Guilt By Association
Lies As Truth
Thranduil closed the door behind them just after his son entered the room. The waning light floated through the air illuminating the dust giving the room a feeling of great age. Thranduil studied his son, concern now plaguing him and warring with his anger and confusion. Legolas stood stiffly, his own turmoil raging inside of him. The two elves regarded each other for a moment then finally the King of Mirkwood spoke.
"If you were holding back before, you need not do so here."
As this did not serve to change Legolas' expression or posture, Thranduil, thoroughly frustrated, pressed on. "Again, I ask you, what happened out there?"
Legolas paused yet again. Gimli's recount of the day had been accurate up until the very end. What he had left out was that he had left Orophil to be attacked. It was that simple. His father had even named him Orophil's second yet still he could not seem to just come out and say it. He felt that if he gave words to what he had done, then the truth of it would break him. He had seen so much death, so much pain just in the past few years that more suffering and sorrow he could not take. So he did not respond causing Thranduil to sigh softly in resignation.
"Then if you will not answer that question, I ask you whom you are protecting?" Thranduil sneered, "the dwarf?"
This provoked Legolas as nothing else could. His fury rose quickly. "His name is Gimli and no. I have no cause to protect him. He acted in bravery and in-"
"Excuse me sire" They both turned startled by the appearance of Tarsul, one of the guards. It was as if he had materialized out of no where. "I have urgent news."
"Speak then." Thranduil was really not in the mood for anymore silence.
"The one responsible for this attack upon Orophil has come forward and expressed his guilt."
The one responsible? Shock flew through Legolas as he tried to puzzle this new, strange information out. There wasn't anyone that was responsible, at least no one besides himself. Suddenly it hit him and it was so obvious. Oh, no. He wouldn't.
Thranduil narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
Tarsul looked smugly at Legolas. "The dwarf, sire."
Thranduil didn't quite smile but Legolas could see him holding it back. "I will speak to him this instant then." Without even a backward glance, he tore out of the room with Tarsul in his wake.
Legolas felt frozen in place. Too much had happened in the past few seconds to fully comprehend. He felt a whirlwind of emotions fly over him almost too fast to identify. Anger, grief, guilt and finally fear. His paralysis lifted at the thought of Gimli. He raced towards the door where his father had just left, one thing clear and sharp in his mind. Thranduil would not be as gentle with Gimli as he had been with him.
Lies As Truth
Thranduil closed the door behind them just after his son entered the room. The waning light floated through the air illuminating the dust giving the room a feeling of great age. Thranduil studied his son, concern now plaguing him and warring with his anger and confusion. Legolas stood stiffly, his own turmoil raging inside of him. The two elves regarded each other for a moment then finally the King of Mirkwood spoke.
"If you were holding back before, you need not do so here."
As this did not serve to change Legolas' expression or posture, Thranduil, thoroughly frustrated, pressed on. "Again, I ask you, what happened out there?"
Legolas paused yet again. Gimli's recount of the day had been accurate up until the very end. What he had left out was that he had left Orophil to be attacked. It was that simple. His father had even named him Orophil's second yet still he could not seem to just come out and say it. He felt that if he gave words to what he had done, then the truth of it would break him. He had seen so much death, so much pain just in the past few years that more suffering and sorrow he could not take. So he did not respond causing Thranduil to sigh softly in resignation.
"Then if you will not answer that question, I ask you whom you are protecting?" Thranduil sneered, "the dwarf?"
This provoked Legolas as nothing else could. His fury rose quickly. "His name is Gimli and no. I have no cause to protect him. He acted in bravery and in-"
"Excuse me sire" They both turned startled by the appearance of Tarsul, one of the guards. It was as if he had materialized out of no where. "I have urgent news."
"Speak then." Thranduil was really not in the mood for anymore silence.
"The one responsible for this attack upon Orophil has come forward and expressed his guilt."
The one responsible? Shock flew through Legolas as he tried to puzzle this new, strange information out. There wasn't anyone that was responsible, at least no one besides himself. Suddenly it hit him and it was so obvious. Oh, no. He wouldn't.
Thranduil narrowed his eyes. "Who?"
Tarsul looked smugly at Legolas. "The dwarf, sire."
Thranduil didn't quite smile but Legolas could see him holding it back. "I will speak to him this instant then." Without even a backward glance, he tore out of the room with Tarsul in his wake.
Legolas felt frozen in place. Too much had happened in the past few seconds to fully comprehend. He felt a whirlwind of emotions fly over him almost too fast to identify. Anger, grief, guilt and finally fear. His paralysis lifted at the thought of Gimli. He raced towards the door where his father had just left, one thing clear and sharp in his mind. Thranduil would not be as gentle with Gimli as he had been with him.