Chapter 20

The dawn seemed slow to come. From the outside the morning looked like any other. The horizon of trees glowed orange and yellow and the flowers blossomed with their summery rainbows. The streams glittered and splashed over the gleaming rocks. The sorrow was hidden very well.

The elves came out and were oblivious to the silent castle until the sun had breached the edge of the trees. A single passerby had a sudden chill and looked up the steps. His keen eyes could see the stain of blood on the door handle.

He didn't cry out or yell any warning. He dashed up the steps and looked at the handle. The rays of sun crawled up the steps behind him, landing gently on the red against brass. Gripping the handle tightly and twisting it hard he opened the door.

Inside was a garden of broken glass and mirrors. Several severed flowers were scattered in puddles of pinkish water on the floor. His eyes turned in horror to the source of the blood that leaked everywhere. The severed body of a servant elf lay in the corner.

It was then he screamed and panic arose.

*

As soon as Helwar stepped out on the gate wall and peered over the balcony fence elves began to curse at him. They knew immediately who it was and it didn't take long for them to realize what he had done.

"I suggest that you cease this crude treatment immediately." he cried out among the roar of the elves. "You see, I don't believe your king would appreciate it." he gestured towards the tower doorway where four guards pushed and shoved a struggling Thranduil. His hands were bound behind his back. The elves were immediately silenced. Helwar grinned with satisfaction.

"Where's Legolas?" piped a small voice, likely of a child. "What did you do to him!" Helwar spotted the youth at the edge of the crowd, his mother attempting to silence him.

"Yes. The prince. The very one I will kill here today. But first, I have a tale to tell you." The crowd stumbled back as Helwar cleared his throat.

*

Otrinity galloped at top speed through the woods. Her mane was a banner behind her neck and her tail the flag. Her sharp quick breathes and frantic tosses of her head revealed how much of a wild animal she really was.

One word, one thought was centered in her mind.

Legolas.

*

After killing Breraw and over half of my men, my greatest friends, I decided I should get revenge in the most brutal ways. The mule will be mine, along with the lives of Legolas and Thranduil, and the kingdom of Mirkwood. A vast addition it would be to my homeland.

"You won't have us!" cried somebody in the crowd.

"You can destroy our Royalties, but not our freedom!"

Yes, my people, thought Thranduil to himself. That is what I taught you.

"Your freedom is already lost! You cannot escape now!" Helwar cackled as the elves below looked around in fear.

Silence followed. Helwar grinned down at them.

Slowly, almost so that he couldn't see, the youth at the back pulled a dagger out of his sheath. One by one, the other Mirkwood elves gathered weapons from nearby stores or armories, returning as though they were about to face a battle they would win.

"They will fight you to the end, Helwar." said Thranduil calmly. "They are more then just citizens. They are living beings with pride and soul." Thranduil looked over his subjects. "That is something you cannot destroy." Helwar's grin closed and faltered.

"We will see." he said. He blew a whistle through his teeth and nodded his head. Thranduil watched as four more guards brought out Legolas.

He didn't struggle like his father. He held his head high and didn't even glance down at the warriors below. Thranduil stared at him, not sure what to say. When the guards stopped, so close to the railing that the king thought they were about to push the prince over, Legolas halted with them.

"I'm sure you all recognize a face like this." said Helwar. Thranduil's eyes widened in fear as the man pulled out a long-sword. "Have you ever seen an expression severed and dried, like an apple in the wintertime?" the crowd backed away slowly. "I have. The heads and bodies of many men littered in my home. The day the mule's mother attacked our homes."

"She wasn't attacking your homes!" cried Legolas, showing as much anger as you could imagine.

"Oh, she wasn't?" asked the man. "Then what was she doing?"

"You were destroying her home first. You came to close and she warded you off. You took one of her own, and anger took her. She attacked in defense and sorrow of your blood-spilling."

"How do you know this?" asked Helwar, a threatening tone in his voice.

"Otrinity told me." he said. Helwar was silenced for a moment. A glance at the guards seemed to be some kind of signal because they backed away from Legolas. Legolas glared at all of them. "It's your fault." he said to Helwar.

A roar came from Helwar's lips. He kicked at Legolas in the ribs. Legolas stumbled but refused to fall. The crowd below gasped as the man kicked him again in the chin. Legolas wheeled and toppled over onto his stomach.

Everything around him suddenly felt cold. When he glanced over his shoulder the long-sword was held horizontally above his back.

To Be Continued... (hee hee hee!)

Author's Note: I'm not sure about which way is horizontal *blushes* but I do think it is up and down. If I'm wrong, please correct me!