Author's Note: Okay, finally, the new chapter. I apologize for the delay,
but writers-block coupled with impending finals tend to dampen the writing
schedule. Ah well, tis the way life goes I guess. So yeah, new chapter, I
love you all for the wonderful reviews, and I'm not Tolkien.
Chapter 8
Legolas once again found himself alone as he wandered about the courtyards of Gondor. There had been much activity today, as was to be expected when a multiple murder had happened, and the whole of the town was riled up, wanting to go to any lengths to prevent anymore deaths.
Aragorn had formally announced the new death and warnings to the townspeople to be inside by nightfall and to not travel alone. The guards had been given their orders to stand watch where they would be put into shifts when night finally came.
Aragorn had also asked his two best friends to be on watch again, and of course Legolas and Gimli had readily agreed. They would do all they could to stop anymore deaths.
Legolas sighed as he paused to momentarily rest next to a growing sapling, one that he himself had planted here three years ago when the War of the Ring was over. Even though he was in one of the main courtyards, it was empty of any occupants save himself, and he had a morbid feeling of satisfaction at that. When a town came together over lives being threatened, it was not long before vigilantes came forth, wishing to be the hero, and too many eyes had stared at Legolas as he had stood next to Aragorn when he made his proclamations. The elf knew what they were thinking, only because he felt the same way.
Taking another deep breath Legolas took a stony step forward and continued on his small walk. Aragorn had confined his patrolling to inside the borders of Gondor, away from the trees. Legolas did not want to think that Aragorn perhaps suspected him, but it did seem suspicious that he place Legolas far away from where the murders had been occurring.
But who else would choose to take to the trees to kill besides a wood elf? The coincidences were too many and stacked against Legolas.
Ah, but he could not forget the knife either. If that was not a solid piece of evidence, then what was? The woman had been wearing a sheath at her side, perhaps she had tried to defend herself against an attacking elf.
No, Legolas shook his head, he knew he would never do anything like that. As hazy as last night's events were, he knew that he had been trying to help the woman. Besides, he would never attack those who could not defend themselves against him, especially when unprovoked. Legolas still knew enough of himself to know that he would not do that, no elf would do that.
Then how were the deaths to be explained?
Legolas himself had to admit that they seemed as though an elf had to do it, but Legolas could not bring himself to entirely believe this. The only elves around here were those in Ithilien, and those had been handpicked by Legolas himself to help out in the restoration.
A wandering rogue elf was not a possibility entirely ruled out, Legolas told himself. But that too did not make much sense, there was no reason for an elf to commit senseless murders, it was not their style or means of living.
Lost in his thoughts, Legolas did not notice the figure standing before him until he was almost upon him. Legolas braked immediately and raised his head, his eyes resting on a strange and unfriendly face before him.
A man stood solidly in his path, his accusing eyes staring straight at the elf.
Legolas stared straight back, wondering vaguely if this man wished for a fight. Perhaps the vigilantes were already rising. But a brief look into the grieved brown eyes revealed the person's identity to the elf, this was a relative of the recently deceased woman, perhaps another brother or maybe even a father.
His suspicions were proven true when the man finally said something.
"Did an elf kill my daughter?" he asked abruptly, his voice straining under the will to keep it from breaking.
Legolas softened his gaze, feeling the man's pain, "I know not," he said softly.
The man continued immediately, as if he had not even heard Legolas, "Because the only elf that has been here is you, and I hear that the first murder happened as soon as you showed up."
Legolas regarded what the man had just said. He had not thought about it before, but it was true. The first murder had occurred the night he had come. Strange.
"I am just as eager to find out what is going on as you are," Legolas commented quietly.
His soft words were put to waste however. The man's eyes widened slightly, and Legolas could see his fist jerk back reflexively. Legolas wondered briefly if it was the man's grief that was driving him mad, but was distracted when the man's fist came at his face.
Legolas ducked immediately and spun under the man as he stumbled forward, his momentum thrown off by the disappearance of his target. When Legolas straightened he was positioned behind the man and he grabbed one of the man's free arms, pulling it behind his back and forcing the man to stoop down, rendering him immobile.
Tears were spilling down the man's face, "You people have no business here," he fairly yelled at the elf, "why can't you just leave and let good people alone? My daughter did nothing to you, she did not deserve to die like that."
Legolas frowned at the tirade that poured forth from the man. He could clearly hear and even feel the grief and a need for vengeance coming from the father.
"Nobody deserves to die like that," the man was still talking, his voice becoming softer as he was choked with his sorrow. "Especially my daughter, she did not deserve to die like that."
Legolas listened to the babbling of the man. He knew the father was near an emotional breakdown and Legolas doubted he had even allowed himself proper time to grieve, he had come to seek out the elf as soon as he could.
Legolas released the man's arm and stood back. The man immediately straightened and spun to face Legolas directly.
Legolas stood complacently, his arms hanging loosely at his sides, his eyes fixed on the painfilled ones of the father. "If you truly feel that it was I who did it, then come, take your revenge."
The man paused to consider what Legolas had told him. His chest was heaving, his face stained with small tracks from the onslaught of hot tears. He was a poor contrast next to the composed elf, but Legolas truly did feel for the man, so he stood still, allowing and waiting to see what the man would do.
The father looked momentarily confused, and Legolas could see his anger fading somewhat. Clearly, this encounter was not going as he had envisioned it, he had expected to come in with fists raised and ready to go and for the elf to give him a fight.
For the first time, Legolas noticed that the man carried a dagger at his side with a belt in the same fashion as his daughter's, but he did not draw it. He continued to fight to control his emotions while the elf before him merely stood as he was, holding his gaze calmly.
After a few moments, the man sighed and his posture seemed to wilt as all of his anger that had been feeding his adrenaline collapsed. "Just leave this place," he said softly as he started to walk away, "take yourself and your people and go, we will all be the better for it." And then he said no more to the elf and Legolas watched the man walk away, moving as though he could not even see straight, which the elf doubted he could. For a small moment, Legolas wondered why grief did not prove to kill humans as well.
When the man was no longer in sight, Legolas sighed and glanced up momentarily at the sky. It was a very bright day, without a cloud in the deep blue sky. Legolas frowned inwardly and lowered his eyes, such a bright day seemed out of place. Feeling as though his steps were heavier than what they had been before the brief encounter with the grieved father, Legolas continued on his own way, keeping true to the small area Aragorn had mapped out for him to patrol.
Legolas pondered over the last words of the man. He had told Legolas to leave and to take his own people with him, that they would all then be the better for it. Perhaps that would be best. Legolas could leave now, and if the murders continued, he would at least know that he was not the one responsible for them and could come back to help where he could.
And if the murders stopped?
Hopefully another dreadful coincidence.
But the more the elf thought about it, the more that it did not seem plausible. He would feel as though he was abandoning Aragorn in a time of need, and he never desired to abandon his friends. In addition to that, he would have to tell Aragorn that he was leaving and why. And Legolas could never give him a good enough reason without completely incriminating himself.
No, the best thing to do at the moment would be to remain in Gondor and see what else would happen. Yet he could not stay if he thought that he himself was a danger to the people around him. He was not yet convinced that he was, but too many things had been happening all at once.
Legolas stopped walking. A new resolve came to him. He would merely remain inside of his quarters when nightfall came. Even though Aragorn had asked for him to stay on patrol the whole of the night, he could plead tiredness and ask to retire early. Aragorn might not buy his pitiful excuse, he well knew the ways of the elves and that they did not tire easily and require prolonged rest, but Legolas had a feeling his friend would not question him.
Legolas started to walk again. He took note of the position of the sun, it would be a few more hours before it was completely set. He would seek out Aragorn then.
Feeling better now that he at least had some sort of plan to play out, the elf kept up his light watch and tracked the passage of the sun, merely biding his time. One way or another, he would put his own fears and suspicions to rest.
Chapter 8
Legolas once again found himself alone as he wandered about the courtyards of Gondor. There had been much activity today, as was to be expected when a multiple murder had happened, and the whole of the town was riled up, wanting to go to any lengths to prevent anymore deaths.
Aragorn had formally announced the new death and warnings to the townspeople to be inside by nightfall and to not travel alone. The guards had been given their orders to stand watch where they would be put into shifts when night finally came.
Aragorn had also asked his two best friends to be on watch again, and of course Legolas and Gimli had readily agreed. They would do all they could to stop anymore deaths.
Legolas sighed as he paused to momentarily rest next to a growing sapling, one that he himself had planted here three years ago when the War of the Ring was over. Even though he was in one of the main courtyards, it was empty of any occupants save himself, and he had a morbid feeling of satisfaction at that. When a town came together over lives being threatened, it was not long before vigilantes came forth, wishing to be the hero, and too many eyes had stared at Legolas as he had stood next to Aragorn when he made his proclamations. The elf knew what they were thinking, only because he felt the same way.
Taking another deep breath Legolas took a stony step forward and continued on his small walk. Aragorn had confined his patrolling to inside the borders of Gondor, away from the trees. Legolas did not want to think that Aragorn perhaps suspected him, but it did seem suspicious that he place Legolas far away from where the murders had been occurring.
But who else would choose to take to the trees to kill besides a wood elf? The coincidences were too many and stacked against Legolas.
Ah, but he could not forget the knife either. If that was not a solid piece of evidence, then what was? The woman had been wearing a sheath at her side, perhaps she had tried to defend herself against an attacking elf.
No, Legolas shook his head, he knew he would never do anything like that. As hazy as last night's events were, he knew that he had been trying to help the woman. Besides, he would never attack those who could not defend themselves against him, especially when unprovoked. Legolas still knew enough of himself to know that he would not do that, no elf would do that.
Then how were the deaths to be explained?
Legolas himself had to admit that they seemed as though an elf had to do it, but Legolas could not bring himself to entirely believe this. The only elves around here were those in Ithilien, and those had been handpicked by Legolas himself to help out in the restoration.
A wandering rogue elf was not a possibility entirely ruled out, Legolas told himself. But that too did not make much sense, there was no reason for an elf to commit senseless murders, it was not their style or means of living.
Lost in his thoughts, Legolas did not notice the figure standing before him until he was almost upon him. Legolas braked immediately and raised his head, his eyes resting on a strange and unfriendly face before him.
A man stood solidly in his path, his accusing eyes staring straight at the elf.
Legolas stared straight back, wondering vaguely if this man wished for a fight. Perhaps the vigilantes were already rising. But a brief look into the grieved brown eyes revealed the person's identity to the elf, this was a relative of the recently deceased woman, perhaps another brother or maybe even a father.
His suspicions were proven true when the man finally said something.
"Did an elf kill my daughter?" he asked abruptly, his voice straining under the will to keep it from breaking.
Legolas softened his gaze, feeling the man's pain, "I know not," he said softly.
The man continued immediately, as if he had not even heard Legolas, "Because the only elf that has been here is you, and I hear that the first murder happened as soon as you showed up."
Legolas regarded what the man had just said. He had not thought about it before, but it was true. The first murder had occurred the night he had come. Strange.
"I am just as eager to find out what is going on as you are," Legolas commented quietly.
His soft words were put to waste however. The man's eyes widened slightly, and Legolas could see his fist jerk back reflexively. Legolas wondered briefly if it was the man's grief that was driving him mad, but was distracted when the man's fist came at his face.
Legolas ducked immediately and spun under the man as he stumbled forward, his momentum thrown off by the disappearance of his target. When Legolas straightened he was positioned behind the man and he grabbed one of the man's free arms, pulling it behind his back and forcing the man to stoop down, rendering him immobile.
Tears were spilling down the man's face, "You people have no business here," he fairly yelled at the elf, "why can't you just leave and let good people alone? My daughter did nothing to you, she did not deserve to die like that."
Legolas frowned at the tirade that poured forth from the man. He could clearly hear and even feel the grief and a need for vengeance coming from the father.
"Nobody deserves to die like that," the man was still talking, his voice becoming softer as he was choked with his sorrow. "Especially my daughter, she did not deserve to die like that."
Legolas listened to the babbling of the man. He knew the father was near an emotional breakdown and Legolas doubted he had even allowed himself proper time to grieve, he had come to seek out the elf as soon as he could.
Legolas released the man's arm and stood back. The man immediately straightened and spun to face Legolas directly.
Legolas stood complacently, his arms hanging loosely at his sides, his eyes fixed on the painfilled ones of the father. "If you truly feel that it was I who did it, then come, take your revenge."
The man paused to consider what Legolas had told him. His chest was heaving, his face stained with small tracks from the onslaught of hot tears. He was a poor contrast next to the composed elf, but Legolas truly did feel for the man, so he stood still, allowing and waiting to see what the man would do.
The father looked momentarily confused, and Legolas could see his anger fading somewhat. Clearly, this encounter was not going as he had envisioned it, he had expected to come in with fists raised and ready to go and for the elf to give him a fight.
For the first time, Legolas noticed that the man carried a dagger at his side with a belt in the same fashion as his daughter's, but he did not draw it. He continued to fight to control his emotions while the elf before him merely stood as he was, holding his gaze calmly.
After a few moments, the man sighed and his posture seemed to wilt as all of his anger that had been feeding his adrenaline collapsed. "Just leave this place," he said softly as he started to walk away, "take yourself and your people and go, we will all be the better for it." And then he said no more to the elf and Legolas watched the man walk away, moving as though he could not even see straight, which the elf doubted he could. For a small moment, Legolas wondered why grief did not prove to kill humans as well.
When the man was no longer in sight, Legolas sighed and glanced up momentarily at the sky. It was a very bright day, without a cloud in the deep blue sky. Legolas frowned inwardly and lowered his eyes, such a bright day seemed out of place. Feeling as though his steps were heavier than what they had been before the brief encounter with the grieved father, Legolas continued on his own way, keeping true to the small area Aragorn had mapped out for him to patrol.
Legolas pondered over the last words of the man. He had told Legolas to leave and to take his own people with him, that they would all then be the better for it. Perhaps that would be best. Legolas could leave now, and if the murders continued, he would at least know that he was not the one responsible for them and could come back to help where he could.
And if the murders stopped?
Hopefully another dreadful coincidence.
But the more the elf thought about it, the more that it did not seem plausible. He would feel as though he was abandoning Aragorn in a time of need, and he never desired to abandon his friends. In addition to that, he would have to tell Aragorn that he was leaving and why. And Legolas could never give him a good enough reason without completely incriminating himself.
No, the best thing to do at the moment would be to remain in Gondor and see what else would happen. Yet he could not stay if he thought that he himself was a danger to the people around him. He was not yet convinced that he was, but too many things had been happening all at once.
Legolas stopped walking. A new resolve came to him. He would merely remain inside of his quarters when nightfall came. Even though Aragorn had asked for him to stay on patrol the whole of the night, he could plead tiredness and ask to retire early. Aragorn might not buy his pitiful excuse, he well knew the ways of the elves and that they did not tire easily and require prolonged rest, but Legolas had a feeling his friend would not question him.
Legolas started to walk again. He took note of the position of the sun, it would be a few more hours before it was completely set. He would seek out Aragorn then.
Feeling better now that he at least had some sort of plan to play out, the elf kept up his light watch and tracked the passage of the sun, merely biding his time. One way or another, he would put his own fears and suspicions to rest.