He! He! Nice reactions, guys! Here's the next chappie!
P/s : Anybody knows when 'Ned Kelly' or 'Calcium Kid' is going to open in theatres?
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"Thank you for your company, Arwen," Legolas gratefully told the daughter of Elrond and kissed her rosy cheek when they returned back inside.
"You're welcome, Legolas." She gazed into his eyes, seeing fatigue and worry within the depth of those silver orbs. "Don't lose hope. Keldarion will be returned to us. He is taken in substance, but his soul still prevails."
Legolas nodded, sighing softly. "For Keldarion's sake, I will not lose hope. I will have my brother back, one way or another." He glanced towards the stairs. "I need to return to his room. Thank you again, Arwen. My head feels clearer now."
But your heart is still heavy. She smiled but didn't voice out that thought. "I'll go see if the cook has prepared the afternoon meal for him."
Legolas watched as she departed for the kitchen before he headed upstairs. As he walked past an opened doorway on his way towards Keldarion's chamber, Legolas caught the sound of familiar voices from within. They were his father's and Lord Celeborn's, deep in discussion. The prince listened more intently, feeling slightly guilty for eavesdropping.
"Legolas?" came his father's voice suddenly. Legolas groaned and rolled his eyes. Who am I kidding? You can never snoop upon an elf! His father's sense was acute and had recognized his presence almost immediately. Sheepishly, Legolas showed himself at the doorway. "Yes, father?"
"How are you feeling now?"
"Better, I guess. I'm on my way to see Kel."
Thranduil nodded. "Go ahead. He has just dozed off."
Legolas prepared to leave. Then his eyes saw a dagger made of pure gold in Lord Celeborn's hands. His eyes widened in appreciation. "What a beautiful blade! I've never seen anything quite like it!" Legolas exclaimed as he came closer to have a look.
The two elven lords did not respond. They looked at each other, sending messages that only they could understand. Legolas saw that look. "Why? What's wrong?"
"We've found the way to kill Jakarran," Celeborn answered after a long tense silence.
"Good, then! What are you waiting for? Let's do it!" Legolas was instantly ecstatic. But the elder elves' reaction was far from happy.
"What now? What else is wrong?" Legolas asked again. When they said nothing, the prince began to get angry. "Look. I'm not a little kid anymore. I know you are hiding something from me. Now tell me what it is!"
"Legolas…"
"TELL ME!"
Thranduil turned to Celeborn and nodded at the Lorien lord. "Tell him, my friend."
Celeborn looked steadily at the Mirkwood prince. "There is one way to kill a nash'kah like Jakkarran. Sever his neck, crush his head or burn his whole body in a great fire but he will never die that easily. A nash'kah was once an elf, like the orcs. But a nash'kah held its former elven form, not ugly and twisted like the orcs do. For that, he has to endure a curse; never to be stabbed by gold to his heart or perish will be his fate. I was not aware of this curse until now, which is already too late. Jakkarran had returned in a form of mist…and taken the body of your brother."
Legolas had gone completely still. He had a sharp mind and straight away he knew what Celeborn was really trying to tell him.
To kill Jakarran is to kill Keldarion too.
"No! I won't let it!" he yelled, glowering at Celeborn and Thranduil.
"Legolas…"
"I said I won't let it! Over my dead body!" He snatched the golden dagger from Celeborn's hand and dashed out, running towards Keldarion's chamber. Startled, Thranduil and Celeborn were late to give chase.
Keldarion stirred from his doze and stared in confusion at his brother's hasty entrance. He was incredibly bewildered when Legolas sit down beside him on the bed and placed the tip of the dagger to his own throat. "Legolas! What are you doing?"
Legolas did not answer and the hand that held the blade did not waver. His eyes were glinting furiously as he glared at the two lords that had also come running inside. "If you touch him, I'll kill myself, I swear!" Legolas threatened, spreading his other arm like a protective shield over Keldarion.
"Legolas, put the blade down!"
"Don't patronize me!!" Legolas shouted at the stunned elder elves. "And don't come any closer! I won't let any one of you touch my brother!"
"Legolas, what's going on?" Keldarion was still confused. "Look at me, brother. Tell me."
"They want to stab your heart with this golden blade to kill the demon! They want to kill you, can you believe that?"
Keldarion looked up at his father and Lord Celeborn. They were staring steadily back at him, looking a little flustered. "Is this true?"
Thranduil took a deep breath before answering. "Jakarran can only be killed by a dagger made of gold stabbed through his heart. Your heart, my son," he said softly and sadly.
There was a moment of silence, then Legolas screamed, "NO! Get out, both of you! GET OUT!!"
"Legolas…" Keldarion tried to sooth his brother but Legolas was not listening. The dagger hovered dangerously at his neck, already drawing blood by his restless movements.
"Don't kill him," Legolas whispered harshly. "You kill him, you kill me, too…"
"Legolas, please…" Thranduil was clearly distraught. He walked forward and reached out a hand to his youngest son. Seeing that it agitated Legolas more, Celeborn grabbed Thranduil's arm and pulled him back. "Leave them be, Thranduil."
"But…"
"Come. We are only making it worse."
After sending a last troubled glance to his sons, Thranduil reluctantly followed Celeborn out.
As the door swung shut, Legolas dropped his hand and burst into tears. His shoulders shook in his sobs and the sound of his cry filled the room. Keldarion wished that his hands were unbound so that he could embrace his brother, but he could only stared forlornly at his brother's trembling back, waiting for Legolas to turn to him. "Legolas, look at me."
Legolas slowly obeyed. Keldarion's heart constricted as he saw the tears that ran down his brother's pale cheeks and the small cuts on his neck. "Oh, Legolas. What have you done to yourself?"
Legolas collapsed on his brother's chest, sobbing helplessly. "They want to kill you! How could they! They want to kill you!!"
"No, they wouldn't," Keldarion said. "And our father would never kill his own child."
"But they were planning to do it, to stab this dagger into your heart and kill the demon. Are they crazy? You'd be killed!"
Keldarion sighed, straining his hands through his bonds to touch Legolas's head but couldn't. "I'd rather die than be a slave to a demon, Legolas," he said quietly.
"What?!" Startled, Legolas looked up and saw the determination in Keldarion's eyes. "Oh, please, not you too!"
"If that is the only way…"
"There must be other way!" Legolas shouted, reaching up to grab and kiss his brother's hand. "Don't even think of sacrificing yourself, Kel!"
Keldarion gazed lovingly at Legolas as his fingers trailed over his brother's tear-stained cheek. "Then what do you suggest we do? Leave me bound here forever?"
Legolas was silent for long moment, and then he moved. Using the dagger, he cut through the cloth that tied his brother to the bed. Keldarion was alarmed. "Legolas! What do you think you're doing?"
"No one will kill you, and you will kill no one. I'm taking you far away from here," Legolas said, cutting the other bond.
TBC….
