Author: Mirrordance

Title: Exile

Summary: An elf is exiled as a suspect to his own brother's murder.  A young king goes out into the Wild.  Two warriors cross paths and embark on a common adventure as one seeks to escape his past and the other to reclaim it.  How Aragorn and Legolas met.

* * *

PART 18

      The well-armed elven trio of warriors stealthily maneuvered through the palace halls, Legardo ahead and Legolas and Elrohir slightly behind him.  Legolas had to admit he was not as aware of his surroundings as he should have been; he was marveling at his younger brother, who seems to have grown into a rather impressive person in the past centuries.

      I've missed you grow, Legolas realized, and that was saying a lot.

      Of the three Mirkwood princes, it was Legardo who was the quiet one, often keeping to himself.  If Lesandro had been known as having their mother's genial, well-mannered ways, and Legolas with their father's skills and impulses, Legardo was the reserved one, unlike any of their parents, an elf of his own intriguing making.

      Naturally, such traits, alongside the fact that he was the youngest of them and therefore not always included in the most serious of discussions or the most dangerous of hunts, did not make Legolas as close to Legardo as he was to Lesandro.  The problems that rose with the strengthening of the Southern borders even allowed for less of their time together, since it was Legolas with his superior skills and relatively dispensable position as the second son (and therefore not the heir) who was most often in battle.

      When he left, Legardo was like a shadow, a quiet presence, almost determinedly stoic, as if he was seeking to merely pass through his life.  He had a quirk of a smile, a soft voice.  He had some skills with blades and arrows, but his sure grip was often beset by his greater hesitations. 

      The elf running before Legolas exuded power and desire.  Legolas could see it; Legardo wanted things, now.  And he would protect what was his.  Perhaps he finally grew into himself all these centuries Legolas had been absent.  Or perhaps it was this life of cruelty that necessitated the change.  After all, Legardo's brother was murdered, his other brother slain in escape for the crime.  It must have been an unkind life, to say the least.  Or perhaps he changed because it was required of him, the next King, the only one in line for the throne.  He needed to exude strength and wisdom, his people needed to believe in him.

      Legolas wondered if he himself changed.

      Most likely, he decided, and was not entirely sure if it was for the better.  His heart was harder, his mercy shorter, his anger easier to court.  These were not altogether good things. 

      I missed myself too.

      The three warriors pulled to a stop.  They stood by Lord Sala's door.  Brother looked at brother, and glanced at their unobtrusive Rivendell elf companion.  They were all ready and eager.

* * *

      They stepped inside Lord Sala's room.

      But unlike the careful constraint Legardo showed just moments before, he stepped into that room afire.  He drew his sword and stalked forward to the sleeping Lord's bed, straddling the older elf and putting a hand over his mouth to keep him from screaming for aid.  The elf Lord's eyes snapped alert, looked at him with fear and confusion.  But more fear when Legardo raised his sword to strike him a lethal blow…

      ~Cease this!~ Legolas exclaimed, grabbing his brother's arm and halting the fatal swing.  He caught his brother before Legardo did anything irrevocable, though for a moment he was so shocked and hence rooted to his place that he actually feared he would be too late. 

      ~He is a murderer,~ Legardo seethed, looking up at his older brother and struggling with Legolas' iron grip, ~He killed Lesandro.  He must die.  He must pay.  He's been lucky to have evaded justice all these years.~

      ~We do not know this for a certainty,~ Legolas reasoned, ~Let him speak.~

      ~He will only tell us lies!~ said Legardo.

      ~No one deserves to be silenced thus,~ said Legolas determinedly, ~Take your hand from his mouth and let him speak.~ ~But he is a liar,~ said Legardo, his voice taking on an almost pleading tone, ~Let us end this now.  We've waited all these years!~

      ~We can wait awhile longer,~ Legolas told him gently, lowering his brother's sword arm and reaching to free Sala's mouth from beneath Legardo's hand as well.  Legolas looked at the older elf lord intently and sighed inwardly.  The way Sala stared, it's as if he feared Legolas more than the murderous Legardo!

      ~You are dead,~ Sala whispered.

      ~I know,~ Legolas said, ~But that is the least of your problems.~

      Legolas inched closer to the elf-lord's face, and Legardo backed away.  Legolas took the space his younger brother vacated without hesitation.  He knew he had precious little time.  Lord Sala always had a quick mind.  It would be best to ask him all the questions that needed truthful answering while he was completely stunned.

      ~Why did you kill Lesandro?~ Legolas asked him.

      ~I did not,~ Sala whispered, ~I did not!~

      ~The truth, my lord,~ Legolas told him in a low voice, ~Only with the truth can you purchase my mercy, and your life.~

      ~I did not kill the King's son,~ Sala insisted, wide, glistening eyes boring into the younger elf's, fearful and shaking, ~I did not kill your brother.  I had nothing to do with his death!~

      ~He lies, you can see by his eyes!~ urged Legardo restlessly.

      Legolas ignored his brother, staring at the elf lord, willing for Sala to stare back at him.  The Elf prince's presence was so potent that Sala did as he wordlessly demanded.  They held each other's gazes for a long, telling moment.  Contrary to what Legardo was insisting, every fiber of Legolas' being was beginning to believe Lord Sala, and this was exactly as he feared.  If not Lord Sala, then who…?    

      Legolas took a deep, shaky breath, pushing himself away from the elf lord.  The spell upon Sala broke with their diminished contact, and his sharp eyes begin to take in the situation more sensibly. 

      Legardo watched his older brother back down, and he was not pleased with this at all.  He sauntered forward with his sword drawn, saying, ~I will do what you have not the courage to.~

      Legolas stood in his way, ~Leave him be, Legardo.  He never had the nerve.  He only found opportunity.~

      Behind Legolas, Sala stealthily reached for the dagger he kept beneath his pillow.  In a quick motion, he raised it in a defensive manner before himself. 

      ~See how he seeks to attack you!~ exclaimed Legardo.

      Legolas whipped around to face Sala, who only said, ~I will not be harassed any more.~

      Elrohir tensed, watching them all.

      Oh for the Valar's sake, he thought miserably, even as he prepared for any eventuality.

      ~He is guilty!~ exclaimed Legardo, ~Guilty, I tell you! He killed Lesandro, and will kill you as well! Then he will kill me, and he will kill ada! We must end this now, Legolas! We must!~

      ~I killed no one!~ snapped Sala, rising cautiously to his feet, his dagger poised at the ready.  Legolas stood between the two of them, yet to draw his sword though his fingers lingered near its hilt.

      ~You know what they say in a murder,~ said Sala softly, ~follow the mithril.  After the death, to whom does the treasure go?  To whom does Mirkwood go? It is so hideously plain, isn't it? To whom does Mirkwood go, ghostly prince? At first I thought it went to you.  But it actually landed on someone else's lap.~

      Legardo's eyes widened.  ~You liar! You poison my brother's mind with your manipulative words just as you poisoned all of our own kingdom against him centuries ago! Do not listen to him, Legolas!~

      Legolas' heart pounded.  He feared he did not need to.  He feared he may have known the truth even before this confrontation with Sala.  Hadn't he and Estel spoken of this before?

      It is not a question of disliking him, said Estel, as much as it is a question of who gains by his death, and by your persecution.

     

      The words of Estel and Sala were different, but they meant the same.  That happened days ago, and he was cut off by the arrival of orcs before he could say,

      I can think of only Legardo.

      ~I do not lie,~ said Sala coolly, ~At least not about this.  I did not kill Lesandro.  I would swear this on my name and that of my father's.  I would swear this on your brother's grave.  I would even swear this upon your kind mother's grave.  I did not kill him.~

      ~Would you stake your life on that?~ Legolas asked him edgily, still unwilling to accept that perhaps, perhaps it really truly was Legardo who killed Lesandro.  Brother… he thought achingly, fervently wishing his heart will not believe the elf lord.  Things would be so much simpler…

      ~I already am doing so,~ said Sala boldly, and Legolas looked at him and knew.  The elf lord was an avid opportunist, yes.  But he was no murderer.  Legolas turned to the turbulent, panicked eyes of his younger brother and knew from them too.  This is the murderer.  I am staring down Lesandro's killer.  And I share his blood.

      He knew now, for a certainty.  No questions needed to be asked or answered.  Legardo's look was telling, and Legolas had relied upon his instincts long enough to trust them now.  And once the heart knows, it cannot go back.  It can create no pretensions or illusions, even with how fervently its bearer wishes to do so. 

      ~I will end this madness,~ Legardo uttered, stepping forward, ~Elrohir, call for aid.  Sala must be taken!~

      ~I am not tearing my eyes from any of you,~ Elrohir said vehemently.

      ~You had better not,~ agreed the perceptive Sala, ~For I guarantee if you leave, Legardo will try to kill the Prince Legolas and myself, for all who know the truth must be silenced.  And then, you can count upon your own death soon afterwards.~

      ~You liar!~ yelled Legardo, moving past Legolas and diving towards Sala with sword raised.

      Legolas drew his own weapon in a blur of motion, blocking his way.  Blade grated against blade.  Brother stared down brother.

      ~Lay it down, Legardo,~ Legolas told him coldly, ~It is over.~

TO BE CONTINUED…