, but once the dark eyes were upon him again he had to strive to appear to remain calm. He would seem haughty until the end, he vowed.
Maeglin stared at him, and Legolas had the feeling like he always did when under scrutiny by him that the elf lord knew what he was thinking. Maeglin raised an eyebrow as Legolas thought this, as if something was amusing to him. A mix of confusion and fear tried to gain dominance inside of Legolas, but he willed it down.
Legolas soon forgot about his internal struggles.
With the same speed Legolas had previously admired, the hand of Maeglin that was holding Legolas' knife came down in a graceful arc.
Legolas did not even have time to brace himself for the inevitable.
He remembered all of his vows since waking up in the dark stone cell. He would never give in to these elves, and they would never hear him scream again. He would not let them win and would rather die in silence with his pride still in tact.
All of this ran through Legolas' head in the one beat it took for Maeglin to reach Legolas. And he continued to think it for the beat after the knife kissed the flesh at the top of his thigh. But the pain that raced up to enflame his entire body after the second beat erased all of his thoughts.
Maeglin slammed the knife down into the top of Legolas' leg, all the way down, driving the tip through to the other side so that it bit into the ground and held fast. Red escaped in exploding blossoms on both sides of Legolas' leg and spilled forth over his leggings and raced down eagerly to the ground.
The immense wave of pain that accompanied such a cruel manacle was enough to make Legolas' mind go blank and his previous stipulations on pride escape him. It was too much for a single being to bear.
Legolas screamed.
The tormented sound rang out in the stone imprisonment and echoed in the confinement. It was enough to make the excited looks on the faces of some of the elves dim and turn sober at the sound of pure anguish.
When his lungs were emptied, Legolas bit down on his lip hard and clawed at the ground futilely. He pulled his free leg up to his chest and drew his torso up, trying to back away from the pain. The meaning for the purpose of the viciously imbedded knife was clear, Legolas would not be freeing himself and making a run for it again anytime soon. Yet reason was far from Legolas' mind as his tortured body took over.
He had never felt anything like this.
He was no stranger to battle wounds and had been cut by steel many times. Yet to have a blade impaled clean through to the hilt and then left in to pin him down to the ground was a new evil he had not experienced.
Blackness was quickly consuming Legolas, and he eagerly awaited it. The only thought he had right now was to be free of the pain.
Right before Legolas gave into the oblivion of unconsciousness, his eyes captured the sight of Glorfindel standing off to the side. He was staring right at Legolas, watching the suffering of the young elf, and a glint of anger was in his bright blue eyes.
.
Chapter 23
The abrupt end to Legolas' escape brought the young elf momentary confusion. Several thoughts raced through Legolas' mind. This was all a large ploy to put off his pursuers, Glorfindel was going to aid in his escape, his horse had run away from him and he had only accidentally fallen off on top of Legolas, every option went through. Yet even as his mind made up explanations, he could not understand why Glorfindel was continuing to hold his arms tightly and was now starting to march him back towards the cave. The elves that had followed Legolas outside were surrounding Legolas and Glorfindel tightly, seeing to it that the young elf prince did not escape again.
Adrenaline still surged through Legolas' body and he kept his gaze on Glorfindel's face, searching for any sort of signal to begin running again. Yet Glorfindel's gaze remained fixed and to the front. As his hopes began to dwindle and reality began to set in, Legolas felt he had to say something. He was about to open his mouth to ask Glorfindel what he was planning on doing when Glorfindel shot him a stern look. Legolas kept his mouth shut.
Finally beginning to realize that perhaps Glorfindel was not trying to aid him in his escape, Legolas took his eyes off of the blonde elf next to him and focused on the direction they were going in. He could clearly see the stone outcropping coming to greet them, and an angry looking Maeglin standing just inside of the entrance.
In what seemed like less time it had taken Legolas to get away from the dank cave, they had reached it again. All adrenaline and false hope had emptied and the young elf prince tried to resign himself to his fate. He kept his mind off of Glorfindel, as he did not want to think about the actions of the elf he had always thought to be so honorable, and drew himself up to face Maeglin.
Yet Maeglin was not even looking at him. His gaze was fixed on Glorfindel. "It seems that you were very lucky in being able to capture our unruly guest," he told Glorfindel softly, "almost as though you were merely in the right place at the right time."
Glorfindel returned Maeglin's sharp gaze impassively and gave a short nod. "Of course I expect that you are pleased that I was able to return the one that your own hand-picked guards could not contain."
Maeglin gave a thin smile. "You would be right to expect that," he replied. He sounded as though he wanted to add more, but before Glorfindel could even reply, the dark elf lord reached out and grabbed Legolas by the arm.
Something inside of Legolas paused to admire the strength of Maeglin. His very grip was like the iron he so loved. Legolas had never felt such strength before, and something in the back of his mind wondered if even Glorfindel would be a match for him.
However the momentary admiration melted away as Legolas found Maeglin's dark eyes now boring into his. He tried to meet the gaze, but the intensity of it would not allow him to hold it for too long. Legolas almost winced and settled on a spot underneath Maeglin's chin. He would not look completely away.
Legolas steadied his breathing, not wanting Maeglin to know of any fear inside of him. He kept his eyes straight forward as Maeglin impatiently turned away from what little sunlight was filtering into the entrance and took Legolas with him. He walked swiftly and unerringly, almost pulling Legolas' arm out of the socket as the elf prince tried to keep up without it appearing as though he had to strain to do so without running along behind him. Legolas matched the stride of the dark elf in front of him, placing his feet in the exact spots Maeglin had stepped in. He did not even bother to acknowledge the leering elves around them, watching after Legolas and Maeglin with interest. They knew it was rare when their elf lord took matters into his own hands, but when he did, it was often quite a spectacle.
Legolas was led back to the same post he had so recently broken away from and was forcibly placed against it. When Legolas was turned to face the direction he had just come in so that his back was to the pole, he was surprised to find Glorfindel not too far from him. He had assumed Glorfindel had stayed behind at the brink of the entrance, but he had followed Legolas and Maeglin, and now his normally expressionless eyes almost seemed to be tinged with worry. Legolas wondered at it, but his attentions were taken from Glorfindel when Maeglin returned from a very short trip somewhere to the side of Legolas and stood directly in front of him.
The dark elf lord looked infuriated, and it grew with every breath he took. Legolas was of course expecting some sort of respite for his failed escape attempt, but he could not understand the amount of rage emanating from the elf lord.
On an impulse, Legolas looked down at the elf lord's hands. He had expected to see perhaps a whip, akin to what had happened the last time he had been punished by the dark elf lord, but there was nothing in his hands save for a leather pouch. Legolas wondered at this and raised his eyes back to Maeglin's face.
The dark eyes of the elf lord were hard and set and his face drawn. This was no simple punishment for a misbehaving elf, he looked as though murderous thoughts were behind his intention.
Legolas unconsciously drew in a breath. He was not afraid to die, he was a warrior after all and an honorable death would land him in the Halls of Mandos, but he feared for what would happen to Mirkwood and his father.
Legolas steeled himself, he would not cow even in the face of death.
An unexpected intervention came from off to the right.
"Lomion," a low voice said.
Maeglin flicked his eyes off of Legolas and in the direction of the new voice. Legolas looked as well. He had completely forgotten that Glorfindel had accompanied them, and he stood now with his head lowered, his muscles taut, almost as though he was just waiting to spring.
"It was not his fault," Glorfindel continued talking when he saw that he now had Maeglin's deadly attention. "Remember, we can still save him. That was the plan."
The dark elf lord's face twisted as though he was trying to mask an unpleasant grimace. He stared at Glorfindel for a moment longer, and to Legolas it seemed as though the very air was palpable with tension between them and the battle of wills.
Slowly, Maeglin's menace appeared to dwindle and he relaxed imperceptibly. He took his gaze from Glorfindel and looked almost thoughtfully at Legolas. The deadly intentions Legolas had read earlier were now lessened, but not by all means gone.
Faster than Legolas could see, Maeglin reached out and grabbed the knife from Legolas' hand that he had completely forgotten that he still held. In a daze, Legolas looked at the knife now held in the elf lord's hand. He thought he had dropped it when he had started running, but apparently that had not been so. The focus of his body on his stamina had disregarded the hand still clutching the knife.
From a tiny flick of Maeglin's hand, three elves stepped forward and held onto Legolas. One of them rebound his wrists with less mercy than before while the other two held him fast. Once his arms were once again bound behind his back he was pushed back down as he had been before with the metal post at his back. Hastily, he was once again tied down at the waist, again with less give in the rope than last time.
When they were done, the elves stepped back and Legolas was confused. He had been expecting some sort of punishment, preparing himself for any type of beating that he may receive. But when it became obvious that he was not going to be receiving any, he began to wonder. Once again his eyes were drawn to the leather pouch held by Maeglin, but it was hanging loosely from the elf's palm and Maeglin was making no move to use whatever was inside of it.
Warily, Legolas looked back up at Maeglin's face. The elf lord's gaze was directed at Glorfindel again and tension reined free.
A thin smile graced the dark elf lord's face. "As you wish," he whispered softly at Glorfindel. Glorfindel straightened at the words, and his brows creased together imperceptibly. "We will wait," he continued, "but this must be done for now."
The crease on Glorfindel's face deepened, but he gave a short nod.
Maeglin's focus came back to Legolas. Legolas had been watching the proceedings almost with fascination, but once the dark eyes were upon him again he had to strive to appear to remain calm. He would seem haughty until the end, he vowed.
Maeglin stared at him, and Legolas had the feeling like he always did when under scrutiny by him that the elf lord knew what he was thinking. Maeglin raised an eyebrow as Legolas thought this, as if something was amusing to him. A mix of confusion and fear tried to gain dominance inside of Legolas, but he willed it down.
Legolas soon forgot about his internal struggles.
With the same speed Legolas had previously admired, the hand of Maeglin that was holding Legolas' knife came down in a graceful arc.
Legolas did not even have time to brace himself for the inevitable.
He remembered all of his vows since waking up in the dark stone cell. He would never give in to these elves, and they would never hear him scream again. He would not let them win and would rather die in silence with his pride still in tact.
All of this ran through Legolas' head in the one beat it took for Maeglin to reach Legolas. And he continued to think it for the beat after the knife kissed the flesh at the top of his thigh. But the pain that raced up to enflame his entire body after the second beat erased all of his thoughts.
Maeglin slammed the knife down into the top of Legolas' leg, all the way down, driving the tip through to the other side so that it bit into the ground and held fast. Red escaped in exploding blossoms on both sides of Legolas' leg and spilled forth over his leggings and raced down eagerly to the ground.
The immense wave of pain that accompanied such a cruel manacle was enough to make Legolas' mind go blank and his previous stipulations on pride escape him. It was too much for a single being to bear.
Legolas screamed.
The tormented sound rang out in the stone imprisonment and echoed in the confinement. It was enough to make the excited looks on the faces of some of the elves dim and turn sober at the sound of pure anguish.
When his lungs were emptied, Legolas bit down on his lip hard and clawed at the ground futilely. He pulled his free leg up to his chest and drew his torso up, trying to back away from the pain. The meaning for the purpose of the viciously imbedded knife was clear, Legolas would not be freeing himself and making a run for it again anytime soon. Yet reason was far from Legolas' mind as his tortured body took over.
He had never felt anything like this.
He was no stranger to battle wounds and had been cut by steel many times. Yet to have a blade impaled clean through to the hilt and then left in to pin him down to the ground was a new evil he had not experienced.
Blackness was quickly consuming Legolas, and he eagerly awaited it. The only thought he had right now was to be free of the pain.
Right before Legolas gave into the oblivion of unconsciousness, his eyes captured the sight of Glorfindel standing off to the side. He was staring right at Legolas, watching the suffering of the young elf, and a glint of anger was in his bright blue eyes.
.