Authors notes: - Thanks for all the reviews. Please review or email me your
thoughts on this chapter!!!
*
The feast had started promptly as it had every night since the arrival of the Theran delegation. Urguth had made sure that he was sat next to Legolas, who now bore the expression that he would rather be anywhere but sat next to the man. Eomer was sat on the elf's other side and in turn was sat next to Aragorn. Thalos was on the other side. The atmosphere was light and cheerful and conversation was flowing freely, except for the lone figure of Legolas. Urguth gleefully set his plan in motion. The drinks were served and the server nodded almost invisibly at Urguth when he passed. The poison in the drink would begin to have an immediate effect. It would make the normally calm and rational elf become essentially mentally unstable. Urguth leaned across and turned to speak to the lord of Ithilien.
"I heard that you have been making additions to Ithilien's defences my lord. Do you sense that you are about to be attacked?" The man asked. Legolas turned to face him with a frown on his face. His mind tried to make sense of the seemingly random questions that always seemed to spout from the creature's mouth. He also became wary because the conversations usually went down hill from there as Urguth tried to bait him.
"You can never be too careful."
"I agree but also elves are becoming rare."
"Meaning?" Legolas interrupted sounding irritated.
"Collectors wanting an elf in their collection may see your colony as a target."
Before Legolas could snap at the man Eomer interrupted.
"Ithilien is well defended and allied with Gondor and Rohan. No one will attack it Urguth." Eomer replied with a tone that indicated Urguth should cease the conversation. The man ignored him and the hint. He took a sip from his wine and watched as Eomer was pulled into a conversation with Aragorn and Thalos. With a lowered voice he continued his conversation.
"Do you know how long it takes an elf to break under torture from the Darak? Three days. I have seen it."
"Be quiet." Legolas hissed as he stabbed a piece of meat on his plate rather forcefully. He could feel his blood beginning to boil in anger.
"I think you will last much longer."
Legolas ignored him and took a large gulp of wine, slamming it down on the table. He could see Eomer looking at them ready to interrupt.
Urguth leaned closer almost touching the pointed ear of the elf.
"What about your friends? I bet they would not last one day. I would love to hear their screams as they died and you watched. Then.."
Legolas snapped. His vision narrowed so that only Urguth was visible. He stood up suddenly upturning his chair and withdrew his knife. Before anyone could move Legolas had pinned the man to the table, the knife held to his throat.
"Cease this mindless prattle you pathetic creature." The elf snarled and watched as Urguth broke into a smile. With a start Legolas realised his mistake. His heart missed a beat. All colour drained from his face.
He heard voices calling to him; hands grabbed his arms pulling him away. His knife fell from his numb hand. Stumbling backwards he watched Urguth stand up brushing imaginary dirt off his clothes and smiling slightly. Legolas gasped for air as the room around him became enclosed and thick. The walls seemed to move forward making the room smaller. The burning pain in his head intensified and his vision blurred. The hands clutching him panicked him and he shrugged them off.
"No, no, no." he whispered. He had just committed the worst thing he could possibly have done. He had jeopardised his friend's lives all because he could not control his temper and ignore Urguth. With the realisation of the truth Legolas ran. He could not bear to look at them so he ran, blindly not knowing where he was going only that he could not stay in that hall.
* Eomer watched in horror as Legolas leapt to his feet and pinned Urguth to the table. Jumping up he grabbed the elf gently and pulled the elf backwards. Guards had rushed forward and Aragorn, Thalos and Faramir had risen to their feet.
"Legolas let it go." Eomer said to the elf that was trembling in his arms. The knife fell to the floor. Eomer watched as Urguth stood up with a smile across his features and with a sickened feeling knew what had happened. This is what Urguth had wanted and he knew that Legolas had suddenly realised this for the elf slumped almost to the point that Eomer had to hold him up. Legolas was reciting 'no no no' over and over. Suddenly Legolas shrugged his hands off and backed away. Eomer saw his face, his expression full of the horror and realisation of what he had done. Eomer stepped towards him holding out his hands to try and calm the obviously panicked and upset elf, but Legolas continued to back away. The guards were closing in on them and then Legolas just ran.
Silence reigned through the hall. No one dared to speak; each shocked at what had just occurred.
"Seize him." Aragorn cried to the guards. No one moved. Eomer turned around.
"What?" he demanded angrily.
"Find Legolas and bring him to me."
"There is something wrong with Legolas. Can you not see that? Sending guards after him will not help the situation."
Aragorn walked up to Eomer fury clear on his face.
"He attacked a diplomat. This behaviour cannot be tolerated."
"I agree but this is not normal behaviour for Legolas. Surely you can see this?" Eomer looked around at all the guests. Everyone's face reflected shock but no concern for the elf's warfare. 'They have got to them all' he thought desperately.
"He has shown disrespect and hatred towards Urguth since their arrival and now he has attacked him. This is not what I expect from a Lord of Ithilien."
Eomer sighed. "Let me go after him. I'll bring him back."
Aragorn growled and ignored Eomer's suggestion. "Guards find him now and bring him back immediately. Use force if you have to."
Eomer gaped in shook. Shaking his head he left the hall determined to find Legolas first. Even if this got sorted out the relationships that had been damaged here would be extremely difficult to repair.
*
Legolas was stood under one of the trees when Eomer found him. The man could hear guards searching the palace and knew that they did not have much time.
"Legolas?" he called softly so as not to alert them to their presence. The elf turned around slowly and Eomer felt his heart clench. The elf was clearly distraught and had tears streaming down his face.
"Eomer I killed them." Legolas cried and Eomer quickly ran across and put a hand over the elf's mouth. Pulling them both to the ground he uncovered the elf's mouth.
"The guards are coming." He whispered frantically.
"I killed them." Legolas whispered.
"NO" Eomer snapped sharply. "No one will die."
"But."
"No, don't you see what is happening. Urguth knows you know all about him and the Darak. He needs to find a reason to get rid of you, to remove you from the city. Then they will have removed the only problem they think they have, you. He's not going to kill anyone. From what I have seen tonight they have manipulated the minds of almost everyone so that they believe that it was an unprovoked attack."
Legolas took a deep shuddering breath and brushed away the tears.
"But we now have a problem." Eomer stated.
"I don't know what happened. I can't seem to think straight. I get angry at the smallest things that normally I wouldn't let affect me." Legolas looked confused.
"I think I know why. They put something in your wine at the feast. I have noticed that the server and Urguth nod, only slightly, at each other during the feasts. I thought nothing of it at first."
"It's a poison of the mind," Legolas said softly.
"How do you know?" Eomer asked frantically as he heard the guards getting closer.
"The Darak would not affect me this long from one attack. I have ingested some sort of poison and it's killing me. I can feel it in my veins. As you can tell it is affecting me greatly. I can no longer fight against them when I cannot control my actions."
Eomer nodded gravely, as much as he hated to admit it Legolas was right. The elf was unstable and liable to give away his intentions.
"Aragorn is not happy and not of his right mind. He ordered his guards to use violence against you if needed."
"Then I will no longer be able to aid you. At the very least I will be closely watched. I am sorry, Eomer, for everything." Legolas gasped as pain swept like a wave through his head. Eomer placed his hands on both sides of Legolas's face. He felt the unnatural heat that had taken hold of his friend.
"Do not be. Gandalf sent a reply, he is coming."
Legolas smiled a small smile. "Then for your benefit you must make it look like you have captured me."
Eomer shook his head and the voices of guards approaching caught the attention of them both.
"Do not give yourself away. You cannot help me. They think I have become unstable. I will struggle you will restrain me. Please."
The guards had almost reached them. Eomer nodded and whispered that he was sorry before pinned the elf to the ground and calling for the help of the guards as Legolas struggled.
**
*
The feast had started promptly as it had every night since the arrival of the Theran delegation. Urguth had made sure that he was sat next to Legolas, who now bore the expression that he would rather be anywhere but sat next to the man. Eomer was sat on the elf's other side and in turn was sat next to Aragorn. Thalos was on the other side. The atmosphere was light and cheerful and conversation was flowing freely, except for the lone figure of Legolas. Urguth gleefully set his plan in motion. The drinks were served and the server nodded almost invisibly at Urguth when he passed. The poison in the drink would begin to have an immediate effect. It would make the normally calm and rational elf become essentially mentally unstable. Urguth leaned across and turned to speak to the lord of Ithilien.
"I heard that you have been making additions to Ithilien's defences my lord. Do you sense that you are about to be attacked?" The man asked. Legolas turned to face him with a frown on his face. His mind tried to make sense of the seemingly random questions that always seemed to spout from the creature's mouth. He also became wary because the conversations usually went down hill from there as Urguth tried to bait him.
"You can never be too careful."
"I agree but also elves are becoming rare."
"Meaning?" Legolas interrupted sounding irritated.
"Collectors wanting an elf in their collection may see your colony as a target."
Before Legolas could snap at the man Eomer interrupted.
"Ithilien is well defended and allied with Gondor and Rohan. No one will attack it Urguth." Eomer replied with a tone that indicated Urguth should cease the conversation. The man ignored him and the hint. He took a sip from his wine and watched as Eomer was pulled into a conversation with Aragorn and Thalos. With a lowered voice he continued his conversation.
"Do you know how long it takes an elf to break under torture from the Darak? Three days. I have seen it."
"Be quiet." Legolas hissed as he stabbed a piece of meat on his plate rather forcefully. He could feel his blood beginning to boil in anger.
"I think you will last much longer."
Legolas ignored him and took a large gulp of wine, slamming it down on the table. He could see Eomer looking at them ready to interrupt.
Urguth leaned closer almost touching the pointed ear of the elf.
"What about your friends? I bet they would not last one day. I would love to hear their screams as they died and you watched. Then.."
Legolas snapped. His vision narrowed so that only Urguth was visible. He stood up suddenly upturning his chair and withdrew his knife. Before anyone could move Legolas had pinned the man to the table, the knife held to his throat.
"Cease this mindless prattle you pathetic creature." The elf snarled and watched as Urguth broke into a smile. With a start Legolas realised his mistake. His heart missed a beat. All colour drained from his face.
He heard voices calling to him; hands grabbed his arms pulling him away. His knife fell from his numb hand. Stumbling backwards he watched Urguth stand up brushing imaginary dirt off his clothes and smiling slightly. Legolas gasped for air as the room around him became enclosed and thick. The walls seemed to move forward making the room smaller. The burning pain in his head intensified and his vision blurred. The hands clutching him panicked him and he shrugged them off.
"No, no, no." he whispered. He had just committed the worst thing he could possibly have done. He had jeopardised his friend's lives all because he could not control his temper and ignore Urguth. With the realisation of the truth Legolas ran. He could not bear to look at them so he ran, blindly not knowing where he was going only that he could not stay in that hall.
* Eomer watched in horror as Legolas leapt to his feet and pinned Urguth to the table. Jumping up he grabbed the elf gently and pulled the elf backwards. Guards had rushed forward and Aragorn, Thalos and Faramir had risen to their feet.
"Legolas let it go." Eomer said to the elf that was trembling in his arms. The knife fell to the floor. Eomer watched as Urguth stood up with a smile across his features and with a sickened feeling knew what had happened. This is what Urguth had wanted and he knew that Legolas had suddenly realised this for the elf slumped almost to the point that Eomer had to hold him up. Legolas was reciting 'no no no' over and over. Suddenly Legolas shrugged his hands off and backed away. Eomer saw his face, his expression full of the horror and realisation of what he had done. Eomer stepped towards him holding out his hands to try and calm the obviously panicked and upset elf, but Legolas continued to back away. The guards were closing in on them and then Legolas just ran.
Silence reigned through the hall. No one dared to speak; each shocked at what had just occurred.
"Seize him." Aragorn cried to the guards. No one moved. Eomer turned around.
"What?" he demanded angrily.
"Find Legolas and bring him to me."
"There is something wrong with Legolas. Can you not see that? Sending guards after him will not help the situation."
Aragorn walked up to Eomer fury clear on his face.
"He attacked a diplomat. This behaviour cannot be tolerated."
"I agree but this is not normal behaviour for Legolas. Surely you can see this?" Eomer looked around at all the guests. Everyone's face reflected shock but no concern for the elf's warfare. 'They have got to them all' he thought desperately.
"He has shown disrespect and hatred towards Urguth since their arrival and now he has attacked him. This is not what I expect from a Lord of Ithilien."
Eomer sighed. "Let me go after him. I'll bring him back."
Aragorn growled and ignored Eomer's suggestion. "Guards find him now and bring him back immediately. Use force if you have to."
Eomer gaped in shook. Shaking his head he left the hall determined to find Legolas first. Even if this got sorted out the relationships that had been damaged here would be extremely difficult to repair.
*
Legolas was stood under one of the trees when Eomer found him. The man could hear guards searching the palace and knew that they did not have much time.
"Legolas?" he called softly so as not to alert them to their presence. The elf turned around slowly and Eomer felt his heart clench. The elf was clearly distraught and had tears streaming down his face.
"Eomer I killed them." Legolas cried and Eomer quickly ran across and put a hand over the elf's mouth. Pulling them both to the ground he uncovered the elf's mouth.
"The guards are coming." He whispered frantically.
"I killed them." Legolas whispered.
"NO" Eomer snapped sharply. "No one will die."
"But."
"No, don't you see what is happening. Urguth knows you know all about him and the Darak. He needs to find a reason to get rid of you, to remove you from the city. Then they will have removed the only problem they think they have, you. He's not going to kill anyone. From what I have seen tonight they have manipulated the minds of almost everyone so that they believe that it was an unprovoked attack."
Legolas took a deep shuddering breath and brushed away the tears.
"But we now have a problem." Eomer stated.
"I don't know what happened. I can't seem to think straight. I get angry at the smallest things that normally I wouldn't let affect me." Legolas looked confused.
"I think I know why. They put something in your wine at the feast. I have noticed that the server and Urguth nod, only slightly, at each other during the feasts. I thought nothing of it at first."
"It's a poison of the mind," Legolas said softly.
"How do you know?" Eomer asked frantically as he heard the guards getting closer.
"The Darak would not affect me this long from one attack. I have ingested some sort of poison and it's killing me. I can feel it in my veins. As you can tell it is affecting me greatly. I can no longer fight against them when I cannot control my actions."
Eomer nodded gravely, as much as he hated to admit it Legolas was right. The elf was unstable and liable to give away his intentions.
"Aragorn is not happy and not of his right mind. He ordered his guards to use violence against you if needed."
"Then I will no longer be able to aid you. At the very least I will be closely watched. I am sorry, Eomer, for everything." Legolas gasped as pain swept like a wave through his head. Eomer placed his hands on both sides of Legolas's face. He felt the unnatural heat that had taken hold of his friend.
"Do not be. Gandalf sent a reply, he is coming."
Legolas smiled a small smile. "Then for your benefit you must make it look like you have captured me."
Eomer shook his head and the voices of guards approaching caught the attention of them both.
"Do not give yourself away. You cannot help me. They think I have become unstable. I will struggle you will restrain me. Please."
The guards had almost reached them. Eomer nodded and whispered that he was sorry before pinned the elf to the ground and calling for the help of the guards as Legolas struggled.
**