I Armath En-Noss Arn - The Fate Of The Royal Family
The next day dawned and Calina and Legolas woke up in each other's arms. Neither of them spoke because the peace and serenity between them said it all. A considerate servant had left them breakfast for two and a fresh dress for Calina was hung up next to one of Legolas' sets of robes. They ate it bed and Legolas teased Calina for managing to get most of it round her mouth and in return she was less than careful about leaving crumbs in his bed. They bathed together as well that morning, washing each other carefully and lovingly tending to every inch. Calina was sitting in a robe brushing her hair and Legolas was reading a book sitting opposite her when there was a knock on the door. A young elf entered,
"Excuse me your highness, but your father requests your presence and yours my lady. Lord Aragorn has returned with the prisoners and they are to be taken to the king." He turned and left. Legolas' eyes sort Calina's. There was a grim light in them,
"It will all be over soon, my love," he said out of concern. Calina stood up and went to take her dress of its hanger. She flung it over her head and walked over to Legolas,
"I know, and the sooner the better. Will you do up the buttons?" Legolas nodded and set about dressing Calina, when both of them would rather he was undoing them. There was another knock at Legolas' bedroom door and Verlat came in,
"Legolas, we are ready. Your father is waiting for you and Calina." Calina took a deep breath and gripped the hand that Legolas' offered hard. He placed his other over it and kissed her temple and said,
"Come, you must finish this now."
Verlat led them from Legolas' apartment and in the corridor they were joined by Mineta, Lathrin and Arwen. They went to Thranduil's chamber, the place he sat during the day to day business of the court. It was likely that there would be a crowd come to watch the proceedings. They entered the room, but there was no one but those necessary for the trial as such. Aragorn took his place beside his wife, as did Nithin. Garin and Telina stood before Thranduil, surrounded by a fair number of guards. He rose and said,
"I have banned the court from witnessing this. I do not wish to make the private business of my family public knowledge for gossip and speculation." Legolas made a noise of displeasure from his place next to Calina,
"Why not tell everyone and then they will all know the wicked creature Garin has become?" Nithin hushed him. Thranduil's gaze settled on Calina. Yet again she knew he would force her to tell a story of her capture. He gestured her to come forward. Legolas squeezed her hand one last time and she rose and went to the front of the room. She looked at the king and he said,
"Calina, please tell us what happened, in your own words." She looked out at the room and the people there. Her friends sat in one corner, all silently willing her on. Settled right at the back she saw Garin's parents. His father sat tall, but the grief was evident on his face and his mother was weeping quietly. Also present were two clerks and about a dozen guards. Calina's eyes wandered to Garin's and hatred boiled inside her. He'd tried to destroy her and take her away from everything that made her happy and now he would have to pay for it. She found a spot at the back of the room to focus on and cleared her throat,
"I was dressing for dinner two days ago. My room was broken into the day before and the dress I had first worn when I first came here seventeen years ago had been hung up in my wardrobe. As I was dressing there was the sound of someone being hit over the head from my living room and the door then opened. Legolas was there unconscious and Garin stood in the door. Telina handed me that old dress to wear. They forced me out of the window and onto a horse. Garin climbed on the horse behind me, and Telina had her own. We rode from the palace at full gallop for several hours and when it finally got too dark to see Garin finally made us stop and we made camp. I thought about trying to escape, but without a horse and no idea where I was, I did not want to risk it. I knew you would all be looking for me by that time and I did not want to confuse the trail. The next morning we had a small breakfast and Garin announced that we were to continue on foot. Telina disagreed, she wanted to put as much distance between us and the palace as possible but Garin said the trail of 2 horses was more visible than the tracks of 3 elves. He left the horses to wander, hoping they would confuse our trail and lead everyone in the wrong direction. During the day, I tried to go as slowly as I could and leave as many marks on the way as I could. At one point I scratched a C into the tree bark when we stopped for a short rest. That day Garin and Telina argued a lot about what would happen next, where we would go and how we would get by. Garin had a plan, but he did not reveal it till late on in the afternoon. He wanted to leave Telina to find her way back to the palace and take me to a place in the woods he knew we could live in secret. He wanted me to bind myself to him," Calina's voice became a mix of disgust and shame, "but I would never do that. That night Telina was trying to light a fire to keep us warm. I hoped the light would bring people to us and I was about to offer my help when Garin came and sat beside me. I told him I could never love him and he went to hit me, but his hand never reached my face. Legolas, Aragorn, Verlat, Nithin and some guards arrived and I knew I was safe. I think you know the rest." Thranduil nodded and Calina returned to her seat. He then addressed Garin and Telina,
"Do you refute these claims?" There was no response. "Do you have anything else to say?" Telina hung her head in shame, but Garin rose and turned around to look at where Calina sat. He spoke in a slow voice, as if carefully choosing his words,
"I love you, how can you do this to me? I would have given you everything and now you will have nothing. Your life will be an empty shell because you have denied yourself true love." Calina began to shake in her seat. Legolas took her hand and stroked her fingers with his thumb, "Oh it is like that is it? You have given yourself to him," Garin scoffed, "He never keeps his lovers for long and then you will come crawling back to me and."
"That is enough Garin. Your words only make me believe I have made the right decision," Thranduil had put a stop to Garin's testimony, "There can only be one punishment for a crime such as yours. It pains me to have to do this to a member of my only family but a true Greenleaf would never kidnap a fellow elf for his own gain. Garin you are hereby banished from the Woodland realms of Middle Earth. You will not be made welcome in Rivendell either where tales of your deeds have already been told. You must be gone by noon tomorrow." Thranduil's gaze went to his brother at the back of the room. He was weeping now with his wife. The king closed his eyes for a moment wishing that he had not been forced to judge his own nephew, his flesh and blood, and he forced the nauseous feeling back down. He then turned his attention to Telina, "Do you have anything to say?" Telina was looking at the floor, tears in her eyes, and she nodded her head,
"I am sorry. Truly sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I only did it because, because," Telina burst into tears. Thranduil's stern gaze softened,
"What is it child?" Calina saw Garin sneer and laugh at Telina who was trying to sniff back her tears. This seemed to strengthen her somehow,
"My father's business is failing. Someone had spread rumours about the poor quality of his work, but he always did everything to the highest standards. One day he came to me and said all the rumours would go away if I did these few things for him when Lady Calina next came to stay at the Halls. I saw how my father suffered and I agreed, but I did not mean for it to go this far. I would never want to hurt lady Calina, please, please do not banish me your highness."
Calina felt her heart go out to the elf. Telina had obviously not meant for it to go this far. Thranduil spoke again,
"Telina for a crime such as this, there is only a fixed punishment." Calina stood,
"Please your highness. Telina did not mean to kidnap me. If you must send her away, send her somewhere where she will be able to live in peace and go about her life freely." Arwen then stood up,
"Many of the servants in Rivendell have sailed West. If Telina went there, my brothers and Lord Celeborn would be glad of her service." Thranduil nodded.
"Telina I banish you from Eryn Lasgalen according to our laws, but I will send you to Rivendell with a letter of recommendation to the sons of Elrond. You may live there is peace." Telina bowed low to the King and thanked him for his leniency. He gave her a week to depart.
The trial was over. Garin was led away by guards so he could be kept from harming anyone else. His parents followed him from the hall. Telina curtseyed to Calina and then left without any guards. Thranduil sat down onto his large throne and sighed. Legolas went to his father and Thranduil muttered,
"I thought the evil in this world was gone, but it seems we still have to save us from ourselves."
"Father you cannot be held responsible for Garin's actions. He was consumed by desire and it turned him black. You could not have done anything else." Thranduil sighed once more,
"You are right, my son. It is my brother I pity. He has lost a son and I can only imagine the pain he is feeling. I have seen you go to war Legolas and I know the uncertainty of being left behind, but I can take comfort in knowing that you are one of the best warriors I have ever known. But this is worse, a far worse fate." Thranduil rose and left for his private chambers. Legolas watched him go and sadness falling over him until he felt a small hand seek his. Calina linked her slender fingers with Legolas' and leaned her head on his arm,
"I wish it did not have to end this way with so much sadness for everyone, families torn apart," she said to him,
"All our action have consequences seen and unseen," Legolas said, still looking in the direction his father had gone,
"Come for some lunch, my love." Legolas looked down at her and smiled. The words she had just spoken seemed like a dream, but there she was holding his hand tightly. Lathrin wandered up to her friend's side,
"Ah ha, I always knew," Calina groaned,
"I suppose you are going to be insufferable now and taunt me with 'I told you so' for eternity." Lathrin and Legolas laughed. Lathrin pulled a face and then said,
"Well maybe not eternity, just for a few ages!" The three of them laughed again and went for some lunch.
Their lunch was a sober affair. Everyone was quietly thinking through the consequences of recent events. Calina's thoughts turned to her home and workshop while Legolas was still concerned for his father and uncle and Mineta was trying to work out how long it would be until Calina became a princess. After the meal Legolas and Calina went for a walk in one the gardens surrounding the palace. They walked arm in arm, enjoying the peace around them. Calina rested her head on Legolas' arm and closed her eyes. She let him guide her along the path while she drank in the serenity around her, a smile on her lips. A small movement of Legolas' arm caused her to open her eyes and she saw Legolas' uncle walking towards them. He looked sad, like the woes of countries had been placed on his shoulders. Calina felt a pang of guilt as she knew that his pain was because of Garin's sentence. Legolas took his arm from Calina's and walked towards him,
"Uncle Landuil I am sorry for what has happened. Please accept my deepest regrets." Landuil sighed,
"I know Legolas. You did what you had to do, and now we have to do that too. We are all leaving, the whole family. Garin is still our son and we could not let him live eternity alone."
"I think my father knows this would be your choice."
"Yes Legolas, Thranduil knows. He is my brother after all and sees my heart more than anyone else. He will suffer much Legolas. You must be here for him."
"I will Uncle." Calina stood a little way back, but she took a small step forward and said,
"Lord Landuil, I too am very sorry, for what it is worth. I never meant for this to happen."
"Calina it is not your fault, you must not blame yourself. The only comfort that I am taking from this whole situation is the love I can see between yourself and Legolas. It is just such a shame that it to happen this way." And with that Landuil pushed past them and went onto another walk around the garden.
Calina took one look at Legolas' face and took his hand and made him sit next to her on a nearby bench. He would have accepted Garin's exile, but his uncle, aunt and other cousins too? She held him tightly to her as he went through the jumble of emotions circling in his head. Legolas was whispering quietly to himself, so quietly in fact that Calina could not hear him despite the fast that his mouth was only a few inches from her ear. She felt a pang of exclusion. She wanted to help him but knew so little about court life that she could not even begin to fathom the repercussions of Landuil's decision. Legolas shifted himself so his weight was sitting comfortably on Calina's chest in a position easy for both of them. He clung to her tightly like a lost child, clinging to the only thing that connected them to their past life. She noticed the occasional tear that fell from his eye, but still did not say a word. Calina had been silent for at least two hours when Legolas finally finished. She kissed the top of his head and Legolas moved to look up into her eyes,
"Thank you Calina." She just shook her head and rested her cheek on the top of his head, "I best go and see my father. Will you be alright on your own?"
"I will go and find Lathrin. No doubt she will have something to say about all of this." Calina felt the faint vibrations of Legolas' laugh against her body and she closed her eyes enjoying the calm that it brought,
"She does seem to be an opinionated elf." Legolas sat up and looked at Calina, but without the usual light in his eyes,
"You have no idea." Calina smiled and let Legolas take her arm and lead her back inside. They parted in the main entrance hall of the palace. Legolas kissed her gently on the lips and held onto her hand until he had taken too many steps away from her and their fingers slipped apart.
Calina found Lathrin in the small room that she had been given to stay in. Calina knocked on the door and as soon as it opened two arms wrapped Calina up and dragged her inside. A warm cheek was pressed against her cold one and Lathrin whispered,
"Calina are you alright? I saw you and Legolas in the garden, but I did not want to interrupt. I could see you were giving Legolas his strength, but I wondered about yours. You went pale this morning in the court room, and your eyes as still wide like a frightened animal."
"I will be fine Lathrin, thank you for your concern. The worst is over now, for me at least. It is the royal family who need your sympathy now, not me."
"Come and sit down then, and you can tell me all about falling in love with the heir to the throne, when a little more than a week ago I did not even know you had set foot in the palace, let alone been presented at court and all the fun that comes with that."
"I would hardly call this fun Lathrin."
"Oh I do not mean this. I mean what you got up to after you arrived back yesterday. I came to look for you and I finally caught up with you as you snuck into a certain prince's room. Now come Calina, I have known you for many years now. Tell the truth." Lathrin leaned towards Calina and with a conspiratory air and whispered slowly, "How big is his.. apartment?" Calina laughed lightly and raised her eyebrows,
"Now that would be telling." It was then Lathrin's turn to laugh,
"But tell me Calina, is it love? The real thing?" Calina flushed and looked at her hands, "Oh Calina, do not be shy," Lathrin encouraged. Calina looked up again, her cheeks bright red and she nodded, embarrassed. Lathrin let out a squeal of joy she had been holding in since the morning and flung herself at Calina in a tight hug. Calina struggled for breath as she disentangled her friend. She massaged her neck better as she said,
"Lathrin, you will do me an injury if you do that again!"
"And I had better not harm you or Legolas will not be pleased."
"No you do not want to go upsetting anyone here. That includes Verlat, before you start to protest."
"He just rubs me up the wrong way, Calina. What can I say? He needs to be more liberated. He acts like he has got sticks pushed up his.."
"He is a good elf Lathrin. You would do yourself more harm angering him than you would by swallowing a bit of your pride and trying to get along. Do it for my sake at least."
"Very well Calina," Lathrin sighed, "I just wish he could relax a bit more." Calina shrugged,
"It is just his way." There was a brief silence between them before a grin spread across Lathrin's face again,
"So tell me all about you and Legolas." Calina groaned and settled herself down for Lathrin's interrogation. That afternoon Calina admitted to many feelings that Lathrin could only imagine when gossiping idly to villagers who had come to see Calina recently and found her not at home.
Calina left Lathrin to finally return to her room and dress for dinner. Someone had been in and tidied up since she had left it the other day and all the furniture had been moved around so the place barely resembled the room she had been taken from a few nights before. For that, Calina was entirely grateful. She began to wonder who had been so thoughtful when she heard her bedroom door open behind her. Calina spun round and her heart began to pound. A small maid stood in the corner. She appeared more frightened of Calina than the other way round and opened her mouth to stutter,
"Excuse me, my lady, but I was sent to ask if there was anything you needed and to help you dress. I hope you found the dress I picked for you this morning satisfactory."
"Yes thank you," Calina said groping for the name of the elf she vaguely recognised,
"Nadeth, my lady. My cousin lives next door to Lady Lathrin."
"I knew your face was familiar Nadeth. Do you know who had this room rearranged while I was gone?"
"I believe it was the idea of Lady Arwen, my lady. Which dress will you be wearing tonight?"
"There is a navy robe in there. That will do. It is not the day to be dressing in finery."
"As you wish my lady." There was a knock at the door and Legolas entered. He looked frantic,
"Calina I am glad I found you. Oh hello Nadeth, I did not know you had been assigned to Calina," Nadeth curtseyed at the Prince's recognition of her. Legolas pulled a chair next to Calina, "Garin is missing."
"Missing? What do you mean Legolas? That no one knows if he has left the Halls?" Calina stood up and Legolas followed suit,
"We do not know my love, but my uncle fears something is amiss because Garin's sword is also missing, but none of his other possessions."
"Oh Elbereth, will this never end?" Calina leant her head onto Legolas' chest and he stroked her hair.
"Calina, put your dress on. I want you to come with me now to dinner. There are plenty of people in the Hall setting places, but the others will join us soon. You will safer there." Calina swallowed hard and looked fearful into Legolas' eyes. He did not have to say it, but she knew the event he was trying to save her from. Garin's final act before his banishment commenced. He could get away with anything, so long as no one found him in the wood before noon the next day, and given the palace's proximity to the eastern edge of the forest.. She did not want to think about it. She felt a gentle tug at her arm,
"Here my lady. You had best put this on and go with Prince Legolas. You will be safe with him." Calina was in a daze and just did as she was directed by the other people in the room. There was another knock at Calina's door. Legolas made her stay seated as he called out,
"Who is there?"
"It is Verlat. I have brought Lathrin too. We thought it would be better to stick together." Legolas had locked the door when he had arrived so he went to let them in. Calina was finally ready to leave and she dismissed Nadeth. Lathrin sidled up to her friend and whispered,
"I am trying to get along, I swear. It will not be my fault if we have another argument," but Calina's mind was on other things. She jumped at every small sound in the chambers. Legolas noticed and decided the sooner she left there the better. He motioned to Verlat, who was carrying a sword, something Calina had not seen him do at dinner ever. She took Legolas arm and jumped when she felt cold steel against her skin. He was armed as well. Calina buried the dread and fear deep down inside her and stepped out of the room.
Calina and Lathrin were practically marched down the corridor by their escorts. Legolas looked intently at every guard they passed on their way to the Hall, but each shook their head at him. Garin was still missing.
Most of the high table of the hall was present. Lathrin was being admitted to sit there that evening as well. The atmosphere was tense as everyone sat drinking wine to calm their nerves and made forced conversation. Calina took her seat among her friends who smiled and acknowledged her presence, but then turned to their own thoughts. Only Aragorn and Arwen addressed Calina normally and spoke to her about their intentions to leave and visit the country known as the Shire and live in Arnor for a while. They intended to leave as soon as the current situation was resolved. Calina was pleased at their kindness and thoughtfulness towards herself and Legolas.
The mealtime approached and Thranduil came early to sit with them, his guards having finally irritated him enough to force him from his private chambers into public where he would be safer. The Hall gradually filled with people and it began to buzz as normal. Calina was on her third glass of wine before any food was set in front of her and she began to eat. The high table began to relax a bit more and Calina noticed that Landuil and his family were absent. She caught the king's eyes as she gazed towards that part of the table and the empty seats where that side of the family sat. Thranduil's eyes were grave, and Calina saw the pain that his position had caused. She realised how much he would be hurting during all of this, but Thranduil became aware of her gaze and nodded briefly at her. Calina broke the eye contact and forced her attention back to the plate in front of her and trying to force herself to eat what was on it.
The servers in the Hall were midway through clearing away that course when several guards came rushing in and went directly to the King. Thranduil threw down his napkin and rose quickly. Legolas followed suit, but motioned for Calina to stay where she was with the others. He fell in step with his father as they swept out of the Hall. Luckily few people had seen that happen and the rest of the Hall continued on as usual. There were many glances exchanged across the table, but Calina could not take it anymore. She rose too and despite the calls from Lathrin to remain where she was, Calina demanded to be taken to where Legolas and Thranduil had been led. The guard was less than willing to disobey orders, but Calina was not having any of it and set off on her own. It was not far to rooms that Garin shared with the rest of his family and Calina walked quickly down the corridors.
She did not have to go far. She edged along the wall of the corridor, not knowing if she wanted to see when was inside. As she got closer she could hear the voice of Thranduil who was ordering the guards. Calina reached the door and leant on the frame. Legolas felt her presence and tried to position himself in her line of sight so she would not see what the room held, but it was too late. She knew then that she already knew what had happened. The body of Garin lay on the floor, stabbed by his own blade. Calina put a hand up to her mouth to stifle the cry that was on the tip of her tongue. Her eyes darted around the room but always they were drawn back to the body on the floor. The trail of blood starting at his chest and flowing down one side of his body to a large pool on the floor. It was deep red, shining in the twilight that spilled through the large window. Garin's eyes were rolled back in his head and his mouth, twisted in agony, was slightly open. Legolas came to Calina's side and tried to pull her away,
"I said stay in the Hall Calina," he said softly, trying to divert attention that was fixed on the floor in the middle of the room. She heard Thranduil issue his final orders and close the door in front of Calina and walking off in the direction of his brother's rooms. The body was out of sight, but Calina still saw it in her mind's eye. She finally met Legolas' gaze. She opened her mouth to speak to him, but the words did not come, tears did instead, though she did not know who she was crying for. Was it Thranduil, or his brother or had pity finally got the better of her and was she crying for the soul of Garin? Legolas brushed the initial tears from her cheeks and then led her away from the room and back to his own. He laid Calina down on the bed and let her cry it all out. This marked the end of all the deceit and lies that had begun seventeen years ago. From this point on it would just be Calina and Legolas and for that he was thankful and Calina was grateful that she knew all the lies and pretences were now gone.
When she had stopped crying Calina turned over and saw Legolas had lain next to her in the bed and then she realised he had been calming stroking her back to guide her back to the light as she wept, "I think I will go home in the morning Legolas."
"Why Calina? It is over now. You do not have to run anymore. Please do not go, I cannot lose you again." She smiled at the panic that spread across his face,
"I love you Legolas, you are not going to get rid of me this easily." She smiled as stroked his nose, but then her face became serious again, "There will be a mourning period Legolas. I cannot be here for that. I just cannot. I am pleased he is dead and I am afraid of the elf that makes me."
"It makes you Calina, my love. After what he has put you through I would have been surprised if you had reacted any other way."
"But my tears were for him Legolas, for his soul."
"Everyone finds peace in the end Calina." Legolas stroked the hair that fell about her face, "People will understand that you will want to leave. No one will hold it against you."
"I will see your uncle though, and tell him that I am sorry for his loss."
"Will you mean it?" Legolas quizzed her,
"Yes I will. Families belong together Legolas. I know that more than most. Just because I did not like Garin, does not mean his family did not love him. You should remember that."
"I will my love," Legolas kissed her forehead, "Will you rest here tonight? I think you need a rest." Calina nodded. They helped each other undress and then crawled beneath the sheets. Legolas held Calina close and she buried herself deep in his arms and they fell asleep together, aware how fragile life really was and how precious their tie together was.
The next day dawned and Calina and Legolas woke up in each other's arms. Neither of them spoke because the peace and serenity between them said it all. A considerate servant had left them breakfast for two and a fresh dress for Calina was hung up next to one of Legolas' sets of robes. They ate it bed and Legolas teased Calina for managing to get most of it round her mouth and in return she was less than careful about leaving crumbs in his bed. They bathed together as well that morning, washing each other carefully and lovingly tending to every inch. Calina was sitting in a robe brushing her hair and Legolas was reading a book sitting opposite her when there was a knock on the door. A young elf entered,
"Excuse me your highness, but your father requests your presence and yours my lady. Lord Aragorn has returned with the prisoners and they are to be taken to the king." He turned and left. Legolas' eyes sort Calina's. There was a grim light in them,
"It will all be over soon, my love," he said out of concern. Calina stood up and went to take her dress of its hanger. She flung it over her head and walked over to Legolas,
"I know, and the sooner the better. Will you do up the buttons?" Legolas nodded and set about dressing Calina, when both of them would rather he was undoing them. There was another knock at Legolas' bedroom door and Verlat came in,
"Legolas, we are ready. Your father is waiting for you and Calina." Calina took a deep breath and gripped the hand that Legolas' offered hard. He placed his other over it and kissed her temple and said,
"Come, you must finish this now."
Verlat led them from Legolas' apartment and in the corridor they were joined by Mineta, Lathrin and Arwen. They went to Thranduil's chamber, the place he sat during the day to day business of the court. It was likely that there would be a crowd come to watch the proceedings. They entered the room, but there was no one but those necessary for the trial as such. Aragorn took his place beside his wife, as did Nithin. Garin and Telina stood before Thranduil, surrounded by a fair number of guards. He rose and said,
"I have banned the court from witnessing this. I do not wish to make the private business of my family public knowledge for gossip and speculation." Legolas made a noise of displeasure from his place next to Calina,
"Why not tell everyone and then they will all know the wicked creature Garin has become?" Nithin hushed him. Thranduil's gaze settled on Calina. Yet again she knew he would force her to tell a story of her capture. He gestured her to come forward. Legolas squeezed her hand one last time and she rose and went to the front of the room. She looked at the king and he said,
"Calina, please tell us what happened, in your own words." She looked out at the room and the people there. Her friends sat in one corner, all silently willing her on. Settled right at the back she saw Garin's parents. His father sat tall, but the grief was evident on his face and his mother was weeping quietly. Also present were two clerks and about a dozen guards. Calina's eyes wandered to Garin's and hatred boiled inside her. He'd tried to destroy her and take her away from everything that made her happy and now he would have to pay for it. She found a spot at the back of the room to focus on and cleared her throat,
"I was dressing for dinner two days ago. My room was broken into the day before and the dress I had first worn when I first came here seventeen years ago had been hung up in my wardrobe. As I was dressing there was the sound of someone being hit over the head from my living room and the door then opened. Legolas was there unconscious and Garin stood in the door. Telina handed me that old dress to wear. They forced me out of the window and onto a horse. Garin climbed on the horse behind me, and Telina had her own. We rode from the palace at full gallop for several hours and when it finally got too dark to see Garin finally made us stop and we made camp. I thought about trying to escape, but without a horse and no idea where I was, I did not want to risk it. I knew you would all be looking for me by that time and I did not want to confuse the trail. The next morning we had a small breakfast and Garin announced that we were to continue on foot. Telina disagreed, she wanted to put as much distance between us and the palace as possible but Garin said the trail of 2 horses was more visible than the tracks of 3 elves. He left the horses to wander, hoping they would confuse our trail and lead everyone in the wrong direction. During the day, I tried to go as slowly as I could and leave as many marks on the way as I could. At one point I scratched a C into the tree bark when we stopped for a short rest. That day Garin and Telina argued a lot about what would happen next, where we would go and how we would get by. Garin had a plan, but he did not reveal it till late on in the afternoon. He wanted to leave Telina to find her way back to the palace and take me to a place in the woods he knew we could live in secret. He wanted me to bind myself to him," Calina's voice became a mix of disgust and shame, "but I would never do that. That night Telina was trying to light a fire to keep us warm. I hoped the light would bring people to us and I was about to offer my help when Garin came and sat beside me. I told him I could never love him and he went to hit me, but his hand never reached my face. Legolas, Aragorn, Verlat, Nithin and some guards arrived and I knew I was safe. I think you know the rest." Thranduil nodded and Calina returned to her seat. He then addressed Garin and Telina,
"Do you refute these claims?" There was no response. "Do you have anything else to say?" Telina hung her head in shame, but Garin rose and turned around to look at where Calina sat. He spoke in a slow voice, as if carefully choosing his words,
"I love you, how can you do this to me? I would have given you everything and now you will have nothing. Your life will be an empty shell because you have denied yourself true love." Calina began to shake in her seat. Legolas took her hand and stroked her fingers with his thumb, "Oh it is like that is it? You have given yourself to him," Garin scoffed, "He never keeps his lovers for long and then you will come crawling back to me and."
"That is enough Garin. Your words only make me believe I have made the right decision," Thranduil had put a stop to Garin's testimony, "There can only be one punishment for a crime such as yours. It pains me to have to do this to a member of my only family but a true Greenleaf would never kidnap a fellow elf for his own gain. Garin you are hereby banished from the Woodland realms of Middle Earth. You will not be made welcome in Rivendell either where tales of your deeds have already been told. You must be gone by noon tomorrow." Thranduil's gaze went to his brother at the back of the room. He was weeping now with his wife. The king closed his eyes for a moment wishing that he had not been forced to judge his own nephew, his flesh and blood, and he forced the nauseous feeling back down. He then turned his attention to Telina, "Do you have anything to say?" Telina was looking at the floor, tears in her eyes, and she nodded her head,
"I am sorry. Truly sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I only did it because, because," Telina burst into tears. Thranduil's stern gaze softened,
"What is it child?" Calina saw Garin sneer and laugh at Telina who was trying to sniff back her tears. This seemed to strengthen her somehow,
"My father's business is failing. Someone had spread rumours about the poor quality of his work, but he always did everything to the highest standards. One day he came to me and said all the rumours would go away if I did these few things for him when Lady Calina next came to stay at the Halls. I saw how my father suffered and I agreed, but I did not mean for it to go this far. I would never want to hurt lady Calina, please, please do not banish me your highness."
Calina felt her heart go out to the elf. Telina had obviously not meant for it to go this far. Thranduil spoke again,
"Telina for a crime such as this, there is only a fixed punishment." Calina stood,
"Please your highness. Telina did not mean to kidnap me. If you must send her away, send her somewhere where she will be able to live in peace and go about her life freely." Arwen then stood up,
"Many of the servants in Rivendell have sailed West. If Telina went there, my brothers and Lord Celeborn would be glad of her service." Thranduil nodded.
"Telina I banish you from Eryn Lasgalen according to our laws, but I will send you to Rivendell with a letter of recommendation to the sons of Elrond. You may live there is peace." Telina bowed low to the King and thanked him for his leniency. He gave her a week to depart.
The trial was over. Garin was led away by guards so he could be kept from harming anyone else. His parents followed him from the hall. Telina curtseyed to Calina and then left without any guards. Thranduil sat down onto his large throne and sighed. Legolas went to his father and Thranduil muttered,
"I thought the evil in this world was gone, but it seems we still have to save us from ourselves."
"Father you cannot be held responsible for Garin's actions. He was consumed by desire and it turned him black. You could not have done anything else." Thranduil sighed once more,
"You are right, my son. It is my brother I pity. He has lost a son and I can only imagine the pain he is feeling. I have seen you go to war Legolas and I know the uncertainty of being left behind, but I can take comfort in knowing that you are one of the best warriors I have ever known. But this is worse, a far worse fate." Thranduil rose and left for his private chambers. Legolas watched him go and sadness falling over him until he felt a small hand seek his. Calina linked her slender fingers with Legolas' and leaned her head on his arm,
"I wish it did not have to end this way with so much sadness for everyone, families torn apart," she said to him,
"All our action have consequences seen and unseen," Legolas said, still looking in the direction his father had gone,
"Come for some lunch, my love." Legolas looked down at her and smiled. The words she had just spoken seemed like a dream, but there she was holding his hand tightly. Lathrin wandered up to her friend's side,
"Ah ha, I always knew," Calina groaned,
"I suppose you are going to be insufferable now and taunt me with 'I told you so' for eternity." Lathrin and Legolas laughed. Lathrin pulled a face and then said,
"Well maybe not eternity, just for a few ages!" The three of them laughed again and went for some lunch.
Their lunch was a sober affair. Everyone was quietly thinking through the consequences of recent events. Calina's thoughts turned to her home and workshop while Legolas was still concerned for his father and uncle and Mineta was trying to work out how long it would be until Calina became a princess. After the meal Legolas and Calina went for a walk in one the gardens surrounding the palace. They walked arm in arm, enjoying the peace around them. Calina rested her head on Legolas' arm and closed her eyes. She let him guide her along the path while she drank in the serenity around her, a smile on her lips. A small movement of Legolas' arm caused her to open her eyes and she saw Legolas' uncle walking towards them. He looked sad, like the woes of countries had been placed on his shoulders. Calina felt a pang of guilt as she knew that his pain was because of Garin's sentence. Legolas took his arm from Calina's and walked towards him,
"Uncle Landuil I am sorry for what has happened. Please accept my deepest regrets." Landuil sighed,
"I know Legolas. You did what you had to do, and now we have to do that too. We are all leaving, the whole family. Garin is still our son and we could not let him live eternity alone."
"I think my father knows this would be your choice."
"Yes Legolas, Thranduil knows. He is my brother after all and sees my heart more than anyone else. He will suffer much Legolas. You must be here for him."
"I will Uncle." Calina stood a little way back, but she took a small step forward and said,
"Lord Landuil, I too am very sorry, for what it is worth. I never meant for this to happen."
"Calina it is not your fault, you must not blame yourself. The only comfort that I am taking from this whole situation is the love I can see between yourself and Legolas. It is just such a shame that it to happen this way." And with that Landuil pushed past them and went onto another walk around the garden.
Calina took one look at Legolas' face and took his hand and made him sit next to her on a nearby bench. He would have accepted Garin's exile, but his uncle, aunt and other cousins too? She held him tightly to her as he went through the jumble of emotions circling in his head. Legolas was whispering quietly to himself, so quietly in fact that Calina could not hear him despite the fast that his mouth was only a few inches from her ear. She felt a pang of exclusion. She wanted to help him but knew so little about court life that she could not even begin to fathom the repercussions of Landuil's decision. Legolas shifted himself so his weight was sitting comfortably on Calina's chest in a position easy for both of them. He clung to her tightly like a lost child, clinging to the only thing that connected them to their past life. She noticed the occasional tear that fell from his eye, but still did not say a word. Calina had been silent for at least two hours when Legolas finally finished. She kissed the top of his head and Legolas moved to look up into her eyes,
"Thank you Calina." She just shook her head and rested her cheek on the top of his head, "I best go and see my father. Will you be alright on your own?"
"I will go and find Lathrin. No doubt she will have something to say about all of this." Calina felt the faint vibrations of Legolas' laugh against her body and she closed her eyes enjoying the calm that it brought,
"She does seem to be an opinionated elf." Legolas sat up and looked at Calina, but without the usual light in his eyes,
"You have no idea." Calina smiled and let Legolas take her arm and lead her back inside. They parted in the main entrance hall of the palace. Legolas kissed her gently on the lips and held onto her hand until he had taken too many steps away from her and their fingers slipped apart.
Calina found Lathrin in the small room that she had been given to stay in. Calina knocked on the door and as soon as it opened two arms wrapped Calina up and dragged her inside. A warm cheek was pressed against her cold one and Lathrin whispered,
"Calina are you alright? I saw you and Legolas in the garden, but I did not want to interrupt. I could see you were giving Legolas his strength, but I wondered about yours. You went pale this morning in the court room, and your eyes as still wide like a frightened animal."
"I will be fine Lathrin, thank you for your concern. The worst is over now, for me at least. It is the royal family who need your sympathy now, not me."
"Come and sit down then, and you can tell me all about falling in love with the heir to the throne, when a little more than a week ago I did not even know you had set foot in the palace, let alone been presented at court and all the fun that comes with that."
"I would hardly call this fun Lathrin."
"Oh I do not mean this. I mean what you got up to after you arrived back yesterday. I came to look for you and I finally caught up with you as you snuck into a certain prince's room. Now come Calina, I have known you for many years now. Tell the truth." Lathrin leaned towards Calina and with a conspiratory air and whispered slowly, "How big is his.. apartment?" Calina laughed lightly and raised her eyebrows,
"Now that would be telling." It was then Lathrin's turn to laugh,
"But tell me Calina, is it love? The real thing?" Calina flushed and looked at her hands, "Oh Calina, do not be shy," Lathrin encouraged. Calina looked up again, her cheeks bright red and she nodded, embarrassed. Lathrin let out a squeal of joy she had been holding in since the morning and flung herself at Calina in a tight hug. Calina struggled for breath as she disentangled her friend. She massaged her neck better as she said,
"Lathrin, you will do me an injury if you do that again!"
"And I had better not harm you or Legolas will not be pleased."
"No you do not want to go upsetting anyone here. That includes Verlat, before you start to protest."
"He just rubs me up the wrong way, Calina. What can I say? He needs to be more liberated. He acts like he has got sticks pushed up his.."
"He is a good elf Lathrin. You would do yourself more harm angering him than you would by swallowing a bit of your pride and trying to get along. Do it for my sake at least."
"Very well Calina," Lathrin sighed, "I just wish he could relax a bit more." Calina shrugged,
"It is just his way." There was a brief silence between them before a grin spread across Lathrin's face again,
"So tell me all about you and Legolas." Calina groaned and settled herself down for Lathrin's interrogation. That afternoon Calina admitted to many feelings that Lathrin could only imagine when gossiping idly to villagers who had come to see Calina recently and found her not at home.
Calina left Lathrin to finally return to her room and dress for dinner. Someone had been in and tidied up since she had left it the other day and all the furniture had been moved around so the place barely resembled the room she had been taken from a few nights before. For that, Calina was entirely grateful. She began to wonder who had been so thoughtful when she heard her bedroom door open behind her. Calina spun round and her heart began to pound. A small maid stood in the corner. She appeared more frightened of Calina than the other way round and opened her mouth to stutter,
"Excuse me, my lady, but I was sent to ask if there was anything you needed and to help you dress. I hope you found the dress I picked for you this morning satisfactory."
"Yes thank you," Calina said groping for the name of the elf she vaguely recognised,
"Nadeth, my lady. My cousin lives next door to Lady Lathrin."
"I knew your face was familiar Nadeth. Do you know who had this room rearranged while I was gone?"
"I believe it was the idea of Lady Arwen, my lady. Which dress will you be wearing tonight?"
"There is a navy robe in there. That will do. It is not the day to be dressing in finery."
"As you wish my lady." There was a knock at the door and Legolas entered. He looked frantic,
"Calina I am glad I found you. Oh hello Nadeth, I did not know you had been assigned to Calina," Nadeth curtseyed at the Prince's recognition of her. Legolas pulled a chair next to Calina, "Garin is missing."
"Missing? What do you mean Legolas? That no one knows if he has left the Halls?" Calina stood up and Legolas followed suit,
"We do not know my love, but my uncle fears something is amiss because Garin's sword is also missing, but none of his other possessions."
"Oh Elbereth, will this never end?" Calina leant her head onto Legolas' chest and he stroked her hair.
"Calina, put your dress on. I want you to come with me now to dinner. There are plenty of people in the Hall setting places, but the others will join us soon. You will safer there." Calina swallowed hard and looked fearful into Legolas' eyes. He did not have to say it, but she knew the event he was trying to save her from. Garin's final act before his banishment commenced. He could get away with anything, so long as no one found him in the wood before noon the next day, and given the palace's proximity to the eastern edge of the forest.. She did not want to think about it. She felt a gentle tug at her arm,
"Here my lady. You had best put this on and go with Prince Legolas. You will be safe with him." Calina was in a daze and just did as she was directed by the other people in the room. There was another knock at Calina's door. Legolas made her stay seated as he called out,
"Who is there?"
"It is Verlat. I have brought Lathrin too. We thought it would be better to stick together." Legolas had locked the door when he had arrived so he went to let them in. Calina was finally ready to leave and she dismissed Nadeth. Lathrin sidled up to her friend and whispered,
"I am trying to get along, I swear. It will not be my fault if we have another argument," but Calina's mind was on other things. She jumped at every small sound in the chambers. Legolas noticed and decided the sooner she left there the better. He motioned to Verlat, who was carrying a sword, something Calina had not seen him do at dinner ever. She took Legolas arm and jumped when she felt cold steel against her skin. He was armed as well. Calina buried the dread and fear deep down inside her and stepped out of the room.
Calina and Lathrin were practically marched down the corridor by their escorts. Legolas looked intently at every guard they passed on their way to the Hall, but each shook their head at him. Garin was still missing.
Most of the high table of the hall was present. Lathrin was being admitted to sit there that evening as well. The atmosphere was tense as everyone sat drinking wine to calm their nerves and made forced conversation. Calina took her seat among her friends who smiled and acknowledged her presence, but then turned to their own thoughts. Only Aragorn and Arwen addressed Calina normally and spoke to her about their intentions to leave and visit the country known as the Shire and live in Arnor for a while. They intended to leave as soon as the current situation was resolved. Calina was pleased at their kindness and thoughtfulness towards herself and Legolas.
The mealtime approached and Thranduil came early to sit with them, his guards having finally irritated him enough to force him from his private chambers into public where he would be safer. The Hall gradually filled with people and it began to buzz as normal. Calina was on her third glass of wine before any food was set in front of her and she began to eat. The high table began to relax a bit more and Calina noticed that Landuil and his family were absent. She caught the king's eyes as she gazed towards that part of the table and the empty seats where that side of the family sat. Thranduil's eyes were grave, and Calina saw the pain that his position had caused. She realised how much he would be hurting during all of this, but Thranduil became aware of her gaze and nodded briefly at her. Calina broke the eye contact and forced her attention back to the plate in front of her and trying to force herself to eat what was on it.
The servers in the Hall were midway through clearing away that course when several guards came rushing in and went directly to the King. Thranduil threw down his napkin and rose quickly. Legolas followed suit, but motioned for Calina to stay where she was with the others. He fell in step with his father as they swept out of the Hall. Luckily few people had seen that happen and the rest of the Hall continued on as usual. There were many glances exchanged across the table, but Calina could not take it anymore. She rose too and despite the calls from Lathrin to remain where she was, Calina demanded to be taken to where Legolas and Thranduil had been led. The guard was less than willing to disobey orders, but Calina was not having any of it and set off on her own. It was not far to rooms that Garin shared with the rest of his family and Calina walked quickly down the corridors.
She did not have to go far. She edged along the wall of the corridor, not knowing if she wanted to see when was inside. As she got closer she could hear the voice of Thranduil who was ordering the guards. Calina reached the door and leant on the frame. Legolas felt her presence and tried to position himself in her line of sight so she would not see what the room held, but it was too late. She knew then that she already knew what had happened. The body of Garin lay on the floor, stabbed by his own blade. Calina put a hand up to her mouth to stifle the cry that was on the tip of her tongue. Her eyes darted around the room but always they were drawn back to the body on the floor. The trail of blood starting at his chest and flowing down one side of his body to a large pool on the floor. It was deep red, shining in the twilight that spilled through the large window. Garin's eyes were rolled back in his head and his mouth, twisted in agony, was slightly open. Legolas came to Calina's side and tried to pull her away,
"I said stay in the Hall Calina," he said softly, trying to divert attention that was fixed on the floor in the middle of the room. She heard Thranduil issue his final orders and close the door in front of Calina and walking off in the direction of his brother's rooms. The body was out of sight, but Calina still saw it in her mind's eye. She finally met Legolas' gaze. She opened her mouth to speak to him, but the words did not come, tears did instead, though she did not know who she was crying for. Was it Thranduil, or his brother or had pity finally got the better of her and was she crying for the soul of Garin? Legolas brushed the initial tears from her cheeks and then led her away from the room and back to his own. He laid Calina down on the bed and let her cry it all out. This marked the end of all the deceit and lies that had begun seventeen years ago. From this point on it would just be Calina and Legolas and for that he was thankful and Calina was grateful that she knew all the lies and pretences were now gone.
When she had stopped crying Calina turned over and saw Legolas had lain next to her in the bed and then she realised he had been calming stroking her back to guide her back to the light as she wept, "I think I will go home in the morning Legolas."
"Why Calina? It is over now. You do not have to run anymore. Please do not go, I cannot lose you again." She smiled at the panic that spread across his face,
"I love you Legolas, you are not going to get rid of me this easily." She smiled as stroked his nose, but then her face became serious again, "There will be a mourning period Legolas. I cannot be here for that. I just cannot. I am pleased he is dead and I am afraid of the elf that makes me."
"It makes you Calina, my love. After what he has put you through I would have been surprised if you had reacted any other way."
"But my tears were for him Legolas, for his soul."
"Everyone finds peace in the end Calina." Legolas stroked the hair that fell about her face, "People will understand that you will want to leave. No one will hold it against you."
"I will see your uncle though, and tell him that I am sorry for his loss."
"Will you mean it?" Legolas quizzed her,
"Yes I will. Families belong together Legolas. I know that more than most. Just because I did not like Garin, does not mean his family did not love him. You should remember that."
"I will my love," Legolas kissed her forehead, "Will you rest here tonight? I think you need a rest." Calina nodded. They helped each other undress and then crawled beneath the sheets. Legolas held Calina close and she buried herself deep in his arms and they fell asleep together, aware how fragile life really was and how precious their tie together was.
