Behind Blue Eyes
Chapter 10: frozen inside
(Thranduil)
At my brother's invitation I head out to the kingdom of Rivendell, very unsure of how to react to what I will find. Over the past for years, that have gone by so quickly, I have discovered how much I miss Legolas's presence within the halls. His very being was enough to bring joy to those around him. I was so blinded by my grief for my wife and hatred for my living son I didn't see the gift she gave to me. Her gift was Legolas, so much like her in mind, spirit and body he reminded me of her in every way. I think that is what probably brought my rage out on the boy, him being so much like the love I lost.
" Sir, we're approaching the gates." A warrior rides up to my side, his fierce eyes watching his surroundings carefully. I smile at Lucciola, my lead warrior and head of patrol, also my most trusted companion. His lithe frame carries much weight on it, with all the lives within Mirkwood depend on his trained warriors and skills, yet this youth seems to enjoy the burden and still enjoys a carefree nature. I halt my horse when two Elves come out from behind the trees, their arrows pointed at my warriors and me. These two patrolmen are the exact same, both similar in appearance. I watch as the two oldest son's of Elrond relax their bows and incline their heads slightly in respect.
" King Tranduil, please continue." The taller one says and I nod my head before tapping the sides of my horse into a walk. Lucciola does the same beside me, keeping a weary eye on the two.
" It is good to see you nephews." I mutter as I ride past, leaving the twins to gape in horror. Slowly making our way up the path I begin to feel the pressure of a bit of nervousness weigh down my stomach. I have never been on good terms with my brother, thinking him the spawn of deceit our father was forced to go through by our traitorous mother. Yet I hold nothing against his children, for they are fully Elven, having inherited their mother's blood. Bringing my horse to a halt beside a water trough I slowly dismount the lump in my stomach weighing me down further when my feet touch the ground. Allowing myself the pleasure of gazing around the kingdom I begin to feel unwelcome. Many elves stare at me before moving away and grabbing Elflings and whispering to them. I roll my eyes, knowing how news travels fast through the kingdom they already knew I was coming.
" I see you made it. You fare well?" I turn to see the owner of the voice standing atop a staircase, a pointed hat on his head and a staff in his hand. My eyes narrow at the sight of the Wizard but I say nothing. Turning to Lucciola I nod my head for him to stand down, and the warrior puts his sword away but stays taught, unsure.
" Well Gandalf I am actually surprised my brother has even allowed me within Rivendell." I tell the Wizard who gazes at me with very expressionless eyes. This makes me nervous but that soon turns to a stiff seriousness when my brother comes around the corner, his face a stern and un-welcoming as ever.
" Thranduil, follow me." He says coldly and I sigh, knowing I can't make my brother enjoy my presence but I silently hope he hasn't made my child like him. I follow my brother, both Gandalf and Lucciola walking behind us into a grand room filled with books and volumes of journals. Elrond sits behind a solid desk and gestures for me to take the seat in front of the desk. Gandlaf takes another against the wall, leaving my warrior to stand. Mirkwood warriors are trained to stay standing for hours, sometimes motionless. Lucciola has no problem and soon settles into a balanced stance behind my chair. My brother stares at me for the longest time before he speaks, his voice even and calm enough to scratch glass.
" I want you to know Thranduil, that I am unhappy to have you here and I don't think this should be allowed. However I have spoken to Galadriel and she said she would have nothing to do with this." Sighing he leans closer, peering at me with cold blue eyes " I think you owe Legolas an explanation as to why he carries the scars from your hand." I blink, knowing that this was bound to happen some day. Over the past four years I have grown to miss the smiling youth, for he was the last thing that remained of his mother.
" I thank you Elrond, brother, for watching over and raising my son while I was… confused. I really am in debt to you brother." I tell him and Gandalf exchanges a glance with my brother before looking away again, putting a pipe into his mouth.
" Do you think that once I found out I would abandon that child? To allow him to be brainwashed by you, I couldn't bring myself to allow such a gifted child that life." He says disgusted. I nod my head and lower it, before bringing it up sharply and fixing him with my own hard eyes.
" How does my boy fare?" I ask, Elrodn hesitates and looks at Gandalf who only shrugs. I wait patiently for the response.
" Legolas has grown since you last saw him Thranduil, he has become a fine young man with quick reflexes and a sharp mind. If he were to remain under your hands, the child would be ruined. It took the untied efforts of my sons and myself to even get him to come around, let alone trust us enough. Legolas is a gifted and special person, who needs guidance and reassurance, not abuse and neglect." He says and I feel tears fill my eyes at all things he said about my boy. My heart is filled anew with pride, but those quickly diminsih when Gandalf rises from his chair and fixes me with an unhappy look.
" He has been fine up until recently. Estel and Legolas went to retrieve me from the human settlement of Bree. While on the road we were attacked by a few humans, bent on taking Legolas. We fought but he was cornered by one, I watched as he viciously attacked the man, killing him." He looks away sadly.
" We think, that when Legolas attacked in his mind he saw you, on one of your abusive tantrums. He fought back, and killed the man. He hasn't said a word about this but you can tell he is not well with it and unsettled." He finishes and returns to looking out the window.
" That is the only reason why I agreed to allow you here Thranduil, and if I see any odd behavior from the boy you will be thrown from here faster than you can think." The warning in my brother's voice is unmistakable. I nod, unsure of what to do now.
" Where is he?" I ask and Elrond only shrugs.
" Not an idea. Off with Estel I suppose." He says and his manner symbolizes that the conversation is over. I get up from my place and walk to the door, Lucciola right behind me. Going out into the hall I lean against the wall, collecting my thoughts and creating a plan for my next move.
" Sir? What are we to do now?" Lucciola asks and I look at my dark-haired warrior a smile coming to my face. The man seems taken aback by the sudden change, but says nothing.
" We go and find my son." I tell him and walk back the way we were originally led, going out into the sunlight and down the stairs to begin our search for my son.
(Elrond)
As soon as the study door closed behind my brother I sigh, bringing a hand to my head and closing my eyes. Gandalf turns from the window, casting me with a very curious look. I hold up my hand and sigh, knowing what the man would say before it left his mouth.
" I already know and I expect the boy's reaction." I tell Gandalf who only nods and smiles.
" Hopefully he won't react like the last time…"
(Legolas)
Racing down the wooden path I glance quickly behind me, confident that my human stalker wasn't that close I slow my pace a fraction, allowing my strides to get shorter. Frowning as I realize that I have basically ran to the end of the courtyard wall I look around for a place to hide where I can have full view of the incoming path. Doing a full spin my eyes come to rest upon a tall birch tree, its white trunk lined with dark stripes. Going over to the tree I gently place a hand on its bark and smile at the welcoming warmth that engulfs my mind. Climbing the tree quickly I crouch on a branch, overlooking the yard. Not a second after I settled myself pounding footsteps can be heard from the path and I hold back a snicker when Estel comes bounding around the corner, his face flushed with heat. He stops and looks about the area, looking on the ground for tracks, bushes for any sign of disturbance. To bad I didn't leave any. I hold back a snigger as he walks right under the tree I'm hidden in and when he growls I nearly fall over in silent laughter. This goes on for a good five minutes, my human friend searching and I laughing at him. I am about to give my friend a clue when Elladan and Elrohir come pounding around the corner on their stallions. They yank the bits, stopping their horses on the flagstone before jumping off. Estel goes over to them and I have to listen carefully to find out what's so important.
" Yeah, I saw him and his guard on the trail!"
" Then Adar took him into the study with Gandalf. When they left I heard him say they were going to find Legolas." My eyes widen as my name is mentioned, slowly creeping further on another branch to listen, now that the conversation concerns me.
" Wait.. who are you talking about?"
" King Thranduil! He's come to Rivendell!" My eyes widen and my hands begin to shake as the thought dawns over my shocked mind. 'He's come to take me back to my hell.'
" And now he and his guard are looking for Legolas?" I see the two twins nod before slipping back from the tree branch and pressing myself up against the trunk.
" Where is he?" I watch as the twins begin searching and would have smiled if this situation weren't so bad.
" I have not a clue! He disappeared!" Estel yells, throwing his hand in the air in annoyance. I scan the trees for a route and finding one I quickly take it, getting away from my searching friends and going to a place my father, adopted and biological, would never think of looking.
(Aragorn)
The rustle of branches above my head catches my ears and I turn just in time to see a streak of gold flying through the branches. Groaning I slap my hand to my forehead, drawing the attention of my brothers.
" What?" Elladan asks and I point to the tree.
" He was in the damn tree the whole time, probably overheard his father is here." Elrohir groans and hits Elladan on the shoulder.
" I knew this was going to be bad!"
" Why are you hitting me? Go smack Ada! It was his bloody idea!" Elladan shouts back at his twin.
" Ah hoolies you two! We have to find Legolas before Thranduil does!" I yell, spinning myself around on my heel and taking off in the direction I think Legolas was going.
" Ya know Estel when Legolas doesn't want to be found he won't be!" Elrohir yells as he trots behind me, Elladan close behind. I stop at a fork on the trail and try to remember which way it was to the place Legolas likes to go.
" I know that! I know where he goes too, but… I can't remember how to get there because he has never actually ran from me before." I snarl and tap my head, trying to force myself to remember.
" Where?"
" Zanzith falls." I tell them and I hear the sharp intake of breath and roll my eyes, knowing what was going to be said next, for I said the same thing when he first took me to this place.
" Zanzith falls! As in 'suicide leap'! No way!" Elrohir yells and I sigh, remembering which way to go. Racing down the path I spare no breath for response, only worrying about finding my friend before something drastic happens.
(Thrandil)
" I think we are going in circles." Lucciola says as we pass the same tree in the last thirty minutes.
" Why does my brother's home have to be so confusing!?" I growl before dropping onto a garden bench and looking at my surroundings.
" Well we are near the falls." Lucciola says, eyeing the trees before wandering a few paces to glance further up the trail.
" Lord, I think I found something you should see." He says and I get to my feet, moving over to where my warrior is. Pushing aside a branch on a sapling I gasp lightly at the person sitting on the bank of the large fall.
" Legolas…" I whisper, and take in how much my son has grown. His long golden hair is still braided like the day his mother died, the two on the side of his head and the thicker on going down the back, holding the offending hair from his eyes. Long legs are drawn up to his chest while strong arms are wrapped around them, his eyes have a far off look to them as well as one of sadness. I smile at how much he has grown, the length of his legs obviously longer, and his shoulders wider and stronger. He has grown so much form the youth I use to chase around Mirkwood, the spindly youth with the high-pitched laugh and happily glowing eyes. I step out from behind the bush, signaling Lucciola to stay behind in the shadows. The warrior does so, his eyes never leaving the surroundings and hand on the pommel of his weapon. I slowly walk to where my son is sitting on the bank, trying my hardest not to startle.
" My son…" I say loud enough for him to hear over the roar of the water, Legolas jumps and looks sharply at me, his ice colored eyes hardening with fear and anger. He jumps to his feet, making me take in a breath in surprise. He glares at me, his breathing coming in ragged gasps as he backs away from me, his eyes never leaving me. I reach out a hand to halt him as he backs closer to the water, but as soon as I bring my hand close to him he gives a strangled yell and shies away, right into the water. I give a shout and lunge at his form being dragged down the river, but a dark form races past me
" LEGOLAS!" It screams and dives into the rapid water. The twin sons of Elrond come racing around the bend, taking ropes from their saddled packs and racing down the bank. I and Lucciola quickly follow, running behind them.
" Estel! Catch this!" Elladan yells at the elf in the water, tossing the thick rope out to the man who has my son in his arms. The rope is to short and to my great horror I watch as the two are swept down the river before disappearing over falls.
" NO!" Elrohir yells and runs back to his horse, and galloping down the trail, his twin right beside him. Lucciola follows me to the end, where I look over the side at the many jagged, sharp rocks that line the base of the falls, my heart plummeting like the water that falls from it.
" My lord?" Lucciola asks and puts a hand on my shoulder. I nod and make my way down the path after the twins, hoping to any god that listens that my son will be alright.
" To lose him now, after just finding him…. I will not lose him." I mutter to myself and I do something I haven't done in years, I ran.
Immortal Sadness: Oh… happy reunion! I THINK NOT! I'm sorry about the long delay, but I had a lot going on, work, school, shoveling, work… homework, plowing. Yeah, so I was wicked busy and today I had a snow day, Wahoo! 2 feet! Nice! Anyway I apologize for the delay and I hope to be updating regularly. PLEASE REVIEW!
Review responses
Bumper: Two words: MY STORY. Don't like it, don't read it, that simple.
Leaping lizards 83: LOL, I'll take that into consideration. What do you suggest?
Wadeva: Thanks! I hope you liked this one!
Angelbird 2241: Thanks and I hope you enjoyed this last chapter.
Deana: Jeez so you know what I mean! How did ya like this last storm?
DemiDevil: Champ? okay… don't be scared! ~.~
Rika-Chan: OOOOkay
Mr. Padfoot 1: Thanks much!
Elithraniel: I hope I spelt this right… but I got 'Hoolies' from the Tiger and Del books written by Jennifer Roberson. I say the word all the time and I needed something to give them to say as a swear so I thought of that. Thanks!
Thank you all for your reviews and I'll have the next chapter up soon, hopefully. WAHO! LOTR 3 comes out on Wednesday! Wahoo! Yay! Go Aragorn! Oh… how many people are disappointed that he is marrying Arwen?
*I never liked her, I thought she was evil…. I don't really care for Arwen and I was hoping she went to the undying lands like her father said she should! I actually wanted her to! *
I'm sorry to all those Arwen fans but I find her…. Terrible.. so yea.. Sorry. So, please review and I'll update soon! Thanks!