You guys really like Gollum, don't you? Okay, keep on reading!
Thranduil looked up from the journal he was reading and gazed at his son. Legolas had stepped outside onto the study balcony a while ago after they had finished a round of chess and had not moved since. The prince stood tall and straight, his hands clasped behind his back, while his eyes fixed at one point in the palace garden.
That boy looks so distracted tonight. Usually it takes me more than two grueling hours to beat him in the board game, but tonight he played as if it was his first time. Something is bothering him, the king thought before he got up from his seat.
Legolas sensed his father's approach but still he didn't turn. Thranduil was beginning to get a little worried. Are past nightmares troubling him again? "Why are you so quiet tonight, my son? What are you thinking?"
The prince let out a soft sigh before replying, "It's the creature."
"Gollum?" Thranduil frowned. Ever since Aragorn had brought the creature to Mirkwood three days ago, his son had become quite subdued, as if something heavy was constantly on his mind. He had seen Legolas go to visit the 'prisoner' every morning, just staring at Gollum without talking or doing anything else. Even Gollum responded the same way, staring back at the magnificent looking elf prince with wonder and daze in his eyes. The prince had ordered some blankets to be provided to Gollum seeing that the creature was only clad in a loincloth. Gollum had been very thankful and a big smile had spread over his face. Thranduil shook his head at the memory. Legolas could easily charm even the ugliest beast in this Middle Earth!
"What about Gollum? Has he given you trouble?"
Legolas finally turned to his father. "Actually, he has given me something to think about."
"Care to share it with me?"
The prince looked down, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable about looking at his father straight in the eye. Thranduil reached over and gently tipped up Legolas's chin. "Tell me, son. What is bothering you?"
Legolas smiled weakly. "You might think I'm crazy, but I hate seeing Gollum restrained like that."
Thranduil's eyebrows lifted. So, this is the big issue! It's the can't-stand-helpless-beings-in-misery syndrome! The king almost laughed. Typical Legolas! Once a manyan, always a manyan! Even after the manyan stone had been viciously taken out of him and had permanently extinguished his healing ability, Legolas still had a great empathy towards other suffering living beings. Since he was born, wounded animals had been his greatest weakness, and that never changed. Legolas's heart was certainly made of gold, no doubt about it.
"I mean, I know Gandalf needs Gollum to seek the answers about the dark forces but…well, is it right for us to treat him like a criminal? What exactly has he done?" Legolas had walked several paces away and placed both hands on top of the marble rail.
Thranduil went to stand beside his son, directing his gaze towards Gollum who was sleeping under the big tree guarded by two Mirkwood royal guards. "From what you told me, Aragorn had informed you how vicious the creature could be at times. His restrain is necessary for everyone's safety. Try to imagine those two little devils, Cash and Dash, near Gollum when he is unchained. What can you see?"
Legolas broke out laughing, the dimple on his right cheek appearing for the first time in days. "All I can see is the two boys wrestling around with the creature, or riding him piggy-back! Those two are unpredictable!"
The king smiled, delighted to hear his son's laughter. "Yes, those two reminded me very much of you at that age! Thank the Valar you don't have a twin!"
Legolas grinned. "I was not that bad!"
"No. You were worse!"
When their laughter subsided, Legolas sobered and began to look distant again. "I understand that Gollum is able to bring harm to those children and others if unrestrained, but I also strongly feel that keeping him here is not the best action we've ever done," the prince continued. "It could also be our biggest mistake."
"What do you mean? Is Estel wrong to bring the creature here?"
"I didn't mean that. Estel surely could not bring Gollum along with him to Bree, and Mirkwood is the logical place for him to store Gollum for a while before he takes him back and returns to Lothlorien. Still, I cannot ignore this inner voice that's telling me we're interfering with something."
"For once, Legolas, I can not catch up with the pace that your mind is working. Please explain," Thranduil requested.
Legolas smiled. "For once? Somehow it doesn't sound like a compliment to me!"
"It's not. Now out with it."
Still smiling, Legolas began, "Gandalf had said that Gollum did not escape the Dark Lord's clutch. He had been released. I believe there must be a reason behind all this. Why would they simply let Gollum live and set him free after keeping him prisoner for quite some time, unless they have a hidden agenda that we cannot decipher?" Legolas turned around and was surprised to see the amazed expression on the king's face. "Father?"
"Ai Elbereth! I thought you only pity the beast! Looks like there is something more!"
"I do pity him," Legolas said. "But I also fear him. I finally saw his vicious side today, when he had knocked down one of the guards who dared to provoke him. If the other guards didn't pull him away, I swear he would have dug out the guard's eyeballs! After that he had muttered angrily to himself, then he would cry and wail in despair before continuing to growl in fury again, and this happened repeatedly all day long. It was like seeing two absolute different people at one time. So strange, yet so heartbreaking. And I really want to know the true reason that he was set free. Why did they let him go?"
Legolas went silent for a long time after that, staring in deep thought at the sleeping form under the tree. Thranduil began to feel a little restless. "So, what are you thinking now?"
The prince took a deep breath before replying, "Valar help me, for I think Aragorn is going to kill me for doing this." He met his father's eyes with full intent. "I'm setting Gollum free."
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Early the next morning found Legolas standing near Gollum who began to stir from a deep sleep. The creature looked up, blinked and stared at the elf prince quizzically. Legolas dressed a little different today. He was clad in a riding cloak with his twin blades and a quiver of arrows strapped to his back, a bow gripped firmly in one hand.
Gollum looked him up and down, awe and fascination written clearly on his face. The creature had never seen such exquisite beauty before, so cooped up he was in his cave in the swamp for hundreds of years. To him, the elf looked better and better from day to day. He also found Legolas's fair face incredibly soothing to his soul, like a breath of fresh mountain air. Still, there was another part of him that turned green with jealousy of this elf's wonderful features and mesmerizing persona. How he wished to scratch his nails against the smooth skin and dig the silver eyes out and eat them! How he longed to break that slender neck and burn that shiny golden hair! How he would love to slaughter this elf that had been blessed with such grace and head turning good looks while he, Gollum, remained the ugliest creature ever known!
Legolas saw the myriad of emotions playing havoc on Gollum's face, but made nothing out of it. Without a word, he reached down and untied the chain from the roots of the tree. Gollum looked on, dumbfounded. What is he doing?
"Come along, Gollum," said Legolas as he straightened, tugging at the chain.
Gollum obediently got up to his feet and let the elf pulled him away. He was quite startled to know that the elf was taking him out of the palace wall, into the woods, away form Mirkwood!
They walked on in silence; Legolas said not a word while Gollum asked no question whatsoever. An hour later, after almost thirty leagues of walking, Legolas halted. He took out a key and began to unlock the chain. Gollum was struck dumb. He stared at Legolas, hoping for answers or just simply wanting to hear the elf speak.
"You are free," Legolas told him. "Go now, to whatever destiny that has already been paved for you."
Gollum blinked. "Why? Why do you set us free?"
"The same reason the Dark Lord had when he released you." Legolas took a step back. "Go, while I'm still crazy enough to let you do so."
Gollum smiled, half angelic and half twisted. "We will meet again, o fair elf."
"I believe so too."
Then the creature of the swamp turned and began to run into the deep woods, leaving Legolas holding the abandoned chains. Releasing a deep breath, Legolas's voice came out in a whisper, "We will meet again."
TBC…