Title: Diplomacy Part 5
Author: Arisma
Rating: R Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own LOTR, the characters, the settings, any of it. I write non-fan based fiction and this story is the product of that line being crossed with my unhealthy fixation with a certain elf. I'm making no money off this, in any way, shape or form, though feedback is better than cheesecake. Feedback: chalice_nazarene@hotmail.com
He drew the arrow in one smooth motion, his eyes narrowing dangerously at the target. He took a deep breath to calm himself, focusing all his emotion, his hurt, his anger, and his desire, into a tight ball of energy. He exhaled slowly, releasing the shot, watching as it flew unerringly to the target and sunk deep in the center. Faster than sight he drew another, releasing it hurriedly, followed by a third and a fourth in rapid succession, each splitting the previous neatly.
He heard a low whistle and turned to see Kailin, leaning on the fence and eating an apple, eyebrows raised and a smile on his face. He nodded curtly at his friend, not missing the other elfs curious expression. "Something the matter, my liege?" he asked jovially, walking around the barrier and slinging an arm around the princes' shoulders.
"Nothing I care to discuss." Legolas replied curtly, shrugging off the encircling arm.
Kailins smile slipped and he moved so he blocked the others way. He searched the face of his old friend and saw the pain hidden in the hard lines. "Legolas,' he began earnestly "What happened? What's the matter?"
Seeing the concern in his eyes, Legolas stopped and took a deep breath, he walked a small way, climbing the fence and perched on it, resting his elbows on his thighs. He looked down to the ground, thinking, as Kailin came to stand in front of him, waiting. He raised his eyes, finally, and Kailin was not surprised to see moisture gathered in the blue depths. "It's over, Kailin. If there ever was anything to begin with." He said, his voice soft and raspy.
Kailins' eyes widened in surprise and he moved nearer, bending his head nearer. After a few seconds he asked, his voice nearly incredulous, "What do you mean its over? And ... what do you mean if there ever was anything? What the hell happened?"
Legolas looked at him squarely and said softly, "I don't know, Kailin, I don't know. We. made love. And then she left, and said she didn't want to see me, that it was over, that she hadn't meant it."
Kailin stood quietly, listening to his friends breathing, wondering what could have caused the elf maid to act in such an odd manner. "Did anything happen? Did. you say something to her?"
Legolas nodded and looked to the ground, his eyes hidden beneath the long dark lashes. "I told her I loved her." He said simply, his heart lay bared with the simple words.
Kailins eyes widened, knowing his friend was not prone to dramatics, if he said he loved the elf maid, he did. He stood, not knowing what to say, not understanding. Time passed and with a deep breath Legolas raised his head, his face again a perfectly painted mask of indifference. Not knowing what else to do Kailin placed his hand on the back of his friends' head, placing his forehead against the others in a gesture from their distant childhood.
Legolas smiled at the familiar gesture and Kailin smiled back, happy he had found a way to ease his friends' grief, if only for a moment. He released him and straightened, extending his hand, which the other promptly grasped. From nearby they heard a twittering laugh and turned to see several of the Quel warriors in another section of the range staring at them and laughing, whispering indiscreetly behind their hands.
Kailin flushed angrily but Legolas merely stood and walked calmly towards the group, his arms resting lightly atop each other at waist height. "Is there a problem gentlemen?" he asked with deadly calm.
"No, no problem. milord." Replied the apparent leader, a tall skinny elf with a narrow nose, pointedly waiting on the final word. "It does our hearts good to see such. camaraderie." He smiled nastily as he finished. In the back of the group an elf laughed softly, nudging his companions, whispering in their own language.
Legolas merely stared at the tall elf, ignoring the others, his face seemingly impassive. Kailin glanced at his eyes, saw thunder in them and knew this was not going to end well. "Let's just go, Legolas ." he said, placing his hand on his friends shoulder.
Kailin saw recognition spark in the narrow elfs eyes and felt his stomach clench. He tried to pull his friend away, but he was as stone. He felt the situation spiraling away and knew it was already beyond control. "So you're * that * one." said the smarmy elf, his small eyes glittering maliciously.
"What one?" asked Legolas, his voice carefully controlled.
"Well it does explain some things." said an elf standing shoulder to shoulder with the narrow leader.
Legolas looked at the speaker and Kailin saw the blankness in his eyes, his heart despairing of it. "What does it explain?" he asked in a soft voice.
Apparently mistaking the softness for weakness the leader spoke up, his face triumphant as he spoke, " It explains why the local ladies claw at my companions and I so. It seems obvious that Mirkwood men would rather bed each other then attempt to tend to their needs."
Kailin barely had time to register the narrowing of his friends' eyes before Legolas was on the narrow elf, his fist colliding repeatedly with his nose, soon leaving it pressed at an unnatural angle. The rest of the Quel seemed startled and merely stared, soon though they moved towards the grappling figures and Kailin waded in as well, sorely outnumbered but fighting with his all in his friends defense.
Soon Legolas stood and, ignoring the blow that continued to rain down on him, turned and walked away, entering the woods without a backwards glance. The combatants stopped, an awkward moment spent staring at each other, and then with a shrug Kailin stood and followed his friend into the forest, leaving the Quel to tend to their injuries. He sprinted to catch up and soon found his friend resting on a fallen log, his face raised to catch the sun.
As he sat next to him he saw the blood in the corner of his mouth, his eye already darkening from a blow. Shaking his head he looked at the prince and smiled half-heartedly. "That's not going to be good ." he said, though he knew the other was well aware of the repercussions.
Legolas nodded once and looked down, catching the other elfs eyes with his own. "What am I going to do?" he asked softly, his voice filled with quiet desperation. Unable to answer Kailin merely sighed and shrugged, wishing there was something he could do to help.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The sun was low in the sky when Legolas entered the palace, his head bowed and his temper cooled. He parted with Kailin near the entrance and ascended the stairs, easily navigating the twisting turns until he reached his chambers. Entering, he removed his soiled shirt and tossed it in the corner, quickly washing his face and chest in the washbasin. He turned and prepared to settle on the bed when he saw something, a letter, lying upon his desk.
He crossed swiftly, hoping for and insane moment that it was from her, his heart falling when he saw his fathers' insignia pressed in the dark wax. Sighing he opened it and read, his stomach clenching when he saw the formal summons to his fathers side. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his strength before slipping into a clean tunic and exiting the room, walking swiftly and with purpose towards his fathers' audience hall.
He nodded to the page when he arrived, waiting patiently as the lad ducked inside, returning in moments and stating, "The king will see you now, Milord." He nodded his thanks as he passed, entering the long hall, his footsteps echoing. He stopped in front of Thranduil, making a low, formal bow and straightened, meeting his fathers' eyes.
Thranduil arched an eyebrow at him and he felt his heart sink. "Is there something you wish to tell me, Legolas?"
Taking a deep breath he replied, "I am sorry my actions will reflect badly on Mirkwood, sire. It was never my intention to do so. I accept whatever consequences my actions render."
The king nodded, once and looked at his son with stormy eyes. "You have disgraced Mirkwood by your actions today. You leave tomorrow to finish the sweep of the western woods. I trust you are fully healed form that unfortunate ambush, yes? The Quel will again accompany you and I expect you to treat them cordially. You will not shame me again, Legolas. Is that clear?" His voice carried the weight of his title and he felt his stomach clench.
He nodded his head and said, "Yes sire, perfectly."
His father waved a hand, dismissing him, watching as the younger elf walked with measured pace from the hall. Once outside the prince walked slowly back to his room and settled quickly onto the bed. Dawn would come early and he meant to leave as soon as possible, hoping to leave a piece of his heartache behind as well.
Author: Arisma
Rating: R Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own LOTR, the characters, the settings, any of it. I write non-fan based fiction and this story is the product of that line being crossed with my unhealthy fixation with a certain elf. I'm making no money off this, in any way, shape or form, though feedback is better than cheesecake. Feedback: chalice_nazarene@hotmail.com
He drew the arrow in one smooth motion, his eyes narrowing dangerously at the target. He took a deep breath to calm himself, focusing all his emotion, his hurt, his anger, and his desire, into a tight ball of energy. He exhaled slowly, releasing the shot, watching as it flew unerringly to the target and sunk deep in the center. Faster than sight he drew another, releasing it hurriedly, followed by a third and a fourth in rapid succession, each splitting the previous neatly.
He heard a low whistle and turned to see Kailin, leaning on the fence and eating an apple, eyebrows raised and a smile on his face. He nodded curtly at his friend, not missing the other elfs curious expression. "Something the matter, my liege?" he asked jovially, walking around the barrier and slinging an arm around the princes' shoulders.
"Nothing I care to discuss." Legolas replied curtly, shrugging off the encircling arm.
Kailins smile slipped and he moved so he blocked the others way. He searched the face of his old friend and saw the pain hidden in the hard lines. "Legolas,' he began earnestly "What happened? What's the matter?"
Seeing the concern in his eyes, Legolas stopped and took a deep breath, he walked a small way, climbing the fence and perched on it, resting his elbows on his thighs. He looked down to the ground, thinking, as Kailin came to stand in front of him, waiting. He raised his eyes, finally, and Kailin was not surprised to see moisture gathered in the blue depths. "It's over, Kailin. If there ever was anything to begin with." He said, his voice soft and raspy.
Kailins' eyes widened in surprise and he moved nearer, bending his head nearer. After a few seconds he asked, his voice nearly incredulous, "What do you mean its over? And ... what do you mean if there ever was anything? What the hell happened?"
Legolas looked at him squarely and said softly, "I don't know, Kailin, I don't know. We. made love. And then she left, and said she didn't want to see me, that it was over, that she hadn't meant it."
Kailin stood quietly, listening to his friends breathing, wondering what could have caused the elf maid to act in such an odd manner. "Did anything happen? Did. you say something to her?"
Legolas nodded and looked to the ground, his eyes hidden beneath the long dark lashes. "I told her I loved her." He said simply, his heart lay bared with the simple words.
Kailins eyes widened, knowing his friend was not prone to dramatics, if he said he loved the elf maid, he did. He stood, not knowing what to say, not understanding. Time passed and with a deep breath Legolas raised his head, his face again a perfectly painted mask of indifference. Not knowing what else to do Kailin placed his hand on the back of his friends' head, placing his forehead against the others in a gesture from their distant childhood.
Legolas smiled at the familiar gesture and Kailin smiled back, happy he had found a way to ease his friends' grief, if only for a moment. He released him and straightened, extending his hand, which the other promptly grasped. From nearby they heard a twittering laugh and turned to see several of the Quel warriors in another section of the range staring at them and laughing, whispering indiscreetly behind their hands.
Kailin flushed angrily but Legolas merely stood and walked calmly towards the group, his arms resting lightly atop each other at waist height. "Is there a problem gentlemen?" he asked with deadly calm.
"No, no problem. milord." Replied the apparent leader, a tall skinny elf with a narrow nose, pointedly waiting on the final word. "It does our hearts good to see such. camaraderie." He smiled nastily as he finished. In the back of the group an elf laughed softly, nudging his companions, whispering in their own language.
Legolas merely stared at the tall elf, ignoring the others, his face seemingly impassive. Kailin glanced at his eyes, saw thunder in them and knew this was not going to end well. "Let's just go, Legolas ." he said, placing his hand on his friends shoulder.
Kailin saw recognition spark in the narrow elfs eyes and felt his stomach clench. He tried to pull his friend away, but he was as stone. He felt the situation spiraling away and knew it was already beyond control. "So you're * that * one." said the smarmy elf, his small eyes glittering maliciously.
"What one?" asked Legolas, his voice carefully controlled.
"Well it does explain some things." said an elf standing shoulder to shoulder with the narrow leader.
Legolas looked at the speaker and Kailin saw the blankness in his eyes, his heart despairing of it. "What does it explain?" he asked in a soft voice.
Apparently mistaking the softness for weakness the leader spoke up, his face triumphant as he spoke, " It explains why the local ladies claw at my companions and I so. It seems obvious that Mirkwood men would rather bed each other then attempt to tend to their needs."
Kailin barely had time to register the narrowing of his friends' eyes before Legolas was on the narrow elf, his fist colliding repeatedly with his nose, soon leaving it pressed at an unnatural angle. The rest of the Quel seemed startled and merely stared, soon though they moved towards the grappling figures and Kailin waded in as well, sorely outnumbered but fighting with his all in his friends defense.
Soon Legolas stood and, ignoring the blow that continued to rain down on him, turned and walked away, entering the woods without a backwards glance. The combatants stopped, an awkward moment spent staring at each other, and then with a shrug Kailin stood and followed his friend into the forest, leaving the Quel to tend to their injuries. He sprinted to catch up and soon found his friend resting on a fallen log, his face raised to catch the sun.
As he sat next to him he saw the blood in the corner of his mouth, his eye already darkening from a blow. Shaking his head he looked at the prince and smiled half-heartedly. "That's not going to be good ." he said, though he knew the other was well aware of the repercussions.
Legolas nodded once and looked down, catching the other elfs eyes with his own. "What am I going to do?" he asked softly, his voice filled with quiet desperation. Unable to answer Kailin merely sighed and shrugged, wishing there was something he could do to help.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The sun was low in the sky when Legolas entered the palace, his head bowed and his temper cooled. He parted with Kailin near the entrance and ascended the stairs, easily navigating the twisting turns until he reached his chambers. Entering, he removed his soiled shirt and tossed it in the corner, quickly washing his face and chest in the washbasin. He turned and prepared to settle on the bed when he saw something, a letter, lying upon his desk.
He crossed swiftly, hoping for and insane moment that it was from her, his heart falling when he saw his fathers' insignia pressed in the dark wax. Sighing he opened it and read, his stomach clenching when he saw the formal summons to his fathers side. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his strength before slipping into a clean tunic and exiting the room, walking swiftly and with purpose towards his fathers' audience hall.
He nodded to the page when he arrived, waiting patiently as the lad ducked inside, returning in moments and stating, "The king will see you now, Milord." He nodded his thanks as he passed, entering the long hall, his footsteps echoing. He stopped in front of Thranduil, making a low, formal bow and straightened, meeting his fathers' eyes.
Thranduil arched an eyebrow at him and he felt his heart sink. "Is there something you wish to tell me, Legolas?"
Taking a deep breath he replied, "I am sorry my actions will reflect badly on Mirkwood, sire. It was never my intention to do so. I accept whatever consequences my actions render."
The king nodded, once and looked at his son with stormy eyes. "You have disgraced Mirkwood by your actions today. You leave tomorrow to finish the sweep of the western woods. I trust you are fully healed form that unfortunate ambush, yes? The Quel will again accompany you and I expect you to treat them cordially. You will not shame me again, Legolas. Is that clear?" His voice carried the weight of his title and he felt his stomach clench.
He nodded his head and said, "Yes sire, perfectly."
His father waved a hand, dismissing him, watching as the younger elf walked with measured pace from the hall. Once outside the prince walked slowly back to his room and settled quickly onto the bed. Dawn would come early and he meant to leave as soon as possible, hoping to leave a piece of his heartache behind as well.