Trapped
Legolas is trapped in a prison he never even knew was there and he's desperate to get out. Legolas/Aragorn. Angst. AU.
Disclaimer: I own my fingers. I own my thumbs. I own my keyboard. I certainly own my brain. I don't own Lord of the Rings.
Warning: Slash in later chapters.
A/N: Some of the things mentioned in this chapter are completely unlike elvish custom. I do complete injustice to Thranduil in this story. Incidentally the reasons why Legolas calls his father by his first name will be explained further on. The ring mentioned is not linked to the One Ring at all and it has nothing to do with the Quest, except the fact I got the idea of Legolas putting his ring around his neck. This is entirely AU.
Chapter Three: The Truth
"It is a fair thing indeed, not too heavily wrought and the gem in the middle is alike to the Simaril stones of long ago… yet nothing can be alike to the Simarils…. Estel entrusted it to me – deliberately placed under my diary. It obviously conveys some kind of message as it is a most valuable ring… It is now three days since the party from Rivendell left our lands, yet Thranduil seems to be getting more morose. He accused me of not showing "any interest in your duties as son of the King" I try. But, he is right. I would much rather prefer to be a common Elf, working in the kitchens and hallways than the one holding the reins to this entire splendor."
His hand was curled around the ring as he spoke, feeling its already-comforting band. He didn't like putting it on. No, he would not put it on. He slipped it onto a chain that his mother had given him, a long, long time ago… and slipped that over his head. It was invisible, but he could feel its comforting pressure against his skin. He wondered if he died young of a wound of some sort, what Thranduil would make of it, if he could make anything of it…
Someone knocked at the door, "Lord? I bring a message from the King."
"Enter," Legolas said, as haughtily as he could.
The girl entered, the same one that he had stopped in the corridor. "Your father, milord…" she stammered, "He demands an audience."
Legolas smiled. He reckoned he'd been too strict on the girl; she could not have been more than nine years old.
"I've been a little hard on you recently," he apologized, smiling at her. "What's your name?"
"Amnien."
"I'll remember that, Amnien." She smiled and quickly quitted the room.
His father wanted to see him. Legolas dimly wondered why on earth…? He had done nothing wrong had he? If he had, then he'd done it in ignorance. Surely…
He trembled as he brushed his hair back, preparatory to plaiting it into warrior braids. He remembered his father teaching him for the first time, impatient when Legolas hadn't got it straight away.
In fact, looking back, Thranduil had always been impatient with Legolas' progress. Always. He hadn't got those characteristics…
Legolas opened the door, cautiously and stepped out into the passage, making his way towards Thranduil's rooms, in the same area of the palace as his own – but so chilly! He hated stone, it seemed to trap in all the cold and the dirt… very unelvish.
He sighed. His father was very eccentric when it came to stone and jewels… they were very dwarvish passions and this had led to "comments" in the servant's quarters…
He knew what they called his father and he held it to him, so it wouldn't hurt his family… maybe Amnien would help there. She was only nine and far too innocent to be mixed up in court intrigues.
His father's quarters were flanked by many guards on duty, with their arrows and daggers surprisingly lax, but when the prince walked by they straightened up noticeably and gripped their weapons tighter.
As if Thranduil was trying to kill me.
He suppressed a smile and passed through the open door into Thranduil's rooms.
He was sitting alone, but on Legolas' entry he stood up and demanded a private conference. The guards, looking slightly surprised, shut the doors and they were left alone.
"Legolas," Thranduil began, "I have some good news for you."
"Yes, lord,"
"You are to be married, Legolas."
The prince gave a quick indrawn breath and stepped back. "Married, lord?"
"Yes," Thranduil smiled. "It's a good match, and the lady in question is worth allying to us."
"Father…" Legolas whispered, "I do not have any wish to marry."
Thranduil, even then, did not look bothered, "Silly prejudices, Legolas! She is one of the fairest maidens in Arda, or I am a fool."
"I don't doubt her fairness," Legolas whispered, "I just do not wish to be married."
"Why not? I know it is hardly in the tradition of the Kings of Mirkwood to pick brides out for their sons, but what was I to do? You showed no interest in any maidens, not even the ones which I asked you to accompany! Legolas, you were asking for this to happen!"
"Nay! Never!" Legolas shouted, a tinge of bitterness in his voice, "Why must you marry me off to someone I do not know and can never, never love."
"Legolas…it is simply a matter of getting to know her!"
"NO!" Legolas yelled. "I can never love her… because…"
"Why?"
"Because…"
"I've lost patience. Get out of my sight, Legolas."
Legolas bowed, and left, the only impulse in his mind was to get out, get out.
He was shocked with his behavior… and at the behavior of someone who called himself his father. He sat very still for a long time in his room and Amnien sat outside the door waiting and listening.
-TBC-