Second chances
By Sinful Starlet
Chapter Four - Repercussions and changing fates
Disclaimer: see chapter one if you're really that interested, but once more for the record (all together now!) - Not mine, never will be, anything recognisable belongs to Tolkien and a very happy publishing company!
Rating: Probably back down to PG-13 (damn it!!) I know, I was disappointed too, but I've got to do some more serious stuff before I can get back to the good stuff - plot development and all that! *SS*
Author's note: Okay anyone seriously bummed at the end of the last chapter isn't exactly going to be too happy with this either, but for the sake of the story, we've got to have Elrond's reaction to all this, however extreme it may seem, and don't worry, there is a relatively happy ending around here somewhere! *SS*
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Chapter Four - Repercussions and changing fates
Summary: Story continues. Things aren't going so well for Legolas right now, and they're about to get a whole lot worse!
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As soon as he was ushered out of Arwen's room, Legolas again tried to offer any kind of explanation for the scene that Elrond had just witnessed, but the elder elf silenced him with a single look. Legolas thought better of trying to speak again, but instead merely followed Elrond through the house until they reached their destination. Luckily for his dignity and what little pride he could muster at that moment, the halls of the last homely house were fairly deserted, the hour still being early enough that the main business of the house had not yet begun.
Elrond remained silent for the whole of their passage, always walking ahead of Legolas, but constantly aware of his presence. He knew he had alarmed and disturbed the younger elf, who had come to be one of his dearest friends over the years of their acquaintance, but as yet he could not see past his own anger and sense of betrayal. When they arrived at his study, Elrond still said nothing at first, merely gestured forcefully at one of the chairs beside the great table which occupied the centre of the room, as if trying to force Legolas to sit by the power of his mind alone.
Legolas complied, for the first time really looking down to avoid the gaze of the elder. He felt terrible for the pain he could see that he was causing his great friend, but he could not bring himself to feel that he had made a mistake in his actions with Arwen. He hazarded a glance upwards at last to see Elrond still pacing around the room, his expression now unreadable as he regained control of the warring emotions that plagued him.
"Lord Elrond...", Legolas started, feeling that something should be said, if even then, he did not know how to continue. "Don't, Legolas!", came Elrond's response, cutting him off before he even had the chance to say anything else. "Do not presume that with words you could heal the hurt that you have caused this morning. I have let you stay in Imladris all this time, my guest, confidante and trusted friend...", he paused here, seemingly unable at first to find the words to go on, "...only to find you full of deceit and betrayal".
Legolas tried to interject, but again, Elrond spoke first, "I came to your chamber this morning seeking counsel, which I would have sought earlier, but I did not wish to disturb your...slumber". "Instead I find you gone and in your place letters which you had obviously gone to great lengths to conceal from me". Legolas froze, though tried not to show the shock on his face. "By accident I came across the letters from your father. Letters entreating again and again for you to return home - these letters have been arriving for months, how long did you truly hope to conceal them?"
Legolas could think of no response immediately, though he began to feel increasingly anxious. "I was deeply hurt to find that you had been lying to me, but then finding you as I did this morning...", here Elrond had to pause, his control over his emotions starting to crumble. He could no longer face the young elf sitting in front of him, he turned away and rested his hands against the table, breathing a little harder than usual. "I don't think there are any words to express what I felt when I saw the two of you together". "She is my most precious jewel, Legolas", Elrond said, at last turning back to face the prince, causing him even greater alarm as he saw the elf lord's eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Still so young", Elrond went on, though Legolas was no longer sure that he was talking to him, "too young to bear the heartache she has had pressed upon her from the departure of her mother...", again Elrond faltered as he remembered Celebrian, "...and not yet wise enough to fully understand the world and her place in it". Legolas felt the need to protest at that, thinking Arwen not so young as Elrond would make her, but he suppressed it, seeing that Elrond was not yet finished.
"She has the most kindness and generosity of spirit of anyone that I have ever known, but you misused that - you took something from her that was not yours to take". It took all the strength Legolas had in him then not to yell out at that, the elven lord's opinion of him, seemingly now so low. "Even if she was willing to offer it", Elrond finished, without apparently pausing in between, noticing the pain coursing across Legolas' face.
"I cannot bring myself to hate you for your actions Legolas", Elrond said with a sigh of deep regret, "and nor can I say that it is something that I will never forgive - but the wound needs time to heal, and you must suffer some penalty at least". Legolas nodded grimly, trying to face the lord with the honour of his own regal bearing, while at the same time feeling more afraid at that moment than he ever had or would again in his life. "I know you and my daughter share a common bond of love, and I would not forget the love that my sons and indeed my entire household has for you. In fact, in light of that, this may be the most severe punishment I can lay upon your shoulders, but it is the only that will suffice in my mind".
He gestured then for Legolas to stand up and approach him, which the young prince did, gingerly. "Legolas", Elrond began, moving so that he was standing directly in front of him to look him in the eyes, "your sentence such as I may give is this - that you will this very hour remove from Imladris and not again be permitted to enter its limits until the end of a third yén from now has passed". (AN. One yén is the true elvish 'year', which lasts 144 normal years so three yén is 432 years)
The words hung heavy in Legolas' mind. Exile. So much more terrible even than death did the thought seem to him at that moment. He fought back the tears threatening to appear at his own eyes and proudly returned the lord's gaze. The sight almost made Elrond's heart break yet again. This young elf who he had come to think of so much as a son, now disgraced before him, holding on to the one last shred of strength in him to prevent the tears from cascading down his face.
He had accepted Legolas so much as a part of his own family, that the thought of a marriage between Arwen and Legolas had occurred to him on more than one occasion. It was a cruel twist of fate that brought him to this place instead. "Forgive me, my iôn", Elrond said, resting his hands on Legolas' shoulders, causing Legolas even more pain, unintentional though it was. The thought that he had hurt someone so much that could still find it in their heart to call him their 'son' was almost unbearable.
"I take no pleasure in causing you such pain", Elrond said, at the last attempting to comfort the young elf before him, "but I must do this, or I will never rest easy in my heart". Legolas was dangerously close to letting a few tears fall from his eyes at that point, and he dropped his head to avoid Elrond's eyes, though he managed to nod his understanding and acceptance.
"'Tis a long time to endure such exile, I know", Elrond said, lifting Legolas' head with both his hands, using his thumbs to wipe away the glistening tracks that had appeared at his eyes, "but take solace in the fact that you will be welcomed back within these walls once the term has expired, and all that exists between you and my daughter may be reconciled at that time".
Legolas again nodded, breathing deeply to regain some composure. "May I have the chance to say my farewells?", he said at last, finally able to speak again. The question could have been taken generally, but Elrond knew the truth that Legolas had meant - there was only one person that he truly wished to say goodbye to. He thought long before he replied, but at last he shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I do not think I can allow that", Elrond said, "I will talk to her myself", he went on, seeing Legolas' head almost imperceptibly drop again with his disappointment, "be satisfied for the present".
Their conversation was over then - there was nothing else Legolas could say to change Elrond's mind, nor would he, his own pride garnered from his regal upbringing would prevent him from ever challenging a deed or service laid upon him. Elrond escorted him back to his own room then, not going so far as to stand over him while he packed, but remaining in the room at all times. Once this was done, Legolas was led down to the stables where his horse had been saddled and readied for the return to Mirkwood.
There was no one but Elrond to bid him farewell, all attendants having been dismissed, knowing only that some urgent business had called the Prince of Mirkwood home in such haste. "If you do not attempt to circumvent the charge that has been laid upon you", Elrond said, already knowing that Legolas would not even think of it, "then I will say no word of the reasons for your going, to your father, or my sons, and I will not prevent them from visiting you unless you attempt to use them as a means of communicating with Arwen".
Legolas managed to mask his disappointment this time. He had realised that he would probably be disallowed from all forms of contact with her, but hearing those words from Elrond made it so much more real and decisive. "She will remain here", Elrond went on, "she will have her own truth to comfort her until your return". While all this was being said, Legolas mounted his horse, turning the animal about so he could face Elrond as he said goodbye.
"Do not think of this time merely as a sentence to be waited out", Elrond said, counselling him at the last, "instead see the opportunity for a period of self-discovery". "You are yet young in the world Legolas", he continued, "your character is not yet set in stone. Use this time to explore the world and yourself - it is after all, our experiences that make us who we are". "I must take my leave now though", Elrond said in parting, "be well my young friend - I will await your return". Legolas nodded once more and then urged his horse forwards, moving into the woods of Rivendell, and back out into the world
AN. Wow! Well that wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs was it?! Got a little more angsty than I intended to as well - never mind! Anyone thinking I was a bit over-the-top with Elrond's reaction? Maybe so, but think about this way - you find your most beloved daughter (who still seems young to you) lying naked in the arms of a friend who had come to be like a son to you, knowing that they had both been lying to you for weeks. I'm not saying he didn't overreact, but you've gotta figure that'd hurt, right?
It's not going to brighten up too much in the next chapter where we see Legolas and Arwen enduring his exile but it's not all doom and gloom, I promise! Like I said, that happy ending's around here somewhere! *SS*