Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings is purely Tolkien's. I'm just another fan fiction writer.
Author's Notes:
This is a LONGER chapter for my faithful reviewers. Please Review! More!
Idy imladris: ARGH! I got the shock of my life! I am your fan! I just love "a shy elfling!" You are on my author alerts list and I was thinking of finishing reading your chapter before updating my story! Thank you! Don't worry, I update daily. Haven't broken the record yet…
VANA E: THIS IS ANOTHER DEDICATED TO YOU! More trauma! I'm not sure about how Thranduil is so mean. I have to think about it. It's a WIP and I write chapter by chapter a day so I personally have no idea how long it will be…hmm….
Sorry, have to keep it short. Gotta write another chapter for you guys tomorrow. Keep review and I'll try to make it longer…*hint hint*
What is next? Legolas' thoughts are in italics.
Legolas stood there by the windowsill until the night became starless. The first rays of dawn struck the window, showing the intricate beauty of the simple glass pane. At least he shouldn't complain about it. It looks beautiful. Legolas was snapped out of his reverie by the heavy door swinging open.
Herendil walked in and smiled in surprise. "Good morning, servant Greenleaf."
"Good morning, Master Herendil." Legolas genuflected on the ground respectfully.
"Rise. I didn't expect that you would have completed most of this task. You have until the rest of the morning to fix up the room. You may be permitted to have a small piece of bread after you finish," the sub-supervisor said.
"Thank you, Master, " Legolas softly replied
With a sympathetic smile, the sub-supervisor left and closed the door again.
He is just doing his job. He doesn't seem like such a bad person, Legolas mused. He went over to the room with supplies and got out a few rags. He started to clean the supplies cupboard. When he was finished, he took out the swords and started skilfully cleaning them. One particularly large sword was too heavy for his aching hands and Legolas accidentally dropped it with a loud clang. A large cut was on his palm. Stupid stupid task. Why did the sword have to be so heavy? Why couldn't they give me some gloves so I can clean it PROPERLY?
He hurriedly tore some more strips off his tunic and wrapped his injured right hand. Great, now BOTH my hands hurt. He applied some pressure to the wound but the blood continued to soak through the coarse white cloth. He was reminded of the pain in his back. The cuts had started to scab and were very itchy.
Moaning, he bent down to pick up the fallen sword. Legolas was unaware that a few droplets of blood had fallen to the ground. The sword was broken into two pieces. I hope Githil doesn't notice. He'll probably beat me for it, Legolas thought dourly. Carefully Legolas arranged the sword at the back of the cabinet, making it appear to be whole and undamaged. That'll have to do. When he was finished the sub-supervisor returned promptly.
"Well done, servant Greenleaf!" He handed Legolas a tiny loaf of bread. "It was all there was left from breakfast. I am sorry I cannot help you more." He offered an apologetic nod.
Legolas thanked him quietly, a small smile on his face. Valar bless him.
"Now, you will see the supervisor for your second task. Ruthiun will inspect your work." Herendil quickened his pace as he walked down the corridor.
A lurch of fear entered Legolas, his stomach was flipping wildly as he hurried to keep up. Please Valar, I hope he won't notice the broken sword. Legolas' was paling rapidly as he remembered his last beating. He did not want to see Githil again.
He went into the supervisor room, following Herendil. Githil stepped out from behind his desk with his ever-present sneer. Legolas was already kneeling on the ground. I don't want to give him a reason to hurt me.
"Herendil, has slave Greenleaf completed the task entirely to your satisfaction?" Githil asked. His tone was filled with sarcasm as he looked down disdainfully at Legolas on the floor. Legolas took this as permission to rise.
A hard slap from Githil convinced him otherwise. "I didn't tell you to rise slave. Stay on the ground where you belong," Githil spat. Githil is a control freak. He HAS to find a reason to be angry with me.
Herendil looked nervous before hesitatingly replying, "Yes, he has completed his task. The room is immaculately clean, sir." He was not obliged to address the supervisor with a title but he did so in an attempt to placate Githil, for Legolas' sake. The poor child, Herendil sympathised.
"Ruthiun will check that it is so," Githil said in a clipped tone. He sounded disappointed that Legolas had completed the task. I must have underestimated him, Githil thought, but this next task is sure to be impossible.
"The king-" Githil started.
Legolas' hopes came up. Maybe he wants to see me! Maybe he'll let me be a prince!
"- needs to have a messenger to Rivendell. He has a message of importance to send to Lord Elrond. Slave Greenleaf is to deliver the message. It is about a week travel from Mirkwood."
Legolas was visibly disappointed. Herendil felt sorry for him, he had correctly guessed that Legolas had hoped that his father would accept him again. Personally, Herendil thought that his king was too harsh with his son. He is only ten, thought Herendil, but I cannot interfere with his orders. He sighed inwardly; at least he will be away from the palace.
"You are to accompany Ruthiun as his personal servant. You will start the second task after the first one had been approved by my brother."
Herendil was shocked. Githil would send his own brother? But Ruthiun isn't objecting, he thought, that is indeed strange.
On cue, Ruthiun walked in the room with the broken sword. He looked furious as he pointed accusingly in Legolas' direction. Uh oh. This doesn't look good.
"Brother, he broke my competition sword! The incompetent slave! He should be severely punished." Spittle flew out of the corners of Ruthiun's mouth as he strolled forward to choke Legolas. Legolas coughed for breath. Spots swam in front of his eyes.
"Are you sure?" Herendil asked concernedly. He could see that Legolas was struggling to keep conscious.
At his question, Ruthiun dropped Legolas onto the ground leaving him panting for breath. He narrowed his eyes, "The dirty slave's hand is bandaged and what's more the floor of the room has HIS blood on it." Herendil cursed himself for being so rash.
"I merely wanted to be sure of the servant's guilt," Herendil replied coolly. His composure calm again. His eyes flicked quickly to the little body on the ground.
"Be quiet both of you," Githil ordered. "Ruthiun take him to the punishment room."
Ruthiun grinned victoriously at Herendil and glared at him. Then he went to drag Legolas none too gently into the punishment room. Please, Valar, not again. I don't think I can stand another beating so soon. Legolas gave a pleading look to Herendil who looked away.
I am sorry, he wanted to say, but he could not interfere with the supervisor. He had already endangered his own position. However, Herendil stayed in the main supervisor room. He hated to see the servants being punished because it brought back horrible memories of his past. He took deep breaths to calm himself. He could not bring himself to leave Legolas alone though. I'm getting attached to him, Herendil rebuked himself, I can't let my emotions get in the way.
Once inside the punishment room, Ruthiun started to rip Legolas' tunic off. "You will pay for what you did to my favourite sword," he said menacingly. "I will make you think twice before EVER touching any sword again." He took a long whip off a hook on the wall.
Githil gleefully held Legolas down on a table as his brother angrily whipped Legolas.
Legolas' wounds were opened again, he screamed from the pain. Githil and Ruthiun laughed as he convulsed with each lash. Legolas shrieked as the whip cut his flesh open with brutal strength.
"DON'T EVER DO IT AGAIN!" Ruthiun bellowed hitting Legolas with each word he said.
Legolas cried out, "I'm sorry! Please stop! I'm SORRY!"
Ruthiun took no notice and beat him without clemency. If it were possible, he beat him even harder.
Legolas tortured screams could be heard from the supervisor room. Herendil buried his head in his hands. Why did I let it happen to him? He thought remorsefully. The screams shook him and he tried not to cry. Herendil was torn. Silently, he went back to his room. He could still see Legolas eyes pleading him. Now in the privacy of his room, he muffled his sobs in his pillow. Crying for himself and for Legolas.
Please let me die. Legolas throat was sore from his screaming. The pain is overwhelming. The pain! He could only gasp in pain. His body trembled. I feel so cold. He gave a sigh of relief as he gave in to unconsciousness.
Githil released Legolas. The flesh from Legolas' back had been shredded into bloody stripes. New cuts were opened with the old ones. The blood covered his body. The red liquid matted in his dirty hair.
For the second time in the week, Legolas was thrown back into his room unconscious. His body lay limp like a rag doll, the burgundy blood pooling around him.