Author's Note: And yet another chapter, boy, this story is long eh? Oh
well, a few people seem to like it so whatcha gonna do? Anyways, hehe,
yes, poor Legolas just can't seem to get a break. Just when you think it's
finally all over, bam, something else to torment him with. It makes for
entertaining reading anyway. And yes, I love being able to continually
surprise and frustrate you all, and the death threats are also highly
entertaining. So yeah, still love you all and still am not the
reincarnation of Tolkien, so here we go, another chapter!
Chapter 30
Legolas wasted no time as soon as he realized who it was holding a dagger to his throat. He was tired and equally tired of her and did not wish to be held back any longer than necessary. Lifting a hand up with lightening speed, Legolas grabbed the hand with the dagger and pulled it to the side while pushing off of the wall at the same time.
Eirien cried out as she stumbled away from Legolas and he wrenched painfully on her wrist, causing her to drop the knife. Yet before Legolas could bend to retrieve it, he caught a well-aimed kick high up on his thigh, right over his wound. Legolas ground his teeth in pain and viciously swung out with his right arm, catching Eirien on the side of her head as she ducked to grab the knife.
She backed away from him after the blow, but she had already managed to grab onto the dagger. She now held it in front of her, swinging it slowly as she steadied her stance.
Legolas stood still, carefully balancing his weight on his good leg without letting it appear like he was. "Why are you doing this?" he asked her.
"To finish what my Lord had started," she practically spit at him, "it was my task to kill you in the end."
Legolas arched an eyebrow. "And you think you can handle such a task?"
Her response was a wild swipe at him with the knife that he was easily able to avoid. Legolas took a closer look at her, she was swaying even as she stood still and he could make out the faint tracks of tears on her face.
"You do know Maeglin is dead?" Legolas asked.
Eirien grounded out a sound that could only be described as a growl. "His name is Lomion," she spoke through her teeth.
Legolas shook his head, "No, he was a cowardly villain who betrayed both sets of his people. His own words condemned him tonight. He cared nothing for you or anybody else."
Eirien staggered as she briefly put her free hand to the side of her head. "You speak nothing but lies," she whispered softly. "He loved me, he would have died for me."
Legolas was almost taken aback by her revelation. "All that you were to him was another to do his bidding," he said quietly.
"Damn you," she fairly screamed, lifting her head and pulling her hand away from her face, "you know nothing of what you speak."
"I know more than you. I know who Lomion really was, the betrayer of Gondolin and ally to Morgoth."
Eirien's response was another wild slash, but this time Legolas was able to grab her arm and he gracelessly threw her down to the ground. Taking care to keep his injured leg out of her reach, Legolas knelt and pinned her motionless. "Listen to me," he said carefully, "your Lord is dead. If you wish, you may leave now and never return. You will have my pardon."
Eirien smirked at him. "Ever noble princeling," she taunted him, and almost as an afterthought she added, "and Lomion is not dead."
"He lays slain in the Grand Hall right now," Legolas told her coldly.
Eirien closed her eyes, "No, I saw him throw the powder at Glorfindel. It was enough to finish him."
"His own powder killed him," Legolas replied.
Eirien re-opened her eyes and Legolas could see the fierceness in them even in the dark. "Nothing can kill him," she said tautly.
Deciding he had enough of her denial, Legolas stood and pulled her with him. He then turned and started back into the hall. Eirien sensed the purpose behind his efforts and dug in her heels fighting to hang back. Legolas only pulled harder and they both stumbled into the Grand Hall.
"There," Legolas pushed her forward in front of him so that she could have an unobstructed view of the still form of Maeglin. "He is dead."
Eirien stumbled to her knees when Legolas pushed her and she stayed down in that position, merely staring forward, her eyes wide. After a few moments of silence, she shook her head and looked down, "No, it is not possible. He had the protection of the Valar."
"He had the protection of Morgoth, you mean," Legolas corrected, "and only that for as long as he proved to be useful."
"Your lies again," Eirien muttered, but she continued to keep her gaze on her fallen lord, not even taking notice of Legolas standing behind her.
"If you were in here to see him throw the powder at Glorfindel then you must have heard what he said. He gave himself away with his own words."
Eirien finally turned to look at Legolas over her shoulder. "I heard you twisting your own and trying to make my Lord appear as though he were in the wrong."
Legolas had had it. "Have you always lived this blind?" he asked casually, "Is that why you thought him to love you?"
Eirien pushed herself off of the floor and lunged at him, but once again there was little menace in her actions and Legolas caught both of her wrists, holding her still. He was shocked to see tears in her eyes as she faced him and was almost moved to pity.
"He took me in when no other would," she insisted, her voice cracking.
Legolas frowned, and then said softly, "That was only because he wished to use you."
Eirien tore out of his grip and stumbled away, but she did not try to come at him again. She stood uncertainly, turned so that she could see both Maeglin and Legolas. Her breath was ragged and her eyes shining with unspilled tears. To Legolas it seemed as though she were weighing her options, whatever she thought they were.
"You could go back to your own people," Legolas prompted softly.
"They all went across the sea," Eirien spat at him. "They gave up this place easily. We are the first-born, why should we be the ones to leave?"
"It is not a matter of giving up Middle-Earth," Legolas told her, "It is a gift to us from the Eldar to be able to cross over the sea, when we grow weary of our years here."
"I will not let them win," Eirien muttered.
Legolas softened his voice, "There is no battle to be won."
Eirien took a deep breath and hung limply when she let it out. She stood still for a few moments before taking some hesitant steps forward. Legolas watched silently as she made her way over to where Maeglin had fallen.
Once she had reached him, she slowly knelt down at his side and carefully reached out a hand to touch the side of his face. With a shudder, she drew it back and let her head drop. Then she merely sat.
Legolas was unsure of what to do. He did not wish to say anything to her, yet he did not want to remain in this place and he could not leave her alone. He wanted to know that she was gone and out of Mirkwood. He would not bother to take her prisoner, he would be content to have her exiled.
Yet he could not tell her to leave right at the moment.
Though he knew both Maeglin and Eirien to be twisted individuals, the sight before him was enough to move anybody to pity.
Eirien sat completely still, never taking her eyes off of her lord's face. Her eyes traced the lines of blood that had come from his mouth with an intensity that suggested that she wanted to memorize every detail. Gone was the fire and menace she normally held, now she appeared to be merely empty, a shell of herself.
Despite all that had happened to him, Legolas found his own heart softening and the hate he held towards her subsiding. She had been led astray by Maeglin, that much was no secret, her path could have easily turned a different way.
Legolas was slightly startled when she suddenly stood without any warning. She turned directly to face Legolas and Legolas could not help but notice the dagger clutched tightly in her hand. Was she going to try to fulfill her final task after all? Legolas still held qualms over fighting her and kin slaying, but he had not just come through all of this to be killed now.
Legolas readied himself for an attack. He widened his stance and was ever-mindful of the constant throbbing in his thigh.
But Eirien made no such move towards him. She stood tall, her chest heaving, her fist tightly holding the hilt of the dagger.
Legolas was confused and her lack of movement only heightened his anxiety.
Eirien locked eyes with his, and she stared hard at him, as if trying to see right through him.
What is she planning to do? Legolas found himself wondering.
Finally, she moved quickly, and Legolas found himself reacting just as quickly, but he was too far away, and too slow.
"No!" he called out.
But he was too slow.
Eirien raised the dagger to her own throat, right underneath the left side of her jaw. She dug in deeply before wrenching it all the way to the other side, effectively slicing her own throat.
Legolas moved forward and reached her just as her body fell to the floor. He had meant to reach out to catch her, but he hesitated at the last moment, and only stood still, watching as she gave way before him, falling backwards over Maeglin.
Her eyes were continuing to stare up at him, and her chest heaved once more upwards before becoming still. Slowly, her eyes dimmed.
And Legolas still stood.
He looked down upon the two of them, both dead. He felt as though he should be feeling some forms of pity or sadness, but there was only emptiness inside of him, a void created by the knowledge that justice had been satisfied, but at a horrible price.
Legolas turned and carefully walked away. Without the aid of adrenaline, his leg was beginning to bother him even more.
Slowly, Legolas made his way to the healing rooms.
.
Chapter 30
Legolas wasted no time as soon as he realized who it was holding a dagger to his throat. He was tired and equally tired of her and did not wish to be held back any longer than necessary. Lifting a hand up with lightening speed, Legolas grabbed the hand with the dagger and pulled it to the side while pushing off of the wall at the same time.
Eirien cried out as she stumbled away from Legolas and he wrenched painfully on her wrist, causing her to drop the knife. Yet before Legolas could bend to retrieve it, he caught a well-aimed kick high up on his thigh, right over his wound. Legolas ground his teeth in pain and viciously swung out with his right arm, catching Eirien on the side of her head as she ducked to grab the knife.
She backed away from him after the blow, but she had already managed to grab onto the dagger. She now held it in front of her, swinging it slowly as she steadied her stance.
Legolas stood still, carefully balancing his weight on his good leg without letting it appear like he was. "Why are you doing this?" he asked her.
"To finish what my Lord had started," she practically spit at him, "it was my task to kill you in the end."
Legolas arched an eyebrow. "And you think you can handle such a task?"
Her response was a wild swipe at him with the knife that he was easily able to avoid. Legolas took a closer look at her, she was swaying even as she stood still and he could make out the faint tracks of tears on her face.
"You do know Maeglin is dead?" Legolas asked.
Eirien grounded out a sound that could only be described as a growl. "His name is Lomion," she spoke through her teeth.
Legolas shook his head, "No, he was a cowardly villain who betrayed both sets of his people. His own words condemned him tonight. He cared nothing for you or anybody else."
Eirien staggered as she briefly put her free hand to the side of her head. "You speak nothing but lies," she whispered softly. "He loved me, he would have died for me."
Legolas was almost taken aback by her revelation. "All that you were to him was another to do his bidding," he said quietly.
"Damn you," she fairly screamed, lifting her head and pulling her hand away from her face, "you know nothing of what you speak."
"I know more than you. I know who Lomion really was, the betrayer of Gondolin and ally to Morgoth."
Eirien's response was another wild slash, but this time Legolas was able to grab her arm and he gracelessly threw her down to the ground. Taking care to keep his injured leg out of her reach, Legolas knelt and pinned her motionless. "Listen to me," he said carefully, "your Lord is dead. If you wish, you may leave now and never return. You will have my pardon."
Eirien smirked at him. "Ever noble princeling," she taunted him, and almost as an afterthought she added, "and Lomion is not dead."
"He lays slain in the Grand Hall right now," Legolas told her coldly.
Eirien closed her eyes, "No, I saw him throw the powder at Glorfindel. It was enough to finish him."
"His own powder killed him," Legolas replied.
Eirien re-opened her eyes and Legolas could see the fierceness in them even in the dark. "Nothing can kill him," she said tautly.
Deciding he had enough of her denial, Legolas stood and pulled her with him. He then turned and started back into the hall. Eirien sensed the purpose behind his efforts and dug in her heels fighting to hang back. Legolas only pulled harder and they both stumbled into the Grand Hall.
"There," Legolas pushed her forward in front of him so that she could have an unobstructed view of the still form of Maeglin. "He is dead."
Eirien stumbled to her knees when Legolas pushed her and she stayed down in that position, merely staring forward, her eyes wide. After a few moments of silence, she shook her head and looked down, "No, it is not possible. He had the protection of the Valar."
"He had the protection of Morgoth, you mean," Legolas corrected, "and only that for as long as he proved to be useful."
"Your lies again," Eirien muttered, but she continued to keep her gaze on her fallen lord, not even taking notice of Legolas standing behind her.
"If you were in here to see him throw the powder at Glorfindel then you must have heard what he said. He gave himself away with his own words."
Eirien finally turned to look at Legolas over her shoulder. "I heard you twisting your own and trying to make my Lord appear as though he were in the wrong."
Legolas had had it. "Have you always lived this blind?" he asked casually, "Is that why you thought him to love you?"
Eirien pushed herself off of the floor and lunged at him, but once again there was little menace in her actions and Legolas caught both of her wrists, holding her still. He was shocked to see tears in her eyes as she faced him and was almost moved to pity.
"He took me in when no other would," she insisted, her voice cracking.
Legolas frowned, and then said softly, "That was only because he wished to use you."
Eirien tore out of his grip and stumbled away, but she did not try to come at him again. She stood uncertainly, turned so that she could see both Maeglin and Legolas. Her breath was ragged and her eyes shining with unspilled tears. To Legolas it seemed as though she were weighing her options, whatever she thought they were.
"You could go back to your own people," Legolas prompted softly.
"They all went across the sea," Eirien spat at him. "They gave up this place easily. We are the first-born, why should we be the ones to leave?"
"It is not a matter of giving up Middle-Earth," Legolas told her, "It is a gift to us from the Eldar to be able to cross over the sea, when we grow weary of our years here."
"I will not let them win," Eirien muttered.
Legolas softened his voice, "There is no battle to be won."
Eirien took a deep breath and hung limply when she let it out. She stood still for a few moments before taking some hesitant steps forward. Legolas watched silently as she made her way over to where Maeglin had fallen.
Once she had reached him, she slowly knelt down at his side and carefully reached out a hand to touch the side of his face. With a shudder, she drew it back and let her head drop. Then she merely sat.
Legolas was unsure of what to do. He did not wish to say anything to her, yet he did not want to remain in this place and he could not leave her alone. He wanted to know that she was gone and out of Mirkwood. He would not bother to take her prisoner, he would be content to have her exiled.
Yet he could not tell her to leave right at the moment.
Though he knew both Maeglin and Eirien to be twisted individuals, the sight before him was enough to move anybody to pity.
Eirien sat completely still, never taking her eyes off of her lord's face. Her eyes traced the lines of blood that had come from his mouth with an intensity that suggested that she wanted to memorize every detail. Gone was the fire and menace she normally held, now she appeared to be merely empty, a shell of herself.
Despite all that had happened to him, Legolas found his own heart softening and the hate he held towards her subsiding. She had been led astray by Maeglin, that much was no secret, her path could have easily turned a different way.
Legolas was slightly startled when she suddenly stood without any warning. She turned directly to face Legolas and Legolas could not help but notice the dagger clutched tightly in her hand. Was she going to try to fulfill her final task after all? Legolas still held qualms over fighting her and kin slaying, but he had not just come through all of this to be killed now.
Legolas readied himself for an attack. He widened his stance and was ever-mindful of the constant throbbing in his thigh.
But Eirien made no such move towards him. She stood tall, her chest heaving, her fist tightly holding the hilt of the dagger.
Legolas was confused and her lack of movement only heightened his anxiety.
Eirien locked eyes with his, and she stared hard at him, as if trying to see right through him.
What is she planning to do? Legolas found himself wondering.
Finally, she moved quickly, and Legolas found himself reacting just as quickly, but he was too far away, and too slow.
"No!" he called out.
But he was too slow.
Eirien raised the dagger to her own throat, right underneath the left side of her jaw. She dug in deeply before wrenching it all the way to the other side, effectively slicing her own throat.
Legolas moved forward and reached her just as her body fell to the floor. He had meant to reach out to catch her, but he hesitated at the last moment, and only stood still, watching as she gave way before him, falling backwards over Maeglin.
Her eyes were continuing to stare up at him, and her chest heaved once more upwards before becoming still. Slowly, her eyes dimmed.
And Legolas still stood.
He looked down upon the two of them, both dead. He felt as though he should be feeling some forms of pity or sadness, but there was only emptiness inside of him, a void created by the knowledge that justice had been satisfied, but at a horrible price.
Legolas turned and carefully walked away. Without the aid of adrenaline, his leg was beginning to bother him even more.
Slowly, Legolas made his way to the healing rooms.
.