Right, now we continue--Glad everyone likes this!!
Chapter 20--Pushed To Far
Someone touching his hair awaked Legolas. Reacting without thought, he slapped the hand away and sat up. "Do not touch me!!" he said.
"I t is just me, my lovely, I--" Arathorn began.
Suddenly something in Legolas snapped and fury like he never had felt broke loose. "Do not call me that!! I hate it--I hate you!! Why do you hold me here against my wishes?" he demanded angrily.
"I treat you well, buy you gifts, pamper you," Arathorn said.
"Force me to submit to you by threatening to take an innocent life if I resist!" Legolas snarled.
Arathorn was about to slap him for his tone when he remembered what the healer had said. "You are just tired and upset. You should rest," he said. He stood. "I will leave you alone for awhile and ignore your disrespect for now."
"A manipulative, domineering and selfish man like you deserves no respect," Legolas said flatly, anger gone as suddenly flared up. He laid down again with his back to him. "Go away, just go away." He heard the door shut. Am I dying of grief? I hope so, better to die then to live like this, he thought. He laid there another hour before rising.
Legolas slipped out of the room to the garden and his favorite spot by the pond. Usually the sound of the water soothed him, but today it wasn't enough. He longed for his father and brother. He needed to be free, needed to go home. His hand went to the sapphire and suddenly he tore it off, breaking the chain and flung it away, not caring where it landed. He never wished to see it again.
"Legolas?" a soft voice asked.
"What is it, Jandra?" Legolas asked.
"What causes you so much pain? Can I help you?" Jandra asked.
"Nay, elves do not do well in stone cities, it suffocates me, I need to be among living things," Legolas said.
"But you have this garden," Jandra protested.
"It is no longer enough, I am fading as the stars do with the dawn and I do not care, better true death then a living one. Leave me, Jandra. I need solitude right now," Legolas said.
Jandra stared at the Elf--alarmed. There was little emotion in his voice, he sounded dead. She knew then that she had to do something-- perhaps Galen could help. She hurried off to find him.
Galen looked up from his reading when someone knocked on the door. "Come in," he said. "Jandra, what brings you here?"
"I am worried about Legolas, he is weakening and he says that he is dying. He looks terrible, paler then he should be and he seems to have completely given up all hope. Is there something we can do?" Jandra asked.
"Yes, we can smuggle him out of the castle and head for Mirkwood," Galen said.
"You mean return him to his people, but how? Arathorn will never let him leave," Jandra said.
"I am not sure, but I will think on it," Galen said. "It sounds like we must act soon or that tortured Elf will not survive the month."
Jandra left the room and headed for the barracks. She would think on it also, between the two of them maybe they could find a way. She would not allow the fair Elf to fade and die if she could prevent it.
** Meanwhile**
Legolas returned to the royal suite. Arathorn was still not there. He wandered into the study and noticed a letter opener lying on the desk; evidently Arathorn had forgotten to put it away. Legolas sat down at the desk then picked it up and studied it. It was silver when he brushed his fingertip along the edge it drew blood. Legolas studied the sharp point and smiled…
A HUGE Cliffhanger!! I love that kind!! Are you guys worried? You should be!! **Evil Cackle** R/R please!!!